The functional resume, also called the "skill" resume, is a type of resume that highlights what you can do, instead of the timeline of places you have worked. Rather than show the employer "when I did what", the functional format should highlight the applicant's skills and potential, and show "what I can do".
Although it may sound logical for an employer to want an applicant with extensive experience, it is surprising to find that many employers prefer the functional resume that is prepared by professional resume editors. The thinking behind this is that just because someone has been working for a long time, you can't automatically expect him or her to be an ideal candidate for the job that's open. However, there is one problem. For every employer that prefers skill over experience, there is another who prefers experience over potential. This leads us to the main weakness of the functional resume. Some employers see the lack of a timeline based work history as an indication that the candidate is less reliable and credible. So how to do you decide when to use this type of resume? Generally, if you are applying for a job in the same field, especially if you have been moving up the chain, stick with the traditional chronological resume. It's what many employers expect and emphasizes your time in the field. If you are changing fields, a functional resume may do a better job of showing what skills you are transferring into the new field. For candidates without a long career, or with work experience not related to the job position in question, then such kind of resume is a good choice to utilize. Even if you choose to write a functional resume, it still may be a good idea to include a brief work history so that potential employers who are not comfortable with these resumes can learn a little about your background. Another category of job seekers that may benefit from a functional resume is students or new workers with little job experience. If you are new to the job market and don't have much practical work experience in any field, a chronological resume can look a little pathetic. Using this kind of resume can help an employer learn what your strengths are and where you have potential. The functional resume allows others with large gaps in their work experience, such as stay-at-home mothers, to minimize those gaps and to focus on their skills.
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When it comes time to head into the interview room, you want to make sure that you are fully prepared and do everything right. More importantly you want to make sure that you don't do anything wrong. Here's a look at some Do's and Don'ts in interview day: Do's 1. Do Be Prepared - Before you ever go to the interview, you should have made up a list of questions that you may be asked, and also created a list of professional answers to give if asked. The morning of the interview you should go over the list a few times and make sure you are ready with those answers. You should also look over any research information about the company you are applying to. Remember, the better you understand the company and position you are trying for, the better you can gear your answers to what they need and want in an employee. 2. Do Be Confident - Get your head on straight before you walk into that interview. You know who you are, but this is your sales pitch of yourself. Remember your accomplishments and skills and be ready to show them to the person conducting the interview. 3. Do Be Early - There is nothing more disrespectful than showing up late for an interview. Essentially being tardy is telling the person you are interviewing with that their time is not that important to you. This is going to put a bad taste in their mouth before the interview even begins. It is also completely unprofessional. If you have not been to the office before, you may want to make the drive to the location a few days beforehand to make sure you know your way. On the day of your interview, make sure you are extra early. It's better to be early than late. You should also use this early arrival as a time to go to the restroom and make sure you look professional. Don'ts 1. Don't get too comfortable - Many interviewers will tell you to 'make yourself comfortable' or 'make yourself at home' as soon as you come into their office. Don't. While many people think that acting like a buddy will help them seem more personable and a better contender for a job, this really is their way of making you open yourself up to make a mistake. You are more likely to say things you will later regret if you let your guard down too much. Remember, this is a professional interview, not a friendly get together. 2. Don't forget your manners - From the time you arrive at the office, you are being watched. That means everyone you encounter may well report on how you treated them and acted in front of them. If you are rude or talk down to a receptionist, or other office worker, word will get back to the person you are interviewing with. Treat everyone you encounter in a professional and polite manner. 3. Don't let them see you sweat - while you may be nervous when you are walking in for an interview, you don't want the interviewer to know it. It's natural to feel a little tense, but you need to keep that feeling inside. Many people who find themselves nervous start to ramble when they talk, thinking if they keep talking they will sound like they know what they are saying. This is a surefire way to say something you will regret later on. Instead, take a deep breath as you walk into the room and keep your nerves in check. You need to come across as cool and collected in all of your answers. Interviewing is a skill. If you haven't done it a lot you may be a little worried you don't have what it takes. But like any other skill, this is one that can be learned. Make a note of what to do, and not do, and be prepared to put your best foot forward. When you are writing up your resume, you want to get a great job, right? You know that you are going to need an awesome resume to get you on your way to an interview. Doesn't it make sense then for you to present your credentials in the most amazing way possible so that the employer can't help but call you for an interview? This is the general opinion that would make sense, and yet, resumes end up on the desks of human resources personnel every day that are distinctive in their absolute inattention to detail. If you want your resume to be a good one that gets read you are going to want to avoid the following mistakes that I will list for you. Everything on this list is more like common sense but it doesn't help to be prepared. One of the reasons that these mistakes are often made is that some job candidates have no idea how to create a professional document, and they are also unwilling to take the time to learn how to do it either. Not to mention, many people are just too lazy to be bothered. They also do not want to spend the time that it takes in order for them to compose a great resume, much less proofread their material after they are done. Employers have no time to waste on people who are not going to make the effort to ensure their resume is free of errors. Those are not the kind of people they are looking to hire. Here is a list of the common mistakes to avoid: * Take the time to create a professional resume that stands out because it is exactly what employers are looking for and you will be far ahead of the competition * Proofread all of your material and then proofread it again. Be sure to use your spell check options. If you have to have your neighbors, friends, family and anyone else you can get to review your resume for you. Ask them to look for typos and grammar errors. * Do not use small fonts like those that are size 9 and under. Do not use too many different fonts in the same document either. An employer is going to scan your resume, not fully read it. If the type is hard to read or is difficult to follow, no one is going to spend any time on it at all. Keep the type at least at a 10 point and use one font at a time. Make it easy on the person who is going to be reading it. * Know that if your resume highlights your previous or current job duties but omits the actual skills you have mastered or the accomplishments you have made, the person who reads it will not be able to see your special talents and abilities. * Make sure that you focus your attention on what you have to offer rather than what your responsibilities were in your past jobs. Whenever it is at all possible you should include numbers with your statements. Instead of saying you helped the company you should explain how you did it. You have to be specific because vague assertions have no value. * Do not get so wrapped up in the way the resume is supposed to look though that you forget to answer to what it is supposed to get across. * Be clear with what you want to say. Don't ramble on and repeat yourself over and over again. This will only make your resume too hard to scan through. * Do not use colored or scented paper. It may look cute to see that on movies like Legally Blonde, but in real life it is just annoying and takes away from the body of the resume. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2018
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