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www.CertifiedResumeWriters.com

Getting The Most Out of a Job Fair

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Patricia Duckers

You spend days preparing for that big career fair, where you'll meet your dream employer who will throw lots of money your way because YOU are the one they've been waiting for. However, the reality is that many people who attend job fairs are left disappointed, frustrated and jobless.

Here are some pointers to help you get the most out of your job fair experience.

Don't expect to get a job at a job fair. The description "job fair" is a misnomer. Typically, a recruiter at a job fair will glance over your resume, spend about five or ten minutes talking to you, and then move on.

The job fair is like a dance -- it's an opportunity to scout what's out there and pursue what's interesting. It is not a place for the candidate or the recruiter to fall in love with each other upon first sight.

1. Don't be afraid to leave your resume at every table. The human resources representatives present at job fairs typically do all the recruiting for their respective organizations. If the company isn't offering anything in your desired field, it doesn't hurt to leave a copy of your resume in case something opens later. Think of it as performing a mass broadcast delivery of your resume in person.

2. Bring along a cover letter. Remember, at most job fairs, recruiters see dozens, if not hundreds of candidates. A cover letter keeps your name fresh in their minds, and helps the recruiter better place you within their company, especially later on if they want to share notes with managers within their companies. [Continue reading...]

Padding Resumes with Erroneous Information Can Result in Disaster

Featured Article and Resume Writer: Kathy Sweeney, NCRW, CPRW

Jobseeker dishonesty could have serious repercussions, including termination. With the hurricane disaster in New Orleans, there were many people who came under scrutiny. One such person was Michael Brown, the head of FEMA. People questioned his credentials and the media began to dig deep into his background. In a recent Time Magazine article, here were some of the details that investigative journalists uncovered:

• He claimed to be on the Board of Directors of a Nursing Home. When contacted by the media, the personnel at the nursing home had never heard of Brown.
• He claimed to have been an Assistant City Manager of Edmond, Oklahoma. Brown never held this position. He did do an internship while attending college for this town.
• He stated that he had received an "Outstanding Professor" award from a college where he never taught. He was an adjunct professor for a college, but the college never had such an award and he certainly did not receive one.

A survey I recently read showed that about 53% of people "pad" their resume with credentials and position responsibilities they have never held. Many individuals stated that they enhanced their qualifications to be competitive. [read more...]

Visit CertifiedResumeWriters.com to gain immediate access to valuable resume and cover letter articles, profile and highlights of certified resume writers, and listings of resume writing services.

Objectives in a Resume: Yes or No?

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Georgia Adamson, CPRW

Arguments abound, even among career professionals, about whether or not you should put an objective on your resume. Here are some pros and cons to consider about objectives:

1. You need to know where you want the resume to take you, and you need to make sure it's crystal-clear to the prospective employer. I can't emphasize this enough: Employers will not play a guessing-game to figure out what kind of work you want to do!

2. If you're a management-level person, I recommend using a profile section, which has a heading such as "SALES EXECUTIVE," followed by a concise summary of your strongest, most relevant points-generally, not more than five or six lines.


3. Using the cover letter to communicate your desired position instead of making it easily visible in the resume could be a mistake. Your cover letter may not always stay with the resume it gets separated somehow, the person reading the resume won't see it and will have no clue what position you're aiming for. [read more...]

CertifiedResumeWriters.com serves to educate, inform, and help serious job seekers take that next step forward to a new and exciting career position. Visit us today!

5 Sure-Fire Steps to a New Job

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Don Goodman, CPRW

The new year is here - budgets are fresh, positions are open and every statistic points to aggressive hiring. Here are 5 sure-fire steps that will get you a competitive edge and land you that job.

1) Get a professional resume done.
Don't even think about doing it yourself as the state of the art of resume writing has changed rather dramatically, and what used to work does not get noticed in today's market. Gain the competitive advantage right up front by spending the few hundred dollars on the most important career document you need in your search. But be careful, as anyone can claim to be a resume writer and there are a lot of mediocre services out there. (Readers can request my free guide, 10 Things to look for in a Resume Service, by emailing me at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com).

2) Put yourself on the job boards.
Not that they are not the most effective way to find a job, but get it out of your system and post your resume. There are over 4,000 job boards in the U.S. and the bigger ones are some of the least effective. So make sure you put yourself on the niche job boards specific to your industry.

Setup search agents that send you an email whenever a new position is posted that meets your criteria. That way you'll be one of the first to respond. There are some good posting tools to get on the job boards. [read more...]

Sending potential employers a cookie cutter resume doesn't present a professional image or make a good first impression. See how partnering with a certified resume writer can help you make a great first impression while positioning you as a highly qualified interview candidate. Stand out from the crowd!