Resume Tips And Advice

Most of us have heard business buzzwords, those oft-used expressions that become part of the everyday vocabulary in the business world. Maybe you just absorb them without thinking or -- if you're like me -- cringe sometimes at their mere utterance.  More »

We received a blog comment recently from a woman who had left the workforce 18 years ago to raise her children. Now she's looking to return to work, and wondering, What do I say on my resume, and where do I start? Since there are lots of people in this boat, I thought I'd answer this reader's question, and offer some tips for anyone who's looking to make the leap back into (paid) work after a long time away.  More »

When a large block of your work history has been with one employer, it can be challenging to create a resume based on that. But if you've held a few different titles at the same company, that can present a different challenge of its own. Here are three ways to approach your resume based on several titles under the same employer.  More »

You've probably read or heard it before, but it's worth saying again: Your resume must grab the hiring manager's attention within the first 10 seconds, or it will likely get tossed. Strong verbs, what I like to call power words, can help your resume stand out. We've offered 10 in previous posts. Here are five more.  More »

You know you need a resume to launch your job search. The problem is: You don't know where or how to begin. Essentially, you're staring at a blank page on your computer, save for your name, address, and contact information. You've got a case of writer's block: resume style. Here are five ways to help you break through it.  More »

The news on the economy is hard to ignore, and even harder to stomach. The unemployment rate has topped 6 percent and could climb higher if businesses can't pry loose sufficient credit to grow or just sustain operations. If you're expecting to launch a job search, or are already in the middle of one, you may be facing a lot of competition. In the first of a two-part series, learn how to craft a resume that will get noticed.  More »

An author wouldn't publish a book without involving an editor, and a job seeker shouldn't publish a resume without involving a proofreader - or four. You have no excuse for submitting an error-filled resume to potential employers when you can so easily get others to check it first. Here are some ways to get feedback from others.  More »

When you're in high school, and even more so in college, your grade point average (GPA) can seem like the one-and-only measure of your success. But how important is your GPA after graduation? Should you put it on your resume? Do employers really care if you had a 2.8 or a 3.0? Can a low score ruin your chances of getting hired? The answers may surprise you.  More »

Should you lead your resume with an Objective or Summary that briefly describes your skills and background? In a word, yes. However, if you were to poll 10 recruiting experts on this question, you might get 10 different answers. But if an Objective or Summary is written properly, it can be the hook that pulls the reader into your resume.  More »

You sent out a few resumes for job openings that matched your skills. You researched the companies and demonstrated some of that new-found knowledge in your cover letters. You communicated a positive tone. But why didn't anyone respond? Maybe you overlooked one or more of five critical components of the job search.  More »