STARTING WITH A RÉSUMÉ Steven J. Kraus Vice-President 1930 Bishop Lane, Suite 111 Louisville, KY Telephone: (502)

Six Steps to Résumé Success 1. DON'T JUST UPDATE YOUR OLD RÉSUMÉ  Edit your personal information  Don't ‘guesstimate” your dates and titles  Have an objective  Focus on accomplishments, not duties  Fill in the gaps  Tell the TRUTH, but don’t sell yourself short

Six Steps to Résumé Success 2. CONSIDER YOUR FORM  Chronological Résumé - Lists your work experience in reverse chronological order. This has long been the standard format that job seekers use. But in a downturn it may not be the best style for showcasing your skills and experience.  Combination Resume - If you have frequent or large gaps in your employment history, you may want to use a combination résumé. A combination résumé places the most emphasis on your skills and accomplishments, downplaying your previous positions and dates of employment. A combination résumé also could be a good choice if you are hoping to switch careers. This format allows you to highlight transferable skills that are applicable to the position you seek.

Six Steps to Résumé Success 3. FOCUS ON THE BOTTOM LINE Companies today are looking for ways to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies. When detailing the positions you've held in the past, be sure to mention how you've helped boost a former employer's bottom line.  What can you do for me?  Do you have the skills I'm looking for?  Where have you worked before?  Is your experience relevant to my needs?  Do you have the right education and credentials  Do I see any "red flags" in your background?  Can I easily get in touch with you?

Six Steps to Résumé Success 4. CUSTOMIZE YOUR CONTENT One of the most important steps when crafting your résumé is to target your content to each company and position. Rather than creating a standard document for use with every opportunity, customize your résumé so it speaks directly to a potential employer's unique needs.

Six Steps to Résumé Success 5. USE YOUR COVER LETTER Like many job seekers today, you may have extended gaps in your work history due to current economic conditions. The cover letter allows you to address any concerns an employer may have about these gaps. In it, explain how you've kept your skills up-to-date since your last full-time position, whether through temporary assignments, volunteer work or professional development courses.

Six Steps to Résumé Success 6. PROOOF RAED YOU’RE WERK PROOF READ YOUR WORK It takes just one or two typographical errors on a résumé to remove a candidate from contention for an open position. Employers see typos, misspellings and grammatical mistakes as a sign you lack professionalism and attention to detail. PROOF READ Use the spell-check function and ask friends and family to PROOF READ your résumé before you send it out.

Résumé Don’ts  Avoid using the pronoun “I” or abbreviations.  Avoid odd-sized, colored or heavily-textured paper.  Don't list a quirky address on your résumé. Employers generally don't want to ask or in for an interview. Instead, create a separate account for professional purposes.  Don't include irrelevant personal information, such as your favorite food or hobbies. If you volunteer at an organization or speak a second language that relates to the job, it's OK to mention that information.

Job Search Techniques: How Will You Find Your Job? Traditional (e.g. newspaper ads, internet postings)  Percent of Open Jobs: 10% Networking  Percent of Unadvertised Job: 90%  List of personal contacts who “know people” – Bankers, Lawyers, Insurance Brokers, Accountants, Club Officers, Church Leaders, Barbers/Hair Dressers, etc.  “Elevator Message” – 30 second personal commercial.  People want to help you... You need to tell them how. Your spouse, significant other or best friend do not know what you do... Unless you tell them!

Sourcing Hit List Internet Job Boards Print & Media Ad Professional Recruiters; Temporary Agencies; Recruitment Firms Company Website Colleges, Trade Schools, High Schools Job Fairs & Industry Conventions Community Centers Industry Contacts, Association Memberships, Trade Groups Unemployment Offices Religious Organizations & Agencies

Professional Recruiters Employment Agencies  Temp-to-Hire  Direct Hire/Placement Recruiting Firms  General v. Specialized Placements  Who Pays?Candidate v. Employer

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