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While working for one firm, I decided I needed to move on. I felt my boss did not appreciate what he really had in me and that my skills would not be furthered under his management.I applied for - and got - an interview with a major high-tech computer firm, with the job consisting of being their in-house editor, running two magazines worth 250K. It was a super job, and I was pretty desperate for it.On the day of the interview, I had flu, with a high temperature, and felt awful, but I dosed up on pills and pain-killers and nasal sprays and set off.There were several other candidates in the foyer, besides me. I was first, however. I was grateful for this because I knew the meds would stop working soon and I did not want that to happen during the interview as I worried it might affect my performance.My interviewers consisted of my soon-to-be boss and the HR Director. They both gave me some tea in a plastic cup, invited me to join them at a round table, squeezed into the corner of the HR Director’s office, took off their blazers, rolled up their shirt sleeves, and started interviewing me. This attitude, of getting down to work during the interview, and throwing off formality made a massive difference to how I performed, I feel. I really started to relax while I was talking to them. I often think that interviewers who play social games during the meeting, such as making candidates sit on small, low chairs, are losing out.It was one of the best interviewing experiences I ever had. I had formerly (two jobs before then) worked for James Caan, of Dragons Den fame, who had, in those days, been running a recruitment consultancy called Alexander Mann Associates. This gave me access to all the documents and advisories they used when preparing their candidates to get jobs. I was, among other things, given a master sheet of questions to prepare answers to, which I used for every job after that, and as a result of that (and by taking a physical portfolio into the interview) I pretty much got every job I ever went for.Physical portfolios, as opposed to online ones, really break up the meeting, and if you place it on the interviewer’s desk and move through it, allowing them to handle the pages while you talk, it makes for a completely different, much more engaging form of interview. It never failed me and I have recommended it to many other people since.Cut back to the interview…My portfolio was a large A2 sized, black folder, full of magazines that I had worked on, showing the before and after magazine spreads inside, so that they could see the impact that my work had had on the various publications that I had edited.They showed me their own magazine and asked me to critique it. This was most interesting. They cleared wanted to emulate a working meeting with me to see what I was like to communicate with. I asked for time to view it alone. They went off for another short coffee break. When they came back I gave them feedback as I always do - from the perspective of a typical reader first of all (which is spontaneous, gut-based perspective, and secondly from the perspective of a seasoned professional, which was more technical and concerned itself with pagination, topics, fonts, imagery and so on. I then waded in with some specific recommendations, but said I would need a clear month with carte blanche to interview anyone I wanted in the firm, to identify further changes and create a new outline, before I would be willing to finalise or produce anything (assuming I got the job, that is) to show them.I specialised in turning around the fortunes of publications like this, and was usually able to help a firm bring in more money by making sure we built staff morale, communicated messages to sales people properly and kept everyone well informed of industry news. Customers were also affected by this as the firms often produced a customer facing magazine and one for staff. I rarely found a company exploiting the true potential of the budgets that they spent on these things and saw it as my job to make sure they did. My particular forte lay in reformulating the pagination, brainstorming unusual news items to keep readers alert and in re-formulating the brief to designers to upgrade the look of the piece.I wanted whatever I produced to be visually arresting, intellectually unforgettable and something that stimulated people to get involved. I relied on others to feed me top stories in a timely fashion and so this sort of thing really mattered.At some point, while taking them through all this, we stopped for another break. They had a huddle in the corner of the room and one of them left the room, returning a short time later. I did not know it, but he went to tell all the other candidates to leave as they had found the person they wanted.They did not tell me this.The interview lasted another hour. I left, feeling exhausted as I climbed down from the nerves and adrenaline rush, and travelled home, which took about 90 minutes on the train and a tube trip. I felt I had done my very best.As I got to my door, a motorcycle courier arrived, asked if I was Ingrid Burling, and then handed me an envelope, asking me to sign for it. When I opened it, I found it was an invitation to ‘the final interview’. I was astonished. They had got their secretary to type it and then sent it out as I travelled home. Amazing.I did not understand the significance of the wording in in, and so, despite them hinting I had already got the job, went up there still firmly of the mindset that I had to go in with all guns blazing. I was convinced there was going to be another candidate, who might pip me to the post and was determined to get them out of the running. I wore a black, not blue, suit this time, and put on some gold jewellery. My strongest corporate look. It was to be an interview with my future boss’s boss, and I wanted to argue for a specific salary. I prepared my business case and set off.During the interview, which was strangely relaxed, and not at all the tense thing I thought it would be, my future boss arrived in the room, and together they offered me more money than I asked for. He had apparently told his boss to do that as they felt I was worth more than that. They also offered me a car, and a wonderful perks package. I couldn’t believe it.It was one of the best moments of my professional life.They were a fantastic firm to work for, and I would have walked over hot coals for anyone there, esp my boss, who was like a father figure to me. We had so much fun there and I simply adored how ethical they all were. They (McDonnell Douglas Information Systems) were one of the top three firms I ever worked for. The other two were the then GlaxoWellcome Export division based in Ware, north of London, and Hughes Rediffussion Simulation, an aviation firm. By then I had graduated to working as a Strategic Consultant.Under these auspices, I flourished at the company, but had very little time for some of the extra brainstorming I really wanted to do. I really wanted to push the boat out and find some outstanding topics to write about, things that no-one else had ever covered.They produced large-scale mainframe computers to run many different kinds of business. They built a core, and set various other components around it to formulate the kit to suit whatever business was buying it. It was very clever. They could make a computer for almost any kind of business and some of the installations were astonishing. They usually made twin-hearts so that if one went down, the other would continue running, which meant they had 100% reliability. I challenge you to name another firm that achieves that today. Totally ingenious. They also had a JIT recommended site that was incredible inside and I was very proud to introduce visitors to it. I did my first public speaking at that firm too, which ignited my lifelong interest in it. I learned a huge amount there and have drawn on those lessons every day of my career since.Back to my aspirations as an editor:Every first Saturday of the month I went in, when no-one else was around, and sat quietly and peacefully at my desk, with a flask of coffee, and did research. We had no laptops then, the internet had only just come out and we had only just got our first brick-sized mobile phone for the department. I subsequently put in a mac network, but most of my work was done on the phone and by letter/fax.I wrote a case study about medical pain charting using our computers - a hot topic at the time; I covered the very first tailor made hip joint in surgery using our CADCAM systems (now commonplace); and I was the first to write about the military’s use of the surgery glove for performing surgery remotely on the battle field and when a surgeon could not actually be present. A surgeon would sit in a hospital in the west, using the glove to handle instruments around him and performing movements, and watching the a film of the soldier’s wound that was being filmed in a tented hospital on the battlefield. They would have another glove, linked by computer to the surgeon’s glove, and also performing the surgery, in duplicate, but on the actual soldier. Such things are rarely talked about these days. The public knows hardly anything about this kind of technology. It was so exciting to write about this. It was incredible to stand on the leading edge with the inventors of this technology, even if it was just for a brief spell and in order to interview them.I got three promotions in 15 months - and then they made me redundant. I was one of 1500 people who were asked to leave in a single week. It was like a mass funeral. People were crying as they walked to their offices, all over the building. There were no outreach programs then. I was on my tod.I fought for - and got - three more months, allowing me to put a skeleton, replacement publication in place that they could produce without me.My last day was Xmas Eve that year, 1991. I held it together throughout that entire miserable day - until a humble secretary from around the floor came all the way to my office to shake my hand and say how much she would miss me.Then I lost it and blubbed horribly.The story behind the ‘mass firing’ beggared belief. Never in my born days have I witnessed a more ill advised decision:The Chairman had been ‘befriended’ by Sir John Harvey Jones, unfortunately, and he was entirely taken in by him. The day of that dinner was to mark the company’s demise from a small-but-beautiful boutique firm to one that was hardly spoken about after that and was barely able to survive.JHJ said there was no money in IT manufacturing. The Chairman, hypnotised as he was by JHJ reputation, decided to shut down the famous plant and focus on software. It was the biggest mistake they could ever have made - a once shining light in its field was dimmed forever, and they have since never been able to recover from it.What they should have done is become JIT consultants to other firms in the business worldwide, and invest even more in their consultative strengths - for a very nice fee. When recessions hit, you don’t reduce numbers, you retain your strengths, refocus and prepare yourself for when the order book grows. The biggest assets you have are not your plant, machinery, products or even your staff. It’s WHAT THEY KNOW. Germany gets this - why doesn’t anyone else?If I ever meet that man on the other side, I shall slap him across his deluded face and tell him what I think of him.

Quora sends regularly such questions to answer. The theme is how to write a resume/CV that gets a response. Job seeker's major problem is NO Calls NO Responses. Plus I see pros posts on LinkedIn about failures after 100s of applications. I have a passion to free job seekers from this Apply, apply and No reply cycle. I am sharing my recent article which is liked or shared by 80% readers. It’s comprehensive and you will know many new aspects for a resume and job hunting. Spend 25–30 minutes.Job seekers, you will learn 100 resume topics and many of them for the first time. They are about resume and job getting. I will cover them in 10 sections and each has 10 topics total 100 + 1 bonus topics you will read.I challenge you will make changes and write a better resume no matter your position, you may be a student or a senior executive. You will love examples and tests I tell you to take.There is how you can be on HR radar even before they read your resume? And a test by reading the top left half of your resume to know how you stand among the competition?I will start with,Resume basics1 Format – Structure2 Specific to the job3 Match Job Requirement4 Success Elements 90% pros don’t have5 Getting Attention6 Saving the resume7 6-Second Test8 Objectives, Summary, or Profile9 Keywords10 Length of a resumeThen I will take other areas and those areas are,2 Job Targeting3 Recruiters and hiring managers4 Your Story5 Positioning yourself – Mindset6 Headline7 ATS – Application Tracking Software8 Experience9 Jobs profile, and10 Social Media – LinkedIn ProfileBookmark this because you will come again because you will find the info useful. You will add, adapt, and change your resume. Whatever is your situation it won’t matter, there is something for every job aspirant.Ready? If interested read and spent 25-30 minutes here with me and do email me at [email protected] anything you want to ask about a resume.Let me begin with my resume which got me my first job when I migrated to the US. It’s,180 Turn to Resume - Resume for my first job in the USIn May 2005, I came to the USA on an immigration visa from India at the age of 55. At the age, people start retirement planning. I have to start afresh and no question of retirement. I was excited about the American dream since my younger days.I came with one handicap an impaired speech because of cancer surgery. I am an accounting, graduate and marketing diploma holder and had experience of 30 years. I choose Houston, TX mainly for the support of my childhood friend. I took a house opposite him and started living in the US.Finding work was the only job after I get my social security card because without it no one considers you for employment.Job HuntI did what was the best practice. Created a Monster account and started applying. I consider my no American experience and education/degree were disadvantages.And the major problem was initial phone screening here all recruiters do.I can’t communicate on the phone and things didn’t go further. I tried to email my speech handicap and seek personal interview but no one responded.Job FairsJob fairs were an option and were good for me. I can go and talk to recruiters at least. I usually write if not clear in person and it works. In-person, the people are very nice.ChallengeMy challenge was to overcome my lack of experience and speech handicap. The tool I had was a resume. I have to prove through a resume that I am worth hiring.I can’t talk to recruiters as they won’t understand my speech. One need time to adjust to it and that too requires patience. No one had time at the fair booth.180 Turn to ResumeI was seeking an accounting job. There was a job fair organized by the Houston chapter of the Texas CPA association. The announcement states if “you have accounting knowledge we have a job for you”. I wanted exactly that.Since it was a CPA job fair and all recruiters must be an accountant I assumed. I thought and focus on how to differentiate myself. The best way to sell is to talk about the language your prospects understand.Well, the accountant’s language is balance sheet and profit and loss statements. I thought of a balance sheet as my resume instead of a traditional resume listing my details like 1. 2. 3. 4. etc.I created Mukesh Shah’s Balance Sheet.There were Assets and Liabilities columns and I put my account degree, experience, writings as my assets and my speech handicap, medical expenses as liabilities. My equity was learning mind and creative thinking.I did this for the attention of recruiters and initial interest. I was confident if they talk I will prove I am fit for the job. And fortunately, my Balance Sheet got the attention of all the recruiters I met and I get my first job as a staff accountant at a local CPA firm.Thanks to my 180 turn to resume and made ‘Balance Sheet’ my resume.I am not thinking about this much. It is an effort I did to get a job nothing big deal. But when I did one headline writing course in 2015 and there I mentioned my experience and I got comments from fellow participants. These comments encourage me sharing this here.My Intro:“I did sell my concepts through letters. In Houston also, I got my first job at CPA firm by a different approach to resume. I went to a job fair of the CPA association. Since I had a speech problem and was desperate for a job as I have to start in the US, I created my resume in accounting language. I made the Balance Sheet as a resume. Balance is education, experience, etc. and liability is impaired speech, medical expenses, etc. It was a success my resume got the attention of all CPA recruiters and got a job with a CPA firm.”Comment from group:1. The idea of the balance sheet resume is a great one! That's A-I-D-A in action; -by Kai » Sat Aug 08, 2015 8:19 am2. I love the balance sheet resume too. Cool, creativity and demonstration of fitness to the job. Welcome! -by Jeff Moore » Sun Aug 09, 2015 12:42 pm3. Now that's creativity, Thar! The balance sheet resume - would be the first honest resume building system the world has ever seen.-by Jon Kenworthy » Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:01 pm4. Since I read your post on Saturday, I used your idea in helping out a young programmer. For his, the graphic has three parts: input, processor, output. The input is his skills, the processor is him, the output is the people/groups/impacts that he's had.-by RobM » Mon Aug 10, 2015, 5:32 amAll you need is a resume that attracts and interests HR.Let us learn how to create it. We start with,1 Resume Basics1 Resume Format – StructurePeople are breaking barriers beyond STANDARD every day to get a breakthrough. Think beyond standard resume if your current resume is not getting a response.Here is a normal standard resume format.NameAddress Phone Email___________________Summary or Objectives or Profile____________________________________Experience_____________________________________Education_____________________________________It was not working for me and if it’s not working for you it’s time to adopts new ways to succeed. I am talking about it. Keep reading.2 A resume is specific to the jobEvery job aspirant must understand that‘A resume must be specific to the job.’A generic resume never works.My first step is to send a job requirement matching sheet to my clients. It surprises them because no one takes that trouble.Do you know the main reason for resume failure?It’s ‘A resume is not customized for the job.’3 Match Job RequirementYou must meet the job requirements. Don’t send to every job posting unless you feel you meet their requirements. You will never send 100 applications if you take the trouble to match your skills and experience with the job needs. Please rememberIt’s not a number game it’s a Matching game.4 Success Elements 90% pros don’t haveYou read how I change my resume format to get a job. It encourages me to do what I am good to try new things. I use advertising tactics on my resume and get success for myself which leads me to be a resume writer and now to my clients.I use a headline, title, story, trigger, etc. on a resume that you don’t have.5 Getting AttentionYou have identified a job; you meet the job requirements and clear ATS. Grate.Now your task is to get the attention of a recruiter. You all know how things are with HR.Let me show how you can stand out even before your resume is even read.Yes, you will stand out with recruiters and hiring managers before they read your resume.6 Saving the resumeI will get the recruiter’s attention and hiring manager’s interest even before they read your resume. It depends on how you save a resume.You will save your resume with a name; Functional Title I give which you will agree during creation. See why?Nowadays you send a resume via an email as an attachment. So the file attached will be shown as per the file name you saved it. It could be many things. I won't cite funny file names but assume you gave your name, as most people do and your file will be visible in an email(Your Name) resume docxNow think you will give the name as per the title I suggest, and I always give functional names, your file name will be(Your Name) zero-defect production pro resume docx for a production position OR(Your Name) sales achiever resume docx for a sales positionThink about what recruiter or hiring manager will feel when they see your resume for the first time?What will interest them? Your distinct, unique title or normal name resumes?7 HR’s 6-Second TestYour job-hunting journey just started. You stand out with your functional title and you know the 6-seconds test. HR pros hardly read resume unless they are interested.You will attract and interest them with a headline.Yes, a headline that you don’t have on your resume.See with and without a headline resume and judge yourself.The headline tells upfront your suitability for the job which prompts HR to read further. Well, a headline is an important element and I have explained it in the headline section.8 No Objectives, Summary, or ProfileYou will agree that the top of your resume is a very crucial part of your resume. It decides the success or otherwise of a resume. It's a summary, profile, objective, etc. I believe if, it is,1. Summary then it must SELL.2. The profile then it must PERFORM.3. The objective then it must ACHIEVE.In my resumes, it's branding story and I achieve your objective, sell your candidature, and perform in getting an interview.You have a resume and need transformation.9 KeywordsYou know keywords play a major role in your resume's results. The first test is the ATS. You clear any Application Tracking Software with keywords you write on your resumes. Usually companies’ short resumes by position, post, experience, job functions, etc. You put all relevant words to job functions and experience and you will clear ATS.10 Length of a resumeHR pros prefer short resumes. Though a one-page resume is advised now two-page is a norm.2 Job Targeting11 Insane to make 100+ applicationsJob seekers had voiced on LinkedIn.1. 1500+ Applications, 300+ rejections.2. Finding a job is hard, especially when the online job application process can seem like a black hole of time and energy. I applied to over 300 jobs online over the course of 2 months and got a zero percent engagement rate.3. I’ve sent out 300 resumes and got one interview. What am I doing wrong?You should and will not have the above situation. Actually, such posts and pros telling me they hardly get a response is a reason I am writing this mega article. I want to free them from apply, apply and no response cycle.I don’t understand why one makes even 10+ applications when a response is zero? It’s insane. Smart one changes the ways of doing the thing when not successful. Stop sending a resume till you get a responsive resume.12 Succeed in less than 10 applicationsThink about the jobs you apply. No sense in sending resumes to every job you see or come across. Remember I said earlier and say it again,It’s not a number game it’s a Matching game.13 Job requirementsYou must check you meet most of the job requirements. 70% should be minimum to have a fair chance to be considered.14 Job descriptionsHow any time you have thoroughly read a job description of the job you apply?Be honest. It’s an agenda to write your resume for the job.15 Matching skills and experienceYou know the job requirement, now decide how many you meet? Prepare a job requirement matching sheet. Make a two-column word document and write against as many as you can.Be serious do this and the next one. It is your resume content; you will copy-paste later when you will create a resume.16 One bullet for each functional requirementIt is better you address all the job functions of the job descriptions in your experience bullets. Your job requirement matching sheet will give you the bullets. You should include job functions in the bullet. Mind not to copy job descriptions.17 Changing careersCareer change is normal in a pro’s life. There are advantages in bringing pros from different industries for the job and HR will take a chance to see if you are fit for it or not. No need to worry go for it.18 Transferable skillsWhen you try to change and a job in a new industry you should highlight the transferable skills. Focus on your success of those skills.19 Target companiesYou should have a job strategy. You should identify the companies you like to work. It helps to a better network which is essential for the job getting success, the resume is only one tool for job getting.20 NetworkThe network is your connections on LinkedIn. Try with an initial goal of 10 companies and 5 connections in each. Total of 50 connections in a month for your desired companies. You need less than 15 minutes daily which you must spend when a new job is your goal. Do two things,1 Search pros by positions for the company.2 Send a connection request to as many as you feel are relevant to your desired position. Make sure you write a personal message and mention your area of interest.You should keep doing after you get 50 connections which could be much earlier than a month. Larger network is better.3 Recruiters and hiring managers21 You are writing to recruiters and hiring managersYou are writing to the hiring manager so you must know what recruiters and hiring managers look for in a resume.I compiled from the web posts of reputed recruiters and hiring managers.They Like• A simple, clear, and useful format• Formatting - if the resume had some funny looking or unconventional form, it went in the bin. I am a real stickler for good and simple formatting.• Typos - first thing, I abhor typos• Contact Information - I'm looking to see if the applicant bombards me with contact details. All I need to see is their name, a contact number, and an email address. That's it.For Job ExperienceI'm not looking for what company they worked for, but I am looking for several things here. I am looking at how they present the experience and jobs.1. I'm also watching the bullet points. I only need four or five.2. Most importantly, does the position pertain to the job they are applying to?3. Social Media If you put it on your resume, I am checking it out. The most common social media link that I see is LinkedIn, and it makes sense. I click on it.4. I also get Facebook and Twitter links. Big mistake, there have been times when the candidate would've had the job because they had everything we were looking for. Whenever we went to their Facebook page, they lost it.Remember to self-censor when you post to Facebook or Twitter or any social media outlet for that matter.22 HR looks for in the resumeThey look1. Most recent role2. Company recognition3. Overall experience4. Gaps5. Personal web presence6. General logistics Location, eligibility to work in the US7. Overall organization. It includes spelling, grammar8. The coherent, relevant storyline in which your past roles are illustrated to be a natural precursor to why you’re now applying to this new role.Don't use corporate jargon to sound businessey! We figure out what you’ve done in the past, write it out in layman’s terms, and describe your accomplishments.23 HR hates on resumes• Lack of Keywords• Objectives• Exaggeration• References upon Request• Templates They hate templates24 To do for HRThe only thing you should focus on is experience and what you can give to the company.• Tell upfront to HR Managers what you contribute to them?• Tell your experience with success stories, and HR managers look for achievements and action takers.25 To not do for HRThree things you should not do are1. Templates2. Fancy Formatting3. ObjectivesThings they wish people would stop doing:• Using templates• Mailing, faxing, or hand-delivering paper resume• Do not pass the go. Sending resumes addressed to the CEO that ends up on my deskunopened We laugh at people who do this.• Exaggerating titles and responsibilities. Eventually, the truth comes out.Things they rarely pay attention to:• Fancy Formatting• Uncomfortably personal detailsThings they wish more people would do:• Bring personality to the resume• Include URLs for other web presences26 The biggest HR problem is your opportunityDo you know the biggest problem of hiring managers?Ask any HR pro and he/she will say“We don’t get good candidates.”Read any HR forum and similar sentiment you will find.Job aspirant this problem is your opportunity.27 Love recruiter and hiring managersThere are always stories about recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn and usually they are negative. You also have opinion. I advise you must love the recruiters and hiring managers.Understand they have a job to do. They are searching for people to fill the positions and looking for the right people to do those jobs. They will respond or talk only when they think you meet their requirement.Believe if you meet the job requirement HR will always respond. In fact, they are dying for candidates who meet their requirements.28 HR want good candidatesYou just know the HR problem. They don’t get good candidates. Please, mark the word ‘Good.’ They don’t say the best or excellent; they prefer when available but they look for good candidates.You should tell them how good you performed the jobs they are looking for. And believe HR pros are practical they will take chance and call to know more if they feel you have a potential. It’s your job to tell them the way they like to listen.How to do it you will know in next story section.29 To attract HR is easyThe main concern I see among job seeker is about recruiter is; how to get their attention. Think reserve why recruiter or hiring manager should attract to you?You must show them your worth for the job. You will learn how here but remember attention is not enough.30 Are you fit for the job?Your real task is to convince HR that you have performed the jobs they offer and will do it for them. Tell “You are the great fit.”4 Your Story31 Career Story talksHR wants a resume should TALK.The most resume has an objective, summary, profile, or introduction and then education, experiences, skills, etc.You talk about yourself.Tell me recruiters and hiring managers are interested in you or not?Of course, they are, but their only interest is to know1. How you are fit to do the job and2. How you performed the job functions, they are hiring forThe best way to do it is by telling your career story. It should be on your resume between Name and experience. You must write your career story because it will talk to the hiring manager how you evolve as a professional.32 The differentiatorYour story title should beAbout Me:It will be your differentiator. In the sea of resumes with summary, objectives, and profile your “About Me:” will stand out.33 Reveals personalityYour story will reveal your personality which the hiring manager wants to know. Their comment “a resume should talk” indicate we tell them how we developed.34 Tell your strugglesYour story must tell your struggles. Your ways of doing a job, how different you were. That will interest HR.Most resumes are lists of experience and education. No wonder HR says they are boring.35 Tell challenges and resistances and how you overcomeYou tell the challenges and resistance you face while doing the job and how you overcome it. That is your development as a pro and HR love to know it.36 Colleagues and bosses’ comments, nicknamesYou always have some comments and opinions about your work from colleagues and bosses. These comments are important and you can mention them in your story.37 Your successesYour story is your progress and it must have some successes. You tell it because HR wants to know exactly your progression. How you develop.Success is a job well done. Please don’t think of rank, price, and award, etc. are only successes. Target achieved or budget adhered are a job well done and you must tell it and be proud of it. Remember HR wants action takers and doers.38 Quantify results, outcomesYou must give results, outcomes of your work. It authenticates your story. Even is legal issues restrict you can put some numbers.One simple test you can do with your resume.Fold your resume in the middle left and right. Then read the top left half. If you find,1 80% increase during…..2 9% reduction in ……….3 Among the top 3 in the state of……..If you have a few such numbers you have done a good job. Forget ATS and everything you will stand out.In the digital age cover the right side of your resume on screen and do it.39 Companies websites will helpYou have done some research about the company that is HR’s expectation. Do you do it? The company website is a good source for story points.40 Relevant to the jobFinally, your story is for the one company you apply to and you have to edit/change for every company. It must be relevant to the company you apply to. Yes, it’s work and you have to do it. You want a job so do it. Do you expect a hiring manager will take interest when you don’t do basic work? It is wishful thinking. Put every effort to get a job.5 Positioning yourself - Mindset41 Importance of positioningYou should have the right mindset for the job hunting.There are hundreds of applicants, but you can shine out when you position yourself. You should not only position yourself but also define and tell how you are different. Think you are meeting the HR manager of the company you are applying to. A resume is you in person virtually.What do you do when you meet someone? OR what you say when someone asks you what you do?Most of us say something like, ‘I am a lawyer,' ‘I am an engineer.'Examples of Conversation with an HR ManagerExample OneQ: Hi, Mukesh, what do you do?Mukesh: I do creative online advertising and bring $2 for every $1 spend.Q: How do you do that?Mukesh: I use compelling headlines to help businesses get their message across. I am a trained headline writer.(This is you explain a process. Now he is interested. He is nodding and wants to know more. So, keep talking.I mentioned headlines because they are 80% responsible for reading further. It is a Positioning Statement. Because headlines are visual, and people tend to relate to them. Finally, I give them a result.)At eComLeads, an affiliate network we solved high click costs by getting 10%+ CTR for AdWords campaigns. (A success from the experience)Example TwoNow let us look at an average conversationQ: Hi, Mukesh, what do you do?Mukesh: I do advertising.Q: That's cool. Which newspapers and magazines do you do?It’s now too late to steer the discussion because it’s already taken a different track.In the first conversation, I could control the line of questioning. It ensured that my message got through undiluted.Take a position.42 A job is a contractWhen you want a job, the fact is it’s a contract between a company and an employee for service.43 You offer a serviceYou are offering your service to a company. You are not asking a favor. Asking help or pleading favor has no place in a job hunt.44 You contributeActually, you are contributing your services to the company. You have a skill which a company wants and hire you to do their job.45 You are fitThe job you apply to it your expertise. You are confident that you are fit to do it to the company’s satisfaction.46 You love the jobThe job you want is your passion, love. You live it 24/7.47 You have experienceYou have the experience, for the job you apply. If you are starting a career you have skills for that job. If you don’t then don’t waste your time and money in applying.48 You are fresh with enthusiasmYou have to show your enthusiasm. Yes, it can be seen on a resume, too.49 You meet requirementMake sure you meet the job requirements. Here consider details. You may meet experience and skill but there are other things you should consider.A company may prefer a local candidate, profession prefers specific experience, say accounting position prefer big 4 experience or a Harvard University prefer Harvard experience. Such things matter.50 Test meYou must be ready for any test for the job you apply. If you are ready then good to apply.6 Headline51 Attention tool – HeadlineWhen you want a job, you must answer the question "What makes me worth hiring"?Your first message must tell you, you are a great fit.A Headline does it.You must get the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. A headline attracts them by telling your suitability upfront. They will read further with interest. Remember hiring managers did not read interested resumes they comb it and career story gives them points to discuss.Put a compelling headline.52 Standard’s limitationsYou think what this headline..........Who does it on resumes...............How it looks..............People may laugh .......ridicule.......I agree, and its perception because of standard resume never have headlines and story.But think beyond the resume and ask what gets attention in any communication, newspaper, or media?The answer is a Headline. No dispute.Headline writers are in demand and paid handsomely. Fortunately, I am a trained one.53. Meet HR requirementYour headline should try to convey you meet the job requirement.54 Place on resumeYour resume headline should be on a resume between name and contact details and experiences. Usually, it’s your summary, objectives, and profile.55 Positioning StatementTake your resume headline is your positioning statement. It can set you apart.56 Meet the objectiveYour objective is to get a job interview and your resume is the first contact with an employer. Your first task is to get your resume read that is easily done by a headline. A headline facilitates reading further.56 Sales document without a headlineYou must understand that your resume is a sales document. All the talk about a resume is dead or you should not be salesy etc. is useless. The fact is you must tell your fitness for the job, you have to convey it. You are communicating.Why you are communicating?You communicate to convince. It is a sale. You are selling your service.Can you imagine a sales document without a headline?Remember a headline is 80% responsible for the reading.57 A headline recipeLet me give you a recipe that works for every job.What you will lose by not hiring (Your Name)? – (Job Outcome)Examples:For sales positionsWhat you will lose by not hiring (Your Name)? – New Customers.For Production positionsWhat you will lose by not hiring (Your Name)? – Zero defect production pro.58 Types of headlineThere are many types of a headline. For resume questions and why types work most of the time.59 Industry headlinesThere is an industry-specific headline for jobs.Examples:For accountingWhy hire an average Joe? Hire (Your Name) an Accurate Accountant who never miss a tax deadline.For a marketingI (Your Name) make my every salesperson achieve targets and it’s my fort.60 Job functions headlinesThere are job function-based headlinesExamples:For salesWould you like to hire (Your Name) a 110 percenter? I achieve 110%.Of course, you should not boast if can’t back with results.For ITAdd an Ace Coder (Your Name) to your TEAM.7 ATS – Application Tracking Software61 ATS functionsATS Application Tracking Software is used by companies to short resumes. Companies short resumes with a term or word which is a keyword. They use positions, posts, job functions, experience, etc.62 ATS hypesYou should not think much about ATS. There is a hype you don’t worry because you will clear ATS when you have relevant functions and positions described on a resume you will clear ATS. Companies use the words which describe their functions need short resumes. And if you take care of the job description you must have them on your resume.63 ATS usageYou need to tailor your resume. In small businesses, the owner and at bigger company HR pro evaluate differently. Craigslist is a big job source, and most job posting could be small businesses. The ATS use is different as per the size of the company.64 All the companies don’t use ATSYou must understand the job Scene.Total jobs are among industry segments big and small businesses. Half of the posts are from the small sector. Here if we consider a small business that has less than 50 employees their share comes to one-third business. SMEs hardly use ATS.65 Good Practices to followATS application tracking system matches applications with the company’s requirements and selects relevant resumes. You should have an exact position and functions name or words because the company will short resume using those exact words it describes its job in an advertisement.66 Balance ATS vs. HumanYou should focus on both human interaction and ATS.67 Success factorsTo clear ATS your resume must have,1 Name of the position2 Years of experience3 Job functions 2-468 KeywordThe term and a word used to short a resume is a keyword.69 Write to HR Not MachineYou are writing to a hiring manager. Period. Never think of writing to a machine ATS.70 Country practices/usage of ATSThere is a vast difference in ATS usage in different countries. Developing countries have low usage. The company size is a major factor for ATS use. ATS usage in companies less than 100 employees is almost nil.In the US and Europe, all large and even startup with 50+ employees use ATS while in Asia usage is very low even large companies there don’t use ATS.71 One word every HR pros loveThe word I am telling you never use but is dear to every HR pro.Keyword Every Hiring Manager LovesUse this as a keyword because no hiring manager can ignore it.The keyword is the name of the company you apply to.Put it as early as you can and test. It works wonder. I use it in the headline mostly.Example:What (Company Name) will lose by not hiring (Your Name) for (Post)?Do you think any manager can ignore his/her company name?And think how many will have a company name on a resume?And I add some results, too; to interest HR.8 Experience72 The meat of the resumeExperience is the thing you must focus on writing your resume because hiring managers when interested don’t read a resume, they comb it. Every small thing matters. It’s a meat of the resume.73 Listing – AvoidMost of you have a list of experience and education, skills, etc. Please don’t do it. Avoid. There is better way to tell your experience and you will learn here.74 Telling the storyI have covered your career story earlier and the same storytelling you should do for your experience. Let me show example.Here is the client summary: (Reading Tip: Press carl key and + multiple times to get the required font size of the image and carl plus - to go back to normal.)Here is a story75 BulletsIt is better you write bullet for each job requirements. Please never copy the job description.Example: This is for a VP position in a community college.Job Description:Chairs a college-wide institutional effectiveness team to review and analyze data and prepare reports in support of enrollment management, program quality, student success, institutional effectiveness, and others as directed by the President and Executive Team.Experience bullet:For enrollment management, program quality, and student success: At Comsat IIT; I formed & lead a core 8-member committee that looked over the enrollment every year in all 7 campuses. Initiated ABET accreditation to ensure the quality of the CS program. Organized job fairs inside the campuses and student success was evaluated on the basis of employment rate and enrollment in postgraduate studies. The results we increase the enrollment in 2 years’ time to more than double.76 Career Master File – Source of all the infoFor a career, you must have up to date information ready, and for that, you must have a file with all the relevant info.• In a word, start a new document and name the file (Your Name) career master file.Information Master File is the foundation. Spend time and write maximum detailed information about yourself from early school days to current positions. Write about all the activities you did.Make a habit to update it periodically so it has all the info. If you keep it up to date you can write a resume in less than 15 minutes because you will have a basic resume ready now and then you need the only customization.77 Contacts – Keep ActiveThe contact and references are important, they are not on the resume but needed at a later time. So better keep them active. Try to be in touch every few months. Say twice a year email exchange.78 Relevant job functions as per job requirementMake sure your experience has mentioned each job function required. Check job requirements again if in doubt.79 Good vs. GreatYou consider only prize, award, rank, etc. are performance indicators and worth talking. It’s wrong you do regular work and meet targets is a good work done. It’s enough. If you have rank or prize it’s fine but HR never looks for prize winners, they look for regular people to do the jobs. They look for doers, action takers.Whatever you do be proud of it and tell you are a good performer. It a positioning I talked earlier.80 Results OutcomesIt is always better to mention your work results, the outcome in the experience. I told you about it earlier in a content test.81 What HR wantIn two words HR want “Good Candidate.”Tell you are the great fit for the job.9 Jobs Profile82 Fortune 500 companiesThe Fortune 500 companies employed nearly 27 million people, which represents about 17% of the nation’s overall workforce—a figure that’s been relatively constant for the last 20 years.If it’s your dream to land a job in this Fortune 500 club you must work extra mile for a resume. Tell for each experience what you learned from the experience and how it got you closer to your personal goal.83 Big Companies 1000+ EmployeesTo big organizations, you must demonstrate that you are not 9 to 5 animals. You are learning and absorbing skills with each job.Big companies estimate is there are approximately 12,500 companies with more than 1000 employees in the U.S. currently.84 SMEs less than 50 EmployeesSmall businesses are providing half of the jobs and they are different.It’s ‘Perform or Perish’ is mantra at SMEs.They never use an ATS and a recruiter. Be confident about your ability and performance and direct. I use bold claims for SMEs and it always works. You can have a headline,“I write to add (Performance figure) to your company and have a successful track record with (put number) companies.”Such headlines are music to the owners who read each resume. Let me say this headline got me a quarter-million contract work from the largest consumer company in India in 2001.85 SMEs more than 100 EmployeesSMEs are defined differently in different countries. US SMEs are mostly companies with less than 500 employees and some states have a difference.Middle level more than 100 employees SMEs are a bit formal. They also never use an ATS and a recruiter. They do have some organizational structure and owners are not involved in recruiting directly but their approval is always there in the final selection for each candidate hired.86 StartupsStartup jobs are different boll games. They are not advertised. It’s mostly referrals. If your interest is in startups better work on network development. I will talk about it as the last 101 topics.87 Internal PromotionThe internal promotion also needs a resume. The companies have different requirements. Its more detailed assessment of pros performance.88 Advertised JobsAdvertised jobs are much less compared to unadvertised jobs. It was recently quoted by the Wall Street Journal as that 80 percent of job openings are unadvertised.89 Referrals from Network and friendsTaking into account the number of jobs filled by someone known to the employer and through networking is coming to 70 percent.You should remember the first thing they ask is a resume. You need a standout resume for a referred job also.90 RecruitingIt is hard to find qualified workers to fill critical jobs. Low unemployment, high demand for hard-to-find workers have made recruiting considerably more difficult than it has been in recent years.91 County wise recruiting practicesThe US, UK has multi interview recruiting while others offer jobs on the spot.10 Social Media – LinkedIn ProfileLet us know some facts of LinkedIn use and users and what they do on LinkedIn.UsersAlmost a quarter of LinkedIn users are aged 18 to 29. Most of this group are starting or looking for their first real job and establishing their career. Another key age bracket represented on LinkedIn is those aged 30 to 64 years old are 61%. These individuals typically have more stable jobs and want to advance careers.Use94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet candidates.What pros like and do on LinkedIn.1. 70.6% of LinkedIn users consider ‘Who viewed your profile’ feature most helpful.2. 75.8% said ‘Research people and companies' features helped them.92 ObjectiveYou decide your LinkedIn profile objective. You want a job is obvious but spell out specifics.Which types of jobs you aspire to work?Target companies you want to work for?Your objective will shape your LinkedIn profile that you will update from time to time. It will change as per your situation.You may have many interests, but you have to choose one and start with it. Take your best interest, what you love to do.A LinkedIn profile is an extension of your resume but different. A resume is for a job while the profile is general.93 Cover ImageThe first feature of your LinkedIn profile is a cover image. You can make it free at http://quara.com with their LinkedIn cover template.Do it.A cover is the best place to brand you. You start your branding with a message on the cover image. I suggest in this age of hashtags you put a few relevant words in the image.A sales job seeker can put “Sales Achiever” in whatever image or the photo.94 PhotographI hope you have put a photo. You should know what your profile picture does.1. It gets you more views. If you don't have a picture, people may not read further.2. When you post anything, comment, like something, your photo will show, and when you don't have a good picture, it may restrict your views.A smiling photo is suitable for LinkedIn. Put a formal smiling photo. Make sure it is properly centered, and your face is clear without any shadow.It is better not to use your creativity for a photo. I will tell where to be creative.Working photos, candid photos, sports photos, etc. are good but not as a LinkedIn profile picture. LinkedIn is a professional network. Simple is In.95 HeadlineThe Headline is 80% responsible for a reading of your profile. You must put a compelling headline. Your headline must tell WHAT you do and contribute? If you give a result of the service, it will be better.Example: For an IT job seeker,“Add a versatile boss’s favorites DATA wizard to your TEAM.”With the headline, you can advance your branding. Use the headline to further your cover image branding. You have 120 characters for headline space. Use it.Many pros have their position in a headline space.Why waste your profile headline space.96 SummaryThe summary is to sell.You must project ‘You are the great fit.’Remember, you are a job seeker your summary must convince interested companies to call you. You should tell HR pros what you give.1. To the companies, you aspire for employment. What you will contribute to the company you want to work.2. Tell recruiters and hiring managers the benefits of your service.I say one success story of a problem solved. Success and results always loved by HR.You must say your successes, results, money saved, cost reduced, staff hours reduced, problem solved initiatives, etc. The hiring manager is interested in results, action takers, and doers. Your profile summary should have a branding statement. It should read like it fulfills the company's needs.97 Education/DegreesYou must put your degree and university. Tell them all. People connect with colleges and universities.98 Job Positions/ExperiencesMost of you have listed your experience.This section is significant but used very casually. Most of the vast majority put a list of experiences. Few put bullets also. You will make a big difference with position information. The way you put it will stand you apart. The listing experience will not interest companies.You have to interest them. Your profile is an extension of your resume. Your experience is the most important to know you, so make it lucid. And you must give results because performance will convince people interested in you. The story we talked about already and it is better to put 3-4 sentences story with few bullets for each experience because it will stand out.99 SkillsPay attention to skills feature. You can list 50 skills.Three skills are visible, and after clicking the 'See More' tab, more skills become visible to visitors. The system makes visible three skills with the highest endorsements. You can choose it. People tend to endorse what is visible; sheen.Put the skills relevant to you — no need to have a large number of skills listed and no endorsements for most of it. The skill feature is the most ignored section of the profile.100 KeywordsPeople search LinkedIn with keywords. The recruiters, hiring managers, anyone interested will search using the term in their mind.The keywords for job applicants are the title of the job, skills relevant to the job. Make sure your profile has them, so you appear in the search for those words.It seems simple, but many pros never care about their summary, services, experience, etc. Keep in mind using the right word gets you visitors and leads. Make up your mind for the job you want and relevant keywords.101 NetworkIdentify the companies you want to work for and people in your work area. They should be executives in your expertise. Send a connect request to them. Send to a minimum of 100 pros in about ten companies to start.Prepare for rejections and no responses. It’s a number game. You will have many new connections. Anything between 30 to 70 percent connection requests are accepted.LinkedIn is the place to get the desired job and advance a career.It is said and proved correct for pros who network.Talk to 100 people in your network rather than apply for 100 jobs via job boards,You must do both applying and networking. Don't expect an immediate result. Ninety days is a reasonable time frame. Send a connection request to the pros you think relevant to your aspired position, and you will have few connections to initiate an advice talk.Never ask for job help. Thank you for connecting and ask for advice for the right person to contact and tell your interest in working in the area.The best way to get a better outcome is to do some academic work. Write one article on LinkedIn Pulse. An evergreen topic is to write about tips on the problem of your subject expertise.Three ways to …..………It’s not difficult. You will write try about 500 – 600 words to say in your expertise or skill should not be a problem.If you write an article, then mention it and put a link to your article to a few top executives of these companies. You should try President and HR Head also.You must have a courteous message asking the right person to send details about your work relevant to the article, and things can move.Think a president may be interested. He/she may like your initiative, idea and ask details, or refer to someone to contact. It happened. Owners like the approach, experience, opinion, the company you work, etc. they talk and create a position.It is always better to try. The benefit is you will do some work for solving an industry problem, think seriously for a solution, you will contribute. It will help you if not now later.I conclude by telling every pro beginning a career to senior flocks must network.Thank you for reading and we write executive resumes.