Enhancing & Evolving Your Personal Brand

by Debra Wheatman on Jan 17, 2012 in Career Planning

This is the age of the careerist in which we must anticipate and fully understand our employers and customers’ needs. In fact, the most successful careerists are those that consider their employer a customer. If you are not growing and evolving to fill those needs, you are not relevant.  How do we stay relevant?  We do so by developing our skills and evolving our brand.  Is brand enhancement a part of your new year’s resolution?  Repeat the cycle below to continuously enhance and evolve your brand.

The Ultimate Job Test: Ready for a Challenge?

by Debra Wheatman on Jan 3, 2012 in Career Advice, Job Search

You’ve heard of the brainteaser questions used by Google in their candidate selection process.  Candidates comb the Internet for insight from candidates who’ve succeeded in a Google interview.  Well, Upstream Systems has raised the stakes with a new employee selection tool.   Upstream Systems is a global mobile marketing technology and services provider.  The company has always been an industry leader, having launched inaugural mobile marketing campaigns for giants, such as Coca Cola and T-Mobile.  Now they are seeking five talented Marketing Campaign Managers.  If you think you have what it takes, they have a challenge for you.  Your seven-part mission, should you choose to accept it, begins on this webpage.  You just get one shot, and as they state in the instructions, they will know and “will call the police” if you try to take the challenge a second time.  (This reminds me of Willy Wonka as he begins the tour of his famous chocolate factory.)

Graphics on Your Resume…Where Do You Draw the Line?

by Debra Wheatman on Dec 28, 2011 in Resume Formatting, Resume Writing

Resumes have come a long way. Because Microsoft Word® has made formatting documents even easier, resumes are more stylish in appearance. Even a touch of color is common. What about graphics? Is it a good idea to use graphics on a resume? Check out these tips:

• Your industry and occupation will drive the style of resume that is right for you. Compare this more creative resume for an art director with an accountant’s more conservative resume.
• We see many technology resumes loaded down with logos from industry certifications. A simple listing of your relevant certifications is more appropriate. The logos distract from your achievements and skills.
• What about graphic charts? These are eye-catching and impactful. However, many application tracking software applications used by employers will not pick up this data. A safe solution would be to create a version of your resume with the graphic chart for presentation at the interview. Prior to the interview, it is wise to send and use a resume that is compatible with application tracking software.
• Simple lines and shaded areas to divide categories are great to give the reader’s eyes a break. A framed border is another discreet way to introduce a little color and graphics into your resume.
• For some candidates personal logos or monograms are appropriate. For example, if you are a consultant or freelance designer, you may want to include a logo from your business.
• In some professions, such as broadcasting, it is the standard requisite to include a small photo on the upper portion of the resume, or to print the resume on the backside of a headshot.

The most important advice regarding graphics is, don’t go too far. How far is too far? It’s similar to decorating your home…it is objective. If you don’t have an eye for this, ask a resume writing professional.

Take the Leap! Going Beyond the Job Description

by Debra Wheatman on Dec 13, 2011 in Resume Writing, Resume Writing Advice

Once again I received a resume with a copy and paste of a client’s job descriptions for the past 8 years; this is a very common occurrence. I provided her with questions to uncover the scope of responsibility, accomplishments, and all the ways she excelled in each position. After a 20-minute interview with my client, we uncovered numerous golden nuggets showing how she went above and beyond the job description. After all that detective work, the client asked me, “Are you sure this is going to make a difference? Is it good to show these numbers and details?” After a long internal sigh, I exclaimed, “Yes, this is what will earn you an interview.”

Will a Multimedia Resume Help Your Job Search?

by Resume-Resource on Nov 30, 2011 in Resume Writing, Resumes - Digital/Online

As the job market shifts and technology advances, web-based resumes are growing in popularity. Newer technologies for social media communication are continuing to evolve. I am often asked how this will impact the traditional resume.  While I doubt Word resumes will be going anywhere soon, I have definitely seen an increase in demand for virtual or digital resumes over the past year or so.

4 Reasons You Need a New Resume

by Resume-Resource on Nov 28, 2011 in Resume Mistakes, Resume Writing, Resume Writing Advice

I recently finished a resume revision for a customer who needed an immediate update for an unexpected job opportunity. He was not actively looking for work, but the position sounded ideal. Unfortunately, he hadn’t revised his resume in years and the interview was scheduled to take place within days. We were able to make the tight deadline for him; however, the experience made him realize the importance of keeping his resume up to date. By planning for the unexpected, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.