A professional resume writing service can help you find the perfect new job.
With the start of the new year, job hunting may be more important to you than ever, whether you’re on the lookout for a change or just beginning. One of the most helpful things you can do is to start polishing your search methods as soon as possible—so you can dive into the 2016 job listings with a rejuvenated attitude. We at Professional Resume Services have compiled an assortment of handy pointers for job hunting and writing a professional resume to start your new job search.
Figure Out What You Want the Most
If you aren’t yet sure what type of job you’re looking for, your search will only prove to be complicated and confusing. Try to think about the job that best suits you or your best talents and how they fit into the job market. Think about why you’re searching for a new career. Consider whether you want to change who you work for or what your work is entirely. Evaluate everything about your work experiences and desires thus far, including the benefits and disadvantages of your present job and what you want from a future job. Then you can begin to take the next step forward.
Create a Profile on LinkedIn
If you don’t already have a profile in LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to create one. LinkedIn is a valuable tool when it comes to job searching and can put you in contact with recruiters from companies across the country. Whether you’re setting up your profile for the first time or need to revamp it, it always helps to get as specific as possible. Tag your profile with keywords pertaining to the industry you want to work in. This helps recruiters locate you, meaning they can see what you can offer their companies.
Start or Improve a Resume
Writing a professional resume is one of the main keys to a successful job search. If you can afford it, consider hiring a professional resume writing service to help you out, either by writing your resume for you or giving you advice on how to improve it (and thus improve your chances of landing a great job). For even better chances, you can write separate resumes for each company you’re interested in to better cater to what they’re looking for in an employee. This will help you stand out to hiring managers.
Go After Your Dream Companies
Getting acquainted with individuals who are already working for the same company you want are considering will only serve to help your cause. Get to know as many people aligned with the company as possible. This will help you get your foot in the door with recruiters because you’ll have a larger number of people able and willing to put in good word for you.
Landing a great job is not an easy task, but these steps should help you get started on the right path. If you need a little extra help with any of these steps, consider enlisting the help of a professional resume writing service or a job counselor. As one of the top resume writing services around, our team at Professional Resume Services wants to see you succeed.
Resumes and cover letters should be targeted to the job.
For many people, executive resumes are the most difficult to master, which is why many executives looking for new jobs seek professional resume writing services. So what does it take to craft winning executive resumes that gets you hired? Targeting is the master key.
What Is Targeting?
Targeting means catering your job hunting efforts to a specific role in the industry you hope to work for so you know exactly how to market yourself to potential employers. To do this, it is a good idea to research the field you’re trying to break into. This will tell you what is expected of you and can give you a sense of how to reformat your search efforts.
How Should I Research?
The first and best thing to do would be to look up information about the job positions you’re interested in. Get to know the skills required for this position across various types of companies because differently sized companies tend to want different skills for the same positions. You’ll want to craft a resume that works for both ends of the spectrum, from small businesses to massive corporations.
How Do I Tailor My Resume to Specific Companies?
Start with the researching process and get to know everything there is to know about the position you want. Then you can proceed with getting to the heart of what your ideal position entails. Write out everything about how the position works and use that as a framework for your resume. Depending on the type of companies you’re aiming to send applications to, you may want to craft two resumes that suit their individual needs. You can write several versions of a resume just by keeping them concise and tailored to the needs of the specific position you want.
There are a number of important things to consider while trying to write your resume, including:
The regional scope of the company (for example, whether they are international or local)
The title(s) of the position(s) you want
How much interaction you’ll have with other employees in the company
The title(s) of your superior(s)
The goals of the position relative to the company
How large the company is
The variety of job duties you’ll have in this position
What the work environment is like at the company
Any specific industries you would most prefer to work in
Writing specific and goal-oriented resumes and cover letters becomes much easier when you know your focus. All it takes is a little research regarding what you want and some critical thought to narrow your goals down to the basics. The next step is taking what you’ve learned and applying it to your resume. By using these tools, you should be well on your way to crafting resumes that get you hired. However, if you need a little extra help, don’t hesitate to enlist the assistance of a professional resume writing service.
A professional resume writing service can help you network for future jobs.
Searching for a job is hard work. No matter how diligently you try, it can feel like you are not doing enough to land the one you want. You most likely started with a solid resume crafted by professional executive resume writers, numerous job searches and an upgrade to your online information to show how employable you are. However, let’s face it, there’s a lot of competition out there and it takes something exceptional to stand out from the rest. You are basically marketing yourself by trying to sell your skills to a potential employer. Think of your job search like running your own marketing campaign.
Starting the Conversation
Even with the help of a professional resume writing service, you will get nowhere in the business world without conversation. There are interviews, job offers and plenty of social media sharing to help get a conversation started. Discussions started online through things like professional LinkedIn profile writing can lead to future employment. Think about your job search as trying to figure out how to start a conversation with someone who can hire you.
Think Like a Business
Treating your search for a job as a marketing campaign puts you at eye level with a company. In marketing, you try to find a way to entice a buyer by offering them something in a way they can’t resist. When you are marketing yourself to a business, you have the opportunity to show them how valuable your skills are to them, how you will save them money or how you can make them look better. The same sales strategies used in the marketing arena work for applying for a job as well.
The Role of Targeting
When you are marketing a product, you choose a specific audience to target because they are most likely to invest in the product. This is an essential element in the job search process as well. You want to choose the companies that may be interested in what you have to offer. These are the ones you want to engage in conversation with. Once you identify the companies you want to target, everything can be crafted to get their attention and demonstrate how you can play a role in their productivity and profitability. Everything you do, from hiring professional executive resume writers to answering questions during the interview, will be geared toward alerting a potential employer to what you have to offer.
Who to Talk To
Once you find the industry or business to target, you then need to identify who you want to start your conversation with. Some specifics you might look for include:
Individuals in supervisory positions above yours
A corporate recruiter
Individuals holding the same title as you are aiming for
By gearing your efforts toward these positions, you will be able to speak with those who can either hire you or connect you with a hiring party. Thus, you start your own professional network relevant to your expertise and necessary for your success.
By working with a professional resume writing service, you can craft the perfect resume to get you started on the right path. From there, you will be able to build your own marketing campaign with you as the focus product.
These Small Resume Changes Have the Largest Impact
An executive resume writing service can help you make minor changes.
Writing resumes that get you hired may seem like a lot of work, but once you have a resume written, just a few minor adjustments can make a major difference in your level of success. An executive resume writing service can help you determine which changes need to be made and then implement them into your resume. The following small changes can improve your resume and help you stand out from the other candidates.
Eliminate the Objective
The objective was once used to attract the attention of prospective employers, but it’s no longer necessary to get you hired. In fact, the top-rated resume writing services will no longer use this feature in the resumes they create. Today’s employers want to know how you can help them, not what you want out of a job, making this practice outdated.
Use a Profile Section Instead
The profile section has vastly replaced the objective at the top of the resume. This profile is a quick summary of your relevant skills and experience and consists of just a few short sentences or bullet points. This section should frame you in a positive light and make employers want to learn more about you.
Focus on Your Accomplishments
A professional resume writing service will help you highlight your accomplishments, rather than the duties of your previous employment. While it’s important to let your future employers know what you are capable of doing, phrasing the information to show what you have accomplished will put you in a better light and improve your chances of success.
Minimize the Text
Big blocks of text can muddle your resume and make it more intimidating for hiring managers to read. In fact, they may see the text and immediately put your resume at the bottom of the pile or even in the recycle bin. Bullet points can be a great way to keep your resume short and to the point.
Keep It Short
Your resume doesn’t have to be limited to one page like in the past, but resumes that get you hired will still be short and to the point. Don’t include anything that isn’t relevant to the position you are applying for. Also, make sure it can be easily scanned. Hiring managers often don’t have time to read through all of the resumes they receive so they are more likely to scan for certain words that spark their interest.
Remove Items That Don’t Highlight Strengths
Anything that doesn’t tell your prospective employers why you are a good fit for their company doesn’t belong in your resume. For instance, you don’t want to create a large section that goes over every minor duty you had at your last job. Instead, break it down to tasks that relate to the job at hand, as well as let them know what you were able to accomplish.
Writing a professional resume requires avoiding common cliches.
Writing a professional resume is often more difficult than you could imagine. This is why many people turn to a professional resume writing service. If you’ve been looking for a job and are having difficulty getting interviews, let alone the job you want, it may be time to look at your resume. Using these and other clichés could be the cause.
“I’m Very Enthusiastic”
It might seem like a good thing to be excited about a new job, and it is; however, this statement can actually make you sound desperate. You may really want the job, but saying so isn’t going to make it a reality. It’s up to you to show your prospective employer why you are the right choice, not why you are excited about the prospect of working there.
“I’m an Excellent Team Player and Can Work Independently”
These are buzz words the best resume writing services know are best left off of your resume. These are the phrases many candidates think employers want to hear. When they see it on a resume, though, they will be paying close attention to what the candidate does and says to back it up. They may want to see you are capable of working well with others, as well as on your own, but you shouldn’t have to spell it out. Your other words and actions should portray the message.
“I Have Extensive Experience In…”
Experience is important to land any job, but you need to be careful how you use this phrase. Using it to describe every work experience you’ve ever had, including part time employment or internships, weakens the phrase and causes it to lose meaning. While you’ll need some experience, you don’t need to overcompensate and exaggerate to land the job you’re looking for.
“I’m Passionate About…”
Passion can be an incredible thing in the working world, but it’s important to be honest about it. You may choose to use this phrase to describe an early interest in the field, when in reality, it was just an interest. For instance, you may claim you have been passionate about the environment since the age of 12 when applying for an environmental job. However, if you really consider it, you may have just started developing an interest in exploring the area further. It’s best to leave your passions out of your resume, at least until you have an interview. Writing a professional resume takes attention to detail and careful consideration to ensure it has the right impact on a hiring manager. Avoiding these and other common resume clichés will ensure you are portraying your experience and value appropriately, all while capturing the attention of your prospective employer. Talking to a professional resume writing service about how to word similar phrases can help you make the best impression, giving you a better chance at obtaining the right job.
A professional resume writing service can help you get attention.
How you represent yourself with your personal branding can play a significant role in whether you are hired. However, it’s not all about hiring a professional resume writing service to write resumes that get you hired. In some cases, you need a executive recruiter who will be by your side to help you make the right career move. There are several reasons you should consider working with a recruiter as part of your job search.
There’s No Charge to Job Seekers
Recruiters are typically hired by employers to help them find the ideal candidate for any open positions. These recruiters have the experience and skills necessary to determine which applicants are the best fit for the job requirements. This means most recruiters are available free of charge to the job seeker. The person you hire will be paid by the employer for their services.
Access the Hidden Job Pool
Not all companies advertise their open positions where anyone can see and apply for them. In these situations, having a resume that gets you hired won’t produce results because you can’t see the available position. C-level recruiters often have a list of unpublished job openings they can provide so you can apply to ones in a much smaller pool of applicants.
An Inside Job
Not only do recruiters have access to job openings that aren’t published elsewhere, but they often have close working relationships with companies in their field. A professional resume writing service may be able to make your resume look great, but if you can’t get it in front of the right people, you won’t get hired. A recruiter can help you go over your resume and make changes that will make you more appealing to the job for which you are applying.
Avoid Overexposure
It may not seem like a bad idea to spread your resume as many places as you can, but distributing your resume in too many locations can have a negative effect on your ability to get the job you want. Employers look for individuals who may be in high demand but aren’t catering to a dozen other similar companies at the same time. When you use a recruiter in your job search, employers won’t stumble on your resume on a job board and pass you by because you may already be entertaining other offers. Instead, they will feel like you are an exclusive opportunity, boosting your chances of landing an interview and the job. C-level personal branding is an important aspect of writing resumes that get you hired, but it’s not the only factor. Working with a executive recruiter can provide a number of benefits that can give you the advantage in the often-competitive business world. A recruiter can take some of the anxiety out of your job search and increase the chances you will find the right career path more quickly than working on your own.
What Are the Best Internet Job Boards for C-Level Executives?
Finding the right job board will enhance the power of resumes and cover letters.
You hire an executive resume writer to help you perfect resumes and cover letters, but how are you actually finding the ideal job? There are many job boards where people can network and make connections that can lead to new career opportunities. However, general job boards won’t provide the same results as niche markets. When you use job boards that focus on a particular industry, you increase your chances of networking with the right people and landing the job you’ve always wanted.
Dice.com
The Internet and technology field is fast-growing and constantly changing. If you are looking for a job in this industry, Dice.com can be the ideal niche job board. This career board will help you find jobs with some of the biggest technology-driven companies in the industry. You will find careers for consulting professionals, as well as IT staff, so you can use your technology skills to their fullest.
eFinancial Careers
A professional resume writing service can help you showcase your financial expertise and skills, but it’s up to you to make the right connections to land a job. At eFinancial Careers, you will find a vast listing of financial positions around the world. This site makes it easy to find job opportunities based on sector, skill set and location.
SalesHeads
Individuals seeking employment in the sales field will find a job search board they can rely on at SalesHeads. With more than 200,000 sales jobs available on this website, you will find a vast array of sales opportunities, including high-level sales jobs. This site can even help you distribute your resumes and cover letters to companies that meet your requirements so you can find a sales job more quickly.
The Levo League
Young professionals can often be at a disadvantage in the job search market. While some companies prefer to hire younger individuals who have been trained in the latest industry standards, it can be difficult to compete with those who have first-hand experience in the industry. The Levo League is targeted toward these young professionals, giving them the competitive edge in their career searches. This niche board offers advice through articles and videos and can help individuals network and connect with other individuals. All of these features enhance the job listings found here.
An executive resume writer may be able to help you create an effective resume and cover letter so you will be more appealing to your prospective employers, but it’s up to you to get out there and find the ideal job of your dreams. Instead of spending your time sifting through listings that don’t apply to you, consider using a niche job board. These boards will increase your chances of landing the perfect job and help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends within your industry.
