resume writer portland

Job Search Not Going So Well? Try This Instead…

January 8, 2017 By jenowenby

Did you know that hiring managers view hundreds of resumes and online profiles per available position? After a few hours of reviewing cookie cutter resumes and profiles, their eyes burn, glaze over, and yawns are coming more rapidly. And, although you might qualify for that new job they want to fill, you didn’t make the interview list due to an understated resume and/or poor LinkedIn profile.

Need proof that recruiters use LinkedIn? Journalist Jessi Hempel reported in the July 2013 issue of Fortune Magazine LinkedIn had developed into one of the most powerful business tools in existence. Approximately 88 of the Fortune 100 companies use LinkedIn’s licensed recruiting software to search for job candidates.

Today, more than 89% of all recruiters report having hired someone through LinkedIn! LinkedIn profiles account for more than 73% of online candidate screenings, making it the most utilized resource leaving Facebook and Twitter behind. It’s reality that your information will be Googled and researched. Social media is now a cutting edge tool used to hire great candidates.

Elements of a Successful LinkedIn Profile:

Your profile should offer a unique perspective on who you are as a person, employee, and what you can offer an employer. What your LinkedIn profile should NOT be is a copied and pasted version of your resume. Many LinkedIn members make this mistake and are often passed over for a new position. Is that you? Is your LinkedIn summary strategically written to appear in recruiters’ searches? Does it showcase your personality and highlight your experience? Could your boring and cliché marketing tool use a facelift?

A Solution to Your Conundrum:

With a background in recruiting and a published fiction author, I understand how to write a strong marketing piece that gets you noticed right away. If you’re ready to catapult yourself past your competition, then schedule a time with me to review your options. Steer your career in the right direction with a professional resume and LinkedIn profile that will grab the attention of top recruiters and employers and stop you from ending up in the slush pile.

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

The Best Kept Secret About Job Searches

December 17, 2015 By jenowenby

It’s the holiday season, and I like the majority of you sat down to an amazing meal with my family and shopped like crazy the rest of the weekend. It was wonderful to have a few days to relax.

This time of year is about family and friends as it should be. The interesting piece, though, companies aren’t taking a break. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. It’s the best time of year to apply for a job! And, the hiring process is typically shorter than any other time of year.

I think I heard a few people groan. Just one more thing to do, one more item added to the list, and how in the world are you going to accomplish a job search and applications while basting a turkey, feeding the kids, putting up the tree, laundry, groceries, and everything else that occurs during the holidays?

Don’t despair and remember you’re not in this alone.

Is your LinkedIn ready? I’ve mentioned it before, but a staggering 97% of hiring managers fill positions directly from LinkedIn. And, I don’t mean to offend anyone, but a great professional photo with a friendly smile will open doors for you. If you have a picture of your pet with a Santa hat, I highly recommend you change it.

Connect, connect, connect. You can connect with new people on LinkedIn just by spending approximately 15 minutes a day. When you need a break from cooking and shopping, hop on the computer and reach out to others in your industry.

Apply online for three solid jobs a day. This can be added to your schedule instead of watching a sitcom or reading a novel. Once you’ve applied online, the next application will come easier, just don’t forget, if your resume isn’t ATS friendly the system will kick it out, and you will never know the difference.

It’s the season to mingle so make yourself some networking business cards for parties. When you meet someone, hand them your card that will include your name, profession, and contact information. I don’t recommend walking around simply handing them out to everyone, but take a few minutes to make connections. People are more willing to help when there are friendly smiles and warm personalities involved.

Is your resume ready? Is it accomplishment focused and can you answer the hiring manager’s questions within 6 seconds? If not, hire a professional resume writer to take the stress off you.

Just to clarify, a professional resume writer is different than someone listing your job duties. We are trained to format your resume for the ATS system as well as any other avenue of submission. As a former recruiter, I offer not only the insight of a hiring manager but also a trained professional resume writer. I’ve worked both sides and offer over eight years of industry experience.

One of the best things I learned in martial arts was to use the opponent’s weight to my advantage. Use the holiday season to your advantage. Companies are hiring now, and they need to fill a need before the year ends, so they aren’t wasting time.

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.

Is Your Resume Boring and Putting Recruiters to Sleep?

May 9, 2015 By jenowenby

While working as a recruiter I reviewed resumes in the afternoon, and I hate to admit it, but I would get terribly sleepy staring at boring documents.

This is how it went: open email, view resume in 6 seconds, delete, open email, view resume in 6 seconds, delete, open email, review resume, move it into “call” folder, open email, view resume, delete, open…

You get the idea. 85% of resumes did NOT show they were qualified for the position applied for! An enormous number were overlooked. Here’s the sad part. I bet a lot of the applicants were good candidates but had a bad resume. A bad resume can end your career before it gets started.

Here are a few things to consider that will give you the advantage you need:

Understand that your resume is a marketing snapshot or better yet, a movie trailer. Think about the last time you watched a fantastic movie trailer on TV. What happened? You were so intrigued by the quick snippets of information you were itching to see more. That is exactly what your resume is supposed to do.

With the competition a one size fits all resume does not work. Look at your job posting and identify what problem(s) the company needs to be solved, what experience are they looking for? Do you have those qualifications? If you do, then they need to be presented loud and clear on your resume. Don’t make a company search for the information located on page two. If it is not shown quickly, the recruiter will move on.

Drop the objective and write a one or two line pitch about who you are. Do you streamline processes that boost the bottom line? Have you increased company profit? Decreased costs? Are you a leader? Organizer? Who are you? This is not the easiest thing to wrap up into a few strong sentences, so think about the job posting and what the company needs. If you fit the description, let them know.

As a professional resume writer, I see a large amount of resumes with only job duties listed. I ask people how long they have been searching for work, and the majority of the time they have applied for multiple opportunities with no response. I explain I do not write a resume just listing their job responsibilities. It is highly ineffective. I dig deeper with my clients and then write a focused and accomplishment-based resume. What are the results you ask? My clients are reporting back being called for interviews in as little as 48 hours and beginning a new job in 4-6 weeks. No more unemployment checks, no more fear they cannot pay the mortgage, no more self-loathing, but a new beginning and hope.

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 Resume Services for additional information and scheduling an appointment. Also visit here for LinkedIn Profile Services.

Job Search Not Going So Well? Try This Instead…

The Best Kept Secret About Job Searches

Is Your Resume Boring and Putting Recruiters to Sleep?

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About Jennifer

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