Professional Archives

3 Skills Every IT Professional Must Have

In this day and age, our clients rely on us more than ever before and have much larger demands. After all, we’re the IT people, the experts. We must provide a one-stop shop for all of our clients. If clients had the technical know-how, we wouldn’t be needed. We must not only possess the technical skills, but the skills to effectively communicate with our clients, both internal and external. Why must we have great communication skills in our arsenal? We didn’t go into IT to deal with customer service concerns. The reality of today’s IT market is that we’re not only expected to be on top of the latest technological advances, but we must also be able to clearly convey the 5 “W’s” for our customers to perceive that we’ve not only addressed their concerns; but to make them feel as if they’ve received some value-added benefit. Let’s face it, while we all have different skill sets and talents, at the end of the day the result is tantamount to any developer.

What sets one IT company apart from another is in the how we present the information to the client, and if they feel that the benefit they’re receiving is worth writing our paycheck. Delivering results is no longer what impresses a client, anyone can do that, it’s the expectation, not a luxury.

This article will reveal several tips that are incredibly easy to implement and will not only earn a client’s business but retain it throughout the years. With little to no expense, you can wow your clients and cut down on unnecessary time spent making corrections.

We hope you enjoy these tips and will consider implementing them into your daily routine to make a positive impact.

How does this affect me?

If you’re not getting great reviews from your clients and repeat business, something’s getting lost in translation.

A Harris Poll of hiring managers shows that 77 percent of employers consider soft skills to be as important as technical skills.

Now that we’ve properly identified the issues it’s time to find a solution. What skills exactly are we needing to work on?

It’s no secret that IT professionals embrace jargon. After all speaking in “code” keeps us relevant and makes us sound intelligent. The problem is that we sometimes forget that we need to put away the jargon. Translate the information into “plain” language. If this seems to be quite a challenge, consider re-evaluating the information as if you were going to teach it to a high school or junior college class. Check for understanding. Ask your client if he or she is following what you’re saying. Another great way to check for understanding is to ask the client what he or she thinks or how it sounds so far. This tip will go a long way. If they don’t understand, they’ll most likely tell you, after all, they’re paying you a generous fee for your services, not to hear the alphabet in incorrect order. “The people who will thrive are the strong technologists who are capable of translating their expertise into terms that nontechnical people can understand.” -Ben Gaucherin, Harvard University

Role play meetings and presentations with co-workers

You wouldn’t state that a project was complete without testing it, right? It’s a great idea to do a “dry run” with co-workers or even your family if permitted. Have them ask questions you may anticipate, or if they have any questions. Choose the most brutally honest co-worker to throw you some questions or concerns, also ask them what they liked about the presentation.

Take a public speaking class and join a meetup group

Chances are you’re not the only person that is interested in personal and professional growth. Classes and groups provide a great opportunity to brainstorm with other professionals groups will often provide you with a wealth of networking opportunities and are localized and even specialized, so you can discuss any matters relevant to the area you work in.

Keep your skills sharp

We’ve established that communication can be a problem in the IT world. Communicating outdated information ineffectively can only lead to impending doom. Be certain to stay ahead of the curve to avoid the pitfall(s) of being (or becoming) irreverent.

Your call to action

Effective communication in the workplace is essential to success. Communication success between whether a client chooses to become a valuable repeat customer, or whether they continue on riding the price wave; giving their loyalty to the lowest bid. Today’s consumers have a far greater advantage than they did even a few years ago. Not only do they expect quantity, but they’re expecting quality as well. You’d probably expect the same if you were in the same boat. Taking simple steps to improve communication will not only provide an immediate benefit in the quality of work performed but in the quantity as well. The productivity factor will most likely increase as a result of not having to fix problems caused by miscommunication. Not only will your clients be happy, but you’ll be making the business climate and revenue charts happier as well.

How To Achieve Your Personal and Professional Success

You might find comfort in their daily routines because you feel you can control what to expect of your day. Is your daily routine becoming an obstacle for a healthier worklife balance?

Life in the 21st century has gotten pretty hectic and you feel you have to be on 24/7. Most families have two parents working because life is expensive. The daily demands of life have you juggling more “balls” than you can keep track. It seems like everyone wants a piece of you. You want to be a good parent and participate as much as possible in your child’s academics and extracurricular activities. Yet you have many work demands and expectations at work and in your personal life. Some days you just want to scream or crawl into a corner.

You are not alone. The average individual, no matter male or female, feels the daily pressures of worklife balance and try to face each day with new hopes of a better day. Your hopes will not help you solve your worklife balance issues. Make today the day you take a stand and make a commitment to balance your life personally and professionally. It is time to prioritize and take a look at your daily routine and see if it is getting you closer to your goals and worklife balance.

Eliminate activities in your day that are not the right pieces for your puzzle for success. Is your life jar too full? What activities need to be added or eliminated? Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs is a great foundation to put the pieces of your life puzzle together. Make sure your physiological needs are met which are required for you to sustain life such as water, air, nourishment and sleep.

Are you eating from the five food groups in the proper portions, are you at a healthy height/weight ratio,do you drink at least 6 eight ounce glasses of water a day, exercise at least 20 minutes a day and sleep at least 6 hours a day,? These needs are necessary for you to have a solid foundation to put the pieces of your life puzzle together. Do you feel secure that you are living in a safe place, have medical insurance, job security, and financial reserves? These are some of the top issues individuals struggle with and can negatively affect your daily focus.

Are you happy with your job and do you feel that it is helping you to build your life puzzle? Are you fulfilling your social needs? You need to have a balance between work and home. Do you have friends you talk to at least a few times a month and meet for a few laughs? Do you give yourself permission to have ” down time”. Do you feel that you belong to a group in which you share common interests? Do you have a support system you can share your achievements and life’s “bump in the road” with? Do you give and receive love? Once you have a sense of belonging now your sense of importance as a person is evident. Self esteem consists of self respect, achievement, attention, recognition and reputation, need for knowledge and aesthetics.

Everyday learn something knew and use it as another piece to build your puzzle. Do what you can to reach your full potential as a person and do not let work define the person you want to be, rather let it be a piece of your puzzle. Always strive to grow psychologically and let new opportunities help you to grow further to contribute to your puzzle. Once you define your life goals, the pieces necessary for your puzzle will come together easier than you expect. Your worklife balance is dependent on you and the personal choices you make everyday. Be your own self motivator and when you feel as though something in your day is an obstacle,trouble shoot,ask for help or speak to someone you respect to help you find a healthy solution at work or in your personal life.

Remember life stressors are what you make of them. Do not view your perceived obstacles as a red light, instead view them as a discovery opportunity to find another piece of your puzzle. It’s your life make it as healthy and happy as you can. You can achieve a healthier worklife balance. Change starts with you. Invest in Yourself everyday for personal and professional success.

What Does It REALLY Take to Be Making 6-Figures as a Service Professional?

Over the past 30 years, I’ve read so much on how to make money that I know I can write a series of books on the topic, books that would cut through the junk and you don’t have to buy 101 things for each area.

Most of the information repeats itself — same author, different title and packaging or different author repeating someone else’s list. All the how-this and how-that was driving me crazy as to what is REALLY required to make $100,000 or more in revenue.

A few months ago, I decided to go on a pilgrimage to create a quick and easy-to-see, all-in-one-place list of what does it REALLY take to generate a six-figure income as a service professional — accountant, coach, consultant, and other solopreneurs? Of course, the list is easy to read, but takes conscious awareness and consistency to achieve.

What this list did for me — it freed up valuable time that I was chasing for what I could possibly need in the future, it kept me focused, it increased clarity, and best of all I was able to narrow down my reading time. I also had a plan. Here’s the list of what I consider the top 50 — the list was actually 350 — but I chose the top ones and removed the repetitions.

1. Get up early and start early.

2. Take time to reflect on the day every evening for at least 30 to 60 minutes.

3. Create a vision before getting out of bed every morning on how you see the day progressing. See clients coming to you, see meetings going perfect, see your planning, etc.

4. Start and diligently use a business journal to record ideas, thoughts, suggestions, and reading/learning.

5. Dress so that you feel comfortable and powerful with your energy. It radiates and attracts.

6. Work more hours. (Don’t shoot the messenger.)

7. Schedule your time.

8. Always ask yourself every night, “What can I do better tomorrow from what I learned today?”

9. Complete a one-page SMART business plan with a professional so that they can have an aerial view, because you’re too close, and because you are paying them, they have an investment in your success.

10. Complete a one-page SMART marketing plan — ditto the above.

11. Complete a one-page SMART sales plan – ditto the above.

12. Complete a one-page SMART project plan – ditto the above.

13. Complete a one-page SMART service product plan – ditto the above.

14. Complete a one-page SMART product plan for every product BEFORE starting.

15. Always know your BE point (break even point) for every project/service/product you do.

16. Separate your learning time out from the time you think you are marketing.

17. The best sales call hours and days are Tuesday – Thursday between 10 am and 4 PM.

18. When you want to reach the business owner, try calling them before 8 am or after 5 PM.

19. Passive revenue generation products are required.

20. Have a strong business support system.

21. Either be a writer or speaker to promote.

22. Become technically proficient at the software you use (not expert, proficient).

23. Post to-do lists daily.

24. Monitor your time as if it’s gold.

25. Have back up plans, alternative solutions, to everything.

26. Learn to say no and say it quickly when it isn’t currently in your focus.

27. Have a twice-a-year planning vacation with yourself.

28. Outsource anything that can be completed by less hourly than you.

29. Leverage all your resources as much as possible.

30. Drop networking groups if you aren’t getting leads, don’t hang on.

31. Leave the volunteering alone until you have made the 6-figures, people will not listen to you anyway until you are making that level or more anyway.

32. Don’t allow technology to steal your time.

33. Sleeping in.

34. Spending your energy talking about X instead of taking action on it.

35. Write your goal dollar amount on the biggest piece of paper you can find and take it to the wall in front of you and ask this questions to every to-do on your list, How will this make me that figure? Is it short-term, mid-term, or long-term money generating project.

36. The percentage of time you spend on short-term projects will determine how much money will arrive sooner. Percentage of time = when the money comes in.

37. Keeping irregular office hours doesn’t help.

38. You can grow only as big as the fish bowl you are currently in. If you want to grow, move to a pond, then a lake, and then an ocean. The fish will get bigger as you go until you are the whale in the ocean.

39. Only read and learn what you need now, all else is a waste because it will change to quickly by the time you need it.

40. Work with a good coach, one with years of experience in what you want to accomplish.

41. Become proficient at creating revenue-generating products.

42. Have a system or process for everything.

43. Work with a Virtual Assistant as soon as possible, even before you think you can afford to. In actuality, you can’t afford not to.

44. Create strategic alliances — people that you are very aware of what they do, how they do it, how good they are, how you can send them referrals, you them yours, how you work together on joint products to creating something that is powerful and can’t be found anywhere else.

45. It is a numbers game. If you want 10 new clients a month, you have to speak to 100 to 300 prospects a month and you have to have the means for doing this set up in a process that works smoothly (otherwise overwhelm will be your partner).

46. Set mind-boundaries. When you’re working, your mind is 100% there, when you’re home, 100% there. The more they cross, productivity drops 50% or more.

47. Finish what you start — always. Half finished to-dos at the end of the day creates an energy debt that carries into the night. The payment for this is very great. Don’t write on-going goals on your list. Create a to-do list that only fits into the time you have for that day. The to-do can be mini for a larger project (that is listed in the one-page project plan mentioned earlier).

48. Create an R&D team for every project.

49. Don’t buy anything unless you have use for it now. Be in the now with your buying and not the “some day I’m sure to use it.”

50. Go on a 30-day information diet to reprogram your focus, learn to listen and get in touch with your higher self and knowledge, and to increase clarity of your life, business, career, and self-path.

Hire Services of Professional Android App Development Via Outsourcing

Android application development has increased by leaps and bounds. Those who have Android as their OS, are addicted to its applications because they are highly interactive and engaging. Within a short span of time, the downloads of Android apps have overtaken Apple and are selling more apps than iPhone and iPad combined, There are more than 50,000 applications ready for Android smartphone users. Anyone, who wants applications for business, education, lifestlye or any other task, can easily get one by hiring professionals via outsourcing companies. At time, it becomes difficult to find a desired application from the huge heap. In order to get your desired application with precision, you should hire expert Android app programmers who have extensive experience in Android development.

If you want your apps within your budget, then the best choice is to outsource this task to any app development company from countries like India. India has become one of the most prominent destinations for hiring app experts. It is easy to hire experts from the offshore outsourcing companies at the most affordable rates. You can save an enormous amount of money by opting experts from the outsourcing companies, and you also get flexible hiring options for expert Android developer/programmer.

Custom Android apps development service is the most appropriate approach towards the fulfillment of specific development tasks. The custom app development service from these outsourcing companies offers immense facility to get your app developed in your style. One can get incredible solutions as per his desire by opting for suitable custom Android app service. Outsourcing would surely help you to find prolific Android development service.

Outsourcing app development task to companies from offshore countries offer flexible packages for Android development. One can pick an expert apps developer/programmer on monthly, weekly, daily and even on hourly basis. Once again, the internet plays a vital role in this and help you to find the best, experienced and proficient Android apps development company. Do not forget to check the company’s portfolio, and have a look at the testimonials by clients. If you want a quick feedback on the services, then simply fill out the inquiry form of the companies and most of them would get back to you within 24 hours. First of all, get assured with the company’s development work, then only move ahead with the hiring process.

One good thing about these companies are that a team of persistent Android app developer/programmers are always ready to suggest, guide and assist you at any time.

How to Be a Successful National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Member: How to Be a Professional Corper

The NYSC scheme is an avenue for corps members to acquire useful skills, knowledge and abilities. These skills are acquired through seminar, training, workshops, symposia, colloquium, etc. organized by the NYSC in conjunction with other organizations. These life-changing activities are one of the most profitable aspects of the NYSC scheme.

From the orientation camp, every corper will be given opportunities to acquire skill and information that will be very profitable in life. Speakers, professionals and practitioners from various fields will be invited to educate corps members on how to maximize their service year. Life after service year will also be discussed. Some community development service groups like: Nigerian Road Safety, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Millennium Development Goal, Humanitarian/ Welfare Group, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Red Cross. Etc, will also be invited to give specialized lectures. Their operations, goals and objectives will be unveiled. Corpers will be persuaded to join any of the CDS groups. It is compulsory that you must be a member of at least one CDS group. At the end of the service year you will be given membership certificates, which are very useful after service.

Apart from the above benefits, there is another silent but celebrated privilege of the NYSC scheme that will make you self-dependent, self-employed or gain employment before the end or after your service year. The NYSC always partner with various professional bodies in the quest to make youth corps members self-reliant. These professional bodies train and equip corpers with necessary skills to make them successful. Through the process of lectures, seminar and examination corps members are fully empowered. These prestigious bodies are nationally and internationally recognized. The importance of these professional trainings and certificates are innumerable.

Although these professional bodies offer world-class services, their fees are very affordable. You may not believe the cost of acquiring these training and certificates. The reason for the reduced fees is that these professional bodies are aware of the allowance of corpers, and they know the importance of corps members to national development. A typical example is the Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria. This Institute is one of the brains behind my successful writing and speaking career. Its courses on entrepreneurship opened my eyes to profitable business opportunities in the Nigerian environment. They offer comprehensive services, and I can testify that their lectures and reading materials are of good standards. The fee was very affordable. Non NYSC members pay a very high fee to acquire this professional certificate.

So many professional bodies exist, take advantage of the reduced, priced and acquire professional skills and certificates. You might never have the opportunity again.

Most uninformed corps members perceive these professional trainings and certificates as waste of time and resources. They believe it is irrelevant. A wise man said that” no knowledge is a waste.” As an engineer you need managerial and administrative skills, even a doctor needs it, in fact, everyone that dreams to be a self-employed must acquire these skills. A social scientist or a management graduate needs technical knowledge because diversification is necessary in the business or employment market. Let’s briefly discuss some of the benefits of becoming a professional corper.

Self-Employment

One of the cardinal goals of these professional bodies is to raise professionals who will take the world economy to the next phase through the establishment of profitable small and medium-scale businesses. Their entrepreneurial and managerial lectures equip corpers to face the challenges of small and medium-scale enterprises and emerge successful. You will learn how to identify business opportunities and how to cheaply tap and execute them. The various means of capital generation and the practical steps to access these funds is one of the lectures I will never forget. These professional bodies offer vibrant and interesting lectures that will lead a young entrepreneur to the top.

Statistics have shown that only 50% of small businesses are still trading after their first three years from the initial set up. Most failure is attributed to lack of administrative, marketing and managerial skills. These skills can be acquired cheaply through professional training. I sold close to seven hundred copies of my books within one month through personal sales. It was possible because I acquired profitable management skills from various professional bodies. They offer practical courses that you can never acquire from any higher institution.

Majority of both national and international organization when recruiting make membership of professional bodies a criterion for employment. In most recruitment forms, there are always provisions to fill the professional bodies you belong to. In some cases, the vacancies are limited to only applicants who possess a certain professional certificate.

Don’t deprive yourself of a lucrative employment opportunity only because you fail to utilize an opportunity to acquire a professional training. Nigeria has millions of unemployed graduates, with just few jobs available. Only graduate with a niche can grab these limited employment opportunities. ‘Go the extra mile’, empower yourself and employers will beg for your service. Your curriculum vitae will even speak for you when you have acquired various training and certificates, they will send for you immediately you possess the skill they want. Professional training gives you an advantage over other applicants.

I secured my first job immediately after service without undergoing any aptitude test or formal interview. The owner of the firm was a Fellow of a professional body in which I am an associate. When I discovered that, I told his assistant that I wanted to see his boss. When I introduced myself the only question he asked was; can you do the job? And I said yes, that was all. I was given the job while other applicants continued the employment process just for formalities.

Knowledge

The training, lectures, seminars and reading materials offered by these professional institutions are sources of uncommon knowledge. As an entrepreneur you need knowledge to outshine your competitors, and a worker must possess special knowledge to attract promotion and increase in earnings.

In addition, acquired knowledge can lead to the establishment of a profitable business enterprise. You can become a consultant with your professional skills and certificate. Immediately, you are inducted and certified, you are permitted to start practicing. You can establish a professional firm where businesses will come to seek professional advice, and you can make good money from consultation.

Currently, I am a management consultant, entrepreneurship expert and professional debt collector. I am qualified to carry out these skilled tasks because I am a member of Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria and the Institute of Debt Recovery Practitioners of Nigeria.

Information

Information is the only tool for development. Anyone who doesn’t value information will become obsolete. The world is moving, and things are changing every day. Your skills and professional knowledge must be updated constantly to enable you to compete favourably in the business environment and in the corporate circle. Membership of a professional body is a sure means to modernize your skills and knowledge.

Professional bodies always engage in diverse research. This leads to innovative discoveries and mind-blowing inventions. Members also engage in brainstorming sections that always produce solutions to challenges facing their profession. The only means of accessing this information is to be a member. They also organize seminars, workshops, exhibitions, meeting, etc., to acquaint members with the current trend in the profession. You can never be outdated as an active member of a professional body. They also give professional advice to members to enable them to overcome business or corporate challenges.

Association

All you need to succeed in life is meeting the right people at the right time. Your professional body can link you to people that can lead to your advancement in business and other endeavors. During professional body meetings, you will meet successful business executives and professionals. Most of them are very influential in the society; they can connect you to a job, contract, business opportunities and even a political appointment. Nobody is an island, so you must interact with the right minds to succeed.

It is very important to state that the more you associate with successful people, the greater your chance of becoming successful. You can stand on the shoulder of some senior colleague and make giant strides. All you might need to become successful might be a call or a recommendation letter from a prominent citizen.

It is possible to enroll and grab as much as three professional certificates within the one-year service period. Just choose any professional body of your choice regardless of your course of study, because no knowledge is a waste.

Please grab this opportunity now, lest, it may be difficult and expensive to acquire such certificates at the expiration of your service year.

Opt For Professional Printing Firms Online

Promotion and publicity are the two basic components that are essentially required for making people aware of a particular item. With the ever increasing competition, it has become important that a firm comes up with new and innovative strategies to make their mark in the larger world. A firm just cannot take their audience for granted. It is important that they promote products according to their niche audience. Take into consideration the target audience before planning a strategy. Many of the firms hire printing agencies that can help them to promote their business to the large crowd. This is where printing services come into the picture. They are considered as the backbone to promote business and create awareness among the market about their newly launched products.

Being a proprietor of the business, it is important that you take help of advanced technology to promote items. There are a wide number of promotional strategies that help to reach the target audience. A billboard stuck on the road is sure to attract the attention of the users. There is every possibility that another firm might also be selling the same items. This is where the importance of how well a person uses promotion skills comes into the picture. It is believed that early in the six century, China started using various printing methods. However, at that time, these methods were carried out as manuscripts and tapestries. However, as times passed by, there have been introduction of new and innovative features such as banners, billboards, posters and more.

The printing work is available on various resources comprising of canvas, PVC, acrylic, mesh, fabric, vinyl and more. The main aim of these is to create awareness and promote business. There are numerous printing source available online, opt for a reliable and authentic source among all. These firms have a team of experienced and qualified designers. They have good years of experience and are well versed in this field. The banners and signs created by the professionals help a agency to attract attention. They are printed on high quality fabric, and in any pattern, such as pop up banners, mesh, banner stands and more. They are a firm believer of patron satisfaction and offer them accordingly. The cost is affordable and within the budget of a common person.

The different business sectors requires various publicity tricks. These professionals create brochures, letterheads, small flayers, postcards, bookmarks, door hangers, catalogs, business cards, calendars and more. Apart from this, they also offer CD and DVD inserts, tear cards, presentation folders and more. These professionals will guide a firm through the whole process of opting right quality printing option. They will design the brochures, posters to perfection. They will go to any extent to assure the firm gets due recognition. This also helps to print a firm invoices and keep a track of the job from start to finish. Read the testimonials and reviews posted by the patrons to get a clear picture concerning their needs. Take a quick look at the website for more information.

Expert Federal Resume Writing Help – Certified Professional Career Help and Assistance

Expert Federal Resume Writing Help – Certified Professional Federal Resume Writing Service

The federal resume is one of the hardest documents you will ever prepare. It is a time-intensive, labor of love that requires dedication, advanced grammar and editing skills, and the ability to draft a 2-4 page document about yourself. That doesn’t sound hard to you? Okay, try sitting down and describing your current life in a paragraph. Now, do that 2- 8 times over with respect to each job position and life experience you have had and then maybe you will see my point.

Unfortunately, even though the Obama administration got rid of the KSAs, the federal resume still looms. And, don’t be fooled by the fact that the government has done away with KSAs – that is not the case. Rather, the only difference is that now many of the agencies require that the KSAs be integrated into your current resume. How’s that for difficult – Basically the KSA is still a requirement for almost every government agency, only they are requiring that it be included in your resume, as opposed to submitted in a separate document.

What can you do to try to ease the pain of creating a federal resume – here are a few tips from a 10th year nationally certified resume writer who has served as a federal resume writer to several of the web’s top resume writing companies.

1. Brainstorm: When you apply for Federal and Government positions, they are sticklers for accuracy. Saying you started a position in 2010 is not enough – they want dates, including months and years. And, once you are on the interview and request that you complete a job application, they will require even more specific dates such as the exact date you started and ended the position. Therefore, take some time and think of each position you’ve had, the title, the supervisor, the months/years, and whether you will agree to let the potential employer contact your old employer.

2. Outline: Just as if you were back in high school or college, the key to any great essay is the ability to gather, organize, and execute your thoughts. Therefore, the first step in actually drafting the resume is for you to outline a job description that adequately describes each position you have had for the last 15-years.

3. Fine Tune the Outline: The next step should be taking the information and turning it into a story. Unlike a civilian resume, which is the equivalent of telling a story, a federal resume is the equivalent of writing a really, really boring story. It is important that you detail everything you did, but not overstate it. This is because with federal jobs, they WILL check your references, and WILL check you confirm that you actually completed what you said you did. (Not that you should ever lie in a civilian resume).

4. Give up and Hire a Resume Writer: Make SURE you have an EFFECTIVE FEDERAL RESUME: Government resumes generally will require the help of a professional resume writer. This is because the format is entirely different, the verbiage is more straightforward without being repetitive, and the content is much more dense. In addition, the job descriptions are much more detailed and in paragraph form. For the best results, do yourself a favor and hire Certified Professional Resume Writer with a strong background in creating Federal Resumes.

GOOD LUCK!

Choosing a Professional Resume Format

Professional Resume Writing

There is a lot involved in creating a professional resume that is attention grabbing and lands interviews. Did you know that some job postings can bring in as many as 500-1,000 resumes? And, recruiters will spend between 10 and 30 seconds reviewing a resume with their primary goal being to whittle down the piles of resumes that they receive each day to a manageable stack of “keepers”. Obviously, there is a lot of competition out there from other job seekers vying for the same position.

You’ll need to start your resume writing by deciding on a format. There are essentially 3 different resume formats: the chronological resume, the functional resume and the combination resume. Each has its advantages and disadvantages which is explained below.

The Chronological Resume Format

The chronological resume format is the most common and the one that people are most familiar with. In the chronological format, each of your jobs and corresponding descriptions of responsibilities are listed in chronological order starting with the most recent job. Dates of each job are included on the resume and it usually includes a career objective section, skills & attributes section or profile section and an education section.

The Functional Resume Format

The functional resume format is not as common and most often recommended for people who have gaps in their work history or for those who have been out of the workforce for a while. What is most prominent about this resume format is the candidate’s skills, attributes and accomplishments. A career objective should also be included as well as any educational qualifications. The actual jobs however, do not include the dates. The career history section will typically be limited to a list of company names, location of each company and job titles. One advantage to using this format is that it usually shortens the length of a resume. If you’ve got a 25 year job history and several jobs where you’ve performed a lot of the same duties, you can imagine how lengthy (not to mention repetitive) your resume might get. The functional resume format is an effective way to reduce the number of pages that an employer will have to read and will make your application more impactful. The disadvantage to this resume format is that recruiters don’t like it. They get suspicious about your job history if no dates are included and may toss it in the garbage if it raises too many questions. Although, at one time I used a functional resume because in my chronological resume I had gaps in my work history that I suspected were keeping the phone from ringing with interview requests. I changed the format from chronological to functional and the phone started to ring! So, for the best of both worlds, you might want to try the combination resume if you’ve got gaps in your work history or have been out of the workforce for a while.

The Combination Resume Format

The combination resume as its name implies, combines the best of both the chronological resume and the functional resume. A functional resume format is followed but the job dates are included. The employer is primarily interested in knowing what value you can bring to the company so that if your first page (or the first 2/3rds) of your resume can effectively show what value you bring to the company, then any gaps may be overlooked in favour of bringing you in for an interview.

When a Free Resume Ends Up Costing You More Than a Professional One

The most commonly searched keywords regarding resumes inevitably include “free” or “template” in them. Nobody wants to pay for something they think they can do themselves. A quick search will yield dozens of different services and sites offering free assistance with writing your own resume. But before you decide to sign up for any of these services, you ought to do your research on them first. Just like with any industry, even resume writing services has its shady underbelly.

One of the most common free resume template services involves an application where you provide your information such as name, education, work experience, etc., and the application plugs it automatically into a ready-made template. But before you are allowed to save your document or print it out, you are asked to pay a small, negligible fee, often around $2 or sometimes give your credit card information for a “free” trial that you can supposedly cancel at any time. Not so bad for something other people may pay several hundred dollars for, huh? Think again.

Hidden deep in the fine print, that no one seems to read anymore anyways, is the agreement you make to be charged for an automatically renewing subscription service. Before you know it, your credit card is being charged $40, $50, or even more every month. If you take a look at some of the consumer reviews for some of these “free” resume services, you will find that unfortunately many people do not pay very close attention to their credit card statements and may end up having these reoccurring charges for more than a year. What you thought was “free” or only a couple of bucks ends up turning out to be several hundred dollars or more, depending on when you notice the fraudulent charges.

Oftentimes, you will have little to no luck disputing the charges with your bank or credit card company. If the charges are reoccurring on your account, you will have been assumed to have agreed to them. This is another good reminder to always keep a close eye on your bank and credit card amounts. And good luck trying to dispute the charges with the actual company over the telephone or email. Why would they want to give you the time of day to cancel the charges when hidden fees and surcharges are their bread and butter? Always be suspicious of businesses without verifiable, physical addresses, and do your consumer research beforehand.

Many people who are looking to have a resume written are unemployed and looking to save money wherever they can, so they turn to “free” resume making websites that they believe will improve their chances of securing interviews. The sad reality is that there are many companies out there whose entire business model is based off scamming the poor and destitute with hidden fees and a sub-par product. If you are looking for help writing your resume, always do your research before you hand over any credit card information. Furthermore, ask friends and family what has best worked for them. Legitimate, professional resume writing services may not be for everyone, but they do help a great deal of job seekers. Sometimes the initial investment is well worth the reward. A well-written, effective resume could be the difference between you getting a new job in the next couple of weeks vs. you getting a job in the next couple of months, and all of that lost income will add up.

Actually Free Resume Templates

It is likely you have resume templates already installed on whichever word processing software you have. There are plenty of places where you can legitimately download them for free online and just enter in the necessary information yourself. For many people, this is as far as resume writing goes. Write a simple objective, name the school you went to, describe your work experience, and list any certifications. The problem is that, while templates may give you a basic format outline, it does not tell you what to actually write in it or how to write it. Just as all individuals are different, so should every resume be different.

Remember, free resume templates are designed to grab your attention, not the attention of the people who actually matter, such as hiring managers and recruiters. They may try to wow you with different fonts, graphics, and colors, but this is not what employers are looking for. You may think you will come off as interesting, creative, and eye catching if you used a unique resume template, but in the eyes of the hiring authority it will be clear as daylight that you used just another generic resume template.

When I have been in charge of hiring before, one of my most memorable examples was an individual who described themselves as a “creative type” and “proficient in Microsoft Office.” Their resume formatting and style was a little out of the ordinary for sure, but it was also obvious they used a rather common resume template. Why would I want to hire someone who says they are “creative” and “proficient in Microsoft Office,” if they can’t even format their own resume?

When looking at resumes, hiring authorities want documents that are simple, clean, and get straight to the point. With a competitive job market, a Human Resources official may sift through hundreds of resumes for a single position. They don’t spend too much time on each one, normally just a quick glance before they decide if it goes in the garbage or if the candidate needs a closer look.

A final warning about free resume templates is the question of how Applicant Tracking System (ATS) compliant they are. Many companies, especially large corporations, use ATS software to pre-screen applicants. This software scans the document for things like experience level, skills, certifications, educational background, industry keywords, and more. If you have a strangely formatted resume, it will be difficult for the software to read your resume. Even if you are the perfect candidate and have an otherwise well-written resume, it may get thrown in the garbage before a pair of human eyes ever actually looks at it.

Professional Tips For Effective Business Writing – Write to Express, Not to Impress

Business has no time for long or fuzzy words. Effective business correspondence is built on tight writing which depends on few, but hard-hitting words. Every word must convey a precise meaning that is understood in the same way by writer and reader. Use your thesaurus to replace long words with shorter, crisper ones.

Whether you are writing a prospecting letter or a report, a follow-up letter or a proposal, use the shortest, simplest word you can find to convey the meaning you want. Whether you are writing up, out or down, choose appropriate replacements for the cold and pretentious business expressions of the past. Eliminate the junk like: attached herewith please find. Instead, say exactly what you mean: I am attaching this for you. Use ordinary, everyday English–I call it shirtsleeve English–for real results.

Simplicity makes reading easy–and professional writers know that business readers want a quick, easy read. In fact, most busy readers get lost in sentences of 21 words or more. Equally important, when you go for the bigger, more impressive word, the chances are your reader will find you less impressive–not more. According to Daniel Oppenheimer, researcher and contributor to the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, “Anything that makes text hard to read and understand such as unnecessarily long words or complicated fonts, will lower readers’ evaluation of the text and its author.”

In twenty years of teaching business writing workshops and polishing proposals for my corporate clients, my experience tells me it’s the people with the least education who seem driven to use the biggest words–often with the silliest results. One writer, for example, searched for an alternative to “old” and found one he liked. In his letter, he actually referred to “senile” equipment. Another writer tried to impress a CEO with this: I value your needs and I wish to have the opportunity to assist you in achieving your envisions. You may laugh, but that is a direct quote–and it isn’t funny.

Now, I am not suggesting you would make the same foolish mistakes, but the principle of writing simply and cleanly is an important one–no matter how many degrees you have or how good you are with a dictionary. Professionals don’t complicate information–they simplify it. They don’t choose a ten dollar words when a fifty cent word works better. They don’t try to dazzle with multi-syllables when short, crisp words simplify reading and improve business results.

Don’t use “as per your request” when you could say, “as you asked.” Don’t write, “despite the fact that” when you could write, “although.” Don’t go for the heavy-duty, “in reference to” when “about” works better. I’m sure you get the idea.

When you write for business, it is not your job to teach your reader a new word. Nor is it to your advantage to show off, talk down, or confuse the reader. Clarity charms. Simplicity pays. Write to express, not to impress, and you’ll find your business writing actually means business.