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.