1. Do what is supposed to be expected of an employee. Everyday, make a short list of work priorities so that you will know what your boss needs the most. With that, if he asks for something, you will be able to face him and say, “Here, sir” rather than, “Sorry, I’m not done yet”, because it may bring disappointment to your boss.
2. Be someone to depend on. That way, you’re bringing yourself to a higher level of professionalism. He can easily tell—you are an asset to the company.
3. Share ideas. Don’t be afraid of giving out suggestions or ideas to your boss. You may not be aware but you may actually be unloading him of some immediate work that he has to finish.
4. If you have done something wrong in your work, do not think twice of saying you’re sorry—and the next time, show him what you learned from that mistake.
5. Be punctual. Reporting early for work means you are a responsible worker.
6. Observe break times. Yes, stop your work when it’s already time for a break (except if you are doing something urgent). Eat and rest so that you can recharge and work for next hours—effectively.
7. Be noticed. Give your best effort in your every task. Most importantly, give your superior regular reports and updates, subtly saying, “This is what I’m doing everyday.”
8. Be resourceful. Sometimes you need to initiate in doing things to let your boss feel at ease that you can find solutions to the problem—the right way. It’s not always that you ask for his solution—sometimes, you need to present your own solution.
9. Exert effort to learn more. Update your skills and learn new ones.
10. Show respect.
11. Do not let personal matters interfere with work. Once you set foot in the office, show enthusiasm even if you are hurting inside because something happened at home. Work like a professional, do not let your work—especially your image—suffer.
12. Give an extra hand to do an extra work. Do not work on things because they are in your job description. Do an extra task.

By Priscilla Smith
ResumeProWriters
May 21, 2007

You advertise with your resume…nothing more, nothing less.
Begin with an objective statement that greatly underscores your qualifications and goals, including how you meet employer needs. Be a bit cautious when adding more objective statements, although you might need to do so. Remember: you only have 10 to 20 seconds to impress readers.

It will be good to ask yourself: What are your most important qualifications, expertise, and strengths? Position(s) applied for? career goals and objectives? preferred organizational setup?

Focusing on the message of your “ad”, position yourself in such a way that you spell a big difference, while others are indirectly treated as second rate.

The layout of your resume must appear specially inviting, too. Working out on the layout means that you are also fusing a fitting format for your paper!

CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT

A chronological resume format emphasizes employment history. This traditional format also underlines your job titles, places, and dates of employment. To many employers, the chronological resume is the ideal format. But the functional resume is a valuable substitute if the former becomes unsuitable to you.

FUNCTIONAL FORMAT

Your experience, labeled “skills” or “areas of expertise” is shown in the functional resume. The list of work history here is more concise and is separated from your achievements.
All the best in choosing which of the two basic resume formats will work for you! Your resume, your ad, largely depends on this choice.

By Ding Gnidab
December 02, 2005

This is a true story: One day, Ms. Jane realized she’s already bored with her work. She thought she will not be able to perform her work effectively because she felt drained and unchallenged. She called few of her friends to ask if there are vacancies in their respective companies. All of them promised to help her and asked for her résumé. Day two, one of her friends ask her to report to their hiring manager. Day three, she took the exam and was interviewed. Day four, no action happened. Day five, she was asked to report again to her friend’s office—and got hired! Day six, she resigned from work. Day seven, she had her first day at her new work.

You may think that you it is impossible to find new job opportunities for seven days? Think again because it happens.

Most of the job applicants thought job ads in newspapers, magazines and internet are the only ways to look for new workplace. That is something wrong. They comprised just 20-30% of the job market. Fact is there is a larger (at least 60% of the job market) and more effective way of looking for a potential employee. It is called “networking.” It is a formula that is involving around 10 to 20 more eyes to search jobs for you.

Easier and faster, right? But how?

Networking leaves you from spending much in newspapers and magazines, and staying in your computer job searching for more than two hours. You just try developing contacts with friends, family, neighbors, college alumni, people in associations or anyone who can give you information or job leads. They may be able to do wonders for you. Do your networking through phone calls and emails. Set yourself a quota on the number of calls and emails you will be sending each day.

Another way is through party invitations. Yes, it can help. Why not try attending social and business gatherings? You may be able to find your luck there. Of course, you need not bring your resume—just always get your business card ready.

Most importantly, networking saves you from being in the long list of applicants and getting just a slim chance of landing the job because not every job searcher is aware there are vacancies in some companies.

You think spending 120 hours—or more—doing your internship just to get a good grade is such a waste? Think again.
If you just ‘played’ during your internship, you really can tell it’s a waste. A big waste, actually. But if you took it seriously, acting like a true employee, you have given yourself a future reward. Here’s how:

1. YOU have showed them you’re a responsible future-worker. If you obeyed all his orders and done a damn good job, you have given yourself the benefit of being remembered at and being considered for future vacancy by your practicum boss.
2. YOU have a clue to your dream career. Most of the time, the internship will make you realize what is the career path you should be taking. It will show you in what field you fit.
3. YOU have something valuable to add in your résumé. Things that you have done during your internship, like computer encoding, business letter writing, etc. are of value to you in your future job application. It may not be the ‘real’ work experience, but still, it is an experience that will put much weight in your résumé. It is something that a hiring manager may consider during the application.
4. YOU have the chance of passing your interview with flying colors. During the interview, you will be asked what your duties were during your OJT stint. You have a lot to tell, however, instead of talking about your duties, stress about your accomplishments and valuable skills achieved and there’s a big chance that you will pass your interview with flying colors.
5. YOU have something to put in your references. Isn’t it better if you put your practicum boss’s name in your reference than anyone who does not know your work attitude and your capabilities?
6. YOU have a wide network. If you have made friends during your OJT, maintain your contacts with them. They may be able to give you information or leads regarding job vacancies.

Employed but eager to resign and find a new job? That is something not wise. Let the job hunting begin without quitting from work— just yet. Get hold of your job to have more control in negotiating with your potential employers—especially about paycheck. But bear in mind—you should not lose focus on your current job while doing the ‘exploration’ and you should keep everything a secret. Or you may get busted.

Here are some tips you DO NOT have to do when job hunting while you are employed:

• Do not tell anyone you are applying.
  Even if he’s your best friend in the office, you are not sure he can remain mum about it. Best thing to do is to keep everything to your self.
• Do not include your business contact information.
  The company you are applying to may drop your present employer a call. Be discreet when giving information. List only your home address and phone number on your résumé.
• Do not be easily swayed by blind ads.
  Be extra careful with blind job ads. Read them carefully because one of them may be your present company!
• Do not attempt to use company property.
  You are bringing yourself to big risk if you use company property, such as computer, fax machine, printer and photocopier. There may be a chance that you may leave proof of job application (cover letter and résumé). If you have no computer at home, you may just visit libraries that offer free use of computers, printers and online access. You may also go to an internet café.
• Do not make job-search-related phone calls in the office.
  Somebody may hear you. Again, do not take the risk.
• Do not schedule interviews during working hours.
  Again, one way of avoiding your self from getting caught is to focus on your present work. If you will be absent twice a week—or more, they may have an inkling that you are already applying for new job. Or better, schedule a multiple interview for one day, when you can afford only a one-day leave from work.

What to Include in Your Résumé

Looking for a job—or looking for a better one?

Great way to start is to write a résumé—comprehensive at that. The résumé is where your future with work lies. Why? It gives employers the first impression of how fit you are on the job you are applying for.

Some job applicants, to be 100% sure of creating a sure-job résumé, hire professional résumé writers because they have the technical know-how. It means they have the precise format, pattern or design that will make you—or your résumé —attractive to the eye of the employer. Most importantly, they are sure of their grammar. Correct English grammar can make or break your application. But you must remember, you still have the responsibility of providing them accurate and complete information.

Before or after hiring a writer, here is a checklist of information necessary for inclusion in your résumé:

• Your Name
• Current Address
• Phone Number
• Fax Number
• Email Address (include also your alternative email address, if you have one)
• Job Objective
• Educational Attainment
• Work History
• Computer Skills
• Organizations, Seminars or Lectures Attended
• Personal Data

Keep in mind also these seven useful tips:

1. First and foremost, be honest of the information you’ve given them. Do not embellish your résumé. It might put you into embarrassment later.
2. It may be the job of the resume writer to edit the data written, it is still your responsibility to have an initial proofreading. Remember, not every thing is known or familiar to the writer.
3. Do not provide them your complete biography. Some personal data are unnecessary for your application. Keep it to a minimum.
4. Include only organizations, seminars or lectures attended that would be of value to the job you are applying for.
5. Do not include references. Give them only when asked.
6. Do not include your expected salary.
7. Lastly, brief is best. Some employers only look at the facts essential to the job application. Do not crowd your resume with unnecessary data.

At last, you are finally given the chance for the interview. Ready to go? Not yet. Aside from putting your self to a good night rest, you must be prepared for the interview. How? Here are some tips:

Review your resume.
It may sound ironic, but yes, you have to review your own resume. If at one time you are asked by the interviewer something that is already written and you have forgotten about it, they may presume that you are not what you have written. It can be the reason why you will not be called for a next interview.

Know the company and the job you are applying for.
o What if you’ll be asked: “What do you know about our company?” It is helpful if you already researched about the company you are applying to. They will surely be glad to know that you are familiar with their company. The interviewer will think that you are familiar with what you are applying for.

Prepare questions that might be asked during the interview.
Jot down questions that you feel will be asked and practice answering them. In some questions, it is necessary to provide evidence of your success. It is a great way to promote your candidacy.

Be sure to be on time.
Remember the date and time of the interview to avoid being late. If possible, arrive ahead of time.

Look your best.
Make sure that what you are wearing is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are interviewing with.

Bring a nice portfolio.
Along with your resume, bring a portfolio that might be of great help to the job you are applying for. Include also pen and paper.

Prepare to be calm.
Trying to relax and staying calm will make it possible for you to pay attention to the interviewer. It will also let you maintain eye contact with the interviewer. With that, you are saving yourself from possible embarrassment.

Two to four seconds is all it takes for employers to scan your cover letter. If they are not able to see what they are looking for, your document—meaning your cover letter and your résumé—will be put to waste. Hurt? But that is the way it is. Cover letter makes—or breaks—your chance for interview.

So, how do you write attention-getting cover letter? Here are the ways:

Be concise. Avoid writing a two-page cover letter. One full page is enough to do it. Three to four paragraphs are already ideal, with lots of spaces around the margin. Bear in mind that the reader is of time constraint and is scanning hundreds of cover letters and résumés a day.

Be direct. You are not writing about your life, you are writing a cover letter, so go straight to the point. On your first paragraph, let them know why you are writing them, indicating your intended position. On your second paragraph, let them know why you fit the job. On your last paragraph, mention that you have attached your résumé and that you are requesting for an interview.

Do your own cover letter. Companies reading hundreds upon hundreds of résumés a day are becoming familiar with cover letters submitted to them that they can easily identify which cover letters are available in the computer or who are the applicants who preferred templates and did not bother to write their own. That is the risk an applicant would be taking if he uses one, as his application may be neglected.

Carefully spot the errors. Before printing your cover letter, do not forget to double check it for grammatical, punctuation and typographical errors. If hiring managers find too many of them, they will come into conclusion that you have problem with your communication and writing skills. Save yourself by looking professional.

Use ‘I’ to a minimum. You will normally use the word ‘I’ in your cover letter but avoid utilizing it many times. They may mistake you for being self-centered.

Write with a heart. A cover letter well-written is the one done with a heart. The employer will mirror your willingness and effort in your cover letter.

Hiring managers are the ones tasked by companies to employ workers. They are the ones who have the duty of choosing who to call for initial interview. Picking a job applicant depends on first impression alone. First impression comes in the form of a résumé that’s why it pays to make sure of doing it right and striking the first time.

Some résumés, if not all, are not thoroughly read by the hiring managers. Though it took you hours or even days to write, fact is, only a glance is given to your hard-earned résumé. They just scan it—spending less than a minute reviewing it. It will surely deserve a second glance—or catch their full attention—only if they found something that is of value to their company or to the job you are applying for.

Here are ways to boost your résumé:

1. Do not forget your cover letter.
Cover letters are so vital to the application process that most of the employers automatically snub résumés which are submitted without them. Specify in the cover letter the job you are seeking in the company. Write confidently about your qualifications. Entice them but do not exaggerate nor lie.

2. Give your résumé a professional look.
Okay, you want your résumé to stand out. But do you ever think that going for too much color will surely give your résumé an unprofessional look? Stick to the standard white, black type and common fonts like Times New Roman.

3. Be brief.
Put only information that is necessary for your job application. As it is said, hiring managers initially scan résumés on the company file. If yours is too long, it may cause boredom to the reader and your résumé may not be appreciated.

4. Focus on your accomplishments, not on duties.
Duties are works done for the company, while accomplishments are contributions given to the company. Accomplishments without any doubt strike attention to the employer.

5. Do not indicate the reason you left your previous company.
This is where ‘first impression lasts’ comes in. Do not deprive yourself of the opportunity to have an initial interview by giving impression that you are an incompetent employee by indicating “I was fired” in your résumé.

6. Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.
Do not assume that spell- and grammar-check are sufficient. It is the résumé writers’ duty to edit their work, but always bear in mind that they will not be able to spot all typographical or grammatical errors. Proofread your résumé many times then have someone to finally review it. Grammatically error résumés, more often than not, are thrown away by the employers.

7. Use action words.
Words like “achieved,” “managed,” and “implemented” will surely make your résumé more interesting and relevant to the eye of the employer.

8. Avoid being redundant.
Do not use a word too many times in your document. Let a thesaurus help you find ways to say the same thing.

9. Use keywords or phrases.
These are very important for the company’s applicant tracking software. These words are not the verbs written in your résumé but nouns, such as job title.

10. Send your résumé to the specific individual responsible for hiring.
Lastly, be sure to address your résumé to the person who has the hand in picking an applicant. This is the first, surefire step to catch his attention.

By Lang Greene
jgreene@jacklangstoninc.com
August 30, 2007

A resume is the first line of defense for your education, experience, and accomplishments. It serves as a self-marketing tool that if done correctly will lead to a plethora of interviews and potential job offers. Each resume that is sent to a respective firm should be concise, grammatically perfect, detailed and truthful. Failure to follow the established guidelines will result in your resume being added to the increasingly growing garbage bin. Please ensure you comply with these generally accepted guidelines.

Vocabulary. Human Resource professionals are typically unforgiving on grammatically inferior resumes. Armed with a pool of already proofread resumes at their disposal, why would your resume get a second glance with common mistakes?

Accomplishments. What good is ten years experience if there are no successful milestones mentioned? Listing your proven track record sets you apart from other candidates and increases the probability of an interview.

Education. For experienced job candidates, educational achievements are sometimes omitted to include more career experience. This can be a mistake if the job applied for has an education requirement. You cannot assume that a human resource professional can guess that you have a Master of Business Administration from Duke University. By always including this field you fully complete your presentation to the employer.

Skills. Know how to work a certain piece of machinery? Technological expertise? Acquiring an expertise in a skill set will enhance your marketability to employers.

Certifications. These nationally recognized certifications put you at high demand. Make sure your certifications are placed properly on the resume for an added edge.

Contact Information. True story: My personal cell phone was at one point ringing three times a day for a man named Elliot. The calls were from a few fortune 500 companies and plenty of mid sized respectable businesses. Poor Elliot didn’t include his e-mail address on his resume and after I informed the employers they had the wrong phone information his job search came to an avoidable end. All relevant contact information should be included on your resume. Resist using gimmicky e-mail addresses like theterminator@domain.com and instead create a professional account for your job search (i.e. johndoe@domain.com). Keep it professional!

Resume Mistakes. Please do not become the subject of this page by doing any of the following Social Security Number. According to human resource professionals, this is becoming more prevalent in today’s job applicants resumes. While almost every company seems to need your social security number for transactions, the resume remains a place where it should not be included under any circumstances.

Reasons for leaving previous jobs. This topic will undoubtedly arise if you are given an interview. That would be the proper venue to discuss past experiences and reasons for termination from previous assignments. Using First Person. “I” should only be used in the formal interview. Never use it on your resume to describe an accomplishment (i.e. I developed the new training process for departmental colleagues)

Political Allegiances. Being a good republican or democrat may earn you high social status in some circles, but including “staunch republican / democrat” will potentially alienate your resume before it is fully reviewed. Work is a place where management is constantly trying to get its workforce to cooperate and use teamwork. Boasting political affiliations have the potential to polarize.

Age. This information should NEVER be placed in a professional resume. Let your skills and experience do the talking. If you are qualified for the position and are 22 or 65, your age should never enter the equation.