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[R277]Resume Help For Free

by Richard Adams, Ric

Also, knowing the pressure you are under to write something amazing - something that will encourage recruiters to pick up the phone and call you - can cause what can only be described as "writers block".

This is when it can be useful to get some resume help and so start to fire up your inspiration and enthusiasm levels.

1) Discussion Forums

The first of these sources of resume help is online discussion forums.

A quick search in Google will reveal dozens of forums for job searchers that you can set up an account with.

Here you can ask for help and perhaps even give a little something back to the community when your resume starts generating the sort of results you want.

The problem with forums, of course, is that being free you're highly unlikely to get the best advice possible.

After all, anyone with any real "secrets" and short cuts to resume success are likely to have packaged up the information and sold it rather than giving it away for free on a forum.

The information you'll find on forums tends to be far more basic and well-known, but can be of some use.

So while forums are better than nothing, they're certainly not the best source of resume help in my humble opinion.

2) Books

Whether these are print books from a book store or one of the assortment of online books (or ebooks) these sources of help tend to contain somewhat more "meat" than free discussion forums.

Often written by professionals in the recruitment field you're more likely to get a genuine "insiders look" at writing a resume - and indeed the whole recruitment process.

One factor to be aware of here is that the "rules" tend to change quite often in terms of what recruiters expect and the techniques that work best so it's advisable to check the publication date of any book you're considering.

Older books are generally better avoided (though of course there are still some gems around) while more recently published books should be sought out.

Ebook of course, being digital, can be and often are updated regularly so they are always up to date.

As with any rule there are exceptions but you're generally pretty safe with an ebook.

3) Resume Writing Consultants

These individuals can help to personally create your own plan of attack for job hunting.

Services typically offered include editing or critiquing an existing resume of yours, resume writing services, cover letter creation and interview skills training.

For the ultimate results these individuals are possibly the best solution but be sure you do your research thoroughly to select the best person for the job.

In addition, of course, this is the most expensive form of resume hlp and may be out of the realms of what you are willing to pay.

If this is the case, my own suggestion would be to select a few good books and then get to work!

Many people are in your position and also wonder what steps they should take to move up the corporate ladder. One thing you can do is stay on top of current trends and educational requirements in your field. But once you've fulfilled these tasks and are ready to apply for a job, you'll need a great resume to get your foot in the door. Let's look at some ways to create the right resume to match your accelerated career goals.

Try a Functional Resume Style

One recommended way to create a resume that appeals to higher-level recruiters and hiring managers is to shine a light on the skills you've acquired. You can get this done by using a functional resume format.

For example, if you were to use a functional format to describe your skills as an IT tech, instead of listing each job you've had year after year, you would focus on specific skills. By creating headings for each skill (ex. Software Development) you would be able to describe in detail all of the software you've developed for each company you've worked for. Using a functional resume in this way can help you expand on each skill you possess and show the employer your versatility as an employee.

Highlight Your Outside Achievements and Awards

Another great way to make your resume appeal to upper-level recruiters and hiring managers is by using a section to highlight anything you've achieved outside of your hired role. This works especially well if you focus on roles that have required you to act as a supervisor or manager of others.

For example, let's say at your current company you have worked as a training coordinator for 5 years. However, in your spare time you founded and led a diversity awareness group that consisted of 10 volunteer employees. With this group, you used presentations and focus groups to demonstrate the need for diversity awareness in a work setting. By noting such a huge accomplishment on your resume, you show the hiring manager that you're able to successfully develop and manage projects outside of your hired role.

Staying at Your Current Employer?

If you want to move up the corporate ladder while remaining at your current employer, it is a good idea to create a resume similar to one you would create for an outside employer. Why? Because it is very likely that the hiring manager won't have any idea what you've accomplished on the job. But don't feel bad about this duty as there are benefits to applying in-house, including being able to use respected employees for recommendations, and noting in-house training programs that are very relevant to the company.

Working your way up the corporate ladder can be an exciting ride – especially when you come equipped with the right tools. By showing up with a great resume and even better attitude, you'll see in no time that your ride to the top will move smoother than you could ever imagine.

Article Source : Pg. 22

About Author

Both Richard Adams & Heather Eagar are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Richard Adams has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Quit Smoking and Computers and The Internet. Looking for a new job? Find out how to create a winning resume today at . Richard Adams's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.

Heather Eagar has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter, Interview Questions and Careers and Job Hunting. Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top. Heather Eagar's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.