#MCM: 6 Ways to Write a WoW-ing Resume

With a solid resume in hand you'll greatly increase your odds of earning a closer look and getting that interview.


1.    Format Your Resume Wisely "Do the Hiring Managers" Work for Them

No matter how well written, your resume won't get a thorough reading the first time through. Generally a resume gets scanned for 25 seconds. Scanning is more difficult if it is hard to read, poorly organized or exceeds two pages.

• Use a logical format and wide margins, clean type and clear headings
• Selectively apply bold and italic typeface that help guide the reader's eye
• Use bullets to call attention to important points (i.e. accomplishments)

2.   Identify Accomplishments not Just Job Descriptions

Hiring managers, especially in technical fields like engineering, seek candidates that can help them solve a problem or satisfy a need within their company. Consequently, you can't be a solution to their problems without stating how you solved similar problems in other companies and situations.

• Focus on what you did in the job, NOT what your job was there's a difference
• Include a one or two top line job description first, then list your accomplishments
• For each point ask yourself, What was the benefit of having done what I did?
• Accomplishments should be unique to you, not just a list of what someone else did
• Avoid using the generic descriptions of the jobs you originally applied for or held

3.   Quantify Your Accomplishments

The most common mistake on resume is making too many general claims and using too much industry jargon that does not market the candidate. A resume is a marketing document designed to sell your skills and strengths rather than just portray a bio of the candidate.

• Include and highlight specific achievements that present a comprehensive picture of your marketability
• Quantify your achievements to ensure greater confidence in the hiring manager and thereby generate interest percentages, dollars, number of employees, etc.
• Work backwards to quantify your accomplishments by asking, If I had not done X, what could have happened?

4.   Cater Your Resume for the Industry

Unlike advertising and design professionals who have greater creative license in designing their resume for those fields, the mechanical engineering industry won't be impressed and may be turned off by distinctive resume design.

• Error on the side of being conservative stylistically
• Your accomplishments, error-free writing, grammatically-correct, clean, crisp type and paper will make the impression for you

5.   Replace your Objective" with a "Career Summary"

A Career Summary is designed to give a brief overview of who you are and what you do. Most Objectives sound similar: Seeking a challenging, interesting position in X where I can use my skills of X, Y, and Z to contribute to the bottom line. Not telling at all.

• Grab a hiring manager's attention right from the beginning, remembering you
  have only 25 few seconds to make a good impression
• Spend time developing a summary that immediately gets their attention, and accurately and powerfully describes you as a solution to their problems

6.   Network. Network. Network.

For unemployed candidates, handing out resumes should be a full-time job. The majority of mid- to senior-level positions are filled through networking, so contact absolutely everyone you know in addition to recruiters who are in a position to hire you or share insights. Networking can include

• Personal business contacts, people you've worked for or who worked for you
• Vendors and sales representatives you've dealt with in the past five years
• People listed in the alumni directory of your alma mater

#MCM: Tips for Online Career Hunting

This week we are talking about what you should do before and after diving into job searches and applying for the first positions that you see. The process of starting a new career or just looking for a new position can be very time consuming, but in a good way. You want to make sure that you are doing everything in your powers to make sure you are getting in front of the right people and doing everything necessary. 

These are some useful and handy tips that you can follow: 


1. Google Me! 
Google yourself to see what comes up -- and what potential employers will see if they do the same. If you don't like what you find, it's time to do damage control.

2. Decide what Career Path you want to go down

Take the time to research various positions that you feel you fit the qualifications for. If you have experience in Communications take a look at Human Resource, for example. 

3. Visit Staffing Agency Sites

 In addition to browsing the large boards, visit the Web sites of recruiting firms that specialize in your field, which maintain their own job postings. You can work with them to get more detailed information on classes that you may need to take to get a position in that new field that you are working your way in.

4. Social Butterfly

Networking is one of the most effective ways of locating new opportunities, and the Internet makes it easier than ever to expand your web of contacts. Sites like LinkedIn provides "virtual" opportunities to connect with other professionals -- in your area or halfway across the world. You can participate in forums, this will help you bounce idea off of other established professionals and also beginners such as yourself. 

5. Tread carefully. 
There's a time and a place for everything. With that old adage in mind, be careful of when and where you do your online job hunting. Using your company's computer and Internet connection to look for a new position is a bad idea. Employers have the right to monitor the sites you visit and the e-mails you send. So, resist the temptation to hunt for a new job at the office if you want to keep the one you have for the time being.

6. Visit Job Search Sites Daily
Top sites like Monster, Indeed and careerbuilder, you can search for specific job titles or general industries that you are interested or experienced in. You want to make sure that you check them daily so you can apply for any job that you see is posted or see what type of skills you need to make that career adjustment. 

7. Follow up!
It is critical that you follow-up with prospective employers after applying for a position.  Although we think technology has no flaws, there are a few, there may of been a few resumes that have got lost in the shuffle. If you haven't heard anything in a week then just call and/or email the company, ask to speak with someone in HR in charge of hiring. Once you get them you want to introduce yourself to them. At this time you can also verify that your resume has been received and is included in consideration for the position. 

Monday Career Motivation #MCM: 5 Questions to Start the Career Search

Starting on Mondays I'm going to be doing a MONDAY CAREER MOTIVATION (#MCM). Working in HR everyone feels that I should have the inside scoop on jobs that are being offered. Wrong! Even if I did it wouldn't be beneficial to you or myself for me just to push you through to get a job. So I'm going to be posting some helpful tips around interviews, resumes, healthcare, etc. also some marketing and management stuff (since I do have a degree and experience in that as well).

So to start this #MCM off we are going to be talking about searching and applying for jobs online. With the job market having it's ups and down, many people are looking for jobs nationwide, by having the convenience of the internet. (oh the joys of technology) Using the internet for job searches can be very tedious and time consuming, but if you are dedicated and willing to spend that extra 20 mins filling that application out, you possible could move on to the next phase.

The first thing we are going to discuss are 5 main questions that you should be asking yourself.


1.  Who are you? 
In terms of training, qualification and your previous job titles. (i.e. Administrative Assistant, Human Resource Generalist, etc.)

2. What do you do? 
This question is a two part question--the second question is what can you do and what do you want to do? -- You are basically looking at the skills required to do the job you want and asking yourself the three questions listed above.

3. What fields interest you?  
Many fields have subfield included in them. You also want to take that into consideration. For example, Human Resource a subfield would be Generalist (Recruiter), Coordinator, Assistant, etc. You want to understand and learn each function and skill set of these subfields.

4. Who do you want to work for? 
For me this is the biggest question that I have to answer. I've dealt with small businesses that gave off the impression that they were multi-million dollar companies and also companies that were the total opposite. You want to make sure the qualities that you bring to the table will be appreciated and also they mesh well with the companies you are looking at. You should also look at the characteristics of the employees that they currently have and if you will fit and work well with them.

5. Where do you want to work? 
As I stated before with technology you can apply for positions world wide. You want to figure out if you are limited to a certain area or a specific state. You should also take into consideration the cost of living in another area if you are planning on relocating.


These are the base line questions that will get you to start thinking about your career and the next steps you will take.

Next, the topic will be Steps to Searching for Positions Online.