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Use
Advertising Secrets to Write Your Resume
From 0% to A 100% Resume Response Rate
Fran's Before Resume - Fran's After Resume $9,000
Pay Increase
Who Is Your Audience and What Do They Want To Hear?
Using Graphing To Control Your Image - Using Tips
That Raise
Pay
Tammy's Before Resume - Tammy's After Resume $20,000
Pay Increase
How to Create Powerful Skill Headings and Job Titles
Choosing a Skill-Based or Chronological Resume
When Is a Chronological Resume Better?
3 Steps to Selecting The Right Resume Format
How to Replace Weak Job Titles & Avoiding
Repetitive Titles
Which Format Is Best For You with Easy to Use
Worksheet |
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Chapter 2 - Improve Your Self-Confidence and Expand Your Comfort Zone
Success stories build your confidence something we all
need during a job search! .Successes of real job seekers who
created far better resumes and learned they had a wealth of skills employers want. This section discusses the fact that employers really are more interested in your skills rather than specific titles.
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Improve Your Self-Confidence and Expand Your Comfort Zone
Self-Doubt Results In Weak Resumes
Negative Situations Can Damage Your Self-Image &
Result in Weak Resumes
How to Accurately Describe The Work You Do - Even
When You Don't Feel Confident
Many Titles Have Little Meaning & Weak Titles Control Salary Levels
Employers Are More Interested In Skills Than Titles
Change Self-Doubt That Affects How We Describe Ourselves
How Fran's Comfort Zone Weakened Her Image
Did You Really Do It? Can You Do It Again?
Is What You Are Saying Accurate?
When Your Self-Image Doesn't Match Your Goals &
How You Can Change Those Feelings
Even Successful People Can Have Self-Image Problems
How Negative Self-Talk Affects Us. We Process Up To 60,000 Thoughts A Day |
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Chapter 3 - Resumes REALLY are That
Important!!
Employers receive hundreds to thousands of resumes and spend little time reviewing
them and your resume must grab an employer's attention and sell your top skills in seconds. Resumes
also lay the foundation for employers to ask you questions during interviews ... therefore a weak resume results in weak interviews and a strong resume results in
much stronger interviews.
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Writing
Your Resume is The Best Preparation for an Interview
It Takes Time To Create A Great Resume - If You
Do - You'll be in the Top 5%-10%
Resumes Represent How We Market Ourselves During Interviews
A Strong Resume Sets Your Image Before Interviews
Identifying Skills Increases Confidence
Employers Look For Growth & Promotion Potential
Always Lower The Employer's Risk In Hiring You
Your Resume Is A Powerful Career Tool |
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Chapter 4 - 6 Steps to Create a Powerful Resume
You'll be taken through 6 Easy Steps to Create Your Resume, whether it's a skill based resume or a chronological resume.
Resume samples illustrate both types of resume formats and are used as examples to show you how to complete the worksheets.
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Chapter 5 - Skill Lists
and Sample Sentences To Create A Proven Resume
This chapter includes over 2,000 skills, skill headings and sample resume statements for 45 career
fields with 350 skill areas cross-referenced in 60
resume samples. The skill lists and statements make it easy for anyone to flip to the career fields in which they have experience and check off information that matches their background. You can view a complete list of the career fields by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
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Index of Skill Lists and Sample Sentences:
Accounting / Bookkeeping / Assembly / Production / Automotive / Machine Shop
Mechanic / Industrial Maintenance / Cashiering / Customer Service / Retail Sales
Computer Programs / Equipment / Computer System Administration / Technical Support
Construction / General Labor / Driving / Shipping / Warehouse
/ Engineering / Drafting
Executive Secretary / Office Management / Facilities Management / Janitorial /
Healthcare
Human Resources Management / Recruitment / Training / Inside / Outside Sales
/ Management / Supervision / Reception / General Office /
Restaurant / Food Service
Self-Employed / Consultants / Social / Human Services /
Teaching / Education
Writer / Reporter / Copywriting / Transferable Skills |
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Chapter 6 - 12
Critical Questions to Expand and Control Your Image
This chapter provides the top questions I've found that I ask whenever I write resumes with job seekers - no matter their income level or the industry they're
in - you'll see more reasons why the book has
generated so many success stories and pay increases!
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Questions with Sample Answers & Resume Sections
Show How to Increase Pay & Image
Questions to Help You Quantify & Describe The Best
of Your Achievements
Questions Show How to Link & Build Your Image in
The Descriptions of the Jobs You've Held |
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Chapter 7 - Creating Powerful Design and Content
You'll learn to create a resume that uses design to control and direct the employer's eye path to your top skills and sell you in seconds ... a must when you know that employers spend as little as 30 seconds glancing at resumes before discarding them. Several sets of resumes are analyzed to teach you how to use design elements that will make your resume stand out.
You'll also learn how to write strong resume content. It's important to know that the design of your resume must get attention but it's really the content that will convince employers to call you.
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Creating Powerful Resume Design and Content
Directing and Controlling The Reader's Eye Path
Design Can Maximize or De-Emphasize
Skill Headings, Job Titles and Resume Design
Gina's Before and After Resumes
Your Image Affects Your Entire Job Search
How Many Skill Headings or Job Titles Should You Use
Don't Go Overboard on Design
Control Employer Assumptions
Words That Weaken Your Image
Make Your Resume Memorable
Use Action Verbs - Action Verbs List - Quantifying
Examples of How To Improve Your Sentences
Prioritize and Use Umbrella Statements
Use Narrow Margins To Save Space - Font Styles and Size
Use Design Elements To Control & Direct The Eye Path
Use Bulleted Statements Instead of Block Paragraphs
Quality Printing & Paper - Executive Resumes -
Include All Contact Information |
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Chapter 8 - What You Should and Shouldn't Tell Employers
Here you'll learn the nuts and bolts questions people have about describing their employment history (and related problems), education, professional affiliations, and other issues.
You are taken step by step through the process of creating
powerful objective statement sections that have
increased pay. Examples from resumes that landed a $400 a month increase and a $42,000 salary increase.
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What You Should and Shouldn't Tell Employers
Should You Use An Objective Statement?
Drawbacks to Stating A Specific Objective
Several Positions Using The Same Skills
Avoid General Statements
Don't Describe What You Want
Objective Statements: $42,000 Increase and $400 a Month Increase
Dynamite Objective Statement for $74,000 Position
Objective Statements Contributes to $400 a Month Increase
Objective Worksheet
One Page Versus Two Page Resumes
Extensive Experience Warrants A Two Page Resume
How Far Back To Go In Your Work History
Don't Use Dates That Age You - When To Include Dates -
Gaps In Employment
Streamline Several Positions With One Employer
If You've Worked for Only One Employer
If You've Worked For Temporary Agencies
How To Describe Volunteer Experience
Where to Place Your Education -How To Describe Education
Special Areas of Study - College With a Degree - College Without a Degree
If You Attended Several Colleges - Describing College Coursework, Projects and Internships
If You Gained Hands-On Experience
Describing Short-Term Projects
Including or Not Including Your GPA
Corporate Training - Personal Information -
Salary History
Reason For Leaving Employment
Maintaining Your Confidentiality
Professional Memberships
If You Have Relocated
Military Employment
Associations and Religious Affiliations
Personal and Professional References |
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Chapter 9 - 60 Proven Resume Examples
This chapter contains 60 resume examples with an extensive cross reference list of skill headings contained in all resumes and is grouped by industry/skill categories.
The resumes are grouped by major career categories and
350 skill headings are cross referenced so you can
pick and choose skills from other resumes that also
match your background. Questions to help build a
resume for each career field and are a powerful tool
in identifying and quantifying your
achievements. Click
for full list of all resumes and skills. |
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Chapter 10 - Cover Letters: Strategies That Have Increased Salaries!
You'll learn why most cover letters FAIL and see
samples of how to create a cover letter that
WORKS. You must understand how employers screen cover letters and
resumes and learn how to use cover letter design that directs and controls the eye path, and saves employers reading time.
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Most Cover Letters FAIL - Use Design That Saves Employers Time
Powerful Content - Who Is Your Audience and What Do They Want To Hear
Developing Strong Skill Headings and Job Titles
ORIGINAL LETTER Example - BULLETED LETTER Example
Write A Letter That Positions You in the Top 5% to 10% of Qualified Applicants
Redundancy - Use A Postscript - The P.S. Works
Don’t Get Gimmicky - It Doesn't Work
Address Your Letter to a Specific Person
Your Introductory Paragraph - The Body Of Your Letter Presents Your Case
The Closing Paragraph - The Importance of Follow-Up
If You Are Feeling Uncomfortable - Follow-Up Lands Interviews and Job Offers
Other Job Seekers Report Landing Jobs After Following-Up
E-Mail Your Cover Letter and Resume
Apply Even If You Don't Have Every Skill - If You Think You're Not Qualified
Answering Blind Ads - Answer Ads As Soon As Possible
Your Salary History
The Importance Of Customizing Your Letters
Contacting Employers Who Haven't Advertised
Contact Employers Before Sending Letters
Look For The Yes's and Step Over The No's
Targeting The Correct Decision Maker
If You Can't Call Employers
Generic Letters - A Last Resort
Your Cover Letter and Resume Need To Be Stand-Alone Documents
Generic Letter Example
Don't Send Resumes That Are Weaker Than Your Letter
Matching Your Skills A, B, C, D to Employer
Needs
Graphing How Employers Respond To Your Cover Letter
Why Fran's Before Letter Caused Her Image To Drop $9,000
Use Graphing To Critique Your Cover Letter
Cover Letter Worksheet
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Chapter 11 - Interviewing: Strategies That Have Increased Salaries
This chapter addresses 13 criteria that many employers judge applicants by to determine if they are overqualified, qualified or unqualified. Cynthia's unsuccessful interview is critiqued and graphed using the 13 criteria. The graph shows why Cynthia appeared unqualified in 10 of the criteria and qualified in only 3 of the criteria discussed.
You're taken step by step through each step of the
Interviewing Cycle:
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Phase I:
Introduction & First Impressions - This section discusses the importance of first impressions and stresses that employers begin judging you the minute you walk in the door.
Phase II:
Questions You'll Be Asked Based On The Employer's Review of Your Resume - This section discusses the wide range of questions employers may ask you during the interview, how to anticipate and answer such questions. It covers: Questions Employers Will Ask To Judge Your Skills and Experience, Questions About Your Bottom Line Contributions, Questions You Can Ask To Direct and Control The Interview, Questions Employer Ask to Assess Personality, Values and Coping Style, Questions About Your Work History, Questions About Education and Training, Questions About Your References, and Questions About Salary Requirements.
Phase III:
Interview Closure - This section teaches you how to close your interview with impact, probe to determine if you're a top candidate and identify when second interviews will be held and when you should follow-up.
Post Interview:
Follow-up and Thank You Letters - This section teaches you how to follow up on your interview. It also discusses the importance of using thank you letters as another opportunity to sell your top skills or to introduce new information.
Tips are provided on how to identify and de-emphasize your weaknesses during each interview.
How to answer the 10 Most Common Interview Questions.
Chapter ends with an Interviewing Checklist so that you can test yourself to see how well you understand and how well prepared you are for each phase of the interviewing cycle. A graph is also provided to rate yourself in the 13 criteria which have been described at the beginning of this chapter. Using this graph you can assess how employers will perceive your qualifications as being overqualified, qualified or unqualified for the job. that was not covered in the interview. Excellent thank you letter examples!
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Chapter 12 - Electronic Resumes,
Online & Offline Job Search Strategies
How to identify keywords that are critical to creating an effective electronic resume. Keywords are how electronic resumes are sorted in order to find candidates with specific areas of experience, skills and education. The Electronic Resumes & Job Search chapter takes you step by step through the process of creating ASCII, scannable and e-mail resume formats.
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Electronic Job Search Success Story
Keywords Again: Even More Important in the Electronic World
How Many Keywords Should You Use?
Analyzing and Compiling Keywords from Ads
Step 1 - Underline Keywords and Keyword Phrases
Step 2: Group Similar Skills Together
Step 3: Label Skill Categories with Skill Headings
Step 4: Prioritize and Number Skill Categories by Importance
Step 5 - Select The Top 35-45 Keywords and Keyword Phrases
Step 6 - Write Resume Statements Using Keywords and Keyword Phrases
Converting Your Keyword Resume to an Electronic Format
What Happens When Resumes Are Scanned
Guidelines for Creating Plain Text and ASCII File Formats
How to Convert An Existing File to Plain Text or ASCII Format
Formatting Your Plain Text File - Saving the File with Line Breaks -
Adjusting Line Length
Use a Text Editor to Remove Any Remaining Formatting
Printing Your Resume For Scanning and Faxing
Resume Length & Website Guidelines
Use the Preview Option & Test Your Resume Before Submitting It
Submit Two Versions of Your Resume
Getting the Most Out of the Subject Line in Your E-Mail Messages
Putting Electronic Cover Letters to Work for You
A Word on Attaching Files to E-Mail Messages Don't!
Conducting Your Online Job Search
Be Careful about Confidentiality on the Internet
Internet Job Search Strategies
Mega Career Sites That Give Fast Broad Exposure
Targeting Industry-Specific Sites
Targeting Specific Employers
National and State Employment Security Website
College & University Websites
Sites of Interest to Executives
What Kind of Employers Use Electronic Methods to Recruit?
Creating Homepage Resumes
Resume Posting and Resume Writing Services
What About Resume Writing Software Packages
How To Find and Land The Job You Want
A System That Guides You Each Step of The Way
Applying a Systematic Method To Your Job Search
Develop An Attitude to Look For the Yes's
Employers Respond Well to Job Seekers Who Are Relaxed and Confident
If Your Initial Efforts Don't Pay Off ...
You'll Learn How to Analyze & Improve What's Not Working
If You Dread Any Part of Your Job Search You May Procrastinate
Getting The Sparkle Back
When People Worry About Failing On Their Next Job
F E A R
Proven Job Search Methods
Maximize Your Time & Marketing Efforts
Create A Job Search Notebook
Applying Directly to Employers
Narrow Your Focus
Research To Develop Your Employer Lists
Write Down Important Information About Each Employer
Employer Worksheet
Business Directories
Alphabetical Section
Zip Code Section
SIC Section
Key Individual Section
Other Directories & Reference Materials
Computerized Periodical & Newspaper Indexes
Newspaper Clipping Files
Manufacturer's Directories
Dun & Bradstreet Directories
Standard & Poor's
Annual Reports
Companies with New Business Licenses
Organizations & Associations - Chamber of Commerce - Civic Organizations
Professional Associations
Church Employment Offices
Job Lines & Governmental Openings
Identify Your Goal In Contacting Each Employer
Informational Interviews
How To Determine If There's An Opening
Before You Call Employers
Script to Find Out If There is An Opening
Job Lines & Governmental Openings
Identify Your Goal In Contacting Each Employer
Informational Interviews
How To Determine If There's An Opening
Before You Call Employers
Script to Find Out If There is An Opening
Phone Script Worksheet
When Contacting Employers Don't Ask, "Are You Hiring?"
Remember to Ask for Referrals
Dealing with "No"
Networking - Why Does Networking Work? Who Can You Network With?
Networking List - Before You Make Any Networking Contacts
Most People Are Happy To Share Information As Long As You Don't Waste Their Time
Think Ahead and Prepare What You'll Say - Networking Success Stories
Answering Want Ads - Ways To Find Help-Wanted Ads
Organizing and Tracking The Ads You Respond To
Use Old Help-Wanted Ads To Find Employers
Working With Employment Agencies & Temporary Placement Agencies
Working With State Employment Agencies
Running A Work Wanted Ad - Develop A Job Search Plan That Meets Your Needs
A Blueprint To Maximize Your Time & Launch Your Job Search
1. Review Help-Wanted Ads To Quickly Locate Openings
2. Sign Up With Several Employment Agencies
3. Make a List of Networking Contacts That May Be Able To Introduce You
4. Apply Directly To Companies You Are Interested In But Don't Have Referrals To
Generating Multiple Offers Gives Your Negotiating Power
You're Now Ready to Launch Your Job Search
Your Job Search Success Sheet
If You Don't Get A Response to The Resumes and Cover Letters You Mail
If You Don't Get a Positive Response When You Network or Call Employers
If You Land Initial Interviews But Aren't Asked To Return for Second Interviews
If You Are Offered Jobs Beneath Your Salary Level
If You've Exhausted All Networking Leads and Employer Contacts
and Don't Know What Else To Do
If You Want To Make A Career Change ... But Are Told You're Not Qualified
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Success Imagery
If you're like many job seekers you may want a better job or higher salary or hope to make a career change ... but you may also feel somewhat intimidated about pursuing your goals. This chapter provides the Success Imagery, I and many of my clients, have employed to achieve our career
goals - many clients have commented on how this
chapter has helped lift them to job search success.
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The Importance of Success Imagery in Your Job Search
Understanding Your Intangible Desires
What Are Your Intangible Desires?
If That Exercise Was Hard For You
Identify Your Fears & De-Motivators
De-Motivators Cause Anxiety
Facing Your Fears
Pain and Discomfort Can Become Motivators
The Pain of Doing Nothing
The Pleasure of Success - Changing Your Self-Image
Success Imagery - The Dynamics of Success Imagery - Daydreaming
Why It's Important To Identify Your Goals
Daily, Weekly and Monthly Goals
How Long Does It Take?
Thoughts and Behaviors Change Spontaneously
Are You Worth More Money?
Select Only One Goal at a Time
Make Suggestions Believable and Personal
Focus On The Positive
Be Descriptive and Repeat Key Words
The Length of Your Script
Use Your Learning Preference
Ways You Can Use Success Imagery
In Summary
1) What is your career goal or job objective?
2) What intangible desires do you wish to fulfill by completing this goal?
3) What fears or de-motivators do you experience when considering this goal?
4) Turn each de-motivator you listed into a motivator.
5) How will you feel when you reach your goal and fulfill your intangible desires?
6) Make a list of activities that you need to complete to achieve your goal.
7) Make a list of the skills you possess that will assist you in reaching this goal.
8) Combine entries from Sections 1 and 2 with entries from Sections 4 through 7
to create your Success Imagery script.
A Sample Success Imagery Script |
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Job Search Organizer
If you're like most job seekers the idea of hunting for a job is bad enough in and of itself--let alone adding to the problem by having to keep track of all the places and people you've contacted when applying for jobs.
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- The Financial Value of Your Resume
- Instructions for Getting Started Using the Organizer
- 8 Steps to Plan & Launch Your Job search
- Your Job Search Planner - Daily, Weekly, Monthly
Planner
- Evaluating Your Performance During Pre-Screening Interviews
- Employer Research and Data Worksheets
- Networking / Referral Data Worksheets
- Worksheets to Track Resume Posting at Internet Sites
- Worksheets to Track Ads & Job Openings You Respond To
- Worksheets to Track Job Fairs & Career Events
- Worksheets to Track Openings from Career Placement Offices
- Worksheets to Track Contact with Employment Agencies
- Address Book to Enter Employment Related Information |
Website
Contents, Regina Pontow, 1997-2011
