Posted on 06/06/2010 10:49:24 AM PDT by PigRigger
Hi All:
Facing a possible layoff by the end of the year. I wish to be proactive...by getting my resume up-to-date, reviewing my finances...etc...just not sure what other things I should be pursuing...I've never been without a job and haven't had to look for one since college...
I am a Junior Project Manager (Information Systems) with approximately 2 years of experience and have worked at my current company for 25 years (right out of college).
Any recommendations on Professional Resume Writing Services, job sites, and any other subjects/items I will/should be pursuing?
Thanks a head of time....
Most professional resume-writing services suck. They shoehorn your resume into one of their three templates, with utter disregard for whether the format fits.
You’re better off soliciting FReepers to help out.
I for one would be happy to. I’m an ex-English teacher, so my grammar, punctuation, and spelling are top-notch, and my resume has been cited as a darn good one. Drop me a PM if you’d like.
Your employer will probably provide this service for free as part of their layoff severance package. Inquire with your company’s human resources department.
FR needs to have an advertising seciont for freepers- for a ‘donation’ you get a listing
This site is TOO IMPORTANT to have to go begging for peanuts every quarter
Did that already....but practical experience/advice from those who have already walked this path may assist in navigating through all the hits listed....
Word has many good resume formats. Keep it simple and all on one page. Bullet points are your friends. Resumes that are fast and easy to read are more likely to be read. People who get carried away with themselves get their resumes thrown in the trash bin.
I landed every jop I interviewed for(2) since retiring from bell.....Things below worked for me when the time comes for you keep it in mind::
____________________________________________________
Turning the Tables on a Bad Interviewer
By Caroline Levchuck
You’re wearing your best suit. Shoes shined. Resume in hand. You’ve prepared for any interview question that could come your way.
But rather than questions, there are awkward pauses. Stony silences. There’s a seeming lack of interest in the entire event — on the interviewer’s part.
Just because someone is interviewing you, doesn’t mean they’re a good interviewer. Don’t let his ignorance sabotage your interview or your chances at landing the position.
A Day in the Life
As your bad interview lumbers on, don’t wait until your interviewer asks you if you have any questions. Rather, at the first awkward pause, ask him to describe the position for which you’re applying in rich detail. What would your key responsibilities be? What is a typical day like? What time does the workday begin and end? Would you need to be available after hours or on weekends? Is there any travel involved?
Inquire as to which coworkers you’d be working with. Ask about how people work and projects are managed. Are there many meetings? Do people work on projects in teams?
Ask your interviewer what qualities he thinks the ideal candidate for this position would have.
Toot Your Own Horn
A poor interviewer will likely omit asking you many of the “right” questions, particularly those about how your experience makes you a great fit for the position.
So, although it may seem awkward, the only way you’ll get to point this out is to just go ahead and do so. Even if there’s no good time to do it, just do it anyway. You can preface your comments by saying something to the effect of, “I wanted to take a moment to let you know how my experience really complements this position.”
Be direct and to the point. Make eye contact at all times. Talk specifically about how you have the skills and knowledge for the position. Do not ramble or your interviewer could lose interest.
Enough About Me...
The best interviews are often those in which you’re able to forge a real connection with your interviewer. But if he doesn’t know what he’s doing, that may seem next to impossible...unless you start asking questions about your interviewer and his career.
Inquire as to how he came to work at the company, ask him how he likes it. Ask about where he started his career and what attracted him to this particular industry or area of expertise. Try to discover what his professional aspirations are.
At all times, show enthusiasm and interest in his responses (no matter how boring or brief they may be).
Show and Tell
If you still need to buy more face time with your interviewer, ask for a tour of the offices or facility. Again, ask questions along the way, even if it’s about how long the company has been at that particular location.
Try to get your interviewer to introduce you to other people who work there — those with whom you’ll work closely, someone in management, or even just folks you pass during your tour.
Now is an ideal time to use the knowledge you have about the company to offer up insightful observations and flattering acknowledgments about the organization and how it’s run.
Finally, be sure to ask your interviewer when he anticipates making a decision. Reiterate your interest in the position and your enthusiasm for the company. Thank him graciously for his time, both in person and in a prompt thank-you letter
___________________________________________________________
Get ready for these ??...there the industry standard and I have heard them almost verbatim:Practice practice practice:
To be prepared for an interview it is helpful to have an understanding of the questions you may be asked and to have prepared answers for them. As you read the questions below, think of adaptations to these and then answer them. You may want to say your answers out loud while looking in a mirror to see how you look and sound. Another great tip is to record your answers into a tape recorder and then play it back and see what it sounds like. Practice your answers and then go take charge of your career and get the job you want and find the employer you want to work for! If you need help, call the Comprehensive Coach at 215-699-4949. Good luck!
Which supervisors have you found easiest to work with and which have been most difficult?
This is to judge your adaptability.
What did you like best and least about your previous job?
Checking your administration and management skills.
Have you ever had to get a point across to different types of people? Give me an example and tell me what approach did you take?
Finding out about your communication skills.
Describe a work-related problem you had to face recently. What did you do to deal with it?
Decision making skills tested.
Give me an example of a time you did more than what was required in your job.
Seeking initiative.
Give me an example of a time you found it necessary to make an exception to the rules in order to get something done.
How is your integrity?
What was the best decision you ever made? What were the alternatives? How did you go about making it?
Checking your judgment.
Tell me about a time you had to gain the cooperation of a group over which you had little or no authority. What did you do? How effective were you?
Leadership.
Have you ever had trouble learning a new method or procedure? How did you deal with that situation?
Investigating your learning ability.
Tell me about a problem you have had that would affect more than one department. How did you try to solve it?
For organizational cooperation.
-Terri Levine
read
Also beware and be ready for the “phone interview.” First line personal interviews are out at many companies, and the applicants are weeded down via telephone prior to any interview in person.
Take it seriously, don’t let your guard down, speak even more carefully and be more conscious of tone than you would be in person. It’s very difficult for many to remain on point and to resist becoming too chatty and informal on the phone.
You can choose whether or not to include your birth date, marital status, children, etc.
You begin with an objective (i.e.: "To obtain a position as.... in La La La company..."
Then you write your education qualification. Begin with your most recent qualification and work backwards.
Then it's time to write your work experience. Again, begin with your most recent employment and work backwards.
If you speak any foreign language, you could write them. You may also include your personal interests, or additional skills.
You may add references or you may include them in your application letter.
Here's a sample résumé:
1320 Forest Drive e-mail: jroberts@mailbox.com
Palo Alto, CA94309 telephone: (650) 498-129
Objective: To obtain a position as a German-English translator with a firm in the Bay area.
Education
2000-2002: Master of Arts in Translation, Standford University.
1994-1998: Bachelor of Arts (cum laude)
Major: German, Minor: Spanish, Georgetown University
Experience:
2002-Present: Freelance technical translation, German-English.
2000-2002: Teaching assistant (German) Standford University.
Languages.
Fluent German, conversational French.
Personal
Interests include sailing and cooking.
Reference
Dr. M Rosen, Chair, Dept of Modern Languages, Standford University, Palo Alto, CA
If there are any financial moves you might wish to have made after a lengthy period of unemployment, now is the time to be making them.
That’s not to say that you actually will face that, but it’s very difficult to refinance your house to cut your overhead or shore up your cash reserves, for instance, without verifiable income anymore.
While you are busy looking for a private sector job, go ahead and apply for any state-supported jobs in the public sector. You might find something worthwhile.
When the EEOC questions come up, make something up. If you put White, Male, Middle age, you will never get calls for an interview.
This is good advise. I suggest you write your own in concise format. You know your best capabilities.
But I think there are some universal features for every resume, especially in this computer age where a recruiter may rely on OCR'd or digital versions of resumes that meet his/her search terms:
Start making lists now, while the details are at your fingertips.
co-workers, contractors, clients/customers.
lists of projects completed as team member or leader, with the names and titles of the other participants and clients/users.
lists of awards recieved, and the official descriptions.
copies of annual reviews for superlatives you can quote.
list of platforms/systems/languages you have worked with since birth.
list of all your certs and tech seminars/classes attended.
List of all things you do outside of work - hobbies, charities, clubs.
Do you belong to professional orgs “National Association of Pig Riggers” etc? if the company pays the dues, renew ahead of schedule. If you have put off joining, join now.
sign up for any professional education/certification that the company will pay for and that you think will help your job search or make you less likely to be laid-off.
If you get trade pubs/journals/magazines at work, change the delivery to your home address. If you read them at work, but they are adressed to someone else, fill out the card to get a free subscription in your name/adress.
Indeed.com is a good jobs search engine
Linkedin.com is like facebook/myspace for profesionals.
streamline your personal finances.
look at where you are spending money.
are you auto-paying a Gym membership when you haven’t gone in months? what can you do without or get more cheaply. A coffee maker and a travel mug are cheaper than Starbucks. Premium Cable? Phone features paid for but not used?
look at the habit part of spending habits.
Good Luck!
good point and remember along with the phone interviewer there are probly others on ther phones on “mute” doing the thumbs up/down thing.
Pretend your phone is Bugged when they call.No opening beers,porn movies in the back ground etc.....
try to get yourself in a quiet room with NO distractions. Put a mirror on the wall and occasionally look up and look at you mouth.
Stay focused and take notes.
Best of luck!
Your “See Here” needs more attention.
See also HERE
I often refer to these links while in my job search. it is worth your time.
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