May 2023 - Page 11 of 12

Alphabet Soup: Letters After Names

When you are handed a business card of a professional with letters after their name, what thought comes to mind? That of the infamous billionaire Thurston Howell III, the famous character from TV sitcom Gilligan’s Island, who was tactless, blameful, pretentious, and lazy? Or, the customer-serving, career-mind, educated professional who wants to do the job right the first time to earn your praise and your smile? Letters after names mean things. They should be a prerequisite when choosing your next professional.

The Difference is in the Details

Letters after names are officially called “post-nominal letters.” They can be earned for a number of accomplishments. Letters can be earned for academic education, accreditation, certification, designation, and / or recognition. Though the result is the same – the professional can place some letters after their name – the prestigiousness of the accomplishments are not the same. There are clear levels of accomplishments which are greater than others. Said plainly, some letters mean a lot more than others.

Academic Education – Though a student should be very proud when they earn their Certificate degree, Associate degree, or Bachelor degree, these degrees do not earn the student post-nominal letters. Earning a graduate degree, either a Master or Doctorate, is considered the highest and most prestigious level of professional accomplishment; so, not only does it come with letters, they are the most prestigious of all letters. As a rule, if someone has a Master and Doctorate in the same discipline, they only display the highest level achieved. Thus, when Mr. Makyo Feelgood earns his Bachelor degree in finance, he remains “Mr. Makyo Feelgood”. When he goes on to earn his Master of Business Administration (MBA), he becomes “Mr. Makyo Feelgood, MBA”. And, when he reaches the pinnacle of academia by earning his Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA), he not only replaces his post-nominal letters (replaces MBA with DBA); but, we refer to him as “Doctor”. Thus, “Dr. Makyo Feelgood, DBA”. Interestingly enough, when the academic disciplines are different, both are listed. Therefore, if instead of earning a DBA he earned a PhD in economics, he would have become “Dr. Makyo Feelgood, PhD, MBA”.

Accreditation and Certification – Generally speaking, these mean the same thing. Usually, a training or education program is ‘accredited’ by an outside government or accrediting agency and then those who complete the program are ‘certified’. Though not as prestigious as academic education, certified programs require the professional to have a number of years of experience in the profession, pass a comprehensive test, and complete continuous education to maintain their certification.

Designation – Though training is part of earning a designation, and sometimes, so is even passing a comprehensive test, a test is not required of designation programs nor is continuous education or experience. Therefore, it is an accomplishment worthy of letters; but, at a lower level than accreditation or certification.

Recognition – Still worthy of post-nominal letters, recognition is the least prestigious of the four categories. It may be earned through training or simply through reaching a professional career milestone that is often not reach by others in the same profession. Testing, experience, and continuous education, then, are not involved.

Order Means Everything

When a professional has earned more than one set of post-nominal letters, it is appropriate to display each set of letters after their name. This is done in descending order with the most prestigious letters being first (closest to the name) followed by a comma then the next set of letters and so on. Thus, when Snoopy earns his Doctorate degree in engineering, he becomes “Joe Cool, PhD”. When he passes his first set of exams on the way to becoming a Professional Engineer (PE), he is known as an Engineer in Training (EIT) and becomes “Joe Cool, PhD, EIT”. Finally, when Snoopy goes back to school to sharpen his design prowess and eventually earns his Master of Architecture (M Arch), he becomes “Joe Cool, PhD, M Arch, EIT”. It is important to note that post nominal letters DO NOT appear in the order in which they were chronologically earned; but, in the order of the importance of the accomplishment.

Once earned, a professional has every right to use all of the letters for each accomplishment earned as long as they maintain their license, continuous education, or other requirements of the accomplishment. That said, in common practice, it is rare to display more than three sets of letters at once. Usually, the professional drops the least prestigious accomplishment(s) to display three or less. In certain instances, it is appropriate to show all of the accomplishments (more than three) of the professional in the form of post-nominal letters; such as: when receiving an award, when instructing or teaching on relevant subject matter, or other special circumstances (for example: when writing an article on Letters After Names as found herein by the author). However, even if not used after the professional’s name, the accomplishments should always be shown on a résumé.

The Effect on You

The scammers and want to-be’s can bring down the reputation of any industry. The true professional who believes their career honorable, takes pride in their knowledge of the latest best-practices, and maintains a high-level of continuous education as represented by post-nominal letters.

Don’t become a victim. Choose a designer, contractor, real estate agent, banker, accountant, and lawyer, or any other professional who take their careers seriously by staying at the top of their professional field. A professional may cost a little more to hire up front or may ask you to wait a little longer before they can start on your project; but, in the end, will serve you better.

Letters after names mean things. Look for them. Learn about them. Only hire those who have earned them.

Resume Writing – 12 Tips

A resume is like a short story that grabs the reader and keeps him or her engaged. This article presents 12 sure-fire tips that have benefited hundreds (college students, clients, colleagues, family, and friends) regardless of the career field or level. They’re certain to help you too.

12 Tips

· (Tip – 1) Prepare a brief profile

Start strong with a brief profile not an objective. Listing an objective is a thing of the past. What should your profile contain? Two or three short snappy phrases that summarize your experience, skills, and personality traits. Regarding the latter, avoid writing a laundry list.

So, what three words best describe you? Your dominant personality traits surface in your professional and personal life. In other words, wherever you go you’re there.

· (Tip – 2) Don’t sound like your job description.

Do not turn your resume into a document that reads like a boring job description. Instead, discuss accomplishments. How did you make a difference? What skills or unique abilities were utilized to make things better. Pick one or two accomplishments from your current position. Provide a brief summary.

· (Tip – 3) Select the right format.

All in all, two types of resume formats exist- chronological and functional. While the former begins with your most current position and works backward, the latter builds the resume around your dominant skills.

· (Tip – 4) Include special training/professional development.

For more than a few years, I advised a friend to include a professional development section on her resume. Why? Employers like to see what you’ve been doing since graduating from college. As a result of working in the corporate arena, she racked up a lot of training. Well, to make a long story short, it made her standout and receive even better offers.

· (Tip – 5) List education and credentials last.

You are not selling your education; degrees are a dime a dozen. You are promoting your unique skills that help potential employers solve problems. Hence, list your credentials last, not first.

· (Tip – 6) Determine the appropriate length.

A recent college graduate, high school student, or person entering the workforce for the first time will not have as nearly much to say as someone more experienced.

· (Tip – 7) Omit references.

Create a special file for references. By the way, your references should be people who know you in a professional capacity. And, make sure each person has good written and verbal communication skills.

· (Tip – 8) Create a tagline.

Imagine this. You work in human resources as a recruiter. Every day you receive tons of resumes when you open your email; no one stands out because the subject lines say things like Resume or the resume of. Be creative! Use a tagline. When you save the document, use the tagline not your name.

· (Tip – 9) Always send a cover letter.

The letter should state what you’re applying for, how you can contribute, and most important, it should refer the reader to the resume. Cut and paste or copy the letter into the body of your email.

· (Tip – 10) Use present tense.

Instead of writing in the past tense, use the present. It adds punch and lets a potential employer know that you still make a positive impact.

· (Tip – 11) Be creative.

Why not include a testimonial? Select a comment or two from a performance review.

· (Tip – 12) Develop a resume website.

If you really want to standout, develop a professional resume website. It’s free and a template is provided. Checkout Wix.

The Perfectly Formatted VITO Letter

The following is true story about the power of a perfectly formatted VITO letter. Before you pick-up that 3,000 pound phone to make a sales call on any member of the ‘C’ Suite including the CEO read and remember this story.

Recently, one of my salespeople had some car problems so I offered to give him a ride to work. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity to do a little one-on-one, role-playing I suggested we go over some appointment setting telephone skills. A well proven statistic that you’ve got just eight seconds to grab an executive’s attention. Daniel, was a bit skeptical about the eight second rule. He looked at me and said, “Boss, eight seconds is too short a period of time! That’s hardly enough time to take a deep breath, let alone make a meaningful opening statement!”

At the very next red light as it turned green, I kept my foot on the brake and started counting: ‘One thousand one, one thousand two…’ People started honking. By the time I got to “one thousand four,” Daniel was begging me to get moving. By the time we hit the sixth second, the guy behind us was starting to get out of his car, and Daniel was looking for a place under the seat to hide. When I finally hit eight, the intersection was a symphony of honking horns, ‘pointing fingers’ and shouting mouths. I hit the gas.

Now, if you’ve read any of my books, attended my live events, webinars, or read any of my articles, you understand what motivates members of the ‘C’ Suite to buy; you know the real Benefits about your product, service, or solution; and you have a good idea about the VITO tactics at your disposal. When you find yourself getting ready to pick-up that 3,000 pound phone to call any ‘C’ level executive including the CEO, what do you say?

Let’s also assume that you’re calling a new prospect:

You’ve decided to use the telephone to do this, either by means of a follow-up call on a written communication (see my article on Correspondence to VITO), or as your first contact without sending a correspondence.

Your aim is to get an appointment or create the next step with VITO who is the person who can actually buy whatever it is you’re selling and the person who has the ultimate veto power.

Three big Goals:

1.Make it sound conversational.

2.Deliver it with confidence.

3.Get a favorable interruption as-soon-as-possible…one that clearly keeps VITO in control.

The Five Key Ingredients of Your Telephone Opening Statement

For right now, assume that VITO is going to pick up their own phone and not their Personal Assistant…(for my epic tactics on how to work with VITO’s private assistant take a look at my article titled ‘Gatekeepers’). By the way, VITO will pick up their own phone about 25% of the time.

Key Ingredient 1: The Introduction

Usually, when VITO picks up their own line, they say their name: “This is VITO,” or “VITO Importanta speaking.” Your first step will be to repeat VITO’s name. Keep things formal for now use Mr. or Ms., then the VITO’s last name.

Prospect: This is VITO.

You: Ms. Importanta?

Prospect: Yes.

This first step will earn you Ms. Importanta’s undivided attention. Whatever she was doing prior to your saying her name, she’s now stopped doing. She’s paying attention to you and that’s a good thing!

What most salespeople do now despite ample and endlessly repeated evidence that they shouldn’t is to say something totally lame like this: “Hi, Ms. Jones. This is Will Perish, with the ABC Insurance Company.”

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Unless your name is, say, James Bond, or your company affiliation is, say, the Prize Disbursement Division of Publishers Clearing House, or the IRS I can tell you what’s going to happen next in the vast majority of such calls. The prospect will respond to this self defeating “verbal handshake” by tuning out, asking you to send written information, pretending that the building just caught fire, or otherwise disengaging from the call. In other words, you will have only been on the line about a second and a half, and you’ll be done.

Key Ingredient 2: The Pleasantry

Here’s an alternative plan (one that works). What I’m about to tell you will contradict what you’ve been taught. Do it anyway.

You’re going to say something positive and enthusiastic, something that does not directly identify you, your company, or the product or service you eventually want to discuss. It’s too early in the call for that…Instead, you’re going to use a pleasantry, something like this:

•”It’s an honor to finally speak with you!”

•”Thanks for picking up the phone!”

•”Thanks for taking my call!”

•”What a surprise to get you live!”

Get the idea? Each and every one of these pleasantries will do a far better job for you than your name and company affiliation at the outset of the conversation. Or saying something totally lame like: “How are you today?” or, “Do you have a minute?”

Key Ingredient 3: The Hook

Immediately after your pleasantry, you’re going to snag the intentional area of VITO’s brain by using a hook that’s keyed directly to something likely to be of interest to this VITO.

“We’ve helped (three of the top five widget corporations) increase shareholder value by further (increasing revenues by as much as 4% annually ) while holding the line on (major line item expenses).”

Now, there’s a tangible benefit if ever there was one! Keep your hook focused and one or two sentences long, and you can’t go wrong.

The Interruption

More often than not, here’s where you’ll get your favorable interruption if your hook is doing its job. VITO is likely to cut in and say something like:

“Interesting tell me all about it.”

Or:

“How did you pull that off in this economy?”

Or:

“I have absolutely no interest.”

Don’t worry. You’ll be learning how to deal with any not-so-favorable interruptions, in another one of my high value articles.

As I said, you’ll almost certainly get interrupted by this point. For the sake of completeness, though, you need to complete developing your opening statement, so you know what to say in those cases where you don’t get interrupted at this point.

Key Ingredient 4: Naming Names

Once you’ve shared your hook, VITO knows the reason for your call. The cat’s out of the bag. This is the perfect time to identify yourself and, if you’d like, your organization. If you choose to identify your employer, give it a brief “commercial.” What you say will fit in one sentence. It should sound like this:

“This is Will, Will Prosper, with ABC Insurance Company the hardest working company it the insurance industry today.”

Key Ingredient 5: Your Ending Question

If you don’t get interrupted by this point, you’re going to conclude your opening statement with an ending question that incorporates some element of time.

“Ms. Importanta, does this touch on issues that are of concern to you this (month/year/quarter)?”

Or,

“Mr. Benefito, are you wanting to accomplish something like this by the end of this (quarter/year)?”

Or,

“Ms. Importanta, what’s the best way to explore this further?”

Or,

“Mr. Benefito, who on your team would you like for me to continue this conversation with between now and the end of this business (day, week)?”

Putting it all together:

Here’s an example of an opening statement for VITO that works. Yours shouldn’t sound exactly like this one, but it should be about this long, and it should, like what follows, hit all the bases you’ve been reading about.

Prospect: This is VITO.

You: “Ms. Importanta?”

Prospect: Yes…

You: “(Pleasantry) It was a pleasure to read that your company has successfully expanded into the European marketplace. By the way… (Hook) After studying another client’s operation, we suggested an idea that provided revenue gains of over $25,000 per year. The real surprise is that we did this without taking one bit of their hard earned capital. (Your Name) This is Will Prosper at Zenith. (Ending Question) similar or greater results may be tough to duplicate. But would you be open to taking the next step between now and the end of this business week?”

Again you shouldn’t try simply to insert your company specifics into the messaging you see above. You should use all the ideas in this article, and most importantly make sure you read all of my articles and use what you read!

11 Tips to an Organized Job Search

So, you are searching for a new job? Perhaps you are making a voluntary career transition. Maybe you have been laid off, or worse, fired. Regardless of the reason for your career move, one fact remains true: if you are conducting a job search, it is vital that you take an organized approach. Managing this search is just like managing any other major project. You must create an infrastructure that allows you to operate in an efficient and productive manner. A successful job search requires forethought and action. Here are some tips for conducting an organized job search.

Declutter and Pre-Purge – If you are looking for a new job, it will be difficult to do so if your physical space is covered in clutter with piles of papers everywhere. Take some time to declutter. Purge any unnecessary items, file papers that you need to keep, recycle junk mail, and get some order back into that space! It will be easier for you to concentrate on your job search without all of that chaos and clutter around you. Just be careful that you don’t spend too much time decluttering that you start using it as an excuse to procrastinate with regard to your job exploration. A few days should suffice.

Create a Job Search Schedule – Let’s face it – searching for a job is hard work! If you are still employed while you are looking for a new position, be prepared to have an extremely busy schedule. If you are currently unemployed, realize that you do, indeed, have a job – conducting a job search! Create a schedule that gives you ample time for all of the activities you need to focus on in order to succeed: resume and cover letter preparation, surfing the web for jobs, networking, interviewing, follow-up, etc. Block out time in your calendar for job search activities and treat that time as you would any traditional work commitment. Be consistent in the amount of time you spend each day and week on new job activities so that you keep your momentum going, and don’t lose focus and miss valuable opportunities.

Get Your Gear in Order – Update your resume, cover letter, references, and writing sample (if applicable). Ask for letters of recommendation and testimonials from previous or current supervisors, co-workers, and professional colleagues. Get some nice new stationery, and stock up on print cartridges for your printer. If you want to use an outside source for printing, some local printing shops will copy resumes for free during an economic downturn, so ask around! Be sure to have a computer with high-speed Internet access. An all-in-one machine for printing, copying, faxing and scanning will also come in handy during a career move.

Create Job Search Central – Set aside space at home (or wherever you will be conducting your search activities) and make it job search central. Keep all of your job-search related supplies in that location, which will make it easy for you to find them when you need them. This will also help you to get into search mode when you are in that space.

Create a Career Move Paper Management System – You may be acquiring a lot of paper in your search: resources, articles, sample resumes and cover letters, business cards of networking contacts, contact-us-later or rejection letters, etc. To the extent that you can maintain these items in a paperless fashion, go for it. But if you have to maintain hard copy paper, be sure to create a job search paper management or filing system, to be stored in your job search center. Keep it simple and use whatever system makes the most sense to you for ease of use (binder, portable filing bin, traditional filing cabinet, etc).

Plan Job Search Activities – Plan out job search activities on a daily basis, such as phone calls to make, resumes to send, online applications to fill out, informational interviews to conduct, etc. Write down your search activities as calendar items, to-do’s, or tasks so that you take them seriously and treat them as measurable goals. Be realistic with regard to what you can reasonably accomplish in one day, but also challenge yourself!

Track Activities – Organizing your job search involves keeping track of all information and communications. Keep a record of where you sent your resume and when, whom you have spoken to, when interviews took place, etc. This information will prove vital when deciding when to follow-up with leads. You can track all of this information using a calendar such as Outlook or Google, or an online tool such as JobFiler.com. Whatever tools you use, it is important that you be able to track the status of your job search.

Manage Job Search Email – In today’s world, much of your job search will likely be conducted by email. Therefore, before you even start your search, whittle down the amount of email in your inbox so that you can hyper-focus on your job search emails, which will add up quickly. Create folders within your email system using categories that make sense to you, such as Companies Applied To, Contacts Submitted Resumes To, etc.

Polish Your Online Profiles – If you are searching for a new job in today’s market, you would be remiss not to develop an online presence on social media sites, especially LinkedIn, which is the most “professional” of the social media sites and can essentially serve as your online resume. But also consider other social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The opportunities are endless for employers and contacts to find you online. You may even have your own website, e-zine, or blog. Maybe you post articles on various article-marketing sites, or serve as a guest blogger on other blogs. If you maintain profiles on any of social media sites, or have any type of online presence, be sure to polish your profiles so that they promote the image you want potential employers and contacts to see.

Change Your Greetings – Change the message that greets callers for any phone number that you plan to use for your job search so that it sounds professional, and conveys the information you want callers to hear. Be prepared, not embarrassed!

Stay Positive – The longer a job search takes, the more chance you have of becoming negative about it. Try to maintain a positive attitude to the extent you can by monitoring your progress and staying active in your search. When the going gets rough during a job search, many people take a back seat and give up, which is counter-productive. Try to stay focused and make valuable contacts that are likely to lead to a job. However, don’t be all consumed by your search for a job! Maintaining some balance in your life at this time will serve you well. Get adequate sleep, eat well, see family and friends for pleasure, and make time for exercise.

Organization is one of the single most important things you can do to keep your job search manageable. Just like being organized helps you improve any other area of your life, home, or work, it will also help move along your job search in quick and efficient fashion and with less stress. It may even wind up being the key to finding that dream job you always wanted.

Good luck!

Job Application Cover Letter Tips to Help Get More Interviews

Whether it’s a job application cover letter, or resume – one thing to remember is that there is only one “job” that your actual submission materials have. And that “job” is: Getting Job Interviews.

Once you get more interviews, we’ll talk about job interview techniques in other articles, OK?

So, if the entire purpose behind cover letter writing is getting job interviews, then it stands to reason that writing a good cover letter ought to be at the top of your “to do” list when you are looking for a job. Right?

Welcome to “Cover Letter Writing 101” where I hope the next few paragraphs and points and a personal experience will bring you up to date with the basics of how today’s successful job seekers get more interviews.

Point #1: You must be subtle about tooting your own horn while still letting employers know that YOU are the best candidate for the job. In other words, everything you write must be “about them” – about THEIR needs, about how THEY will benefit from bringing you in for an interview. And, you must put all this focus on THEM while still talking yourself up!

Point #2: You must be able to speak knowledgably not only about the position, but also about the company. You must know what the company’s needs are to begin with if you are to address them convincingly in your job application cover letter. Besides, if you don’t know exactly what their needs are, how will you know for sure if you are the right one for the job? Hopefully this makes sense to you! If it does, then writing a good cover letter and getting job interviews just got a whole lot easier for you!

Let’s try the following practice exercise to work on this little cover letter writing gem.

Practice Exercise: Take a job or position that you are interested in, and list the skills and qualifications that you believe will be most important to the company.

If you cannot think of a specific job or company off the top of your head, here is an example: Pretend you are going for the job of cashier at a local supermarket, “The Local Family Grocer.” This is where it gets personal – so the information is very real!

Now, “The Local Family Grocer” has stated that they need a cashier, and they pay $10/hour. The cashier needs to be available on weekends and weeknights. That’s about all you know about the position. For now!

As you collect your thoughts prior to writing your job application cover letter, sit down with a pencil and paper and ask yourself:

What do the cashiers actually do over at The Local Family Grocer? You can brainstorm your answers. The most obvious ones that will come to mind will probably be,

“scan items through check out,”
“bag groceries,”
“take the payment,”
“give receipts,”
“run price checks,” and things of that nature.

But now, I need you to dig deeper.

I need you to come to the store with me.

When you are about to get in line at the store, do you go to any old checkout line? Or are there any cashiers you seek out? Are there any you avoid? As you answer these questions, ask “why?”

I can tell you, as we walk through the store together on our cover letter writing exercise, that there are several cashiers I just adore. Again. Why?

For me, it’s the customer service and the big smile I get from them.

For example, “Mr. Richard” always makes me feel welcome. He comments on my smile, and says things like, “It’s always so good to see you! You always seem to be smiling!” and in response, after thinking about it, I have to say, “Why, I believe it’s because YOU are smiling and seem so glad to see ME! Thank you! You’ve made my day.”

And, now, you and I will stroll over to the manager and comment about what a terrific employee “Mr. Richard” is.

Conversely, why do I avoid certain cashiers in the same way I avoid eggplant? (My apologies to those of you who like eggplant. It’s nothing personal!)

Perhaps you saw the cashier whose line wasn’t quite as long as “Mr. Richard’s” was. Why, you may ask, didn’t I go for “Ms. Whoever’s” line? (Of course, you’re taking careful notes, because you are learning a lot more than just good cover letter writing strategies.)

For me – especially as someone who has done a lot of career coaching – I notice things like sullen attitudes, cashiers looking at their watches, etc. When I ask “Ms. Whoever,” “So, how are you today?” and hear, “Oh, I’ll be a whole lot better in a half hour when my shift ends,” it makes my skin crawl. Seriously!

I don’t like feeling my skin crawl when I’m in a grocery store. There’s something just not right about that…

I’ve also been known to avoid cashiers who chit-chat with other employees while they are waiting on me. What really rolls my eyes is when they begin talking about a member of the community behind his or her back.

I have been tempted (notice I say “tempted” – because I have held my tongue!) to look right at the cashier and say something like, “Oh, I wasn’t aware you knew my brother/sister/aunt/uncle/mother/father/cousin so well!”

Ahh… The things we’d like to see. Maybe in a movie one day.

But I digress.

So, as we get back to writing a good cover letter, it now becomes evident that the job of the cashier goes even deeper. The Local Family Grocer needs people who make customers feel welcome. People who are cheerful. People who act as though they enjoy their jobs.

So, as we leave the store, you take out your pencil and paper, and write a few sentences about the cashier job.

You have now become inspired to write a good job application cover letter directly to “Ms. Jones” (who you happen to know is the person who will be reviewing the job application, because we just found out about it while we were complimenting “Mr. Richard.”)

Armed with all this information, imagine this cover letter:

“Dear Ms. Jones,

I was so pleased to meet you earlier today when my friend and I were telling you what a great job we feel Mr. Richard does for The Local Family Grocer.

In fact, Ms. Jones – I am so glad that I visited and experienced that customer service, because I had to rush right home and let you know that not only I am not applying to be your next cashier, Ican prove to you that if you are looking for another cashier with that same positive energy and excellent work ethic, I am that person! Here’s why.”

And you can go on. Now, this is just one simple example of how this works. We have more to share on this and related topics, so please watch for more articles!

Resume Writing Tips to Help You Build Your Resume

If you are a job hunter, and you have what it takes, but you do not know how to sell it, then you have come to the right place. Here, we will provide you with resume writing tips to help you build your resume in a way that will lead you to your dream job. Writing professional resumes is not rocket science; however, it is also not a kid’s play. While writing your resume, you need to bear in mind certain pointers that would help you create an executive resume. Following are certain resume writing tips to help you build your resume:

When you are writing certain long sentences in the resume, make sure you are not ending up with a lengthy paragraph. Use bullet points that make the document easier to read

Use a positive tone all throughout the resume and cover letter. Depressed and negative tone will not win you an interview

Pay attention to the type of language you are using. Try to sound professional. Avoid using slang, jargon and flowery language.

Make sure your resume format is suitable to your line of work. It should not be too crazy or too boring in any case.

Make sure there are no mistakes present in the resume. spelling, grammatical and typographical mistakes are some common ones, and you must make sure you are following standard English rules and not committing these mistakes

Use active voice and strong, effective action words like “organized”, “managed”, etc. in the resume. You can find more words online

Use proper salutation and never make any mistakes with the name of your intended employer

Check out a few resume samples online for your specific field in order to get an idea as to which type of resume format is best for you, and what all character traits and personal information you should add on your resume

Keep yourself in the reader’s shoes. Ask yourself if you are finding your resume easy-to-understand and impressive, supposing yourself as the employer. Ask yourself questions based on your resume

If you are a resher, and you have good CGPA, you can flaunt it, but suppose you have substantial work experience and your graduation grades are not very impressive, you do not need to put them in your resume

Mention your complete personal details in the resume. Do not miss out on any vital information and make sure your contact details are all mentioned correctly and will be the same for a long time

These are some of the resume writing tips to help you build your resume effectively. This complete resume guide in itself will lead you to your successful resume. Similarly, following these rules meticulously will in turn lead you to your dream job for which you have applied with this resume.

Functional Resumes- Is a Functional Resume The Best Choice For Your Job Search?

Functional resumes are formatted to focus on your skills and experience instead of on your chronological employment history. In this format, you will organize your information under headings representing expertise and experience rather than by job titles.

In straight functional resumes, your employment history is avoided entirely, however this can raise alarm bells with some employers. If this is likely to be a problem, it may be wise to use a combination resume format which includes both functional and chronological components.

A functional resume format is the best choice if you have gaps in employment history, are returning to the workforce after raising children or are newly entering the workforce after leaving school or college.

Functional resumes focus on the functions of your various roles and your job is to highlight the relevance of these functions to the job you are applying for. This means you need to be very aware of the requirements of the job and company you are targeting.

The first step to writing a functional resume is to evaluate the tasks you performed in each of your previous jobs and group them into functional areas.

For example, you may have done a lot of different types of accounting or clerical jobs but within these roles you may have had diverse functions such as training a staff member, liaising with government departments, writing a training manual, supervision, staff evaluation, as well as the functions typically associated with accounting.

It is important to consider all functional aspects of your previous roles as these could well provide the foot in the door you are looking for.

Once you have identified common elements of your skills and experience, you can compare these to the specific requirements of the jobs you are applying for. Re-word them to suit the language and terms used in the selection criteria of your targeted position.

It can be helpful to browse job ads of other similar positions to remind you of work you have done in the past as well as to guide you in how to express your skills and experience in the most appropriate way for your target audience.

If you feel you need some help putting together your functional resume, functional resume templates are available online for download. Simply do an online search to find them. They can save you a lot of time and make the resume preparation process a lot easier.

As with all resumes, functional resumes will need to include your objectives, personal details, experience and skills, education, training and certifications, and a list of referees.

Make sure your resume is printed on white or off-white stock paper with wide margins and one and a half line spacing to make it easy to read. Have a reliable person read it to make sure there are no errors you haven’t picked up.

You now have an effective, functional resume targeted to the job or industry you are aiming for. Once you write a highly targeted cover letter to send with it, you are ready to apply for your job and you have given yourself the best possible chance of obtaining an interview.

Functional resumes are well worth the time and effort it requires to create them. If this format is best suited to your employment history and personal circumstances, using it to write your resume can be the difference between job hunting success and failure.

Cover Letter Do’s & Don’ts

Most people are familiar with the importance of a well-constructed resume, and put a fair amount of time into creating one. But just as important is the cover letter that accompanies and introduces your resume.

In an extremely competitive job market, neglecting your cover letter is a big mistake. Why? A cover letter is your first opportunity to tell a prospective employer about yourself, and to do so in your own words. Like a written interview, a cover letter gives you the opportunity to point out applicable experience and qualities that make you right for the job. And just like any other important job searching tool, there are definite do’s and don’ts to follow to make sure your cover letter is an asset, not a hindrance.

Do personalize your letter.

Nobody likes to receive impersonal mail. Cover letters that begin with phrases like “To Whom This May Concern,” sound like random junk or bulk mail, rather than an important correspondence. You expect the company to take the time to read through your material, so you too need to take some time to research the correct addressee. Call the company, look on its Website or talk to others to find the correct contact.

Don’t send a generic cover letter to many different companies.

Hiring managers can spot a mass mailing a mile away. What gets their attention are letters that address the company-and its needs-specifically. Research the company prior to writing the letter. Check out recent news and read through the company’s Website, and then incorporate what you learned into your letter. Doing so will demonstrate to employers that you are informed, motivated and willing to go the extra mile.

Do address the specific position advertised.

Companies that post openings are making your life easier by telling you the qualities they are seeking. Show the company that you paid attention. If a company advertises that it is looking for sales experience, make sure you address your sales experience. One way to do this is by making a table for yourself before writing your letter. List the company’s stated needs in one column, and your corresponding experience and qualifications in another column. You can then use that information to write a letter that tells them exactly what they want to know.

Don’t make the reader work too hard to see that you are right for the position.

Include specific examples about your past successes and experience. If you are looking for a marketing position, give the reader detailed information about a marketing campaign you successfully executed. Don’t just tell the reader that you are motivated. Give an example that shows your motivation. You need to lay all of your pertinent information out in a way that lets the person making the hiring decision easily see how your experience and qualities fit the company’s needs.

Do get to the point.

Hiring managers receive letters and resumes from dozens and even hundreds of applicants, and often just don’t have the time to read lengthy, wordy letters. Be direct. In the first paragraph, include the title of the position you are interested in and then move on to your specific qualifications immediately.

Don’t end your letter passively.

Nobody gets a job by sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. Similarly, not many people get a call once a resume or cover letter is sent. Since you are the one looking for work, you need to take the initiative and follow up. Instead of ending the letter with “I look forward to hearing from you,” close with “I will call you next week to discuss a time for us to meet.” Once you’ve included this call to action, however, make sure you follow your own promise.

Do write and edit your letter with great care.

Nothing says “I don’t really want this job” like a cover letter with typos, incorrect information, or spelling errors. Make sure the company’s name is spelled correctly. Check to see if the contact is a male or female. And, while it sounds almost too obvious to mention, be sure to sign your letter. Careless-and easily correctable-mistakes tell the company that you did not take this simple task seriously.

How to Write a Business Plan Funding Proposal

You have a great idea for starting a new business or expanding your current one. You’ve thought through all the issues and created a roadmap for success. Now all you need is the funding to put your dreams into action. But how are you going to secure that funding? You can’t just stroll into a bank or sit down at a committee meeting and hand them your notes and spreadsheets. You need to write a business proposal to lay out your plans and request the funds.

You’re an entrepreneur, you think, not a writer! You’ve never written more than a business letter and a meeting agenda. Don’t worry. It doesn’t need to be an intimidating process, because there is a basic structure to every business proposal. Here are the four parts, in order: simply 1) introduce yourself; 2) show that you understand your customers/clients and their needs; 3) describe how your goods and services meet those needs and present your expected expenses and profits; and 4) persuade the bank or committee that you have integrity and can be trusted with the money.

You don’t need to start out with blank pages, either. You can speed up the proposal writing process by using pre-designed templates and samples, along with simple automation software.

The length of your proposal will vary depending on the complexity of the project you are proposing and how much funding you require. It is obviously easier to describe an expansion plan and present financial data for an existing business than it will be to describe how you will get a new business up and running. Your proposal might be only ten pages long, or it might need to include dozens of pages.

The secret to creating a successful funding proposal is to show a need or desire on the part of your prospective clients/customers, and then to show how you will meet that need and profit from providing the solution. When requesting funding, you also need to keep in mind the needs of the bank or funding committee. Put yourself in the other party’s shoes. What does your prospective funder need or want? What are their concerns? How have you gathered this information? What sort of information about your business experience and financial know-how will the funding institution want from you before handing you money? Lending institutions and grant committees want to understand your background and your plan to determine if your business is likely to succeed. A bank or investor will also want to see your plan for paying them back.

Start your business plan funding proposal by introducing yourself and the proposal with a Cover Letter and Title Page. Your Cover Letter should be brief: simply explain who you are, include all relevant contact information, and print the letter on your company letterhead. The Title Page should simply introduce your proposal and the specific project you are proposing. Some examples might be “Business Plan for New Panne Bella Italian Bakery,” “Proposed Expansion of Grayle’s Hardware Store,” or “Funding Proposal for New Downtown Art School.”

After the introduction section comes the section where you talk about your clients or customers: the people who want or need your goods or services. Here you will include topics that demonstrate your understanding of the business market. Depending on the complexity of the project you are proposing, you may or may not need to start off with a detailed summary (called an Executive Summary or a Client Summary). In this section, describe the market need that you intend to fill, and provide statistics and data to back up your assertions. You need to impress the proposal readers with your market knowledge. This is not yet the place where you talk about your goods or services. This section is all about proving a need or desire for your business.

After the market-centered section comes the section where you explain how your goods or services will provide solutions to the needs you described. You’ll add pages with titles like Products, Services Provided, Benefits, Price List, Services Cost Summary and so forth—include all the topics you need to describe exactly what you intend to provide and how much it will cost. Depending on the sort of business you are requesting funding for, you may also need to include descriptions of Facilities, Equipment, and Personnel that you need for your proposed project.

At each step in this section, you will need to describe expected expenditures and returns. Depending on whether you are requesting funding for an existing business or asking for money to launch a new enterprise, you will need to prove your case by including pages with titles like Funding Request, Income Projection, Breakeven Analysis, Project Budget, Annual Budget, Cost Management, Cash Flow Analysis, and Return on Investment. Also make sure to include a Repayment Plan to show the bank or investor how they will be paid back and potentially profit from funding your business.

After you’ve described what you are proposing to do and how much it will cost comes the final section, where you provide information about your company and your financial history. If you’re already running a business, you’ll need to provide a financial overview of that business, including pages such as a Profit and Loss Statement. Your goal is to conclude your proposal by convincing the prospective client that you can be trusted to deliver the goods or services you have described, succeed in your business, and pay back the funding. In this section, you’ll add pages like About Us / Company History, Awards, Testimonials, References, Qualifications, Capabilities, Our Clients, Experience, and so on. Include everything you need to convince the bank or funding committee that you know what you’re talking about and can do what you’ve promised.

After the proposal is written, take some time to make sure the pages look good, too. You might consider adding color and graphics by incorporating your company logo, selecting custom bullet points and fonts, or adding colored page borders. Don’t go overboard, though—keep the overall tone business-like.

Be sure to carefully proofread and spell-check all the pages. If your proposal seems sloppy, the reader may conclude that you are not professional and don’t pay attention to details. Recruit a proofreader who is not familiar with your proposal to do the final proof, because it’s nearly impossible to spot errors in your own work. Keep in mind that spell check cannot catch words that are correctly spelled but misused.

Save your proposal as a PDF file or print it, and then deliver it. If the bank or funding committee has specific rules, obey them to the letter. It’s common to email PDF files nowadays, but a hand-delivered printed proposal may impress the money-lenders more. If you have a lot of competition for limited funds in your area, put your best effort into the proposal and delivery.

You can see that each business plan funding proposal will include different pages because each must describe the market need, how the proposed project will meet that need, and why the management is credible and can be trusted with the funding.

But you can also see that all business plan funding proposals follow a similar format and structure. And remember that you don’t need to start from scratch—you can find templates for all the pages mentioned in this article in a proposal kit. A kit of templates will contain instructions and provide examples of information to include on each page. A proposal kit will also contain a variety of sample funding requests. Starting off with a proposal template kit with sample business plan proposals will give you a big head start on creating your own winning business funding proposal.

Be A Natural Spelling Whiz With Subliminal Messaging

Have you always had problems with your spelling? Some people seem to just have it easy with words and spelling, but for others, spelling may seem quite confusing. Unfortunately, nothing can ruin a good writing piece or a formal business letter like a misspelled word. Not only are misspelled words quite embarrassing, but they can also ruin opportunities for you. After all, in the business world, incorrect spellings can cause quite a dent in your reputation and may discourage people from working with you.

Improving your spelling is a crucial part of perfecting your writing skills. And if you want to improve your education or business, excellent writing skills will come in handy.

It may seem quite impossible to become a master spelling whiz given that there are far too many words in the English language. But here are some excellent tips you can use.

1. Read a lot. The best and most proven way to improve your spelling skills is to take up the reading habit. Reading helps familiarize us to as many words as possible. If speaking skills are developed through verbal communication, reading is the best practice for developing written communication.

There are a lot of tricky words in the English language. For example, some words sound like a K but are spelled with a C. This shows us that spelling is not about the sound of a word, so you don’t learn it by listening or through verbal communication. Spelling is more involved with the way that a word looks when it is written on the page, so you will be more familiar with it if you keep on reading.

2. Avoid SMS spelling. A lot of people nowadays use SMS or text messaging spelling, wherein words are shortened. If you live in the business world, try to avoid using SMS spelling in all your formal and official communications. Sometimes, since carelessness can also set in, you should also avoid SMS spelling even in non-formal communications.

3. Study the patterns. Despite the tricky words, there is usually a pattern when it comes to spelling. For example, there are vowel-consonant combinations, vowel groupings, and so on. When you read or look up words in the dictionary, observe the patterns in words.

4. Improve your memory. You can also have an easier time improving your spelling if you improve your memory first. If you really want to become a natural spelling whiz without having to take a spelling lesson, look for ways to boost your memory. A good memory will assist you in remembering how certain words are spelled, especially in the case of the special words with unique spellings.

5. Develop your mind. An active mind is an intelligent mind. If you keep your mind active and develop it well, it will be easier for you to remember unique spellings, retain spelling patterns, and remember how words look on a page.

The secret to a well-developed mind is subliminal messaging. Subliminal messaging is now being used in many personal development projects. People use it to get rid of smoking, drinking, and other bad habits in their lives. They also use it to change their frame of mind or perspective on things. But it’s also highly effective in tweaking the subconscious mind and program it to make it more receptive to new information and to learning in general. This way, your enhanced learning capacity will help you learn how to spell new words even after you see them for the first time. This will easily make you better at spelling.

You can benefit from subliminal messages aimed towards making you a spelling whiz by investing in a subliminal message album or subliminal video intended for this specific purpose. A few minutes will suffice and make you a spelling whiz in no time.