How Long Does a Professional Resume Writer Take to Write a Resume

How Long Does a Professional Resume Writer Take to Write a Resume This post has been edited to strike through the text about a relationship with JC Resumes. After getting the first comment from a trusted user (and friend), and more investigation, we determined that we didnt want to have the JibberJobber brand/name associated with their services or brand. Julie Walraven of Design Resumes has a great post titled The Chief Cause Of Many Poor Hiring Decisions.  She starts off with CareerBuilders new stat about how long hiring managers spend reviewing resumesas we know, its pathetically low. But then Julie takes her post in an unexpected direction: how long SHE, as a professional resume writer (she is certified and has been doing this, afaik, for over two decades): she will easily spend six hours creating a resume.  Usually that is for an entry-level person.  Its not unusual for her to spend ten or more hours designing a resume. Julie is a resume expert, having investing more than 10,000 hours in her trade to claim expertise.  When I lost my job I spent a couple of weeks fumbling around trying to piece together my own resume.  I had no expertise, experience or training just an attitude that if I could put myself through two degrees, I could certainly write a one or two page document! Right?? I didnt understand that a resume was not simply a list with work history, dates and some cool action verbs.  I thought I could easily put that document together but what I didnt realize was what a great resume really is. A great, even an excellent resume, is a marketing document. Coincidentally, a sucky resume is also a marketing document it just screams: dont hire me! A resume is not a standard business document for filing away in a three ring binder,  simply to be forgotten.  Your resume has a very specific purpose.  Whats more, the judge of your resume is going to take your days, weeks, and for some of you, months of work and give it a cursory 30 or 120 seconds its almost an atrocity! But really, spending less than two minutes really is NOT an atrocity. You see, its not about YOU.  Its not about the amount of work you put in.  Its not about how amazing you are, how clever you are, or how dumb the viewer is for not getting how brilliant you are. This is all about THEM. Pursuing you will reflect on them and could have an impact on their career. Are they capable of hiring the RIGHT person?  Can they hire the BEST person?  Or will they hire a dud, or a lemon?  This could cost them their job!  Hiring the wrong person could sink the entire company! If an expert, like Julie Walraven, spends six hours to develop the most basic of resumes, which she can only do because she has over ten thousand+ hours of writing resumes, what makes you think that you, or I, without this expertise, can throw something together in a few hours, and have it be good enough (much less great!)? The mistakes I would make would undoubtedly cause my resume to be in the under-ten-seconds-and-then-throw-away pile.  Whether that is a typo or a grammar mistake, or not using the best word(s) to put us in the right light, it will cost me. I know there are people out there, including one of my favorite recruiters (Steve Levy read his blog!) who say that we must write our own resumes, and hiring a resume writer is as good as hiring a charlatan (those are my words, but thats the message I hear from him).  I agree that we should do a lot of work to help get the resume done.  We should put our hearts into it.  We should spend time going through our past, listing our accomplishments, and doing the very hard work of self- and career-evaluation. But I still think we should run it past a real resume writer who will polish our final marketing document so that it gets more time, and more respect, from the person evaluating whether they should bring you in for an interview or not. (professional resume writers are not merely polishers.  They are experts in creating perhaps the most important marketing document at this point in your career) Convinced you need resume help? I suggest considering either of these two options: First Option:  look for someone whos experience matches exactly what you need and who you are.  There are resume professionals like Liz Handlin (Ultimate Resumes) who are so focused on executives, especially finance executives, that you should NOT consider using someone who doesnt do finance executive resumes before talking to someone like her.  There are resume experts that specialize in IT executives, CEOs, entry level (recent college graduates), and everywhere inbetween.  When you are looking for the right match, dont disrespect these professionals and tell them how the process works.  See if they are a right fit, and then humbly work with them within their system.  Otherwise, you might hear a very kind Im not sure Im the right person for you let me recommend you to one of my colleagues.  That really means I wouldnt choose to work with you for double the money I can tell you are going to be a massive pain to work with. Second Option:  if you are looking for a low-cost just-get-me-to-the-next-level and clean up what I already have, consider JibberJobbers new partnership with JC Resumes (we have negotiated discount bundle available to you to get you what you need).  I have been hesitant to do a partnership like this for YEARS.  But I have talked to the owners of this service and I always come back to is this high quality?  I dont want to recommend a resume mill that just pumps them out like typists.  I have asked them about their writing and quality process, and Im really quite impressed.  I personally should have spent the money to do this instead of wasting a week or two trying to write my own get it done, have something you can be proud of, and if you find out its not good enough, then go back to the first option above.  But I doubt it will be money wasted.  Heres the page to get started. Were working on creating an list of specialized resume writers that you can reach out to on your own stay tuned The point is, make sure that you are putting enough time and resources into getting this marketing document put together the right way. How Long Does a Professional Resume Writer Take to Write a Resume This post has been edited to strike through the text about a relationship with JC Resumes. After getting the first comment from a trusted user (and friend), and more investigation, we determined that we didnt want to have the JibberJobber brand/name associated with their services or brand. Julie Walraven of Design Resumes has a great post titled The Chief Cause Of Many Poor Hiring Decisions.  She starts off with CareerBuilders new stat about how long hiring managers spend reviewing resumesas we know, its pathetically low. But then Julie takes her post in an unexpected direction: how long SHE, as a professional resume writer (she is certified and has been doing this, afaik, for over two decades): she will easily spend six hours creating a resume.  Usually that is for an entry-level person.  Its not unusual for her to spend ten or more hours designing a resume. Julie is a resume expert, having investing more than 10,000 hours in her trade to claim expertise.  When I lost my job I spent a couple of weeks fumbling around trying to piece together my own resume.  I had no expertise, experience or training just an attitude that if I could put myself through two degrees, I could certainly write a one or two page document! Right?? I didnt understand that a resume was not simply a list with work history, dates and some cool action verbs.  I thought I could easily put that document together but what I didnt realize was what a great resume really is. A great, even an excellent resume, is a marketing document. Coincidentally, a sucky resume is also a marketing document it just screams: dont hire me! A resume is not a standard business document for filing away in a three ring binder,  simply to be forgotten.  Your resume has a very specific purpose.  Whats more, the judge of your resume is going to take your days, weeks, and for some of you, months of work and give it a cursory 30 or 120 seconds its almost an atrocity! But really, spending less than two minutes really is NOT an atrocity. You see, its not about YOU.  Its not about the amount of work you put in.  Its not about how amazing you are, how clever you are, or how dumb the viewer is for not getting how brilliant you are. This is all about THEM. Pursuing you will reflect on them and could have an impact on their career. Are they capable of hiring the RIGHT person?  Can they hire the BEST person?  Or will they hire a dud, or a lemon?  This could cost them their job!  Hiring the wrong person could sink the entire company! If an expert, like Julie Walraven, spends six hours to develop the most basic of resumes, which she can only do because she has over ten thousand+ hours of writing resumes, what makes you think that you, or I, without this expertise, can throw something together in a few hours, and have it be good enough (much less great!)? The mistakes I would make would undoubtedly cause my resume to be in the under-ten-seconds-and-then-throw-away pile.  Whether that is a typo or a grammar mistake, or not using the best word(s) to put us in the right light, it will cost me. I know there are people out there, including one of my favorite recruiters (Steve Levy read his blog!) who say that we must write our own resumes, and hiring a resume writer is as good as hiring a charlatan (those are my words, but thats the message I hear from him).  I agree that we should do a lot of work to help get the resume done.  We should put our hearts into it.  We should spend time going through our past, listing our accomplishments, and doing the very hard work of self- and career-evaluation. But I still think we should run it past a real resume writer who will polish our final marketing document so that it gets more time, and more respect, from the person evaluating whether they should bring you in for an interview or not. (professional resume writers are not merely polishers.  They are experts in creating perhaps the most important marketing document at this point in your career) Convinced you need resume help? I suggest considering either of these two options: First Option:  look for someone whos experience matches exactly what you need and who you are.  There are resume professionals like Liz Handlin (Ultimate Resumes) who are so focused on executives, especially finance executives, that you should NOT consider using someone who doesnt do finance executive resumes before talking to someone like her.  There are resume experts that specialize in IT executives, CEOs, entry level (recent college graduates), and everywhere inbetween.  When you are looking for the right match, dont disrespect these professionals and tell them how the process works.  See if they are a right fit, and then humbly work with them within their system.  Otherwise, you might hear a very kind Im not sure Im the right person for you let me recommend you to one of my colleagues.  That really means I wouldnt choose to work with you for double the money I can tell you are going to be a massive pain to work with. Second Option:  if you are looking for a low-cost just-get-me-to-the-next-level and clean up what I already have, consider JibberJobbers new partnership with JC Resumes (we have negotiated discount bundle available to you to get you what you need).  I have been hesitant to do a partnership like this for YEARS.  But I have talked to the owners of this service and I always come back to is this high quality?  I dont want to recommend a resume mill that just pumps them out like typists.  I have asked them about their writing and quality process, and Im really quite impressed.  I personally should have spent the money to do this instead of wasting a week or two trying to write my own get it done, have something you can be proud of, and if you find out its not good enough, then go back to the first option above.  But I doubt it will be money wasted.  Heres the page to get started. Were working on creating an list of specialized resume writers that you can reach out to on your own stay tuned The point is, make sure that you are putting enough time and resources into getting this marketing document put together the right way.

Common Issues When Creating a Staff Rotation

Common Issues When Creating a Staff Rotation For any business that runs in shifts, it is important is understand how to best plan the staff rotation, or rota. It is surprising to learn that many companies and organisations still use outdated methods of staff shift planning such as through an Excel spreadsheet or with pen and paper. But doing so can lead to a number of challenges, and when these challenges develop into problems, it can be detrimental to the running of the business. Here are some of the most common issues with staff rota planning, and what you can do to avoid them. Staff can’t access the rota One of the major issues when created a rota for staff is they will be unable to access the rota without coming into the workplace. Depending on the way that their shifts work this can be a real inconvenience, for example, in a situation where they would need to come in on a Monday morning to see if they are expected to work that day, and having to then go home if they are not. This can mean that staff will, instead of reading the rota, simply call up and ask whether they are expected to be in. Alternatively, they may text or email their manager for the information. Either way this can mean a significant amount of time is spent talking to or replying to messages sent from employees. It comes with the additional problem that it can be difficult for staff to track multiple messages containing their shift details, so they may end up missing a shift because they weren’t aware they needed to be in. This is always going to be a problem when you use traditional methods of rotas, such as an Excel spreadsheet on the computer or a paper rota. To avoid the issue, it is important to invest in staff rota software. Many, such as Planday’s shift scheduler, can run as an app on the phones or devices of your employees so that they can have access to the rota at all times. Make sure that you research thoroughly into the software options available to choose one that has the relevant features that your business needs. Staff want to swap their shifts It is also very commonplace that employees will want to swap their shifts with colleagues. In fact in many cases staff will do this regularly without letting management know that this is the case. But this can be highly problematic for a business. Firstly, it can create issues if someone forgets to come in on their swapped shift or if the employee is unwell. Trying to sort out the admin can then be complicated, as managers aren’t even aware of who is supposed to be in. It’s also worth pointing out that this can be a real danger. For example, it could be the case that the rota is used to headcount staff in a fire evacuation. If an employee is listed to be in that day but has actually swapped their shift, it can cause panic and confusion. There are two options to remedy this. The first option is to set up rules that enforce that employees must inform management of any shift swaps so that it can be fully documented. Alternatively, you can use planning software that allows for staff to swap their shifts. In this way the software actually tracks any changes in the rota rather than the admin burden falling on management. Staff can’t be contacted with urgent changes It is sometimes the case that the rota will have to be changed on short notice, for example if an employee is ill or unable to make it in to work. In this case it will be necessary to bring in someone else for the shift. It can often be very useful to have the staff rota app available so that other members of the team who are not working can see that there is the opportunity to work the shift if they are available. Make sure that you choose a rota planning software that staff can log into at any time, so that they can accept or decline the chance to work the shift. Staff request changes to their shifts It is also frustratingly common that staff will be unhappy with their rota and will want to make changes to it. Of course this places a huge administrative burden on their manager to deal with rearranging their shift. Typically it is much easier if staff can log into the rota software and then request to make specific changes rather than leaving the manager to deal with the challenge.

The Optional Cover Letter Question

The Optional Cover Letter Question The Optional Cover Letter Question We all want to put our best face forward when we are applying for a job. This includes supplying a top-notch resume and an engaging cover letter. But what if the job application details specify cover letter optional? Do we need to send one or not? This is a conundrum that puzzles most jobseekers today and one where you have to tread carefully if you want to make the right first impression. Many people will breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of a job description that specifies an optional cover letter, but quite often it does cause a lot of worry over whether you should send in a cover letter just to be on the safe side. Some wonder if by not doing so they will lose some potential brownie points in the eyes of the employer.Luckily, there has been some research done with career experts to find out whether optional cover letters really will impact your job application if you choose not to send one. Lets take a closer look at this hot topic.Why state optional cover letter at all?Yo u have to ask why a company would state that cover letters were optional if they actually did want you to send one in with your resume. Why would they leave that choice to a candidate to make instead of clearly stating what they want? You may believe that this is all part of a sneaky test to see how you react. Those that send in cover letters may well earn extra brownie points for effort â€" but how would you know this this to be true?Well, according to some leading career experts, it is something of a trick! Many large companies may want to easily weed out those candidates that dont put in any extra effort. You have to understand that these companies may get hundreds of job applications coming at them for a vacant role, which can be a nightmare to sift through to find the right candidate. The first step of their interview process may involve discarding those who are not motivated enough by the job on offer to bother submitting a cover letter with their application. In some cases th at could be potentially hundreds of letters or emails that they dont need to waste time on. What can you take away from this? Simply that whenever you see optional cover letter always send one. Always!Does the cover letter content matter?So, if we have already established that most employers really do want you to send in a cover letter with your resume when the choice is optional, do you actually need to bother making the cover letter content relevant?Again, yes you do. Even if the cover letter is optional, your potential new employer will want to see a cover letter that is thoughtful, well-constructed, and highlights your desire to be considered for interview. This will make a good first impression with the employer even before they get to meet you in a live interview.It can take a little time and effort to explain why you are interested in taking on the position, and this is something that you cannot really do with your resume. When your cover letter is done well it may be the deciding factor for you landing an interview with the company.What else should be included in an optional cover letter?Presenting a well composed cover letter does two crucial things: It helps to clearly explain why you are interested in the role on offer, and it can also be used to highlight what makes you a good fit for the role. This can often take more time and space that is manageable within your resume.You can use the cover letter to help you stand out from the crowd and show that you have done your homework about the company. If the job on offer is to support a certain area, such as product development, or is to help launch a new service, then you can use your cover letter to mention how you would be able to fit in with their plans. Any previous experience you have had doing something similar can be explained in more detail here to perfectly highlight why you would be a good match.What if you dont send in an optional cover letter?It may be that you are too short of time to pu t together a decent cover letter to go with your job application. It could be that you only discovered to job opening the day before the submission deadline. This doesnt necessarily mean you are setting yourself up to fail.To make the deadline it is important that you get your resume submitted on time. Put your available time into making sure your resume is perfect and send it in. Once you have done this, immediately take to social media to see if the company has a presence there too. If they have a Facebook page or LinkedIn profile or Twitter account for example, then message them that you have submitted your resume, but because of the tight deadline you were unable to supply a cover letter.Never dismiss the power of social media as many businesses are actively searching out potential candidates and looking at their social media profile as part of their interview process. By making contact first and tagging them in a post or approaching them directly, they will be able to see that you have taken the necessary time and effort to raise their awareness of you. This can make a huge difference in the absence of an optional cover letter. previous article Modern Pink Resume Design | Misty Rose next article Free Classic and Sleek Resume Template you might also likeTen Quick Tips to Nail The Cover Letter Format

Debt Dilemmas How to Efficiently Manage Debt Consolidation

Debt Dilemmasâ€" How to Efficiently Manage Debt Consolidation Consolidating your debts is one of the easier ways to gain control of consumer debt that has ballooned out of control. Because it brings all of your debts under one umbrella, you only pay one bill every month, and more importantly, you are only assessed interest on one loan as opposed to multiple loans. With some of the better loan programs, you can negotiate for a lower payment that translates into a lower interest rate when compared to paying on multiple accounts with multiple rates. Many debt consolidation providers, like Latitude Finance, can help you achieve financial freedom by setting up a loan payment program that can help you get financially fit. However, the most important part of managing debt in this way is choosing a loan program that best fits your needs. With the numerous options available to you, you can soon find your way to financial freedom. Let’s take a look at some great ways to efficiently manage a debt consolidation plan. Determine Whether Debt Consolidation is Right for You Before even looking into entering an agreement, determine whether or not debt consolidation is the right choice. For homeowners, you might be able to draw on the equity in your home or refinance if the rates are lower. For those who do not own a home, you might find that by simply transferring balances you can salvage your credit. Another route might be as simple as taking out a personal loan to consolidate your debt. Either way, while debt consolidation is a great option, it might not necessarily be the best course for you. Research, Research, Research Loan Programs The whole purpose of consolidating your loan is to remedy overextending yourself with credit. To gain the maximum advantage, research several loan programs and make comparisons to see which ones offer you the best rates. Typically, loans with shorter terms translate into lower interest rates and vice versa. Factors you want to pay attention to include rates, fees and charges. Again, you maximize your benefit by making sure that the program offers you both a lower payment and interest than your current credit obligations combined. Also, because the program usually has a term limit, some programs penalise you for paying the loan off early. Set up a Budget If you consolidate your debt, make sure to include this loan as a part of a budget plan that addresses all aspects of your financial life. Setting achievable financial goals and objectives can help you reach financial freedom. As a part of these objectives, create a fluid budget that is flexible enough to allow for emergencies and other expenses that come up on a monthly basis. One of your chief objectives should be to pay down this debt, but another objective can be to find ways to offset other unneeded expenses so that the extra money can be applied to the loan. Whatever your financial goals, a budget that is frequently evaluated is integral to making the most out of any debt consolidation program. Check Your Credit Scores Routinely As a part of managing your loan, check your credit report to make sure all three credit rating bureaus have accurate reports on file. Most reporting systems allow one free report a year, but most financial advisors counsel consumers to look at their credit file every six months to evaluate it for changes. If there are any discrepancies, address them as soon as possible because these inaccuracies can show up later when you apply for other loans. Managing Your Finances as a Part of Debt Consolidation Applying and being approved for a debt consolidation loan is only part of recovering from financial problems. As a part of a program that includes managing debt, these programs work best when the interest rates and the overall payment reduce your monthly payment. With a plan that includes a clear achievable budget and a plan to review your credit, you have created a system of effectively managing and paying on your consolidation loan.

What Skills Should You Develop Today to Be In-Demand Specialist Tomorrow

What Skills Should You Develop Today to Be In-Demand Specialist Tomorrow An in-demand specialist should be competent, knowledgeable, charismatic, powerful, patient… the list of attributes can go on and on. If you want to succeed in any industry, you have to showcase exceptional skills that make you special.People are not born that way. When you meet an impressive person, you tend to think they were lucky to have all those natural qualities. Well, you need to give them some credit, since it took a lot of effort and practice for them to develop the skills that impress you.What skills, exactly?evalWhat sides of your personality should you work on when you want to become better at what you do?There are some universal skills that will make employers and clients want you. We’ll name those skills and we’ll tell you how you can develop them.Image Source : Pexels.com1. The Skill Opposite to Procrastination â€" Effective OrganizationYou know that urge to do something completely irrelevant to the task you’re supposed to complete? It’s called procrastinatio n, and it’s a serious problem that undermines your chances of becoming a successful specialist. The first step towards success is fighting procrastination by developing the skills opposite to it â€" organization and determination to complete the goals.When you promise to cover a particular task by a specific deadline, you tend to delay the start because the thought “there’s tons of time” keeps pushing you away from the work. That’s something you want to change. A simple planner can help you. It’s best to use an actual planner and write down the tasks, deadlines, and daily/weekly/monthly schedule that guide you to their completion.If you use a calendar app, it will be easy for you to change the schedule to your favor. Pen and paper are not that forgiving. Start planning the way you spend every single day. With time, you’ll become a more effective time organizer and you’ll overcome the temptations of procrastination.2. An Ability to Adapt to the Given SituationMany peo ple have similar knowledge, experience, and working habits to yours. These aspects of your personality make you special, but they are not the determining factors that guide you to success. Adaptability is.When you’re able to adapt the knowledge, experience, and skills to any given situation, then you’ll be an in-demand specialist. There is another name for this skill: flexibility. You can develop it by putting yourself in challenging situations and trying to solve them by relying on your previous experience, taking risks, and motivating yourself to make out-of-the-box decisions.3. WritingevalYou know how your college professors kept telling you that all those essay writing assignments were important for your future career? They were.Don’t worry; nothing is lost if you didn’t manage to develop writing skills throughout your education. There’s a lot of space for improvement as long as you’re willing to practice. Take an online writing course and start a blog where you can practice your skills.With time, you’ll start writing excellent email messages, business presentations, plans, press releases, marketing content, and every other piece of content that makes you a better specialist in your niche.Image Source : Pexels.com4. The Ability to Impress Everyone with Your IdeasIt doesn’t matter how cool your ideas are. If you’re not able to present them through intriguing speech, no one will be interested in them. Presentation skills are crucial for one’s success in any profession. Try to infuse your speech with humor and wit; people always love to have a good laugh.evalThe only way to develop this skill is through practice. You’ll feel great discomfort at first. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t speak in front of a group, though. Man up and get out there. Every discomfort is an obstacle you surpass towards the great success you’re going to achieve.The competition in every profession is crazy. If you want people to want you to work for them, you need to show exceptional capacity not only through your achievements, but through your personality as well. Start working on the 4 skills listed above and everyone will notice the difference.