The Job Search Program Better Than Sliced Bread

The Job Search Program Better Than Sliced Bread A bit of history on this better than sliced bread phrase. There was once a time in history that was so horrible where people were so deprived, that they had to buy bread and then cut it into slices themselves. I know. Traumatic. According the Wikipedia, A guy named Otto, living in Iowa, invented the sliced bread machine in the early 1900s. He built his first prototype in 1912 but it was not meant to be. A fire destroyed it. Humans had to wait, and labor unfairly with bread and knife, for sixteen more years before he had a fully working machine ready. Of course, this new machine was a commercial success. Now we could spend less time slicing bread and more time [fill in the blank]. So yeah, pretty great stuff. As an aside, and in case you ever go on Jeopardy!, did you know that in 1943 (during WWII) the U.S. Food Administrator Claude R. Wickard banned sliced bread as a wartime conservation measure? Boo and hiss. The ban started   on January 18, 1943 and, due to public outcry (which Im guessing was pretty loud) only lived less than 50 days, ending on March 8, 1943 (even though the Food Distribution Administration was prepeared to take stern measures. Long live sliced bread! Read the wikipedia article, youll get a good chuckle. JibberJobber In May of 2006 I launched JibberJobber. It was, at the time, what I thought was the greatest thing since sliced bread for job seekers. JibberJobber was something never before seen for job seekers. at that time in history, career coaches and the like told job seekers to follow up. To be organized with all of their networking and applications and interviews. How? asked the masses. We dont know! replied the experts. Create an excel spreadsheet! Or, heres a one page form you can print off and fill out (by hand gasp!) to stay organized! I found myself in a job search from January, Friday the 13th, in 2006, and soon figured out that I was doing it wrong. Then I figured out the whole job search world was broken. Long story short, move over sliced bread, enter JibberJobber! Cue the applause. Here we are, 13 years later and many man hours of development invested into JibberJobber. Things are going well. There is still much work to do, but its good. I say every 18 months I have a brilliant idea. I always share them on this blog or from stage when I speak. And now its time to share my most recent 18 month moment of brilliance. Project HOPE I know its not cool to share the internal code name of a project externally, but there you go. We refer to this as Project HOPE. This comes from my conversation with legendary Dick Bolles (author of the iconic job search bible  What Color is Your Parachute?), when he summed up my message as one of HOPE. I dont know what this product will eventually be called. Project HOPE will go into alpha testing on Monday with a handful of active premium JibberJobber users. These are people who are deep into their job search, and using JibberJobber heavily. They are serious about getting out of the job search. I will give them the core of Project HOPE to go through. I will be anxious to get their feedback (and oh boy, theyll give it to me!). I expect the first version of Project HOPE, probably beta, to be available for everyone in four to eight weeks. And it cant come soon enough. The premise of Project HOPE is to address three big problems that every job seeker I have talked to are facing: Loneliness. It was during my job search, in 2006, that I was acutely lonely. I had people around me, for sure. But I felt like I was the only person in this pathetic situation of being unemployed. People didnt know what I was going through, how life shattering it was, and how to help me. I didnt know, either, so I couldnt help them help me. It was an extremely lonely journey to go through. Depression. Lets cut straight to the chase.. instead of talking about the emotional roller coaster in the job search, I want to focus on depression in the job search. I was depressed. I didnt know it, but that depression had an impact on what I did, and the results I saw. My depression drove my job search, and depression is a horrible driver. No matter how happy job seekers look when you network with them, I bet theres a hint (or a flood) of depression behind that smile. The Right Things. My first thought in the morning was Oh boy. Lets do the same 10 things today that Ive done the last month things that arent getting me anywhere. Am I doing the right things? The right things are tricky. I remember going to a 2 day job search training, learning some exceptional tactics, and then a week or two later getting fed the and here is a list of job postings you should apply to from the same people who taught this class! This is after they said dont waste your time on job boards.   Confusing a little? What SHOULD we be doing as job seekers? My program addresses those three things. I want to help you feel less lonely. I want to attack depression, and inspire hope. And I want to help you understand what the right things are. How?   I combine a few ideas and principles that Ive come across over the last 13+ years talking with hundreds of career experts, and thousands of job seekers. From the bottom of Florida to the top of Washington state, from job ministries and MBA programs to living rooms and the phone, Im distilling what I would advise you to do in the job search. Im combining this with my friends (phenomenal business success coach Mark LeBlanc) success principles that he teaches small businesses,  who have remarkably similar/identical needs that job seekers have. And really, I think this is the greatest things since sliced bread. I think it can be the greatest thing, for job seekers, since JibberJobber. And combined with JibberJobber wow! Project Hope is a 6 week audio program. Each morning you listen to my voice (after bete feedback I plan on redoing it, and having me be on screen) and I walk you through your day. I train you in best practice job search tactics, starting at what you should do today, and then building every day for six weeks. It starts out pretty simple, baby-stepping you into the program, but soon you are doing the right things. This program will not consume your day. In fact, for the first couple of weeks I expect it will take 30 to 60 minutes each day, which means youll have plenty of time to do your own stuff. It also means that if you are working a full-time job, you will be able to do this program. As time goes on, as you learn more skills, as you learn Marks principles, the tasks get a little harder. But they also should produce more results to get you closer to the right job. We are in the process of enhancing the audio recordings with a user experience in JibberJobber that will allow you to navigate through each day, see what your tasks are for the day, and provide accountability. I wish I had this program in my job search to train me on best practices, help me know what to do each day, give me another voice in my head to listen to, and to provide accountability. Is Project HOPE a coaching program? No. Well, maybe kind of. It is not customized coaching. You and me, we dont talk. You listen to the recordings. I dont give you specialized, unique-to-you next-steps and action items. We dont break in the middle to prep you for your interview tomorrow. It is a recorded program where I coach you on what to do and think today, and tomorrow, and the next day, until you land a job. As I mentioned, it will not consume your day. You can make it as big or small as you want. It is designed to be something you can do every day without feeling like it is overwhelming. So yeah, its kind of coaching. As Ive written and recorded the program Ive felt like I was your coach, your friend, your mentor, your cheerleader.   Does that mean its a coaching program? Not a full on program like my coaching friends have. If you need a coach, get a coach. If you are a coach, this might complement what you offer. How much will this cost? This will not be in the JibberJobber premium package, which is only $60 a year. Thats as low as we can go for now on the JibberJobber side. Right now the pricing is $397, however Ill have an introductory price of $197 (Im not sure how long Ill have this price).   I realize that some of you are already paying for JibberJobber, and a resume, and a coach I am not here to break your bank. Im also not a government funded or charity program. I have bills to pay (I hate to even have to say that but I am continually asked why JibberJobber is not free (Dont you know job seekers have no money!!??) . When you are done with six weeks, you will have continued access to the program. You can start over, or start over at week 2 or 3 or whatever, or just listen to the Wednesday of week 6, as long as you want. Youll also have new tools in your toolbox and enough training to allow you to do your own program after the 6 weeks is over. This program is about empowering you, not tying you to a 6 week program. What about coaches and resume writers? If you are a career expert (resume writer, coach, etc.), I want to empower you with this product for your clients. Email me (Jason at JibberJobber.com) to learn more about the affiliate program. The Job Search Program Better Than Sliced Bread A bit of history on this better than sliced bread phrase. There was once a time in history that was so horrible where people were so deprived, that they had to buy bread and then cut it into slices themselves. I know. Traumatic. According the Wikipedia, A guy named Otto, living in Iowa, invented the sliced bread machine in the early 1900s. He built his first prototype in 1912 but it was not meant to be. A fire destroyed it. Humans had to wait, and labor unfairly with bread and knife, for sixteen more years before he had a fully working machine ready. Of course, this new machine was a commercial success. Now we could spend less time slicing bread and more time [fill in the blank]. So yeah, pretty great stuff. As an aside, and in case you ever go on Jeopardy!, did you know that in 1943 (during WWII) the U.S. Food Administrator Claude R. Wickard banned sliced bread as a wartime conservation measure? Boo and hiss. The ban started   on January 18, 1943 and, due to public outcry (which Im guessing was pretty loud) only lived less than 50 days, ending on March 8, 1943 (even though the Food Distribution Administration was prepeared to take stern measures. Long live sliced bread! Read the wikipedia article, youll get a good chuckle. JibberJobber In May of 2006 I launched JibberJobber. It was, at the time, what I thought was the greatest thing since sliced bread for job seekers. JibberJobber was something never before seen for job seekers. at that time in history, career coaches and the like told job seekers to follow up. To be organized with all of their networking and applications and interviews. How? asked the masses. We dont know! replied the experts. Create an excel spreadsheet! Or, heres a one page form you can print off and fill out (by hand gasp!) to stay organized! I found myself in a job search from January, Friday the 13th, in 2006, and soon figured out that I was doing it wrong. Then I figured out the whole job search world was broken. Long story short, move over sliced bread, enter JibberJobber! Cue the applause. Here we are, 13 years later and many man hours of development invested into JibberJobber. Things are going well. There is still much work to do, but its good. I say every 18 months I have a brilliant idea. I always share them on this blog or from stage when I speak. And now its time to share my most recent 18 month moment of brilliance. Project HOPE I know its not cool to share the internal code name of a project externally, but there you go. We refer to this as Project HOPE. This comes from my conversation with legendary Dick Bolles (author of the iconic job search bible  What Color is Your Parachute?), when he summed up my message as one of HOPE. I dont know what this product will eventually be called. Project HOPE will go into alpha testing on Monday with a handful of active premium JibberJobber users. These are people who are deep into their job search, and using JibberJobber heavily. They are serious about getting out of the job search. I will give them the core of Project HOPE to go through. I will be anxious to get their feedback (and oh boy, theyll give it to me!). I expect the first version of Project HOPE, probably beta, to be available for everyone in four to eight weeks. And it cant come soon enough. The premise of Project HOPE is to address three big problems that every job seeker I have talked to are facing: Loneliness. It was during my job search, in 2006, that I was acutely lonely. I had people around me, for sure. But I felt like I was the only person in this pathetic situation of being unemployed. People didnt know what I was going through, how life shattering it was, and how to help me. I didnt know, either, so I couldnt help them help me. It was an extremely lonely journey to go through. Depression. Lets cut straight to the chase.. instead of talking about the emotional roller coaster in the job search, I want to focus on depression in the job search. I was depressed. I didnt know it, but that depression had an impact on what I did, and the results I saw. My depression drove my job search, and depression is a horrible driver. No matter how happy job seekers look when you network with them, I bet theres a hint (or a flood) of depression behind that smile. The Right Things. My first thought in the morning was Oh boy. Lets do the same 10 things today that Ive done the last month things that arent getting me anywhere. Am I doing the right things? The right things are tricky. I remember going to a 2 day job search training, learning some exceptional tactics, and then a week or two later getting fed the and here is a list of job postings you should apply to from the same people who taught this class! This is after they said dont waste your time on job boards.   Confusing a little? What SHOULD we be doing as job seekers? My program addresses those three things. I want to help you feel less lonely. I want to attack depression, and inspire hope. And I want to help you understand what the right things are. How?   I combine a few ideas and principles that Ive come across over the last 13+ years talking with hundreds of career experts, and thousands of job seekers. From the bottom of Florida to the top of Washington state, from job ministries and MBA programs to living rooms and the phone, Im distilling what I would advise you to do in the job search. Im combining this with my friends (phenomenal business success coach Mark LeBlanc) success principles that he teaches small businesses,  who have remarkably similar/identical needs that job seekers have. And really, I think this is the greatest things since sliced bread. I think it can be the greatest thing, for job seekers, since JibberJobber. And combined with JibberJobber wow! Project Hope is a 6 week audio program. Each morning you listen to my voice (after bete feedback I plan on redoing it, and having me be on screen) and I walk you through your day. I train you in best practice job search tactics, starting at what you should do today, and then building every day for six weeks. It starts out pretty simple, baby-stepping you into the program, but soon you are doing the right things. This program will not consume your day. In fact, for the first couple of weeks I expect it will take 30 to 60 minutes each day, which means youll have plenty of time to do your own stuff. It also means that if you are working a full-time job, you will be able to do this program. As time goes on, as you learn more skills, as you learn Marks principles, the tasks get a little harder. But they also should produce more results to get you closer to the right job. We are in the process of enhancing the audio recordings with a user experience in JibberJobber that will allow you to navigate through each day, see what your tasks are for the day, and provide accountability. I wish I had this program in my job search to train me on best practices, help me know what to do each day, give me another voice in my head to listen to, and to provide accountability. Is Project HOPE a coaching program? No. Well, maybe kind of. It is not customized coaching. You and me, we dont talk. You listen to the recordings. I dont give you specialized, unique-to-you next-steps and action items. We dont break in the middle to prep you for your interview tomorrow. It is a recorded program where I coach you on what to do and think today, and tomorrow, and the next day, until you land a job. As I mentioned, it will not consume your day. You can make it as big or small as you want. It is designed to be something you can do every day without feeling like it is overwhelming. So yeah, its kind of coaching. As Ive written and recorded the program Ive felt like I was your coach, your friend, your mentor, your cheerleader.   Does that mean its a coaching program? Not a full on program like my coaching friends have. If you need a coach, get a coach. If you are a coach, this might complement what you offer. How much will this cost? This will not be in the JibberJobber premium package, which is only $60 a year. Thats as low as we can go for now on the JibberJobber side. Right now the pricing is $397, however Ill have an introductory price of $197 (Im not sure how long Ill have this price).   I realize that some of you are already paying for JibberJobber, and a resume, and a coach I am not here to break your bank. Im also not a government funded or charity program. I have bills to pay (I hate to even have to say that but I am continually asked why JibberJobber is not free (Dont you know job seekers have no money!!??) . When you are done with six weeks, you will have continued access to the program. You can start over, or start over at week 2 or 3 or whatever, or just listen to the Wednesday of week 6, as long as you want. Youll also have new tools in your toolbox and enough training to allow you to do your own program after the 6 weeks is over. This program is about empowering you, not tying you to a 6 week program. What about coaches and resume writers? If you are a career expert (resume writer, coach, etc.), I want to empower you with this product for your clients. Email me (Jason at JibberJobber.com) to learn more about the affiliate program.

Resume For Writing Staff - How to Write a Resume for Writing Staff

Resume For Writing Staff - How to Write a Resume for Writing StaffWriting a resume for writing staff is something that you can do in a few hours. The truth is that you will probably have some difficulty, unless you already have previous experience in this area. It's a good idea to have a rough idea of what you would like to achieve in your new role.This may be different depending on the particular job role that you are seeking. If you have no idea what kind of position you are applying for then you will want to avoid writing a resume for writing staff. You should only be able to give a brief outline and not get into too much detail.In the case of a new position then it's probably best to write something that is more general. This is so you will not seem as if you are trying to sell yourself. For example, instead of saying something like 'I am an experienced and skilled writer with excellent communication skills' try something like 'I am a keen reader and I am also highly knowledgeabl e about the many forms of media that I use when writing my resume'.What you should include in your resume is things that are more specific, for example the role responsibilities that you would have. If you really want to impress potential employers then you should put as much detail as possible. It will be worth it in the end to try and list every task that you might have to perform on a daily basis.This way, you won't miss anything and you will also know exactly what needs to be done. The things that you need to work on include proofreading, making revisions, writing cover letters, applying for additional qualifications and titles, meeting deadlines and assisting in the recruitment process. You will also need to be able to provide information that relates to previous experiences that you have had in the past.The more information that you need to include the more your resume for writing staff will need to be in a format that can be easily read. Word documents that are big and text h eavy are not going to make it any easier to read. The best option is to use a form of document formatting software that can make it easier to read.Another important thing to include is a place for contact details. In most cases, people do not need to be called personally to get more information about the position they are applying for. If they do call, then you need to be prepared to give them all the information you can in relation to their job application.In addition to giving a contact number, you should also add it to your resume for writing staff. This should be where you indicate how many people you can talk to before you hang up. If you are applying for the same position again, you should still put the number of employees that you can talk to and who you can reach if you get a phone call.

A New Job Under Your Tree - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

A New Job Under Your Tree - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career If you could get the gift you REALLY want, then Santa would eat your plate of cookies after he dropped your dream job under the tree. (If the tree isn’t your thing, just insert whatever symbol of your faith or spiritual practice you’re celebrating). Of course, when you wrote your gift wish list â€" you jotted down that job you really wanted, didn’t you? Let’s say it’s your ideal job or career, which: Leverages your education Rapidly pays off your student loans ?? Captivates your imagination Continues to train and develop your skills Provides a real challenge to stretch you Delivers a career path with a solid trajectory Sets you among people you like and admire Isn’t too bad a commute, and Is a blast because there’s free food, paint ball,   accordion lessons (or whatever it is that you find fun) Add to the list and remove what doesn’t thrill you. But, seriously MAKE A LIST of what you want for your next job or to jump start your career! Why? Because you cannot find what you are NOT looking for. And, if you are not looking for exactly what you want: do you know the consequences? You will not find the job   you want.   Its that simple. The job or career you want is out here among the people in your network. Yes, some of us in your network know about that job or career. We just don’t know that you want it because youve kept it a secret. Or youve been vague. Or you havent taken the time to fill in the details that would help us put the job on our radar. We â€" like Santa (or your celebrant-in-charge) â€" cannot give you what you want, if You don’t know what you want. Don’t tell us what you want. You let us define you. Tell us the industries or companies, where you yearn to spend your next several income-earning years. Or describe them by: Size Culture Product line Geographic location Customer type Deal size Or any other locator signals you have. Need some help defining what you want? Let me be your secret Santa. Send me an email at Nance@NanceRosen.com, with the subject line: Secret Santa. Author: Nance Rosen  is the author of  Speak Up! Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at  NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name:  nancerosen

Ayoung-Chee Wins Project Runway Because of Personal Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Ayoung-Chee Wins Project Runway Because of Personal Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Season 9 of Project Runway may be the first time anyone, including the famous Tim Gunn himself, has seen his infamous words “make it work” taken so seriously. The stylist, from Trinidad, that scored the most shocking win in Project Runway history, Anya Ayoung-Chee, had no garments constructed when Gunn visited her hometown studio a mere 3 weeks before the finale. Preview disaster Days before the Mercedes-Benz fashion week show where the Project Runway finalists show their own fashion line, Ayoung-Chee, along with the other finalists, did a preview show with 3 looks from their lines. It was a total disaster. Her garments showed the fact that she had only been sewing for 4 months when she’d auditioned for the show. The idea that she would lose the show was all but a forgone conclusion. In fact, she knew it in her gut and basically said her goodbyes at the preview to iconic judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. Last minute miracle In true Project Runway style, Tim Gunn entered with a last-minute change-up. Each designer was allowed an additional $500 dollars, 30 minutes at Mood fabrics and the ability to add 3 looks to their line. Ayoung-Chee seized the moment and saw it as a miracle to revamp her line sweeping through Mood like it was a last-minute holiday sale and everything was 90% off. All new fabrics, colors and designs for her line would head back to the workroom. Branded new line Her branded new line would walk the runway and win her the show. Giving way to her Trinidad background, she let loose and cut her way to a winning fashion line. Her line was inspired by her own style and became branded signature the minute it walked the runway. Surprising win Fellow finalist Viktor Luna was the favored winner for his designs and impeccable tailoring skills. His line included a custom-designed fabric (that was beautiful by the way), pants, coats, skirts, dresses and more. Ayoung-Chee’s line included nearly all dresses, most of which had the same plunging, sexy neckline. Hello brand! It was iconic of what she wore, where she came from and it all made beautiful, branded sense. It was a collection even if none of the fabrics matched each other. A brand was born and the judges sensed it immediately. Sewing to small business wwner 6 months ago Ayoung-Chee was learning how to sew. Now it’s time for her to learn how to be a small business owner as she’s won the highly coveted $100,000 to launch her own line. She connected with her Caribbean self and with women everywhere winning the judge’s eyes, the show, the $100,000 and a bonus $10,000 from being voted fan favorite. Best of luck to her and her future fashion line. Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

How to Write a Resume For Un Jobs

How to Write a Resume For Un JobsIf you are looking for a way to make some extra money, then one great way is by writing your own resume. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or even the typical boring resume that you see at the start of every interview. You can actually write a resume for un jobs that could end up getting you hired and make you money as well.It is not just the simple task of writing a resume that you need to worry about but the skill of writing resumes for un jobs. There are many advantages to it and these are the areas that you need to focus on when writing your resume.If you want to avoid boredom while writing a resume for un jobs then you want to make sure you find something that you really enjoy doing. This means you need to write things that you enjoy doing but it also means that you need to make sure that you enjoy what you are writing about. If you do not enjoy the topic then you will be unable to write with passion. Writing resumes for un jobs needs to be do ne with enthusiasm.Once you have written your resume then the next step is to prepare yourself for the job interview. You need to be relaxed and ready for whatever questions they may ask you. This is especially true if they ask you about your education and experience.You can also add things such as information about your work history so that they know that you have some work experience. You should also think about things that you have written about in your academic papers. This is to show them that you are not just a writer and that you have something to offer to the employer.If you have some training or new computer skills then it is very important that you mention this so that they can see it. They need to see that you are not just another person who cannot write, but that you have skills that would make them want to hire you.If you are planning to work from home, then make sure you have a good cover letter as well as a resume. This will get you noticed by the hiring managers and get you noticed by potential employers.The resume should be able to convey to the hiring manager that you have many skills and abilities. You can only do this if you make sure that your resume is well written and concise. Remember that the hiring managers want to hear from you so be able to articulate exactly why you should be hired and not just hired.

Can a Resume And Cover Letter Justify Leaving No Room For History?

Can a Resume And Cover Letter Justify Leaving No Room For History?Writing a resume and cover letter can be a real chore for anyone, especially when you are the one who needs to do it. This is especially true if you are the only one in your current job that has a resume or has had a recent interview with a recruiter. You want to do it right so that your cover letter and resume will land you a job offer.I was lucky enough to have a job at a small corporation that specialized in career-development and resume writing. My supervisor and HR manager were awesome at doing this, so it wasn't difficult for me to learn how to write a great resume. Of course, I was fortunate to work with a fantastic writer that also did cover letters, along with editing resumes to improve their presentation. They also always made sure that I had completed my networking or personal statement for every job I applied for, so I would not forget what was expected of me.A good way to prepare your letter is to have a c opy of your resume handy as you are writing your personal statement. You should remember to sign your resume with your full name and work name, as well as showing your letterhead.If you are the one applying for a job as an administrative assistant, you may want to make sure that you do not include your cover letter in your resume. I always recommend that you have your cover letter as a separate document that you put in your file, rather than in your resume.Do not read your resume at all until it is completely finished. When you do read it, take notes as you go so that you can make sure you don't miss anything that is important. When writing your cover letter, think about the statement that you are going to write and the relationship that you are trying to establish with the employer.The first thing you should know is to be as concise as possible. The reason for this is that you will want to avoid sending out a resume that is too long. The cover letter is your introduction, and you w ant to use it to really give the impression that you are interested in the position. It is also a good idea to consider your statement as a follow up, as it is your opportunity to explain why you should be considered for the job.True story: One of my managers sent out a cover letter that was like five pages long. On the other hand, there were some individuals that just included a name and some contact information, which I deemed to be wasted space.Being short and sweet is fine for some people, but many others prefer to be more concise and more descriptive. You want to be specific about the job and the skills that you have and what positions you may be able to fill.

Be Just Right So Goldilocks will Hire You

Be Just Right So Goldilocks will Hire You We all know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.   She tested the porridge, the chairs and the beds and each time found one that was just right. Employers are looking for just right. Not under-qualified, not overqualified.   That is why new college grads and seasoned professionals are having difficulty right now. So what can you do?   The resume and cover letter,  phone screen and interview are  the three areas for a job seeker to fine tune or adjust to please Goldilocks. Resume and Cover Letter Before you even open your resume, take the time to review the job posting carefully.   Underline the  key words and phrases in the posting.   (Not phrases like interpersonal skills and teamwork, those are minimum requirements, the other stuff.) Next, go research the company, if you havent already done so.   Learn about them so you understand why they have this opening  and/or whats driving this  need for the position. Now begin writing and editing: Use  the key words and phrases in your summary. Omit words and phrases that are not directly related to the position Re-assess the job titles you are using?   Instead of Sr. Business Systems Analyst, be an Analyst or something closer to what the job title is you are looking for.   Dont lie, you can hyphenate your job title to include the real one second. Analyst/Business Systems Each bullet under your work history should address one of the requirements of the job (dont repeat yourself, only one bullet per skill/requirement) Limit the extent of your work history to 10-15 years In the cover letter: Explain why you are interested in this position in the first paragraph.   Say more than it is an excellent use of my skills. If it is clearly a job below your abilities, you better  reference why you are interested in taking a lower skilled job. (Dont tell them you are desperate) Highlight the specific match of skills/talents you have for the position in the second paragraph. Phone Screen If you are getting phone calls, that means your resume is working.   Now, be sure to answer their questions so they dont eliminate you here.   You want the interview! Be prepared to  defer the salary expectation question.   You are flexible and you understand that salaries are different now and you are financially prepared to adjust your income for the correct job and employer. Be likable!   Leave your frustration at the door. Ask good questions and show interest in the position. Have your accomplishment stories ready to answer questions with specific and relevant examples. Again, be ready to explain why you are interested in this job and employer.   Make them believe you are going to stick around beyond the training period and that you wont be bored with this job.  Interview If you are getting interviews, great!   Everything else youve done has worked. All the same advice holds true during the interview.   Stick to your story of why you are interested in this job and employer.   Be enthusiastic.   Learn about the position!   The interview is a dialog. This post was written to help a job seeker who asked for advice on how to not appear over-qualified.   If you have a question you would like answered, email me!

Tough (Question) Tuesday AND Great Giveaway A Tagline from Emma Alvarez Gibson!

Tough (Question) Tuesday AND Great Giveaway A Tagline from Emma Alvarez Gibson! Writers Block Black and White by Harts Fabric, found via Pinterest You finally have It: the product/project/biz that you know is ripe for the world. The content may or may not be written, the website may or may not be live, the product may or may not have been created.but its there, an idea at least, and youre committed to making it happen. It may or may not have a name that you may or may not be in love with, and the same goes for the tagline. You believe in this project/product/biz, but know it needs a bit more oomph to get it into all the hands you want to get it into. Enter Emma Alvarez Gibson, and her 3 tagline//24 hours//99 dollars service. You answer 5 businessy questions, she takes 24 hours, you get 3 taglines to choose from. Genius. And now, if you leave a comment to the question below by noon Eastern this Fri (10/28), you can get those taglines for free. Double genius. So If you could narrow down the purpose of your business/product/project to three words, what would they be? Feel free to leave a bit of a biz/product/project description and/or the url of your biz/product/project you want Emma to work on in your comment, as shell be choosing the winner herself. But no pressure if nothings been launched yet its totally not a factor for the winner. Break a leg everyone! UPDATE: The winner is Alison Fennell of eastwitching huzzah! Emma will be in touch soon so you two can get started, Alison. Thanks so much for entering everyone!