Uncertain times and major layoffs - how to previal

There are a few things you can do today to get the edge when it comes to your employment. A recent article written in Fortune Magazine has concluded that for every 1 job opening there are 100 people who apply. However, I am not writing this to deliver the dreadful news on the economy; I'll save that for the major television networks. With the right attitude followed by the correct actions you will be well on your way to improving your job situation.

Be a positive thinker. Thinking about your daily tasks in a positive light will give you more energy and drive to see them through. Try to think about all the positive aspects of your life and what you have accomplished. I bet you will be amazed at what you’ve done. Personally, I like to start my day off with positive affirmations and a little meditation, doing that really empowers me through the day. It may take a little extra effort but its well worth it.

If you are currently employed, there are a few important actions you may want to be taking today to ensure your own job security. Start off by taking a look at your work history with your employer; make a list of some of the most important things you have achieved and projects you have made a positive impact on. This list will come in handy if you ever have to defend your job relevancy. Keeping track of these things, including ways you saved your company money and programs you have implemented, will be useful when the time comes to begin the quest for a new job.

If you are in the process of looking for a new career, consider researching jobs that will be in high demand in the future. For example, everyone will need health care at one time or another. As the population ages there will be more and more opportunities available.

The military is another flourishing industry in tough economic times. It's not for everyone but with the military having such a huge presence here it's something to think about. The military will help pay for your college education and if you've ever thought about joining now is a good time.

It looks like “green jobs” may be in for some colossal growth as well. With Obama stressing new environmental energy in America’s future, there is sure to be many new openings to fill.

Make sure you have a professional resume. Submitting a "lights out" resume will ensure that you will be on the very top of the pile. Chargers fans, you know what I'm talking about. Recruiters on average spend just 10 to 30 seconds looking at each resume they receive. Of course recruiter’s are looking at more resumes than ever before. To stand out above other applicants you must have a well written resume that showcases your skills and achievements. A well designed resume in equally important. Just a little color and personality goes a long way. A small investment such as having your resume professionally written and designed will make a big impact in your job search.

Networking is another important avenue to consider. The more people you meet the more opportunities you will have. A lot of people stress the need for networking but many don't know how to accomplish this. It's not difficult and doesn't have to become a chore. A good resource to utilize is craigslist.com. There you will find networking groups with like-minded people who might have ideas you never thought of.
It might seem impossible but you really can find your dream job today and improve your current job situation. It might take a little more effort and time but with the right mindset and actions it can be done.

Some important things to remember(job history and computer skills)...

Resume’s that go too far back into the job seeker’s job history. This is another easy thing to overlook. No matter how unfair it may be society and employers value youth as an important factor when hiring someone. You should not help them by listing all of your many jobs you have had. Don’t list any jobs you may have had 15 years ago. If you graduated from college over 10 years ago don’t include the date of graduation.

A Resume that buries important skills, especially computer skills, at the bottom. You should list your skills at the top of your resume (after the “summary of qualifications” or “Profile”). Your skills are one of the most important factors when choosing a good match for a job, a lot of people put these at the bottom as an afterthought. Not a good idea.

Remember these 2 important tips if you want to have the highest impact possible. The recruiter will only look at your particular resume for around 30 seconds, make sure you have the right information in the right place.

The resume format and checklist....

Having your resume in the correct format is crucial. Today recruiters are looking for a quick snapshot of what you the employee have to offer. The faster you can relay this information to the recruiter the better chance you will get called for the interview. Here is a quick reference on how your resume should be formatted.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Put your contact information at the top of your resume. It should include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS/PROFILE: Powerful opening statement/paragraph of qualifications and profile.

EXPERIENCE: List your most recent experience first and do not overlook internships,Volunteer positions and part-time employment. Use action verbs to highlight accomplishments and skills.

EDUCATION: List your degrees in chronological order with the most recent degree first. You may also include relevant coursework to highlight specific skills and knowledge. If your GPA is above the norm, go ahead and list it in this section.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This section may stand alone under the “Additional Information” heading and highlight relevant information that may include Honors/ Awards, computer and language skills, professional associations, university and
community activities (including any offices held). As a style issue, if you choose to break these out as separate headings that’s perfectly acceptable. What is not acceptable is personal information such as age, marital status or religion.

REFERENCES: Do not put references on your resume. When you go to an interview have a prepared list of 2-4 references on a separate sheet of paper that matches you’re resume with your contact information at the top.

Use this as quick guide to see if your resume matches – if not just adjust until it’s correct and matches the above format.

Resume Checklist-
-My resume is clear, concise and makes a positive impression in 20 seconds or less.
-There are no spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.
-My resume presents skills and accomplishments that match employer requirements.
-My resume accurately summarizes my qualifications.
-Accomplishment statements on the resume start with action verbs.
-The resume is organized, easy to read and has a balance between content and white space.
-The font size on the resume is 11 or 12 point.

The ASCII resume format - Why it's a must have.

Along, with your Word resume you should have a resume called the ASCII text resume. It’s really nothing more than a very simplified version of your resume in text format. This is typically used when applying to jobs that specifically ask for this format. It’s used to help filter through resumes and to help find “keywords”.

Here are some tips on how to create the ASCII resume format. I suggest you use the program notepad. CLICK HERE to download notepad. CLICK HERE to download an example of an ASCII resume.

• Line length should not exceed 80 characters
• Do not use word wrap -- use hard returns instead
• You cannot use bullets in ASCII format -- instead use hyphens (dashes)
• Use a fixed width font, i.e. 10 point Courier
• Use spaces to line up your text
• Use left justification, and use spaces to center text

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You need a resume that uses keywords.

Job-hunting today increasingly revolves around the mysterious world of keywords. Inundated by resumes from job-seekers, employers have increasingly relied on digitizing job-seeker resumes, placing those resumes in keyword-searchable databases, and using software to search those databases for specific keywords that relate to job vacancies. Most Fortune 500 companies, in fact, and many smaller companies now use these technologies. In addition, many employers search the databases of third-party job-posting and resume-posting boards on the Internet.

The first step in choosing the keywords that will get your resume noticed is to examine the job posting for the position you’re applying for. Note the key phrases that appear in the posting, and then make sure as many of those phrases as possible are included in your resume.

Doing this will greatly affect your chance of getting the interview. See how can help you achieve your career goals.

Some examples of STRONG Profiles and Summaries...

Here are some examples of some well written Summaries that WILL capture attention and position you as the perfect employee..

Some examples of well written Profile/Summaries:

- Highly motivated, creative and versatile real estate executive with seven years of experience in property acquisition, development and construction, as well as the management of large apartment complexes. Especially skilled at building effective, productive working relationships with clients and staff. Excellent management, negotiation and public relations skills. Seeking a challenging management position in the real estate field that offers extensive contact with the public.

- Over 10 years as an organizational catalyst/training design consultant with a track record of producing extraordinary results for more than 20 national and community based organizations. A commitment to human development and community service. Energetic self-starter with excellent analytical, organizational, and creative skills.

- Financial Management Executive with nearly ten years of experience in banking and international trade, finance, investments and economic policy. Innovative in structuring credit enhancement for corporate and municipal financing. Skilled negotiator with strong management, sales and marketing background. Areas of expertise include (a bulleted list would follow this paragraph.)

- Health Care Professional experienced in management, program development and policy making in the United States as well as in several developing countries. Expertise in emergency medical services. A talent for analyzing problems, developing and simplifying procedures, and finding innovative solutions. Proven ability to motivate and work effectively with persons from other cultures and all walks of life. Skilled in working within a foreign environment with limited resources.

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How to "target" a specifc job using your resume.

A resume that is too general will kill your chances for that dream job you want. I see this very often. You must have a resume that is created and focused on the very job you are applying for. You risk not getting noticed or called for that interview if you do not. It only takes a little extra effort on your part but the reward is worth it.

Employers only take from 2.5 to 20 seconds to review a particular resume, so you don’t have time to waste. You must get your point across very quickly. Employers want resumes to show a clear match between the applicant and a particular job's requirements. A "general" resume that is not focused on a specific job's requirements is not seen as competitive and will be tossed aside. A customized resume has a much better chance of getting looked at seriously.

Start by using words and descriptions that the job posting asks for in the "summary" and "skills" sections of your resume. That will give you the best chance at getting the interview. This will help the recruiter/employer see that you ARE a good match for the position at hand.

Follow this advice and you will be one step ahead of the other applying for the job.