Resume Evaluation: Grammar and Spelling

This is one of series of articles being written by Alpha Dog Resumes.com explaining how the online resume writing service evaluates the thousands of resumes that are sent to it each year.

One of the ten criteria that is reviewed is Grammar and Spelling.  The resume is given a score of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score.

A score of 3 or lower indicates that your resume contains multiple grammatical and spelling errors.  Such errors are the easiest way to get kicked out of a job pool.  Software spell and grammar checks help, but do not solve the problem.  Some errors are difficult to find.

For example, is the following sentence grammatically correct?  Are there any spelling errors in the sentence?

“The combination of today’s difficult job market, the use of resume management software by HR Departments, and human nature dictates that your resume must focus on your accomplishments, contains the correct density and placement of key words and phrases, and avoid disqualifers that unfairly preclude you from getting that crucial job interview.”  There are two errors in the preceding sentence…did you spot them?

We correct these job killing errors.

Financial Aspects of a Job Search

If you are like many millions of Americans looking for work right now, the financial aspects of a job search impact your daily life.  Your bills keep coming even if the paycheck does not.  Here are several suggestions for making the best of the situation:

1.    Prepare a budget that honestly lists your monthly expenses and any residual income like unemployment benefits, severance pay, interest, dividends, etc.  This means that you must start keeping track of all your expenditures, even down to your Starbucks coffee.  For help here, consider budget management software such as Quicken - click here for more information.  For help in California with unemployment benefits, click here.

2.    Reduce your expenses in each and every category.  Start with the major expenses first.  For example, if possible, reduce your mortgage or rent payment through refinancing or renegotiation.  A mortgage broker or loan officer (such as Stephanie Gossett at Bank of America - click here for more information) can help you evaluate your options.  If you work hard it, you are likely to be able to cut your monthly outlays by at least 25%.

3.    Consider your actual job search expenses such as resume preparation fees, job search travel, etc.  Many of those expenses are tax deductible - learn more here.

4.    If you get into a real financial bind, consider government aid sources.  For example, San Francisco Bay Area residents can get help by just dialing 211 on their telephones - click here for more details.  For Federal government assistance, click here.

Prepare now so that you can Dominate Your Job Search_®.

Networking Suggestion

Networking is crucial in today’s job environment. Everyone knows that; but it is easier said than done. Randy Redding, an outstanding residential realtor in Marin County, California (randyredding.com), points out that you can network in many different ways, and one source that he uses is BNI, the world’s largest business referral group (BNI.com). BNI helps small businesses network by providing referrals to members of the organization, but it can also help with job seekers. Attend a BNI meeting in your community, and you will meet people who can provide you with invaluable job search advice. And if you end up starting your own business instead of taking a job with someone else, BNI can help you there too.

Think outside of the box when networking in order to Dominate Your Job Search_®.

How “Hidden Disqualifiers” in a Resume Can Kill Your Job Chances

How old are you?

Have you ever been unemployed?

How often have you changed jobs?

What’s this about owning your own business?

Your answers to these questions may be perfectly reasonable. Your answers may actually suggest that you are a perfect employee, person, friend, family man or woman and community member.

Your answers may also unfairly prevent you from ever getting a job interview. Without interviews, you will get no job.

Perhaps you are over 40 and have great experience, you took time off from work to travel the world to learn about art, you changed jobs 3 times in 5 years because you kept getting better and higher paying job offers and you started a successful business on your own straight out of college.

Or, in the eyes of the HR person, you are too old to respond to rapid change, you must not be very good at what you do since you could not find a job for a couple of years, you are indecisive or worse because you cannot stay in one position and you do not take supervision well since you want to run your own business.

Which way will you be viewed?

When looking for a new job, your resume must eliminate any chances that you will be perceived poorly. It must do it in a completely honest way that will not cause you problems later in the job process. You cannot predict how people react to these types “hidden disqualifiers.” Prejudice, preconceptions and generalizations abound in this world.

Ensure that your resume eliminates these unfair issues. AlphaDogResumes.com can help you Dominate Your Job Search®.