If you’ve been thinking about going green in your career, you’re about to enter a fresh and exciting industry. Of course, you need a new and exciting resume to match. Here are some tips for helping you to write a resume that can facilitate your transition into a green-collar career.

1. Learn Green Industry Keywords

As with any other industry, it’s important to immerse yourself in the keywords. Not only will this be important when trying to get your electronic resume past scanning software, but it will be necessary to show—when your resume is viewed by human eyes—that you know the industry.

There are a number of keywords to make note of—and of course, you want to make sure the ones you choose match the job you’re applying for—but some to consider adding are: green audit, recycling, precycling, carbon trading, and ecoflation in order to increase your chances of snagging an interview.

2. Show That Your Previous Experience Aligns With Employers’ Needs

Many candidates have never worked in the green industry because it is so new. Employers understand this and don’t always expect your experience to be an exact match. But if you want to show that you’re the best fit for a position, it’s good to highlight all of the experience you have that aligns closely to each job’s requirements. You’re likely to have more transferrable skills than you think.

3. Prove You Care About the Planet

If you currently belong to a recycling program, have ever volunteered for a green organization, or have made other green efforts, your resume is the place to mention it. Also, if the company you apply to asks for a paper resume, send it on recycled, chlorine-free paper with a matching envelope to show your commitment to living the green lifestyle.

4. Get Help From a Green Insider

Also, don’t be shy about asking for help from a person who is already working in the green industry. Get tips on ways to impress hiring managers, as well as how to get more involved in the industry on both the professional and personal levels. Your hard work in officially “going green” will pay off.

There’s nothing more rewarding than dedicating your life to enhancing the planet. So if you are serious about working in the green industry, start with creating a great resume that can help you get your foot in the door of a company that’s truly making a difference.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of GreatResumesFast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Quantity Speaks Volumes

An executive resume writer works diligently to position you and your resume in a way that is consistent with your career objective—and in a manner that will secure interviews.  Securing interviews is one reason why they work so hard to quantify your achievements.

How can you do the same?  By sharing how many projects you initiated and/or managed in how many days, while leading how many team members, and bringing in how much revenue, etc.  These are general examples, but how you quantify the experience in your resume should be related to two points: First, the requirements of the position/needs of the company—and second, it should be consistent with your career goals.  For example, if your goal is to stop managing people and start managing processes, then don’t focus on numbers related to your management of employees; instead, quantify your experience on the processes side.

Ask the Right Questions

Executive resume writers are great data miners.  They can go past the surface of your career to really draw attention to achievements that you may not initially remember, didn’t think were important, or may be vital to the position and meeting the needs of the organization.  In order to do this, they ask you a lot of questions.

For instance, have you ever asked yourself what contributions you have made to the companies for which you’ve worked?  Are they better companies now because you have worked for them?  What initiatives did you bring to the table that made you stand out from other executives who had previously worked in your position?

These questions are often difficult to answer but are necessary in setting you apart from your competition.  Your contributions are probably greater than you think, but it’s up to you to identify the difference you’ve made and then express this difference in your resume.

Walk Away for a While

Everyone needs some perspective and some time to clear their head.  Take time to get a little distance from the resume.  When you come back with a fresh mind, you have the opportunity to read and edit your resume from a third-party perspective—or you may have remembered critically important details that you’d initially left out.

Call in Another Team Player

Even some of the best executive resume writers in the industry will have another set of eyes review the resume for errors or inconsistencies.  Some writers even rely on very meticulous and detail-oriented copy editors to review each client’s project before the client ever sees the document, thereby ensuring its flawlessness.  At the very least, you should have one person review the resume for you prior to sending it out, but a second or third person can never hurt.

Executive resume writers are great at what they do because they know about current trends, have written thousands more resumes in their lifetime than you ever have, and they have an objective, third-party view of you and your qualifications.  Ever heard the phrase, “It’s easier to write about someone else than it is yourself”?  A phenomenal executive resume writer will invest time and effort getting to know your career history and your current career goals.  They’ll strategize with you on how to overcome any obstacles your resume may face and will collaborate with you to develop a strategy to effectively tackle these challenges and garner you interviews.  You are a hard-working executive with a proven track record, so be sure to work as hard on your resume as you would expect a professional writer to.  Or, if you can use some third-party objectivity, consider hiring an executive resume writer to develop your brand, strategize your action plan, and craft an interview-winning resume.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

1. Look to Your Hobbies

You may be surprised to discover that your hobbies are a great place to begin looking for some of your unique abilities.  Very often, dedication to your passion transfers easily to a job.  For instance, if you’re a part-time dance instructor, this proficiency could showcase your ability to lead others in a work environment.

2. Think About Your Volunteer Efforts

The same goes for your volunteer efforts.  If you spend time building houses for Habitat for Humanity, you not only bring dedication to the table—in the eyes of an employer, you come with a big heart—something a hiring manager just might be looking for.

3. Ask Your Friends and Family

Your friends and family may also be able to give you some insight into areas of expertise you’ve forgotten about.  For example, your old roommate could remind you that while you were in college you volunteered briefly for a teen hotline.  And although the stint may not have been a long one, it shows your compassion and could push you over the hump—depending on the employer.

You are a matchless person who brings plenty to the table as a job candidate.  Show off those irreplaceable skills that make you stand out from the dozens of other candidates competing for the same opportunity.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Does your passion come across in your resume and cover letter?  When a hiring manager reads your resume can he tell that you’re passionate about what you do?  If you want to show the hiring manager that you’re passionate about what you do and that you’ll bring that enthusiasm and zeal to your new position here are three ways to do that:

1. Use quotes and recommendations from previous supervisors.  Someone else’s viewpoint will reinforce your talent, passion, and brand.
2. Accomplishment-based statements substantiate the results and value you would bring to the employer.
3. A personal branding statement is a great way to communicate your passion and vision for what you do—as well as what you’re known for.

Create a focused, branded, and passion-filled resume and cover letter—wrapped nicely in a compelling presentation—and you’ve packaged yourself in a way that will secure interviews.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Job history dates before 1990. Though it doesn’t seem like that long ago, listing dates prior to the 90s not only holds little relevance, but communicates your age. This can leave you subject to ageism – or getting tossed aside for fear you may ask for too high of a salary or be gearing up for retirement. A good way to present relevant job information for that time is to list it as “Additional Experience” and simply include your title and company (and a sentence or two about your accomplishments there). This leaves only the most relevant, current information in the spotlight without letting them know you were around before the internet.

Your high school education or unfinished college degrees. Showing this information unintentionally communicates that you lack relevant education and are desperate to put something – anything – in the education section of your resume. While it is best to leave off pre-college education and incomplete higher ed, you still have options such as:

1. If you are close to finishing and/or have a large number of credit hours, it is fine to list the degree something like this:
   112 credit hours towards B.S., Business Administration, University of Florida (Graduation: Fall 2011)

1. Instead of college, list relevant academic trainings such as trade certifications, designations, certificates of completion, etc. that you have received. These give the hiring manager assurance that you have an academic background and follow-through.

1. Leave off your education section altogether so as to draw attention away from the subject altogether. Not an optimal choice, but it may raise fewer red flags than including a weak education section.

Your address – if your targeted job is far away. Simply put, if you are planning a move to L.A., don’t list your New York address!  Hiring managers see this as an expense (relocation costs), drain on resources (scheduling hassles, conference call interviewing, etc.) – basically a logistical nightmare. If you are planning a move and have an address or P.O. Box in your new city already, feel free to list that. If not, you may opt to just put your current city and state. However, it would be misleading to put the new city and state if you have not established residence there. I have even worked with candidates who chose not to include a location at all for various reasons.

It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to write a resume. By trying to fit the mold of a “typical resume”, you may be doing more harm than good and closing yourself off from some great job opportunities. So, get a friend to read your resume and tell you if aspects like the ones above are limiting you and your career.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

And a cover letter can indeed be a powerful tool that introduces you and catches the attention of your potential employer, making them interested in learning more about you in your resume. Therefore, I would advice presenting your cover letter right there in the email itself.

Here is a quick guide for how to do that:

Preparing your cover letter: Open your cover letter in Word and take a look at it. Is it more than three paragraphs long? If so, edit it down by removing the most irrelevant information. While a printed cover letter may be perfectly suitable at five to six paragraphs, an “electronic” letter (one sent in an email) should be far shorter.  This is because people tend to skim over words on a computer screen and hiring managers are likely not to finish reading a long email. Once you get your cover letter to a suitable length, copy and paste it into a new email.

Introduction: Formal printed cover letters need a traditional business letter template, but email cover letters are acceptable with a simple “Dear Mr. Jacobs,” (or “Dear Sir or Madam,” if your contact is unknown).

Salutation: Resist the temptation to insert an electronic signature. Some email systems do not pick up HTML and your signature image will not go through, so your salutation will appear incomplete. Simply type your name followed by your contact information (phone number and email address). Note: If possible, avoid using your current company’s email; opt instead to use a personal email account.

Subject Field: Be sure your subject field is clear and succinct. A simple “David Andrews’ resume” will suffice. You may also choose to include the position to which you are applying or even the job posting number.

Attachments: DO NOT forget to attach your resume!!

In the digital age, applying for jobs electronically is a whole new – and more competitive – ball game. But, including your cover letter in the email itself makes the presentation of your resume more organized and more likely to get noticed.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Breakable Rule #1: Resumes must be one page. This rule flies out the window once you gain ten or so years of professional experience – especially if you have a lot to show for your experiences. However, the old rule still stands that it needs to be either one or two full pages – never present a page-and-a-half as it looks like you ran out of steam along the way.

Breakable Rule #2: Resumes must start with an objective. No, no, no! Objectives are passé and focus too much on you. Start your resume with a bold, attention-getting title and a short, concise summary paragraph stating what you have to offer – not what you want from your career. This sets a commanding and powerful tone for the rest of your resume.

Breakable Rule #3: Resumes should give a detailed account of your history. Wrong. You should leave the reader interested in learning more about your history instead of explaining every detail in your resume. Tell them you increased sales by 50% after orchestrating a massive marketing campaign, but save the details for the interview.

Breakable Rule #4: Resumes must present employment, education, and tech skills. Period. There are so many other relevant talents and experiences you have to offer! Not only should you list memberships, awards, additional languages, corporate trainings, certifications, etc., but you should list them in order to present yourself in the best light. If you just finished your Master’s degree and your work experience is limited, list education first. If you are in IT, list your technical competencies first. Grab their attention right away with what YOU have to offer.

Breakable Rule #5: Resumes should be in Times New Roman. The fastest way to bore a reader is to use Times New Roman like everyone else. It is okay to get a bit creative with Garamond, Book Antiqua, or even Candara. However, stay away from fonts that may be difficult to read (Mistral, Vivaldi) or are too cutsy (Lucida, Pristina).

Your resume is your best marketing tool and it should be organized, compelling, and unique. Don’t be afraid to make yourself stand out by breaking the old, outdated resume rules!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Many of the clients I work with put themselves through graduate programs years into their career, while they were working full-time.  This is no small feat!  If you know anyone who has gone to grad school while they were working, you probably remember that period of their life as one of high stress and limited play.  However, making this career move almost always pays off with greater career opportunities and a higher salary.  It requires (and displays) real ambition to return to school when you already have a job.  So, if you’re one of the many people who has done this, one way to highlight it on your resume is to stick it right into the job summary:

Manager, ABC Company

Managed a department of 20 employees.  Directed all sales and billing.  Earned MBA while working full-time.

Many job seekers have also performed years of consulting services on the side.  Some do not include this on their resume, as they think of it as irrelevant additional information.  Not so!  If you have the business wherewithal to handle some amount of self-employment in addition to your regular job, that’s a valuable skill.  And even if you don’t end up getting the job for which you applied, you may just gain yourself a new client!

Another way to spark great interview conversation is by including any education or work relevant to your personal passions or hobbies.  I’m not suggesting that you put “likes to play golf” on your resume, but if you’re good enough to have won numerous tournaments, that shows dedication and skill that most people don’t possess.  I recently worked with a woman who had taken more than 30 classes at her local culinary school over the years.  I jokingly asked her if her retirement plan was to open a restaurant, and guess what … it was!

Ninety-nine percent of your resume’s content should relate directly to the position you’re targeting.  However, don’t be afraid to sprinkle in a few sentences that differentiate you from the other candidates in the pile.  After all, hiring managers want to work with interesting people!

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Among the advice:

Avoid The Use Of Pronouns

Using the words “I” “he”, “she” etc. in the resume does not leave good impact on the employers. It rather seems weird. Use of pronouns in the resume shows your amateurish and unprofessional nature. Actually there is no need to use pronouns as it is but obvious that the resume is about you.

and…

Use Bullets And Numbering

Bullets and numberings make a resume readable; therefore it is important to use the numberings or bullets in the resume. It also makes your resume look neat.

Check out the full list here.

Want an example? Here’s what you should try to avoid.

George Jones is a globally experienced broker and trader with significant, progressive brokerage experience and expertise.

This isn’t just a tip for executive resumes. It’s good advice for anyone trying to get a job. Avoid the third person at all costs. It will hurt your credibility as an applicant.