Your resume, your GPA!

Should you place your GPA on your resume? Once you have been out of school for five or more years your GPA becomes less relevant to an employer. Be wise, you should not list your GPA on a resume at all if it was below 3.0. 4.0 is an acknowledged achievement, this number can be listed forever.

Always list any honours received with the degree including Dean’s List, Phi Beta Kappa or Cum Laude. These are significant distinctions, be proud and display them on your resume.

Confused on how to write a resume? Look at samples on the Elite Resumes web site: http://www.aneliteresume.com/

Is your resume telling the true story about your accomplishments?

We are in an accomplishment-driven society. Potential employers and Recruiters are hiring people who deliver consistent measurables. They aren’t hiring couch potatoes!

Numbers, dollar values and percentages clearly portraying your drive to generate and deliver results is going to seduce the reader.

Some examples of performance taken from clients resumes include:

¬ Captured significant acquisitions from the competition in the education sector to drive growth a further 30%. Boosted shipments in the government sector from 11,956 units to 14,257 07/08. Elevated education shipments from 15,707 to 18,289 07/08 with a combined 17.6% increase.

¬ Initiated a radical production management realignment, involving scheduling, packaging and plant layout, which catapulted fill rate from 90% to 99% in 3 months adding $3.4 million in sales.

¬ Catapulted revenue in year 1 300% over budget. Consistently exceeded annual mandated targets ranging from 105% to 125%.

Do these snippets entice you to read more?

Are you selling yourself to your optimum? Will I call you for an interview over the competition? Are you comfortable with your resume?

If not, would you like a free no obligation resume critique? If so, please e mail via: http://www.aneliteresume.com/

Is your LinkedIn invitation personalized?

A person in a serious job search and those managing their careers when gainfully employed should use Linkedin as one of the prime resources to connect with people.

When you meet in person the introduction is professional, normally a firm handshake, smile and direct eye contact. However, when you introduce yourself online to connect are you just as professional? It appears an increasing number of people aren’t! Many are using the default message – “I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn”.

How tacky, how impersonal and unprofessional!

Customize your invitation and make it personal. You wouldn’t pull out a canned speech when meeting someone in person. Everyone has a reason to connect. Identify the reason, and your rationale behind wanting to network. Position the relationship in a positive sense and provide a compelling reason to connect in a succinct business like introduction.

Summer fun or summer job search?

With this economy many people are asking themselves this question. Should I take the summer off or should I go full tilt into a job search? Can you afford to be out of the job search market in the summer? No you cannot!

An incredible 70% of job searchers fall out of the market in July and August, providing significant opportunities to strike gold for the remaining 30%.

Yes, due to vacations, the recruitment period can be lengthened, but resist the opportunity to put your job search on hold.

The trick to a successful job search is to stay on track; it’s easy to get distracted with other activities. Stay focused; don’t get frustrated when interviews are cancelled. Use this time to conduct further research into other job opportunities and move forward. How forward will you be?
By September when the 70% return to the market you will either be way ahead of the pack or have secured a new appointment. How enticing is this?

What Your Handshake Says About You.

A handshake can be soft, firm, brief, long or even painful. The way you shake hands provides clues to your personality. Aggressive people have firm handshakes. People with low self esteem often have a limp handshake. Politicians typically shake your hand with their other hand covering the shake or holding your elbow. Domineering men often squeeze the hand of a woman during a greeting. The clever woman moves her index and little finger in toward her palm preventing a crushing handshake. This negates his dominant act and keeps her in equal control. So adopt a handshake that is firm, yet not crushing. Convey confidence and professionalism, not dominance.

An open hand, eye contact and a smile are a good way to establish a positive contact.
But……
The extended thumb and the stretched-directed palm resembles a pistol and thus conveys aggression.

Touching or invading the personal space of another can be a serious error in judgement. The man shows patronage and dominance and the woman withdraws.

The handshake no one likes: The “Dead-Fish” handshake: No one likes the soggy, lifeless, fish-like touch.

Within the first 10 seconds of the interview the interviewer has a snapshot of your personality.

First impressions count! Which one are you?