Many of you are likely subscribed to a number of feeds providing the latest blog posts on executive career management, Monster’s job posts or a daily inspirational article. Recently, I opened one of hundreds of articles that I have been subscribed to for the past few years and quickly deleted it. When I realized I had barely looked at the content prior to deleting it, it suddenly occurred to me why this particular blog post didn’t resonate with me.

This is a favourite blog post which I often share on Facebook or retweet on Twitter. As an inspirational post, many of the authors are recognized for their courage in sharing their own personal experiences touching on failures and successes to offer advice. The key word is personal! It denotes a genuine and authentic impression lending credibility to the content.

The reason I quickly deleted that particular days article without investing the time to read it was because it lacked a personal touch; the photo! Since all but this one post have consistently provided a personal photo and short introduction, it wasn’t until I received one without it that I realized it had been a key component of these articles; it put a human being behind the words. It was a personal touch which generated a first impression of credibility.

First impressions count! Reaching out to offer a firm handshake is the personal touch which will interest someone to get to know you. It is a personal message on Linkedin rather than the generic message that will inspire someone to link in with you. And it will be a professional photo added to your online profiles which will create a positive first impression and the personal touch needed to generate credibility. It will influence decision makers to invest the time to read your profile and discover your qualifications. Although your cover letter and resume will not include a photo, the opportunity is still there to add a personal touch by sending it attention to a specific individual and adding content which is directly related to the company and position.

The face to face personal touch, whether a firm handshake, a genuine smile or a friendly greeting will generate a positive impression. If you want to share information online, a professional photo generates a positive first impression and is key to establishing a genuine, authentic and credible brand. Don’t forget this most important personal touch!

ABOUT US

Elite Resumes has been providing successful resume help and job search strategies since 1993. Martin Buckland, Principal of Elite Resumes, is one of Canada’s leading authorities on highly effective resume writing, high impact cover letters, successful job-search strategies, executive coaching, personal branding and interview tutoring. He has many years of training, experience, professional development and industry knowledge. Tap into his elite network of key human resources, executive search firm and placement contacts.

Martin’s certifications elevate him to an elite group of career professionals in North America:

Certified Professional Resume Writer
Co-Pilot Executive Coach
Certified Job & Career Transition Coach
Certified Job Search Trainer
Certified Professional Branding Strategist
Certified Employment Interview Professional
Online Professional Networking Strategist
Microblogging Career Strategist
Social Networking Career Strategist
Certified Social Media Career Strategist

Whether you are looking for a job, a position or the role you are passionate about, the goal is ultimately the same and so to is the key to success; you must be absolutely clear on what the job, position or passion entails! Exactly what does it look like? Do you have the necessary qualifications and experience? Is it a viable industry? A clear vision will result in a more focused search and an easily recognizable career path, one which will be noticed by decision makers.

Clarity in the direction of your career will result in the confidence that is needed to stand out in the crowd and positively influence recruiters and HR professionals. If you are not sure about where your career is headed, you can be assured that those recruiting to fill a specific role will have no idea either and no reason to consider you as a potential candidate.

Organizations are very clear about the position they wish to fill and Recruiters or HR professionals are entrusted to secure the right candidate; the individual that most closely resembles this criteria and one who exudes the confidence that says, “I’m the right candidate and I will exceed your expectations in this job!” It is the clarity, confidence and expertise exuded that has even influenced some employers to create a position in their organization.

If you are currently in career transition and not completely confident in the direction of your career or employed in a position that is not meeting your expectations, seek out professional advice from an Executive Career Management Professional. “A professional coach will listen, collaborate, support and assist you to identify and gain clarity on your goals, achieve your dreams, fulfill your aspirations and enhance your power to succeed.”

It is not always easy to establish an email address using your given name especially if your name happens to be John Smith or Jane Brown. When altering your name to acquire an available email address careful consideration should be given to avoid confusion.

After reviewing registrations recently for one of our monthly networking meetings, it was obvious that email addresses which varied greatly from a given name were not only a problem for us but seemed to be for the owners of the email address as well. On 2 separate registrations from the same individual one email address consisted of their first and last name and the other, their first and last name with the number 1 after it. Which one is the correct one? Did the owner create 2 separate email accounts? How far back do we go to discover the correct one? Let’s search incoming mail even though it appears the 1 was simply a typo.  Remember, don’t assume because the email with the number 1 after the name was the correct “one”.

Another email which appeared to be the first name and the first 3 letters of the last name also required further investigation because the first three letters of the last name were brd but the email address was bdr! Another typo? Is someone dyslexic? Was the last name spelled incorrectly or was the email address incorrect? Upon further investigation, which is my point, the inconsistency between the name and the email address was correct!

This is the given name, kazimier and this is the name used for the email address, casimir! Should we invest any additional time to consider if there is a typo here?

If you simplify your email address costly mistakes could easily be avoided. Imagine an amazing lead that could have come your way except the email address you provided for yourself was incorrect or was translated incorrectly! We are all aware that keeping it simple will result in fewer mistakes and increase efficiency. Your email address is a key piece of contact data; choosing to become too creative could lead to confusion.

Here are a few tips to consider for your 2012 email address:

• Write down your full name, the name which appears on your resume and mailing address and establish an email address that is as clearly related to this name as possible.
• Do not use words other than your name such as ballplayer, sexyone or gonefishing. The days of Hotmail are long gone and if you still have a hotmail or aol address, get rid of it.
• If your proper name is available, use it and only it. Don’t add numbers, extra letters or varied spelling if it is not necessary.
• If your name is not available give consideration to using a middle name or initials. Avoid numbers or a year of birth which mean nothing to anyone else who may be trying to decipher your email address. Consider a first initial with middle name or something which might be more familiar to those interested in your email address such as, johnsmithcga@ or johnsmithemba@.
• Avoid underscores as they are sometimes lost in the underline or confused with a dot. Unless the letters are within your name, use caution with i’s and j’s. Depending on the font type used, ijij you could be left guessing which letter it is.
• Stay as consistent as you possibly can and no one will ever be left guessing! The easier you are to contact the better your chances are of being contacted. The consistency between your name and your email address should be extended to your twitter, facebook and linkedin url’s; .com/name
• Create your google profile and establish an @gmail.com account. Rogers.com is another respected email provider.
• Those who have stayed current have likely purchased one or more domain names using a given name or company name. Establishing an email address in relation to the domain name is usually free and another option for creating a consistent, professional email address; JohnSmith@johnsmith.com.

Simplify your email address and reduce the risk of mistakes. That missed email might have been the opportunity of a lifetime!

For those currently managing a senior executive career, it is agreed that a professional online presence is a necessary requirement for a successful career in 2012. Professional profiles on Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook Pages are without a doubt the absolute minimum necessary to establish your online profile. Authentic, genuine, transparent; these are the key attributes to establishing a respected and credible personal brand. Recruiters and HR professionals will use your contact information from your resume to conduct an online search and verify details. Are you connected to the company’s you have been employed by? Have you included accreditation’s and links to colleges or universities attended? Have you managed your recommendations? Google profiles, blog sites and other professional networking sites also offer the ultimate opportunity to further enhance a clear, consistent and credible representation of YOU!

Although a strong Internet presence is critical to any professional seeking to advance in their career, there is still one very important document which is an absolute must and that is a Professional Resume! Why? Because it is the core of your job search strategy and could very will be the source for seeking you out online. Perhaps you have excelled so well at establishing your personal brand online that you have simply been discovered by an interested potential employer? That’s great but you will still be asked to submit your resume prior to an interview! An experienced Certified Professional Writer has the potential to discover your most influential achievements and qualifications; those same key attributes a potential employer is looking for. Your resume should be updated and ready to send at every available opportunity. When you pay a professional to compose this most valuable and influential document, you are receiving a document which will be highly regarded by HR professionals and Recruiters but also one which will provide you with the majority of professional content needed to create your online presence. It is the consistency of content in your resume and online profiles which will ensure a credible and professional impression.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a professional resume. The most significant change in the past 15 years is not it’s relevance in today’s job market but simply that is now shared as a computer document rather than a paper document.

We are pleased to host an evening of engagement with the leading, Toronto-based Executive Recruiters on Wednesday, April 25th from 6pm-9pm at the Marriott Toronto Airport. This is a rare event to spend an evening networking with Executive Recruiters in an informal environment.

Every ExecuNet meeting provides the opportunity for each participant to share a 1 minute “infomercial” to clearly enunciate their value. This meeting however, will give you the opportunity to sell yourself to the leading Executive Recruiters in the industry!

Executive Recruiters can play an important role in your career management however, there are numerous inaccurate assumptions and misnomers about the recruitment process and how Executive Recruiters operate. Martin Buckland, Principal of Elite Resumes and ExecuNet Facilitator will conduct a Question and Answer period to further engage discussion and information sharing among event participants. To ensure all questions are addressed, please submit your questions upon arrival.

What will you gain by attending this meeting of career experts?

• Learn how to introduce yourself to Executive Recruiters.

• Uncover why Executive Recruiters very rarely return your phone calls.

• Network with leading Canadian Executive Recruiters in: Interim Management, Banking, Insurance, Real Estate,  Private  Equity, Infrastructure, Advanced Technology, Communications, Utilities, Not-For-Profit and Consumer Products.

• Uncover how Executive Recruiters source talent and how to gain the maximum traction to attract their attention during a career transition or while gainfully employed.

• How do Executive Recruiters evaluate your career history if you are contemplating changing industries?

• Acquire knowledge on how Executive Recruiters use social media including LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to find   candidates.

The following renowned Executive Recruiters will be joining our Executive Recruitment Panel:

Linda Clark

Partner/Recruiter

Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions

Mandeep Grewal

Deputy Managing Partner

Rosenzweig & Company Inc.

Joe Zinner

Managing Director

Zinner & Company Inc.

Register today to advance your network of key career influencers!

Attendance for this event is limited to 75 participants and will be sold out quickly!

Many of those managing executive careers are aware of the importance of a professional resume, networking, job search strategies, a strong social media presence, personal branding, career coaching and and the role that certified career professionals play within the career industry. Unfortunately, not unlike any other industry, there are those who are good at what they do and those who are not. There are those who are involved in continued education, have extensive experience and are fully certified, and there are those who are not.

HR professionals and recruiters are googling potential candidates to verify credentials, work  history, gain an insight into their personality and review testimonials and recommendations. Organizations and companies must investigate extensively to ensure the substantial investment to hire nets the best possible candidate. This due diligence is necessary for anyone when considering an investment to secure the services of a professional whether long term or short term.

There will always be some willing to cash in on the vulnerability of those in career transition as we have seen recently in an investigation by CBC Marketplace, Job seekers warned about Toronto firm’s pitch. As stated in this article and previously posted on this site in, Recruiters Don’t Ask Job Seekers To Pay, no reputable organizations; recruiters, “job search marketing firms” or career management professionals will ever guarantee a job.

Professional Advice For Your Job Search and Google It and Avoid a Scam also reiterate the need for due diligence in the decisions made when managing an executive career. Your future starts with you and there are many reputable executive career management professionals qualified to assist in helping to meet or even exceed your career goals. Look for testimonials and referrals from trusted colleagues and join the pertinent groups on Linkedin to share in the many discussions available. Learn from the expertise shared by others and discover the advantages of highlighting your own expertise and expanding your professional network.

Social media has certainly changed, “how we do business” in a big way. Networking, establishing a personal brand, job search strategies, targeting companies and organizations; all have become much easier tasks and on a significantly larger scale. If there is one concern that seems to be the most highly voiced, it is related to the issue of privacy. Suffice to say that the majority of those managing an executive career would relish the idea of separating their professional social media profiles from their personal profiles. The question is:

Should separating your personal and professional online profiles be a concern or a consideration?

Social media has enabled anyone with an interest, the ability to put themselves into the spotlight but unlike other media’s of the past, the control over the flow of information generated today utilizing social media is directly from the user. The options to establish your place in this spotlight, your online presence, are many. It is an easy task to research the professional sites versus the social or personal sites. Clearly, Linkedin is the number one professional networking site with over 150 million users. Other professional social media sites include Naymz, Zoominfo, VisualCV, ExecuNet and the list goes on. Sites such as Monster have rolled out Beknown on the FB platform to secure a significant online presence with networking opportunities and HAPPEN will soon be revamping their website to embrace the advantages of a social media site.

Today, there is no question that Facebook dominates as the number 1 social media site with 845 million users, forecasting 1 billion users by August 2012! This number of users, which is 695 million more than Linkedin must inspire the following question: Is it reasonable for anyone managing a career and working towards establishing a visible online profile to ignore the opportunity to establish a presence on Facebook? Professional Pages and Business Pages on Facebook have influenced millions and are easily established without any cost. Although a personal profile is necessary to establish a professional page, it is not necessary to have any direct link between them.

All social media sites offer privacy settings but when managing an executive career, especially for those in career transition, the risk is in blocking access to decision makers, potential employers and recruiters. Those who have the potential to positively impact your career should also not be left with the impression that you have something to hide. Embrace all that social media has to offer and concentrate on a consistent, authentic and genuine online presence regardless of whether it is a Linkedin profile or a Facebook profile;  a career network or a social network! Your online presence should be who you are and a decision to hide a personal profile or to establish a professional profile which varies greatly from a personal one will only serve to damage any credibility. Establish a true personal brand and stand proudly behind it. Obviously those who are dishonest or have been involved in criminal activity will have a more difficult time with the idea of being open and forthright but for many, you can be assured that decision makers are aware that professionals also have personal lives.

Don’t hit send…yet! The impression you leave could be a long and lasting one. Do you want to brand yourself as professional, intelligent, mature, patient, considerate and understanding? Although those managing an executive career would share a resounding “yes”, too many are taking a high risk with online comments which could be construed as arrogant, antagonistic or lacking compassion and professionalism.

Today we are sharing comments with hundreds, thousands and potentially millions of people! It is true that our enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of us but it is during these times that you must take your fingers off the keyboard! Walk away, take a deep breath and enjoy a cup of green tea.  Heightened emotional states do not present a foundation conducive to presenting a professional personal brand.

A recent thread of numerous comments on Facebook had one individual standing out from all the rest. Approximately 10 people shared complimentary, friendly, light comments regarding a photo but one individual chose to post accusatory, insulting, rude comments using inappropriate language. The intended recipient certainly gained my respect when he simply ignored her unfounded and unnecessary comments. If an employer was able to view this profile, it would be a very easy decision to eliminate the obvious troublemaker from a list of potential candidates for hire.

Standing behind your values, morals and opinions is acceptable unless you feel the need to initiate an offensive online diatribe with someone who disagrees. A conversation which continues on long past any chance of a reasonable conclusion or mutual agreement may only impact a few, whereas online you could be leaving a permanent, negative impression that will be seen by hundreds, thousands or even more! Don’t comment back and forth to the extent that you have exhausted a topic. Agree to disagree or simply let it go! Any professional, social interactions entered into online require respect and should never reach the “I’m right and you’re wrong” stage.

Offering advice can be seen as thoughtful, giving, generous and further enhance the expertise and professionalism of a personal brand but a recent Linkedin discussion easily portrayed an individual as anything but, when the advice offered contained more personally directed negative criticism than it did positive advice.

Think positive, think professional and give serious consideration to the personal brand you wish to establish. Online comments have the potential to increase your visibility and your opportunities! One bad day and a few emotional or negative comments could easily tarnish an otherwise impressive personal brand and eliminate you from consideration as the next CEO or VP! Don’t hit send until you are sure the comment you are posting is appropriate and professional!

There are few investments any of us will make without giving careful consideration to the ROI (Return On Investment). Of the many investments to consider when managing a successful executive career, some will be long term, some short term and others may never present a clear or definitive return. The cost of furthering education such as that of acquiring an EMBA will likely take years before the ROI is fully recognized and even then it may be difficult to measure depending on the direction your career has taken. Investing in a new professional wardrobe could very well result in the look and self confidence that led to a close tie breaker in the final decision of a hiring professional but will you ever know for sure? Seeking professional advice from a reputable Certified Personal Branding Strategist or Certified Job Search Strategist is sure to positively impact your career with new opportunities arising as a result of establishing a genuine authentic brand and an effective job search.

Why you should plan your exit before you’re in the door by Deborah Stokes for Canadian Business is written in response to the shrinking lifespan of a chief executive position. The evolving shortened tenure only heightens the need to take charge of managing an executive career and perhaps the most critical investment; a professional resume from a recognized, Certified Professional Resume Writer! This is an investment that presents a  clear and significant ROI. A resume is your ticket in the door and if it impresses the decision maker you’re one step closer to your next position. Securing a job interview is wholly dependent on a professional resume. Although networking likely led to discovering the open position, or even a recommendation, it is still your resume which will precede the interview or preclude you from the interview. The leverage to negotiate a salary increases with the number of offers to choose from and the most clearly recognized ROI that a professional resume will provide is a significant reduction of the time spent in career transition. If you secure your next position within 6 months rather than 12 months as a result of investing $1,000 for a professional resume, the ROI based on an annual salary of $150,000 would be $74,000! You may not reduce your job search by 6 months but even 1 month could result in a substantial return on your investment.

Contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Over 800 million people have established profiles on Facebook and are actively engaged in networking. In Canada, that includes more than 50% of the population! In the past 3 months the largest growth in Facebook users was aged 45-54 followed by 55-64, 35-44, 25-34 and 65-0! In the past 6 months, Canadian Facebook users increased by 590, 960! Visit  socialbakers.com for further statistics.

Do you have a Facebook account? Are you a follower or a leader? If you have access to the Internet, it is simply a matter of time before you will decide to follow the other 800 million people and join Facebook. There is no doubt that for many it is the natural resistance to change that could be holding them back so if the numbers are convincing enough, it should be noted that Facebook was launched almost 8 years ago!

Another influential social media site is Twitter which was established in 2006 and currently has over 462 million users. An easy to use, real time resource, Twitter has become a favourite source for all who recognize it’s potential.

The absolute minimum online presence for anyone managing a career or business is Linkedin. Currently with over 136 million users, Linkedin provides a professional site with the resources to display authentic references and a career history linked to company’s and organizations. Networking with other professionals, following companies, job listings and the potential to connect with key decision makers around the world makes this the ultimate in job search tools.

Social media is not a passing fad and the consistent growth of Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to name only a few, will ensure these social media sites continue to be key resources in the successful management of any career or business. No longer is there a choice to be the leader in joining these sites but by following those who did take the lead you are sure to discover the many benefits of online networking!

Managing an executive career successfully requires a conscious awareness of personal branding, career industry trends, economic conditions, an online presence and what it all means in 2012. Choosing to embrace or at a minimum accept change will certainly assist in moving your executive career forward in a positive direction. As inevitable as it is to bring in the New Year, so too is it to recognize the changes that must be incorporated to manage a successful executive career in 2012. A fresh approach, knowledge of current economic conditions, industry trends, a significant online presence and active  networking will increase available opportunities as well as reduce the risk of a lengthy job search.

Where are you in your career today? Where would you like to be in 2 years, 5 years and 10 years? Clearly defined goals will increase your chances for success as long as they are built on a solid foundation! Corporate downsizing, economic fluctuations and the rapid pace of technological advances have become the norm and this year we will continue to see lost jobs, shorter tenures and the need to focus on transferable skills. A successful career transition will depend on YOU! In addition to setting attainable goals, a highly visible and impressive personal brand is the key to establishing a secure foundation in your career. Consistency in a name, profile content, skills and achievements within social media profiles and a professional resume will establish credibility and increase the opportunities to be found by HR professionals and recruiters.

Face to face networking is still key to managing a successful career but online networking is just as critical. This year 95% of HR professionals and recruiters will be searching Linkedin for potential candidates. Accepting this single source without seeking out more online information would be as unlikely as hiring someone based on their resume and eliminating the need for a job interview. Have you invested the time to establish other social media profiles to expand your professional network and increase your online visibility? Is the information consistent and concise? Is your resume up to date and does it contain the expected contact information including a Linkedin address? Does your resume contain the keywords employers will be looking for in 2012?

Contact Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Professional Branding Strategist and Certified Social Media Career Strategist at Elite Resumes for more information on managing your executive career in 2012.

It should be obvious that the seductive words contained in a Harlequin romance novel may differ greatly than those found in a professional resume but the purpose of the words is identical;

to win over, attract, lure and entice!

Your resume must be capable of attracting the attention of the HR professional or recruiter. A professional appearance, free of spelling and grammatical errors, an enticing tag line, star quality accomplishments and key words which will be targeted in the scanning process; all are necessary for the reader to give consideration to your resume over the competition during the process of elimination!

If your resume does not eliminate you as a potential candidate on first review, it will be the words used in your resume to describe your soft skills, hard skills and experience that will attract the reader and secure the opportunity you are competing for; the job interview.

Give careful consideration to the words necessary to win over, attract, lure, entice the reader to take action and contact you! Consider the impact of the following words:

“Wrote the performance review…” vs. “Conceived and authored the performance review…”

“Establish sales strategies…” vs. “Devised and executed captivating sales strategies…”

“Committed to using my skills to succeed.” vs. “Situational leader and tactician; charismatic team builder, provides staff with the tools to succeed and deliver.”

Seductive, enticing, impressive words. These are words that are capable of winning over the potential employer and landing you a job interview. Would you go fishing without a lure?

Holiday networking has a better chance of leading you to your next job than any other job search endeavour! Enjoy the holidays and succeed in your job search! The odds are in your favour during this holiday season as no other time of year presents as many opportunities to get together with friends, family, acquaintances and even strangers than the many events that are planned throughout the month of December. This is your chance to accept every available invitation and while sharing in the celebrations, network, network, network!

For many who are not at ease with networking, this time of year presents the perfect opportunity. As the holiday season unfolds it exposes a population suddenly acknowledging those around them, extending greetings and sharing smiles from the heart! This is the time of year that transitions even the most unreceptive and stoic of individuals into a world filled with camaraderie and joy. It is a time for giving and caring and sharing. So share the story of your job search and reap the benefits of a new contact or a new lead but be sure to keep in the spirit of holiday networking by asking what it is that you can do to help in return.

The family get together finds you catching up with your cousin not seen since this time last year and in sharing information about your job search, including your interest in a specific company, you discover his neighbour is not only the CEO but a close friend! Holiday networking success! And in the spirit of giving, your cousin is equally elated because you have offered to help him get his recently acquired, antique vehicle ready for the road in the spring. This  is surely what networking and the holidays are all about.

Season’s greetings to all! And to all, the very best of luck in your job search! For further job search strategies or to obtain a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer contact Elite Resumes.

The infinite number of job search resources available can be overwhelming! Recognizing those that will be of benefit will save you a significant amount time and help you to succeed in driving your career in the right direction. A financial investment for  professional services and memberships, provided you’ve done your due diligence to ensure the company or organization is reputable will most certainly provide positive results throughout your career. However, there are also many free resources available that also warrant your attention!

Networking is the most successful job search tool available and an indispensable resource in uncovering the hidden job market. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to network while in an elevator, standing in line at Tim Horton’s or attending a networking event. Those managing a successful career should consider memberships with networking organizations such as ExecuNet, offering a free associate membership or HAPPEN which offers an annual membership for a nominal fee.  If you are interested in attending networking events, HAPPEN, Toronto ExecuNet and Senior ExecuNet all offer regular monthly meetings.

Monster and Workopolis are known for online job postings and provide an online venue to post your resume. As a job search resources there is a wealth of information; expert advice that could provide you with the key to succeeding in your job search. Many service providers offer free advice for managing your career as we do here at Elite Resumes including the opportunity to acquire a free resume critique. Check out MonsterThinking, a Monster blog, “exploring the complex world of work”. If you have special needs in your job search you may want to contact Northern Lights Canada and About.com job searching provides lots of great advice from Alison Doyle.

Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook are all exceptional job search resources! There is no fee to establish a profile along with millions of others worldwide including companies, organizations, groups and recruiters. These social media sites are only three of many free job search resources available which will allow you to develop valuable networks and open the door to infinite opportunities.

One simple tweet on twitter could provide you with a connection you would like to follow and multiple job search resources.

A mistake on your resume is all the potential employer is looking for to send your resume to the recycle bin. As a potential candidate, you may feel you are the perfect choice but initially you will likely be represented as simply one of many resumes. Due to the number of candidates, the selection process is not always one of “finding a needle in a haystack” but getting rid of the hay to find the needle. It is a process of elimination which will be done quickly and require little cause to reduce the numbers to those which will be manageable in scheduling job interviews. It is imperative to understand these mistakes on your resume could send it to the recycle bin seriously impacting your career.

Age – Sex – Marital Status

These personal details have no place on a resume in North America or in most other countries. Any mention and your resume will likely to be discounted from further reading. Since this information has absolutely no impact on your ability to perform the job, it is considered discriminatory and should remain personal.

Political & Religious Affiliations

Leave them out! Although age discrimination is decreasing people will always discriminate for religious or political reasons. It’s none of their business, so why place an obstacle in your way? As much as you don’t want to be discriminated against, no potential employer wants to risk the accusation.

Hobbies

If your hobbies aren’t relevant to your career, leave them off. It’s information an employer doesn’t need to see. Again, your personal hobby could influence the reader on a personal level rather than professional, which is discrimination.

Volunteer Work – Community Involvement

Increasingly potential employers and recruiters are seeking people who participate in community activities and give their time for free. It says a lot about your character. However, if your volunteer work is related to religion or politics leave it out.

Employer Information

Including the name of your Manager and direct Supervisor and their contact details is not necessary. It has no relevance to your hiring. If the employer requires this information at the interview stage they will ask.

References

“References Available Upon Request” is a term which is severely outdated and simply a waste of space. It’s automatically assumed that you have a list of references which should be available on a separate reference sheet and taken with you to the job interview.

Remuneration

Your salary and bonus expectations are not required. Too high or too low, either could be a reason to eliminate you as a candidate or allow the potential employer to slot you into other positions that may not be of interest. Do not include any financial expectations in your resume.

Typos, outdated terminology and skills, lack of quantifiable achievements and too many pages are further mistakes on your resume that could send it to the recycle bin rather than securing a job interview. For further information on presenting a professional resume that is sure to get you recognized as a potential candidate, contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique from Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Please take a look at your resume and ensure you have provided the necessary contact information. If you are not sure what the contact information should consist of, please consult a Certified Professional Resume Writer, (CPRW) before sending out your resume!

Over the past 17 years I have invested as much time providing free resume critiques as I have in writing them. Of the thousands of resumes that have come across my desk, the most surprising occurrence is the lack of a phone number. Since no one has ever admitted to intentionally excluding a phone number, I have attributed it to an oversight. In the past, a home number and a cell number were required on every resume but as many choose to eliminate a land line opting for the flexibility of a mobile connection, it is reasonable to believe that eventually many will only have one phone number available to share.

In addition to including a phone number on your professional resume, it is also necessary to add your mailing address, email address and Linkedin address. This is the minimum resume contact information that must be included in your resume. There are no exceptions!

Send your resume for a free resume critique from Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Establishing an online visibility utilizing social media is a basic requirement in managing a career or business. Once you have created your profiles on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin as a professional or business or both, the next step is to enhance your presence and personal brand with a blog. Wikipedia provides further details regarding a blog, the name which is “a blend of the term web log”.

If you are familiar with blogs you may be subscribed to a number of feeds to receive the latest post, a  consistently updated informational or promotional article from a company or individual. This is an excellent opportunity to gain a wealth of information and reciprocate with a comment, enhancing your personal brand and google ranking. The key to establishing successful relationships online is not unlike networking in person. It involves engaging others in a reciprocal and respected manner.

Examples are abundant for all types of blogs and careful consideration should be given to the message you wish to share. Do you want to establish a blog based on personal or professional experiences? Is it intended to promote a service or business or your professional expertise? Perhaps you have the time to create more than one blog on varying topics? Whatever you decide, the greatest impact to establishing your personal brand is a consistent, genuine and authentic message.

The following blog from Danny Brown provides excellent advice for new bloggers:

Wearing a mask for a Halloween Party or any costume party can be exhilarating, mischievous or just plain fun! An occasion that many look forward to when it is acceptable to hide behind a mask, deceive others as to your true identity, assume the looks or personality of a favourite idol or simply seize the opportunity to scare the living daylights out of your friends!

Enjoy the party while it lasts because as a professional managing a career, this is the only time it will be acceptable to hide behind a mask or deceive others regarding your identity, history or qualifications. If you are in a job search, don’t wear a mask! Companies, recruiters and HR professionals are searching all available resources online, including Facebook to discover who you really are. Connections and testimonials on Linkedin as well as groups and companies you associate with all provide revealing information. Have you created Twitter lists for those you follow. What name have you given those lists and more importantly, what are the names of the lists that follow you? The name of these lists are a clear indication of how others perceive you.

The following are default images for profile photos on various social media sites and if not updated with professional images will leave a negative impression undermining your chances for consideration as a potential candidate.

Choosing to hide behind a mask will sabotage any effort to portray a credible, genuine and authentic brand. Don’t wear a mask online or off unless you’re off to a costume party.

Happy Halloween!

Your professional resume must be a fact-based, historical account of accomplishments. As the years pass, so should your qualifications continue to be enhanced by additional experiences, achievements and education. Your resume should clearly identify these ever increasing details which contribute to enhancing your qualifications and the ability to present an impressive resume.

Managing a successful executive career requires a continuous and conscious effort to seek out those initiatives that will contribute to enhancing your qualifications, maintaining a competitive edge as a potential candidate. Each position you hold will offer the opportunity to achieve results. Be sure to document all details of quantifiable accomplishments upon completion of tasks or projects. Do not wait until you need your resume written years down the road to test your ability to recall events! Reducing costs or increasing sales will not impress without corroborative numeric details.

Experience, accomplishments and promotions are sure to enhance your qualifications but there are other ways to beef up your resume. Do you have a continuing and consistent history of education? Enhance your qualifications by seeking out suitable courses or an accreditation to add to your educational background.

In addition to work history and education, volunteer work and community service will also enhance your qualifications. Focus on groups, organizations or municipal causes avoiding those with any inference towards politics or religion to avoid the risk of discrimination.

Continued attention to detailed and quantifiable accomplishments, further education and volunteer work or community service will all serve to enhance your qualifications on your resume. When was the last time you updated your resume?

If you are interested in acquiring an MBA, Canadian Business has provided an extensive report in their 2011 MBA Guide, which includes 39 institutions across Canada.

professional@email.com

Are you using a professional email address for your job search? An email address that is not outdated? One which identifies who you are? An email address that is easily deciphered even when hand written?

I’m sure we can all agree that an email address such as sexykitten@, beerking@ or gonefishing@ lacks the professionalism expected from anyone who is serious about managing their career. Get rid of them or use them exclusively for the singles sites.

Dots, dashes, underscores: Unless you are an extremely neat printer, it is possible that you’ve added your email address to a list in the hopes of receiving some important correspondence that will never be sent. Is it a dash or an underscore or maybe that line was supposed to represent a dot? Don’t leave anyone struggling to decipher your email address. For those of us who require reading glasses, a neatly typed email could still present a problem with the use of symbols which are smaller than letters.

You are known as George Brown but you created an email address cbrown@. This was done because you wanted to confuse people? I’m going to send the email to gbrown because I’m sure I must have made a mistake when I entered it as cbrown@. One more email that you will never receive.

What were all those numbers George added to his email address?

I just received an email from latvicus@. Since I have no idea who it is, I’m going to delete it. How was I supposed to know it was George Brown? His middle name you say?

It is completely understood that a common name requires some modification to obtain an available address so a middle initial or full name will be necessary; GeorgeLatvicusBrown@ or georgelbrown or georgezbrown. No, your middle initial is not a z but does anyone else know that? It still enables anyone looking at it to recognize that it is in fact George Brown. The George Brown that introduced himself at the last networking meeting you attended. But who was gb1234@hotmail.com?

If you are using Hotmail or AOL you’ll need to update to a new address. Those continuing to use them are dating themselves and perceived as not keeping up with the times.  @gmail and @rogers are both very popular today. Did you acquire the domain for your name or business? If so, you will have access to create email addresses such as, george@georgebrown.com or martin@aneliteresume.com.

What email address are you using for your job search? What does it say about you?