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Archive for April, 2009

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Choosing a Resume Distribution Service

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The internet has created many new opportunities for people who are searching for jobs. Internet job boards such as Monster.com and others allow employers to list their jobs online allowing applicants to apply for the job in one easy step. While job boards are very useful, they do have one major drawback—they draw a lot of applicants. That means competition that makes it harder to obtain the job you want.

There are other options. In recent years, resume distribution service companies began offering their services to job hunters around the world. For a fee, these businesses will distribute your resume to job boards and company recruiters by e-mail or fax. They can target your industry in most cases making the chances even higher that you will get an interview.

Some resume distribution services offer their services for free, while others charge a fee. The fees range from $39 all the way up to $89. They will all distribute your resume to recruiters using various methods of delivery. Certain industries can be targeted for a higher fee.

Before you engage the services of one of these resume distribution companies, it would be wise to consult with them by phone first if possible. Before you sign up with any company, make sure you find out what they do with your personal information. In other words, how hard is it to you remove your resume from their site if you decide that action is necessary? Find out how they get the information about job openings. Do they send your resume to recruiters that have known job openings? Do they get their leads off job boards such as Monster.com? Will they be targeting your specific industry? Will they send your resume out by blast fax where hundreds or even thousands of companies will receive your resume?

Here are a few resume distribution services that I like:

•    ResumeSpider.com—this company has been in the resume distribution service since 1999. According to this company’s website, their methods are more effective because they create a targeted distribution network for you. All recruiters that receive your resume are subscribers to the service. They connect job seekers with companies in a similar way that mainstream dating websites help people find a spouse. Their proactive approach will save you weeks or months of your own time in creating a desired list of employers and recruiters. Their prices start at $39.95 for the standard package, and you can save 10% by using the promo code 961326.

•    myResumeAgent—website has a lot of useful information about job searches and resume writing. The distribution service allows you to instantly send your resume, connect with recruiters, and get more interviews for $47.95. One nice thing about this company is that they allow you to customize your e-mail before it is sent. You can also make your personal information confidential to avoid privacy problems.

•    Gadball—this company offers free distribution to sites that you choose. If you have to make changes to your resume, they are instantly sent out to the job boards. You retain complete control over your resume.

Resume distribution services will never replace good old-fashioned job searching methods. You still need to network with other people and send your resumes for job openings that you hear about.

Read customer reviews of the top resume distribution companies.

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Posted in Resume Writing | No Comments »

The Art of the Thank You Letter

Monday, April 27th, 2009

In today’s economy, competition for jobs is more intense than ever, therefore anything and everything you can do to set yourself apart from other applicants is in your favor. The thank you letter is the perfect complement to the interview you have been granted. It is not only polite to thank the interviewer for his time and the opportunity, but doing so will make you stand out from those who neglect this step.

Impressing with a thank you letter does require a little time and thought. Keep these things in mind.
-    Do it immediately following the interview and mail it the same day.
-    Never email or text a thank you.
-    Print the letter on nice stationary.
-    Send one to each person who interviewed you. Remember to ask for their business card during the interview so you have the correct contact information and most importantly the correct spelling of their name.
-    Include a thank you for the time the person spent with you, any information you didn’t think to mention during the interview, something that impressed you about the company and how you can be an asset to it.
-    Remember to close with your desire to join the company and your contact information.
-    If you haven’t already provided it, attach a list of 3 references with contact information.

Use the thank you letter to your advantage by showing how prompt you are, that you follow through and that you have excellent social skills. The perfectly timed and articulated thank you letter may be the tie-breaker between you and other candidates.

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Posted in Interview | No Comments »

Resume Don’ts

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Your resume is often the first contact that an employer has of you. The impression given on paper can earn you further consideration or it may also earn your resume a quick trip to the trash can. Many companies are so bombarded with resumes that any small detail could cause yours to get rejected. Below are the things not to include, so your resume stays in the right stack.

-    Do not give personal details like marital status, age and if you have children.
-    Do not provide physical information about yourself, such as weight, height or whether or not you have a physical disability.
-    Do not include a photograph of yourself unless you are asked to do so by the company you are applying to.
-    Do not mention how hard it is to find a job.
-    Avoid mentioning anything negative, including how tough you have had it in life.
-    Do not joke.
-    Make no mention of family members or friends.
-    Don’t disclose how much you made in past jobs, unless specifically required to do so.
-    Never handwrite a resume.

Keep a resume as brief as possible by sticking to the facts, relevant information and avoiding the resume don’ts. This will help to ensure your resume gets a second look.

Read resume service reviews to find the right resume writer for you.

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Posted in Resume Writing | 2 Comments »

Jobs and Social Networking

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Social networking sites are a relatively new phenomenon which is growing by leaps and bounds. People are reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances and making new ones with these great sites. In fact social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace are very valuable for marketing and other business applications. They are however, a two-edged sword.

On a social networking site, it is quick and easy to inform all your contacts that you are indeed looking for a job. In fact, it is wise to do so and you may be pleasantly surprised with the job search help you receive. However, the other side to social networking is that anything and everything you put on your profile is public information, as is anything a friend might say about you. You might be prudent enough to never mention your reckless youth online, but a friend who is not as careful may make comments on your profile about things you did together in the past. Nowadays, companies are checking social networking sites before hiring potential employees and the information they find there may just cost you the job you are wanting.

Use social networking wisely and to your advantage. Put filters on your profile, so only the things you want seen can be viewed by others. Be careful of what you say in blogs and anywhere online, especially if your name is attached to what you write. It may come back to haunt you.

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Posted in Career, Job Search | No Comments »

How Your Volunteer Work Can Help You Find A New Job

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Typically we choose the things we volunteer at with more care than finding a job. Often you hear about people who hate their jobs, but you don’t often hear griping about how much someone hates where they volunteer. This is because we usually volunteer to work in areas that we are passionate about. In fact, looking at your passions and what you truly enjoy doing when you volunteer may help you turn finding a new job into finding a new career.

You should analyze the tasks you do when volunteering and describe them accurately. You may be a great event planner and capable of handling budgets and organization of large scale events. You may be an impressive team leader, who can motivate groups of individuals to work together for the common good. You may be an exceptional fundraiser, public relations representative, promotions director or recruiter. These may be things that you do well in your volunteering but have never done as a part of your paid work. They are still very valuable job skills that may be put to use in your next job for a position you are truly passionate about.

In addition, if you happen to have a rather patchy employment history with little job stability but have been volunteering at the same place for many years, you will definitely want to include your volunteer work on your resume. It shows that you are capable of stability. A strong volunteer history can help counteract a weaker employment history.

Showing all your work skills, whether you have actually done them as part of your employment or not, is critical to helping you find the best job possible. Be sure to mention your significant volunteer work on your resume. It just may help you get an even better job than the one you had.

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Posted in Job Search | No Comments »

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