Apart from mining, Hospitality careers are one of the fastest growing fields in Australia these days. Of course, it’s not only popular in Australia, but in many different countries that you go to.  The Hospitality industry has an international scope that any other industry would struggle to compete with, and this makes it a popular one.

There is a lot of newspapers and industry bodies, that say that the future of hospitality is very promising. But, as with anything, you should do your own research, so we wanted to give your a couple of factors WHY,  you can have a very promising future in the Hospitality Industry in Australia.  Here are some of them.

The Market: Tourists And Locals

The common misconception about careers in this category is that it only pertains to job positions that could be found in hotels and restaurants. It is true that there are a number of positions in hotels and restaurants that take the responsibility of being hospitable but there are also other industries that have this kind of role such as: car hiring trades, air-conditioning services, building industry, plumbing, airlines, casinos, entertainment organizations, IT companies, taxi operators, recruitment agencies, and retail services.

All these and more are included in the category of hospitality. As you can see, most of these are what you may call the “essentials” in the realm of tourism. And for sure, you already know how important tourism is in whatever place or country you may be. So keeping that in mind, you can expect that an industry like this could definitely bloom in the coming years.

However, it is not only tourists that these jobs serve. Even locals alike are served too. Just about everyone will make use of the services of taxi cabs, plumbers and most of all restaurants. The fact that these services stretch across the whole community makes the whole industry more stable. Even if it’s not the peak season of tourists, locals are still there to keep the industry alive and beating!

Globalization

In relation to tourism, globalization is now a key word. It is undeniable that globalization is already such a major factor in so many industries. More countries are getting connected with one another in terms of business relations and investments. This is a pretty good sign for the hospitality industry as they can expect more international visitors to be coming their way in need of hospitality and their services.

The Lucrative Compensation

Another factor why this career has a brilliant future ahead is because of the huge possibility of attaining a very lucrative pay. The basic salary already pays well. But there is that big chance of getting promoted, which gives you a higher projected income. Unlike in other fields where you’ve been working for 10 years and nothing have changed, in this industry, the more experience you’ve got, the more the chance you can get a higher position.

The Perks

Other than the high income you’ll be getting, you also get to receive a lot of perks and benefits. For instance, tips are very rewarding with this kind of jobs. Just think of the many customers you can serve and the high potential of meeting good tippers in just one day. The perks you get from companies are great too. There are a lot of bonuses and benefits. However, it highly depends on the company that you’ll be working with.

Stressful Lifestyle

It is undeniable that times are pretty hard these days. This is why a lot of people resort to paying others to do things for them. This is somewhat an important factor in this industry. Since they’ve got the money, then they’ll simply pay others to do it for them.  So, why not take advantage of it?

The building industry offers some great opportunity in Australia for work at the moment.  With over 8800 jobs currently being advertised, there is a huge demand for Plumbing work in Australia.

Plumbers that specialize in the installation and maintenance of water systems, are just a small number that provide plumbing Services in Australia.  Like electricians, they are required to obtain a license from a trade or vocational school and have a background in various aspects of industrial, domestic, and communal pipe work, water heating (steam- and gas- fitters), water treatment (such as water cleaning and purification), drainage, sewer networking, dynamics of water flow, water storage, temperature adjustment, and dangers of water hazards.

Plumbers get their name from the Latin Plumbum, for “lead,” since the ancient Romans used pipes made from lead. The term therefore refers to the metallic element out of which their main building material is made.  And just a a interesting fact, Einstein, the father of modern mathematics, admired the plumber:

“If I would be a young man again and had to decide how to make my living, I would not try to become a scientist or scholar or teacher. I would rather choose to be a plumber in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances.” – Albert Einstein, The Reporter, 18 November 1954

Not too long after this remark was published, Einstein was granted an honorary membership into the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, A.F.L., in Washington D.C., which made the genius, in effect, a plumber. The new title pleased Einstein, although he supposedly wasn’t looking for or expecting praise. When it comes to solving the great mathematical puzzles of the universe, Einstein would have been the first to be considered. Who would have known that he would be the person to call to straighten out the water pipes, too?

Plumbers are unsung heroes. These tradesmen and women work hard at very demanding jobs and have crucial knowledge and understanding regarding that basic necessity which every civilization and human being needs to thrive and survive: water! These plumbers make sure that every single person has healthy water to drink every single day and clean water for bathing. They are humanity’s lifesavers!

So visit the Industry Work Australia building job board enter in Plumbing in the WHAT field and where you are looking for work, and start applying.  You can visit our Resume section for some great tips on how to best present yourself to take advantage of the opportunities out there for working in this fascinating field with in the building industry.

It can be pretty tempting to think about going after a hospitality career, especially with some of the lurks and perks you can get, and the pay isn’t to bad either, this industry isn’t for the weak hearted. Getting into this kind of field is not all about perks, benefits and big tips.  Doing a large amount of work is also included in the package.

So, before you start passing that resume around or start filling out applications to undergo training, try to think carefully first if this kind of profession is really for you.

We wanted to give you some points to think about to help you see the big picture more clearly.

Humility: Do You Have It?

One very important thing you need to remember with this type of work is that it is service oriented. You are the provider of the service. So you really need to have humility towards the person you are serving. If you are the type of person that cannot lower your pride, then this would be a pretty tough ordeal for you. However, if you are the type who loves to serve and accommodate the needs of other people, this would be pretty easy on your part.

A Perpetual Smile

Being in this kind of profession means having a perpetual smile on your face throughout your working hours. You could never grunt or complain about work, especially in front of your guests. No matter how bad your day has been, you should be prepared to serve people with a smile.

Smiling is one way of being hospitable. It is also one good way to make people feel that they are welcome in a new place. So, if you think you can’t keep that smile plastered on your face even if you’re not in the mood, then this kind of job is not really for you.

Ready To Work The Graveyard Shift?

Jobs in this field usually involve working in hotels, cafes, casinos and restaurants. All of which are establishments that can be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In most cases, you are not the one who will be setting your schedule but your manager.

Thus, you should be ready to work the graveyard shift. Your daily rosters can vary greatly as well as change at short notice. This is why you should also be prepared to adjust to whatever schedule was given to you. This doesn’t mean that you only adjust your daily schedule of activities. You should also be ready to adjust physically and mentally.

Goodbye Holidays!

Holidays are the busiest time of the year for this industry. Hence, you should be prepared to give up your own holiday celebrations while you serve other people so that they can have their holiday vacation of a lifetime. This part of the job does not only affect you, but  also your family.  So they should also be prepared and be able to understand the nature of your job. In most cases, you would have to celebrate your holidays the next day after the real date.

Home Away From Home

Traveling is a part for most positions in this career path. If you’ll be working in a cruise or airline setting, then you should be prepared to have your home away from home, which would be your ship or airplane. There are also tour guide positions in which you would sometimes be on tour for a number of days. You get to go home for about a day or so and you’ll be off on another tour again.

So, do you think you can handle all these? If yes, then good luck with your hospitality career venture!

We get a lot of questions about working in Australia (no surprise really, we’re called Industry Work Australia). The questions are usually along the lines of, “Hi, I want to work in Australia, in mining, I have no experience but I sold shoes previously”, or “hi, I want to work in Australia, and are looking for work, I will do anything, can you help”.

Now putting aside that for a lot of Foreign Nationals, English isn’t their first language. We can tell you right now, looking for and applying for work is the same no matter where you go. What we’re saying is there are some very basic fundamentals of applying for jobs for example, you are not going to get a job, on a mining site driving a 100 tonne dump truck, if you’ve been selling shoes previously, and only have a car licence. Just like you wouldn’t go to a interview for a Sales Area Manager role, dressed in your tracksuit pants, thongs, and singlet, and you don’t start applying for hundreds of jobs from Brain surgeon to Bar tending hoping you MIGHT get something.

There are some very basic things you need to think about…

1. If you are wanting to relocate and work in Australia, and are currently living overseas. Spend some time researching what type of Visa you might need. A lot of businesses that are looking for skilled labour, offer a 457 Sponsored work visa.

2. Think about what skills and experience you have now, that you can utilize in Australia. If you are a qualified nurse in your own country, Australia has plenty of opportunities for nurses over here.  Guess what try APPLYING FOR A NURSING JOB. If you have been tending bar in your own country, APPLY FOR A JOB IN HOSPITALITY. Take what you know and use it over here.  You can always change your career when your settled in Australia.

3. Now if you are in the process of wanting to change your profession completely. For example shoe seller to mining dump truck operator.  Let’s make this clear you won’t just walk into a job driving a 100T dump truck anywhere. You might need to consider some further training.  Now as an example – Advanced Heavy Driver Training based in Central Queensland, offers various packages for people that want to become professional drivers. Talk directly to them find out how much their courses are, and what qualifications you will get.

4. At the moment the Global economy is in trouble, so its noble of people to say I will do anything, for work so I can earn money to feed my Family. Hate to tell you this, but ANYTHING, is a very broad term, and one that will usually get you no where. THINK about the skills and experience that you have, then think about what you will do. If your truly in a desperate place, and need paying work, start applying at the lower level jobs. ie. cleaning, labouring, fruit picking (which by the way is a great way to see Australia). If things aren’t that bad, and you have the luxury of time when your looking for work, then think about what it is your really want to do, if your selling shoes, and want to work in the mines, well you might need that driver training course first.

5. Australia is a big country and has lots to offer in the way of environment to live in.  Spend some time thinking about the climate you want to live in, living in the north of Australia can be extremely humid, where southern Australia can have extreme hot and cold weather all in the same day. Is it city or remote outback, because you might find lots of opportunities for people that want to relocate out to a remote area to work. Think it through.

6. Realise that finding the job you want is hard work. You don’t just send out a few emails and think that someone will give it to you. You will need to apply for work yourself, and you might be applying for hundreds of jobs before you get the one you want.

7. Get your resume done. If your not someone that can sit down and draft yourself a professional spelling mistake free resume, pay someone to do it for you.

There they are 7 tips, that are the very basics of wanting to work in Australia. Don’t kid yourself, yes there are plenty of opportunities but no one will just give them to you, you need to put the hard work in and make something happen for yourself

Most people that are applying for jobs, think of their resume as a collective of their education, skills and professional experience. Employers are generally relying on resumes as being a form of job application for the open positions within their organizations. So it becomes very important that you have a well-written resume prepared when searching for jobs.

Creating a decent resume that stands out is no easy task, even if you are a professional with years of experience and a stack of skills. However, trying to compose a resume when you are looking to completely change careers, or when you are fresh out of school is much more difficult, because you do not have any experience to highlight., and no skills other then flipping burgers.

If you are changing careers, and nothing from your past professional experience qualifies you for the new job you are seeking, highlight those qualifications that can be transitioned into the industry your wanting to break into.  For example, if you’ve managed people, no matter the type of business, you should highlight this under your experience. Rather than not highlighting your professional experience, even if it is not directly related to the job you are seeking, you should consider writing a professional profile, or summary at the start of your resume. The summary will allow you to address the career change by highlighting your skills and how they relate to your career objective. In addition, this is one situation where it is ok to reference any volunteer or community service work that you have done if it can help promote your qualifications for the job.

If you are fresh out of college, uni or school, and don’t have much to bring to the table in terms of full time professional experience, don’t get discouraged in creating your resume. Focus on highlighting your skills and your education. Avoid using a professional profile, or summary. Rather, list your career objective and start the resume by listing your education. Make sure to mention any awards or honors you received while in school. Following your education, list all the skills that will qualify you for the job you are seeking. Make sure to mention any courses, such as project management or business communication that you have taken and can apply at work. Instead of listing any experience, title the section “Pre-professional Experience” and divide it into categories applicable to your career objective. For example, instead of saying that you spent a summer working at the Gap, use a sub-heading of “Customer Relations” and list any responsibilities where you have provided customer service. Tap into any community service, volunteer, or school club positions you have held in order to highlight your abilities and showcase that you are the best candidate for the job.

Don’t be afraid of not having the right experience, or not having any professional experience to include in a resume. Focus on what you can do rather than what you don’t have the experience in doing and you will have a winning resume.  One last tip, don’t put on your resume that you were the hot dog eating champion of poh-dunk….

At some stage in your working career, there is a fair chance you might of felt stuck in your career?  Its hard to admit but employee stress and burn out can account for a lot of dissatisfaction in your life.  After all, you can be at work for more then 8 hours a day, potentially that can me more then a 3rd of your day if you don’t count sleep.  That’s a long time to be unhappy in your job.  If you feel stuck, here are 6 great ways to find your ideal career

1.   Brainstorm on a sheet of paper

Take a pad of paper and write down at the top your objective in question form.  Then, simply list out 20 answers to your question.  For example, you could write “What should I be doing with my time and life?”  Then stay seated for a half hour to an hour coming up with answers to that question.  The key to this exercise is coming up with 20 answers – don’t quit until you have 20 answers.  You can repeat every day until you get the answer you seek.

2.   Ask 3 close friends

Sometimes our friends know us better than ourselves.  While meeting with one of your friends, mention you are at a crossroads in your life and career.  Ask what they think you’d enjoy doing.  You might be surprised at how easily they can zero in to your strengths and abilities and report a perfect job area.

3.   Ask your boss and coworkers

Mmuch like your friends in the example above, your boss and coworkers most likely see you in a way you do not see yourself.  In fact, they are likely most familiar with your strengths and weaknesses in the work environment.  Compile all the answers you get from them and see if there are any common threads you can explore.  Be smart though with our boss, don’t tell him that your unhappy and want to leave, as him what opportunities he might be able to offer you in other parts of the business.

4.  Call a headhunter

If your searching around in your career, it’s likely you have a resume.  Sometimes you can catch a headhunter or recruiter during their slow times and meet with them to pick through what you might be good at.  Look at it like NETWORKING, by talking to people that are in the know, you’ll  be surprised with the opportunities that might open up for you.   After all, if you don’t get paid, they don’t either.

5. Take a career assessment test  

Career Groper is just one of many sites that provide test that you can take that will give you a report on where your natural strength lie.   They ask you to answer a series of questions about what you are good at, what you like to do, what you prefer doing over what you don’t.  If you take one, you will likely see some new exciting areas to explore in your life.

6.   Keep a journal 

If you keep a journal, read through it looking for common threads in your writing.  Keep your eyes peeled for trends and activities you like as well as don’t like.  In fact, finding examples of what you don’t like and what frustrates you is almost as important as finding what you do like.  For example, if you hate an overwhelming boss, you’d probably like a self-directed position.  If you hate nosy coworkers you’d probably prefer your own office.

Discovering what you really want to do with your life and your career is the most important decision you can make.  We spend 1/3 or more of our lives at work.  So figuring out the right career is important to keeping that 1/3 of our lives happy and productive.

We get a lot of enquiries both from foreign nationals looking to work in Australia as well as Australian nationals looking to work over seas.  So for anyone who has ever dreamed about finding an overseas assignment, living life as an expatriate and experiencing new horizon, we wanted to provide you some tips showing you how to apply yourself to the task of finding and securing that dream job abroad.

For many people the thought of finding an ideal overseas assignment and then relocating abroad for a few years is a dream, but for a few people that dream actually becomes a reality.  So the question is what’s the difference between those who dream about making it happen and those who actually find work abroad and experience a whole new exciting lifestyle away from home?

Application – that’s what!

Application in the form of applying oneself to the task of finding suitable work abroad, and application in the form of the CV, resume and covering letter sent to suitable employers and recruitment agencies…

Applying yourself: -

If you want something in life, experience should tell you that you have to go out there and get it for yourself. Opportunity seldom knocks on the door quick enough for any of us; therefore if you dream of working abroad you need to start looking for suitable vacancies in your overseas location of choice.

If you speak a foreign language you might be drawn to countries where they speak that language because you will have an obvious advantage over other overseas candidates. If on the other hand speaking English is your only linguistic skill you should either look at opportunities in English speaking countries or target countries like Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where the business language is English and where there are a plethora of job vacancies.

Whichever country you settle on you can use the internet to search for employment offers, recruitment agencies and potentially suitable employers based in that country, and you can then begin contacting them one by one.

Making an application: -

To get anywhere in life it is sometimes necessary to put yourself forward – and if you’re looking for work overseas you’re going to have to put yourself forward to be noticed in the form of an online application or CV/resume and covering letter.  Because your CV will be your initial contact with any recruiter it has to represent you in the best possible light possible.

This means that your resume and covering letter have to be well written; if you’re applying in a language other than your mother tongue you should consider paying for a professional translation to be done because recruiters hate receiving poorly put together job applications. In their view someone who cannot be bothered to make the maximum effort with their personal CV probably cannot be bothered to do a good job full stop and are therefore hardly worth considering for employment. Therefore it is up to you to put together the most well written, compelling and interesting application for employment possible.

Don’t fill out your CV or covering letter with lots of flowery embellishment, be succinct and to the point. You should illustrate why you think should be considered for employment with examples of relevant experience you have and you should ensure you supply details of qualifications you have, referees who can supply personal and employment references and you should include all your personal contact information.

Finally, having targeted employers and recruitment agencies and having made the best application for employment possible, you should follow up your application and remain proactive and relentless in your search for that ideal overseas assignment. After all, only those who live their dreams have a chance of true fulfilment.  Also make sure you understand what type of Visa you need to apply for

There is no doubt that as a Auto mechanics entering the industry today face a wide range of challenges that can beat even the most technologically advanced fields, such as information technology and health care.  Keeping pace with the constant changes that govern automobile mechanics can lead people to consider other career options.  But for those that stay within the industry, there are ways to improve your skill sets and knowledge base while making yourself more marketable to employers.

The most common method for entering the auto repair field is not surprisingly also one of the best ways to stay current with new technology or concentrate on specializations within the industry.

Technical schools around the country provide advanced training and employment assistance that leads to entry level positions at repair shops and dealerships, they are also a great entry path into the Mining industry.  But if your are a seasoned mechanic, however, they can also provide instruction on recent advances as well as training on specific systems, such as electrics and hydraulics.   Many graduates return on a semi-annual basis for shorter courses that serve as a refresher or to learn about specific advances. Even mechanics who started their careers through high school level vocational training or from working in family businesses often end up entering technical schools to increase their overall automotive understanding and employ-ability.

With The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) decision to new measures to enable people with trade qualifications to move more freely around Australia, without undergoing additional testing and registration processes .  Qualified mechanics are now able to enjoy the best of the industry Australian wide, over the course of their careers.

If you are a foreign nation qualifed as a motor Mechanic (General) then you are currently in demand by employers in Australia in accordance with the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) 3212-11.  The occupation of Motor Mechanic (General) is listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

Only skilled workers with an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) are eligible to apply for an Australian visa under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program, as they are listed as being in immediate demand in Australia.  So maybe a move to Australia is your next step in your career.

If your after that next job, making sure you describe your job responsibilities is a very important part of your resume to get right.  And while you can describe your job responsibilities to your friends, listing them out in a resume and showcasing how your experience to date meets your career objectives is a very difficult task.

When you are writing or updating your resume, you need to consider what type of a job you are applying for. Much like your career objective or summary which should reflect your professional goals, your current and past experiences should showcase that you are the best candidate for the job you are applying for. When listing your current and past professional experiences, focus on those responsibilities that indicate you are qualified to take the next step in your career. Due to the fact that more and more companies as well as job search sites are using scanning software to pick out candidates, it is very important that you use key words, including active verbs, to describe your skills. Instead of beginning your job descriptions with “Responsible for” try to use active verbs such as:

- managed
- developed
- created
- communicated
- interfaced
- achieved, etc.

These key words get straight to the point of describing your responsibilities, which is exactly what the employers are looking for. Chose these words carefully – don’t say that you “managed a project”, implying you were responsible for the whole task from start to finish if you were only responsibly for communicating the project to other associates. Instead state that you “Developed and executed the communication strategy for associates,” describing your role more accurately and emphasizing your strengths.

Typically, the first job listed on your resume is the one you currently hold. In this case, make sure that your responsibilities are stated in present tense, as you are still responsible for them. For example, say “Manage accounting activities” instead of “Managed accounting activities.” This will indicate to your potential employer what your day-to-day activities are like and how they compliment responsibilities of the job you are submitting your resume for. All previous jobs should be listed using past tense, and should start with active verbs such as managed, developed, accomplished, etc.

Additionally, make sure that responsibilities you are listing are relevant to your career objective. List only those responsibilities which help you put your best foot forward. For example, if you are looking for a job that requires managing a team of people, focus on your development and participation in group projects instead of focusing on solitary activities such as office organization.

In terms of formatting, make sure that your responsibilities are listed in bullet points. This formatting is preferred to paragraphs on a resume because it is easier to review quickly. Employers simply scan the resumes and look for key words – if the resume looks overwhelming, with a lot of copy and poor formatting, they will likely discard it. Thus, it is very important that your resume is formatted with enough white space and doesn’t contain any errors.

Trust us when we say this, submitting your resume isn’t about sweating out an all-purpose document in job speak. Nor is it about submitting it to every place you can find – especially on a “what the heck” basis. Your resume is your personal marketing piece. It’s what gets you in the door. If you want the interview, make sure you don’t make any of these 13 mistakes.

 1.    A BLAND OR GENERIC OBJECTIVE:

If your objective could be applied to a marketing resume as easily as a resume for an accounting position, then your objective says nothing and will get you nowhere. An objective is NOT some required paragraph at the top of the page that is an exercise in 5 lines of job speak. It’s an actual and real description of your skills as they’re related to who you are and what you want. It should vary with the type of job for which you are applying.

2.    BLAND JOB DETAILS:

“Responsibilities included overseeing construction of 4 Hilton Hotels in Tri-City Metro Area, each 50 floors in height.” Yeah? So what? That doesn’t say if they went up on schedule or if you brought the projects in under budget. It doesn’t say if you took all four from site work up or if the guy handling two of the four hotels was fired and you were promoted to overseeing all four. Differentiate yourself from the others coming in to interview. If you don’t tell the hiring company how you will be an asset to them, how will they know?

3.    WHO’S THE MYSTERY COMPANY?: 

Don’t assume the name and purpose of your company is common knowledge.  If it’s a competitor, it might be, and if it’s in the same industry and located nearby, it might be.  To be on the safe side, provide a sentence or two about the focus of your company’s products or services.

4.    ANOTHER JOB, ANOTHER PARAGRAPH:

Don’t keep adding on to your resume job after job, year after year. By the time you’re in your 40s, you need to have weeded out some of the earlier stuff. You don’t need all the college activities, just your degree. You don’t need ALL 5 bullets for each of your first two jobs.

5.    REFERENCES:

Shouldn’t be listed on your resume. “References available on request” is the proper phrase. You present them separately when they’re requested. This isn’t about protocol. This is about protecting your references so they aren’t called until you and the company are serious about each other.

6.    IT’S NOT A STORY!: 

Don’t – whatever you do, DON’T – write your resume in the third person!

7.    SKIP THE PERSONAL INFO:

You might think your weekend baseball coaching or your church choir participation shows you’re an interesting and well-rounded person, but they’re irrelevant. If the interviewer wants to know who you are as a person, aside from the job interview and your qualifications, he’ll ask.

8.    DEGREE DATE:

No matter how old you are, don’t leave the date of when you were graduated off your resume. It looks like you’re hiding something (well, you are, aren’t you?), and then everyone counts the years backwards and tries to figure out how old you are. Sometimes you can be ruled out – just for leaving the date off. If you’re trying to hide your age by not stating the date, what else might you not be forthcoming about?

9.    SPELL CHECK, SPELL CHECK, SPELL CHECK:

Spell checking visually by you AND someone else, any fewer than three times, isn’t enough. And don’t forget to check your punctuation.

10.   GETTING YOUR RESUME OUT THERE -

part one: Don’t use one of those resume blaster things. Half of those sites they blast it to aren’t even valid. You don’t know how it will come out on the other end. You don’t even know where it’s going or if the landing targets are employment related.  It’s bad form and just….NOT the way to find your perfect job. Finding your perfect job takes focus, attention, detail, individuality, tailoring, specifics. Resume blasting is about as far from that as you can get.

11.   GETTING YOUR RESUME OUT THERE

part two: If it’s an ad, you probably have instructions as to how to send it. If it says email, cut and paste it in the form, AND attach it. You never know what it can look like on the other end because of the variety of settings available to each user. Quite frankly, you’re better off not emailing it at all, because it usually just goes into cyber space, and then it’s all about the hiring company – but unfortunately, besides not sending it at all, sometimes that’s your only choice. Emailing your resume takes any option for further participation right out of your hands, because often there’s not even a name given for a follow up contact. You’ve no other option than to wait and wonder. (And half the time it’s going to HR or an admin department to be scanned into an electronic database.)

12.   GETTING YOUR RESUME OUT THERE 

part three: If you know the company, call and ask if they prefer email, fax, or snail mail. I know a recruiter who never even opened his email. Because he was listed in The Kennedy Guide to Executive Recruiters, he received so many resumes emailed to him cold (so NOT pro-active) that he just did a mass delete every morning. Candidates contacted for a specific search were requested to snail mail their resume to him. How about that? I’ll bet less than 10% of those who emailed their resumes even bothered to follow up to see if it was received (this isn’t a numbers game).

13.   RESUME VISUALS: 

Ivory paper. Black ink. Individual pages. No plastic, 7th grade, science report cover with the plastic slider or metal push down tabs. Your name centered at the top, not on a cover page that says “Introducing Clifton Lewis Montgomery III”. No exceptions. Your resume is a professional document, not a school book report or an art project.  Until every resume is done this way, yours will still stand out in the crowd.

You are the product, and your resume is the marketing piece. To find your perfect job you must differentiate yourself from the other people who will be interviewed.   Your resume must be specific, individualized, easy to skim so it invites a closer reading, and focused on the differences you’ve made with your previous companies, as well as the accomplishments you’ve achieved with – and for – them. This tells the hiring company what you can do for them – and it IS about the hiring company, not you.

Of course this assumes you meet the requirements for the job – otherwise it doesn’t matter how good your resume is! The resume is what gets you in the door. If your resume is poorly written, looks sloppy, is difficult to read, is cryptic in any way, or necessitates being slogged through to learn your information (they won’t bother), you won’t even get in the door.

And how can you decide whether you like the company, if they’ve already decided they don’t like you?