Avoid Age Questions With A Professional Resume
	Defining An Ascii Resume
	Effective Resume Strategies For Job Search Success
	Effective Resume Strategies For Job Search Success
	Posting Your Resume-pros And Cons
	What You Need To Know About Federal Resumes
	What You Need To Know About Military Resumes
	Writing your resume is preparation for the interview itself

Age discrimination is illegal. Period. However, unfortunately, it still happens, and unless it is blatant and you have solid proof that it happened to you, chances are there is little you can do about it.

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, though, so focus on creating a professional resume that emphasizes your skills and attributes without drawing extra attention to your age.

Here are some suggestions for how to do this effectively:

Relevant work history - You do not need to supply a complete work history going back twenty or thirty years if it is not relevant to the position you seek. Most employers are most interested in what you have done over the last five to ten years so draw primarily on that experience whenever possible.

Stay current - It is often a good idea to highlight proficiency in various software and technology applications (if they are relevant to the position), so stay current on what is commonly used in your field today. There's no need to highlight proficiency in an older program if it is no longer in use, and doing so will only draw attention to your age.

Dates and education - Some experts suggest that you do not include specific dates of graduation because that will immediately give away your age. The exception would be if you received a degree or significant training within the last five to ten years; in this case it usually works to your benefit to show the graduation date.

Use a combination format - The best resume format for someone who is concerned about age issues is definitely the combination resume. This allows you to emphasize your specific achievements and accomplishments without having to attach specific dates to the information.

Continuing education - Emphasize any continuing education or training you have completed. This shows that you keep your skills up to date and have a willingness to learn new things.

Age discrimination does not just happen to older workers; it can just as easily happen to younger workers as well. Regardless of whether you are new to the workforce or are a mature, experienced worker, it can be in your best interest to create a resume that is as age neutral as possible.

You should never lie or intentionally mislead a potential employer about your age, but if some aspect of your experience is not relevant to the job you are seeking then you do not need to include it in your resume. Think carefully about what works to your advantage and what doesn't, then create your resume in the manner that best highlights your qualifications.

Find Your New Job Faster With A Perfect Professional Resume And Cover Letter.

Defining An Ascii Resume

ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. An ASCII resume is basically a resume in text (.txt) format. These types of resumes are ideally for computer comprehension. Now days many companies use scanning technology to place resumes in a database for reference. Computer technology scans the resume for keywords and phrases that link up with specified job specific words. This helps the employer or recruiter sort through the information and select viable candidates for the job. Most medium to large sized companies use this kind of technology. You will also find that this format is suited to online job banks, online applications and for delivery via email.

For a resume to be successfully translated to a computer database it should be in text form. A text file has no formatting mechanism or special features, it is simply text and therefore it can be read by various computer programs and displayed across varying platforms. It is easily read by word processing applications and will not change format in any way. If you use other formats there are no guarantees the companies program will be able to read the resume.

You should send an ASCII formatted resume when your applying to companies that use resume databases. This way you will ensure that no matter what program or platform they use, your resume and its vital information will remain intact. In fact you can create a competitive edge by knowing some formatting tricks that will help computers get to the keywords in your text.

You basic content and standard format will remain the same as your print resume. You will just eliminate all the added extras and strip the information down to its bare text. Text documents do not recognize bold, underlining or different fonts. A simple line break between paragraphs is the only formatting you will find in an ASCII resume. The best format for online viewing and scannable resumes is a left justified margin. When you transfer your resume into a text document do not use the word wrap feature. Simple text is easy to read and your keywords will be accessible to all programs. Keywords should be the number one feature you use to attract attention to your text resume.

Your intention with an ASCII resume is to make online reading for the computer programs as easy as possible. Just like you are trying to make your print resume appeal to a human audience you should try and make your ASCII resume as appealing as possible to a computer program. Your key focus is making the keywords and phrases in your resume accessible. Don't clutter up the text with fancy fonts, designs or formatting. Stick to a simple ASCII format to get the best results from your computer friendly resume.

ASCII resumes are ideal for scanning and for delivery via email. They are also the best way to submit your resume to online job banks, online recruiters and for applying for jobs online. Remember keywords are what will get you noticed by the computer program. Try to preempt what keywords the human reviewer will mark as mandatory. Use industry specific words and job specific verbs. These will get you hits with the program whilst also scoring points with the employer.

Make More Money In A New Job With A Perfect Resume. Free Resume Critique. Free Samples.

Effective Resume Strategies For Job Search Success

A well-written resume is an effective job search tool, but it is not the most effective job search tool at your disposal. So what is the most effective tool? The answer is you.

No resume, no matter how attractive, credible, or information-packed it may be, will get you the job you want. It takes an effective strategy of using your resume to your advantage if you want to be successful in your job search.

Let's look at three resume strategies you should consider.

Strategy #1 - Targeted to employers with job openings

Your resume should be flexible enough to be tailored and targeted to specific job openings. It may be simpler to print up fifty copies of your resume and mail it out with a cover letter in response to job advertisements, but that strategy usually doesn't work.

Take the time to really examine the qualifications that the employer is seeking for each job posting. Look for clues that will help you decide which of your attributes to highlight in order to grab their attention. For example, if the employer is looking for someone who is `motivated' or a `self-starter' then you should tailor your resume to emphasize specific examples of how you demonstrate those attributes.

Once you have determined which part of your qualifications to emphasize, revise your resume so that those things stand out and can be easily spotted by whoever reads your resume. It is okay to use bold, italics, or bullet points to draw the reader's eye to certain information, but use these tactics sparingly so that the information does indeed stand out.

Strategy #2 - Targeted to employers without job openings

Nearly all employers will accept resumes even if they do not have any open positions, so take advantage of this. If there is a particular employer whom you admire and would like to work for, tailor your resume to highlight the attributes that they would find attractive and deliver it to them. This will take some research on your part,

Try to hand deliver it to the person with hiring authority whenever possible, as this is an opportunity for you to make a positive impression. Dress up as if you were going to a job interview so that the person sees you in a professional light, and talk to them briefly about why you are giving them your resume. Practice your statement in advance so that it is clear, concise, and to the point - you want to make an impression but you do not want to drag the person into a long speech about why you want to work for them.

Strategy #3 - Targeted to your network of contacts

Use your resume as a tool to network with your contacts. A good place to start is with the people who have agreed to act as your references. Make an appointment to see them (15 to 30 minutes max), letting them know in advance that you would like to share your resume with them and solicit their feedback.

During your meeting, encourage them to provide honest input about how you could improve your resume. Talk about the key points you are trying to communicate and ask them if those points do indeed come across. Ask for suggestions and ideas on ways to make your resume more effective. If their feedback is minimal and you feel comfortable leaving the resume `as is' you should leave two or three copies of it with your contact. This will keep you firmly in mind and allow them to pass your resume along where appropriate. If you decide to make changes based on their feedback, that's okay. Go home, make the changes, and then send your contact two or three copies of your updated resume, along with a brief note thanking him or her for their time and input.

Regardless of the feedback you receive, ask your contact if they know anyone else in your field of interest that you could contact to ask for resume feedback. Chances are they know of at least one or two people and will be happy to give you their contact information. You can then approach these new contacts to go through the same meeting/feedback/ask for referrals process.

In all cases, your meetings with contacts should be short and to the point. Don't get caught up in meandering conversations or storytelling - you are there for a purpose, and your contact's time is too valuable to be spent just chatting. Dress professionally, and always follow up your meeting with a thank you note. As your job search progresses, check back with your contacts periodically to update them on your activities and keep yourself in the forefront of their minds.

Make Employers Chase You, With an Irresistible Resume and Cover Letter in Just 24-48 Hours by Your Own Certified Resume Writer.

Effective Resume Strategies For Job Search Success

A well-written resume is an effective job search tool, but it is not the most effective job search tool at your disposal. So what is the most effective tool? The answer is you.

No resume, no matter how attractive, credible, or information-packed it may be, will get you the job you want. It takes an effective strategy of using your resume to your advantage if you want to be successful in your job search.

Let's look at three resume strategies you should consider.

Strategy #1 - Targeted to employers with job openings

Your resume should be flexible enough to be tailored and targeted to specific job openings. It may be simpler to print up fifty copies of your resume and mail it out with a cover letter in response to job advertisements, but that strategy usually doesn't work.

Take the time to really examine the qualifications that the employer is seeking for each job posting. Look for clues that will help you decide which of your attributes to highlight in order to grab their attention. For example, if the employer is looking for someone who is `motivated' or a `self-starter' then you should tailor your resume to emphasize specific examples of how you demonstrate those attributes.

Once you have determined which part of your qualifications to emphasize, revise your resume so that those things stand out and can be easily spotted by whoever reads your resume. It is okay to use bold, italics, or bullet points to draw the reader's eye to certain information, but use these tactics sparingly so that the information does indeed stand out.

Strategy #2 - Targeted to employers without job openings

Nearly all employers will accept resumes even if they do not have any open positions, so take advantage of this. If there is a particular employer whom you admire and would like to work for, tailor your resume to highlight the attributes that they would find attractive and deliver it to them. This will take some research on your part,

Try to hand deliver it to the person with hiring authority whenever possible, as this is an opportunity for you to make a positive impression. Dress up as if you were going to a job interview so that the person sees you in a professional light, and talk to them briefly about why you are giving them your resume. Practice your statement in advance so that it is clear, concise, and to the point - you want to make an impression but you do not want to drag the person into a long speech about why you want to work for them.

Strategy #3 - Targeted to your network of contacts

Use your resume as a tool to network with your contacts. A good place to start is with the people who have agreed to act as your references. Make an appointment to see them (15 to 30 minutes max), letting them know in advance that you would like to share your resume with them and solicit their feedback.

During your meeting, encourage them to provide honest input about how you could improve your resume. Talk about the key points you are trying to communicate and ask them if those points do indeed come across. Ask for suggestions and ideas on ways to make your resume more effective. If their feedback is minimal and you feel comfortable leaving the resume `as is' you should leave two or three copies of it with your contact. This will keep you firmly in mind and allow them to pass your resume along where appropriate. If you decide to make changes based on their feedback, that's okay. Go home, make the changes, and then send your contact two or three copies of your updated resume, along with a brief note thanking him or her for their time and input.

Regardless of the feedback you receive, ask your contact if they know anyone else in your field of interest that you could contact to ask for resume feedback. Chances are they know of at least one or two people and will be happy to give you their contact information. You can then approach these new contacts to go through the same meeting/feedback/ask for referrals process.

In all cases, your meetings with contacts should be short and to the point. Don't get caught up in meandering conversations or storytelling - you are there for a purpose, and your contact's time is too valuable to be spent just chatting. Dress professionally, and always follow up your meeting with a thank you note. As your job search progresses, check back with your contacts periodically to update them on your activities and keep yourself in the forefront of their minds.

Make Employers Chase You, With an Irresistible Resume and Cover Letter in Just 24-48 Hours by Your Own Certified Resume Writer.

Posting Your Resume-pros And Cons

As a job-seeker, you want to maximize your chances that your resume will be seen by the right people. Therefore, increasing your visibility should be one of your primary goals. Because of this, you might be considering posting your resume online. However, you might be wondering whether such an undertaking would represent a good investment of your time. Since time is precious to a job applicant, this is certainly an important consideration. You should be aware of the fact that there are both pluses and minuses associated with posting your resume.

Advantages of posting your resume

There are obvious advantages to posting your resume on the Internet. To begin with, with World Wide Web exposure, your resume can be seen by thousands of headhunters and prospective employers. The theory goes that, the more people who see your resume, the greater the chances that you will land a job. Also, even if your online resume does put you in immediate contact with the employer of your dreams, it could help you to secure a job at some future date. In other words, according to this theory, resume posting won't hurt your job search, and it could very well help it.

In addition, resume posting is quite convenient. You can visit an employment-related website and simply copy and paste your resume. It's quick and may require no investment on your part. Therefore, it might be one of your most cost- effective job-hunting tools.

Disadvantages of posting your resume

However, there are also some disadvantages to posting your resume on the Internet. For instance, it is a passive method of seeking employment. You're waiting for employers to contact you, rather than seeking out companies that might hire you. Some human resource executives and corporate managers may simply not have the time to go surfing the Internet looking for job applicants. Therefore, posting your resume may be an indication of a lack of initiative on your part.

Also, by posting your resume, you may be lulled into thinking that you should loiter by your computer terminal, waiting for an e-mail, or by the phone, waiting for a call. Those e-mails and calls may never arrive. Therefore, you might be wasting time that could be devoted to more effective methods of job searching.

Another risk you take by posting your resume is that you will be inundated with e-mails or calls from employers you have no interest in. For example, you might be besieged by requests from those looking for telemarketers or sales men and women. This might be the case, even if there is nothing on your resume to indicate you would be interested in those kinds of jobs. As a result, you might not want to post your resume because you don't want to make yourself a target of harassment.

Conclusion

The decision to post your resume obviously depends upon a number of factors. You should carefully weigh your options before putting your resume out on the Internet. While your posting could lead to a job, it could also mean that you will be hassled by those who will hinder, rather than help, your professional advancement.

Find Your New Job Faster With A Perfect Professional Resume And Cover Letter.

What You Need To Know About Federal Resumes

If you plan to apply for a federal job, you will need to include some specific information in your resume that it might otherwise not contain. Many federal job postings refer to a federal resume, which is not a specific form but rather a resume that contains all of the specific information required when you apply for a federal job.

A federal resume requires you to include some specific information that the federal government requires of all job applicants. They ask for this information because it helps them process the hundreds of thousands of resumes they receive each year and ensure that they follow all legal requirements when filling open positions.

What are the elements of a federal resume?

The specific elements required in a federal resume may include any or all of the following:

Job vacancy information - The first requirement is generally to include the job vacancy information in your resume. This includes the job announcement number and the position title.

Personal information - The federal government requires more personal information from you than other potential employers do. Their requirements include your full legal name, address, social security number, citizenship details, and your veteran status.

Education - You must include all of your education information, including high school diploma, college degrees, and the dates of graduation from these institutions.

Qualifications - This section is where you specify all of your other qualifications for the position. It may include awards, recognition, accomplishments, training, special skills, or other performance information that helps to demonstrate that you are qualified for the position in question.

Read the job posting carefully to make sure you have included all required information in the manner specified. If you miss something or do not follow the directions exactly your resume will be screened out, so check, double check, and triple check to ensure you have put everything in there that needs to be there.

Tips and tricks

There is much more to a federal resume than just including the required elements as stated in the job posting. Federal jobs typically list KSAs - knowledge, skills and abilities - that are necessary for a candidate to be considered.

Some postings will require you to compose what is called a supplemental essay, in which you address your specific KSAs that correspond to the job requirements. You should detail your information using strong statements that include both actions and results. Be concise, be clear, and whenever possible use the same keywords and phrases in the job posting to describe your own qualifications.

There are some online tools to help you prepare a federal resume, and they can be quite useful. You will still need to print and mail your resume to the correct address as listed in the job posting, but it is well worth the effort to use whatever tools are available to increase your chances of success.

Find Your New Job Faster With A Perfect Professional Resume And Cover Letter.

What You Need To Know About Military Resumes

The transition from a military career to a civilian career can be challenging, especially if you have spent most or all of your adult life in a military environment. Chances are you have some significant accomplishments to go along with strong skills and attributes that many civilian employers will find quite valuable.

Your resume must reflect these accomplishments in a way that is clear and understandable to a potential civilian employer who may not be familiar with military terms and standards. There are some things you can do, though, to show the strength of your qualifications so they are readily apparent to the reader.

Translate into non-military language

When you write your accomplishment statements, the first draft can use military terms but in subsequent drafts, you will need to do some translating. Help the reader understand the value and significance of military awards and recognition so that the scope of your qualifications is clear.

Assume the reader has no knowledge of military titles or acronyms and change any of these references into more common language. After you have "demilitarized" your accomplishment statements get some help from civilian friends or colleagues. Have the person read through your material and point out any terms that are not clear or confusing.

Do not minimize your military experience

For many years, some resume experts suggested that military experience should be minimized or downplayed during the transition to a civilian career, but that has changed. Your military accomplishments are a real asset in your job search so make the most of them. Military veterans are typically very skilled leaders and bring great teamwork skills to the civilian workplace, so let your attributes shine.

The exception to this, though, is if you were involved in active combat. In most cases, you can include dates and locations of combat action if it is relevant to the job you are pursuing, but it is best to leave out the graphic particulars. There is no doubt that combat is horrific and has a huge impact on you as a human being, but most potential employers are not prepared to hear about such things in detail.

Substitute a summary for an objective

In the past, a career objective was considered an essential part of any resume, but that thinking has changed in recent years. A career objective typically focuses on what you want to achieve, when what a potential employer really wants to see is what you can do for them.

A summary of your experience and qualifications is a better tool for sharing this information, because is provides the employer with definitive statements about the skills and attributes you would bring to their organization. Use the summary to your advantage by tailoring it for each job you pursue, including strong references to the attributes you possess that match up with the posted requirements and desired qualifications.

An effective summary is concise and to the point, usually no more than three to four sentences long. Use active language that includes both your accomplishments and the results you generated. Results are particularly important because they show a potential employer measurable, quantifiable evidence of the value you could bring to their organization.

Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.to go to the next resume article - Create A Resume That Showcases Your Accomplishments

Find Your New Job Faster With A Perfect Professional Resume And Cover Letter.

Writing your resume is preparation for the interview itself.

Writing your resume is preparation for the interview itself. The structuring and writing of your resume is good preparation for the interview itself. As you reflect on your past work experience and breakdown the detail behind each of your roles it makes you refocus on the job itself and what you liked and disliked about your role. With the added benefit of hindsight you can learn from the negative aspects of your role and focus on gaining employment in a role that will both challenge and fulfil you.

When we leave employment we have a tendency to move on and leave the past behind us, always looking forward and never back. Your writer will delve into your daily and weekly activities in an effort to cover aspects of your role that are so commonplace to you that you may disregard their importance.

As you detail your activities in past roles you will begin to focus your attention on your skills and abilities. While working with your writer to formulate your resume, you will simultaneously begin to formulate answers to prospective interview questions.

The value of writing your resume in this way means that you will gain enormous benefit from the time spent analyzing your strengths and past achievements. Added to this, your resume writer is experienced in the needs of the employer. While they concentrate on writing your resume to enhance your abilities they will also concentrate on providing the information that is required by an employer.

You will be surprised to realize that your experience is deeper and more varied than you even imagined. You will see your contributions to previous employers and realize their importance and worth.

We are all guilty of underselling ourselves and being dismissive of our achievements. Starting a sentence with the words 'I only work at or I only do' have been spoken at interviews. This is the kiss of death for your information and to describe your work experience with this type of negativity will guarantee failure.

Through the recreation of your work experience for your resume you will see your value as a solid employee increase. You will gain a confidence that will be useful both at your interview and later on in your future career.

Remember that no detail is too insignificant. What was part of the daily grind to you could be seen as a valuable tool or skill to an employer.

Your resume writer will work on ensuring that your skills are displayed to the best of your potential. Your resume writing exercise will provide you with the best possible interview preparation techniques. You will be amazed by what you learn about yourself in the process.

Find Your New Job Faster With A Perfect Professional Resume And Cover Letter. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Quick Turnaround.