Nitpicky Things to Avoid for a Polished Resume

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Jen Hughes, CPC

You’ve looked at your resume a million times. No notable grammar or spelling errors–what else can you do to make sure your resume is as polished as it can be? Next time you’re editing your resume, make sure you’re not making any of these common nitpicky mistakes:

Using inconsistent formatting. While it may be appropriate to get fancy with fonts, colors and sizes if you’re looking for a position in graphic design or similar, keeping it clean, simple and easy to read over colorful and fancy is usually for the best. Regardless of the style you choose though, try to maintain consistency throughout your resume. For example, if you bold every header (e.g. Objective, Education, Work History, etc.) make sure you do so throughout. Indenting under each employer to point out key duties and achievements? Make sure all the bullets line up. Consistency throughout your resume will give it a more polished look.

Including incorrect contact info. There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a great resume and not being able to get a hold of that person because they swapped a digit in their number or missed a letter in their email address. Double check your contact info to make sure it’s correct and use an easy-to-read font to ensure the hiring manager or recruiter has no issue getting a hold of you. (Tip: While having more than one phone number listed is a good idea, having more than one email address listed is just confusing. Limit yourself to one professional sounding email address that you can check often.)

Using templates without caution. Templates can be very helpful when trying out a new format for your resume or when just starting to write a new one. However, be careful when you’re finished that you haven’t left any of the template text in your actual resume. Seeing “[Insert work history here]” isn’t nearly as impressive as your actual work history would be.

Spelling past employers and schools incorrectly. It can be easy to misspell some companies or schools as your spell check might not recognize them. Take an extra minute or two and pull out an old pay stub or research the company or school website to make sure you’ve got it down correctly. While you might not think it’s a big deal, an alum or business partner of the school or company might think otherwise.

NOT TRIPLE CHECKING EVERYTHING IN UPPER CAPS. Many programs will not catch a misspelling in upper caps. Make sure you’re telling people about your WORK HISTORY not your WORK HITSORY.

All of these are items that demonstrate overall attention to detail. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you make a great first impression on a hiring manager or recruiter and help you move on in the hiring process.

‘Tis the season for holiday jobs!

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Jen Hughes, CPC

As we near the holidays, seasonal temp jobs are cropping up left and right. This year, 700,000 seasonal retail jobs are expected to be created. While these are great opportunities, don’t forget to also check out a temp agency if you’re seeking employment.

Seasonal jobs and temp staffing jobs are similar in that they offer you two opportunities: (1) a chance to pick up a little extra supplemental work or (2) a chance to get your foot in the door at a company and earn your way to a permanent position. Just as it’s possible to extend a seasonal store job, our temps are frequently hired on perm with the clients we serve.

For retail, it’s possible to keep a seasonal job longer than January, but you’ve got to be persistent, hardworking and flexible. Managers take notice when you show up on time, do all of your assigned tasks, and remain flexible when asked to work in different areas or take on additional duties or shifts. While most temp assignments have set fixed end dates, keeping the same mindset is still important — another opportunity may emerge out of a different department at that client, or your coordinator, impressed with the great job you’ve been doing, may consider you for another placement immediately following your current one.

Either way it’s important to keep any open mind when considering seasonal or temporary employment. Have you started a temporary/seasonal job and had it turn into a permanent job? What are your dos and don’ts for temporary and seasonal work?

Happy Halloween!

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Jen Hughes, CPC

Happy Halloween!!

A few of us decided to dress up for Halloween (although not for long — those masks and cape were warm!)

What’s been your best workplace Halloween costume? What are your Halloween workplace dos and don’ts?

Happy Halloween from Stafkings Binghamton! (From left: Jen H., Nancy Y. and Evie D.)

Happy Halloween from Stafkings Ithaca! (Pictured is Hannah O.)

5 Things That Will Get Your Resume Read

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Jen Hughes, CPC

Great advice not only for students, but anyone looking to update their resume! Quantification and results are huge — having real numbers and specific examples are attention getters for sure!

Campus To Career

There is a lot of advice out there regarding résumés, both on campus and off. I’ve seen a lot of résumés during my 10 years in the profession and have heard my fair share of complaints and critiques from recruiters, hiring managers and career services. As most students have returned to campus for the fall semester, I thought it would be good to revisit some of the things that could get your résumé noticed in a good way. It’s one thing for your résumé to be different; another to be good.

For more Résumé Essentials, click here.

I’ll never rip apart someone’s résumé, offering my two cents as an industry professional. Why? That person probably worked hard to create or update their résumé. You see, most are good. In today’s market, good isn’t good enough anymore. So I’d like to focus on taking your résumé from good to great.

Here are five…

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Got a Case of the Job Search Mondays?

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Jen Hughes, CPC

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Job searching can sometimes be a frustrating, tedious task — trust us, we know! Here are some tips to keep from getting blue while you’re on the hunt:

1. Look outside the scope of your previous job. While you don’t want to necessarily abandon your skills from school or a previous job, don’t limit yourself and consider your options. Many skills you have are transferrable and may work in other industries or job titles. Re-evaluate what kind of position your skills might be useful for to broaden your job search.

2. Check in with your references. While the company you’re trying to get a job with will let you know if a reference comes back less than favorable, don’t wait until then to find out. Periodically check in with your references to make sure they can remember you. Consider adding new references if a lot of time has gone by or if someone has moved out of the area.

3. Volunteer. Helping others will help boost your attitude and give you current activity to add to your resume.

4. Learn a new skill. Taking courses to add new skills and meet new contacts could help your job search, but don’t turn down the idea for financial reasons. Free tutorials are available online to help keep your current skills sharp or to gain new ones. Try a site like Coursera.org which offers classes in various subjects, including business, computer science, education and more.

5. Seek out community resources. Many areas have organizations in place funded through local governments and nonprofit foundations to help job seekers get back on their feet. You could schedule a consult with a workforce professional to update your resume, help assess your skills, and check in with them on who’s hiring in the area.

6. Don’t forget your local employment agencies as well! We have the ability to “shop your resume” around to various employers, and can help you either gain more experience with a temporary job, or be your stepping stone to a permanent position!

5 Tips to Get You Started on an Objective Statement

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Jen Hughes, CPC

Objective writing can be a tricky business from start to finish. What do you say in them? How do you know what to include?

1. DON’T be too general. Sometimes people make the mistake of being too general in their statements — it’s easy to put down “Career oriented professional seeks full-time employment”, but what does that really say about you? Use your objective statement to set yourself aside from other applicants. Include specifics whenever possible (but don’t get TOO lengthy!) especially when applying for a particular position.

2. DON’T regurgitate what’s already in your cover letter. Your cover letter should whet the appetite of your prospective employer and give them reason to keep reading, while your objective statement should be a quick blurb about you and what you seek to get out of your job search. Again, keep it short and sweet and tailor it to a specific position if at all possible.

3. DO have someone else read it. Firstly, that friend, family member, etc. can help ensure your resume is typo and spelling-error free. But secondly, they can also tell you if your objective statement is an appropriate reflection of you. Knowing you and what kind of past work experience you’ve had and what you’re looking for, they’ll be in a position to judge if you’re giving yourself the credit you deserve.

4. DO be honest. Honesty is always the best policy. Not much work experience to back up your decision to apply for a particular job? Use that. Add in that you’re looking to gain experience and grow with the position. Some opportunities require that previous experience, but others may be more flexible. The silver lining is that you’ll be challenged and invested in your new position, as opposed to someone that’s been doing it for years and find it to be old hat.

5. DO brainstorm. Still having trouble pinning down the perfect objective statement for your resume? Try a brainstorming session. Write down all of your skills and experience on one side, and your career goals on the other. Connect the ones that make the most sense to give you some bare bones to start with–you’ll get keywords to use and hopefully some perspective on your career objective!

Don’t Make These Mistakes: Revamping your Resume

Posted on July 2, 2012 by reaston1

Building a quality resume can be extremely challenging for professionals of all ages. Providing the right information and details that will impress a hiring manager can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help improve your resume and avoid popular mistakes when writing a resume andrevamping it for future opportunities.

1. Spelling errors, typos, and bad grammar: Always proofread your resume before submitting it. It doesn’t hurt to have a friend look over it as well.

2. Skip the heavy resume paper, elaborate design, and otherembellishments: Most companies today are going paperless, and submitting aresume online is often the preferred way to receive a candidate’sinformation. Many also use computer software to filter resumes to reject onesthat are too busy or not what they’re looking for, and your application willnever be viewed. Also, all the fancy details can be distracting to the hiringmanager who is viewing hundreds of applications, and your true potential may be hidden behind all the banners, fonts, and borders.

3. Too much Detail: Keep it short and sweet, try to limit your resume to one page. And don’t forget the cover letter can be used to display your talents and sell yourself.

4. Don’t get too Personal: Ensure the information is relevant to the position in which you’re trying to fill. Make sure that skills, hobbies,and emails are work acceptable and non-controversial.

5. Don’t Stretch the Truth: Make sure that information is not fabricated. Many companies hire an outsider to do background checks. Although it may look good on paper, honesty is the best policy. Getting caught in a lieisn’t the kind of first impression you want to leave.

Go Green: Making a More Green Office

Posted on June 21, 2012 by reaston1

The increasing trend of “Going Green” has become a nation wide phenomenon. In order to protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations, it’s important to practice Eco-friendly activities and create an environmentally mindful lifestyle. Implementing a “go green” environment doesn’t have to stop at home. Reducing, reusing, and recycling within the office can dramatically help decrease the toxic waste that harms our environment.

Starting with the 3 R’s is a great way of becoming more environmentally aware at the office – reduce, reuse, recycle. Reducing the amount of waste created by an office overall is a great way to start. Next, encourage reusing and recycling within the office.

Here are some simple ideas/tips to implement at the office to create a greener, more Eco-friendly environment.

Cutting down on office transportation: Carpooling with a co-worker or taking public transportation creates benefits for the environment and the employees. Also, if your employer allows you to work at home, take advantage of this opportunity.
Monitoring paper use: Only print when it’s necessary and encourage your office to use electronic time-cards and print double sided. When purchasing paper, look for high amounts of post-consumer recycled content.
Try Soy-Bean Ink: It’s not only better for the environment, it’s better for your company. It has lower levels of harmful toxins, creates brighter and sharper color due to the soy bean oils, and prices are comparable to those for normal ink, but less soy-based ink is needed per print job, so you are actually saving money.
Create Less Waste in the Break Room: Instead of using paper products, supply hardware and reusable cups, plates, forks, knifes etc. to eliminate trash waste.
Update Mailing Lists: Avoid sending out unnecessary letters with a current, up to date list of clients and employees.

Conserve energy: Using natural lighting, installing motion sensors, and replacing light bulbs with fluorescent ones will all help to save energy and reduce costs.