CareerCompass August 2019 Newsletter

bernie frazier career compass

Coming soon…

seminar workshop

 

That’s right! It’s been a long time coming, but I’m finally carving out some time to devote to this.

I continue to meet people who are struggling to find the kind of job they want (or any job!), or create a career strategy and plan to help them achieve their career goals. While I’ve provided information, ideas, and resources to many of you through one-on-one coaching and speaking, you’ve told me, “We want more!”

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be finalizing the first sessions and ready to make them available to you. I’m working on some good stuff and can’t wait to share it with you! Stay tuned!

3 Signs Your Resume Needs Help

In my lifetime, I’ve seen THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of resumes.  Some have made me drool while others have made me laugh (seriously, laugh!).  Okay, I admit I’ve felt guilty when laughing because I could also empathize with the person who was doing their best to present an impressive visual of their background, experiences and accomplishments.  Further, I don’t believe anyone wants to present a laughable resume when searching for employment …. unless they want to be a comedian!

If you’re unsure about the quality of your resume and want to help ensure that employers are not laughing, let me help you.  Over the years, I have pointed out many things you can do to enhance your resume, but following are three sure signs that your resume just might need a little help.

Bernie looking at phone

When an employer/recruiter sees a resume that works for them, your phone WILL ring!

1.  You’re not receiving calls or emails from employers. If you have submitted dozens (let’s say 30+) of resumes to employer career sites or on-line job boards for positions that fit your background and aren’t receiving responses of interest, this is a sure-tell sign that your resume is not hitting the mark.

Of course, depending on the type of job you’re pursuing, there could be hundreds of other applicants.  If/when this is the case, it could simply mean that the employer found the slate of candidates they wanted in the first 97 applicants and you were applicant #103.  Ouch!  However, you surely won’t be candidate #103 for all 35 jobs for which you’ve applied – time to check your resume.

 

 

Resume typos

Check your resume to see if you need to make some corrections.

2. Typos, typos, typos. This is one resume development tip that has NEVER gone out of style, however, I remain amazed at how many people still submit resumes with typos, poor spelling, incorrect grammar, and inconsistent formatting.

Remember, your resume is often the first interaction an employer has with you. If your resume formatting isn’t superb (with something you have time perfect prior to submission; unlike a live interview), consider the impression you’re making.

To help ensure your resume is “employer ready,” ask a family member or friend to review it. They will pick up any errors you may have missed.

resume template

The easier it is for an employer to review your resume, the greater the chances your resume will be seen.

 

 

3. Is your resume user-friendly? By user-friendly I mean is it easy to follow …. quickly? A study by The Ladders has shown that employers (recruiters, specifically) only spend six seconds reviewing a resume. SIX SECONDS!! If you aren’t sure whether your resume is easy to follow, ask others to read it for ease of use.

One way to simplify your resume for employer use is to use bullets versus paragraphs. If the thought you’re conveying is longer than two lines, bullets!

 

 

To your success,

Bernie