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Michelle A. Riklan
Certified Resume Writer, Career Coach, LinkedIn Profile Writer, Trainer, Facilitator, Author, Columnist, Speaker
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Career Newsletter
Volume II, Issue 4 April 2013
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Riklan Resources, LLC 522 Highway 9 North #290 Manalapan, New Jersey 07726 (800) 540-3609
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Greetings!
Spring into Action for April 2013!
 It's time for some spring cleaning so get out that outdated resume, dust it off and refresh or rewrite it. Below are some quick tips to make sure that your resume is fresh and in-season:
Lose the objective! If your resume has one, it is seriously outdated. Employers are not interested in the fact that you are looking for "a challenging position with room for advancement." Potential employers want to know what you have to offer them. What is your unique value? What do you bring to the table?
Extreme Makeover. Does your resume look like something you may have worked on 20 years ago? If you have a wide, left-hand format written in Times New Roman, consider a current look that is stylish and polished. Plain, dull, and dated does not land on the top of the pile! While some industries / positions may mandate a more conservative look, others are flexible to creativity. Know the balance, and either way, ensure that your resume does not look like a template.
Replace the "laundry list." Many believe that "updating" means "adding on." This simply creates a laundry list of tasks. Instead, tell your complete story and show what you have achieved, not just what you have done. Within the context of your career, explain the challenges that you faced, the action steps that you took, and the positive results that followed.
Clean out what is cluttering your document. Generally, an employer is interested in your last 10 to 15 years of experience. Earlier experience can be truncated to make room for what is more current and relevant. Don't waste space with clichés, generic statements, and unnecessary fillers such as "References available upon request." Be concise, clear, and focused.
The above can get you started. If you are having trouble, reach out and find a professional to assist you in your efforts.
Kind regards,
Our list is growing! If you would like to advertise in future issues, please send an e-mail to robin@riklanresources.com. Please feel free to send suggestions for improvement and additional areas that you would like to see covered in future issues to michelle@riklanresources.com. |
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Back to Work
by Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC
 Individuals who are seeking career opportunities when re-entering the workforce often seek advice on how they will "close the resume gap" and position themselves as current and marketable. Today's job market continues to be competitive and so we are challenged to find innovative ways to get our "Return-to-Work" individuals back into the game.
Whether you are returning from raising a family, caring for a loved one, extended medical leave, or even a major career change, it is important that you are able to discuss with a potential employer the value that you have to offer. You are even more valuable with recent and relevant experience. So let's get started!
1. Evaluate what you have been doing during your "career gap" years and determine what skills and experiences you have acquired that are transferable to a new career.
- Have you volunteered? (school, community, church / synagogue) Volunteer positions often require many skills that can be showcased on a resume, such as organizational skills, fundraising, event planning, etc.
- How about scheduling and calendar management? As a mom of three, this to me is a difficult one!
2. If you are looking at career opportunities and see required skills needed that you may not have, make a plan to go out and get them!
- Many townships and local colleges offer courses for computer skills, business skills, utilizing, social media, etc.
- Register with a temporary agency and try out some short-term positions. This is a great way to feel out different environments and see where you might fit in. It also opens the door for potential long-term engagements.
- Look for an internship. This trend is becoming increasingly popular among older workers. Internships are not just for students! Internships are a great way to acquire new skills, build-up experience, and increase your potential value.
Work with a professional career coach / resume writer to create a strategy for showcasing your relevant volunteer work on your resume.
Search for local internships and contact companies that interest you to offer this arrangement. Identify places of interest, and put your resume in the hands of some decision-makers. There is never harm in asking if they would be willing to create an internship opportunity for you. If you are able to procure an internship, you may be able to secure a good recommendation for a future employer, and maybe even a more permanent offer from that company.
If you are serious about getting back into the workforce, take control. Prepare your tools, network, gain experience, and ask for assistance.
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Crafting an SEO- and Human-Friendly LinkedIn Headline
by Kristen S. Johnson, CARW, CCMC, COPNS, CG3C
 LinkedIn is a dichotomous beast. There is the side that requires specific keywords to play well with LinkedIn's algorithm, but there's also the human element.
Can you please both sides? This is no easy feat, especially when you've only got 120 characters to do it in, as with your "Professional Headline." It's a dilemma for job seekers. Do you boost your SEO by cramming your headline full of keywords, or do you write something clever and catchy to attract human attention?
The answer (as many of mine are when it comes to career issues) is that it depends. I'll explain what I mean by that in this blog post, plus I'll give you some tips and examples so that you can craft the LinkedIn headline that's right for you.
Why is there no clear-cut preference? Some LinkedIn experts recommend focusing solely on the SEO, since that will make your profile more likely to appear higher in the rankings by LinkedIn's search engine. You might have the coolest, most creative headline of anyone in your field, but if your profile is being placed on page 8 of someone's search result, they'll never click through all of those pages to read it!
But, I still say "it depends." If you are in a field where you are one of very few specialists, you might come up on page 1 of a search, regardless of your headline, because a recruiter might be searching for a very specific term that relatively few have. You might also come up higher if you are more well-connected. This blog does an excellent job of explaining how relevance pertains to your search.
The majority of job seekers are one of many in their field, however. If this is you, focusing on SEO and using those 120 characters primarily for keywords (over a creative tagline) is wise.
Once you've decided whether you are going for either a SEO- or a human-friendly headline, consider these additional tips and examples for your strategy:
1. Incorporate the job title you are hoping to get hired for next. Determine what you want to be found for and emphasize those terms. Your headline should be future-focused, which will allow you to move toward your career goal.
The following headline for a former dentist transitioning into sales shows that he is clearly moving from his previous career and looking for a position in sales:
Medical Sales Representative & Account Manager | Seeking: Dental, Medical Device, Biotech | Former Medical Professional
2. Answer the "WIIFM" question. The person reading your profile will want to know "What's in it for me?" Use your headline to clearly show how your expertise benefits the employer.
The headline above draws attention to the job seeker's experience as a former medical professional, offering knowledge, skills, and connections useful in medical, biotech, or dental sales.
3. If you are looking while unemployed, touch on that lightly in your headline. (But, only if you want to!) There's no rule that you MUST state you are seeking your next gig if you are unemployed. If you're not comfortable with that, don't.
Just know that many career experts feel that in the current job market, advertising that you are looking doesn't carry much of a stigma... IF you do it tactfully.
Going back to the example, the simple mention of "Seeking:..." states the point succinctly. A headline of "Unemployed and looking" might as well say "Twiddling my thumbs." Don't make it the sole focus of your headline or waste too many precious characters on it. Touch on it, then move on to emphasizing brand elements or keywords that will help you to be found.
4. Include different words that mean the same thing. The example contains both "Sales Representative" and "Account Manager." The same job can have a different title at different companies and recruiters may search for either. It may seem repetitive, but it will appease the SEO gods.
5. Consider including your company's name. If talent from your company is highly sought after by recruiters, you may want to include your company's name in your headline. You'll improve your chances of being found by a headhunter who is conducting a search with your company name. Example:
VP Operations - Health Insurance Claims & Billing (Humana) | Technology Implementation, Efficiency, and Team Engagement
6. Use metrics when you can. Numbers catch the eye and give the reader an accurate picture of your contributions at work. Example:
Big Data Architect, Director of Data Management | Business Intelligence, Analytics, Metadata Repository saving $14mm/yr
7. Use a Testimonial. Are you known for something special? Include it in your headline for an extra punch.
VP Retail Operations Big Box Store | Named "Store Turnaround Specialist of the Year" by Retailer Magazine (2012)
8. Don't waste space with overused buzzwords. Before you include a word in your headline, ask yourself whether it will hold meaning for the reader. "Innovative" and "Creative" are soooo 2012.
I hope these tips and examples help you to balance the need for SEO and readability in your LinkedIn headline. ----------
Kristin is a TORI award-winning, 5-times certified resume writer, job search coach, and social media consultant. She uses an approach that is cutting-edge, creative, and kind. As owner of Profession Direction, LLC, she works with professionals and aspiring executives across the country. Her clients enjoy the reassurance of having professionally-written, SEO-optimized documents. They find clarity and direction in their job search, feel at ease with social media and in-person networking, and earn more income faster.
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Suggested Reading: Ditch. Dare. Do!
By William Arruda and Deb Dib
Ditch. Dare. Do!
by William Arruda and Deb Dib
Paperback
List Price: $17.95
Our Price: $13.48
Buy Now
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Ditch. Dare. Do! is the quick-start guide and deep-dive instruction manual every executive and employer needs to succeed--the definitive (and irreverent) career and corporate success plan for defining, aligning, and living the power of brand! It's executive branding revolutionized for the time intensive, rapidly evolving 21st century workplace. Deliberately bold and brief, Ditch. Dare. Do! is filled with fast, fun, furious branding--designed for today's 24/7 schedules and dwindling attention spans.
Challenging long-held assumptions and habits, the authors--Personal Branding Guru William Arruda and CEO Coach Deb Dib--dare the reader with a 'ditch' (a mindset that must be shattered), a 'dare' (a challenge to up their game), or a 'do' (a critical action that must be taken to ensure success). A series of 66 powerful two-page tips (each followed by a ditch, dare, or do) cover all aspects of 21st century executive branding. There's even a chapter with a nine-minute-a-day brand plan.
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If you have a favorite career book to suggest or an article that you'd like to submit for our upcoming issues, please send your information to newsletter@riklanresources.com.
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What's Happening at Riklan Resources
 We have led some very exciting programs over the past month! Upcoming Events If you happen to be local... Please join me and my colleague Nancy Rheingold for this valuable workshop, "If You Are Not on LinkedIn, You Do Not Exist!" Social media is not for just kids anymore! Companies and individuals are connecting with potential opportunities and people at a rate virtually unheard of before. Come join us on Tuesday, April 16th at 8:30pm in the MJC dining room, and learn how to effectively use social media sites, specifically LinkedIn. The facilitators will offer compelling strategies for marketing yourself in a competitive job market using LinkedIn, as well as tips on how to best sell your unique skills and value via social networks. Please RSVP to:jobsearchskillsmjc@gmail.com or call the Temple at 732-536-2300. 103 School Road West Marlboro, NJ 07746 |
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Do you have a career related product or service that you would like to promote in our upcoming newsletters? Contact us at robin@riklanresources.com for more information.
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"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life'."
-- Maya Angelou
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| About Riklan Resources
Riklan Resources offers the following services:
- Resumes that land on the top of the pile!
- Coaching that puts you ahead of the competition.
- Training that ensures career advancement.
We want you to reach your top potential!
Riklan Resources is now on Facebook. Be sure to stop by and like our page!
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