Thursday, November 25, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
9 Insider Secrets to Getting Hired
Click on the link to to scroll through the website to read the 9 Insider Secrets to Getting Hired.
50 Buzzwords You Shouldn't Use on Your Resume
, On Wednesday November 17, 2010, 10:08 am EST
You've written your resume. You poured a lot of effort into the page that will represent you, and you can't wait to distribute it far and wide.
Not so fast. Before you send that puppy out, check it for buzzwords. Like "team player." Or "detail-oriented." Or "accustomed to fast-paced environments."
Here's why you should avoid them: They're vague. They make your resume look like everyone else's. They're probably not among the keywords employers search for. They take up space on your resume that could be used for strong, concrete, specific examples of what you've accomplished, the work you've produced, and how hiring you would benefit your potential employer. Buzzwords are tired and overused, cliches that have lost their meaning over time.
Most importantly, every buzzword is a lost opportunity.
You want your resume to stand out. The best way to sell yourself is to show, don't tell. Explain your accomplishments rather than spouting them off in trite ways.
So check your resume for these boilerplate words and phrases. If you find them, replace them--or at the very least, elaborate upon them--with real-life, specific examples.
1. Team player
2. Detailed-oriented
3. Proven track record of success
4. Experienced
5. Excellent communication skills
6. Leadership skills
7. Go-to person
8. Managed cross-functional teams
9. Exceptional organizational skills
10. Self-starter
11. Results-oriented professional
12. Bottom-line orientated
13. Works well with customers
14. Strong negotiation skills
15. Goal-oriented
16. People-person
17. Dynamic
18. Innovative
19. Proven ability
20. Top-flight
21. Motivated
22. Bottom-line focused
23. Responsible for
24. Assisted with
25. Skilled problem solver
26. Accustomed to fast-paced environments
27. Strong work ethic
28. Works well with all levels of staff
29. Met (or exceeded) expectations
30. Savvy business professional
31. Strong presentation skills
32. Looking for a challenging opportunity
33. Cutting-edge
34. Multi-tasker
35. Proactive
36. Seasoned professional
37. Perfectionist
38. Highly skilled
39. Functioned as
40. Duties included
41. Actions encompassed
42. Best-in-class
43. Strategic thinker
44. Trustworthy
[For more career advice, visit U.S. News Careers.]
45. Flexible
46. Works well under pressure
47. Quick learner
48. Partnered with others
49. Results-focused
50. Out-of-the-box thinker
Finally, here's one more phrase you don't need to include on your resume: "References furnished upon request." It's assumed that you'll offer references if the employer asks, so don't clutter your resume with those unnecessary words.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
More streamlined federal application process puts focus on your resume
Wednesday, October 13, 2010; 11:32 PM
Look for federal careers expert Derrick T. Dortch's column on government jobs on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month.
If you're interested in a federal government job, then no doubt you're aware that President Obama has ordered an overhaul of hiring practices.
Among the changes: a requirement that applicants respond to essay-style questions with their initial application is being eliminated; applicants will be able simply to submit resumes and cover letters or be asked to complete plain-language applications; and managers and supervisors with responsibility for hiring are to be more fully engaged in the process, from identifying the skills for a job to recruitment and the interview process. Until now, human resources handled it all, often without much input.
Though the deadline for initiating changes is Nov. 1, some agencies have already killed the essay questions, such as KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities), ECQs (Executive Core Qualifications) and MAFs (Mandatory Assessment Factors), in the initial application. Other agencies have been slower to change.
What hasn't slowed is the level of competition for federal jobs. It's intense. Many announcements are getting thousands of applications. And with the elimination of the initial essay questions, those numbers are only going to increase. That means prospective hires are going to have to be even more on top of their game.
And in the federal job game, resumes are going to become even more important.
It's important to keep in mind that essay questions won't disappear. Many agencies are now asking people to address the KSAs within the resume itself.
Here's an example: A recent announcement for executive director, acquisition strategy and business relations, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology for the Department of Veteran Affairs said this in the "How to Apply" section:
"To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes all of the following parts. 1) Resume which demonstrates your experience, accomplishment, training, education and awards reflecting your ability to meet each of the mandatory technical and executive core qualification requirement(s) for this position. Elaborate on your experience and accomplishments, highlighting your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, work objectives met (the results of your effort), policy initiatives, and level of contacts. Ensure your resume does not exceed five (5) pages. Information beyond the five page resume will not be evaluated. Do not submit the application form OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment in lieu of a resume. Do not submit separate narrative responses to address the technical and executive core qualifications."
This means that your resume can't be one or two pages, as is often the case in the private sector. It also means that the resume can't just be a job-descriptive sheet filled with keywords.
I see many clients who have resumes that read like job descriptions, with strategically placed keywords from a job announcement. There is nothing wrong with using keywords, but they're not the formula for a winning strategy. Your resume must include relevant success stories.
If 100 to 400 people have used the same keyword strategy, what makes you stand apart? What really sells you is telling relevant success stories and showing what you have achieved. Those are the kind of details that will show your potential for future success.
There are many more reasons why your resume is going to become more important to the federal job search. Look for more tips in my next column.
Note: Previously I mentioned a site from the Partnership for Public Service that focuses on internships. The site is at www.makingthedifference.org.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Future Leaders | The Female Touch
Are you aiming to climb the corporate ladder?
If you’ve recently graduated in Engineering, Science or Business, or have a few years of experience in a leading company, then top players are waiting to meet you.
If you’ve recently graduated in Engineering, Science or Business, or have a few years of experience in a leading company, then top players are waiting to meet you.
Join us in CaeersinEurope.com, for two days of interviews with international recruiters and workshops on personal and professional development. Help shape tomorrow’s business.
An exclusive event, by invitation only. Free accommodation.
An exclusive event, by invitation only. Free accommodation.
Participating Companies
Partners
- AEGEE
- Cadrexport
- EESTEC
- eFinancialCareers
- ESN - Erasmus Student Network
- European Voice
- HiPo.ro
- IEEE
- Jump
- Jobguide
- Karriereführer
- Le Monde
- Références
- The Economist
- Vacature
- Zukx - Campus2Company
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