tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84024722321934864722012-01-01T18:09:15.066-08:00Definitely NOT Your Parents' Resume Book!Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-53928579667185328872011-02-10T11:53:00.001-08:002011-02-10T11:54:36.109-08:00

 

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-56299170562174232502010-06-28T13:50:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:06:33.703-08:00

Past employment experience is usually the most significant section of a resume, and therefore it's important not to leave the reader guessing. Most job-seekers like to "zoom in" by describing duties and responsibilities, highlighting achievements, and listing awards and formal recognition. There is nothing wrong with that (achievements are particularly essential on a resume). However, it's

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-78804496966802786542010-06-17T10:33:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:05:26.542-08:00

I was recently interviewed for an article on resume writing for CharityVillage, Canada's leading online resource for the nonprofit industry. Take a look: http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rcar39.html

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-54608008415260443592010-06-06T13:55:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:05:02.510-08:00

Temporary jobs have become very common in today's world. Some people work temp jobs in between permanent ones, while others choose temp work for the long-term because they enjoy the flexibility and diversity it can offer. Either way, there are two important reasons to showcase these positions effectively on your resume - you want potential employers to see how valuable that experience was, but

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-24055907145457636632010-05-14T14:08:00.001-07:002010-11-08T17:04:42.150-08:00

I've been following a recent discussion on an email list about the need for cover letters, and it's caused me to think about the evolution of cover letters and resumes. Here is what I see. Most resumes are at least 2 pages long (although I believe 95% of them should be shorter than they are), and so we are accustomed to seeing a summary section in the top half of the first page. This profile

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-49686703624502532932010-05-11T09:28:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:04:20.484-08:00

The majority of employers would not consider dropping out of school a positive, unless you gained valuable experience in the meantime and the company didn’t care about education. So what do you do if you should be graduating this year but left high school in grade 9?If you have nothing positive to include from your time in school, in other words no achievements, awards, skills or experience, then

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-81360517197602355142010-04-24T11:12:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:03:16.229-08:00

I am very proud and excited to announce that Alternative Resumes: Definitely Not Your Parents' Resume Book has reached #1 in sales for resume books on Amazon.ca! The rankings change hourly, so it may not remain at number one for long, but it's very exciting to see it there. If you have purchased or viewed the book and find it to be a beneficial and valuable resource, please consider adding a

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-12067027002990283722010-04-24T11:10:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:03:00.661-08:00

An article featuring Alternative Resumes: Definitely Not Your Parents' Resume Book has appeared in a few community newspapers in BC. The focus is to provide students with resume writing and job search advice to help them with their summer job hunt. The article at each of these links is essentially the same:Tri-City News Victoria News Vernon Morning Star

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-62664712989966207352010-04-18T21:20:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:02:45.696-08:00

An article in today's The Record newspaper highlights some job search tips for teens, and also makes mention of one of my previous self-published books, Teen Resumes: http://bit.ly/d5eApQ

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-84983018950005048582010-04-18T13:40:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:02:27.541-08:00

This is one of the most frequently discussed issues in resume writing, and it has been talked to death all over the Internet. Here's my take: Most experts agree that teens and young adults should limit their resume to one page. It’s important to remember that a resume is not meant to be a complete accounting of your entire life. Instead, it’s a targeted and well-crafted summary of your most

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-54445099959187292972010-03-21T12:35:00.000-07:002010-11-08T17:01:48.511-08:00

I was recently approached by a freelance writer, Karl Noseworthy, for consultation on an article he was writing about negotiating a pay raise. The article was written for CharityVillage, Canada's leading online resource for non-profits, and it contains some valuable advice: http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rcar36.html 

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-2755424610770623122010-03-08T12:38:00.000-08:002010-11-08T17:01:28.569-08:00

A recent LinkedIn group discussion provided several interesting comments from resume writers, HR professionals, and other business people on the use of colour on resumes. The opinions of conservatives (NO! Keep it black & white! A resume should follow traditional guidelines!) were fairly balanced with the thoughts of progressives (YES! Use lots of colour! It shows your personality!). It would be

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-49286545845690952952010-03-06T10:03:00.000-08:002010-11-08T17:01:09.650-08:00

Although applying for entry-level jobs online through email or company websites is becoming more common, many employers still allow you to apply in person. This may include such businesses as retail stores, restaurants, movie theatres, and gas stations. If you do apply in person, consider the following list of DOs and DON'Ts. DO Be prepared. Treat applying for a job like a job interview. Dress

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-54726356379473089842010-02-24T10:38:00.000-08:002010-11-08T17:00:51.506-08:00

Many young people still get wide-eyed at the prospect of getting a government job. It's often viewed as a stable, secure career choice that will offer above-average compensation, excellent benefits, and abundant opportunities for advancement. But is it feasible for new post-secondary grads to target positions in government? And are those jobs appropriate for anyone? Well, it's not just feasible,

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-51045830123735453572010-02-22T13:48:00.000-08:002010-11-08T17:00:35.155-08:00

I have been a fan of Ernie Zelinski, the Canadian author of The Joy of Not Working, for well over ten years. His advice helped me discover my values for work and life, and led to the development of my long-term action plan. Indeed, ten years ago one of my stated goals was to become a published book author. After self-publishing for the past five years, I have now reached that goal with

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-16206094944827839592010-02-19T10:09:00.000-08:002010-11-08T17:00:05.325-08:00

What are key selling features? Your three or four qualifications that will be most important to the company you are applying to. What can be considered a key selling feature? If you are applying for an advertised job, what important qualifications are they looking for? If you meet those requirements, those will be your key selling features. However, if you are targeting employers that haven't

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-12996050826299177832010-02-10T18:34:00.000-08:002010-11-08T16:59:11.031-08:00

Resume writing has finally reached the point where almost all professional resume writers, and many job-seekers, realize the futility of old-fashioned objective statements like the following: OBJECTIVE: To secure a full-time position with opportunities for advancement in a nonprofit organization that prides itself on excellent public service. Telling the reader what you want instead of what

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-73739531069169205292010-02-08T14:04:00.000-08:002010-11-08T16:58:48.012-08:00

Hiring managers want proof of your talents as much as possible to reduce the risk of selecting the wrong candidate. As a job-seeker, understanding this and doing whatever you can to demonstrate your skills in advance will help you get the offer. This starts with providing factual, concrete information in your resumes and cover letters, but it also extends to the interview. Sitting across from

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-69181816534855697772010-02-03T16:08:00.000-08:002010-11-08T16:58:30.323-08:00

This week the Windsor Star reposted an article from last spring on the difficulty that graduates from the University of Windsor face in finding employment. I sense that not much has improved in the past 9 months. The article indirectly highlights one of the problems I continually saw as an employment counsellor. Most job-seekers take a passive approach to their job search. They assume that

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-30546796145599596422010-02-01T13:17:00.000-08:002010-11-08T16:58:13.157-08:00

Today's article in the Ottawa Citizen illustrates the ongoing need for volunteers and paid employees at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler. Although it would be easy to assume all their hiring has been done by now, the article explains how several new events continue to pop up and many participants and visitors are extending their travel plans. This has created an additional need for

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402472232193486472.post-5978415561042780362010-01-28T15:55:00.000-08:002010-11-08T16:57:46.688-08:00

Although applying for a job in person isn't as common as it was a few years ago, it's still done fairly regularly in a few industries such as retail and hospitality, and it's still something that many teens and young adults know little about. I wrote the following story about 6-7 years ago, and I am posting it here because I believe it still provides a valuable lesson. Enjoy! "Hi, I just want to

Alternative Resumeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13753592947158394373noreply@blogger.com