Essay Guideline

A missing or lame Objective section can get your resume tossed in the trash in a matter of seconds. There are quite simply too many better resumes out there to bother. Yet most job seekers screw this up terribly.

The basics are thus: toward the top just above or just underneath your “Keyword Competencies” paragraph, put your “Objective” section which is quite simply the object of your job search, the title of the job you are seeking.

Here’s a Bad Example: Most people put in a title (like “Software Developer” or, “Lighthouse Keeper” or, “Marketing Director” or “Product Manager” or “NASCAR Pit Boss” in some long droning sentence that reads like:

Objective: “Challenging opportunity as a (title) where I can effectively use my managing and sales skills in my ongoing effort to help grow an organization, blah, blah”

This is not only boring, it’s also highly ineffective. Your resume has only so much available space and your potential reader so little available time. This sort of verbiage does not transmit key information that will widen your net.

Use the “Objective” to do one thing, focus on your objective.

Here’s a Better Example: Instead of just filling out the target title as “JAVA Programmer” for instance, also list other closely allied titles that the searcher may be searching on. For instance:

Objective: “Java Programmer, Software Engineer, Application Developer, Software Developer.”

Use each section in your resume to answer one question only. By putting several potential titles in the Objective heading (and leaving out the skill-set info of the first example), you tighten up your focus and you widen your net. Even within larger companies, there may be several different job requisitions at any one time. For example, it hasn’t been uncommon for a company to have concurrent openings for “Java Programmer”, “Software Developer”, “Software Engineer”, all of which you may well be qualified for. So don’t limit yourself with your objective title. Use this space to your best advantage and you will reap greater returns.

Summary: Wow, that was pretty easy wasn’t it? But you know, most of your competitors in the job search process DON’T DO THIS SIMPLE THING. Add this improvement to your resume today and you’ll find yourself out of the lost resume abyss and back in the game and closer to getting that job you really want.

Joe Turner makes it easy to quickly land that next job. Learn insider job search tips from top recruiters. To claim your free 6-part Recruiter Secrets Minicourse, visit http://www.jobchangesecrets.com/Free_Job_Search_Tips.html.

Share This

Comments(0)

So, you need to submit employment references. A simple task, right? Sure, you could contact three of your closest friends and ask them to be your references. They may be able to testify to your character, but do they know how well you would perform on the job? Probably not. Let’s explore the types of references you must seek, the number of people you should include, and to whom references should be submitted.

Whom To Select

When selecting references, it is always a good idea to find those people who know how well you work. Supervisors you reported to directly or co-workers are some of the best choices. However, some companies frown on supervisors from being a reference and, instead, require that they list the Human Resources department as the contact point. Legal issues play into that decision.

Co-workers can be a good choice, especially if they held a position of authority even if they weren’t over you. The company’s receptionist may know you best, but oftentimes it is the title [position] of the person that pulls the greater weight.

How Many References?

A minimum of three references should be garnered. Four or five if each one is solid. You need to inform the person you select that they are a reference in advance. Of course, that means you need to get their permission first. Do not put someone on the spot — kindly ask if they would be a reference; if they decline don’t take it personally. There could be any number of reasons why someone won’t be your reference; speculating will only cause you to formulate a reason which could be entirely false.

Furnishing References

Never, ever list references on your r

Share This

Comments(0)

What are corporations looking for in a resume, as there are many people applying for the same job? Corporations are looking for people who can get along with others and are personable. Corporations need people who are trainable and will listen to the corporate staff into as they are told. Corporations are looking for people who have been constantly employed and have finished college.

Corporations are looking for people with multiple degrees on their resume and who have worked in other large corporations through out their adult life. Corporations are looking to make sure there are no gaps in your resume between jobs. The human resource director of a large corporation during the job interview will make sure that you are well groomed and have a good personality and do not necessarily get agitated easily.

What are corporations looking for? They are looking for great people who will follow the rules and go with the flow. They are looking for a well done resume without mistakes, spelling errors or punctuation. Corporations are looking for a certain type of person who can get along with others and do as they are told.

Corporations are looking for people who will not make excuses but rather take the initiative and empower themselves to get the job done. Corporations are looking for people that can help the Corporation make a profit. Please consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Share This

Comments(0)