7 Resume Lies Employers Will Never Check

ResumeBear Blog

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7 Resume Lies Employers Will Never Check Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:36 AM PDT Many Human Resources staffers preach the dangers of lying on your resume, and they're right to an extent. Inventing companies and inflating employment lengths can get you fired or at the very least embarrassed during the hiring process. But employers don't want complete honesty, do they? There are plenty of facts that are better left private (don't disclose your religion, age, race, etc.). And employers expect you to put your best foot forward, so show them your very best. You're giving them a snapshot of who you are; there's nothing wrong with using just the right lighting to show them your good side on a resume. So here are 7 "lies," or careful manipulations of reality that will never get you into trouble (and they have a good shot of landing you a job) 1. Lies of Omission No one in the hiring process wants to see an exhaustive list of duties from every job you've ever had. They don't even want to know every job you've ever had. Think from their perspective: facing a stack of resumes, they aren't searching for every last detail about you, they're trying to find good candidates. Scan your resume for anything that doesn't scream, "Hire me!" for this particular position. If you can't trim it or modify it to make it relevant and appealing, delete it altogether. If you're left with more white space than print, don't waste your time by applying. 2. Take Credit for Team Success Were you a member of a department that increased sales (or reduced expenses) by 10% for 5 years running? List that among your accomplishments if you were even the least bit instrumental in the success. You don't need to take all the credit, just show your future employer you be a team player on a winning team. 3. Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics Almost any job can be converted into numbers somehow: sales, expenses, efficiency, ranking, and especially anything with a dollar sign attached to it. Numbers jump off the page, cutting through the syrupy resume verbiage. If you can fit terms like million, Fortune 500, or any percentage over 100 into the picture, even better. We don't recommend you fudge the numbers. Just select the ones that are most impressive. 4. Compare Yourself Favorably Once you've found a way to make your job performance measurable by rank or statistics, you need to show how you stack up to your competition at previous jobs or within the industry. Highlight those areas that make you shine. If you aren't the very best, simply state that you were/are "among the leading performers," "in the top 3," or any other attention-getting comparison that highlights your strengths. 5. Marvel at the Ordinary So you waited tables at a coffee shop for two years, that doesn't have to induce yawns. Convey your mastery of quality customer service. Let them know about your keen sense of intuition and initiative. Find some way to compress your lump-of-coal job into a sparkling diamond of experience. Prospective employers want people with a strong work ethic; don't just tell them you have it, show them by describing your experience with purpose. 6. Love Every Job If you haven't absolutely fallen in love with one or more of your past jobs (or the one you're trying to leave) pretend you did. Think of every position you've ever held as a fantastic opportunity. One of the single most important traits in an employee is attitude, and a bad one will cover your resume like a foul stench. Your potential boss won't be able to throw it away fast enough. A positive attitude toward past jobs will help you feel better about what you've accomplished and who you are, a perk that will help you throughout the hiring process. 7. Change Your Identity We're not suggesting you use a false name on a resume, that could get tricky once you start filling out your tax forms. But it's helpful to picture yourself as the person doing the hiring. What would you want to read about a candidate? How would you want the resume to look? Why would you hire . . . you? Make your resume match that image, and you'll be well on your way to that elusive first interview and a chance at landing a job you just might genuinely fall in love with. Those were some of the "resume lies" you can get by without really getting into trouble. What do you think? We would love to hear your thoughts.

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The Work Buzz's Latest News: Then and now: How did we work before email?

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Then and now: How did we work before email? Posted: 29 Aug 2011 07:47 AM PDT By Sonia Acosta Hey you. Yes, you writing the email to your co-worker in a cubicle two feet away from you. Ever feel like no one talks to each other anymore? We are all guilty. Email is easier, it's quicker, it helps us keep a paper trail, and well, it's just what we're used to in the modern workplace.  Ever wonder what a regular workday was like before the advent of email? How did people manage, and what are the dangers of over-relying on this tool we often feel like we can't live without? Here are three professionals' then-and-now email stories to help you appreciate the technology while also being cautious of it. Productivity gains vs. efficiency losses Bill Du Val, a lawyer at Slinde Nelson & Du Val Business Law in Portland, Ore., recalls a time when people actually picked up the phone, and, as a common courtesy, usually called a colleague or client’s assistant first. "As a lawyer of 19 years, I can state without reservation that I am incapable of handling over seven dozen emails every single day," says Du Val. "An associate can screen some emails for me, but the ultimate filter, unfortunately, still has to be me. In this regard email lessens my productivity." Email is characteristic of today's get it done yesterday, go faster than fast, you're never quite going fast enough pace. While it might encourage this lifestyle and work pace that is often nearly impossible to keep up with, it also helps us be more efficient. "The difference between the 1990s and today is that things move more quickly, the primary advantage being the ability to attach documents," says Du Val. "Here today, there today. Fax machines suck, have always sucked, and will always suck. But I see the Federal Express driver a whole lot less these days." What's gained, what's lost? Dianna Booher, author of "E-writing: 21st Century Tools for Effective Communication" and CEO of Booher Consultants in Colleyville, Texas, explains the productivity gains and losses seen from the introduction of email. Then, in our prior email-less world (gasp!), "Mornings consisted of riffling through your inbox of hand-scribbled notes from your colleagues and phone messages from callers interpreted by an assistant." Can you imagine it? "You responded by scribbling the responses and dropping them off in everyone else's inbox," Booher recalls. "You wrote lengthy letters to clients, dropped them in the U.S. mail, and waited 7-10 days for a response." All letters were official, on letterhead, so everything was written formally.  "No mistakes. No sentence fragments." At this pace, the quick decisions we are accustomed to today were more than hard to come by, she says. Modern workers, especially those who have never lived in an email-less workplace, could not imagine functioning like this. Still, just as email has solved a lot of our problems, it has undoubtedly created some as well. "Messages from clients and colleagues come by email, but they are sent and opened around the clock. You are on 24/7," says Booher. "You write to clients as quickly, briefly, and often as informally as you do colleagues." Our emails are often too informal.  Messages can become unclear, and decisions can be made too hastily. When email is over-used to replace face-to-face or even phone communication, "People feel anonymous, and grow hostile and rude," cautions Booher. "People feel isolated and disconnected, and some cannot put their personality on a page. They lose that big plus of personal presence-so much a dynamic in persuasiveness." A life more complicated? Lindy DeKoven, a television executive who began her career as a secretary in the technical services department at CBS Television City 20 years ago, recalls her first encounter with email. "I actually remember quite vividly being on the phone with an agent at the William Morris Agency," she says. "They had just gotten email. I had asked this agent a question. Because he didn't know the answer, he emailed his associate the question. Within seconds, he had a response. I had no idea what email was, or what he was talking about. All I knew was that I wanted it." DeKoven also recalls when business was conducted over the phone and in person, when the word processor was considered an amazing tool of efficiency compared to the typewriter. "At lunch or at the end of the day, we actually got in our cars and relaxed," she recalls with nostalgia. "There wasn't the constant interruption of emails, texts, and phone calls. We were able to breathe. To think. To relax." Once she became an executive, email became a big, unavoidable part of life. "Then there was BlackBerrys and texting, and life had changed for good." Use it, don't abuse it So what are we getting at? It's simple. While email can be a great time-saver and efficiency creator, it can also distance you from colleagues and clients. Now we are not suggesting you stop using email. Why, the world might very literally stop if you did that. Just get up and walk over to a co-worker once in a while, pick up the phone instead of sending that one-liner, and get to know people. We know, it's quite a concept to grasp, but it can and will help you build better relationships at work, so give it a shot, won't ya?

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7 Errors You Want to Avoid While Job Seeking

Weekly Newsletter | August 30, 2011 Receive » the best career advice daily. 7 Signs of Job Burnout (5 Ways to Fix It) Just like any other relationship, your relationship with your job is going to have its’ ups and downs. In some cases it can be clear the best solution is for the two of you to separate – meaning you will need to find a new job. 4 Reasons for Career Gaps and How to Handle Them on Your Resume Especially in this economy, employment gaps are typical. Employers generally view a gap in employment negatively, however, it does not have to be this way. In these cases, it is important to indicate why you took the time off. Clean Up Your Personal Brand A re-tooling of your personal brand is sometimes necessary in reaction to fluid industry demands—very strategic and smart defense! HOWEVER, a proactive re-brand based on forecasted industry needs and a deep-dive self reassessment –is even smarter! (That’s offense, baby!) Set Yourself Up for Career Success – Do Whatever it Takes Long-distance runners train differently from sprinters. They focus on endurance and pace. In life and business, we need to train as long-distance runners, not sprinters. Our lives play out much better when we prepare for a marathon. More than 28,000 readers rely on SmartBrief on Your Career for the news and tips they need to get ahead. And now, this daily e-newsletter has partnered with CAREEREALISM to launch a Wednesday spotlight featuring content from the world-ranked blog. Sign-up for FREE Today CAREEREALISM TV FEATURED EVENT 12 Ways to Build Your Brand-Power The career and business world as we know it has shifted and changed dramatically. What it takes to get a job, keep a job or start a business takes new thinking, fresh approaches and innovative ideas. It starts with defining YOU and your personal brand. On Thursday, September 1 at 1:00 PM ET Deborah Shane will cover how to leverage and blend the two worlds we live, work and play in: online and in-person. NOTE: This event can only be watched by Freemium Members of CareerHMO.com. Sign-up » for your FREE membership now! Space is limited! Attend this eventView our schedule   Date: Thursday, September 1 Time: 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT TIP OF THE WEEK 7 Errors You Want to Avoid While Job Seeking It’s so very easy to make mistakes while job seeking. Even seasoned professionals can struggle some when in the midst of a job search. Don’t be discouraged if you think you’ve made some mistakes along the way. Job seeking is like working a job; you’re always fine-tuning your skills. Are you making wise career decisions? Click for help » SCHEDULE Attend all our upcoming FREE CAREEREALISM TV events! Help! I’m a Professional Mess! The Ugly ‘E’ Word – Are You Guilty of Acting Entitled? 12 Ways to Build Your Brand-Power The 7 Top Mistakes Job Seeker’s Make Online EXPERT SPOTLIGHT Name Lisa Lambert Snodgrass Website 4dperspectives.blogspot.com Most Recent Article Does Your Profession Have the ‘Type and Temperament’ Standard? KEEP IN TOUCH Follow us Like us Get daily updates E-mail us © 2011 CAREEREALISM.com

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The New Resume Rules of 2011 plus 1 more | Career Rocketeer

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The New Resume Rules of 2011 Posted: 30 Aug 2011 03:30 AM PDT A recent article from the Wall Street Journal took a look at ways that a job seeker can update his or her resume to suit the needs of hiring managers in 2011.  While the article focused on individuals who have been out of work for 10 or more years, the tips provided are well suited for anyone who is looking for a job in today’s competitive workforce.  If you are on the job hunt and are looking for advice, here are some highlights from the article to take with you as you work on your resume. Use Both Online and Offline Resume Tools One great takeaway from the WSJ article is that job seekers of today need to begin using the traditional Word document as well as online options to get their resumes in front of the eyes of hiring managers and recruiters. Making use of LinkedIn is highly recommended as a vehicle for getting noticed because it is a top tool used by companies to find quality talent.  LinkedIn, along with Twitter, a Google Profile, or even your professional blog, allows recruiters and managers to contact you with one click to your e-mail, making communication flow more smoothly than it would with a traditional resume. Follow Hiring Managers’ Submission Guidelines The article points out that the job market is in the midst of a transition stage when it comes to how applications are submitted.  To be safe, don’t assume that you will always submit via e-mail, online form, or snail mail.  Instead, read the submission instructions carefully in order to follow the guidelines specifically.  Also, be sure to include all documents requested in order to ensure that you don't get lost in the shuffle. Move Beyond the One-Page Resume Another interesting point made in the article is that the one-page resume is no longer the standard for mid-career and executive applicants.  While the shorter resume makes sense for the applicant with very little experience, candidates with a wealth of experience need not try to squeeze it all onto one page. Howard Seidel, a partner at Essex Partners in Boston who was interviewed by WSJ, explained that expanding the resume to two—or even three pages—is a good thing.  However, he noted that “giving the first page enough punch to entice the reader to delve further” is also crucial. Avoid Overused Words and Phrases You may have been accustomed to adding go-to phrases like “team player” and “innovative” to your resume, but they have become overused in the eyes of managers, which is why it’s a good idea to avoid them if possible.  LinkedIn recently came up with a list of the top-10 overused terms.  They include "dynamic", "motivated", "results-oriented", and "proven track record" and should be replaced with lesser-used and more accurate descriptions of your accomplishments in the workplace. There’s nothing like great advice from experts to keep you on the right path throughout your job search.  These tips from the Wall Street Journal can give your hunt just the boost it needs for 2011. For more great quick tips on resume writing 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

Survival of the Company Man Posted: 29 Aug 2011 03:30 AM PDT This is turning out to be one of the more interesting weeks of my life. As I was sitting at my desk coaching a client on Wednesday, my home office started to shake for around 8-10 seconds. It stopped and then started again for another 10 seconds or so. This was the earthquake that hit the entire east coast from the Deep South up to New England. Thankfully it was only a mild natural disaster and there was no major damage. Now as I'm writing this post, my family and I are awaiting the onset of hurricane Irene which is expected to wreak havoc where I live in a lowland area surrounded by Sheepshead Bay and the Atlantic Ocean; and I'm deciding if we should evacuate today before the storm hits, whether to weather out the storm at home, or whether Mayor Michael Bloomberg will schedule a mandatory evacuation in my area. It is still unknown whether Irene will be as mild as the earthquake on Wednesday, as fierce as Katrina, or somewhere in between. So, why am I telling you this when you're expecting my usual Career Services advice and not a weather report? The reason is these natural disasters got me thinking how fragile the workplace is and the uncertainty people face whether they are employed or unemployed, and the decisions people need to make on an ongoing basis. This reminds us all that out of nowhere our lives can be altered without prior notice, or the disaster we anticipated can turn out to be just a fraction of the problem we had planned for. My point today is if it does come to worst case scenario our foremost focus should be on survival. These natural disasters also occurred the same week I watched a movie that made a real impression on me and I think it will for all of you as well. The Company Men, released in January 2011, tells the following story: Bobby Walker (a national sales manager) is living the American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny sports car in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and co-workers Phil Woodward (VP National Sales) and Gene McClary (Divisional COO) jobless, the three men are forced to come to grips with the new realities of life in corporate America, and to re-define their lives as men, husbands, and fathers. Bobby soon finds himself enduring over enthusiastic life coaching, job interviews from hell, a job building houses for his brother-in-law which does not play to his executive skill set, the value of family and the realization that there can be more to life than chasing the bigger, better deal. Of the three, Bobby's story is the one I think most people here can relate to. Without any notice he is fired after 12 years of exemplary service and given 12 weeks severance pay and 4 months of outplacement for his efforts. As the seasons roll by, Bobby learns valuable lessons about "Job Hunting in the 21st Century – The New Reality." Since I recommend you watch this movie (I rate it 5-stars) I will just discuss a few of the lessons Bobby learned in his job search, often the hard way, and you can see for yourself if any apply to you as well. 1: Don't let your ego get in the way of your decision making while you look for a job. Keep an even keel and know that the business world has changed over the past few years and you need to change with it. 2: There is no shame in being downsized and out of work. So don't keep secrets from your spouse, children, family and close friends. 3: Rather than keep your plight a secret confide in people you trust and get them to help you. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the results. 4: The line I love the best is an exchange between Bobby and his wife after x-# of months of his looking for a job without results. Bobby: "I'm not just another ass—- out there with a resume; I'm a professional with a lot of skills." Wife: No Bobby, I'm afraid that's exactly what you are!" It is important to be confident, maintain high self-esteem, and believe you are the best, most qualified candidate out there. Just don't lose perspective that over 60% of the people applying for the same job share that same attitude and mindset with you. Therefore your resume has to shine and set you apart as does everything you do and say in your job search efforts. 5: Hold out as long as you can, but when reality sets in and you need a paycheck rather than a career don't fight it; especially if you have family obligations. Don't wait too long until you run-through your savings. Try and earn something from Day 1 other than unemployment. Take what you can and keep looking. The idea is to survive so you can fight another day. Putting yourself in dire financial straits is not the way to go. 6: Know what is really important in life and what is an aberration. Being unemployed can often give you a new perspective on who you are and what your priorities should be. If you are unemployed use your time wisely and don't sulk. As with the earthquake that gives us no prior warning, or the hurricane that we can only estimate its timing and impact, we all need to be prepared for a disaster at work and stay strong after it happens. To this end I suggest everyone (employed and unemployed) should speak with a career coach to assess where you stand and what you need to do to survive and get ahead in the corporate jungle. Author: Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at http://www.perrynewman.com, and email him your resume at perry@perrynewman.com for FREE resume critique. Advertise on Career Rocketeer

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