Should I Hire A Resume Writer

Your resume is the most important document in the search for a new role, hiring a professional to complete the process for you can be hugely beneficial. The following reasons cover some of the most important aspects of choosing to source a resume writing service:

 

Get results

At least one application in ten should result in an interview. If this is not the case, your application materials aren’t working for you and you need to consider a new approach.

Summarize a complex background

Your employment history could display as too diverse, or too limited, you need to know what to include, omit, or expand upon.

Tailor a resume to a role or industry

Professional resume writers, armed with your information, can accurately structure your information to present you as the ideal candidate.

Focus on keywords

Employers typically use search tools to identify specific skills, you need to be sure that your resume aligns correctly with the requirements, keywords, and language usage associated with positions of interest

Save valuable time

If you’re seeking a new position, you’re already dedicating a considerable amount of time to your search. Hiring a professional resume writer minimizes the time you spend on the document, leaving you free to source the roles most suited to you.

Stand out from the crowd

Your resume needs to stand out from the crowd, no matter which role you’re currently aiming for. A professional service will ensure that employers look twice at your application, and contact you for an interview.

Display your qualifications

If you know you’re qualified for the roles you’re applying for, but you’re not receiving positive feedback, it could mean you’re submitting a weak resume that doesn’t accurately portray your skills.

Talk yourself up

Do you feel uncomfortable about bragging about yourself? Hire a professional to do that for you.

 

Conclusion

Resume writing can be extremely difficult, and hiring a professional can take a great deal of pressure off an already stressful hunt for a new role.

Applying for Entry-Level Roles

For new graduates, and those seeking a career change, the battle through an extremely competitive job market is all too real. We are bombarded with ads for positions that offer disappointing salaries and little to no benefits, the trend globally is to cut costs as much as possible. Companies are overworking their employees and this combined with inadequate earnings leads to dissatisfaction in the workplace. In the current situation, getting any job can be a difficult task, but applying for entry-level roles can appear near-impossible. The competition is huge and you need to find some way to stand out from the crowd in the eyes of your potential employer.

Let`s explore some options that people who are new to the job market can do to boost their chances to secure an interview.

You should think about your future even while still in college. Think about your formal education as the cornerstone of your future career, and as something to build on. When you finish college, you are not a well-formed expert in your area, you are a beginner in your field and you have much to learn. This is very important to realize from the beginning of your job search. Many candidates get disregarded because they feel that their diploma guarantees them a managerial position from the get-go and this could not be further from the truth. You need to invest time and energy to better yourself and to demonstrate the ways in which you’re the ideal candidate.

Internships, courses, summer jobs:

Let’s move on to extra-curricular activities. Having a degree in economics does not set you out from the crowd, there are thousands of people with a similar background applying for entry-level roles. Having a degree in economics and an internship in your chosen economic area, well that`s going to get you noticed. The keyword here is investment. I have heard “I would rather sit home and not get paid than go to work and not get paid” too many times. You will get so much valuable knowledge on an internship and you will see how a company operates. If you are good they will, at least, give you a good recommendation and references and there even might be a position waiting for you when you finish your studies if you are exceptional. Take courses in fields that you are particularly interested in. Even summer jobs working at a local store will prove to your potential employer that you are a responsible person with a good work ethic.

Resume and cover letter:

A high-quality resume submitted with a concise cover letter are the documents that are key in getting invited to interview. As a fresh graduate, your resume should not exceed a standard A4 page, clearly demonstrating the skills you’ve gained throughout your studies and extra-curricular experiences. Be concise and precise. Don`t be too descriptive. A recruiter needs to know exactly what can he expect you to be able to do from your resume. Keep your resume clean and simple, removing excess information. Always ask yourself, is this information useful for the recruiter? The cover letter should tell the recruiters in a few sentences why you are applying for that specific position and company. Introduce yourself, mention the specific position you are applying and explain why your skills would allow you to excel in the advertised role.

Traditional values:

Always keep in mind that some traditional values are valued in candidates for a good reason. Make sure that you are at least ten to fifteen minutes early for your scheduled appointment and dress up. I am not saying to wear a three-piece suit but a tucked-in button-down shirt will be highly appreciated by your recruiter. I have already mentioned several times that the competition is tough and most candidates that apply for entry-level positions come with similar skill sets so it is all in the details. If there are two candidates with the same knowledge and level of experience and one came sloppy and was late and the other one came dressed sharp and on time, who do you think will get the job?

Communication:

Communication is key, to be more precise, good communication. Many managers argue that young candidates today have terrible communication skills. Volume is too low, words are mumbled not spoken and sentences don`t have a good natural flow. There are several reasons for this opinion: the statement is, at least in some part, true, there is the age gap, texting is now almost the primary way of communication for young people and everything is in various gifs, smileys, etc. Prior to going to the interview, you should definitely have a practice one at home. Talk about the points that are stated in your resume and try to have answers pre-determined and have a friend question you. While in the interview make sure you speak clearly, to the point and try to keep a good sentence flow, everything should be as natural as possible.

It truly is tough out there today and I hope that this article helps all of you who are at the beginning of your professional careers! If you decide you wish to seek professional help with your resume, feel free to contact us.

Improving Your Interview Skills

So, your resume and cover letter got you through the initial application phases, and you have been invited for an interview. Now you need to prepare.

No matter if you are an entry-level applicant hunting for your first job or you are a seasoned industry veteran looking for a career move and a new challenge, interviews are always exciting and nerve-racking. It is a make or break moment, a small window of opportunity that could determine your future, for the next couple of years at least.

Preparation is key, so let’s take a look at some of the areas you can focus on prior to going to your interview.

Getting to the interview:

It’s essential that you’re not late to the interview, this is, by far, the worst initial impression you can offer. Do a test run to the office in the days prior to the interview, making sure you don’t get lost and make sure you have plenty of cash on you in case you need an emergency taxi.

Presenting yourself:

Dress to impress, do a little research into the company culture and keep it formal, but don’t overdo it. Make it a priority to turn off your phone as soon as you get to the interviewing offices, making sure there’s no chance of it ringing during the interview.

Practice your answers:

Make sure you know your resume word-for-word. It is natural that you are nervous and that you might stumble a bit on some answers but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be confident when discussing your professional history. Develop answers to questions surrounding past projects and achievements mentioned, can you expand on the detail? Define ways in which the experiences allowed you to develop certain skills?

Communication is key:

Be mindful of the age and technological gap between you and your recruiters, especially if you are applying in companies within some “traditional” industries such as law. You should avoid using slang and ensure that you vocalize and verbalize everything you want to say clearly and loud enough. Retain a professional attitude, listen carefully and pay attention to what your recruiters are saying and asking you.

Prepare some questions:

Questions are a great tool for you to use in the interview. Yes, it is you who is being interviewed but the last part is most often reserved for your questions. You can show here that you are really interested in the company that you are applying for by asking about an ongoing project or further possibilities for professional education should you be selected. At the very least be sure to ask when can you expect feedback on how you did and if there will be any more rounds of selection.

Preparation prior to the interview date will increase your confidence, calm your nerves and increase the chance of success.

The Importance of a Cover Letter

Cover letters, most people don`t like writing them and when they do, they’re never the focus of the application. A lot of people believe that the cover letter has lost its relevance today and are reluctant to input time and effort into its creation. The cover letter is as important as it was ever been if not more! Here, I aim to offer an insight into the importance of a cover letter, along with some solid advice on how to write an attention-grabbing one.

So why is a cover letter important?

In today`s job market every open position receives high volumes of applications. Most big companies today use a combination of applicant tracking software and a recruiting officer to find suitable candidates. A cover letter is an important tool in separating you from the crowd, it’s an insight into your personality and a way of bringing some life to an otherwise dry application. In a sea of resumes with similar expertise, a good cover letter will tell the hiring manager “Hey, I am the right person for the job and the right person for your team!”

How can I write a good cover letter?

To write a good cover letter you need to address a few key points, let`s explore a bit to give you the best possible chance for an invite to an interview.

Do the research!

Research the company you are targeting, and try to go beyond their about us page, focusing on their core values. Show the recruiters the ways in which your expertise and personality align perfectly with the company, and why you want to work for them. Maybe it is their special environmental policy, or you are fascinated by some research or project they are pioneering. Maybe you love the fact that it was the first one to implement a new way of working, whatever it is, it should display you as an answer to what they’re seeking.

Make it personal

You need to assure the recruiters that you will be a good fit for the team and the overall corporate culture. This is why you should be yourself when writing the cover letter while still maintaining a professional tone. Again, take the time to get to know the company, If they regularly play a sport as a team or have some recurring activity that you also like don`t forget to emphasize that fact. Most importantly put in focus what are the unique advantages of what you will bring to your new team!

Be clear and concise

Recruiters are reading hundreds of these letters on a daily basis so always be precise. It is the quality, not the quantity that counts.

There you have it, now that you understand the importance of a good cover letter, be sure to implement this advice when applying for your next position. If well written, it could be the tipping point.

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