How's the job market?

by Terrie Osborn, CPRW

“How’s the job market?” new clients frequently ask. The underlying question is: How quickly do you think I can find a new job?

Those might seem like tough questions. Here’s another one: How is it that many people move swiftly from old positions to new, while others get stuck in between indefinitely?

The answers are that the job market is as good or bad as you decide it’s going to be, and you can change jobs very quickly if you decide to do so.

There are lots of reasons why people leave jobs. Sometimes it’s voluntary – they’re exercizing their right to move on. Some clients leave jobs under less than perfect circumstances—they were, for example, ‘let go’ for whatever reason. That can be devastating!  Even so, here’s the thing: It’s not what happens to us that determines our level of happiness or sadness, it’s how we choose to respond to it.

Lounging on the couch all day in pajamas watching TV is certainly an option, but chances are high the new job won’t simply show up at your door and you’ll never leave the living room.

Using time between positions to research—on the internet, at the library, by talking to others, through a self-evaluation such as is available in the book “What Color Is Your Parachute?” or just by listening to the song coming from your own heart—will begin to magnetize a new job to you. Put the energy out there, and you’re sure to create what you want. Treating the job search as a full-time job—even as a part-time job—at which you spend 20, 30, 40 hours per week, will rapidly bring you and your next employer together.

Like everything else in life, jobfinding is what you make it. It never ceases to amaze me how often people are deep down not surprised that they’ve been let go from a job. They could see it coming, but maybe ignored it. Or they didn’t like the job/boss/industry anyway, so the shock of having been let go is mixed with a great sense of relief.

I’ve also come to believe—from watching happen over and over again—that there’s ALWAYS a new/better job awaiting those who need to (or want to) change jobs. That’s why the old one ended, because the new one became ready for you to make your way to it. You do have to make your way to it, though.

You can track the gloom reports in the news and resign yourself to the couch, or you can approach jobfinding as a great adventure. Choose to believe that what you want IS out there for you and make up your mind that you're going to find it. It's possible that the new job will exceed even your wildest expectations - why not?! It happens to other people, why not you!

Toast Of The Resume Industry Awards

For a resume writer, the big prize is a Toast Of The Resume Industry—TORI—Award. It's a global competition, and resume writers from all over the world submit their best work for review and judging by a jury of their peers. Only nine First Place/Best-In-Class TORI Awards were conferred this year, in October, and I won one..!


Career Directors International hosts the TORI competition, which is recognized as the resume writing industry’s most prestigious and difficult contest.

In a recent press release, the President of CDI, Laura DeCarlo, stated “Winning a TORI Award represents the pinnacle of resume writing expertise within the industry. Being recognized as ‘one of the best’ by your peers is an accolade that very few get to savor. We are proud of the achievements in the resume writing and careers industry, because it encourages our members to strive for excellence.” 



Professional resume writers submitted entries for the TORI Awards in June, and a panel of the industry’s top writers judged the submissions. Up to seven entries were nominated in each category, and CDI officers made the final ruling. Winners were announced on October 16th in San Diego during CDI’s 10th annual convention.

CDI administers continuing education, testing, and certification to professional résumé writers and career coaches, raising the bar and setting new standards for career professionals worldwide.

Have you recently 'lost' your job?

Fired. Laid off. Let go. Downsized. Terminated. Got done.

You ‘got done’ at your job today, recently, last month, last year. You say you still don’t really know why. Or, you do know really why and it’s not fair. And you’re falling into a downward spiral, headed toward the (dreaded) Pit of Despair. Or maybe you’re already there, in the Pit, and can’t figure out how to get out. Can’t think straight. Don’t even know who you are any more.

If it’s any consolation, it happens to just about everybody at some point in their lives.

Why You Shouldn't Write Your Own Resume

Someone asked me the other day, "So, what are the biggest mistakes that people make when they write their own resumes?" My immediate response was "People just have no idea about how to create their own resumes," which I pretty quickly realized wasn't much of an answer. I've been thinking about what the better answer would be, and here it is:

Network Your Way To A New Job

Jobfinding can be a challenge, but generally speaking, the best way to find a new job is through networking and searching proactively. In other words, instead of only posting your resume on an on-line job board and waiting to be found, connecting with everyone you know personally and professionally about your job searching, and reaching out to others you may not know but who may be in a position to help you.

Facebook: Friend or Foe?

Networking can be a jobhunter's best friend, and social networking is a big part of networking in general these days. When it comes to information you're putting out on line about yourself, moderation is the key—especially on Facebook ... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/fashion/09privacy.html?adxnnl=1&ref=general&src=me&adxnnlx=1273428109-5Hn8ypB6gBgKcVwgu7XULA

Tips For Creating A Great Resume

Be honest with yourself about your resume.

Is your resume getting you the interviews you want? Are you proud of how it represents you? A good quality resume opens the door to interviews. Statistics say resumes get a first glance of less than ten seconds from an employer. Amateurish-looking, un-focused resumes containing poorly presented information and/or incorrect formatting, wording, grammar, and spelling, quickly end up in the ‘do not call’ pile. If your current resume is getting you interviews—great! But if it's not, consider hiring a professional for a dramatic improvement.

Think about what an employer wants to read.
Most people create resumes that they think make them sound impressive. While certainly you should feel proud of shooting an 8 point buck, starring in the high school play, and being the all-time roller derby champ at the local roller rink, if an employer isn't looking for a hunter or championship roller skater, it might be better left off. You want a resume that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, experience, and especially accomplishments, that your prospective employer is looking for. A credentialed resume writer knows what employers want to see on resumes, and will position you in the most favorable light to an employer. They can focus you in a way that offers huge payoffs and makes all the difference between getting the interviews you want and not getting interviews at all.

Include everything relevant to the position you seek.
If you think your first job out of college is irrelevant because it’s in a different industry than you are in now, think again. Employers look at more than just titles held—they look for initiative, and transferable skills. Sometimes it’s better to show jobs that are slightly off your chosen career path in the interest of reporting your complete job experiences. Include all the background information you can think of—job history, accomplishments, educational achievements and professional affiliations. A professional resume writer can help you spin a job held long ago or a short career with a certain company into a bit of gold. It's better to include everything, to start, and then tailor the presentation according to the job you seek.

Leverage technology to look your best.
Resumes have become increasingly dynamic and sophisticated over the past 10 to 15 years, mostly due to advances in personal computers. The sophistication of word processing programs, in addition to increasing printer quality, has emboldened many job seekers to try to create resumes on their own. Many of these do-it-yourselfers may look good on paper, however, they lack the writing skills to create resumes that land interviews. A professional resume writer provides both the writing skills to ensure your skills are well represented and a well formatted, nicely designed resume, rich with content and compelling details. In addition, pros stay current on new techniques, developments and improvements in the resume writing and career management industries and then apply this knowledge to all the resumes they create.

Look for a credentialed resume writer.
Anybody who can type can say they can write resumes, but can they? There are several, equally good, resume writer credentials in existence today and accreditation indicates the writer knows her stuff. Resume writer credentials are achieved through proven abilities at mastering the English language, grammar and spelling, combined with dedication and commitment to the art and craft of resume writing.