WHY ISN’T MY RESUME WORKING?

We all wrote our own resumes when we were coming out of college, right? It’s part of the Career Planning and Placement process. You pick up some tips from the Placement Office, maybe a template and a few examples. If you’re interviewing with companies recruiting on campus, there may be a format you’re required to follow, so that everyone’s presented to the recruiters on a level playing field.

Now it’s 10 years later, you’ve got a few years of experience under your belt, maybe you’ve been with a couple of different companies and have shown some good career progression. You’re ready to move to the next level in your career – ready to transition to a leadership, executive or management role – and suddenly that old resume format isn’t working so well. You’re not getting the response you want. Why? And what’s the right strategy?

The reality is – it’s NOT all about the resume any more. Once you begin to target executive-level roles, you need a comprehensive search strategy and a tactical execution plan that encompasses all facets of the job search. The resume is still a critical piece of the puzzle, but the game has changed dramatically in the last few years.  

You have to know how to position yourself for where you want to go – not where you’ve been. Your resume has got to articulate the significance and impact of your work and the value you’ve brought to organizations. 

You’ve got to include examples of critical initiatives, cross-functional leadership, influencing perspectives, and what those things meant to the top and bottom line at your company. Take a look at your recent performance evaluations – many times they provide perspective on initiatives that were important to your management team.

Your LinkedIn profile has become another HUGE part of the search process. You need a great profile with a professional-looking picture – you don’t need a formal portrait, but you should look friendly and approachable - and no dogs, no booze and no vacation pictures. 

The percentage of recruiters and companies using LinkedIn to source candidates has skyrocketed in the last couple of years – more than 90% and growing every day. You have some great opportunities in LinkedIn to keyword load and create a profile that will help potential employers and top recruiters find you.

You need a strategy to get your resume to the right people at the right companies. How do you ensure your resume gets into the hands of the decision-makers at the companies you’ve targeted? Applicant Tracking Systems have changed the game – once you’ve uploaded your resume, it can sit in a database and never see the light of day.  So once you’ve uploaded your resume to a company’s website for the role you’ve selected, what do you do? If you’re waiting to hear from someone at the company, you could have a very long wait. Proactively use LinkedIn’s search function to find people at the company with whom you have things in common – LinkedIn groups, past employers, alumni connections – introduce yourself to them, connect with them and begin building and leveraging your network. Don’t be a stalker – but people are usually very willing to help someone if they can.

Competing in today’s job market is tougher than ever before in history. We often tell clients that we probably “could” roof our own house if we had to, but hiring a trained, experienced professional makes much more sense. Creating a comprehensive search strategy that encompasses preparation, developing the resume, effective use of LinkedIn, targeted resources, and a strong, focused plan will help you compete, move up – and win the job search race. Don’t get left in the dust!

MANAGING CAREER & SEARCH STRATEGIES FOR 2013

Searching for a job in today’s market is more competitive than ever before.  So what can you do to stand out in today’s very tough job market? How do you differentiate yourself from a crowded field of qualified candidates? What are the things that constitute a great search strategy ?  How do you stay ahead of the game and manage your career?  Here are the Top 10 steps to managing a career, making the right career move and conducting a passive or aggressive search.

1) Have a stand out resume. Update it annually, whether you think you need it or not. Evaluate market conditions, because they play into resume content and how to position yourself  to be a stand out, competitive candidate. 

2) Develop a comprehensive LinkedIn profile.

3) Join 20-40 LinkedIn groups that are at the appropriate level for your next career move. It varies if your goal is entry level, CEO, Consultant, Startup, Turnaround, or International.  A very targeted search and career move can be developed if you are focused appropriately.

4) It’s critical to know how to use LinkedIn most effectively.  For example, one of the most underutilized features is LinkedIn’s “Company Search" feature on LinkedIn. It should be used as a way to get your foot in the door, build your network for down the road and reach out to folks a step or two above your desired organizational level.

5) Create a target list of companies that focuses on a variety of types and sizes of companies. The big players are obvious, but small and medium companies offer a lot of career growth opportunities. A Fortune 500 might be a great fit, but a smaller company could give you  the chance to expand your skill set, wear a couple of hats, or prepare you for a career inside a big company.

6) Create a target list of contacts that includes managers, employees, recruiters and executives.  Remember, recruiters do not work for you. Their clients are the companies that retain them. Be certain your background fits the profile of the candidate the recruiter is placing.

7) Expand your LinkedIn network. Add 25-50 new people to your network per month. Use the LinkedIn company search function to connect with the decision makers in your target company list. A minimum of 88% of employers are using LinkedIn exclusively to find candidates (even at the executive level).

8) Attend networking events, conferences and trade shows - 2 per quarter at a minimum.

9) Stay in touch with contacts at least 4 times a year.

10) Stay connected to retained search firms. If unemployed, reach out weekly via email and phone.

These are all things that should be done regardless of employment status. The bottom line is, do not wait until you have concerns to have a plan in place. Always be a step ahead of the game.  If you become unemployed it could be a very costly mistake.

Many of the 2013 projections are looking much more positive than in the last 18-24 months. There will be some industries and geographic areas that are better than others, and now is a great time to commit to your career and career planning. Things don’t often happen randomly. Granted, some folks get lucky in their searches. But maybe that job you took was just a job and not the best opportunity that was out there. How will you know you've made the best career move if you have not really created a search strategy

Imagine the possibilities if you have a strategy and a comprehensive approach to your job search. Follow these 5 steps to a successful search and stay ahead of the game.

1.) Create a high-impact, competitive resume.

2.) Match LinkedIn profile and summary with resume content.

3.) Join LinkedIn Groups. Max out your 50 free groups.

4.) Use LinkedIn company search function as a way to connect directly with decision makers in the companies of interest.

5.) Reach out to recruiters that are a match for your background.

Remember, until steps 1-3 are complete you should not engage in a search. This is the most competitive job market in decades. Have a winning and competitive strategy and make 2013 your best year yet!

Sue Sarkesian/Elaine Basham

Co-Founders, The Resume Group

The Most Common Resume Mistakes You Need to Avoid When Looking for Your Next Medical Device Job

Scott Nelson, founder of Medsider.com interviewed Sue Sarkesian, Co-founder of The Resume Group a few weeks ago. They had a fascinating, very candid conversation about the mistakes people make on their resumes, as well as how to put together a great elevator pitch, critical job search strategies, the ins-and-outs of applicant tracking systems, and how to leverage LinkedIn as an important, strategic element in the job search.

Check out this really informative interview at www.medsider.com/interviews/.  I promise, you'll be very glad you did.

Then, if you like, email your current resume to sue@theresumegroup.com for a no-cost, no-obligation resume evaluation and market analysis. If you're looking at ways to advance your career in the medical device space or in any other sector, the tips provided by Sue in this interview will help you get started.

If you find you need help putting together your resume, cover letters, LinkedIn profile, and search strategy, The Resume Group is there to provide the professional experience and expertise you need to take your professional image to the next level.

We wish you the best in your job search, and if we can help in any way, let us know!

Job Search Tips for the New Year from Sue Sarkesian, Co-founder of The Resume Group

The holidays are over and we're all back to the realities of our day-to-day. For many, New Year's resolutions include gearing up a new job search, looking to move within the same company, or taking steps to change careers. Here's some realities and tips from Sue Sarkesian, Co-founder of The Resume Group:
 
Always be prepared. Today’s reality is there are no longer such things as permanent jobs. Competition, mergers, acquisitions, closures, offshoring, etc. have shown us that even the most tenured employee doesn’t have long-term job certainty. All of these factors affect employees regardless of seniority, management/staff level, function or industry.


Even if the company one is working for is solid, generating revenue, growing and productive, it could still mean employees are at risk. Others companies see the success and develop entry in to the same space. This competition challenges market share and creates a crowded sector. The company is then forced to make changes to stay ahead of the game. This can have an impact on every department.

I don’t write this article to present a negative picture. Rather as a wake- up call to say that even when an employee is happily and gainfully employed, they still need to be prepared. Waiting until the picture looks bleak or waiting until a layoff is imminent puts the employee behind in their search by 3-4 months.

Many people believe if they have a resume, a connection with a couple of recruiters, and are casually networking as they always have, then they are prepared. This is false and puts them at risk for a 7-12 month search process.

What are the reasons for this?

1.) Inadequate networks. What used to work in networking is not true in the new marketplace. Reality is that today most folks are also looking out for themselves. So connecting with them is fine, but they may have their own personal agendas. The other truth is that many folks are networking with individuals in similar situations and/or they are not the persons making hiring decisions.

2.) Poor resume. There is nothing that makes the individual stand out in the crowd.

3.) No search plan or a poor search plan.

So what are the things that constitute a great search strategy and staying ahead of the game? Always be involved in a passive search and follow these steps. Unemployed? Be much more aggressive.

1.) Have a stand out resume. Update it annually whether you think you need it or not.

2.) Create a target list of companies. Don’t just focus on the obvious big players. There are many opportunities available in small and medium companies as well. Don’t let ego tell you a Fortune 500 company is where you need to be.

3.) Create a target list of contacts. Managers, employees and executives.

4.) Expand your LinkedIn network. Add 25-50 per month. Use the LinkedIn company search function to connect with the decision makers in your target company list.

5.) Attend networking events, conferences and trade shows - 2 per quarter at a minimum.

6.) Stay in touch with contacts at least 4 times a year.

7.) Stay connected to retained search firms. If unemployed, reach out weekly via email and phone.

These are all things that should be done regardless of employment status. The bottom line is, do not wait until you have concerns to have a plan in place. Always be a step ahead of the game. If you become unemployed it could a very costly mistake.

Many of the 2011 projections are looking much more positive than the last 18-24 months. There will be industries and geographical areas better than others. Make 2011 a year to commit to your career and career planning. Things don’t often happen randomly. Granted, some folks get lucky in their searches. Maybe that job you took was just a job and not the best opportunity that was out there.

But imagine the possibilities if you have a strategy and a comprehensive approach to your job search. Best wishes for the New Year!

Waiting To Inhale...Your Resume!

That's what an Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) does. It "inhales" your resume, sorts your personal and professional information, and looks for specific keywords that match job descriptions. In this very tough job market, hiring managers and recruiters are inundated with hundreds of resumes for every opening, and they just don't have the resources to read each one and select the most qualified candidates. So, the ATS does it for them. The problem is, the ATS is NOT looking for ways to include you – it's looking for ways to filter you out of the candidate pool. So how do you conquer the ATS challenge to get your resume actually seen – and read?

The obvious answer is to stuff your resume chock-full of as many keywords and as much industry jargon as you possibly can, right? Maybe even stick a giant keyword paragraph on at the end. Good ideas, right? Wrong. Most ATS's will reject resumes that don't have enough keywords, but some ALSO discard resumes that have too may keywords. It's important to have the right balance of the right keywords in your resume.

So what's the answer? First, read job descriptions. Read some more, and then read a few more. Read as many job descriptions as you can for the type of position you want, pick out the right keywords - the ones that match your background, experience and expertise, and write your resume so that your qualifications and experience meet the requirements of the job description. Of course, it also has to be true and accurate. Many ATS's now automatically check details like degrees and even employment dates, so don't lie. Give yourself the best chance of getting your resume seen by making sure your is keyword rich, with the right balance of keywords to make the ATS cut!