PROPHECY

house of praise, mississauga, canada
Career Corner
How to write a Resume that will not get tossed out of the pile!
Adapted from David Silverman’s article in the Harvard Business Review Blog
( June 5, 2009)
We all know that there are more jobs being
lost than created, and that each opening will get
dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants. In our
fear to avoid saying anything that might get our
résumé tossed out of the pile, we end up saying
nothing at all. The best you can do is try to achieve
the maximum content with minimum peculiarity.
Here’s a list of nine things to make your résumé
stand a better chance of survival:
Get the formatting right
Line up bullet points, dates and headings.
Uneven spacing will get you questioned about
skills that have nothing to do with what you
can do on the job. Learn to always put dates
flushed against the right margin.
Insert dates for everything
If you have got a gap, explain it in your cover
letter. But do not leave the dates off a job or a
degree. Maybe you are worried they will think
you are too old or too young — but at best you
will look sloppy.
Fill up on the buzzwords
Yes, buzzwords are typically “bad” for clarity, but
you have to get past the HR department first, and
they are screening for matches with the words in
the job description.
Choose verbs that mean something
“Assisted,” “Worked on,” “Contributed to” and so
on don’t convey much to a prospective employer.
Instead, say what you did: “Wrote,” “Designed,”
or “Managed.” The more specific, the better.
Rewrite your résumé for each job application
If you really want a job, your prospective
employer is not going to be impressed by your
inability to adjust one 3-page document to meet
their needs. Highlight the top 3 to 7 things you
have done that match up with the requirements
of the job.
The further into your past, the less detail you
should have
Do not have 13 bullets on a job from 10 years
ago.
Keep it short
A five-page résumé may be justified, but you
have got to make it clear through headings and
organization why you need so much space. If
you have got a list of publications or industry
conferences you have spoken at, great, but put
it at the end as a separate section.
No typos
Your résumé is like the restroom in a restaurant,
the one room everyone sees. If you cannot keep
that clean, what is it like in the kitchen?
Walk The Talk
All our dreams can come true, if we
have the courage to pursue them.
- Walt Disney
Entrepreneurial
Intelligence
Should You Be An Entrepreneur?
Adapted from Daniel Isenberg’s article on the Harvard Business Review blog
(February 12, 2010)
There are strong internal drivers that compel
people to create their own business. Daniel
Isenberg developed a 2–minute Entrepreneur
Test (below) to help you find out. Just answer
yes or no. Be honest with yourself.
1. I don’t like being told what to do by
people
2. I like challenging myself.
3. I like to win.
4. I like being my own boss.
5. I always look for new and better
ways to do things.
6. I like to question conventional
wisdom.
7. I like to get people together in order
to get things done.
8. People get excited by my ideas.
9. I am rarely satisfied or complacent.
10. I can’t sit still.
11. I can usually work my way out of a
difficult situation.
12. I would rather fail at my own thing
than succeed at someone else’s.
13. Whenever there is a problem, I am
ready to jump right in.
14. I think old dogs can learn and even
invent new tricks.
15. Members of my family run their
own businesses.
16. I have friends who run their own
businesses.
17. I worked after school and during
vacations when I was growing up.
18. I get an adrenaline rush from selling
things.
19. I am exhilarated by achieving results.
20. I could have written a better test
than Isenberg!
If you answered “yes” on 17 or more of these
questions, look at your paycheck. If the company
that issued the check is not owned by you, it is
time for some soul searching and for you to start
thinking about what kind of business you want
to set up. It does not matter what age you are.
Talk to people who have made the plunge, learn
how to plan and deliver a product or service,
think about that small business you might buy,
talk to people with whom you would like to
work, and talk to customers.
2 lives inspired for excellence