SavvySugar

10 Ways to Improve Your Resume Right Now

SavvySugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:30:16 -0800

Your resume might be a single piece of paper, but that document is an extension of you. It's one of the first ways employers evaluate your potential to fill an open position, so even if you're confident in your interview abilities, you won't get an invitation to show them off unless your resume is compelling. Think you've done everything you can to create a solid resume? Discover some things you might be missing by reviewing these ways to improve your resume.

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Grind Tip: Catch Up on Tracking Your Accomplishments

SavvySugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:30:55 -0800

The majority has spoken, and 87 percent of you plan on looking for new jobs when the economy takes a turn for the better. Be prepared for a stronger job market by taking stock of your accomplishments now.

Keeping an up-to-date resume is the best way to stay on your toes during any job market. Besides making sure your resume is current, you should keep detailed notes of specific projects you worked on, your individual contributions, instances when your problem-solving, leadership, or intuitive skills shined, etc. Your resume will quantify your accomplishments, but you'll need to discuss them in detail with a potential employer and this exercise will save you from having to rely on distant office memories.

3 Places That Give Free Resume Advice

SavvySugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:00:59 -0700

Professional resume services aren't the only places to find help on updating your resume. Objective advice can be had without paying for it, if you know where to look. Take your chances by bringing your resume to one or more of these places recommended by The Wall Street Journal - they're free, so you have nothing to lose.

Library: According to the WSJ, your local library might offer classes on resume basics or one-on-one sessions with a staff member to help with revisions.
Alumni career services: Your alma mater's career center could be a resource for resume advice. Some will interact with you in person, over the phone, or via email.
Government-sponsored job centers: There are more than 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers across the country that give free career advice; find your local center at ServiceLocator.org.

10 Small Mistakes That May Cost You the Job

SavvySugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:35 -0700

Yes, we're all human. Yes, we all make mistakes. But your job search isn't the time to make them. Your attention to detail is crucial during a job hunt - even with a killer cover letter and résumé, mistakes that you may consider minor may just cost you the job. Keep these ten job hunting errors in mind for a better chance at getting that job offer.

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Résumés With "White-Sounding" Names Have Better Success?

SavvySugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:30:16 -0700

Difficult to pronounce last names might elicit some middle school teasing, and unfortunately name-based discrimination doesn't end once the days of playground recess are long gone. According to a study performed for the National Bureau of Economic Research, résumés with "white-sounding" names have a 50 percent greater chance of receiving a response from employers compared to applicants with African American names.

CNN Money spoke with a few job seekers with "ethnic-sounding" last names who are convinced their names are turning off employers from giving them a chance. People with last names like Rzucidlo, Sameita, and Gallegos are suspicious that their surnames are partially to blame for their extended unemployment. Some recruiters say that an applicant's name is one of the last things they look at - their job is simply to find someone who's qualified. And besides, there are anti-discrimination policies employers in many states are required to follow.

Have any of you ever felt like you've been a victim of name-discrimination during a job search?

Ask Savvy: Should I Include an Incomplete Certification on My Resume?

SavvySugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:30:10 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I nearly completed a certificate program at a university different than my alma mater. I had to take seven courses and then make a portfolio, and the program had to be completed in two years. I finished the courses, but I wasn't able to complete the portfolio in time, so I didn't receive the certificate. How do I list this in my resume?

To see my answer, read more.

Savvy savys: Because you didn't actually earn the certification, the best way to acknowledge your efforts is to include relevant coursework when appropriate. If you're applying to jobs that would benefit from any skills or knowledge you picked up while taking the required courses, then include a small section that lists the applicable classes and where you completed them. Otherwise, an employer will assume you took the courses from the university where you graduated.

Remember, just because you completed the coursework doesn't mean you should include it on every resume you send. Your resumes should be tailored to each position you apply for, so take the time to revise your resume accordingly. Also, be prepared to answer a hiring manager's questions about why you didn't actually complete the certification program. If you can't come up with an answer that an employer would respect, then you might want to weigh if including the relevant courses will help or hurt your chances in the end.

5 "Little" Résumé Mistakes to Avoid

SavvySugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:30:01 -0700

It's often said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Assuming you submitted a cover letter, your résumé is your chance to make a second impression, which means it needs be perfect or it could cost you the job. If your aim is to create an impressive resume to sell yourself, you must ensure you don't slip up on the little stuff. Find out which "little" résumé mistakes to avoid.

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Ask Savvy: What's the Best Time to Submit a Job Application?

SavvySugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:30:17 -0700

Dear Savvy,
I've been looking for a job for three months and finally found a promising listing at a small company. I have my application together and am eager to submit it, but I am wondering if you think there is an ideal time of day to send it in so it will get noticed and read immediately. I am sure there are hundreds of other applicants and I want to get it right.
Thanks for your help!
Ready to Click "Send" Reba

Savvy says: This is a great question and one I've pondered before myself. While it's important to jump on a listing as soon as you can get your material together, I don't think there is any reason to get hung up on the time of day you submit your initial correspondence or application. To see my reasons, read more.

Each hiring manager will have his or her own process for reviewing the applications that come in and a set deadline for filling the position. I believe it's more important to make sure your cover letter is flawless and that your correspondence is impressive than it is to be concerned with the time you submit it. On the off chance the hiring manager is the type of person who pays attention to the time you submit your application, sending an email early in the morning - as in between 6 and 9 a.m. - could be impressive because it says you are an enthusiastic early bird.

That being said, make sure to keep the hiring manager's schedule in mind if you decided to make a follow-up call. My advice in that case is to call during business hours on a lower stress day of the week like Tuesday or Wednesday and plan what you will say in advance.

Best of luck!

Requesting Resumes Via Text Message: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:30:46 -0700

If you've been tracking your whereabouts in 140 characters on Twitter, then you'd have no problem detailing why you're the best person for a job in 160, right? British mobile phone content provider Teimlo is hiring by text, requesting that potential candidates send a 160-character text message selling themselves as the first step in the application process.

If the company is impressed with the text, candidates will have to go through more traditional hiring steps like sending a full resume and interviewing in person. What do you think of the tactic, is it brilliant or baffling?

Resume Tip: Double Check This Detail Before You Send

SavvySugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:30:02 -0700

You want to get on the hiring manager's good side, right? There's one common but easily avoidable mistake that candidates make, and it's one that seriously annoys those in charge of sorting through applicants. It's all about the way you save your resume.

It might sound nitpicky, but hiring managers prefer when attached resumes are labeled with the applicant's name. Instead of saving and sending a file labeled "resume," give your resume a file name that has your name on it. This small move simplifies the process for hiring managers who are dealing with a slew of applications. It's not much effort for you to save your resume as "Jane Smith Resume," and it's a positive first step toward pleasing the person in charge of hiring.