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Articles by Teena Rose
Teena Rose is a columnist, public speaker, and certified/published resume writer with Resume to Referral. She's authored several books, including 20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer, How to Design, Write and Compile a Quality Brag Book and Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales. Read more articles from Teena Rose by visiting http://www.resumebycprw.com/resume_articles.htm
Keeping Your Executive Resume Current
Many people do not like the idea of keeping their resume up-to-date, and for a number of reasons. It may require that you admit that your job is not as secure as you wish; it may seem like too much of a chore, it may seem too difficult, or it could just be that you don't feel you have the time. However, maintaining a current executive resume, particularly for those in executive careers, is a wise decision for a number of reasons.
Yes, the job market is volatile, and even though no one likes to think about it, your job may not be as secure as you believe. Having a current resume is like having an insurance policy; should the worst happen, you'll be prepared. When unexpected layoffs, mergers, or changes in job functions occur, the stress compounds when it comes to updating that resume. For those who keep a current file, however, that stress can be greatly reduced, allowing you to focus on executive jobs rather than your paperwork.
Another, more positive reason to keep a current resume is that you never know when an opportunity may present itself. When you have reached the executive level, chances are much greater that an executive recruiter or another firm will call. If it's one of those opportunities that is too good to pass up (or at least investigate), having an updated resume is a distinct advantage. The option may be fleeting, and your competition may not be as savvy as you. While they struggle to update their resume, you can hand over an executive package complete with resume, biography, and sample projects summarizing your executive career.
Time can definitely be a problem, so consider keeping a file strictly for your resume and portfolio. Even details from the most impressive accomplishments can fade with time. As you complete projects, make a few notes, copy the numbers, and add the information to your file. As you receive positive feedback from senior management, customers, board members, or shareholders, keep records of this information as well. A quality quote or recommendation from a superior can sometimes spice up a resume or executive biography perfectly.
Hiring a professional for resume writing or executive coaching can also be a great time saver, particularly if you're one of the many people who feel intimidated by the resume writing process. A professional resume writer and career coach will have a good understanding of your industry and know the best keywords and phrases to include, while still tailoring your resume to your unique situation. When time is a factor, many will be able to provide a fast turnaround.
Regardless of whether or not you enlist the help of a professional, it's a good idea to keep your resume file current. Even the best professional will not be able to pull your accomplishments out of the air--you need to keep track of the important information. A good resume will quantify achievements, so pay particular attention to the numbers and other quantifiers. How much money did you save? Did you considerably shorten a process? Remember that time save equals money saved. Keep track of sales figures as well--if the company realized a significant increase in profit during your executive tenure, you'll want to make note of that as well!
Finally, another good reason to keep your executive resume current is that it keeps your achievements fresh in your mind. As a business professional, you understand the importance of networking, for both yourself and your company. Use your updated resume to create a mini sales pitch that use can use as needed to sell yourself as an executive professional and to sell your company. You never know when an opportunity to promote yourself and your business will present itself. Stay ahead of the competition and be prepared.
Raising Expectations Will Help Land That Raise
One of the most difficult tasks we face during our work careers is the prospect of asking for a raise. It can be a nerve-racking experience, even for the most confident individual. And for various reasons, it's even tougher for women.
When it comes to negotiating for salary, women fall far short of the accomplishments made by men. Several studies have outlined the disparity and some of the root causes. For instance, men will initiate salary negotiations about four times as often as women and women are 2.5 times more likely than men to feel apprehensive about negotiating for a raise.
"Men tend to see the world as mutable [and] women tend to see the rules as fixed, having rules they need to follow," Rosina Becerra, a UCLA associate vice chancellor, recently told a campus publication. "Women need to see that we can change the environment. We need to feel like we're doing good work and be able to talk about it."
Conversation is a good start, but changing fundamental and long-held workplace attitudes among women is essential. Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, authors of the book "Women Don't Ask," reveal that women in general are simply thankful about getting a job or receiving a raise, and are unwilling to take that benefit to the next level. One survey published by the authors found that since women are more pessimistic about the amount available when negotiating takes place, they end up with, on average, 30 percent less than men. And that number can add up over time. In a study of Carnegie Mellon graduates, Babcock found that 57 percent of male students negotiated their starting salaries compared to just 7 percent of the female students. The result was the men ended up with a starting salary that averaged $4,000 more.
So what can be done to combat the problem? Simply put, negotiating for a raise is like any other job skill. If you don't have it, you have to learn it. Don't treat it like a trip to the dentist. Communicating about money in a professional manner is something any boss would expect a good employee to be able to accomplish.
Two main ideas to consider before you walk into the boss' office to ask for a raise are first, analyze what your value is to the company and second, understand the current financial state of your company. Since timing is everything when asking for a raise, being aware of those two factors will help you reach your goal.
If you conclude that a pay raise is justified and the timing is right, take the next step by setting up a meeting with your boss. Always do this face to face and never through email or on paper.
Approach the meeting like a job interview, but keep it light-hearted and non-threatening so both parties feel comfortable discussing the issue. When a number is thrown around for a raise, use percentages as opposed to dollars. Companies base everything on percentage increases or decreases these days, and rarely base salary increases on whole numbers. So, if you're making $50,000 and think you deserve $55,000, put it in the context of a 10% raise.
When making your proposal, always shoot for a higher number than you think you can get, without getting carried away. This is a "negotiation." Always shoot higher than the number you're looking for, giving your boss room to come back with a lower number and feel like they're saving the company money.
In making a presentation to your boss, have a complete understanding of your workplace accomplishments. Quantify improvements you've made, problems you've solved and particular victories you've had. Also know the market value of your job, comparing it to similar ones both inside and outside of your workplace. For most companies, the human resource departments have pay scales for particular jobs. Find out what the range is for your job, what the maximum salary would be, and how performance is evaluated.
During negotiations, don't ask for a raise based on personal financial obligations. If you're asking for a raise because you just purchased a new house, are expecting triplets or want to buy a new Hummer, that's not going to fly with your boss.
Asking for a raise may seem like a one-shot deal, but you should approach it as a long-term goal, laying the groundwork for the future. You have to face the fact that you may be turned down, but that's all part of the process. If you don't ask, your boss may think you're perfectly satisfied with your current salary. If you don't get the raise you want for whatever reason, become more active and visible at work, and develop a plan that increases your negotiating power the next time you ask for that raise.
The Myth of the 10-Minute Resume
You can get your photos developed in 10 minutes. You can have the oil in your car changed in 10 minutes. You can do a lot of things in 10 minutes, but writing a resume isn't one of them. Not if you're serious about finding a good job.
Anytime you're promised something within a short time, you must ask yourself if it sounds too easy. Oftentimes services or tools that offer quick completions of your career documents are nothing more than a list of facts that you enter! You went to school, here, graduated then, worked here for five years, blah, blah, blah.
Sure, the products that promise a grand resume or cover letter are low-cost but there's question on whether they work. Documents created using pigeonholed methods tend to look like they were created from a cookie-cutter template. And, there's no sell, no sizzle - and when you're job hunting, you want some sizzle in that resume.
The Art of the Perfect Resume
Creating the right resume (or resumes) is an art. It's a skill you can learn, but creativity is an important aspect of the perfect resume, and that's where the art part starts.
Professional resume writers take the time to get to know you and your job search objective. They'll ask for extensive details about your work activities, looking for that little 'hook' that sets you apart from the competitors - all 82 of them!
Professional resume writers are also current on employment trends, current biz buzz words (never use paradigm), acceptable resume formatting and putting together a PEP - a professional employment package - that makes you look really, really good.
With a clear vision of your professional strengths and weaknesses, the resume pro goes to work crafting the perfect resume, making dozens of decisions on everything from what to include (and not to include) to how to best shine a spotlight on your strongest attributes as a job candidate. Unusual or diverse work experience, willingness to relocate, a consistent pattern of achievement and advancement - that's what writers trained in resume preparation deliver.
Here's an example. Which of these sounds more compelling?
From the 10-Minute Resume
2003 - 2006 Warehouse Manager. In charge of managing all warehouse work.
Or, From the 'Pen' of the Resume Professional
2003 - 2006 Warehouse Manager. Oversaw key aspects of a multimillion-dollar shipping & receiving department, which included monitoring inventory, lowering inventory losses, and designing inventory control software.
I don't know about you, but most employers are going with the applicant who's showed she's a professional and very good at her job.
What Does A Personalized Resume Do For You?
- Your resume is an in-depth portrait of the professional you, not a string of dates, places, and job duties. That data can be dry and one-dimensional if not handled properly, so adding life to the content can present you more effectively to hiring managers.
- A resume is usually your first introduction to a potential employer, so when the head of HR opens your employment package, containing a resume, cover letter, and other documentation requested from the employer, it should look professional and grab the attention of the reader. It should ******stand out******.
- The resume is the time to present your credentials in such a way that you highlight your knowledge, skills, and achievements, avoiding the eight-month period you lived at home with the parents.
- A professionally prepared resume is perfect. No typos, no misspellings, no misplaced modifiers. A resume with a gross spelling error is lethal in a job search.
- A well-packaged resume and cover letter says a great deal about your professionalism. It shows the employer that you know the rules of the business or commercial worlds. Send in a hand-written resume on your son's 3-ring binder paper and you might as well take the phone off the hook. Don't expect any callbacks. They aren't going to happen.
Isn't Your Professional Future Worth More Than 10 Minutes?
If you're like most of us, you bet it is. A lot more. To find the right position, in the right company and at the right salary doesn't happen in 10 minutes. It takes time and effort on your part. However, you can cut that time and effort down considerably when you send out a professional employment package with "POP." In fact, a professional resume service can get you hired faster, at a better position and at a higher salary. Think of it as an investment to a heftier paycheck every single week. No 10-minute resume does that.
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