By now, recruiters should be able to find you online other than on Monster or Career builder.
By now your resume should have graduated into the 21st century. Has it? Your resume is no longer a one-dimensional document. You need to be marketing yourself in 3D, and by that I mean using the Internet to launch and promote your professional persona.  Do you know where to start, or how you can optimize your efforts?  From what I can tell from the hundreds of job seekers I come into contact with on a weekly basis, the answer is usually no.  I don’t blame you.  All the new things you have to do to find a job today can be overwhelming.  But don’t give up.

In fact, most job seekers are operating at about 25% capacity. The Department of Labor’s research claims job seekers are at it for approximately 18 Minutes a day. So, if you have used the job market as an excuse for not landing yet, (and yes, that was a very valid reason for a good chunk of last year, but can you still use it?)

Is it You or the Job Market? Not sure?

Take the JOB SEARCH SAVVY TEST:

Lets see how you score? This is not very scientific, just a simple count, Yes=1 No=0

Instructions: Answer with your gut & Answer truthfully, you aren’t kidding anyone but yourself.

Do you have a plan?

1. Do you know what your goals are and have a road map to get there? Y N

2. Do you have a list of companies that you would like to work for. Y N

3. Are you using Linkedin to reach out to key people in your industry? Y N

4. Are your skills, accomplishments, experience, and goals, clearly and well articulated? Y N

How does your resume fare?

5. Your resume is designed in such a way that it pops? Y/ N

6. Does it shout out your value proposition? Y / N

7. Is it clear, easy and compelling to read? – If someone scans your resume in 15 seconds, what will it tell them? Y/ N

8. Does your resume demonstrate what you can do and how you can make a difference? Y/ N

9. Your resume is jam-packed with carefully selected keywords that highlight your skills and expertise? Y / N

10. Has your resume got recruiters or hiring manager calling? Y/ N

What does Google Say about you?

11. When you google your name, professional information about you is the first item that pops to the top, and your profile tells a broader,
more interesting story. Y/ N

12. No negative or distracting information pops up when your name is goggled. Y /N

13. You have a 100% complete, compelling and comprehensive profile on Linkedin Y/ N

14. You use Linkedin daily in a proactive way to reach out to strategic connections to expand your network and target specific companies Y/ N

15. You understand all the hidden tools and applications that Linkedin
has to offer to help you expand your job search and network Y / N

16. You participate in Linkedin Discussions as well as comment on other peoples blogs on a regular basis. Y/N

17. You know that Twitter can be a good place to be for your job search and networking Y/ N

18. You are using multiple social networking sites to connect with people that can help you in your job search. Y/ N

19. You have a growing network and are working on expanding it with the right peope. Y/ N

Is your “Net working”?

20. You are comfortable networking, and feel that you are already networking in all the right places. Y/ N

21. You are a member of at least one professional association, and at least one general networking group. Y/ N

22. You have let everyone in your entire circle of friends and family know that you are looking for work, and they all know what you
would like to be doing Y/ N

23. You have a list of companies you would like to work at, and you are working to make connections with those companies. Y /N

Your Recruiter & You

24. Your relationship with recruiters is as good as with your stylist/barber/doctor? Y/ N

25. You know how to find a recruiter that would be a good match for you. Y / N

26. You understand the role of the recruiter and how you can best help them. Y/ N

Are you are Interview Ready

27. You have a strong and compelling reason why company x should hire you at the tip of your tongue. Y / N

28. You can whip out your strengths in a nano-second with some truly interesting stories that will knock socks off. Y/ N

29. You understand how to go into an interview in consultant mode and turn it into a conversation. Y/N

30. You feel quite confident in how you interview? Y/ N

Okay! Now Count them up, Yes=1 No=0. What did you score out of 30? What do the results tell you?

25-30 Not bad, You’re pretty confident about your job search skills and have a good sense of what you have to do. Bump it up a notch
and you should be on your way.

20-25 Slight room for improvement. Identify what area you need the most help with, and get some feedback from a professional.
You want to figure out how to improve what is not working and give more
attention to learning these new job search skills.

15-20 You could be doing better. With a little guidance, research, support, you could be galloping on your way to your next gig.
What are you waiting for? Get some help on how to figure out what you
don’t know. It just takes a little more effort, and before you know it
you might be busy with finding a job.

0-15 You’re stuck, confused and no doubt quite frustrated! What are you going to do about it? Stew? Not worth it. Maybe you Need a
kick in the pants.. a wake up call, a refresh! read below.. or Email me
now @ Donna@careerfolk.com, send me a copy of your resume to take a
look at, and a link to your Linkedin profile while you are at it,
assuming you have started one. Lets see how we can help you get your
Job Search groove on.

In this flooded job market, you can’t afford to jeopardize your job search by failing in any of the areas discussed above. You need to get
it right every step of the way.

In order to help new (and tired) job seekers hit refresh this year, I have joined forces with 4 top career management professionals, to create a 5 Step Seminar that is designed to give you the most up-to-date information on the Job Search Trends. Each member of this great team is an expert in their own area and we are all determined to help you learn what it takes to succeed in this challenging job market. I hope you will join us.

1. OUT: Objective IN: Clear and compelling Positioning Statement / Value Proposition/ Job Title

The top ¼ of your resume is the most prime resume real estate. I see too many resumes squander the opportunity to catch the attention of the person perusing/ skimming/ eyeballing your document. Telling a recruiter “what you want” by way of the ubiquitous Objective does nothing for your cause and the statement became obsolete at least one recession ago.  A recruiter or HR professional is going to spend approx 5-10 seconds scanning your resume for all the right KEYwords. Not only do they need to be up front and center, but so does your immediate value proposition.  How will the recruiter be compelled to place your resume over all others onto the “call” pile? It doesn’t matter what you name this top section, what does matter is that it includes ideal job titles you identify with and your value proposition. Going for the old cliched statements don’t work any more either. This Positioning Statement has to be unique to you, and convey exactly why you are so well suited for the position.

2. OUT: One style fits all IN: A style that’s appropriate to you, your career history, your industry

The days of the traditional and boilerplate chronological resume are no longer. This format does not lend itself to presenting your most valuable skills or experiences in the most convincing or strategic way.  Today, I mix and match various formats and sections to highlight each individual’s attributes, accomplishments and experiences that are relevant to the position they are seeking. While there are many pre-determined sections of a resume, every job seeker does not fit into the same mold, neither should the resume.

3: OUT: One Dimensional   IN: Multi-Dimensional

Your resume can now be a dynamic branded online message conveying who you are on many different levels.  The social networks such as Linkedin, VisualCV, or Facebook, not only allow you to outline your experience, but are also able to highlight your portfolio of work- and I don’t mean just for artists. If you are proud of a PowerPoint, articles your have written, or a blog, it should be up on LinkedIn at the very least. The quality of your posted recommendations and, in some fields, the extent of your visible network, go far in aiding you become a more viable and visible candidate.

4. OUT: Traditional personal contact info only   IN: Linkedin/ VisualCV/Website/ Blog URL, Twitter handle, etc.

If you still just have your traditional contact info, and that means the old fashioned means of communicating such as telephone, mailing address etc., think again. By not including your Linkedin/ Website/ Blog URL or Twitter handle, you are missing out on the opportunity to share that whole other dimension about you we talked about in #5.

5. OUT: Only paid work is legitimate experience IN: All experience (including unpaid, volunteer, and internships) that is relevant can convey value.

I’m constantly amazed by the interesting things people do and yet they don’t consider including it on their resume because it doesn’t fall within their traditional notion of “work experience”. Yet, if articulated well, such information can and should be strategically blended into the resume to not only demonstrate a job seekers depth of capability but also to highlight their unique experiences.

6. OUT: Black font only IN: Careful use of color

The use of color on a resume was once only the purview of artists and designers. But the need to help your resume stand out trumps that idea. A subtle use of color to help your document catch someone’s attention (and brand you as someone who is willing to take a risk) can be very compelling.

7. OUT: List of responsibilities IN: Accomplishment-based statements

No recruiter is going to get excited about reading a job description regurgitated back to them on a resume. Accomplishment-based resumes are the foundation of your Value Proposition and helping set you apart from your competition. Creating a value-packed resume requires an assessment of how you made a difference in any/all experiences you deem relevant, and the outcomes accomplished, hence the name.

8. OUT: Paragraphs IN: Bullets

Bulleted statements have been around for a long time, but it seems that some may have missed the moment when they came into fashion. If you want someone to actually read your resume, spend time carefully constructing accomplishment-based, bulleted statements under each job title. The bullets serve a critical function in leading the eye to each sentence. They make a resume easier and quicker to read.

9. OUT: “References available by request.” IN: Personal testimonies

Definitely obsolete in the 21^st century resume. It’s a given today that you will provide references if asked. Space on your resume is at a premium, so you want to make every word count. Instead, give the recruiter a chance to have direct access to your personal testimonials, (recommendations) on Linkedin (and you should have a minimum of three) by including your Linkedin URL in your contact section. In addition, there is no reason why you cannot add a short quote or two from a previous superior or colleague who sings your praises. No doubt, formatting, length and placement is key.

10. Out: One general resume IN: Multiple resumes to target different roles.

With the unambiguous demand for resumes to be highly focused and a direct match to the job requirements, there is little room for ambiguity surrounding your skills, experience or career goals. Since most professionals have a range of transferable skills that can be reconfigured for a host of different positions, creating individualized resumes, each with a clear and distinct focus is essential to be considered for a position today.

Creating a resume that meets the high expectations of today’s job market is no simple feat. Have questions about your resume, please comment below, or send me a copy for a Free Resume Review. While there are some steadfast rules regarding resumes, it is important to take artistic license to make you stand out where necessary. Most job seekers struggle with how to make the most of this, so lets talk about what your resume needs to really stand out. Just like I don’t try and cut my own hair, let a professional provide you with some real, constructive feedback, and don’t let your resume get caught out by the Resume police! Email me Donna@careerfolk.com

In the words of Zig Ziglar, American writer, “Stop staring at the steps and start stepping up the stairs.”  Call or email Donna (at) careerfolk.com

If you read my previous post on updating your resume, you’ll see that you can get a lot more out of the process than you realize.

First, what’s top-of-mind: The job market no doubt, and if you are a job seeker, I don’t have to mention what the competition is like, so the questions comes down to: Is your resume telling the most compelling story it can? Does it look like it did 5 or 10 years ago? And probably the most difficult question to answer: “Is your resume going to jump off the pile, and be the “most attention-grabbing document” it needs to me?  I’ll leave that for you to decide.

For those currently employed, let’s face it:  The harsh realities of company downsizing are still there.  You might also be growing disillusioned with your current position, and/or are seeking a career change. So, if a recruiter called you today with the perfect new position would your resume be updated and review-ready?  Are you prepared and ready for new opportunities?

In my opinion, as a resume writer and as a career counselor, “updating your resume” particularly now, is about much more than just that. The resume development-process lends itself to an opportunity for self-assessment. In fact, I see this as imperative for those in any kind of career transition. With the harsh competition out there, job seekers have no choice but to create the most compelling and coherent professional picture. Your resume needs to convey, in very clear terms what is your value proposition and what is truly unique about what you bring to the table?  Some people can articulate this fairly easy, but from my experience, most people cannot. And most resumes I see today do not do this!

The foundation for a great resume, and ultimately a successful job search is knowing yourself. When was the last time you gave any thought to your professional identity and what type of image you present?  Many of the newly unemployed have been thrust into a situation where they are forced to re-evaluate their career path. Is this you? This assessment self-exploration process is crucial to helping you position and market yourself.  When you go through the motions of re-assessing your professional (and personal) experiences, there’s often a deep self-analysis that happens—and not only can it transformed into a stronger and more compelling resume, but you will develop a greater facility at articulating who you are and what your value proposition is. It also helps to have an objective voice facilitate the process of recognizing and recording what are the most important elements that should be used to convey your value.

So, does your resume need a makeover, a “facelift” if you will? The 2009 job search is about standing out of the crowd. Maybe its time your resume got the attention it deserves, and you’ll be amazed at what you learn about yourself in the process.

In my work with clients to enhance, re-brand and re-position their resumes, most clients go through a comprehensive self-assessment process, to find out more, contact Donna@careerfolk.com