3/04/2011

CAN YOUR HOMEMADE RESUME BEAT THE RESUMES OF PROFESSIONAL WRITERS?

Can your self-written resume beat the winning resumes of first-class professional writers? NO, not in this job market which is the most challenging ever.


For a resume to impress recruiters today, it needs to be a standout -- appealing, focused and preferrably tailored. Do you know how to do this? Most job seekers need professional help. (If you've written only 5-10 resumes so far, you are still an amateur as a resume writer. Frankly, you are probably NOT QUALIFIED to write a winning or tailored resume for 2011! It is NOT easy to do it.)


Always remember, the interview lands you the job, but the resume lands you the interview!


In 2011, a focused resume is the best job search tool. With hundreds of job seekers (both qualified and unqualified) applying for every vacancy, yours could be screened out in only five (5) to 15 seconds! Why? Mainly because it may look too "basic" or amateurish or incomplete! Homemade resumes do stand out but for the wrong reasons. Many are not only weak but unfocused, poorly formatted, badly organized, and unattractive!


Your resume is YOU-ON-PAPER. That's all that a perfect stranger or employer or recruiter can tell about you. How does it look? Does it "sell" you?


Would you go to a job interview without putting on make up or shaving your beard? Of course not; it may turn them off. But that's the kind of negative impression that a self-written resume often makes and Sally the Screener won't waste her time scanning it! Why should she? She has hundreds of better looking resumes to choose from. "When in doubt ... Screen out"!


By contrast, resumes revamped or improved by first-class resume writers will have lots of "eye appeal". Professional resumes are surviving the screening process and are generating interviews. How is yours doing? Is it an outdated resume that might have worked five or 10 years ago. Or is it a focused and tailored resume to beat the Recession of 2011? When last have you had a face-to-face job interview? How long have you been looking for work? Quitting on yourself is the worst thing you can do.


Good Resumes Are More Important Than Having The Best Qualifications


Have you noticed that the best candidates are NOT usually hired? A study by psychology professors Hunter & Schmidt in "Psychology Today" found a typical employment interview is only 7 percent more accurate than flipping a coin. This is because the typical interviewer doesn't know the right questions to ask and makes a decision based on their "gut feeling" about a candidate. In such cases, having the best resume often gets you hired, NOT being the best qualified. That's why so many of my semi-qualified clients get hired! I see this all of the time! Or is it due to my "wizardry with words" as one client described it?


Why do so many Communications and Marketing people fail to sell themselves? What's wrong with their self-written or homemade resumes?


After 24 years of resume writing, I agree that most job seekers are able to write a "basic" or plain-facts resume but NOT a winning resume. Some executive resumes will even be well written in perfect English with very little that needs to be changed or corrected. But the most important section on Page 1 may either be missing or very poorly done. As a result, it won't be EFFECTIVE and that is always fatal. In my experience, only 5 percent (5 in 100) are able to write a WINNING resume or cover letter in which they "sell" or market themselves EFFECTIVELY on Page 1 and elsewhere.


Even the best self-written resumes do NOT present your VALUE or "selling points" up front, do NOT highlight your KEYWORDS and sadly, your ACHIEVEMENTS or accomplishments may lie buried in the text where they will be overlooked. One reason for this failure, is that most job seekers still do NOT know how to use resume BULLETS correctly and effectively as highlighters. (30-50 black bullets will do nothing for you.)


Many do NOT know how to use WHITE SPACE properly because they are trying to get it all down on one page or two. Their resumes are too cramped and congested to be scanned and will be screened out because they look so gray and boring. One unsuccessful architect, even designed his own format but it was not designed to sell or market him! That's why more than 90% of all homemade resumes will probably be screened out in 10 seconds or less. Today's screeners are brutal!


And the continuing infatuation with the weak but elegant Garamond font is pathetic. I very seldom see an effective resume that is also elegant!


Most job seekers simply lack the skills required to sell themselves effectively on paper. One of these anxious job seekers recently wrote to me as follows:


"Dear Matt:


"Dear Matt, I have attached two versions of my resume and a cover letter for review. I must admit that I have a stack of resume books on my bookshelf but I just cannot construct the standout resume that I need. If feels as though I am in a rut and need help to get out." (Sales/Marketing Executive)


Another frustrated executive writes: "I don't know how to communicate my value in a resume even though most of my background is in Marketing and Communications."


I am NOT surprised. It is a mistake to think that your experience in Marketing or Communications will somehow give you an edge or advantage or even "qualify" you to write a winning resume. You may know very little about SELF-MARKETING which is the art of selling yourself in a resume i.e. presenting your value on paper.


Writing a good resume is very different from writing a great speech for President Obama or P.R. press releases for BP or packaging and marketing a new consumer product such as Rooibos Hair Growth Formula. Resume writing is a different ballgame. It's what professional resume writers do for a living and is an art. Hundreds and hundreds of English majors have already discovered this and hundreds of Marketing executives.


"Thanks Matt....


"I've been reading all the good stuff on your blog. I learned a lot from you today and want you to know that I have great respect for you and enjoyed talking things over. Thanks for the great lesson.


You're a genius. I learned more from you in 30 minutes than I did in 3 university-level Communications courses.


Your 25 years of experience can't be found in any textbook. I know this to be true because I have a library downstairs with more than 90 Marketing and Communications books. Always a pleasure Matt. Carl"



"Thank you for your honest feedback of my resume." -- I.T. Program Manager


"Matt: Thanks for your honesty. It does not bother me at all...I want my resume to be the best...whatever it takes." -- I.T. Learning Management Manager


I often ask job seekers to excuse my candor or frankness when I critique or evaluate their resumes, especially those that are NOT working. It's a FREE service I offer. I have been doing it for 25 years and am also the published author of Winning Resumes (Penguin). As a rule, I do know what I'm talking about and my critique is FREE. [Other top resume services may charge $75-100 for this indepth critique and there are also those who will send you a boilerplated resume review where 90% or more is identical for everyone. (L ......com is known to do this.)


If I am to suggest to you what, in my view, may be wrong or missing or needs to be "fixed" or improved, I cannot pull my punches. That won't help you much. I honestly feel that I don't need to spend time on being gentle or diplomatic or politically correct in trying to help you or even rescue your career. That is too important. Being out of work is costing you thousands of dollars! So, please accept my constructive criticism and try to forget about or set aside your pride of authorship for a moment -- even if it hurts.




Photograph of Matthew Greene, M.Phil., resumé writer.Front cover Matthew Greene's book, Winning Resumes..


The Awful Truth About Many Self-Written Job Resumes is That ...



The awful truth is that many homemade resumes commence with a poorly worded Job Objective or "Profile" or amateurish verbiage such as "Highlights" or "Highly motivated ..." or "Dedicated" or the very stale cliche, "Results oriented ...". Or with a weakly written "Executive Summary" that looks very much like everyone else's. Or with a poorly written or weak or confusing branding or value statement. Some senior executives may write about how enthusiastic and detail-oriented they are. There are also clumsy sentences that look like they were copied from the same sample resumes. All in all, I find such self-written efforts boring and they don't "sell" me. They won't impress or "sell" picky recruiters either.


Even perfectly written English sentences may have little or no value in marketing you! Always remember: "Writing is easy; It's choosing the order of the words that is difficult." -- Robert Wilson (Writers Digest). Good resume writing is much more than English 101. You cannot learn the art of effective resume writing by creating five or ten resumes. You will still be an amateur.

That's why so many well-written Marketing and Communications resumes don't get past Sally the Screener. Why? Because they look so similar and uninviting. They cannot be scanned in seconds. Nothing jumps out at the reader. No italics or bolds are used. Accomplishments lie buried or hidden in the gray text. Nothing is properly highlighted despite the 20-30 black bullets used. (These bullets are neither smart nor strategic. They are used decoratively. (Please visit: Management resume bullets must be smart - Google Search)


And some executives foolishly leave out a 10-line branding statement or value statement. Out of either arrogance or ignorance, they fail or omit to address any of the employer's needs upfront. Unfortunately, this is not 1990, so Sally the Screener is compelled to screen them out.


Why an Outstanding V.P. Failed 170 Times


An outstanding V.P. of Information Technology recently sent me a resume to evaluate because it was not working although it was written by himself and in perfect English. He had no response to over 170 mailed resumes to date. Why? This is what I found:


First, his vague 4-line Profile describing himself as a "Dynamic professional...." was nearly identical to hundreds of others. (Were they all copying from the same sample resumes?)


Then followed his Education -- two very old college degrees dated 1996 and 1989 that should be recorded at the END of any senior-level resume and NOT up front like a recent graduate.


Next came his "Experience Summary" which was mislabeled. His three columns should have been described as "Core Competencies" or "Areas of Skill and/or Expertise or Experience". Such a weak 15-line opening was a killer. His resume was probably screened out in only 15 seconds by Sally the Screener.


Next, this executive presented his "Experience Highlights" which were NOT highlights at all -- 53 pretty black bullets that were all used WRONGLY because they failed to draw attention to anything in particular.


Worst of all, his outstanding accomplishments lay buried or hidden in the text!!! Not a single keyword was highlighted. All in all, his resume was crowded. The text was gray, boring and NOT scannable at all.


But this senior I.T. executive confidently assured me that he does tweak his resume -- to address the specific requirements of each and every job he applies for.


Despite this, he had had no success at all in 170 attempts because there were too many things wrong with the resume. What other result could he possibly expect? He is still an AMATEUR resume writer who does not know how to present or MARKET his impressive accomplishments. The same applies to many, many self-written resumes. How about yours?


Albert Einstein once said that ''doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results, is insanity or madness.'' You need to realize that if you are searching for a job but you're not getting results, you need to change what you are doing or using.


Perhaps you should stop relying on your ability to write good English and learn more about marketing yourself on paper. You probably need a better and more effective job resume. Try visiting a first-class professional writer.




Photograph of Matthew Greene, M.Phil., resumé writer.Front cover Matthew Greene's book, Winning Resumes.


Ineffective Resume of a National Sales & Marketing Manager





"Dear Matt: I know that my resume is outdated and needs some work. I also don't think it accurately reflects what I have accomplished or what I bring to the table."


"Dear Peter: Thank you for writing to me. You are 100% correct so please excuse my extreme candor . You have been using a very old resume template that was first included with Windows 98 about 12 years ago. Today's resume formats for Sales Management are much, much better and the formatting is different. Yours will NOT do you justice in this highly competitive job market.


First, the format needs be improved and modernized to make you look like today's accomplished Senior Sales & Marketing Executive. Your outdated resume can actually be beautiful and the change or makeover will be dramatic. (This is a classic Before and After resume scenario.)


Your Job Objective is very amateurish, weak and unsuitable. It will get you screened out. (Only God knows what all of your skills are -- not the average employer.)


Although the Experience section of your resume is well written and you do have an excellent track record and several accomplishments to offer, these lie buried or hidden in the text and may be overlooked by Sally the Screener. This is a very serious resume miótake.


Worst of all, there is no Value Proposition or Statement-- what you bring to the table which is a fatal mistake because a resume is a marketing document that has to impress the screener in 10-15 seconds. This crucial 10-15 line section needs to be created/developed/written for you.


However, the very good news is that your outdated resume can be transformed into an effective winning resume for today's job market at minimal cost and I will greatly enjoy assisting you.


When are you available for a FREE phone consult? I am on Eastern time. Do you have 2-3 suitable job ads to send me?


Regarding the cost. I will give you full credit for much of the actual writing and information in the Experience section and therefore my fee for the revamped and revitalized resume will be very reasonable. I do NOT charge top dollar!"


Without any hesitation, Peter ordered and received his revamped / improved Sales/Marketing resume in five business days on 6/25/10 and immediately wrote me as follows:


"Dear Matt: Thanks. It looks really great! I went through and made a few changes (hope that's ok!). I am very happy with how this has turned out -- a night and day difference from the original one I sent you!" -- Peter S., Miami, Florida



Believe me when I say that I am NOT trying to advertise or "peddle my wares". The best reason for hiring a first-class resume writer to assist you is because it is never easy to be OBJECTIVE about oneself. The well-known Scottish poet, Robbie (Auld Lang Syne) Burns understood the problem when he wrote: "O would some Power give us the gift / To (be able to) see ourselves as others see us."


Can you be objective about yourself? Are you comfortable writing about yourself? Can you identify your skills and strengths? Why should marketing experience qualify anyone to write a custom or tailored resume with a touch of creativity that gets attention and "sells"? Can everyone write good advertising copy? No! Can everyone bake a successful cake? Following a pastry recipe or adapting from a sample resume cannot produce spectacular results. It may be better to hire the special talents or gifts of a master baker or expert professional resume writer.


William Shakespeare advised you to ask an experienced shoemaker to repair your shoes -- not to try fixing your own!


Hundreds of Marketing and Communications people do not seem to understand what self-marketing is all about. Many do NOT know how to highlight keywords or draw attention to their accomplishments. A solid block of gray print does NOT have any "eye appeal". The "mashed potato" look will NOT enhance any resume! And pages and pages of elegant but gray Garamond print are lifeless and boring. They are definitely not scannable by Sally the Screener, especially nowadays when she can only give you 15 seconds of her time.


The reality is that if you've written only 5 or 10 resumes, you are still an AMATEUR as a resume writer and have not yet learned the art of marketing yourself effectively on paper. You need a skilled and experienced resume writer to help you -- one who has successfully written hundreds for successful clients. (Please check his or her testimonials.)



Photograph of Matthew Greene, M.Phil., resumé writer.Front cover Matthew Greene's book, Winning Resumes.


Why Recruiters and H.R. Persons Cannot Write Winning Resumes


Recruiters usually screen out a resume in only 15 seconds. That's quite easy to do. But are they also able to write their own resume in order to avoid being screened out themselves? And are they really qualified to assist you to write yours?


In my experience, most H.R. persons do NOT know enough about selling or marketing themselves in a resume. You see, their experience of scanning, reading, critiquing, and screening out thousands of incoming resumes, does NOT teach them how to write their own. They can only criticize! (An H.R. person is like a baseball catcher who has handled thousands of balls but now tries to pitch or throw a single change-up or curve ball. Only pitchers are trained to do that.) To sell an idea or concept is often referred to as "pitching".


This morning I reviewed the resume of a worried Human Resources person who writes: "I have done much recruiting." This means she herself has previously reviewed (and screened out) hundreds of OTHER resumes. But in designing and writing her own resume, she is being screened out in seconds! Why?


First, in her Job Objective she tells the reader only what she wants or expects. It's all me-me-me. She ignores the employer's needs or requirements. Nowadays, that gets you screened out. As an HR person, she ought to know better!


Second, her entire resume consists of five run-on paragraphs or blocks of solid gray text. That's utterly BORING! Although her individual sentences are written in very good English, the five blocks of solid print look like "mashed potatoes". (For her Cover Letter she has written another boring page even though it contains good material.)


Like many H.R. people, she does know how to screen out the resumes of OTHER folks but NOT how to create and format a winning presentation (with eye appeal) of her own. Why? Because she has little or no training or understanding of how to market or sell herself on paper. (So DON'T ask H.R. persons or recruiters to help you write your resume! They can only advise you on what NOT to write.)


In 2011, after the downsizings, layoffs and bankruptcies, employers are receiving a daily avalanche of hundreds of resumes. Sally or Jim, the corporate Screeners have only 10-15 seconds to scan yours. Will your self-written resume impress them in a few seconds? I honestly DON'T think so!


Are you using the same job resume over and over again even if it's NOT working for you? Are you blaming this lack of success on the job market? How many identical resumes have you already sent to different jobs without results?


But even after a resume has been "tailored" or tweaked to fit specific jobs, a previously unsuccessful resume may continue to bomb or be screened out! Why? Because focusing or tailoring a resume may NOT "fix" resume mistakes or remove hidden resume blemishes or "red flags". Tailoring will also require the skill and experience of a trained professional writer who knows how to do it better than an amateur like yourself! (If you have written only 5 to 10 resumes to date, then you are still an "amateur" -- as a resume writer.) Please read: [ http://www.winning-resumes.com/best_way_to_advance.htm ]


Photograph of Matthew Greene, M.Phil., rusumé writer.Front cover Matthew Greene's book, Winning Resumes.




Good Writing Skills Are NOT Always a Blessing. They May Prevent You From Creating a Winning Resume!



Job seekers with strong writing skills, mistakenly believe that they also know how to write a winning resume for 2011. But to MARKET oneself effectively on paper is a different ballgame. For example, many majors in English, Writing, Marketing, and Communications feel that they are also "qualified" or have all of the required skills to write an effective resume. Unfortunately, they are often dead wrong but have had to learn the hard way -- by losing many job opportunities! In my view, smart English graduates are those who have already learned that although they can write many different things, a winning resume is NOT one of them because it is a different ballgame that is more about Self-Marketing than English 101. Job seekers with good writing skills are often their own worst enemies and I have to point out that allthough every line has been well written and is in good English, the final resume does NOT work or as well as it should for other reasons.



Today's job seekers have to compete against the basic resumes written by other job seekers but also against the much better resumes written by professional writers.


A resume prepared by a highly skilled professional writer will be stronger and more focused than one done by an amateur like yourself who has written only your own. That's why the input of a trained professional writer who has written resumes for hundreds of challenging clients, will often give your application a competitive or winning edge.


ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO WRITE A WINNING RESUME IN 2011?


You need to ask yourself: "Am I qualified to write a winning or 'perfect' or 'tailored' resume for 2011?" I honestly don't think so! Not even after getting a bunch of "resume tips" from resume experts. Why? Because it takes a lot of skill and experience to write a winning resume. That's why there is a big risk that you WON'T produce a resume to succeed in today's job market. Job hunting in 2011 is very tough. Nowadays, getting the right professional help is the SMART thing to do. (DON'T TRY TO BECOME AN EXPERT RESUME WRITER OVERNIGHT EVEN IF YOUR BUDGET IS TIGHT!)


Recently, a senior Sales and Marketing Executive in the Healthcare field requested a FREE evaluation of his resume. Although he had a good track record, the first 10-15 lines of his resume were a complete turnoff. The rest of the resume looked awful and was not scannable. No keyword was highlighted and his accomplishments lay buried in the text. So what did he do? "I have taken your advice and made drastic changes." Instead of looking awful as before, his "improved" resume is now just amateurish and weak. No sir, you CAN'T become an expert or effective resume writer overnight!


This marketing executive now feels that any further improvement or restructuring or revamping is unnecessary "because most resumes will be converted online into an electronic format anyhow". He does not realize that a poorly done executive resume will be even weaker in electronic or Notepad format! (An ASCII or text-based format will be needed to correct all of the usual deficiencies.) This is an extreme example of a stubborn or sceptical marketing executive who does not understand what the art of self-marketing is all about. Is this arrogance or ignorance? Unfortunately, he will need to learn the hard way that his luck may NOT change anytime soon in the highly competitive job market of 2011.


Similarly, I recently gave a free consultation to a senior Biologist who was seeking his first MANAGEMENT position. I also evaluated his current resume. His resume presentation was very weak because, like many other scientists, he didn't know how to sell himself. (That is NOT a criticism.) But imagine my surprise when I later heard that he is now trying to write his own focused resumes! How did this biologist suddenly learn to write a management resume to beat the competition in 2011. com/management_resume.htm . In order to "save" about $200-250, he may now lose job opportunities worth $200,000 in lost earnings. Is that smart?


A Senior Test Engineering Manager from Manchester, England asked his wife to convert his European style CV into an American resume. She was eager to help and soon found a resume template or sample to use. Her husband's resume now reads: "Highly motivated and results-orientated engineer with 33 years experience, etc . " Sadly, many American recruiters may screen out this resume in 5-10 seconds. Why? For three reasons: To describe a successful senior engineer and manager as "highly motivated" is amateurish. It is taken for granted. Second, the word "orientated" is British English and may be viewed as a typo in the U.S. where "oriented" is used (as in "detail-oriented"). Third, many American recruiters still discriminate against those with "33 years" experience who are viewed as "too old". Again, a short-term "savings" of $250 may result in missed job opportunities and lost income equivalent to one ၴhousand times that amount -- yes, potential losses of $250,000.

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


Photograph of Matthew Greene, M.Phil., resumé writer.Front cover Matthew Greene's book, Winning Resumes.


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. (Please visit: Effective Executive Resumes by Matthew Greene )

This is one reason why millions of jobs are still not filled. (Visit: A Better Resume For Hard Times in 2011 at http://winning-resumes.com/better_resume.htm )

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 and your facts better than yourself. That's why there is no other or better person to write your 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 2010, 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 2011? 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? Above all, do you know how to MARKET yourself on paper?


Photograph of Matthew Greene, M.Phil., resumé writer.Front cover Matthew Greene's book, Winning Resumes.



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 2011, 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 plain facts 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 mid-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 I wrote and they definitely knew it had been done professionally . How did they react? They hired my client as Head Researcher!


Frankly, online writing services or even resume books that offer you a 10-minute resume or a 60-minute resume, are talking B.S. 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 or cover letter that will work!

Photograph of Matthew Greene, M.Phil., resumé writer.Front cover Matthew Greene's book, Winning Resumes.




To hire a professional writer may have been frowned upon in 1971 but not in 2011. While it is true that many resume services are 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 or Jim the Screener. She/he decides who will be interviewed -- not her/his boss.


Forgive me for being blunt. In 2011, 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 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 expects 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 $125 or $150 or $200 or $250 or $300 (or more) 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.: 1-718-436-3504


Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved Tags: , , , , WRITE A RESUME IN 2011, WRITING RESUMES IN 2011,


1/01/2011

THE BEST RESUME SERVICES WILL "SELL" YOUR VALUE TO EMPLOYERS IN 2011

The best resume services will know how to SELL your value to employers in 2011. 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 usually 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 2011 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 2011. 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! (One reason for this is that they copy readymade job descriptions from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.)

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 $250+ 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 2011 may help you to rescue your entire career!

[To choose a reliable resume service in 2011, 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.: 1-718-436-3504

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12/20/2010

BASIC OR GENERAL RESUMES ARE DEAD IN THIS RECESSION

YES, you can beat this recession in 2011 as long as your resume is FOCUSED. A basic or general resume is dead! A winning resume is a focused resume. Such winning resumes will get you hired.

In 2011, basic or general (all-purpose) resumes will be useless or dead. Such resumes WON'T succeed. They CAN'T succeed. In fact, they will not survive more than 10-15 seconds before being screened out.

Tough recruiters DON'T want you to send them a resume-for-all-jobs. They will only read a resume that focuses on a particular position and tells them why you are suitable for it. They expect you to address their specific needs or requirements -- as stated in their job ads or postings. Nowadays, a vague and general resume without focus is a dead resume. Period.

An economic recession is a tough BUYER'S market where the employer or holds most of the cards. If you send them a basic or general or all-purpose resume instead of a focused resume to apply for a specific job, they'll trash it in seconds! That's why I refer to an unfocused resume as a dead resume. It will do nothing for you. Don't waste a single postage stamp to mail it.

In this recession, any related skills and experience that they want to hire, needs to be presented upfront -- in the first 10-15 lines -- or your resume and your entire application will be toast. This is what experienced resume writers can help you to avoid. They know how to strengthen a basic resume and turn it into a resume that works -- a winning resume.

Only a good professional writer knows how to target an employer's needs and create a better resume for you. He or she knows when a resume is likely to succeed -- and when it will DEFINITELY be screened out.
Expert resume writers know a lot about potential "red flag" items.. It's their job to deal with any and all resume blemishes that can ruin your chances of finding a job in this recession.

Like most people, you have probably tried to use SAMPLE RESUMES to save money. But how much can you learn or copy or adapt from someone else's resume? Very little! Your information and work history are NEVER the same and you CAN'T tell what was left out, downplayed, and so on. In a sample resume, you are looking at someone else's finished product. Many things have been improved or "fixed" by a professional writer. You CAN'T tell or even guess what was done to it. Will a sample resume show you how to focus your own resume? That's very unlikely.

And as for downloading and copying dozens of resume tips from resume websites, I need to ask you a simple question. Will all Thanksgiving turkeys be as juicy and succulent as they ought to be? No, many or most of them will be dry and tasteless! Will all the baking tips in the world help you bake a successful cake for Christmas? No, most homemade cakes will usually flop. My own mother never got it right! Well, writing a resume is all about the best way to put down your own "ingredients" on paper. This is more difficult to do than roasting any turkey or baking any cake! Do-it-yourself resume writing manuals are like recipe books. Very few job seekers will ever produce a professional resume.
Why? Because they lack the experience of writing or improving or "fixing" hundreds and hundreds of resumes.

TAILOR OR TARGET YOUR RESUME FOR BEST RESULTS IN 2011.

To get hired, a focused resume is a MUST in today's tough job market. In this Recession or Depression, employers are very, very picky because there are many, many other resumes to choose from. They can afford to screen out your dead resume in five seconds.

Even better is a TARGETED resume that addresses an employer's specific needs or requirements. Here you present your specific value as a candidate who will be a good "fit" for the advertised position. Can you do this? It is not easy.

A "SMART" resume in a Recession, is one that targets the recruiter's requirements as stated in job advertisements. Vague, basic and "general" resumes are "dumb" and don't work. To land job interviews, resumes need to be focused and targeted. In short, they need to be "smart"! DUMB resumes will NOT succeed. Basic resumes are extremely "dumb". They don't sell you. That's why they are useless or "dead" resumes!

Sadly, many job seekers like yourself may still be writing a basic or general or all-purpose resume -- one with a vague job objective that asks the employer to "utilize" ... whatever. Nowadays, that employer is looking for someone with specific "I.T. skills" or "negotiating skills" or "strategic planning skills" or "customer interfacing skills". Employers are specific in their requirements so you CAN'T be vague. If you're vague and send them a "dead" resume, you will NOT even be invited to an interview! That's how it is in this brutal Recession.

The more focused you and your resume can be, the more successful your job search will be -- even in this Recession. THE BASIC OR GENERAL RESUME IS TRULY DEAD!

The hardest job to find –not the easiest– is what anxious job seekers refer to as "any job."
Focusing or targeting or tailoring your resume is NOT easy and you WILL need to consult with a professional resume writer. He or she will have the expertise to present your VALUE in the best way to a new employer. (
http://www.sample-resumes-tips.com/focus.htm )

To beat the competition for jobs and succeed in today's Recession, your resume has to be carefully designed, written, and presented. Very few people can do this!

Your best bet is to hire a skilled professional resume writer. It will be money well spent because he or she knows what can cause your application to fail. First-class writers truly want you to succeed in this Recession. They need your testimonial and referrals.

PLEASE CALL MATT FOR FREE ADVICE ON 1-718-436-3504 (MattGreene@aol.com)

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11/15/2010

A SUCCESSFUL RESUME IN HARD TIMES MUST BE FOCUSED AND "SELL" YOU.


To be successful in hard times or in a recession, your resume should best be done professionally because you are competing against hundreds of applicants for fewer jobs. It also needs to be focused and even tailored. 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 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 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?

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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8/08/2010

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


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6/27/2010

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: DEALING WITH INTERVIEWER BIAS

What can you do about first impression interviewer bias?

Studies have shown a majority of interviewers do NOT have a scientific way of determining who would do best on a job. Instead, most simply use their own biases to determine whether they think the person is smart and would "fit in" with the rest of the people at the company.

Deciding on this basis is really no better than flipping a coin, and it tends to favor people who are good interviewers rather than good employees.

Nevertheless, this is the reality of most interviewing situations you'll run into. As a job seeker, a good way of dealing with this is twofold: presenting yourself well so you can do as well as possible with the interviewer's superficial biases, and at the same time presenting the interviewer with facts and substance that would back up the idea that you could be a good fit for the job.

The second point does not mean you should be disrespectful with the interviewer. Rather, you will often need to take some initiative to steer the conversation in a direction that would give you an opportunity to share facts that would bolster the case to hire you.


CREATING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

There are several things you can do to create a good first impression:

1. Have a good looking, error-free resume. Even before the interviewer meets you in person, they're starting to form a judgement of you based on your resume: its content, writing style, whether there are any spelling or grammar errors, etc.

2. Look nice - wear a neatly-pressed business suit and a classy tie. Make sure your suit and shirt fit properly. The biggest giveaway that you're wearing a cheap suit is if it doesn't fit well. If you can afford it, accessorise your outfit with a nice tie if you're a man, or if you're a woman, a scarf or comparable accessory. You want to give the impression that you're doing well.

3. Control nervousness - it's natural to be nervous on an interview - just about everyone is. But you should take steps so the nervousness isn't apparent. Doing mock interviews with friends or family members is a good way to increase your confidence. The more you're exposed to interviewing, the less nervous you'll be about it.

4. Sharpen your wit - Interviewers often decide how smart someone is based on how witty they are. There is probably no real scientific formula for becoming more witty. However, people who are well-read tend to have quicker wits than those who aren't.

5. Be prepared - if you have researched the company and the industry ahead of time, and you have a good idea of how you can answer most of the standard job interview questions they might ask (such as "Where do you see yourself in 2 years?), you'll be much more confident and your preparedness will show.


HELPING THE INTERVIEWER GET TO KNOW YOUR ABILITIES

Many interviewers will try to classify you based on broad information such as the number of years of experience you have, where you went to college, which industries you worked in, etc.

The reality is this information may or may not be a good predictor of whether you can solve their business problems, which is the real reason why they are looking for a new employee.

As a job candidate, it is reasonable for you to want to know why the company is looking to hire someone and what business problems they hope to solve with the hire. The answer to those questions should help you relate to your own work experiences and hopefully give you an opportunity to talk about specific things you have done in the past that have given you expertise in the areas necessary to solve the company's problems.

If you offer the interviewer your perspective as someone who has expertise with the specific problems they want to resolve, and strive to provide them with helpful insights that they may not have considered before, you will stand out as a candidate.


About the Author:

Scott Brown is the author of the Job Search Handbook
(http://www.JobSearchHandbook.com).

Above Job Search Information was published by:

JobSearchInfo.com.
JobSearchInfo
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3/11/2010

IN 2011, A WINNING RESUME WILL NOT BE SCREENED OUT IN ROUND 1

In 2011, a winning resume will survive Round 1 when job resumes are screened out in only 15 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 this Recession.

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 2011? 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 15 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 2011, 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, 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, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved
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