IT Engineer (Aggie) for Hire!

45 Quick Changes That Help Your Resume Get Noticed

We get over 1,000,000 applications a year. A few tips to help your resume stand out:

https://t.co/p0vkGMhPlB courtesy of @dailymuse

— T-Mobile Careers (@tmobilecareers) December 27, 2016

Vizify ~ an Infographic about your life

It's not like we haven't heard of the concept.  Timelines, graphs, pics - it all started with visualcv (which i loved from day 1).

The idea: take all those interesting impressions you make online into one definitive, multidimensional, graphical biography, without ever asking you to face a blank screen.

That's what Vizify says they do best.  I hope they are right.  I asked for a beta code this morning so I hope to find out soon.

Your Resume vs. The Giant Black Hole

There are two kinds of people:  those who are looking for a job, and those who will be.  And while the community of job-seekers is quite a diverse bunch, there's something they (we) all share other than the quest for a new job:  the experience of the big, black hole (ATS).

Having lived on both sides of the black-hole, I understand the frustration of the average job-seeker.  Upon clicking the last keystroke for resume submission, they can almost hear the faint sucking sound as their resume slips away in the vortex of the giant ATS.  For days, they wait....hoping to get a text - or a phone call - or an voice-mail describing their interest.  Instead, the dreaded email.... "Thanks for your interest...don't call us, we'll call you."   Nice.

So, what's a job-seeker to do?  Aside from storing  all the "thanks but no thanks" letters and using them as kindling in the winter, WSJ's Lauren Weber has a few ideas ~ check them out by clicking the pic below:  

A new résumé format: Facebook Timeline

Five methods people are using to transform a Facebook page into an aspiring résumé ~ the shape of things to come?

Does Facebook's new timeline feature work as a resume?  Check out this quick read on HRCommunications.com, providing tips and hints to help you create a Facebook career timeline ~ (click the pic below): 

hello my name is Dennis Smith

hello, my name is dennis smith on Prezi

Give Recruiters a Reason to Call

I look at a lot of resumes, and even more online profiles via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

A common mistake among job hunters is that too many make their pertinent info too hard to find.

If you have a LinkedIn profile, include a statement prior to your work history that screams (out loud!) this is who I am, this is what I've done, and this is why you want me!

If this info isn't glaringly clear, then you are leaving it to chance that the recruiter will interpret your background and experience correctly. Big mistake.

Although Kevin Donlin's not looking for a job, I like his LinkedIn profile. Under his name, he has this statement:

I help people find jobs fast.

I also like Vickie Bartman's:

Design and Production Manager seeking FT opportunity to contibute Creative and organizational talent.

This 1-2 liner on LinkedIn doesn't provide the space to describe "why" somebody should hire you, but at a minimum, it gives you the opportunity to succinctly describe who you are and what you do. Most importantly, it reduces "click" and "scroll" time.

Don't leave it to chance. If your resume isn't screaming loud enough to get the attention of a busy recruiter, you may never pique their interest enough to pick up the phone.

Give them a reason to call.

IT Project Manager (MBA, BS Computer Science)

Hey Recruiters - just connected with a sharp IT Project Manager working at Fannie Mae and he's interested in relocating to the Dallas / Ft. Worth area.

He holds an MBA from GWU and an undergrad in Computer Science from OU.

Let me know if you'd like to connect with him - I'll forward his resume.

10 Things You Should Know About Creating a Resume ...

... for a high-level IT position.

I'm a recent fan of Jody Gilbert's (TechRepublic) 10 Things blog and thought this particluar post appropriate for sharing with our readers.

This is a quick-read where Jody offers up advice for high-level IT job-seekers regarding their resume.

Just to wet your whistle, here's Jody's first tip:

#1: Keep your list of “core skills” short and sweet

Check out the remaining nine things you should know on the 10 Things blog, HERE.

And, in case you care to follow the TechRepublic blogs on Twitter, click here: Twitter.

The Match Game

Not so long ago I promised you some insight on writing a different kind of resume that was specific to the job you were applying or interviewing for. This is something that is a little out there in the eyes of the traditionalist and you may find a little too bold for you but the first time I saw it, I was very impressed with the way it was put together.

So here are the basics of what you are doing with this "outside the box" mini resume.

First, take the job description for the position for which you are applying.

Most job descriptions are written in a format that have either bullets or are very specific about duties you will perform. Now, think back to previous experience and when you have performed those duties. Now, let's play the match game. Write the duty or function they will want you to perform and then right underneath it, describe a time when you have done that exact thing.

Do this for every job duty described in the job posting and either send it along with your resume when you apply for the position or, bring it with you to the interview.

I like it when it is sent in with your resume when you are applying because it tells me you have read the job description and you are confident, based on your previous experience, it's the right fit. Just make sure it matches the experience on your resume.

This is also a great way to take inventory of your skills to see if you are the right fit for the position. You may start writing down the duties of the position and find out it's not really something you want to do. I think a lot of people today look at job titles and apply for positions but don't really spend a lot of time looking at the description of duties in detail.

There is some danger in doing this if you are not completely honest in your description of what you have done in the past. If you do make it to the interview, you can bet your last dollar that any recruiter or hiring manager worth their salt is going to ask you specific questions about any of the things you say that you did. Make sure you can back it up. If you are writing a fairy tale, sooner or later it will catch up with you.

So, if you are ready to take your resume "outside the box". You might try the match game.

Do it as an attachment to your resume and one other thing, try to be brief in your descriptions. Managers are not interested in reading novels nor do they usually have time.