How Good Is Your Network?

If you lost your job tomorrow, could you pick up the phone and have a job the next day? This may sound unrealistic, but for the serious networker, this is the ultimate goal. The serious networker builds their professional network before they need it, not after the fact. Because networking is about relationships, effective networking takes time. You need time to nurture your professional relationships, because in the end, networking is relationship building. You want strong relationships at your disposal when it is time to activate them.

Are You a Discouraged Worker?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a monthly jobs report of detailing, among other things, the number of jobs created as well as the number of persons unemployed. October’s report came out last Friday. The report shows that the unemployment rate held steady at 9.0 percent, representing more than 13.9 million Americans that are out of work. This number is huge by any comparison and suggests that we still have a tough uphill battle to turn this economy around.

It's All About the Numbers

When tackling the job search, it helps to know which job search methods work and which ones don’t.  The North Carolina Career Resource Network posted some figures related to the job search recently that I thought were pretty revealing. Let’s take a look at a few:

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "Y" is for YOU

XYZ: YOU Are More Important Than Your Resume.

This entire blog series has been focused on strategies for writing your resume. We all know that the resume is a very important and integral communication tool for use in your job search and sufficient attention should be given to it make sure it is well written and effective in communicating your personal brand. At the end of the day, however, remember that employers hire people not resumes and you are more important than your resume.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "W" is for WRITE

W: The Best way to WRITE Your References.

At some point in the interviewing process, you may be asked for a copy of your references. You probably know that you never include references on your resume. You also should know that you want to include references that can speak to your professional ability and thus personal references should not be included. You should prepare your references on a separate sheet and have it handy, should you be asked for it during the interview process. But what format should you use? Should you simply list the name and phone number of each reference? Not exactly. Here is the best way to write your references.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "V" is for Volunteer.

V: Highlight VOLUNTEER Activities to Showcase Your Leadership Skills.

We all know that employers focus on career experience and skills when trying to decide if a candidate should be considered for an interview and ultimately employment. However, there is another area of your professional career that you should give consideration to when writing your resume: volunteer activities. Volunteer activities can be an important aspect of your professional career and there are three reasons why you should definitely list volunteer activities on your resume.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "U" is for UNDERSTAND

U: The One Thing You Must UNDERSTAND About Resume Writing.

As I get closer to completing this series, it is getting harder and harder to come up with new and interesting subjects that are worth writing more than 300 words about. I have to admit, I struggled with today’s post. There are just not enough “good” words starting with the letter “u” that I could tie to resume writing. So I chose to go with the word understand.

In today’s career search, so much emphasis is placed on resume writing, because let’s face it, more times than not, you are going to need a resume at some point in the career search process. Even if you do not need a resume to get an interview, which happens to be the real purpose of a resume, you will need a resume during the interview so that you and the interviewer can have an intelligent discussion as it relates to your skills and accomplishments.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "T" is for TIME

T: Use the Element of TIME to Make Your Accomplishments Stand Out.

If you have not figured it out by now, a lot of my writing in this blog deals with accomplishments.  I believe that accomplishments can make or break a resume. Accomplishments showcase your value and help the employer understand what you have done well for other employers. When I give resume writing seminars, I always encourage the audience to pay special attention to their accomplishment statements. I mention that their accomplishments should be relevant to the position they are applying for and that they should consider placing the results of the accomplishment up front, or at the beginning of the sentence, to make the accomplishment really stand out. There is one additional tip that I offer as well and this has to do with the element of time.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "S" is for SEEK

S: Seek Professional Help

Most of you probably agree that writing your resume is not one of your favorite tasks to complete. In fact, most of you probably do not even think about your resume until it is time to look for a new job. If it has been some years since your last career transistion, you may not realize that the “rules” of resume writing have changed. For instance, you no longer list personal information on your resume; you do not necessarily list every job you have had; and you no longer include the phrase “References Available Upon Request.” With these and so many other changes as well as the fact that there is so much more competition in this job market, it may be worth it to seek professional help and engage the services of a professional.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "R" is for REVIEW

R: REVIEW the job description for clues on tweaking your resume. 

Whenever I am giving a resume writing seminar, I make it a point to mention these two facts: one, that resume writing is an art, not a science and two, a one-size resume does not fit all. What I mean by the latter is that it is very important to revise your resume to fit the position you are applying for. Blindly applying to jobs with a single resume is not a good career search strategy. Employers are looking to hire employees to solve specific problems. They need to fit a round peg into a round hole and in this economy there are plenty of round pegs to choose from. To give your resume a chance at getting past the gate keepers, review the job description for insights into how to revise your resume.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "Q" is for QUESTION

Q: The one QUESTION your resume must answer.

Your resume should communicate to potential employers three main things: your skills, your education, and your experience as it relates to the position that you are applying for. Your goal? To get interviews that lead to job offers. Sounds simple, but just how do you go about writing your resume to communicate this information effectively? Sure, there are different resume formats to choose from, with chronological, functional, and hybrid being the most popular and there are general rules of thumb, such as omitting personal information, not using personal pronouns, and targeting the resume to the position. However, once you understand all of this what is next? To generate interviews, your resume must answer one central question.

What not to include on your resume: Advice from a professional resume writer | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

What not to include on your resume: Advice from a professional resume writer

By Bobby Sisk

Posted: Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011

Certified professional resume writer Nathan Adams is moving right along in the alphabet. On his blog, he's outlining the ABC's of resume writing.

He's up to "N," but "I" got my attention based on recent questions from readers. I'm often asked what to include and, more importantly, not include in a resume. Some of Adams' advice may come as common sense to you, but we can all use a refresher. And I found what he says about references particularly interesting.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "P" is for PRIOR

P: Bring PRIOR experience back to life.

One of the strategies in resume writing today is to highlight only your last 15 to 20 years of work experience. Experience older than 20 years is typically outdated or irrelevant to your current career path. Besides, going back farther than 20 years and listing dates of employment will definitely single you out as a “seasoned” professional and let’s face it in this competitive economy, this could be a definite disadvantage for your job search.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "O" is for OBJECTIVE

O: The best OBJECTIVE is not to have one.

Are you still using an objective statement on your resume? Do you still have a flip phone? Are you still paying your bills by mail? Are you still buying music on CD? If you are doing any of these things, then you need to come out from under that rock that you have been living under for the last 5 years and get up to speed. Most music is now purchased online, one song at a time. Bills can be paid online and most banks offer this service free, which is why the post office is losing so much money in lost stamp revenue. And if you do not have a smart phone by now, you are definitely not in the know, but I am sure that there is an “App” for that. So, when writing your resume, be advised that some things have changed here as well, one of them being the replacement of the age-old objective statement.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "N" is for NARROW

N: NARROW your focus before writing your resume.

Across the nation, there are more than 14 million people unemployed and looking for work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current unemployment rate for June sits at 9.2 percent. That means that for any job opportunity, hundreds and even thousands of people are submitting resumes and applications. Oftentimes, many of the clients are not qualified or are only loosely qualified for the position. Why is this? At some point during the job search, desperation sets in; severance may be running out and bills are coming due.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "M" is for MIX

M: Don’t MIX responsibilities and accomplishments.

Just as oil and water don’t mix, responsibilities and accomplishments don’t (or shouldn’t) mix either. One of the worse things you can do when writing your resume is to mistake responsibilities for accomplishments. While it is true that accomplishments are the result of carrying out your duties or responsibilities, accomplishments are what set you apart from your competition.

In my resume practice, I see this all the time. Clients send me their resumes for review and in their professional experience section, they have mixed their position responsibilities with their position accomplishments. The problem with this is that accomplishments need to be separated from their lesser-known cousins, AKA responsibilities in order for you to stand out as a potential employee.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "L" is for LEAD

L: Lead Off Accomplishments With Results.

Accomplishments can make or break your resume. Accomplishments are why employers read your resume in the first place and when I say read, I really mean scan because employers do not read resumes thoroughly, at most, they give them a casual scan. Because resumes are a marketing tool, your accomplishments need to be written to sell your skills and abilities to the employer. Your accomplishments must entice them to make a purchase, e.g., to “buy” you and invite you in for an interview. You may be thinking, "What is the best way to write my accomplishments?" Of course you should start each accomplishment with a strong action verb, but there is one little trick to help your accomplishments really stand out.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "K" is for KEYS

K: KEYS to formatting your resume.

It’s no secret that the content of your resume is very important. After all, including good content, i.e., information that markets you as a viable candidate, can definitely help you win more interviews.   Conversely, including bad content, i.e., personal information, dated technical skills, or reasons for leaving past employers (see earlier post for the letter “I”) can hinder your job search and keep your resume from making it to the top of the stack. Just as including the right content is important to writing an effective resume, the formatting of this content is equally important. A visually appealing resume is easier to read and a well formatted resume helps make information on your resume easier to locate. Keep these five keys in mind when arranging the information on your resume. 

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "J" is for JOURNAL

J: Keep a career JOURNAL.

We’ve all been there. It’s time to update your resume. For some, this task is not terribly difficult, especially if you do not have a long career history, or you have been keeping your resume current throughout your career. But for those of you who have not taken the time to update your resume throughout your career, it could be a very trying task to recall information earlier in your career. So what do you do? Unless you have the mind of an elephant, you next best bet is to keep a career journal. Few job seekers do this because, let’s face it, it is a task that you have to keep up with month after month and year after year. But a career journal is an invaluable tool to help you document three key pieces of information useful for updating your resume.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "I" is for INCLUDE

I: Five things not to INCLUDE on your resume.

Last week, I covered three areas that you must include on your resume in an effort to land more interviews. You can read that blog post below. Today, I am writing about what not to include on your resume. Some of you may have heard this before, for others, this may be news to you. Whatever the case may be, keep these five things as far away from your resume as possible and you’ll be destined for more interviews.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "H" is for HIGHLIGHT

H: When writing your resume, HIGHLIGHT these three areas to land more interviews.

In resume writing, accomplishments are king. Accomplishments are what set you apart from the competition. They tell what you did, why you did it, and what results were obtained. By far, well-written accomplishments play a key role to getting the interviews you want. However, accomplishments alone will not do the job. When writing your resume, there are three sections that you should focus on to ensure that your resume rises to the top of the stack.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "G" is for GARBAGE

G: How to keep your resume out of the GARBAGE.

Are you frustrated because you have been sending out tons of resumes without any response? Do you realize that there are a few things that you can do when applying to jobs to essentially guarantee a response? Follow these five steps to keep your resume out of the garbage:

Longtime resume basics may need additions, subtractions | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

In this article, I was interviewed by Bobby Sisk, on the topic of how to display your contact information on your resume. The article appeared in the Charlotte Observer and online at Charlottebserver.com.

Longtime resume basics may need additions, subtractions

By Bobby Sisk

Posted: Sunday, Jul. 03, 2011

In this changing world of technology, have you wondered what you need to include - or, for that matter, exclude - from your contact information? It sounds simple. Use your name, address and the best way to get in touch.

Not so fast, says Certified Professional Resume Writer Nathan Adams. He makes a convincing case for leaving off some specifics and adding other items you might not have a few years ago.

Buying 'references' is a bad idea | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

I thought I had heard it all, but now you can buy references. Not a good idea!

Buying 'references' is a bad idea CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "F" is for FUNCTIONAL

F: The Functional resume…the kiss of death in today’s job market.

In resume writing, there are three standard formats that you can use to highlight your professional experience, the chronological resume, the functional resume, and the combination resume, which, as the name implies, is a combination between the functional and chronological resume. Each resume format has its merits as well as its limitations and in this job market, where the “buyer” or employer clearly has the upper hand due to the surplus of job applicants, the functional resume is a definite loser in most cases. If you are currently using this format or plan to create a resume using this format, think again, because it could cost you interviews.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "E" is for ENDORSEMENTS

E: Endorsements: The best kept secret in resume writing today!

What better way to find a service you need than to solicit recommendations from people you trust? How many times have you acted on the recommendation of a friend, colleague, or family member and been thoroughly pleased with the result? Think of that restaurant you would never have eaten at had it not been for your co-worker who had a terrific meal there and recommended the place to you. Or what about the recommendation to the automotive repair shop that came through for you with great service and a fair price that your friend has been using for years? How did patronizing these establishments feel? For most of you, I am sure your experience was great and when it comes to your job search, what better way to highlight your value than to let someone else do it for you? 

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "D" is for DATES

D: Playing the Dating game!

In this week’s earlier post, I talked about using the right contact information in your resume. In addition to your name, address, phone number and email, you should include your LinkedIn URL and Twitter id. Including these last two items shows that you are social-networking savvy and are keeping current with the latest tools. In this post, I talk about strategies for displaying dates in your resume.

Dates show up in a few places on resumes, namely in the professional experience section when listing employers as well as when listing education, professional affiliations, community service, and additional training. So what is the best strategy for listing dates? Stay with me as I take you through each section.

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "C" is for CONTACT

C: Include the right CONTACT information on your resume.

In today’s post, I will be discussing the next letter in the series of the ABC’s of Resume Writing, “C”, which represents your contact information. Including the right contact information sounds easy enough, right? Not so fast. Most of us know to include our name, our mailing address, email, and phone number (cell and or home). But what if you have a nickname that you go by, or you have concerns about including your street address? What if you are thinking about including your work email and phone number? Also, what about your LinkedIn URL or your Twitter ID? In this age of social networking, adding these to your resume is encouraged, if not mandatory. Just be sure to include the following items in your contact information and you’ll be okay:

Name: Your name should be in bold and be the largest font size on your resume. Nothing should be larger than your name, because after all, it is your name that you want to reader to remember. If you go by a shorten version of your name, be sure to include this name.  For instance, if your name is Thomas Roberts, but you prefer to go by Tom, then write your name as Tom Roberts. If you go by a totally different name than your given name, include this name on your resume as long as it is professional. For example, if your given name is Charles Jones, but you go by Craig, list your name as Craig Jones.  You can also choose to write your name as Charles “Craig” Jones.  Either is appropriate. 

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "B" is for BUYING

B: Focus on BUYING motivators when detailing accomplishments.

In this week’s earlier post, I talked about the fact that resume writing is an art, not a science. There is not only one way to write a resume. There are strategies for each individual situation and there are three standard resume formats. In this post, I talk about employer buying motivators.

When writing your resume, keep in mind that your goal is to create desire. You must create desire for the employer to want to select you for an interview and ultimately for employment. This desire must be greater than the desire created by your competition. You may be asking “But what can I do to create desire and influence an employer to select me for an interview?”

The ABC's of Resume Writing | "A" is for ART

A: Resume writing is an Art, not a science.

Surprise! There is not just one way to write a resume. Resume writing has long been considered an art not a science. If resume writing was in fact a science, then there would not be thousands of books on the subject of resume writing and the resume writing profession would not be as prolific. If resume writing was a science, then you could just follow the prescribed steps and be guaranteed positive results. Resume writing is an art and there are numerous ways to write a resume that highlights your unique career history and defines your personal and professional brand. In fact, if you chose to have your resume professionally written by three different professional resume writers, you would certainly get three different resumes. They would be different in content and maybe even in the choice of format.

Prepare for Your Dream Job NOW | Your Work/Life Matters

Original post by Laurel Donnellan

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Question from reader: I am unhappy in my current job. It's not a horrible environment, it's just not something I'm passionate about. I'm not sure if I'm ready to take a leap into something else just yet, because this job pays well and offers security that I doubt I'd find elsewhere. While I still have this job, are there any small steps I can start taking to find something I love?

The best way to get on track to a career you love while you are in a job you do not like, is to dedicate time these three things:

Oprah's 25-Year Career Is Foreign To Today's Younger Employees

Last week, Oprah said goodbye to her fans after a 25-year run as the host of the Oprah Winfrey Show. There was not a lot of fanfare, just Oprah on the stage, by herself, speaking as if she was talking directly to you and I.  It was really a type on monologue and at the end she gracefully walked off the stage and into the next phase of her professional life. She will now be running her OWN network full time. 

One-size resume does not fit all | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

In this article, I was interviewed by Bobby Sisk, concerning using one resume for your job search. The article appeared in the Charlotte Observer and online at Charlottebserver.com.

One-size resume does not fit all

By Bobby Sisk

Posted: Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010

I've received countless e-mails from readers who say they've sent out hundreds of resumes and gotten little response. I always ask whether they're sending out the same resume for each position. If that's the case, resume expert Nathan Adams says, stop right now.

"Employers want the easy hire. They want to fit a round peg into a round hole and a square peg into a square hole," Adams said. "Knowing this information, you need to look like the candidate that the employer wants to hire."

Customization makes a résumé stand out | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

In this article, I was interviewed by Bobby Sisk, on the importance of customizing your resume. The article appeared in the Charlotte Observer and online at Charlottebserver.com.

Customization makes a résumé stand out

By Bobby Sisk

Posted: Sunday, Mar. 27, 2011

For nearly 20 years, Nathan Adams has helped job-seekers improve their résumés. But in this current job market, he recognized his advice is only one part of the sometimes difficult process of finding work.

"I had always held firm to the belief that once you got a solid résumé that accurately highlighted your skills, the next thing to do was start applying for any and all positions that you thought you were qualified for," Adams said.
Recent struggles of job seekers competing against hundreds of other applicants led him toward a different approach, one of more customization.

Welcome to the Art of the Job Search!

Welcome to the Art of the Job Search, a blog written by me, Nathan Adams, a certified professional resume writer and owner of First Impressions Resume Center. I have been in business since 2002 and this is my first attempt at writing a blog on a consistent basis. I'll talk about all things involved in the job search, from resume writing, to personal branding, to salary negotiations. So feel free to reach out to me at anytime. You can contact me via email at nadams@firstimpressionscount.com.