Recruiters Reading Resumes..what, why, how...

How long recruiters actually spend reading resumes? Well with so many floating around, Laura Adams writes "Even the most qualified candidates with the strongest qualifications sometimes get bypassed by recruiters when they are looking to fill an open position.  Why is this?   Don’t recruiters want to interview and hire and the best of the best?

The answer to this question is, of course, yes!  Recruiters are reviewing the resumes of submitted candidates to determine which individuals appear, on paper, to be a potential match for the position.  But considering that a recruiter may get dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes for a single job opening, there is little time to carefully dig through each individual resume to see if a candidate has the “special something” the employer is seeking." more here 

Recently in the Business Insider, Vivian Giang writes about :What Recruiters Look At During The 6 Seconds They Spend On Your Resume - she says....

Although we may never know why we didn't get chosen for a job interview, a recent study is shedding some light on recruiters' decision-making behavior. According to TheLadders research, recruiters spend an average of "six seconds before they make the initial 'fit or no fit' decision" on candidates. The study used a scientific technique called “eye tracking” on 30 professional recruiters and examined their eye movements during a 10-week period to "record and analyze where and how long someone focuses when digesting a piece of information or completing a task."

Read more here! 

How to find a job in this tough economy?

How to find a job in this tough economy?

Finding a job in a booming economy is easier than the economy that we are in today. When things look down and no one seems to be hiring that is when you need to take a harder look at your options, your training and try to reinvent yourself in 3 ways.

1. Try to take the classes or courses that will enhance your resume
2. Try to connect with as many colleagues and former employers not only though networking sites but in person
3. Look for jobs in the most unconventional places like Twitter and Corporate Facebook pages.

You will be surprised as to the difference you will make in the way you feel and the results you will get when you do all three.

Here are a couple of links that will help you do just that

10 Top ideas to get a job in this lousy economy
Books on jobs in a bad economy

The most effective way to get a job in this economy

Abridged: Today MSNBC

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Lost your job? Join the club. Better yet, join the party. As unemployment numbers hit historic highs, "pink slip" parties are popping up in big cities around the country. Hundreds of axed employees are going to happy hour meet-and-greets, where one can enjoy a drink and discuss career prospects with eager recruiters.

People are finding creative ways to stand out above the pack. In order to get a job in this economy, people have to get out there. And while there are no guarantees of gaining anything more than good conversations and a few contacts, some pink slip attendees have had success in finding new employment. Pink slip parties offer those on the prowl for jobs a chance to share information among themselves.

"If you take your network and compare it to the network of a total group, you get access to more people - if you can help each other, it's a win for everyone," said John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Pink slip parties are just one extension of social networking. Whether online or in person at networking events, many agree that these one-on-one connections have stood the test of time as the most effective way to get a job.

2 Very Important Tips For Starting A Business in Your Home

For more and more people, home is not only where the family is - it's where the business is! I have ben doing business for the past 12 years from home and I love the flexibility and convenience. During the last 20 years, large numbers of people have chosen to market their skills and talents from home. Recent studies estimate that as many as 20 percent of new small business enterprises are operated out of the home, and this trend is growing. Many home-based businesses are even started on a part-time basis and then expand into full-time businesses as the market for the business develops and grows.

Why a home based business?

People are attracted to home based businesses for many different reasons. 

They include: 

1. Experiencing the personal satisfaction of making their own decisions
2. Expressing their own ideas and being their own boss. 

Those starting home-based businesses come from many different groups, such as homemakers, single parents, youth, dislocated workers, hobbyists and people interested in adding to their incomes. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well even in this economy...actually especially in this economy. 

1. First have a mission statement or vision for your business.
2. Make a business plan. Every business should have a business plan, including a home-based business.

The best place to get started with that is the Small Business Website. 

http://www.sba.gov/ 

They have detailed instructions on how to get started in your state. With references to laws, policies and procedures. 

Are you stuck for words and ideas for your resume?

Are you stuck for words and ideas for your resume? Ever wonder when you are going to start on your resume? Well, here is a good site to get you started. It has a lot of free resume templates based on the job. One good book I would recommend is the Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer. It has a lot of very insightful tips and tricks, so that you can churn out a great looking resume. 

Writing an exciting resume that catches the attention of hiring managers is not an easy task. Employers are looking for capabilities and concrete examples of skills and abilities such as organizational leadership and involvement, a strong work ethic and a sense of commitment. Be detailed when describing your accomplishments. If you have had internships, summer jobs or academic accomplishments,  make sure to include this experience on the resume. It may seem as if it is not important but its exactly the opposite. 

Another favorite book of mine is Resumes For Dummies  The Dummies series, as much as it is simple it can bring to light the many small details that you can take for granted.  The Resume Handbook: How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letters for Every Situation  is yet another good read. It can help you to get your resume up to par so that once in the hands of interested employers you will get immediate feedback and interviews.