CAN YOU AFFORD TO WRITE YOUR OWN RESUME?Written by Ann Baehr
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returning to workplace after raising your children and are concerned gap will put you at a disadvantage. Maybe you are just starting out in your career and do not think you have enough to offer a company. Or, maybe you are ready for a career change and do not know how to create a presentation that will position you for a new field. If you have done your homework (which we believe you have since you are reading this article!), you know that a resume is often referred to as a "marketing tool." No different than a commercial advertisement, your resume needs to entice reader to buy product (you) by grabbing their attention, listing product's benefits (your qualifications), and compel reader to make a move - in this case, to invite you to an interview. As you know, time is money. The more time that passes after sending your resume out, more money you lose if it is not generating responses. If you cannot afford to be out of work for several months, you should make decision to have your resume professionally prepared. Here is a quick quiz to help you put things into perspective: Client A: wanted to save money, so she prepared her own resume. She faxed and mailed her resume to over 50 companies over a period of six weeks, but nothing happened. While she kept her fingers crossed, she depleted half of her savings. She eventually landed an interview in seventh week through someone she knew. Client B: understood that having her resume professionally developed was a good investment. Without one, she knew she could not launch her career in right direction. She faxed and mailed her professionally prepared resume out to ten companies over a two-week period. By end of week two, she landed a great interview that resulted in a fabulous job. Quick Quiz: who came out financially ahead in long run? If you answered job seeker that invested wisely in consulting with a professional resume writer, you are 100% correct! So, in summary, question is not whether or not you can afford to write your own resume. The question is whether or not you can afford not to have it done properly.
Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York. She currently serves as Second Vice President of the National Resume Writers' Association. Her work has been published in over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes online at www.e-bestresumes.com or email Ann Baehr directly at resumesbest@earthlink.net
| | Illegal Interview Questions -- Be PreparedWritten by Nathan Newberger
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C) TIPS ON HOW TO RESPOND TO ILLEGAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. ========================================================== First and foremost, avoid reacting in a hostile fashion – remember that you can always decide later to decline job offer. Your goal during interview is to try and get job offer. Response 1: ----------- Go ahead and answer question. If you don’t feel uncomfortable and you think your answer is in your favor, why worry? Go ahead and answer question and make no mention that you think its improper or illegal. Just remember that you run risk of harming your candidacy if you give an answer not favorable to what interviewer has in mind. Response 2: ----------- Refuse to answer question. You are within your rights but in a delicate and sensitive area with regards to potential job offer. You can say politely that you don’t feel comfortable answering question and ask to move on. You may even want to mention to interviewer that question is illegal and doesn’t pertain to job. The key here is to be as tactful as possible. But keep in mind, you may come across as confrontational or not a “team player” in eyes of interviewer. Generally speaking, its better not to confront or debate interviewer about legality of a question. But if you have any uncertainty about questions, you should be alert to any pattern of discrimination…especially if you notice several illegal questions. Try and remember questions and speak employer’s HR director and get answers to what may have happened. Sincerely, Nathan Newberger, Managing Editor http://www.WorkTree.com "Helping You Find More Jobs Faster"
Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at http://www.WorkTree.com Nathan has over 10 years experience as a both a recruiter and career counselor.
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