What Tricks Get Your Resume Noticed?

Resue Expert Paula-Plume

Resume Expert Paula-Plume

Your résumé is a very big part of job hunting, but few people know how to write one properly. Not getting the interviews you want? Then your résumé may need some polishing! Follow these simple tricks and your résumé will get noticed.

Use a header that grabs attention.

When applying electronically, write to grab the reader’s attention. Reference the job number or position and tell the recruiter more about yourself. Use something like “experienced marketer available for direct mail position.”

Focus on the job that you’re seeking.

Generic résumés are usually not very effective. Review the description of the job that you’re applying for and then list your skills, knowledge and strengths that match the job. Use industry jargon to show what you know and how it pertains to the job.

Keep your objective to the point.

Your objective should sum up your desired position and unite it with your skills and experience. Power words like “dynamic,” “experienced” and “qualified” should be used. This will grab the recruiter’s attention, making them want to know more.

Use your résumé as a marketing tool.

Your résumé is a tool that should help you sell yourself to employers. Structure it in a way that’s easy to read, gets their attention and lands you an interview. Use bulleted lists and brief descriptions to explain your experience and skills.

List your strengths in the first third of your résumé.

You have approximately 30 seconds to sell your résumé before a reader moves on to the next one or arranges for an interview. So, you must have a powerful objective and move right into your experience and skills. Try using symbols like % and $ because they always stand out. For example, “Led a group that increased sales by 45%.”

Your résumé is a tool to get you the interview, not the job itself.

It’s not necessary to provide every detail for every job you’ve ever held. Call attention to the jobs that you have had that tie into the position you’re seeking. List your main jobs in one section of the résumé and list the less important ones under a heading “Miscellaneous (or Other) Employment.”

Use action words.

Using words like “implemented,” “negotiated” and “conceptualized” in your descriptions will really make your résumé stand out. Action words always let your potential employer know that you’re a go-getter and are ready to be assertive.

Make your résumé an easy read.

Use bullet points and steer away from long paragraphs; this will make your résumé easy to read and follow. Since you don’t want anything to distract the reader from what you can do and your qualifications, always be clear, concise and to the point.

Remember, every little bit helps.  Your résumé is a first impression so be sure to take the time need to make it stand out. Good luck!

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MBA Salaries by compensation expert Elizabeth Morgan

The MBA graduates have a vital role in the competitive business world today. They are eagerly needed by businesses worldwide. Salaries and other bonuses influence these post graduates. The salary for all levels of MBA holders shows continuous increment each year. Studies show that the average salaries for MBA professionals have risen above 21% in the last seven years. The MBA salaries also increase with seniority levels within an organization. With an MBA degree, one can increase his salary up by as much as 50%.

Besides the base salary, the total compensation earned yearly include bonus of around $25,000 and other benefits, including tuition reimbursement, car allowances, and relocation that add about $15,000 on an average. The base salary and bonus may vary from one company to another. Some companies offer a higher base salary and fewer bonuses, while others offer a high year-end bonus.

Business companies look for MBA graduates to widen their business areas to get more profit. A professionally qualified MBA graduate can assist the company to meet the business targets. As the profit level of a company increases, there may be increases in the remuneration to its staff. This is the main factor that increases the average salary of a business professional. Also, some leading business companies offer competitive and exciting salaries and benefits to qualified and experienced MBAs solely to attract them. Year-after-year the salary scale goes up; each year showing a large difference with its preceding year.

A significant salary change can be seen in a person’s salary if he or she completes an MBA program while working in an organization. But, there are a number of factors determining the salary offer like the area of specialization, prior earnings profile, pre-MBA work experience, geographic location and cost of living, and the academic record in the business school he or she attends. Compensation packages will also be offered. Consider a person working in a reputed business company earning a salary of $25,000 per year; the salary will increase up to $50,000 or $60,000 after his MBA graduation.

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Surviving a Difficult Relationship With Your Boss

Executive Recruiter William Werksman

Executive Recruiter William Werksman

As professional headhunters, we are consistently amazed at the ability of front line managers and senior executives to chase away otherwise very productive and high potential “direct reports”. In the list of reasons for job changes, having a difficult boss ranks as the second highest reason given for desiring a new job change. But what about those “caught in the middle”? You know who you are; those that simply cannot afford to either outright quit or simply do not have enough time to job hunt given their schedule.

Here are three strategies for those who have a difficult relationship with their boss and quitting is simply not a viable option:

1. Be proactive outward, not reactive inward. Stop thinking, even for a moment, that you can control the actions or reactions of your boss. Instead, focus on creating an environment where you actions are proactive towards the overall goals of the organization and are in synergy with the goals of your boss. Nothing makes a boss look better to his superiors, than a proactive employee that goes above and beyond the call when it comes to accomplishing tasks. This can be a very fine line, but if you remain focused and nonreactive to your boss’s mood swings, it can be done successfully. Do not take any reaction inward; do not internalize or personalize the moods or unfair criticism from your boss as a reflection on who you are as a person.

2. Focus on tasks at hand and joint accomplishments. Work with your boss to create project plans or strict guidelines in terms of your duties and responsibilities. One way to do this is to have a formalized job description written out and agreed upon between you and your boss. The less “grey area” the better should be your motto when dealing with a difficult boss. Once you have established areas of responsibilities, be certain to include the boss with progress updates and the opportunity to share credit for your successes when it is appropriate. This way, you work to diffuse the situation and make the boss an ally instead of an adversary.

3. Remain positive but look to network. Finally, if all else fails, remember to stay positive and network to secure a better opportunity. Chances are, if you do have a difficult boss inside an organization, you are not the only one that has had to suffer. There are, even in these difficult economic times, opportunities out there. Be certain to proactively network throughout your current company but also try to reach out inside your current industry to build relationships with peer groups and other senior managers. Employee turnover is part of every business and industry. There will be chances for you to move onward and upward if you remain positive and network properly.

Surviving a difficult relationship with your boss can be very difficult and emotionally taxing. Remain focused on your overall career goals and use the strategies listed above to get you through the transition to a better future.

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