November 8, 2005 00:44 - Welcome to Powerful Sample Resume News and Information
Welcome to the first post for our brand new blog. Yes, we published a blog in the past... on Blogger... but now I've discovered a way to have the blog right here on my site, which is much more convenient for YOU as well as me.So, now, you'll find tidbits of news and information, right here on this page. I'll post the answers to resume questions and cover letter questions from my site visitors, resume tips, job hunting news, and more. I may even run the occasiional poll.
Feel free to respond to my posts with your comments as well. I'd love to hear from you!
Till next time,
"The Resume Queen"
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November 9, 2005 11:39 - Resume Format Question: What resume format do you use if you didn't have a consistent job?
Answer: This is an important question, and one that comes up quite frequently for those who are new to the job market or who have been out of it for a while. In these cases, a skills-based resume is often your best choice. This type of resume is also known as a functional resume format.It contains a summary of your work qualifications that is organized by your education, your experience, and your job-related skills. There is not much emphasis on specific employer work history, so you are not forced to highlight your lack of a consistent job. Of course, you will need to be able to discuss that "inconsistency" in the interview. Recruiters are pretty savvy about the reasons why people use functional resume formats and will probably be prepared to question you about it.
There are 2 other types of resume formats:
- Chronological, which is the traditional resume format you're used to seeing, which lists your jobs in reverse chronological order. This format will shout your lack of job consistency loud and clear.
- Combination, which takes the best features of both the chronological format and the functional resume format.
You can read more about the pros and cons of each resume format here: Compare resume formats
You can experiment with the different types of resumes and see which works best for you. To learn more about the functional format, click the "Read more" link at the end of this post.
Till next time,
"The Resume Queen"
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November 10, 2005 00:07 - QUESTION OF THE DAY: When is it OK to send out a resume?
I will not be able to start a position with the company for about 7 weeks. Is it too soon to even apply?ANSWER: No, definitely not. What you have to understand is that it can take weeks to fill a position. And it can take weeks for you to get through the application process. First, the recruiter will need to have a window of time in which to accept applications. Next, all of those applications and resumes must be reviewed and screened. Sometimes, in companies with dedicated human resource departments, there is a second level of review for the resume, usually by a department head or manager of some type.
After that, they'll need to interview the people they're most interested in for the position. That can take anywhere from a week to several weeks, depending on the resources committed to the position. It could take another week or two for a job offer to be developed and offered to the lucky candidate.
So, 7 weeks lead time is definitely NOT too much time... unless, of course, the advertisement for the job specifically says something like, "Must be available immediately." But, most employers are willing to wait for the right candidate.
Your job is to specify in your cover letter when you will be available and the reason, for example, "I will earn my degree in massage therapy on December 14 of this year, and will be available for employment immediately thereafter," or "I will be moving into the Chicago area on May 3rd, and will be ready to start working for you within a week or two after that date."
Till next time,
"The Resume Queen"
PS Click the link below to send in your own question...
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November 11, 2005 10:46 - Stupid Job Interview Questions
Today's blog addresses job interview questions. Ah... the job interview, one of the most feared and anxiety-provoking experiences you'll ever have. A new article in Business Week takes a witty, somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at those stupid job interview questions that interviewers like to ask. Questions like "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" and "What are your weaknesses?"Is it really necessary to answer such ridiculous questions? Maybe not. Hopefully, your interviewer will be more creative and will ask unique questions that will produce more meaningful answers. But just in case, you might want to check out this page for some tips on how to respond to such questions:
How to answer standard job interview questions OR
How to answer tricky job interview questions OR even
How to handle job interview questions that are illegal to ask
Interviews can be tricky. So, you'll want to be prepared. Not only do you need to have some answers prepped up for the kinds of questions you'll be asked, but you'll also want to know as much about the company as you can learn. By the way, have you signed up for my FREE interview tips course yet? It's a 7-part course, delivered by email, on how to succeed with job interviews. Once you sign up, you'll also be able to instantly view the special report: "3 Easy Steps to Landing the Job Offer of Your Dreams". AND... you'll be signed up for our monthly ezine, Resume Power Tips. And none of it will cost you a single red cent!
Until tomorrow... happy job hunting!
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November 12, 2005 18:37 - Two New Interactive Pages on Powerful Sample Resume Formats!
For all the best resume information, I try to keep the site updated frequently ... AND to make it as user-friendly as possible.I've recently made some changes to my website, www.Powerful-Sample-Resume-Formats.com. First off, I reorganzied the navigation bar so that the site is divided into clearly denoted "sections." I think that will help you get around a bit easier.
Second, I added two new interactive features:
- A "Weekly Poll" where you can chime in with your opinion on a variety of job-hunting related subjects!
- A "Quick Quiz" where you can test your knowledge about resumes, cover letters, and interview. 4 quick questions and then you'll get the results to see how you match up!
Have fun, and don't forget to visit our Weekly Poll and the Quick Quiz as soon as you finish reading this post!
Happy job hunting,
"The Resume Queen"
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November 15, 2005 23:15 - 10 Tips to Burn Brightly, Rather Than Burnout
Burnout is awful. I know... I've been there. After my divorce back in 2000, I worked long and hard at my career. Whenever my children were with their father (even on holidays), I'd be at the office, slaving away. I had a management position, and there was always more work to do.But you can only do this for so long before you crack. And when the fall comes, when you finally experience burnout in all its raging glory, it's the pits. And it can kill your career and future job prospects. So prevent burnout before it strikes you. This informative article will tell you how.
"That's it! I've had enough!" You may subconsciously utter these words when life's stressful challenges reach the peak of emotional exhaustion.
Formerly the word "burn out" is used to describe busted electric bulbs. Somehow, the word burnout came to origin and is now also used to describe emotional drain in humans, often as a result of long hours for small reward on the job. For light bulbs, it is irreversible. Luckily for humans, this is only temporary; self-help remedies are readily available to get us out of this predicament.
Apply these tips:
- Take time out to savor the fresh scent of nature, especially flowers. The sight and the fragrance that flowers bring can be great relief to a tired, irritated, or dragged feeling. If you love nature, nothing is more invigorating than flowers and plants. They represent nature in its true essence. Do this before you're feeling burned out for maximum effect.
- Consider whether your burnout is a result of doing something you don't like to do, yet you have to face it just the same. In such case, picture in your mind an image that you like to do and substitute this image for the thing you don't like to do. Somehow, this strategy of imagery helps to lessen the tiring weight of the thing you despise to act upon. In the process, your task gets done with less resistance on your part and it would even probably reach the point that you would enjoy doing it. Before you even know it, the job is already done and probably with favorable results.
- Enhance your physical energy. Ginseng is an energy food. Most health food stores sell it. You can either take it as a tea drink or mix it in your cooking for a wholesome meal. Ginseng comes in a variety of strengths. The more potent it is, the better your physical (and mental) performance will be. If you're not very familiar with it, just ask your health food store representative and they will gladly help you out.
- Take time out to regain your composure when you're feeling frazzled. A burnout can be equated to an individual who could use a time out from the hustles of life. This is similar to a coach of a basketball team asking for a time out to come up with a winning game plan when his team is not playing at its peak. Take advantage of this time out to meditate and relax those frenzied nerves.
- Take time out to empty your mind. Round up your useful memories and discard those damaging emotions and negative thoughts.
- Discover a newfound freedom, free from emotional drain. Go on a picnic with the family, a camping trip out in the woods, or a weekend excursion to a totally different environment.
- Listen to relaxing music. It lifts us emotionally. You may want to choose specific sounds that can relieve a person from burnout like soft Classical or new age melodies.
- Indulge. It's quite common to hear from somebody: "I just want to get home and soak myself in a bathtub." Quite true, this can help overcome burnout. Better yet, go to a spa where you can get a treatment package from massage to whirlpool baths.
- Master the art of saying "no." One of the most common causes of burnout is not knowing when to stop taking on more responsibility, more work, more commitments. If you're a high achiever, a perfectionist, or extremely ambitious, it's tempting to think you can "do it all." But the reailty of life is that none of us can do it all. We all have a breaking point. Learn to recognize yours and then don't feel guilty when you refuse to take on any more for the moment.
- Retain your sense of humor. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and/or driven can evaporate the humor from your life. Try to take time each day to laugh, or at least to smile a little. Lightening your mood can work wonders on the effects of burnout.
I hope you enjoyed these 10 burnout prevention/management tips. If you have any of your own, feel free to list them in the comments, OK?
Until tomorrow, happy job hunting!
"The Resume Queen"
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November 22, 2005 14:40 - Answers to Resume Questions
Resume Question: Do I have to list every job that I have ever had on a resume. How many years should you go back and how to you cover having moved around?This a 2-part question, so the answer will come in 2 parts too. First, most experts recommend that a resume showcase no more than 10 to 15 years of your career history. Experience older than that is probably not that relevant anyway, particularly in a field that changes frequently, like technology-based industries or the medical field. Now, there might be exceptions... for example, if you're trying to return to a field you worked in previously and you want to show that you DO have the knowledge base and previous experience. But before you include such distant experience on your resume, you'll have to look at whether 15 to 20 year old experience is really an asset. Only you can judge that, based on you and the job you're applying for. But wanting to showcase old experience might be a good reason for using a combination resume format.
In response to the second question about moving around, I'm not sure why this would need to be addressed on a resume at all. Surely, there's no stigma in having worked and lived in different places? In fact, it's likely to show your adaptability and flexibility. But if what you're really asking is how do you cover having moved from job to job in short order, that's a different resume question altogether. If you haven't stayed in previous jobs for long, you're going to have to address that during the job hunt process. But the resume isn't the best place to do so. All you can do on the resume is list the jobs you've had and the skills you own. However, this is a good example for using a functional resume format, which emphasizes your skills over the jobs held.
Till next time,
"The Resume Queen"
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