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The Triad Tipster - Spring 2003 Information for you and your career... |
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Marketing Yourself: What should I be doing? Job searching right now is more difficult than ever before; however, along with the ‘tried and true’ means of getting connected, there are many new avenues to explore in searching for your next position. The Internet has changed the face of job hunting. However, many job seekers are still not taking advantage of the benefits of posting their resume online for fear of information theft, telemarketers, etc. The best way to avoid these potential problems is to open a free email account, and use that address as the only contact information on your resume. As people see your resume and contact your email address, you can spend some time checking them out before deciding whether to respond. Be sure that you clean your resume of contact information...or a resourceful recruiter could track you down based on your hometown. An important reminder: Utilize more than one job board, Monster isn’t the only place to post your resume, and many mid-size and smaller companies can’t afford their rates. Job ads in the newspaper are still a good gauge of what is happening in your local market. Many newspapers now offer an online job board as well as their traditional paper sections. This allows you quicker access to jobs. Also, many companies laying off employees hire outplacement firms to assist their former employees. These firms assist in various ways including interview preparation, resume writing and dispersal, and career advice. Those not taking advantage of outplacement assistance when it is available are wasting a good resource. Networking groups have grown in popularity over the past few years. These groups offer a great place to meet people, build an information ‘trading’ circle and a support network. Similarly, Internet communities that focus on various disciplines and industries are gaining popularity both locally and nationally. Most of all...keep calling to check in with your recruiters and industry contacts...keep your name at “the tip of their tongue”!
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Have you looked at your resume lately? (Part 5) The previous Tipsters contained information about classic resume formats, skill sections and how to create a scanner-friendly resume. This edition addresses information that should not be included in a resume. First, ensure there are no gaps in employment dates unless you really were not working during that time. Gaps in employment are noticeable and raise questions in the minds of hiring authorities. Many people have been working outside their field for a long period of time due to the down economy. Include these jobs on your resume. Jobs not related to your profession look better than gaps in employment. If a position was a contract, do not name the agency on your resume. Instead, list the company where you worked and then in parenthesis note “contract” or “consulting”. There is no reason to give the agency that placed you free advertising! For junior candidates, non-technical hobbies and outside interests can be mentioned at the very end of the resume. These may provide an ice breaker and can be useful to the interviewer. However, if you have more than a couple of positions on your resume, listing outside interests or hobbies isn’t necessary or recommended. Marital status, number of children and income history should never be on a resume. Social security number should not be included on the resume unless sending it directly to a military contractor, like Raytheon, for a permanent position. Please do not post your resume on an Internet resume site with any of this personal information on it. The information can be stolen and used for dishonest purposes.
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