I’m employed so why should I bother updating my resume?

Well you’re also alive, do you have life insurance?

Sure, but that’s different.

Is it?

You need to have some assurance that your resume will be ready when you want to do a job search. That’s like having insurance.

Obviously, if you’re considering changing jobs, don’t do it before you have a new job. And make sure your resume is prepared in contemporary form or you may not be able to compete with other job seekers. You can be sure some will have contemporary resumes and cover letters! More about that later.

Now if you lose your job (it’s likely you thought that would never happen), your resume must be ready, because the longer you’re un-employed the more difficult it will be to find the right next job! Is your resume in contemporary form?

What does that mean?

Don’t even think your resume just needs to be “dusted off”. If it has not been updated by a professional,  do you think it will compete with others who’s resumes have been? Most likely you need a professional search consultant and/or resume writer? Why? Because some of your competition have had their resume re-written such that it differentiates them from you, to their advantage!

What do you mean ‘contemporary resume standards’?

Well for one thing, Chronological and Functional resume forms are no longer competitive with contemporary Combination forms. Do you understand what the combination form is and what it does for you? Your best competition found out from professionals who prepare contemporary resumes every day.

What’s more, most companies utilize ATS software to perform many functions human beings used to do. It saves them money. This software is coupled with parsing software that may disqualify you from consideration if your resume doesn’t contain certain words and phrases, or has certain features the parsing software can’t ‘read’. If that happens, a human is not likely to ever see your resume. You’ll be in an electronic wastebasket. Do you understand how to avoid this? Again, your best competition has found out from a professional.

Those are just two reasons and there are more. Are you really a good writer? Do you understand good resume writing guidelines? Do you know how to deal with previous gaps in employment? Do you understand how to properly ‘tune’ your resume so it is responsive to a specific job?

It’s probably obvious to you that once you’re not employed, the longer it takes you to become re-employed, the harder it becomes.

My advice? Seek professional help for your resume. But the best advice is to seek out someone who has been a hiring manager and understands the process from a hiring managers’ perspective. Make certain you know the background of the specific person who will be helping you. You don’t need someone who doesn’t have the right background and experience. By the way, fancy websites and claims and huge fees doesn't necessarily equate to competence! So do your due diligence carefully.

And if possible, find someone who can also help you with your search strategy and tactics. You’ll then be way ahead of the competition.

Check my profile! I’d like to help.

Visit http://www.hoochresumes.com for free information and fee-based services. Also check out LinkedIn to learn more about me. http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=53593436&trk=tab_pro

Why Job Search Assistance Is So Important?

In the best of times the competition for jobs is intense. In the present economy with unemployment officially close to 10% (not counting those who have given up), the competition is colossal! If one doesn’t want to give up searching how can one not afford to seek professional help?

Job seekers need to be aware of the following facts:

Many job seekers approach their search unrealistically. 

Most have no idea what the perspective of a hiring manager is, or what motivates them.

Many treat their search strategy and tactics haphazardly. They have no plan, don’t schedule their time properly and have no check points to see what’s working & what’s not.

Many have no idea about the pros and cons of each of the potential tactics they can use. Pursuing a tactic blindly can submarine their ability to get hired.

Most have a rudimentary knowledge, if any at all, of Automatic Tracking Systems and what the parsing software that scans their documents will reject them outright for. (Hint: It goes well beyond just key words and key phrases).

Too many job seekers don’t understand the meaning of “Value” and “Worth”. 

Thus, too often they believe creating a strong resume is simplistic.

Often they don’t give a second thought to a cover letter, even believing it’s totally unimportant.

In short, they are dropped from consideration for a variety of reasons they don’t understand.

Here’s how a hiring manager views the search and process of hiring and interviewing to find the right candidate: 

Do you understand my pain? My needs?

What value do you bring to the company and in particular, to me?

Is your long term value worth more than the initial investment (hiring and training costs) in you?

How effectively will your skills help the company and me?

Why are your skills worth more to the company and me than those of another candidate?

Is your potential worth the risk?

And lastly, Can anyone else do what you can for less money? And can they do it better?

So ask yourself some important questions:

Am I proficient in all job search subject matter?

Is the cost of getting professional help worth it?

How long will I be out without income if I don’t pay for help?

How can I find out if the specific person I’m paying to help can really help me?

In addition to assisting you prepare your resume and cover letter, Hooch Resumes is a service that provides the information you need to know about:

How to pick the strategy to use

How to select the tactics to use. What the pros & cons, advantages & disadvantages are of the various tactics, and how to utilize them such as:

Utilizing Recruiters – types, choosing one, how they work

Utilizing Job Boards – searching for hiring companies, the pros & cons of posting a resume, recognizing what to respond to and what not to

Finding and reaching out to Hiring Managers to find out about the job before applying

Getting past their Gate Keepers

Utilizing Human Resources correctly

Properly utilizing networking

Interviewing – preparing for their questions, preparing for yours, role playing

Visit http://www.hoochresumes.com for free information and fee-based services. Also check out LinkedIn to learn more about me. http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=57593436&trk=tab_pro