THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSLATING MILITARY JARGON INTO CIVILIAN LANGUAGE

by Jennifer Stiglic, BA, ME, CPRW, ResumeEdge.com Editor

There is a big difference between, “Provide mission critical technical services to the battalion for the tracking of all cargo material in a combat zone” and “Direct IT services to support a 150-person operation, tracking all cargo materials in a demanding work environment.”

Job responsibilities in the military can easily translate to corporate positions; you just need to overcome the language barrier and jargon. The process of translating military jargon into civilian language is essentially the same as translating a resume from Spanish into English…it is a different language. For example, common words in military resumes include command, battalion/soldiers, and mission. These can translate into civilian terminology as supervised, team, and organizational goal. Hiring managers may not understand the significance of your experience when they read resumes with military jargon stating leadership of defensive techniques, combat readiness, weapons storage or combat zone operations.

In order to increase your marketability for a civilian job, break down your experiences and re-word the content to match the language of your target position.

The first step is to break down job duties into individual tasks to identify key strengths. To accomplish this task, read job postings, company job descriptions, and industry resumes located on job boards and industry association websites to match your experiences to civilian jobs. A great resource is the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook located online at: www.bls.gov/OCO. This marketing website provides overviews of job positions with detailed information on the nature of the work, language used, and education needed. The second step is to go through your experience and transition your resume using civilian language found in the job postings and company descriptions. Some responsibilities could relate to equipment maintenance, international relations, budget management, team training and leadership, personnel management, and logistics management.

Accomplishments are critical to the resume whether they are for the military or corporate/civilian positions. Be sure to highlight your accomplishments in the resume and quantify the results based on impact to the organization.

In the end, one easy way to test your resume is to have a non-military person review the resume and let you know the verbiage or wording they do not understand.

To request Jennifer for your ResumeEdge.com order, simply request her by name in the online order form.


More info at the Marketing Forum

Work the Web

It's a given. The more information you have about prospective employers, the better prepared you are. Not only can you target your resume, but you can add facts to spice up your cover letter and casually mention during an interview. Unfortunately, you can't always predict what information will persuasively demonstrate that you are a strong candidate for the job. Don't let that stop you—your information-gathering is well worth the effort.

A good start is with a company's Web site. Most companies fill theirs with public relations mumbo-jumbo that you must sift through to get to the company's core. The "About Us" page might be a little PR heavy but it and the mission statement will certainly tell you something about the corporate culture, such as corporate diversity initiatives or employee benefits. Some experts think you should use the same terminology and buzz words found on a company's Web site in your cover letter. Others think that's over the top.

More sources to look for factoids that instantly reveal you are up on what the company does are press releases and articles. Pick apart the press releases from the last six months to find out what the company executives think is important. You will be informed about new products or initiatives—always a positive thing to note. Articles are also useful. General Electric's Web site, for instance, posted articles about the company from The Economist, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Vanity Fair, all of which are easy reads and full of information.

Companies don't always publish annual reports on their Web sites, but if they do, you will find ample material to give you a feel for the firm's values and state of its business. Anything that helps you align with that company is what you are looking to uncover. Check out Internet sources such as Hoover's Inc., CorpTech®, LexisNexis®, Dow Jones & Company, and Thomson Research.

Some information on a company's Web site fits the "This is something I care deeply about and so I want to work for this company" category. Employers like to hear positive things about their company and know that if employees are behind their corporate culture, they are much happier and more productive.

Even the design and maintenance of a Web site offers insights about a company. For instance, if you are considering a career in marketing or public relations, you should note if a site's links aren't working or the information is months or years old. PR and marketing obviously aren't a high priority for that company. Or, they might just really need your skills!

Another creative approach to finding information is through company blogs. Do a Web search on a company to find a blog someone is keeping. It might be about a speech given at a convention or just comments about the company picnic. Either way, there are nuggets of information out there to use to your advantage or to just give you the warm fuzzies about a possible employer.

Armed with compelling facts, you can go beyond noting that Company XYZ has been Number One on a business magazine's list for the last five years. Instead you can make the astute observation, "I saw that Company XYZ is launching this unique product line and my experience in ABC can add to the expertise in marketing it."

Dealing with Age Discrimination and Employment Gaps

You've heard the saying, "You're not getting older, you're getting better." Well maybe so, but employers don't necessarily think that way when scanning resumes. Unfortunately, many of them shy away from hiring seasoned people because these pros are perceived as inflexible, over-trained, and worst of all, too expensive.

Likewise, what if you have gaps between jobs? It's not that you decided to drop out for a while to find your inner self or lost a job and couldn't get hired. Perhaps you had a baby and took some time off. Maybe you suffered an injury or had to take care of an aging parent. Whatever the situation, many people have employment gaps for very legitimate reasons. A resume doesn't show why the gaps are there and employers often don't take the time to find out. How do you get past age discrimination or explain why you didn't work for a few years?

Your resume can overcome either obstacle in subtle ways that establish your capabilities. For instance, to overcome age discrimination, consider limiting your experience to 15 years for a managerial job, ten years for a technical job, and five years for a high-tech job. Leave other experiences off your resume or list it without dates. If you have gaps in your employment history, consider highlighting what you did during your time off. Perhaps some volunteering, part-time consulting, or freelance work encompassed the skills or experience the company is looking for.

You could also use a functional resume rather than a chronological resume. When you write a functional resume, you list your skills as they apply to a specific job. With this format, your resume explains what you can do, what you have learned, and what precise abilities you bring to a new job. Although not many job applicants use this format, it is often far more effective than the chronological resume in answering the prospective employer's most important question: "What skills do you have and how can they help me in my company?" This format is especially effective for job hoppers, career changers, people just entering the job market who have little work experience, and applicants who have been out of the job market for an extended length of time.

Your goal is to only use information that is directly relevant to the job you are seeking. This is honest as well as fair to your prospective employer. After all, if you're a 50-year-old applying for a job in accounting, why would your prospective employer care that you worked as a counselor for five-year-olds at Camp Gichi-Goomi when you were 16 years old? That's exaggerating the concept, but you get the point.

A word of advice: No matter how you deal with employment gaps and age discrimination, always tell the truth. Always.

USING LINKEDIN DURING YOUR JOB SEARCH

by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com, ResumeEdge.ca Managing Editor, CPRW, SME

The use of social networking via Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace has changed the landscape of personal interactions. The same is true for the employment field. Today, job hunters can use networking sites to reach a wider group of individuals in their field. Your best source for this is LinkedIn.

Daily, I answer questions from candidates on this site. My answers, along with those of other experts, help individuals to navigate the currently unfriendly waters of job search. By joining LinkedIn and posing questions or readings the answers to others’ inquiries, you may be able to gain an advantage over your competitors.

Some of my previous answers on the site, include:

"Business cards" for students and non-professionals?

“You should absolutely consider using business cards. It will help you stay in the potential recruiter and/or hiring manager's mind. I have seen business cards with a professional photo of the individual or their work product (if they're in an artistic field) on the front of the card. Very impressive. On the back, you should list your qualities, skills, and accomplishments, personal websites (if any) as they pertain to your job search - somewhat like the opening summary of a resume. Darlene Zambruski ResumeEdge.com, ResumeEdge.ca Managing Editor Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)”

Does it help in an interview or career fair if the job seeker has a business card to include with his resume?
“Anything that can help you stay in the potential recruiter or hiring manager's mind should be utilized. I have seen business cards with the individual's professional photo or work product (if they're in an artistic field) on the front of the card. . .very impressive. On the back of the card, could be a summary of your qualifications and skills, much like the opening summary of a resume. Be certain to include accomplishments. There are numerous internet and local printing companies that offer excellent work product at a reasonable price. I'd suggest using these sources for your business cards, unless you have a top-quality printer at home and you choose a high-grade paper. Darlene Zambruski ResumeEdge.com, ResumeEdge.ca Managing Editor Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)”

Hey which fonts are readable by machines & search engines when I post my resume online?

“We use Courier New, Times, Arial. To be safe, you might want to turn your Word or Works resume into ascii/txt. You should have no problems with that. Darlene Zambruski ResumeEdge.com, ResumeEdge.ca Managing Editor Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)”

What is the "value" of working with a career marketing company?

“It would depend upon the company, including their credentials, years in the business, partnerships, and success rate. Individuals looking for assistance in writing their resume and honing their job interview skills would do well to determine if the company they want to hire is a member of an industry organization, such as the PARW (Professional Association of Resume Writers), and if the company writers are certified as CPRWs and CEIPs. Next, they should determine if the company is a resume writing or job interview partner with any major company, for example the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times. Are they a member of the BBB? Do they guarantee results (be wary of those sites, it's impossible to guarantee results when the actual job hunt is in the individual's hands). If an individual has trouble organizing their professional data and 'blowing their own horn', they would do well to hire outside experts. It takes the strain off them, provides a fresh perspective, and results in a document and marketing plan that's professional and proven. Darlene Zambruski ResumeEdge.com, ResumeEdge.ca Managing Editor Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)”

What should a 21st century resume look like?

“First and foremost, a resume should convey your value proposition to an employer. To do that it should contain: 1. An opening summary with one (preferably two) quantified and relevant accomplishments for your new career goal, an overview of your skill set, willingness to relocate, language skills (bilingual, multilingual), and any pertinent certifications. 2. Accomplishment section: Here, you should list by company name, your quantified accomplishments (do not repeat those from the opening summary). Make certain your accomplishments dovetail toward the new position. 3. Professional Experience. Don't go all the way back to the first day you started working. Generally speaking, you shouldn't go back more than 10 to 15 years. Include only those job duties that are relevant to the new position you seek. Begin each bullet with an action verb. Be specific in your verbiage, not general. 4. Education. Include college and post college work. The above organization allows a hiring manager to quickly scan your resume and determine if you should be invited to interview. No hiring manager will scan a three to four page resume looking for data. It's important to remember that a modern resume is as long as it needs to be, provided it contains only relevant information for the new job search. Cut out the extraneous material. Darlene Zambruski ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)”

As you can see by the above – the questions are diverse, the answers comprehensive. LinkedIn is a perfect (and free) resource to ask an expert your pressing question so that you can get on with your job search.

My answers can be found on a daily basis within the Resume Writing and Job Search categories of LinkedIn.

Keep the Momentum Going

After you've written a great cover letter and resume and sent everything on its merry way, the real work of getting a job begins. Following up on all the resumes you've sent is not fun. Maybe that's why many don't follow up. It does take guts. No one wants to experience the downside of getting a straight out "No" or being blown off. Grit your teeth and do it anyway.

Following up demonstrates your drive and initiative. Someone who calls and says, "I have applied for such and such position. I understand you must be busy, but I would love to hear back from you because I am really interested in working for XYZ Company" is not only proactive, but also shows consideration for the employer's side of the process.

However, there is a fine line between aggressively following up and being downright annoying. From your perspective, you're anxiously waiting to hear if you got the job. On the other side of the equation is a stressed-out human resource manager trying to make a decision from a stack of resumes. Follow-up calls are acceptable … up to a point.

It's a tough situation. If you call and the recruiter has six positions open and 125 resumes for each one, no way will he or she stop and search through the piles. You are more likely to get voice mail anyway. Some advise to call after hours and leave a message. Then you've made it known you're really interested, but the employer doesn't have to respond, only note that you've called.

Employers who use electronic application processes usually have clear guidelines as to how they want people to follow up. They don't want to get calls to see if an application was received, since many automatically send out an acknowledgement or receipt. Some also have procedures in place for applicants to track their resumes online.

There is no way human resources people in large companies can physically get back to every applicant anyway. A corporate recruiter from a large asset management company notes that because of the tremendous volume of applications they get, their Web site clearly states applicants are not to call. So if applicants do call, it is seen as a bad move along the lines of "You are not following the process on our Web site. You have shown us already that you don't know how to follow instructions."

If there are no instructions about how an employer wants you to follow up, the consensus is to wait about two weeks and then have the follow-up call or e-mail. Most agree that if your cover letter states you will follow up in a specific time frame, follow up in that time frame. If you don't, you send the signal that you are not doing what you said you would do. How's that for a recommendation? In any case, err on the side of caution to ensure that you aren't pegged as pushy, irritating, or a waste of anyone's time.

For additional resources consider online marketing experts or SEO experts that can shape your resume and distribute to a wide audience.

Move Up the Ladder at Your Current Company

by Marcie Niedbalski, MBA, BS, CPRW, ResumeEdge.com Editor

Moving up the corporate ladder does not necessarily require you to gain employment at a new company. Many times employees can earn a promotion within their current company through initiative and hard work. In order to increase your value to your current employer, you need to continually enhance your qualifications and skills. The suggestions below may seem obvious, but often times are ones employees tend to overlook.

1. Volunteer for projects when they become available.Offering to lead projects shows your willingness to go above and beyond your assigned job duties, and gives you visibility with your superiors, whether in your own or other departments. It shows initiative and organizational skills while allowing you to increase your skill set and experience.

2. Be visible to other departments/areas.
You can increase your visibility to other hiring managers by volunteering for cross-functional projects. You'll gain exposure to employees in different areas of the company. Make sure you demonstrate a positive attitude and a willingness to help wherever you are needed.

3. Do an excellent job for your current employer.
Managers regularly check with their peers for a reference on internal candidates, and if your current manager sings your praises (and explains how you demonstrated the needed skills while working for him/her, even if they weren't part of your regular job), that will certainly be compelling to a potential manager.

4. Be willing to increase your skills through education.
There are many ways you can keep yourself up to speed on changes within your industry. While going back to school can certainly increase your skill set, it is not always the easiest or the least expensive way to learn. Instead, consider conferences, individual courses or local programs that can increase your knowledge without emptying your wallet. Also check to see if your department has money to use specifically for education. Increasing your skills will increase your chances of moving up the ladder.

As you look to move forward within your career, keep in mind that perhaps the fastest and easiest way to a better position is within your own organization. Be a team player, be a leader, take initiative, be visible to multiple departments, and give your current manager a reason to brag about your abilities to other hiring managers within the company. If you keep these simple suggestions in mind, you may just find yourself moving up the ladder at your current company.

Marcie has been a Recruiter for seven years, recruiting for all aspects of business. She has an MBA from the University of Memphis and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Indiana University, as well as her CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer) credential. She has written or edited over 250 resumes/CVs/cover letters. Her areas of expertise include Information Technology, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Operations, Sales, eCommerce, Engineering, Telecommunications and Legal. Prior to writing resumes she taught a college course on achieving employment goals after graduation, with resume writing a large part of the curriculum. She also volunteers at the City Rescue Mission, sharing her expertise on gaining employment. She works full-time as a Corporate/Technical Recruiter.

To request Marcie for your order, please select her name from the drop down menu at time of purchase.

Retain Your Position After a Temporary Assignment

by David Jensen, CPRW, CARW, CEIP, ResumeEdge.com Editor

Businesses rely on a hardworking, innovative staff to be successful and profitable. In fact, corporate managers often attend workshops on recruiting and retaining top candidates. After completing a seasonal or temporary assignment with a company, you might wonder how to become the type of employee a hiring manager wants to retain. According to a group of Human Resource professionals, this endeavor goes beyond possessing the necessary skills and experience. It is also something you should pursue long before your assignment has ended. Here are a few tips to help you retain that position:

1. Know What is Expected of Top Employees

Even after a brief tenure with a company, you should be familiar with the organization's culture and working environment. With a clear understanding of the company's mission and what is expected of you, you are much easier to hire. Knowing the expectations includes functioning with little or no supervision and making sound decisions that you are willing to stand behind. It also includes ensuring that you have your tasks and assignments under control.

2. Expand Your Knowledge

Employers appreciate your willingness to continue learning and expanding your skills. Take advantage of training and professional development opportunities (both inside and outside the company). This will help boost your standing as a top performer. If you don't have an official mentor (or even if you do), watch other people in the company who tend to be top performers. Observe how these people function and interact with others. You might even want to ask for tips on how to succeed in the organization.

3. Be Proactive

Sometimes you can spot opportunities to get the attention of a hiring manager. This might be challenging when you are busy with your current assignments, but the effort is always rewarded. At a large advertising agency, an executive often mentioned that it would be helpful to have some case studies to present to new and prospective clients, but he never assigned the project to anyone. Several weeks later, one of the executive's staff decided to create the case studies despite being busy with other projects. He did much of the work on his own time. This employee was immediately revered as a resourceful, top-performing employee and was often awarded some high-level assignments for the company.

4. A Responsible and Trustworthy Team Player

Being a reliable employee that is professional, polite, and punctual might seem like an obvious prerequisite to gainful employment. Still, reliability ranks as one of the top characteristics most admired by employers. The same goes for being a team player. Outside of your skills and talents, employers look at how well you fit in with the organization and how your contribution benefits the company as a whole. Be willing to collaborate and share the successes and failures that come with productivity. Also, when talking about other projects you worked on, use the term "we" instead of "I" as you discuss the processes and outcomes.

If you have been working as a temporary or seasonal employee, you should be familiar with the company's culture and organizational conventions. With a little extra effort and perceptiveness to the qualities of other successful employees, you can elevate your status to someone the hiring manager is eager to keep on board.

Dave has a Master’s Degree in Professional Communication. He is an accomplished consultant with 5 years of experience in résumés, employment interview coaching, and career coaching. After working as a documentation specialist at Novell, he has become an accomplished freelance writer with specialties in SEO articles, press releases, technical documentation, and journalism. Dave is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW), Certified Advanced Résumé Writer, (CARW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). He has prepared hundreds of résumés for various professions. His specialty includes résumés and cover letters for information technology, advertising, public relations, sales, and graduate school admissions.

To request Dave for your business document, simply choose his last name (Jensen) in the drop down menu on the order page.

PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND BEING PREPARED FOR THAT ALL-IMPORTANT FUTURE JOB OPENING

by Vicel Meyer, ResumeEdge.com Editor

Temporary employees view seasonal or part-time positions in different ways. Some think of them as just a means to a paycheck. Others recognize these types of positions as a valuable glimpse into an organization and a great opportunity to get their foot in the door.

Many employers hire seasonal, contract, and part-time workers with the future in mind. This means the position is really a working interview. The hiring manager may already have a budget for a full-time person, and wants to try someone’s skills and fit with the team first with a seasonal or contract position. The employer may intend to convert the contract employee within the first three months, or may expect approval for a full-time position in the near future. This means that putting your best foot forward on the job and treating it as a long-term position will inevitably benefit you. You will gain or sharpen skills, find possible future opportunities within the company, or walk away with excellent references for your next position.

Think of your seasonal or part-time position as a stepping stone in your career. Take inventory of all the skills you’re honing and gaining in your position, whether it is new software you’re learning or improving your secretarial skills. Make sure you revise your resume to reflect what you know and what you’ve learned.

Many seasonal employees find themselves asked to stay longer than expected in the job due to their reliability, professionalism, and perhaps a new need in the company that has just opened up. In fact, many departments rely on each other for referrals of seasonal, contract, and part-time employees to use for their own needs. It is not uncommon for a seasonal employee to start in one department and get cross-trained in several others, meanwhile extending the length of employment.

Even if the position you are in doesn’t convert to full-time now, putting your best foot forward can keep you in the running and fresh in the hiring manager’s mind for future openings based on the great impression you leave. It can also lead to a hiring manager recommending you to someone in his professional network and providing excellent references that you can use in your job search.

You can now look at your temporary or part-time situation with a different mindset. Think of the possibilities of honing and gaining new skills, being considered for future openings, and being recommended to other companies, plus adding excellent references to your job-hunting arsenal.

Vicel received her Bachelor’s Degree from San Francisco State in Psychology, and has over 12 years of Human Resources experience in varied industries, including finance, staffing, insurance, outplacement and shipping industries. She specializes in recruiting from administrative to Executive-level positions. Her resume writing experience has been for clients with backgrounds in I.T., Real Estate, Finance, Automotive and Senior management.

Managing Your Personal Brand with LinkedIn

Everyone knows resumes serve as the quantification of who you are, what you've accomplished, and what expertise you can bring to your next employer. A professionally written resume is a necessity in today's business world that no savvy business person would forego.

But today's business people also need actively managed profiles on the social media sites that recruiters and others are using to find and learn more about potential hires.

LinkedIn is the most popular of these sites. While many people think of it as a Web-based contact management system, it's so much more. In fact, it's really a 24/7 personal branding machine.

The first step to fully leveraging LinkedIn is to think about your "positioning." Since most people will not remember a lot about you, you want to give them one or two nuggets of information to associate with your personal brand. Let's say you're a salesperson who specializes in selling widgets to emerging bio-tech companies. Your profile should be constructed around reinforcing that bit of information so anyone reading it knows that's what you are about: selling bio-tech widgets.

You'll want to populate your profile with keywords that someone looking for a person with your expertise would use when they search LinkedIn for job candidates. This helps LinkedIn serve your profile to them as an option.

Once your profile is configured, you'll want to proactively cultivate your image as an expert. An easy way to start is to join LinkedIn Groups where people with similar interests congregate. Resist the temptation to jump into the conversations you find posted there. Rather, sit back and observe for a week or so, getting a feel for the ways people communicate, then start participating in discussions. Eventually you will want to begin new discussions for others to join too.

These are just a few of the ways you can make better use of LinkedIn for business networking. For more on using LinkedIn and Facebook for business networking, order Jump Start Social Media's reference guides. And if you'd like expert help in setting up your profiles and LinkedIn and/or Facebook, order the professional set-up services which include the guides. You'll be networking like the pro you are in no time.

Tell Me Exactly Why You Deserve This Job?

That's the question consciously or unconsciously running through the mind of someone looking through a stack of resumes. That person will often not find the answer if there's no cover letter from you. Resumes list the information about your skills and experience. Cover letters pinpoint why you should receive serious consideration for a particular job. A cover letter helps readers see how your experience relates specifically to what they are looking for in an employee. Instead of making readers interpret your resume, your cover letter does the work for them. A cover letter says, "I know your company and what it does. Here's why you should take notice of my qualifications."

The general manager of a water and power agency who does the hiring sums it up: "Outstanding letters summarize authors' knowledge, skills, abilities, and specifically why they are interested in my organization. They summarize an understanding of how my recruitment process works and references their attached resumes, identifying sections that are responsive to a specific request for information that may have been included in my job announcement."

A planning advisor for a huge oil corporation who scans hundreds of resumes a week looks at it this way: "The more someone can tell me what attracted him or her to my company, the better. I try to get a feel for whether the applicant is interested in our industry, which is sometimes clear in the resume and sometimes not. That is where a cover letter can make a difference. If I get 10 resumes with similar experience and skills, the cover letter prioritizes who I need to speak to. If the resume is strong, then I don't need the cover letter, but lots of times resumes don't answer the questions I have."

Keep in mind that the people who read resumes and cover letters spend mere seconds on them. You could meet every requirement of the job you're going for but unfortunately, your qualifications might be buried somewhere in your resume. The people who are considering you for a job don't like to dig. Readers don't want to search for your abilities among the various jobs you have held or experiences you list. Resources: Marketing Jobs, Marketing Forums, SEO expert

Resumes are a record of your past and current experience. A well thought-out cover letter selects only those skills and experiences that apply to a job description and company. It summarizes your qualifications for that particular job so the hiring manager doesn't have to search for them on your resume. If your cover letter doesn't showcase the main points of your resume that match their requirements, the hiring manager is more likely to move on to the next candidate. And in this job market, you don't want that to happen.

Yur Final Go-Thru

It is astonishing how many recruiters say they receive resumes and cover letters filled with spelling errors. A spelling slip-up, even a minor one, says more about you than the most articulate choice of words. For instance, is it "too" or "to"? Did you write "it's" or "its"? Just those two words alone count for a lot of mistakes.

Get as many people to proof and edit your resume and cover letter as possible. You can never have too many eyes. The corporate content manager of a large instrument company says she sees a lot of spelling and grammatical errors. Once she sees a mistake she won't read any further. She is not alone. When asked about the worst resumes and cover letters they have ever received, those that read them can come up with some hilarious shockers. How about the person applying to work at ExxonMobil? Nice resume, great cover letter, but he spelled the company's name Exxon Mobile. There goes that job prospect.

While such big blunders are not that common, many people do make simple mistakes that could be easily avoided.

The top four common mistakes are:

Spelling and grammar are at the top of the list, probably because people rely too much on spell check. Spell check is a useful tool, but you also need several sets of eyeballs to catch everything. Spell check doesn't check the context and use of words—your or you're, four or for?

Repeating verbatim what's in your resume on your cover letter

Forgetting to replace a company name when cutting and pasting parts of a letter

Carelessness—"I'd like to work for your company" (and the organization is a non-profit or government agency) or "I read your ad in the Philadelphia Inquirer" and it was run in another publication.

To make your way through the maze of errors that inevitably pop up, follow these simple steps:

Find people who will critically read each resume and cover letter you write for the content as well as the details. You might not notice that a period is missing from a sentence or an indentation that should be there isn't. A reader hunting for errors will find them.

Read your resume and cover letter backwards from the bottom up, word by word. It sounds silly, but doing so allows you to see errors you would probably gloss over reading it from the top down.

Read the resume and cover letter aloud to find words that don't make sense or aren't meaningful.

If you send a resume or cover letter to several companies, highlight each specific change so you make sure not to send Company A's letter to Company B.

Finally, if you send a resume and cover letter via e-mail, stick it in the draft folder for an hour and then read it again before actually sending it.

ADVICE FOR NEW GRADUATES TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY: BE REALISTIC

by Julie Luongo, ResumeEdge.com Editor, CPRW

You’ve heard the hype. The economy is bad. There aren’t any jobs to be had. Things are tough all over, kid. But since when do you listen to the naysayers?

Sure, you’re not going to step out of college and into a CFO position. But you’re also not stepping into a part-time job selling hot dogs on the side of the road. Being realistic about your opportunities goes both ways, and the most fatal mistake job seekers make is selling themselves short.

Be Confident

Congratulations, you have a college degree! Maybe you weren’t in the top of your class with a full academic scholarship, but you have a higher education and that means something to hiring managers. What it means exactly is that you have the latest information about your field of study. You’ve most likely worked with cutting-edge technology. And you’re not so set in your ways that you can’t be trained. This gives you a distinct advantage over people who aren’t fresh out of school. When you go to interviews, remember this.

Be Enthusiastic

College graduates have something many other job applicants don’t have. Enthusiasm! All things being equal, someone with a positive attitude will get the job over someone who is jaded, indifferent, or world weary. It’s not all about what you know. It’s also about who you are. Show hiring managers that you’re someone other people would want to work with.

Be Strategic

Employers are looking for long term investments and are hopeful that you will be loyal to their company. When they ask you what your five year plan is, don’t tell them that you hope to be traveling in Europe. Nor should you point to the company president and say, “I want to be there.” Consider your audience.

Be Persistent

Don’t be so confident that you think everyone should want you. Always tailor your resume and cover letter for each position. Follow up with a phone call. If you don’t hear from the employer in 4 weeks, send another letter with another resume. Call again. Don’t give up until you’ve heard a definitive answer. If it’s a “no” send a thank you letter anyway to ask that they keep you in mind for any future positions. Repeat for each job search. If you want an employer to see you’re willing to go the extra mile, show them up front.

Being a realist when it comes to job searching is hard work. Sure, it takes work to get work. But landing a job and putting yourself on the road to a successful career is worth it.

The Resume and Self-Reflection

ResumeEdge attended the CCA national convention in Orlando on June 14th and June 15th. A common theme heard among the attendees is the notion that students must learn how to prepare a resume. Having a professional write the resume for them serves no educational value.

We couldn’t agree more.

Resume preparation, like leadership, is very self-reflective. You must examine your personal values, communication style, and experiences, and put them down on paper in a manner that sets you apart from your competition. The resume experts at ResumeEdge provide verbal and written feedback designed to help you learn about your unique strengths (and weaknesses) – and how to convey those strengths to a hiring manager. This self-reflection works to the benefit of the job seeker and prospective employer. The job seeker gains the confidence needed to excel in a job interview, while also learning where to focus for improvement. The employer gains insight into an applicant’s history – to determine if he is a perfect fit.

Check out our photos from CCA: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.phpfriend#/album.php?aid=84775&id=16472597901&ref=mf

SHOWCASING ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE NO REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE

by Jennifer Stiglic, BA, ME, CPRW
Resumeedge.com Editor

Every job candidate faces the same challenge after graduating college – How do I get a job when all I have is a degree? If you look closer, you’ll understand you have more than a degree – you have group projects, research papers, class assignments, honors, activities, campus jobs, and campus leadership experiences.

Hiring managers are looking at your resume to understand your background and the type of employee you will be at their company. After all, past performance is the best predictor of future success…this statement is true whether you are referring to past professional or academic performance.

The first step in preparing your post-college resume is to take an inventory of any and all experience you have that falls into the following categories: academic honors (GPA, Dean’s List, awards, recognitions), class projects, leadership experience on project teams, extracurricular activities, campus work experience, publications, papers, and volunteer activities. It is important to highlight any projects that pertain to the industry you are targeting, e.g. business case studies, design projects, research papers, etc.

After determining your areas of experience, you can divide the resume into sections and add bullets to detail your involvement in the activities.

Examples of resume sections include:

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

UNIVERSITY NAME, City, State
Committee, Organization or Group Name, Position Held
* Add information on projects, assignments or work completed

HONORS & AWARDS

Name of Award, Organization Presenting Award, Date Received

CLASS PROJECTS

UNIVERSITY NAME, City, State
Course Name
* Add bullets with information on the project; focus on your specific role in completing the project

If your collegiate activities, honors and projects are limited, then you can always list the specific courses you completed that relate to your target industry or position. You can also include special projects or assignments within these courses.

The most important thing to remember is that your experiences during college help to demonstrate the contributions you will make to a company or organization. By expanding the details of your collegiate experience, you are communicating your value in your post-college resume.

PUTTING THE EMPLOYER FIRST TO ENSURE AN INTERVIEW AND JOB OFFER

by Vicel Meyer, ResumeEdge.com Editor

Are you sending out dozens of resumes each week, but getting no response? Do you feel discouraged about a tough job market and your competition?

In your efforts to get noticed, you should keep one thing in mind: Put yourself in the hiring manager’s place. Ask yourself, “What would the employer think of my resume in the initial few seconds she takes to read it?” Even if you’re exactly right for the job, you may never be asked to interview unless you make the proper first impression with a well-written resume and cover letter.

The content and format of your resume are very important. A resume that employs a tiny font and has too much information will be quickly passed over by a hiring manager in favor of a clean, easy to read, well-spaced document. Use bullet points and even-spaced margins. Don’t make the mistake of including every single thing you did at a previous job. Instead, list key accomplishments and major, progressive responsibilities that highlight your skills. You can then expand on your previous responsibilities in a cover letter and during the first interview.

Does the content of your resume reflect transferable skills related to the position for which you’re applying? Hiring managers often glance at a resume looking for key phrases and buzz words that they want in their ideal next employee. Take the time to tailor your resume specifically to a job description. These key phrases may get you past the employers’ Web-based application filter as well as generate enough interest for a first interview.

A basic, yet overlooked, detail is keeping your resume free of spelling and grammatical errors. You want to convey that you are professional, detail-oriented, can write well, and take your work seriously. One glance at a resume with spelling and grammatical errors might cause an employer to think: “sloppy, makes mistakes, and is wasting my time.” Take the time to proofread your resume. Then, have someone you trust review it for you.

Your cover letter should always express your interest in the specific job. Does it give you an opportunity to expand your skill set? Is the company dynamic and progressive? Clearly convey your strong interest in the company and position, and then explain why you’re the ideal candidate. This shows you have done your homework on the company and truly want to work there.

Putting the employer first by having a tailored cover letter and well-written resume will ensure you have sent out the best possible representation of yourself. It will also bring you a step closer to getting that interview and job offer.

Vicel received her Bachelor’s Degree from San Francisco State in Psychology, and has over 12 years of Human Resources experience in varied industries, including finance, staffing, insurance, outplacement and shipping industries. She specializes in recruiting from administrative to Executive-level positions. Her resume writing experience has been for clients with backgrounds in I.T., Real Estate, Finance, Automotive and Senior management. You can request Vicel for your resume or cover letter service when ordering.

RESUME BEST PRACTICES

Resume Best Practices & Standards

1. Resume Design: Selecting the right design template to showcase your accomplishments based on your industry is important. If you’re in a conservative industry (banking, accounting), your template should reflect that and not lean heavily on designer fonts or frivolous designs.

2. Page Length: Recruiters and Hiring Managers prefer resumes to be two pages or less. However, the rule of thumb is: a modern resume is as long – or as short – as it needs to be, provided only relevant information for the new job search is included. Nothing extraneous.

3. Qualification (Opening) Summary versus Objective Statement: Recruiters and Hiring Managers prefer a qualifications summary over an objective statement every time. They want to see what candidates can bring to their organization in terms of performance rather than the candidate stating a position they want.

4. Quantify Accomplishments: A resume must have quantified accomplishments not a reiteration of a job description. Example: Increased productivity 58% within three months of hire by retraining staff on latest accounting software. Providing percentages, dollar figures, and timeframes strengthens achievements.

5. Strong Data Prioritization & Organization: The resume needs to be organized in standard sections. Within each section, the data is presented in reverse-chronological order (the last job or school listed first). The information is prioritized based on value to the Recruiter and Hiring Manager. Information pertinent to the targeted position should be showcased first. For example, if Education is the most important qualification; it’s presented before Work History, rather than last on the document.

6. Non-relevant & Repetitive Data: An effective resume focuses on enhancing your candidacy and avoids repetition and inclusion of non-relevant information. For example, hobbies & interests should only be included if relevant to the job. Personal information (birth dates, marital status etc.) is included in some overseas resumes. Find additional tips at marketing forums and SEO expert | SEO expert.

7. Language: Use of business language is critical to the professionalism of a resume. Resumes should avoid the use of personal pronouns (“I’ “my” “we”) and slang at all times.

Resume Misconceptions - What a Resume is Not

1. A document that reflects your personality: Unless you're in the performing arts or involved in a creative industry, a resume should err on the conservative side — no designer fonts or unusual designs.

2. An exhaustive listing of everything you've done: Recruiters and Hiring Managers want recent experience, not all experience. The rule of thumb is to go back 10 years for IT professionals and no more than 15 years for those in other industries. Ideally, a resume should not be longer than 2 pages.

3. A document that tells the recruiter or hiring manager what you want: Recruiters and Hiring Managers are interested in what you can bring to their organizations in terms of performance — increasing profits or reducing costs. What you want (your objective) is secondary.

4. A document that will guarantee an interview or job offer: A resume is the beginning of your job search. It cannot guarantee the end result. No matter how well your accomplishments are detailed and your data presented, if your background doesn't closely match the requirements of the job, you will not be called in for an interview

5. A one-size-fits-all document: Certainly, there are basic standards for all resumes, such as page length and data prioritization/organization. However, your background is unique and needs to be presented to showcase your skills, not fit a general template designed for everyone.

6. A document that will please your spouse, parents, colleagues, etc.: The only audience that matters is Recruiters and Hiring Managers. Relatives, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances may be well-meaning, but they are not experts in resume writing. They may tell you to add hobbies, when you should not - or include personal data when it's not required.

7. A document that is perfect in every way: Organization of data and showcasing accomplishments are what matter most in a resume as does language and tone (be professional at all times). Recruiters and Hiring Managers are looking for hard skills that you can bring to their organization, not whether you used the word 'oversaw' rather than 'managed'.

GLOBAL RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

UNITED KINGDOM

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. Secondary education, include dates/names/locations of schools, plus qualifications received

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Professional Experience:

1. Include reasons for leaving

Interests/Hobbies: Describe how time outside of work is spent

Format: Education followed by professional experience

Length: No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Length: One page

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

THAILAND

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. University: include data about student training work/thesis projects stating length of time and references.
2. Secondary school/high school – state major subjects studied; provide details on specific courses and programs. Indicate if you’ve studied abroad.
3. Include extracurricular activities

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Professional Experience:

1. Explain all gaps in employment
2. If employed part time, indicate why you did not choose full time work

Military Experience: Include details, including military service status

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly mention

Format: Begin with personal information, then academic achievements, additional information (training, professional associations, hobbies), employment record (reverse chronological order), and references.

Length and Format:

No more than two pages, three is the max; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. What job is being applied for, why, and how you found out about it (newspaper ad, etc.)
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Address to person in charge of recruitment

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

SWITZERLAND

Resume Guidelines

Format:

1. Education
2. Awards/honors
3. Additional education/specialized training
4. Detailed work experience descriptions (reverse chronological format)
5. Achievements/accomplishments
6. Special skills (especially languages)
7. Interests/hobbies
8. Personal information

Format: A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Length: One to two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. State current position
2. Position you’re applying for and why
3. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
4. Career goals
5. Geographical preferences
6. Ability to relocate
7. Salary range
8. State if currently unemployed
9. Address letter to specific person

Length: One page

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

SWEDEN

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Photo

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Education:

1. Provide focus areas during upper secondary school/high school (i.e. specific courses/programs)
2. Indicate if you studied abroad

Professional Experience:

1. Indicate whether it was full or part time work
2. Explain gaps in emp loyment
3. For part time work, explain why you didn’t choose full time

Military Experience: Include with focus on training, field of responsibility, and managerial positions. List dates and location of service.

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly mention

Format: Begin with education, followed by professional experience

Length: No more than two pages

Other: It’s important you have your resume/CV “attested” or “verified.” Ask someone who can verify information’s validity (i.e. a parent, teacher or good acquaintance). Have them sign final page of resume/CV, references, grades, etc.

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Include when you started current position, work content, field of responsibility, organizational level/reporting structure, name of employer.
4. Personal data: Include marital status, ability to relocate, availability to travel for business
5. Recent volunteer experience, longer periods of foreign travel, your future professional goals
6. Indicate if you’re presently unemployed

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Place of Birth
3. Marital Status

Education:

1. List high school/secondary school name, location and graduation date
2. Indicate if you studied abroad
3. Do NOT mention extracurricular activities

Professional Experience:

1. Use company descriptors

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (proficiency: basic, middle, high or fluent)
2. Computer Skills

Volunteer Experience: Should be supplied

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly mention

Format: Personal information first, followed by education and experience
A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Length: No more than three pages; two pages is customary

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

SOUTH AFRICA

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Marital Status
3. Nationality

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (include level of proficiency)
2. Computer Skills
3. Public Speaking
4. Specialized Training

Education:

1. List high school/secondary school name and graduation date

Professional Experience:

1. Use company descriptors
2. Explain gaps in employment

Formats:

1. Brief profile: Summarized version of comprehensive resume that includes personal data, educational background. Professional experience is not elaborated. Current or relevant positions are detailed. Brief profiles are submitted initially.

2. Comprehensive CV: Includes specifics in each position you’ve held. Begin with personal data, then education, followed by experience. Chronological, reverse chronological or functional formats are all acceptable

Length: No restrictions

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Include qualifications and area of expertise
2. Name current employer and describe your position
3. If applying to a job posting, list the reference and job title at top of page
4. A work permit is required if you are not a South African
5. Explain why you are not presently employed
6. Specify availability to interview

Length: No more than one page

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

SINGAPORE

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Age
2. Race
3. Nationality
4. Sex

Education:

1. List high school/secondary school name and graduation date
2. Include extracurricular activities during high school and college

Professional Experience:

1. Indicate your reason(s) for leaving
2. Explain gaps in employment

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (especially the ability to speak Mandarin. Japanese, Bahasa Indonesian/Malaysia, or Thai are useful. Helpful Chinese dialects are: Cantonese in Hong Kong and Kwang-chou, and Hokkien in Taiwan and some parts of China.

2. Computer Skills

3. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – US Companies)

4. GAP (General Accounting Principles – British Companies)

Military Service: Include rank, achievements, areas of training, responsibilities

Hobbies/Interests: Include to give employer idea of what kind of person you are (can also mention religious interests)

Length: No longer than three pages; one page is most common


Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Address to a specific person
2. In Singapore, Chinese surname appears first (i.e. Tan Eng Hock should be written as Mr. Tan)

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

SAUDI ARABIA

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Marital Status
3. # of Children
4. Nationality
5. Citizenship(s)
6. Religious Affiliation

Education:

1. Include name and address of each institution attended

Professional Experience:

1. Use company descriptors
2. List all employers worked for

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Residency Permit/Letter of Release:

1. Note whether you have a transferable igama (residency permit) or can obtain a letter of release from your present employer

Format:

Education, experience, personal details (in that order); do NOT leave any gaps in dates.

Length:

Three to four pages is acceptable

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Detail any commitments preventing you from traveling to an interview on specified dates

GLOBAL RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

RUSSIA

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. Indicate any international experience as a student

Professional Experience:

1. Use company descriptors for those organizations that are not widely known
2. Specify whether job was part or full time
3. Use a bulleted format for job responsibilities
4. Explain gaps in employment
5. For part time employment, explain why you did not choose full time

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Military Experience:

1. Focus of training
2. Field of responsibility
3. Managerial positions

Hobbies/Interests: Mention briefly

Format: Always list education first, followed by additional education/training, then finally professional experience

Length: No longer than three pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

POLAND

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Marital Status

Education:

1. List high school name and graduation date

Professional Experience:

1. For recent graduates: List internships and professional experience as students.

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Military Experience: Mention briefly

Interests/Hobbies: Mention briefly

Format: In this order:

1. Personal data
2. Education
3. Internships/training
4. Professional Experience
5. Other information (hobbies, etc)

Length: No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Do NOT repeat in detail any data here that is already in resume

Length: No more than one page

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

PHILIPPINES

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Civil Status

Do NOT include weight, sex, health, children’s names, church affiliations

Professional Experience:

1. Go back no further than ten years

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Length: No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Indicate some knowledge of company to which you are applying 4. Use hiring manager’s name in salutation

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

NORWAY

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. Begin with data on secondary/high school such as specific courses and programs
2. Indicate if you studied abroad
3. This section is in chronological order

Professional Experience:

1. This section is in reverse chronological order
2. Specify if employment was part or full time
3. Explain gaps in employment
4. Explain why you chose part time over full time employment

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Military Experience: Must be included

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly describe

Format: Do NOT use a functional format; begin with education followed by experience

Length: No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Include date you started your current position and personal/professional development with company
4. If unemployed at present, state that in letter

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

NETHERLANDS

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Marital Status
2. Nationality

Education:

1. List starting and ending dates
2. List practical training, student internships, including assignments

Professional Experience:

1. Specify if full or part time employment

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly mention

Format: Educational info first, then professional experience in chronological order; end resume with personal details and references

Length: No longer than two to three pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

MEXICO

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Place of Birth
2. Date of Birth
3. Civil Status

Objective:

Specify professional goals, type of position sought, etc.

Professional Experience:

1. List in chronological order

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Length: Can be five to six pages long, with a maximum of ten pages

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

MALAYSIA

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Marital Status
2. Age
3. Gender
4. Personal Interests

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Format:

Information can be provided chronologically, reverse chronologically, or in a functional format; begin with education followed by experience, then ending with a list of references

Length:

No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Place of Birth
3. Nationality
4. Marital Status
5. Family Size
6. Resident Number (if you are Korean)
7. Whether you’re the eldest in the family (if you are Korean)
8. Include a photo

Education:

1. Include secondary/high school information

Professional Experience:

1. Explain all employment gaps
2. Include short term employment
3. Achievements and awards are listed in chronological order; work experience in reverse chronological order

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Military Experience (include):

1. Exact dates
2. Unit
3. Duties
4. Leadership Responsibilities

Hobbies/Interests: Include to show what you do to counteract stress from your job

Format: Personal data, education, experience, other (languages, special courses, etc.), usually in reverse chronological order (except for accomplishments)

Length: No longer than two to three pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Length: No more than one page

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

JAPAN

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include for English-style resume):

1. Nationality
2. Age
3. Marital Status

Personal Information (Include for rirekisho (Japanese)-style):

1. Nationality (if non-Japanese)
2. Age
3. Marital Status
4. Gender
5. Family Members
6. Hobbies
7. Club Memberships

All of the below pertains to the English-style resume:

Professional Experience:

1. Include company descriptors
2. Specify if work was full or part time
3. Include all teamwork experience

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (especially Japanese)
2. Computer Skills (specify PC or Mac)

Length: One to two pages long

Cover Letters are generally NOT a part of an application for a job


For more information on marketing jobs, or jobs of any type, contact ResumeEdge.com

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

ITALY

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Place of Birth
3. Marital Status
4. # of Children

Education:

1. Include secondary/high school information
2. Grades received
3. For university studies, include thesis title and professor you worked with; also if you graduated within minimum amount of years (four)
4. Study abroad, including when, where, and length of time
5. Mention relevant extracurricular activities, steering clear of religious/political references

Professional Experience:

1. Dates: Month/Year you started job; Month/Year you left job
2. Include company descriptors, including if its national/multination company, headquarter location, # of employees in your division, and turnover rate.
3. Explain gaps in employment
4. Specify if employment was part time or contract

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (Levels of Expertise)
2. Computer Skills

Length: No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Format & Length: Handwritten letters are preferred; no longer than ½ page in length

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

INDONESIA

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. Include secondary school information
2. Specify if you’ve studied abroad
3. Include extracurricular activities, especially if you held some school office

Professional Experience:

1. Specify if it was full or part time work
2. Explain any gaps in employment
3. For part time jobs, explain why you didn’t seek full time employment

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (fluency in English is critical)
2. Computer Skills

Format: Begin with position you are applying for, then education followed by experience (in that order)

Length: No longer than two to three pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. State how you learned about job
2. Include brief summary as to why you’re interested in job
3. Specify why you are qualified for job
4. Request a personal interview

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

INDIA

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Martial Status
2. Whether spouse is working and where
3. # of children and their ages
4. Your photo can be included

Education:

1. Focus during college; specify specific courses and programs
2. Mention if you studied abroad
3. Specify extracurricular activities

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Professional Experience:

1. Specify if it was full or part time work
2. Explain any gaps in employment
3. For part time jobs, explain why you didn’t seek full time employment

Format: Education always comes before Professional Experience in chronological, not reverse chronological format.

Length: No length restrictions are given

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Indicate current position, work content, field of responsibility, organizational level/reporting structure, and name of employer.
2. State core competencies and noteworthy experiences in related industries.

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”