Blue Screen of Death
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By Jack Mayoff
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The Blue Screen of resume death is that period when you have sent out a 1000 resumes and still aren't working.
The sad news is that simply sending out resumes is not enough to secure employment anywhere. Your search will require you to be much smarter than simply acting like a mailing service if you want work anytime soon.
First, start your job search by writing down every class, training and job skill that you have accumulated onto a sheet of paper. From this list you will make a list of special "keywords" that represent your skills, training and experience. Second, use Google, Overture or Yahoo keyword tools to find other words that will have the same meaning and other Keywords. For example if you are an attorney looking for work it would be a mistake to just list "attorney" as the only keyword. Attorney can also include lawyer, corporate attorney, general counsel, counselor, esquire and litigator. Someone searching for an attorney could use any of these other keywords and your resume would never be pulled from an Internet job site. Another example is similar work words. For example, if you work for a call center a popular keyword is "BPO" (Business Processes Outsourcing) or if you are an attorney a good keyword is "transactional" and so forth. These keywords should either be listed within your resume or placed at the bottom of the resume in a section labeled "keywords for search" but included in the description of your last job (the reason is so that employers and recruiters searching Monster.com or CareerBuilder.com will pull up your resume). As to the resume itself less is better. The purpose of a resume is to get someone to pick up the phone and call you for an interview. A resume should not be your life story. A resume need not include every job you ever had or even every place you ever worked. To often prospects believe they have to list all their work history on their resume. Not true. This is particularly not true if you are a job jumper (regardless of fault) and have held a bunch of short duration jobs. In that instance you may want to have a resume broken down into skill sections or types of work instead of the focus being on the "place of your work." Similarly, if you have more than 15 years of work consider listing only the pertinent work history. Nobody cares if 14 years ago you worked in a car wash or sold shoes for Foot Locker if you are now applying for something unrelated.
There is nothing set in stone about how to get your resume noticed. A resume is simply the vehicle to an interview.
For electronic resume boards use keywords, for direct mailers (yes, direct mailings are a great idea to be seen. Figure that for every 100 resumes you send out you will generate three interviews. List can be purchased from, "Book of Lists," " Chamber of Commerce," "coles Directory," and many other companies that maintain list of business and business owners) and always, always followup with a phone call. In addition, put your resume on the Internet. Don't assume that you can't afford to electronically advertise yourself on the Internet. Try again. Aside from web hosting which can be purchased for $3.00 per month there are many, many programs which will help you build a basic website using non-html programs. You can also get free hosting from places like GoDaddy.com and free web making programs such as the Windows Publisher program within your Microsoft Bundle of programs.
Finally, if you are placing your resume onto the Internet be sure to get a free program that will track visitors to your site/resume. Many programs such as http://statcounter.com will track visitors coming to your site including their IP address and the domain from which they came. For example, if the HR Department of Garland City visited your site the state counter will show the IP address and that the host was "Garland City." Armed with this information you can target them with a phone call. This site has many more tools for helping you to market yourself and get that job. Read the articles and contact us if you need further assistance.
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Article Source: http://ColtonIndustries.org by expert Jack Mayoff
Here are some examples of how others have written Resume Objectives. They include Coypywriter, Account executive, Program Development Coordinator, Retail Sales, Management, Programming, finanancial manager, teacher, admin in health care, secretary, nurse and Journalist.
Copywriter/Account executive in Advertising or Public Relations Agency.
Program Development, Coordination, and Administration ... especially in a growth-oriented organization where there is team work, entrepreneurship and sound planning.
A position of responsibility in retail sales.
A middle/upper-level management position with responsibilities including problem solving, planning, organizing, and managing budgets.
Challenging position in programming or related areas that would best utilize creative talents and thought processes. This position should have many opportunities for an aggressive, dedicated individual with the leadership abilities.
To obtain a position as a financial manager in the health care industry, where my experience will be called on daily in demonstrating accomplishments by success decision making.
To obtain a position as an Elementary School Teacher in which a strong dedication to the total development of children and a high degree of professionalism can be fully utilized.
An administrative position in the area of health care utilizing my knowledge of clinical, community, and patient services.
Highly skilled Executive Secretary with years of executive loyalty and outstanding professional experience including:
Ability to communicate with all levels of management and employees while maintaining confidentiality, use of word processing, Windows, Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, Word, Word Perfect, Power point and many other document preparation
International communication liaison with subsidiary companies
Contract negotiation bargaining team member experienced in FARS and government contracting,
Seeking a position as a Registered Nurse where I can be most effective in helping other medical personnel assist patients and provide quality health care.
Obtain a challenging, entry-level position in Broadcast Journalism, with a special interest in under cover or investigative reporting, anchoring, and producing segment pieces with a commercial or PBS television station.
Position as a Word Processing Secretary that will utilize my computer knowledge, strong people skills, organizational abilities, and business experience.
How to Write A Good Resume Objective
1. Avoid job titles - Resume Objective.
Job titles such as "Secretary" or "Market Manager" can involve very different activities in different organizations. The same job can often have different titles in different organizations and using such a title may very well limit your being considered for such jobs as "Office Manager" or "Marketing Assistant." It is best to use broad categories of jobs rather than specific titles, so that you can be considered for a wide variety of jobs related to the skills you have. For example, instead of "Secretary" you could say "Responsible Office Management or Clerical Position" if that is what you would really consider - and qualify for.
2. Define a "bracket of responsibility" to include the possibility of upward mobility - Resume Objective.
While you may be willing to accept a specific job drawing on your current skills keep yourself open for jobs that require higher levels of responsibility and pay. Use categories of skills and titles so that the person reviewing your resume might consider you for other openings.
In effect, you should define a 'bracket of responsibility' in your objective that includes the range of jobs that you are willing to accept. This bracket should include the lower range of jobs that you would consider as well as those requiring higher levels of responsibility, up to and including those that you think you could handle. Even if you have not handled those higher levels of responsibility in the past, many employers may consider you for them if you have the skills to support the objective.
3. Include your most important skills - Resume Objective.
What are the most important skills needed for the job you want? Consider including one or more of these as being required in the job that you seek. The implication here is that if you are looking for a job that requires 'Organizational Skills,' then you have those skills. Of course, your interview (and resume) should support those skills with specific examples.
4. Include specifics if these are important to you - Resume Objective.
If you have substantial experience in a particular industry (such as 'Computer Controlled Machine Tools') or have a narrow and specific objective that you really want (such as 'Art Therapist with the Mentally Handicapped'), then it is OK to state this. But, in so doing, realize that by narrowing your alternatives down you will often not be considered for other jobs for which you might qualify. Still, if that is what you want, it just may be worth pursuing (though I would still encourage you to have a second, more general objective just in case).
Finalize Your Resume Objective Statement
The most important is that you can clearly state what sort of a job you want and know what kinds of skills and experiences are needed to do well in that job. Even if you decide to change your job objective later, it is very important that you decide on one now for effective marketing.
Don’t be afraid to interview for jobs that seem far outside your skill set. If you don’t force yourself to reach higher you will never be considered. Don’t expect lady luck to come knocking when you could have opened the door and walked thru. Ask about opportunities for advancement. Apply for jobs above your last experience and challenge yourself.
Having spent years working with highly paid executives it is obvious most executives are learning as they go. Few know exactly what they are doing. What they do know is how to take chances, accept risk and turn everyday events into income producing opportunities. Make yourself reach for that next level up. You too can make it to the top of your field/company. See you there.
Other Resume Resources
Ultimate online encyclopedia including resume tips and information
Resource maker and writing site with dice type information
Helpful site for assembling a resume
Good Career development resource
The Ultimate Monster for job seekers
Learn the ultimate interview method
Career Builder lacks the search engine of the ultimate sites but a good resource
Great resume resource
Full of information on resume objectives and has that cute owl
Online resume builder
Ultimate resource for college graduates
Free examples of resume objectives
Monster provides resume samples here
Good site for general resume info
Rock Port Institute brings free resume objective information
Resume writing center
The Riley Guide of resume writing
The Job Web has many library resources including interview coaching and resume objectives
Key and free is where resume objectives are obtained
Home page for a great example of how to make a resume
Free resume help and resume online maker and writing service
e-resume with ultimate key resume objectives
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