WHERE ARE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES? IN SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS

Have you heard about all of the hiring taking place in Pineland, Wyoming? They apparently discovered and are developing vast deposits of natural gas. This town is actually BOOMING! (It was discussed by Charles Gibson of ABC News on Wednesday 29th April.)

If you're considering moving to a small town, think about its prospects for future employment growth as well as its quality of life.


With that in mind, the following Aol Career News list ranks some of the best small town and rural places to live, based on prospects for future job growth and quality life issues, including education, crime rate, recreation and other factors.


Louisville, Colorado - The town of 18,800 at the Rocky Mountain foothills impresses visitors with its historic downtown, summer street fairs and proximity to ski resorts and mountain trails. High tech, energy and health care industries keep unemployment down.


Benton City, Washington - The area in Eastern Washington (pop 2,800) has some of the highest projected job growth in the country, and is one of the most educated rural areas in the nation.


Chanhassen, Minnesota - An abundance of lakes and parks, a large arboretum and winter sports offer plenty to do, and unemployment is well under the national average.


Papillion, Nebraska - Unemployment is just 4.5%, and crime is also low. The town is in the middle of a downtown revitalization, which includes building a performance arts center and AAA baseball stadium.


Middleton, Wisconsin - This city boasts a stable economy, excellent schools and a large network of parks, bike paths and trails. A mixed use community inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and development for upscale stores and restaurants are underway.


Greenacres, Washington - With a population of 7,112, it's a great place for families with children, has good public schools, large population of college-educated adults, and a high homeownership rate.


Horse Creek, Wyoming - The unincorporated area in South Eastern Wyoming has a very low crime rate and is an easy drive to Cheyenne and Laramie, home of the University of Wyoming.


Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Mica and Rockford Bay) - The rural area around Coeur d'Alene boasts great fishing, wonderful scenery and a job market with strong potential.

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel: 1-718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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WHERE ARE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES?

WRITE A RESUME IN 2009, WRITING RESUMES IN 2009,

YES, YOU CAN FIND MANY UNADVERTISED JOBS IN 2009. HOW? BY UNCOVERING THEM

YES, you can still find many unadvertised jobs in 2009. How? Where? By uncovering them in your own public library. And by networking. HIRING NEVER STOPS -- not even in the Great Recession of 2009.

Find ways to bump into and speak to those who have already interviewed for jobs. Your relatives and friends will also hear of vacancies in their own companies.

Take advantage of social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to try and identify employers and people within those organizations who may help you.

Keep moving and keep searching. Finding a job is the hardest job of all. It's a 9-5 job in itself! PLEASE DON'T QUIT!

Headhunters want you to believe that only they have access to unadvertised jobs. They also pretend that only they can access the so-called "hidden" job market. Folks, that's just hokum. Bunk. Hogwash. B.S. Pick whatever term you're comfortable with! It's simply not true.

MILLIONS OF JOBS ARE GOING UNFILLED.

In October 2009, AOL Career News has reported that the following companies are hiring for Management, Sales and other positions: AT&T, Z.Zep, Inc., Domino's Pizza, Allstate, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Meineke, Sodexo, Aegis Therapies, Family Dollar, Interstate Bakeries Corporation, CVS Caremark, UPS, Aflac, Verizon Wireless, Sears, Roebuck & Co., Dollar General, adidas, Olan Mills Studio, Quest Diagnostics, H&R Block Tax Services, etc.

On 9/21/09, Career News reported from Washington as follows: "We are in the worst recession in over 20 years, but employers still have millions of jobs going unfilled.

"According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, outplacement counseling programs are struggling to assist job hunters get the job done.

"Bob Gerberg Jr, the CEO of ITS, said that this is partially because many people are doing the wrong things and some counselors are still advising job hunters to use methods from the 1990s.

"But, traditional job hunting is no longer effective. Gerberg says too many people still start by preparing a self-written historical resume (instead of the focused or tailored resume required in today's job market). Then they just start answering ads, networking with some friends, contacting a few recruiters, post their resume once or twice and they stop there.

"It is hard to believe, said Gerberg, but that's all that tens of millions of people still do. In a typical month they generate only one or two interviews.

"Today, much more is needed. A great many job hunters have good experience and backgrounds, they just need a better approach. The market may be down, but there are still millions of jobs out there.

"Professionals with good backgrounds and marketable skills should be connecting and tapping into the many new job search tools and services available online. They need to approach ALL the segments of the job market in a much different way. New job hunting approaches are necessary to be competitive in today's job market."

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN UNCOVER MANY UNADVERTISED JOBS IN 2009:

PLEASE VISIT ANY MAJOR PUBLIC LIBRARY. CHECK OUT OLD CLASSIFIED JOB ADS (6-36 MONTHS) THAT APPEARED IN LEADING NEWSPAPERS. YOU WILL SEE WHO WAS HIRING BEFORE AND WILL BE HIRING AGAIN. DO THE SAME SEARCH IN TRADE JOURNALS.

Why?

Career News reminds us that in the past workers often stayed with one company for decades, if not an entire career. Today's workers change jobs, industries, or even careers several times over. This ongoing turnover is known as "churn." The constant churn of workers switching jobs means that at any one time there are plenty of job openings for you -- even amid low unemployment rates or corporate cutbacks as we are witnessing today.

"The immediate reaction of companies, in a slumping U.S. economy and in this recession, is to pull back on hiring activity. They declare hiring freezes and even make layoff announcements. But these may only be short-lived strategies as employers soon realize that they are deficient on talent in a competitive job market." (It is generally agreed today, that it was the laying off of essential personnel which contributed most to the demise of Circuit City in 2008. In 1986, the downsizing of AT&T also went too far and many essential personnel had to be re-hired later.)

After a period of reactionary cutting, downsizing, rightsizing, and freezing, hiring activity will return.

In other words: workers will quit, retire, get fired, be transferred, find new jobs, return to school, move to new locations, start new businesses, etc. -- even during the 2009 recession.

Today's professionals change jobs every three years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Churn will accelerate during the present recession or Depression. Like star athletes who don't want to play for losing teams, top professionals seek out opportunities to play for more successful or less risky organizations and perhaps move from the automotive to the alternative energy or other industry.

The downturn of 2001 is a guide for what recruiters and job seekers can expect of the job market. There was a dramatic reduction in the number of online job listings in September 2001, following the tragic events of 9/11. But by the end of that year, job postings were at a record high.

Thus, some previously filled positions will now be VACANT again. This is how you, too can uncover or discover the internal or "hidden" or unadvertised job market. Visiting a large public library is as productive and worthwhile an exercise as personal networking.

New vacancies arise all of the time as a result of 10 or more different scenarios, in addition to the usual layoffs, terminations, resignations, transfers, promotions, injury, or death.

HOW I MANAGED TO UNCOVER OR DISCOVER THREE UNADVERTISED JOBS

I, myself, have done this job search exercise three times in my career -- in a public library. I discovered that one in 12 positions that had previously been filled, were now vacant again or about to become so. They had previously been advertised but were now in the category of unadvertised jobs in the "hidden" job market. Call or write to those companies. Send them your winning resume and cover letter. Tell them you wanted to apply at the time but were not free to do so or write TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SUITABLE POSITION FOR YOURSELF.

I was once the ONLY applicant for a Senior Personnel Manager position in a Fortune 500 company and was appointed within hours -- WITHOUT any competition from other applicants. How could this possibly happen?

This major steel company had already hired the top H.R. person in that state but, after only three short months, they parted company because the new hire and the CEO were not on the same page. X company was then too embarrassed to advertise the position again. At that strategic moment, I contacted them about their 6-month-old job advertisement and was available immediately for the factory's 3-shift operation. The result? I was hired within hours and started quietly and without any fanfare or public announcement concerning this unadvertised management position.

At another time, the "perfect" candidate was someone from IBM who was supposed to start on a certain day but decided to accept an offer from another company -- at the 11th hour. Again, I was the only "warm body with a pulse" on the premises and willing to step in.

Please note that the top three applicants for any position will probably be interviewing for other positions as well and will be receiving offers from more than one company. Such "stars" know their own value and will be demanding bigger compensation packages than the employer is willing or able to meet. In other words, some applicants will get screened out due to their high salary expectations. Even if they are appointed, they may not stay in the job for a long time before being approached by a headhunter with another tempting offer. Or their previous employer might lure them back with a better counteroffer. Never assume that a position which had already been filled in the past 6-24 months, is still unavailable. It might have become vacant again at any time and might now be an unadvertised position.

Employers or recruiters who advertised in newspapers before, may be unwilling to do so again. Why should they spend this money when they are paying a Human Resources Manager to find staff and so many thousands of resumes are displayed on job boards on the Internet. Their advertising budget cuts will definitely mean more unadvertised positions for you to find or uncover or discover.

I also managed to uncover another position as a Management Recruiter in a Fifth Avenue firm in New York City. How ? By responding to a six-month old job ad. Although someone else had indeed been appointed at the time, that party was not working out and I was available to replace him. Again, I was hired immediately and WITHOUT any competition from other applicants.

In the real estate field, a similar type of situation can happen when a seller becomes desperate to sell. Here you have to research small classified ads and make many phone calls to find or uncover or discover what you are looking for -- a desperate and highly motivated seller who needs to start a new job in another city within a week or who needs to sell the house as part of a divorce settlement or for another urgent reason. Such a party will sometimes be compelled to agree to your "no money down" offer to buy his/her home.

SO, KEEP MOVING SO THAT YOU, TOO CAN BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. MANUFACTURE YOUR OWN LUCK. BUT PLEASE DON'T INVITE A HEADHUNTER TO PUT A PRICETAG ON YOUR HEAD. DON'T EXPECT AN EMPLOYER TO BE WILLING TO PAY A FAT COMMISSION FOR HIRING YOU. RATHER APPLY DIRECT TO COMPANIES -- WITH A WINNING RESUME.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

Sincerely
MATT GREENE
mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.

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UNCOVER THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET,
FIND OR UNCOVER UNADVERTISED JOBS,
UNADVERTISED JOBS IN A RECESSION OR DEPRESSION,
FINDING AN UNADVERTISED JOB WITHOUT HEADHUNTERS

THE REAL COST OF WRITING YOUR OWN RESUME IS HIGH. IT IS NOT SMART!

Are you still writing your own resume in 2009? Sorry, but that is NOT smart. IT WILL COST YOU A TON IN MISSED JOB OPPORTUNITIES! It is a well-known fact that most job seekers will sell themselves short. That's why 90 percent (or more) of those self-written resumes need to be improved, revamped or rewritten.

Did you know that a resume that is "basic" -- it gives the facts but lacks "sell" --is actually NEGATIVE? Why? Because a reader will feel that if you really had something of value to offer or "sell", you would have presented it in your resume! (Robert Half in "Practical Accounting")

Let's face it. A resume that doesn't "sell" you, is a waste of everyone's time. It can only result in very few or no job interviews. Even worse is that home-made efforts are often SUICIDAL! I see this daily. So why take a chance with yours? Missed career and growth opportunities or lower salaries are a very high price to pay for writing your own resume. You would be well advised to seek professional help. It will cost money but it really does pay -- provided that you choose a skilled resume writer!

In my view, the only professional to consult is an experienced and skilled resume writer who does it full-time. Such a person can be more OBJECTIVE about your credentials than you can. He or she can see how you will come across to an employer.

Professional resume writers deal with resume-writing problems on a daily basis and find solutions that work for their clients. He or she will help you decide on the best format or layout, the most suitable length and, above all, what to emphasize and what to omit.

"Cleaning up" your resume is an important aspect of preparing it. Throughout the process, your own input and collaboration is essential.

Unfortunately, this is not how many resume services operate. I refer to those who ask you to complete a form and send your money. These are resume factories or paper mills. Avoid them (and their "guarantees") like the plague.

But people you know will also offer to help you with your resume. Be polite but ignore them as well because they won't be qualified to assist you -- even if they happen to be writers, teachers, business executives, personnel officers, secretaries, or typists.

Human Resources folks who read and screen out resumes, are seldom able to write them as well. (Similiarly, theater critics can't create new works, football receivers can't play quarterback and baseball catchers can't pitch!) None of your friends or relatives has the expertise required to prepare a winning resume for you. (Recently, the H.R. Director of a firm in Pennsylvania offered to assist a job seeker to prepare a complicated change-of-career resume even though he had no specialist knowledge of the subject.)

Worst of all, every low cost resume writer promises you a quick turnaround.

The awful truth is that most of these amateurs can prepare a nice-looking resume for you but it will be very "basic" and bland. It won't be the marketing tool that you need to succeed. Why? Because it will fail to present your best selling points in the most effective way.

And as for potential negatives, "red flags" or turnoffs, they won't bother to clean up your resume in order to minimize or eliminate all of your resume blemishes. You'll be screened out in Round 1.

Be warned. Resume writing is a minefield of hacks and quacks. Some writers might be sincere in trying to help you but could harm your career because they lack resume-writing skill and experience. At best, they'll give you an attractive-looking resume that won't sell you to any employer.

Good resume paper and sharp laser printing will not create the marketing tool you need to beat the competition. Always remember, a printer is a printer. He or she is not a marketing expert!

What is a "Skilled" Resume Writer? What qualifies a professional writer to assist you?

First and foremost, very strong analytical skills. He or she will need to analyze and discover many additional facts about you, your skills, strengths, and achievements -- in order to determine your potential worth to an employer. This, in turn, has to be translated into skills that are transferable and marketable.

A background that includes both career counseling and working experience in a variety of jobs will therefor be useful. To know what skills are required of various jobs and at different levels, he or she needs to study job ads more than you do!

In particular, he or she could help you target specific positions by carefully matching up an employer's stated needs with what you are able to offer. If you lack one or more of those requirements, what could be equivalent to it?

Second, a good resume writer knows a lot about the art of presentation. It is the skilled way in which your information is selected, organized, and presented that will enhance your perceived value and impress the reader. This requires a knowledge of resume "cosmetics" and "surgery"---but not anything unethical.

Third, he or she must know how the buyer thinks -- those who screen as well as those who do the actual hiring. A knowledge of which items might be "red flags" is essential along with an ability to draft your best selling points.

Fourth, a professional writer must understand how an effective sales device or marketing tool should be constructed in your particular case. There are no standard resumes. People are not clones. Yours has to be custom-made using your own, unique "ingredients."

And last, but not least, the writer should write good English using the language of the employer. A good job resume should not include flowery, fancy or exaggerated language. It is a job search tool, not a literary masterpiece.

Why do I mention English last and not first? Because hundreds of English majors consult with resume-writing professionals -- even graduates with a GPA of 3.9. The help they need isn't for better English but the specific language of resume writing. And how to organize and present their data in the most effective way.

But a resume writer's best qualification or credential is his or her proven ability to develop resumes that have helped many, many clients. You see, some of our most skilled and successful writers haven't bothered to become "certified" as professional resume writers. They don't need to be. Their results speak louder than any certificate!

Finally, isn't word-of-mouth still the only safe way to select any professional? After all, how did a particular doctor, lawyer or resume writer acquire his or her reputation for excellence?

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or chat.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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JOB SEEKERS NEED TO WORK SMARTER TO GET HIRED IN 2009!

All job seekers need to work smarter to get hired in 2009! Smarter and harder.That is the new reality in today's job market. Weak job resumes won't help you at all.

First, you need to discover job openings (by networking and talking to people) and also by uncovering them in a public library.
Second, you'll need to land interviews. (Most self-written resumes are too "basic" and unfocused to sell you. They are simply too weak to compete. One job seeker mailed out 600 basic resumes, got 4 interviews and only one job offer. His resume looked like hundreds of others who also used the same resume template or software.)
Third, you'll have to impress and persuade employers how valuable you can be. (Can you sell yourself in person?)

Although it is a picky buyer's job market, hiring has NOT come to a standstill. Companies are still hiring but job seekers need to work smarter to find job openings and also to get interviews.

The competition for a job is stiff. About 6,000,000 jobs have disappeared and most of the jobs that do come open are quickly filled.

The official U.S. unemployment rate is 9.7 percent. But don’t underestimate the scope of this crisis: the unemployment rate is at its worst level in 26 years!

Millions of hidden casualties of the Great Recession are NOT counted in the unemployment rate because they have stopped looking for work.

I don’t think businesses will hire back anytime soon,” says Allen Sinai, chief global economist at Decision Economics. “Companies are rewarded by the stock markets for not hiring and keeping their costs down. We may see another jobless recovery.” Martin Weiss feels that the employment situation is dire and a double-dip recession is a real possibility.

WHERE AND HOW TO FIND JOBS?

Research both old and new classified job ads in any major public library. That will tell you who was and may still be hiring in your field of competency. Some of those positions might be vacant again. (Please scroll down to my blog post dated 3/1/09.)

Networking at events, parties, functions, and in churches or temples or synagogues or mosques is essential. And don't leave out cabs and elevators! (One of my M.B.A. clients decided to take his resume to a housewarming party. Crazy? No! There he bumped into an old buddy, a fellow officer from his days in the U.S. Merchant Marine. This soon led to a senior Banking position in Credit Suisse.)

The choices of jobs may not be as numerous, but they are still out there -- from smaller mom-and-pops to larger government organizations like the U.S. Census Bureau.

Private companies in health care, smaller or boutique financial firms like Broadpoint, Pinetum Capital and BTIG, human resources, startup technology companies and biotech companies like FluGen, animal companion nutrition & drug companies, public relations firms, time-shares, security firms, and supermarkets are still looking for people to hire, as others scale back and trim down their staff.

GREEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR MBA's

And what about jobs in all of those "green" alternative energy industries that President Obama has been stimulating?

Shannon Small, an MBA coach and senior consultant with nextsteppartners.com, says: "In this economy, one of the greatest benefits of an MBA is the broad exposure. Companies that are trying to do more with less are more willing to put them to work knowing they have capabilities in business fields. With an expansive network they can tap into the greater reach of the alumni networks."

Small says that many of her students have gone onto jobs in "green tech and clean tech," two popular fields in the environmentally conscious Bay Area, alongside financial services firms and computer and internet startups.

Some students are taking an MBA as a "hedging strategy" against unemployment.

High Demand for Skilled Labor

Employers are begging for qualified applicants for certain occupations, even in hard times.
Most of the jobs involve skills that take years to attain. Welder is one, employers report. Critical care nurse is another. Electrical lineman is yet another, particularly those skilled in stringing high-voltage wires across the landscape. Special education teachers are in demand. So are geotechnical engineers, trained in geology as well as engineering, a combination sought for oil field work. Respiratory therapists, who help the ill breathe. And with infrastructure spending now on the rise, civil engineers are in demand to supervise the work.

The hospitality sector has been hardest hit, with retail not far behind, as national chains announce closures and cutbacks.

But Wal-Mart is hiring! While almost every other large retailer is cutting jobs, Wal-Mart says it will add 22,000 new workers this year. (Reported on June 4th)
It says a great deal about the world's largest retailer's strength and success during the recession. Wal-Mart has been adroit at keeping its prices low during the downturn. While the chain has often done well bringing in low-income shoppers, the middle classes now shop at the stores as their credit has been pinched and their salaries frozen.

With today's high unemployment rates you've got to work SMARTER to find a job. Job listings are not coming in as rapidly as before but you can still find them out there if you look hard enough. DON'T STOP LOOKING. You just have to use ALL of the resources available to you -- from traditional classifieds to online job boards and continue to build your network.

AMERICA IS GOING GREEN

It's no secret that America is going green. Green jobs are popping up everywhere, whether it's the technician installing solar panels on a home, the scientist researching ways to build better batteries for electric cars, or the executive looking for ways to reduce waste, eliminate unnecessary packaging and cut costs.

Job growth in this area is expected to top 50% by 2016, nearly four times the job growth for all other occupations combined.

A few business schools offer specialized programs, but a better bet might be enrolling in a few courses in the engineering or earth sciences school. Perhaps you could even find an industry-specific internship. (Reported in Career News, 8/4/2009)

FINDING A JOB IS THE HARDEST JOB OF ALL. YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT FROM 9 TO 5 -- OR LATER.

Employers are still seeking to hire top-quality job candidates. While many employers throughout the United States may be cutting back on overall staffing levels, companies also recognize this period of time as an opportunity to hire top-quality job candidates.

Many corporate recruiters say the recession offers an opportunity to bring in top talent to their organizations, according to a JobFox poll of 200 recruiters. But 53 percent expect their companies to hire fewer new employees during the first six months of 2009.

Despite the growing list of corporate layoffs, employers continue to post millions of new jobs each month.

Are you logging onto an online job board or looking in the paper for your next job opportunity? These days job seekers should spend 60 to 70 percent of their efforts on NETWORKING. Let everyone know you're out of a job and available for work. People like to help, but they can't help if they don't know you're looking. On the average, 80 percent of job openings are NOT advertised at all. Networking may be the only way to hear about them.

Networking includes constantly using tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, as well as in person.

The best way to find a job remains through word of mouth. And, in the recession, a lead or referral from a contact can give you the edge you need to land a new position. Online networking websites make it easy for you to keep in touch with members of your network, but keep in mind that face-to-face interaction is still important. Offer to treat people to coffee on occasion to catch up and talk about your search.

RECRUITERS: Otherwise known as headhunters or search consultants, recruiters are hired by companies to find candidates for them, and often know about unadvertised jobs. It's important to note, that recruiters do not work for or charge you, the job seeker. The company pays a fee, typically when a candidate is hired.

So, please stop to think if any company will be willing to pay $20-70,000 for the privilege of hiring you when so many other candidates are available without a pricetag. That is the downside of working with a recruiter. (Please read the first three chapters of John Lucht's classic for executive job searchers, Rites of Passage at $100,000+. Lucht explains WHEN to use a headhunter and when and why to AVOID them. This book is a "must have" for the job search.)

Recruiters must be able to identify easily how a candidate's past positions will help that person be successful in the role applied for. The language used to express past accomplishments takes the guesswork out of whether a candidate is qualified.

A cover letter should introduce the candidate and explain the reasons for applying for that position. The cover letter also should discuss why the candidate would be a great fit for the organization.

How can you beat the competition for jobs? First, by focusing and tailoring your job resume. You also have to work smarter searching all top career sites and niche job boards.

WHAT TO DO AT JOB FAIRS:

Paul Anderson, a former hiring manager for Microsoft and Expedia, offers a few ways to tackle a job search in the new world. First, scrap the elevator pitch. "Why the elevator pitch doesn't work," Anderson said, "is that nobody cares about you. They care about themselves. You have to change your mindset from self-serving to serving others. That means finding out what need you can fill for the recruiters.

Second, at job fairs, don't bring a sheaf of resumes and hand them out to recruiters like Halloween candy. Instead, get business cards from the recruiters. Ask them what kinds of jobs they need to fill and what kind of candidates they like." (Reported in Career News, 6/17/2009)

JOB INTERVIEWS: Did you know that when the job market was booming it took an average of 3 interviews to get 1 job offer? Now it can take as many as 17!

Reading business and trade publications gives you an advantage. They keep you sharp, well informed, articulate and in-demand. It's no secret that keeping up with the news and trends of your industry or profession (as well as that of your clients') will give you the competitive edge you need.

Be prepared to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Be ready to explain why and how you would add more VALUE in the new role.

Try ending the interview by ASKING for the job on a trial basis. It never hurts to be proactive. If you feel the employment interview has gone well, don't be afraid to ask if you can prove yourself on a temporary basis. You'll demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and desire to hit the ground running. At the very least, ask to schedule a second interview by saying: "I feel this interview has been so good, I'm sure you'ld like to see and talk with me again."

TRICK QUESTIONS: When you finally do land the job interview of your dreams, will you have what it takes to land the job offer? You must stand out during the job interview or you might as well be playing the lottery.

Most job seekers spend hours creating their resumes and cover letters, searching through job postings, reviewing classified ads and networking--all in order to land the job interview. Yet 90% of them don't know what to do when they get one. For example, one interview question still floors many candidates. It is the seemingly friendly but very dangerous: "Tell me about yourself." A weak or boring answer may cost you the entire interview! Another killer question is: "What is your biggest weakness?" SO, BE PREPARED FOR TOUGH INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. (Please buy Martin Yates' book on answering 200 interview questions and also consult Kenneth Iverson's book about how to apply for and obtain a Medical Residency.)

KEYWORDS: Many companies are subscribing to websites containing resume databases or using internal software to sort through resumes. Job seekers must use the correct language to make sure their resumes appear in these searches. Read through job postings and company websites to find recurring verbiage, and use that language where appropriate in your resume. Every part of a resume should speak directly to the open position and company. IT MUST BE FOCUSED.

DON'T GIVE UP. EVERY "NO" BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO THE FINAL "YES"

Job search guru, Tom Jackson in his "Guerilla Tactics in the Job Market", gives the following paradigm of the typical job search -- whether you are entry-level or a senior executive:

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

NO NO NO NO NO NO YES!

After each unsuccessful interview, a single "NO" needs to be crossed out. Then remember to thank God. Why? Because that "NO" brings you one step closer to the final "YES." And that is really good news!

NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK!

With the high volume of candidates in the market, having a direct connection to a recruiter or company can make all the difference. The larger the candidate's network, the greater the chance of meeting someone who can help in the job search.

Good fortune came to one lucky job seeker by attending church events. (AOL recently reported the story.) One of my own clients took his resume to a housewarming party where he met an old friend from his days in the Naval Reserve. This led to a senior Banking position in Credit Suisse.)
Wasn't that the wildest coincidence?" Coincidence is just God's way of remaining anonymous.

TODAY'S PLAN B ... TODAY'S PLAN B ... TODAY'S PLAN B

The Great Recession is filling the ranks of Avon, Mary Kay, and Tupperware. Armies of new Avon ladies, Mary Kay reps and Tupperware sellers are advancing on living rooms across the country. Their ranks are full of professionals forced to take a second job amid the recession.

Laid-off bankers and stay-at-home moms, but also gainfully employed people worried how long they'll stay that way. All of them are willing to knock on doors, host parties or do whatever else it takes to peddle some makeup. "'I need money."

Job cuts, shrinking bonuses and scaled-back hours have pushed more people than ever to become direct sales representatives, a phenomenon industry experts say they've seen before in previous recessions.

In 2007, an estimated 15 million people nationwide were in direct sales. Some 58 percent of became reps as a second job, according to the Direct Selling Association.

When money began getting less, one full-time pharmaceutical sales rep signed up to host Mary Kay parties and give facials, working just six hours to make about $600 a week. "We were looking for a plan B for our family to make additional income,"

Direct sellers also can earn rewards, too, including jewelry, handbags, furniture, appliances, cars and vacations.

During stronger economies, people usually take on direct sales jobs so they can have money for leisure spending, said Larry Chonko, a professor at The University of Texas. "Times are tough as we know and there is an absolute need for extra income."

"Direct sales is not recession-proof, but it is the kind of business that even in a recession you can make success of it. And if you create a solid foundation now, then just wait until the economy comes out of the down cycle and goes into an up cycle."

OTHER OPTIONS -- A GOOD HOME BUSINESS

"As a manager of a Circuit City store. I was making over $70K a year but they let me go right after Christmas. In retrospect they did me a favor. I got a couple of months severance pay and used the time I had to find something new and different. I had read many books by Robert Allen and decided to check out a program that he had available. It was a way to develop multiple streams of income, http://tr.im/RobertAllenIncomeStreams .

I have to say that he knows his stuff and has excellent ideas and training. I am now making a little more money than I was before and see that my businesses should continue to grow. Best of all, I'm working less 20 hours a week, when I was putting in close to 60 before. I'm able to play ball, have a hobby, and best of all, spend so much more time with my children.

My suggestion to most is to do what millions of people are doing now, find a good home business. That won't work for everyone but if you find one that you can get into for virtually no investment and learn the right skills, you should do well.

There are two opportunities that my clients have had the most success with. One is an amazing opportunity to profit from Ebay and there are well over 720,000 people making a full time living with them. http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem . That's a huge company to work with.

The other great opportunity is working with a company that we all know, Google, http://cli.gs/GoogleCashSystem. So many of my clients tell me that they are loving working for themselves, making more money than before, in less time, and enjoy the extra time they have to spend with their families."

Avoid all MLM, they are mostly scams.

(Reported in Career News, 8/4/2009)

KEEP MOVING. KEEP MEETING PEOPLE. KEEP TALKING TO THEM. NEVER GIVE UP!

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.

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Tags:
FOCUSED RESUME

NETWORKING,

WILL AN AMATEUR RESUME WRITER KNOW HOW TO SELL YOUR VALUE IN 2009?

Do you know how to sell your VALUE to employers in 2009? Probably not! That's why I must be blunt with you. Amateur resume writers like yourself need to wake up and smell the coffee TODAY -- before you lose yet another job opportunity.

NOWADAYS, YOU HAVE ONLY 10 SECONDS TO IMPRESS A RECRUITER -- NOT 20 TO 30 SECONDS AS IN 2008.

Are you still struggling to choose a suitable format? If you've written fewer than 10 successful resumes, you are still an AMATEUR who is copying blindly from sample resumes or resume books. It's much harder to do that today than in the '80s and '90s.

In the Great Recession of 2009, you probably DON'T know how to sell yourself and your own "ingredients" in the BEST or most effective way -- on paper and in person.

If you graduated with a GPA of 4.0 in English, you have already realized or discovered that resume writing is an art and you need help. You probably know that it would be foolish to rely on yourself to do it. How much did your education cost you? Are you willing to risk all that?

If you are a manager or executive or senior executive who still writes your own resume or asks your spouse to help you with it, then it's time for you to do a serious reality check. Which of you claims to be the resume writing expert? You, yourself? Your husband? Your wife? Your significant other? Your secretary? Your daughter? Your son? The stakes are very high. We are talking about marketing your value, getting hired and then earning $50,000 to $150,000 in your next job.

Would you go to a dentist who had only seen six patients?

Would you hire an accountant who had only prepared seven tax returns to do your taxes?

Would you rely on a rookie doctor, if you were only his or her tenth patient? Won't you get a second opinion or consult with a specialist?

SO WHY ARE YOU STUBBORNLY TRYING TO WRITE YOUR OWN JOB RESUME? How many successful ones have you created in a tough buyer's market like today? (It's not too difficult to write a basic resume when jobs are everywhere as they used to be.)

Do you feel that good English and writing skills are all you need to compose a "winning" resume or cover letter in 2009?

Resumes and cover letters are intended to sell you to picky employers. Do you feel that all it takes to write them is a knowledge of English plus good writing skills? Sadly, this won't be enough to create a paper that impresses a busy reader and it explains why so many English majors, lawyers and others have hired professional writers. Perfect English, grammar and spelling are not the only things you need to create a good resume or cover letter.

I have often heard clients say something like: "Matthew, I can write term papers, reports, a feature article, a speech or even a short story. But writing my own job resume is something else. What should I include? What can I safely omit? What must I emphasize? How do I focus it? What is the best FORMAT for me to use?" And so on.

Important decisions need to be made and a knowledge of good English and writing skills are only the basics! (This is why English teachers CAN'T help you much.)

Can you be OBJECTIVE about your own plusses and minuses? Probably not!

Can you analyze your own skills and strengths -- fairly and objectively? To find out what these might be, you would need to be able to see yourself as other people see you. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to do this on your own. Nearly impossible.

This is where a skilled, professional resume writer can help -- someone with strong analytical skills who has already uncovered the skills and strengths of hundreds of job seekers. Such a person will help you discover what you are able to offer that employers might also need in the Great Recession of 2009. (Career changers and returning-to-work homemakers, please note!)

At my own resume service, Winning-Resumes.com, I have met with many job seekers like you. I have found your experiences to be truly amazing – you've built businesses, invented and patented things for cardiac stents, run amazing marketing campaigns, designed and built technologies that fly spaceships, and drones that bomb targets hundreds of miles away. Your stories are very impressive.

But what you haven't done, is qualify as a professional resume writer. And, unfortunately, it shows. YOUR RESUME IS WEAK AND NOT EFFECTIVE!

You see, a resume is a document that that has to sell you, not a document that tells about everything you've ever done. Just like an advertisement, you need to tell the recruiter or hiring manager what you can do for them. Today.

And what I've discovered over the 24 years I have been in this business is that it takes a professional writer who is familiar with what recruiters are looking for, to turn your resume into a very effective advertisement or presentation of your skills, talents, abilities and background.

Only about 5% of the resumes I review get an "A" from me. The vast majority are "B"s and "C"s.

And that's unfortunate, because when I meet you in person, I can see the confident look in your eye as well as the fire in your belly – all of the great talents that aren't exhibited very clearly in the typical resume.

In this economy, I have to tell you, recruiters have lots and lots of candidates to choose from.

I have seen the average number of applicants per job increase from 15 per job two years ago to 26 today. And that extra competition means you have about 10 SECONDS to stand out – to ensure that your audience can find exactly what they need to know about you, and find it fast. AND THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT 10 SECONDS IN YOUR JOB HUNT.
Are you going to leave your fate in the hands of an AMATEUR resume writer like yourself? Please get help from a first-class professional resume writer.

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or chat.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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AMATEUR RESUME WRITER CANNOT HELP IN FINDING A JOB OR WORK

PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITER HELPS

CAN YOUR RESUME COMPETE AGAINST PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN RESUMES?

Can your resume compete against professionally written resumes that may be much stronger and more focused than yours? You need to be aware of this in 2009!

Are you really "qualified" to write a winning or "perfect" or "tailored" resume for today? I honestly don't think so! Frankly, there is a very real danger that you WON'T produce a resume that is required to succeed in today's tough job market. Job hunting in 2009 is highly competitive. Nowadays, getting the right professional help is the SMART thing to do.

Recently I gave a FREE consultation to a scientist with a very weak resume presentation -- a Research Biologist who was seeking his first MANAGEMENT (not scientific) position. He did not understand how to present or market himself properly on paper even after receiving a little guidance from me -- but NOT detailed instructions or how-to. Imagine my surprise when he stubbornly decided to write his own focused resume/s. How did this biologist suddenly develop the skill and expertise to write a management resume to beat the competition in 2009? I could not believe it! In order to save $200, he will probably lose job opportunities worth $200,000 in lost earnings. Do you call that SMART?

Clint Eastwood gave us very good advice in one of his movies: "A man must know his limitations."

If you are a manager or executive, you should not even THINK of writing your own resume. It probably WON'T be as effective as it ought to be. In particular, your crucial value statement (in the top half of Page 1 of the resume) may NOT shine through as it should.

Hiring a skilled professional writer in this job market, has become the SMART and necessary thing to do!

So, what about the 50-year "tradition" that you should write it yourself? Here is the view of a recent college graduate:

Absolutely True!
I agree. There is no person who knows you better than yourself. That's why there is no other or better person to write your own resume than you.
2009-05-30 (name deleted)

Do you agree or disagree with this graduate who feels she should market herself on paper? I do not agree. Hundreds of English majors have realized that resume writing is an art and that it is never easy to write about oneself or present one's own skills snd strengths in a resume. In 2009, tens of thousands of anxious job seekers are hiring professionals to write it for them. Times and attitudes have changed!

Let's look at creating and writing a homemade resume in another way. It's all about presenting yourself in the best possible way -- on paper -- to a perfect stranger (recruiter or employer) who has never set eyes on you. It's almost like trying to get a blind date!

And talking about making presentations, would you be the right person to present your own case in Criminal Court because you may know the facts even better than your lawyer? I don't think so. It may be too risky. Rather leave it to your experienced lawyer to devise a winning strategy to get you acquitted. He or she will decide what facts to present to the judge and/or jury and what to say in his/her final Summation.

This is very similar to what an experienced professional resume writer will do for you in order to get you hired by an employer! Believe it or not, the mental process/es and strategy/ies involved are very similar.

Are you "qualified" to write your own resume or resumes in 2009? Can you select the best format in your case? Are you qualified to decide on the best length? Do you know how to focus it? Can you beat the efforts of trained professional writers?

How strong are your writing skills? Are you truly able to decide what to write about yourself and/or what to leave out? Do you know what to emphasize, where and how to do it? Can you detect any potential negatives or "red flag" items or other turnoffs that may be present in your resume? Are you good at writing about yourself or does this make you uncomfortable?

Most importantly, can you see yourself as a prospective employer will see you? You CAN'T because you would need to reverse your job search telescope. A professional writer will provide this type of OBJECTIVITY. He or she knows how employers and screeners think and what they are looking for.

Are you trained to analyze your own skills, strengths and abilities? Do you know the formal language of skills? Do you know how and where to present your achievements on paper? Do you know how to sell yourself in a resume? Very few people can do it properly and effectively.

Do you know how and where to address the employer's specific requirements in a resume? Most job seekers tend to mess up or sell themselves short. Good resume writing is the art of EFFECTIVE presentation or marketing.

In 2009, every job resume needs to an effective marketing tool with "sell" because it has to help you apply for a shrinking number of jobs. You can't blame the economy if your resume is not good enough to get you those interviews.

Will it help to copy from "perfect" sample resumes? Not much. That's what many people try to do but their resumes usually DON'T work as well as they should and they lose job opportunities.

Can you bake a successful cake? Creating a resume or resume writing is a lot like baking. It requires you to use all of your career and job "ingredients" in order to "bake the best resume cake" possible! But very, very few people are master bakers. It's an art and requires proper training. It is also creative.

After the Depression of the thirties, your father and his father were told to write vague and general resumes so as to keep HIS options open. But today's employers expect resumes to be focused and address their own and very specific needs. Your father's resume WON'T work in today's recession. (Some are saying it is another Depression.)

Times have really changed. From the 50's to the 90's, your English teacher was still the "resume expert" who taught you to write your first resume. You had to do it yourself -- to show that you could write good English. That's why even today, some of my resume writing clients still find it necessary to apologize for contacting a professional service: "I CAN WRITE IT MYSELF BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME".

They and you needn't apologize. As long ago as 1985, Ms. Magazine were very impressed by a resume they definitely knew had been done professionally . How did they react? They hired my client as Head Researcher!

On the one hand, nearly everyone is able to write a plain or ordinary resume but only 5% (five percent) know how to SELL themselves on paper. That means that 95% of all homemade resumes will probably be screened out in seconds.

Frankly, most online writing services or even resume books that offer you a 10-minute resume or a 60-minute resume, are talking BALONEY. Here's another outrageous example: "In Only 3½ Minutes, You Can Quickly And Easily Crank Out A Killer Cover Letter That Is Guaranteed To Make Your Phone Ring Off The Hook... Without Writing A Word! "

It takes many hours to write a resume that will work for you. It can even be a nightmare to try to do it yourself. And how will you know if you've done a good job? Who will you ask? A friend? Your sister? Are they qualified to evaluate it? They might even know less than you!

To hire a professional writer may have been frowned upon in 1971 but not in 2009. While it is true that many resume services used to be little more than factories or paper mills, nowadays some professional resume writers have credentials and belong to resume writing associations.

A select few have also written resume books based on their OWN writing experience. (In the past, a few best-selling authors had NOT created any resume except their own. This can only happen in America!)

All that a teacher or friend or spouse can show you is how to write a resume that sets out only your "facts" -- NOT your "sell". They don't know enough about MARKETING. That's why today's resume writing expert is no longer your English teacher but someone else who also knows how to MARKET you on paper and "sell" your value to an employer.

Employers are trying to cope with a daily avalanche of resumes. Most of these are badly organized, weakly constructed, poorly written and unfocused. Such resumes get screened out in seconds by Suzy the Screener. She decides who will be interviewed -- not her boss.

Forgive me for being blunt. In 2009, most job seekers like yourself need to stop wasting your time and money by trying to write a "perfect" resume. It is simply too time-consuming and nerve-wracking to try to do write yourself.

In the past week I was asked to review three resumes that were supposed to have been rewritten and "improved" after an entire weekend of hard work. My opinion of them? Three wasted efforts that would NOT result in a single interview. All three job seekers had completely ignored what Suzy the Screener wants to see in their resumes.

Most experienced professional writers can improve your resume much more than you could. Their clients return most of the time feeling that it was worth the money.

Think of the shrinking number of job opportunities that you can't afford to lose. There are more layoffs and hiring freezes being announced each week. Rather let an expert resume writer help you to write or create a resume that works before your limited funds run out.

What is $100 or $150 or $200 or $300 to get more interviews or your next job or advance your career? But you first need to think and act like a WINNER. Then you'll also win in this horrible job market.

PLEASE WRITE OR CALL FOR A FREE CONSULT OR EVALUATION.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved


Tags: WRITING YOUR OWN RESUME IS NOT SMART, CAN YOUR RESUME COMPETE AGAINST PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN RESUMESE , WRITING YOUR OWN RESUME, WRITE AN EXECUTIVE RESUME, WRITE YOUR OWN RESUMES, WRITE A RESUME IN 2009, WRITING RESUMES IN 2009,

"YES, I will hire you today if you can produce more Sales or Profits for me."

ALL businesses are looking to hire people who can produce more sales or profits for them. How? By correcting or improving current operations or methods. Recession does NOT affect that kind of hiring.

Today's employers want you to address their needs and their self-interest -- NOT your own need for a job and an income. Employers are trying to stay in business and survive in this terrible economy. Many have been forced to declare bankruptcy. So, please write and speak and focus on what they want to hear. Ask yourself: WHAT WILL BE MUSIC TO A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER'S EARS IN 2009?

What are a particular employer's most urgent needs? If you can succeed in finding that out (or guess the most likely answer), you will be well on your way to getting hired. If you can help any employer to save or make money, you will be a valuable person to have on board -- in ANY economy. So put yourself into a make or save money mode every time you need to write or speak to any party who has the authority to hire you. Address these subjects in your resumes, cover letters and during all interviews and meetings.

Recently, the president of one New York company wrote a letter to the New York Times that contains valuable advice for every job seeker -- from entry-level to senior executive.

"All businesses are looking for people who can produce more sales or profits by correcting or improving operations. Recession does NOT affect that kind of hiring -- not even the Great Recession of 2009.

"If I had applicants who would 'ring the cash register' after they came on, and who would lower our operating costs or increase the productivity of our efforts, I would do a lot more hiring. So would many others. I know how Presidents and CEOs think...

"So, what can and should a job seeker like you do? TARGET a company you want to be associated with and study it. Research it. Talk to some of its customers. Try to analyze and find out what some of its problems are -- in your area of competency. Figure out how you would solve them...

"Search out the executive at the company who has responsibility over the area that interests you. Write to that person. Outline the problem you have researched and the solution you would propose. Present yourself as an applicant to handle that assignment and maybe others like it... Which employer will refuse to meet with you for a few minutes, if only out of curiosity?

"When you research the company, study its customers and their relationships with the company. Customers are one of the best sources of information about a company. If you explain what you are doing, they are often willing to provide the information you are looking for...

"PEOPLE WHO HIRE, RESPECT THIS APPROACH. IN FACT, WE ARE READY TO HIRE SUCH APPLICANTS."

During your meeting with such a prospective employer, an effective strategy might be to show him or her that you have already solved a problem or problems (challenges) similar to those facing him or her now and that you obtained very quick results.

But be very careful and tactful. You want to come across as someone who is capable of solving the particular problem (or rather, the challenge) without appearing to be a smart aleck or too "clever". No employer enjoys being told how to run his or her business.

Always remember, you are there to help and should not be seen as posing any threat (either real or perceived or imagined) to the person you are asking to hire you.

Bosses are under constant stress to meet or exceed their company goals and objectives. They also suffer from all sorts of hidden anxieties and insecurities, one of which is not having the latest college degree and/or not being too familiar with the state-of-the-art techniques being offered by recent and younger graduates. They also tend to be 45+ years old on the average. Most senior managers do NOT surround themselves with younger staff who might later outshine them. Only the stronger and very self-confident ones would risk that.

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel: 1-718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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Tags:
TO GET HIRED, INCREASE SALES OR PROFITS

RESEARCH AND OFFER TO SOLVE A PROBLEM

TARGETING A COMPANY,

CAREER CHANGE RESUMES THAT WORK

Career change resumes are designed to emphasize and market your transferable skills rather than the work experience you obtained in another industry. But it is YOUR responsibility to analyze and present those skills clearly for the benefit of prospective employers.

WHERE must you do this? In the bulleted Summary section of a Combination resume. This type of resume combines the best features of both the chronological AND the functional formats. (NOTE: Employers DON'T care for pure Functional resumes. They don't like to read a lot about your skills, abilities and achievements unless they can also MATCH UP these items with the job titles and dates to which they refer. Recruiters even distrust a Functional resume because they know it is often used by those with something to hide or disguise. This makes them very wary and suspicious.)

Many of you will need to change careers from one industry to another. For example, the continuing housing crisis in the U.S. has forced many mortgage professionals to leave this industry. (The debacles on Wall Street have done the same to investment banking executives.) The retail and automotive industries are also in a terrible mess.

As a result, many mortgage lending (and investment banking) professionals need to think about a CAREER CHANGE. The same applies to executives in retail, manufacturing and employees of General Motors. It means developing a strong change-of-career resume to impress recruiters in a new industry.

For example, an Industrial Engineer or Purchasing Manager in the automotive industry may need to apply to the Aerospace, Medical Device, Appliance Manufacturing or Healthcare industries.

Here’s how to offer your VALUE -- your skills, experience and accomplishments in a career change resume:

1. STATE YOUR JOB OBJECTIVE OR GOAL UP FRONT:

Tell employers up front what type of position you are seeking now. Don't expect them to guess or read and analyze your resume from A to Z. They WON'T because they are NOT your skills analysts. Besides, it is very unfair to expect them to do what is, after all, YOUR homework!

Develop a resume title or heading that spells it out clearly — such as “OBJECTIVE: Pharmaceutical Sales / Medical Sales.” Or write an objective that focuses on a specific employer's needs as stated in a job ad and NOT just on what you want. Add to this, 2-3 lines summarizing your key skills and strengths and/or one or two bulleted accomplishments as your selling "hooks". (NOTE: Never assume that these skills will be known to employers outside the mortgage industry. And never ask employers to "utilize all of your skills." Only God knows what all of your skills and abilities are.)

2. WHAT ARE YOUR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS? (10-15):

Mortgage and other Loan officers have already developed a variety of skills and also have a wealth of knowledge that is easily transferable to other industries. Examples include analyzing and identifying the needs of customers, evaluating their assets, liabilities and creditworthiness, consultative selling or solutions selling or cross-selling, investment or credit counseling, risk evaluation or assessment, relationship building, communication skills, presentation skills, inside/outside sales, closing skills, and proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint,etc. But you need to analyze and then detail these transferable skills in your resume to help the reader understand what your CAN DOs are -- especially if you acquired them in another industry. What you claim is transferable, must also make sense to the reader!

You can incorporate your transferable skills into a Qualifications Summary, under “Areas of Skill/Experience/Expertise” and also in the body copy or “Work Experience” section.

3. WHERE TO OFFER YOUR MOST MARKETABLE SKILLS AND STRENGTHS:

A good Summary of Qualifications is a MUST for career changers. You can write it as a brief paragraph or a few bulleted statements. It gives you the opportunity to show and tell employers why your skills would also be valuable to them and why they should interview you. For example:

"Seek to transition my highly related and transferable skills (analyzing, consulting, advising, planning, strategizing, and relationship building) to Investment Banking."

How to Present Your Related Skills as Bullets:

 Skill in researching and identifying potential clients for .....
 Meeting and consulting with clients to analyze and assess or evaluate their current and future financial situations and needs.
 Helping clients to develop customized investment strategies and plans that fit their short and long-term goals.
 Able to educate and teach clients about financial/banking/ insurance products due to my background in Education.
 Success in building rapport and earning the trust and respect of clients due to my personal and professional credibility.
 Excellent communication, presentation and platform skills.
 Problem solving skills.
 Superior relationship building skills.
 Can aggressively build a solid client base that will ultimately drive revenue.
 Leadership and team building skills.
 Proven ability to direct teams in managing customer relationships and providing a range of services.
 Entrepreneurial spirit; business acumen; high energy level.

Or as a Paragraph:

“Outstanding sales professional with a track record of accomplishment selling complex products and services to C-level executives in highly competitive marketplaces, now desires to to transition into new product lines and industries. My forte is building rapport and developing ongoing and productive relationships with key accounts.”

4. CONVERT YOUR NEGATIVES INTO POSITIVES:

The ability to survive, act positively and solve problems during a crisis or tough times is something to mention in your resume. Consider adding a bulleted accomplishment or two highlighting such an item. For example, one administrative client of mine had to cope during a labor strike at the nursing home where she worked. Cathy did not leave her post for days, hired the necessary replacement staff and helped to keep the facility running. She recorded this in her resume and received five interviews and five job offers in a single week! (When she first approached me for assistance, Cathy's biggest concern was the lack of a completed 4-year degree! She had modestly viewed her major accomplishment as "I was just doing my job.")

5. MENTION PREVIOUS PRODUCTION NUMBERS OR USE COMPARISONS WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR PEERS OR IN RELATION TO INDUSTRY AVERAGES:

“What do I use for accomplishments if my employer has gone bankrupt or if the mortgage industry has collapsed?” Make comparisons to the performance of your peers if this will present you in a favorable light. For example, you may have only closed one deal last month, but if that tied for first place in your office then you can truthfully report that you achieved top ranking despite the industry’s decline! And even if you haven’t received any sales awards this year, include previous honors from other years. Employers like to see a track record of consistent and repeated achievement.

Below are a few samples of bulleted accomplishments to guide you in creating or phrasing your own.

How to Word Your Accomplishments:

-- Received national awards for production: Quadruple Gold nationwide. (Only agent team to receive this award in Orlando, FL)
-- “Consistently led the office in sales volume, earning top rankings for production during periods of high growth as well as market decline.”
-- “Recipient of numerous awards during my six-year tenure, including repeated ‘Top Sales’ rankings and election to the President's Club for my superior production (six consecutive months of exceeding $1M in volume).”
-- Consistently achieved 120% or better of established production goals; achieved 130% of business development goal.
-- Exceeded customer retention and business development goals by building the client base to more than 200 clients.

6. REMOVE OR MINIMIZE INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC TERMS:

Due to the negative publicity that Wall Street and the mortgage/asset-backed securities industries have received, you may be tarnished with the same brush through “guilt by association”. You may even be unfairly accused of contributing to the troubles or even demise of a company. However, sincere and hardworking professionals can deal with this problem by minimizing industry-specific terms in your resume. Avoid mentioning "Wall Street" or “sub-prime,” and even the term “mortgage”. Instead, use neutral phrases or euphemisms like “finance” and “financial services”.

Do these resume tips really help in a career change resume? Below is a recent success story:

"Matthew:

First, let me say that I have had rave reviews on my resume from everyone and many have said how impressed they were by my unique career change resume -- from real estate sales to investment banking. It made a lot of sense to them. They could see for themselves what my transferable skills were and why they could use me. This helped them to see my VALUE, as you predicted.
I have already had three interviews with Raymond James and with Merill Lynch. I have been meeting most of the folks at Raymond James and am excited about starting a new career with them. I am already studying for my Series 7 and it has so far been both challenging and fun. I can't thank you enough for all your support and encouragement." -- H.A., Orlando, Florida

For free advice about a career change resume FOR YOU, please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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Tags:
CAREER CHANGE RESUMES

RESUMES FOR MORTGAGE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

RESUMES FOR RETAIL INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

RESUMES FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

PRAYER HELPS IN FINDING WORK -- PLUS TARGETING SPECIFIC JOBS

Prayer will help you in finding a job or employment. It will give you the strength and the courage to continue your job search -- day after day, from 9am to 5pm. But how and where should you pray? Is praying the same as talking with sincerity to the Almighty? Does God answer prayers? Should you simply ask for help in your own words?

Naomi Levy, the best-selling author of TALKING TO GOD (Knopf), answers this practical question in the following manner:

"Q: What's the difference between talking to God and praying to God?

A: There are many people who feel intimidated by the word prayer. They assume that prayer is something formal that is done only in a house of worship. Often people will say, "I don't know how to pray" but anyone can talk to God. Talking to God is simple. We all have the ability to communicate with God from our souls in our own words."

HOW DOES PRAYER WORK? WHAT IS GOD'S ROLE? WHAT IS YOURS? Someone called Laura has written the best and most practical answer I have ever read and I strongly suggest you visit the hyperlink below: [ http://lpintop.tripod.com/laurasinspirationalpages/id3.html ]

All prayers are answered. Psalm 139:4 tells us, " God hears our prayer in the moment we utter it."

There's a lot of truth in the saying: "God helps those who help themselves". So, where can you help yourself by helping others -- by making a difference in the lives or companies or workplaces of other people? You'll need to explore, find, analyze, and identify or target specific opportunities to use your skills, experience, imagination and resourcefulness.

Many seekers know that "What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career- Changers" is the best-selling job-hunting and career-changing book in the world. It was written by Rev. Richard N. Bolles who observes that many careers and job counseling professionals, say they believe in a Supreme Being or God. Does that surprise you?Ask yourself the following question: Where did man's 8,431 skills and abilities come from? (The average job hunter has about 700 of those. How blessed we all are!)

Which employers will benefit by hiring you? Why? Try to apply to those companies or institutions where your skills and interests closely match their needs (as stated in their job ads). You'll need to focus your resume because a generic résumé -- a single-resume-that-must-fit-all-jobs, WON'T grab a hiring manager's attention. The most effective job applications are highly targeted to s SPECIFIC opportunity. That means detailing how your skills and experience can meet the potential employer's exact needs -- UP FRONT in a bulleted Summary.

In all humility, I view my own efforts to help people write targeted resumes and get hired, as having the same or similar value as "teaching them to fish".

9 EXCITING STORIES OF HOW JOB SEEKERS FOUND WORTHWHILE EMPLOYMENT (Also, please read my blog on Finding and Uncovering Unadvertised Jobs by scrolling down.)

I once struggled to find another HUMAN RESOURCES position. My late father, O.B.M. who was 75 pointed out that I could write well and suggested that I apply for a job as Editor of a Small Newspaper he had seen advertised. I would never have thought of it myself but within a week or so I started a new, rewarding and satisfying career. (I learned in this job that money is NOT everything. Being an editor and writing editorials, gave me many opportunities to further develop my writing and editorial skills which, in turn, prepared me for writing and publishing magazine articles, books and blogs later on.)

When I was promoting my book, Winning Resumes I was a guest on News-Talk Cable TV. I remember being asked to respond to the story of a successful Wall Street individual who gave up a six-figure income and, instead, pursued his passion which was teaching physical education. He had gone back to school to take a higher Phys.Ed degree. This career change gave him more job satisfaction than anything he had done previously! When I replied to Lisa Evers (Sliwa), the moderator by saying: "Money is NOT everything" the switchboard lit up with callers from many states, mostly agreeing and then telling their own stories of how they had turned down more money to pursue their dreams or whatever truly interested them. Most said they never regretted their decision. In this awful and painful recession, the difficulty of finding a job or work may encourage some of you to think of doing the same. But it WON'T be easy!

Another B.B.A. graduate from Boston College, had tried to work on Wall Street for two years but had given up in disgust. He then moved to the Hawaiian islands, bought a fishing vessel, renamed it the Katie & Meg, and went trawling for fish. Using his strong research and analytical skills, he went on to discover an entirely new fishing ground for night fishing of a much sought-after fish. He made money and was as happy as a pig in ... whatever makes pigs happy. He loved the outdoors lifestyle and never looked back.

A chemical engineer purchased a medium-sized coffee shop in a city and immediately did two things: First, he experimented with different recipes and methods for baking muffins efficiently until he found the right "formula" for producing mouth-watering ones in the shortest possible time. Second, he organized a 4-person assembly line for making the freshest, high quality sandwiches -- FAST during rush hours. The result? He could handle and satisfy a larger volume of breakfast and lunchtime customers in the city than even the most experienced Greek Diner food professionals! [He later received a huge cash offer for his re-engineered, revitalized and very profitable business.]

A mortgage banker in Lubbock, TX purchased a struggling bagel-making factory and turned it into a profitable outfit again.
A former manager of a car dealership in New Jersey bought a run-down pizza store, revamped and repainted it, handed out promotional flyers, treated customers well, and soon doubled its turnover.
A qualified electrical engineer in Queens, New York purchased a liquor store that was not doing as well as it should. He started catering to the special needs of the local Chassidic population and soon turned it into a goldmine.
And a qualified physician became the largest builder of swimming pools in the affluent suburbs of one city. The examples are endless.

When you are not happy with the way a store is being run or the way you were treated as a customer, don't just stand there and criticize. Could you do better as its Owner/Manager/Operator? What about franchise outlets that are not being run properly by their current owner/s?

WHEN I'VE BEEN DOWN ON MY LUCK (OR UNEMPLOYED), I HAVE TUNED IN TO A POWER SOURCE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ME AND ALL JOB SEEKERS -- 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.

DESPITE MY LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION, STUDYING UNDER WORLD-CLASS PROFESSORS AND A HIGH I.Q, I SOON REALIZED THAT IN THE REAL WORLD I CAN'T MAKE IT ENTIRELY ON MY OWN. AT SUCH TIMES, I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO ASK FOR HELP FROM ABOVE. THIS STRATEGY HAS WORKED FOR ME AND I'VE SEEN MANY, MANY, MANY DEMONSTRATIONS THAT THE ALMIGHTY IS A WHOLE LOT SMARTER (AND WORKS MORE EFFECTIVELY) THAN ME.


HERE IS A TRUE STORY ABOUT HOW MY FIRST BOOK GOT PUBLISHED BY A MAJOR COMPANY -- PENGUIN USA. I TRIED TALKING TO GOD. SO THE $64,000 QUESTION IS: WHO MUST GET THE CREDIT FOR CLINCHING THAT DEAL?

WEARING MY GRAY, PINSTRIPED SUIT AND CARRYING A SAMSONITE BRIEFCASE, I DID NOT CALL A CAB BUT WALKED 30 BLOCKS IN NEW YORK CITY -- FROM MACY*S DEPARTMENT STORE ON 34TH STREET DOWN TO 4TH STREET IN THE WEST VILLAGE. WHY? I WAS FEELING VERY ANXIOUS THAT DAY AND ALSO PANICKY. MY FUNDS WERE RUNNING LOW BUT I HAD NOT HEARD FROM MY AGENT IN FIVE (5) LONG WEEKS. IT WAS ALREADY 23RD MARCH. WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE BOOK PROPOSAL I HAD SENT HIM ON 14TH FEBRUARY AND WHICH HAD TAKEN ME MONTHS TO PREPARE? WAS ANY COMPANY INTERESTED IN BUYING MY BOOK? AFTER 35 DAYS OF WAITING, I FELT SO HELPLESS. WHAT COULD I DO TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN?

IT WAS 2PM IN THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 23RD WHEN I BEGAN WALKING THOSE 30 BLOCKS IN MANHATTAN. I LOOKED UP AT THE SKIES AND STARTED TALKING TO THE CLOUDS ON HIGH. IN BETWEEN, I MUMBLED A FEW LINES FROM THE BOOK OF PSALMS. BUT MOSTLY, I PLEADED WITH ALL MY HEART FOR HELP IN GETTING MY FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED. I EXPLAINED WHY THIS HAD TO HAPPEN QUICKLY BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PAY MY RENT IN THE COMING MONTHS. I DESPERATELY NEEDED THE CASH ADVANCE THAT AUTHORS USUALLY GET. IT WAS A VERY LONG SHOT. THE CHANCES OF SELLING A NON-FICTION BOOK LIKE MINE WERE ABOUT ONE IN 5,000! BUT WHAT ELSE COULD I DO? I SIMPLY HAD TO TRY ASKING GOD FOR HELP! (INCIDENTALLY, PEOPLE IN THE STREET MUST HAVE WONDERED WHY I WAS TALKING TO MYSELF! NORMAL EXECUTIVES IN BUSINESS SUITS NEVER TALK TO THEMSELVES IN PUBLIC AND CERTAINLY NOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!)

WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY APARTMENT 4 HOURS LATER, MY ANSWERING MACHINE WAS FLASHING. THERE WERE TWO NEW MESSAGES AND BOTH WERE FROM MY AGENT, EDWARD K. HE SAID EXCITEDLY THAT HE HAD JUST RECEIVED TWO OFFERS FOR MY BOOK --FROM PENGUIN USA AND TIME-WARNER! TWO SEPARATE OFFERS TO BUY IN A SINGLE AFTERNOON!!!

TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHO REALLY CLINCHED THOSE DEALS FOR ME. (I WOULD LATER ALSO RECEIVE "TOP DOLLAR" AS A CASH ADVANCE!) Instead of only 4 short hours to get an answer after waiting anxiously for five (5) weeks that had seemed like an eternity, it could have taken many months longer and I could have been in a desperate financial situation. (Only about 4% of all authors ever get published by a major company. Writers receive hundreds of rejection slips and very few authors ever get a decent cash advance. The big bucks only get paid if your name is Stephen King, Tom Clancy or you have written another Harry Potter book.)

NOWADAYS, I READ PSALMS 23, 27, 30, 118, and 121. THEY HELP TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER EQUIPPED TO FACE LIFE'S DAILY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. I STILL NEED TO EARN A LIVING!

With God's help, it could work for you, too. But always remember, you are expected to make a BIG effort and try to do everything to help yourself. Finally, when you have not succeeded by your own efforts and you're down on your knees -- when you need to ask for help "in truth" from another power source, then and only then will the help come from above. That has been my own experience. May that Force assist you, too.

Laura writes as follows: No matter what Name you know Him by, be aware of the Lord's presence in your life. Respect Him. Speak to Him daily via prayer, but show you are sincere by substantiating your words with deeds. Words without actions are meaningless, even words spoken in prayer. Remember, you and God together can make a difference!

Psalm 105:4: Seek the Lord and His strength;
seek His presence continually.

Psalm 145:18-20: The Lord is Near to All Who Call on Him

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or chat.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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PRAYER HELPS IN FINDING A JOB OR WORK

TARGETED RESUME HELPS

TALKING TO GOD HELPS

IN 2009, A WINNING RESUME WILL NOT BE SCREENED OUT IN ROUND 1

In 2009, a winning resume will survive Round 1 when job resumes are screened out in only 10 seconds. It will help you to compete strongly against the fierce competition for fewer jobs. And it will also help to get you hired. Hiring NEVER stops -- not even in the Great Recession of 2009.

At least one winning resume will be required and it will make a BIG difference to your chances because it is your best job search tool in this Recession. And two winning resumes will be even better to get you hired.

Is your resume smart enough to avoid being screened out in seconds and fight for you in 2009? How effective is your job search "equipment"? Nowadays, many "old" resumes have suddenly stopped getting interviews. Why?

Don't rush to blame the economy and this Recession if you're not getting any interviews. You may be using a very "basic" resume or it contains possible "red flag" items (turnoffs) that you're not aware of. Perhaps your resume is being screened out in Round 1. So, please don't give up on yourself. Be smart! You can make a big difference to your chances by revamping your resume and "fixing" or removing those negatives! Better still, get professional help to create a winning resume for you. It is crucial for a successful job search and will make a big difference. You CAN'T compete successfully in this Recession without one. Your resume may be screened out in only 10 seconds!

"The ultimate tragedy is giving up." (Patrick Donovan, Forbes Magazine)

Many job seekers complain about this Recession but the truth is that their own resumes are too weak or unfocused to make a difference. They can't compete successfully for jobs even in good times. Although you can't change today's economy, you can do a lot to improve your resume and make a difference to your chances in this job market. I have already helped many clients to make their resumes more effective. It truly made a big difference. Many were hired.

When the job market is tough, all resumes need to be smarter. In a Recession they have to compete for attention as never before. Is your resume still "basic" or plain or self-written? With such a resume you can't compete successfully for jobs. Please wake up, smell the coffee and learn how to compete and win with a winning resume -- even in this scary Recession! You can make a difference to your chances of being hired but nothing is more crucial than a winning resume. How can you interview for a job if your resume is being sceened out?

HIRING NEVER STOPS. Hiring has continued during every economic slowdown, downturn, recession and depression. New vacancies always arise because new businesses start up, new jobs are created, older departments expand or employees get promoted or transferred or retire or even die.

In the recent dot.com bust, I.T. professionals with winning resumes were still being interviewed and hired. The improved resumes did make a difference. But it took longer. I saw that hundreds of times.

In the Recession of 2009, more and more job seekers are applying for fewer jobs. Will YOU be among those who will be hired?

To any recruiter, you are only as good as your resume makes you. So, how well are you selling yourself on paper – in your resume and cover letter? Do you have a winning resume? Two winning resumes are even better! They will make a difference to your chances.

Are you presenting your VALUE or BRAND as well as you should? Do you come across as someone who should be interviewed and hired? Can you compete effectively in today's job market? In this awful recession?

"If you're SO good,
How come your resume is SO bad?"

This is what a recruiter recently said to a job seeker. (Reported by Billie Sucher in Career Hub.)

In any pile of 50-100 applications, a "basic" or traditional or home-made resume WON'T impress because recruiters expect you to address their specific needs or requirements -- especially in this Recession when they are very "picky". Can you do this? Only a very skilled writer knows how to develop a winning resume for you -- one that will make a difference. Resume professionals have taken years to fine-tune their craft.

DOES IT COST MUCH TO HAVE A RESUME REVAMP OR MAKEOVER? No it doesn't!

The cost of having your resume revamped, improved, redesigned, or rewritten by a top resume writer like Matthew Greene is highly affordable! It really pays to have a much stronger resume that will help you to get interviews and be hired -- even in this Recession. An improved resume will make a BIG difference. Just email me your resume TODAY for a FREE evaluation and quote. I do realize that I must quote you an affordable fee in this Recession so let's discuss it.

In the Great Recession of 2009, professionally-written resumes are becoming a "must have".

Let Matthew Greene assist you as he has been doing since 1984. Greene delivers superior quality resumes and cover letters for a very reasonable fee. He understands your situation and will help you succeed in these very uncertain and worrying times. He will make a difference.

Don't wait. Act NOW! See my Resume Testimonials .[ http://www.winning-resumes.com/testimonials.htm ]

E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote. I promise to be reasonable.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

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WINNING RESUMES FOR A RECESSION ,
WINNING RESUMES BLOG,
A WINNING RESUME HELPS YOU GET HIRED IN THIS RECESSION,
WINNING RESUMES ARE CRUCIAL IN THIS RECESSION,
VALUABLE RESUME TIPS FOR THIS RECESSION,
WINNING RESUMES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS RECESSION,
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A SUCCESSFUL RESUME FOR HARD TIMES IS STRONG AND FOCUSED

To be a successful resume in hard times or in a recession, your resume needs to be strong because you are competing for fewer jobs. It also needs to be focused. Writing a resume that gets you interviews, is always more challenging in hard times.

Creating a successful resume in hard times or in a recession will take much longer than ten minutes or even 60 minutes. It takes me hours to write a strong and focused resume and I am an experienced professional writer.

Anyone can write a "basic" resume but will it also impress a recruiter or employer in hard times or a recession? Probably not!

To sell yourself on paper is NOT easy and very few people know how to write a focused resume. In a recession it is much harder to do it.

Writing a successful resume at any time is always a nightmare because there are so many decisions to be made. What is the right format? What is the right length? What should be included? What needs to be omitted? These decisions will make your new resume either strong or weak.

Hiring a first class professional writer can be a very smart move. He or she can help you in many ways:

A skilled resume writer can be more OBJECTIVE about your credentials than you could possibly be. He or she can also help you judge how strong (or how poorly) you are coming across to picky employers in a recession or Depression which is a buyer's market. In short, a good professional writer knows how to reverse your job search telescope!

Resume writing professionals have to deal with all kinds of resume-writing challenges on a daily basis. They are hired to find solutions that work. They know how to make a resume strong and focused in order to impress recruiters in a recession.

A skilled resume writer will help you decide how to focus your resume, the best layout to use, the most suitable length and, above all, what to emphasize and what to omit. These are crucial decisions.

"Cleaning up" your resume is an important aspect of preparing it. (You can't learn that from merely looking at "perfect" samples.) Throughout the process, the professional writer will require your input and collaboration. More specifically, the professional should be helping you write your own resume.

Unfortunately, this is NOT how many resume writing services operate. Some only require you to complete a form on-line. These are the resume factories or paper mills. Avoid them like the plague.
But well-meaning people whom you know and trust (at work, on campus or at home) will also be offering to help you with your resume.

Sadly, this army of resume-writing amateurs WON'T be qualified to assist you either -- even if they happen to be your spouse, teachers, business executives, personnel officers, your secretary or a professional typist. Despite their own success, very few corporate vice presidents know much about the art of resume writing. And which of the above knows anything about writing an effective resume in a recession or Depression?

None of your friends or relatives is likely to have the expertise required to advise or assist you in preparing a resume that is strong and focused for this recession or Depression. That is crucial in hard times.

You also need to be on guard against any and all "advisors" who tell you that they have received, read and critiqued hundreds of resumes. Such folks are seldom able to design, construct and write them as well! Even if they do have a knowledge of resume writing, will they be able to help in your case using your "ingredients" and having to address your particular shortcomings? It's much harder to do this in a recession or Depression.

Most advisors will have NO TRACK RECORD or formal certification as resume writers and worst of all -- no army of successful clients to attest to the advice they give.

I am not denying that some people can help you prepare a nice-looking resume but, at best, it will be very "basic" and bland. It WON'T be the strong and focused marketing tool you need to compete in a tough job market because it will usually fail to present your best "selling points" in the most effective way. I have seen this hundreds of times. You can't afford such a resume in this recession or Depression.

And as for potential negatives, "red flags" or turnoffs, such advisors won't know how to "clean up" your resume in order to minimize or eliminate all of your resume "blemishes". The result? You'll be screened out in Round 1 and you will never understand the reason why and lose valuable time and job opportunities! This recession is going to be "long and deep" is the view of both Warren Buffet and George Soros.

In short, resume writing is a minefield of well-meaning amateurs and professional hacks and quacks. Some folks might be sincere in trying to help but lack the resume-writing skill and experience you need. At best, they'll give you an attractive-looking resume that won't "sell" you to any employer. It won't be strong and it won't be focused which is the kind of resume you need in this recession or Depression.

Good resume paper, attractive fonts and sharp laser printing will NOT create the strong marketing tool you need to beat the fierce competition. That, in turn, will cost you dearly in missed job opportunities and lost earnings. Frankly, this recession may hurt or harm your career.

Many amateurish self-written efforts have been posted on the Internet for weeks, months or years without getting even ONE response. How is yours doing? Is it successful?

Lost opportunities or lower salaries are a very high price to pay for relying too much on the resumes of others or asking unqualified advisors to assist you!

Always remember that a spouse is a spouse, a teacher is a teacher, an executive is an executive and a printer is a printer. None are resume writing or marketing experts. They can't judge if a resume is strong and/or focused properly for job hunting in this recession or Depression.

A skilled professional writer could benefit you 100 times more than the cost of any resume. A successful resume is worth many dollars in income to you!!!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON : 1-718-436-3504. IT'S FREE!!!

OR WRITE TO: mattgreene@aol.com

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.

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SUCCESSFUL RESUME IN HARD TIMES OR A RECESSION OR A DEPRESSION,
STRONG RESUME,
FOCUSED RESUME FOR A RECESSSION OR DEPRESSION,
WRITING A SUCCESSFUL RESUME IN HARD TIMES,

WRITING A SUCCESSFUL RESUME IN A RECESSION OR A DEPRESSION

A FIRST-CLASS PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITER CAN HELP YOU TO COMPETE FOR JOBS

A first-class professional resume writer can help you to compete for jobs in the recession of 2009. He or she will refocus your resume, strengthen it and also "fix"or remove any possible negatives. Many job seekers have "red flags" in their self-written resumes.

So, what are the skills of a good Professional Resume Writer? Why can he or she write a much better resume than you?

What will qualify a resume writer to assist you? Is a resume writing certification enough? Let's see what skills and experience he or she needs to have.

SKILLS OF A GOOD PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITER

First, he or she she must have strong analytical skills -- to analyze and discover your skills, strengths, and achievements. These are your VALUE to a picky employer. The writing professional will identify skills that are both transferrable and marketable.

A background that includes career counseling as well as wide experience in the job market will therefore be useful.

To know what skills are required in various jobs and at different levels, a skilled writer needs to read career literature, consult the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and constantly check classified job ads in newspapers and on the Internet. Jobs and job requirements are constantly changing.

In particular, he or she could help you target specific positions by carefully matching up an employer's stated needs with what you are able to offer.

If you lack one or more of those essential requirements, an experienced professional is usually able to suggest other equivalents or items that may fairly be substituted. (This is often the way to "improve" one's formal education!)

Second, a good resume writer knows a lot about the art of presentation.

It is the skilled way in which your information is selected, organized, and presented that will enhance your perceived value and impress the reader.

This also requires a knowledge of resume "cosmetics" and "surgery"-- but NEVER anything unethical. The word, resume means "summary".

Third, a good resume writer must understand how the "buyer" thinks -- those who screen as well as those who do the hiring. Nowadays, Suzy the Screener is looking at dozens of resumes daily. Which of your items might be "red flags" or "turn-offs"? To avoid being screened out in seconds, is the first step. But a professional writer must also have the ability to draft your best selling points.

Fourth, a skilled resume writer must know how an effective sales device or marketing tool should be designed and constructed in your particular case. There are no standard resumes. People are not clones. Yours has to be custom-made using your own, unique "ingredients." That's why nearly all resume templates are a waste of time. They WON'T help you to do justice to yourself.

And last, but not least, a professional writer should be able to write good English -- in the language of the employer and not of literature. A good job resume should not include flowery, fancy or exaggerated language. It is a job search tool, not a literary masterpiece.

Why do I mention English last and not first?

Because hundreds of English majors consult with resume-writing professionals -- even graduates with a GPA of 3.9. What they want help with is the specific language of resume writing and how to organize and present their data in the most effective way.

Finally, a good resume writer's best credential is his or her track record of developing hundreds or thousands of resumes that have already helped clients to get HIRED.

What are his or her testimonials or success stories? Word of mouth is usually the best recommendation. [ http://www.winning-resumes.com/testimonials.htm ]

NOTE: It may surprise you that there are highly skilled and successful resume writers who have never bothered to become "certified" as professional resume writers. They don't need to be. Their expert articles and books they've written on the subject of resume writing, their extensive experience of creating resumes and their successes speak more loudly than any certificate!

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME FOR FREE ADVICE.
mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

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RESUME WRITER,

QUALIFICATIONS OF A FIRST CLASS RESUME WRITER,

SKILLS OF A GOOD RESUME WRITER,

SKILLED PROFESSIONAL WRITER

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THE BEST RESUME SERVICES WILL SELL YOU TO EMPLOYERS IN 2009 AND HARD TIMES

The best resume services will know how to SELL you to employers in 2009. Your value will shine through in every line of the resume -- from A to Z. Although most resume writers do write in good English, very few also know how to SELL you on paper. That is a sad fact! (Inexperienced writers use flowery language and often tend to exaggerate. They also use 30-50 black bullets to make the resume look "pretty" but these dingbats do absolutely nothing for you.) Sadly, 95% of job seekers DON'T sell themselves in a resume or cover letter and need help. But the awful reality is that inexperienced resume writers DON'T know how to write in the business language of employers. They also don't know how to present your achievements in order to market or sell you -- even if they charge a lot ($695) or a little ($75)! For example, if a writer starts a SENIOR executive resume with: "Dedicated, self-motivated, self-starter ....." he or she is obviously an amateur and you will be wasting your time and money! Checking out and choosing a good resume writing service in 2009 is crucial. A good resume writer will sell or market your value and help you beat the competition for jobs. So, check out your resume service and ask WHO will be writing your resume. In my own resume service, I do all of the writing myself. Because I wrote a best-selling book, Winning Resumes (Penguin), I feel I don't need a fancy resume Certificate as well to prove that I can write a resume. I have hundreds of testimonials from satisfied and successful clients. [ http://www.winning-resumes.com/testimonials.htm ] Not every writer has the skill or expertise required to create a winning resume or marketing tool for 2009. Second-class writers DON'T know how to "sell" or market you on paper. Inexperienced writers use resume templates or readymade Resume Wizards. Others send your work overseas. It is called "outsourcing". You need to be very careful to avoid the cheap resume writing "factories". Your resume will look the same as hundreds of others! Also, the larger resume firms tend to farm out the writing to inexperienced homemakers. Recently, I was asked to redo a few resumes that had not been prepared by the expert writer in charge of this highly respected firm but by "Betty", "Jim" and "Sally" – his/her inexperienced assistants. Big resume firms farm out (outsource) resume writing to part-time writers who lack the experience to create a truly effective, high-quality resume. They'll write yours in the flowery language of literature instead of using the employer's own words. When you read the words "stellar accomplishments" or other exaggerations you'll understand what I am saying. WHO will be writing your resume? In some resume services they claim to have a "team of expert resume writers" with "30 years experience" waiting to assist you. Teams DON'T write resumes. How will you check out the expertise of the one who will be doing your resume? You can't!!! Many resume services are only "paper mills" or resume factories who churn out the same weak resumes year after year. They prepare very basic resumes, not focused or tailored ones for today's employers. This won't help you at all. In fact, you will lose job opportunities or get hired for a lower-paying position than you deserve! Checking out a resume writing service is NOT easy. Do they have lots of testimonials to show? A good resume service CAN'T prepare a winning resume only from a completed Questionnaire or Form. They also need to INTERACT by phone and email with each client to obtain additional, valuable information. Typing services also offer to help you and so does every corner print shop. But neither has the required resume-writing know-how or self-marketing expertise. And those resume outfits who advertise "from $9" will definitely charge you a further $100 to $200. Their inferior resume products will cost you dearly in lost job and career opportunities. Resume writers DON'T all have the same experience or degree of expertise. Many are unskilled amateurs. Only 1 in 20 really know what he/she is doing! What to look for in a resume service: 1. Do they offer a FREE evaluation of your existing resume or of your needs? Will it be a detailed review or will you receive the same "boilerplate" response they send to every client? (SOME USE A BOILERPLATE TEMPLATE OR FORM AND ONLY CHANGE A FEW LINES. One $695 resume outfit on the West Coast does this.) 2. Do they have HUNDREDS of testimonials from satisfied clients? Only a few letters can easily be faked! [ http://www.winning-resumes.com/testimonials.htm ] 3. Do they quote you scare statistics that "only one in 245 resumes results in a job interview," or "only one in 1,470 resumes results in a job offer". These figures are 45 years old and no longer true. A skilled resume writer can help you beat 400 other applicants! 4. WHO will be assisting you with your resume? Will it be the same person who sells you on using their service? 5. Does the resume writer guarantee you anything? Be very careful. 6. Do they promise to deliver your work in only a few hours? If so, they may be a resume factory. 7. Do they quote you a price or fee less than $95? Experienced resume writers cannot charge such a small amount for hours of skilled professional work. On the other hand, $695 may be excessive, except for C-level senior executives. In short, skilled resume writers are craftspersons who help you MARKET your skills and strengths in the best way. But most resume services are simply paper mills or factories. Avoid them like the plague! The rates of a highly skilled professional like Matthew Greene may vary from $75 for a one-page revamp to $300+ for senior executives. The price will depend on the work to be done. But this could help you find a job in a fraction of the time. That, in turn, will earn and/or save you hundreds and thousands of $ $ $. In fact, hiring a skilled writer in 2009 may help you to rescue your entire career! [To choose a reliable resume service in 2009, how to write focused and tailored resumes to beat this recession, and today's best executive F-O-R-M-A-T-S. Please visit: http://www.sample-resumes-tips.com/ ]

DON'T HESITATE TO CALL MATT FOR FREE ADVICE. IT'S FREE.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.

Tags:

THE BEST RESUME SERVICES,

BETTER RESUME SERVICES,

MARKET OR SELL YOUR VALUE IN A RESUME OR COVER LETTER,

CHECKING OUT RESUME SERVICES,

CHECKING OUT RESUME WRITING SERVICES,

CHOOSING A RESUME SERVICE

WHY SPEND MONEY ON A RESUME IN 2009? IT PAYS TO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP.

Why spend money on a resume in 2009? Because it really pays to get professional help. Ask those who have spent money on a professional resume. The vast majority are very glad they did. These happy job seekers will be returning in six months or so for an update to include their new jobs and will be willing to spend money again on their resumes.

In 2009, a job resume that works is NOT a luxury item or expense. It is a necessity. It helps you land a good job that pays all of your day-to-day expenses!

In my 24 years as a resume writer, I've often seen how only one or two or three hundred dollars spent on professional help to make a resume more effective, resulted in savings of thousands of dollars in lost earnings as well as increased earnings in a new job. It is truly money well spent.

Antonio S., an Assistant Inventory Control Director reported that the $250 he had invested in his resume, was really worth it because it opened the doors to five retail department stores he was interested in. He was able to discover who might be interested in hiring him and at what salary. In his view, it was the best and also least expensive way of exploring the job market.

Robert R., a Mechanical Engineer with a knowledge of making cardiac stents, spent $300 on a resume and his income increased from $96,000 to $120,000 plus $40,000 bonus.

I could give you hundreds and hundreds of examples of how spending $150 to $300 on a resume, resulted in dramatic improvements in jobs and increased earnings, In my view, there is NO better investment of your time and money than on an effective resume. Such a resume can be opening doors for you while you're asleep in bed. It can also save you tons of frustration and valuable time finding a job.

Will it pay you to get professional help? Is it a good idea to spend money on a resume? Please review some of the possible benefits in the table below:

Do you also know how much money you are losing by being out of work or not receiving the benefit of a 15 to 17 percent salary increase on being hired for a new job?

Income:	Money You Lose Per Month if you are out of work:	If still employed in the wrong job, you lose wages by missing out on the 15% raise in a new job:
$50,000	- $4,167	- $625
$75,000	- $6,250	- $938
$100,000	- $8,333	- $1,250
$150,000	- $12,450	- $1,875
$200,000	- $16,667	- $2,500
$300,000	- $25,000	- $3,750

Can you afford NOT to have your resume improved by a skilled professional?

To spend money on your resume will truly be money very well spent. It will be far better and more cost effective than trying to write it yourself. Why?

Most job seekers CAN'T write a focused resume that will beat the competition in 2009. That's why most resumes get screened out and don't make it to first base. It will pay you handsomely to spend money on a resume and get professional help.

Skilled writers are trained to help you. They will advance your future career -- and EARNINGS. Professional help gives you a competitive edge or advantage. You need that!

The ability to write good English is NOT enough. Those who advise you to design and create your own resume, are still living in the '70s and '80s when jobs were easy to find. Nowadays you'll need expert professional help.

Many "basic" or self-written resumes look like plain matzoh bread but today's recruiters expect cake with a cherry on the top -- your "SELL" or value. They are very "picky" buyers and the competition for jobs is frightening.

All job experts agree that your resume is your most important job search tool. "It is $till your most valuable credential" says John Lucht.

Your resume needs to compete and open doors to jobs that pay $30,000 to $120,000 or more. It is much more than one or two or three pages of paper. It is your personal-sales-representative-on-paper. Does it therefore make sense to try to create it yourself? Is there a better investment than spending money on a winning resume to advance your career? Probably not.

How much money are you trying to save? $150 on a $30,000 job? $200 on a $40K job? Or $300 on a job that pays $60-90K? Is that smart? A self-written resume that is plain or weak will NOT get responses. That will cost you $2,000 to $10,000 or even $50,000 in lost earnings, missed opportunities and time.

For recent college graduates to have spent $10,000 to $50,000 on their education and now risk everything by relying on their own writing skills, makes no sense at all. Your career in 2009 depends on it. That is why a resume is often regarded as the most important document you will ever need to write. Are there any resume experts on most campuses? No!

And for any manager or executive to write his/her own resume in 2009, is inexcusable! It's all about getting a competitive edge on other applicants. A golfer wins a championship title by a single stroke. A horse wins a big race by a head.

But far too many job seekers still feel they should create it themselves. They are mistaken! That type of thinking belongs to the 70's and 80's when jobs were plentiful.

Using sample resumes or examples or resume templates is NOT your answer.

And friends, English teachers or careers counselors CANNOT help you much in today's tough job market. They DON'T know enough about MARKETING.

Could you replace the heel of a shoe that a shoemaker takes only five minutes to do? Writing a resume is 100 times more challenging. It takes hours and hours of effort to create a good one that will work for you.

Do you know how to address the employer's needs? Most people don't know how to do this.

Can you be OBJECTIVE about your own skills, strengths and shortcomings? No, you can't!

Can you analyze yourself? Probably not! Most people can't do this!

Do you know how to choose the right resume format? Many people are terribly confused!

Do you know what to include and what to leave out? Or how to improve your job titles? These are tough decisions. Most people still include "red flag" items or negatives or turnoffs.

Do you know how to write a good Job Objective for 2009? Most people can't do this!

Are you still decorating your resume with 30-50 cute black bullets? Why? They won't impress anyone or help to get you hired nowadays.

If you are not spending money on a resume, are you still copying blindly from SAMPLES that were created well before the 2008 recession? They written for others with work histories that are different or with different resume problems such as age or too little or too much or unrelated work experience or too little formal education? Would you also take the medicines that were prescribed for them by their doctors? Of course not!

At best, COPYING FROM SAMPLE RESUMES IS ONLY A START. Samples do NOT reveal the secrets of what was left out and what had to be "fixed". Even worse, you CAN'T ask a sample resume any questions!

Are you still relying on outdated (or even recent) RESUME TEMPLATES? These CANNOT help you write a winning resume that stands out. Your resume will look like thousands of others!

Recruiters only know how to screen out a weak resume. They cannot write or construct a winning resume.

Teachers and Human Resources persons do NOT know the nuts-and-bolts of resume writing. They are like baseball catchers who can advise the pitcher on what type of ball or selection of pitches to throw. They CAN'T teach you the technical skills of a pitcher. Selling yourself means "pitching" your strengths and abilities to a new employer -- on paper and in person.

The BEST person to ask for help is a skilled writer with lots of testimonials from successful clients. [ http://www.winning-resumes.com/testimonials.htm ]

As a resume expert with 24 years' experience, I know that most people are NOT very good at selling themselves on paper! It is an art -- the art of the advertising copywriter.

NOTE: Even if you have "perfect" qualifications and greatwriting skills, to sell yourself short on paper in 2009 can be a BIG mistake! You see, it's the applicant with the best resume that usually gets hired -- NOT the one with the best credentials. Is there a better reason to spend money on a resume?

To hire an experienced executive resume-writing professional would be a very smart move. He or she will increase your chances of being hired and also shorten the time your job search takes.

Moreover, the process of interacting with someone who has already assisted many others in similar situations, will benefit you in many ways. All in all, it may be one of the best and most profitable decisions you will ever make!

Austin Kiplinger, publisher of the Kiplinger Magazine, agrees about the importance of making an investment in your own career: "You are your own best investment!"

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Tags:

SPEND MONEY ON A RESUME,

COMPETITIVE EDGE,

PROFESSIONAL HELP PAYS,

WEAK RESUME,

TEACHERS, RECRUITERS AND HEADHUNTERS,

USING SAMPLE RESUMES,

USING RESUME TEMPLATES,

EFFECTIVE RESUME,

TODAY'S JOB MARKET,

MARKETING YOUR SELL OR VALUE,

SAVE MONEY ON A RESUME,

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

IF JOB TITLES IN YOUR RESUME DON'T FIT OR MATCH JOB ADS

Do one or more of the job titles in your resume "fit" or closely match the job advertisement for a position you are applying for? Nowadays, a matching job title is often a MUST! If not, your application is toast! That's the awful reality in a recession which is buyer's job market where employers are holding most of the cards.

To a busy recruiter scanning your resume, job titles are an immediate giveaway. Your present and previous job titles are among the first things recruiters look at. Thus, in only 10 seconds, those titles can create either a positive or negative perception of you! Why?

Because employers believe that if you have one or more job titles just like or similar to the position you are applying for, you will also have the experience they want to hire. They're looking for a good "fit".

Start to address this serious problem as follows: At the top of your resume, try to E-X-P-A-N-D your Job Objective to cover a number of job titles or job descriptions that are being advertised in 3-4 job ads in your field. For example, in the field of corporate training, you should write a LONG HEADLINE as follows: Corporate Trainer / Training Facilitator / Training Specialist / Learning Specialist . Now try to back this up in a bulleted Summary section that includes about 7-10 items of related education, training, experience, technical skills, achievements, and supervisory or management skills.

[Career changers can only offer TRANSFERABLE SKILLS -- NOT matching job titles in the "Work Experience" section of the resume. Instead, they have to offer UP FRONT, a bulleted SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS that includes all of their related experience and transferable skills. Please see my post on CAREER CHANGE RESUMES, dated April 2009.)]

But never exaggerate your job titles or tell lies in your resume. You are NOT permitted to change your job titles to suit a job ad -- unless you can legitimately and honestly claim to have done that work and that the actual job title you were given is inaccurate, unfair and should be adjusted. Believe it ot not, there are many, many such cases.

In a recession, desperate job seekers often try their luck. Unfortunately, a previous job title like Owner or President or CEO will be too big (overqualified) for a position such as Office Manager and "Accounts Payable Clerk" may not be enough for such a position (underqualified). Both titles will be a bad "fit". The CEO will be asking for a bigger salary than the employer is willing to pay, may get bored quickly and even quit. The Accounting Clerk is not "ready" and may need to be trained to manage an office and staff. (Company presidents who apply for junior-level jobs are the first to be screened out! HR people don't need all of their skills and experience.)

When are you permitted to adjust a job title? For example, if you are a Secretary seeking advancement to Administrative Assistant, does your job title still read "Secretary" (so that the employer can pay you less)? What a recruiter would like to see in your resume is: Secretary/Administrative Assistant. If you can you honestly claim to have performed administrative tasks or special projects, then you can ADD /Administrative Assistant to the job title and improve your chances. (Note: By recording both job titles, you'll be covering yourself if your previous employer is contacted for a reference or to confirm what you did.)

If you seek a supervisory or management-level position, have you worked at or near that level before? Can you fairly record your present or previous job title as "Actual Job Title /Assistant Supervisor / Acting or Temporary Manager"? You may safely write this if you have substituted or "pinch hit" for your supervisor or manager or boss during his or her absences from work, including illness and vacations. This will make you look more senior and more "qualified" for the position advertised.

The suggested ADDITION of a job title similar to the one you are applying for (actual title plus additional job title) gives employers what they want to see. Do it. It works.

Here is a typical scenario of how unsuitable, inaccurate and and unfair job titles are often given by employers who don't know what suitable job title to give you and don't even care about what you'll have to record in your job resume:

Peter V. wrote as follows: "The job title I was given by X company was "Manager of I.T. Network Services" but I subsequently had very little to do with network services. Instead, I managed many Oracle projects. So I repeatedly asked to have the title changed to "I.T. Project Manager." After 18 months, my boss finally agreed that I had managed every Oracle Project in the company. But he never put the paperwork through.

"So, I finally spoke to the HR person who developed the job descriptions and metrics for every position in the company. But, he didn't or couldn't help.

"After leaving the firm, I talked again to my boss and he agreed to support my claim that I had been a Project Manager. In my resume, I record my "adjusted" title as: "Oracle ERP Systems Project Manager". This is an accurate description of what I actually did and it is fair to me. I am NOT deceiving anyone."

Exactly. This is what job seekers sometimes need to do when employers are simply unfair and uncaring. Thousands of job seekers can tell a similar story.

So, are your present and previous job titles different from what you're applying for? Look at your Job Objective and then at your last two or three job titles? Do they look "right"? If your previous job titles sound too different, you must find or "invent" more acceptable ones that will look "right". This is often necessary when a military person has to translate his or her job titles into civilian language, when anyone seeks to move from the public to the private sector, and so on.

Exaggerated or overblown titles are sometimes given in smaller firms (because titles are cheap). For example, "Director of Marketing" in a 5-person company. This should be "downsized" and the strange titles in larger companies may need to be reworded and even "upgraded". And what does GS-9 or GS-11 mean in the private sector? You may need to change such a government title to "Senior .. Whatever."

Finally, instead of presenting a variety of job titles that might look like a fruit bowl, try to shape or adjust a few of them so that your resume can have a focused look that employers want to see. But you need to do this honestly and fairly. (You might even have to omit a job or two. That will be the subject of another post.)

The entire subject of "tampering" with any job title that a previous employer gave you, may seem to be less-than-truthful. Not so, if it is justified. The job title given to you by a particular employer, refers to your position within the hierarchy or pecking order in that company. It defines who you report to and how much you should be paid, but it seldom describes what you really do! The title can be downright unfair and not do much for you in your job resume. But most employers couldn't care less about that!

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
,

Tags:
JOB TITLES IN A RESUME

ADJUSTING JOB TITLES,

UNFAIR JOB TITLES ,

JOB TITLE

ADJUSTING JOB TITLE,

UNFAIR JOB TITLE ,

NO, RESUME BUILDING SOFTWARE WON'T HELP TO SELL YOU IN THIS RECESSION

Even the best resume building or resume creation software WON'T help you to sell yourself to employers in this recession. It simply CAN'T. That's a painful truth and I should know. I show job seekers how to sell and market themselves on paper. Each individual is different.

Recently, James X, a reader of this blog, wrote a comment: "You could do everyone a service by addressing the fill-in-the-blanks, cookie-cutter resume creation software that cranks out GENERIC 'resumes' that are harming careers."

Over a period of 24 years, I have checked out most resume creation or resume building software programs. These are quick, do-it-yourself resume writing "solutions" but they DON'T help! First, no one can create a winning resume in 60 minutes -- with or without resume creation software. Many things will be wrong with it. Second, these programs DON'T show you, John or Jane or Mary or Jim, how to sell yourself as an individual -- what, where and how. Unfortunately, that's the most important or CRUCIAL aspect of any resume.

So-called resume creation or resume building software offers you a modern snake oil type of answer for your resume writing problems. Those programs DON'T help you create a good resume that will really help you to get hired. Nevertheless, they are still being used by thousands of innocent job seekers who don't know any better. All they'll be able to create with resume creation software is a very weak basic resume. In this recession, that type of resume is worse than having NO resume at all. It will be screened out in 10-20 seconds and your entire job application will be toast!

ALL resume building or resume creation software does NOT help you create or build a strong and effective resume for today's recession -- a focused or better still, a tailored resume with "sell". Such software and resume templates are a lazy "solution" intended for good times when jobs are plentiful.

Unfortunately, resume creation and resume building software also fools you into believing that you'll construct a resume that will work for you. You WON'T. Not a chance! You need a tailored resume.

When you later find out that it does NOT work because it CAN'T work in the first place, you'll turn around and blame this terrible job market. In fact, the GENERIC resume you produced CAN'T even start to compete against the custom-made resumes written by expert professional writers to help job seekers get hired in this recession. Yours will look like thousands of other cookie-cutter resumes! All will end up in File C -- the circular file.

In this recession, you'll be wasting your time and money on any type of resume building or resume creation software. It may well be the cheapest way to create a resume but it is definitely the WORST solution for trying to impress today's employers. You will lose job opportunities. Guaranteed!

IF MONEY IS YOUR PROBLEM, TRY A BREAD-AND-FRUIT-JUICE DIET FOR 14 DAYS SO THAT YOU CAN AFFORD A FOCUSED RESUME DONE BY A RESUME EXPERT. (I am a resume doctor, not the medical version. I don't give medical advice.)

Frankly, using any lazy, fill-in-the-blanks type of resume building or resume creation software can only result in a very weak or ordinary basic or bland type of resume. This will be a GENERIC resume -- not the strong and focused resume you need to succeed today. Today's job resume needs to be a MARKETING document that sells you to tough employers -- in advance.

While resume building or creation software may help you to organize your information, it WON'T and it CAN'T help you to SELL YOURSELF -- in the resume. With so many resumes and cover letters streaming in, your resume needs to do most or all of the selling -- up front. That's what a tailored resume does. Employers don't have time to read cover letters that are usually boring, amateurish and unfocused!

Let's do a quick reality check:

1. Will the resume building or resume creation software show you where and how to SELL yourself in the resume? NO!

2. Will the resume building software help you to analyze, identify and express your best "SELLING POINTS"? NO!

3. Will it show you where and how to address or target the employer's specific needs or job requirements? DEFINITELY NOT!

4. Will resume creation software show you what to include and what to leave out? NO! It leaves those crucial decisions for you to make.

5. Will the resume building software show you how to deal with too much or a lack of experience or too much or too little formal education? NO!

6. Will any resume building software help you "fix" your resume blemishes (such as gaps in employment) or how to deal with other potentially fatal "red flags"? DEFINITELY NOT!

7. Can you ask the resume building or resume creation software any tough QUESTIONS? Of course not! It's only dumb software -- not a real live professional resume writer.

In short, resume building or resume creation software gives you a false sense of security. It makes you believe that it helps you create a winning resume. But 95 times out of 100, this will NOT happen! You will only create another GENERIC resume that will be screened out in less than 20 seconds. I know.

What about on-line resume services (with a terrific website) that offer you a "Resume and Cover Letter builder." This morning, a desperate and urgent client, Bob V., sent me the resume he had prepared online with one such resume outfit that invites you to "Write A Great Resume Online!"

Bob had used their "Resume BUILDER and PUBLISHER" but his Sales Manager resume was a complete disaster -- as a MARKETING document. It had NO "sell" and had been produced by filling-in-the-blanks! His dates made him look like an unstable "job hopper" and not a single one of his accomplishments was highlighted in any way. Bob had to pay me $125 to focus the resume and convert it into a marketing document suitable for a Territory Sales Manager. It worked!

The exercise of preparing your resume carefully as a document designed to sell or market you on paper, has another huge benefit.

"The process of preparing your resume is also the best interview preparation a person could have."

This is the view of James X, my respected blogger and he is 100% correct. Working with a professional resume writer will involve doing the necessary "homework" and also prepare you for job interviews. This valuable process of interaction and preparation is NOT included in any cheap resume building or resume creation software package or is offered by any "quicky" online resume writing service.

DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN SOLVE YOUR RESUME WRITING PROBLEMS FOR ONLY $9 OR $49? Please wake up and smell the coffee before using your resume building or creation software causes you to lose yet another job opportunity. In this recession, there are fewer jobs to apply for and you can't afford to miss out on any. Don't be "Penny wise but Pound foolish" as the English say.

E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote. I promise to be reasonable.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved


Tags:

RESUME CREATION SOFTWARE
RESUME BUILDING SOFTWARE
CREATE A RESUME ,
BUILD A RESUME ,
SELLING YOURSELF IN A RESUME,
SELLING YOURSELF,
COOKIE-CUTTER RESUMES
TAILORED RESUME
GENERIC RESUMES,
WINNING RESUMES TO SELL YOU IN A BUYER'S JOB MARKET,
USING RESUME TEMPLATES IN THIS RECESSION,
SELLING YOURSELF TO EMPLOYERS ,

A LOW COST RESUME MAY COST YOU A TON IN LOST EARNINGS IF IT'S A KILLER RESUME

The resume you wrote yourself to save money or the low cost resume service you hired or the resume building software you used may all be costing you a ton -- in missed job opportunities and lost earnings. Your unemployment is also costing you plenty.

That's why a low cost or do-it-yourself resume is often a killer resume which is a very expensive kind of resume!

In the long run, any self-written or low cost or inexpensive or cheap resume that does NOT work, is a very expensive resume. What could you be losing? Please check out the following two newspaper reports:

"WASHINGTON, D.C.

The average job search lasts 18 weeks, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And given that the typical American worker takes home $34,020 in salary, those 18 weeks between jobs add up to a stunning $11,776 in lost paychecks, according to the same data.

"That's a harsh realty for most job seekers, who frequently have less than 30 days worth of savings to pay the rent and put food on the table.

One way to shortcut this stressful job search process is to send out the very best resume possible, because finding a job just 3 or 4 weeks faster with an outstanding resume can put thousands of dollars in lost salary back in your pocket."

WHAT DOES UNEMPLOYMENT REALLY COST YOU?

DENVER, CO

$19,000 is what a job search could possibly cost an unemployed person looking to make a $50K salary and $77,000 is what it could possibly cost an unemployed person looking to make a $100K salary.

WHAT? You didn't expect that? Let me explain.

First, this is obviously not an out-of-pocket cost, but it is wages and money you cannot get back. The general rule of thumb for finding and starting a new job is this - it will take 1 month for every $10K in salary (5 months for $50K job, 10 months for $100K job, etc).

Here is what a prolonged job search could cost in lost wages.

$50K pay = $19,000 lost ($960 per week over 5 months).

$75K pay = $43,000 lost ($1,440 per week over 7 to 8 months).

$100K pay = $77,000 lost ($1,920 per week over 10 months).

Again, these numbers represent lost wages.

But, even as wages and paychecks stop coming in, the expenses of life do not. People still have monthly expenses to keep up with.

So ... If you find yourself unemployed, quickly invest in the job search tools needed to shorten your job search and control lost wages (you can't get it back).

Secondly, you should promise yourself to make that investment in your future.

A highly skilled resume-writing professional has become a necessity today. He or she will give your resume a competitive edge.

To hire an experienced executive resume-writing professional would be a very smart move. He or she will increase your chances of being hired and also shorten the time your job search takes.

Moreover, the process of interacting with someone who has already assisted many others in similar situations, will usually benefit you in many ways. All in all, it may be one of the best and most profitable decisions you will ever make!

Austin Kiplinger, publisher of the Kiplinger Magazine, agrees about the importance of making an investment in your own career: "Look at your career as your primary investment. Keep your earning power at its highest level. The money you spend doing this will return more to you than all other investments you are likely to make. You are your own best investment!"

How much money are you trying to save?

A self-written resume that is plain or weak will NOT get responses. That will cost lost earnings, missed opportunities and time.

Recent college graduates have spent $10,000 to $50,000 on their education and should not risk everything by relying on their own writing skills.For any manager or executive to write his/her own, is madness! It's all about getting a competitive edge on other applicants.

But thousands of desperate job seekers still feel they should create it themselves. They are mistaken! That type of thinking belongs to the 70's and 80's when jobs were plentiful. They will learn the hard way that a cheap resume is a very expensive resume. That's telling it like it is.

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
,

Tags:
LOW COST RESUME

SELF-WRITTEN RESUME,

COST OF UNEMPLOYMENT,

DO-IT-YOURSELF RESUME CAN HURT OR HELP,

Tags: >

WRITE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT RESUMES FOR DIFFERENT AUDIENCES

In this recession or Depression, you need to write slightly different resumes aimed at different audiences. That requires you to TWEAK YOUR RESUME a little each time in order to focus it better and/or target a specific job. It will certainly help employers to hire you, even in this recession or Depression.

A properly FOCUSED resume is a MUST in today's job market. To land interviews, your resume needs to have a theme or focus that will present your "case" to the reader. Unrelated or irrelevant items should therefore be downplayed or even omitted.

Even stronger will be a TARGETED resume that addresses an employer's specific needs as stated in the job advertisement. Here your related skills, experience, and accomplishments should all be highlighted. Such items are your "sell". They present your value as a candidate who will be a good "fit" for the position -- IN THE FIRST 10 LINES OF THE RESUME.

A "SMART" resume is therefore not only focused but also targets the recruiter's specific requirements. Vague and "general" resumes are "DUMB" and don't work in a recession or Depression. There's no such thing today as a single-all-purpose-resume-for-all-jobs. To land job interviews, resumes need to be focused and targeted. In short, they need to be "SMART"!

Sadly, many job seekers continue to write a single unfocused or "general" resume with a vague job objective that asks the employer to "utilize all of your skills, experience and education.". That is fatal in a recession. Nowadays that employer might be looking for someone with specific "I.T. skills" or "negotiating skills" or "strategic planning skills" or "customer interfacing skills". EMPLOYERS ARE SPECIFIC SO YOU CANNOT BE VAGUE. You cannot play games with recruiters in this recession or Depression.

The more FOCUSED you and your resume can be, the more successful your job search will be in this recession or Depression.

The hardest job to find – NOT the easiest – is what anxious job seekers refer to as "any job." No employer has such a poorly defined position available. Neither will you see "any job" advertised in any newspaper.

TARGET specific employers and specific jobs with a tailor-made resume.

State a JOB OBJECTIVE that says two things – what you are looking for and what job-related experience, accomplishments and skills you are offering. This will tell an employer that you are addressing his or her specific needs and also indicates that you know what you want to do. It expresses your focus and, above all, presents your VALUE – what you are bringing to the table. All recruiters will be impressed by that in this recession or Depression.

By TAILORING your Job Objective, you will actually be helping employers to hire you. You can later change that Objective as often as you need to. Use your keyboard to focus or refocus your resume. Simply adjust a few words or lines each time – mainly in the Job Objective and SUMMARY sections of your resume.

In a recession or Depression, it is silly to leave out a good Objective and be vague. Recruiters don't like to play guessing games. Why should the reader bother to figure out the level and type of work that you are interested in?

Focusing or targeting or tailoring your resume is not easy and you may need to consult with a professional resume writer. He or she will have the expertise to present your value in the best way, especially how you have made a difference for others and are able to do so again for a new employer.

To know what you want, is the first step: What are you looking for?

"If you don't know where you're going,
You'll end up somewhere else."
-- Yogi Berra

[Note: As a rule, employment agencies and headhunters don't care too much for JOB OBJECTIVES. Why? Because they need to place you in any job, whether suitable or not. Always remember that such agents are salespersons. They work for their commission and your job satisfaction is only a secondary consideration.]

PLEASE WRITE OR CALL FOR A FREE CONSULT OR EVALUATION.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.

Tags:

WRITE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT RESUMES IN A RECESSION OR DEPRESSION,
TWEAK YOUR RESUME IN A RECESSION OR DEPRESSION,
FOCUSED RESUME IS CRUCIAL,
ADDRESS EMPLOYER'S REQUIREMENTS IN A HARD TIMES,
RESUME FOR A RECESSION OR DEPRESSION,

SAMPLE RESUMES AND TEMPLATES HURT MORE THAN THEY HELP

In a recession or Depression or hard times, using sample resumes or resume templates will HURT your chances more than they can help. Why?

You may be copying blindly from someone else's resume without understanding why it was done the way it was done. That sample resume was once designed for someone else with a different work history and different resume problems or blemishes. It's like making your own diagnosis of what you need and then using the "medicine" prescribed for someone else's resume. This is not smart at all and it will HURT you. It will also cost you a few job opportunities.

In a Depression, there are fewer jobs to compete for and you can't afford to miss out on any.

Like most people, you have probably looked at one or more sample resumes to see how others have done it – to try to save a few dollars in this recession or Depression by doing it yourself. But how much can you really learn or copy or adapt from someone else's resume? Very, very little!

The sad part is that using sample resumes or a resume template will HURT your chances because you will innocently believe that you have constructed a good resume. Not so! It is highly unlikely that you have managed to write a winning resume. You will later find out the hard way that it WON'T get you job interviews. I see this all of the time. In the end, using sample resumes or a resume template may cost you much more than a revamped or improved resume done by a professional writer.

Why won't using sample resumes or a resume template work for you?

First, your own particulars and work history are NEVER the same.

Second, you CAN'T tell what information was included or omitted or downplayed, and so on.

Third, sample resumes do NOT reveal their construction and writing secrets to you. You see, it took a lot of thought and effort to create a "perfect" or winning resume (or to "paint"a woman's face and make her look beautiful)! What you are looking at in a sample resume is the final and "cleaned up" version of someone else's resume with all of the blemishes fixed or improved or downplayed!

This problem is very similar to trying to figure out any good-looking woman's beauty secrets. You simply CAN'T guess what she did to achieve that dramatic result. Have you ever seen the Before and After cosmetic and clothing makeovers on Oprah? That's what experts can achieve for you! The same applies to revamping or improving your job resume. A resume also needs a makeover.[See http://winning-resumes.com/resume_template_can_help_or_hurt.html]

Using a readymade RESUME TEMPLATE, is even worse in a recession. First, are you qualified to choose or select a suitable resume template to present your skills, strengths, experience, and education? I don't think so. I often see managers, sales reps and I.T. technicians presenting themselves in outdated, entry-level Microsoft Wizard formats. (These have remained unchanged since Windows 98 was launched. Besides,Microsoft are not experts on resume formats.)

Second, resume templates make your resume look exactly like thousands of others. That is terrible! Do you want yours to attract the attention of recruiters or not? Then it must be different!

To beat the competition for fewer jobs in this recession or Depression, your resume has to be carefully designed, written, and presented or reformatted and revamped.

It is all about the most effective presentation. Very few people can do this because it is seldom easy. Resume writing is an art. It is the art of self-marketing yourself on paper. In this recession or Depression, you need to sell yourself on paper more strongly than ever before.

To be successful, you must FOCUS your job search. What are you looking for? What is or are your most realistic option(s) in this recession or Depression? The more specific you can be, the more focused and successful your resume and job search will be -- even in this horrible recession or Depression.

The hardest job to find -- NOT the easiest -- is what anxious job seekers refer to as "any job".

As Yogi Berra wisely pointed out: "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else." Either nowhere or in some McJob that pays you much less than you're worth AND WON'T PAY THE BILLS!

In today's recession or Depression, you can't go job hunting with your father's resume. Would you attend a friend's wedding today in the dress you wore to your high school graduation ten years ago? Would any bride trust herself to do her own wedding day makeup? Of course not! If you want to look your best -- in person and on paper -- you must ask a professional to help you. It is that important.

It is a fact that most home-made resumes and resume templates will NOT work in this recession or Depression. They don't look right and they won't impress a picky reader. Don't wait to find this out the hard way. How long can you afford to wait to get your own resume "fixed" professionally?

PLEASE CALL MATT GREENE FOR FREE ADVICE ON 1-718-436-3504

OR WRITE: mattgreene@aol.com

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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Tags:
USING SAMPLE RESUMES

USING SAMPLE RESUMES IN THIS RECESSION,

SAMPLE RESUME CAN HURT IN THIS RECESSION,

SAMPLE RESUMES HURT OR HELP,

SAMPLE RESUMES HURT IN THIS RECESSION,

RESUME TEMPLATES HURT OR HELP,

RESUME TEMPLATE CAN HURT OR HELP,

WRITE SEVERAL RESUMES WITH DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES ? DEFINITELY!

Should you write several resumes with different Job Objectives? Definitely!

But each resume should also have a suitable Summary that supports or backs up each objective -- to show diferent readers what qualifies you for each specific position. That is the best advice for today's job market.

In the present recession, your resume/s will be used to apply for a shrinking number of jobs. We are in a Buyer's job market and employers are very "picky".

Why do you need to write several resumes? If you fail to address the specific requirements of each position, your entire application will be toast. You'll be screened out in seconds. That's why you'll need to vary your resume and focus it. This will mean more than one version of your resume. In practice, you'll be writing two or three or even more resumes! p>But some well-meaning folks are still suggesting that a single all-purpose resume is all you need. They are dead wrong and out of touch. Such a resume will get you nowhere! You won't be able to pay your rent or mortgage, the gas and the food bills.

Warren Buffet has warned that this recession will be "long and deep".

What about your job satisfaction? In repeated surveys over the past 50 years, as many as 70% have reported not being happy with their jobs or with the choice of careers they made in their twenties. These are very hard times.

You must make a very serious attempt to "sell" or market yourselves. You should be should be trying hard to create a resume that will get into the much smaller "A" pile of "Probables".

The guiding principle is "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Facts do NOT sell themselves. They have to be marketed. This is what all advertising and promotion tries to do. What are your best "selling points"?

What is the employer's screening process? All employers are entitled to reject you if you lack something they consider to be CRUCIAL to job performance. This is also referred to as competing for a job. After all, WHO IS HIRING WHO?

You should adjust your resumes in order to offer related or equivalent education, skills and experience in lieu of the advertised requirements. This is often possible and it works!

Many resumes also contain "red flags" or other turnoffs that need to be addressed. We all have resume "blemishes" and many talented job seekers won't reach first base until they write one without any negatives.

20 years ago, Dick Bolles in "PARACHUTE" was also concerned that a two-dimensional resume might easily misrepresent and even distort how valuable you might be. He likened poorly written resumes to fun mirror images of the applicant.

Please offer employers the exact KEYWORDS they'll be searching for and are entitled to expect. Either you can or you can't offer these -- or most of them. Their machine not only rejects -- it also SELECTS.

Employers are entitled to specify which of their REQUIREMENTS are essential (must have's) and which are merely desirable (would be a plus or preferred). Why not address their needs? Their human and OCR screeners will be briefed or programmed accordingly. This process is perfectly fair.

The Scottish poet, Robbie (Auld Lang Syne) Burns gave us sage advice when he wrote:

"O would some Power give us the gift
To see ourselves as others see us."

Our own Clint Eastwood has given us a valuable piece of advice: "A man must know his limitations."

Stop for a moment to question your own resume writing and presentation skills? How well can you create a resume? How did you manage to learn to be so objective about yourself? How were you trained to analyze all of your own skills and strengths? Where did you acquire the language of skills? Where did you learn the art of self-marketing and resume writing? (There's no Self Marketing 101 course available and resume writing has more in common with promotional literature and advertising copy than with English 101.) What has convinced you that you do have an effective resume and cover letter? The awful truth is that many, if not most self-written efforts DON'T seem to work too well.

Believe me, all of your "ingredients" CAN be used to develop a creative, one-of-a-kind resume and cover letter. Much can be incorporated. Yes, it may not capture the entire you in all of your amazing richness. But you should be able to find a skilled writer who can present your talents on paper and knock the employer's socks off. Unless, of course, you are still subscribing to that very old-fashioned notion that you should be designing and constructing your own resume. What would qualify you to do that effectively in a tough job market? Your writing skills? This is seldom enough.

What you need to create is an effective marketing document that "sells" your value -- NOT your father's resume.

Hundreds of Harvard, Chicago, Dartmouth and other graduates with a GPA of 4.0 in English have given up trying to write their own resumes . They came to the realization that resume writing is a specialized form of self-marketing that requires the help of a suitably trained professional writer who can do justice to your worth or value on paper.

[Good writing skills, perfect English, grammar and spelling are NOT the only things you need to create a good resume or cover letter. I have often heard job seekers say something like: "Matthew, I can write term papers, reports, a feature article, a speech or even a short story. But my job resume is something else. What should I include? What can I safely omit? What must I emphasize or highlight? How do I focus it? What is the best format for me to use?" And so on. Important decisions need to be made and a knowledge of good English and writing skills are only the basics! Click here: Resume questions & answers: [[ http://www.winningresumes.com/best_way_to_advance.htm ]

Resumes are very important job search tools. How else must employers cope with and reduce the flood of applicants? They can't possibly interview everyone and we are not yet ready for job selection by computer.

When we have the blessing of full employment again by the year 2028 or so, all employers will roll out the red carpet for you. You won't need a resume at all. In fact, you won't even need to persuade any recruiter how qualified you are.

But, until that very happy day, we will be in a painful BUYER'S JOB MARKET with employers holding most of the cards.

Fortunately, talented resume writers do have the OBJECTIVITY and skills that most job seekers seem to lack. It is never easy to write about one's self.

Nothing sells itself. Not even what accomplished job seekers have to offer.

A resume is your "PERSONAL-SALES-REPRESENTATIVE-ON- PAPER" writes John Lucht. Many other gifted and talented job seekers are also competing to open the same doors as you are. You cannot be exempted from such competition in a BUYER'S MARKET.

Your job resume is still your most important job search tool. The only way you can avoid having to submit a resume to an employer who is a perfect stranger, is if you are personally known to the person-with-the-authority-to-hire or if your father or uncle or friend owns the corporate ladder or if someone owes someone a favor and you can be the lucky beneficiary. Or if you have managed to discover or uncover an urgent vacancy in the unadvertised job market.

But the overwhelming majority of job seekers, will have to create a few different resumes. These will be optically scanned by machine or screened by a human reader.

Those "experts" who pooh-pooh the value of resumes in the hiring process, tend to be those who have never needed one. They are NOT helping the tens of thousands of desperate job seekers struggling with a resume that does not work, and who can easily be helped to be more successful. That is what first class resume writers do all of the time and they have the testimonials to back this up.

it is a well-known fact that the best qualified applicant does NOT always or even necessarily get hired. Rather, it is often the candidate with the best or most impressive resume.

The awful reality is that many creative geniuses or highly gifted individuals DO NOT MAKE IT TO FIRST BASE. Without professional help, those "great", talented but unsuccessful job seekers may need to write sad Blogs of the type: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." This is the language of quitters and losers. Donald Trump will probably agree.

Let's hope they are not the innocent victims of half-baked resume advice found in many of those amateurish off-the-wall blogs.

Will the anxious majority of job seekers, please note. This Bud's for you.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2006-2009 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved. .

Tags:

WRITE SEVERAL RESUMES WITH DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES ,
TWEAK YOUR RESUME OBJECTIVE,
FOCUSED RESUME IS CRUCIAL,
ADDRESS EMPLOYER'S SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS,
TARGETED RESUME FOR A RECESSION,