HRGuru

I created my first resume as I was graduating from college and preparing to apply for my first professional job. Some people have filled out applications or been hired without one, but very quickly are finding that if a potential employer requires a resume, you better have one. Today, high school students are learning the resume basics and creating one to ...

A reader writes: I was just terminated from my job. I was five days before being off probation and two days away from my first big job event (I plan and run conferences). Without any prior notice, meeting, or confrontation, I was ushered into my department head’s office and told that in order to make a strong team, she needed to ...

A reader writes: Last week, I did a complete overhaul of my resume, specifically to cut it down from 2 pages to 1, because I keep hearing (from friends who work in HR, as well as in articles on the subject) that now more than ever, employers want a really clear, concise snapshot of each candidate with as little "fluff" as ...

The workplace is not what it was five years ago. Neither is the job hunt. The most successful candidates are those who are ready and willing to adapt to a changing landscape. But it doesn’t matter how ready you are for the modern workplace if your résumé’s straight out of 1994. And sometimes, it's the most minute details that make all ...

#1: You’ve forced it to fit onto one page. You’ve reduced your font size to eight, eliminated margins altogether and left out key information about yourself, all to conform to that age-old “one page résumé” rule. Big mistake. After all, would a recent college grad really need the same amount of résumé real estate as someone who’s been in the ...

Why call it an art? Anyone can write a resume, can’t they? The short answer to that question might be yes, anyone can write a resume. However, if you want your resume to stand out like a piece of artwork and get results then the answer to that question would be no, not anyone can write a resume. The times we ...

Any company will hire any employee if they feel that employee will add value to their business. So, the core of a strong resume is this: proof that you have made an impact on previous employers. In my practice as a professional resume writer, I constantly meet people who have made a great impact on the companies they worked for, ...

It is one of the first thing people say about composing your resume: make sure you don’t have any spelling mistakes. Or certainly, a spelling mistake means certain doom even if the rest of your resume looks great. And really, not a day goes by when I don’t see a comment on twitter about how somebody spelled something wrong on ...

Students are often worried about writing a resume and it¹s not uncommon to struggle with the task. But it doesn¹t have to be intimidating if you understand the goal of your resume- to generate interest and interviews. It doesn¹t have to get you a job and it doesn¹t need to cover your life history. It simply has to pique the interest ...

You know the feeling. You spend hours, or even days, creating a resume. You pore over every word of your cover letter and agonize over what to say in your email. Then you hit 'send' and wait. And wait. And wait. No one calls. No one writes. You don't know if anyone even saw your resume. When this happens, it's easy ...

A reader writes: Is it really necessary to list computer skills on a resume? Shouldn't basic skills be assumed at this point in history? I'm great with Microsoft Office and I know Macs and a couple of other miscellaneous programs, but I don't know Photoshop or Dreamweaver or HTML or anything specialized. And my most recent position is "Administrative Assistant," so ...

While you shouldn’t let the hysteria about today's economy derail your job hunt, you will have to get smarter in your job search strategy. How? By revising your tactics to include a more solution-selling approach to make your value clear to potential employers. You must always answer the question, "What's in it for them?" not, "What's in it for me?" Stay ...

Let's face it: All other things being equal, employers would rather recruit local applicants than out-of-towners. It's more convenient to schedule interviews, and there are no hassles or cost concerns associated with relocation. But according to Monster data, about half of all job seekers are willing to move for the right job. If you are planning to move or are just ...

Whether you're a recent graduate seeking your first position or an experienced professional in search of a new opportunity, attending job fairs is one way to network and find job leads. Job fairs allow you to meet hiring managers from various companies and industries -- all housed under one roof for the day. These tips will help you make the best ...

Make sure your resume is in top-notch shape by avoiding the top 10 resume blunders: 1. Too Focused on Job Duties Your resume should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your achievements, ask yourself: • How ...

Here are some tips I learned from a hiring manager about what you can do to vastly improve the quality of your résumé and improve your chances of getting a job: 1. Ditch the Objective Obviously your objective is to get a job at my company (and if it’s not, it should be!), so why waste valuable white space telling me ...

A year ago I was arrested for shoplifting in Illinois - it was the worst decision of my life and something that I will regret forever. I finally had the arrest expunged a month ago and now I am applying for jobs. I got my criminal file from the county and the arrest doesn't show [so everything was successfully expunged]. However, ...

You're probably aware that hiring managers cannot ask discriminatory questions during interviews. But this legal protection isn't too useful in preventing discrimination before the interview. If your resume contains personal information unrelated to your job target (your race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc.) you might fall victim to discrimination, even if you're qualified for the position. Your resume is a ...