How to Create Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn


When getting started on LinkedIn one of the first things you should do is choose a professional looking photo to include in your profile. This image should ideally be only a head shot; keep in mind when choosing your photo that LinkedIn is used for to promote yourself as a professional. Keep your birthday party and vacation photos on Facebook. People are drawn to images, and if your profile features one you are more likely to get noticed than others who have not included a photo of themselves.
Another thing to keep in mind when creating your profile is to only include information that is true. As much you think adding to your work history will help you look more established, in the end it can actually end up hurting you. Everyone you add as a connection on LinkedIn can view your profile, and if you include false information you will more than likely be found out. If this happens it can lead to an embarrassing situation for you.
You should also include any external links that are associated with you. These links can include your social media accounts such as, Facebook and Twitter. If you have a blog or website you should also include links to those as well. Many LinkedIn users aren't aware that this feature exists, but you are allowed to use up to three links.

5 Reasons You Need a Resume


A job resume is a critical component to any situation in which an individual is looking for a job. If you do not have a resume yet, now is the time to put one on paper. Any human resource department is likely to ask job applicants for this document. If you think that you can use the same old version you used five years ago, think again. There is no doubt that having this document is a must, but an updated version is just as important.
#1 - Keyword Search
One of the reasons you need a well-designed job resume is because it will afford you the ability to get into the computers that many human resource departments use to screen job applicants. If you do not have a keyword search amplified resume, you are unlikely to get the job call back. In short, you need to include the right words about your job skills in your resume so that in a keyword search, your resume shows up.
#2 - Define Your Objective
On that document, be sure to list a job objective. This is a very well thought out statement about what your career goals are. It tells the human resource manager what you are looking for and lets that individual determine if the company can offer what you need.
#3 - Showcase Your Job Skills
A job resume also needs to showcase your job skills. These are the job skills that the company needs (hopefully you have matched them directly to the job ad you are responding to) and they are skills that you can easily demonstrate. Every employer is looking for this information.

How to Email Your Resume ?

In today's world, emailing your resume to a potential employer has become commonplace, in some cases even a preferred way, to apply for jobs. Although many employers now welcome and encourage emailed applications, they also may have particular rules about what types of files they accept via email.
- Some companies will accept your resume as an email attachment in Microsoft Word format.
- Some companies will only accept resumes in plain text. They may also stipulate that resume must be in the body of the email, or they may allow attachments.
The thing to be aware of is that while it is true that Microsoft Word allows all kinds of fancy fonts, and layouts, plain text gives you virtually no control over formatting. For this reason you must take care to format your resume in a way that will look good in either file type. The best way to do this is to prepare and maintain your resume in Microsoft Word, complete with formatting, and then use that as the basis for creating plain text versions of your resume. This isn't too difficult, as you can simply convert a Microsoft Word document into plain text by using the following steps:

Four Microsoft Word Tips for the Resume Do-It-Yourselfer

When writing your resume, content is first and foremost. As more and more resumes are electronically scanned and entered into applicant tracking systems, sometimes an end user doesn't see anything BUT the content. But let's face it, looks matter too sometimes, right? Since your resume and cover letter are really the only aspect of your job search that are under your control, better to err on the safe side and be sure that your resume will stand out from the crowd. In fact, one of the best reasons to work with a professional resume writer is that making beautiful resumes with great content is what they're experts at. If you decide to go it alone, here are some Microsoft Word 2007 tips to help you catch the eye of recruiters doing a quick scan.
  1. Easily add horizontal lines. Word 2007 has an awesome feature that allows you to quickly insert horizontal lines in your document. Type the header you'd like, such as Professional Experience, then space and enter the three characters associated with the horizontal line you'd like to insert and press enter. There are six different horizontal line break shortcuts available: 1. 3 dashes - creates a thin horizontal line 2. 3 asterisks - creates a dotted line 3. 3 underscores - creates a thick horizontal line 4. 3 equal signs - creates a double horizontal line 5. 3 pound signs - creates a thin/thick/thin triple line 6. 3 tides (the wavy line to the left of your 1 button at the top of your keyboard) - creates a wavy horizontal line. These lines can be tricky to remove if you don't know how. Simply select the text that line is over or under, and from your Page Layout menu, select Page Borders. In the pop-up window, select the Borders tab and use the Preview area to remove or add borders as appropriate. Be sure to have the Paragraph option selected from the pull down menu, otherwise you will apply borders to the individual words.

Writing an Effective Resume Objective Statement

What goes into an effective resume objective statement? This type of statement is at the top of your professional resume. It is not a summary of what your resume includes. It is not a place for you to beg for a job. It is a place to state why you are looking for a job in this company as well as what you hope to achieve. Every individual's objective statement needs to be unique based on his or her job skills, experiences, and work history. To write one, consider the following simple tips to help you to pull it off.
What Do You Want to Do
One key component of the professional resume is to list what you have done. However, in the objective statement, the goal is to write what you want to do with the company. To write this, you will need to include specific information about the job position you want to achieve. For example, if you want to work as a sales manager, state that in your statement. You may say, "To work as a sales manager... " This tells the hiring manager whether or not the job position open is one for you.

Video Resume - 6 Tips To Increase Your Interviewing Chances

In a competitive job market, you only get one chance to make a first impression. In the past, first impressions were primarily based on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, but now employers are beginning to incorporate video into their recruitment program to identify qualified candidates that they would like to interview.
It is important that you take advantage of the latest recruitment trends to increase your chances of getting an interview. Consider developing a video resume that allows you to demonstrate your personality and communication skills as well as highlight top qualities that may not be tangible in your resume. No matter how well-written your resume may be, there is no substitute for allowing employers to get to know you on a more personal level.
Below are a few tips on how to create an effective video resume:
1. Keep it short and simple. Your video should be limited to one to three minutes in length. Identify a few key aspects of your experience, achievements or abilities that you want to focus on that will add value to the employer. It is important to stay focused and remember sometimes less is more.

Video Resume Making Tips

With the development of new technology, everything can be done more and more creative. So does the resume making. How to attract employer's attention among thousands of resume applications? We need to do something special. Video resume is really a good idea. Video resume is a way of expressing employee's characteristics and capabilities through digital devices recording. After you edit and convert the video format, you can send it to the employers. They will know you better after watching the video in a short time.
Now, let's get the most simplest method as below.
Firstly, you should prepare all the personal materials and video recording tools.
1. You should have a video recording tool. DV is the best. If you don't have a DV, you can also record video by your iPhone. You'd better test it before the real recording.
2. You should prepare all your personal materials. You'd better remember what you want to say before recording, so that you won't pause your shooting when you forget what to say.
3. You can shoot and put your personal diploma, degree certificates and qualification certificates at the beginning of the resume. Some companies attach importance to the educational background and certifications.
4. If necessary, you can download some pictures and videos you can use in your video.

Resumes for Internships


In the case of internships, both the candidates and the employer have different goals than would be the case for a full-time professional position. Furthermore, employers are likely to use somewhat different selection criteria when choosing interns as opposed to recruiting full-time employees. As you might expect, these differences are reflected in the application process, and a particular style of resume, known as the "internship resume" has gradually developed in this area. Some of the key differences between internships and full-time professional positions include:
- A good candidate's goal in applying for an internship is not to further their career, but rather to acquire skills and improve their education, so that they later can successfully seek a position in the industry.
- Professional experience is not required for an internship - the whole purpose (from the candidate's point of view) is to gain experience.
- Academic achievements rather than work experience are one of the key differentiatiors when applying for an internship - and good candidates are able to demonstrate that the desired internship is a logical extension to their studies.

Bio Vs Resume - What's the Difference?


What's the difference between a bio and a resume (and when do you use each one)? If you're confused about bio versus resume and when to use which, this article will help. A bio is a short summary of the most impressive highlights of your background, whereas a resume gives a comprehensive picture of your education and work experience year by year. Both describe your background but the intended purpose, level of detail and presentation are different.
When to use a bio versus resume
Bios are basically used as promotional material. A bio or career biography tells a short story about you in a couple of paragraphs. It's a summarized version of who you are and what you're all about.
A bio is normally found in a business owner's profile or about the author in the flap jacket of a book. It's intended to be a succinct, compelling overview of the person. In a paragraph or two, the most impressive facts are provided to give a picture to the reader. The description is written in the third person and may include years of experience, some well-known companies, recognized commercial awards, marital status, number of children, place of dwelling, and other pertinent details.
One way to think about it is that a bio is a little advertisement for you and your business. It summarizes just the most impressive highlights of your background. In contrast, a resume gives a complete summary of your experience, education, and skills - normally in chronological order.

How to Write a High School Student Resume - And Why You Should Have One


If you're still in school, chances are you've given little if any thought to writing your resume. You may think you don't need one, or perhaps you know you do, but haven't a clue how to write one. But having a resume, even while you're still in school, can prove extremely beneficial, whether you're applying for a part time job or filling out a college application.
Potential employers and college recruiters are interested in seeing a summary of what you've accomplished to this point, including your academic achievements, special talents and abilities, and personal experiences. It doesn't have to be fancy, but there are certain elements every resume should include.
Heading
At the top of the resume you should list your personal contact information, including name and address (both permanent and email) and a permanent telephone number where you can be reached. If necessary, create a new email address if your current one doesn't come across as being very professional. You won't be taken seriously if you're asking a prospective employer to reach you at luvs2party[at]whatever.com.

Job Resume For College Students - Three Tips To Get You Started


Resumes are a necessary part of the job search process and as college students are preparing to graduate or enter the work force, their first resume needs to create a powerful first impression. College student resumes are going to differ slightly from a resume of a person who has been working for several years and is changing careers or positions, as their work experience and employment history will be showcased more prominently. So can a college student resume still create that strong impact and get those interview calls coming? Absolutely! Here are some tips to consider when creating your resume right out of college.

  • Tip #1 - Format Is Everything. If you have never written a resume before, you might think that there is only one resume format available and that you must write your resume to that exact format. Wrong! There are several resume formats available and they each have their own pros and cons. The three standard resume formats that are widely used in the job market today are the chronological, functional, and combination (or hybrid) formats. Choose a format that compliments your prior work history during college or one that focuses more on showcasing your skills and achievements during your time in school. Extra tip - We've written hundreds of resumes and our most popular format for college student resumes is the combination resume format.

Top Strategies for Your Social Media Resume


A social media resume can be an extremely valuable tool because it pulls employers to you instead of forcing you to push your resume to them. That said, there are some caveats to bear in mind before you go this route.
A social media resume is best for a candidate who has a very clear and relatively narrow "brand." If your education and experiences scream out that you are a great market researcher (or business analyst or recruiter), and you are looking strictly at opportunities that represent a logical progression in your field, then a social media resume is a terrific tool.
But what if you are a candidate with a relatively broad range of skills and experiences who is perhaps pursuing two or three different job niches? Here's an example: Let's say that Susan has been a fifth-grade teacher in a private school. She reaches a stage where she wants to move on to another job. But what sort of job? She's thinking that she might want to stay in a classroom teacher role, but she's weighing the tradeoffs between an inner-city public school classroom versus simply moving to a different private school catering to relatively wealthy families. Yet a part of her would like to get out of the classroom altogether and try her hand at a job in the corporate sector-most likely in training and development-or maybe even an academic advising role at a university.

Marketing Resume Objective


There are different designations in the field of marketing. When you are applying for any position in the marketing field, you need to write a strong marketing resume objective to get attention from the hiring managers. Marketing jobs require number of interpersonal skills. People working in this field have to often interact with the clients and resolve their queries. Some important designations in this field are marketing manager, marketing officer, executives, etc. The marketing resume objectives should clearly state the position you are seeking in the company and the skills and accomplishments that makes you suitable for the position.
Marketing Resume Objectives
Marketing manager has to perform the tasks of designing, executing and assisting the annual marketing plans for the organization. They have to plan the marketing budget for the company. There are number of skills necessary for working in the marketing field. Some of the major skills are as follows:

Branding Yourself


Branding has undergone a fast paced evolution and today it has emerged into a very influential revolution in the print, electronic, outdoor and new media. Branding is a process that evokes an emotional reaction in the target segment. It stimulates and persuades the target segment by making home feel the difference that any particular brand has made to the lives of countless consumers. Scope and size of any branding campaign is totally dependent upon the availability of budget and the preferences of the company management in launching a branding campaign.
It's an endless story that can go to the most extreme glory in all terms and conditions provided the company has courage and capability to allow such freedom. Its good to go on all media with your branding campaign but it has to start to be smarter from home. Branding campaign should start from the company's own premises, staff, vehicles, uniform and all that is visible to the world. Everything must reflect the power of brand through intensive branding at home. This creates a sense of pride and belonging among the staff and makes visitors feel the corporate personality of any brand at home. It looks so charming and it reflects the corporate culture of that particular company.

Why Is LinkedIn So Important in Your Job Search?


If you're a job seeker who doesn't use LinkedIn in looking for job opportunities, you are not probably aware of the current tools being used by recruiters. Employers nowadays do not only review your resume. In fact, they are more interested in reading your LinkedIn profile to get more information about your qualifications. Aside from being a vital recruitment tool, you might wonder why LinkedIn plays an important role in your job search. Read on to know the answers.
Why More Employers Choose LinkedIn Over Traditional Resumes?
Recruiters and employers choose LinkedIn over traditional resumes for the following reasons:
1. Since a LinkedIn profile can be easily edited, the provided information is more updated and relevant in the context of one's industry.
2. A resume is often limited to a page or two while your LinkedIn profile could have unlimited information.
3. A LinkedIn profile is often considered more trustworthy since it's seen by the public. People are less likely to lie about their skills and experience as past and present colleagues could quickly point and call out exaggerations and fabrications.

5 Tips to Writing a Compelling LinkedIn Summary


A compelling LinkedIn summary has the potential to really set your LinkedIn profile apart from your competition. Recently I have been spending a lot more time on LinkedIn, and I really like how they have stepped up to the plate and offered a great B2B social networking platform.
That being said, I'm seeing a lot more marketing mistakes made by LinkedIn users than any other social networking website, starting with the "summary" or the biography you are allowed to write about yourself. A lot of times, these summaries read like job applications instead of a compelling statement about YOU as a person.
The goal of this article is to teach you how to use a LinkedIn summary to your advantage. I want to break down five tips that can bring your summary from a decent "biography" about you, to a message that entices people into contacting you. Ditch that job application formula, and follow these steps for a good LinkedIn summary.