I’m a professional resume maker. One of my readers wrote:

For me, 2008 has been an odd year. I was laid off in January, found new work in April, then was laid off again just a few weeks ago. What should I put on my résumé and in interviews to handle this? Is it preferable to have a gap in your resume or a temporary job? Both should probably be explained, but which is more palatable? 

This is an excellent question because it is one that many individuals are facing in today's climate. My response is to always err on the side of honesty and openness. There was nothing wrong with you. You have not been dismissed. You, like many others, were simply victims of a difficult economic climate. And believe me when I say that you are not alone in having one or two temporary jobs on your resume. The days of 5- to 10-year contracts with one company are long gone.

So, first and foremost, as a professional resume maker, I would recommend that you mention the position and write about it as persuasively as you did about your other viewpoints (for help in doing this, check out my free course). Second, each of your positions should have a ‘reason for leaving' section. This is optional, and there is no right or wrong answer, but it is an option if you have never been fired before. (Obviously, if you've ever been fired, this isn't a good strategy!) If you do decide to include it, make sure it's accurate. Instead of 'laid off because my employer is a moron who didn't see what he was losing,' say something like 'downsizing due to market slump.'(I know it seems self-evident, but you'd be surprised!) 

Even if you don't mention it in your resume – and you shouldn't – you can bring it up in a cover letter or email. Maintain a positive tone ("I enjoyed my previous position and made some valuable contributions, but unfortunately, a market downturn forced my employer to make cuts"), and then quickly move on to why you want this specific job. 

Finally, be honest and optimistic during the interview. Concentrate on how much you enjoyed the task (if you did) and how much you contributed. No matter how fair a reply, never come across as angry or resentful. Your positive attitude in the face of adversity will impress potential employers.

Want to learn more insights on the same? Get in touch with the best resume writing services today!

As a top career adviser and resume builder, I enjoy hearing from past clients to see how their job hunt is progressing, and here's what I've discovered from recent feedback: People who are the most successful in finding job are those that:

1.      know exactly what they want to do,

2.      have recent, directly related experience.

Of all, this isn't rocket science: as the number of job applications grows, businesses can afford to be more picky. There is little motivation for them to take a chance on a person with an excellent sales past but in a completely different area if they post a sales position and get ten suitable candidates, all with prior industry expertise.

This is likely disappointing to anyone considering a career shift right now. In some ways, it is. But it doesn't mean you have to abandon your plans to make the changeover; rather, you may need to adopt a multi-phase strategy.

Consider finding a job in your present sector or business if you need money right now. If it's not your dream employment, don't worry; you won't be there long. (And if you have reservations about doing so, keep in mind that the corporation will have no qualms about laying you off a year from now if it is necessary, so protect yourself.) As a career adviser and resume builder, I suggest that you have nothing to feel guilty about as long as you perform good job and give value while you're there).

Once you've settled in, you may begin working toward your ultimate objective, but this time with the security of a regular pay check and without the worry of being unemployed. Make a strategy and stick to it. Perhaps you decide to commit one hour in the morning to your quest, or perhaps three evenings and one weekend day. Do as much as you are capable of.

Make a plan. Don't only apply for jobs on the internet; start networking to get into the sector or profession you want to work in. Look for opportunities to obtain experience in unpaid roles. Make contacts and begin assisting others. And whatever happens, don't lose sight of your goal!

You will be able to accomplish the job transition if you remain focused and persistent - but not as fast as you would have thought.

Want to learn more about the same? Get in touch with the best career coaches and resume writers today!

 As a resume builder, I understand that if you're over 40, it's normal to be concerned about age discrimination - after all, that's the age at which you begin to be protected from discrimination under Federal law, and even if you don't appear to be your age, you may be feeling it now and then. (Perhaps you've realised you can't stay up as late as you used to, or perhaps you've observed yourself making the noise your father makes when he gets out of his chair!) So, you're feeling a little older than you'd like, and you need to find work.

The good news is that age discrimination isn't based on one's chronological age. It's about everything people connect with becoming older. It's like slowing down. Being in poorer health than someone younger. Being behind the times in terms of technological developments. It's not that Manager X doesn't want any 50-year-olds in his firm; it's that he has a lot of misconceptions about what being 50 implies in his brain, and those cliches are what he wants to avoid.

Once you realise this, there are several things you can take to guarantee that your age does not appear on your resume.

Besttips for minimizing age discrimination

Do you think they're concerned that you're technologically behind the times? Demonstrate that you aren't one of them. Include links to social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter. As a resume builder, I recommend creating a personal website with a platform like Weebly.com or Visual resume and then including the URL in your resume.

When it comes to combating the image of bad health or a lack of vitality, I recommend including any sports-related or high-energy activities. One previous client, for example, mentioned his marathon running and extended cycling racing expertise. Yoga was mentioned as a pastime by another person.

Finally, to avoid people assuming your age, try leaving older experience off your resume. For instance, you may wish to exclude positions that date back more than ten years.

Note: You don't have to erase this event if it's crucial to your sales pitch – perhaps because it directly ties to what you plan to accomplish next or contains a well-known firm in your field. Instead, create a new section on your resume labelled "early experience" and leave the dates of work blank. (You grant yourself permission to modify the format in this way by starting a new section.)

Your resume gives busy hiring managers a picture of your career and is frequently the deciding factor in whether you get an interview. If looking for work is a voyage, a strong résumé serves as your passport. Let resume writers put a stamp on your resume.

The never-changing rules are:

1.       Cover all the basics

A resume's purpose is to effectively portray your relevant skills and accomplishments, and there are various ways to do so.

a.       Relevant educational degrees or certifications

Depending on the career or industry you're interested in, your school history will be more or less important. You just need to list the educational credentials that are most relevant to the job description if you have numerous.

b.       Relevant work and volunteer experience

The majority of people like to begin their resume with their most recent employment. Don't list everything you've done in previous employment. Instead, concentrate on accomplishments rather than responsibilities.

c.       Contact information

Your full name, city of residence, email address, and telephone number. Because this is private information, you should be selective in who you share your CV with.

2.       Explore other resumes for inspiration

Seeing how other individuals have written about their skills and experiences might be helpful. You can look through hundreds of resume examples on our site. Choose an appropriate job category and title, and look at examples from people with various levels of experience. This is a wonderful method to come up with new ways to express your qualifications while also avoiding overused terminology.

You can also get a sense of how a certain industry or firm communicates inside. You may have expertise that isn't directly linked to the position you're going for but is still very relevant, and you want to mention it in your resume. Someone else's resume might have a comparable background and might help you phrase this experience in a persuasive way. Facing issues?Contact resume writers.

3.       Use minimum words wherever you can

Employers must be able to easily comprehend your employment history. Rather than writing thick paragraphs, format your experience as a collection of brief, scannable sentences.

4.       Support your achievements with  numbers

Numbers and data assist hiring managers visualize the influence you could have in their firm by bringing your job experience to life. To increase your reputation and add valuable depth to your CV, back up your accomplishments with real data whenever possible.

If you need more insights on the same, you may get in touch with resume consultants.

Here are 5 simple strategies to getting noticed by recruiters, brought to you by experienced career and resume writers. If you complete all of them, you'll be getting calls about employment openings for a long time. (I haven't worked in HR in 8 years, but I just got a call from a recruiter asking if I'd be interested in a VP role!)

1.     Research

Most recruiters specialise in a particular profession or area and only employ for those roles, so it's crucial to locate those who are looking for people like you. You must also locate as many as possible, as each recruiter can only handle a certain number of searches at any given moment. (Searchfirm.com is a free resource for discovering recruiters.)

2.     Send them your resume

Begin by sending a bulk email to all of the recruiters on your list. Send a brief email with a Microsoft Word version of your resume attached. Professional resume writers advise sending your resume in MS Word because most recruiters will save it in a database. They will search that database on a frequent basis, even if they don't call you right away.

3.     Make yourself a resource

When you approach recruiters, be sure to offer your services as a resource for their job hunts (someone they can call to get names of possible candidates). They may not have a need for someone like you right now, but that doesn't rule out the possibility that they will next week, next month, or next year. Maintaining the friendship will ensure that they remember you when the opportunity arises.

4.     Build a strong online presence

In my previous essay, I discussed the necessity of making yourself accessible online, but it's much more critical when trying to capture recruiters' attention. They adore finding candidates without receiving a résumé, and if you've done a good job of presenting yourself online, you'll get calls from recruiters.

5.     Stay in Touch

If you're still looking for work, send your resume to any recruiters who have already received it. It's incredible how often this method works. (You might expect to receive up to 40% of the initial answer.) When you find a new job, send a note to all of the recruiters that contacted you so they can update their databases and locate you again in the future.

Need more insights on the same? Get in touch with the best career and resume builder today!