Saturday, May 10, 2008
Don't be an observer in your own career
Just recently "Patty" wrote to me. Upset would be an understatement. She had hired several writers over the last couple of years to write a government application and had been sorely disappointed. She highlighted several issues. The last writer had written long and ponderous responses to each "key selection criteria" and feedback from the employer had indicated this was instrumental in her failure to secure an interview. She naturally wondered why on earth she had hired a professional and just who was this person to say he was a professional when he got it so wrong? She was naturally disappointed and suspicious of other writers due to her bad experience--and resentful over lost money.
While I didn't see the documents and cannot comment as to the writer's expertise or otherwise, I do think that what she said was telling. It was clear that Patty was overlooking her own involvement (or lack thereof) and placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of others.
For instance: When the job was advertised, did she read the employment kit rules closely? Did she call the contact person for the government applications and ask them--what are the rules for these applications? How long/short should answers be? What do you expect to see? What is the length of the resume or the criteria that you want to see? This isn't a question you ask after you have failed to be selected, this is a preliminary question!
Without this information, she had failed to brief her writer. With no direction and no brief, the writer had no parameters to write.
Then Patty said that the answers were long and ponderous and went off topic. Couldn't Patty see that when reading the document? Did she not ask questions?
Clearly not! And that is the key to this post today. A warning: do not be an observer in your own career!
I think it is really important to be an active participant. In the instance of Patty, it's not like she couldn't read. She must have read through the documents and thought—well this is rambling. Rather than sitting back and giving her total trust in the writer, she needed to become an active participant — ask questions — "Hey Fred, this sounds like we're rambling here, what about we stick to topic? I've questioned the contact person and she says no more than half a page per answer". This would, I’m sure, be more appreciated by the writer, than remaining mute, uneducated in the requirements of the job, then returning upset with all guns blazing later.
I don't know this writer who wrote for "Patty". He may have made errors--who doesn't? But Patty too needs to look at her own involvement and contributions. How much of a participant was she in the process? Did she collaborate side-by-side and discuss, or did she just accept her documents as gospel despite any misgivings she had?
For Patty and for you, that is lesson learned number one. Don’t be an observer in your own career. It’s too important. Yes, you need to trust, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have an opinion or deserve a reason or a justification. As the old ad on TV used to say “it’s your money Ralph!”
Lesson learned number two is to ask questions. How long has the writer been in business? This is usually a good way to gauge experience. There are so many university students and housewives (no offence to those unsung heroes--working mothers, but sitting down while your baby is having a nap to tap away at a keyboard is NOT a professional career marketer).
So many people call themselves professionals but in my opinion the best professionals belong to professional associations, get published, enter awards, get certified. If I was looking for professional writers, "Joe Bloggs" who says he’s good has Joe Bloggs’s opinion only plus a few clients who really probably didn't know any better anyway. Testimonials need to be after the résumé has been used and cite results—that’s the true test.
I’d be looking for people who have been keen enough about their careers to grow....Members of associations such as
Career Management Alliance and
Career Directors International. Then once there, I’d be looking for Certified Writers; then I’d be going to their websites. Are they published? Have they won awards, has their work been assessed? Can you look at a sample of their work? If you don’t like the sample, then keep moving on. Sadly anyone can call themselves a professional and that is a disaster Patty has all too clearly seen.
Be astute, be proactive, and don't be an observer in your own career!
Labels: Prepare Yourself
posted by Yes...it's me, Gayle from Downunder
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7:25 PM
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Announcement: Gayle is an MRW (Master Resume Writer)
Today I received my MRW -- Master Resume Writer credential from Career Management Alliance following the submission of a portfolio. I'm so excited and present this confirmation email.
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Dear Gayle,
I want to offer you a BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your latest achievement - earning your place among the World's best resume writers as a Master Resume Writer (MRW)!
I really enjoyed reviewing your outstanding portfolio of work. Each submission is beautifully and strategically tailored to your client's objective and industry. Moreover, each presentation is formatted in a distinctive and sophisticated way. Your attention to delivering both outstanding content and visual appeal is evident.
You will receive your MRW certificate in the mail and The Career Management Alliance web site will be updated shortly to list you as an MRW! Your achievement will be shared with The Alliance Community in an upcoming issue of the E-Bridge.
Again, congratulations, Gayle!!!
Best regards,
Bill
Bill Kinser
Credentialing Master
Career Management Alliance
www.CareerManagementAlliance.com
posted by Yes...it's me, Gayle from Downunder
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7:21 AM
Friday, April 18, 2008
Shortcuts -- Good for SMS, Bad for Resumes
I'm starting to get really alarmed by laziness infiltrating formal documents. Yesterday I received a resume from a client that had bullets such as:
- Identified issues & found solutions by engaging stakeholders in meetings discussing future visions & ideas for change. Developed strong relationships & managed change....
What would be wrong with this sentence? Does the replacement of the word "and" with an ampersand (&) make it any easier to read? I hope you say it makes it difficult to read and I also hope you believe it looks ridiculous!
At what point have people decided that they are too busy to take a millisecond more and type a three-letter word? Have we really come to the point where speedy typing is more important than the written word? Is it really considered appropriate for formal documents to include shortcuts?
I don't know about you, but I suspect there are many employers out there who would fail to be impressed by a slap-dash note-taking approach. What next? Mobile SMS speak?
We'll know we have all completely lost the art of writing when an employer sends us a letter of confirmation that says:
Thnks 4 UR rez. Wll contct U l8r!
posted by Yes...it's me, Gayle from Downunder
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2:18 PM
Monday, March 17, 2008
Certified Career Manager's Credential Renewed!
It is essential for resume writers to stay ahead of the game through professional development and renewal of certifications. Who wants the services of an individual with old ideas who has failed to move with the times?
The following email from the Credentialing Master of Career Masters Alliance, confirms that I have continued to maintain my expertise across the industry.
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Hi Gayle:
I have finished reviewing your Credentialed Career Manager (CCM) renewal portfolio. Congratulations - you continue to demonstrate the full range of industry acumen and commitment required to maintain your status as a CCM! Your next CCM renewal portfolio will be due in January 2010.
I am impressed with the diversity of professional contributions demonstrated in your portfolio. You will receive your renewal CCM certificate via mail soon and your latest achievement will be shared with The Alliance community via the E-Bridge.
Again, A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you, Gayle, on your well-earned CCM renewal!
Best regards,
Bill
Credentialing Master
The Career Management Alliance
www.CareerManagementAlliance.com
posted by Yes...it's me, Gayle from Downunder
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10:39 AM
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Published Again (or soon to be)
Just received notification from JIST, leading publishers in the career marketing field of resume writing books, that three of my resume samples have been accepted for inclusion in the new book Expert Resumes for Engineers. Exciting news indeed! My resume samples now feature in 22 international resume writing and career tips books worldwide (apart from my own books).
The book is available for pre-order now from Amazon
hereLabels: Gayle's Achievements
posted by Yes...it's me, Gayle from Downunder
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8:03 AM
Thursday, December 20, 2007
How did I get here?
A friend asked me yesterday, "How did you come to being a resume writer?"
Just in case I have any readers interested in starting a career in this industry, here is my story.
I often ponder about the road that brought me to this point! When I think of sitting at my school desk as a six-year-old, face upturned to the wise teacher (who must have been all of twenty-three years old) I can’t remember putting my hand in the air and saying “I want to be a resume writer!” in answer to her question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Fast forward through the rest of my schooling where I was always a top performer in English. In fact I used to be a source of complete frustration to my best friend, consistently receiving “A” for my creative essays—many a time scribbled while I bumped up and down at the back of the bus to school, having left the assignment until the last minute (while my friend poured over essays for weeks to score a "C”). Language, communicating—all came so easily to me so my first thought when it came to careers was to enter journalism.
In the mid-seventies in Australia, or at least in my area, opportunities for woman really hadn’t made much headway, so at seventeen and in discussion with my school career teacher, I finally put my dream into words, confiding that I would like to be a journalist.
“A journalist!” she laughed dismissively. “That’s a man’s job! You need to be very aggressive and I wouldn’t suggest that for you. Have you considered a typing job?”
The girl I was then, is not the woman I am today. I didn’t challenge her views, but simply threw my dreams in the trash and found myself a job in customer service, and later as a team supervisor. In the late eighties I scored a great role as an Executive PA where I spent some time recruiting and interviewing staff (looking at candidates' resumes thinking “
You have to be kidding me!”). Instinctively I knew there was a better way to represent skills on paper, and having written resume for friends and family I saw the makings of a business idea. With my then four-year-old son missing his Mum, it was time to act and start a resume business, so I could stay at home, yet draw an income.
Almost eighteen years later, life has come full circle. It has been a journey full of twists and turns but eventually I am where that seventeen-year-old me wanted to be. I research, I report and write compelling stories that influence people to take action. Is it journalism? No, but it’s a fascinating, richly rewarding compromise that I have learned to love.
I am where I should be.
Labels: Gayle's Achievements
posted by Yes...it's me, Gayle from Downunder
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11:08 AM
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
My Awards Arrived
My awards just arrived all the way from the USA. The platinum award is for Best Resume for Re-Entry into the Workforce, and the gold is the CDI Master Resume Writer Lifetime Achievement Award recognising professional expertise and industry contributions.
Labels: Awards
posted by Yes...it's me, Gayle from Downunder
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12:32 PM
