resume help Archives - The Wilson Group

Home / resume help

You Might Be Doing Your Resume All Wrong

It’s time to start applying for that job you’re interested in. A well-rounded resume is always a great start, but before you do, make sure to keep these don’ts in mind while creating it.

Poor format and grammar

Avoiding grammar and punctuation mistakes is a given. You often have to remember that even though spell check is there, it isn’t always dependable. You have to make sure you’re using the right “your” and “you’re” or “their” and “they’re”, because if an employer happens to catch your mistake, it shows that you don’t put effort into your resume, making you look like you don’t pay attention to your work.

Overdoing it

Yes, keywords are pretty important. The job you’re applying to wants to see that you have the certain skills they’re looking for. Now you really don’t need to be over the top in using fancy adjectives in front of every skill you have. For example, “Hardworking, responsible, detail-oriented, perspicacious, knowledgeable leader”. Limit yourself to one if any and just get to the point. Say what you’re good at and limit the puffery.

Being informal and unprofessional

Hopefully you already know not to use profanity or slang on your resume. It’s best to be formal and polite in your wording to emphasize your professional skills to an employer. There are times to try to show your creativity or witty side (such as your cover letter), but as for a resume, my advice would be to keep it simple. Also, when trying to be sociable and clever with your wording, it could be distracting to the employer when they’re trying to read through your resume. They really just want to know what skills and experience you possess.

Being dishonest

There might be times where you write up a resume and think “I wish I had more skills to put on my resume”. Don’t lie on your resume. It might seem like a good idea, but friends and co-workers will find out about the slander and will probably look down on you for lying. Also if you put down a skill you actually don’t obtain, your future job may rely on you to use that skill. Better to be safe than sorry, so be honest on your resume!

Sending the same resume to every job type

If you’re scouting for multiple jobs at the same time, try to avoid sending the same resume to each job you apply for. It can be a pain to create different resumes but it’s worth it. All jobs are different and it’s smart to use certain skills and experience that is best suited for each position while limiting your resume to one page. If you do this there’s a much higher chance that they’ll read it and you’ll hear back.

We are here to help with your resume and helping you find the perfect match! If you have any questions about your resume or need any help, check out our website or call us at 361-883-3535 today!

Tips To Making a Confident Resume and Cover Letter

Whenever you have the chance write a cover letter or resume, make sure you follow these tips on how to make confident cover letter and resume!

When writing your resume you should always tailor it depending on what job you’re applying for. It wouldn’t be the best decision on your part to send the same resume to every job you’re interested in. Same goes for your cover letter. Before you start either, make you sure you take the time to research the company and position you will be applying to. That way, when you begin describing how you will be able to apply your skills to the position and overall company, you’ll actually know what company you’re talking to and what they’ll expect.

When it comes to stating your skills and how the company will benefit from them, be sure to be confident and direct. When employers look through your cover letter and resume, it’s not for very long. You want to let the employers know what you will bring to the table and your abilities that you will apply to your daily work. Also it’s important to show some enthusiasm, saying that you’re excited for this opportunity, how you would love to be apart of the work environment. This shows that you have a passion for this certain line of work and that you are ready whenever they are. Speaking of passion, it’s also good to let out some inner devotion towards this career of choice. This let’s the hiring managers know that you mean business and you’ll be a hardworking candidate and you are going to enjoy what you’re applying for.

Proofreading is the most annoying, but the most crucial step of any professional writing, including resumes and cover letters. Grammar and punctuation errors are obviously a no-no, because if they see those mistakes, they will think you didn’t put much effort into your work. Not a good first impression to make. It’s also good to use the correct phrases. My advice would be to avoid saying things like, “I think…”, “I guess…”, “I believe…” and other passive statements. You need to show that you’re strong within your wording. Say, “I will…”! Don’t lower yourself, be positive and courageous! But also keep in mind to not over do it. Don’t over-flatter yourself or the company. It will make the hiring manager wonder if these skills are even true and no one really likes a suck-up. Be short, and be sufficient with what you say in your resume and cover letter.

Take these key skills and apply them to your cover letter and resume and you’ll come out with a very confident and strong resume! If you need more help with resumes and would like to submit your resume in to The Wilson Group, visit our website.

Did You Know?

Did you know that TWG not only helps with personnel solutions, but also offers a variety of services to help you land your dream job? That’s right, with our Resume Refreshers, One-on-One Interview Coaching, and Career Coaching, we can put you one step closer to achieving those career goals.

Resume Refresher

As the times are changing, it is important that your resume stays relevant when applying for jobs. The Wilson Group is here to help keep your resume up-to-date and ready for that next job opportunity. We will update and refresh your resume with words and phrases that will blow your employers away! Not only that, but we will also help you navigate applying online, making sure that your resume ends up in the hands of the hiring authority. Let TWG make your resume top of the line!

One -on -One Interview Coaching

Do you find yourself ready to prep for an interview but not knowing where to start? TWG offers one-on-one coaching that will take you through every step of the interview process. Within the 1 hour session, you will be prepped in both common interview questions and job winning answers. Not only this, but we will take you through the 10 most common mistakes in interviews and teach you how to avoid them.

Career Coaching

Before changing careers, TWG can help you create a plan of action through Career Coaching. We will help you develop a career path through strength identification, giving you the confidence to achieve what is on the road ahead!

For more information check out our website.

Follow-Up or Be Forgotten

Following up on an interview can be tricky business. You want to ensure you stand out among the other applicants, but not for the wrong reasons. Here are three ways to follow-up after an interview that won’t get you on the block list.

1. Send a thank-you note. – This should be done no matter what. Whether it is a handwritten note sent the next day or an email immediately following the interview, a thank-you note goes a long way. It shows you are interested and thankful for their time. Keep it brief and sincere.

2. Share a relevant industry article. – In order to keep up the engagement and help the recruiter remember you, try sending him or her a relevant article. Make sure the article is from a credible source, is current, and pertains to something discussed during the interview. This keeps the lines of communication open and shows you have industry knowledge.

3. Ask to connect on LinkedIn. – You’re looking to be part of this organization. Connecting on LinkedIn shows you are ready to take the next step. When you send the request, be sure to write a customized note so they know who you are and what your purpose is. If you can, provide an incentive for them as well by offering to connect them with a relevant industry contact of yours. It’s all about who you know.

While doing these follow-ups doesn’t guarantee a job, they can help set you apart from the rest. Showing you are eager to be part of their team as well as knowledgeable about their industry is imperative in the job-hunting process. If you need help with finding the right career match for you, visit our website and set up an appointment. We can help you every step of the way!

New Approach for 2013

With the approach of the New Year, it is time to look back, analyze and re-evaluate your job searching methods from 2012. With a new year comes new opportunity, and it is imperative for job seekers to “think outside the box” when planning for a job search in 2013. Here are a few ways to think in macro, outside the box terms when seeking new opportunities:

Show The Real You

Think about how you treat the best people you know. Whether these are family members or close friends, analyze how you interact and show them the respect you believe they deserve. Take this method of interaction and apply it to those who are conducting your interviews. This will allow the potential employer to see the real, genuine you, and perhaps, a position based on your actions towards the employer in the interview.

Research Research Research

Turn up the heat on the level of research you perform when seeking out potential employers. You can never know too much about one company, and you never know what small detail or fact you mention might land you a position you otherwise would not have received. You can never know too much information about a potential employer.

Maintain You Network of Contacts

Even after you land that dream position, continue to network and maintain the contacts you made during the job seeking process; you never know when these contacts might come in handy again. You might also be able to use them when helping a fellow job seeker in their search for permanent employment.

If you are looking to revamp you job search in the New Year, be sure and contact us via our website. Don’t forget to also check out our updated list of job opportunities and send us a resume if you believe you are qualified for one of our many open positions.

Recent Graduate? Sell Yourself With Your Resume

Regardless of the degree you’ve just earned, you will soon spend some time in sales. If you’ve never done so before, you will get your chance when convincing employers that you are exactly what they need.

You should market yourself with your resume as effectively as you sell yourself in an interview. A resume that separates you from other recent graduates, as well as established candidates, is more likely to get you an interview. To make a successful sale, you need to know and understand your current assets.

Relevant Experience – Yes, you have it!
No matter what kind of job history you have, you’ve developed a few skills that are relevant to your current career ambitions. Even if they were not used in the same way as will be expected in your new career, there are many basic transferable skills, such as leadership, customer service, and problem solving. Spend time reading job descriptions that interest you to locate keywords and terminology that relate to your skills to use in your resume. A chronological work history many not help if your most recent work is the least relevant. You can remedy this problem by listing industry internships and giving them more prominence by writing more detailed descriptions than the less relevant experience.

The Cover
Yes, cover letters aren’t always required, but in the job market, you need to take every opportunity you can find to stand out. Writing a cover letter can show your personality, ability to write in a professional manner, and your willingness to be comprehensive and detail-oriented in your work. Your cover letter should be specific to the job for which you’re applying. Read the job description carefully and incorporate relevant keywords that speak to the specific skills and qualities needed for the position.

Flexibility vs. Indecisiveness
When you’re fresh out of college, it’s important to be open minded. You may not get the exact job you want, but you might find a good opportunity you never considered. However, you shouldn’t leave out all of your specific aspirations in an attempt to be flexible. Of course you want to get a job quickly, but you don’t want to appear desperate or seem like you have no real vision of what you want your career to look like.

The most important aspect of making yourself a marketable candidate is focusing on what makes you special and what you can bring to an employer. A new graduate should do this through balancing humility with confidence, and that can include asking for help. The Wilson Group offers resume appraisals, interview coaching and career coaching to candidates. Click here for more information.

Resume Design Matters! Tips and Tricks

Many sites will answer the question “how do I write a resume,” but not as many address the question of “how do I design a resume.” Don’t worry: no one expects a fancy infographic-style resume (unless, perhaps, when hiring a graphic designer). But you still need to make sure that a first glance at your resume won’t turn off a hiring manager— and ideally that it will intrigue them. You may not be a graphic designer, but don’t worry! You can still have a great-looking resume if you follow these tips:

1. Start with a Template
Templates are a great way to get a head start on designing a solid resume, and you can find them for pretty much any word processor out there! Here are links to templates for some of the major processors:
– Microsoft Word
– Apple Pages
– Google Docs
– Open Office

But don’t think that plugging your info into a template is enough! These are easy to find, so you can bet a lot of job seekers use them— maybe even ones applying to the same jobs as you! Do your best to tweak the design’s colors and look.

2. Use Caution While Handling Fonts
It may be tempting to use grand, sweeping fonts throughout your resume. Or maybe you prefer the chipper, cheerful look of Comic Sans. In either case, be careful what fonts you choose, and stick to about two: one for headlines, and one for the rest of your resume’s text (such as your job history and objective). Traditionally, designers recommend a “serif” font (one with little ticks at the ends of each letter, such as Times New Roman or Helvetica) for the main body of text and a “sans serif” font (one without the ticks, like Arial and Calibri) for headlines.

3. Consider Printing When You Design
Many employers (and perhaps you yourself) will want to print your resume, so avoid using colored backgrounds or large, detailed images. These suck up ink and don’t always look very good on a standard printer, so save yourself time and money and stick to a traditional white background.

4. Separate Headlines from Body Text
Your resume should be broken up into several sections, such as your objective, education, job history, skills, achievements, references, memberships, etc. Each section should have its own headline that clearly separates it from the section’s text. If you’re not sure how to start, simply bold the headline text and perhaps increase its font by a point or two. Don’t go too crazy- you don’t want your headlines to take up the whole page!

5. Leave Some White Space
While you don’t necessarily have to keep your resume down to one page, many people do for simplicity’s sake, and that’s great! However, some of them attempt to cram that one page too full of text to really be readable, much less enticing. Stick to standard margins, and make smart use of bullet-point lists where appropriate such as in your skills and job history, so that a straight paragraph in a couple of sections makes sense. However, you don’t want every section to be a list either: it’s all about balance!

Still need help? No problem! Contact us and we can arrange to meet with you and go over your resume and other aspects of your job search.