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What Every Mother Knows Best about Resumes

On this Mother’s Day, we honor our mothers for many reasons, but being able to write a great resume is usually not at the top of the list. Even though resumes and job searches have changed greatly in a single generation, there are some lessons from our mothers that are always valid.

  • Mothers want you to be continually learning and trying new things. Today’s hiring managers and recruiters want to see that you have kept your skills current skills and have the ability to adapt to change. They are interested in language skills, volunteer work, and awards.
  • Mothers want you to get off the computer and be social. In person networking is vital to a job hunt. Of course, online research into companies is also important; and you must make sure your LinkedIn, online portfolio, or other computer accounts are running, professional, and consistent with your resume. But take the time to attend networking and professional events and talk to real people.
  • Mothers want the world to know how wonderful you are. Recruiters and hiring managers want to know what you have accomplished and what skills, education, and talents you would bring to their organization. Give yourself full credit for all you have achieved. If that feels uncomfortable (mothers also tell us not to brag about ourselves), reach out to a professional resume writer.
  • Mothers want you take care of yourself. A job search can get you down. Writing a resume can tax your ability to accurately describe what you do and how you do it so that hiring managers and recruiters will consider you for a position. If you need help, get help. A professional career coach can make all the difference.
  • Mothers want you to be neat and presentable. That is true for both your interview and your resume. Check your resume carefully for typos, misspellings, inconsistencies, formatting errors, and grammatical mistakes.

Mothers truly do know best!

Would you benefit from the help of a professional resume writer and coach? Please contact Robin’s Resumes® today.

How to Network with Your Resume

I often advise clients about the value of networking to find a new job. I also advise them that a strong resume is a vital part of that networking effort. But how do you network with your resume?

One of the key ways to network is in person, at industry events or other gatherings. The most important activities you can engage in at these events are to (a) introduce yourself; (b) listen; and (c) exchange cards. The listening part is important for several reasons. First, it develops ties with the person you are talking to. Second, it keeps the conversation mutual rather than self-centered and demanding (“Hello, I’m Sam, I need a job, do you have one? No? Goodbye.”). Third, it allows you to find out whether the person you are talking to has a problem that you have the background, skills, information, and experience to help with. They may not have an opening now, but they will remember your help.

When do you whip out your resume at networking events? Mostly, you don’t. By this time, you should know your own resume well enough that you can pull essential facts from it as needed in the course of the conversation. If the person you are speaking with asks for the resume, then you are free to hand over a copy. But after the networking event, you can send the person an email (remember, you exchanged cards), thank the person for an interesting conversation (remember, you did not dominate it), and ask permission to send your resume directly.

Another way to network with your resume is online. In this case, your LinkedIn or other online profile should have the same strength and content as your resume. In effect, your profile is your online resume. You network with this resume in two primary ways.

  • First, you include your LinkedIn or other online address (choose one, not all) with your contact information on emails that you send, as well as on your print resume.
  • Second, you individually ask your online network for help in finding a position. If you do not want your current employer to know you are searching, you must engage in a stealth search, which some online systems allow you to do. For example, LinkedIn allows you to shut off notifications so that your activities, including connections with recruiters, are not broadcast to everyone you know on LinkedIn.

At Robin’s Resumes®, we are skilled in creating both resumes and profiles. Please contact us before you start networking, and we will make sure your resumes—both paper and online—are up to the task.

Why Technical Resumes Are Different

Anyone who has job searched in a technical field—engineering, IT, software development and so on—knows about unrealistic expectations. Many job postings, advertisements and calls from recruiters involve a list of desired technical skills that could take two lifetimes to accomplish. Yet, you still need all the required skills for that exact job posting.

This level of unrealistic expectations is just one way that technical resumes often differ from nontechnical resumes. I have several ways of dealing with the problem at Robin’s Resumes®:

  • First, I work with you to ensure that you meet at least the minimum requirements for the job. If you don’t meet those requirements, I advise you on how to find more suitable announcements or consider looking for a job in a different field.
  • Second, if you are close to meeting the requirements for a technical position, I can advise you on how to network and see if the company will write a job announcement just for you so that you are the one who passes the screen.
  • Third, I make sure the resume lists the technical skills that you already have. Then I focus on the results of using those skills. The fact that you managed to go from Point A to Point C is much more important than how, exactly, you got there. So, for example, the resume might say “Automated builds and streamlined releases by migrating source code from X to Y,” where X and Y are tools you currently have.
  • Fourth, I make it clear on the resume that you are capable of learning other technologies or taking on additional responsibilities. Sometimes this is shown by describing soft skills, coursework, projects you undertook outside your normal responsibilities (perhaps while volunteering elsewhere), and papers you have written. Sometimes this is shown by an actual list of skills you plan to develop or are capable of learning.
  • Fifth, even if your resume passes the Applicant Tracking System and shows you are qualified for the job, those who network and are known by the company and/or hiring manager have an 80% better chance to be hired. So start now to develop professional relationships that may pay off with a job offer in the long term.
  • Sixth, technical resumes must relate complex information to hiring managers and recruiters who may not be as technically savvy. That is why I always stress achievements, as even the most nontechnical person can see the value in streamlining a process; capturing millions of dollars in savings by switching from one strategy to another; or leading teams across geographic or internal corporate boundaries.

It is important to include as many keywords as possible from those that a potential employer will expect because most resumes today travel through computerized Applicant Tracking Systems. Many of those systems are programmed to look for specific keywords and select only those resumes that contain the keywords. I want to make sure your resume is among them.

As a graduate of MIT with a long career in simulation and chemical engineering, including leadership positions, and as the holder of 2 patents, I understand the hurdles and triumphs of a technical career. Let Robin’s Resumes® help you create a technical resume that stands out from the crowd—and gives you full credit for all you have achieved.

Networking in the Job Market

You have your resume. Now all you have to do is wait for the ideal job to appear in the local newspaper. Right? Wrong!

You and your resume must go on the hunt.

Newspaper ads are only one of the many sources for jobs. Many companies have moved their searches to the Internet. You’ll want to check out the websites of companies you’re interested in, job boards like monster.com and even Craig’s List. In addition, businesses are networking for employees at sites like LinkedIn.com, where one contact leads to another and another, and may eventually lead to a job. I know one individual who followed this advice and received a lead for a local U.S. job from a contact all the way in China. He was hired.

If you belong to a club, nonprofit organization or industry group—or if you’ve thought about joining—now is the time to become a more active member. Tell everyone you meet that you’re job hunting. Word of mouth can lead to an interview for a position that hasn’t even been advertised yet.

Business expos, seminars and events sponsored by the local Chamber offer another opportunity to meet people who may be hiring.

If you hear that a company is expanding, send them your resume. Even if they haven’t advertised for someone in your position, an expanding company may need your skills soon. When they do, you’ll be at the head of the queue.

Need help with networking? Contact us for more advice and for a resume that helps you bring in the job you want.