So many career services and resume writing professionals talk about "personal branding" today. It is so overused and cliche at this point...I must rebel. I understand the thrust of the argument and, at a certain level, agree. However, the advice regarding personal branding within a resume typically results in a sanitized version or account that doesn't depict the true nature of the individual.
Think about it! We all have unique strengths, flaws, passions, drivers, attitudes, and motives. Your "personal brand" needs to include these elements. Most do not...they simply state how you are just like everyone else. To successfully engage your audience, you must tap into these critical areas and harness them to help communicate how you are distinguished from all others.
Maybe the problem is that most resume writers and career services professionals have it in mind that the bulk of candidates they work with will be conducting the lion's share of their job search using job boards and submitting resumes through company websites. As a result, the candidate needs to "play it safe" and take the cookie-cutter approach. I propose that you showcase what makes you, well, you! And then suggest that you take that individuality and put it to work in your job search so that you don't simply become an applicant number of one among hundreds or thousands for each job you apply to.
To develop a resume that helps to distinguish you from the rest of the competition in this tough market, go to www.ittechexec.com or call us today at (866) 755-9800 to schedule an appointment.
If you enjoyed this post, please "Like" it or "Tweet" it. Thanks so much!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Resume Formula: Is It Real?
So many career professionals today spout across social media networks about their formula of Do's and Don'ts, Must's and Mustn'ts. Many are even able to convey their "rules" in 140 characters or less. All of this information and the average job seeker who is reviewing the material is saying, "What? Are you kidding me? Is this really what I need to do to get a job?"
The answer, in essence, is "No!" I am full agreement that there are essential elements in the resume that employers will focus on. What gets lost in translation is that these elements take on greater weight the more a job seeker goes through the traditional channels of identifying and responding to job opportunities. Those would be using job boards, premium job sites, or submitting resumes to job postings on a specific company website. Essentially, this would include any channel in which your resume arrives in a batch (electronic or hard copy) along with almost everyone else. The only opportunities you have to differentiate yourself are through the use of keywords and a very limited amount of content that will be scanned by the decision maker if it makes it past the HR person.
If you consider yourself unique--and really, who among us isn't unique--alternate approaches exist. These options can be quite effective in helping you successfully navigate through the job search process. Whether you are an Engineering Director, an IT Executive, a Manufacturing Manager, or a Technical Team Lead, it is important to convey to your audience what makes you, well, you! How do those unique skills sets and personality traits supplement what the organization is looking to achieve? Focus on that...play it up and you want be with the rest of the cookie-cutter resume crowd.
To develop a resume that helps to distinguish you from the rest of the competition in this tough market, go to www.ittechexec.com or call us today at (866) 755-9800 to schedule an appointment.
If you enjoyed this post, please "Like" it or "Tweet" it. Thanks so much!
The answer, in essence, is "No!" I am full agreement that there are essential elements in the resume that employers will focus on. What gets lost in translation is that these elements take on greater weight the more a job seeker goes through the traditional channels of identifying and responding to job opportunities. Those would be using job boards, premium job sites, or submitting resumes to job postings on a specific company website. Essentially, this would include any channel in which your resume arrives in a batch (electronic or hard copy) along with almost everyone else. The only opportunities you have to differentiate yourself are through the use of keywords and a very limited amount of content that will be scanned by the decision maker if it makes it past the HR person.
If you consider yourself unique--and really, who among us isn't unique--alternate approaches exist. These options can be quite effective in helping you successfully navigate through the job search process. Whether you are an Engineering Director, an IT Executive, a Manufacturing Manager, or a Technical Team Lead, it is important to convey to your audience what makes you, well, you! How do those unique skills sets and personality traits supplement what the organization is looking to achieve? Focus on that...play it up and you want be with the rest of the cookie-cutter resume crowd.
To develop a resume that helps to distinguish you from the rest of the competition in this tough market, go to www.ittechexec.com or call us today at (866) 755-9800 to schedule an appointment.
If you enjoyed this post, please "Like" it or "Tweet" it. Thanks so much!
Monday, February 13, 2012
The IT Resume and The QR Code
How important is having a QR code on a resume?
The answer is that it depends. For IT and technical candidates, having a QR code on your resume or business card can help to differentiate you from other job seekers. Think about it...companies are looking to hire tech savvy people. Setting up your own personal QR code to direct your audience to your personal website, blog, or other Web page communicates that you are up to speed on "new" technologies.
Of course, as a job seeker, you must have online content that you want a prospective employer to see that adds credibility and improves your value proposition. If there is nothing relevant to point them toward, having a QR code doesn't aid your cause.
Included below is a sample QR code for me, Stephen Van Vreede. I am able to control the information that people see about me through a "Google Me" service.
ITtechExec now offers the addition of the QR code to your resume for free. They also have services to help establish an online portfolio for you so that you have relevant information to your job search to link your QR code to. Contact ITtechExec today for details at www.ittechexec.com or by phone at (866) 755-9800.
If you like this post, then please "Like" it on StumbleUpon, "Tweet" it through your Twitter account, or post a link to it on your LinkedIn account. Thanks!
The answer is that it depends. For IT and technical candidates, having a QR code on your resume or business card can help to differentiate you from other job seekers. Think about it...companies are looking to hire tech savvy people. Setting up your own personal QR code to direct your audience to your personal website, blog, or other Web page communicates that you are up to speed on "new" technologies.
Of course, as a job seeker, you must have online content that you want a prospective employer to see that adds credibility and improves your value proposition. If there is nothing relevant to point them toward, having a QR code doesn't aid your cause.
Included below is a sample QR code for me, Stephen Van Vreede. I am able to control the information that people see about me through a "Google Me" service.
If you like this post, then please "Like" it on StumbleUpon, "Tweet" it through your Twitter account, or post a link to it on your LinkedIn account. Thanks!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
IT Candidates & Tech Jobs: What's the Disconnect? Top 4 Reasons
So much is made today about the fact (or myth) that there aren't any technical jobs out there. What I have heard from employers (and found to be true) is that they simply cannot find quality candidates to fill technical openings they have been trying to fill for quite some time. A current sampling of the technical jobs site Dice.com finds more than 83,000 job openings as of February 7, 2012.
Why the disconnect? Here are my top 4 reasons:
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Why the disconnect? Here are my top 4 reasons:
- Lack of Training: Many technology candidates simply don't have the training required in the necessary skill sets to qualify them for the openings that are out there. Very few are willing to go out and get that training (on their own, if need be) to position them for that next great opportunity.
- Subpar Academic Framework: Our schools and universities today are failing our true technical candidates. The push in recent years has been for colleges and universities (either brick-and-mortar or online institutions) to offer "technology" degrees. They end up teaching a lot of unapplied theory that corporate technology leaders don't value, because they have not seen it translate into real-life results.
- Ineffective Resume: Some candidates do have the sought after experience, skills, and knowledge. However, many don't know how to market those traits effectively on their resume to be seriously considered for the opportunities. One example is the generic resume. A job seeker wants a resume that works for many different roles, but makes it so general that they are not strong in any one area. Of course, when an employer is hiring, they are doing so for a specific role, not a general one, rendering the resume ineffective.
- Poor Job Search Skills: Finally, many job seekers simply don't know how to look for jobs in the right way. More than 50% still use job sites like Monster, Indeed, or CareerBuilder exclusively. Although lots of jobs are posted on these sites, that's not where the real action is. There are so many other, more effective channels that a job seeker can employ to identify and secure a great job.
If you enjoyed this post, please "Like" it or "Tweet" it. Thanks so much!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
No More Resumes? The Importance of a Candidate's Online Presence
A January 24, 2012 article by the Wall Street Journal online (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203750404577173031991814896.html) states that some firms are sourcing candidates for jobs by reviewing their credentials only through various online forums. In other words, they are not accepting resumes from job seekers.
So how will a prospective employer evaluate a candidate and their potential for the job in question? They will review the online presence or "brand" of each candidate. Some of the sites they will evaluate include:
Although the majority of companies still do want a resume, serious candidates need to establish and nurture their online presence as a professional, serious, and qualified individual. So creating and/or optimizing the information contained in these social media is of paramount importance to remain competitive and to distinguish yourself from other job seekers in this tough market.
To help you get started with developing or improving your online brand to enhance your career, visit www.ittechexec.com or call toll-free (866) 755-9800.
If you enjoyed this post, please tweet it or "like" it at StumbleUpon. Thank you!
So how will a prospective employer evaluate a candidate and their potential for the job in question? They will review the online presence or "brand" of each candidate. Some of the sites they will evaluate include:
- YouTube (for personal and professional video content)
- Google Search
- Blog Content (i.e., WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger)
Although the majority of companies still do want a resume, serious candidates need to establish and nurture their online presence as a professional, serious, and qualified individual. So creating and/or optimizing the information contained in these social media is of paramount importance to remain competitive and to distinguish yourself from other job seekers in this tough market.
To help you get started with developing or improving your online brand to enhance your career, visit www.ittechexec.com or call toll-free (866) 755-9800.
If you enjoyed this post, please tweet it or "like" it at StumbleUpon. Thank you!
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