In a world where the average worker now changes jobs nine times before age 32 (USA Today, March 2, 1999), it's easy to believe the news reports of today's workplace being a far different planet from the one you inhabited in your first job. Though there are plenty of "cutting-edge" IPO start-ups out there full of young people bumping around the office, scarfing pizza at yelling at each other at 3 a.m., the world of work isn't that different from when you left it. Sure, things move faster today, and lifetime employment is no guarantee, but landing a job after retirement uses most of the tools you've handled, with some modern touch-ups.
Fine-Tuning Your Job Search
Jobs can be easy to come by these days, but finding the perfect one means targeting your search to the right people and - as always - following protocol to assure a polished image.
The Resume
Your main objective should be to tell the reader exactly what you can offer his or her company - quickly! More than ever, time-crunched employees don't have time to sort through piles of information to figure out if you're the right candidate. With that in mind, here are some tips for updating your resume. Skip some traditional extras. You can omit the "objective" statement as well as "References available upon request" - employers know you should have these ready. List your hobbies and interests only if they relate to your potential job. Keep information readable. Try to keep your resume to one page, and paragraphs to under six or seven lines.
Be clear and concise. Action verbs such as "managed" and "wrote" have a much stronger impact - and save more space - than declarative phrases such as "I managed" and I wrote," and passive wording such as "was responsible for managing."
Use "measureable" achievements. Talking about how you "improved telephone customer-service efficiency" isn't near as effective as telling how you "increased customer calls answered by 30% per day." Use impeccable spelling and grammar. Even if you're not searching for a writing job, spelling and grammar mistakes can sink your job search. Have a friend double-check your resume, and use software packages that offer spelling and grammar checks. Some outplacement services include resume development.
Don't lie! If an exaggeration (or worse, a misrepresentation) on your resume isn't uncovered now by a potential employer, it could catch up to you later in the form of disappointment when you don't meet job expectations this "achievement" set up for your new firm. Misrepresenting vital facts such as previous employment or educational credentials can be grounds for dismissal if discovered.
