Archive for July, 2009

Job advice Twitter style

Just came across a great little article on The Simple Dollar. The author asked for job advice in 10 words or less.

Here are my favorites:

Networking

  • Reputation is everything.
  • Your work is not just about what you know, it’s about who you know.
  • It’s not how many resumes you send out, it’s how many hands you shake.
  • Get to know everyone and tell them what you want.
  • Trust your gut, and find a mentor.

Impressions

  • Watch what you say, compose yourself and be overwhelming honest.
  • Make eye contact with everyone, and smile.
  • Be nice to everyone, even if you have to fake it.
  • Dress for success.
  • If you work in an office: DO NOT wear t-shirts, faded, ripped jeans or flipflops.

Work Smart

  • No matter what you do, be prepared to work. Hard.
  • Treat every day like it’s your first day at work.
  • Don’t do anything you’d be ashamed to tell mom about.
  • Show enthusiasm for learning because no career is stagnant.
  • Diversify income, never rely on one source that could disappear.
  • You may be underpaid now, but someday you’ll be overpaid.
  • Stop whining and do your freaking job.
  • If it feels wrong it probably is – move on.

Do you have any nuggets of wisdom to share?


July 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm 1 comment

Canned phrases that (may) ruin your resume

A well-written cover letter and executive summary can set your resume apart from other applicants.

But when do key words and catches phrases become too much?

Liz Ryan, a blogger for The Savvy Networker, made this list of the 10 most over-used phrases that make resumes sound cliche and robotic:

  • Results-oriented professional
  • Cross-functional teams
  • More than [x] years of progressively responsible experience
  • Superior (or excellent) communication skills
  • Strong work ethic
  • Met or exceeded expectations
  • Proven track record of success
  • Works well with all levels of staff
  • Team player
  • Bottom-line orientation

I get what she’s saying, but I think there’s a reason that theses phrases are used time and time again: employers are looking for candidates that have a strong work ethic, work well with others, can communicate well and deliver results. And when hiring managers are averaging 30 seconds per resume, seeing these words are a quick way to qualify (or disqualify) candidates.

What do you think? Should you spice things up and communicate your strengths in a unique way, or stick with the tried and true?

Read the original article on The Savvy Networker: http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-experts-10_boilerplate_phrases_that_kill_resumes-97

July 27, 2009 at 4:56 pm Leave a comment