Resumes

Description

Title Page Copyright Page Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Getting Started with Resumes Chapter 1 Getting a Job in the Digital Age Resumes Are Here to Stay Keeping Up with Resume Times Targeted resume rules Unfit resumes are zapped Tried-and-true techniques remain Technologies Facilitate Job Searching Social networking scoops jobs Mobile’s on the move Quick-change process customizes content Bios gain new importance as profiles YourName.com becomes vital Chapter 2 Enlisting Social Media The Sweeping Reach of Social Networking Eyeing the Big Three of Social Networking Job Searches LinkedIn focuses on professionals Facebook hands adults important search tools Twitter opens quick, slick paths to employers Making Sure Online Profiles Capture Your Best Side Let’s hear it for profiles! Not all profiles should be cheered Great tips for great profiles Writing Your Social Profile Summary section Specialties section Experience section Fine-tuning your profile Putting Your Best Face Forward Chapter 3 Going Mobile Earning New Rewards with Mobile Search Knowing When and Where to Stick to Home Computer Searches Powering a Mobile Search Choose job search apps wisely Watch type size and font Empower RSS to send job news Stay in the running with a rehearsed salary strategy Choose your work site with GPS Score with proven keywords Avoiding Mobile Job Search Mistakes Thinking technology overcomes poor resume quality Going on too long when going mobile Looking naive in following up Chapter 4 Leveraging Familiar Search Tools Plain-Text Resumes Are Still on the Scene Creating an ATS-Friendly Resume E-Forms: Fill in the Blankety-Blanks Online Screening Guards the Employment Door Sample components of online screening Pros and cons of online screening Can your resume be turned away? Blogs Give a Global Brand RSS Delivers Job Alerts on Your Time Resume Blasting: A Really Bad Idea Privacy and identity theft problems Overexposure to recruiters Going directly makes all the difference Making recruiters work for you Chapter 5 Checking Your Online Image Your Online Life Is an Open Book A look at the dark side A look at the bright side Cleaning Up Your Act Restoring Your Online Reputation Keeping Watch on Your Online Reputation Staying out of trouble online Looking like a champ online Look Who’s Talking . . . about You Part 2 Pulling Together a Winning Resume Chapter 6 Selecting the Best Resume Format Resume Formats Make a Difference Reverse-Chronological Format Understanding the RC format’s strengths and weaknesses Deciding whether you should use the RC format Creating a reverse-chronological resume Chrono-Functional Format Understanding the CF format’s strengths and weaknesses Deciding whether you should use the CF format Creating a chrono-functional resume Hybrid Format Understanding the hybrid format’s strengths and weaknesses Deciding whether you should use the hybrid format Creating a hybrid resume Other Resume Presentations Resume letters Portfolios Chapter 7 Understanding the Parts of a Resume Breaking Down the Parts of Your Resume Leading with Contact Information Placing Your Job Target in the Objective Header Grabbing the Reader with the Summary Section Maximizing the summary section Selling yourself in your summary Matching the Job Target with Key Skills Hard skills Soft skills The Proof Is in the Experience Defining the parts of your experience Playing up target expertise When competencies come into play Education Makes the Grade Detailing your degree Featuring your certifications Listing your licenses Gaining Extra Points Activities Organizations and affiliations Honors and awards Endorsements Shaping Your Content on Application Forms Notable Content to Leave Off Your Resume Avoid addressing the salary question Hold off on providing your references Chapter 8 Making the Details Shine Getting Started by Gathering Data Compiling the Content for the Basis of Your Resume Starting with your employment history and responsibilities lists Going down the rabbit hole to identify challenges Showing how action and results overcame challenges Taking the Next Steps Considering other accomplishments Brainstorming your way to success Your Core Resume: Turning Your Data into Dynamite Assembling the bones of the resume Tackling your most recent professional or job-related experience Focusing on older positions Playing up other experience Building your brand in the summary section Polishing Your Core Resume to Hand Out in Person Chapter 9 Using the OnTarget Approach Is Targeting Your Resume Really Necessary? Why One-Size-Fits-All Never Works First-line human resume screening First-line computerized resume screening Final destination with decision-maker Taking a Custom Approach Drawing words from job descriptions Using crossover language to be OnTarget Part 3 Resume Strategies to Wow Them Chapter 10 Working Wonders with Wow Words Bringing Good News with Wow Words Wow words for administration and management Wow words for communications and creativity Wow words for sales and persuasion Wow words for technical ability Wow words for office support Wow words for teaching Wow words for research and analysis Wow words for helping and caregiving Wow words for financial management Wow words for many skills Helping Recruiters Find You Keywords for administration and management Keywords for banking Keywords for customer service Keywords for information technology Keywords for manufacturing Keywords for human resources Finding Keywords Using Keywords Getting a Grip on Grammar Focusing on Spelling Chapter 11 Refining Your Design Leaving Space Measure your margins Balance blank space Employing Basic Design Elements for a Readable Resume Come on, break it up! Avoid blocky text Group content under a job description Draw attention with text boxes, charts, and graphs Create eye-catching headers Have fun with fonts and font styles Consistency, consistency, consistency A few more tips on appearance Tips for Printed Resumes Chapter 12 Opting for a Creative Resume Understanding Why Creative Resumes Are Game Changers Defining creative resumes The yes and no of creative resumes Using Design Strategies That Pop Lines and shading Text boxes Charts and graphs Monograms and logos Graphics and icons Chapter 13 Dealing with a Major Life Change Scoring Big with Your First Gig Promoting your strengths Recognizing your rookie soft spots Demonstrating how recent graduates add value Avoiding gaffes common to new graduates Moving Beyond “Too Old” to “In Demand” Selling your strengths as a seasoned worker Busting myths about seasoned workers Tips for the seasoned worker Taking a lower-level job Watching out for gaffes common to seasoned workers Moving from Military Work to Civilian Employment Highlighting your military strengths Identifying potential strikes against you Tips for transitioners Getting the message about milspeak Chapter 14 Overcoming Career Roadblocks Navigating Job Gaps Viewing a gap as a good thing Minding the gap Returning to the Workforce after Being a Caregiver Seeking a Job When You Have a Disability Deciding whether to disclose a disability Explaining gaps in work history When substance abuse is the problem Seeking a Job When You’re an Ex-Offender Negative info kills your chances Avoid the chronological format Present prison experience in nonprison terms Get help with job search moves Addressing Experience Dilemmas Too much experience in one job Too little experience Addressing Situations Not in Your Control Several layoffs Mergers and acquisitions Handling Red-Flag Circumstances Demotion Job-hopping Concurrent positions Self-employed or family-employed Part 4 Bringing It All Together with Sample Resumes Chapter 15 OnTarget Resumes by Industry and Career Field Chapter 16 OnTarget Resumes by Experience and Age Chapter 17 OnTarget Resumes for Special Circumstances Chapter 18 Award-Winning Creative Marketing Resumes Part 5 The Part of Tens Chapter 19 Ten Ways to Improve Your Resume Match Your Resume to the Job Use Bulleted Style for Easy Reading Discover Art of Lost Articles Sell, Don’t Tell Show Off Your Assets Make Sure Your Words Play Well Together Reach Out with Strength Trash a Wimpy Objective Deliver the Right Document Erase the Leave-Outs Chapter 20 Ten Ways to Increase the Odds of Landing a Job Send Your Resume in the Right Tech Form Don’t Chase Every Job Hit the Bull’s-Eye with Your Resume Move Fast, Follow Guidelines Neutralize Chilling Information Go Directly to the Hiring Manager Find an Inside Advocate Keep on Keepin’ On Find It on Company Websites Use Job Boards with Caution Chapter 21 Ten Tips for Choosing Professional Resume Help Choose a Resume Writing Service, Not a Clerical Service Zero in on Certified Professionals Request a Free Initial Consultation Evaluate the Writer’s Resume Samples Ask for References Watch Out for an Overuse of Forms Identify Generalists and Specialists Look for a Fair Price Take Aim Know That a Cheap Resume Is No Bargain Chapter 22 Your Ten-Point Resume Checklist Qualifications Image and Focus Format and Style Accomplishments and Skills Language and Expressions Content and Omissions Length and Common Sense Social Media and Other New Things Sticky Points and Sugarcoating Proofreading and More Proofreading Appendix: Directory of Resume Writers Index EULA