The Amazing Secret of Mass Distributing Your Job Resumes: DON’T!

OK. We’ve all been told that mass distributing your job resumes is the way to go. Right? The theory goes like this . . . the more job resumes you can paper the market with, the better your chances are of getting a job.

You know, that approach actually used to work . . . back in the last century! You could count on the numbers eventually working for you with some predictability. But those days are gone forever. Different century. Different market.

Yet, it’s amazing to me how many job seekers hold on to the illusion that somehow I can make the job resume numbers work for me. It’s a crapshoot! It doesn’t work for you. And it doesn’t work the employers.

Here’s why.

From the employer’s side–employers today are much more sophisticated and require much more from a job candidate than a resume. No one is going to hire you based on your resume. Employers aren’t really interested in what you used to do for someone else. They want to see how you’re going to fit into their team. And they won’t learn that from your resume.

From the job candidate’s side–your million-dollar resume won’t even be seen by the person who makes the hiring decision. It’ll be screened by some personnel staffer or low level assistant. Along with hundreds of other resumes. When you submit a resume you’ve just put yourself right in the middle of the fiercest competition–right where you DON’T want to be!

So, what’s a serious job seeker to do, if a resume isn’t the way to go?

Well, the answer is . . . use an exciting alternative job search strategy! One that gets you in front the person who’ll actually be making the hiring decision about you–but without requiring him/her to wade through all the competition to get to you.

For example, you approach your job search by targeting the precise companies you want to work for and then single out the exact decision-makers who could be your next boss. And then meet with him/her. Sounds like a great way to go, doesn’t it? I mean you have direct access to your next boss without any competition.

So the secret is how to do that.

The good news is that there’s a proven system that can have you meeting face-to-face with selected decision-makers in a matter of days. You can be entertaining a high-paying job offer in as little as two weeks!

So, abandon the notion of mass distributing your job resumes and jump aboard the innovative 21st Century alternative job search program. You’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll see real results!

About the Author
Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! http://www.fastest-job-search.com

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The Amazing Secret of Mass Distributing Your Job Resumes: DON’T!

Six Steps to a Powerful Sales Resume

If you’re considering applying for a pharmaceutical sales job, or any job for that matter, then you certainly need a stellar resume. You see, competition is fierce and your really and truly need to stand out. After all, you only have 15 seconds to impress a potential employer so you’ve got to make every second count. Well, when you have a powerful resume in hand, you can impress and will get hired. A stellar resume causes a potential employer to stand up and take notice. In essence, it says, “Hey check me out-I’ve got what it takes to sell your pharmaceutical products.”

But, how do you create such a phenomenal resume? Well, it really isn’t that hard. Even if you’re no professional resume writer or have never created a resume in your entire life, you can still razzle and dazzle potential employers with your resume writing skills. In this article, we’ll tell you how to craft a great resume that gets you hired. So, put down the job ads and get ready to learn all about the persuasive art of writing great resumes.

1. First of all, you should know what a great resume looks like. To learn, visit your local library or book store and pick up some great resume books and peruse them. See what styles that really “tickle your fancy” and see which ones make you cringe with boredom. Figure out which ones work and which ones don’t. Buy and study them and do your best to emulate the resume writing style.

2. Second, know the difference between a functional and a chronological resume and then decide which one would serve you best. For instance, if you’re making a career change then you might craft up a functional resume that highlights your skills and qualifications. If however you’re staying in the same field, a chronological resume would work best.

3. Third, make sure that your resume reflects your accomplishments and unique personality. Not only will this help you stand out from the competition but will also create an image of professionalism in the hiring manager’s mind. Be careful to accentuate the positive and not the negative. For instance, if you’re currently a homemaker but are trying to get into the sales field, perhaps you can include your volunteer opportunities and how your girl scout troop exceeded sales goals by 100%.

4. Fourth, make sure that your resume is a true representation of you. Don’t embellish your strong points to simply make yourself sound good. Instead be honest but positive and make sure that you. It is never a good idea to misrepresent facts, exaggerate them, or lie on your resumes. Employers are like detectives and when they do background checks, they can find out about your untruths and this could be very bad indeed. Only use verifiable information.

5. Fifth, know that content and presentation is what counts the most. When you’re crafting your new resume, make sure that it looks professional and contains absolutely no typing errors whatsoever. Use quality resume writing paper and try out various styles and fonts to really make it come alive. You might even consider adding a professional photograph to the top for sales resumes.

6. Sixth, remember that grammatical errors are intolerable. They not only signal that you’re sloppy but also signify that you’ll likely do a crappy job as well. And trust me, no employer wants to hire a sloppy worker. To be on the safe side, ask someone else to proof your resume when you’re done proofing it to make sure that you don’t miss any errors.

In conclusion, you can create an outstanding resume that attracts an employer’s attention and helps you land that dream pharmaceutical job of your dreams. You simply have to put forth a little effort, some thought and let those qualifications shine through.

About the Author
Ryan Stewart has coached hundreds to pharma sales success.

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Six Steps to a Powerful Sales Resume

9 Keys to Job Search & Career Success

In recent months, the job market has become increasingly competitive. But even as the economy slows, and there are increasing numbers of job seekers in the job market, there are many professionals who have been incredibly successful in conducting fast, effective job searches. What do they have in common? How are they doing it? Here are nine tips to speed your own job search and drive it to a fast, successful conclusion.

Know what you want and go after it. Starting a job search without knowing what you want will almost certainly end in frustration. Think about it: If you don’t know what you want and what your job target is, how will you know who to contact and how to conduct your search? If you are uncertain about your career goals, it is critical that you spend some time and energy now – before launching your search – on self-introspection and analysis. Knowing what YOU want, what YOU are passionate about, and what YOU bring to the table will provide you with a confidence that simply can’t and won’t be matched by many of your competitors in the job market. This is the crucial first step to any job search and is essential for long-term career success as well.

Know and sell your personal brand. When you think about your next career move, how would things be different for you if employers and recruiters actually sought you out? Personal branding (the process of clarifying and communicating what makes you and your unique value proposition different and special) allows you to make a name for yourself. It differentiates you from your peers and helps to position you as a leader in your field – as a specialist and an authority who knows how to do a job and fill a particular niche in the workplace better than anyone else. Once you are clear on your personal brand, you can use it to project a cohesive brand image and value proposition throughout all your job search activities, and do so in a way that addresses the specific concerns of your target audience. By knowing and promoting your brand, you achieve instant, precision-like focus that positions you as the ideal candidate for the specific type of opportunity that interests you. You gain immediate competitive advantage.

Be able to clearly articulate who you are and what you have to offer. While this may feel uncomfortable to you, the simple truth is that a job search is a sales and marketing campaign: a sales and marketing campaign in which YOU are the product. Through the process of personal branding, you must identify what differentiates you and paint a compelling portrait of your unique value proposition. But, don’t stop with just promoting this in your resume and then become tongue-tied when someone asks about you and your candidacy. You will hear the “what do you do?” or “tell me about yourself?” questions over and over, both during your job search and throughout your entire career. Don’t wing it! Preparation is the key to confidence and the key to making a lasting, positive, and memorable first impression. Be ready with a 30-60 second pitch that immediately and confidently conveys to the listener who you are as a professional and what it is that you offer.

Make their first impression your best impression. Take a hard look at your resume. Like it or not, your resume is your first introduction to most employers, and your only chance to make a good first impression. Effective resumes are highly focused marketing pieces that are strategically written and designed to sell YOU as THE best solution to a potential employer’s needs and problems. Your resume should be written to convey and illustrate your unique value proposition, with succinct “stories” that differentiate you from your competitors in the job market. Does your resume accomplish these goals? Is it focused effectively? Does it accurately present you in the way that you wish to be presented? If not, it is time to rewrite.

Network, network, network…and then network some more. At least 80% of all the jobs are found through the “hidden” job market, also known as the “unpublished” job market. These are jobs typically landed through word of mouth and referrals as opposed to answering ads, posting your resume to internet databases, or other techniques meant to target the remaining 20% of all jobs in the published market. It stands to reason that if the vast majority of the jobs are to be found in this hidden market, that you should spend the majority of your job search time working to crack it. There is no more effective job search technique than networking. So, even if it feels a little uncomfortable at first, just get out there and do it. Make networking a part of your daily routine and plan to spend the majority of your job search time on networking activities (approximately three-fourths of your time is a good estimate). The more you network, the faster your current job search will come to a successful conclusion and the faster and more successful any future job searches will be.

Plan and execute a multi-pronged job search campaign. Yes, networking is essential, but other job search techniques are also important. An effective job search campaign is a multi-pronged one that includes the strategic, planned, methodical use of a variety of job search approaches. Answering ads alone is almost never enough. Neither is working with headhunters, using internet job search sources, or researching and targeting specific employers. But, when you combine all these approaches with networking, carefully evaluate and prioritize the approaches based on relative effectiveness, and then launch an integrated, multi-pronged job search campaign, you will always come out ahead. The best job search is one in which the job seeker approaches it as if it was a job itself.

Build a support team. While your preparation will certainly ease the whole process, job searching can be a grueling and very stressful experience. So, I want to remind you that you don’t have to go through it alone. You should build a support team around you of people who can help you stay motivated and on track while giving you honest feedback and helping you stay accountable to the goals you set for yourself. Family and friends, past and present managers, your peers and colleagues, financial advisors, and professionals in the careers industry such as career counselors, coaches, and resume writers all make excellent people to add to your team. By assembling a good mix of people to support you, from a diversity of backgrounds and professions, you will receive a variety of different perspectives, ideas, and insights that can be very helpful. You should consider joining a job search support club or group – a local one if one is available or an online one. If you have been provided with outplacement services by your former employer, by all means take advantage of the office space and resources offered. The point is that you don’t have to and shouldn’t conduct your search in isolation. Surround yourself with a team that will help and support you. Above all, recognize when you need support and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance and guidance.

Always follow up. Following up on all of your contacts and your activities can do more to influence your success in achieving your job target than anything else. A hand-written thank you note or a more formal, typed thank you letter after speaking with a networking contact, attending an informational interview, or after attending an actual job interview can make a lasting positive impression that gives you a distinct competitive advantage. A follow-up phone call on every resume you send, whether it is a resume sent cold, in response to an ad, or based on a referral from one of your networking contacts can make all the difference in whether your resume is actually read and considered or not. A consistent method of follow up is key and you must make the time in your schedule to do so. Follow up will positively influence decision-makers, it will help key the process moving along, it will show your interest and your professionalism, and it will position you above the competition.

Adopt a “failure is not an option” attitude and make finding a job a job itself. Celebrate your accomplishments daily and weekly, but recognize that a successful job search requires persistence and consistent effort. The more “feelers” you put out, the more contacts you make, the more resumes you put into the hands of hiring authorities, and the more face-to-face interviews you go on, the faster you will achieve your job target. It can be difficult to remain motivated when you don’t immediately see results but remind yourself that job searching is a process and that it takes time. Reward yourself not just for the results, but for the effort.
About the Author:

Nationally certified resume writer and career marketing expert, Michelle Dumas is the director of Distinctive Career Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents http://www.distinctiveweb.com and her Executive VIP Services http://www.100kcareermarketing.com Michelle has empowered thousands of professionals all across the U.S. and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of Secrets of a Successful Job Search http://www.job-search-secrets.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – 9 Keys to Job Search & Career Success

Finding Unposted Jobs

One thing you should keep in mind during your job search is that not every position will be posted publically. Not all companies list their available positions in the newspaper, job websites, or elsewhere.

Even if there are no public job offerings posted anywhere for a particular company, it never hurts to send in a resume. New positions become available all the time, especially in larger companies, so you never know when you might send in your resume at just the right moment.

I always make a list of some of the companies I most want to work for. Then I send a resume out to each of them immediately. I just send it straight to their human resources department, hoping they will have an appropriate position available. I can always apply for individual positions later if any open up.

The great thing about sending your resume in when there are no positions available is the fact that you have less competition. There will be many people applying for positions that are listed, but if you happen to send in a resume at a time when a position is available but not yet listed, you will have little to no competition.

Even better, if you happen to send your resume in when an integral employee has recently left the company, you could end up getting a job mroe easily simply because the company is desperate to replace the employee as quickly as possible.

I wouldn’t go too crazy sending in a resume every week, but once per month is probably fine. Some HR directors may not appreciate seeing resumes so often, but others will appreciate your tenacity. Think of Bud Fox in the movie Wall Street. While his tenacity didn’t pay off for a long time, once he eventually had the opportunity to meet Gordon Gekko, he was told just how much attention his tenacity had gotten him.

Don’t make yourself a pain in the butt for the company, but being persistent just might help you get your chosen position at the right time.

Using Employment Agencies

Employment agencies aren’t just for finding temporary positions. Many of them have a wide variety of permanent positions available, and even temp positions can turn into long-term employment. In fact, some companies hire almost all of their long-term employees through temp agencies, because they get a chance to try out employees without having to worry about the commitment of offering them a permanent position immediately.

If you’re having trouble finding employment through standard means, you should certainly put in applications with some of your local temp agencies. You may even be able to find employment agencies that specialize in headhunting in your chosen field. These companies would certainly be able to put you in touch with some important people!

Don’t treat interviews with employment agencies as any less important than you would if you were interviewing directly with the company you most want to work for. You never know when the interviewer at the agency might be able to put you into a position in that company, and even if they can’t now, that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to in the future.

You should put just as much effort and seriousness into an agency interview as you would any other interview. The impressions the agency interviewer gets from you may be passed on to companies who could hire you, so it’s vital to make a good impression.

Above all else, always remember that a temporary position is not always a bad thing that you should turn down. If you are offered a temp position in an excellent company, you might want to think about taking it. Not only will you get some valuable industry experience, but you could end up being hired on a permanent basis based on your performance. You would also have a better chance of being hired at that company later if they had a permanent position open up than if you had never worked there at all, so treat temp jobs just as seriously as you would a permanent position. If nothing else, you might be able to get a great industry reference from your time there!

Job Search Referrals

When you apply to a company for work and they don’t have any positions available for which you are qualified, you may be able to get them to refer you to other companies that may have positions available. When you apply for the job, if you are told there are no positions available or that the job you applied for was given to someone else, you can politely ask the individual if they know of any other companies that may have similar positions available.

Additionally, don’t overlook friends and family as potential sources of referrals. Someone you may know just might know someone who works in your chosen field. You may never know unless you ask, so if you’re having trouble finding a job, ask around. Your aunt, cousin, or old college roommate may not work in the field you do, but they may know someone who does. It never hurts to ask around.

Don’t forget about employment agencies. They don’t just hire for temporary positions! Some employment agencies may even specialize in recruiting for your chosen field, or they may specialize in finding long-term employment. So don’t overlook these companies as potential sources of jobs.

Finally, it never hurts to become friends with people in your industry. Attend trade shows and hang out where they congregate. The more people you meet and become friends with in your chosen field, the better your chances will be to find a position when you’re looking. If you have friends at most of the top companies in your field, you will always known when positions come available so you can be first in line to apply.

And you never know when one of these people will be promoted into a position where they could actually have some say in the hiring process. That guy you met who works in a mail room today might be promoted into human resources next month!

Resumes for Graduates

As a recent college graduate, you won’t have a lot of job experience. Hopefully you will have done a few externships or internships or had other part-time experience in your field before you graduate, but if you don’t, you will have to play up certain features of your resume while downplaying your lack of experience.

If necessary, you could take a position in your chosen field on a part-time basis as an intern or in a low-paying position in order to get some experience. This experience will be extremely valuable on your resume. If you can’t do this, you will have to emphasize your educations and skills.

Emphasize Your Education

A lot of applicants will have some experience but no degree. If you have a degree in your field, it’s very important to emphasize this as much as possible. Don’t worry about putting your GPA or class position unless it was absolutely stellar, but you should definitely emphasize any extracurricular activities that might have prepared you for the position.

If you are applying for a marketing position and you were in a marketing club in school, this will show the interviewer that you have a passion for the topic and some additional experience outside your educational experience.

Mention Awards and Contests

If you have ever won a contest or award in your field, you should mention this. If you are applying for a position as a writer for a newspaper, and you won a national award for your writing work on your school newspaper, you should definitely emphasize this.

Show a Passion for your Field

If you don’t have experience, you need to show the interviewer that you have a very strong passion for your chosen field. If you can convince the person reviewing your resume that you have a deep love for the field, you will have a major leg up on the competition who may be in the field simply for money.

Resumes and Lack of Education

A lot of positions require or prefer a degree these days. Even positions for while you may be exceedingly qualified for may reject you if you don’t have a degree. Without that piece of paper, you may not even be able to get your foot in the door at many places.

But there are ways to make yourself look especially appealing without actually having a degree. We’re going to look at some ways to pad your resume with true facts that will help you have a better chance of getting an interview, even without a formal education.

1. Take Some Classes

You don’t necessarily have to have a formal degree to have an education worth mentioning. If you don’t have the time or money to get a degree, you can still take some night classes that would look good on a resume. Once you’ve completed these classes, they will help fill up your education section. Remember, only mention classes that are specifically related to the position you are applying for. A class in automotive repair isn’t going to be very helpful if you’re applying for a job as a line cook.

2. List Internships and Volunteer Work

If necessary, you can list volunteer work and internships as education. These types of work experience are very valuable educational experiences, especially if they are in the field you are intending to work in!

3. Get Work Experience

Even if you have to take low-paying jobs for a while, it’s very important to get work experience if you don’t have and education. Don’t just seek employment with any company, but try to get a position with one of the most highly-respected and well-known companies in your field. This kind of experience is absolutely invaluable, especially if you come highly recommended from this employer! A low-level job in one of these titans of industry is better than a higher-level position at a company that is unknown, unless of course the difference in the level of responsibility are very significant.

Some employers are going to be completely inflexible. They will see you don’t have a degree and just automatically throw away your resume without even reading it. This is unavoidable. But some companies will be slightly more flexible if they see other information that impresses them. You just need to do everything you can to emphasize this information so they can see it before they toss your resume in the bin!

Things to Omit from a Resume

While it’s very important to create a resume that is thorough and complete, it’s also possible to put too much information on your resume.

A resume should play up your strengths and deemphasize your weaknesses. It should be completely on point, and it should never offer information that isn’t relevant or useful.

We’re going to look at the top things you should omit from your resume.

1. Extracurricular Activities

Unless you’re applying for a position that requires a knowledge of chess, the interviewer doesn’t need to know you were a chess club champion in high school. Only mention extracurricular activities that would be related to your position of choice, and only if you are able to tell the interviewer why you believe this activity made you a better candidiate for the position you are applying for.

2. Religious Affiliations

Again, do not mention anything related to religion unless it is specifically related to the position you are applying for. If you are applying for a job as a receptionist and you were once a volunteer receptionist at your church, it’s fine to put this information on your resume. If you are applying for a job at a religious organization, it is perfectly acceptable to put information about related organizations you’ve worked with on your resume. Otherwise this information could end up hurting rather than helping. Remember, not everyone is religious, and some employers see a strong devotion to religion as a liability on the job.

3. Hobbies and Interests

The interviewer doesn’t need to know what you do in your spare time unless it specifically rates to the position you are applying for. If you have a winemaking hobby and you are applying for a job as a sommelier, this information might be interesting to the interviewer. If you create model airplanes and you’re applying for a job as a security guard, this information is not relevant and just wastes the interviewer’s time.

As you can see, you should generally leave off anything that isn’t job or education related, and anything that isn’t specifically related to the job you’re applying for. Don’t list a skill in painting if your job has nothing to do with this. Anything you add to your resume that isn’t specifically related to your job could hurt more than help, and if nothing else it just wastes the time of anyone who reads your resume.