Blast Your Resume to the Moon or Target Your Mark?

If you do what all the large job banks and resume distributors suggest, you’ll upload your resume on their sites so they can blast your resume to all the jobs in their database that fit your profile, according to information you provide. Get your resume in front of 100s or 1,000s of employers, they’ll tell you.

But, I’ve heard from recruiters themselves, as recently as this week, that they receive too many resumes that are totally inappropriate or that come with a generic cover letter. That tells them instantly that these candidates didn’t target them and they didn’t do any research about the employer or the job.

You might as well blast your resume to the moon!

When I was in a hiring position, I often received well over 100 resumes for a job in my department. Here is how I sorted them out:

Instant Trash Bin Candidates:
Resumes with generic cover letters, no cover letter at all or letters addressed to the wrong employer
Resumes with errors

The Maybe Pile:
Resumes with some potential but maybe not quite on the mark

The Yes, I Need to Read These Again Pile:
Resumes that show relevant experience and accomplishments
Resumes with cover letters that address the job description and my organization

Robo resumes are about as popular with recruiters and hiring managers as robo calls are with voters, and they are probably less productive, if they do you any good at all. My advice is: don't do it.

Resumes Are Shape Shifters

There are many schools of thought on how many versions of your resume you should create.

There are those who declare that one version is all you need. Others say you should have one to three well-written, accurate resumes that are targeted to the types of job you are seeking, if they have different requirements. Still others propose that you create multiple resumes, especially if you are attending job fairs or posting your resume on searchable job boards—to be ready for anything that comes up.

But I’ve heard it straight from two local D.C. HR professionals that in order to stand out today, you should customize for each job application. In other words, make your resume fit the job. Naturally, that doesn’t mean to make things up. What it does mean is:

1. Read the job description carefully.
2. Find the key words that describe the requirements and responsibilities of the position.
3. Insert those key words where they belong in your resume (and also your cover letter).
4. Highlight specifically what you offer that the employer is seeking.

Here are a couple of articles on the topic of resumes and versions:
http://marketing.theladders.com/career-advice/how-many-resume-versions-too-many
http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/Resume-Writing-Tips/Resume-Tips-for-Job-Fairs/article.aspx

Business Casual for Networking—What Exactly Does That Mean?

You’re getting ready to attend a networking event. It’s time to make a positive first impression on prospective employers and others who may lead you to one. The announced dress code is “business casual.” What the heck does that mean?

For one thing, it may depend on your city or area whether business casual really means dressy but not cocktail party wear or it means a nice pair of khaki’s and a clean dress shirt with no tie. A career advisor told a group session I attended that Washington, D.C. is a conservative city, so wear a nice business suit (with a tie, for men) or dress (and heels). But there are times when that is not necessarily true and a dressy shirt with nice slacks for either gender would be just fine.

You want to be noticed, but in a positive way, and you want to be remembered not for your clothes, but for who you are and what you say. For sure, however, business casual in a networking environment is not jeans, tank tops, short skirts or other revealing clothing. And, you definitely don’t want to make your appearance wearing flip flops.

Here are some sites with tips on business casual attire that may be helpful. http://www.ehow.com/how_49_dress-business-casual.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_business_casual_attire_for_women
http://www.career.vt.edu/Jobsearc/BusCasual.htm

Personally, if I am not sure about an event, my approach is to arrive slightly overdressed rather than too casual.

Put on a Smile and Get out the Door

After too many days in a row in the house at the computer and phone, searching for and applying for jobs, it’s so easy to distance yourself from the real world. It’s time to get out the door and go to places and events where you can make connections, meet recruiters and hiring managers, and add to your knowledge. There are tons of ways to do this in the D.C. area (see my posting on building your network for some).

If you haven’t ventured into the networking arena, it’s time to start, because it’s a crucial part of finding a job. Here are a few tips:

1. Print some professional-looking business cards that include enough information about you to spur interest in staying in touch with you. They should include contact information at the least, but it’s also good to put your own URL or blog address, Twitter name and LinkedIn profile address.

2. Practice a confident handshake and your elevator speech. Be prepared to look people in the eye and tell them quickly, in a noisy environment, who you are and what you are looking for.

3. Pick clothes that will impress, shave off the “I’m not going anywhere today” stubble or fix up your hair, and put on a smile. Check your image, head to toe, in a mirror before you leave the house.

4. Follow up. This is probably the most important part of networking—what you do after the event. Invite them to link with you on social networks and share information, tips and ideas with them. Then, stay in touch periodically.

The Washing Machine Wins

If you saw my July 8 posting Problem Solving with Persistence--Life with an Errant Washing Machine, then you know I have a quirky machine. It has almost all new parts, but it continues to knock and rock its way through the spin cycle. This machine has been quite an interruption to my job search because I’ve had to reserve several four-hour windows for a repairman to return.

I prepared for this visit by starting a load of odds and ends as soon as the automated phone call came to tell me that I was next in line for a service call. When the machine reached the point where it would refill for the final rinse, I paused it.

Aha, I’ll show him, I thought. He’ll nod and say, “Wow. I see what you mean!” Just the day before, when I ran it, the machine sounded like it was going to take off for the moon, so I was confident that Bob, the repairman, who I had previously found to be a nice guy and very competent, would agree that this loco washer should be replaced.

But, of course, it didn’t perform. Just like the toothache that goes away the moment you sit in the dentist’s chair, the machine silently laughed at me while it spun the load. That day it sounded quiet as a kitten. So, the beat goes on.

Staying Positive When Time Drags On

Let’s face it, the economy is way down and news reports tell us every day how bad the outlook is. Unemployment is up here and there (although reportedly not quite so bad in the D.C. area as in many other U.S. regions). Companies are doubling up the workload on the employees they kept after laying off others and hiring fewer temps. I could go on and on.

It’s easy to get sucked into the gloom and doom scene, which can drag you down so that your job search becomes a perceived exercise in futility. Once that happens, your low mood will sabotage your efforts and show on your face and in your voice. I know. I’ve had a few days since my March layoff when the job hunt seemed hopeless, but it’s not. For example, I heard from a recruiter the other day that he’s seeing some action on the hiring front. Things are beginning to stir.

Also, if you get out and meet people in and out of your own field at local networking or learning events, you will find a great community of helpful professionals, willing to offer tips, support, leads and comfort. The main thing is to stay active in your professional arena. You may be on the outside now, but it could be your door to getting back inside. For me, it has been a lifeline to keeping a positive outlook and continuing on.

After a Layoff—Which Comes First?

Today I took a look at Patra Frame’s video on You Tube, entitled “The Worst Mistake in a Job Search.” Patra is a management consultant, speaker and author in the Washington, D.C. area (Strategies for Human Resources). Her series of videos for jobseekers includes this one, in which she offers advice on what to do first when you lose a job…and it’s not quite the same as I suggested in my July 9 posting, although not totally opposed to it.

On July 16, I suggested that after being laid off, you should contact everyone you know to tell them of your new situation and then gather your resources, including your resume, before doing anything else. Next, I said, you should take stock of yourself. Patra reverses the order, and she may be right about that. How can you write a resume if you don’t really know what direction you are going?

Job Hunting With a Point of View

As Lois Kelly writes in her book on marketing in today’s social world, Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing, some of the most successful companies identify a point of view that defines how they will operate. Taking this one step further, what is your point of view about your career?

What do I mean by this? Your vision addresses the characteristics of a career move, but your point of view is all about who you are. Here’s a brief example of a point of view:

I want work that I can deeply support and enjoy—something that I can be passionate about. I get a charge from challenges and working with people. I believe in getting the job done, doing it on time and doing it well. Words are my friend.

This point-of-view statement applies to someone who cares about mission because of her own values. She also knows the environmental factors that are important to her and what she likes to do. Now it’s up to her to find and target the organizations/companies that offer the mission, challenge, environment and work mode she wants.

If you have your own career point of view, you are welcome to share it as a comment.

(See the previous post for discussion of defining your vision.)