reCareered by Phil Rosenberg

02:41 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

How to Take Control of the Interview

Ever get all excited for an interview, only to be frustrated that it didn’t go as well as planned? Maybe your experience wasn’t portrayed in its best light, or your many accomplishments weren’t valued.
How can you avoid this outcome, and take control of the interview?
It’s really not that hard….partially it’s how you approach the interview, and partially how you employ some interview tactics.
Change your approach:
So how do you change your approach to gain control of an interview? Stop being defensive – most job candidates take a defensive interview stance and answer questions that the interviewer asks. The stronger candidates go on the offensive…they interview the company.
So take a strong offense in your interview approach. As a candidate, interview the company to see how the fit is for you. Get a feeling to see will your skills will be valued? Do you see a mentorship relationship with anyone you’ve interviewed with? Does the company “feel” right? Can you succeed here? Does the company’s management style and culture fit your personality comfortably? Is there growth potential for the company, and for your career?
Change your tactics:
Most candidates rattle off their life story, going through every job they’ve had since they delivered papers in Junior High. Not only does this not help you demonstrate subject matter expertise in an interview, it bores the interviewer to death. Worse yet, it wastes valuable time for you to interview the company and make an impression as a leader. If you could take control of the interview, would you try a different tactic?
So how do you interview the company? Ask questions - Lots of them. Especially ask questions where you already know the answer, based on your research. For instance, let’s say you’re a Director of IT, interviewing with a public company that stated in its last 10Q that they plan on growing 25% per year. Could you ask “If your President predicts 25% annual growth, how does that affect IT systems? Are your internal systems prepared to handle that growth? What implications does that growth have on IT, on IT security?”
Of course, you’ll want to make some advance guesses to the answer, so that you can next comment “Oh that’s interesting, I solved that problem at Company X by doing Y”. Do that 2 or 3 times, and you’ve uncovered a company’s top initiatives, problems, and risks. Better yet, you’ve subtly shown that you’ve been there and done that. All of a sudden, you’re the leading candidate, because you’ve shown foresight to anticipate the companies issues….and, by the way, you’ve already solved their problems for prior employers.
If the interviewer tries to gain control of the interview, take it back. Answer the question very quickly, don’t go into details, and quickly ask a related question back to the interviewer.
Let’s say you get a pat interview question (hiring managers use these as filler, HR use these because they don’t always know detailed technical questions to ask) like “What’s your greatest professional challenge?” As long as you’re not going for a job in PR, you could answer something like “Public speaking - I’m taking classes to improve. What are the companies (or department’s) greatest challenges?” Or “I see that industry reports project a downturn in your markets. What is the company doing to prepare? What implications do those plans have on department X? If you aren’t able to pull off this strategy, what’s plan B? What are the implications if this strategy doesn’t work?”
You’re probably not going to ask these kinds of detailed questions of HR, unless you’re interviewing for an HR job. So what do you take control of an interview from a HR interviewer who asks “Where do you see your career in 5 years?” Here’s a time when can work to answer a question with a question. Could you try… “It depends…where do you see the company in 5 years?”
In an interview you can own it, and set the tone of your leadership…or let the interviewer own you.
Which works better for you?
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-take-control-of-interview.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered

12:32 am | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

How to Search Optimize your Resume – Pt 1

Are you getting a 25% response rate to your resume? If you are, stop reading, this article isn’t for you.
If you’re getting less than a 25% response rate to your resume, then your resume is working against you and blocking you from interviews for top positions. Unfortunately, most of the population falls into the under 25% category.
Have you ever complained that your resume goes into a black hole, and that no one ever looks at it?
Guess what, you’re probably right. If you’d like to do something to change that, read on…..
The database is used for word searches on the resume – not the cover letter. In most cases, the cover letter gets stripped from your resume. Most of us (Boomers, Gen X & Y) were taught to write a static resume, and customize with a cover letter. Sound familiar?
And it worked in the olden days of paper resumes. But in the internet age, where resumes are delivered electronically, loaded into a HRIS database, and searched, the cover letter is stripped and not included in the search. Throw out the teaching of old, and embrace a new more effective way of resume strategy – Resume Search Optimization.
If your resume is searched in a database, it’s searched for by keywords. Have you ever done a keyword search yourself? You probably do one every day of your life…it’s called Google. Companies pay big money to consultants to search optimize their web pages, to make them appear at the top of a Google search.
You can do the same thing with your resume. But it requires you to think a different way.
Start with a solid base resume that paints you as a subject matter expert in your field. Then take the job description, and load your resume with key words in the job description.
So how many resume templates will you have?
One for each job you apply to…because to search optimize your resume effectively, it turns your resume into a single use document. Each employer gets a heavily customized resume.
Yes, it takes a ton of time per resume. But it gives you an unfair advantage, of gaming the HRIS database, and forcing your resume to the top 2-3%. And gets your resume seen by humans….at least 25% of the time.
There’s a lot more to it, and I’ll continue with subsequent postings to describe the details.
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-search-optimize-your-resume-pt-1.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

08:46 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

LinkedIN strategies – Tight vs Broad Network

There’s been a controversy going on within the LinkedIN crowd for years.
Is it more effective for your job search to build a LinkedIN network of close personal connections? Or instead, build a network with a broad reach, but weak connections?
It depends on your purpose, and networking style. If you’re reading this blog, chances are your purpose is to change careers or jobs. Also think about how your network can be beneficial AFTER you land your new job.
So let’s consider your networking style…
Are you:
1) A broad networker who tries to know everyone
OR
2) A networker who cultivates close ties and strong relationships
Most of us do a little of both in real life, and our close network is a subset of our broader network. Your LinkedIN strategy will likely parallel how you network in real life. In face to face networks, most forge strong relationships with ten close friends, plus maintain a looser network of hundreds or thousands, including people met briefly at networking events and trade shows.
Tight Network: The advantage of a tight network is your network will go the extra yard for you. These are people who are your close friends and business associates, and are likely to go to greater lengths to help you. Your tight network will introduce you to just about anyone, because they know you value THEIR reputation.
The disadvantage is a lack of critical mass. Ten or even a hundred friends do not take you very far with LinkedIN. Not only is your ability to search limited to your own network, but your ability to be found is limited also.
Broad Network: The advantage of a broad network is sheer volume. Since LinkedIN allows you 3 levels of connections, a large network multiplies exponentially into a MASSIVE network at its third level. A massive network is great for broadcasting messages, searching for employers, and searching for talent. A massive network allows you greater chances of being included in other users’ searches for your specific subject matter expertise. And finally, having a massive network gives you a better chance of finding people within your target companies or within companies who are advertising for positions.
The biggest disadvantage of a broad network is spam, but it’s avoidable. First, be careful how you invite others, so you don’t send templates that sound “spammy” – LinkedIN takes a poor view of spammers. To avoid receiving spam, set up a separate email address for LinkedIN, and set your spam controls tightly to block messages from Nigerian Lawyers who want you to cash their $20 million checks. For instance, my LinkedIN email is phil.linkedin@gmail.com (please spare me all the notifications of winning the European lottery).
Mixed Approach: Here’s what I do – a little of both. I keep a close network on my personal database (Outlook, Act, etc.), and keep a broad network on LinkedIN. I’m able to update the status line of my LinkedIN profile to let my broad network of over 8 million contacts see that I’ve posted new daily job tips. In addition, I can better serve my job changing clients by keeping a massive network of business professionals to refer to.
Please comment….I’d enjoy a discussion of what the readers have to say about what LinkedIN strategies have worked.
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation/Free teleseminar, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/linkedin-strategies-1-tight-vs-broad.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

08:43 pm | 0 recommendations | 2 comments

Top 50 Web 2.0 Tools for Job seekers

So what’s all the fuss over Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is the interactive web, where users provide the content. Why does that matter to a job seeker?
Because Web 2.0 gives every job seeker the opportunity to promote subject matter expertise. Web 2.0 gives multiple formats and platforms and tools to allow job seekers to announce to the world “I know my stuff!”.
In addition, Web 2.0 can help job seekers get found on Google, Yahoo, and other popular search engines.
So what does Web 2.0 look like? Here’s a listing of my favorite 50 Web 2.0 sites for job seekers:
1. LinkedIN – Social Network, primarily business
2. FaceBook – Social Network, business and personal
3. MySpace – Social network, primarily personal
4. Ning – Private Social networks
5. Plaxo – Contact synchronizer
6. ZoomInfo – Business directory
7. Spoke – Business Directory & Social network
8. Jigsaw – Business Directory & Social Network
9. YouTube – User generated video
10. Twitter – Text-like social network
11. Pownce – File Sharing social network
12. Flickr – User Generated Photo sharing
13. Zooomr – User generated photo sharing and text for mobile
14. Yahoo Answers – User generated questions and answers
15. LinkedIN Answers – User generated questions and answers
16. Google Answers – User generated questions and answers
17. FaceBook Groups – Common interest based groups
18. Yahoo Groups – Common interest based groups
19. Google Groups – Common interest based groups
20. Grou.ps – Common interest based groups
21. Blogger – Blog platform
22. Wordpress – Blog platform
23. Typepad – Blog platform
24. Del.icio.us – Social bookmarking
25. Ma.gnolia – Social bookmarking
26. Furl – Social Bookmarking
27. Reddit – Submit, vote on, and rank news
28. Digg – User submitted reviews of websites, services
29. Technorati – User reviews of what’s happening on the live web
30. StumbleUpon – User reviews and web channel surfing
31. Pandora – User defined internet radio
32. Last.fm – User defined Internet radio
33. Skype – Social network, IM, and VOIP
34. Jaxtr – VOIP linked to websites, blogs and social networks
35. Fon – By, sell, and share wifi connections
36. Meebo – Web based multi platform IM
37. Google Maps – Mashup maps with other data
38. Yahoo Maps – Mashup maps with other data
39. Google Calendar – Shared and mashup calendars
40. Evite – User generated invitations and events
41. Meetup – User generated special interest group meeting listings
42. Eventful – Create and share events
43. Favorville – People helping people
44. Prosper – Peer to Peer lending
45. Indeed – Job listing aggregator
46. SimplyHired – Job listing aggregator, also on LinkedIN
47. FeedDemon – Manage RSS feeds
48. Wikipedia – User created encyclopedia
49. Razume – User submitted resumes, professional community review & Feedback
50. Clusty – Cluster Search results in folders
This is just a list of my favorites. There are hundreds of Web 2.0 tools available on the web today.
How will you Web 2.0 your job search?
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.
Trackback:
http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/top-50-web-20-tools-for-job-seekers.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

08:30 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Top 50 Web 2.0 Tools for Job seekers

So what’s all the fuss over Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is the interactive web, where users provide the content. Why does that matter to a job seeker?
Because Web 2.0 gives every job seeker the opportunity to promote subject matter expertise. Web 2.0 gives multiple formats and platforms and tools to allow job seekers to announce to the world “I know my stuff!”.
In addition, Web 2.0 can help job seekers get found on Google, Yahoo, and other popular search engines.
So what does Web 2.0 look like? Here’s a listing of my favorite 50 Web 2.0 sites for job seekers:
1. LinkedIN – Social Network, primarily business
2. FaceBook – Social Network, business and personal
3. MySpace – Social network, primarily personal
4. Ning – Private Social networks
5. Plaxo – Contact synchronizer
6. ZoomInfo – Business directory
7. Spoke – Business Directory & Social network
8. Jigsaw – Business Directory & Social Network
9. YouTube – User generated video
10. Twitter – Text-like social network
11. Pownce – File Sharing social network
12. Flickr – User Generated Photo sharing
13. Zooomr – User generated photo sharing and text for mobile
14. Yahoo Answers – User generated questions and answers
15. LinkedIN Answers – User generated questions and answers
16. Google Answers – User generated questions and answers
17. FaceBook Groups – Common interest based groups
18. Yahoo Groups – Common interest based groups
19. Google Groups – Common interest based groups
20. Grou.ps – Common interest based groups
21. Blogger – Blog platform
22. Wordpress – Blog platform
23. Typepad – Blog platform
24. Del.icio.us – Social bookmarking
25. Ma.gnolia – Social bookmarking
26. Furl – Social Bookmarking
27. Reddit – Submit, vote on, and rank news
28. Digg – User submitted reviews of websites, services
29. Technorati – User reviews of what’s happening on the live web
30. StumbleUpon – User reviews and web channel surfing
31. Pandora – User defined internet radio
32. Last.fm – User defined Internet radio
33. Skype – Social network, IM, and VOIP
34. Jaxtr – VOIP linked to websites, blogs and social networks
35. Fon – By, sell, and share wifi connections
36. Meebo – Web based multi platform IM
37. Google Maps – Mashup maps with other data
38. Yahoo Maps – Mashup maps with other data
39. Google Calendar – Shared and mashup calendars
40. Evite – User generated invitations and events
41. Meetup – User generated special interest group meeting listings
42. Eventful – Create and share events
43. Favorville – People helping people
44. Prosper – Peer to Peer lending
45. Indeed – Job listing aggregator
46. SimplyHired – Job listing aggregator, also on LinkedIN
47. FeedDemon – Manage RSS feeds
48. Wikipedia – User created encyclopedia
49. Razume – User submitted resumes, professional community review & Feedback
50. Clusty – Cluster Search results in folders
This is just a list of my favorites. There are hundreds of Web 2.0 tools available on the web today.
How will you Web 2.0 your job search?
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/top-50-web-20-tools-for-job-seekers.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

02:20 am | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

LinkedIN strategies – Tight vs Broad Network

There’s been a controversy going on within the LinkedIN crowd for years.
Is it more effective for your job search to build a LinkedIN network of close personal connections? Or instead, build a network with a broad reach, but weak connections?
It depends on your purpose, and networking style. If you’re reading this blog, chances are your purpose is to change careers or jobs. Also think about how your network can be beneficial AFTER you land your new job.
So let’s consider your networking style…
Are you:
1) A broad networker who tries to know everyone
OR
2) A networker who cultivates close ties and strong relationships
Most of us do a little of both in real life, and our close network is a subset of our broader network. Your LinkedIN strategy will likely parallel how you network in real life. In face to face networks, most forge strong relationships with ten close friends, plus maintain a looser network of hundreds or thousands, including people met briefly at networking events and trade shows.
Tight Network: The advantage of a tight network is your network will go the extra yard for you. These are people who are your close friends and business associates, and are likely to go to greater lengths to help you. Your tight network will introduce you to just about anyone, because they know you value THEIR reputation.
The disadvantage is a lack of critical mass. Ten or even a hundred friends do not take you very far with LinkedIN. Not only is your ability to search limited to your own network, but your ability to be found is limited also.
Broad Network: The advantage of a broad network is sheer volume. Since LinkedIN allows you 3 levels of connections, a large network multiplies exponentially into a MASSIVE network at its third level. A massive network is great for broadcasting messages, searching for employers, and searching for talent. A massive network allows you greater chances of being included in other users’ searches for your specific subject matter expertise. And finally, having a massive network gives you a better chance of finding people within your target companies or within companies who are advertising for positions.
The biggest disadvantage of a broad network is spam, but it’s avoidable. First, be careful how you invite others, so you don’t send templates that sound “spammy” – LinkedIN takes a poor view of spammers. To avoid receiving spam, set up a separate email address for LinkedIN, and set your spam controls tightly to block messages from Nigerian Lawyers who want you to cash their $20 million checks. For instance, my LinkedIN email is phil.linkedin@gmail.com (please spare me all the notifications of winning the European lottery).
Mixed Approach: Here’s what I do – a little of both. I keep a close network on my personal database (Outlook, Act, etc.), and keep a broad network on LinkedIN. I’m able to update the status line of my LinkedIN profile to let my broad network of over 8 million contacts see that I’ve posted new daily job tips. In addition, I can better serve my job changing clients by keeping a massive network of business professionals to refer to.
Please comment….I’d enjoy a discussion of what the readers have to say about what LinkedIN strategies have worked.
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation/Free teleseminar, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/linkedin-strategies-1-tight-vs-broad.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

05:11 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

What to Wear? Acing the Interview

A client of mine feels like he always comes in second in interviews. He does well, but he wants to do more than just do well. He wants to Ace the interview.

So how do you Ace the interview? How do you communicate that you're the top person for the job?
I'll be publishing interview tips in an "Acing the Interview" series. First – What do you wear in an interview?

The old paradigm was to overdress for the interview. Translation: Suit. But that's not the right message to send in many places today, that are business casual. Overdressing may give the hiring manager the impression of you being stuffy, rigid, not "fitting in", or too formal. On the other hand, dressing under hiring manager expectations may give the impression of sloppiness, not serious, uncaring, or not wanting the job.

Miss either way, and you give the definite impression that you didn't listen. Probably because you didn't listen…or ask.

Because when in Rome…..yep, dress like the Romans.

So how do you find out what to wear? ASK. Definitely ask the person who set up the interview, but remember, they are likely in HR, not in the hiring manager's department. So who should you ask?
By now, you should have been networking, in person or virtually (through LinkedIN and FaceBook), so you have inside tracks to the company. Reach out to your contacts, and ask them about the company, what it's like working there, how formal the company is, dress code, etc. Ask how the company feels about facial hair if you are a man with a mustache, beard, or goatee (I've been personally asked how attached to a goatee I was during an interview – I wasn't attached, and got the job).

But there are other places to find out what Rome is like. Check the company's website, annual report, and marketing literature. How are the people dressed? If the CEO isn't wearing a suit in the Annual Report, chances are that you shouldn't wear a suit to an interview. Talk to recruiters….even if they didn't arrange the interview. Recruiters will know if they work with the company, and they'll appreciate you telling them about a specific opening.
Search for blogs about the company. Many larger companies have official blogs that describe life inside that company. Many unofficial blogs exist also, where you can see the good, the bad, and the ugly about the company you're interviewing with.
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-to-wear-acing-interview-part-1.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

08:49 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

LinkedIN Strategies: Recommendations

One of LinkedIN’s more powerful features for job seekers is their recommendations feature.
LinkedIN allows users to ask for recommendations from past managers, co workers, business partners and service providers. Some on LinkedIN have collected hundreds, others don’t use this at all.
As a job seeker, LinkedIN Recommendations can be a way to highlight your accomplishments and Subject Matter Expertise. Better yet, it’s done publicly, and on a website that is VERY searchable on Google & Yahoo. Still better, it’s a way to give references, that won’t get bothered by calls or emails.
But how can you maximize the value of LinkedIN’s recommendation features? Here are 5 tips:
1. Choose the message you wish your recommendation to portray. Plan strategically what each recommender will say about you.
• Tell them the points you’d like them to make (Expert in .net Project Management, Saved X% for company through this project, Developed and led marketing strategy for nonprofit that increased donations by X%)
• Do not ask for open ended recommendations – the recommender wants to help you and wants to know what you’d like them to say
• Open ended recommendations can lead to lame or unexpected results
2. Choose your recommenders carefully – The recommender’s reputation is very relevant
• Choose recommender for title, your work relationship with them, or for LinkedIN status
• You can have other people than your boss recommend you. If you deal with clients, have your favorite clients recommend you.
• Heavily LinkedIN recommenders carry some stature on LinkedIN, especially if they recommend your networking help
3. Have recommenders mention points you want to highlight
• Readers believe what others say about you, more than what you say about yourself
4. Don’t display 300 recommendations
• Choose 10 maximum, so the reader focuses on the recommendations that best sell you
5. Give before you ask
• Do the recommender a favor, connect them with someone in your network, give them a sales or recruiting lead, or send information of interest first, before asking for a recommendation
Finally, make sure to send a thank you note, thanking the recommender. Offer to recommend them in return.
LinkedIN Recommendations can be a powerful Web 2.0 tool to build your subject matter expertise and network. You might even get job leads.
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/linkedin-strategies-recommendations.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

08:40 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

LinkedIN Strategies: Recommendations

One of LinkedIN’s more powerful features for job seekers is their recommendations feature.
LinkedIN allows users to ask for recommendations from past managers, co workers, business partners and service providers. Some on LinkedIN have collected hundreds, others don’t use this at all.
As a job seeker, LinkedIN Recommendations can be a way to highlight your accomplishments and Subject Matter Expertise. Better yet, it’s done publicly, and on a website that is VERY searchable on Google & Yahoo. Still better, it’s a way to give references, that won’t get bothered by calls or emails.
But how can you maximize the value of LinkedIN’s recommendation features? Here are 5 tips:
1. Choose the message you wish your recommendation to portray. Plan strategically what each recommender will say about you.
• Tell them the points you’d like them to make (Expert in .net Project Management, Saved X% for company through this project, Developed and led marketing strategy for nonprofit that increased donations by X%)
• Do not ask for open ended recommendations – the recommender wants to help you and wants to know what you’d like them to say
• Open ended recommendations can lead to lame or unexpected results
2. Choose your recommenders carefully – The recommender’s reputation is very relevant
• Choose recommender for title, your work relationship with them, or for LinkedIN status
• You can have other people than your boss recommend you. If you deal with clients, have your favorite clients recommend you.
• Heavily LinkedIN recommenders carry some stature on LinkedIN, especially if they recommend your networking help
3. Have recommenders mention points you want to highlight
• Readers believe what others say about you, more than what you say about yourself
4. Don’t display 300 recommendations
• Choose 10 maximum, so the reader focuses on the recommendations that best sell you
5. Give before you ask
• Do the recommender a favor, connect them with someone in your network, give them a sales or recruiting lead, or send information of interest first, before asking for a recommendation
Finally, make sure to send a thank you note, thanking the recommender. Offer to recommend them in return.
LinkedIN Recommendations can be a powerful Web 2.0 tool to build your subject matter expertise and network. You might even get job leads.
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or information about reCareered's new Teleseminar series, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.

http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/linkedin-strategies-recommendations.html

Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com

09:01 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment

Turn Your 15 Seconds into Interviews

15 Seconds....
That's how long the average reviewer spends on your resume, before making an interview/no interview decision. That's IF your resume gets beyond a database search.
To put it in perspective, think about what you can do in 15 seconds: Brush your teeth, kiss your significant other, uncork a bottle of wine, pour a beer, load the washing machine, pour coffee, tie your shoes, put on your shirt, tie your tie, or watch Monty Python's Slapping Fish Dance.
So how can you maximize your 15 seconds of fame?
First of all, don't assume that the first person to read your resume is the hiring manager. The hiring manager is busy, and often has someone from HR, or an admin do a visual pre-screening.
Write your resume to grab even a person who's not in your field, and show them you are perfect for the job. Club them over the head with relevant examples, and customize your resume to the specific job. Job seekers who get indignant and feel that the reviewer "should know what this means", end up in the don't interview pile.
Remember your 15 seconds are likely on the screen, so that means your goal is to get the pre-screener to press page down. Put the sizzle above the fold.
Forget big paragraphs about objectives or summaries. You've only got 15 seconds.
So how will you use your 15 seconds...will it be your first 15 seconds with a new company? Or your last?
If you’d like more information, a free 30 minute resume consultation, or some advice about your career transition, just email your resume to reCareered at phil.reCareered@gmail.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.
Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/03/15-seconds.html
Phil Rosenberg
President, reCareered
Email: phil.reCareered @ gmail.com
Blog: http://reCareered.blogspot.com