In this article from U.S. News and World Report’s On Careers, Lindsay Olson explains The Ins and Outs of Providing References.

Read an excerpt of Olson’s article below. Read full article

You’ve likely been asked for references in an interview or during the application process. Rather than scrambling to pull a few together, you should have these all prepared well in advance and keep the reference information in one place.

Step 1: Create a Separate Document

You shouldn’t include references in your resume. You don’t want to risk a recruiter or hiring manager reaching out to your references prematurely or without permission. Instead, guard your references’ time and contact information as if it were your own. Fielding too many calls could make them think twice about offering their experiences working with you. To avoid this, keep your references noted on a separate document and send them along only when asked.

Read On

In this video from the Wall Street Journal’s News Hub, Lauren Weber explains what happens to your resume after it’s submitted online.

What Happens When you Submit a Resume Online

Read more about this topic in Weber’s article, Your Resume vs. Oblivion

In the SimplyHired.com blog, simplyblog, Martin Yate CPC explains, How to Handle the Five Killer Telephone Interview Questions.

Read an excerpt of Yate’s article below. Read Full Article

A telephone interview is usually short, just enough time to rule you in or out, so the focus is on questions that help evaluate you quickly. Your goal is to turn it into a face-to-face meeting, so your answers need to be concise. As a rule of thumb, keep your answers to less than two minutes, if an interviewer wants to know more s/he will ask.

“Tell me a little about yourself,”

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In this article for U.S. News and World Report, Alison Green explains, Everything You Need to Know About Submitting a Resume. 

Read and excerpt from Green’s article below. Read Full Article

Job seekers are constantly asking questions about the mechanics of submitting a resume to an employer: What file format should a resume be in? Should the cover letter be attached to the email, or sent in the body of the email itself? Does it matter what the file is named?

These are all minor issues, but ones that job seekers nonetheless can find themselves agonizing over. So let’s get these questions answered once and for all and eliminate any anxiety over this portion of a job search.

But before we do, here’s a hopefully obvious caveat: If an employer’s instructions contradict any of the below, you should follow those instructions instead. Curious job seekers, here are some answers to your questions:

What format should my resume be in—PDF or Microsoft Word?

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This article from Lifehacker answers the question, How Can I Make Sure My Resume Gets Past Resume Robots and into a Human’s Hand?

Read an excerpt from the Lifehacker article. Read Full Article

Dear Lifehacker,
I heard that a lot of companies use software to weed out “good” from “bad” resumes. How do those systems work, and is there anything I can do to improve my chances of my resume getting through the system and into the hands of a real person?

Thanks,
Resume Revamper

Dear RR,
It’s true: Employers and hiring managers are turning more than ever to resume screening software, thanks to the overwhelming number of job applications they get. It pays to know how these systems (called Applicant Tracking Systems or Automated Resume Screeners) work so you can make your resume more relevant to the job you’re applying for. Here’s a brief overview of how the software analyzes your resume and what you can do about it.

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In her blog for U.S. News & World Report, Alison Green explains How Parents Can Help Their Kids Look for a Job.

Advice from this article include:

• Don’t fill out or send in job applications for your child.
• Never, ever contact an employer on your child’s behalf.
• Teach your job-seeking child about professional demeanor.

LiveCareer article What Employers Want to Know About You, job seekers are advised what they should include in the resume that will stand out to recruiters.

Read an excerpt from this article. Read full article

One piece of advice you always hear resume experts give is to include “measurable results” in your resume. Numbers and percentages are like magnets that attract a hiring manager’s attention because they act as proof of what you’re capable of achieving.

Compare the following two statements:

• Skilled contract renewal negotiator.
• Successfully negotiated 100% of contract renewals totaling 2M revenue.

Which candidate would you choose? It’s easy to claim that you’re a skilled negotiator, but there’s no impact unless you provide context using tangible results.

Some people fear that including the numbers may reveal too much or may put them at a disadvantage for a higher-level position. My response to that is that not providing enough detail or quantifiable results will automatically put you out of the running. If you don’t back up your statements in your resume, a hiring manager is going to assume that you haven’t really done anything worth noting.

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New York Times article, When the First Interview is a Phone Call, Phyllis Korkki helps job seekers prepare for a phone interview.

Read an excerpt from Korkki’s article. Read Full Article

With companies sometimes receiving hundreds of applications for a single job, it is becoming more common for hiring managers to conduct initial screening interviews over the phone. This saves them considerable time and money — especially if a candidate lives out of town.

Don’t take these interviews lightly. “It is important to prepare for a telephone interview just as you would for a regular interview,” said Alison Doyle, a job search specialist for About.com, which is owned by The New York Times Company.

Read On

LiveCareer article, Students Need to be Prepared in Order to Land a Job Post-Graduation, college students are advised to start their job search preparation before graduation and get a jump on the job market.

Tips from this article include:

• Visit your college career center
• Build solid interviewing skills
• Network with alumni

In her blog for U.S. News & World Report, Miriam Salpeter counts down 5 Things You Need to Do do Get a Job.

Tips from this article include:

• Position yourself as an expert
• Communicate your value
• Optimize your resume