Let’s be honest. Recruiters are a jaded bunch. They’ve read thousands of resumes and seen the same stale phrases over and over again. To say they’re hard to impress is an understatement. But impressing them is not impossible. In fact it’s easy if you understand that what they’re looking for is proof. Proof that you will do a good job. Proof that you will deliver what they need. Proof that they’re not wasting their time i...

Writing a resume is tough. After all, getting it wrong could spell the end of your dreams. But in trying to avoid making a bad impression, most people make a very dangerous mistake. I call it the conformity trap and it can kill your chances of getting the job you deserve. The truth is that when we are frightened of doing the wrong thing, we tend to play it safe. And the safest thing of all is to look at what others h...

“So…. Tell me about yourself.” It’s the interview question we all dread. And we dread it for good reason. It’s way too broad and we have no idea what the interviewer wants us to say.“Just be honest” is the advice given by many careers experts. So how’s this?Well, I’m 29. I’m scared of heights. I sometimes take a teddy bear with me when I go travelling. I love Coldplay. I still smoke even though I told everyone I quit. I cr...

Personal branding has become a hot topic over the last few years. Seems everyone has one, or wants one, or feels as though they should have one, even if they’re not sure what it is. I’ll be honest, I’ve long been a naysayer when it comes to personal branding. But today I came across this post by Harry Urschel called “The Reality of Personal Branding” and it helped clarify my thinking on the issue. Harry says this about pers...

Have you noticed how often product marketers use testimonials?It’s very rare to find a website that doesn’t include rave reviews from clients. And remember those toothpaste ads that used to claim “9 out of 10 dentists recommend this toothpaste?” Marketers do this because they know how effective testimonials can be. After all, if they tell you how great their product or service is, you might ignore them (they would say that...

Everyone tells you that it's important to make a strong first impression with your resume... "you only have 20 seconds" goes the standard advice. And it's true. Employers are busy and they get hundreds of resumes for most positions which means standing out is vital. But how do you actually do that? The good news is that it¡¦s not as hard as you might think. Here are 5 ways to start your resume with the kind of b...

As a resume writer you tend to run up against the same issues on a regular basis. One of the most common challenges is working with a client who has a very diverse background, or who has taken a career detour. This is perfectly possible to address, but every now and then, I work with a client who truly believes that all those experiences are equally valuable in getting their next job. Sometimes, it’s hard for this person to...

If you’re contemplating a career change, you’re not alone. Millions of people are tired of their work and dream of doing something different. I can empathize as I made a big change myself 10 years ago. I worked in corporate HR and I hated it, so I know how horrible it is to feel that you’re in the wrong job. But here’s what I want to say: I’ve now been writing resumes for 10 years and during that time, I’ve spoken with hund...

I’m taking an art class at the moment and one of the lessons being drummed into us is that what you leave out of a painting or drawing is just as important as what you include. As I was working on a landscape sketch last night, and making the decision to ignore a whole line of trees, it struck me that the exact same principle applies to resume writing or creating online profiles on sites like LinkedIn. You could tel...

Of all the questions we get asked, this has to be one of the most common. For some reason, resume length is one of those things lots of people have a firm opinion on, but – to be honest – few have any real basis for that opinion. For example, there are many people who will tell you that your resume must be only one-page long. This is a myth (as I explain here) and should be ignored! Others – generally those over 50 – will t...