The Resume Litmus Test

The Resume Litmus TestThe Resume Litmus TestMake sure that hiring managers actually read your resume by taking this quick barstool litmus test.Your resume comprises a set of talking points. But have you ever tried talking back to your resume?Think about it. When a recruiter reads a resume, shes saying the exakts in her head. Its how we all read. So when a glut of words overwhelms the point being made, its a struggle to read. And thats when the recruiter gives up and tosses your resume into the no pile.So how do you ensure your resume is professional and concise? Remove the business-ese.Business-ese vs. conversational EnglishMany senior managers and technologists make the mistake of writing in business-ese - a plodding, dense and pompous style with lots of long words and convoluted sentences. Business-ese tortures readers by forcing them to read and re-read each word slowly.The writer of business-ese may think hes hiding something under a garbage pile of meaningless verbiage - but h es not fooling anybody. People write this way for many reasons Sometimes theyre trying to sound professional. Usually theyre just not thinking clearly, or theyre just too timid to say what they really mean.Consider this before and after exampleBusiness-ese (43 words)Performed multiple tasks between various clients generating 50% greater capacity and sustainability by engineering ITIL based technology capabilities and aligning resources with the organizations strategic advantage. Managed and utilized procedures, policies and guidelines resulting to positive effect in efficiency as much as 100%.Conversational English (23 words)Increased network scalability 50% for Acme Corp. by designing and implementing a new platform based on Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and related standards.Can your resume pass the barstool test?Try this simple test Just read your resume out loud for a minute.How does it sound?Does your resume sound like ordinary speech that youd say to a p erson on the barstool beside you? Congratulations, you passed. But if you stumble, stutter, backtrack or hesitate - like most people who try this exercise - you should consider working with an expert to rewrite your resume.After I write this article, for example, Ill use the voice recorder on my iPhone to record and play back every paragraph. This simple tactic can improve everything you write.And heres an extra benefit As you read your resume out loud, youll probably discover some hidden typos, grammatical errors and missing words.What is conversational writing?Conversational writing is the same writing style that you read in a major newspaper like The Wall Street Journal - its simple and direct, but never slang, vogue, breezy or overly casual. Writing in the simple, conversational style is a tricky balance - like dressing for Casual Fridays.Editing a wordy resumeThe barstool test itself is pretty easy - just read your resume out loud. But rewriting and simplifying your langua ge might require a lot of work Among professional writers, a famous adage says, The easier it is to read, the harder it is to writeHere are three pointers to get you started - and if you get stuck, get help from an editor or a resume writer.1. Take five deep breaths and relax. Many people feel stressed out when they sit down to write They freeze up like theyre about to speak in front of an audience - and when they write, they sound tense and stilted. Relaxation is a great cure for writers block.2. Think about what you want to say before you write each sentence. Clarify your thinking before you write This is the first and most important rule for writing.3. Now write a bare-bones sentence that captures a single idea Imagine youre sending an old-fashioned telegram - and youre paying a dollar for each word.Ask a recruiter from any top company Posting a job online triggers an electronic stampede of thousands of resumes - including well-qualified candidates, unqualified candidates, an d lots and lots of spam.Lets assume you send a resume that survives all the electronic filtering and actually reaches a human being. Now youre just one candidate in a pile of, say, 300 resumes - so the reviewer, already stressed out by deadlines, eyeballs your resume for only 15 seconds or less. Her sole purpose at this point is to screen you out, cut down the stack and select a relative handful of candidates wholl eventually be called in for interviews. WhewFortunately, you can boost the odds that your resume lands in the interview pile by paring your language or working with a resume writer to make your resume easier to read - and make life a little easier for the reader

How to Get A Human Resources Career

How to Get A menschengerecht Resources CareerHow to Get A Human Resources CareerMany people are eager to start a career in Human Resources (HR), as it is a fast-growing field with many lucrative opportunities. Career analysts expect the number of HR jobs to increase in the projected future and the median annual income is above the national average for all jobs. People working in this industry use their soft skills and experience in a field where they perceive that they will help others. Helping others makes HR careers meaningful work to many potential employees. They are also interested in using their planning, program development, labor relations, and accounting skills to their best advantage. Education and Training for an HR Career HR professionals come into the field with a wide variety of educational backgrounds. However, many HR locations require candidates with a minimum of a four-year degree. A bachelors degree in human resources, personnel management, or some other relate d subject such as psychology or sociology will offer the best training for an HR career. Such a degree will also be more highly regarded amonghiring managersthan degrees in, for example, chemistry or packaging, fields only peripherally related to working with people. If youre starting out or thinking about switching to a career in Human Resourcestoday, you need to obtain a degree. You will find yourself competing for jobs with other individuals who may have as much experience as you do and who also have a degree. Human Resource Manager Positions If you would like to pursue a managerial position or specialized career in HR, some schools offer business degrees that are more focused on a certain area of human resources. Naturally, a graduate-level degree in a related field will help to place you on more hiring shortlists. Whether you pursue a general HR degree or a more specialized practice within HR, you should be sure to take courses that cover topics such as management, recruitm ent, training, and compensation so that you have the key skills necessary to succeed in an HR career. Of course, there are many other business courses that relate to the HR field, so an interdisciplinary program is good. Human Resource Certifications In plus-rechnen to a college degree, many professionals will have the opportunity to seek certification in certain HR disciplines. In fact, large companies will sometimes offer workshops and classes that broaden an existing professionals HR skills. By completing a professional certification course, you can increase your earning potential. Examples of certifications include the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). If you are already working in an entry-level HR position, earning a certification could help boost your career. Likewise, it could help you transition from a different department to an HR position. Finding Human Resources Jobs Finding a position within the HR industry i s similar to finding any other kind of job. In addition to those general career sites, however, there are zugreifbar job board resources that are more specific to the HR field. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), for example, offers a job board that is primarily for HR professionals. Additional job boards specialize in the field of Human Resources. Some businesses will first look for candidates within the company. Keep this in mind if you are currently working for a medium to a large company and wish to enter the HR department. If your company has an internal resource for new positions, such as a private online careers site or internal job postings, check regularly for your chance to get your foot in the door. Talk, too, to your current HR staff about your interest in HR. Its possible that your interest may open the HR door. You have achieved half the battle already when you know the company, the people, the culture, and the customers. With a bit of help, you will lear n all about HR. More candidates for HR jobs are finding their way into HR careers via professional networking and online social networking sites these days, too. If youre still a student, or just out of college, an internship in an HR department can provide the relevant experience you need for your HR job search. Just like any other profession, finding a career in HR is easiest for those with a college degree in the field and/or professional certification. But, people with related majors in such areas as business, sociology, psychology, and social sciences are also considered, especially for more entry-level jobs. There are many HR positions available and there will be more opportunities in the future. With the proper training and some diligent job searching, you can join other HR professionals in what is the most lucrative and satisfying career.

Stand Out With Our Construction Worker Resume Template for Word

Stand Out With Our Construction Worker Resume Template for WordStand Out With Our Construction Worker Resume Template for WordIntroductionBefore allowing you to step foot on a worksite, a hiring manager will want to be certain you can handle the responsibilities, which is done through an interview and by reading your resume. The construction worker resume template for Word here offers a good outline of what employers want to see in candidates. Extra guidelines are provided afterward to help you as you write so you never feel lost as you create exceptional summary statement work history, education, and skills sections.Construction Worker Resume Template for Word Keith HermanAugusta, Maine 11111E keithhermananymail.com T 555Associates Degree in Business 2014Augusta Community CollegeCertification in Home Construction 2013Remodeling Association of America