How to Create a Keyword Rich Resume 10/12/2011

The Web has taken over the recruiting landscape and most employers, and recruiters, request that you to submit your resume electronically. A lot of those electronic/digital resumes are processed with scanning technology, similar to how websites and search engines operate. If your resume contains the right keywords and is keyword rich according to the parameters for the scanning technology, your resume has a greater chance of getting to the top of the stack for review. Even if the resume is being processed by a human, they usually scan over your resume for keywords that match their view of the job.

So, regardless of how qualified you may be for the position, your chance at an interview will likely be missed if the scanning technology or human eye does not see keywords that tell them you are relevant for the job.

The first step to a keyword rich resume, is determining what keywords should go on your resume.

Get keyword hints by reviewing the job posting. The job posting typically provides the title or position, specific experiences, skills and education desired or required. Grab all these keywords.
Review the employers website. There will be field or industry specific terms that are commonly used that can also be applied to your resume.
Conduct searches on career or job board websites for job descriptions relevant to your search. You can capture common keywords from each of the job descriptions.

Armed with your arsenal of relevant keywords, consider the following methods to incorporate them into your resume.

Include a keyword summary. Even if you’ve used keywords throughout, this is good (especially for technical folks) for three reasons:

It lets you offer up variations on the keyword that may not fit elsewhere.
The more keywords you have, the greater the keyword density, which can help your ranking.
You’re more likely to cover alternative keywords.

Integrate the keywords in a “Qualification Summary.” The scanning technologies are becoming sophisticated enough to determine if your keywords are legitimate based on the text that surrounds them. Therefore, just providing a laundry list of keywords might not be as effective as a summary statement that provides context.
Get the top keywords into titles. Employers are searching resumes that contain a matching title for the open position or a level below the position to secure candidates with the relevant experience and skills. If you happen to have a title that is unique or a less commonly known term, change it to reflect the common term employers will understand and that is the functional equivalent to the position you held. The location of keywords within your resume is important, a keyword in a title often times ranks higher than if it were just in your profile body.
Use keywords variations. You don’t know if the recruiter or computer is searching for “engineer” or “engineering”, so cover all the keyword bases.
Make sure the addition of keywords does not make the reading of your resume seem sloppy or forced. Although adding keywords will get your resume pass the computer, if a recruiter or manager reads a sentence with keyword dense writing, they’re going to dismiss your resume without a second thought.

Follow these tips and create a resume impresses not only the employer, but the employer’s computer.

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Last Few Days of International Update Your Resume Month 09/28/2011

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Regardless of your current employment situation: unemployed, underemployed, happily employed or browsing for new opportunities, it’s good to keep your resume fresh and available (hard-copy and electronically).

Customize. Tailor your resume to individual companies and positions as much as possible. When applying or networking use the readily available information on the web to focus your resume.
Get Linked In. Maintain a presence on LinkedIn. Complete your LinkedIn profile (job experiences and accomplishments) just as you do on your resume.
Show Results. Make sure your resume isn’t just a list of job descriptions and responsibilities. It needs to show your results, not your duties.
Catch the Recruiters’s Eye. Post your resume on job boards and “update” it once a week. Your update prompts many job sites to circulate your resume anew, making it more likely to be seen. Industry-specific sites, are also a great place to post a resume online.

It’s important to update your resume and online profiles at least once a year, even if you’re content in your position. The mere act of updating your resume is good for reevaluating and working on your career goals.

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10 Tips to Help You Ace the Skype Interview 09/22/2011

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An increasing number of employers are leveraging Skype video to conduct face-to-face job interviews. Employers find that a Skype video interview provides a time and cost-effective method to see how candidates interact with new technology, express themselves on video and deal with a complex situation.

With Skype interviews becoming more common, being unprepared can knock you out of the running for that dream job. Be sure you’re prepared and use Skype to your advantage. Here’s 10 tips to handle a Skype or video interview:

1. Spend time with Skype

Don't begin your practice with your first job interview. Practice with Skype before the interview. Play with it. Learn how it works and what it can do. This way you will increase your familiarity with Skype and how to make it work best for you. Your job interview is one time you can't afford to wing it.

2. Test and prepare your equipment

Test out the video and audio capabilities on your computer and decide whether you need to buy a headset with a microphone or an attachable video camera. Plan for an ethernet connection, not Wi-Fi. When it comes to video, ethernet is usually a more reliable source. For your important interview, take the steps beforehand to make an ethernet connection, if possible. Turn off your pop-ups and email. They slow down your computer a bit and they may distract you from the interview.

3. Have a backup plan

Know the interviewer’s phone number and email. Have them handy – just in case your Internet access gets knocked out or your equipment malfunctions. Consider a back-up computer. If yours crashes, it would be very good to have a second computer standing by "just in case." Preparing a backup plan shows you’re proactive and know how to develop workarounds.

4. Conduct a mock interview

Being comfortable with the technology prevents the added stress from a tech malfunction. Find a person you trust and use Skype or other video conferencing software to conduct a mock interview. You’re bound to make mistakes, so it’s best to practice with someone who can provide honest feedback.

5. Dress appropriately

Dress according to the culture and how a job candidate should appear. Wear a shirt that’s business casual and complimentary to your skin tone. Avoid patterns that come across as too loud on screen, such as anything floral or bright stripes. Clothing can distract the interviewer from the information conveyed during the conversation, so it’s important to plan your outfit carefully. Dress from head to toe. You never know when you might have to stand up during the interview.

6. Mind the background

Think about what the background says about you. Control the entire image. Create a great frame for the picture of yourself. Or keep it simple if you want to keep yourself neutral, shoot your video against a blank wall or a warm one-color background.

7. Be aware of interruptions

Turn off the phone and warn family members to give you some privacy. Have a plan for whatever distractions you have in your house, including children and dogs.

8. Organize your notes and materials in front of you

The interviewer cannot see all the desktop around you. So put it to good use with notes and prompts as well as material pulled up on your computer screen. Have your printed resume in front of you. Have your prepared questions, printed, and in front of you. If you applied online via a job posting, have a copy of that in front of you as well. The extra information can enhance the answers you give – and remind you to ask great questions too.

9. Look at the camera, not the screen

It can be confusing, but when you’re looking at your monitor it actually makes the interviewer feel as if you’re looking away. Instead, look directly at the video camera you’re using for your interview. And although you’re not making eye contact in the traditional sense, this is the way that the interviewer perceives that you’re looking straight ahead.

10. Add extra enthusiasm

Any newscaster will tell that your reactions translate differently when on-screen, so it’s important to compensate with extra enthusiasm and concise answers. Additionally, speak succinctly and remember that speed is important.

Skype is becoming an essential part of the process by providing the ability to connect job candidates with potential employers. Adding these skills to your repertoire of essential job skills can help you to present yourself in the best possible light.

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The 411 On Local Job Search 09/21/2011

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Where can you find local employers? How can you find your desired local job?

If you are a job seeker looking for a job close to home, you don't want, or need, to flounder through job listings from all over creation.

Great sentiment but the questions remain:

Where can you find local employers?
How can you find your desired local job?

There are several options to find local jobs.

State Employment Sites: Many states operate electronic databases for job seekers and employers seeking workers, and some have online business directories. Sometimes they link to national resources, such as America's Job Bank or US Jobs 411. Many states provide other valuable job search and career planning resources. Check out the post Tools for Your Local Jobs Search: State Employment Websites, it presents links to sites for each state.

Newspapers: Local and national newspapers, non-profit papers and job hunting newspapers provide advertisements on current job vacancies. You could find the hard copy newspapers in the library and check all the recent job postings. Most newspapers today have their content available online (onlinenewspapers.com provides a directory). Browse through them and apply to all the jobs you prefer.

Job Fairs: At first blush, the job fair doesn’t seem to present the best odds—several thousand people contending for a few hundred jobs. Is it even worth attending? Yes, for a couple of reasons: 1- They normally have a local focus; 2- The preparation and interviews are at worse great practice. US JOBS 411 provides the latest Job Fair, Career Fair and Open House announcements for the entire USA. Checkout the listings on the National Job Events Calendar or click your state on the Job Fairs Map for your local listings. Also follow @JobEvents on Twitter to stay up to date.

Onsite: Many companies have job vacancies posted on their premises. Since these companies, such as food retailers, make use of internal notice boards, they tend not to advertise in newspapers and agencies. You can walk into these companies and ask the front desk for employment vacancies.

The Web: The most powerful, efficient and cost-effective approach for finding local jobs is through the internet. The majority of employment agencies, newspapers and companies have websites with job listings. You could search through them one by one and apply for the jobs you prefer. Another approach (that I highly recommend) is using a job portal like US JOBS 411. US JOBS 411 provides job listings for over 10,000 US towns and cities. Click your state on the Local Job Boards Map, find your town and get started.

These methods used strategically, and simultaneously, will increase your chances of finding local employment.

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Tools for Your Local Job Search: State Employment Websites 09/20/2011

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Links for State Employment Websites for each state.

State employment websites include agencies that:

Promote the well-being of the state's workers
Help workers find employment
Deal with issues confronting special populations such as veterans, migrants, youth, seniors or disabled workers
Provide retraining and rehabilitation

These agencies can be a valuable tool in your local job search. They often times sponsor job fairs operate electronic databases for job seekers and employers seeking workers. Click Read More to see links for sites in every state.

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Are Job Fairs Worth Attending? 08/30/2011

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Job Fair Success: What to do before you go and once you arrive.

At first blush, the job fair doesn’t present the best odds—several thousand people contending for a few hundred jobs. Is it even worth attending?

Yes, for a couple of reasons:

You never know where the next opportunity will pop up.
The preparation and interviews are at worse great practice.

So, if you are going to go, there are things you can do to better your chances of success.

Before You Go

Research - Learn more about the companies that will be at the fair. You will need questions specific to not only the company’s current openings but also what future business areas they may be headed.
Resume - Tweak your resume to highlight your strengths for the specific jobs being recruited. Bring plenty of resumes.
Elevator Pitch - Your elevator pitch is your quick personal selling/request statement. Even before your resume gets in their hands, your elevator pitch sets the stage for why they would spend the time to look at your resume, which leads to the interview, which leads to the job offer. You need to be concise and confident so the company contact/recruiter will know not only who you are but what you’re about. Practice your one minute introduction with a spouse or friend.
Business Cards - Acquire business cards with your personal information, bring them and hand them out.
Dress for the Job - I suggest a shirt, tie, and jacket for men and pressed pants or skirt with a nice shirt or blouse for women. Go light on the perfume/cologne and keep the breath mints handy.

Once You Are There

Be Organized - Bring a note pad and pens for note taking and filling out applications. Carry it all in a briefcase or portfolio.
Be Polite, Courteous and Patient - You must assume recruiters/interviewers are observing your every move and action, don’t give them anything which might lower your chances.
Network the Crowd - There is normally a fair amount of waiting in line time; use it wisely.
Finish Strong - Before moving on ask the recruiter if he or she thinks you’re a good fit for the position and when you can expect to hear more. Ask what the company’s time frame is for call backs and hiring. Thank the recruiter for his/her time, and express interest in the company.
Follow-up - Send an e-mail, or note, within a day or two of the job fair. If, after a week, you’ve heard nothing, call or e-mail. Jog the recruiter’s memory, thank them again for their time and mention that you are checking on their time frame to inquire if anything has changed.

If you are interested in attending a job fair near you checkout the US JOBS 411 Job Fair Calendar. It lists job fairs, career fairs and open houses for all over the country.

KEYWORDS: Career Fair | Job Fair | Job Search |

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10 Tips for a Successful Phone Interview 08/08/2011

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It appears we are seeing more phone interviews these days. Companies use these phone conversations to quickly screen a large volume of candidates. This allows them to talk to more people who look reasonably qualified, while screening out the duds.

Usually you'll get some notice to set up a time to conduct the phone interview, which gives you time to prepare. The keys to a successful phone interview are knowledge and environment.

Know the Company - The first thing to do is go to the company website and read it thoroughly. Know what the main products/services are. Read their recent press releases. It is not necessary to know every aspect of the company, but you should have a firm knowledge of what they do and where they stand in their industry. Second, do a Google search to see if there is any news or relevant information not on their website.
Know the Position - Clarify with the person who schedules the interview about which position you are interviewing. Get a job description if there's one available and READ IT. Print it out and highlight it. Make notes on it about what qualifies you for the position so you can have it handy when you're speaking with the phone interviewer.
Know the Interviewer – Most everyone is on one of the professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn. Look up their names and if they appear, read what you can about them. If they don't appear on one of these sites, do a Google search (include the company name so that you know you have the right person). This information can provide familiarity and enable you to generate conversation based upon what you read.
Know Your Resume - Go back over your resume again and think of questions the interviewer might ask. In general, they are looking for a few clues as to what qualifies you for the position. They may have questions about your work history or specific skills. Get your resume fresh in your mind. In particular, review your experience with the technical aspects of the job which they listed in their job description in case they have questions about your level of skill in that area.
Know How Long the Call Will Take - When the recruiter sets up the interview, they should tell you how long it will take. If they don’t, ask. The length of the call gives you some sense as to the depth of the interview. If it is 20 minutes, they are just gathering some very basic information and getting the deal-breaker stuff out of the way. If it is an hour, then you should treat it as a regular interview.
Know Your Questions - When the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, be prepared with several questions. The depth of your questions should be proportional to the length of the interview. Your last question(s) should always be about what’s going to happen next, such as "what are the next steps?" or "when will I hear back from you?" Generate as many questions as you feel are relevant. It is ok to have more questions then you actually ask. The point is to have the questions prepared and ready.
Ensure Quiet – Find a quite room or area. If at home, try to isolate yourself in a room without kids, pets, or family. If at work, arrange for a secure conference room. Don’t forget to turn off the TV, the radio, the ringer on other phones, etc.
Ensure No Interruptions or Distractions – Keep all distractions away, so that you are focused on the conversation, and nothing keeps you from hearing the interviewer and each question appropriately. Disable call waiting. Close the door and place a sign.
Ensure Your Knowledge is Available. All that knowledge you prepared should be printed and readily available, along with a pad and pen. Have your printed resume in front of you. Have your prepared questions, printed, and in front of you. If you applied online via a job posting, have a copy of that in front of you as well.
Ensure Appearance, Posture and Pace - Dress in comfortable and professional apparel. Clearly, this is a mental concept, but it will support your attitude. Your seriousness about the job will be reflected in the way you dress and subsequently communicated by your professional tone. Stand up, walk around, and smile during the call. All these things make a big difference in the projection and quality of your voice. It might even be helpful to face a mirror so you can replicate the appearance of talking in person.

It is better to be overly prepared for a phone interview, then not prepared at all. Preparation takes a lot of the stress out of the experience. If you follow these guidelines, you increase your chances of having a successful phone interview.

KEYWORDS: Job Search, Phone Interview

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