Saturday, October 4, 2008
Preparing Clear, Concise and Precise Resume
An excellent resume should be compared to a woman’s skirt. It should be short enough to attract attention but long enough to cover the essentials. Resumes that are either too short or too long will not do the trick.
You cannot accomplish this if your writing style is sloppy, careless and imprecise. You have to remember that your resume is your only ticket to being scheduled for an interviewed by your prospective employer. If you will not be able to effectively sell yourself, then you will not land a good job.
Writing style, thus, plays an important role in the process of resume-writing. As a job applicant you have to accomplish two difficult tasks. The first is to be able to convey your thoughts clearly and precisely so as to leave no room for doubts or misunderstanding. The second is to reduce all your accomplishments and achievements in a two-page format.
The following example serves to highlight the importance of writing style in resume-writing process. We hope you will learn a lot from this exercise.
Job Applicant A
I am an Information Technology Manager with more than 10 years of experience. I am responsible for the successful implementation of modern information system. I currently have 15 Information Technology staff who assist me in the development, implementation, maintenance and control of information systems. I am responsible for consolidating field IT operations leading to substantial savings.
Job Applicant B
Information Technology Manager with more than 10 years of experience in different phases IT work. Responsible for successful implementation of modern information system and consolidation of field IT operations which resulted to annual savings of 45%. Managed 15 Information Technology staff.
A reading of the writing style of Job Applicant A and Job Applicant B will reveal that Job Applicant B has presented an interesting, brief, concise and superior description of his work experience. Here are the reasons why:
1. Use of pronouns such as I should be omitted. Take note that the Human Resource Manager and employment professionals know that it is your resume. The use of pronoun “I” is redundant.
2. Writing in complete sentences is not necessary. Use of phrases and clauses will suffice if they convey a complete thought.
3. Use Verb in the beginning of the sentence. Notice that Job Applicant B started his last sentence with a verb. Starting your sentence with a verb helps make your resume more concise and precise.
4. Combine and consolidate the sentences in a single statement. Notice that Job Applicant B combined “successful implementation of modern information system” and “consolidation of field IT operations.” While Job Applicant A used these in two separate statements, Job Applicant B consolidated and combined them into a single statement.
5. Feel free to use quantitative descriptions. Notice that Job Applicant A failed to disclose how much savings he helped generate. Job Applicant B, on the other hand, specified the scope of his accomplishments by indicating that his system resulted to an “annual savings of 45%.”
eWritegigs will help you writer or edit your resume to perfection. Please visit our website for more tips and resume writing help!
Photo credits: www.top-resume-tips.com
Friday, October 3, 2008
Top 8 Resume Myths
There was a time when myths ruled the world. Myths were used to explain why the crops did not grow or why villagers got sick or why it did not rain. Despite the significant strides humanity has made since the Ancient times, it is very surprising that myths continue to proliferate even in the corporate world of the 21st Century, especially with resume making. Most of these resume myths have handed down from one generation to another by word of mouth, and in writing by some, giving more credence to these myths and making them more believable.
We shall deal with the top eight (8) common resume myths, examine them and expose the folly behind them. After separating the fact from fiction we hope that you will learn something from this exercise and make your own excellent resume
Myth 1. RESUMES SHOULD NOT EXCEED 1 PAGE
People who give credence to this myth argue that regardless of a person’s experiences or his competencies and skills, it is always possible for a job applicant to reduce all his accomplishments, experiences and skills in a one-page resume format. The basis logic this myth is not difficult to understand. People think that Human Resource Managers and professionals do not have time to read resumes in a more-than-one-page format and that they will prefer a single-page resume compared to a two-page resume.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. While it is true that a job applicant’s failure to condense his resume in one-page resume may leave the impression that the resume is verbose and wordy, there is, however such a thing as a resume that is “too brief.”
A job applicant who has an extensive employment history may find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to actually prepare a one-page resume. We advise you not to make this mistake. You will be committing a serious injustice to yourself by omitting important achievements and significant accomplishments in your career. It is not a one-page resume that the employers what to see but an extensive listing of your accomplishments and achievements that is relevant to the position you are applying for.
In sum, if you are held more than three jobs or have worked for more than three employers, we strongly recommend that you list down all the relevant accomplishments and achievements even if it reaches the second page.
Myth 2. MORE THAN THREE –PAGE RESUME IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN A SINGLE-PAGE RESUME
Myth 2 is the exact opposite of Myth 1. Both are equally wrong!
While writing your resume in more than three pages gives you the opportunity to fully disclose all your accomplishments and achievements, the reality is that the Human Resource Manager do not have the time and patience to read everything that is written in your resume. You have to realize that these professionals have to scan through hundreds if not thousands of resumes. With the explosion of Internet technology, the task of Human Resource Managers and employment professionals in scanning through resumes has become more difficult. Writing your resume in this manner will only give these professionals justification for not reading your resume.
Excellent resumes are similar to a woman’s skirt. It should be short enough to attract attention but long enough to cover the essentials. Resumes that are either too short or too long will not do the trick. We strongly suggest that in writing your resume you should limit it to no more than two-and-a-half pages in length.
Myth 3. UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE RESUMES GIVE THE EDGE
Advocates of the third myth argue that in resume writing it is absolutely imperative that the job applicant captures the attention of the Human Resource Manager. As a result, job applicants have gone to great lengths just to attract the attention of these professionals. Some have used orange resumes or black resumes. Others have gone as far as attaching a full-body picture on their resume. Others have made a collage out of their resume. Do not make the same mistakes as these job applicants.
While it is true that these kinds of resume attract the attention of Human Resource Managers, it does not necessarily mean that they will automatically schedule you for an interview. On the other hand, this plan may even work to your disadvantage as the manager may think that you are not serious about your job, or you are eccentric or you are immature. We do not believe you want your Managers to have this kind of first impression about yourself!
Myth 4. CHARACTER REFERENCES ARE A MUST
People who give credence to the fourth myth argue that by including a list of your character references to your resume you personality will be enhanced. They think that this will give the Human Resource Managers the impression that the job applicant is more qualified than the other candidates. While it is true that listing two or three of your references in the resume may give you the appearance of being reliable and trustworthy, it is equally true that references are not as important as listing all your achievements, accomplishments and qualifications. It will be better for you to wisely use this space and include therein everything that has relevance to the position being applied for.
Reality check: employers will not ask for your references unless they have actually shown interest in you as a potential candidate. You will not get their interest simply by enumerating your references. The key is to convince them first that you are the right man/woman for the job.
Myth 5. SALARY HISTORY ADDS TO YOUR GLORY
Supporters of this myth argue that if you have received substantial salary raises throughout your career, then you must include your Salary History. Their reason is obvious. They think that by showing your salary progression you create an image in the Human Resource Manager’s and employment professionals’ mind that you are important in your own company. It creates an impression that you are a contributor and are valued in your own company.
The following reasons however will suggest that it will be better for you to make good use of the limited space in your resume by including your accomplishments and achievements:
1. It is suggestive that you are more interested in money that the kind of work that you do
2. Human Resource Managers would rather see in your resume what you can give them not what you want to receive from them.
3. Focusing on you high value before convincing them that you are worth the money may turn off your employers
The better marketing strategy is not to immediately reveal how costly you are instead let them know first how important you are and what you can contribute to the company.
Myth 6. SPORTS AND HOBBIES SHOULD BE SPECIFIED
Another myth that found its way in the corporate world is that it is a must for you to include your sports, hobbies and other extra-curricular activities in your resume. The advocates of this myth would want you to believe that Human Resource Managers and employment professionals are looking for well-rounded individuals whose skills are not limited to what they are applying for. They want you to think that you will have an edge over the other job applicants if you will create an image that you are multi-talented, physically active, and interesting individual.
We strongly advise against this plan. While we believe that you should continue with your sports and hobbies, we do not find it necessary for these topics to be included in your resume. You should realize that an extensive enumeration of all your sports and hobbies in your resume may even create a wrong impression about you. Your employer may think that you are not interested in your job. Or they may think that you devote more time to extra-curricular activities rather than your job. Or they may think that you have an unhappy marriage and you make sports and hobbies as your outlet. We do not believe you want your employers to have this first impression on you.
Myth 7. AGE, SEX, MARITAL STATUS, HEIGHT AND WEIGHT MUST BE INCLUDED
Of all the Resume Myths this is considered as the worse. Age, Sex, Marital Status, Height and Weight have no place in a resume. Please be reminded that because of the enactment of civil rights legislations decades ago you no longer need to include personal information about yourself. The Civil Right Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 have rendered this idea obsolete. From the point of view of employment professionals and managers they are not interested in seeing your personal information for fear that job applicants may later on complain that they have been discriminated against. Besides, including personal information in your resume may even work against you as the Human Resource Manager may even use this personal information as a way of excluding you from the short list of candidates.
We strongly suggest that instead of writing personal information about yourself you should make good use of the limited space by emphasizing your accomplishments and achievements.
Myth 8 PERSONAL PHOTOS MAKE YOUR RESUME MORE APPEALING
Unless you are applying for the position of a commercial model or an actor or actress, you personal photo has no business being included in your resume. No matter how attractive you think you are it is better practice not to include your personal photo in your resume. Again, we would like to emphasize, your appearance simply has no relevance. Instead, we strongly suggest that you make good use of the limited space by emphasizing your accomplishments and achievements.
If you need more help in writing or editing your resume please visit our website at www.ewritegigs.com.
Photo credits: Flickr.com
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
A new Age has began as scientists pursue their efforts to harness the versatility of embryonic stem cells and to find a solution to man’s suffering brought about by sickness and disease. The embryonic stem cells have the ability to transform into blood, bone, skin or any type of cell. The dream is that one day diseased and dysfunctional cells can be replaced to help people with their spinal cord injuries, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Think about this. A man has for many years been bothered by his heart disease. He experiences chest pains very often. The doctor thinks that unless he undergoes a heart bypass operation he may not be able to survive. Or, consider the case of a man who is in need of a specific organ or tissue in his body. He needs this organ or tissue within a few months otherwise he may not be able to survive a few more months. His problem is that there are many other patients who are also in need of the same organ or tissue. The demand is great but the supply is lacking.
The current research on stem cells seems to be the answer to these contemporary problems of man. It is said that the human stem cells is very promising because of its unique capacity to generate cells and research that could later on be used to supply our need for important organs and tissues of our body. It is because of this reason that scientists say that “the discovery, isolation, and culturing of human embryonic stem cells has been described as one of the most significant breakthroughs in biomedicine of the century.”
Picture Credits: Photobucket.com
The Missouri Compromise
In the early part of the 19th Century, slavery was the most divisive issue in the United States. Our history will show that the issue of slavery was not only about racism, bias or prejudice. It was not only about one race believing that they are superior against another at the expense of another race that is demanding liberty, equality and freedom. Slavery as an institution had little to do with morality or religious grounds.
After the Revolution, the states in the North started to outlaw slavery while the states in the South sought the perpetuation of slavery. Based on our history, the Southern States sought the perpetuation of slavery because their whole economy depended on slaves. The states in the South mainly relied on the production and exportation of cotton for their source of income. This meant maintaining vast tracts of land which served as plantations for cottons. Plantation owners had to rely on thousands of slaves for cultivation and harvesting of cotton. Relying mainly on slaves to support the state’s main source of income, the Southern States opposed any action on the part of the federal government to abolish slavery.
On the other hand, influential leaders in the North opposed slavery. They thought that maintaining slavery is immoral. The Northern States which were more progressive than the Southern States relied on manufacturing and exportation of goods for their source of income. They did not, however, need slaves to meet the demand for production.
The Missouri Compromise in 1820 was the short-term solution to ensure that balance is maintained between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery states. It determined whether slavery would be legal in new territories admitted as states to the Union. Under the Missouri Compromise, to ensure that a balance is maintained between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery states, two states will be admitted to the Union. It was very fortunate that at that time Maine also petitioned for admission to the Union. As a result, it was agreed that Missouri will be admitted as a slave state while Maine will be admitted as a free state. This compromise also formally organized a boundary in Missouri providing that in case future states join the Union slavery will not be allowed territories north of 36°30’ while slavery will be allowed south of it. This temporarily defused the tension between them.
Photocredit: flickr.com
Expert Help for College Admission
Need help fixing your car? Go to a mechanic.
Need help improving your finances? Go to a financial advisor
Need help about legal matters? Go to a lawyer.
We go to experts for our common and not-so common problems. One area where parents may need the expertise of consultants is the area of college admission. According to Pauline Reiter, a Bellevue-based consultant, college entrance has become more competitive over the years. She cites Stanford University which only admitted 11% of its applicants and Princeton which accepted less than 10% of applicants. Let’s face it, as colleges and universities are ranked based on their selectivity in accepting applicants, more colleges and universities will employ stricter college admission standard.
As a result more parents have sought the assistance of private consultants to help their teenagers with their college admissions applications. These consultants can help the students by meeting with them about their goals for college and beyond. They gather important information from the parents and synthesize them for purpose of coming up with a list of colleges that can help in the choice of the right college for their teenagers.
The submission of the Admissions Essay is one of the requirements for college admissions. While private educational consultants are experts in finding the right college, they may not have enough expertise in writing perfect admissions essays.
In writing college admission essays, college hopefuls must bear in mind that there are thousands of students who, like them, are interested in applying for the same university. It is essential that they are able to distinguish themselves from thousands of applicants who may also have similar grades, and SAT scores. They need to highlight their strengths, discuss their unique personality, and demonstrate their grammar and communication skills at the same time. They must be able to show that they possess certain skills which can contribute also to the growth of his peers and the educational institution. They must also show their interest in worthwhile extra-curricular activities such as sports.
Visit ewritegigs.com for more Admissions Essay tips.
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Ashby Dialogues on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
The origin of human race and the issue of human evolution are important points of discussion in the study of Anthropology. The human race needs to know its past for it to be able to understand what its purpose is and which direction it is heading. As individuals, our goals, attitudes, motivations and actions are based on our understanding of who we are. Consequently, the better we know about our past, the more we know about ourselves as individuals. Understanding therefore our origin is like a compass that can help serve as our lighthouse and give us a sense of direction.
Teaching the Theory of Evolution, however, is extremely difficult. Professors at secular universities complain that their students have closed their minds to new learning about the possible origins of the human race. Some universities have even prohibited their professors from teaching the Theory of Evolution inside the classroom.
The 2008-09 Ashby Dialogues will discuss this enduring controversy for purpose of helping clarify this issue. Three events, all free and open to the public, will be held this fall:
1.) Film "One Million Years B.C." and discussion; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24; Room 101 Sullivan Building. The 1966 film, starring Raquel Welch, inaccurately shows humans and dinosaurs living at the same time. It was marketed with the tagline "Travel back through time and space to the edge of man's beginnings ... discover a savage world whose only law was lust!"
2.) Film "Expelled" and discussion; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12; Room 101 Sullivan Building. The 2008 documentary "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," featuring Ben Stein, contends educators and scientists have been persecuted for their belief in intelligent design, an explanation promoted by some as an alternative to evolution.
3.) Discussion of Francisco Ayala's Book "Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion;" 3-5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21; Room 310 Eberhart Building. This book by Ayala, a biology professor at the University of California-Irvine, offers a way to reconcile religion and science on the issue of evolution.
Visit ewritegigs.com for help in writing essays about Theory of Evolution.
Many Thanks to US Fed News Service, September 5, 2008
Photo Credits: photobucket.com
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Tips to please your boss without sacrificing your college education
Life is more difficult for employees who are taking classes in a college or university. More difficult is the situation where the employee is taking graduate studies where he needs to reed voluminous reading materials. Situation may arise when the employee may have to meet work deadlines and essay deadlines on the same date.
The solution is to learn to delegate.
There are companies you can turn to for assistance about your essays, term papers, research papers. You can delegate your boring assignments about Plato or Aristotle or John Locke or Immanuel Kant to professional writers who can help you with your essays! You can delegate your assignments about capital punishments, criminological theories, and white-collar crimes to experts who write about these topics better than you can. You can also delegate your assignments on Fourth Amendment, Exclusionary Rule, Warrantless Arrests and Searches to professional companies which have sufficient expertise in these subjects.
Go ahead, delegate! Visit http://www.ewritegigs.com/