3 Tips To Power-Up Your Resume

The New Year is at hand. With holiday parties over, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and execute your resolution to move your career to the next level.

As you sit down to compose or edit your resume, remember that its singular purpose is to address an employer’s first question: “Can this person do the work that is associated with this job, and do they have the right background to make a potentially strong fit?” Only if you pass this test can you begin to move along the other stages of the hiring process.

In my latest article published by USNews & World Report I show how you can use your intelligence, perspective and especially the power “How” to juice up your resume and jumpstart your job search for 2013. Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/01/02/3-ways-to-power-up-your-resume-for-the-new-year

Happy hunting!

Don’t Just Find “a” Job. Find the Right Job!

As a savvy job hunter, it is critically important for you to continually research potential employers for two reasons:

1. You can tailor your cover letter and interview performance to demonstrate that you care about the company, and have given serious thought to ways in which you can contribute to it.

2. You can make an educated decision about whether the job you’re applying for is an excellent fit for your experience, skills, personality, and long-term aspirations. Before you make a commitment, your eyes should be open wide to both the challenges and opportunities that come with the job.

In my article on USNews & World Report this week I give concrete examples of how to go about researching potential employers, and what to look for when determining if a given job or employer is a good fit for your career aspirations. Here’s the link:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/11/13/how-proper-research-buoys-your-job-chances-and-career-path

Rising To The Top: Life On the Line

I heard about the autobiographical book, Life On The Line:  A Chef’s Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat, by Grant Achatz on NPR, and was fascinated by the story of a five-star chef who was struck with cancer of the tongue.  The story does tell of his successful treatment… but what I’m finding remarkable is Achatz’s development as a chef.  His narrative is simple and straightforward.  His story is compelling. And I’m writing about it here because he embodies the qualities of drive, creativity, self-motivated passion for success, and perfection that are necessary for anyone in any field to show to rise to the top.

From the beginning of his career, Chef Achatz took risks (some that I would not recommend — like leaving one job before you have another one lined up) in order to stay true to his core belief in himself and his passion to be a leader in his field.  If you are a jobhunter, you need to maintain that same sense of self-confidence, high energy, and vision for your future.  This is not intended as a “self-help” book, but many are the lessons that can be translated to those struggling with issues of career advancement, self-image, and motivation.  Pick it up and you won’t put it down. Read it and be inspired!