Write a Good Resume - How to Fine Tune Your Resume

Write a good resume and you will be amazed at what a well-written and formatted resume will do for your job search.

The difference is like going to apply for an executive job in tee-shirt and jeans or wearing a suit. Odds are the tee-shirt and jeans guy would be out the door without a second thought. In the same way your mediocre resume will be one of the first into the trash.

Making the initial cut is probably 10% substance and 90% presentation. Part of the presentation is a great cover letter, Which introduces you and your resume, and which asks for an interview. Then it falls to the resume and you want to be sure it it up to the task of getting you that interview.

1. Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Most word processing software have these checks built in and they catch most of these kinds of errors but they are not perfect.

2. Check for run-on and difficult to read long sentences. If sentences go on and on break them up. Same for paragraphs. Too much text together on a page is difficult for the eye to read.

3. Be sure you are consistent with your use of dates, numbers, and abbreviations. If you format a date as 8/2009 in one place and August, 2009 in another - you need to fix it. Either format is fine, pick the one that appeals to you and stick with it.

4. Use power words, active not passive. Use words like accomplished, built, consolidated, maintained. Look at your resume for places to put in power words and for places to change the voice from passive to active. Use strong and clear words and phrases that are colorful.

5. If possible print your resume out and read it several times yourself, then have a friend go over it to find errors and statements that don't make sense.

6. If you don't have your own computer and word processor, Google and your library have provided an answer for you. Visit your library and use one of their computers. Go to http://www.docs.google.com and use the free word processor that is part of Google Documents. You can save the resume document on Google and send it off to job search sites like Monster and Career Builder.

Perhaps the biggest point in today's job market is to target your resume to the employer you are sending it too. With word processors so available there is no reason not to. Your resume can show your prospective employer your suitability for the position, why you are uniquely qualified and should be chosen.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can get a list of available jobs at jobs bank Singapore.

An article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Career Changes at Midlife - Finding the Career You Were Meant to Have

Women finding themselves at the stage labeled "midlife" (read 40 and up) may be in a tumultuous period of transition that can be confusing and scary. Menopause, empty nest syndrome, divorce, aging parents, downsizing, etc. can come hand in hand with yet another transition: a career challenge.

Midlife women should first realize that they are not alone. The MacArthur Foundation study "Midlife in the United States" found that 36% of women have experienced a midlife crisis by age 50. Many of them are looking to new careers as part of their solution to how life is unfolding at this time.

Divorce often adds to the need to find a career because of distressing financial realities. The MacArthur study found that the divorce rate for women in their 40s is higher than that of those in any other age range. And if they have spent years at home raising their children these women find themselves without "marketable" skills and are likely to panic.

Another reason women change careers at midlife is because they are looking for fulfillment. Some may have already had a successful career or finished putting the kids through school. They are ready for more: possibly work that gives back to their community or expresses more of their creative spirit.

· How to Make a Successful Career Change During Midlife

Remember that you are a veteran: you have been through several life transitions before reaching this one. Like any growth period in your life there is bound to be fear, stress and confusion. Here's the great part about getting through this one: you get to use all the life skills and wisdom you have been accumulating to make it work.

Therefore, it is important take the time and space to reflect on this life-altering decision. Let your choices be less driven by financial need, and be more about your talents, desires and life purpose; in short a decision that makes you feel great.

Again, remember that you are not alone. The Pathfinder Center reports that more women over 40 change careers than those in their 20s and 30s combined. And because of the demand for career transition services, there are many resources to explore: books and tests about aptitude, interest, values, style and personality. The possibilities can be overwhelming.

Here is where Career Transition Coaches come in. At minimum they will help you with a thorough evaluation of the physical, emotional, financial and professional aspects of your life. But if you want the best, you want a coach who will help you discover what hasn't worked for you. And that coach should be a guide to help you ingrain the beliefs, attitudes about life and yourself that will lead to the kind of prosperity you deserve.

You will want someone at your side as you consider taking huge risks in order to step into a bigger idea of yourself. It means creating new habits and a new self-image. Imagine someone standing with you who sees the greatness in you that you cannot yet believe in.

· Why Midlife Career Changes are Working

While women at midlife may face obstacles in returning to the workforce or starting a new career, they are making it work. The number of women making more than $100,000 has tripled in the last decade. And women in their midlife years are poised to add to these numbers because they have the skills, confidence and desire to pursue their dreams.

Statistics show that women's ability to fulfill their dreams increases after age 50. So there is a lot of reason for optimism. Take heart and embrace the challenge.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can search a list of latest jobs at job bank Singapore.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

You Cant Get a Good Job Without a Degree - Exploding the Myth

How many people do you know who work at a minimum wage job because they don't have a college degree? Why, everyone knows that you simply can't get a good job without a college degree. Now many of us are starting to hear that you can't even get a good job without a graduate degree.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that is just plain wrong; it is a myth. It is a myth perpetuated by unknowing, but well-meaning parents who want their children to be successful. It is a myth perpetuated by colleges and universities hungry for student tuition money.

Many of those same parents did not have college degrees and to them a college degree was something magical that set someone apart from the masses. My father was like that. He encouraged me to go to college, get a degree, and get a good job. He was well-intentioned, but he was wrong. There are many paths to success that do not need a college degree.

Some successful people who never went to, or didn't finish college, include Henry Ford, Michael Dell (the founder of Dell Computers), Bill Gates, and Rachael Ray. There are many others.

Of course, there are also some jobs, like being a doctor or a professor that do require college degrees. And, for those who want that, that is the path they must pursue.

However, just because you don't have a college degree does not mean that you can't be successful. You can be successful--as successful as you want to be in your wildest dreams--as long as you are willing to work hard toward your goals.

Here is how not to find a better job with no college degree. Send out mass mailings of resumes. Answer ads on the internet by filling out forms. Apply blindly at every open position you can find hoping that someone will hire you. None of that works. It doesn't even work if you have a college degree.

You have to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Fortunately, that is not difficult to do, but it does take some work. Here's how you can make yourself stand out from the crowd.
First, be competent in everything that you do. Learn how to do what you do well, even if you think it is beneath you.

Next, always be learning more about what it is you want to do. For example, if your dream job involves running a store, learn all you can about running a store. Read everything you can find on the internet. Read everything you can find in the library. Enroll in a correspondence course. And don't neglect learning the practical side of things. Get a job working in a store. Do it for free if you have to, but learn what you need to know.

Then, when your opportunity comes, you will be ready.

Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. If you want a better job, or if you want to follow your dream whatever it may be, you need to have the knowledge and abilities that you will need.
Once you have that knowledge and ability, you simply have to demonstrate it to people who might hire you or to people who can help you reach your dream. Admittedly, some larger companies have inflexible rules about who they can hire, but small business seldom does.

In summary, to get a better job with no college degree, decide what you want to do and prepare your plan to achieve that goal. Then get busy. That is exactly what all those famous and successful people without college degrees did.

Looking for a job in SG, you can get a list of latest jobs at WDA jobnet.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Doing Welding Jobs Abroad - Is it a Quick Way to Get Rich?

This is almost everyone's desire, to have a job that provides wealth beyond their wildest dreams, easily and timely. Welding jobs abroad has its benefits, but is doing this skilled and often dangerous profession overseas, the way to achieve that wealth?

That depends on some factors which I will go into shortly. Let's get one thing out of the way, doing welding jobs abroad will not make you rich overnight, no matter who you are working for. On the upside, there is a lot of money to be made from welding, if you stick with it. There is also decent demand for welders, due to the many parts of the globe that are currently experiencing a shortage of skilled welders.

The factors that determine your potential income from welding abroad. Some of these factors include, your experience in the welding field, certification from a respected and relevant institution, how well the employer pays and whether or not you are part of a union to name a few. Those are the most critical factors that will most likely determine your welding income abroad.

Doing welding jobs abroad should be considered, if there is a strong possibility that you can provide a higher standard of living for yourself and (if you are the breadwinner) your family. If you can make more money on a consistent basis, welding in another country as opposed to welding in your home country, you should not pass up the opportunity.

A different environment will provide you with fresh experiences in the field of welding. You will become familiar with the methods and customs of the type of welding you are doing, in the country you are visiting. This helps to determine the best way to do your job. While doing welding jobs abroad may not make you rich quickly, welding in the right place can easily provide you with with more money for a better standard of living. Why not give it a shot to see how much more you can make?

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can search a list of latest jobs at Singapore WDA job bank.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Aggressive Job Search Strategies For a Difficult Market

For those of you who are out of work, and conducting frustrating and fruitless job searches, you must use every method possible to get re-employed. In IT and Software, as well as in most fields, "there are jobs out there." We might be in a deep recession, with no chance of it ending in the near future. But that notion is a self fulfilling prophecy. Proactive people are getting new jobs everyday. Again, you need to do whatever it takes to get your career back on track, today!

You must make yourself the most employable candidate as possible to get that new job. If you lack strong interviewing skills, then get them now. If your resume doesn't convey a compelling case why you should be hired, then find someone to assist you. If you don't project a positive and proactive image and attitude, then change it. All the tools that you need are available. You just need to use them.

I see too many people who seriously impair their own job search. They don't know what they want, or they do know what they want, but they aren't qualified, unless they get more training. They are unwilling to even consider a position at a lower level. Remember, the longer you are out of work, the more difficult it will be to find a position comparable to your last one. Still, for some of you, a career change may be your only hope for employment. If so, get good unbiased advice, get training, and then from a more marketable position, start looking.

Certainly you can contact all the headhunters you want, or you can post your resume on every job board that interests you. But if you have been walking these passive paths towards a new job for three to six months with no success, then it's time to start running! It's time to envision yourself working and regaining your self-respect and self-worth. If your vision is strong enough, it will become a reality.

Research and utilize social media outlets and other forms of networking. Contact companies directly - even if that means knocking on companies' doors and asking to speak with the appropriate hiring person. I know this may sound extreme, but these are extreme times that call for bold and innovative action. Contact alumni from your alma mater; contact everyone you have worked with in the past who has even a remote chance of helping you. Follow up on every lead. Call, email and text message to the point of being a pest. And most importantly, do it now!

If you aren't being ultra-assertive, then get a career coach to help you discover, and develop that vital competency. Bottom line: you have to take yourself off auto pilot and break through the barriers that are between you and the job you want. You might be angry, depressed, scared, panicky, or feeling sorry for yourself, but honestly, companies could care less. They need people with the right mindset to give them 150% effort from the get-go, and those are the people who are "acing" the interviews and landing the jobs.

I hope my call to arms motivates you to develop a winning strategy and a winning attitude that to an employer makes "you" the best choice for the job. Stop listening to the naysayers and cynics who sap your energy and poison your pride. Forget about the media and its endless barrage of negativity. I know you can do it, and deep down, you know you can do it too. So, be prepared, be skilled, be positive and get out there and do it! Soon you will be moving up in success, rather than sinking down in failure.

Looking for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Can't Find A Job?

Why can't I find a job?

If you've been asking yourself this question recently, trust me you're not alone.
Searching for a new job can be a difficult and frustrating task especially when you are out of work or when you are in a job you hate and want to escape.

If you can't find a job and are increasingly frustrated with your lack of results, let's look at the possible reasons for this outcome:

1. You are not getting interviews: If you aren't getting interviews, your resume and cover letter are not doing their jobs. Their job is to get you interviews. Either that, or you are applying for the wrong jobs. Your resume and cover letter need to sell you to the employer and show them why you are the best person for the job. Alternatively, are you applying for jobs you really have no chance of getting? If so, don't waste your time or the time of the employer who might eventually have a job that suits you that you should be applying for.

2. You are getting interviews but not job offers. If you are unable to close the deal in the interview process, look for possible problems: Are you coming across as too aggressive or laid back during interviews? Are you asking for too much money? Is your style of dress turning interviewers off? Are you better on paper than you are in person? Get as much feedback as possible (ask for positive and negative feedback) from any employer you interview with who has turned you down for a job. Make improvements for future interviews by fixing your mistakes.

3. Are your references hurting you? This can be a difficult one to figure out but are you certain that your references are speaking as highly of you as you hope and expect? I've done references that actually hurt the candidate! Yes, bad references do happen and they can cost you jobs. Carefully think about who you are using as references and determine if they are helping or hurting you. If you are finding that employers are doing references on you and you are not getting job offers, there might be something wrong in the reference check stage.

Looking for a job in SG, you can search a list of latest jobs at Singapore WDA job bank.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Job Search Tips - 5 Things You Need to Know and Do to Get the Job YouWant

With the world economy in a severe economic downturn, job-hunting these days is becoming discouraging for the many thousands of people who are out of work. With hundreds of thousands of jobs being cut each month, trying to land a job through the newspaper or on the Internet rarely yield any responses. Patiently waiting for the phone to ring for a job interview is a process that quickly looses it charm.

By adopting a smart approach to job-hunting, you can turn your job search campaign into a successful one. A successful job search campaign requires:

* A clearly defined goal

* An action plan

* Putting that plan into action everyday until you achieve your goal.

Here are the things you need to know and do to land a job:
1) Never act unemployed. You are in transition between jobs. You are not a job applicant, but instead a professional "sales person." Likewise, practice professional habits only. This is especially important when answering the telephone.

2) Know the type of job you seek and where. Verbalize it to everyone. Remember, you need other people to get you hired. Know your assets, and present evidence of your current and past accomplishments, problems solved, goals attained, credentials, and diplomas (your "Prove it" File).

Make sure you read the job description. If the requirements are, "must be a U.S. citizen, must be able to pass a drug test, and a background and security investigation" do not submit your resume to this position if you have a criminal record, may test positive for substance use, have bad credit, or are heavily in debt.

Also, many job-seekers often leave off very important and critical experience or information that is pertinent to the job they are seeking. Just as bad is to bury this important and relevant information so deep into the resume that the recruiter will not see it. No employer has the time to play Sherlock Holmes or guessing games to figure out your qualifications or background. This is why it is imperative that if you meet the requirements for a position, your resume must immediately grab the resume reviewer's attention with your skills/experience.

3) Prepare your references now and keep your resume updated. Keep your resume, personal contacts and references on a flash drive, and carry it with you at all times. With a flash drive, a job contact or recruiter can attach it to the USB drive on their computer, and save your resume to their computer. It is imperative that your contact information is complete, easy-to-read, and placed at the top of the first page of resume, and not just on the cover letter. This includes your full name, address, working telephone numbers (home, cell phone, and a day-time number) that has a voice-mail attached to them, and a professional e-mail address. People who are serious about a job make it as easy as possible for recruiters or employers to reach them.

4) Do not use unprofessional email addresses. Email addresses such as foxy-lady@yahoo.com, sexy-hot-chocolate@hotmail.com, or party-animal@gmail.com are a turn-off to employers or recruiters. With the many ISP's merging or going out of business almost every day, create a permanent email address. Many job-seekers choose to use a work email address, but this is not recommended. There are plenty of free services on the Internet such as Yahoo, Hotmail or G-mail. Remember, your resume will be the first impression a potential employer or recruiter will have of you, so put your best foot forward!

5) Avoid long resumes with long paragraphs. In the process of reviewing hundreds of resumes, it will take you 10 seconds or less to grab a job recruiter's attention. A resume should never be more than 2 pages. If you cannot adequately communicate your background in 2 pages or less, there is a problem. This can indicate to hiring personnel that either you have had too many jobs, a career that is not focused, an inability to be concise, problems with communicating in writing, or something similar. All of which make you undesirable as a potential new hire.

No matter how tempting it may be for you to go into detail about the first job you had 25 years ago, don't! Instead, let your resume showcase your most recent accomplishments. For the most part, employers and recruiters are only interested in the last 5 to 8 years of your career, 10 at the most. If you are a recent graduate with limited professional work experience, your resume should be only one page.

Remember, a resume is like ad copy. Keep it short, to-the-point, and reflect the keywords the employer uses to describe the qualities and skills they're looking for regarding the position. No job recruiter has the time to read long paragraphs, which look like a narrative out of War and Peace.
Your resume should be easy to read. The reader should be able to "scan" your resume for your skills and accomplishments.

Consider using the following formatting techniques:
1. Use bullet points.
2. Use appropriate amounts of "white space" to help guide your reader. Take a look at the Sunday classified ads in the paper. Notice how the ad copy is easy to read and is spread out using key bullet-points to emphasize the criteria consumers are using to make a buying decision.

Seeking for a job in SG, you can source a list of latest jobs at WDA jobs bank Singapore.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.