Looking for employment? It’s a tough market out there. As of July 2013, there were 3.7 million job openings in the U.S. This may sound like an impressive number, but it’s actually a 17 percent drop from pre-recession levels. Not only do fewer openings exist, but the competition is also fiercer than ever. Today more than 30 percent of American adults have a bachelor’s degree.
In today’s job market, a resume has to be more than a simple career history. A well-written resume should provide the reader with a clear understanding of who you are, what unique experience and skills you possess, and how you can translate those skills and experience to add immediate value to an organization.
Headhunters and human resources professionals ask two critical questions prior to any kind of interview: Do you have the skills for the job, and are you suitable for the company?
Searching for jobs is an arduous task that can take a lot of time, however there are ways of shortening that effort. The majority of job hunters underestimate how useful their network of contacts can be and how they can use this network to extend their search to increase the chances of finding a job. With the development of online social networks, your personal collection of contacts is considerably larger than those of job hunters 10 years ago and should be fully utilized in your search for work. Understanding Your Network
So did you finally finish your resume? It probably took hours to do a first draft then an edited version trimming the document to two pages. Then, if you heeded the advice of outplacement consultants to make sure your resume was error-free, you probably took a bit more time to proofread it. The question is: Have you invested as much time preparing for your "live" conversations with interested employers? If you're like a lot of people, you haven't --- and that can undermine all the work you put into creating a great resume.
You live at the most exciting of times. You were born at the dawn of a new era, and are part of the first generation to grow up with the technology that is now shaping every aspect of life throughout the globe. The opportunities in your future are limited only by your willingness to pursue them.
Branding isn't only important for businesses. It is also important in getting a job. In fact, personal branding has taken on increasing importance as the workforce embraces creativity and individualism. And with unemployment still above the natural 5 percent, it is even more important to get the edge and stand out with our resume. Branding does this. Branding allows for you to show the unique value you bring to the table and allows for the employers to get a real insightful look at who you are and what you are all about. So how do you go about creating a personal branding resume?
Resume writing is about as much fun as a root canal, especially when you’re just out of school and have no professional experience to speak of. What do you do after writing down your graduation date and that burger-flipping job, and three-quarters of a blank page are still staring you in the face? Here are five tips to make you and your resume look professional. 1. E-Mail Address as a Marketing Tool