College Students and Recent Grads: Include Complete Contact Info On Your Resume

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College students and recent grads: Is your resume working as hard for you as it could (and should)?

In this article let's take a look at essential contact information you need on every resume. Recently I've seen some that didn't include phone numbers, even though they did include email addresses.

Here three points of contact you should have -at minimum- on every resume, and why they're important.

1. Phone number

Your resume should always have a phone contact number. Your email isn't enough. Give a potential employer or recruiter every possible way to contact you possible. Be sure to include area code.

On your voicemail be sure to leave a professional message acknowledging the caller, and indicating a time frame by which you'll return the call. Do not leave the generic mobile phone service-provided voice mail. It doesn't confirm to the caller that they've reached the person they are looking for.

"Hi, this is Jeremy Smith. I'm not available to take your call right now, but please leave a brief message and a phone number where I can contact you. I'll return your call as quickly as possible."

Note if you are working on cross border job search:

If your number is a non-US number, be sure to include the specific country code dialing information.If you're in the US working with recruiters outside the country, be sure to include the (+1) country code in front of your US phone number.

2. Email address

Be sure to also include your professional email address. Using a school-provided email may lead employers to question how they'll get a hold of you once you leave school. Plus, as you launch your career you want to present your new professional identify with an equally professional email identity.

Get a Gmail, Yahoo, me.com or other ISP address that presents you in a professional light. Use a first name.lastname@provider.com so employers know exactly whom they're corresponding with.

Once you've got it set up, be sure to put a professional signature block that reflects your new young professional identity. Here's a suggested example for a college student in the job search. Customize for your needs.

Jackson Martin

Oregon Statue University, Class of 2012

Major in Accountancy, with Minor in Finance - 3.5 Core GPA

Voice (+1) 123-345-6789

www.linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname

3. Your LinkedIn URL

When you build a LinkedIn profile, you can generate a URL link that allows you to tell people exactly how to find you on LinkedIn. You can see how it's clear who the profile owner is.

To create your own LinkedIn Profile URL:

Log in to your account.In the upper right hand corner to the left of your name, click the drop down arrow. Select "Settings."Under Helpful Links, click "Edit your public profile."Under Your public profile URL, click "Customize Your Public Profile URL". Select your URL name and LinkedIn will advise if it's available. If your intact name is not available, use some version of your first, middle and last name.

Once you've got your LinkedIn URL, use that as an additional contact point on your resume. Because LinkedIn allows potential employers to send you messages, it provides another option for them to do so.

If you have your email and phone clearly delineated in your LinkedIn profile as well (use a Google Voice number and forward it to your phone if you don't want to publish your personal number) you won't miss any potential connections.

Find the entire video series for college students and recent grads entitled "Should You Fire Your Resume?" You can find it on our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/DegreesOfTransition. See you there!

Crafting the Right Resume

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Part 1 - Write a resume that generates results

There is no point in putting out a resume that is so weak that it is guaranteed to get little to no results. Why bother? Do you really want to find employment? These absurd rhetorical questions are meant to explain that writing your resume is serious business. If you want a position that is best-suited for you, then you have to get your way in through still the most legitimate way of doing so-get your excellent resume in before the right people. The longer Human Resources sits on your resume, the more likelihood you are not going to be invited for an interview. It's like jury deliberation. If they know you are not guilty, they will return a verdict quickly. If they have to spend too much time deliberating over your resume, you are probably not the most perfect match. You will end up in File 13 with a nice "we were able to find someone who better fits our company's needs at this time" letter. The Human Resources department has looked at thousands of resumes. They know their company's culture. They know if you'll be a good fit. So how do you set yourself up for having the best chance of getting noticed and an invitation to be interviewed? Following certain steps, including adding seemingly unimportant credentials, can produce amazing results.

Part 2 - Use clever phrasing that is unique, but not ridiculous.

One of the best ways to choose clever words and phrases is to get a hold of a marketing book. Marketing books have all the magical phrases that can be turned in to meaningful metaphors for who you are or that explain your talents. Are you "value-added" because your skills offer a prospective employer more than the next person? Are you experienced in an organization's "target market?" Have you moved from "good to great" by virtue of your accumulated experience? These catch phrases can serve as simple explanations of how you have advanced in your skill or talent. Move away from traditional wording, the mundane, or reeks-of-sameness type of resume.

Part 3 - Be succinct.

Only certain professions call for more than a two-page resume. You can always state that "additional information is available upon request." In a case such as that, make sure that additional information is, in fact, ready. If invited to an interview, you'll want to take it with you to the interview in a nice folder tucked in your brief case or satchel. Sometimes, only a one-page resume will suffice, but it better be good because that's likely your only shot. Positions that require a great deal of skill easily could run past two pages if training is required to be revealed in terms of currency in your field.

Part 4 - Find out if the prospective company requires a credit check.

If you know your credit isn't anything to brag about, don't bother applying to the company. They will turn you down. Some states don't allow this practice because it disproportionally hurts single women with children. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is checking into this practice to determine if it creates a disparate impact on protected groups. Check to see if you're in one of those states where credit checks aren't allowed. Then, determine if the position you are seeking has a requirement where you deal with money. If it doesn't, take a run at it anyway because you just might get lucky based on how strong your credentials are-exceptions can always be made, especially in the hiring process. If you're really having trouble with your credit, you might just have to move to a state that doesn't allow credit checks.

Part 5 - If you can't put together a resume, let someone else do it.

If you don't know how to put a resume together or don't really know how to write one, then hire someone. There are plenty of organizations who do this service or individuals that are wordsmiths and know exactly how to put down on paper what you have difficulty stating. Have them make it just generic enough so you can apply at various companies and for various positions. You'll get more bang for the buck this way and always have one ready when you spot an opportunity.

Dr. Rosalie Lopez is an attorney and president of The Savvy Latina, a consulting practice for Strategic Planning and Career Strategies for Individuals, Small Business, and Corporations. Learn to deal clearly, rationally, and creatively with a diverse workforce. Coaching in this area is designed to teach you the effectiveness of critical thinking and decision making that will enhance your career opportunities with the ability to identify and solve organizational issues. Focus is on career direction and strategies to achieve success in the national and global business worlds. For those starting out, a business plan can be designed specifically for your company. Need a mentor? For more information, visit http://thesavvylatina.com/.

Changing Your Resume for Each Company

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A recruiter once gave me an excellent tip when she said to change my resume every time I applied for a job. Why I asked? She told me that company recruiters will often use a keyword search to select the candidates that they feel matches the position. This keeps them from having to sort through the hundreds of resumes they receive. She said that if the resume does not have the keywords that they look for, then they typically go into the rejected pile.

Depending on the position you're applying for, you should use words that will notify HR managers about your qualifications. For example, if you're looking for a position as the Vice President of an accounting company you might want to include words such as:

- Tax Accounting

- Reconciliations

- Profit and Loss Statements

It can be very difficult to find a job in today's economic climate, and looking for high level or executive work requires a keen eye, and often, knowing someone whose already in the organization. After updating your resume, send it to your friends in the industry and see if they are able to direct it to the appropriate HR managers.

If you're looking for a job as an administrative assistant you should use the following words when updating your resume:

- Ability to type 80 wpm

- Microsoft Office

- Mac office

- Reception

- Phone support

No matter the type of work you're looking for make sure you ask past colleagues or friends if they know of any open positions within their companies. It's always an excellent decision to put your feelers out and see what kind of work is available. And always change-up your resume to meet the requirements of the job. It may be a entry-level position, but as long as you can turn it into something down the road, it may be worth looking into.

Tips for Working with Keyword Search Software

Many companies will use a type of software that identifies keywords in resumes. But what can you do to beat these machines?

Revise your resume so it includes keywords included in the job description during your opening. Take for example, if the job description says, "Coordinate and develop websites and blogs," your resume must include keywords such as "websites" and "blogs". But only if you have the experience, of course...

Update your multipurpose resume with frequently used keywords so that you do not have to revise it every time you have another job interview. One idea is to revise it every six months in order to stay current. Newer keywords may be used in the future, so stay current with them.

Add the most important keywords to your cover letter. Don't over do it though. You just want to have a few of the choice words that HR managers are looking for.

Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, BS/HR, is a Certified Professional & Executive Resume Writer/Career Consultant and President of Professional Resume Services, Inc. She is a nationally published writer and contributor of 12 best-selling career books. She has achieved international recognition following yearly nominations and wins of the prestigious T.O.R.I. (Toast of the Resume Industry) Award. Erin has written thousands of resumes for executives and professionals.

As a proud member of CDI, NRWA, PARW, and AORCP, Erin also sits on CDI's Credentialing Committee for new certification candidates and serves as a Mentor for CDI's Member Mentoring Committee. She also is a featured blogger on several well-known career sites. Reuse of this article is encouraged but must include a link to http://exclusive-executive-resumes.com/.

Want to know more about Erin Kennedy, CPRW? Read her LinkedIn profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/erinkennedycprw