Making your resume stand out from among hundreds of others can be a challenge. The fact is that you have only a few seconds to grab the reader's attention. If they spot something interesting, you may get a little closer review. If not, your resume may be discarded with a stack of others, never to be seen again. So how can you entice the reader to keep reading? Here are a few proven strategies:
Use titles that match the job you want. Rather than saying you are looking for an accounting position, be more specific. What type of accounting position are you looking for? General accounting? Tax accounting? Payroll accounting? While you may have experience that qualifies you for any of these jobs, the employer is only looking for experience relevant to the position they are hiring for. A perfect match to the title they are looking for will more effectively grab their attention than a non-related one.
Use numbers and power words. Be clear and concise throughout your resume. When appropriate, include specific numbers. Did you help reduce overhead costs within your department? Did you increase sales? Did you consistently exceed your sales quota? Great! Put a number with it to make it measurable. Also replace more passive words with stronger, action-oriented words. Instead of saying "responsible for" repeatedly, substitute power words such as directed, managed, or implemented. Power words highlight results instead of responsibilities.
Proofread, proofread, proofread! This is perhaps the most important thing you can do. Even one minor spelling mistake shows a lack of attention to detail and can instantly move your resume into the discard pile. Let me say this again - proofread your resume. Make sure the font is consistent throughout, words are spelled and used correctly. It is a good idea to have someone else review your resume for you.
Omit irrelevant or assumed information. There is no need to include information about your hobbies, your age, or other personal information (other than contact information) unless it is specifically asked for. This takes up valuable space and most hiring managers are not interested anyway. There is also no need to include phrases such as "references available upon request" or "available for interview". Most people reading your resume will assume that you are available for an interview and willing to provide references.
If you are interested in more tips to help fine-tune your resume, please join us for our telephone seminar on Wednesday, April 29th at 8 PM Central. We will discuss these tips and many others as well as allow for questions and discussion. For more information, click here.
Any comments or tips that you would like to share with other readers? Feel free to send us your thoughts!
Coach April
Nexus Coaching Partners
"Bringing Inspiration to Life!"
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Differentiating yourself in the job market
It's all over the news every day...unemployment figures are at an alarmingly high rate and growing worse by the day. The actual numbers vary day by day but it's undeniable that there are many, many people are unemployed. With all of these highly talented, highly skilled and highly qualified workers on the job market, competition for jobs is at an all-time high. While this is a good situation for employers to be in, it often leaves candidates frustrated and unsure how to differentiate themselves to potential employers. Traditional job search methods often don't bring desired results either. So how can you stand out among other candidates? Here's how:
Review your resume. Look over your resume again or ask someone else to help you. Ask yourself if there is anything you could change to make your qualifications stand out. This could be something as simple as changing font, highlighting certain words or phrases or as detailed as a format change. Due to the quantity of resumes received, hiring managers often only give resumes a quick once-over. If there is nothing that grabs their attention immediately, they will discard that resume and move on. Be careful to not bury your most valuable qualifications among resume "fluff".
Get creative. There are many different ways to get creative about finding a job. Some people have rented billboards, carried signs down the street, or purchased ads in different publications. While these examples are a bit extreme, they do show that thinking creatively can help you explore new methods that just might grab an employer's attention.
Network. Use all of the contacts that you have to spread the word and keep their eyes and ears open for potential opportunities. Many people are willing to help out in this way. Simply sending them a note with your resume attached letting them know you are looking for employment can have great success. Many companies don't advertise all of their job openings and this may be an inside connection that you wouldn't have otherwise found. Use existing relationships and work on developing new ones as well. There are many networking groups where members support each other. This can be a very valuable resource as long as you are willing to help others when you are able. Social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn are great tools as well. A word of caution though - make sure any content is appropriate for potential employers to view.
Minimize effort on traditional methods. There are many websites available for candidates to apply for jobs online. However, many people report little to no success using these sites. This is due largely to the fact that little effort is required to send in a resume and employers are often flooded with resumes from unqualified candidates.
Volunteer. With unemployment so high, many charitable organizations are hurting. Perhaps you have skills that would benefit a non-profit in some way. If not, this is the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill. By volunteering your time, you keep your skills sharp or learn new skills and you help others in the process. This experience is also something you can add to your resume. Volunteering can also serve as a networking opportunity as well as a chance to showcase your skills.
What other ways have you heard about, seen or done yourself that got the job? Leave a comment with your thoughts and you could win 2 complimentary coaching sessions.
Wishing you all the best,
Coach April
Certified Life and Career Coach - Nexus Coaching Partners
"Bringing Inspiration to Life!"
http://www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
Review your resume. Look over your resume again or ask someone else to help you. Ask yourself if there is anything you could change to make your qualifications stand out. This could be something as simple as changing font, highlighting certain words or phrases or as detailed as a format change. Due to the quantity of resumes received, hiring managers often only give resumes a quick once-over. If there is nothing that grabs their attention immediately, they will discard that resume and move on. Be careful to not bury your most valuable qualifications among resume "fluff".
Get creative. There are many different ways to get creative about finding a job. Some people have rented billboards, carried signs down the street, or purchased ads in different publications. While these examples are a bit extreme, they do show that thinking creatively can help you explore new methods that just might grab an employer's attention.
Network. Use all of the contacts that you have to spread the word and keep their eyes and ears open for potential opportunities. Many people are willing to help out in this way. Simply sending them a note with your resume attached letting them know you are looking for employment can have great success. Many companies don't advertise all of their job openings and this may be an inside connection that you wouldn't have otherwise found. Use existing relationships and work on developing new ones as well. There are many networking groups where members support each other. This can be a very valuable resource as long as you are willing to help others when you are able. Social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn are great tools as well. A word of caution though - make sure any content is appropriate for potential employers to view.
Minimize effort on traditional methods. There are many websites available for candidates to apply for jobs online. However, many people report little to no success using these sites. This is due largely to the fact that little effort is required to send in a resume and employers are often flooded with resumes from unqualified candidates.
Volunteer. With unemployment so high, many charitable organizations are hurting. Perhaps you have skills that would benefit a non-profit in some way. If not, this is the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill. By volunteering your time, you keep your skills sharp or learn new skills and you help others in the process. This experience is also something you can add to your resume. Volunteering can also serve as a networking opportunity as well as a chance to showcase your skills.
What other ways have you heard about, seen or done yourself that got the job? Leave a comment with your thoughts and you could win 2 complimentary coaching sessions.
Wishing you all the best,
Coach April
Certified Life and Career Coach - Nexus Coaching Partners
"Bringing Inspiration to Life!"
http://www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Change your focus and change your results
Happy New Year! Now that we are a couple of weeks into 2009, how are your New Year's resolutions going? Have you been able to stick with them or have you given up already?
I often hear people complain about not being able to successfully reach their goals. While many of these people have specific, realistic goals, the problem lies in their focus. Sometimes this is just a matter of your choice of words. Try this quick example: don't think about chocolate. What are you thinking about now? More than likely, you are thinking about chocolate. This is what sabotages many of our goals - we think about what we DON'T want to do rather than what we DO want to do. By simply changing your words, you change your focus, which changes your thoughts, and in turn changes your results. Sounds simple enough, right?
Consider this example:
Goal: To lose 10 pounds in the next 2 months by not eating fast food.
Analysis: This is a great start! This goal is specific, measurable, timely, and achievable. However, it focuses on an activity that is to be avoided.
New goal: To lose 10 pounds in the next 2 months by eating meals at home.
Obviously, these are the same goals...to lose 10 pounds. But this subtle difference in wording allows the brain to focus on the desired behavior, rather than the non-desired behavior. Your chances of success can increase exponentially with only a simple change in words. Amazing, isn't it?
My challenge to you this month is to carefully examine your goals and see if you are focused on a positive outcome. Can you change your focus to change your results? If you need help getting started, please feel free to email or call me to set up a session. If you've got an example you'd like to share, please post your comments.
Wishing you much success,
Coach April
http://www.nexuscoachingpartners.com/
"Bringing Inspiration to Life!"
I often hear people complain about not being able to successfully reach their goals. While many of these people have specific, realistic goals, the problem lies in their focus. Sometimes this is just a matter of your choice of words. Try this quick example: don't think about chocolate. What are you thinking about now? More than likely, you are thinking about chocolate. This is what sabotages many of our goals - we think about what we DON'T want to do rather than what we DO want to do. By simply changing your words, you change your focus, which changes your thoughts, and in turn changes your results. Sounds simple enough, right?
Consider this example:
Goal: To lose 10 pounds in the next 2 months by not eating fast food.
Analysis: This is a great start! This goal is specific, measurable, timely, and achievable. However, it focuses on an activity that is to be avoided.
New goal: To lose 10 pounds in the next 2 months by eating meals at home.
Obviously, these are the same goals...to lose 10 pounds. But this subtle difference in wording allows the brain to focus on the desired behavior, rather than the non-desired behavior. Your chances of success can increase exponentially with only a simple change in words. Amazing, isn't it?
My challenge to you this month is to carefully examine your goals and see if you are focused on a positive outcome. Can you change your focus to change your results? If you need help getting started, please feel free to email or call me to set up a session. If you've got an example you'd like to share, please post your comments.
Wishing you much success,
Coach April
http://www.nexuscoachingpartners.com/
"Bringing Inspiration to Life!"
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
What I should be doing right now...
My to do list this past weekend was at least a mile long. Realistically, there was no way I could complete everything on Saturday and Sunday. With limited time during the week, the weekend is the ideal time for most of us to get things done. And that's usually the case for me, too...my weekends are usually quite productive. In fact, I take great pride in how much I am able to accomplish in a single weekend. This weekend was a little different though.
As usual, I left the office on Friday and had to run one quick errand on the way to pick the kids up from school (got to start on that to do list, right?). So I ran into the store and picked up a novel that several of my friends highly recommended along with a couple of other things. While waiting for the kids to get out of school, I opened up the book and started reading. Well, I had to wait a little longer than I had anticipated, but just long enough to be completely drawn into the book. I spent much of the remainder of the weekend reading instead of tackling that gigantic to do list. I very rarely (ok, never) do anything like this where the majority of the weekend is spent doing what I want to do. The problem was that I still had to face the list on Monday morning.
Usually, this would lead to great anxiety for me. But this time was different. I'll admit I had a twinge of guilt about "wasting" the entire weekend when there were so many other things that I should have been doing. But when I really thought about it, I realized that I was starting the week relaxed and refreshed. Hmmm, that's very interesting, don't you think? I got nothing done AND didn't feel guilty about it at ALL! And because I felt so refreshed from the weekend, I have been able to attack my list with a vengance!
Obviously, it's not practical to spend every weekend like this. But it is important to take some time for yourself periodically and do something that gives you time to unwind, recharge your batteries, and keep you feeling balanced. The result will be increased productivity. I know this may sound a little counter-intuitive, but it's true.
My challenge to you is to find something (or nothing) that makes you feel this way. Schedule an hour or so (yes, write it in your calendar) to do this. Then look at your to do list again...suddenly it doesn't seem so daunting. Sometimes letting go of the things we think we should be doing better prepares us to face them.
What helps you unwind and recharge? I'd love to hear your comments!
Relax and enjoy life!
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
"Bringing Inspiration to Life!"
P.S. If you'd like help getting started, call me for a free 30-minute coaching session. I have many different tools and tips to help you create the life you dream about!
As usual, I left the office on Friday and had to run one quick errand on the way to pick the kids up from school (got to start on that to do list, right?). So I ran into the store and picked up a novel that several of my friends highly recommended along with a couple of other things. While waiting for the kids to get out of school, I opened up the book and started reading. Well, I had to wait a little longer than I had anticipated, but just long enough to be completely drawn into the book. I spent much of the remainder of the weekend reading instead of tackling that gigantic to do list. I very rarely (ok, never) do anything like this where the majority of the weekend is spent doing what I want to do. The problem was that I still had to face the list on Monday morning.
Usually, this would lead to great anxiety for me. But this time was different. I'll admit I had a twinge of guilt about "wasting" the entire weekend when there were so many other things that I should have been doing. But when I really thought about it, I realized that I was starting the week relaxed and refreshed. Hmmm, that's very interesting, don't you think? I got nothing done AND didn't feel guilty about it at ALL! And because I felt so refreshed from the weekend, I have been able to attack my list with a vengance!
Obviously, it's not practical to spend every weekend like this. But it is important to take some time for yourself periodically and do something that gives you time to unwind, recharge your batteries, and keep you feeling balanced. The result will be increased productivity. I know this may sound a little counter-intuitive, but it's true.
My challenge to you is to find something (or nothing) that makes you feel this way. Schedule an hour or so (yes, write it in your calendar) to do this. Then look at your to do list again...suddenly it doesn't seem so daunting. Sometimes letting go of the things we think we should be doing better prepares us to face them.
What helps you unwind and recharge? I'd love to hear your comments!
Relax and enjoy life!
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
"Bringing Inspiration to Life!"
P.S. If you'd like help getting started, call me for a free 30-minute coaching session. I have many different tools and tips to help you create the life you dream about!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Changing your beliefs
Now that you have your list of beliefs, pick out the negative beliefs. These are the beliefs we are going to change. Transforming your negative beliefs will change your life. And you have all the power within you to make the change!
Here are a few examples of negative beliefs and the transformed beliefs:
Negative / Transformed
I can't. / I can.
I am not good enough. / I am always okay.
I can't change. / I am always changing and transforming.
I am a victim of events. / I control how I respond to events.
Although it may be challenging to overcome years of negative beliefs, it is possible to do. Write down your new beliefs and read over them at least twice a day.
I challenge you to try this exercise over the next two weeks and see what happens. If you need help transforming any of your beliefs, feel free to contact me and I can help you.
Get started on creating the life of your dreams!
Warmly,
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
"Bringing inspiration to life!"
Here are a few examples of negative beliefs and the transformed beliefs:
Negative / Transformed
I can't. / I can.
I am not good enough. / I am always okay.
I can't change. / I am always changing and transforming.
I am a victim of events. / I control how I respond to events.
Although it may be challenging to overcome years of negative beliefs, it is possible to do. Write down your new beliefs and read over them at least twice a day.
I challenge you to try this exercise over the next two weeks and see what happens. If you need help transforming any of your beliefs, feel free to contact me and I can help you.
Get started on creating the life of your dreams!
Warmly,
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
"Bringing inspiration to life!"
Friday, June 20, 2008
Who are you?
Have you ever thought about who you really are?
Who you are is defined by what you believe about yourself. That's kind of a scary thought, isn't it? It's true though - our beliefs define who we really are. Let's first define belief - a belief is any habitual pattern of thinking. We hold beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. While most of our beliefs were formed when we were children, some of our beliefs have evolved or changed altogether as we matured and viewed the world differently. Looking at it this way, it seems as though that would give us control over our own beliefs. Hmmm, there's an intesting concept. Let me say it again, you control the beliefs about yourself. Holding the power to our own beliefs gives us the opportunity to shift our belifs. How can we do this? We can shift our beliefs by making a conscious choice.
The first step to changing your beliefs to increase your self-concept is to identify your beliefs. That's my challenge to you this week - make a list of all of the things you believe about yourself. Keep in mind that these beliefs can be positive or negative - you will likely have some of both. Be honest as you create your list. Even if you find your list is full of negative beliefs, remember that you can change this. Don't worry too much right now about what is on your list. Next week, we'll analyze the list in greater depth and talk about how to change the beliefs you don't need in your life.
Remember that each of us is a unique and special creation.
Do your beliefs reflect that?
Wishing you much joy and happiness,
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
Who you are is defined by what you believe about yourself. That's kind of a scary thought, isn't it? It's true though - our beliefs define who we really are. Let's first define belief - a belief is any habitual pattern of thinking. We hold beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. While most of our beliefs were formed when we were children, some of our beliefs have evolved or changed altogether as we matured and viewed the world differently. Looking at it this way, it seems as though that would give us control over our own beliefs. Hmmm, there's an intesting concept. Let me say it again, you control the beliefs about yourself. Holding the power to our own beliefs gives us the opportunity to shift our belifs. How can we do this? We can shift our beliefs by making a conscious choice.
The first step to changing your beliefs to increase your self-concept is to identify your beliefs. That's my challenge to you this week - make a list of all of the things you believe about yourself. Keep in mind that these beliefs can be positive or negative - you will likely have some of both. Be honest as you create your list. Even if you find your list is full of negative beliefs, remember that you can change this. Don't worry too much right now about what is on your list. Next week, we'll analyze the list in greater depth and talk about how to change the beliefs you don't need in your life.
Remember that each of us is a unique and special creation.
Do your beliefs reflect that?
Wishing you much joy and happiness,
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
Monday, June 16, 2008
Are you a failure?
I think it's pretty safe to say that we, as humans, enjoy success and dislike failure. No one sets out to fail at something - we set out to succeed. But what happens along the way? More often than not, we experience some degree of failure before succeeding and this failure can give us feelings of discouragement or make us quit.
Sir Winston Churchill says that "Success is going from failure to failure without loss in enthusiasm." A look at almost any historic figure will show you many failures prior to success. Look at Thomas Edison, for example. He is one of the most successful inventors of all time. Do you think he sat down with an idea and created the wonderful inventions that we enjoy today? It wasn't quite that simple. Many of his inventions failed 700 or more times. But do you think he gave up? Quite the opposite - he considered himself quite successful. How can that be with more than 700 failures? In his own words, he successfully discovered 700 ways that don't work. That put him that much closer to achieving his goal. Lucky for us that he chose to stick with it!
Admittedly, most of us (myself included) don't have the enthusiasm or the determination to keep going after 700 failures. But there are ways to keep from feeling like a failure. Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself:
* What is failure?
* Do you feel like a failure? Does feeling like a failure mean that you are a failure?
* Can you learn without failing? Does failing at something you do, make you a failure as a person?
* Can you think of anyone who has never failed at anything?
Carefully consider the answer to each of these questions. Although it can be quite difficult at times to separate who we are from what we do, that distinction is necessary. Just because we fail at something doesn't mean that we are a failure as a person. It simply means that we have something to learn. My challenge to you is to face your failures and embrace them as progress toward your success.
Wishing you much success,
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
Sir Winston Churchill says that "Success is going from failure to failure without loss in enthusiasm." A look at almost any historic figure will show you many failures prior to success. Look at Thomas Edison, for example. He is one of the most successful inventors of all time. Do you think he sat down with an idea and created the wonderful inventions that we enjoy today? It wasn't quite that simple. Many of his inventions failed 700 or more times. But do you think he gave up? Quite the opposite - he considered himself quite successful. How can that be with more than 700 failures? In his own words, he successfully discovered 700 ways that don't work. That put him that much closer to achieving his goal. Lucky for us that he chose to stick with it!
Admittedly, most of us (myself included) don't have the enthusiasm or the determination to keep going after 700 failures. But there are ways to keep from feeling like a failure. Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself:
* What is failure?
* Do you feel like a failure? Does feeling like a failure mean that you are a failure?
* Can you learn without failing? Does failing at something you do, make you a failure as a person?
* Can you think of anyone who has never failed at anything?
Carefully consider the answer to each of these questions. Although it can be quite difficult at times to separate who we are from what we do, that distinction is necessary. Just because we fail at something doesn't mean that we are a failure as a person. It simply means that we have something to learn. My challenge to you is to face your failures and embrace them as progress toward your success.
Wishing you much success,
Coach April
www.nexuscoachingpartners.com
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