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Job Fair Not Fair? Don't Despair!

Traditional job fairs are usually held on college campuses or in other prominent, easily accessible areas. While this is convenient for the organizations sponsoring them, it's a bit too convenient for the attendees, who swarm in like buzzards who've just caught wind of a ripe kill. The employers hosting them are swamped by hungry job seekers, each one more desperate and motivated than the last -- how will you ever be able to compete? Fortunately, for tech-savvy individuals such as yourselves, many job fairs are going digital, giving you an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an emerging recruitment technique and get an edge over the competition. While the job fair experience is partially about getting face time with company representatives, there's no guarantee that these representatives will remember you -- in fact, it's almost guaranteed that they won't -- nor is there any guarantee that these representatives will have the time to dispense information not available in a brochure or on the company's website. What is guaranteed is that your follow-up correspondence -- thank-you letters and check-up calls/emails -- are what will get you noticed. Your resume and presence at the job fair are little more than opening acts at the job fair circus, so if you'd rather not have to endure the chaos of the event, don't worry, because you can always make it to the website and make yourself noticed without (most of) the hassle. 

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Posted by Brian on 1/18/2009 10:27:00 PM
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Blind Firing Resumes: Just a Shot in the Dark?

   Many believe that firing off a volley of unsolicited resumes is a waste of time and effort - and in most cases, it is. However, as a last-ditch strategy, you could do worse. While the success rate of the hit-send-and-pray technique is probably in the single digits, I personally know a few people who've overcome the odds and landed fairly decent positions with nothing more than a strong resume and a heap of good fortune on their sides.

   If the job forecast is looking grim, prepare a generic resume and cover letter. They should be worded in such a way as to appeal to the widest array of potential employers possible. If you have the time, have them reviewed by somebody with a good deal of resume-writing experience (your university's Career Services department will probably be able to do this for free). Once you've dotted the i's and crossed the t's, cross your fingers, say your prayers, and send them off. Again, your chances of success are slim, but who knows - somewhere, someone in HR might be as desperate for a good employee as you are for a job! 

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Posted by Brian on 11/23/2008 09:46:00 PM
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I Believe That's Eggshell, With Romalian Type

   With the staggering array of options available to today's resume writer, it's natural to become a little intimidated. How should I format it? What color should my paper be? Where should I post it online? Unfortunately, there's no simple answer to any of these questions, but knowing your prospective employer should give you an edge and guide your resume design and distribution decisions. Research your target audience thoroughly to gain an understanding of how best to pull their strings. Do they value technical knowledge and creativity? If so, focus on showcasing your word-processing savvy and ability to think outside the box in your resume. Do they tend to hire people with certain connections? Polish your contacts and references section, then. Are they an old firm that places emphasis on experience and sophistication? Try to nail the formal aspects of your resume, such as typography, paper thickness and color, and the printing method used (yes, some people actually care about these things - watch the movie American Psycho for one extreme example). As Seymour said, posting digital resumes in as many places as possible can never hurt, so long as they're just as well thought-out as your physical one. Here's an old TV rule to consider - know your demographic and give them what they want. If you deliver the goods in your resume, a job will soon follow - be it in graphic design or murders and executions - er, mergers and acquisitions. 

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Posted by Brian on 11/04/2008 03:25:00 AM
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New Skool versus Old Skool

New Skool vs. Old Skool - the ever-present battle between digitalized and paper resumes. What to do? The answer is simple: do every option available to help you in your job search. There are advantages to both digital and traditional resumes. This is what some might call and win-win scenario. Your chances for landing the job have just doubled and your potential employer could notice something previously overlooked.

Of course, compiling a strong digital resume/portfolio is a must. Today’s world is a digital jungle and the job market is no different. The job market is fiercely competitive and all bases must be covered in order to ensure your chances at finding the job of your dreams. A digital portfolio allows you the opportunity to store reference letters and samplings of previous work. You can include pictures, videos and any other materials that may bring your portfolio to that next level.

Many people use recruiting websites to assist in their job search. These websites make your resume available to thousands of potential employers. Digitalized copies of your resume are necessary for any resume-database websites that you find yourself using. Utilizing these tools are immensely helpful in the job search, but only if you understand and use them properly. These websites implement the use of keywords. Employers will enter keywords for skills and qualities they are looking for in applicants. Making your digital resume, keyword-friendly is extremely important.

Be sure to maximize your digital resumes searchability. There are a few easy ways to do this. Your professional areas of expertise and their synonyms should be keywords spread evenly throughout your resume. Be very specific—for instance, if you are fluent in more than one language, you may consider having the word multilingual appear in your resume, as well as the languages you are fluent in. Similarly is you have earned an M.A. you may consider using the words Master of Arts as well as the abbreviation in the education section of your resume. A resume that optimizes keywords does not have to be separate from your traditional resume. The traditional resume and keyword-optimized resume can be one and the same. With a bit of extra effort, your resume can be as efficient as possible.

Paper resumes are advantageous because they appeal to your potential employers eyes rather than a computer database. You have the opportunity to choose thick, impressive-feeling paper. The paper needs to be kept simple, professional and white in color. Sending a hard copy of your resume can do nothing but improve your chances of getting the job. When you include both a traditional and digital resume in your portfolio this shows your potential employer your dedication to the job finding process. By showing your potential employer your dedication to the job hunt, you give them a glimpse into the dedication you will put into all aspects of your life.

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 10/31/2008 02:40:00 PM
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