Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions

Answers

Our Services

Should I pay for a professional service when a friend has a computer? They could use it to create my resume?

It's true that many people have personal computers and even resume templates, but this does not mean they understand effective resume composition. Your resume should be unique, like yourself, reflecting your personal and professional ideals. A professional service understands strategies of how to express your strengths while leaving out the "red flags" that so often sabotage job search efforts. Without qualified coaching, individuals will usually sell themselves short when describing their employment and training experiences.

How can a Career Evaluation help me get a job?

Whether you are seeking entry-level employment or if you're a seasoned professional, you will benefit from the job-matching power of a Career Evaluation. The evaluation increases confidence about career direction and reveals new horizons, describing how an individual matches job requirements. It makes a winning addition to your interviewing portfolio. It effectively reinforces qualifications on a resume. The employer sees required skills substantiated.

What is an Interviewing / Professional Portfolio and is it important for a job search?

To get hired in any work place today, you need an ever-increasing amount of proof that you can do more than what is written in a job description. A portfolio can be that proof. It's a snapshot of your career history and accomplishments, neatly categorized with dividers and title pages in an attractive binder. You don't have to be looking for a new job to create a promotional tool. A portfolio may even make the difference between a pay increase or promotion!

Who really uses an electronic or scannable resume?

Besides using the traditional visual resume on paper, all job seekers may benefit from the technology of the Internet with two additional types of resumes: electronic and scannable. An electronic resume web page advertises a job seeker's abilities to literally thousands of sites while maintaining confidentiality. A scannable resume allows keywords about your job skills to be searched by employers on the web. These professionally posted resumes target and attract the attention of busy decision makers.

I want to know more about self-improvement both in the work place and my personal life. What would you recommend?

The Behavioral Profile is an instrument evaluating your communication style. This information will step you through the process of understanding behavioral styles, and how your style is perceived by others. Learning more about yourself will identify strengths, enhance self-confidence, increase your understanding of others and pinpoint areas for improvement. The profile will help you understand the reactions of those around you and to minimize conflict, strengthen personal relationships, enhance job satisfaction and boost teamwork.

Should I have an electronic resume posted nationally if I don't intend to move?

Yes. A resume professionally posted on the Internet has a high probability of being received by large companies with local branches. Corporations search the Web geographically to find qualified workers for their local divisions. A professional resume service will assist you in choosing geographic preferences, confidentiality clauses and keyword selections. That is how great matches are made. Professional mass distribution of a personal resume web page is a key to success in learning who is interested in your qualifications, quickly, easily and cost-effectively.

Other than resumes and cover letters, are there other types of professional correspondence services I should be aware of?

Yes. Written communication is extremely important in completing the personal and professional development picture. Growing emphasis on speed in communication requires business letters that are clearly understood the first time through. It is important to write an interest-arousing first sentence and a persuasive closing line. Writing professionally is not just for the job search. One needs to be encouraging in letters of complaint. Be polite, yet positive to reach a solution. Effective "requests for action" are necessary to make a sales letter sell, to collect money or retain goodwill. Organization of thought is vital to apologize and to express sympathy. Remember that creative writing is instrumental for successful job applications and effectively designed portfolios.

How can Career Evaluations help me with Job Placement?

Employers and job seekers look for the same thing: a good match. A Career Evaluation helps with a direction for you. Career Evaluations can be the first step to successful job placement assistance. Professional employee referrals are made after matching the Career Evaluation results to an employer's job description. Employers benefit from this pre-employment screening process.

Do I need more than one type of resume?

Other than the standard visual resume, job seekers benefit from the technology of the Internet with two additional types of resumes: electronic and scannable. The Internet provides "resume banks" that are searched daily. Resume 4 Success, a professional resume service, makes this puzzling process effective and available to those who don't even own a computer! A resume web page advertises a job seeker's abilities. Professionally posted resumes attract the attention of busy decision makers.

With the New Year approaching, I want to know more about self-improvement both in the work place and my personal life. What would you recommend?

The Behavioral Profile is a process evaluating your communication style. This information will step you through the process of understanding behavioral styles, and how your unique style is perceived by others. Learning more about yourself will identify strengths, enhance self-confidence, increase your understanding of others and pinpoint areas for improvement. The profile will help you understand the reactions of those around you and to minimize conflict, strengthen personal relationships, enhance job satisfaction and boost teamwork.

I'm 42 and interested in going to college. I'm not sure where to begin. Help!

Adults in transition need realistic advice. Preface your educational decision with information. Career Evaluations match careers with your existing strengths and potential. By recognizing your transferable skills, perhaps a resume and some job-search strategies are all you need. If education is still desired, the Career Evaluations help match your career goal with the college major or technical training necessary. Consider utilizing your life experience credits qualifications, and remember to ask about the many ways to obtain financial aid.

Do I really need a resume to get a job?

There are many good reasons to have a resume, but it is not the only tool for your job search. Be careful ... a poorly prepared resume can be used to screen you out! A more important ingredient is having the ability to communicate your qualifications. With or without a resume, even qualified applicants can be eliminated if they cannot communicate their skills properly. Even though some jobs don't require a resume, having one prepared will help structure your communication and improve your ability to handle the interview --- where the real action is!

I'm unhappy in my job but I can't make a career change right now. What can I do?

Happiness in the workplace, at home or in relationships is often the result of Communication Techniques. The best communicators know themselves, recognize the demands of the situation and adapt strategies to meet those needs. When employees communicate well, they are "in sync" and teamwork occurs with less stress. People negotiate better, speak more convincingly and listen effectively. There is an atmosphere of trust, cooperation and mutual respect. Most people want to communicate and work more harmoniously with others. A Behavioral Style Analysis can help you understand your communication style and will help bring happiness and harmony to your workplace. "Learn to capitalize on your strengths!"

Who benefits from a Career Evaluation?

Career Evaluations benefit everyone--people of all ages and varying circumstances. Junior high school students need curriculum direction and high school students seek vocational and continuing education alternatives. College students require assistance in choosing a major field of study. The current trend in corporate downsizing, reorganization and plant closings force many people into job transition and into asking questions about their direction. A Career Evaluation is useful for others who look towards furthering their education, women facing "empty nest syndrome" and displaced homemakers needing information about their options. Even employers profit by learning the true abilities and traits of their employees through Career Evaluations. "Our goal is to help you reach yours."

I'm a graduating senior and still not sure of a career. Is it too late to start planning?

It isn't too late. Choosing a career is an important decision at any stage of life. To ensure the greatest probability for success, you need accurate information and careful planning. Career Evaluations systematically match your Interests, Abilities, and Values to an ideal career direction. A personalized report provides information on educational requirements, salary expectations, job growth expectations and more. Don't wait . . . Start creating your future today!

If I just need a job, what benefit is a Career Evaluation rather than simply sending my resume?

Career Evaluations allow you to pinpoint your specific strengths regarding Skills, Interests, and Values. With a Career Evaluation, your personal traits will be matched with the actual job description for an available position. Your resume, as a result, is accurately customized. Your qualifications will stand out to employers. Both you and your potential employers will realize what you honestly can bring to new positions. This quality matching increases job satisfaction in temporary or transitional situations, as well as the job of your choice. Don't wait . . .Start creating your future today!

What does the Free Needs assessment do for me?

The Needs assessment determines where you need help. Resume 4 Success will determine your unique coaching needs from that assessment. For example, if we determine you already have a goal in mind, we will not need the career evaluations, and we'll start with your resume development. Part of that process is the Behavioral Profiling to ensure we glean your soft skill and that we write in your voice. We'll also use your personal traits to match your marketing documents to the appropriate job description. Your resume, as a result, is accurately customized. Your qualifications will stand out to employers, and you will realize what you honestly can bring to new positions. This quality matching increases job satisfaction in temporary or transitional situations, as well as the job of your choice. Sending out a generic resume is like throwing darts blindfolded.

What is a Behavioral Profile and what can it do for me?

A Behavioral Profile is a scientifically-backed communication tool to help people understand "how and why" they act the way they do. A short assessment systematically identifies behavioral and communication style. Validity studies show results are 90%-95% accurate. Learning more about yourself will identify strengths, increase self-confidence, help in your understanding of others and pinpoint areas for improvement. The profile will help you understand the reactions of those around you and show you how to minimize conflict, strengthen personal relationships, enhance job satisfaction and boost teamwork. Resume 4 Success will Help You Discover Your Personal Best.

Why would I want to include information from my Behavioral Assessment on my resume?

A resume can be more appealing by providing information on what is important to you and what unique qualities you have. Employers often overlook valuable employees when a resume only lists previous jobs or experience. When your resume relates experience and skills with the appropriate Behavioral / Communication Style match, it is a Win/Win situation for the employer and the employee. Your inherent personality displays certain traits that are increasingly important to your long-term job satisfaction. The employer enjoys augmented productivity from a well-placed, fulfilled employee. The dominant strengths of your unique personality style should be highlighted.

Do I need more than one format of my resume?

Yes! A paper resume and electronic format are appropriate. Resume 4 Success, a professional resume service makes this puzzling process easy. A web page resume promotes your abilities quickly. The web page resume also includes text-only versions, necessary for email and job board posting campaigns. Properly posted professional resumes attract the attention of busy decision makers thus making their selection process easier.

With the emphasis on school starting soon, I've been reminded about my desire to go to college. As an adult, I'm not sure what I should do?

Adults in transition need realistic advice. Preface your educational decision with information. Career Evaluations match careers with your existing strengths and potential. By recognizing your transferable skills, perhaps a resume and a few job-search strategies are all you need. If education is still desired, the Career Evaluations help match your career goal with the college major or technical training necessary. Consider utilizing your life experience credits qualifications, and remember to ask about the many ways to obtain financial aid.

I'm unhappy in my job but I can't make a career change right now. Should I still take the Career Evaluation you provide?

Happiness in the workplace, at home or in relationships is often the result of Communication Techniques. The best communicators are those who know themselves, recognize the demands of the situation and adapt strategies to meet those needs. When employees communicate well, they are in sync and teamwork occurs with less stress. People negotiate better, speak more convincingly and listen effectively. There is an atmosphere of trust, cooperation and mutual respect. Most people want to communicate and work more harmoniously with others. The Behavioral Profiling Session, rather than the Career Evaluations offered by Resume 4 Success, can help you identify and understand your communication style and be more sensitive to the styles of those around you.

How much does it cost to write a resume and cover letter?

The investment in a resume and cover letter is based on the scope of your project. We consider the industry and position of your current and/or most recent experience. Then we need to know if your goal is based on that experience or if you are planning on a new career path. We also need to understand any significant gaps in your work history and we need to consider how many jobs you have had in what length of time. Once we have that information, we can typically determine what your investment would be in your resume and cover letter project. Of course, there are other factors to consider regarding your resume and cover letter project. We also like to learn more about your job search campaigns. It's likely that you will need more than a paper resume and / or an MS Word resume. You may need ASCII resumes too in addition to a PDF and even a web page resume. So the more we know about your goals and needs, the more we can customize our help to ensure you get what you need. Therefore, it's a challenge to quote a specific fee until we know a little more about you!

Interviewing

How can I prepare for a telephone pre-screening interview?

Often the questions asked are the same heard in a face-to-face interview: What are your major strengths? Weaknesses? Why does our company interest you? Your homework should be done in advance. Learn about the company and blend that information with the strengths you bring. Identify what information is important to find out about the company and use reliable resources. This knowledge, in combination with results from your professional Behavioral Assessment, provides you accuracy and confidence.

My interview is at a restaurant? Why interview while eating?

Behavior at a meal communicates volumes about how you behave in business. Companies know good manners and appropriate socialization skills are a mandatory part of doing business. Your place setting is your desk, reflecting your level of professionalism, neatness and attention to detail. Professionalism can be assessed at a meal regarding your confidence level, communication skills, decision-making abilities, organizational and leadership skills, patience and even how you maneuver in difficult situations. The way you work with clients, prospects and colleagues can be seen as you deal with restaurant staff. If you'd like to have some suggestions on interviewing while eating out, email us at clientinfo@resume4success.com and ask for the newsletter on Interviewing Over Dinner.

I find job interviews so intimidating and stressful. What can I do?

You will be more comfortable by having confidence that you are right for the position and by knowing what to expect during the interview. Interview preparation is crucial. Realize most interviews last about 60 minutes. Be familiar with the traditional, informational and customized style interviews. Learn the seven phases to the interview process. Practice answering the ten frequently asked questions. Set interview goals to prepare for the successful and comfortable interview.

Job Searching

What's the best way to uncover job leads?

Job-seekers must use every avenue available to them and consider job-hunting a full-time job. They must attend local events, such as Chamber of Commerce mixers and events, industry-specific meetings, children's PTA meetings, Rotary Club meetings, or even a local Toastmasters group. Job-seekers must provide every friend, relative, former co-worker, and acquaintance the opportunity to see and share a resume. Give them your resume web page address, using your Resume 4 Success net working card and let them know they are seeking employment. Actually walking through town and delivering networking cards or resucard to local businesses of choice should be done weekly. Job-seekers should research every company they want to work for and visit their web sites. They must become familiar with current corporate issues and corporate concerns. They should send resumes to each company and then follow-up. Job-seekers should identify others who are in the same or similar career fields and request meetings for informational interviewing. Talking with others who are employed in the same occupation creates name awareness, further job leads, and information about local meetings and groups of interest. Networking is still the key and still achieves amazing results!

With an unemployment rate at 10%, how can I hope to get a job?

Effective resume preparation accompanied with job-search coaching / personal branding, and perhaps a "dose of reality" is part of the process. Finding a job is not always easy. However, with a clear objective, understanding of your marketplace value, development of a top-notch resume, and job-search action planning, you can be successful in ANY job market. The unemployment rate could be 25%, and you can be successful by using good career management skills.

How can a Career Evaluation help me get a job?

My job search is going nowhere! I have been responding to ads by sending out my resume, but nothing happens. What's missing?

A successful job search often requires the strategy and guidance of a professionally customized program. Job seekers require different combinations and concentrations of services. Career coaches determine services, which match your needs, from detailed career evaluations to customized business correspondence, including a resume that's tailored with your overall strategy in mind. Resume 4 Success will customize your program, provide effective materials and assist with your job search strategy.

Are there any advantages to using computerized job search techniques with a professional service?

Yes, finding current occupational information is notoriously difficult. The computer can cross-reference information from The Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Worker Traits Data Book and other sources. These computerized resources provide quick, easy access to information on 30,000 occupations. Professionals easily pinpoint accurate job descriptions, necessary education, salary, future outlook, and guide you into the hidden job market. Interactive software can sharpen your interviewing skills. With Internet access assistance, job-seekers can post resumes and visit sites listing companies looking for employees in their field.

Should I Hang Up My Job Search For The Holidays?

Many have asked if the holiday season is a good time for a job search. Well, spruce up your resume, hone those networking skills, and get ready for one of the hottest times of year to look for that dream job. The holidays are prime time for job searches because companies often partially fund new positions in their annual budgets, meaning they are looking to hire in the third and fourth quarters. January hires will be job seekers who were active in November and December. December hires will have been active in October and November. Don't forget that many businesses, for example retailers and companies like UPS, hire temporary help during the holiday season. A temporary position can be a gateway to permanent employment. Use a temporary position to make a positive impression. If you aren't immediately offered permanent employment the door will be open to you in the future. Holiday parties and other events are great networking opportunities. Prepare to take advantage of these occasions. Identify people you would like to reach. Identify people that can help you make the connection, perhaps they know the individual directly, or they may know someone else who has direct or indirect ability to access your targeted person. When talking to people at a holiday get together be attentive and be a good listener. These are traits that create positive impressions. Casually bring conversations around to your job search by asking people what it is that they do. You will get the benefit of that information for your job search and they will likely ask you the same thing in return. This is your opportunity to explain that you aren't currently working, and that you are looking for an opportunity, but that it has to be the right fit. You won't sound like you are begging for a job. Create a business style card that includes some brief information about you that may be helpful to a recruiter or hiring manager. Keep a supply of cards with you at all times and hand them to everyone with whom you come into contact. A good way to pass your card to someone without appearing pushy is to first ask a person for his/her card. As they give you the card you simply give them your card in return. Best wishes for job hunting success this holiday season.

Career Coaching

Can a Professional Career Coach help me get a better job?

In today's job market, you will need every advantage to maintain a competitive edge. That's why Resume 4 Success offers professional resume and cover letter development services with the unique element of Behavioral Assessments included. Behavioral Assessments identify your special talents, your communication style and how your positive characteristics can be valuable in the workplace. Next, this information is emphasized in your cover letter and resume, allowing the interviewer to know just how your unique talents and transferable skills can benefit the prospective employer's business. Your marketing documents will be composed in "your voice" as we will have a clear understanding of your communication style and we will write accordingly. Successful job searching has become a very sophisticated process. By collecting information about your chronological history, accomplishments and through professional assessments, we can provide you a thorough and complete resume and cover letter package while providing you substantiating evidence of your personal strengths and value to an organization. Additionally, our behavioral assessment report will serve in your interview preparation as well as part of your interview portfolio. Your behavioral assessment report will help you:
1. Understand your own communication and behavioral style to better understand how to interact with others.
2. Prepare for a job interview with the information about your value to the organization by knowing your strengths and possible weaknesses and to be armed with descriptive word choices describing yourself, which are outlined in the report.
3. Utilize your behavioral report in either part or whole as components of their portfolio as substantiating material. It backs up what they are saying about yourself (via your professional assessment.)
4. Provide prospective management with information to create an environment conducive for productivity and also to assist the employer with strategic positioning. Resume 4 Success will provide the job search materials you will need to take control of your job search and show you how to use your job search materials to effectively search for the job you've always wanted.