How do I go about getting a resume writing/business card business off the ground?
November 18, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
I am very good at writing resumes for other people. Im also very creative so I’m quite sure that I would be successful with creating business cards… Any ideas as far as how to advertise and how to get this thing fired up??
Going into the business of resume writing?
November 17, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
I have received extensive training in writing resumes so I know how. All I need to know is if I you must have a certification to write resumes for people? Like many trades, you must have certification before doing. Is resume writing the same? Also, if/when I do go into this business how much do I charge. I know it is hourly–but how much? Thanks to all who reply!!!
What job titles should I search if I am applying for business jobs?
November 1, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
I will be graduating from college in May with a bachelors in accounting. I have began applying for jobs but I do not know what job titles to search for jobs other than accounting ones. I am not restricting my job search only to accounting jobs but what should I search for other business jobs?
How do you start a Resume Writing home business?
October 28, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
I want to start a small business- perhaps a home business of Resume Writing. There are tons of programs and software on the market. Pricing is what I am having difficulty with. What is reasonable…etc. I write well, and my resume has landed me 2nd in line for three great positions within my organization. I know– this certainly does not make me the Resume Writing Queen.. Just want to put my skills to work for others.
Is there anyone out there that would recommend advice?
The o’shea report – the job interview
October 27, 2009 by
Filed under Manager Resume Videos
For recruiters: funny job interview responses – because sometimes, getting people jobs is a tough job. Change speakers Tim and Kris O’Shea help organizations deal with uncertainty through relevant business humor with a message. To learn more about these funny motivational speakers visit
How do you schedule a job interview during the week when you already have a job during business hours?
October 25, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
They say it’s best to look for a job while you’re still employed. Well most employers only interview during business hours so how are you supposed to get time off in the middle of the week, in the middle of the day to go to a job interview? And what if you have multiple interviews during the week? What are you supposed to tell your employer and/or future employer about scheduling?
Ramp Up Your Career Plan . . . Target Your Next Boss!
October 25, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
No. Your career plan doesn’t include putting a hit on the person you may report to. But you can seriously ramp up your job search speed and get significantly better results by avoiding the old-fashioned methods and learning the exciting strategy of “targeting.”
The targeting strategy is done in two phases:
1. Identify organizations that match up with your personal employment interests and preference parameters:
geographical location preferences
company size
product or service preferences
business style or corporate culture
community and lifestyle considerations
2. Single out the appropriate hiring decision-maker within each organization of interest. You do this by
research corporate literature
online information through Google
business journals and directories
Who’s Who listings
company’s website
community, non-profit and specialized websites
The purpose of this important research is to identify the names of specific decision-makers that you could be reporting to. The reason for this is that these are the folks who will be making a hiring decision about you . . . not Human Resources or Personnel managers.
You want to find the best way to approach that person directly. You may do that by making a personal phone call, or writing a letter or email directly to that person. Do not ask for a job, but indicate your interest in the company because of some very specific contributions you can make based on your research. Indicate that a resume will follow and that you would like to follow up to see if a face-to-face meeting (not an interview) would be appropriate.
Perhaps the most powerful way to access the target is through people who might know him/her. For example, there are people in the community who are available to introduce you, e.g. religious leaders, neighbors, service and social club members, bankers, merchants, charitable and non-profit organizations, trade associations, etc. Getting a personal introduction from someone who knows your target is golden.
The best news of all is that there’s a proven job search system which can walk you through the process step-by-step and turn you into a winner is as little as 14 days!
Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com
Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com
How to Shorten Your Job Search
October 19, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
Searching for the right position requires focus and a great deal of targeted job searching. If you would like to find the right job for you in a highly targeted manner, then you need to follow certain steps that may take you out of your typical comfort zone.
The typical job seeker will usually decide that they have to find the jobs that are available- – the ones listed on on job boards, in the newspaper, etc. This is a comfortable path to follow; it’s one that we have tried over and over again. It has probably led us to the current position we occupy, or to the previous ones that were held.
If you’re searching for a position, or considering the possibility, wouldn’t you be interested in following a shorter path that will help you uncover the jobs that are available, and the ones that have yet to posted? Of course you would. If we can find ways to make the job search successful – - and shorter – - then all of us would be willing to follow a different path.
In this article, I will provide 3 important steps to follow to help you succeed within your job search, and help to make it a shorter process.
Step 1: Target the company
Make a decision which company aligns with your career interests, path, advancement, goals. Create a list that includes 5 or more companies that you believe match with your goals and background. How do you find these companies? Some may be drawn from your familiarity of the types of businesses and industries in your area (whether local or regional depending on your relocation desires). Some may be currently seeking resumes and have posted available positions. Do the necessary research to review your targeted companies’ background, objectives, position needs.
Step 2: Identify the business need
Using your list of targeted companies, use your research skills to identify the current and prevailing business need. For example, after researching a specific organization, I uncovered that the company had an extensive growth plan to be implemented over the course of five years. Through this company’s website, I was able to uncover a pdf. file that tracked the anticipated staffing needs to ensure the company reached it’s growth goals across the country. From this type of data, you can make general assumptions regarding how someone with your qualifications may fit in with a targeted company’s mission or goals. Through use of the internet, track down company press releases, events, financial information to get as much information as possible.
Step 2: Market yourself BEFORE sending your resume
How do you get into your targeted companies? In cases where the position you’re seeking has been advertised, you may be required to go through a screening-out process with the HR department. In this case, before you send your resume, contact the HR Manager, introduce yourself and your qualifications, and ask if it’s possible to review the company hiring process with you. Ask if the position is still available for interviews. Ask for an email address to send your resume (especially if they requested online applications in the job posting). Additionally, be sure to courteously speak with any administrative staff who handle or forward your calls – - introduce yourself, explain your interest in submitting your resume. Develop the relationship and increase your name recognition prior to submitting your resume. Even if there has not been an advertised position, you can follow the above steps.
These are three key steps which can provide much needed help to get you in front of the right person at your targeted company.
Information about the Author:
Career and Employment Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com
Getting A Job Through Cold Calling
October 12, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
It sounds a little like a telephone on ice, but the cold call is actually an important tool of networking. Cold calling is calling a person or business without prior contact in order to inquire about employment opportunities. For many, the idea of cold calling is chilling. Dialing up a complete stranger doesn’t seem like a logical way to carry out a job search. Yet when done correctly, a cold call can showcase some important professional traits, including resilience, determination, and interpersonal skills. In the best-case scenario, it can also lead to an interview.
Cold calling is a salesman’s device. The premise is that the more people you contact, the better your chances of scoring a deal. In a way salesmanship is integrally connected to the job search, only instead of selling a product or service, you’re selling yourself. Specifically, you’re selling the notion that you would be a valuable addition to a company’s team. And therein lies the key to the cold call. When you pick up the phone, you must think of yourself not as a nervous jobseeker eager for a lead, but rather, as a confident professional who has the qualifications that would benefit an employer.
How do you make this leap? It’s not easy, admits one woman in retail who had taken off several years to raise two children and wanted to rejoin the workforce. She admits the cold call took some practice. “I was much smoother on my eighth or ninth attempt than I was on my first…. I called up many businesses, and the majority of them didn’t take more than fifteen seconds to decide they weren’t interested. Finally, I caught one man who asked me where I’d gone to school. As it happened, we’d gone to the same college. He took a liking to me after that. I was asked in for an interview the following week.”
This woman’s example shows that it helps to make a connection with the person you are cold calling. However, this is not always possible. The plain truth about cold calling is that the failure rate is high. Yet the rewards can be great if you encounter even one person who recognizes your potential. Below are some techniques for making the cold call a little warmer.
* Write a script for your cold call, outlining one or two of your most valuable Key Selling Points (see chapter 7). Remember that you are trying to impress the person on the other end of the line. Modify your script so that these selling points are in sync with each company’s specific needs. A customized delivery is crucial.
* Be clear on your goals and what you have to offer. Nothing will turn off an employer faster than a person who is not clear about his objectives.
* Introduce yourself in a way that will spark interest. Saying your name immediately followed by your area of expertise might do the trick.
* Work on your voice-make sure you sound professional, sharp, and cheerful, but never insincere or calculating. It helps to practice both your voice and your script on a trusted friend who can offer you feedback and suggestions.
* Figure out who is on the other end of the line. Receptionists and other gatekeepers will usually pick up the phone before hiring managers will. Be prepared to answer gatekeeper-type questions such as “What is the reason for your call?” and “What company are you with?” A confident answer and an assured tone might allow you to pass through this initial screen. No matter who picks up the phone, be professional. Treat everyone with equal courtesy and respect.
* Use the “rule of three.” If you’ve tried calling three times, or left up to three messages with no response, throw in the towel. Calling any more than that will only irritate the person you are trying to reach. Says a senior human resources consultant with a wellknown mutual insurance company: “Candidates can call me and leave a voicemail message, but it’s hard for me to do callbacks due to the volume of calls I receive.” She goes on to say she does follow up with many people who leave inquiries, but that repeat messages “are more burden than value.”
* Substitute your e-mail account for your phone. These days many businesspeople are more apt to answer e-mails than voicemail messages anyway. E-mailing requires less effort on both ends because people don’t need to think and speak on the fly; they can actually take the time to word their correspondence carefully if you’re better at written communication than you are at oral communication, consider sending “cold e-mails” rather than making cold calls. In this case, though, you’ll need to address your e-mail to a single person. Consider calling the company gatekeeper, who may be more inclined to pass along the e-mail address of the hiring manager than the phone number. Blindly e-mailing a company at a general address can pretty much guarantee a lack of resultsunless the company happens to be very small.
* Keep track of your phone calls. If you leave a message, you’ll want to know the name and title of the person who is returning your call and what information you’ve already provided.
* Be prepared for standard responses from human resources personnel and other hiring managers. You will probably receive some brush-off responses like, “The only thing you can do is send your resume to our HR department,” or even, “We are not currently hiring.” However, some responses will allow you more opportunity to sell yourself Be prepared to sell yourself if you hear a question such as “What kind of experience do you have?” or “What attracts you to our company?”
* Don’t become discouraged. Cold calling isn’t easy, and a few hang-ups can make even the most stalwart person question himself Take breaks and keep in mind that the process isn’t personal.
* Remember that your ultimate goal is to get an interview. To that end, if you do speak with someone who has hiring power and if you establish a rapport with that person, ask outright if you can come in for an interview. The question might seem presumptuous, but it’s been known to work.
Information about the Author:
Career and Employment Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com
Jumpstarting Your Career In The Restaurant Industry
October 7, 2009 by
Filed under Resume Tips
Studies on the United States’ restaurant and food services sector have shown that the industry is one of the fastest growing, with the number of food managers touted to rise by around 45,000 annually starting the year 2014.
In fact, data from the National Restaurant Association attest to the fact that plenty of job opportunities are available for people both from within and outside the industry. It is for this reason that more and more people are getting interested and increasing their investment on restaurant and food services training and education.
What the Industry is About
The foodservice and restaurant sector covers areas such as catering, casual family diners, fine dining, chef-owned bistros, resorts and casinos, motels and hotels, cruise ships, fast food chains, theme parks, schools, company cafeterias, hospitals and just about wherever the preparation and selling of foodstuff is present.
To date, there are about twelve million jobs in this sector alone. It is one of the most widespread because food is a basic necessity. That’s why many entrepreneurs say you can never go wrong when you enter the food business. Food services exist in every city, state and country, from the most metropolitan of environments to the most quait and far-flung locations. Due to such, employment opportunities in the restaurant industry is always high.
A career in the restaurant and foodservices industry does not mean simply asking the customer if he wants a side of coleslaw to go with his chicken. It is more than that. You will also have to hone your people skills in order to properly interact with the customer, as well as practice stellar hygiene and good grooming. A restaurant that does not demand so from its employees is no good.
In fact, even without the restaurant owner telling you how to conduct yourself on the job, it is your personal responsibility to make sure that customers all satisfied, happy and very much keen on coming back.
What Sort of Training Do You Need?
Most hole in the wall restaurants start from scratch. That is, without the formal education and training to set up and operate such a business. Some of the older and pioneering institutions began from owners’ very own kitchens, without so much as a bachelor’s degree to their names and, still, their restaurants continue to grow and thrive with the times.
However, the industry is growing at around 12% each year and the demands of the customer are getting more and more cosmopolitan. While zero training can be offset by pure dedication and interest in the restaurant and foodservices business, there also are strong arguments in favor of acquiring the right education and formal training needed for the job.
Education is useful given the changing times. With globalization at an all-time high, it is important for those engaged in the food business to keep themselves up to date and knowledgeable with the latest trends. With travel and communications booming at an alarming rate, the restaurant sector has the responsibility to move with it.
Most restaurants provdie in-house training for their personnel, in order for them to more easily advance to supervisory and managerial positions. Hence, it is not unusual for a former dishwasher or table service crew member to be the boss over a period of time. And though a number of food service staff are promoted to higher posts, the job opportunities for those with formal training, whether via an associate or bachelor’s degree, in institutional food service and restaurant management are greater. It will be easier to climb up the ladder if you combine education with solid on-the-job experience.
Why Formal Education is Important
Employment in the food industry is considered a profession. Before, those who simply had ample interest and experienced-based know-how and resources can enter the business. While this is still true today, most institutions prefer that you have a certificate to back your resume.
Programs related to the restaurant and food services sector include food technology, marketing, customer relations, human resources, finance and business management. Institutional food service facilities also provide courses on nutrition, sanitation, record keeping, understanding of policies and procedures, food preparation, reports preparation, and personnel management.
Such hospitality management programs usually run for two to four years, after which you get a diploma or a certification. The more credentials you have, the more you will be perceived of as a professional who is well-trained, highly skilled and motivated. Achieving these credentials only shows how serious you are at advancing the industry and growing with your chosen career.
Thus, formal training is important because:
1. Having specialized qualifications entails that you’re entering the restaurant and food services industry with more than the basic necessary skills to professionally advance
2. Specialized training shows prospective employers that you are motivated enough and have an ample level of maturity to move around such a high-pressure and fast-paced environment
3. People who graduate from hospitality-related programs and courses have turned out to be the ones who do better in their careers, whether they have actually entered the restaurant industry or not, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Studies
4. Highly-skilled staff and those with formal restaurant training will be in high demand because jobs in full-service restaurants are expected to rise at a huge rate compared to other food services units.
Conducting Yourself on the Job
People working in the food services industry are not robots. Their job is not just to take directions and follow t hem to the letter. They must be able to make decisions themselves and have the initiative to address certain issues. A lot of restaurant operators take note of your personal qualities, for instance, problem-solving skills and attention to detail, before they decide if they want you to be part of their team or not. Grooming is also crucial.
A lot of these qualities you will learn while you’re receiving formal training. While traits like leadership and initiative are ingrained, the right way of handling operations and customers if often not found if you just go it alone and rely on your instincts. Opportunities in the restaurant world will continue to rise as the industry grows in conjunction with the population, leisure times and personal incomes.
Whether you’re eyeing a job at a small restaurant or a fine dining place, the amount of dedication you give out should be the same. It is inevitable that you’ll start at the rank and file level, as you will need the experience to gain solid footing in all possible restaurant duties. Coupled with a degree, it won’t be surprise if you find yourself at one of the top positions in six to twelve months’ time. When this happens, relish the moment. You definitely deserve it.
Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com
Freelance writer for over eleven years. Restaurant Uniform Restaurant Linens Uniform Scrubs