Commenters have been asking what they should do if they’re just breaking into the job market or lack experience, but still need to create a resume.  Starter resumes, or resumes for first time job seekers, can still highlight useful experience, education, and show a potential employer what you have to offer. Here are a few tips for designing a starter resume that rocks.

• Choose a basic format. Templates are available online, and are included in many word processing programs.
• Provide up to date contact information. Include a daytime phone number and a valid email address. If you have a cutesy email address, consider registering one consisting of only your name and/or initials to use just for resumes. This allows you to make a professional first impression.
•  Include any relevant experience you do have, such as babysitting or volunteer work. If you have completed coursework at school that is relevant to the job you’re applying for, include that as well.
• List any activities or organizations that you hold a leadership role in, such as president of the Latin club or captain of a sports team. Include a statement about how this activity has helped you to develop responsibility or leadership skills.
• Avoid padding your resume or adding fluff.

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One frequently asked interview question is “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” When practicing for your next job interview, be sure to consider this question carefully. Take time to think about what the potential employer is trying to learn about you.

There are two ways to handle this question in a positive way. The first is to list a weakness that you have as a strength. For example, “I often get impatient with coworkers who don’t give 100%.” The weakness - impatience - is overshadowed by the statement that you feel it is important to give 100% to your job. You are answering the question without making yourself appear weak, and therefore a poor fit for the job.

Another way to address this question is to use your answer as an opportunity to clear up gaps in your resume. In this case, it is ok to admit that you were undecided about a career choice, or that you took six years to get through college because you changed your major. Just be sure to wrap up your answer with a positive remark about what you learned in the process. This type of answer shows your employer that you know yourself well, and can be trusted to analyze yourself truthfully. It also gives you a chance to preemptively answer questions the interviewer may have.

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Once you’ve attended multiple interviews and decided on the job offer you’d like to accept, you’re left with the daunting task of declining the other offers you’ve received. Taking the time to decline these offers politely is important, and much better than simply cutting ties with the company completely. After all, you may want to re-apply in the future.

When declining a job offer, first make a phone call to the interviewer or human resources department, to let them know of your decision. Then follow up with a brief note, stating that you are declining the offer. This gives the potential employer a written document to place in your file, to reference in the future if necessary. Avoid putting anything negative about the employer in writing - simply stick to a polite note declining the offer of employment.

When listing the reason for declining, you can make a general statement about the job offer not being a good fit for you at this time. Take the time to thank the interviewer for his or her time, and leave it at that. You’ve conveyed the necessary information, without bogging the potential employer down with unneeded details.

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Occasionally,  you will be offered a position after a successful job interview, but will need more time than offered to make your decision. In this case, it becomes necessary to request an extension of the deadline for acceptance.

Remember that while you have the right to ask for an extension, the employer does not have to grant your request. Be sure you have a valid reason for requesting your extension. If appropriate or necessary, state this reason in  your response. However, word it as tactfully as possible. If, for example, you have another interview scheduled, be sure to state that it is important to you to honor the committment that you have made.

You should first phone the employer to request an extension. Afterward, follow up with a written or emailed request.

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When you begin the process of writing your resume, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind. Knowing what you should before you begin will help you to write a clear, focused, goal-oriented resume.

Before you begin to write, you need to know:

 What You Want

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Let’s face it - looking for work can be a full time job in and of itself. Between searching the classifieds, tailoring your resume to individual ads, and responding to interview questions, you probably feel like you’ve put in that forty hour week already!  Use our handy list of job search tips to ease the pain and make the process a little easier.

• Design a resume template:  Make a file on your computer with a partially completed resume. Add in the information that will remain the same for each job listing, but leave areas that will be customized blank, such as the resume objective. The next time  you need a company-specific resume, half your work is already complete!
•  Use Job Services : Sign up with online job search agencies such as Monster and CareerBuilder. These sites will help you to locate jobs quickly and easily. You can even upload your resume and have potential employers search for you! It doesn’t get much better than that.
• Seek Help : Check locally to see what job search agencies and services are available. If you have a college degree, see if the Career Services department at your school can help - many provide assistance for alumni

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Writing an objective statement can be challenging, but is key to creating a strong resume. Your objective statement informs the hiring manager about your goals - what you are trying to gain from submitting your resume to their company.

Objective statements serve several purposes. They help you to establish an identity for your potential employer, introducing you in a positive light.  They show that you are a goal oriented person, and they summarize your characteristics and strengths in a quick, take-away statement.

When writing your resume, tailor your objective statement to the individual company that you are applying to. Use your objective as an opportunity to demonstrate familiarity with the company, by calling a position by the same title used in the job description. Include the company name as well, if possible.

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When writing your resume, keep in mind that the hiring manager may be viewing tens to hundreds of resumes per posting. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that you make your resume stand out somehow. Otherwise, you risk being lost in a sea of paper, or worse, ending up in the circular file.

The best way to stand out is to have a strong title, as well as a strong objective statement for your resume. Each of these tools helps to show the manager why you’re submitting your resume, as well as why you’re right for the job.

Your Title should be short, succinct, and explain who you are. No clever or cutesy titles need apply - stick to the facts. “RN, Pediatrics and Labor/Delivery” is a good title. “Cute Young Nurse Needs a Job” is not.  If possible, use your title to sum up your skills and qualifications, so that the hiring manager knows what they’re getting before they even break into the meat of your resume.

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We’ve all been in this situation - multiple resume submissions, and needing to update our resume to make it personalized for each company. What’s the best way to go about doing so?

It’s actually easier than you might think. To update your resume quickly and easily, consider a simple reorganization.

Begin with your basic resume information - the details of your jobs held, skills acquired, and accomplishments. Type this out in a text document, and add strong power verbs. Make the individual bullet points stand alone, so that each can be cut and pasted at will. This technique assumes that you’re using a skills based or functional resume.

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When offered a job, it can be difficult to broach the subject of salary with your new employer. You don’t want to ask for too much and alienate them or look foolish, but you also don’t want to end up being underpaid. Negotiating a salary is easier than you think, when you follow a few simple guidelines.

•  Respond to the question in a positive manner, but avoid stating specific amounts. Make a statement such as “I earned a salary in the mid-30’s at my previous job”
• If a job application asks for a requested salary, you can fill it in with a requested range, or use a term such as “competitive” to indicate that you’re willing to accept the industry standard rate.
• Research salaries in your field
• Know how much you are willing to compromise.  Before you enter an interview, be mentally prepared with the lowest salary amount you will accept. Be open to negotiation, up to a point.

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After a job interview, follow up is essential. The way you approach the powers that be could make or break your chances at getting the job, so be sure you approach them the right way. Use these key tips to make sure you follow up properly and make a great impression.

1.  Call the Hiring Manager to Get Feedback: Wait the time period specified in the inteview, and then call to follow up on the position. Call every 3-4 days to see if there has been a decision made on the position.  More becomes harassment, less implies that you aren’t interested. Your goal is to show your commitment to obtaining a position, without being rude.
2. Thank the Manager for an Interview: We covered the thank you letter last week - be sure to send one! Taking the time to send a thank you letter makes a great first impression and shows that you’re serious about the job.
3. Ask for Feedback - Even if You DON’T Get the Job:  Although it may be a blow to the ego, asking for feedback from an interviewer is a crucial part of the interviewing process. It will give you vital information that you can use for the next job interview. And it shows the interviewer that you are a serious, business minded professional.

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After a job interview, it is essential to take the time to write a thank you letter. Doing so sets  you apart from the other candidates, and helps you to stand out in the mind of the interviewer. If you’re debating whether a thank you letter is really “that” important, let these reasons help you make up your mind.

1. Thank You Letters Keep You Fresh in the Interviewers Mind  After a series of interviews, applicants can begin to run together. Sending a thank you letter gives the interviewer another chance to see your name, and to match a face with your resume.
2. Thank You Letters Reinforce that You Want the Job Taking the time to write a thank you letter shows that you are vested in getting the job. It shows interest and dedication - qualities that employers are looking for in potential employees.
3. Thank You Letters are a Polite Way to Decline a Job  If, after an interview, you decide that the job isn’t a good fit for you, a simple letter thanking the interviewer for his or her time and withdrawing your application is an easy way to save frustration for all parties. It allows you to decline the job politely, without burning bridges in case you need a job with the company in the future.
4. Thank You Letters Provide an Opportunity for Follow Up  If you walked out of the interview kicking yourself for not mentioning several of your more stellar skills, a thank you letter can be the perfect opportunity to highlight them. Take this opportunity to discuss items you didn’t get a chance to cover in the interview.

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When you write your resume, be sure to showcase your skills to their best advantage.  Word choice truly is everything. The way you describe your previous job and the skills you used can make all the difference in the number of interviews you are offered.  Use these tips to show off your skills:

•  Use Attention Grabbing Verbs: Use management oriented verbs that show off your skills.
• Make Strong Word Choices:  Your job wasn’t “bookkeeping”. It was ” Management of A/R and A/P accounts”  Whenever possible use words like”organized, managed, and supervised”
• Use Titles and Headings that Match the Job You  Want

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Employers are using phone interviews more often as a way to pre-screen applicants before bringing them in for a face to face interview. Other employers are using them as a way to interview long distance applicants for the first time, before investing time and money in long distance travel. Either way, in today’s job market it is a wise idea to be prepared for a telephone interview.

Prepare for a Phone Interview Using These Tips:

•  Make Lists: You’ll be able to use your notes, so be sure to make lists of answers to interview questions, strengths and weaknesses, and any other information you’d like to have handy if an interviewer calls
• Keep a Resume Handy: Tape up a copy of your resume near each phone, so that you have it available when needed. This will make it easy to access, and save stressful rummaging
• Clear the Room: If an interviewer calls, enlist help to clear the room of noisy distractions such as children, barking dogs, or loud background noises. You want to have a professional phone presence.

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Some of the worst resume mistakes are also the easiest to avoid. Today, I’d like to discuss these Resume Mistakes that are almost guaranteed to cost you an interview!

1. Errors in Correspondence:

Simple grammatical errors in correspondence can be killer. Take the time to proofread resumes, cover letters, email inquiries, and all other correspondence before you hit the send button or lick the stamp. Lack of attention to detail can sent your resume hurtling toward the circular file, so be sure to proofread.

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Most resumes are rejected for one reason - lack of a clear objective. If your resume is wishy washy, wandering from topic to topic with no clear purpose, it’s doomed for the circular file. Take the time to draw up a clear objective for your resume to be sure it finds its way to the top of the stack.

A resume with a clear objective should have the following features:

A Concise Goal:  State your goal at the top of the page. Make it clear, concise, and easy to understand.

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