Posted By Amanda Collins on June 30, 2009

If you haven’t written a résumé in a while, you probably don’t have any accomplishments on your document. That used to be the case, that a résumé was basically a fancy job application. However, in this competitive market, it’s more important than ever to demonstrate WIIFM: What’s in it for Me? – meaning for the employer. Your summary and accomplishments will showcase these points.

Great accomplishments are CAR statements: Challenge, Action, Result. Consider how you made things better at previous positions. Look at increasing revenue, saving money, improving customer service, or increasing efficiencies. Did you create / execute systems and processes? Of course, quantitative statements are best, but many professions can’t track numbers, so that’s okay too.

Sales people have no issue coming up with numbers, but remember that just saying “Increased sales 25% in six months” isn’t saying a whole lot. I could tell you all day I’m 6′ with long blonde hair, but if I don’t have a picture to back it up, I’m just making pie-in-the-sky statements (I’m really 5′4″ with short brown hair). When you write accomplishments, share the way you ended up with that result. That way, the reader is more likely to see you in the new company: “Wow, Joe increased sales 25% by implementing an employee appreciation program. I’ve been considering doing that. I need to call him in and ask him about that.”

My basic rule of thumb is one accomplishment per year worked, but don’t have 10 accomplishments if you were at a position 10 years – that’s overkill. Highlight your “key” accomplishments. Remember that a résumé is a marketing piece designed to showcase your best attributes so an employer will be left wanting more – and need to call you for an interview.

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Tags: accomplishments on resume, resume, resume keywords

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 23, 2009

Yesterday I started a fan page on Facebook. My overview on there is similar to the overview on this Web site: “The Grammar Doctors provides strategic marketing copywriting and copyediting to differentiate clients through well-chosen words.” After posting it up, both @failtracker and @mousetrap pointed out the noun and verb don’t agree (okay, they said number agreement, so maybe that’s saying something in itself). I heartily disagree.

Think about grocery stores, which are typically named after the founder’s last name and are almost always plural: Wegmans, Tops, Albertsons, and Walgreens come to mind. When I say there’s a special to be had at Wegmans, I say, “Wegmans has a great deal on bananas!” I would never say, “Wegmans have a great deal on bananas.” That’s just silly. Well, The Grammar Doctors is the name of this company, and while it is comprised of multiple people, the company is just one entity, meaning the title is singular.

So, to those who choose to disagree, please remember that I started the company because of my close attention to detail. I’m not saying I don’t make mistakes (I’ve made some doozies!), but on this one, I beg to differ with the “number agreement” comment.

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Tags: number-verb agreement, proofreading

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 18, 2009

Some people use the terms résumé and CV interchangeably, but the truth is they’re not quite the same. CVs are used almost exclusively outside of the U.S. where employers are expected to share more about themselves and their personalities, so that’s very different. In the States, however, the differences are pretty clear.

CV: Curriculum Vitae
If you just look at what CV means, you get a better view into what’s included. CVs are typically reserved for folks in academia or the medical field because they include speaking engagements and publications, as well as additional information such as professional memberships and community involvement. For a university president, a CV can be 10 pages or more because it’s highlighting a depth of experience that may span a few decades. CVs tell a story.

Résumé
A résumé is a more standard introduction when looking for a job.They are between one and three pages and span only 10-15 years in depth. Résumés are succinct, acting as a marketing piece to highlight only the great things you’ve done that relate to that position. Additional information may be included as appropriate, but it’s also okay to allude to publications and speaking engagements, then include an addendum with the additional information.

So, unless you’re living outside the U.S., the terms CV and résumé shouldn’t be used interchangeably because they’re very different documents.

Questions about creating your résumé for the American market? http://www.grammardocs.com/resumes/

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Tags: academic cv, cv, medical cv, resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 13, 2009

Are you currently unemployed and know your résumé needs some professional help? If so, The Grammar Doctors wants to extend a special offer to you as you juggle your cash flow. Because the primary reason we are in business is to help people, we are currently allowing all unemployed clients to pay half of your total balance at our initial consultation and half when you obtain a job.*

The Grammar Doctors is dedicated to providing a valuable service to the community in this new economy. We understand that, while you are making an investment in your career by contracting with us, you have other bills to pay as well. We believe in our service and will offer you as much support and guidance possible to ensure your career search is a success. So, until the end of 2009, we invite you to take advantage of this offer if you are currently unemployed.

Please contact The Grammar Doctors for your free résumé review to get started.

* The remaining balance will be due upon client finding a position, or within 60 days of delivery of first draft, whichever comes first. Client will submit either a credit card number or post-dated check for remainder, not to be charged / deposited until a position is obtained or 60 days have passed.

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Tags: resume sale, stimulus package

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 11, 2009

This past weekend I attended a seminar about keeping a business venture on track during this new economy (http://thenextgeneration.us/). As a business owner, I attend many such seminars and presentations, but for whatever reason, this one really resonated with me. The first speaker suggested doing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis on the business and then crafting 30-, 60-, and 90-day action plans. Well, I did it right there. And one of the biggest things on my agenda was time management.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a horrible procrastinator. I have a to-do list daily, but I end up on Facebook. Twitter, checking e-mail, or basically doing just about anything else to avoid said list. This puts me behind, which makes my deliverables fall short of the promised date. Of course, that means I am leaving a bad taste in the mouths of my clients. Who’s going to refer someone when I can’t follow through on deadlines? I know I wouldn’t.

So, since I knew this was my downfall, I tackled it first. I decided to block out time on my PDA: one hour for work following by 30 minutes of play. Each section had tasks assigned. Since I’m a writer, the work block could be a résumé, revisions, editing, or copywriting. The play time consisted of e-mail, phone calls, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I even blocked out gym time and when I would pick up my son from daycare. Then I got out my timer.

I don’t multitask nearly as much anymore, but that’s okay. In fact, I close the e-mail browser, Facebook, and Tweetdeck during my working hour. I find I’m more on task and, most importantly, I’m finishing everything! I’m able to juggle working ON the business with working IN the business, which is a weight off my mind. So far, on day four, I’m right on task and have gotten a ton done.

So buy yourself a timer (or look one up online) and get working. It’ll do wonders.

Category: Miscellaneous | No Comments »
Tags: time management

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 2, 2009

I’m going to go out on a thin branch of a limb here and assume that you know the value inherent in blogging for your business. It should be an integral component of your networking / business-building strategy. If it’s not, you might have bigger fish to fry!

Unfortunately – but not surprisingly – too many business owners are intimidated at the prospect of blogging for their business. “I’m not a good writer,” they say. Or, worse, “I’m not sure what to write.” Since blogs are a bit more informal, it’s okay to not be an excellent writer. Instead, a blog is a way to share information and tell a little bit about you; although, as The Grammar Doctor, I want your writing to be good, it doesn’t have to be “A” caliber; “C” works just as well in this arena.

For those who aren’t sure on what to write, I suggest grabbing your calendar. Okay, now that you’re looking at a few months in advance … well, breathe first … it’s not that bad! I promise, this strategy will give you some great tools to get blogging! First, think about your business. I’m guessing you can break it down into four distinct components. Perhaps you’re an image consultant. Your four components might be clothes, shoes, coloring, and accessories. A network marketer for a skincare line might use skincare, makeup, household items, and a new product. As luck would have it, there are four weeks in most months! Like magic, you now have a category to write about each week.

Now, drill down deeper. If you’re thinking about clothes, shoes, coloring, and accessories, what can you talk about each month? Perhaps there’s a new style or cut that’s hitting the runways, a color palette creeping up for the next season, or a controversy about real gold vs. plated. Whatever those things are, jot down about three ideas for each initial category. Okay, look at your paper. You’ve just noted the subject of your weekly blogs for the next three months!!

Okay, so that was easy, but what about actually writing the blogs? This is almost as easy, believe me! Write from your heart. Write what you know. Share parts of yourself. A decent blog only needs to be about three paragraphs, so there’s not a lot to write. In fact, most readers will veer away if they’re not engaged pretty much immediately – and no one wants to read pages of text. So get to the point. And, remember, NEVER blatantly sell. People like information, but no one wants to be sold. Remember that as you write your blog. Share information, anecdotes, links, and how to reach you; don’t sell your product.

Need help with your blogging strategy or editing what you write? The Grammar Doctors can help! Contact us to set up a FREE consultation.

Category: Internet, marketing, writing | No Comments »
Tags: blogging, business owner, entrepreneur, marketing, writing

Posted By Amanda Collins on May 27, 2009

Truly, there is an art to writing a résumé. Too many people think of it as a glorified employment application that is all about the applicant’s past. In actuality, a résumé is a marketing document showcasing the accomplishments, skills, and education you have to offer to provide value to a potential employer. A well-written résumé will include:

Title
Tell the employer who you are for them. Unlike the old objective, a title is clear, concise, and is not about you.

Summary
Like the trailer to your movie, this is your “commercial” to highlight all the reasons the employer needs to (A) read more about you, and (B) call you in for an interview. It is the answer to the question, “Why should I hire you?” Focus on demonstrable traits as opposed to soft skills. Everyone will say they’re nice and easy to work with, but only a few will talk about their consistent ability to deliver results.

Core Competencies
Keywords are a huge component of a résumé, primarily because that is how employers will search for you among their database of scanned résumés. Make sure you’re including the words mentioned in the job description / want ad, which should definitely be reflected elsewhere on the resume.

Professional Experience
Employers want to know where you’ve worked, a little about the company, the dates, the location, your job title, an overall job scope, and accomplishments. When looking at your accomplishments, consider times you’ve had to overcome obstacles to reap a reward. Think about increasing revenue, decreasing spend, improving customer service, or bettering employee morale. If your paid experience is minimal, incorporate volunteer opportunities.

Education
If you’re a new graduate with limited work experience, this should follow the “core competencies” section. If you’re re-careering or a professional, this can go to the bottom, although it will depend on the individual person. Include the degree, major area, school, and location of school. If you’re basing most of your “saleability” on your education, it’s a good idea to list relevant classes or school groups in which you’ve been involved. If you have a college degree (or are working on one), there’s no need to include your high school. If you’ve not yet graduated, list the expected date of graduation.

Additional Information
Some new grads will include professional memberships, community involvement, or other sections that support the career goal.

Remember that everything on your resume should support what you want to be when you grow up. If it doesn’t, it’s not a good use of important real estate!

Category: resumes | No Comments »
Tags: accomplishments on resume, key components in resumes, resume, resume summary

Posted By Amanda Collins on May 13, 2009

What are the components needed in a cover letter? Wait, before we get that far, do you even NEED a cover letter? So many people have heard that hiring authorities never even read the cover letter, so they think that they needn’t bother to spend the time to write one. I beg to differ. Would you just walk up to someone and start telling them about yourself without an introduction? If you think of your cover letter as a handshake, it may make more sense to always include one.

Granted, some HR people and recruiters admit they don’t read cover letters, but I’ve heard some who don’t read the resume and only look at the letter! Cover your bases by making sure your cover letter is a great complement to your resume and gets the reader poised to learn more. While your resume really can’t be generic, a “template” for your cover letter is pretty easy and can be updated as needed. All you have to do is write three paragraphs!

First Paragraph
Cut part of this from your resume summary, which should explain why you’re a compelling candidate for the position. If you are applying for a certain job, cite what it is and how you heard of it.

Second Paragraph
Copy or reword accomplishments from your resume. I usually take three that represent a cross-section of abilities. Another great way to highlight your qualifications in this paragraph is with a table: on one side put the required skills and on the other put your attributes as they relate to them. Of course, that requires you know what they are, so that will be later in the process.

Third Paragraph
This is your call to action and thank you for considering you for the position. Many people get weak here, but the key is to stay strong and powerful, maintaining the tone and focus of the first paragraph.

Be brief, succinct, and targeted to get across the message that you are the one for the position. Who knows? Your cover letter may be THE reason you get an interview!

Category: resumes | No Comments »
Tags: cover letters, job search, marketing, resumes

Posted By Amanda Collins on April 21, 2009

I’m currently reading Dan Kennedy’s book “No B.S. Sales Success.” I don’t read a lot, but it’s a great way to spend my time on the treadmill, elliptical machine, or other available cardio machine at the gym five days a week. Somehow reading keeps my mind off the not-so-exciting exercise – and engages it in other things while my body is working away. But I digress….

The section I read today was about really using testimonials in your business. I’ve been saying I should incorporate my LinkedIn testimonials into my Web site since they started accruing there, but saying and doing are two distinctly different things. However, after reading Kennedy’s advice, I got my act together. He suggests that, no matter what a business owner says about her business, a client’s word is worth significantly more. In effect, clients with great things to say act as walking advertisements, a true marketing and sales team that listens for people who need your service and consistently feeds referrals.

Of course, as a former BNI member and advocate of Givers’ Gain, I fully understand this principle, but it’s sometimes hard to do the things we know we need to do. In fact, Kennedy addresses that point in the book as well, saying that “trade secrets” of selling can be openly shared because 95% of people won’t bother to use them anyway. I guess what it comes down to is that I don’t now – nor did I ever – want to be a part of the majority. So, after I got off the treadmill and finished my work for the day, I sprinkled testimonials all over my Web site.

I’m thankful for my clients for allowing me the opportunity to continue to improve as a writer and a business owner, so it’s almost rude to not showcase their appreciation for me on my site and in my marketing collateral. Besides, as an entrepreneur on the verge of expansion, it’s always great to have a wonderful sales staff in place.

Category: Internet, marketing, writing | No Comments »
Tags: bni, dan kennedy, givers gain, linkedin, marketing, no b.s. sales strategies, testimonials

Posted By Amanda Collins on April 16, 2009

If you’ve seen “Legally Blonde,” you remember when the main character was applying for positions using pink, rose-scented paper for her resumes. Certainly, that made her stand out – but was it in a good way? How do you stand out among hundreds of resumes in a fiercely competitive market? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, as much as I love pink and roses, scented and colored paper won’t do it.

Most employers use a scanning system to track their resumes, so you need to make your resume come up in keyword searches. As noted in Candice Arnold’s latest blog on CollegeRecruiter.com, keywords play a huge part in making your resume stand out (in a good way). Of course, the most obvious place to add keywords is in the keyword section, often referred to as “Core Competencies” or “Areas of Expertise,” this is a small section at the end of the summary that clearly illustrates your transferable skills. When I’m writing a resume, I write the experience section first, then seek trends across positions, summarizing them in the keywords area. Another great way to populate this section is to look at job postings. Employers usually are rather blatant about what they want from applicants, so use that to your advantage! As I tell clients, the resume information below “Professional Experience” will remain static, but the “Summary” area is dynamic. Reread it for each new position, making sure you have the right words and answer the questions posed in the job posting.

Get more keywords in your experience section by thinking about buzzwords in the industry. Some of these may include: training, business development, penetrating accounts, client / vendor / employee relations, mentoring, global, international, or companywide. Your keywords will be different from someone else in a different industry, so be aware of your industry. If you’re working with a resume writer unfamiliar with your industry, tell her what the keywords are (a good writer who knows her limitations will ask).

By adding in some great keywords on your resume – and cover letter – you’ll boost your chances of coming up on searches, which will increase your interview opportunities!

Category: Internet, resumes, writing | No Comments »
Tags: resume, resume keywords