JobBlog

Recommendations are an important part of your portfolio.
Here are a few tips about references:

• Choose carefully and wisely.
It’s not what people say about you that hurts you, it’s what they don’t say about you. The worst kind of reference is what I call “Plain Vanilla”. It doesn’t say anything bad about you but it doesn’t say anything that will put you at the top of the short list either.

• Select from current and former supervisors; people who have knowledge of how you perform in a work environment.
Do not ask someone to be a reference simply because they are a life-long friend or hold a prestigious position in the community. Don’t ask a family member–your mother will only say good things about you so it won’t hold much weight. Don’t ask your Chiropractor–no one will want to hire you if they know you have a bad back.
• Give your references enough information about you so they can adequately address your strengths and skills. Bragging about a candidates communication skills won’t help if that is not a skill required for the position.
Meet with your references to discuss your potential. Give them a copy of your resume.

• Stay in touch with your references and keep them informed about your job search.
When you are called for an interview, give your references a heads-up so they know the company may be contacting them.

• Send a thank you note to references for having helped you land the job.
Don’t forget to show your appreciation to those who recommended you for the job.

Using a template for a resume may seem convenient, but it can be a detriment to the candidate. Pre-set formats do not necessarily show you in the best light, nor do they necessarily compliment your best qualifications. Look at them for guidelines. However, don’t be afraid to create your own. Let’s talk about the categories. First is the heading or “Personal Information”. This is usually at the top and contains your name and contact information. If you are loading your resume onto the internet, to protect your privacy you should give your name and e-mail address only. I would advise you to create an e-mail just for the purpose of job search. Many people have cute e-mail handles to use with family and friends but it is a red flag to an employer to see anything lewd, crude or sugggestive. For hard copy resumes include an address and telephone number. If you have an answering machine, listen to your message. Does it sound professional and business-like? If not, then change it. If you have a web site, include that as well. The key to “personal” information is not to incude anything truly personal such as age, marital status, number of children, health condition, or SSN. The best rule of thumb to follow is “If it doesn’t enhance you as a candidate, don’t put it on your resume.”

Scanning

Some businesses are using electronic applicant tracking. This means that your resume can be scanned into a computer and the computer can search for just about anything in your resume. You could be considered for jobs you never thought of. Once your resume is scanned into the computer, artificial intelligence “reads” the text and extracts important information about you. It is important that you put your name on the first line at the top of the page and your address should follow. Use key words to define your skills, experience and education. Be concise and describe your experiences in concrete terms.

Faxing

When faxing a resume, you are at the mercy of the sending machine and the receiving machine. Technology is a wonderful thing but it does not always deliver. Papers can be chewed up, folded or wadded together. Printed matter may be distorted, cut off or garbled in transmission. If you fox your resume to an employer, always follow up wit a hard copy in the mail. And don’t forget the cover letter.

Resumes on the Internet

There are many services out there that want you to put your resume on the Internet. Be sure that you are sending your information to a reputable and reliable source before agreeing to put your information on the world wide web. Hackers can access information about you and it could be misused. You might wind up getting job offers you don’t want or information you didn’t solicit.

• Your resume needs to be clean, clear and crisp
• Use only white or off-white 8 ½ x 11” paper. Print on one side only.
• Provide a laser printed original. Avoid low quality or dot matrix printers.
• Do not send photocopies
• Do not fold or staple the resume. Use 9 x 12” envelopes for mailing.
• Use a standard (true) typeface that is easy to read and a font size of 10 or 12 points.
• You can boldface or CAPITALIZE section headings, but be consistent throughout the resume.
• Avoid italics, underlining, shadows or reverses.
• Do not use vertical lines, graphics or boxes.
• Do not use a column format or resumes that look like newspapers or newsletters.
• Use a standard address format below your name.
• List each phone number on its own line.

I am not an advocate of these programs because each of us is unique and we do not all fit into a preset format. In her book, Work It!, Allison Hemming describes them as “Mc Resumes.” They can be a big disadvantage.

Employers recognize these canned programs because they all look alike. There is nothing that distinguishes your resume from anyone else.

A resume should reflect your qualifications in the best light so that the employer is more inclined to want to meet with you in person to further discuss your background and experience.

Do not be afraid to work on your own resume. With access to a computer you can put together a winning resume every time, without the expense or hassle of a service or program.