Career Visioning for Career (and Life) Success
PowerPoint Slides From Presentation to Northwest Suburban Library District Download Slides
New Reality of Job Search
Today’s New Reality I don’t need to tell you that this new reality of the coronavirus means that many of you who are looking for new employment opportunities or have been let go and forced to look for new employment opportunities, may need to change your ideas about how and what your job search will look like today and in the future. What has not changed however is the need for that perfect resume designed for ATS, resume updates, resume editing, cover letters, personal bios, and most importantly LinkedIn profiles newly created and/or brought up-to-date because this, we hope (think positively), cannot last forever. I just wanted to let you know that just like the past 25 years, Shelwrite Resume Service dba: ResumeStrategy.com is here for you every day by phone or text (847) 814-6604 or through video-remote conferencing (ZOOM, Facetime) a service perfect for these times, and just as comfortable if you’re sitting in my office. Please do not hesitate to reach out, let’s not let this moment define our future. Best regards, stay safe and sheltered Sheldon Helfgot Your “Career Transition Specialist”…Executive Job Search, Branding, Coaching, and Strategic Connections President, The Shelwrite Group dba: ResumeStrategy.com shelwrite@gmail.com (847) 814-6603 or (847) 253-5333 #applyingforajob #jobseakers #LinkedIn Profile Writing #Resume Writing
You Still Need That Perfect Resume
A Message from Sheldon Helfgot President, the ShelWrite Group, dba: ResumeStrategy.com I don’t need to tell you that this new reality of the coronavirus means that many of you who are looking for new employment opportunities or have been let go and forced to look for new employment opportunities, may need to change your ideas about how and what your job search will look like today and in the future. What has not changed however is the need for that perfect resume designed for ATS, resume updates, resume editing, cover letters, personal bios, and most importantly LinkedIn profiles newly created and/or brought up-to-date because this, we hope (think positively), cannot last forever. Or maybe you just need to discuss new employment opportunities in this new reality, or maybe you need interviewing or coaching, etc. I just wanted to let you know that just like the past 25 years, Shelwrite Resume Service dba: ResumeStrategy.com is here for you every day by phone or text (847) 814-6603 or through video-remote conferencing (ZOOM, Facetime) a service perfect for these times, and just as comfortable if you’re sitting in my office. Your Perfect Resume If you are one of my past clients, don’t worry, I have all of your resume files here at my home office and am ready to work for you day or night (after all we are not going anyplace). Don’t hesitate to reach out, let’s not let this moment define our future. Best regards, stay safe and sheltered.
ResumeStrategy Featured in Digital Journal
In a recent press release, Digital Journal featured ResumeStrategy and Mastermind Connections as two new platforms for helping executives take the next step ahead in their careers through the power of collaboration. About Digital Journal Digital Journal is a global digital media network with contributors from around the world. Reaching an audience of millions of monthly visitors, Digital Journal blends a new media approach with proprietary technology, data and social tool sets to deliver a unique and engaging experience. Digital Journal publishes to multiple platforms, from Web to Facebook, Twitter and more. Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/corporate/about_us.php#ixzz5YAaeBgkW
Sheldon Helfgot AM 560 Radio Interview
ResumeStrategy’s Sheldon Helfgot talks with Shalom Klein and shares his key career transition tips
Marketing Yourself in an Executive Career Transition
We’ve already highlighted the expectations for an Executive Looking to Make a Career Transition. Now that you have a basic understanding of what to expect and how to prepare for a transition, let’s discuss the best ways to make yourself marketable and potentially limit the time spent in transition. Promote Your Expertise As an executive, you’ve proven in one way or another your worth as an integral part of a business. Whether you ran your own company or had a prestigious role in a successful business, you probably possess the qualities and experience that hiring managers are looking for. The next step in your transition is to expose your skills associated with past successes to hiring personnel. Consider the company you’re interviewing for. Is it a job where you’ll be working together with others on a constant basis, or will you be managing a team? Dependent on that role, you’ll want to adjust your resume and your interviewing techniques to convince hiring managers that you can meet and exceed their expectations. Adjust Your Resume Each resume you send should be a little different according to the job and the company. Review and update your resume to included accomplishments that would appeal to each company. If you’re applying for a leadership role, talk about a time you managed and led a team of workers to success. If you’re going to be working with other people, talk about a time you participated in a group project and exceeded management’s expectations. Cut the Fluff When it comes to advertising yourself – less can be better. Hiring managers don’t have the time or patience to read a long, drawn out resume of unnecessary information. Include only anecdotes or attributes that they’d deem impressive, professional and applicable for your position. Along with limiting your resume to the best most relevant info, you’ll want to promote your highest successes first. Think about watching a new TV show, if it doesn’t capture your attention within the first moments it’s likely you’re going to move on to something else. This also applies to your resume. Don’t let the hiring manager grow bored with useless information, it’s more likely they’ll move on. Use the beginning of your resume to capture their attention with outstanding accomplishments or skill sets. You want to immediately grab their attention so they remember and consider you as a top candidate. Be Creative Unfortunately we live in a time where your experience (i.e. age) can be held against you. This is where you may need to make some creative tweaks to your resume to highlight your professional or educational past while omitting details that may be held against you – like how long ago those accomplishments took place. In other words, some things are best left unsaid. Let’s say you were the leader of a management team that completed a project which was extremely beneficial to your previous company…however this was done in the early 90’s. Consider omitting the time frame of this project and simply detail your responsibilities and contributions to that project. Another example is if you held many different roles at different companies, but they were a long time ago, consider adding a separate section in your resume that simply lists your job titles. There’s no rule that mandates you need to include dates. However, if you are asked about the time frame of those jobs it’s best to be honest. This applies to your education as well. If you are older and graduated a long time ago, consider omitting the dates and only discussing them if asked.
Transition Guidelines for Executives
You’ve just made what could be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Stress, monotony, or simply realizing there are better options available has led to the decision that you need a career change. Your future will now be constructed according to how well you plan and manage this transition period from what presumably was an un-fulfilling job, to a lustrous, satisfying career. Preparation There are few shortcuts in this journey which is why preparation is an essential tool in transitions. The sooner you get your affairs in order the less time you’ll spend in gridlock. Once you fully commit to your choice you’ll want to immediately begin organizing your portfolio. This is the time to review and update your resume to include all relevant achievements. As mentioned in previous blogs, it’s more important to Create a Resume that has specific accomplishments as opposed to detailing abstract qualities. Another area to focus on is your online profiles. As with your resume, include any accomplishments and accolades in your “bio” sections. You should also consider making a list of professional contacts that can assist in your transition. Also don’t forget to review your current financial situation. How long can you afford to be in transition? Consider constructing a timeline to see how long you can remain financially stable in between jobs. In conjunction with your preparation, you’ll also want to formulate a plan of action. Plan of Action Ideally you’ll want your transition to be as brief and constructive as possible. Having little to no forethought and planning will equate to more time in limbo. Your plan of action should include your prep work (updating your resume), upgrading your brand, and unleashing your product – yourself – on to all available resources that can assist you in your transition. And don’t think you have to handle this transition alone. One of the greatest assets an executive can utilize is an executive search firm. A search firm should help hone in on the most applicable positions specific to your desires and probability of being hired. Spend time researching and talking to other professionals to find the most experienced and suitable search firm. Discuss your plan of action with the firm so they know how much involvement you would like to have in the process. If you have too many obligations you may need them to do the bulk of the work, whereas if you have the time it might be to your advantage to assist them and make it more of a “team project”. Stay Focused and Optimistic Along with the emotional anxiety a transition can cause, you probably have other obligations – both professionally and personally – that can make this a stressful time. Remember transitions are temporary and you made this choice to increase your quality of life. Stay focused on what needs to be done and don’t let rejections or the amount of time it takes to derail or deter you from your goals. Stay positive and have faith in your decision. The amount of time and work you put into the transition process will determine the likelihood it will be successful and a choice you won’t regret.
How to Ace the Job Interview
Embrace Your Success Before getting into tips and techniques that provide for a successful interview, it should be understood that the opportunity to interview for a job is a success in its own regard. Although the interview process can be stressful, you should take a minute to realize that someone at the company either saw your resume or talked to a reference and deemed you potentially suitable for the position. Use that to boost your confidence and be a source of pride as you prepare for the interview. You’ve already proven that you’re qualified for the position, now it’s time to demonstrate why you’re the right choice for the job. RELAX It’s normal to feel nervous or anxious before an interview. Most often this will be your final opportunity to land the job so it’s essential to relax yourself. There are many ways to do that including taking a walk, eating a healthy meal, talking to a friend or anything you normally do that eases your mind. Just as important is to remember that you worked hard and deserve the job. Having that mind state and being poised and confident will provide for a positive meeting. You’ve already proven that you’re qualified, now it’s time to demonstrate your worth. Job Interview Basics Some of the basic interviewing techniques will not be discussed in detail. The importance of your appearance, i.e. dressing appropriately, grooming in a manner that fits their operations, and having good personal hygiene should already be known. It also goes without saying that promptness (arriving early), and kindness towards the people you meet when you walk in the door are key to creating a good first impression. Remember, you only get one chance at a first impression and accordingly to the Law of Primacy the initial characteristics and attributes you display will be how the interviewer will brand and remember you. It’s extremely important to Create a Strong Personal Brand. Preparation When it comes to interviewing strategies, one thing that cannot be overemphasized is the importance of preparation. The last thing you want is to be sitting in front of the interviewer being asked questions you can’t answer. Looking like a deer in headlights is a sure way to bomb an interview. Research Prior to the interview you should take ample time researching the company and position you want to be hired for. Examples of things you should know are; who runs the company, when and how it was developed, what the companies purpose and goals are, and what they are trying to accomplish through their operations. This information may be brought up by the interviewer to find out how interested you are in the job. Being able to have a comprehensive dialogue about the company shows the interviewer you took the time to educate yourself about their business and will showcase your motivation. Ask Questions It is also a good idea to come prepared with questions about the position and the company in general. Asking questions does not portray ignorance; on the contrary it emphasizes your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn fundamental details about their business. This is a positive quality that many employers look for! Win Over The Interviewer When you’re being interviewed it’s important for the interviewer to like you on a personal and professional level. You want to show them you’re the type of person who would fit in well within the company and thrive at the job. On a personal level show them that you’re kind, intellectual and can interact well with others by having a constructive dialogue. Don’t presume they should do all or most of the talking. It’s more favorable to have a conversation as opposed to completing a round of questions and answers. And on a professional level you want to show the interviewer you can handle all the requirements of the position and will go above and beyond their expectations. A great way to do this is to provide anecdotal achievements in past jobs that exhibit your skills or traits that would pertain to the position you’re interviewing for. Interviewers love hearing success stories! Be the Best Candidate for the Job Remember, your ultimate goal is to leave a positive and lasting impression on your interviewer. Their job is to find someone who is the right fit for the position and your job is to show them that the right person is you!
How to Create a Resume That Gets Results
Pursuing Your Ideal Job It’s a miracle, you just found out that the company you’ve always wanted to work for is hiring for a position you’re qualified for. You know you’d be perfect for the job if they just give you a chance. The only thing you need to do is ace the interview and then it’s “adios!” to your current employer. Getting In But wait, how do you get an interview? Unless you know someone who can help get you in the hiring department’s door you’re going to need a key, and that key is your resume. Think about your resume as the tool to sell yourself. Like using a wingman to meet a girl at a bar, without a good wingman you may never be given the opportunity to talk to her. Let’s look at some key facts that can help create a resume that will be effective in grabbing the attention of potential employers. Less is More First, your resume shouldn’t look like a Stephen King Novel. You want to keep it concise with relative and important information tailored to the companies needs. The person reviewing your resume probably won’t take the time to read through four pages of your skills and hobbies. They don’t have the time or patience, especially at larger corporations that receive hundreds of resumes from people competing for that same position. They’d be more inclined to read specific, individualized successes in your past that show you possess the attributes that could help the company. Being able to write that you developed a new program at your last job which improved productivity by 15% is a much better hook than saying you’re “hard working” and “efficient”. Specific accomplishments will grab the reader’s attention and show them you would be a great asset to their business. First Things First Make sure to put the most important information first. If the hiring department receives a lot of resumes they may skim them over to find keywords or qualities that stand out. Highlight your successes and research what the company is looking for so you can provide information that would attract them. Avoid including fluff, fillers or irrelevant information. If you’re applying for a administrative assistant position it’d be better to include how you can type 90 words per minute as opposed to how well you work in groups. Finally, this should go without saying, but make sure to proofread your resume. There should be absolutely NO typos, slang or grammatical errors. Companies have no tolerance for that! Your resume is a great tool to sell yourself. Find out what the company is looking for and compose your resume accordingly. It could be the tool that helps you get that dream job!
How to Develop a Strong Personal Brand
You, Inc. – Your Personal Brand You may not realize it, but you have your own personal brand. You’ve either actively taken steps to create your own brand or unknowingly developed an impression of yourself regarding how people see you. This snapshot displays a specific or array of characteristics and behaviors. Your brand is used to uniquely individualize and depict yourself in a certain way and is used as a tool to help promote yourself. A successful brand should seamlessly solidify an idea in peoples’ minds on how they view a person, business, product or service. For example, Coca Cola is a product that everyone knows due to the effectiveness of Coca Cola branding. Through numerous marketing and advertising tactics (branding), it has become one of the most popular soda drinks in the world. In conjunction with its inception, Coca Cola created their brand to promote and sell their product. The brand was designed to give the public a perception of Coca Cola products in a multitude of different ways. Coca Cola’s logo, commercials, website, and endorsement campaigns are integrated parts of their overall brand that successfully invoke a positive perception to increase sales. When applying the concept to yourself, you need to understand the purpose of developing a strong personal brand. The main purpose is to shine a spotlight on what you want to promote whether that be to impress an interviewer for a new job, become friends with a stranger at a party, or persuade your future in-laws that you’re a terrific match for their son/daughter. So How do I Create a Strong, Positive Personal Brand? First you need to have a goal in mind related to what you are ultimately trying to accomplish. Maybe you want people to appreciate you as being funny, or kind hearted, or evoke fear because you want to be known as a “tough guy”. It doesn’t have to be one specific attribute, but it needs to promote and advertise those characteristics in social settings to generate specific feelings and perceptions about who you are. Brands work most effortlessly when they are genuine and true to yourself. You may be able to fake being something you’re not for a period of time, but once people have the opportunity to really know you they’ll be able to peel back the layers and expose those deception. Authenticity is key. It is ultimately counterproductive to try to be something you’re not. In relation to selling your brand be aware that one of the most effective tools is having other credible people promote you. If someone else will readily vouch for you, the product (you) becomes more meaningful and believable. Sure you can tell your boss you’re hard-working, but if he/she hears it from a co-worker or customer it is more likely to make a strong, lasting impression. Lastly you’ll want to continuously display what you want people to see. If you exhibit one side of yourself in a certain way one day, and then show a contradictory side on the next, you become an enigma and people can’t pinpoint or believe in your brand. There shouldn’t be any confusion about what you’re trying to showcase in yourself, the more consistent you are the more likely people will view you that way and define you and your brand accordingly. That’s what will help make it a strong, successful brand.
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