professional resume writer

Applying Online? 5 Tips For A Successful Application

June 25, 2016 By jenowenby

When I was still recruiting the ATS system came out, and man was I glad to have some help scanning the hundreds of resumes that were landing in my inbox! But, as time went on, not all resumes were making it through the system which meant I was potentially losing some great candidates.

Here are tips to make sure you not only make it through the system, but to an actual human.

If you are applying online, know that your résumé/application may go through an Applicant Tracking System. More than a fourth of all companies use some kind of ATS. When in doubt, submit an ATS-friendly résumé.
When given the choice to upload your résumé or copy-and-paste as part of the online application process, upload a Word file (make sure it’s an ATS-compliant résumé format).
Check to see if the online submission form has a character limit before uploading. (For example: “Submissions are limited to 20,000 characters.”)
Make sure you’ve customized your résumé for the position, including relevant keywords. A “one-size-fits-all” approach does not work when the company uses an ATS for résumé screening.
Be sure to check your email after applying for a position online. Some applicant tracking system software will automatically acknowledge your submission; however, because these are automated responses, the message may be diverted to your spam folder.

Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

Want the Job? Do These 4 Things Before Your Interview

June 25, 2016 By jenowenby

What you do before, during, and after the job interview can significantly affect whether you are offered the job. This post is designed to help you maximize your chances of being offered the job you want.

Just like the purpose of the résumé is to get you an interview, the purpose of a job interview is to get you a job offer. The interview helps the decision-maker identify your qualifications for the position, but also assess things like personality, cultural fit, and your ability to do the job.

Before the Interview

First, let’s examine things you can do before the interview to improve your chances of securing a job offer.

Research The Company

Before you apply for a position, you should research the company. Not only will this help you tailor your résumé and cover letter for the job, it will also help you identify the real hiring decision-maker(s) — especially if the job posting directs you to apply to the human resources department.

At a minimum, you should:

Review the company’s website.Pay particular attention to the “About Us” page — and, if it’s a publicly-traded company, look at the information for investors. You’ll find a wealth of information about the company’s people, performance, and plans in the company’s reports.
Google the company.Conduct both a regular Google search as well as a search on Google News (http://news.google.com/). The Google News search will identify any recent news articles featuring the company. You can also set up a Google Alert (http://www.google.com/alerts) for the company so that you will be notified via email when there is something new about the company online.
Assess the company’s social media presence.Check out their Facebook business page, company page on LinkedIn, and/or Twitter account. They may also have a company Google+ page, Instagram account, or Pinterest boards. Take the time to look at what the company posts on its social media accounts. This will help you get an idea of the company culture, and may give you a clue as to how the employees dress, as well as what kind of community involvement the company supports.
Check out the company on Glassdoor.com.On Glassdoor, you’ll be able to get “inside” company information from employees and folks who have interviewed at the company. There is no charge to join the site, but the site uses “crowdsourcing” to collect data, so you will be asked to provide information on previous or current employers to add (anonymously) to the Glassdoor database.

Once you have been contacted for an interview, ask for the name of the person who will be interviewing you (if it’s not the person who contacted you to set up the interview). An easy way to do this is to ask, “Who will be conducting the interview?” You can also ask, “Will anyone else be participating in the interview?”

Make sure you get the correct spelling of the interviewer’s name. Conduct a Google search on this person, and look them up on LinkedIn. If you are going to be interviewed by a committee or group, ask for the names of all participants if possible.This will also give you a list for thank you notes afterwards.
Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

7 Reasons LinkedIn Can Be a Game Changer

March 25, 2016 By jenowenby

97% of companies hire from LinkedIn. That alone is the best reason to be on the site, but also to build a solid profile. These are seven additional reasons why you should be on the social networking site.

Because That’s Where The People Are. LinkedIn is the number one social network for professionals — and, arguably, the most important website for job seekers — with more than 347 million members worldwide. Not only are people you know already on the site, but so are people you should get to know — recruiters, hiring managers, and your future co-workers.

To “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.” In his book of the same name, author Harvey Mackay advocates building your network before you need it — and joining LinkedIn now gives you time to build your network of connections.

To Strengthen Your Offline Network. LinkedIn helps you keep track of people you know “in real life” — what they are doing, where they work now, and who they know.

To Reconnect With Former Co-Workers. Sometimes it’s hard to stay in touch with the people you used to work with — making it difficult to find them when you need them (say, to use as a reference in your job search). LinkedIn allows you to search contacts by employer, so anyone who listed that company in their profile will be found in the search.

Because You Can Establish Yourself as an Expert. One of the ways to be seen as a thought leader in your industry is to increase your visibility. One way to do this is to actively participate in Groups related to your job, and also to write articles for LinkedIn’s Publishing Platform. Anytime you post in Groups or post articles; these updates will be available in your profile, so people looking for you can see that you are actively engaged in this online community.

To Be Found as a Passive Candidate. Having a robust LinkedIn profile — filled with your accomplishments and strong keywords — will lead prospective employers to you, even if you are not actively looking for a job. Recruiters especially are always searching LinkedIn to find candidates to match their search assignments.

Because Your Presence on LinkedIn Can Help, You Be Found Elsewhere Online. It’s common practice for hiring managers and recruiters to “Google” job candidates, and your LinkedIn profile will likely appear high up in their Google search results. A strong LinkedIn profile can enhance your candidacy, especially if you have a solid network of contacts, at least, a few Recommendations, and you’ve supplemented the basic profile information with things like lists of your certifications, languages you speak, SlideShare presentations, honors and awards, and/or your professional portfolio.

Are You An Exceptional Employee? How To Let Hiring Managers Know Without Sounding Egotistical

February 14, 2016 By jenowenby

Recruiters and hiring managers need help knowing what kind of position you’re focused on. It’s harder to find a job when you don’t know what kind of job you want. Conversely, it is easier to find a job if you know what kind of job you want.

There are fewer opportunities for average performers to be found in the hiring process, but there are tremendous opportunities for stars. Positioning helps you identify where you can be a star performer and then make the case (through your work and your career communication documents) to support this claim.

The next step is to align your job search with your positioning. Make sure your résumé and interview preparation supports this and makes your case.

Build Your Personal Position Before You Start Looking for a Job

Many job seekers develop their personal positioning when they are looking for a new job. But personal positioning can help you be more effective — and visible — in your current job.

In your current job, get attention for the work you’re already doing:

Offer to do a presentation showing your (or your group’s) accomplishments for the quarter.
Contact your company’s communications department to see if they are interested in doing an article for the company newsletter on a recent project.
Make sure you are keeping an “Accomplishments Journal” documenting your current career successes.

Develop your own communications plan in your current position. Increase your personal visibility by speaking, writing, and participating in social media. Once you’ve identified your personal positioning, see how you can incorporate it into your everyday work life. This will make you worth more to your current employer (remember, superstars stand out!) and make you more attractive as a job candidate when it is time for you to look for a new position.

Click here to download my free EBook concerning salary negotiation today!

If you’re ready to move forward and make changes in your life contact me today for your free strategy session. Click here to schedule your free strategy session today if you’re located in the U.S. or Canada.

Jennifer Owenby offers her combined expertise as a recruiter along with training as a professional resume writer. Please visit ONB Professional Resumes and LinkedIn Services for additional information and scheduling an appointment.

Are You Happy With Your Career?

November 30, 2015 By jenowenby

I’ve read some fantastic articles concerning what we would tell our younger self and possibly do differently in life. After taking some time to reflect I identified my frustration during those years and my career path, but it was more than that. I realized that I had lost my goals completely.

I was a single mother of two for almost ten years, and it was the hardest job I ever had. I was consumed with day-to-day living, food on the table, and shoes for the kids; I lost my way concerning a career path. I worked two jobs, and there just wasn’t enough time and energy left for what I wanted. Even if I had figured it out, I needed guidance. I needed someone to believe in me and give me a boost in the right direction.

I realize many of us choose a career due to an experience or experiences in our lives. It took additional time for me to find my career path, but when I did, I could see where my passion for helping others stemmed from. My passion is to help others land a great job, advance their careers, earn more money, and be happy. I struggled with all of those things and needed someone during those years in my life to give me hope and stable direction.

I needed to see myself in a different light, be presented as a capable and intelligent person who could do an excellent job. Eventually, I did land the right job that led me to my own business. I now have the ability and training to help people where I struggled. We all realize that if you are not happy with your job it affects every aspect of your life including finances, health, and relationships.

In a nutshell, I would have told my younger self these things:

Your work experience is just as important as your education.
It is okay to focus on a career even while you have a family.
You can research a career, but it is when you are getting your feet wet that you gain valuable understanding and your passion lines up.
Reach out for guidance and help from a professional. This will help you streamline the process, gain clarity, increase your income, and reduce your job search time drastically, allowing you to reach your goals sooner.

Writing accomplishment based resumes is not just about words on a page, it is about bringing an individual to life on paper. This moves beyond listing job duties. This is about connecting people with the right job and right company. It is about boosting someone above the competition and preparing them for an interview through the process. A good resume is about bringing someone’s best self up front and center stage and finally being recognized for their talents and abilities. The right resume can change your life.

If you are in the same position, I was years ago, and you are ready to make a change schedule your free strategy session with me today and let’s make a difference together.

One last thing. ALL EBooks on my site are on sale for $1.99! Grab them while you can. Just click here.

If you’re located in the U.S. or Canada, click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

Jennifer Owenby offers her combined expertise as a recruiter along with training as a professional resume writer. Please visit ONB Professional Resumes and LinkedIn Services for additional information and scheduling an appointment.

Applying Online? 5 Tips For A Successful Application

Want the Job? Do These 4 Things Before Your Interview

7 Reasons LinkedIn Can Be a Game Changer

Are You An Exceptional Employee? How To Let Hiring Managers Know Without Sounding Egotistical

Are You Happy With Your Career?

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