Book Review The Recruiter Is Your Friend

Book Review The Recruiter Is Your Friend This book has two titles: The Recruiter Is Your Friend and This Aint Your Granddaddys Job Search (which is actually the subtitle). It is a short book (51 pages) by Kristen Hallows, who has a cool blog from a coach/resume-writer perspective. So what did I think about the book? At first I thought it was too short. There just wasnt enough meat, I thought. But guess what? Ive read it three times. I agree with almost every single thing in here (dont ask me what I dont agree with, I dont remember, and it was pretty inconsequential) Kristen has a style where she actually does deliver the meat, its just lean. This is great because you can get through the book in about an hour, and hopefully during this time your ideas on what a job search (and career management) is will totally change. I say hopefully because when I started my job search I wasnt quite ready to face the truth. I imagine that a lot of people out there (whether they are full of themselves, like me, or students that still think they are all that and immortal) arent going to be ready to really hear this truth. I think there are a lot of pearls in this book that will probably be overlooked or disregarded. Now that Ive had my head in this stuff for so long I find them jumping out at me. Heres some titles or subtitles to give you an idea of whats in here: The job search is lined with potholes and some contain explosives. One thing you can do right now. Use the internet to build your network (do not use it to look for jobs) Networking: Still the best way to find a job! Change your perspective and your attitude while youre at it Why recruiters make sense (includes The good, the bad and the heinous and How can I find the right recruiter?) Searching confidentially Why resumes will never die Yes, it is small, but it is bite-sized stuff that people like me (people that suffer from the I already know everything syndrome) might just be able to read and accept. It really would have helped set me straight before I wasted two solid months of fruitless job search. Click here to go to her page with purchasing options (its $9.95 on Amazon). Find high quality Bilingual jobs at LatPro.com. Book Review The Recruiter Is Your Friend This book has two titles: The Recruiter Is Your Friend and This Aint Your Granddaddys Job Search (which is actually the subtitle). It is a short book (51 pages) by Kristen Hallows, who has a cool blog from a coach/resume-writer perspective. So what did I think about the book? At first I thought it was too short. There just wasnt enough meat, I thought. But guess what? Ive read it three times. I agree with almost every single thing in here (dont ask me what I dont agree with, I dont remember, and it was pretty inconsequential) Kristen has a style where she actually does deliver the meat, its just lean. This is great because you can get through the book in about an hour, and hopefully during this time your ideas on what a job search (and career management) is will totally change. I say hopefully because when I started my job search I wasnt quite ready to face the truth. I imagine that a lot of people out there (whether they are full of themselves, like me, or students that still think they are all that and immortal) arent going to be ready to really hear this truth. I think there are a lot of pearls in this book that will probably be overlooked or disregarded. Now that Ive had my head in this stuff for so long I find them jumping out at me. Heres some titles or subtitles to give you an idea of whats in here: The job search is lined with potholes and some contain explosives. One thing you can do right now. Use the internet to build your network (do not use it to look for jobs) Networking: Still the best way to find a job! Change your perspective and your attitude while youre at it Why recruiters make sense (includes The good, the bad and the heinous and How can I find the right recruiter?) Searching confidentially Why resumes will never die Yes, it is small, but it is bite-sized stuff that people like me (people that suffer from the I already know everything syndrome) might just be able to read and accept. It really would have helped set me straight before I wasted two solid months of fruitless job search. Click here to go to her page with purchasing options (its $9.95 on Amazon). Find high quality Bilingual jobs at LatPro.com.

What Is Some Legitimate Resume Writing Companies?

What Is Some Legitimate Resume Writing Companies?It is true that you can have a lot of advantages in using resume writing services, especially when it comes to finding out how to write a resume. However, if you are doing it right, you will only have to pay a small amount of money and your job search will be just like you've always dreamed. Here are some things that you need to know about what are some legitimate resume writing companies.As you probably already know, there are plenty of legit companies out there, but there are also a lot of scam sites on the internet that are just after your money. If you are one of those people who are already struggling to find a decent company, you should know that not all businesses that offer to help you with your resume writing can really do that. For example, some of them are actually selling their own scams that they've acquired from other companies, so it's very important that you check their credentials before you hire them.The purpose of th ese kinds of services is to help you through the process of creating a resume for your job. Since it is going to be a part of your job, it is very important that you are able to find one that can give you the best value for your money. Once you find a company that can help you out, then it is also important that you make sure that you will only be hiring the most trusted professionals who are able to help you complete the job right.One of the ways that you will be able to identify the legitimate resume writing companies out there is by doing a little research. You should be able to find online websites that specialize in this kind of service. These websites will be able to provide you with resumes that are good for you to look at. Aside from being able to guide you through the process of developing a resume, they can also offer you a lot of other helpful tips and ideas that can help you.It is a good idea to start by checking out the resumes that other clients have submitted so that you will be able to compare what is offered by different companies. You should also be able to review their reviews on these services. This will allow you to get a good idea of which ones are the most reliable.You should also avoid getting into communication with the ones that are fake websites. Some of them might try to talk to you on behalf of the company in order to scam you. It is also very important that you avoid giving out any personal information to the companies that you are considering.After you have done your research, you should now start looking for the most reputable and trusted companies. You should take note of the fact that there are plenty of legitimate companies out there, but there are also many fake websites that are just out to make money. It is therefore very important that you learn how to differentiate between the good and the bad ones so that you will be able to get a quality service that is affordable and with a lot of advantages.Finding what are some legi timate resume writing companies is one of the best things that you can do in order to be successful in your job search. If you are looking for a way to improve your chances of finding a job and securing a position, then it is definitely a good thing that you can use resume writing services. However, it is also very important that you avoid scams and fake websites in order to avoid getting ripped off.

5 Ways to Turn Your Hobby into a Career

5 Ways to Turn Your Hobby into a Career Wouldnt it be great if we could earn a living doing the thing we love doing the most? Well this dream could be a reality if you take action and lots of people do successfully  turn their favourite hobby into a career, whether it be by starting their own business, or making the decision to go professional. Of course, it is important that you put proper consideration into your decision, as not all  hobbies make for a lucrative business and following a new career path is a big decision to make. Some may also say that hobbies and work are best kept separate, as  they are an activity  that we get to participate  in in our free time as an escape from work, rather than BEING  the work. However, its also been said that if you find a job you love, youll never work a day in your life, so perhaps its a gamble worth making! If youre thinking of turning your hobby into a career, heres how you could go about it: 1) Teach  others: If you dont see yourself taking up your hobby in a professional sense, that doesnt meant that you cant still turn it into  a career. Whether youre a skilled musician or linguist, or youre pretty nifty in the kitchen, you can turn your skill into a job by passing on your knowledge to others. Depending on the skill and demand for it, you could set yourself up as a private teacher, or offer your service at  a local school or college. Teaching can be really rewarding, even more so when you are teaching something that you love. 2) Sell your creations: If your hobby is making some sort of crafts, artwork or even baking,  why not sell your creations? Sites such as Etsy are great for independent traders who want to sell  their crafts, or you could alternatively strike a partnership with a local crafts  shop, or even open your own! Baking businesses also have potential to be really successful, as not everyone has the time to whip up a cake from scratch and are more than happy to pay someone skilled to do it for them. This all being said, you dont necessarily need to create your products yourself, if you are passionate about something, becoming a supplier could be just as good a way to incorporate your hobby into your career. 3) Provide a service: Think about how you can use your hobby to assist others. If youre passionate about health and fitness, why not offer start up a business as a personal trainer or health coach? If you adore animals, you could offer dog walking service or pet sitting. The possibilities are endless! 4) Write/speak about your passion: If youre passionate about something, then shout about it!  Whether it be  through the written word, or talking about it at events; believe it or not, you can actually get paid for merely sharing  your passion and knowledge with others  . The rise of blogging has made it easier than ever for people to become experts in their field and there are lots of opportunities for industry professionals to speak at events, so be proactive and put yourself out there! Once you have built a bit of status for yourself within the sector, it could well be turned into a career. 5) Go professional: Though not everyone it lucky enough to get their big break, nothing should hold you back from achieving your dream if you feel passionately enough about it! If you dream of becoming a professional musician, start out doing open mic nights and progress  from there. If youre an athlete with the Olympics in your sight, train until youre at the best possible standard! Though youll probably need to put a lot of the leg work in before you can make a career from it, itll be worth it in the end.

Youre Fired! What Now - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

You’re Fired! What Now - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I hate to sound like Donald Trump, but what happens if you get fired? or laid off? or downsized? Whatever term you use doesn’t matter. The thing is that come Monday, you have nowhere to go and you feel angry, guilty, puzzled, confused, and a hundred other feelings. You’re panicking because suddenly, it’s not business as usual. And your self-esteem is at a new low. You’ll have to face the world and explain your status. Plus, you must face the economic facts of life because the money spigot has shut until a new job is secured. Unfortunately, your financial commitments remain unchanged from when you had a job. Panicking doesn’t help. On the contrary: you have to approach your new situation logically and find a solutionâ€"quickly. But where to start? Yes, you’ve heard about others who lost their jobs, but that was different somehow. Now it is you. Start with a self-assessment As a practicing career coach, I developed a simple self-assessment tool for reentry into the job market. (It’s available for free by downloading it from my LinkedIn profile.) The first thing to assess is your emotional strength. You’re not ready for a self-calibration or for making logical decisions if you’re distraught. If your mind is not strong and you’re not clearheaded, you cannot be logical. Next, look at your most recent résumé, and update it. All of the people you’re going to talk with about possible jobs will need your résumé. This is a critical issue because the vast majority of people do not have their résumés done professionally. And upon separation from their companies, those lucky enough to have ex-employers who pay for the services of outplacement firms still get only limited assistance from those firms. Among other services, outplacement firms assist with the construction of résumés. Regrettably, though, the final result typically falls short of the quality of a résumé done by a professional, certified résumé writer. The outcome is that you think your résumé is good because after all, you received assistance from an outplacement service. But in reality the document is not producing the results you expected. In this case I know what I’m talking about, and my suggestion is that you engage a recommended résumé writer. If you cannot come up with several such writers for comparison shopping, I can send you a list of them if you request it by e-mailing me at alex@landingexpert.com. In addition to your résumé, you must have an equally solid LinkedIn profile. The same rule applies here: get it done professionally. Time is short, and your future career and financial well-being are at stake. Sixty to 80% of people get their next jobs by networking Are you good at networking? Have you developed your sphere of influence so that when in need, you can reach out for help? It is not too late to start today. Yes, I understand: you’re an introvert, or you had a full-time job and didn’t need to develop such relationships. But now you must. Communication skills From here onâ€"and even after you start your new jobâ€"you’ll have to communicate with various parties verbally and in writing. If you’re not very good at that, I suggest you use a professional editor. I’ve been using the services of EditAmerica.com with confidence and great success. You are called for a video or in-person interview This must be scary for some despite that in the past they’ve landed jobs and so therefore they must be good. Well, think again. So much has changed in the workplace lately, including the level of intensity of the competition for that coveted job. I know this well because for the past 10 years I’ve been preparing people at all levels and from all industries for getting ready for job interviews conducted by all sorts of methods, including in person, of course, as well as by Skype or video conference. Are you scared about negotiating the job offer? People in transition feel traumatized. Then, finally, after an arduous and protracted period, an offer comes their way. They feel grateful to have received a lifeline and are in no mood to start negotiating and potentially jeopardizing the offer. Big mistake! This is the final step whereby those who know how to maneuver within the maze can make big bucks with little effort. Good luck to you!

What to Know Before Writing Your Resume

What to Know Before Writing Your ResumeWhat to know before writing your resume is one of the questions which tends to keep a lot of individuals from making use of it. This can make them miss out on the opportunities that are offered by a well-prepared resume. So, here are some of the things that you should know before writing your resume.People look for things that they can use when they are making a decision about you. As a result, the information that you give them on your resume will have a major impact on the way that you are viewed. Therefore, it is very important that you give them all the information that you can. And one of the things that you should know before writing your resume is to make sure that the information that you have provided about yourself is accurate.This is because the fact that you have submitted this is all part of your efforts to help the hiring company to make an assessment about you. If you do not think that you can get rid of the error, then you should be very careful in this regard. One of the things that you should know before writing your resume is to be honest.It is not enough that you are able to present the best possible information about yourself; you should also take the time to understand the career options that you might have. In other words, you should also understand what kinds of career opportunities are available for you in the field. It can help you find out the best one that you can choose from.The same thing applies to the education background of you. You should make sure that you have given the accurate information about your educational background. If you cannot do so, then it will not only be frustrating, but it can also make it difficult for you to get a better job in the future.In addition to these points, you should also make sure that you have learned something from the basic knowledge that you have gained during your course of study. In other words, you should have learned some basic knowledge and it can help you be better equipped when it comes to choosing a job. But, you should make sure that you do not exaggerate the information.The most important thing that you should know before writing your resume is that you should not be doing this just to help the company. If you do this, you may be taken advantage of. This can be particularly true if you do not take the time to carefully follow the above mentioned points.A resume is a tool that helps you put your skills and qualifications to use. It helps you make the right impression on the employer, and it can also help you get the job. However, the bottom line is that if you do not take the time to make sure that you have given them the complete and accurate information, you will miss out on the opportunities that you can get from a well-written resume.

Should I Work for a Startup - Part 1

Should I Work for a Startup - Part 1 stocksnap,ioI get asked this question a lot.My usual answer is “It depends…. It totally depends on you and what you want”.There are advantages disadvantages of working for a startup. Working at a Startup is not for everyone. It depends on your personality, your career goals, your income goals,etc.evalLet’s look at both sides of the coin.In this first part of this series “Should I Work for a Startup?” â€" we will examine the positives/ advantages of working for a Startup. In the second part we will explore the disadvantages of getting a job at a Startup.Definition of a StartupBefore we begin, let’s clarify what exactly a Startup is. There are multiple definitions of a startup. For instance companies like Pinterest, AirBnB,Uber are still considered Startups in many circles. I personally would not consider them a startup â€" most companies in the billion dollar startup category average more than 1000 employees with lots of funding, multiple board members â€" most of them have weathered the uncertainty phase.So for the purpose of this article -my definition of a startup is differentYoung companyLess than 3 Years OldLess than 25 EmployeesHere are some of the advantages of working for a Startup.1. You will learn a lotevalevalTraditional corporations operate in structured silos or departments. Every department has its own functions within each department, each individual/team will have their own responsibilities. However, in a startup you will have multiple responsibilities, you will be forced to wear multiple hats, you will usually work outside the scope of your job description.This will force you to learn a lot. You will be exposed to more ideas, more opportunities. You will also get more visibility. Everyone in the organization include the Founders,CEO will know who you are and what you do.A salesperson for a startup usually dabbles into some marketing, some market research , and some product development. Since the teams are usually small in a start up, you will interact with people with multiple skill-sets. This will accelerate your growth and learning.A friend of mine just started working as a Marketing Intern for a young tech startup. He is responsible for Lead Generation Inbound Marketing. However, on a daily basis he interacts with the sales staff, the executives and even the product development teams . He is expanding his horizons by learning multiple skill-sets. Alternatively in a traditional corporation, where everything is structured he would not get the opportunity to learn about other job functions.2. Camaraderie TeamworkevalAs mentioned before, most traditional corporations work in silos. And each silo has its own agenda goal. In my experience, most departments are more concerned about their goals as opposed to the goals of the organization and the customers. I have seen scenarios where the sales department hates marketing; marketing hates sales; operations hates sales; Sales hates Finance, and so on.Most startup s operate in a completely opposite way â€" you are forced to interact with other teams departments. Sometimes, your job functions intertwine. As a result, you are working in a cohesive team spirit most of the time. There is a sense of togetherness.There is an underlying sense of ownership towards the organization and the customers. Everyone works together to achieve the best desired result. There is a shared sense of pride.In many cases, you build long-lasting business personal relationships with your early-stage colleagues.3. Potential to be RichNotice that I use the word “Potential”. However,this benefit is hard to ignore. We are talking about the money here. Although most early stage startups may not offer you attractive Health and Dental benefits, they do provide their early employees with the option to be part-owners or stock owners.However, do not assume that every startup Founder will provide you with stock options as soon as you are hired. This is something to be negot iated by you, the candidate.When Facebook went public in 2012, about 1000 of early employees became millionaires. The same was true for other Technology companies such as Microsoft,Google,Twitter who eventually went public.evalRealistically, not all startups make it to this level. Most startups don’t survive past the first few years â€" however this benefit Most people do not get this opportunity to be part of something they built. You can feel it , you can touch it, use it and appreciate the personal ownership.You are in the middle of all the action.eval5. Upward MobilitySusan Wojcicki was one of the early employees of Google. Infact, Google was incorporated initially run out of her garage which she rented out to Larry Page and Sergey Brin. She was employee# 18 at Google. After wearing multiple hats at Google, she is now the CEO of YouTube.Many CEOs â€" Steve Ballmer, Marrisa Mayer, Sundar Pichai have been in similar scenarios. They were early stage employees. They worked their way up and were able to reach the top faster than what would have taken them working for a traditional corporation.This is the case with most startups.The upward mobility and the visibility you get in a startup is very difficult to get in a traditional corporation. In most corporations, there are structured hierarchies and promotions could be tenure-based.Startups favor meritocracy. This means, the more value you can deliver for the startup the faster you get promoted. This gives you the foundation to put your career on the fast track.In summary, the benefits of working for an early-stage Startup are as follows:Learning and Skill DevelopmentFinancial IncentivesSense of OwnershipEnhanced Team SpiritStay tuned for Part 2 where we will examine the disadvantages of working for a Startup.

Should You Optimize Your Resume for ATS - Sterling Career Concepts

Should You Optimize Your Resume for ATS Should You Optimize Your Resume for ATS? Much has been written and debated on the use of applicant tracking systems (ATS) lately.    I am often asked about it by prospective clients and approach this topic from two angles. In general, for every resume I write, I request 2-3 target job postings for several reasons, one of which is to ensure I am incorporating industry terminology into the document.   Not all companies and not all positions are screened by ATS, and unfortunately you will not always know when submitting your resume. Applying to smaller companies or positions for which you know you can submit your resume through an internal contact are effective ways to circumvent an ATS. If youre responding to online postings or submitting your resume in to a companys website, there is a greater chance they are utilizing an ATS to help with initial screenings. In those situations or whenever a client feels he/she may be encountering ATS-related roadblocks, I utilize PrepTels Resumeter service to optimize keywords in the resume for a particular position.  The frustrating and illogical part of this process (and why the Resumeter service adds value to the process) is that ATS software programs (of which there are several) determine keywords differently (via algorithms) than a human reading through the job posting. It should be noted though that optimizing for one posting will not ensure optimization for another posting so this can become a labor-intensive approach to submitting resumes and one that plays to the computer so whenever possible I recommend the first strategy of networking into a company and passing your resume on to a live person since (1) it helps you stand out as a candidate, and (2) at the end of the day, it’s still people (and not computers) who hire people. The good news is PrepTel’s Resumeter tool is free for job seekers’ own use or you can opt to work with me to optimize your resume for a particular posting. Email or call me today for a price quote and to get started right away!

Have You Considered the Power of Volunteering for Your Executive Job Search

Have You Considered the Power of Volunteering for Your Executive Job Search Getting involved in your community is much more than just helping others, even though that is the main benefit. Too many people think they are too busy to volunteer, or even think there are plenty of volunteers already so they aren’t needed. However, what if we told you volunteering in your community could help your job search, give you something else to put on your executive resume biography and boost your personal branding at the same time? The best professional resume writers preach this all the time for these reasons. Boost Your Credibility You may be a credible executive within your industry, but no one else outside of it knows that. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to get out in the community and show your talents as well. Offering your services for sale at your job is your career, but offering them for free through volunteering efforts can boost your credibility tremendously. Meet New People When talking to the best professional resume writers, they will always promote the importance of networking. The truth is many executives aren’t very fond of going out of their way to meet new people since it sometimes doesn’t feel organic. Volunteering is completely different. Your purpose for volunteering is to serve the community, and you’ll inevitably meet new people along the way. And if you happen to be searching for a job during your efforts, you never know if you could be connected to your next employer somehow. Fill In Employment Gaps With Volunteering Another way volunteering is beneficial is by filling in employment gaps in your executive resume biography. Employers typically don’t like to see gaps in employment for more than a few months. However, if you are able to fill in those gaps with volunteer projects, you’ll likely be forgiven and your chances of landing your next job won’t suffer. In many ways, volunteering can demonstrate your personal brand and your soft skills, while portraying you as a well-rounded person overall. Open Your Mind To New Options Finally, your volunteering efforts may open your mind to options you’ve never considered before. This may not apply to you if you’re happy with your current career, but it does if you’re unemployed or looking for a new job. Happiness with any job comes from being satisfied with the work you do, and being fulfilling and meaningful. The connections you make while volunteering, along with the volunteer work itself, can help you open your mind to new opportunities if you feel like you’re stuck. Professional Resume Services does much more than simply write resumes that get you hired. Our team focuses on the big picture with every executive in order to help them find the most satisfying career path for them. Every individual is different, and sometimes volunteering is a great way to learn more about yourself and your passions. Feel free to contact us at any time to learn more about the connection between volunteering and your executive job search.