Tips from the Pros

Nov

Job Facts: Did You Know…

DID YOU KNOW……

Job seekers who use professional resume writers are twice as likely to receive interview requests!

10 seconds – The amount of time your resume has to impress its reader

14 weeks – Average time spent looking for a job

22 submissions – Average number of times you will submit your resume to online jobs

Compare the cost of our writing service to the cost of not having a job. Can you afford not to have a professionally written resume? Buy Now and take charge of your new career!

The Job search market can be a tricky place to navigate. Whether you are just starting out, moving up the ladder or changing your current situation, RedStarResume have all the resources to help improve your chances of success.

Tags: 2010 graduates, asking for a raise, college student job, cover letter, cover letter secrets, did you know, graduate job, graduate jobs, graduate resumes, higher salary, how to write a cover letter, how to write a resume, job search, job seekers, resume, writing a resume

Nov

Do I really need a Cover Letter or is it a waste of time?

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Unless you are being recruited by a family member, friend, or close acquaintance, every single hiring manager will want to look at your resume before they call you in for an interview.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a cover letter accompany your resume EVERY SINGLE TIME you send it in and to make sure that it’s tailored specifically to the job you’re applying for.

Think about it from a hiring manager’s point of view. They can receive hundreds of applications for a single job position that they need to fill in just a short amount of time. On top of their regular job duties, they need to sift through all of the applications and find the top 5% to call in for an interview. It’s just not possible for them to look at every single person’s application. So what do they do? They narrow down the field by using the easiest and fastest tool they have – first impressions.

Let’s relate this to a different topic – sports. You’re a coach and need to “recruit” the best players possible for your team…

You’re coaching a soccer team and need to pick 15 members for your squad out of a potential 100 and you only have 2 hours to do so. It’s impossible to take a good look at every single player’s skills in only 2 hours, so you need to quickly narrow your search before you can study the players further. In order to do so, and without knowing anything about the players, you’re going to rely on your first impressions to make the first cut.

Take a look at the players standing before you – are they all wearing proper soccer attire and equipment? Do they look excited and enthusiastic about being here? Think about it – if there’s someone dressed in a soccer uniform and cleats and another one wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sandals, one of them definitely appears to be more interested in joining your team than the other. Building on that, and only considering first impressions, one looks a lot more capable than the other. While there may be a hundred explanations for this difference, it really doesn’t matter when you have a limited amount of time – the ones who don’t look interested are not going to make the first cut.

Consider the above situation and think about it from a hiring manager’s point of view. You have 50 applications before you and you need to call 5 people in for an interview. You have a limited amount of time to decide, so you need to eliminate some applications quickly. What can we see without even reading the details of each application? Some have cover letters along with the resume and some do not. The applications without cover letters are a little bit like the people showing up to soccer tryouts with jeans and no equipment. They make a terrible first impression – they don’t appear as interested as the other ones, so why should anyone bother with them?

Applications without cover letters are always the first ones discarded. The presence of a cover letter shows a genuine interest in a job position because you actually took the time to write it. The current economic climate is not exactly one that is overflowing with jobs; it’s not like companies are hiring for the sake of it. Make sure you show a hiring manager that you have taken the time to merely write a letter to show your interest in their job position. If you don’t bother showing an interest in them, the hiring manager will have no interest in you.

Tags: cover letter, cover letter secrets, cover letter tips, cover letter writing, cv, graduate cover letter, how to write a cover letter, is my cover letter important, job hunt, job search, resume. important cover letter, student cover letter

Nov

Job Advertisment!

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Whether you’re looking to find a job or change your career path be prepared!

No matter what role you are looking for, do your research and make sure you’re ready to nail your job interview

Tags: college student job, cover letter, cover letter secrets, expert resume, graduate resume, graduate resumes, higher salary, job advertisment, job seek, job seeking, new job, resume example, student resume, writing a resume

Oct

Is your Cover Letter flawed?

By RedStarResume No comments yet

“A great cover letter is the golden key to any job search. Yet despite a glut of advice books and Web sites, an estimated 85 percent of cover letters are so flawed that senders never land an interview.”

Joann Lublin – Wall Street Journal

Statistics say that writing a cover letter is even harder than writing a resume. Your cover letter has to say all the right things, and it has to say them quickly. Even more, it needs to persuade the reader to want to get to know you better. If it fails to do this, you’ll have no chance of having your resume reviewed, let alone of getting an interview

Tags: 2010 graduates, cover letter, cover letter secrets, cover letter writing, cv writing, flawed cover letter, how to write a cover letter, job search, need a job, successful cover letter

Sep

How to Protect Your Resume From Identity Theft

By RedStarResume No comments yet

It’s pretty sad that in recent years resumes have become more and more popular as vehicles for stealing personal identities. It sort of makes sense when you think about it because resumes contain some pretty vital personal information. Aside from the obvious work history information, resumes can include home addresses, telephone numbers, and education information. Sometimes they even contain enough information to open a credit card! It’s scary to think that this information is stolen all the time, but there are a couple of things you can do to avoid becoming a victim. Below are a couple of suggestions.

Leave your home address off your resume

The home address used to be an important component to the resume, but times have changed. Resumes are not posted or faxed anymore – almost all job advertisements call for a candidate to email through his or her resume, making their home address somewhat irrelevant. Companies today are also aware of the identity theft risks associated with resumes, so they don’t expect to see home addresses included on resumes.

Don’t apply for a job unless the company name is listed

You might notice that a lot of job advertisements today list the company name as “private” or “unlisted.” STAY AWAY FROM THESE. While some of these ads might be from legitimate companies, the vast majority of them are not, and they are just trying to get you to submit your personal information. Even if the company name is listed on the ad, check it out first before you submit your information. It’s just not worth the risk.

Sound too good to be true? It probably is.

Everyone has seen the ads – “Make over $100K working part-time from home!” “Earn up to $200/hr!” These scenarios sound great in theory, but these types of ads are usually not real, and there is always some catch. Most of these ads will link you to websites that ask for your personal information and, after you submit it, will ask you to pay a “starter” or “application” fee. Don’t fall for it – no legitimate job will ask you to pay them.

The overall message is to just be careful. Identity thieves prey on this type of personal information, and especially on people who are desperately looking for jobs. Just be patient and make sure that a job or company is legitimate before you submit your resume.

Laura is the Marketing Coordinator for RedStarResume, a business that provides resume and cover letter writing services for students, graduates and young professionals.

Tags: asking for a raise, cheap reusme, college student job, copy resume, cover letter secrets, cv, graduate resume, identity theft, protect my resume, resume, resume writing, sample resume, student resume, writing a resume

Aug

Best Tips on How to Get That Pay Raise You Deserve

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Waiting on that raise that never seems to come…

A friend recently told me that he was expecting a raise soon simply because “I haven’t gotten one in the last 2 years.” There was no direct reason – no one had told him about this supposed upcoming raise, and he hadn’t done anything major in the last few months to expect one. He simply expected that one would come, particularly because he hadn’t received one in his entire 2 years there.

I always wonder about this kind of thinking because, from the way I see it, employers are never lining up to give people more money. If you’re waiting around for your boss to give you a raise for no specific reason, you’re going to be waiting for a long time. A raise doesn’t come simply because you’ve worked somewhere for a specific amount of time or because you haven’t received one – you have to earn a raise and, even when you do, you probably still have to ask for it.

It’s no secret that an employer is going to try to pay you as little as possible. I don’t mean this in a mean way – I’m just saying that they aren’t going to go out of their way to pay you more than they have to, simple as that. This especially applies to those of you waiting on that raise you haven’t received yet. Think about it – why would your boss give you more money to do the same exact job? What would be in it for them? Whether you’re deserving of a raise or not, it’s not going to come at the drop of a hat.

Employers are not looking to give away money that they don’t have to, so if you continue to wait for them to offer you one, you may be waiting a while. If you think you deserve a raise, let your boss know and give your specific reasons. This can include examples where you have increased productivity, saved them money or even how you trained new employees.

Providing specific reasons is the key to getting your pay increase. Remember everyone wants more pay and greater benefits. A pay rise is just like a negotiation. You have to provide something in return to receiving something. If you can prove to your employer that you are worthy of a pay increase your employee is more likely to give you one. One last thing. If you feel you deserve a pay rise and have evidence to support your argument, don’t be afraid to ask for it.

A lot of people sit quietly and say nothing to avoid “rocking the boat,” and they have the mindset that a pay rise will eventually happen on its own. Don’t let this happen to you. You deserve to get paid as much as you can.

Laura is the Marketing Coordinator for RedStarResume, a business that provides resume and cover letter writing services for students, graduates and young professionals.

Tags: 2010 graduates, asking for a raise, college student job, cover letter secrets, graduate job, graduate jobs, higher salary, how to write a resume, interviewing, pay raise, resume writing, salary, writing a resume

Jul

How to make sure you WON’T get hired!

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Tags: 2010 graduates, cover letter, cover letter secrets, cover letter tips, cv writing, graduate job, graduate resume, graduate resumes, graduates in 2010, how to write a resume, interviewing, student jobs, student resume, successful job interview, writing a resume

Jul

Ask The Expert!

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Dean Bernard is a 10 year veteran in the recruitment world. Highly regarded as one of the best in the business, Dean sat down with RedStarResume to answer the big questions!

(RedStarResume) How is the state of the economy?

Too often I hear people tell me how bad things are. If I got a dollar for every time I heard “There are no jobs available” I would be worth millions. Its true that finding a job is tougher then what it was 5 years ago however due to the internet and new social networking sites (LinkedIN, facebook etc) there are now more opportunities for people to network and spread their resume to the right people. Social networking sites have opened up a whole new way for candidates to sell themselves online

(RedStarResume) Advice for people wanting to make a career change

PLAN!!!! Changing your career is not an overnight move. It can take 6-12 months to plan out your change and execute your plan into action. You are going to encounter hurdles and obstacles along the way but as long as you stick to your plan anyone can make a career change.

(RedStarResume) What is the single most important thing a candidate can do when going for an interview?

First impressions! – Dress correctly, shine your shoes, tuck in your shirt, don’t chew gum etc. All the small things are so important. It is amazing how many candidates fail the job interview because their first impressions were bad

(RedStarResume) What is your #1 Resume Tip?

Include your achievements!!!!! Your resume is your selling tool. Until you can meet the interviewer in person your resume is your selling tool. The hiring manager wants to know about your achievements and how you have excelled in your previous positions. When a hiring manager is reading through 100 resumes the skills of each candidate are going to be fairly similar. You need to make yourself stand out from the competition by emphasizing your achievements and how you have contributed to the success of your previous employment

(RedStarResume) What is your view on using a professional resume service?

I have always been a big advocate of using an expert in all aspects of life. When you’re buying a house you use a professional agent, if your toilet is leaking – you call an expert plumber. It is the same when deciding to go for a job. The more help you can get the greater your chances of succeeding. A professional resume writer can help you ensure that your resume is formatted correctly, targeted towards the job you are applying and adequately highlights your skills and achievements. Most importantly they will help you stay ahead of your competition. The job search can be one of the most difficult and stressful tasks so the more help you can get the better!

(RedStarResume) Any Secret Tips a candidate can do during the interview

The secret tip is what the candidate can do before the interview. Preparation is the key. When the interviewer asks you if you have any questions , make sure you have questions ready to go. My tip to candidates is to be positive and under no circumstance NEVER NEVER bad mouth your previous employer,

Final Question:

(RedStarResume) Is there such a thing as a perfect job?

Yes of course! You need to work out what you are passionate about and follow your dreams. Sometimes in life your path takes you in a different direction but as long as you’re focused and determined you can find yourself your own perfect job. Good luck!

Tags: 2010 graduates, college student job, cover letter secrets, cover letter writing, cv writing, dream job, graduate, graduate job, graduate jobs, graduate resume, graduate resumes, graduates in 2010, how to write a cover letter, job, resume, student resume, writing a resume

Jul

Your Cover Letter is just as important as Your Resume!

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Unless you are being recruited by a family member, friend, or close acquaintance, every single hiring manager will want to look at your resume before they call you in for an interview.

Let’s relate this to a different topic – sports. You’re a coach and need to “recruit” the best players possible for your team…

Tags: 2010 graduates, cover letter, cover letter secrets, cover letter tips, cv, expert resume, graduate job, graduate resume, how to find a job, how to write a cover letter, job search, need a job, resume, resume writing, student resume

Jun

How to Make a Career Change

By RedStarResume No comments yet

It is NEVER too late for a career change! Sure, you might not have direct experience in a certain industry or job, but you need to prove to any hiring manager that your existing skills are, in fact, transferable skills.

If you’re debating about making a career change, don’t be afraid. Even if a career switch later in life seems like a completely radical change with many possible consequences attached to it, you should still go for it if it’s something you really want to do. My best advice is to set up a plan before making the dive. A large-scale transition will not happen overnight, and this is why it’s important to ensure you have a “plan of attack.”

Also, make sure your career change is realistic. Although I encourage everyone to follow their dreams, you also need to stay realistic. If your dream is to become a pilot, but you’ve worked in banking for the last 15 years, the chances of you becoming a pilot are a lot harder (but not impossible)! Also remember to be flexible. You are making a career change that could involve a lower salary or relocation. These are some of the sacrifices you could be asked to make in the short term.

When you begin applying for new roles, you need to ensure your resume is targeted toward this new job. Obviously you are not going to have direct experience, so it’s important to highlight not only your current skills and achievements, but also (and most importantly), that you are able to adapt your skills for this new job.

In making the career change, your skills are by far your best selling point. Many skills that you use on a day to day basis (such as leading, managing, liaising and communicating, for example) are all transferable skills that you can use to prove to a hiring manager that you are right for a particular job.

5 point plan to making a career change:

1) Make sure of your reasons for wanting a career change. One bad day at work or hating your boss do not suggest you want to change careers

2) Brainstorming – sit down and brainstorm ideas of the type of industry/job you really want to do

3) Planning – Set out a plan to follow. Make it realistic. Remember your career change won’t happen overnight. Realistically, it can take about 6-12 months. Don’t quit your job on day 1. Included in planning is financial planning. How much is this career change going to cost you? How much do you plan to get paid? You need to know these answers!

4) Networking – Talk to friends, speak to recruitment agents and sign up to online networking sites

5) Executing your plan. Speak to an expert in regards to interviewing, resume writing and cover letter writing. Apply directly, and begin to follow the steps of your plan.

My name is Gavin and I am the founder of a business called RedStarResume. We are a business helping job seekers with their resume writing and job searching. The Job search market can be a tricky place to navigate. Whether you are just starting out, moving up the ladder or changing your current situation, we have all the resources plus we provide FREE Tips from the Pros to help improve your chances of success.

http://www.bestresponseresume.com/

Tags: career change, change career, change my job, cover letter secrets, dream job, expert resume, interviewing, job search, need a job, new job, resume writing

Tips from the Pros

Job Facts: Did You Know…

Do I really need a Cover Letter or is it a waste of time?

Job Advertisment!

Is your Cover Letter flawed?

How to Protect Your Resume From Identity Theft

Best Tips on How to Get That Pay Raise You Deserve

How to make sure you WON’T get hired!

Ask The Expert!

Your Cover Letter is just as important as Your Resume!

How to Make a Career Change

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