It never fails – most every company has its share of old-timers who worked the same job, but refused to learn new skills. Eventually, they just become the deadweight that keeps companies from hiring something better. And there’s the amateurs who dabble in a field, then turn around and act like they’re the experts.

You can pave your own path to success if you separate yourself from both groups. Be the rare person who constantly strives to learn new things, and let prospective employers know of your ambition. By doing so, you set yourself far above the crowd.

But employers will still be suspicious when they see your resume. Do you really know what you’re doing, or did you just exaggerate the truth? Odds are these companies have suffered some bad experiences before.

That makes your job search a little more difficult. When you prepare your resume, you must be ready to answer any and every question about your past work history. You need to think what you’ve done in the past years, and turn those experiences into stories and anecdotes that will clearly prove your qualifications. In short, you have to think about your history more deeply than you’ve been thinking for some time.

Now take the same approach to each individual skill you have, and ask yourself exactly how proficient you really are in each.

Let’s say that you have software programming skills in a certain format. In your day-to-day work life, you’ve probably used the program quite a bit. But are you really proficient? Many programs have capabilities that go way beyond their common uses, meaning that there could be a whole set of possibilities you’ve yet to tap in to. So rather than list yourself as “fluent” or “expert” you should probably be a bit more realistic. Your honesty might not get you noticed like stretching the truth would. In the end, it’s all for the best. Imagine how quickly your interview will fall on its face if the employer asks questions that an expert ought to answer.

Be honest. Don’t promote yourself as an expert on your resume unless you have an expert knowledge of that field. If you’re just learning, say so. If you’re taking classes in that field, list that too. It’s better than nothing. In fact, an employer could give you a shot based on your initiative.

Research the company beforehand, and get a god idea of what kind of tasks you’d be doing. Find out what skills and talents you’d need to complete the job. Then bring your experience to the forefront, and sell yourself as a perfect fit. As long as you never stop learning, you’re certain to fall in the right place.

For software development jobs or software development professionals, visit SmartJobs4Me.com.

Article Source: Successfully Promote Your Software Development Skills

Do you know how to navigate the sea of social networking sites that are available online? More importantly, do you know how to use social networking tools to land the IT job you’re looking for?

Social networking isn’t just for wasting time online, though it can be used for that! In today’s world, social networking is a powerful tool for job networking. If you haven’t yet utilized this tool, you may want to consider trying it. Social networking helps you connect with colleagues and job leads you wouldn’t otherwise have access to, and it also gives you an online presence so potential employers can find you.

When you’re searching and applying for IT jobs, you want a potential employer to be able to find you online. You also want to be able to control the type of online information they can find about you.

How can you do this? First, create the kind of information you would like an employer to see. Consider joining social networking sites that are designed for professional networking. Sites like LinkedIn.com and MyWorkster.com allow you to create a profile, link with colleagues, and share a resume online. Consider signing up with one or more of these types of sites.

You should also make sure that your online presence in the social networking world contains nothing you wouldn’t want potential employers to see. Many people create blogs or post pictures on MySpace or FaceBook and don’t realize that this information is available for anyone to view.

If you have a FaceBbook or MySpace account, you can change your privacy settings to prevent colleagues or potential employers from viewing your profile. You can also edit your profile to contain only things that you wish employers to see, such as a resume and contact information.

The easiest way to find out what potential employers can see is to use a search engine and search for your name. What are the results? Do you like what people can see about you? If not, make changes by putting up profiles of information you’d like others to see, and removing any profiles or pictures that you’d prefer to remain private.

Networking is an important way to find IT jobs, and social networking is a great way to connect online. You have the ability to not only control what potential employers see, but to also connect and network through the social networking tools.

Need help with your job search in the IT industry? Find the perfect IT job at http://smartjobs4me.com.

Article Source: Can Social Networking Help in the IT Job Search?

When looking for computer programmer jobs, it helps to know exactly what employers are looking for and how to best show off your skills and abilities. Here are some of the top things employers like to see when hiring computer programmers.

Education

Most employers like to hire programmers with at least a bachelor’s degree. Some employers will accept an associate’s degree, but a bachelor’s degree is preferred. The most relevant degrees to help get you hired include a degree in computer science, information science, engineering, or mathematics. College courses in business can also help.

Use your education to your advantage. If your degree is in any of these fields, make sure to highlight this on your resume. If you don’t have a degree in computer science or a related field, highlight any relevant courses you have taken.

Certification

Employers also like to hire computer programmers with certification and other qualifications. Some software firms offer certification, and you can also receive certification in language-based programs. Certification is not necessary for finding a job, but employers definitely look favorably on this type of certification.

If you are interested in certification, find out which type of certification is best for the area of computer programming you are in. If you have already received certification, list it on your resume.

Experience

Experience is highly valued in the computer programming field. Employers like to see that you are competent in several programming tools like Java, as well as traditional computer languages. List on your resume any programming tools you are skilled in or have experience with. The more tools and languages you are proficient in, the better. If you are lacking in a certain area, you can always take a refresher course in order to boost your resume.

If you are coming into the job market at an entry level, it may be more difficult to find a programming job, but you still have a good chance. If this is the case for you, try to include any relevant experience you have on your resume. Even if your experience is in the classroom rather than on the job, showcase any experience you may have.

Computer programmer jobs are expected to decline slightly in the next several years, but that doesn’t mean that job prospects don’t look good for you. If you concentrate on the areas that potential employers are looking for, you can boost your chances of landing a great job.

Get information on available programmer jobs you’re qualified for at http://smartjobs4me.com.

Article Source: Computer Programmer Jobs: What Employers Look For

You’re searching for a job in the IT field and you know that an IT recruiter would help you in the search. But how do you find a recruiter? And more importantly, how do you find a recruiter who will have your best interests at heart? Read on for tips on how to find a good IT recruiter.

How to find IT recruiters

One of the best ways to find a recruiter is to ask colleagues or friends if they have any recommendations. This way you’ll get immediate feedback on who is considered a good recruiter; you won’t have to guess.

But if no one you know has a recommendation, you can still find recruiters by doing a search in a search engine for ‘recruiters’ or ‘IT recruiters.’ You may also wish to add a search term for your geographic location. This should give you a good list of recruiters in your area.

Ensure your recruiter is a good fit

It’s a good idea to interview a potential recruiter and make sure that they will be a good match for you. If you can, meet with the recruiter in person. This helps you determine if they will work out for you, and it also helps the recruiter to tailor the job search specifically for you.

Find out if the recruiter has knowledge about your specific segment of the IT industry. Discuss your goals and needs with the recruiter. Be honest in what you are looking for, and ask the recruiter for some honest feedback. Share as much information as you can, because the more the recruiter knows you, the better they will be able to help you find the job you want.

Work with the recruiter in your job search

Once you have found a good recruiter, make sure to keep the lines of communication open. If you interview with a company, let the recruiter know what you felt about it. Again, the more a recruiter knows about you, the better they can meet your needs. If you don’t hear from your recruiter in a while, get in touch and get an update. Be proactive – don’t assume that the recruiter is sending your resume out. Make sure you are aware of what the recruiter is doing for you.

Working with an IT recruiter can be a very beneficial way to boost your job search, but it is important to find one that is a good fit for you. If you find a good recruiter, you can rest assured that you will benefit greatly when looking for IT jobs.

http://Smartjob4me.com is the IT recruiter that can help you find your dream job!

Article Source: Find an IT Recruiter

With talk of major layoffs, redundancies at the moment the job market will get more and more competitive.

Your Resume will now be even more important when looking for that Job.

Too many of us send out badly worded and formatted documents.

If you want to get noticed you will need to spend time to make yourself stand out in the crowd.

I have been in the recruitment industry for the last 11 years and I have seen many Resume’s.

Most Resume’s are a dry list of qualifications, responsibilities and dates lacking in any hint of unique personality. Result …. DULL!

You have just 17 seconds to empress the reader otherwise you will find your Resume will end up in the NO pile.

Your resume must show your personality and make the reader want to read more and ultimately want to interview you.

Please remember to spell check your Resume and always get someone else to read it before you start sending it out to future employers.

Also ask people that you know to read through it and ask them for their honest opinion (not someone you know who will say its great not to hurt your feelings).

Your Resume has to tell the world who you are and what you can do. Never put content on your Resume that the reader can say “so what” when they are reading through it. You want them to be thinking “great - exactly who were looking for”.

Please take your time, make your Resume short and concise.

One very important point to make, remember to tailor your Resume for EVERY job you are applying for.

So many Resume’s are written in a generic way.

If you want that specific job isn’t it worth spending some time making sure you look like the perfect match for it.

Good Luck in your job search

A career recruiter Richard Penfold has written a free guide that demonstrates how to turn these online tests into a CV / Resume that will win you a landslide of interview invites.
Follow the link for a landslide of interview invite
http://www.sentient-recruitment.com/how-to-prepare-a-resume-for-interview-success-review.html
Or visit us for great resume writing tips at
http://www.sentient-recruitment.com/resume-writing-tips.html

Article Source: Your Resume has never been so Important

These 9 Great CV writing Tips will secure the interviews YOU want.

Because you MUST have a CV that gets you the interview.

It’s not about revving up your CV / Resume with wonderful power words and phrases that are not a true reflection of the “real” you. As a recruitment consultant I meet quite a few people who’s CV / Resume is not an accurate reflection of their capabilities, many are considerably “overstated”.

And I can assure you this is not the route to take.

What you need is a CV / Resume that honestly reflects your skills, capabilities and personal motivations. Packed with YOUR unique personality, prioratised to fit the READERS needs.

This is how to create a unique, compelling CV / Resume, packed with personality that readers will love!

1. Clearly define your objective (no I don’t mean your objective statement for your CV / Resume). Spend as long as it takes to identify what you want your CV / Resume to do for you. Is it a general document for posting on a job board to test the water, or maybe a highly targeted response to a job advert or Job description?

Your job is to research beyond the job spec to really understand what skills, experience, and characteristics your target career demands.

2. Learn from the behaviour of Successful People. History shows us that though successful people come in all shapes and sizes, they share key behavioural competencies / characteristics (self belief, ideas and vision, determination and persistence to never give up being just a few). Companies looking to recruit the best candidates know that their high achievers share these characteristics. Therefore you’re CV / Resume’s job is to demonstrate honestly the characteristics you possess in the order of importance for the role or career you targeted at step 1.

3. Know yourself. This step is critical, and though most people feel they know themselves, for the purpose of writing a great CV / Resume they don’t!
Simply take advantage of the free online personality tests and personal motivation tests available, it will take you 30 – 45 minutes and you will end up with assessments that are pure CV gold in their professional and compelling descriptive wording. This is the stuff that conveys your unique and likable personality.

4. STAR Stories. No not stories of your favorite personalities to take your readers mind of your CV / Resume. STAR stands for Specific, Target, Action, Results and is a great technique for answering tough interview questions. So what’s this got to do with great CV writing tips then?
This CV WILL get you interview’s, and will prompt the interviewer’s questions, so now is the time to discuss STAR stories.
STAR is an acronym to make relating your experience easy to remember for you and entertaining and meaningful for your audience. You communicate your experience by describing SPECIFIC situations, the business objectives or TARGETs, the ACTION you took and the RESULTS of those actions. For your CV you keep this very concise (use of bullet points helps). In the interview you wrap you answers into short story answers.

5. Tailor your CV / Resume for each role you apply for. This will mean developing a dedicated CV / Resume folder system on your PC, as you will develop many variations as your experience and career develops. Well worth the effort.

6. It’s the words that sell. Don’t get bogged down with formatting, and adding graphics to your document, simple font, size 10 to 12 for body copy two sizes bigger for headings, with some simple underlining or bolding if required. Free templates are available everywhere on the internet which you can download and use, Microsoft Word has excellent free templates, as do most word processing applications.

7. The order or your CV / Resume information is CRITICAL. Reviewers of CV’s tend to have piles to read through, so you MUST hit them between the eyes with your relevance for their role. And this has to happen in the first or second chapter (if your early in your career with little experience it’s probable that your education / qualifications will occupy top spot after your name and contact details– Provided they are good and relevant for the reader). If you are more experienced you may open with an Objective, Summary, or Profile statement, and demote the qualifications to further down the order.

The Objective, Summary, or Profile statement SCREAMS (nothing understated here) at the reader that possess everything they are looking for. A highly crafted chapter that may take you longer to write than the rest of the document put together. Not long, but concise, compelling and LIKABLE.
The rest of the document demonstrates the relevant experience, skills, and personality as you will have identified and prioratised from step 1.

8. If you have a jaw droppingly great achievement that’s recent and highly relevant, add a short quoted testimonial after its description in speech marked italics from somebody senior or a client. This testimonial MUST be willing to be referenced. This is incredibly powerful, as basically it confirms your summary or profile statement as being fact.

9. Where possible always add a cover letter to your CV / Resume it really does improve your chances.

A pro recruiter Richard Penfold runs a small niche consultancy in the UK. He has written a FREE detailed guide on how to win more interviews.
If you would like to win more interview download the guide here ===> http://www.sentient-recruitment.com/how-to-prepare-a-resume-for-interview-success-review.html

Article Source: 9 Great CV Writing Tips

No matter why you are seeking a new job, whether this if your first time looking just out of school or if you are looking for a better job, the most important aspect of all is your CV. The CV, Curriculum Vitae, or resume will be the very first thing a potential employer will have in their hands concerning your employment. Many times, employers receive hundreds of applicants each year and many are tossed aside for all kinds of reasons, therefore, in order to write a CV that will not be thrown out you need to learn a few basics.

In order to get that all-powerful interview, your CV must get the attention it deserves. If you are one among many your CV had better be outstanding if you wish to have a chance to shine during your interview. Of course, the CV will not be the only factor that will land you the perfect job, however, if your CV is thrown out before you can get the chance to shine, you will never know if you could have landed the job.

Your CV must stand on its own merit in order to make it to the next step in employment. No matter what job you are applying for, there are many others out there applying for the same job and this includes even low paying jobs. Today, many people are in the same boat with job layoffs, downsizing, bankruptcies, and closing of companies, the competition is fierce. This is the main reason; your CV had better make a great impression. If your resume reaches the next level, there was something written there that made the employer believe you were a good candidate for the opening. This says a lot in today’s market. Now all you have to do is shine during your interview and you will achieve success.

A quick list of things you should include in your CV:

Education – school name, address, dates, and certificates or diplomas received
Prior employment – name of company, address, dates, and person to contact
Skills – provide all the skill and accomplishments you received at school and employment

Once you have all the information gathered, you should now write an outline. This will help you get your thoughts together.

Do your homework. In order to land a job with a specific company, you should know as much as you can about the company so you can target your cover letter toward goals that you want to accomplish while in their employment.

In your cover letter, ensure you provide all the qualities and qualifications that you know would benefit the employer. If you are seeking a job in the medical field then you would not want to talk about playing video games, on the other hand, if you are seeking employment in game making then this would be a plus.

If you are not sure exactly how to format your CV you can find this information online, as well as companies that will even write the CV for you so it will be professional done using your information.

About the Author:
Bob Taylor is a professional CV writer that has expertise in writing a wide variety of CV’s for all types of employment. For more information you can visit, Curriculum Vitae, A Work at Home CV, and How to Write a CV.

Article Source: CV Writing Tips

For all those job seekers who saw Legally Blonde II and the pink perfumed resume, there was a terrific chuckle. There was also a simple knowledge that maybe she had gone too far with her resume. News Flash, she also didn’t give a cover letter. However, the character in that movie did do one thing very right: She made sure that her presentation of herself was “head and shoulders” above the crowd. She was noticeable. That is often why people will use a cover letter template.

Let’s take a look at ways one can be certain that their resume and cover letter are noticeable other than pink perfumed paper and a personal presentation.

Foremost critical point: In almost all jobs you apply for you need to include a cover letter with your resume! In today’s work world cover letters are your introduction. Because they are so important, many people will use the cover letter template to help get the letter of introduction as good as possible. Cover letters have replaced personal contact when presenting the resume. They show some aspect of your personality, framework, and merit. They encourage a person to take a peek at the resume.

Follow the cover letter template as closely as you can. Do make sure you have these points covered as well:

* Put that cover letter and resume on decent paper. At least a 25 lb. paper ideally with a watermark is what you want. Don’t go overboard with color and texture. A nice paper is sufficient.

Potential employers will be determining key things about you in that cover letter. If you choose to use a cover letter template, make sure it will help you illustrate some of the things the employer looks for:

* Ability to follow instructions (that applies to those companies that actually requested that a cover letter be included with the resume). They want to know, do you read the directions and follow them?

* Attention to detail is another item the potential employer is looking for when he reads your cover letter. Did you send in a letter that is incomplete, has typos or grammatical errors? Is it properly formatted on the page? Is it concise and to the point, or did you ramble? Look back to your cover letter template as well, make sure it is of excellent quality.

* Personalization is another factor that must be considered. Did you write a cover letter designed for one and all, then basically blitz the work market? Let’s hope not, because if you did, you really blew it. Take a few minutes with each cover letter you present to get some info about the company, the person’s name to address it to. Personalize it the best that you can. This shows that you are not desperate for work and that you are a professional. It also reinforces your attention to detail.

* It’s a gauge of your communication skills - how well do you present yourself in writing, are you able to communicate concisely and professionally, can you highlight key points of yourself and your resume without boring the reader. Are you able to bring it all together through communication with a professional presentation? If you feel you are not able to do this, it is most advisable that you use a cover letter template.

There are only a handful of industries where cover letters are not required. Some of those include the construction trades, some IT positions, many part-time or part-time retail jobs. Some of the creative fields such as film or graphic design may also not require or want a cover letter. However the majority of today’s employers are looking for the cover letter to be included with the resume. If you are concerned about your ability to create it, then download a cover letter template to help you get the job done.

Margaret Marquisi is a retired career specialist and fulltime grandmother. If you are needing a cover letter template, download a cover letter example to help you in your writing.

Article Source: Use a Cover Letter Template to Stand Out in the Crowd

In today’s employment world, the cover letter has become as important as the resume. In fact, there are some interviewers and Human Resources staff that will pay closer attention to the cover letter than they do to the resume. Many people feel that they need help creating the cover letter and often will look for a cover letter template.

There was a time when a person “pounded the pavement” to find a job. It was customary to dress properly, have plenty of resumes and go from place to place, personally dropping off the resume. Sometimes the person would have opportunity to present themselves to the appropriate person who would be interviewing them, make a good impression and land that interview. In essence, the person was their own “human cover letter.”

Things have changed. A lot of positions cannot be based upon how well the persons letter is. People would like a cover letter template to help them. They need a model because they don’t really know how else to make sure they’ve done it well.

Add to that, the pavement pounding days are gone. We can sign up for job boards and send resumes via the net, thus that ability to sell ourselves with a personal appearance has all but disappeared. Honestly, employers would prefer not to have the personal visit, so they welcome an electronically delivered resume and a nicely done cover letter, which really is nothing more than a well-written introduction of the person. The person welcomes a cover letter template to him guide him!

Here are a few basic points that you should be aware of when creating a cover letter, or using a cover letter template:

* Make sure the cover letter explains why you are sending a resume. What are you asking for? The reception job, the managerial job, etc.

Dear Sir, I am interested in applying for the position in the accounting department as a payroll clerk.

* How did you find out they were hiring for the position that you would like to apply for?

I learned that your company was looking for good payroll personnel through an associate of mine who heard that I was interested in finding a new position. She has a friend who mentioned this to her.

* Point out key elements in your resume that will get them to want to review that resume. Try to find a cover letter template that has a spot for this.

When you look at my resume, you will be pleased to see my years of experience with payroll. I am well versed in a number of software programs most commonly used in the preparation of payroll, as well as the tax tables, etc. I’ve processed payrolls for companies ranging in size from fifteen to twenty-five hundred employees.

* Your cover letter should be a reflection of you. Does it give an idea of your enthusiasm, personality, motivation, or your ability to communicate?

I have also provided letters of recommendation from previous employers. I believe you will see that they found me to be dedicated, detail oriented and willing to work as a team member. I think you will find those same qualities in me.

* Let them know how and when you would like to follow up, by letter, phone call, email or fax.

I would like to touch bases with you on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of an interview. I believe it may be convenient if I check in by email.

Whether you create your own cover letter or use a cover letter template, the important thing is to make sure you have one to send with your resume.

Margaret Marquisi is a retired career specialist and fulltime grandmother. If you are needing a great cover letter template, download a cover letter example or sample to help you in your writing.

Article Source: Using Cover Letter Templates & Examples to Know What to Include in a Cover Letter

If you don’t have a cover letter, you are basically shooting yourself in the foot. If you don’t know how to write a cover letter, get a cover letter template to help.

In today’s work force you do not always have the opportunity to present and introduce yourself to a prospective interview. However, you do have a resume. You, more than likely, put a lot of careful consideration into the creation of that resume.

But, who is introducing you? Who or what is showing that your resume is the one to read in the massive sea of resumes just recently received by the company? Your cover letter is. Don’t put all that work into a resume and then forget to introduce yourself! Use a cover letter template if necessary to help you get that letter of introduction.

Here’s a few things to know about the cover letter, and or the cover letter template that you search for. It should cover these points.

Know your audience

Take whatever steps you can to find out who to address the cover letter to. Who will be interviewing you? Perhaps you can get the name of their assistant who will be helping in the interview process if you can’t get their name. Address the cover letter to a person if at all possible.

Why you want this job

What job and why you want it. Make sure you mention this rather important point.

It’s your cover letter, not your memoir

You’ve got one piece of paper to say the pertinent information that needs to be said. Keep it on point. Two or three paragraphs is enough. If you are using a cover letter template, you’ll see they are only one page. Stick to that!

Don’t Reveal too Much of the Resume

Illustrate a point from your resume (concisely), but do not provide so much info in your cover letter that is already in the resume there is no reason for the person to read the resume.

Show the “Professional Working You”

If you are a friendly, pleasant worker with a positive attitude. Make sure you show that. We don’t mean being disrespectful here. Just friendly professionalism. The structure of your cover letter template should help you with this point as well.

Complete Contact Info Please

Many people today pass out emails like they once passed out phones and addresses. Give it all. Don’t just expect them to hire you or contact you via your email. Address, phone, cell phone, email, and even an alternate contact or additional message number should you be unavailable

Quality Control

You already know how important a cover letter is, so don’t rush through it. Treat it with the same care you used for your résumé. Check your facts, your grammar, your spelling, and even get a second reading by another. It is your presentation of you. Make it matter!

Remember, the more you can do to create a presentation and introduction of yourself that makes that potential employer want to turn to the resume and read it, the better your chances of getting an interview will be. Don’t think that the cover letter can be rapidly dashed off or a short written note that you didn’t put much professionalism into. Do yourself a favor and get a cover letter template to help you get the work done right. The cover letter is your potential employers’ first impression of you.

Mark W. Mattey is a Special Seminars Instructor for Employment & Employment Services. He has also writes publishes for the Employment & Careers Industry. Mattey has been assisting people in the employment and interview process and protocols for more than 15 years. To find out more about cover letter samples & examples and killer cover letter template visit his website.

Article Source: Use a Cover Letter Template Always Include a Cover Letter With Your Resume

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