Audio and Video Resumes - The Future In Hiring?

By Randi S. Lewis

Those of you looking for employment know that you need an electronic version of your resume to email or send online.  In the year 2011, businesses more often prefer to receive resumes electronically rather than through the mail.  For the most part, therefore, you don't need to buy expensive resume paper.  Everything is communicated and stored electronically.

More recently, businesses are promoting both audio and video resume packages.  I have no data at the moment in regard to the number businesses or recruiters who are testing these new services.  I have no personal experience with these services and therefore I cannot speak to their benefits.  I still provide the traditional resume and interview services but I thought you might want to learn more about new technology. 

Talent Rooster, a video resume service, promotes its benefits to employers by asserting that "[b]ecause video resumes give hiring managers the ability to see candidates before bringing them in for an interview, a potential employee who may not look good on paper can shine with TalentRooster."  (See http://www.talentrooster.com/benefits-of-video-resumes-for-recruiters.)  Some career networking sites have a section that permits you to include a video.

Entrepreneur, Bradford Peterson, developer of the Audio Job Interview iPhone App, says his product "allows job candidates to create an actual audio interview they can record from their mobile device and send via a unique URL to employers. No other app we are aware of does this. We are already one the more popular apps in the Business category and the feedback we are getting from job seekers is more than gratifying."

Below are the links for more information about the Audio Job Interview iPhone App: 

Video Demo on the product in use: (Facebook) - http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=342809865471

A brief sample interview Bradford recorded of what employers see and hear:  http://uttr.net/node/1%26uid=B0C939AD61AF99A7D3807ACA69FF3BA9F22ECB03%26profileid=3

Professional Video Demo:  http://www.vimeo.com/9980929



There are risks inherent in promoting yourself via an audio or video resume, however.  Search on Google for pros and cons. 

I am interested in learning anecdotally whether anyone has had experience with these types of employment screening methods.  If so, let me know your thoughts by emailing me at rlewis@resumeboutique.com or by commenting on this post.  Thank you, Randi Lewis

Top Job Search Blogs

Resume Boutique recently made a list of 50 Top Headhunting Blogs.  See:  http://www.acceleratednursepractitionerprograms.com/top-50-job-hunting-blogs.html#37.  We also made Job Profile's short list of Best Blogs for your job search in 2009.  See:  http://www.jobprofiles.org/library/job-search/100_best_blogs_for_your_job_search.htm. 

Both websites contain blogs with helpful information related to your job search. 

Randi Lewis

Tips to Improve Wording on Your Resume

Happy New Year. 

I thought this December 21, 2010 article on careerism.com was worth sharing with you:
http://www.careerealism.com/resume-7-overused-phrases/.  It contains some thoughtful ideas about how to use more impactful language to make your resume stand out.

Randi Lewis

Blogs and Websites for College Applicants - The Ivy-Bound

By Randi Lewis



It's that time of the year for high school seniors and their parents.  You have submitted your early admissions and early action applications.  You have submitted applications with November 15th deadlines.  Hopefully, you have submitted your application to all schools with rolling admissions.  Some of you are continuing to work on back up applications (which I recommend you do well before December 15th), and others, including those of you who are not applying for early admissions, still have time to submit the remainder of your applications. 

For those of you with Ivy League or similar aspirations, here are a few websites you might find interesting:

1. "From Hopeless to Harvard," http://www.hopelesstoharvard.com/ivy-league-schools/ivy-league-admissions-secrets/.
2. Campus Compare,  http://www.campuscompare.com/college-resources/dear-babs/?tag=college-search.
3. The College Solution, http://thecollegesolutionblog.com/tag/ivy-league/.
4. Huffington Post blog column,  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kat-cohen/.  The writer is a College Admissions Consultant and hosts a website called IvyWise:  http://www.ivywise.com/About_people_katherine.html.  Because I do not know the writer, I am not in a position to recommend her services, I think her content could be helpful to you.

In May 2010, we posted three websites that might provide some help to you regarding college interview preparation.  This is the link to the post:  http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/2010/05/college-interviews-preparation-is.html.  Those sites provide great information to help you prepare for interviews, whether they are with alumni or with the admissions professionals.  Those are great places to start.

For more strategic help on preparing for your college interview, contact Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC.

rlewis@resumeboutique.com | 410.602.2500 | http://www.resumeboutique.com/ 

© Resume Boutique LLC 2010. All rights reserved.

Advice to Law Student Applicants: Do Not Use a Service to Send a Mass Mailing to Law Firms

Last week, an experienced, highly regarded legal recruitment professional working in a major U.S. law firm forwarded me an email by a law student.  The email had a resume attached and asked for more information about the firm's summer associate program.  My colleague thought the email was curious and asked me:

"Do you think this is a professional resume writer sending out resumes on this candidate's behalf?"

What do you think?  Why was the email unusual?  First, the name of the resume attached did not identify the student.  Instead, it contained the name of resume company then the words, "LAW SCHOOL_ SUMMER ASSOCIATE SEND OUT."   Not a good idea.  My advice to you is to place your name on the document that contains your resume. 

Second, the email said this:

"Hello Ms. [name of recruiter], my name is [name of applicant]. I am a 2L at the University of [name of school but not the correct name because it didn't say law school] and would like more information about applying to [name of law firm]'s Summer Associate program. I have attached a copy of my resume and appreciate any information."

As you can see, the email itself contained errors and showed a lack of knowledge of the summer associate application process.  The greeting wasn't separate from the email (something a law student should know would be unwise); the email asked for more information about applying to the summer program (when law students should know that significant information about summer programs in major law firms, including how to apply for the summer program, is contained in each law firm's website); and, the last sentence was grammatically incorrect. 

This is an example of how to get your resume in the NO PILE.  An experienced legal recruitment professional would be able to determine from the substance of the email, the tile of the attached resume, and the resume itself, that the applicant had no idea why he applied to this firm in that particular city. 

In this economy, you would be better served to ask your career counseling office for advice, particularly about how to target your search.  Find a way to get an informational interview with as many law firms as possible and put on your best show.  Even if the firms are not hiring now, if they find you particularly impressive, the interviewers may remember you when an position becomes available.  

Summer Associate position mass mailings, particularly when you are not choosing the law firms or the cities to which they will be sent, are a waste of time and money.  That's just my opinion.

If you ever have a question about transmittal emails to law firms, feel free to email me your question at rlewis@resumeboutique.com.   Randi Lewis, Founder of Resume Boutique LLC.

http://www.resumeboutique.com/

© 2010 Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved.

After The Interview - Three Tips For Thank You Notes & Emails

After your interview for a job you would consider taking, we recommned you send a brief thank you note - either by email or U.S. mail.  If immediacy is a concern, use email.  If not, either means of communication is acceptable in most circumstances.  Use your judgment.  Here a are three simple tips to keep in mind:

1. Keep it short to one paragraph or two.
2. Make it about the interviewer or the employer, not yourself.
   For example, don't say how much you enjoyed talking about yourself and your accomplishments.  Instead, discuss that you enjoyed learning more about something related to the business, the position, or the interviewer's career.
3. If you are truly interested in the position, write why the interview confirms your interest.

If you aren't interested in the position, for whatever reason, and you have at least one other job offer you would accept, let the employer know immediately.   The employer needs to offer the position to the next person in line and would appeciate hearing from you ASAP, either to reiterate your interest, withdraw from consideration, or to accept or reject an offer.

By: Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC.

info@resumeboutique.com  |  410.602.2500 

 http://www.resumeboutique.com/  

© Resume Boutique LLC 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Military Resumes Revisited

If you are currently in the military thinking about how to transfer to a civilian job, you need to make a list of your competencies and find what types of civilian jobs are compatible with your military experience.  Then you need a resume.  You can use your performance reports as a guide to outlining your positions, duties, and accomplishments.  Then you must translate the acronyms and abbreviations into plain English.  If you don't, the civilian reader is likely to gloss over your resume and place it aside because he just can't see how your work can add value to his company. 

If someone is helping you on your resume, you may want to refer him or her to this site, which contains a comprehensive list of abbreviations and acronyms:

http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/showthread.php?p=454000

I am using it now and it has helped significantly.  For more tips how to make your military experience more attractive to civilian employers, see our April 2007 blog posting:  http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/2007/04/word-about-military-resumes.html. 

By: Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC.

info@resumeboutique.com | 410.602.2500 | http://www.resumeboutique.com/  

© Resume Boutique LLC 2010.  All Rights Reserved.

Resume Keywords - The What, Why, and How

We were asked to post the following link on our blog that gives 10 resume tips. Here is the link. http://www.onlinecertificateprograms.org/blog/2010/10-ways-to-make-your-resume-stand-out/

Below are our comments on the use of Keywords, Tip # 1.


We agree.  Use key words.  But what are keywords and how do they help? How do you use them effectively in your resume? Just throwing out words that have no relation to your skills is not helpful. Where do you find the right keywords? The first place to look is on the job posting itself. Then look on the internet for industry-specific key words. Ask people in the industry what skills, experience, and qualities their companies seek.

Keywords can be verbs that suggest certain qualities employers seek such as leadership & team building, problem-solving, and achievements or results. A few examples are:

Leadership & Team Building

led | developed | directed motivated | empowered | revitalized | conducted | spearheaded | presided over

Problem-solving

streamlined | strengthened | re-designed  | solved | eliminated | analyzed | evaluated | resolved

Achievements & Results

achieved | turned around | accomplished | produced | expanded  | completed | increased | succeeded | enhanced | created | developed | devised | delivered (on time and within budget)

There are also industry-specific keyword that you also should place in your resume in strategic places. Here are a few examples for business-related resume of experienced job seekers whose experience would call for them to list core competencies in a separate section and/or throughout the resume:

Change Management | Investor, Board, or Trustee Relations | Strategic Planning | Project Management |
Infrastructure Development | P&L Management | Regulatory Compliance | Sales & Marketing Leadership

The Boston College Career Site contains practical information about keywords: http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/skills/resumes/keywords.html

Look for future postings commenting on some of the other nine resume suggestions.  Contact Randi Lewis, Founder of Resume Boutique LLC with more questions about how to use Keywords effectively.

rlewis@resumeboutique.com | 410.602.2500 | http://www.resumeboutique.com/ 

© Resume Boutique LLC 2010.  All rights reserved.

College Interviews: Preparation is Important

It's that time again when high school students begin interviewing for college admission.  Preparation for your interviews, whether they are formal or informal, will help you feel more confident and present your best.  Take advantage of the offerings by your high school college counselors.  If your school offers mock interviews, participate.  Practice with a parent. 

Make sure you can articulate:

1. Why this school (know the school's website inside and out - use language from the website in your answer.
2. Why you (this is how you paint a picture of yourself and why you likely will align with "why this school")

Be prepared to answer questions.  Here are a few websites you might find helpful.  They contain basic interview questions for college interviews.

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/tp/college-interview-questions.htm


http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/40-five-common-interview-questions-and-how-to-answer-them

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/  (lot of good info for college bound people, including chats about particular college interview questions – student to student)

For more strategic help on preparing for your college interview, contact Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC, rlewis@resumeboutique.com. 

http://www.resumeboutique.com/ | 410.602.2500

© Resume Boutique LLC 2010.  All rights reserved.

 

Law Firm Summer Associate and Entry Level Recruiting Plunged in the Fall of 2009

The March 4, 2010 NALP Now Bulletin for Legal Career Professionals reported that the hiring of summer associates and entry-level lawyers plunged in the Fall of 2009.  This is what was published:

"All of the markers that measure the strength of the legal employment market for new lawyers, such as law firm recruiting levels for summer programs and summer program outcomes, fell in 2009, continuing and accelerating the general downward trend in recruiting volumes that was measured in 2008. The drop-off in the numbers in the second year of the recession was steeper than the decrease in volume seen during the first year of the recession, as the recession continued to batter both the economy in general and the legal employment market specifically. Based on information provided by NALP members about fall 2009 recruiting, the market for entry-level legal employment shrank dramatically, especially for current second-year students (2Ls) seeking a position for summer 2010. This is according to Perspectives on Fall 2009 Law Student Recruiting, an annual report published by NALP on selected aspects of fall recruitment activity and the experiences of both legal employers and law schools. All NALP members will receive a copy of Perspectives on Fall 2009 Law Student Recruiting with their March Bulletin. The report is also available as a downloadable PDF from www.nalp.org/perspectivesonfallrecruiting, and NALP issued a press release about the report this week that can be found at www.nalp.org/2009perspectivesonfallrecruiting."

What does this mean for current law students?  Most 2011 and 2012 graduates do not yet have legal-related summer jobs.  What's worse, most 2010 graduates - third year law students - don't have any job prospects.  What do you do?  Understand that you have NO CONTROL over the economy or the job market and that you are NOT ALONE.  The economy has reduced the job market in every sector of our global economy.  Here are some thoughts:

1. Keep actively looking for jobs - legal, quasi-legal, internships, and as a last resort, non-legal jobs.
2. Network and take advantage of any and all offers of help by people you know and those you just meet.  This help often appears in the form of opening doors. 
3. Accept every offer for courtesy or informational interviews with lawyers or recruitment professionals.
4. Prepare for and present yourself in those interviews as if they were actual job interviews because the first impression you make will be a lasting one.  And one contact leads to another and another.
5. Be able to articulate why you are interested in each job and why you would add value to each organization.  (A recruiter just rejected an otherwise suitable candidate because when asked what about the company was of interest, he replied that he needed a job and the company posted the position on the school's website.)
6. Evaluate your unique situation after law school.  (a) Will you have loan debt?  If so, when will you have to start paying it back and how much will it be per month? (b)  Will your living situation require you to pay rent or a mortgage?  (c) Estimate your monthly fixed and variable living costs.
7. If you cannot find a paying legal job, determine whether you are in a financial position that would enable you to work in an unpaid internship position for a year and supplementing that with a paying job (i.e., waiter, store clerk) at night or on weekends.
8. If you have a sense of entitlement and can't get over the unfairness of it all ~ lose it!  Adopt a winning attitude by searching for what is within reach.  Down the road, employers will be looking at your resume and what will separate you from the rest of the pack is their perception of your resourcefulness and resilience.
9. Understand that this is a temporary situation.  History tells us that this time will pass.  We don't know when things will turn around but we know they will.
10. Adopt a positive attitude.  Even if it is forced initiatlly, positive, hopeful attitudes are evident in your daily interactions with people, who will be more inclined to help someone upbeat.

For more information on legal job search tips, see our prior Blogs in 2009 on "Thinking Outside the Box: Your Approach to Finding a Legal Job in a Tight Job Market" and  "The Importance of Informational Interviewing in A Down Economy."

Randi S. Lewis | | Founder, Resume Boutique LLC | |  rlewis@resumeboutique.com | | 410.218.0586

© 2010 Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/

Video Resumes in a Down Economy - Risks vs. Rewards

Yesterday, msnbc.com contributor, Eve Tahmincioglu, wrote a piece about creating video resumes to land jobs.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35367030/ns/business-careers//.   She profiled two men who created videos that accompanied more traditional resumes.  One landed a job; the other hasn't landed any interviews.  The man who landed a job shaved his head for a marketing position in a razor company.  Clever.  He thought about his audience and the position. 

Do I generally recommend making a video or, what has become more common, creating a web resume, NO.  You have to know your audience.  Although you may think your idea is clever, that you look great, and that your content sets you apart, prospective employers may not.  But there are some times where the potential reward will outweigh the risk.  Read the entire column if you are thinking about a video resume.   The columnist writes the weekly "Your Career" column for msnbc.com and chronicles workplace issues in her blog, CareerDiva.net.

Getting Out of Our Own Way

By Gary Cohen

As a professional executive and career coach, a common thread I find with clients is that they create many of the obstacles that get in the way of achieving their goals. This sounds crazy! If we are determined to achieve our goals, why would we sabotage ourselves along the way? Most, if not all of us, will experience this phenomenon at some point in our lives, but may not even be conscious of it. I was certainly in this position and through the help of my coach, began moving forward and eventually overcame my own obstacles to achieve my goals. Why do we get in our own way and what role does a coach play in helping us navigate around these self-imposed roadblocks?

Often times we get in our own way because of some kind of fear – fear of failure, fear of success, fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of rejection…and the list goes on. The easy way to avoid facing our fears is to practice self-sabotage, and remain nestled in a little cocoon known as our comfort zone. Sometimes remaining in a place where we really don’t want to be is more secure than venturing outside of our comfort zone and going after what we really do want in our lives. Fear is a powerful force that must be confronted head-on to overcome obstacles. When we allow fear to take over, we actually relinquish control over our destiny. Fear holds us back, keeping us from stretching outside of our comfort zones, a key ingredient to personal and professional growth.

We develop specific fears for numerous reasons, far too many to mention in this article. The good news is that everyone has the capability to overcome their fears and get out of their own way, clearing a path for the creation of positive personal and professional changes in our lives. There is nothing better than pursuing our passions without self-sabotage. A professional coach helps us navigate through the obstacles we have created, jump-starting us when we are stuck and accelerating our progress toward achieving our goals. This is achieved through guided self-discovery, with the coach asking powerful questions, challenging the client and creating a new level of accountability. This is accomplished in a safe environment for the client, with the feeling of partnership and support.

Even the best in their field can benefit from a coach. Tiger Woods, arguably the best golfer in the world, has a coach. Professionals hire a coach for a couple of reasons. One is that they have difficulty seeing their own mistakes and the other is the belief that we must continue to improve and get better on an ongoing basis to experience personal and professional growth. Many of the best and brightest in their fields work with a coach, so if you choose to do so, you will be in excellent company.

Gary Cohen is a faculty member at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and a principal of Forward Action Coaching, LLC where he specializes in executive, career and family business coaching. Contact Gary at gary@forwardactioncoaching.com and visit Forward Action Coaching, LLC at www.forwardactioncoaching.com.

Thinking Outside the Box: Your Approach to Finding a Legal Job in a Tight Job Market

By Randi S. Lewis and Ellen B. Feldman

The Current Reality:

The legal job market is slow. But remember, nothing in life is permanent. The market will change.

Dealing With Your Current Reality:

1. Prepare an updated, accurate resume to be able to provide to anyone at a minute’s notice.
2. Evaluate your skill set and determine the legal and non-legal market for your skills.
3. Research the job market via internet, legal newspapers, trade associations, peer groups, professional and personal contacts, and legal search firms.
4. 
   
   Determine your flexibility:
   

   (a) Are you willing to take a pay cut? (b) Are you willing to relocate? (c) Are you willing to take a non-lawyer position? (d) Are you in a position to take a volunteer position in a legal setting? (e) Are you willing to travel for your job?

5. Do not apply for specialized positions for which you are absolutely not qualified.
6. When applying for a position, apply once, follow up once by a phone call or email after time has passed. Don’t apply several times for the same position.

Networking & The “About Me” Speech:

1. Networking is very important. More people get hired because they have a contact somewhere (either the reference or the connector).
2. Force yourself to attend every personal and professional event to which you are invited. Prepare the “About Me” speech (otherwise known as the "Elevator Speech." It needs to be positive and confident - without bitterness or negativity.
3. Contact everyone you know: family; friends; colleagues. Give them your “About Me” speech and ask if they know anyone you might contact.
4. When you talk with people at a networking or other social event, be prepared with your “About Me” speech. Where appropriate, ask for their help AND ask for their business card and their permission for you to email them your resume. Email your resume the next day with a similar “About Me” transmittal email and make sure you are asking them to do something – either passing your resume along or providing you with names of others with whom you can connect.
5. If anyone offers you a courtesy or informational interview, TAKE IT happily. Conduct yourself like it is an actual job interview. The interviewers may be your next connectors. Also, when the organization’s needs change, you may be first on their minds to fill a position.

Job Search Tips:

1. Look at traditional ways employers advertise job openings. If you are not finding anything and you are available, you should consider doing contract legal work either by networking with people you know to work on short-term projects or by working through a legal staffing company such as Special Counsel. It has been a very busy time in the temporary legal world.
2. Look at federal and state government jobs.
3. Look at law & policy/analyst positions.
4. Look at other public interest positions.
5. Look for in-house positions either part-time or full-time, in legal or quasi-legal positions.
6. If you are trying to switch practice areas, invest in education and volunteer.
7. Take some CLE’s in that different area.
8. If you are really serious, get an advanced degree (i.e., LLM, an MBA, MPh, MPA).
9. Attend a meeting of your area of interest or practice group through the bar association.
10. Find volunteer work for an organization working in your area of interest.

Current Trends in the Job Market – Who/What is Hiring:

• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Federal Government Jobs
• Insurance Defense Litigation
• Business & Commercial Litigation
• Labor & Employment Litigation
• Estates & Trusts in smaller firms

Websites:

• Attorneys in Transition, http://attorneysintransition.com/
• American Bar Association Career Counsel, http://www.abanet.org/careercounsel/finding.html

This was adopted from a presentation prepared for the Bar Association of Baltimore City Young Lawyers' Division (http://www.baltimorebar.org/files/pdfs/JobSearchProgram.pdf). For more information about temporary lawyer positions, contact Ellen B. Feldman, Esq., Senior Search Director, Special Counsel, ellen.feldman@specialcounsel.com.

The Bright Side of Job Loss

By Gary Cohen, MBA, Certified Executive & Career Coach

♦ ♦ ♦

Losing your job during these tough economic times is a traumatic event and the realization of one of our greatest fears while we are employed. This is particularly difficult for breadwinners who feel the self-imposed pressure to “bring home the bacon.” When this misfortune strikes us, our first thought is to search for the same type of job in the same industry, simply because this is what we know, are comfortable with and believe to be our best opportunity. Few executives and managers take the time to evaluate their career satisfaction over the past several years, simply because we are creatures of habit and by nature resist change. However, we are assured a better quality of life if we are passionate about our work and look forward to it each and every day. Shouldn’t we be taking stock in this truism?

♦ ♦ ♦

My point is simply that job loss is a golden opportunity to revisit our career aspirations and make positive changes. It is a time to consider reinventing ourselves. We don’t have to lose our jobs to go through this exercise. I speak from experience, as I left a senior management position to become a business school faculty member and certified executive and career coach. Think about what you are passionate about and the activities that feed your soul. Wouldn’t it be great to earn a living around these passions? Many people successfully transition to new careers where they experience the delight of doing what they love every day.

♦ ♦ ♦

If you are out of work and love what you were doing, look to continue in your field with another firm. If you are no longer passionate about your work and need a paycheck now, it would be prudent to search for a position in your current field, but don’t ignore the opportunity to reinvent yourself and follow your passion. You may find that losing that job was a blessing in disguise.

♦ ♦ ♦

Gary Cohen is a faculty member at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and a principal of Forward Action Coaching, LLC where he specializes in executive, career and family business coaching. Free 30 minute consulations available.

Contact Gary at gary@forwardactioncoaching.com

Visit Gary's website at www.forwardactioncoaching.com

100 Best Blogs for Your Job Search

If you are a recent casualty of the economy, you will be joining the ever-growing list of professionals who can claim they were the subject of an economic layoff. Although many "experts" recently have opined that the economy is in an upswing, I am not seeing that as a resume writer and interview coach.

• Frankly, in the last month alone, we are working with professionals at the D and C levels who have been laid off with no notice. We are seeing the same upswing in layoffs of lawyers at all levels.
• Students with hefty student loans are having difficulty navigating the new economic realities. (If you are a parent of one of those students, we are going to Blog about how you can help them.)
• On the upside, our clients ARE finding jobs. But, it is taking longer to land new jobs and the job searches require hard work, determination, and focus.

Here is a list of Blogs that may help you in your job search. http://www.jobprofiles.org/library/job-search/100_best_blogs_for_your_job_search.htm. We are delighted to have made the list of resume blogs. To learn how our resume consultants can help you, visit us at http://www.resumeboutique.com/. Randi Lewis, Founder © 2009 Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved.

The Importance of Informational Interviewing in A Down Economy

It's June 2009. Jobs in most sectors of our economy are scarce. If you are looking for a job, it is likely you've experienced your share of "thank you but no openings" responses. Or what's worse, no response at all. You need a job now. "What is the point of setting up informational interviews," you ask.

In more prosperous times, you might want to set up informational interviews for two reasons: (1) to gain information you need to help in your career choice; and (2) to make connections.

But, in this economy, it's a buyer's market and you are the seller. You want to use the informational interview process as part of your long-term job search strategy. Your goals should be (1) to build relationships for the future, (2) to ask for advice and contacts for your job search, (3) and to leave a positive impression. Here is how you start the process:

• MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW THROUGH YOUR OWN CONTACTS, CONTACTS FROM FAMILY, AND CONTACTS FROM FRIENDS, with phone numbers and email addresses (placing the information in chart form with a column for comments/ follow up.
• MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET.
• PREPARE A SCRIPT TO TAILOR FOR EACH CONTACT.
• CALL OR EMAIL EACH CONTACT AND LET THEM KNOW: (1) your job status and area of expertise (or that you are a graduating student seeking an entry level position); (2) that you are looking for a position; (3) why you are searching; (4) where appropriate, the name of the person who referred you.
• TELL THEM YOU ARE NOT CONTACTING THEM TO ASK FOR A JOB, BUT RATHER TO ASK FOR 15 OR 20 MINUTES OF HIS OR HER TIME AT HIS/HER OFFICE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE CURRENT MARKET AND JOB SEARCH SUGGESTIONS.
• FOR THOSE CONTACTS YOU REACH BY TELEPHONE, YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION AND QUESTIONS PREPARED IN THE EVENT THE CONTACT SUGGESTS THAT YOU TALK AT THAT TIME.

Keep notes of your conversations, follow up, and the contacts recommended. Then, send a thank you note or email. Include something you found helpful during your conversation. Contact each person to whom your contact referred you, going through the same process.

Keep an open mind, cast a wide net, and maintain a positive attitude.

For more information on informational interviewing, contact Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC, at rlewis@resumeboutique.com or 410.602.2500.

© 2009 Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/

When in Doubt, Take it Out! Social Media Users - Beware of Your Content

Blogs, facebook, My Space YouTube, Twitter, Diggs, and more. Millions of people use social media outlets to share personal information, some minute-by-minute. To some of us, they have become addictions, like the "Crackberry!"

• Whether we are obsessively connecting on facebook or responding to Tweets delivered to our iPhones, we seem to forget - or disregard - the fact that we have no expectation of privacy in this manner of connecting.
• That's particularly true when we are at work or looking for work.
• Last September, I gave job seekers eight tips for using facebook. Take a look. http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/2008/09/no-privacy-on-facebook-8-tips-for.html.

Job seekers aren't the only ones who need to be mindful of their postings. We know employers increasingly use these new technologies to check the backgrounds of job applicants. But, senior management also read blogs, monitor their facebook accounts, and follow Twitter. Clients and customers - the same.

• Have you ever written that you had too much to drink the night before and called in sick? Posted photos that could be offensive to others? Used profanity in exchanges with others? Probably.
• Have you thought about who's reading your musings? That's right. Co-workers. Clients. Customers. Are they laughing? Maybe not so much.

Employees and job seekers take note:

1. When in Doubt, Take it Out!
2. No bare skin photos or videos. That's right. Lose the skimpy bathing suits.
3. No photos or videos of excessive drinking or partying.
4. No foul language.
5. No negative comments about co-workers, customers, or clients.
6. Remember, the standard is NOT what you think is appropriate. It's what employers, clients, colleagues, and customers think.

7. Be smart. Keep your job.

Randi S. Lewis Founder, Resume Boutique LLC ~ 410.602.2500 http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ info@resumeboutique.com © Resume Boutique LLC 2009. All rights reserved.

Job Search Etiquette: Nay to the Word, "Hey!"

The word, "HEY," is an informal way of saying, "HELLO." When you are in the job search process, should you use that word to address your potential employer? Our clients have asked us that question more frequently in this competitive economic climate - particularly in the context of exchanging emails.

Our Answer Remains the Same: Don't Use the Word "Hey"

Always be safe. Address people as Dear Mr. or Mrs. You can't go wrong with that. If your professional setting is much more informal, then use the words, "Hi" or "Hello." But, it depends on the industry. In the young tech world and in the entertainment industry, the rules are more relaxed. To be sure, we asked employers who are on the front lines of the hiring process to tell us their thoughts. Here's what five of them said:

1. Fifty year old lawyer and former Recruitment Committee Chair: "I am old school so my answer is no way."
2. Forty-something Recruitment Manager for Professional Services Firm: "Using 'hey' to address an employer is too informal and an immediate turnoff. It leaves me with a bad impression."
3. Thirty-something New York Casting Director: "I use it all the time, including in my emails to full-time job and summer internship applicants. I went back and looked at my emails after you posed the question and I noticed that most young people responded with a word other than 'hey' even when I used it as a greeting. I am fine with the word but I guess it's more respectful to use 'hi' or 'hello' when you are not in the driver's seat."
4. Forty-something Medical Practice Administrator: "I absolutely detest when people use that word and I would find it very disrespectful if an applicant sent me an email addressing me with the word, 'hey.'"
5. Forty-something Human Resources Director for Fortune 100 Business: "Hey is for horses. Don't ever be that informal in the interview process and don't write that in any email or correspondence if you want to work with our company."
6. Twenty-something Tech Entrepreneur: "Depends on the industry. In tech? Yes, by all means."

For more interview tips and advice, contact Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC, at rlewis@resumeboutique.com 410.602.2500 http://www.resumeboutique.com/.

© 2009 by Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved.

Job Search - Harder and Smarter

It's April 2009.

Some businesses, organizations and governmental agencies are hiring even in today's uncertain economic climate. But more people are applying for the jobs you want. Take your job search up a few notches. Make yourself standout. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Federal government jobs are on the increase. Check out http://www.usajobs.gov/ weekly. Search trade organization websites. Send your resume and a brief note asking for any leads to any one who might be in a position to help.
2. Make it personal. Pick up the telephone. Where appropriate call the contact person and try to introduce yourself. You can't do that with federal government jobs but you may be able to make the connection in the private sector.
3. Polish your resume. One size doesn't fit all. Try not to use a template.
4. Use Keywords. Study job postings online and create a list of common words and competencies used by the employers. They're called, "keywords." Place key competencies that include key words in a core competency section at the top of your resume just below a profile section that defines/summarizes your professional achievements.
5. Lock your fear of rejection in a box. Stop planning, revising, and re-writing. Perfect your resume and just start looking for suitable positions. Send your resume to headhunters that post positions.
6. It's likely to take longer to find a position in this economic climate. Therefore, patience and determination are critical.

For a free resume critique, please contact me, Randi Lewis, at 410-602-2500, or by email at rlewis@resumeboutique.com.

© 2009 by Resume Boutique LLC™. All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/

A Note To College Students Looking For Summer Internships

Accept the offer on the spot!

"Why?" you ask. "It's the economy, stupid," to quote a line often stated by President Clinton's campaign officials when he was running for President in 1992. I know you live in an insulated environment and that most of your parents support you. But, the economy is contracting every day. In this economy, it's hard to find work for interns when companies have less work for their paid employees. People are getting laid off from their jobs - more than 1.2 million in January and February alone. Some newer professionals are taking unpaid internships just to stay in the working world and in the hope that they might turn into paying jobs. I have completed resumes for many young people in that position, including 2008 college grads without jobs.

If you are fortunate enough to land a few interviews for unpaid internships, do your best, learn as much about the company as you can. Know WHY you want that job and be ready to discuss YOUR CAREER GOALS and how that internship aligns with those goals. There are no certainties that you will land that internship. After all, there are hundreds of students just like you lining up for those couple of jobs.

So, if you are telephoned on Friday from one of your interviewers who calls to give you the good news, JUST SAY YES!! And sound very excited and honored. You don't have the luxury of sounding non-committal and asking when you have to let them know. You might find yourself in a situation where your offer is rescinded and given to one of the 99 people anxiously waiting behind you. That's the real world. Operate from a place of gratefulness and you will do very well in this environment.

[Do I sound like your mother or father? I hope so!] Randi