Distinctions Between Voice and ToneIn a recent blog conversation with an admired colleague, Debra O’Reilly, job search strategist and certified resume writer, we discussed the distinctions between voice and tone.In particular, we discussed how those distinctions might matter when writing a resume. Debra offered pithy, valuable points in regard to ensuring the resume voice aligns with the candidate’s personality, and that th...

So many resumes are flat – out of tune and uninspiring compositions. If you've read one "goal-oriented sales producer's" resume, you've read a million. Instead of dampening your writing muse with a plethora of requirements that dull, consider the value of a musically inclined communication. A business-lyrical resume is a metric and results-focused a cappella that breaks out into a chorus from time to time. It shou...

The struggle when revamping a recipe is akin to the angst when rebuilding your resume. Recently, in a lively Facebook discussion, I learned how to make a better egg dish. The processes I underwent mirrors what I see careerists face when cooking up a new resume – whether they hire a professional with which to collaborate or do it themselves. The reality of my struggle emerged when I began adding more eggs to my diet and rea...

Are you a professional or executive compelled to modernize your LinkedIn Profile with current strategies but concerned it will scream, ‘job seeker?’ Understandably, many people fear the implications of making a sudden and/or sweeping change to their Profile. In some companies, members of leadership, sales, marketing, IT and other divisions actively are updating their profiles in order to better represent their company. In...

The rules of job search have changed; in fact, some might say they have taken a 180-degree turn in recent years, particularly with the advent of social networking. The waters have become murkier than ever as career journalists vie for the attention of readers with click-generating headlines that are not necessarily in careerists’ best interests. A recent article, Quit Using These 10 Words to Describe Yourself on LinkedIn,...

It is amazing the patience you learn when you don’t want to be patient.Buying a house and landing a new job are two life-altering events where your patience is tested, sometimes to exhaustion.Buying a house requires you create a financial resume to support you through the extensive approval process. This means amassing a volume of personal documents that are assessed by critical eyes. Your history of financial achievements...

A recent ERE.net article, “Helicopter Parents,” addresses the idea of companies “adjusting … business practices and offerings to meet [millennial generation] expectations.” The conversation around how employers should cultivate an enriching culture that indicates employers are going to mentor, coach and care about the advancement and overall career satisfaction of their employees is valid. This topic is well-covered public...

Unbridled stress and angst can exacerbate today’s job search. The economy is uncertain, bad attitudes are ablaze and the competition is fiercer than ever. No wonder job seekers struggle with maintaining poise, hope and focus. With that said, targeted, positive and actionable behaviors are what create the perfect storm for meaningful outcomes in today’s job hunt. Avoidable job search behaviors abound. We’ve unearthed six mo...

International Talent Management Strategist Dorothy Dalton recently wrote a compelling blog post:“The Hard Truth About Soft Skills,” which absolutely nails the value of soft skills in a career story resume. Dalton describes how resumes that come to her attention often do so based on the “high incidence of hard skills in the text,” but goes on to assert that “… unless the resume or professional profile tells an engaging acco...

It is human nature in job search – as in dating – to want to keep your options open. Many job seekers, whether early-career and fairly inexperienced or 15+ years in and heralding a plethora of different functional strengths, feel they will limit their opportunities by narrowing their job search target. In fact, just the opposite will happen. Broad Resume Nets Don’t Work. By casting a broad net, job seekers drown out their...