THE AWFUL TRUTH ABOUT SELF-WRITTEN RESUMES

The awful truth is that many homemade resumes commence with a poorly worded Objective or "Profile" or amateurish verbiage such as "Self motivated ..." or "Dedicated" or with the very stale cliche, "Results oriented ...".

Or with a weakly written "Executive Summary" or a weak or confusing Branding Statement .

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! 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.

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.)

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.

Please call me on 718-436-3504. My fees are extremely reasonable.

H.R. Can't 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 2012, 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 ]

You need to ask yourself: "Am I qualified to write a winning or 'perfect' or 'tailored' resume for 2012?" 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.

Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote. My fees are extremely reasonable!

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2012 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

MANY SALES MANAGEMENT RESUMES DON'T WORK IN 2012! WHY?

Many Sales Management resumes do NOT work in 2012. They don't generate job interviews. That means they are not EFFECTIVE.

You cannot blame the job market for your weak or ineffective Sales resume! Sadly, losing a job opportunity costs thousands of dollars!

My fees are extremely reasonable. Please call me on 718-436-3504.

Sales Manager Can't Sell Himself in a Resume

"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 mistake.

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.

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 an expert professional resume writer.

William Shakespeare gave the best advice to all job seekers: "If you need to repair your shoes, please find a shoemaker. Do NOT 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.)

Job hunting in 2012 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!

Please e-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.
My fees are extremely reasonable

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2012 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

CHOOSING THE BEST RESUME FORMAT IN 2012: Chronological? Functional? Combination?

Author's Note: FAR TOO MANY JOB SEEKERS STILL THINK THAT CHOOSING THE RIGHT RESUME FORMAT IS ALL THERE IS TO CREATING A WINNING RESUME. NOT SO. IT IS ONLY A START AND WILL NOT GUARANTEE A SUCCESSFUL RESUME. WHY? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SELL YOURSELF ON PAPER?  PROBABLY NOT. PLEASE GET PROFESSIONAL HELP!

Choosing the best resume format in 2012 will increase your chances of getting hired in this recession. It will highlight your strengths and hide or disguise your shortcomings or resume blemishes


IN A RECESSION, THE RIGHT OR BEST RESUME FORMAT IS CRUCIAL You cannot hope to build a winning resume using the wrong or unsuitable format.



The right or best resume format in your case will help a reader see what you're offering in the FIRST 10-15 LINES. That is your "sell" -- the reasons why you should be HIRED.
Do you really know how to do this? 95% of all job seekers will "undersell" themselves. That means your resume WON'T impress.


Your worst solution is to use a readymade RESUME TEMPLATE! They may look good to you but help you very little. Many of those templates are outdated or of very little value to you. (For example, Microsoft Wizard templates were included in Windows 98 when it was first launched in 1998!)



By using a resume template that you can find on the Internet, your resume will look like thousands of other resumes! It WON'T stand out or be noticed. Please DON'T use a cookie cutter template that looks like all the others.



Will someone else's design also showcase your unique job history and achievements? Not as well as it should. The same shortcoming or limitation applies to any preformatted resume template.



Writing your own resume is NOT like baking cookies. It is essential that you choose your resume format wisely. Your goal is to find a suitable layout that will help you highlight your own strengths and hide or disguise your own shortcomings or other resume blemishes.



Fortunately, there are several RESUME FORMATS to choose from.



The LENGTH of your resume is also a factor and we outgrow certain formats. The crucial question is how and where will you record your skills, strengths and experience in the most effective manner? How and where will you sell yourself in your resume?



Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using the best resume formats:



COMBINATION RESUME FORMAT



A modern Combination resume is a very good answer because this will combine the best features of the traditional Chronological (dates in reverse order) and Functional (skills) resumes.



This format is ideal or the right choice for a senior executive or manager who needs a stronger and better resume to compete in 2012.



This type of resume has a crucial 15-line section at the top for writing an audience-oriented Job Objective and a Summary or Profile or Qualifications Statement. There is also room for a Personal Branding Statement which I personally dislike because it often results in a boring paragraph praising you and your skills but which screeners don't feel like reading!



The Combination resume enables you to present your "CAN DO's" as well as a summary of your "HAVE DONE's" in the top half of Page One. Managers and executives will also be able to include two to three columns listing their areas of experience or expertise. This section is referred to as Core Competencies or Areas of Expertise and always impresses a reader -- even in today's recession.



TARGETED RESUME FORMAT



Nowadays, a targeted resume that addresses an employer's specific needs is the best resume format. It is always the right choice because it focuses your resume towards a specific career objective or job advertisement in a specific company, environment or industry. This is crucial in a recession.



The targeting takes place mainly in the first 15 lines.



A Tailored ("Just-for-You") resume shows the reader what a good "fit" you are for the position advertised. Such resumes will be effective in any job market. They are always the best resume formats in a recession. A tailored resume format is the right format for anyone and at any time.








CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME FORMAT



VERSUS


FUNCTIONAL RESUME FORMAT



The traditional Chronological resume (dates in reverse order) is popular but very "basic".



It does NOT allow someone with 5-20 years' experience to do justice to his or her skills, strengths, and accomplishments.



This format is limited to the facts of your Work Experience and Education. ( It's like a C.V.) Sometimes, a weak Summary or Profile is included.




Where will you write about your abilities? Where will you offer your VALUE? How will you sell yourself? Much of what a recruiter needs to know - your "sell" -- will be missing! You can't afford such a format in a tough buyer's market or recession.



It may therefore surprise you to learn that the widely used Chronological resume is actually incomplete because it is weak as a SALES / MARKETING tool. Unfortunately, this type of resume relies too heavily on selling yourself in a separate cover letter which may or may not be read. Nowadays, many cover letters do not get read as in the '80s when the cover letter was an important selling tool.



FUNCTIONAL RESUME FORMAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT IS NOT LIKED BY MOST EMPLOYERS



Should you therefore go "Functional"? Too many people rush to use the Functional format. The awful reality is that many employers do not care for it and in this recession they will actually hate it.



This resume which has a big skills section at the top (under different headings such as "Management Skills" or "Production Skills").



The skills statements are followed by one-line items setting out brief details of dates and names of employers at the bottom of the page. The resume is therefore "top heavy".



Many employers DON'T care to read a lot about your skills, abilities and achievements unless they can MATCH UP these claims with the job titles and dates to which they refer.



Most employers prefer a "normal" Chronological resume format with dates and job description



Many distrust a Functional resume because they know it is used to hide or disguise your work history. It makes them very wary and suspicious. In a recession, they will simply screen you out in seconds.



In short, choosing the best or right resume format to create an effective resume in your case is not an easy matter and you may need to seek professional resume help.



There are many factors to take into account, including the length of your resume, your accomplishments, as well as shortcomings or potential negatives or "red flag" items. All are crucial for successful job hunting in this recession.



A first-class writer deals with problems of resume design every day and has the necessary skill and expertise to find or develop the best solution for you.



ASCII (ELECTRONIC) RESUME FORMAT



OR



TEXT-BASED RESUME FORMAT



Expert resume writers will also advise you about the advantages and disadvantages of using Electronic (ASCII) resumes (in Notepad) and what can be done to make them look better.



To copy and paste a Microsoft Word document into an online box will result in a resume that looks like a dog's breakfast. There will be a major change in formatting, a loss of underlines, italics and bolds, and some types of bullet. It will need to be patiently converted into an ASCII or text-based format with a maximum of 600 characters per line.



So, please do not rely on your limited knowledge of different formats. Your resume is your most important job search tool and it will always pay you to consult a resume expert. In this recession you have little choice but to do so.



FOR FREE ADVICE, PLEASE CONTACT ME ON 1-718-436-3504.
MY FEES ARE EXTREMELY REASONABLE.


MATTGREENE@AOL.COM




COPYRIGHT, 2006-2012 BY MATTHEW GREENE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Tags:

CHOOSING THE BEST RESUME FORMAT,

CHOOSING BEST RESUME FORMATS,

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME FORMAT
FUNCTIONAL RESUME FORMAT,

TARGETED RESUME FORMAT,

COMBINATION RESUME FORMAT,

BEST RESUME FORMATS IN A RECESSION,ASCII OR ELECTRONIC OR TEXT-BASED RESUME FORMAT,

RIGHT RESUME FORMAT IS CRUCIAL,

RIGHT RESUME FORMAT IN A RECESSION,

RESUME FORMATS IN A RECESSION,

RIGHT RESUME FORMATS,

Using a Sample Resume in 2012 – Pro’s and Con’s

There are advantages in using a "perfect" sample resume to write your own resume in 2012. First, you can get a good idea of what the final product should look like. Second, you may be able to use the same or a similar format. Third, you may be able to copy a few phrases and buzz words.

But don’t become too confident. No sample resume can provide you with all of the ANSWERS you'll need in writing your own resume. Nor will a sample help you to make important DECISIONS about what to include in yours, what to emphasize and what to leave out .

Readymade resume examples will also mislead you because you will never know what has been added or left out during the writing process.

The worst is that you may be copying blindly from someone else's resume without really understanding why the resume was done that way. That resume was once designed for another job seeker with a different work history and his/her own resume problems (or even blemishes). By using the answers given to someone else, you are 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.

The sample resume you are looking at may look very elegant and be neatly done. But has it worked to get the writer job interviews? Some of the most elegant resumes do NOT generate a single interview! They are completely ineffective. Why? Because an elegant, Garamond resume template may not show you WHERE and HOW to add your own "sell" to the neat headings. That means you will be UNDERSELLING yourself which is a fatal mistake.

And that’s why many resume templates are less-than-useful and even outdated!

Most homemade resumes include 20 to 40 stupid black BULLETS. Why? Only to make the resume look "pretty". But those black dots or arrows or other dingbats will NOT impress anyone. There are too many of them. Instead, only 5 to 10 bullets or arrows should be used to draw attention to your most valuable skills and accomplishments. (Please read my # 1 ranked article on Smart and Strategic Bullets.)

Before you decide to copy a phrase written in fancy English, ask yourself whether that is the LANGUAGE used by the employer. The language of a schoolteacher or journalist or literary writer may not be suitable for a job resume.

This is why you need to be extra careful when copying or adapting a JOB OBJECTIVE. Many samples contain objectives that are all "me", "me" instead of addressing what the employer wants to read – what you are offering to do for him/her. Phrases such as "dedicated" and "highly motivated" are turnoffs! Even "results-oriented" is overused.

And don’t ever write that you're seeking a "challenging opportunity in a progressive company or firm". Only God can understand that, not ordinary employers.

In a sample resume, the DATES of employment will usually look "normal". So what must you do about your short-term positions or gaps in your employment history that make you look like an unstable "job hopper"? In a well-written sample, the dates of employment will be expressed only in YEARS. By doing that, the gaps between jobs are closed, your stay in each job will seem longer, and you can now safely omit – yes, leave out, a few of the positions you have held. After all, a resume means "SUMMARY". It is not a True Confessions sheet!

Finally, it is a painful fact that 90% of home-made resumes and resume templates will NOT work in this recession. Please get your resume written or strengthened or "fixed" by a good professional writer.

CALL MATTHEW GREENE FOR FREE ADVICE ON 1-718-436-3504

OR WRITE: mattgreene@aol.com

Copyright, 2006-2012 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
,

Tags:
USING SAMPLE RESUMES

USING SAMPLE RESUMES IN THIS RECESSION,

A MANAGEMENT RESUME IN 2012 MUST BE EFFECTIVE. THAT IS CRUCIAL IN A RECESSION.

An effective management resume is crucial in 2012 or any recession. It sells you in the strongest way and makes the best first impression. This helps you to beat the competition for jobs, gets you interviews and more.

To be effective in a recession , a management resume should highlight your strongest management skills (or skills set) and accomplishments. Do you have any special management or project management training or certifications? Such items will help to "sell" your VALUE or worth to recruiters and employers. They are absolutely crucial.

A good management resume is much more than a plain or "basic" resume. For maximum effectiveness, your resume should target the employer's specific needs or requirements and "sell" you up front. That is crucial in a recession The employer needs to know (in your resume) what type of position you are applying for and what you are offering to meet his or her needs.

Selling yourself starts in your JOB OBJECTIVE! It is the marketing "head" of your resume and tells the reader what position you are seeking.

You should also list your areas of skill or experience or expertise (your key or core competencies) in two or three COLUMNS so that the reader will quickly see that you offer "Leadership" or "Project Management" or "Operations Management" or "Strategic Planning" or "Solutions Selling" or "Team-building" or "Negotiating Skills". And so on.

Thus, in only 10-15 lines, your resume will make you LOOK like the strong management candidate they are eager to interview and hire -- even in 2012 and this recession.

Is your resume still on one page? As a rule, managers CANNOT do themselves justice on one page!

Does your Work Experience consist of 5-7 boring, gray paragraphs with run-on lines?

Do your accomplishments lie buried in the text on Page 2 or 3 where they'll be overlooked or do they stand out?

Are you using 20-50 black "bullets" or arrows in your resume? Why? If you try to draw attention to every line, then every item may be ignored! [Please read http://winning-resumes.com/bullets.htm]

You should be highlighting buzz words or keywords such as "strategic planning" or "cost containment" or "cost reduction" or "turnaround" or "start-up" or "strategic or tactical selling" or "selling to C-level executives" or "business process improvement". Such items are of crucial importance. They could get you hired in this recession.

Are you using black bullets or arrows decoratively in your resume? Why? Bullets should be "smart" and strategic. They are crucial for drawing attention to your accomplishments.(http://winning-resumes.com/bullets.htm)

Finally, why do highly qualified management candidates often fail to land interviews? Many of these were beaten by a less-qualified candidate with the best resume.

Please read the following exerpt from a valuable article that recently appeared in Career Hub. It explains how the employment system works:

"The Best Products, Best Singers and Best Employee Don’t Always Win" (Career Hub)

Seth Godin, the well-known marketing guru and best-selling author feels that "success in business is NOT about the best product. The best products do not win. It's the best marketed and branded products that win." This helps to explain why someone as talented but low-key as 21-year-old Laura White was voted off very early in X-Factor -- the U.K. version of American Idol -- a competition she was supposed to win. Why? She failed to make real contact with the voting audience and she neglected to market and promote herself.

Similarly, it's also a shame when talented, hard working people get laid off or are not hired for jobs while less talented managers either remain employed or find employment. The best approach for getting hired, is effective marketing, branding and self-promotion.

That's what a truly effective job resume can do for you. A resume must be a MARKETING tool. It's the way the hiring system works in a marketing economy. Please don't fight it! Time is NOT on your side. We are in a recession that will be "long and deep". (Warren Buffet). It may even turn into a Depression.

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

OR WRITE: mattgreene@aol.com

Copyright, 2006-2012 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.

Tags:

MANAGEMENT RESUME IN A RECESSION
MANAGEMENT RESUMES IN A RECESSION,
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT RESUME IS CRUCIAL,
MANAGEMENT RESUME IN A HARD TIMES,
RESUME VALUE STATEMENT,

WHY IT PAYS TO GET PROFESSIONAL RESUME HELP

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 tabulation 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 accepting a new job? Please scroll down for six inches! Sorry.

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	-$12,000	- $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 2011. 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 2011 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 2011, is inexcusable! In many cases, their self-written resume is quite well written but the first 10 -15 lines on Page 1 are simply NOT good enough or not focused. Many Branding Statements are utterly boring! Ask Sally the Screener!
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. Those 10-15 lines are often make-or-break!
But far too many job seekers still feel they should create it themselves. They are mistaken! That type of thinking belongs to the 80's and 90'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 CANNOT do this!
Do you know how to select the RIGHT RESUME FORMAT for your needs?

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 2011? 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 2009 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 GOLD STARRED 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 great writing skills, to sell yourself short on paper in 2011 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.: 1-718-436-3504
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, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

WHY DO MANY GOOD I.T. PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A WEAK RESUME PRESENTATION?

It is shocking how many Senior Executive I.T. resumes are weakly presented on paper. To be well-written in perfect English is NOT enough -- it must also be PRESENTED strongly and formatted attractively. A resume is a MARKETING document.

Do I.T. folks really understand the Power of Presentation? Even if you face fierce competition, with a well-written AND effectively presented resume you should be invited to interviews far more often than others more qualified than you.

Here is a letter I usually write to many Senior-level I.T. Executives:

Dear Bob:

"I have carefully reviewed your resume and have very good news for you. You will NOT need to write different resumes at all. Your current resume is 95% of the problem.

Your opening 9-line Branding Statement will be screened out by 98 out of 100 recruiters because it is so boring. It does NOT work for you. A well-written Value Statement will be much more effective. Instead, a brand new 10-15 line Top will need to be constructed for you -- your Value Statement to replace the boring Branding Statement.

To clarify this, I quote you from my own #1 ranked article on the subject:
Click here: Effective Executive Resume - Google Search # 2

"The awful reality is that most executive and management resumes contain serious omissions and/or mistakes. Here are a few:

"The crucial value proposition or value statement or personal branding statement is either poorly worded or unclear or weak or has been omitted. SADLY, MOST PERSONAL BRANDING STATEMENTS ARE A VERY BORING PARAGRAPH. Thus, your main selling message or value statement will be unimpressive or confusing or missing. Nowadays, that could be fatal."

For this purpose, the Areas of Expertise on PAGE 3 may have some value but this has never appeared on Page 3 in all of resume writing history! Frankly, it's the most important section and not the least important.

The rest of your resume is actually well-written but as a PRESENTATION that needs to be read by recruiters it only rates a 1/10 or LESS. Why?

Because you have ignored or broken many marketing rules of presentation. The formatting is very unattractive and the facts are amateurishly presented and highlighted by "daisies". It will require a massive cosmetic exercise to make it appealing, scannable and readable. But this can and will be done. The difference will be like night and day.

At present it is a tragedy that your wonderful accomplishments may not even get read!! This must come as a shock to you but I swear that in my view, your accomplishments are NOT even going to be noticed. What a shame that your exceptional awards may not even be seen at the foot of Page 3.

All in all, your current resume is NOT a MARKETING piece and will easily fail another 100 times. It requires rewriting in the first 10-15 lines and new formatting and heavy cosmetic treatment for the rest of the resume.

The total cost will be very reasonable!!!

Let's talk. I truly want to assist you and I know what I can do for you.

Please do not hesitate to call (718-436-3504) for any further information or advice. In any event, I may need to call you again to obtain additional information.

Thank you again for your interest in my first-class resume service in which I do all of the writing. I do not farm out work and will do my best for you. In other resume services your work may be sourced out to unknown persons.

Sincerely

Matt
Matthew Greene
President
www.winning-resumes.com

YOUR WRITING SKILLS MAY HELP OR HINDER YOU IN WRITING A WINNING RESUME

Your good writing skills do NOT always help you to write a winning resume. They may actually HINDER you. They may also hold you back from seeking the professional help you need! This is a very common problem.

Many job seekers with strong writing skills, feel that they also know how to write a winning resume for 2011. They are very much mistaken. To MARKET oneself effectively on paper is a different ballgame. It is all about presentation.
For example, many majors in English, Writing, Marketing, and Communications believe that they are also "qualified" or have all of the required skills to write an effective resume. Wrong!

Unfortunately, they will have 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 this is more about Self-Marketing than about English 101. Job seekers with good writing skills are often their own worst enemies. 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 very big risk 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!)

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

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

WHY A SELF-WRITTEN SENIOR I.T. RESUME FAILED 70 TIMES

Many Information Technology (IT) job seekers do NOT present themselves properly and effectively on paper. They don't bother to "sell" themselves or write a Value Statement. In today's job market, many do not bother to address the specific requirements of jobs. That is always fatal!

An outstanding V.P. of Information Technology recently sent me a resume to evaluate because it was NOT working. It was written by himself and in perfect English but he had had NO response to seventy (70) mailed resumes to date. Why? This is what I found:

First, his vague 4-line Profile describing himself as a "Dynamic professional...." What does that mean?

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 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 70 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.

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

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

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved

WHY SPEND MONEY ON A PROFESSIONAL RESUME IN 2012? IT PAYS TO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP.

Why spend money on a resume in 2012? To pay money to get good professional help will always pay. A first-class resume writer is worth his or her weight in gold.

Some people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe to look good during interviews, yet they are not willing to spend money on a resume. That piece of paper holds the key to the job interview and to your future.

In 2012, a job resume that works is NOT a luxury item or expense. It is a necessity. It helps you get interviews and land a good job.

The average time to find a job is now 33.6 weeks -- more than 8 MONTHS -- according to September 2010 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If it takes you 33 weeks to find work, you are missing out on 33 weekly paychecks. That money is gone. Poof. Up in smoke. Can you afford that? Add in a mortgage, car payments, healthcare and it only gets worse. That's the real cost of unemployment if your resume is not getting you job interviews.
In my 24 years as a resume writer, I've often seen how only one or two hundred dollars or more spent on professional help to make a resume more effective, is money very well spent.
Patricia O. spent only $150 and was chosen out of hundreds for a position in New York City as Assistant Property Manager. She was NOT the best qualified candidate. They said she had the best resume!

On 23rd August, 2011 Edward P. obtained an "amazing" IT Management position at Amazon after spending $250 on an excellent tailored resume that covered a few bases.
Antonio S., an Assistant Inventory Control Director reported that his improved resume opened the doors to six retail department stores he was interested in. He was able to discover who might be interested in hiring him and at what salary. It was the least expensive way of exploring the job market at $40 per job interview for a senior-level position.

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 a bonus when he was hired by Guidant.
I could give you hundreds and hundreds of examples of how spending $125 or $150 or $200 or $300 on a resume, resulted in dramatic improvements in jobs and increased earnings. In my view, there is NO better investment of your money than on an effective resume. Such a resume can be opening doors for you while you're asleep in bed.
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]

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.: 1-718-436-3504

JOB SEEKERS ARE CONFUSED ABOUT PREPARING A WINNING RESUME

MANY JOB SEEKERS ARE CONFUSED ABOUT PREPARING A WINNING RESUME.
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 2011? 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 2009 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 GOLD STARRED 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 great writing skills, to sell yourself short on paper in 2011 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.: 1-718-436-3504