Don't let obstacles get in the way of your job hunting

Job Hunting can be mind boggling.  Knowing what kind of job you are qualified for can be intimidating.  Don't let things overwhelm you.  Think of the positives and form a plan to accomplish your goal.  First thing I do when anything is overwhelming me is make a list.

• What kind of jobs does your education qualify you for
• What experience do you have and is it transferable from industry to industry, ie banking to government
• Who do you know in the industry
• Call them and set up an information interview to find out what types of jobs you would be qualified for or that would interest you
• Network - let everyone know you are looking 
• Use a Recruiter, keep in touch with him/her.
• Check the job boards
• Check specific company websites
• Connect with people on LinkedIn who work for specific targeted companies that you are interested in
• And then go back and do it all again

There is a job out there with your name on it.  

Good Luck Job Hunting :)

A problem overwhelming you!!!

Keep your spirits up when job hunting

I think this quote says it all.  Keep your spirits up!  Job hunting is hard work, you will find a job you love

Good Luck Job Hunting!  O:)

Successful Job Hunting takes effort every day

Unless you are very lucky, trying to find a job, must sometimes feel like chipping away at a stone cliff.  It takes a ton of effort so make sure you are:

• updating your resume and sending it to your recruiters, your networks/connections, your friends and family
• ask them to forward it to anyone they know who might be in the market for your skill set
• use your social media, LinkedIn and Twitter are great vehicles for you to sell yourself
• send your resume in to jobs you are qualified for and then FOLLOW UP.  

Chances are companies aren't going to be knocking down your door looking for you.  So be prepared for some hard work to find the position you've been waiting for.

Good Luck Job Hunting!!! O:)

Your resume stands alone - make sure it packs a punch

Remember when you send your resume in to a company, it stands alone.  Make sure your resume packs a punch, you need to stand out from the other 100's of resumes the company receives:  

• use key words from the job description
• start your achievements, etc off with action words
• highlight your education especially if it is one of the job requirements
• make sure your cover letter tells them that not only are you a fit for the job, but that you really want the position.

Good luck job hunting! O:)

Eleanor Roosevelt - Dream

Eleanor Roosevelt, what a remarkable women, born in 1884, she was the longest serving First Lady of the US.  Serving as First Lady from just before the start of WWII and ending in 1945, not an easy time for the US administration or for women in politics.  

She believed in following her dreams, something we can all learn from.  For more info on Eleanor check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt

My quote comes from Eleanor this week and it seems only fitting that it is paired with the Grand Canyon.  Enjoy

Never Give Up

Job Hunting getting you down, take a break but don't give up.  Switch direction for a day or two.  If you have been focusing on job boards, switch to your networks.  Join some groups on LinkedIn. Start a blog and share it across your Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.  Try researching companies directly to see who is hiring.  Take an on-line course to upgrade/update your skills.  OR just take a break for the day and you'll be rejuvenated and ready to go again.

Good luck job hunting!
   

Ability, Motivation, Attitude

Three important traits to have when either looking for a new job or thinking about changing your career.

Resume Spelling Mistakes

Spell check is an amazing tool, but it has made us all very lackadaisical about proofreading our resumes.  Here are a few of my favourite errors that spell check does NOT pick up.

• Implemented enchantments to the Customer Billing System.   As much as I would like to think that there are developers out there who use enchantments to update their systems, I am pretty sure the word was supposed to be enhancements
• After 2 years was put in-change of the ...  this one should definitely be in-charge.  
• Updated widows on 20 desktops.  Sounds interesting, hopefully they meant windows
• 20 years experience on Linus.   When doing a key word search for Linux this resume won't get picked up.
• Over night years of experience.  Yes this is supposed to be eight.

Some of my other favourite errors include:

• Preformed or Performed
• Manger or Manager
• Onside or Onsite 
• Senor or Senior
• Revolve or Resolve

It is especially important to go over your key words in the resume and cover letter.  Companies scan for these words, if they aren't correct then they won't get picked up by the ATS (Automatic Tracking System).  Humans might ignore some of these errors but ATS systems won't.  They just scan and reject.  

No one likes proofreading and it is easy to miss something you have written.  You tend to skim more than actually proofread so this is when family and friends come in.  Ask them to ready (oops read) it and if they aren't sure to ask you for clarification.  

Would love to hear about your favourite spelling mistakes.

Good Job Hunting O:)

First Impressions at the 1st Interview and hopefully the 2nd and 3rd

First Impressions can make you or break you.  They are so important in setting the tone for the whole interview process and helping you advance to the next level.  Where you will be starting all over and again need to make a great "First Impression".

A first impression is exactly what it says.  This is the image that everyone who meets you, from the receptionist to the executive's assistant to the interviewer gets at first glance.  And yes it is often the first glance that sets the tone, before you even open your mouth.  The first impression starts before you even leave your house:

• what are you wearing
• make sure it is crisp and clean, depending on the job you don't necessarily need a suit, but dress pants/skirt and shirt (tie) are definitely the minimum.  DON'T dress provocatively .  
• don't use too much perfume or cologne, it can be overwhelming and the interviewer may be allergic
• make-up again keep it to the minimum, this is not a date
• YES - clean your shoes up.  You don't have to be able to see your face in them, but they shouldn't be covered in dust or dirt.

One final glance in the mirror and you are on your way.  I hope you are on time, being late for an interview starts the whole process off with a negative tone before they have even seen you.  Right away you have to fight back to correct their first impression of you.

You approach the office, you puff up your chest, straighten your shoulders and you are ready to knock them off their feet !!:

• oh gosh I need a smoke - yes it's a bad habit, but a lot of people still smoke.  Don't have a cigarette before the interview, if you are nervous try the nicorette gum.  Whether you agree or not companies frown on smokers nowadays.  So don't blow your chances before you even get in the door.
• get there early enough so if you have to you can make a quick trip to the bathroom to straighten up, put your subway blown hair back together, re-tuck in your shirt.  Take a few calming breaths.
• remember your first impression starts with the receptionist and progresses to the executive assistant before you even get into the interview.  Truthfully be on your best performance as soon as you walk in the door, the person sharing the space with you in the elevator may be the person you are being interviewed by.
• stand tall, don't slouch, walk with confidence
• SMILE
• if you have brought a portfolio, file folder or your purse keep it in your left hand.  This leaves your hand open for that all important firm handshake

The chemistry between you and the interviewer needs to ignite right then.  Next step is to wow them with your skills.

Good Luck Job Hunting O:)

Hot Job - April 2, 2013

Account Manager

Permanent Position - As a member of the Business Development team you will be required to build lucrative relationships with Retail Bankers in North America and grow our software business.  

If you have the following experience and would like to work for a dynamic company operating in the global market then send us your resume as soon as possible:  

• Expertise in the banking industry – an absolute “must have” – and expertise in retail distribution channels would be preferred
• Experience selling complex technology solutions into technical/architectural teams and to business executives
• A post secondary degree combined with on-the-job experience

Does your list of abilities include:

• Proven ability in developing and maintaining major accounts
• Source leads and qualify high potential prospects
• Demonstrated relationship building skills at all levels of the organization, including senior executive levels
• Flexibility to travel in North America (perhaps some international travel)
• A creative and independent style for managing customer and partner relationships
• Lead contract negotiations and close deals in a timely manner 
• Enjoys delivering presentations to business and technical teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in developing and executing product marketing strategies a definite asset
• Strong drive to succeed and operate independently
• Ability to think on your feet and adapt quickly to the needs of customers
• Integrity and an ethical, relationship-based approach to selling 
• Work closely with the Director of Business Development & Client Services to develop appropriate sales targets and effective strategies to meet these goals

If you are interested in applying for this position please send your resume in WORD format quoting job reference code #18158 to:

Lynne Carlson - lynne@carlynservicesinc.com

Hot Job - April 1, 2013

Virtualization / Cloud Readiness Specialist

Contract opportunity, located in down town Toronto. The duration will include 
3-4 weeks to conduct assessment, and some (unknown) months to implement. The 
Virtualization / Cloud Readiness Specialist will have:

• Access to a small network of like-specialists that they have worked with previously.  Looking for a team!!!

Experience includes:

• Virtualization / Cloud assessment experience
• Citrix & VMware
• MS Exchange
• DR-BCP
• Ability to implement 

Tasks Virtulization / Cloud team must be able to do:

• Providing a timely, practical, and valuable analysis of current Windows and Linux systems readiness for and applicability to cloud based platforming; based upon business requirements and industry best practices
•  Create a tailored set of Enterprise Cloud criteria based on business need and cloud capabilities
•  Develop a focused, independent evaluation of individual systems and applications and how they conform to Enterprise Cloud criteria
•  Determine application dependency mappings of the current production environment in order to assess the feasibility, timing and scope of a migration to the Cloud.
• Identify access requirements, external workflows and other items which need to be accounted for in order to successfully prepare for an eventual cloud migration.  

If you are interested in applying for this position please send your resume in WORD format quoting job reference code #367224 to:

Lynne Carlson - lynne@carlynservicesinc.com

How important is proper grammar and punctuation?

Which to use?

The English language is very confusing.  English is my mother tongue and I was educated in the Ontario school system back when grammar was a subject on your report card and it was drilled into us.  My kids, also educated in Ontario, have a much more lackadaisical approach to proper grammar, which has become even worse with text messaging, tweeting, etc.  I am most definitely a "cross your t's and dot your i's kinda girl".  As much as I would like to be part of the "btw, fyi, lol generation" it just isn't going to happen on anything that I consider an official document.  Having had an old Motorola phone when I started texting definitely moved me along the path of short forms.  Tweeting has also helped, but when it comes to writing an email, cover letter or resume I am a strictly by the book kinda person.  Not saying that I don't make mistakes, but if I see that I say forgot to capitalize something, it is impossible for me to leave it (even when I try a big argument ensues with my "daytime night time" personality, daytime wins - back I go and correct it).  

Your email is the first thing I read, this is my first impression of you and if you haven't taken the time to use proper English and correct spelling then chances are I might not even open the rest of your documents.   A couple of years back I was looking for an Administrative Assistant with good communication skills and the ability to write professional business letters.  This is one of the emails I received:

• lynne - attached is resume, I can type.  Use word all the time.  - DELETE, in the trash it went

"Their, there, they're" - I tried drumming this into my kids heads when they were little and I am still doing it.  It really isn't that hard:

• Their - Adjective - "belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified".  It's like a plural "his" or "her".  
• Their company needs someone to upgrade their desktops.  
• The company is looking for resumes for their Financial Services Department.
• There - Adverb - "in, at or to that place or position"
• There is an opening at ABC Company
• I understand there are three people being interviewed for the position.
• The interview will be held over there.
• They're - is a contraction of the 2 words "they are"
• "They're going to interview me tomorrow."  or  "They are going to interview me tomorrow."

"Your, you're" - 2 more words that are frequently mixed up.

• Your - Adjective - "the possessive form of you".
• Your interview went very well and we would like you back tomorrow.
• Please send us your resume
• You're - is like they're, it is a contraction of the 2 words "you are"
• You're going to be seeing Mr Jones at 1 pm" or "You are going to be seeing Mr. Jones at 1 pm"

Punctuation - is another one of my pet peeves.  

• Commas: "Use a comma to separate the elements in a series (three or more things), including the last two"
• My skills include Java, PHP, and MySQL.  NOTE:  that it goes "word comma space" NOT "word space comma".  Putting the space after the word and the comma beside the next word causes MS Office to light up like a Christmas Tree.
• Periods:  "Are used to end a sentence".  There should be 2 spaces after a period.  period!!!!
• Colons:  "The colon focuses the reader's attention on what is to follow, and as a result, you should use it to introduce a list, a summation, or an idea that somehow completes the introductory idea.  - http://www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/colon.html"
• Please note:  The colon should be beside the word that starts the list or summation. It should not be at the beginning of the first word of the list. 
• Skills:    Java, PHP, Cobol  NOT  Skills    :Java, PHP, Cobol

English grammar is definitely not the easiest thing in the world to master.  We are luckily in an age when if you aren't sure you can type it into Google and just ask "how do I use a comma".  Take the time to do this with your email, cover letter and resume.  Or get someone to help you.  These are official documents.  Take your time, proofread, double check and hopefully you will get to the interview stage.

I'd love to hear about any of your grammar pet peeves or mistakes that you have seen that are becoming more and more common.

Good Luck Job Hunting O:)

Hot Job - March 5, 2013

Amdoc CSM Developer

This is a 6 month contract working for an international consulting firm.  

Your role as the Amdoc CSM Developer  will include:

• Working on a large content storage management project with the possibility of extensions

We are looking for Developers with the following skills::

• Amdocs CSM Developer
• Oracle/SQL
• Unix
• Tuxedo
• Telecommunication Experience
  

If you are interested in applying for this position please send your resume in WORD format quoting job reference code #328878 to:

Lynne Carlson - lynne@carlynservicesinc.com

Hot Job - February 25, 2013

Mobile Developer

Located in Toronto this is a permanent position for an interactive technologies company with operations in Canada, US and the UK.  

Your role as the Mobile Developer will include:

• Building one of several Mobile Apps

You will need experience in the following:

• 2+ years involvement in building complex mobile applications
• Experience in performance optimization and debugging large code bases
• Familiarity with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines or UX design
• PHP (Server infrastructure)
• Java (Android & web services)
• Objective-C (iPhone)
• JavaScript, CSS
• LAMP Environment 

Education:  A B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science or related field is needed

If you are interested in applying for this position please send your resume in WORD format quoting job reference code #134279 to:

Lynne Carlson - lynne@carlynservicesinc.com

Resumes Trash bound can be fixed with these little changes

You have sent your résumé out and you're just not getting any responses.  Family and friends have checked it over and given it a green light.  It's been proofread, double checked.  What's going on?  It might be something as easy to change as your file name, or your email address.  Below are 7 things to check on your resume before you send it out, starting with the most important "Are you qualified for the position?".

1. Are you qualified for the positions you are applying for?  This is definitely where a case of quality over quantity is important.  HR/Recruiters deal with 100's of resumes every day.  If you are applying for a specific position then make sure you are qualified.  If a job has been advertised then HR/Recruiters are focused on that job, they don't have time to waste on resumes that don't fit, so click goes the delete button.  Feel free to send a general email over saying "I am a Java Programmer and would be interested in any positions you might have available".   This lets them know that you are available and would like to meet.  There is a chance this will get moved over to their "To be Looked at" folder over the trash folder.


2. Your file name can tell a lot about your job searching.  Keep it to just your name.  Don't categorize it with the position or industry, ie. John Doe-ba or John Doe-pm or John Doe-ehealth.   This is a red flag to HR that you have been applying for a number of positions.


3. Is your email address professional.  Being known as "thekegger@....com" is great for your friends but won't get replies from HR.


4. Does your résumé match your LinkedIn profile.  In this day and age most recruiters will have a look at your online CV.  Dates, companies and positions should match up


5. Is there a gap in your dates, then fill it in.  "Went back to school, maternity leave, relocated to Canada" are a couple of examples.  


6. If you put in your hobbies make sure they won't offend anyone or set off red flags.  Saying that you play party poker every night when you get home from work probably won't sit well with the HR department of an investment company or bank.  Physical activities like running, team sports or music/art interests are always popular.  But don't lie.  


7. Social media.  Be careful what sites you give access to.  If you are going to follow a company on twitter or Facebook then keep your site professional.  And watch your language. 

It's hard getting your foot in the door.  Don't get tossed because of a couple of little blunders.  And remember there's nothing better than a "referral" to help you crack that door open a little.

Good Luck Job Hunting !!

Hot Job

PHP Developer 

This opportunity is a permanent position in the trendy part of downtown Toronto, walking distance to the subway and Union Station.  

Your role as the PHP Developer will be: 

• Maintain & enhance multiple instances of PHP applications such as Wordpress and vBulletin
• Maintain & enhance proprietary PHP applications: Admin, Classifieds, Specs
• Research and prototype new technologies as required
• Provide Development-team support to Ad Operations, Creative, and Editorial teams on HTML/CSS/JS-related issues, especially where it pertains to the above mentioned PHP applications

5 years of  PHP and MySQL knowledge is needed.  

Other skills that would be nice to have include:

• Knowledge in other scripting languages such as shell, bash, perl
• Extensive knowledge in working within the Linux command line and available command line tools
• Knowledge in the use of browser development tools
• Familiarity with AJAX/JSON
• Knowledge in working with 3rd-party APIs
• Familiarity with revision control, with Git preferred
• Knowledge of OOP and other software development design principles

If you are interested in applying for this position please send your resume in WORD format to:

Lynne Carlson - lynne@carlynservicesinc.com

Interview ??: What have you learned from your mistakes?

The easiest answer to that question would be "I don't make mistakes".  Which might be true!  But definitely not what the interviewer is looking for.  Don't be too vague with your answers.  It helps if you give an actual example:

• I updated a billing module, it was all tested and ready to go and I realized that I had neglected to send it to production.  My first reaction was to hide and hope no one noticed.  But thankfully I realized that that would have been a way bigger mistake.  So I bit the bullet admitted my mistake and quickly worked to correct it.  I learned from this that you can't hide from your mistakes.  They won't go away, so just fix them.  
• I didn't believe in myself.  When I had a problem I went looking for help as soon as I hit a bump.  My co-worker finally said, "Don't give up so easily.  Persevere at it and you will figure it out."  Now I don't give up as soon and keep digging until I find the answer.
• When I first started in my previous position, I was scared to ask for help, in case my co-workers thought I wasn't qualified for the job.  Now I know that it is better to ask for help then make costly mistakes that have to be fixed by myself or my co-workers
• In dealing with customers I quickly learned not to say "I can't do that" right away.  Customers want you to at least try to help even if the outcome is the same.  So I found that telling a customer "Let me see what I can do" and then trying my best to help them, made the customer more satisfied.

Keep in mind that the interviewer isn't too worried about how bad the mistake was, they want you to admit that:

• Yes, you have made mistakes
• You learned from your mistakes
• You didn't blame co-workers
• That you are open to learning.

This question helps you to show your integrity, honesty, ego, very important characteristics that employers are looking for.

So keep in mind, that we learn more from our mistakes than our successes.  

Good luck job hunting.  

Why should my company do an eNewsletter?

eNewsletters are a very effective way to reach your customers/clients.  Yes, I know with all the social media capabilities out there do we really need eNewsletters.  Twitter, Face Book, Google+, etc all send millions of messages out every day.  And there lies the problem with SM.  If you don't happen to be on your device at the time when the message/tweet comes through there is a good chance that your customers/clients will never see it.  Twitter and Face Book deal with such large volumes of data, that blink and you can miss it.

eNewsletters are directed at specific customers/clients with information directly related to their needs.  Which is why it is important to make sure that your eNewsletter is catchy and has information in it that your customer wants to read.  Even if they don't have the time when it comes in, it can be filed and looked at later.  

Think of your business and how you can help your customer.  An eNewsletter isn't just about advertising/selling something, although no one turns down that outcome.  So let's look at some companies whose customers can benefit from their eNewsletter:

• Financial Planners
• It's tax season, let your clients know about any upcoming tax changes
• RRSP - how to maximize your money
• Tips:  Organizing your tax information
• Landscapers:
• It's time to apply your weed/fertilizer
• How to separate your plants
• What herbs grow best in sun
• Retailers:
• Sales
• New releases of merchandise
• Real Estate:
• I have a couple of  Real Estate Agents who send me eNewsletters that I love, they always have handy household tips in them, ie "thinking of a winter vacation don't forget to change the hot water setting to vacation", etc
• Recruiters:
• Let your clients know about hot job markets
• Advice on resume writing, interview techniques
• Municipalities
• Updates to bylaws
• Town meetings
• Special presentations, ie Citizen of the Year
• New parks that are opening up

eNewsletter Criteria:

• It has to be catchy:  pictures, tips, good use of fonts and colour
• Retailers probably want to send out an eNewsletter every week, whereas Real Estate might work better on a monthly cycle and Landscapers could go quarterly.
• It can't be too big.  If I receive a newsletter that locks my computer or takes too long to download, I hit the delete button faster than you can sneeze.  
• Don't direct me to a website that then has all sorts of pop-ups.  I just want to quickly read your newsletter for any pertinent information that may benefit me.

There are some really good companies out there that can help you get started.  MailChimp and Constant Contact  are both geared towards small companies who want to do their own campaign.  They are a great place to start and also give you good analytics on how many customers actually opened or clicked on your eNewsletter.  eNewsletters are a great job to outsource and help you get going.  If you need some help feel free to contact us - Carlyn Services Inc.

Networking to find a Job

This week Twitter has had a number of chats on "How to Find a Job".  #HFchat (@HFChat - HireFridayChat) is every Friday at lunch hour and there are some great professionals on here giving out advice for free.  Another good one was #NPRtwitterchat which was on Thursday, not sure if this one runs all the time or not.

The key point in both these chats is Networking.  Get out there and Network.  Stay home and Network.  Be active on all your social media sites.  The 3 most important sites mentioned were:

LinkedIn/FaceBook

• Set a goal to connect with at least 5 new people a week
• Join groups and be active in them.  These groups can be directly related to your profession.  But also join groups that are interesting to you, this way people that are searching you will find out things that are a little more personal.  But be careful there are groups out there that could offend a possible employee.
• Post every day, it can be related to your profession or a "quote for the day"
• Connect with Companies and follow their job boards.  
• Companies job alerts come out as soon as they are posted, so be diligent in checking your account every day.

Twitter

• Set up a professional twitter account.  Keep your personal one separate.  Companies or company representatives don't need to know that you can drink 12 beers in 30 minutes through a funnel standing on your head
• Follow, follow, follow - 
• other similar professionals, 
• companies you might like to work for, 
• recruiters (they put their job alerts up), 
• interesting news stories - let your followers know that there are road closures, weather warnings, things happening in the world
• Retweet, Retweet, Retweet
• retweet the company info and the recruiters, everyone likes to be retweeted, before you know it you may have formed a relationship
• Post original content that you have found on the internet that your followers may find helpful
• Post jobs that don't fit you but your followers might be interested in

So the bottom line is be socially active, keep your accounts up to date, be professional on the accounts you are using for job hunting and have fun.  There are some great people out there and some interesting stories.  You will be amazed what you will learn as you use your accounts more.

Good luck job hunting!!!

4 Simple Resume Formatting Tips

As you are probably aware formatting resumes can be a tricky business.  Most recruiters take your resume and put it on their letterhead before they send it over to their clients.  It should be easy right.  ctrl-A to select the resume, ctrl-C to copy and ctrl-V to paste.  Voila!!!.  Oops, there are spaces all over the resume, in the middle of the lines, large white spaces in the middle of paragraphs.  There is no justification, some lines start at the margin and some are spaced over.  Maybe the client wants to print it.  Again big "Oops" if you haven't used proper formatting.  Just because it printed OK on your computer at home, doesn't mean it will when it is opened and printed at your recruiter/clients office.  Depending on the size of your resume, reformatting it could take up to an hour of time.  An hour that could be the difference between you getting the job or not.  So try these simple formatting tips to help keep your resume looking good.

Enter/Return Key

• This key should only be used at the end of a paragraph.  NOT when your sentence gets to the end of the line.  It is amazing how many people force a new line to appear by using the enter/return key.  MS Office magically knows when you are approaching the right hand margin and will automatically move down to the next line for you.  Try it, just keep typing and amazing a new line will appear.  By the way the enter/return key is normally located on the right hand side of the keyboard, above the "shift" key.  

Tab Key

• The enter/return key helps format your right hand margin.  The tab key helps justify your left hand margin.  The tab key is located on the left hand side of your keyboard, usually just above the "caps loc" key.  Use it for new paragraphs.  Tab in the first line, if the second line doesn't automatically tab in, then take your cursor move it to the second line and hit the tab key again. From then on your whole paragraph will be tabbed in.  It will be stopped as soon as you hit the enter/return key.  So keep in mind they work in tandem with each other.

Bullets

• The Bullet Key is located on the top toolbar.  If you are doing a list use this key, it will automatically put in the bullet and set the margins so that all your points will line up the same.  It can be a little trickier than the other keys so practice.  Simple bullets are not hard to master.

Space Bar.

• Don't put in multiple spaces to line up your document/resume.  The space bar is used to tell MS Office what is happening.  It separates words, it appears after a comma, not before the comma.  When you put two spaces after a period it tells word that the sentence has ended and word will automatically capitalize the next word.  

Try these simple formatting tips.  Not only will it save you time, your resume will look more professional and be much easier to read.  If you still can't figure it out, then use a professional.  It is a worthwhile investment to have it done properly.

Things not needed on your Resume

Sending off a resume with all of our new technology has good and bad side effects.  It is great for us, see a job, apply for a job.  No stamps, no envelopes, no paper, no expense.  Click and your resume can be sent to an amazing number of companies.

For companies, this can create a mountain of emails for the hiring managers and recruiters.  So keep in mind that Hiring Managers don't have time to read a 20 page resume.  So let's look at some simple things that can help keep your resume to 3 pages.

Get rid of:

• Objective - totally obsolete nowadays.  Your objective is to get a job.  As soon as you send someone your resume they know what your objective is.
• References available - again totally superfluous.  If they are going to offer you the job you better have 3 good references
• Logos, Pictures - they take up way too much space on the resume and can also make your resume slow to open and cause it not to line up properly.
• Personal Info - like age, marital status, number of children
• Interests/Hobbies - these are things that can be brought up in the interview to break the ice.  But always be careful when mentioning your interests or hobbies.  Applying for a job at an investment company and telling them that you spend every Saturday at the race track or the casino might not give the positive impression you want.
• Unnecessary Bullets 
• Ability to multi-task
• Work independently
• Able to work in a team
• Good time management skills
• Extra Lines/Words - "Title:  Programmer/Analyst", "Company:  Royal Bank of Canada"  take out the words Title and Company, they are not needed
• Company Information - If the company is IBM then there is no need for a description, but if it is a small company that no one has heard of then put a small description in, but keep it small.  One or two lines, you don't need a whole paragraph
• Quotes - I definitely don't need to know what Socrates or Gandhi think about your love of working is.  So leave them off.

I was working on a resume the other day and the candidate had an 18 page resume.  The first job he worked at was only for 9 months and he had 2 pages of bullets.  blah blah.  Streamline your achievements to items that are pertinent to the job you are applying for.  At the interview we can discuss more detail.

Hope this helps and 

Good luck Job Hunting  O:)

A New Year, A New Job, A New Career, Where to Start

2013, a new year.  Maybe you are still looking for a job or you feel like a change.  Whatever the reason, new years, new seasons tend to encourage us to start looking at lifestyle and goal changes.  As in everything I do in life, I make a list.  Whether it's in a little notebook or on your iPad, start jotting down things that can help you in your job hunting or career change.

1. Update your resume.  Always have your resume ready to go.  You never know when or where you will hear about the perfect job that you have been looking for.  It could be at the coffee shop, lunch with friends, on the internet (job boards, twitter, facebook, LinkedIn).  Have a good look at the format:
• is the font easy to read (arial, tahoma), minimum 10 pt, black (for most professions:  IT, Finance) 
• keep the format simple:  profile, education, experience
• take out the superflous information:  hobbies, references, pictures, age, etc
• get rid of any fancy boxes, they don't copy over properly and things can be missed
• use tabs and returns, not spaces for formatting.  If you aren't sure how go on to google and take a quick lesson, basic formatting is really quite easy and will save you a ton of time in the long term
• make sure your contact information is up to date and shown on every page
• save as a word document
2. Update your on-line profiles.  Set up new on-line accounts.  Don't have a twitter account, then get one.  Network with your contacts.  Send out a quick "Have a great 2013, btw I am looking to change my career" or "Thinking of changing my career to ... any advice on courses or places to apply".
3. Look at the jobs you have been applying for and be truthful with yourself.  Do you need another certificate or upgrading of your skills, then maybe now is the time to do it.  
4. Check out the job boards and the business section of newspapers, etc to find out what is happening out there.  What's HOT, what's NOT.
5. Volunteering is a great way to meet people and show off your skills.  There isn't a lot of competition in volunteer groups, they are made up of people who want to help other people.  So let them know that you are looking for a job or planning on changing your career.  And to top it off volunteering is good for your self esteem and makes you feel great.

A new year, a new job, a promotion.  Be ready when opportunity knocks.

Happy New Year everyone.

and

Good Luck in your Job Hunting