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How To Make Your Resume Stand Out

It’s no mystery that the job market these days is flooded with quality candidates. So when an employer has a stack of resumes handed to them, how can you be sure that yours will get more than just a passing glance?

Be organized.
First and foremost, having a well organized resume will encourage an employer to want to read on. No one wants to read a jumbled mess, so make sure your margins and bullet points are used correctly and consistently for easy reading
Make sure the text on your resume is legible. It is usually easier to read resumes in a serif font such as Georgia or Times New Roman. Other fonts may look fun and creative, but are much harder to read.

Be concise.
It is recommended that resumes should fill 1 page. A resume that is any longer may bore the reader, but any shorter can give the appearance that you do not have as much experience. If you are looking to make yours shorter, prioritize the information and only include what really needs to be there in relation to the company and position. If you are trying to make your resume longer, don’t be afraid to brag! Fill the page with your accomplishments and duties from your previous experience. You may also want to play around the with font and margin size of the document.

Be specific.
While it may be easier on you to send out generic resumes for all of your applications, you actually may be hurting your chances. Specificity is key. Fill your resume with skills that directly relate to the job description you are applying for. That way, you potential future employer can see what you will bring to the position without wading through useless information.
If you are able, write a specified cover letter that highlights how your past experience will be beneficial for this job. A cover letter is a great way to go deeper with more detail into your previous experiences without cluttering the resume itself.

Be different.
Do something original. Here is a website full of interesting and creative resumes. Even though most of these designs may be a little too unique, they were read because they stood out among the sea of resumes that were given to the company. See how you could adapt any of these features to your own resume. Depending on the job position you are applying for, this may just be the type of creativity your future employer is looking for! Find a way to incorporate your passions or other creative facets that will help you to stand out. By including an important hobby of yours the employer will not only remember you but will understand what makes you unique.

We hope this advice helps you with your job search. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more tips and information!

How To Differentiate Yourself In Your Job Search

In the next five years, there will be an expected 65,000 jobs with high demand in healthcare, construction, welding and engineering. The job boom is going to build the South Texas economy, give jobs to many locals, and also potentially bring many people to the Corpus Christi area for job opportunities. That being said, how will you differentiate yourself from other applicants to get the job you want? Here are some tips that can help set you apart.

Be yourself. Make sure that you are honest about everything in your resume and never lie about your skills or experience during an interview.

Have a skill. Be an expert at something in your field. Make sure you are at the cutting edge of this niche and research this particular skill as often as you can. Your expertise will be an excellent way to set yourself apart from other applicants in the job market.

Be well-rounded. Outside of having a skill, you should be knowledgeable on a number of topics in your field. This will help your job flexibility. You will be able to fit into a number of job openings and even if you miss out on a particular job, the company may be more likely to hire you for a future position.

Be creative. Depending on the job you want, you should try something that helps you stick out. Bring up a unique experience about an internship you had during your interview to describe one of your skills. You can even try presenting your resume in a fun way that will ensure the company remembers your name.

Brighten the room. Try to look happy during your time at the company. Dress appropriately for the interview and then let your experience and creativity shine. Self-confidence can be your best friend in getting a job. An employer is much more likely to hire someone that can bring that spark of excitement to the organization!

We hope this advice helps you with your job search. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more tips and information!

Company Culture

Company culture is the atmosphere that is created by the day to day happenings, including verbal and nonverbal communications within the workspace. There are a lot of factors that inform the culture such as the specific industry your company works in, the presence your company has, or even the people that inhabit the space. Company culture has previously been overshadowed by the sheer reputation or size of the organization. While these factors may still be important, job seekers are now starting to pay attention to the ‘feel’ of a company when deciding where to commit the next 40 years of their life. Company culture is now becoming more visible due social media, and this fact can be great for companies and job seekers. Companies now have an opportunity to promote their unique culture to attract the right type of employee, while those on the job hunt have a chance to preview the culture of the company they are prospecting. So for companies and job seekers alike, make sure you exploring this important aspect of the organization.

As a company, your culture is important to work on because job seekers consider company culture an important factor when deciding where to work. Use social media outlets to give outsiders a glimpse inside your company. This may mean you have to be a little more careful and consistent with what goes into your posts, but you will reap the benefits of being a relatable organization. However, if you are still hesitant, relaying the message of your company’s culture can be as simple as describing it during your interview with a candidate. Have a conversation with them about your culture and see if they align with those values.

For job seekers, keeping company culture in mind may mean a little more work. Now that companies are investing time into establishing a company culture, you want to take extra time to show why and how you fit into the mix. Your cover letter is a great opportunity for you to explain what you could bring to the culture. Also, you can mention what you have discovered and like about the company’s culture during the interview.

The importance of company culture is definitely on the rise, and will stick around for a long time. What is your company’s culture like? Let us know! Also be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more recruiting and job searching tips!

Don’t Let Your Social Media Accounts Keep You From Getting Hired

p dir=”ltr”>Everyone knows that job hunting is constantly changing. This change has been particularly accelerated because of increased use of online tools from both job seekers and employers. One outlet that is becoming more prevalent is social media. Companies and recruiters make no secret of screening a candidate’s personal profiles during the hiring process, and they do so frequently. While some may be uncomfortable with the thought of a future employer looking at their personal sites, it is a good way to indicate whether or not the candidate’s personality will be a good fit with the company as a whole. Now that you know your personal social media accounts may be under the microscope, don’t let them keep from getting a job!

Content: Make sure what you post is professional, or at least appropriate. Choose your shares, retweets, and status updates wisely. Try talking about information related to the field or company you are interested in. Sharing directly from the company’s profile also helps!

Bio: This information is often forgotten, but equally as important as your content. Even if your content is great, a sloppy or inappropriate biography/interests section can hurt you. Think of this section as your personal resume. Have a concise description of yourself, include some traits and interests, and ‘Like’ or follow good pages. This will be the place where a company can quickly get an idea of your own personality, so make it count!

Photos: A picture says a thousand words. Maybe it’s time to take down those photos from college that you would not even want your parents to see. Don’t have inappropriate pictures lurking around your profile that could damage a future employer’s perception of you! Have a clean profile picture, and clear out any pictures you would rather have out of your employer’s reach.

We hope this helps you in your job search. What are your thoughts on social media and the hiring processes?

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Interview Questions You Are Guaranteed To Hear

Every job is different, and each company you interview with is unique. However, there are some things that you can expect every time you sit down with an interviewer. We would like to give a cheat sheet of what you can expect to hear (and how to respond).

What attracted you to this company?

Companies like to hear you brag about them! Do your research before the interview and make a list of services offered or values held by the company to bring up during the interview. This shows you interviewer that you cared enough about the company and position to take the time to get to know about them.

When can you start?

You need to be able to answer this question on the spot, not sit and think about it in front of the interviewer. If you are unemployed and available immediately, tell them so. If you are trying to change jobs, you need to be sure to have time to get your affairs in order before switching. Set yourself a good time frame to accommodate whatever your situation is.

Tell me about yourself.

We often focus so much on preparing to answer questions about the company that we forget to think about ourselves. This is such an important question because it is a chance for your interviewer to see who you are off the page. We actually have gone in depth with this question here.

Do you have any relevant previous experience?

Your interviewer already knows you do. You would not be sitting in the interview if the company did not think you were at least somewhat qualified for this position. This is an opportunity to expand on the limited space on your resume and give some examples. Think of three specific projects or accomplishments to talk about to show how your skills in this field were put into action.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Interviewers wants to make sure that you are seeking a long term commitment with the company, and not simply jumping from one job to the next. However, it is important to emphasize that you want to grow in this position and not remain stagnant. Think about specific goals you have for the position, or even a desire to move up to some type of leadership role. This will demonstrate that you want to stay within the company, but you will be actively working to do so.

We hope that these tips will guide you in your job search during your interviews! Let us know how they’ve helped you! For more updates about The Wilson Group and advice for job seekers, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Are You Sabotaging Your Job Search?

Not getting any job offers? Frustrated with how long your job search is taking? Ask yourself the following questions to be sure your are not sabotaging your job search.

1. Do you only look when you’re desperate?
Never stop networking, even when you’re at your dream job. You never know what might happen, and if you have an updated LinkedIn page and you’ve kept up with your connections, a recruiter may be contacting you before you’re even looking for a job.

2. Are you bringing up money too soon?
Don’t let hiring managers think that you’re more interested in how much the job pays. Money is a delicate subject and don’t ask too soon, or you may turn off your hiring manager.

3. Have you talked bad about your last company?
Always be professional. That means no bashing your last company, no matter what your feelings are. Don’t let hiring managers think that you might do the same after you leave their company as well.

4. Is your resume the length of a Tolstoy novel?
Short, sweet, and to the point. Only include what’s relevant. You need your resume to be attention-grabbing. Not dread-causing.

5. Have you forgotten your manners?
Always write a thank-you note after an interview. E-mail AND handwritten. This is your chance to say anything you didn’t say during your interview.

6. Have you harrassed your hiring manager for answers?
No one enjoys the child on the road trip constantly asking “Are we there yet?” So don’t be that person to hiring managers. If you got the job, they will contact you.

7. What comes up when you Google yourself?
Always double-check what comes up when you Google yourself. If your social media pages/websites are anything but professional, that will definitely hurt your chances of getting the job.

8. Are you too picky?
Are you only applying to jobs with a certain job title at a certain company? Expand your job search and your options. Don’t limit yourself based on salary. Yes, you should know what salary range you’d want, but also keep in mind things that help if salary isn’t quite ideal: benefits, hours, vacation, etc.

9. Are you unwilling to take chances on contract/temporary work?
This could really help you get to networking within a company. Many companies will hire people who have worked temporarily for them after seeing the difference they make in the company. It is always a good thing to do to get your foot in the door.

10. Are you too self-obsessed?
If you walk into an interview embittered by application rejections and a lack of job offers, you’re most likely thinking “what’s in this for me?” Well, don’t. Companies are trying to find the best fit for the position, and you need to prove that to them.

So have you been doing these things? If so, then it is OK. Now you know what to do to make sure that you’re job-searching properly.

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Get the Most Out of Your Job Search

The last thing you want to do in a job search is waste time. Here are some tips to make sure you stay productive!

1. Set Goals.
This is the best way to help you stay focused on the big picture: getting you a job! Create daily, short-term and long-term goals to help you stay motivated and encouraged.

2. Create a Written Schedule.

Create a written schedule that lists when applications are due, and what you need to do each day to stay on track. Write in when you need to follow-up and you’ll be on time and ready to impress your potential employers.

3. Change Up Your Approach.

Try ways to keep the job search interesting, whether that means using snail mail instead of email for sending in your resume and cover letter or going to more networking events. Sitting at your computer for hours on end sending out applications will make you go crazy!

4. Do Some Research.

Research thoroughly to find the address, phone number and name of the hiring manager. This may seem like a pain, but it’s worth the effort!

Don’t get discouraged in your job search! What do you do to stay motivated? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

How to Answer the Dreaded Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”

Any person interviewing for a job will tell you that the first question is usually the hardest:

“Tell me about yourself.”

Now, before you panic and spout off information about your love for snow skiing or old movies, make sure you are prepared so you can definitely wow your potential employer.

For our first tip, keep it professional. The person interviewing you is trying to get a broad overview of who you are, professionally speaking. Feel free to give an overview of your professional background, or any information that you consider relevant to the job. Typically avoid mentioning your spouse, children, family or hometown, unless relevant. For example, if the job involves relocation to an area where you previously resided, then it is perfectly acceptable to mention that you had lived in that area before. Including that information shows that you would not be fickle in regard to relocation.

Secondly, be sure to practice your answer out loud and repeat it frequently to make sure you know it well and you will be prepared for your interview. Start with a strong, simple statement related to the job and then follow up with a description of your work history that shows how perfect you are for that job opening!

Don’t stress about the job interview. Make sure you are prepared, and you’ll be feeling confident and ready! Want more help preparing for your interview? We have coaches that can provide you with the help you need to feel comfortable and confident in your interviews. Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and read more blog posts for great job tips and suggestions.

Reasons to Relocate

In today’s market, more and more people have to relocate to new cities to find the jobs. While many are reluctant to moving and up rooting their family, there are benefits to taking a job in a new city. Here are some reasons to take the plunge and relocate.

1. A New Opportunity
The best reason to relocate is really simple. You were offered a position at a new company. By accepting the job offer, you have the opportunity to try something new and add to your resume. If it’s a job that meets all the ticks on the checklist, it could be hard to pass up.

2. Broaden Your Horizons
Moving to a new city can open a lot of doors. You get to learn about and become part of a new culture and experience a different way to living. Each city has its own personality; get to know it! New friends, new hobbies and activities, and new lifestyles are waiting to be discovered!

3. Professional Growth
Taking the new job could mean growth professionally. A new job presents many new opportunities, including the enhancement of your skill set and professional knowledge. By taking the risk of moving for a new job, you will be more open to taking risks in other aspects of your career.

Whatever your reasons are for considering relocation, it’s important to keep in mind your finances, family situation, and the job itself. If all of those aspects line up, why not take the plunge? If you are looking for a new opportunity, we can help! Visit our website and find us on LinkedIn in our group and company page.

Back to Basics: Silly Resume Mistakes

You can find a plethora of advice and articles that contain intermediate and advanced tips for improving your resume. However, sometimes it’s good to go back to the beginning and review some of the basics. Typos, misspellings and poor grammar will get your resume tossed much quicker than using passive language or not writing effective section headings.

Sometimes candidates get so focused on the difficult bits of the resume that they bungle some of the easy stuff. Here are a few very basic, but very common resume mistakes.

Can you spell your own name?
Okay, so I’ve never seen a resume in which the writer actually misspelled his or her own name.
Believe it or not, however, people misspell the name of their city and/or state all the time. Whether it’s just a typo, or you just moved to Mississippi and you still miss the occasional “s” or “p”, it doesn’t look good.

Don’t rush through the proofreading of your contact information – you’d be surprised what you might miss.

“Mr. Smith is outstanding candidate”
Many people make the mistake of writing their resume in the first person. For example, you should never say “I increased sales by 50 percent”. Resumes should always be written in the third person. However, writing in the third person and referring to yourself in the third person are very different things.

If you want to turn off a hiring manager, use the following summary as an example:

“John Smith is an outstanding leader with 20 years of experience in turning around underperforming departments. Mr. Smith has undergone extensive sales training and he is ready to put it to work for your company.”

That paragraph is perfect for someone else to write as a reference for you. However, you should remember that you are not your own reference!

Okay, now just hit the spellcheck key and you’re done!
Spellcheck is not a fail-safe. It will catch misspelled words, but it won’t recognize your grammar fouls. Grammar is a particular pet peeve of many hiring managers, so mixing up you’re & your, its & it’s, hear and here, their and they’re, to & too, and lose & loose will lose (not loose) you the interview.

We have extensive experience helping job candidates perfect their resumes, so whether you need basic or advanced assistance, please contact us. If you’re in the market for a new career opportunity, please take a look at our list of open positions.