Find A Job Today - Resume and Job Hunting Advice

Three Ways to Find a Job by Doing the Opposite

2005-05-16T21:48:00.000-05:00

Want to get hired faster? You can almost always shave days, weeks -- even months -- off your job search if you stop following the herd.

In my eight years of helping people find work, I've watched too many job seekers take too long to get hired because they do the same things as everyone else. This is especially true for recent college grads.

So start doing a few things differently in your job search. And start getting called for more interviews.

Here are three ways ...

1. Look where others don't
When you began your job hunt, where's the first place you looked for openings? I'll bet my next house payment it was either the classified ads or the online job boards. That's where EVERYBODY starts their job search. And that's where you have the MOST competition for openings, like fishing off the same pier with 10,000 other people.

Change your approach.

Where's the last place most people look for job openings? Their network of contacts. Specifically, current and past employers. You know, the people who've signed your paychecks.

Think about it: if someone thought highly enough of your skills to pay you a salary every two weeks, do you think they MIGHT be willing to share job leads with you, or at least pass your name on to someone they know who's hiring?

So today -- right now -- make a list of at least 5 current or former managers you are on good terms with and whom you can contact for job leads. Then call or email them to let them know what you're looking for. Today!

2. Write a very different cover letter
Sorry, but there's no nice way to say this -- most cover letters stink like a high school gym locker.

And, without seeing yours, I can predict with 95% certainty that it has one major flaw -- it's focused too much on you and your needs.

Specifically, I'll wager the last cover letter you sent out was rife with language like this: "I am applying for a job with potential for advancement, where my skills will be utilized and where I will be challenged ..." or something similar.

This is how almost everyone writes cover letters. I know, because I've read almost 10,000 of them since 1996.

Stop it. Now.

Instead, do this: replace every "I" and "my" in your next cover letter with the word "YOU."

This will force you to shift the focus from "me, me, me -- gimme a job" to "you, you, you -- how can I help you, Mr./Ms. Employer?"

Your cover letters will be dramatically more effective. And you'll start getting more interviews as a result.

3. Follow up differently
Most folks fail to follow up effectively after sending out their resumes and cover letters -- when they follow up at all.

Instead of calling employers every week and asking, "Did you get my resume?" or "Did you make a hiring decision yet?" try to add value each time you follow up.

Examples: research the competition and write up a quick report, then send it to the hiring manager. Or share a success story from your past that's relevant to the employer's situation.

In short, try to give employers another reason to hire you every time you contact them. Nobody else is doing this, which is a screaming opportunity for you to get noticed -- and get hired.

Now. These three tips are predicted on a simple idea: why be ordinary?

You can break out of the herd -- and find a job faster -- if you do just a few things differently in your job search. Why not start today?

Now go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others. Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:

You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

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What Recruiters Hate About Resumes And Cover Letters

2005-05-13T20:27:00.000-05:00

I’m going to share with you the awful truth about resumes and cover letters.

Here it is: Most of them stink.

I’ve read nearly 15,000 resumes and cover letters over the years and found glaring mistakes in about 85-90 percent of them.

It’s also the opinion of most of the hiring professionals I’ve spoken to over the years.

Where do most resumes and cover letters go wrong? How can you avoid the mistakes of most job seekers?

To find answers, I spoke with two experienced recruiters. Their candid advice can help you avoid typical pitfalls, and get hired faster.

Here it is ...

Don’t Use The Same Resume For Every Job
Would you grab any old suit off the rack and rush off to church to get married? No. First, you tailor the suit so it fits. That way, you don’t look ridiculous.

Unfortunately, job seekers look ridiculous applying for jobs without tailoring their resumes. It’s a real pet peeve of most hiring professionals, including Larry Harris, a Minneapolis-based recruiter and President of American Consulting (americanconsultingcompany.com).

"Why don’t candidates customize every resume they send out, to fit the job they’re applying for? That makes my job a lot easier when I forward that resume to my client, the hiring manager."

According to Tony Haley, Director of UK-based Fenton Chase International (fentonchase.com), most resumes come across as generic, with no consideration about a particular position or company.

"The most surprising group of candidates who do this is Sales Managers and Sales Directors. These people spend their days reviewing resumes from candidates and yet when it comes to their own, they cannot sell themselves," says Haley.

Solution?

Customize, customize, customize.

Tailor your resume for every different company, position, and manager. Detail experiences most relevant to each opportunity.

Don’t Be Boring
A boring resume is one of the worst sins. The rule of thumb is simple: If they snooze, you lose (because your resume will go in the trash).

Resumes filled with jargon, dry job descriptions, and lack of specific results bore the reader, according to Haley.

"Consider the reader. Remember, the people reading your resume might not be that proficient at it. If they cannot see what they are looking for almost immediately, they might reject it, and if it’s full of technical jargon, they might not understand it," says Haley.

Solution?

Read your resume to 2-3 friends to eliminate dull wording. You lost the audience if eyes glaze over or brows furrow. Revise the resume until it holds your friends’ attention to the end.

Haley offers another way to create a compelling resume: "Use the ‘So, what?’ test. Any sentence on a resume that causes a reader to think ‘So, what?’ probably means it’s waffle. Reword it or take it off."

Don’t Forget The Cover Letter
Don't alienate anyone who could help you get a job.

A missing cover letter alienates busy hiring professionals because it creates more work. They spend time trying to match your application to the open position and more time trying to uncover how you heard about the job.

Solution?

Write and include a cover letter with every resume, including those you send by e-mail. Even a one-line cover letter in an e-mail is better than nothing, according to Larry Harris.

"You could simply write, ‘I’m applying for your telemarketing software sales position. I spent five years doing that exact job. I’d be perfect for it!" he says.

Use these tips from hiring professionals to write a better resume and cover letter next time you apply for that dream job.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.

His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:

You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

http://www.otiscollier.com/

Four Niche Job-Search Tips

2005-05-11T00:54:00.000-05:00

Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting. Where do you start? What Web sites are best for your industry? If you're suffering from "job search overwhelm," take heart. Remember the adage about how to eat an elephant one bite at a time.

Your quest for employment is the same.

It’s less overwhelming if you slice the online job market into bite-sized pieces instead of trying to visit 1,000 Web sites in a single day.

Here are 4 ways to divide the online employment market into smaller niches -- and get hired faster.

1. Search For Local Job Sites
Like politics, most job searches are local. You'll likely get hired by an employer within 20-30 miles of where you are now. So it pays to find Web sites that list local job openings.

Tip: look for job listings at the Web site of your local newspaper or TV station. You'll almost always find something. Examples: startribune.com/jobs, kstp.com, detnews.com, nytimes.com. You'll often find links to other regional job sites this way, too.

2. Search For Jobs By Industry
No matter what line of work you're in, there's probably a Web site with employment postings for that industry. So doing a Google search for "job title + jobs" should produce leads.

Another good Web resource is SearchSimpleton.com. It has links to more than 1,000 industry-specific Web directories, from Accounting and Finance to Travel, Hospitality and Restaurant job sites. It's a good place to narrow your search to a specific industry or job function.

3. Search For Unadvertised Openings
Here's a neat trick. You can get hired by companies before they even know they need you, according to Rich Milgram, founder and CEO of the 4Jobs.com Career Network.

All you have to do is think beyond your title.

"Most people take their job searches too literally. If they don't find an exact match for the position Software Development Manager, for example, they give up. This is a mistake. Instead, look for companies hiring lots of software engineers and go pitch yourself as a manager to that company. That's because employers tend to fill lower-level jobs first over the Internet, so you'll be there ahead of their need for a new team manager," says Milgram.

How do you pitch yourself to employers before they've listed a job opening?

Research the company, make contact with people who work there, then send a networking letter. According to Milgram, your letter should say something like: "I've been in your shoes before, here's what you're going to experience as you hire new people, and I'd be happy to talk to you about it."

"The successful job search is not about you, but about the growth and the future of the company you want to work for," adds Milgram.

The sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll get hired.

4. Contact Old Classmates
You already know that networking can uncover the best job leads. It's essential that you tell everyone you know about your job search. But don't stop with those people.

Talk to everyone you used to know -- folks you haven't been in touch with for years.

And the easiest way is to contact people you went to high school or college with. Even if you haven't talked to them in 20 years, you have something in common and they ought to be glad to hear from you (unless you stole their lunch money or did something equally inapt).

Two Web sites to help make contact with old school friends are Classmates.com and Linkedin.com. Also, most college Web sites will help you get in touch with fellow alumni -- try yours and see.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.

His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

http://www.otiscollier.com/

How To Find A Job By Asking Better Questions

2005-05-09T14:14:00.000-05:00

What if you could train your brain to pull job leads almost out of thin air, and see employment opportunities where before there were none?

Well, you can.

The secret is found in your brain’s Reticular Activation System, or RAS.

Here’s the story …

Our minds can focus on only one or two things at a time. If we paid attention to every bit of input coming in through our eyes, ears and sense of touch, our brains would melt down. To keep us sane, there’s a screening device in our heads to filter out the 99% of unimportant data and feed the remaining 1% to our conscious mind.

That filtering system is called the Reticular Activation System (RAS). It’s found at the top of the brain stem (in case you’re looking).

What does this have to do with your job search, you ask? Plenty!

Have you ever suddenly recognized something you hadn’t noticed before, yet it was there all along? Example: you buy a black Saturn SUV and suddenly every fourth car on the road is a Saturn SUV -- in black. This is your filter system (RAS) in action. When something becomes important to us, we notice more of it.

It’s the same with your job search.

When your target job becomes clearly defined and important to you, you’ll start to see more opportunities where none appeared before, like black Saturn SUVs. Example: you’ll turn a casual conversation into a networking interview. Or a relative will call with a job lead. Or your dream job will suddenly leap out of the classified ads.

Now, here’s the good part. You can train your RAS to recognize more and more job leads every day. How? Simply ask yourself better questions.

"The questions you ask yourself will determine how the Reticular Activating System will respond to your search," according to Mark A. Wigginton, an Austin, Texas-based personal development coach (www.focusingonresults.com).

For example, if you ask yourself, "Why can’t I seem to find a job?" your brain will hand you a list of seemingly valid reasons why you aren’t moving forward.

"As you bring the reasons you can’t progress to the forefront of your mind, your RAS will automatically seek out reinforcement. ‘I can’t make progress because of conflicts with my schedule, my family responsibilities, I don’t know the right people, etc.’" says Wigginton.

But if you ask yourself, "What one thing can I do today to move my job search forward?" or "How can I find 30 minutes for an informational interview tomorrow?" your RAS will lead you toward the results you want. And you’ll get hired faster.

So, take a few minutes today to start asking yourself better questions about that job search. Soon, you’ll find employment opportunities popping up all over, like people driving the same car as yours. Try it and see!

Now, go out and make your own luck.

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.

His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

http://www.otiscollier.com/

How to Handle a Second Job Interview

2005-05-05T13:21:00.000-05:00

You did it -- you got the job interview! Now they want you to … come back for a second one.
What can you expect? What’s the main difference between a first and second job interview? And how should you prepare?

"The first interview is a screening process, to make sure you’re qualified for the job. The second one is usually to see if they like you and to make sure you fit the corporate culture," according to Carole Martin, the Interview Coach (www.interviewcoach.com) and author of the new book, "Boost Your Interview IQ."

You can expect to meet different people each time. While the first interview may be conducted by your future boss, the second could be led by an HR manager. And every interviewer has their own agenda, so keep that in mind as you prepare.

"In the first interview, you may be asked more technical questions about the position itself, to see if you can really do it. In a second interview, someone from HR may ask you more about yourself, to gauge your personality. You can expect behavioral questions, too, such as ‘Tell me about a time you solved a problem for your last employer,’" says Martin.

Are you going to hit the ground running after you’re hired? Or are you going to be high-maintenance? That’s what employers want to find out.

Here’s another tip: on a second interview, be prepared for anything, including an unprepared employer.

"Many hiring managers do not have or use prepared questions," says Steve Kobs, a human resource management professional from Shoreview, Minn.

"Candidate perception of these interviewers varies from bumbling seat-of-the-pants types to the confident, well prepared executive. Some people characterize these interviews more like ‘conversations,’ but be aware you are still being evaluated," advises Kobs.

Managers with unscripted interviews are often looking for personality traits rather than specific knowledge, skills and abilities. They may rely on a gut feel to make hiring decisions by choosing a candidate who "feels right" to them.

With this in mind, what are your most valuable tools in a second interview? Your ears, according to Carole Martin.

"Employers will drop clues about what they’re really looking for in a new hire. If they keep asking about your experience using Microsoft Access, for example, you can be sure that your database skills are a critical requirement for the job," says Martin.

Make sure you understand the employer’s key concerns, so you can address them. A good way is to simply ask, "Can you tell me more about the challenges you’re facing with databases?" for example. Then answer their concerns and prove you’re the one to hire.

Here’s the bottom line.

Employers will call you for a second interview (or any interview) because they have a problem. Whether it’s a need for more revenue, greater efficiency or better customer service, employers have an itch they want to scratch. To ace the interview, demonstrate that you can solve problems and make life better for your new boss.

And while you’re at it, emphasize your unique skills and experience. Doing so will give you an edge in today’s competitive job market.

"You not only want to focus on the employer’s needs and how you can help, you also want to tell them what you can do that the next candidate can’t. You should never go into an interview bland, like vanilla, and expect to succeed," says Martin.

So there you have it.

A second job interview is as much about your people skills as your professional skills. To succeed, be sure to research the company, ask smart questions and act the part of "Miss Congeniality." Doing so will help you get the right job at the right company. Faster.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.

His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:

You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

-------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

http://www.otiscollier.com/

Find Your Job Search Vision

2005-01-25T19:55:00.000-05:00

Would you drive to the airport without knowing your final destination, and buy a plane ticket to any old city? Of course not.

Yet, a large number of job hunters start their search with no clear destination in mind. They’re looking for any old job. Does that make sense? Of course not.

Why not start 2004 off right, with a clear vision for your job search? Here are five tips to help you do that and find the right position faster.

1. Begin with the end in mind.

What’s your vision of the perfect job? Think of the skills, hours, environment and the pay you want. A good way to get clear on this is to define your ideal job in rich detail.

According to Don R. Monteith, author of “How To Get Your Dream Job", (www.howtogetyourdreamjob.com). All of your senses will help you focus your mind on the job you seek. Write down what your dream job looks, feels, sounds and even smells like.”

Before you dismiss this as too "new age" to work, know that all top athletes follow a similar process when they visualize the goals they train for years to achieve. The clearer your target, the easier it is to hit.

2. Gauge the demand.

Before starting your search in earnest, make sure employers are hiring for that job you want. After all, the best résumé in the world won’t get you hired as an elevator operator or stevedore. Use the Internet to see how many openings there are for your target job. Tip: you can uncover more jobs by experimenting with your search terms.

Example: a search at Monster.com for "client service Minnesota" brought back 78 job listings, while "customer service Minnesota" returned 224 matches. So, to find and apply for the maximum number of jobs, be open to all possible interpretations of your skills, experience and job titles.

3. Determine to meet the right hiring authority.

Always remember you will be hired by a person, not a computer. And the more people you meet and impress, the shorter your job search will be.

Today, jot down the names of five people who could hire you or help you get hired. These hiring authorities might include a recruiter, a district manager at your target company, an office manager you know who could recommend you to her boss, etc.

Then, determine to call those five people this week to ask for a meeting to discuss their needs and how you can fill them. Because, when it comes to producing job leads, one in-person meeting can be worth 100 emails or 20 phone calls.

4. Plan your course of action.

It’s been estimated one minute of planning can save 20 minutes of doing. So it’s important to schedule your job search tasks 1, 7 and 30 days in advance.

Writing down your job search plan forces you to think clearly. It may even generate new ideas and directions. Tip: write out the steps you need to take to get from where you are (unemployed or in the wrong job) to where you want to be (doing your ideal job).

Examples: write down the number of résumés you plan to send out, networking phone calls to make, face-to-face meetings to set up, and follow-up letters to send.

5. Take action and correct course as you go.

Now that you have a vision -- your ideal job -- and a written plan as a guide, you can proceed like Christopher Columbus, who, even though he sailed uncharted waters, knew his destination would eventually come into view.

All successful ship’s captains check their position regularly and make corrections. You should, too. At least once each week, ask yourself these 3 questions about your job search:

What’s working? (Do more of it)
What’s not? (Change it or stop it)
What’s next? (Plan your next week’s job search tasks)

Here’s hoping these five tips will help you create -- and achieve -- a job search vision that brings all the best to you and your family in 2004.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

http://www.otiscollier.com/

Three More Job Search Secrets for Tough Times

2005-01-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

In my ongoing search for the latest and best job-hunting tips, I interviewed a Silicon Valley recruiter and cracked open my client files this week.

The employment methods we’ll explore here are highly effective, largely unknown, and all boil down to one word: people.

Because it’s not just what you know that will get you hired. It’s who you know. And – more importantly -- who knows you.

Without further ado, here are 3 job search secrets that can get you hired, even in tough times …

1. Employee Referral Programs – Get an Advocate

"In this economy, a number of companies refuse to interview candidates who aren’t referred by employees," says Dave Lloyd, a Silicon Valley recruiter and author of "Graduation Secrets," a career guide for young people (www.graduationsecrets.com).

Large corporations use referral programs to encourage employees to submit names of people they know for open positions. This screening process makes sense, since like attracts like -- talented employees often have talented friends. And companies are willing to pay $500, $1,000 – and more – to employees who refer new hires.

So it pays to start making friends at big companies you want to work for.

"I knew one motivated employee at a high-tech firm who made $500 for every hire he referred. So he actively searched for great candidates. He helped get three people hired while I was recruiting for that company in 2001," says Lloyd.

Takeaway Lesson:

The best way to learn about employee referral programs is to strike up a relationship with someone at your target company -- and ask. A simple email will do. Then, keep in touch. Your contact may end up walking your resume into a hiring manager’s office. You get hired and your "advocate" gets a cash award – win-win!

2. Network from the Inside – Create Your Own Job

From my client files this week comes the story of "Frank" from Toronto, who a marketing manager for a multi-national high-tech firm.

At first, Frank did what most job seekers do. He posted his resume online, sent it to recruiters and answered help-wanted ads.

But it was networking -- within his own company -- that really paid off.

"I used an internal contact in New York City, one thing led to another, and I was over in the US doing 6 job interviews in the last 2 weeks," says Frank.

His Fortune 500 firm is now creating a new position for him with a generous salary and relocation package. This came after I encouraged him to leave no stone unturned with his current employer.

"I emailed a co-worker and asked if I could use him as a resource for an internal job search. He agreed to help, which led to my interviews. And I already had a good reputation internally, with several VPs to serve as references. That gave me an advantage I would not have had at another company," says Frank.

Takeaway Lesson:

The grass may be greener on your side of the fence. If you’ve done good work for your current employer, be sure to exhaust every in-house option before looking outside for a new job. (I know this firsthand – back when I worked for other people, in the 1990s, my last employer created a new job for me. All I did was ask!)

3. Become a Power Broker in Your Field

It’s an old maxim: Givers get. And it’s especially true when job hunting.

Our Silicon Valley recruiter, Dave Lloyd, confirms this.

"Last year, I was trying to fill a supply chain management position for a computer firm, so I contacted an industry association to see who they would recommend.

"Everyone I talked to told me the same thing: call Joe Jones in Houston. It seems Joe had organized an online forum for job seekers and was helping a lot of other folks in the process. His name was well-known among industry leaders – we offered Joe the job," says Lloyd.

Takeaway Lesson:

You can join or create a job search forum for your city, using a service like http://www.yahoogroups.com. By sharing leads in a forum, you become the go-to person and your reputation can spread. As a result, you may be among the first to hear of new job openings.

Now, go out and create your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

http://www.otiscollier.com/

E-mail Your Resume - D.O.A. or A-O.K.?

2005-01-11T01:21:00.000-05:00

E-mailing your resume to apply for jobs can be incredibly convenient and frustrating.

While it's easy to send your resume to hundreds of employers and recruiters with the push of a button, how can you be sure it was ever read at all?

Here are four ways to make sure your e-mailed resume gets into the right hands -- and gets read.

1. Attach and paste it

When e-mailing your resume, it's not enough to send it as a Word attachment because attachments can get scrambled during transmission, making them illegible.

You should also copy and paste the text of your resume into the body of your e-mail.

In your word processor, simply highlight the text of your resume and copy it into the clipboard (short-term memory). Then, switch over to your e-mail program and paste the text into your message.

Test and verify that you've done this correctly by e-mailing copies to friends.

2. Include a cover letter

Cover letters aren't just for printing or faxing -- send them with e-mailed resumes, too.

When a company posts an opening online, it might receive 100 or more e-mailed resumes within hours. To stand out and prove you're serious about a job, you must include a cover letter.

One recruiter I found puts it this way: "I give more consideration to resumes that are e-mailed with a cover letter than to simple cut-and-paste submissions.

"As the single recruiter in my department, I don't have the ability to carefully screen 80 resumes for an Internet job posting. Serious candidates usually take the time to prepare [and include] a cover letter."

3. Send it offline, too

Just as NASA builds in a backup to any mission-critical system, you should also fax or snail mail your resume to employers as a backup to your e-mailed submission.

You can include a line at the top of your cover letter that says "Sent via fax and e-mail" or something similar.

4. Finally, follow up

Remember that technology should assist -- and never replace -- human contact. The best way to make sure your e-mailed resume got there and got read is to follow up personally.

If you don't hear anything within 24-48 hours, contact the employer to see if the position is still open. Be polite when you call, fax, e-mail or write a paper letter, and offer to send your resume again if the hiring manager didn't get it the first time. This will always increase your response rate.

Best of luck to you!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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Take the 'So, what?' cover letter test

2005-01-05T01:26:00.000-05:00

When you write a cover letter, does it hook employers and leave them no choice but to call you for a job interview?

If the answer is "No," you're not alone.

To succeed, every sentence in your cover letter must be compelling and must prove that you -- and nobody else -- are right for the job.

How do you achieve this?

Take the "So, what?" test. It can actually force you to write better cover letters than ever before.

It works like this. After reading every sentence in your next cover letter, ask yourself: "So, what?" Is that last sentence compelling or fluff? Necessary? True? If not, rewrite or remove it. Then ask yourself, "So, what?" again.

Here are some real-world examples taken from cover letters I've seen this week.

Before
"I am currently employed with Oxydyne Systems in Detroit in the Production Logistic Equipment Assembly Division as a Technical Support Manager. (So, what?) I am willing to take up any engineering post." (So, what?)

After
"I am applying for a position where my eight years of engineering and end-user training experience will add value to logistical operations for your clients."

In the "After" example, the writer clearly states the type of job he's seeking, while promising to add value for the employer's clients. Much more powerful.

Before
"The message you are now reading is not a typical cover letter with an attached resume. Please, do not be afraid to continue reading because this evolving communique describes what I can do for Stanley Publishing (SP), if I am chosen as its new Marketing Manager." (So, what?)
Stop! Don't take forever to appeal to an employer's self interest. Often, you can find better opening paragraphs halfway down the page, as in this "After" example:

After
"I am energized by the opportunity to achieve significant things for your firm. Here's what I can give to Stanley Publishing:· Five years of publication and marketing experience for Fortune 500 clientele, resulting in repeat business, 210% revenue growth and three industry awards."

This "After" example came from the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the cover letter, but works much better as an opening.

If every sentence passes the "So, what?" test, your cover letters will be concise, hard-hitting and irresistible to employers. So, there!

Best of luck to you!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com

How to Get Hired by Being Obvious

2004-12-30T13:50:00.000-05:00

If you want a drink of water, do you hire a focus group or pick up the Yellow Pages? No. You go to the kitchen, fill a glass and drink. You take the shortest route to fill your need.The path is obvious, right?

Your job search is the same way. The formula for success can be obvious, if you take the time to look at how others have found employment before you. Here are three ways to find work faster by "being obvious."

Obvious Tip #1: Follow Up With Employers

You can't get hired if employers don't know you exist. So, if you're sending out resumes with no response, or going to interviews without getting job offers, you need to follow up better with employers. Because you may have fallen off their radar.

Know this: getting hired may be your #1 priority, but it may rank around #459 in the mind of a busy employer. That means you can't depend on them to call you back. It's up to you to take action.

You have to follow up.

But as many as 90% of job seekers FAIL to do so, according to my observations and those of hiring experts like Elizabeth Laukka, National Recruiter for Minneapolis-based Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. "It so rare to receive a thank-you note or follow-up phone call that these really stand out for me. I get them from around 10-20% of the people I interview," says Laukka.

And what if you don't have an address to send a thank-you letter to? "I would absolutely give my mailing address to candidates who wanted to drop something in the mail -- all they have to do is ask," says Laukka.

Obvious Tip #2: Don't Alienate People Who Can Help You

In this age of Palm Pilots, Day Planners and other organizational gizmos, there's no excuse for not staying on top of the details in your job search.

Example:
I agreed last month to write a resume free of charge for one local man. He replied once to the three emails I sent him. And he never did return my phone call. I figure he's either been hired (and no longer needs a resume) or can't keep track of his phone and email messages. In either case, he won't be getting my help.

Here's the reality: the people most able to help you find a job are busy. And they're mentally keeping score of how quickly and professionally you respond to their emails and phone calls.

So it behooves you to treat everyone you meet in your job search with courtesy. Respect their time. Return their phone calls. And they will champion you with hiring managers.

Obvious Tip #3: Ask For The Job

OK. I saved the best for last. That's because if I had put this tip first, I would have scared half of you away by now.

Let me explain.

Any successful job search all boils down to two simple facts. You must: 1. meet the right hiring authority, and 2. convince that person to hire you. It follows that, the more hiring authorities you can meet, the faster you'll find work.

So, why don't more people just introduce themselves to prospective employers and ask for a job? Is this method too obvious? Frightening? I don't know.

But I do know one thing. If you do this right, you will get hired. Fast.

Here's an example shared by Claire Nelligan, from the WorkForce Center in Minneapolis.

"I knew a job seeker who wanted work as a baker. We wrote his resume and was going to mail it. But I asked him to put on his business clothes and walk the resume in to his top three prospective employers," says Nelligan.

Nelligan told him: "Ask for the manager. Introduce yourself. Tell them you want to work there. Tell them that you appreciate they are busy, and quickly share what value you would bring to their organization. Give them the resume and tell them you will call to set up a convenient time to answer any questions they may have about how your skills could meet their needs."

What happened next?

"He was interviewed on the spot and left with a job offer," says Nelligan.

Now, can you expect to walk into Trump Tower, ask to meet The Donald and get a job offer as his next apprentice? Probably not. But you can tweak this method to match your personality and ask to meet almost any hiring authority you choose, so long as you're persistent and professional.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
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How to E-mail Your Cover Letter

2004-12-28T13:49:00.000-05:00

Ever had trouble trying to email a cover letter with your resume?

At a recent career fair, I spoke with an HR professional who reads loads of resumes every day. He made this plea to me: "Please tell people that just because they're sending resumes by email doesn't mean they can get away with a poor cover letter, or no cover letter at all."

So don't cut corners. Here are five ways to make sure your email cover letters deliver a powerful impact when sent with your resume.

1) Avoid character assassination

Email is quirky. Bullets, underlines, bold or italic characters won't show up correctly when you paste them from a word processing document into an email message.

Avoid this problem by first saving your cover letter in plain text format (ASCII). Then replace special characters with ASCII-friendly ones, like these: dashes (-), asterisks (*) and arrows (>).

2) Caution! Wide load

If your cover letter is too wide, it may produce strange line breaks on the reader's screen, which can hurt readability.

Solution? Set the width of your cover letter to about 4-3/4", or less than 80 characters wide.

3) Follow the right order

When sending your cover letter and resume in an email message, your cover letter should come first and your resume second. For easier reading, include a line that clearly separates the two documents, like this:

==== END COVER LETTER ====

4) Get personal

If you know someone influential at your target company, say so! This can help establish a rapport between you and your reader.

Here's an example cover letter beginning that can do this:

"Dear Employer (insert name if known),
"George Best suggested I contact you regarding your possible need for ..."

5) Enthusiasm sells

Don't go overboard and tell readers that you're a stockholder, for instance. But do try to convey your desire to work for the company. If you feel strongly that the position you're after is a perfect match to your skills and experience, say so!

Following these five tips will help ensure that your email cover letters get the attention they deserve.

Best of luck to you!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com

3 Keys to Career Success

2004-12-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

Many clients come to me discouraged that they’re working in the wrong industry … or not working at all. But by being specific, persistent and flexible, you can get the job you want, with almost no competition. Here’s how.

First, you must be specific about your ideal job. Do you want to work in high-tech? International finance? Marketing? Start by identifying several job titles and career paths that appeal to you. If you can’t do that, at least list 3-4 skills that you’d be happy using every day.

Reason? You can’t hit a target you can’t see. By pinpointing a career, you can then pick companies that are the right fit for you. Even if those firms aren’t hiring, you can make inroads by being persistent.

Do research on the Internet or in your local library to learn about your target company, its problems and competitors. Then, devise a solution (or two or three) to present to them. Visit the company and ask to meet with a hiring manager (get their name ahead of time by calling a receptionist).

By approaching that company as a problem-solver who is motivated and resourceful enough to put together solutions without being paid, you will be miles ahead of your “competitors” who do no more than ask for a job. If a job isn’t available, one might be created for you.

But what if you need a job now, to pay the bills while you’re pursuing your dream career? You can still make headway by being flexible.

Consider taking a temp job at an agency that employs people in your field. Specify that you want to do work related to your career goal. Once hired, use your lunch hours to identify problems and solutions. Seek out managers who can hire you full-time and ask to present your solutions.

Eventually, you’ll end up doing what you want for a company that you’re happy with.

You must succeed if you follow these guidelines, because people who do more than what’s expected of them always do. Just remember to be specific, persistent and flexible.

Best of luck to you!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com

Answering questions of salary

2004-12-26T14:59:00.000-05:00

Here’s an odd fact of life.

While everyone wants a handsome salary, almost nobody wants to discuss that salary before being hired. Few questions inspire as much dread among job seekers as: “So, what kind of salary are you looking for?”

Yet, there’s no escaping questions of salary. Here are tips to help you negotiate effectively, before and during the job interview.

When replying to want ads that ask for salary requirements or a salary history, I always advise my clients to NOT answer directly. Because any answer will hurt your chances.

Remember that a typical classified ad can produce hundreds of résumés. That’s a pretty big pile. And a fast way to make that pile smaller is to weed out applicants who are either too expensive (over-qualified) or too cheap (under-qualified).

So, in your cover letter, I would just say: “My salary requirements are negotiable.” This shows you’ve read the want ad carefully, but are choosing to dodge the issue. Most HR professionals and hiring managers I’ve talked to won’t take offense. On the contrary, it gives them one LESS reason NOT to call you.

What about salary questions in the interview? These require some advance planning.

You can say: “Well, I’d like to make as much as other employees with my qualifications.” (Here you can repeat 2-3 of your most valuable skills or achievements, just to remind them how qualified you are.) Then add: “And what is a typical salary for this position?”

Another strategy is to avoid a specific salary … and name a pay range instead. Say: “I was thinking of a salary in the $25,000 to $35,000 range,” (with $25,000 being the lowest amount you’d accept). That way, you can name a higher figure, if they try to pin you down, yet still be able to retreat to a point that satisfies you.

Finally, information is power here. If you can back your salary request with a list of average salaries that you’ve obtained from the Internet or from your own phone calls, you’ll enjoy greater leverage in your negotiations.

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

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http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net

http://www.otiscollier.com

Simplify your resume

2004-12-23T09:53:00.000-05:00

About 150 years ago, Henry David Thoreau had two things to say that can help you write a better resume today. They are: "Simplify! Simplify!"

You've heard many times that you have only 15-30 seconds to impress readers of your resume. So, the simpler and easier-to-read you can make it, the better.

Here are three ways to do just that.

1. Begin with clarity

I'm always amazed by the number of resumes that begin with no objective or summary statement. As a result, the employer is forced to start reading without knowing what the applicant can do.

Many resumes begin by listing education, for example. But even if your degree is in high demand, such as computer science, you're still leaving room for misinterpretation. (Does this person want a job in network administration? Telephone support? Internal help desk?)

Instead, try opening with an objective such as this: "Position in network administration where my computer science degree and technical skills will add value."

If you want to be more flexible about the job you're after, you can say: "Position where my computer science degree, troubleshooting skills and customer service experience will add value."

2. Group information logically

Hurried readers want to quickly scan through your resume. You can help them by breaking things down into logical groupings. Don't jumble things together, as in this example:

Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows NT 4.0 Server, MS Exchange, DOS, Windows 95/98, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS Outlook.

Break longer lists into smaller bits and give them a clear heading, like this:

COMPUTER SKILLS* Operating Systems - Windows NT 4.0 (Workstation and Server), Windows 95/98 and DOS.* Applications - Microsoft Exchange, Word, Excel, Access and Outlook.

3. Focus on results

To make it easier for your reader to picture you achieving results on the job for him/her, clearly show how you've done it for others. Be as specific as possible.

Avoid dry language, like this:
- Responsible for maintaining accurate inventory, acquisition and delivery of supplies.

Try saying this, instead:
- Vastly improved customer service while cutting costs 24% by accurately managing inventory, acquisitions and deliveries.

Simple is good. When you begin your resume with clarity, group your information logically and focus on results, you'll enjoy a simply wonderful job search.

Best of luck to you!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others. Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

What To Do When Nothing Happens

2004-12-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

What do you do when you've created and sent out the "perfect" resume and nothing happens? No calls for an interview. No form letters in the mail. No feedback of any kind.

If nothing is happening in your job search, remember the three "Re-s" and do the following:

re-post your resume online
re-examine and revise your resume
redouble your overall efforts

Let's take a look at each of these in detail.

Re-post your resume online
If you've posted your resume on an employment site, you may notice a drop in the number of employers contacting you after two or three weeks.

For best results, re-post or update your resume every 30 days. Why? When your resume is "freshly posted," you appear as a candidate who's actively pursuing a new job, which makes you more attractive to employers.
Re-examine and revise your resume
If employers aren't beating a path to your door, re-examine your resume with a critical eye. Ask yourself these questions:

"Does my resume focus on a specific job or career path?" (You can't hit a target you don't aim at. Revise or remove anything that doesn't prove you're the best choice for the exact job you want.)

"Does my resume contain errors in grammar, spelling, etc.?" (When in doubt, show your resume to at least two friends for proofreading.)

"Is my resume concise and to-the-point?" (You won't bore anyone into hiring you. Limit yourself to two pages of tightly focused text.)

When you re-examine your resume and revise accordingly, you can remove limitations that may have kept the phone from ringing.
Redouble your efforts
Try to talk to at least three people every day about your job search, and ask them to pass your name along to anyone who might be able to help. This is incredibly powerful.

Here's why. Let's assume every person on earth knows at least 100 people (this is a conservative guess). By talking to 90 people this month, you'll expand your network of contacts to 9,000 pairs of eyes and ears ... or more. If that doesn't shorten your job search, nothing will!

Finally, remember that anything worth having is worth working for. If you keep the three "Re-s" in mind, you can make a fresh start today and jumpstart your job search.

Best of luck to you!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

How NOT to Write a Resume

2004-12-20T18:07:00.000-05:00

You can learn a lot about how to do something right by first learning what NOT to do.

Take resumes, for example.

I review about 200-300 a month, and most have at least 2-3 mistakes. Yet, all those hundreds of mistakes can be grouped into just a handful of categories, which you would do well to avoid.

Read on and learn how to write a better resume by avoiding the mistakes of others, some of them unintentionally hilarious ...

Mistake #1: "Golden Retriever Syndrome"

Never talk about yourself in terms that could also describe a hunting dog, like the following language, which appears in far too many resumes I see:

"Hard-working, self-motivated and dependable individual."

Tired phrases like that mean nothing to employers, because they could apply to almost anyone ... or almost anyone’s dog.

Instead, dump the empty assertions and back up the claims in your resume with facts, like this:

"Proven sales skills. Ranked in top three among 78 reps for five straight years, exceeding sales quotas for 18 of 20 quarters."

See the difference?

Mistake #2: A Verbal Jungle

To improve your resume (or anything you write), read it out loud. Since writing is just words on paper, reading it aloud will help you write as you would speak.

Here’s an example of language so dense, you’ll need a machete to find any meaning:

"Directed assembly of elements from business units in engineering, development, program management, distribution, and legal to effect market research, proposal responses, and contract management into comprehensive, virtual, successful teams ... "

After reading that three times, I’m still baffled.

Worse, do you think employers have time to read a resume three times to figure it out? No. As a result, that job seeker is still looking for work, I’ll wager.

Solution: Read your resume out loud before sending it out.

If you find yourself gasping for breath halfway through a sentence, stick a period or dash in there and break it in two.

And if anything you write sounds less than 100% clear when you read it aloud, revise until it would make sense to your mother. Doing so will ensure that your resume resonates with readers at all levels, from HR managers to your future boss.

Mistake #3: Negative Nuance

Just one stray word can derail a whole sentence. You know that. But in a resume, the wrong choice of words can brand you as unprofessional or careless in the eyes of employers.

Here’s an example of resume wording that gives off the wrong nuance, even though the facts are clear enough:

"Spearheaded use of resources in Vietnam in spite of resistance from senior management ..."

I don’t know about you, but "Spearheaded," "Vietnam" and "resistance" in the same sentence make me think of a John Wayne movie. Which detracts from what the job seeker is trying to say.

Before sending your resume to employers, send it to at least 2-3 friends whose judgment you trust. Ask them to read it for grammar and punctuation, but also for unintended meanings. Revise as needed.

Mistake #4: Jumbles of Jargon

Some resumes pile on the buzzwords in a vain effort to impress. Like this:

"New-media pioneer working with technical and business professionals to create new ways of presenting content and impactful tools for producing content and organizing workflow."

We’ll pass on "impactful" for now -- what does a "new-media pioneer" do, exactly? I’ve got a picture in my head of covered wagons and HD-TV, but I don’t think that’s right ...

Again, you can nip most crud in the bud by reading your resume out loud and then sending it to a friend for honest input. Because friends don’t let friends embarrass themselves.

Here’s hoping that exposing these four common resume gaffes will help you avoid making them!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others. Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting

One Page Or Two

2004-12-16T02:18:00.000-05:00

After "What does a Scotsman wear under his kilt?" the second-most asked question in the English-speaking world could be "How long should my resume be -- one page or two?"

It's a question I'm asked almost daily by clients and prospects. At the risk of sounding coy, my answer is this: Your resume should be as long as it needs to be -- and no longer.

There's no law against two-page resumes, especially for folks with 10 or more years of experience, or those in highly technical careers. I've done two-page resumes for recent college grads who had to list computer languages, certifications and other details.

But if your resume is two pages long, it must be compelling to read. Remember: the purpose of your resume is to get an interview, not to tell your life story.

Put your most important selling points near the top of page one. Depending on your field, those points might include your degree, certifications and work experience. Summarize where possible and remember that you can always elaborate during a job interview.

A one-page resume works for most people and it's the length I usually aim for when writing for clients. I'd say 65-75% of my resumes are one page long.

If you have trouble getting your resume down to one page, there are lots of ways to make room for more information. You can:

· reduce the size of your name and address at the top of the resume· decrease the font size for your body copy from 12 to 11 points

· reduce your top and bottom margins -- but try not to go any smaller than 0.5"

· reduce the size of your headings

Keep your resume lean and mean using the "So, what" test. After reading each sentence in your resume, ask yourself: "So, what?" Is that last sentence compelling or fluff? If the words don't move you, rewrite or remove them. Then ask yourself: "So, what?" again.

So, don't get your kilt in a twist. Follow these tips and you'll write a resume that works, whether it's one page or two.

Best of luck to you!

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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.

Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.

Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting