Affordable-Resumes.com Receives Complaints-Free Award from the BBB.

Being boastful is not heralded as a good trait for individuals; yet, for a business, it's essential. The trick is to announce the accomplishment with humility, so that one does not appear to be full of oneself.

Well, please accept our humble gratefulness for getting recognized by the New Hampshire Better Business Bureau for achieving Perfect Record Status for three consecutive years (and from 2005-2008, too). The BBB of New Hampshire has awarded our company (among 50+ others amongst 5000 businesses throughout our small state) with special recognition for being BBB complaint-free for three years in a row. Locally, we're known as "Paper-Pushers Resume Drafting Service," or "Paper-Pushers" [paperpushers12@gmail.com]. Our website address, however, is "Affordable-Resumes.com."

What did we do to deserve the recognition?  We did our job. Nothing more. Nothing less.
We engender trust in our customers by explaining our process to them so they know exactly what to expect from us. We also do it in writing (It's the lawyer in Ginny). People are very busy, and don't have time to digest information over the telephone while they're driving, combing their hair, putting on lipstick, walking with a stroller, shopping at the supermarket, etc. But they can return to the emails we send them and feel 100% sure in what we promise. Putting everything in writing for our clients also makes our company live up to its promises.

Have we had dissatisfied clients? Not many, but, yes, we have had some! They are the ones who have helped our business the most! We have learned from every single "mistake" we've made, and have changed our procedures and our explanations to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. After a major kerfuffle with one client, Ginny took the business offline for us to regroup. We had not had a break in 10 years (yes, we even do resumes on our so-called vacations). We really like to serve people, knowing that we're helping them live better lives, through better incomes and other satisfactions, through the jobs our resumes help them to receive.

What is important to note is that even those "dissatisfied" clients with whom we have parted ways didn't report us to the BBB. They know that we stand 100% behind the quality of our service. Sometimes, however, people take advantage of us and try to get a benefit for free; at other times, some people expect something different from what we have put in writing.

We have had only one complaint to the BBB in the 10+ years we've been in business. A young man, from South Dakota, who emailed us effusively that he loved the resume, changed his mind, after his friend told him that he didn't like it. Of course, he wanted his money back. However, he did not get it back; we had copies of his line-by-line acceptance of his resumes content before we charged him.
But of course, he did not get it back, especially with our email copies of his glowing reports during the process.

This isn't about the law. Our business is about putting in 100% to help our clients "win the future," as it were. You have to bear with us, sometimes, as we are a small company. But we stand by our business and our deadlines, and we expect our customers to do the same. We at Affordable-Resumes.com do our best to live up to the image of being Better Business Bureau Certified (and BBB complaints-free).

How's that for humility and boasting at the same time?  OK. We're boasting here, because this information is already on our website. ;-)

Your Resume is Not an Apology for Living.

Resumes 101

The byline, "Resumes 101," isn't meant to be catty. It's just a reminder to stick with the basics. It's very easy to get lost in the quagmire of how to package yourself on

a planet of 7 billion humans.  How can a paper with words on it do justice to you and your experience, as an employee, a family member, someone with likes and dislikes?

Ahem. 

We hear your silent scream. 

So, rather than add to your anxiety by telling you the new trends in resume drafting, and whether you should or should not have an objective in the heading, we want you to do the following:

Chill.

Relax.

Remember:  you can do this.

How? By remembering who you are as an individual.  

A funny thing happens on the way to looking for work. What, you ask? 

Life!

You are living!  And living encompasses a lot.  Every morning you wake up, look for food to eat, clean your body, and clothe yourself to stay warm.  Do you need a resume to explain that? No. And whether you were working or not while waking up every day to bathe, eat, etc., you are living! That's the first thing to remember.  Your resume did not start with the first job you had. Your resume started the minute you were born.

Now, we are not going to walk the reader of your resume through the stages of growth you experienced: being born, becoming a toddler, learning how to walk, attending school, dropping out of school returning to school, et cetera.

However, the resume reader is entitled to see the big picture.  The resume conveys just that: the big picture of your life. The trick is in making the eyes of another human being (or computer) scan that picture and say, "I wanna meet that person!" 

Don’t worry about the latest “bells and whistles” in resumes; don't worry about the job market. A good, honest, solid resume that is up-to-date is what you need. There is no life problem that a proper resume and cover letter cannot solve.  But your resume is not a Hollywood, picture perfect story that you create on paper or video. It's your honest life, explained on paper.

Don't freak out about your resume.  Look in the mirror and say, "You can do this!" Do you know why you can say that? Because you have already done it! The resume just chronicles your work life on paper.

There's nothing you've done or not done that can't be explained. You are telling an employer that you can help them along their life journey because you have a background that could increase their success.

What are you best at? Did you find jobs in which to exercise your gifts? Are you looking for a job now that will allow you to be of service?" That's what your resume should say.

Period.

There is no shame in living.

Let your resume reflect that fact.

What You Don't Know Will Hurt Your Resume. Get Back to "School."

NOT WORKING? WORK YOUR BRAIN TO LEARN NEW SKILLS WHILE LOOKING FOR A JOB.

We’ve all been there: you don’t have a job, and your resume is all around the world and getting nowhere because it reads like everybody else’s. You have a high school diploma. Or you almost finished junior college. Or you may have an Associates Degree, a Bachelors, or even a Masters. But nothing is biting, and you’re getting very discouraged. How do you get your resume to stand out, get past a computer screening, be read by an actual Human Resources professional, and get to the all-important interview? You know how to “Dress for Success” when going to a job interview, but your problem is getting your resume noticed so that you can be chosen for that interview. Without scolding you the way your mother or father might (or a grandparent, whose opinion really counts), there is a chance that you just don’t know enough.

Resume readers spend only an average of 30 seconds for a first resume reading, and there are certain things that they look for: what you did in your last job, your achievements, strengths, and qualifications. If any of that information catches their eye, they will read your highlights and career objective (or summary), glance at your earlier employment, and look at your education. If all goes well, your resume will be put into a “to be considered” pile, the first “short list.” Your cover letter may not be read until the second “round” of resume readings.

We have become a Continuing Education Society, and your competitors who are getting to the interview stages and obtaining jobs in this rough - though slowly improving - economy may be much more current in your field than you. They may have taken more initiative to learn more. While you’re doing all you can to network, peruse the newspapers, and search the Web, ask yourself: Am I really doing enough? Would going back to school help? Chances are, the answer would be yes. Learn a new skill or increase your knowledge about a skill that you already have. If you don’t have a high school diploma, or a GED, well, “by golly, get one (that’s your grandma speaking)!” If you left school before you got your college degree, return to college. There are many local colleges and universities, as well as correspondence and on-line classes that can round out your resume to show that you aren’t a boob who sits around playing video games. Check out some of these free online classes on YouTube. 

Most colleges and universities, public, private, and for-profit, offer on-line courses and degrees,  Take some courses to keep current in  your field. If you've not finished your degree, do it, and do it NOW! If you don't have a high school diploma, get your GED NOW! Even if you have an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and even Doctorate, if you've been out of work for awhile, get some additional training or certification. You can even do some volunteer work in your field to show that you are keeping abreast of what is happening.

There are hundreds of courses available on campuses, as well as on line, that you can take to become more knowledgeable, more current in your field, and better equipped to reenter the job market.and in a way that may save your resume from dustbin oblivion. 

Returning to school will force you to better master your computer, which is essential.. Most of us don’t really know all that our computers can do. Become an expert on your computer. That additional knowledge could be just what you need to get hired, and eventually, promoted.  Computer classes are available at adult schools and online at the University of Phoenix, on Kaplan online, and at other locations.  If you feel you're too old to go back to school, most Senior Citizens programs have computers, often with individual instruction. But you are never too old. When I returned to my second year of college 23 years after dropping out and having  6 children, many of my professors were younger than I. So it's never too late to go back to school and continue your learning. Being shy is also not an excuse.  Online classes rarely require face-to-face interactions, and are an excellent way to brush up your skills and learning. Listed below are some websites that might give you a head start (I searched randomly, and no one has offered me any income or other remuneration for posting his or her website here):

+ Test your typing skills: http://www.typingtest.com/

+ Test your English (British): http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-test-test-your-level.htm

+ Test your math skills: http://www.hankthecowdog.com/game/math.htm

+ http://www.ehow.com/how_4828839_test-math-skills-reading-comprehension.html

+ Test your wordpower: http://www.askoxford.com/worldofwords/thesauri/test/

Some sites require payment, but they test you in subjects in which most employers expect you to have some knowledge, if you’re seeking an office job (bookkeeping, payroll, etc.)  http://www.icb.org.au/Test_your_Skills_now

Get free downloads of software to learn the basics: http://wareseeker.com/free-quicken-trial-offer/

Become accredited to beef up your resume: http://www.quicken.com.au/partners/accreditedTrainers.aspx

Take any number of courses online at www.free-ed.net. http://www.free-ed.net/free%2Ded/FreeEdMain01.asp

Go to an online “school” to learn any number of subjects: http://www.selfmadescholar.com/classes.html

Computer classes are available at adult schools and online at the University of Phoenix (one of the institutions at which my daughter has taught), on Kaplan online, and at other locations.  If you feel you're too old to go back to school, most Senior Citizens programs have computers, often with individual instruction. But you are never too old. When I returned to my second year of college 23 years dropping out and having  6 children, many of my professors were younger than I. So you're never too told to go back to school and continue your learning. Being shy is also not an excuse.  Online classes rarely require face-to-face interactions, and are an excellent way to brush up your skills and learning. Listed below are some websites that might give you a head start (I searched randomly, and no one has offered me any income or other remuneration for posting his or her website here):

Don't think of any of these types of learning as second rate. I received an external Masters degree from a California state university (there was no internet then, and I had to work and couldn't attend regular classes), and it was accepted at UCLA, where I got my PhD. One of my daughters teaches on-line courses for campuses throughout Southern California, and has done so for many years. Particularly now, in this “recession” economy, you need everything possible going for you. Increasing your educational qualifications shows that you are serious about your career, have the discipline to seek more knowledge, and are thus likely to be a very good employee. And Affordable-Resumes.com will position that information so that it will be noticed early!

So don't despair! Returning to school may be just the ticket to your new job! Go back to school, volunteer, and get your resume updated to meet today's standards. Affordable-Resumes will be rooting for you all the way, and will make sure that your newly revised resume will knock 'em dead!

Time Waits for No One -- Your Resume Must Talk Very Quickly!

THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT RESUMES

In late September, in Portland, Maine, I attended the annual conference of the National Resume Writers Association, of which www.affordable-resumes.com is a member. This is the premiere association for resume writers, keeping us current in our field. There were over 100 members from all regions of the country. I want to share the three most valuable things that I learned, and how those things can be incorporated into the resume that you, we, or someone else may draft for you.

For some time now, legend was that the average resume reader would be expected to take between only 30 seconds to 1½ minutes to give a resume a first look. Well, how times have changed! That time has now been reduced to from 30 seconds to 3 to 7. Seconds.

With all of the technological devices created to make our lives run more smoothly, we’ve run out of time. What does this mean for you, when considering your resume: It means that the first half of the first page of the resume has to “grab” the reader--immediately. How is anyone expected to find a way to catch a readers attention, when they’re speed reading? They have to do what they can before the Big Gong takes them off the stage. You must perform. Quickly. Get a CAR.

No, not that one.

You must tell a story, within those 3-7 seconds available. Speaking fast would help, in person, but the reader is likely reading faster than those disclaimer announcers on our television commercials for drugs. A CAR is a way of telling a story. And here is the plot:

C -- What was the crisis?
A -- What action did you take to handle the crisis?
R -- What was the result? Did you save the day? You better had, or you don’t have a story to tell.

Describing the mundanities of your existence is boring. We know what a dishwasher does. We know what a teacher who teaches third grade does, too. And a Systems Manager or Network Administrator is also likely to bore the reader to death itemizing the [BORING!] things they did on a day to day basis.

What did you do on your job to make your position exciting for you! Think about it, so you can tell the reader! The resume reader doesn’t want to know so much what you did on the job. Any Google Search of jobs, or visits to indeed.com, or sites like careerbuilder.com will help you understand what’s expected of you in your job title.

So, think hard before you write one word about what you did on your day at work. You will bore the Evelyn Wood resume reader within a nano-second. How did you add value to your employer and in what way? Selling a widget is great, but is there a way you broke new ground in selling those widgets? That’s where your creativity should be most focused. What you did that improved the workplace, brought more money in, or turned something around, etc., is essential.

“Branding” statements can also be very important in making your resume stand out from the crowd. Such a statement can be your philosophy regarding your job, position or profession, etc.; the branding statement can be created from a superb recommendation that you achieved, or a marvelous evaluation statement. If you have a great one, or more than one, incorporate those into your resume.

The things we learned at the conference were invaluable and will enhance our ability to transform the lives of our clients in bringing life to their employment history. The trick will be how to keep it short, but full of the proper keywords, yet tell a story. Whew!

You have your work cut out for you. Or we have our work cut out for us, in helping you!

Now, Look as Good in Person as You Do on Paper! Preparing for the Interview.

You have completed the first step toward getting a new job: you have sent your resume and cover letter to prospective employers. Now what’s next?

Do you relax and sit around waiting for your interview?

No--you need to practice and prepare for it.

Many of the suggestions below are culled from Elaine Varelas, “The JobDoc,” in “Little details count in interview,” an article printed in the Boston Globe in 2010.

1) Review your resume and cover letter so that you know everything that is on them. Keep them in your purse or car, and look at them every time you get a chance. Remember, your interviewer will ask you questions about information on the resume and cover letter, and you don’t want to be blind-sided because you can’t answer them. You would be surprised at how many interviewees fumble when asked questions about their resumes and cover letters. Think about how you can expand on the resume or cover letter when asked questions about them. If there are gaps in your job history, be prepared to address them.

2) Have mock interviews. Get family and friends to “play” prospective employers. Practice the interview process from the time that you walk in the door of the prospective employer. How you present to each person during the interview becomes part of your story. People talk about candidates both within and between companies, and you want to make your story represent you as positive, professional, and an asset to any organization. So practice greeting receptionists courteously, and being considerate to wait staff if the interview will include lunch. In your mock interviews, walk in, shake hands with your mock interviewer, be seated in the correct manner (no slouching or legs spread). It may sound crazy, but you should also practice saying goodbye and walking out of the interview. Have at least three mock interviews, and ask for feedback from people you trust.

3) Dress for success. Choose your interview outfit, making sure that it is clean and pressed, with no tears or strings hanging off. Do not wear jeans, no matter what the job entails.

For men:

a) if you won’t need a suit and tie for the job, you can wear casual pants and a shirt, with a sweater or jacket over it.
b) Take off the earring(s) and bracelets, if you wear them.
c) And don’t forget to polish the shoes you’ll be wearing (no athletic shoes, please).

For women:

a) Dress conservatively. A suit (with pants or skirt) is best, with an understated blouse. Be careful of prints and gaudy colors. Your jewelry should also be conservative.
b) Don’t wear lots of rings, bracelets, or anklets.
c) Wear conservative shoes: no stilettos or sandals.
d) Go easy on the makeup. You don’t want your prospective employer to think that you would need to spend a lot of time in the powder room to keep your makeup refreshed. Human resource professionals, whom you will often see first, are generally more conservative than the person who will actually employ you.

For both sexes: leave the perfume or cologne off. Many people are allergic to fragrances, and, increasingly, employers are asking staff not to wear them. Unscented soap will do the job.

4) Men and women: get a manicure the day before (or of) the interview, no matter what job you are interviewing for. Your hands will be in full view, and they say a lot about you. Men should get their cuticles trimmed and their nails buffed. Women should get either a French manicure, have a natural polish, or a nail buffing. Brightly colored nails can chip easily, and nails that are too long might work against you in the interview. Again, you don’t want the prospective employer to think you would spend a lot of time at work keeping your nails up.

All steps completed? You are now ready to go after that job. Good luck!!

What You Don't Know Will Hurt... Your Resume. Get Back to Class

NOT WORKING? WORK YOUR BRAIN TO LEARN NEW SKILLS WHILE LOOKING FOR A JOB.

We’ve all been there: you don’t have a job, and your resume is all around the world and getting nowhere because it reads like everybody else’s. You have a high school diploma. Or you finished 2 years at a junior college. You may even have a Masters Degree. But nothing is biting, and you’re getting discouraged. We all know to “Dress for Success,” when going to a job interview, but your problem is getting your resume noticed so that you can get that interview. Without scolding you the way your mother or father (or a grandparent, whose opinion really counts), might, I will tell you that there is a chance that you just don’t know enough. Which is a godsend to your competition, which might have taken a little more initiative, and learned a new, related skill (or done some additional honing up on a current skill). While you’re doing all you can to network, peruse the newspapers, and search the Web, ask yourself, “Am I really doing all that I can to be employed?” Your conscience may answer back, “No.” If it does, go back to “school.”

There are hundreds of courses available in many venues, right where you live, that you can take to become more knowledgeable, which, in a way, may save your resume from dustbin oblivion.

What course(s) should you take? Well, for starters, learn a new skill or increase your knowledge about a skill that you already have. If you don’t have a GED--well, “by golly, get one” (that’s your grandma speaking). If you left school prior to getting your college degree, return to college. It need not be the college you originally attended, but it should be one that will accept most, if not all, of the credits you have accumulated. There are many local colleges and universities, as well as correspondence and on-line classes, that can round out your resume to show that you aren’t a boob who just sits around all day playing video games. You can even take online classes on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=courses&search_type=&aq=f

Master your computer. Most of us don’t really know all that our computers can do. Become an expert on your own computer. That additional knowledge could be just what you need to get hired, and, eventually, promoted.

Online classes are available at adult schools, and online at the University of Phoenix and many universities and colleges, including Ivy League institutions as well as state colleges and universities, and through Kaplan online, etc. You need not return to your original institution, but you should make sure that the school you choose will accept most, if not all, of your previous classes. If you feel too told to go back to school, you’re wrong. You’re never too old to start learning.

Even if you’re shy, there is still no excuse. You can take brush-up classes online. With online classes, it’s just between you and the computer (and the professor who reads your work and gives you your grade). And don’t let a low grade hinder you. Just keep on plugging! Remember, Einstein said,” Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” And he should know! Just keep learning; you DO have it in you.

Here are some websites that might give you a head start (I searched randomly, and no one has offered me any income or other remuneration for posting his or her site here):

Test your typing skills: http://www.typingtest.com/

Test your English (British): http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-test-test-your-level.htm

Test your math skills: http://www.hankthecowdog.com/game/math.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_4828839_test-math-skills-reading-comprehension.html

Test your word power: http://www.askoxford.com/worldofwords/thesauri/test/

Some sites require payment, but they test you in subjects which most employers expect you to have mastered if you’re seeking an office job, for instance (bookkeeping, payroll, etc): http://www.icb.org.au/Test_your_Skills_now

Get free downloads of software to learn the basics: http://wareseeker.com/free-quicken-trial-offer/

Become accredited to beef up your resume: http://www.quicken.com.au/partners/accreditedTrainers.aspx

Take any number of courses online at www.free-ed.net or http://www.free-ed.net/free%2Ded/FreeEdMain01.asp

Go to an online “school” to learn any number of subjects:

http://www.selfmadescholar.com/classes.html

Invest some money in increasing your knowledge: it will pay off, and will look good on your resume. Get a certificate in your current field, or in a new one. Certification will also add to the quality of your resume (even a Certification in First Aid and CPR). Watch your confidence expand as you tack on more skills, and your employer select you for your hard work.

Resume readers generally take from 30 to 60 seconds to read each resume, and there are certain things that they look for: what you did in your last (or most relevant) job, your education (to see if you meet the qualifications for the position), and your certifications and/or awards, if any. If that information catches their eye, they will read your highlights and career objective (or summary), and glance at your earlier employment. If all goes well, your resume will be put into a “to be considered” pile, the first “short list.” Your cover letter may not be read until the second “round” of resume readings. For large businesses and organizations, the computer will do the first “reading,” looking for key words, even before your resume is read by an actual resume reader. This makes it imperative for you to really be on target with your resume.

Particularly now, in this “recession” economy, you need everything possible going for you. Increasing your educational qualifications shows that you are serious about your career, have the discipline to seek more knowledge, and are thus likely to be a good employee.

Returning to school may be just the ticket to your new job!

SECURE YOUR CONTACTS FOR THE SECURITY OF A GOVERNMENT JOB.

One of the very few bright spots in this worst job market since the 1929 Depression is USAJOBS, the official website of the US Federal Government. Federal employment is exploding! Because of the many Federal agencies that have been expanded or newly created, US Government jobs are at the very top of the job pyramid. The website lists posts nationwide, state by state, and gives the total of applications sought per state. You can become a USA Jobs Member by signing up online, where you can post your resume, apply for Federal jobs, and receive automated job alerts. Although this is the quickest way to find out about employment with the US Government, it's only as good as raising your hand in a stadium full of others who want the same attention. In addition, these lists can be deceptive. Many postings are obligatory because there must be a perception that a particular agency, which may already have chosen an in-house candidate (rather, selectee), is still taking offers from the general public. Do your research first, if time permits:

1. Learn what you can about the position by calling and talking to someone in the HR department or in the actual office.
2. See if you can meet a member of the Agency for lunch to pick her or his brain. You may offer to pay for lunch, but there's a limit to how much you can spend (not more than $25, in the past). Whatever you do, do not take your resume with you. Develop a relationship with the person, and get a candid assessment of how the office operates and whether or not you'd be a good fit. Ask probing questions about whether your interlocutor actually likes working there. What are the pros and cons? Are there office politics, or are the employees pretty straight forward, just doing their jobs?
3. After the lunch, immediately write your lunch guest a quick note, thanking her or him for taking the time to meet with you. Mail your letter. Letters from the public are a rarity in most jobs, so you'll get special attention if you write on personal stationery. In the letter, you can even ask a question to keep the dialogue open; if your contact calls you or writes back, you now have a contact in the Federal Government.
4. When you feel the time is right, find out from this person to whom you should send your resume to make application for the position, perhaps asking if you should call the head of the department. Follow what your contact says--exactly, and do not deviate from the advice you get. Someone is trying to help you now, so honor his or her advice.
5. After one month has passed, take your contact out to lunch again, or invite him or her to an event that relates to his or her work where you can be in an informal setting.Soon enough, you'll find out what's happening with the position opening. You'll also likely find out that the wait will be 6 months or even longer. In the meantime, continue to look for work in other sectors.

The government is a monolith, but it is made up of individuals. Your contact might not be in the know as much as he or she thinks, so you want to keep your options open to meet other people who may be of equal or even more assistance to you. Your resume does count, but your contacts count more, nowadays, in gaining employment--even when looking for work in the Federal Government. Just as you would in any relationship, navigate the waters carefully and deftly. Be genuine. Most of all, be patient. True friendships take a long while to develop. Don't bet the farm that you'll get the job, but hope that you have at least made a new friend!

Some of the tips given above are also applicable to job-seeking at the state, county, and city government levels, as well as to educational administration, particularly in higher education.