Resumes Are a lot Like Halloween Costumes

Posted by : Barbara Safani No Comments

Every year on Halloween I always take note of the kids who have the most unique costumes. Usually they are home made and obviously required a lot of thought, time, and effort. They are memorable because they are creative, they make as laugh, they make us scream, or they even make us think.Resumes ar...

Resume Renovations

Posted by : Barbara Safani No Comments

As you've probably surmised by now, I look at a lot of resumes. While many resumes adequately explain a job seeker's job responsibilities, few elaborate on the accomplishments within those responsibilities. And let's face it. Many people perform similar jobs with similar competencies. What makes e...

Video Resumes in the News

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Some people think that video resumes are the next big thing in job search. While some short streaming video in a web portfolio that is used to communicate a candidate's personal brand or unique selling proposition might be of value to a hiring manager at some point during the interview process, I'm ...

Does Your Resume Pass the Hiring Manager’s 30 Second Test Part 3

Posted by : Barbara Safani 2 Comments

THE MATH TEST: Strategies for building your portfolio of accomplishments Problem-Action-Result Statements Hiring managers believe that proof of past successes helps them determine how successful you will be in their organization. The best way for you to prove your success is to discuss accomplishmen...

Does Your Resume Pass the Hiring Manager’s 30 Second Test Part 2

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THE CREATIVE WRITING TEST Strategies for Showcasing Your Personal Brand Create a professional identity A professional identity is not the same as a job title. The professional identify conveys your personal brand and the scope of your responsibilities through a few targeted words. When placed in bol...

Does Your Resume Pass the Hiring Manager’s 30 Second Test? Part I

Posted by : Barbara Safani No Comments

The average hiring manager spends less than 30 seconds reviewing a resume. With so little time and so much at stake, applicants must strive to create a self-marketing tool that passes the hiring manager’s initial screening test. Hiring managers scan resumes to quickly see what “pops” or sparks...

Your Personal Pitch: Keep it Short and Sweet

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One of my clients recently came to my office to work on his pitch. He told me that he had widdled his pitch down to 15 minutes. This led to a discussion about the importance of having a succinct and targeted message. Two minutes is appropriate. 15 minutes is a quarter of an interview and much too lo...

Free E-Book on Networking

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My colleagues and I over on the Career Hub blog just published our 4th e-book. The topic of the book is networking and the pages are filled with great tips on how to network the right way, how to avoid common networking pitfalls, networking for introverts, and networking in the digital age. Downlo...

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

Posted by : Barbara Safani No Comments

A few weeks ago I signed up for a networking cruise along the East River in Manhattan aboard the New York Health & Racquet Club yacht. The event was produced by HRNY, the New York chapter of SHRM, and I was really excited about networking with HR professionals. But I wasn't excited about going o...

The Lure of the Job Boards

Posted by : Barbara Safani 3 Comments

Ready for a busy day of job searching? Just boot up that computer and get started on the online job boards. After all, there are several hundred jobs to search in your industry and you can crank out those applications until about noon when you decide to take a well-deserved break for lunch. I'm sure...