Job Seeker Resources

In a time when recruiters and hiring managers are getting inundated with applicants for job postings, one technique they quickly learn to master is the art of "skimming" resumes. They just don't have time to read each resume word-for-word. Instead, they glance at it quickly and look for key info. If they don't see what they need, you're tossed.

You've Got Six Seconds
I was recently told the average recruiter spends about six seconds on a resume and then decides whether to keep reading, or toss it in the 'no' pile. Additionally, their eye works in a Z pattern, meaning left-to-right across the top of the resume, and then back down the left-hand side.

Top-Fold = Prime Real Estate
This means the top part of your resume is where all the action is. If you don't, "Get them at Hello," you won't be moving on. So, here are a few tips:

• Don't waste the top-fold with a long-winded, self-serving promotional paragraph. It won't get read. Objective statements and overly sales intros don't work either.
• Create an "Experience Summary" that lists quantifiable skills and the key information required to even get a shot at the job.
• Don't use a font smaller than 11 point or in a fancy style. Too hard on the eyes. For a total breakdown of how to create a resume that will pass the six-second test, you can watch a video I did as part of our CAREEREALISM TV weekly Q&A show. It's the very first episode on this page, just scroll to the bottom and you can watch it here.

Remember, Resumes Don't Get You Hired!
Even if you create an effective resume, please don't assume it will greatly improve your chances of getting a call from an online application. These days, 8 out 10 resumes aren't even seen by human eyes. Most online applicants never get a shot at the job they apply to. Why? 80%+ of all jobs filled today can be attributed to referrals. Someone inside the organization refers the candidate that gets hired. Hiring a referral is a lot easier than going blurry-eyed reviewing hundreds of online applicants. Plus, the referral makes them more credible, as compared to an online applicant nobody has worked with.

The takeaway: You need to get your optimized resume in the hands of hiring managers. That usually happens when you know them, or know someone who knows them. It's far less likely to happen when you blindly apply online and hope for the best.

A good resume needs to be used with a proactive job search strategy. All the formatting in the world won't change the odds of it getting reviewed. The only thing that does is a referral!

Last week, the job search site TheLadders.com, released research showing that recruiters only spend an average of 6.25 seconds looking at a candidate's resume before deciding whether he or she is a fit for a job.

The study also shows that recruiters spend 80% of that six seconds looking at just six things:

• Name
• Current title/company
• Previous title/company
• Previous position, start and end dates
• Current position, start and end dates
• Education

TheLadders used eye-tracking software to study the behavior of 30 recruiters over a 10-week period, to see how they read resumes.

The study subjects spent the remaining 20% of their resume-scanning time looking for keywords that matched the open position. But while they read keywords, according to the study, recruiters based their decisions on those six pieces of data.

As with many studies by outfits in the career business, TheLadders' findings conclude that job seekers should buy one of its wares, professional resume rewriting. TheLadders charges $395 for the service. The study also claims that when asked to rank resumes, recruiters gave professionally rewritten ones a 60% higher score than amateur resumes. The recruiters surveyed said the professionally written samples were 40% better organized and readable than those written by applicants themselves.

The study also compared Ladders resumes with LinkedIn profiles, and found that Ladders resumes were 55% easier for recruiters to read, because they don't have distracting commercials and photographs. According to TheLadders' data, if a resume has a picture, recruiters spend 19% of their six seconds fixated on the photo, rather than looking at candidates' qualifications or experience. TheLadders also pronounced LinkedIn bios full of "clutter that reduced recruiters' ability to process the profile."

My take on the new research: It's a useful reminder about how important it is for resumes to be clearly laid out and crisply written. But I think it's usually a mistake to hand your resume over to someone else to write, especially for the steep fee of $395. While working on another resume- writing story, I interviewed New York career coach Jim Borland, who advised never to let someone else write your resume, because once you get to the interview stage, it will be clear that the resume language is not yours. As for layout, there are plenty of great samples online, and it's easy enough to copy a clean design from one of those. I do think career coaches can be helpful, but as coaches and editors, not resume writers.

I also disagree about LinkedIn. From my reporting, it's clear that recruiters are using the site more, not less, and that means they are finding a way to scan the information quickly and efficiently. I'd say comparing a LinkedIn profile with a resume is a red herring. Recruiters and hiring managers will look at both. It would be a mistake to focus on your resume and ignore your LinkedIn profile.

When it comes to keywords, I've written before about searching for job listings online, and then working keywords into your previous job descriptions or mission statement. I do think it's helpful to have a short but specific summary at the top of a resume, which emphasizes accomplishments, with numbers if possible ("In the second half of 2011, I exceeded monthly sales targets by an average of 40%.").

The most challenging part of writing a good resume and LinkedIn profile is making them tell an interesting story about yourself that the reader wants to take in. If you are looking for a job, a recruiter is not your only audience. Most people find jobs not through recruiters but through people they know. When that happens, the resume reader is already predisposed to want to absorb the information, and will likely spend more than 6.25 seconds reading.

If you've applied for a job recently, you've probably looked over that 8 1/2 x 11" summary of your career more times than you can count – and tweaked it just as often – in pursuit of the perfect resume.

But before you add another bullet point, consider this: It's not always about what you add in – the best changes you can make may lie in what you take out.

The average resume is chock-full of sorely outdated, essentially meaningless phrases that take up valuable space on the page. Eliminate them, and you'll come off as a better, more substantial candidate – and your resume won't smack of that same generic, mind-numbing quality found on everyone else's.

Every word – yes, every word – on that page should be working hard to highlight your talents and skills. If it's not, it shouldn't be on there. So grab a red pen, and banish these words from your resume for good.

Career Objective
My first few resumes had a statement like this emblazoned top and center: "Career objective: To obtain a position as a [insert job title here] that leverages my skills and experience as well as provides a challenging environment that promotes growth."

Yawn. This is not only boring, it's ineffective (and sounds a little juvenile, to boot). The top of your resume is prime real estate, and it needs to grab a hiring manager's attention with a list of your top accomplishments, not a summary of what you hope to get out of your next position.

Experienced
You can be "experienced" in something after you've done it once – or every day for the past 10 years. So drop this nebulous term and be specific. If, for example, you're a Client Report Specialist, using a phrase such as "Experienced in developing client reports" is both vague and redundant. But sharing that you "Created five customized weekly reports to analyze repeat client sales activity" – now that gives the reader a better idea of where exactly this so-called experience lies, with some actual results attached.
Also eliminate: seasoned, well-versed

Team Player
If you've ever created an online dating profile, you know that you don't just say that you're nice and funny – you craft a fun, witty profile that shows it. Same goes for your resume: It's much more effective to list activities or accomplishments that portray your good qualities in action than to simply claim to have them.

Instead of "team player," say "Led project team of 10 to develop a new system for distributing reports that reduced the time for managers to receive reports by 25%." Using a specific example, you show what you can actually accomplish. But simply labeling yourself with a quality? Not so much.
Also eliminate: people person, customer-focused

Dynamic
While resumes are meant to highlight your best attributes, some personality traits are better left to the hiring manager to decide upon for herself. There is a difference between appropriately and accurately describing your work skills and just tooting your own horn. Plus, even the most introverted wallflower will claim to be "dynamic" on a piece of paper because, well, why not? When it comes to resumes, keep the content quantifiable, show tangible results and successes, and wait until the interview to show off your "dynamism," "enthusiasm," or "energy."
Also eliminate: energetic, enthusiastic

References Available Upon Request
All this phrase really does is take up valuable space. If a company wants to hire you, they will ask you for references – and they will assume that you have them. There's no need to address the obvious (and doing so might even make you look a little presumptuous!). Use the space to give more details about your talents and accomplishments instead.

In a crummy job market with a record number of people applying for the same positions, it takes more than a list of desirable-sounding qualities to warrant an interview. Specific examples pack a punch, whereas anything too dependent on a list of buzzwords will sound just like everyone else's cookie-cutter resume. So, give your resume a good once-over, and make sure every word on that page is working hard for you.

We're living in a day and age when good jobs are harder than ever to come by. That's why it's so important that we equip ourselves with the basic skills needed to really shine when it comes to job interviews. After all, turning in a glowing resume is really only half the battle. The rest of the picture your potential future employers are looking to form about you is directly tied to how you do in your job interview.

And I'm sure most people would think how you act during an interview is common sense. I mean, you want a job so you'd present yourself in the best light, right? Not so much. Surprisingly, there are numerous stories of 'candidates do/say the darndest things' during interviews. No fear though; I'm here to offer a few more interview tips to get everyone up to speed.

A New Age of Job Interviewing
Job interviews these days are about a lot more than grilling you on your applicable skills and previous job experience. Today's employers also want to know more about you as far as how you problem solve, behave under pressure, and express yourself in a given situation. Job interviews that have such elements as a focus are known as behavioral job interviews and, if you've never heard of behavioral job interviewing, then it's high time you listen up.

Behavioral job interviewing focuses primarily on how a given employee behaved under certain circumstances. The logic behind this is actually the old maxim: "The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior" (most may have heard this from Dr. Phil). It's also important to learn how to prepare for this type of interview in order to not only increase your chances of interview success, but landing a job.

How to Prepare for a Behavioral Job Interview
While it's impossible to predict what kind of interview questions you'll actually be asked when it comes to your job interview, it's important to make sure you prepare for a combination of both traditional job interview questions and behavior-oriented questions. Typical examples of commonly asked behavioral interview questions include:

• Tell me how you go about handling challenges in the workplace.
• Explain to me how you set goals and then realize them.
• How do you handle it when you and a co-worker find disagree on a critical issue?
• What do you do if you happen to disagree with your boss's stance on a given issue?
• Tell me about a time you took the initiative and went above and beyond the call of duty.

Consider formulating answers to these questions and others like them ahead of time in order to make sure you're prepared. Arranging mock interviews with friends willing to give you honest feedback on answers to possible behavior-based questions can also be helpful for many people.

Other Prepare Tips
One of the best ways to prepare for a job interview is to do a little homework on the company in question. After all, many potential employers are looking for more in an employee than simple competence (and an impressive resume). They're looking for people who will fit into the company's long term vision for the future; so, the more you know about what that vision is in advance, the better you're likely to do in the interview. Even a few minutes spent browsing the company's website in advance can go a long way toward making sure you ace your interview with flying colors. How so? Well, you could talk about the company's brand, recent blog posts and any interesting company news to show you're not only knowledgeable, but up to date.

Landing a job interview is incredibly exciting – and often terrifying. But fear not. There are clever ways to transform your angst into nerves of steel. After all, a good interview should feel like a conversation, not an interrogation. Here are five essential key tips from the world of public speaking that'll help you look just as awesome in person as you do on paper.

1. Know Yourself
Most people dread the moment when their interviewer utters the words – "So, tell me about yourself." But it's actually the simplest question to navigate once you get down to the root of what's being asked. "Tell me about yourself" really translates to: "What can you tell me about how your personality, interests, work habits and background will help you rock this position?"

Before you answer, rewind back to when you applied for the job – the moment you decided that you and the position would be a solid match. Usually, the reasons that ran through your mind before you chose to apply are the answers the interviewer is looking for. Since you're the most well-versed on the subject of you, this is your moment to paint the picture of what you bring to the table and why you're the most dynamic and capable person for the job.

2. Bridge the Gap Between Confidence and Enthusiasm (Then Marry the Two)
How many times have you been confident in your ability to perform a task but not necessarily enthused about doing it (or vice versa)? Confidence speaks to the way you perceive you, while enthusiasm is more indicative of your feelings about something or someone other than yourself – in this case, the gig.

To make sure there's a healthy balance between the two, draft a list of reasons you're confident about your ability to perform the job, and pair each one with a reason why you're enthusiastic about showing up. You should be able to clearly communicate these reasons during your interview.

Example: "In over 15 years as a graphic designer, I've mastered a number of software programs and techniques. Those skills have helped me contribute to some great work, but the best part of the experience, for me, is collaborating with a team to build something that clients can fall in love with."

3. Use Your LinkedIn Profile to Practice
The last thing you want to do in an interview is regurgitate your resume or Linkedin profile. Instead, take a look at how you described your role at previous jobs and practice how you might integrate these into an actual conversation. In other words: if your resume bullet points were complete sentences describing how your experience is relevant to the new job, what would they sound like?

To prepare like the pros, do a mock interview with a friend and video record your answers. Ask yourself, "Can I really see myself saying this?" to gauge the authenticity of your delivery.

4. Know When to Wrap It Up
Big audiences don't like a Chatty Cathy – and neither do busy interviewers. To avoid coming across as a rambler or bad listener, always be mindful of the length of your answers. Even if the interviewer doesn't give you validation in the form of a nod, smile or laugh, don't be afraid to simply stop talking once you've answered the question.

If you can effectively communicate a point in five words, don't use 25. Trust that if they want to know more, they'll ask.

Need a little practice on this? Do a search for the "most asked interview questions" relevant to the position you're applying for, jot down the ones you struggle with and practice answering them. Open-ended questions sometimes require lengthier responses, but typically, you should be able to provide a thoughtful answer to most interview questions in under 60 seconds.

5. Be a Team Player
The letter "I" stands alone. Unless you're applying for a position that requires you to work independently, the reality is that stellar results (no matter the industry) require team effort. Be sure to incorporate "we" language to show your ability to work well with others. This doesn't mean refrain from sharing your individual responsibilities and accomplishments, but be clear about how those things benefitted your team.

When in doubt, stick to this equation: What my team does + How I do my part to make sure we get to the finish line = Victory

Of course, no two interviews are the same, but if you apply these tips, you're guaranteed to boost your odds of getting a call back. Knock 'em dead!

Job interviews should be taken seriously, but that doesn't mean you should not smile. In fact, whether you're participating in a phone screen, an in-person interview, or salary negotiations, it benefits you to smile.

You say that smiling during a phone interview can help a job seeker land an in-person interview. Why is that?
In nature a higher pitched voice means that something is safe (think of a monkey sound) whereas a low voice means danger (think of a lion growling). Now think about what a smile is: a person bearing their teeth. If you were to see a dog bearing his teeth you would see that as a sign of aggression and not friendliness.

So why do humans see a smile as a sign of friendliness? That is because when you smile, the muscles that activate actually reduce the size of your vocal cavity making your voice higher pitched. Try saying "Hi Baby" in a deep voice. Now try the same exercise but using a high pitched voiced. You will notice that you can't make a high pitched sound with your voice unless you smile.

How does that translate into a phone interview? When you're smiling, you have a higher pitched voice and thus sound less threatening. That is what people call "hearing your smile." They obviously can't see you smiling on the other side of the phone but they can hear it. Whenever you're on the phone, make it a point to smile throughout the conversation. You will notice that people will be more receptive to your message and thus, more persuasive.

Does smiling have the same persuasive effect during the in-person interview?
Yes. See above. The smile itself seems like a visual cue but actually the "caveman" part of our brain is "hearing the smile" and thus telling us that this person smiling to us is safe. Therefore a smile is actually a verbal cue.

Now let's shift to salary negotiations. It seems to me that smiling might lower your persuasiveness. Do you agree or disagree?
Disagree. During salary negotiations, the person who maintains their composure for the longest is more likely to come out ahead. The other party is more likely to concede to your demands because they will see that you are in control and sure of what you are asking for. Smiling conveys the message that you are sure of yourself and that you are in friendly negotiations. Besides, do you really want to pulverize into the ground over salary negotiations the person who you will be working with? That's a terrible way to start a new job.

Do you think the effects of smiling differ with gender?
Not during the context of a job interview. Smiling helps us determine that the person we are dealing with is friendly and possibly a team player – both traits that are important for the survival of the species and, coincidentally, also important for completing TPS reports at the office. Regardless of how advanced and evolved we believe we are, our day-to-day interactions are still based off of our caveman brains and its need for survival.