Resumes, and Alternatives!
February 1, 2010
When we’re faced with a job search–by our own dissatisfaction or by someone else’s decision to let us go–one of the first concerns is our resume. Know that it’s a piece of the “How do I get a Job” puzzle, but is often given more credit that it deserves. To save yourself time and money, check out the book, What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. This wonderful book, revised annually, is written by Richard Bolles; I think of him as the grandfather of making career counseling familiar to the general public.
In Parachute, see Chapter 5, Resumes and Contacts. Here he talks about the limitations and values of a resume, and recommends cover letters and job-portfolios as alternatives. There’s also a great section on how to jog your memory to come up with achievements (for resumes and interviews), and how to network with your contacts for help. More soon about these topics.
For an easier, more effective job search campaign, I highly recommend, especially in light of today’s economy, a current edition of What Color Is Your Parachute? as a reference book throughout the process. I trust and recommend all that Bolles writes; it’s well researched, clear, very helpful. Actually, the beginning of my career counseling work, even before I started working on my master’s degree, was reading this book years ago, and sharing what I was learning and using myself with returning adult students looking for new careers.
Networking for Fun and Ideas!
December 12, 2009
Any time we get to know people and genuinely connect with them is great! It’s enjoyable and often good for reciprocal business leads. I want to tell you about an especially wonderful networking experience I had today.
I have these two delightful, ambitious girlfriends; we’ve been friends for years, and were meeting for lunch once a week for the past couple years. In the past two months we got hooked on hiking together on Saturday mornings. We share what we’ve been doing in our lives and in our work, and ask each other for the help we’d like to receive and offer the assistance we’d love to give.
This gets more and more exciting, as the skills and knowledge we have are utilized to assist one another. Recently one offered to assist the other two with powering up our websites to attract more clients, and asked in return for us to tell others about the good results we’re getting. Easy enough to do!! Another asked us to be part of a brainstorming group for a project she’s working on, and we may become a part of this project, a very large and inspiring project. I was asked by one to take a photo of her for her website; we took pictures this morning, she chose one, and the third friend (the techy one) put the photo onto the friend’s site this afternoon.
Think about ways you and your friends can collaborate and assist one another. It’s great fun to receive assistance and to share talents. Enjoy!