Sector Switchers Advice by Topic
- Job Seekers (86)
- Search Strategy (80)
- Random (48)
- Resumes (15)
- Cover Letters (6)
- Stories (1)
- Resources (82)
- Sector Switcher Stories (51)
- Interviewing (23)
- Volunteering (7)
- Sector Switchers (6)
- College Students
- Young Professionals
- Sector Switchers
- Grad Students*
- High School Students*
- Americorps
- Political & Advocacy Jobs
- Green Jobs*
- Government Jobs*
- Social Enterprise Jobs*
- Education Jobs*
- *coming soon
Resumes Articles for Sector Switchers
Move Your Resume to the Top of the Pile
Published May 12, 2009 @ 10:06PM PT
Is your resume in this pile (it's a big pile!)? How can you move your resume to the top of the pile or even to the middle? Here is a quick resume checklist (pay close attention to number five):
-
Create different versions of your resume for the various types of positions that interest you, each highlighting the relevant skills and experience required.
-
Skip the fluff. If the reader has to ask, "so what?" at the end of a bullet, it's not useful.
-
Use action verbs and bulleted statements to communicate concrete results.
-
Include sections for awards, community leadership, continuing education, and involvement in professional organizations near the end of the resume, as relevant.
-
Proofread, proofread and proofread! Then, have someone else proofread, too. And then proofread it again.
-
References and salary information should be given only if requested.
-
Avoid acronyms, abbreviations or other lingo unless you are sending your resume to someone guaranteed to know how to decipher it.
-
Skip the Objective. At best, it narrows your search perhaps too far; at worst, it rules you out of consideration for any other jobs within the organization or about which the hiring manager may learn.
-
Make sure your resume stands out, but don't go so far as to use colored inks, odd formats or paper festooned with clouds.
-
Don't give statistics on age, marital status or health. It's illegal for them to consider it, and just plain tacky
If you are need to get started or refocus your job search efforts, take a quick look at an article I've written called "Jumpstart Your Job Search" .
Just Like Your Favorite Shoes, Make Your Resume Shine
Published May 19, 2009 @ 12:56PM PT
Writing your resume is sort of like shopping for a new pair of shoes - the choices are endless, but in the end you want a pair that look great and complement your style. Typically shoes can't be returned if they are worn, but you can change them based on what your doing or where you are going (think sneakers for the gym and dress shoes for the interview). And just like your stylish shoes, your resume should shine with your personal style, skills and achievements.
The thought of customizing a resume can be tricky and confusing especially if you haven't looked for a new job in 20 years or are switching sectors. The chronological resume is designed to show your work history in order, by date. This is a popular type of resume and really works for people who've been in the same field or job for a long time. It also works for people with no gaps in their work history. A functional resume or skills-based resume presents your skills and abilities, highlighting your accomplishments and range of experiences. This resume sometimes works best for sector switchers and those returning to the workforce because it can emphasize your transferable skills including those gained through volunteering, training or hobbies.
The newest arrival to the list of resume formats is the multimedia resume. Listen here to a recent NPR news story that talks with job seekers getting noticed using Multimedia presentations. After listening, you can visit here to design your own. It's here that you can develop your resume complete with photos, music, presentations and best of all, it's free.
When reviewing resumes, I ask a lot of questions about work history, skills and achievements to determine a candidates' best resume presentation. Remember this: A great resume is customized and isn't a "one size fits all," but should always reflect your skills, experience and possibility to a potential employer (and don't forget to spell check).
The $64,000 Question, Please Include Your Salary History
Published June 11, 2009 @ 06:44PM PT
In addition to your (fabulous) resume and cover letter, please include your salary history is a common request. This is one of the hardest questions a sector switcher must answer because comparing your previous salary to a nonprofit compensation package might show a BIG gap. And why would you leave all that money on the table? Because there are other things to consider in life besides compensation including more fulfillment and an opportunity to make a difference.
There are a couple of strategies to use when dealing with the salary issue:
- Don't answer it and hope it goes away. This isn't what I recommend, but if you want to take the chance, go for it. Most often it'll look like you are avoiding the question or think you're too important to answer it.
- Know when to answer the question. If you are at the beginning of the process, you can respond with a "I'd be glad to talk about this once the process moves forward. Why don't you tell me more about the job."
- Don't lie. Most important, don't be tempted to enhance or exaggerate your salary because the chances are VERY good they'll find out the real truth. Tell them the range of what you were making in the private sector, and then give a range for what your expectations are for this job.
- Do your homework. You can get a sense of what the salary range by investigating on your own if the potential employer hasn't shared this information up front. Visit www.guidestar.org to research Nonprofit 990s to find out what the top salaries are in an organization.
Salary history is used for to weed out candidates that are way above or way below a range and typically not a "We'll use this information in the negotiation when we get there" tactic. It's also your first attempt at following instructions from your potential, new employer. Given this, you should definitely answer the question.
Objective? Quite Simply, No
Published June 16, 2009 @ 07:14PM PT
When people ask me about an objective section on their resume, I recommend leaving it out. Save objective specifics for a cover letter. If your resume has an objective section, don't panic. You can leave it on there, but only if it's specific and is relevant to the job you are applying for. The biggest problem with objectives is that they are very rarely done well.
Many people will disagree with me and argue that an objective is a necessary component of a resume. And maybe they are right, but I estimate that we are split 50/50 and I remain anti-objective. It's all about perspective, and when searching for an ideal candidate, I am looking at resumes for specific outcomes and achievements, not a perfectly stated objective.
If you are just starting a new resume, consider some other options to showcase your personal brand. How about an outcome driven section titled, Personal Achievements or Selected Career Highlights? This takes the place of an Objective section, and provides a great overview. A couple of sentences does the trick, with a few bulleted achievements such as: "A seasoned customer service leader with a background in training and communications, leading teams of 30+ senior managers to achieve their personal best." Following this, a quick bulleted list of 3-4 outstanding accomplishments make a good case for your skills and achievements. Make sure the achievements are relevant to the job you are applying for, demonstrating your specific area of expertise and transferable skills.
If you are looking for more resume advice, feel free to reach out to me via email or post a question in the Q&A section. If you have a specific question, the chances are pretty good that someone else does too.
Listen In for Job Seeking Advice
Published June 17, 2009 @ 09:32AM PT
NPR's Morning Edition featured a great piece on job seeking this morning. The rules of have definitely changed in the last two years and Yuki Noguchi reports that recruiters have changed their style, as well.
What's the biggest change? The influx of online networking and increased use of LinkedIn, Facebook and other web-based tools by recruiters and job seekers. These rules are applicable across all sectors including the nonprofit sector. I took away a few things when listening this morning, but the most memorable thing was to make sure you have a LinkedIn profile. Without one, you run the risk of appearing woefully out of date and without contacts to your potential employer. Don't forget to visit www.LinkedIn.com and update your profile!
Weekend Read: Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve
Published June 21, 2009 @ 06:37AM PT
If you have a few minutes, visit www.Encore.org to read a recent article by Laura Gassner Otting, founder and president of NPAG (there is also ALL kinds of great information at Encore and NPAG!). Laura has some sage advice for preparing for an interview, writing a cover letter and networking. Telling your future employer that you want to make a difference just isn't enough to close the deal. There are other more effective strategies, including a focused cover letter that supports your passion for a specific job or demonstrating two or three specific transferable skills.
Job seeking is complicated and now, more so by the economy. If you are having difficulty with your job search, do a full 360 review. You need to take a complete inventory, look at your resume, cover letters, personal style and strategy to determine what's not working. Thinking strategically almost always pays off (you'll hear me say this A LOT). (photo courtesy of www.Flickr.com)
