BCjobs Blog

With increasing regularity, job seekers draft a résumé with an opening “objective statement” section without realizing this can be a turn-off to employers. Objective statements, by definition, are a declaration of what you want out of your next position. Think, “A stable position with room for advancement”. However, employers rarely hire an applicant based on what the applicant wants, but rather based on what the applicant offers.

When was the last time you heard someone whine “I’ve sent out 200 resumes and I haven’t gotten one call.” Probably yesterday just before that person started sending out the next 200.
It’s odd how people resist analyzing an unproductive job search with hard questions. If you are sending out resumes by the dozens and checking your phone to see if the battery has died, try applying a few questions. Science would be nowhere if scientists insisted on redoing the same experiment 200 times, wishing for a particular result.

Who: While portfolios have traditionally been used by creative professionals — artists, photographers, marketers, advertisers and designers — the rise of web communication and social media has brought online portfolios into the mainstream. For those looking for their first break or simply aiming to stand out from the crowd, upping the ante on your job search toolbox may make the difference.

Temporary jobs have become very common in today’s world. Some people work temp jobs in between permanent ones, while others choose temp work for the long-term because they enjoy the flexibility and diversity it can offer. Either way, there are two important reasons to showcase these positions effectively on your resume – you want potential employers to see how valuable that experience was, but you don’t want to be seen as a job-hopper.

References remain a vital component of every well-planned and carefully considered job search.
What is your approach to finding and sharing reference names? Is there more you could do? Do you need to choose new references? Is it even necessary to worry about it? Lots to consider in this often neglected topic.

It has been a tough couple of years for BC job seekers. The downturn resulted in an unstable job market with many wishful workers unemployed or underemployed in part time or temporary roles. The past year has seen moderate growth and employers are hopeful that this trend will continue through 2011. So why is now a good time to find a job you might ask?

Resume writing has finally reached the point where almost all professional resume writers, and many job-seekers, realize the futility of old-fashioned objective statements like the following:
OBJECTIVE: To secure a full-time position with opportunities for advancement in a nonprofit organization that prides itself on excellent public service.
Telling the reader what you want instead of what you have to offer was a failed formula from the start. Now common practice is to use a headline at the top of your resume followed by a profile paragraph.

Past employment experience is usually the most significant section of a resume, and therefore it’s important not to leave the reader guessing. Most job-seekers like to “zoom in” by describing duties and responsibilities, highlighting achievements, and listing awards and formal recognition. There is nothing wrong with that (achievements are particularly essential on a resume). However, it’s equally important to “zoom out” and look at the big picture of each position.

If you are applying for an advertised job, what important qualifications are they looking for? If you meet those requirements, those will be your key selling features. However, if you are targeting employers that haven’t advertised any positions, then you have to decide what you think will be most important to them.

I’ve been following a recent discussion on an email list about the need for cover letters, and it’s caused me to think about the evolution of cover letters and resumes. Here is what I see. Most resumes are at least 2 pages long (although I believe 95% of them should be shorter than they are), and so we are accustomed to seeing a summary section in the top half of the first page. This profile usually highlights the candidate’s key qualifications for the job they are targeting.