Where are all the Jobs?: Aug 17, 2011

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Should You Add Testimonials to Your Resume? | Career Rocketeer

Link to Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

Should You Add Testimonials to Your Resume?

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 03:30 AM PDT

Resumes have evolved considerably over the past couple of decades. There was a time when writing a solid objective statement was crucial to luring in a hiring manager. But now, experts recommend running from them at all costs.
Another shift that is being seen in the world of resume writing is the testimonial. Once upon a time, references (the name and contact information for three or more people who could vouch for you as a quality candidate) were to be attached to resumes. Now, some job seekers are taking the extra initiative to add testimonials.
Is this something you should consider?
What Are Testimonials?
Testimonials in resumes are similar to those you’ll find on marketed products. They are very short paragraphs (usually as short as one or two lines) written by someone you’ve worked with who is willing to vouch for your credibility as a potential employee, client, etc.
For instance, if you know the vice president of a company you once worked for, he or she might write a couple of sentences touting your level of commitment and experience to the company. This helps to toot your horn as an employee without your having to do the work yourself.
Testimonials Are Great for Resumes
To answer the question of whether testimonials are good for resumes, the answer is yes! Job seekers today are competing with more candidates than ever and need any edge possible to make them stand out from the pack.
If you want to make a great first impression, it’s good to add two or three testimonials to your resume, cover letter, or on a separate reference sheet. No matter how they’re added, they’re likely to immediately catch the attention of the hiring manager because they’re still considered unique.
This self-marketing tool could push you past the competition and through a company’s doors for an interview. So think about it as a great way to increase your appeal in this tough job market.
For additional job search and resume writing advice follow us on Twitter @GreatResume.

Author:
Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187.

Advertise on Career Rocketeer

blogging4jobs

Is Mobile & SEO Too Sexy for HR?

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 08:40 AM PDT

mobile recruitment, mobile recruiting, mobile jobs, mobile technology hr, mobile talent, SXSW, sexy hr

The mobile world is upon us. Technology is king. And yet your organization’s recruiting and HR teams are often the last one’s that are thought of as innovators in the mobile and SEO spaces. What if I told you that you were wrong? That your human resources, recruiting, and talent departments are doing sexy things with technology?
Interested?
“Is Mobile & SEO Too Sexy for HR?” is the title of a proposed session that me and Carrie Corbin (@thealphafemme) are hoping to lead at the 2012 SXSW Interactive Media Conference. You may remember me writing about the conference in the last two years here & here. Carrie and I also think it’s time that the HR and recruiting teams have a “seat at the table” amongst the PR, digital media, and technology folks at SXSW which is why we submitted our panel.
Carrie works at AT&T and uses technology, mobile, and SEO to find job seekers as part of their Talent Attraction team. They do some pretty amazing things like integrating QR Codes and search engine optimization into their candidate engagement strategies. I, on the other hand, work with companies helping them to understand how to use these tools using my experience in HR and Recruiting as a consultant.
Awesome you say. . . but we need your help. It’s up to you to help us get our “seat at the table.” We need your votes. These said votes count for 30% of the total score as part of the SXSW Interactive Media selection process. We need you to visit http://b4j.co/sexyhr and vote for our session. This involves registering before your vote. Tell your friends. No, beg your friends. Vote again, and vote some more.

Not sold yet? Here’s a description of our session “Is Mobile & SEO Too Sexy for HR?”
Is technology too sexy for HR? Hear some of the leading experts in the mobile, HR and recruiting fields discuss how SEO and mobile recruiting can and have been used to recruit top talent. Join the discussion about how your HR and Recruiting teams can use mobile, social media, and SEO technologies to attract candidates and hire the best.

How can SEO be used to advertise job openings and fill vacant positions?
What examples are there of mobile technologies or innovations?
How can I get my recruiter or HR team involved in the sexy tech discussion?
What emerging technologies and trends are being used to recruit?
How HR & Recruiting are using tech & Why should I care?

Be sure to vote for our session. Voting officially ends September 2. Thank you for supporting us!

To Be the World’s Best? Solve, Provide, Do. Repeat.

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 04:29 AM PDT

A couple weeks ago, my family went on a road trip through Central California, destination Mammoth Lakes, CA. We passed through many smaller towns and lots of open prairie. I was fascinated by the sites, the incredible views, and the numerous history lessons revealed by our passage. We enjoyed our time together and learned a great deal – a surprising and welcome side effect.
One fascinating fact we discovered? Every small town along Highway 395 produces or sells the World’s Best Beef Jerky. Much like the classic “Coldest Beer in Town” neon sign, rusted and weathered placards lined our drive with the recurring self-proclamation of best jerky. Each convenience store that also sold velvet Elvis paintings and miniature plastic drum sets also carried teriyaki, cracked pepper and classic jerky. It started to feel like a practical joke or Groundhog’s Day as the repetition became more pronounced.
I have a friend who owns his own business. He is fiercely competitive and does very well for himself and his family. And while he is very good at what he does, what stands out most is the fact that he knows at what, particularly, he is good. He often says to himself, “Why would this client want to do business with me?” And he always has the answer good-and-ready for himself. Because I can provide the best service with a happy and typically predictable outcome for all parties involved.
When you know you are the best, you don’t have to hang a rusty sign out front that says you are, you do it – you prove it by solving your clients’ problems, by providing a stellar service, and by doing what you say you will do. Because, in the end, it doesn’t matter what the sign says if you can’t or don’t deliver.
I think of this often whenever I speak with potential clients – I never forget that to them, I am a potential service provider. I am the one that will potentially succeed for them, helping them to achieve more or I am the one that will potentially fail, causing them to achieve less. I’d like to have them call me again, chances are if I do not fulfill my promises or deliver the goods, my phone will not ring.
And a ringing phone is almost as good as the ring of a cash register. Not only does an angel get his wings but there lies proof that a continuing desire for good service and quality products is alive and well. We can’t all buy Motorola or invest in LinkedIn, but we can carve out a specific niche and be the best at it. Solve, Provide, Do. Repeat.

Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology. She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

The Art of the Job Search

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 04:17 AM PDT

how to find a job, job search research, art of the job search, cover letter template, resume template, coverletter, gap analysis job search, gap analysis

The job search is a process. A process that involves training, strategy, and patience. Much like an artist works to craft and design their masterpiece. The planning and strategy involved with your job search should begin no less than six months prior to when your job search begins. These preparations involved include fostering relationships, establishing connections, creating an online presence and developing a long-term strategy to grow your professional skills.
For your job search to be effective, one must start at the beginning. This involves an honest assessment of your skills, qualifications, and how you stack up against the competition. I liken this to artists drawing sketches or creating molds prior to casting their iron masterpiece. This preparation involves a great deal of time and attention.
The most effective way in which to develop your job search strategy involves conducting a gap analysis. A gap analysis is a common planning and strategy tactic used by businesses to determine ways a brand can adapt to market conditions to reach their goals. For a job seeker, these goals could be to meet new industry connections, get their work published, or to find a new position.
Performing a gap analysis involves a simple five-step process:

Start with a list known gaps — holes in the market where a need is not being served by the products and services currently available.
List potential gaps — areas of opportunity that could arise later.
Make a list of triggers that may lead to gaps — what could you do to turn a potential gap into a real opportunity?
List market trends related to your industry or blog specialization. Where do you fit in?
Assign actions you can take in these areas.

An analysis like this can be as involved or as simple as you wish. The goal is to benefit the end user and its complexity depends on the complexity of your own brand, a new job and long-term career goals. The key is to focus on the long-term strategy being meticulous and calculated. Just like a work of art, your career and job is often a reflection and celebration of your accomplishments. With a clear strategy and plan to get there, you're job search and personal brand can be a work of art.
Are you a recruiter, hiring manager, or business leader? Consider joining in the #GiveLabor Day movement and spend 15 minutes on Labor Day to help get America back to work. Learn more by visiting the press release, get your badge, and follow the Twitter hash tag #GiveLabor to learn more. Leave a comment and tell me how you are going to make a difference.
Photo Credit Rogueego.

HR social media jobs, human resource social media jobs, job board tricks, resume template, cover letter template

FTC Disclosure: Smartrecruiters is a client of Xceptional HR. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. And I believe in the Zero Unemployment Movement. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Are You Hungry for Career Fulfillment? Learn How to Nourish Yourself

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 11:00 PM PDT

In order to experience career fulfillment, we have to explore all the ways work affects us—mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

How to Match Your Personal Brand to a Company

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 10:30 PM PDT

People often ask me, "How do I match my personal brand to a company so they pay attention to my application?" You already have the tools!

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

12 Ways to Develop Brand-Power

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 10:00 PM PDT

There's man-power, girl-power, flower-power, horse-power, higher-power, nuclear-power. Now there's...BRAND-POWER? Are you building it?

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

5 Ways to Use this Website

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 09:30 PM PDT

CAREEREALISM.com, a top-3 career blog, is focused on providing cutting-edge career advice that gives job seekers no-nonsense information.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.