week of February 23, 2009

Are You Getting the "Most" from Your Résumé?
Tips to get your get your résumé from on the "interview" pile

Read the Article in this Journal Issue
Orientation Seminar

"Top 10 Ways People Find Employment"

Held Each Tuesday throughout the Month of March from 5:30 - 7:00 PM

REGISTRATION details at: www.TampaCareerAcademy.com or call (813) 374-2261
Email: career_academy@verizon.net
Cost: $10.00
Résumé Writing Secrets Workshop
Struggling with making your résumé competitive?
Battling with phrases and ways to "showcase" your achievements?
Not sure what to keep in and what to leave out?
You'll walk away from this workshop with a workbook that will provide all the tips and strategies you'll need to make your résumé standout amongst the competition.

Dates: March 12 (Thurs), 19 (Thurs), 28 (Sat)
Time: Saturday Classes 10:00AM – 12:30PM Thursday Classes 4:30PM - 7:00PM


REGISTRATION details at: www.TampaCareerAcademy.com or call (813) 374-2261
Email: career_academy@verizon.net
Roll Up Your Sleeves and Let's Get Ready to Write
Guaranteed to Walk Away with Everything You Need for a "Winning Resume"
Check out The Career Academy, LLC on "You Tube" click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYsO40qRUuo

Are You Getting the "Most" from Your Résumé?

You are already aware that a résumé is one of the most
important tools in your career. Taking a hard and critical look at your résumé will determine whether you should attempt to write it yourself or hire a professionl résumé writer.

Like any other tool, you’ll want to use your résumé correctly to maximize your opportunities of getting as many interviews as possible. The following résumé strategies will contribute to this endeavor. Since employers will initially evaluate you from a document, it’s critical that your résumé and cover letter promote your potential value to the position.

Employers will read your résumé very quickly. Expect no more than about 20 to 30 seconds of skimming. Additionally, keep in mind, the sole purpose of your résumé is to obtain job interviews! Let me say that again, the sole purpose of your résumé is to obtain job interviews! In other words, nobody gets hired from a piece of paper.

How you conduct yourself during the job interview and the quality of your presentation will weigh heavily on your success of obtaining the job offer. During the interview, your résumé may service as a script or “point paper” to be used as a reference sheet to share pertinent information with the interviewer.

The following are strategies for maximizing returns on your résumé:

Use a cover letter to introduce your résumé – even when answering internet ads (if available).
Avoid using awkward colored résumé paper – white or off-white is safest for business professionals. If your profession is in the “artistic” industry, you may veer from this rule of thumb, but be careful how “expressively” you promote yourself.
If using snail-mail, send your résumé with postage mail; use a 9” x 12” envelope rather than folding your résumé in thirds.
When applying through published ads requesting various methods of submission, i.e., fax, email, or regular mail, take advantage and do all three! Why take the chance of any one method failing?
Always make an attempt to follow-up with the employer after sending your résumé – inquire if your résumé has been received.
90 Days "Back to Work" Campaign
A Job Transition Program

There are a number of reasons people are seeking employment:

Just graduated from school
Laid off or terminated employment
Dissatisfied with their past employer or position
Company went out of business

These are just a few of the reasons people seeking employer or re-employment. However, often times, people will return to the same type of situation that they left. We strive to learn from our past errors, but without the knowledge to foresee a potential problem, or out of desperation, we jump from the frying pan into the fire.

The 90-Day Program is designed to eliminate this problem, while making you competition ready. Since the economic crisis that began in 2008, over 2 million jobs have been lost, with a lot more expected. This means competition is keen and employers will have pick of the litter.

Working with a professional will be key in getting your job search on track and keeping you motivated when the times get tough. You'll see a lot of career service companies that advertise simplicity ... let me tell you, there is nothing easy or fun about a job search. It's like the ads that offer pills or special drinks to lose weight quickly, it's not real nor practical. Expect discouragement, let downs and challenges, but I will say, those are what makes us stronger. When we are stretched, we seek alternatives -- hence, that is part of the learning process.

Come on board and we will help you through the terrain of your new chapter...investing in your career will come back to you over and over again. The average American changes careers 5 to 7 times in a lifetime, some by choice, some not by choice. Either way, you can expect to face this crisis again.

Need to Get Employed Quick?
Experience both individual, group meetings and seminars designed to get you employed fast.
Phased learning that breaks down each critical part of the job search...you won't miss a step!
Continue seeking out job opportunities while you continue to build your job search skills.
Enhance your employment decision making skills to ensure the right fit.
The 90-Day Program is broken down into Phases for better learning and preparation. Each phase will be completed using both individual and group learning. In addition, there will be optional seminars.
v Phase I - Self-Evaluation & Assessments
v Phase II - Building Career Tools
v Phase III - Networking Techniques
v Phase IV - Communications
v Phase V - Resilience
v Phase VI - Monitor and Evaluate

If you’re ready and serious about getting back to work, and tired of sitting in front of the computer practicing "Job Waiting" -- then let's get started on "Career Empowerment" and turn up the heat on your job search.

Michael S. Levy, CPRW, MCDP, PHR
President