Robots consume resumes; humans read cover letters--although if yours sucks, they'll chuck it after a few seconds. Here's how to write one they'll remember, and that might get you a job.
Job boards and Craigslist don't work because everybody's already there. Here's where to look, and how to look good, in the (still incredibly rough) job market.
The temptation to shop online while at work gets much stronger at this time of year. Despite the known risks, many of us do it on the sly anyway -- like using a cell phone while driving.
In fact, 1 in 5 workers (21%) said they will shop online for holiday gifts this year while working. The statistic comes from a new survey, conducted by financial staffing firm Accountemps, that was released a week before Cyber Monday -- typically the biggest day of the year for online shopping. Read More »
Metaphors abound in descriptions of social media sites today. They are "exploding," the "next big thing," the "new media revolution." Here's another that will be familiar to anybody who watches football: They're the center of a big pileup.
Everybody -- including job seekers, recruiters, marketers -- is jumping on them, trying to get a piece of the action in the midst of a chaotic jumble. Sometimes you scoop up a new job lead or connect to a promising candidate. Or you come up empty-handed and a little bruised.
Your interpersonal skills can make or break your chances of getting a job offer -- even in such a technical field as finance.
The point was made very clear recently in a survey by finance staffing firm Accountemps. More than 1,400 CFOs were asked: "If two candidates for an accounting or finance position had similar skills, which one the following additional qualifications would you find most valuable?" Topping the list was "personality or people skills" with 31% of the votes. Read More »
I've heard some recruiters say they usually scan a resume in seconds. That boast could challenge job seekers to stand out as much as possible, but it also feeds the impression among candidates that their resumes end up in a black hole.
But that dominant view -- "you have to capture a recruiter's attention within seconds or else" -- ignores others who might assess your resume. Read More »
A majority of job seekers this year have changed something about their physical appearance in order to impress employers, according to an online poll.
The respondents in the Yahoo! HotJobs poll made changes in several areas:
Clothing style: 11% Lost weight: 13% Hair style and/or color: 12% Face (Makeup, teeth whitening, Botox): 4% Two or more of the above: 19% Nothing: 41% Read More »
If you're aiming to please a hiring manager in your job search (and who isn't?), then format your resume chronologically.
In a recent Accountemps survey, 75% of hiring managers prefer a chronological resume that lists the most recent work experience first. The respondents preferred this type of resume to one that is organized by job function and skills, according to the financial staffing firm.
The firm also reported that the managers' responses were little changed from 10 years ago when the question was asked. Read More »
