Author: rblaze

A great resume is the first step in getting the job you want. Many employers require that you submit a resume with your initial application, and they use it to decide whether you make it through their initial screening process. That’s why getting your resume right is so important.

The secret to writing a resume involves job descriptions. In job descriptions, employers tell you exactly what they want to see. All you have to do to move your resume to the top of their stack is use key words from job descriptions to polish your resume.

Finding the job descriptions should be easy. Typically, employers will include them on the websites where their job openings are posted. If not, you can contact your targeted employers to see if they’ll send you their job descriptions directly.

Once you have a few job descriptions for the types of jobs you want, start circling key words like “analyze data, conduct research, and manage timelines.” Then, put as many of those key words on your resume as possible. Most employers love seeing words from their job descriptions repeated back to them on resumes. It shows that you understand the type of work to be done and you have experience doing it.

Obviously, you should only include experiences on your resume that you have actually done. You should never lie on your resume. That could have severe consequences. Plus, it’s just plain wrong. You should, however, include your experiences that most closely match what employers have listed on their job descriptions.

More than ever, employers are using software programs called application tracking systems (ATS) to filter through resumes. Many employers only look at resumes that make it through their ATS software’s screening process. This job description trick is your ticket for getting the ATS software to choose your resume. If the software program uses a job description for its search criteria, which is often the case, putting key words from the job description on your resume will increase your odds of getting selected.

If you already have a draft of your resume, put it next to your targeted job descriptions. Check to see how well your bullet points match the duties on those job descriptions. If the job descriptions say that you’ll be developing training programs, your resume should list any experience you have developing training programs. If the job descriptions say that the employer wants someone to design brochures, your resume should include any experience you have designing brochures.

Typically, people write their resumes based on the amount of time they’ve spent on the tasks in their previous jobs. Most employers don’t care about your time allocation on previous jobs. They care about the relevant experience you’ve gained. In their job descriptions, they tell you exactly what experience is relevant. You just have to repeat it back to them on your resume.

You should go through your work history and think about experiences you’ve had that are most closely related to the duties for the jobs you want. Write your experiences in brief phrases that match the job description language as closely as possible.

Is that cheating? As a corporate recruiter, I don’t think so. I consider it taking initiative. If a candidate puts forth the effort to customize their resume in a way that shows their experiences related to the job description duties, that’s the kind of person I want working at my company. Again, we don’t care how much time you’ve spent on all the tasks you’ve ever done. We care about the experiences you gained that are related to the duties on our job descriptions. Using this trick will make it easy for us to see your relevant experiences and select you for the next stage of the process, which is the job interview.

For more tips about job hunting, check out my book Start-to-Finish Job Search Guide. It includes everything you’ll need to know about creating a winning resume and becoming amazing at answering interview questions.

About the Author:

Richard Blazevich is the author of Amazing Interview Answers, Start-to-Finish Job Search Guide, and That’s a Bullseye. For the past 20 years, he’s been a corporate recruiter for a Fortune 100 company. In that role, he’s interviewed hundreds of candidates for a wide variety of jobs. He’s also led interview workshops at some of the top universities in the United States.

Richard received an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing and Business Strategy from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Montana State University.

To see Richard’s books, online classes, and other job hunting tools, go to www.AmazingJobSkills.com.

You can expect to hear “tell me about yourself” in nearly every interview you’re in. While it strikes fear into the hearts of many job candidates, here’s a trick you can use to dazzle recruiters with your amazing response. It’s called the P.E.N. framework, and it’s the best way I’ve found to tell recruiters about yourself.

P.E.N. stands for Passion, Experience, and Next. Start by telling the interviewer what you’re passionate about, and make sure you choose something that’s closely related to the job you want. Recruiters want to hire people who enjoy their work, so let them know what you enjoy.

Then, summarize your experiences that are related to the job you’re applying for. You should do this briefly without going into too much detail. This will give the recruiter context for the rest of the interview.

Finally, tell the recruiter the type of experience you’d like to get next. Your answer should be straight off the job description for the role you’re interviewing for.

Here’s what it looks like when it all comes together. This is an example of how a candidate for a marketing job might respond to “tell me about yourself.”

PASSION: “I’ve always loved finding creative solutions to challenging problems.”

EXPERIENCE: “When I was in college, I worked on our yearbook staff, where I led a project to create the first-ever online version of our school yearbook. I also had a summer internship where I created the social media sites for three non-profit organizations.

“When I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, I went to an advertising agency where I developed marketing campaigns for clients, wrote project briefs for our agency teams, and managed cross-functional groups that included people from insights, graphic design, project planning, and client relations. I’ve been working for that agency for five years. During that time, I’ve been promoted from Assistant Account Manager to Senior Account Manager. I also won the agency’s award for the most creative marketing campaign.”

NEXT: “Now, I’m looking for a role where I’ll have more responsibility for  finding creative solutions to increasingly challenging problems. I really want a role that involves identifying marketing campaign ideas and managing cross-functional project teams.”

As you can see, the P.E.N. framework gives you a clear beginning, middle, and end to your response. It makes it easy for a recruiter to understand what you enjoy, what experience you have, and what you want to do next in your career.

Now, think about your passion that will make you great at your next job. Then, add a summary of the experiences you have that are the best fit for the position you want. Finally, end with what you want to do next, which is to get a job exactly like the one you’re interviewing for.

For more tips on answering interview questions, check out my book called Amazing Interview Answers. It includes 44 of the most common interview questions along with advice for answering each question. If you’re a college student, check out my other book, Interview Prep Playbook. It includes set-by-step instructions for building your job hunting strategy, polishing your resume, and preparing for interviews.

Good luck with your interviews and getting your next dream job.

About the Author:

Richard Blazevich is the author of Amazing Interview Answers, Interview Prep Playbook, and That’s a Bullseye. For years, he’s led campus recruiting efforts for the marketing department of a multinational consumer products company. In that role, he’s interviewed hundreds of candidates for a wide variety of jobs. He’s also led interview workshops for career development offices and student organizations at some of the top universities in the United States.

Richard is a senior director of marketing with over fifteen years of experience. He received an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing and Business Strategy from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Montana State University.

My new book, Interview Prep Playbook, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats.  This book includes advice for getting the most competitive, highest paying internships and entry-level dream jobs.

If you know a college student who is motivated to become an interview superstar, please tell them about this book. It includes tips for building a job hunting strategy, polishing a resume, and preparing for interviews. Click here to see a synopsis of this book.

Click here to order this book in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook format.

I just uploaded a preview copy of my next book to Amazon. If you want to check it out before the general public sees it, go to www.amazon.com/dp/B079D1LMMG.

The book, Interview Prep Playbook: College Student Edition, is designed to help college students get summer internships and entry level jobs. It includes tips for polishing resumes, researching companies, and preparing for interviews.

If you know a college student who can use help getting into the job market, please tell them about this book. It’s in the final stages of editing, so I’d love to get feedback from students. Reviews are appreciated, as are ideas for making the book even better.

– Richard Blazevich, author of That’s a Bullseye, Amazing Interview Answers, and Interview Prep Playbook

With the new year here, it’s time for resolutions. If you don’t have a job you love, how about resolving to find a better one?

According to the Washington Post, only 13% of people actually like going to work. If you’re in the other 87%, maybe it’s time to find a job you’ll like.

In Amazing Interview Answers, you’ll get the tools you need for the most challenging part of job hunting … the dreaded interviews. This book is filled with helpful tips for getting ready for interviews. It includes 88 winning answers for 44 common interview questions. It also includes useful advice on what recruiters want to hear from candidates.

If you’re in the job market or you know someone who is, check out this book. It’s available on Amazon.com in the following formats:

• Paperback: $9.88
• Audiobook: $10.47
• Kindle: $2.99

3 Powerhouse Books to Read before Going into Job Interviews

Searching for jobs can be brutal. Here are 3 outstanding books to help anyone succeed in the most intimidating part of the process, the dreaded job interview.  If you know someone who’s searching for a new job, you may want to recommend these books to them.

1. AMAZING INTERVIEW ANSWERS is perfect for people who learn by example. It contains 44 commonly asked interview questions, along with 2 impressive answers for each question. This book also includes descriptions of what employers want to hear, and tips for what you should and shouldn’t say during interviews.

There are useful frameworks for preparing interview responses, including the P-E-N, the S-T-A-R, and the 30-60-90-Day frameworks.  The author also shares mini job descriptions for over 50 different jobs types, which are useful for preparing your customized interview answers.

With the tips in this book, you’ll be able to blow away your competitors with your amazing interview skills. This book is available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook format.  Click here to order this book from Amazon.

2. KNOCK ‘EM DEAD JOB INTERVIEW includes more than 300 interview questions with brief explanations for ways to approach each question. It’s also full of tips including how to dress and what body language to use during interviews.

This book has advice on how to follow up after interviews and how to negotiate your job offer. It’s ideal for someone who wants direction from the early stages of job hunting through the final details involved with an offer.

This book is available in paperback and Kindle format. Click here to order this book from Amazon.

3. ACED is an inexpensive ebook with useful tips for finding your dream job and using technology to improve your job search. The author includes interview preparation tips and stress management techniques.

While it doesn’t have the variety of questions you’ll find in the other 2 books, it does have practical advice for anyone who is intimidated by the interview process. Click here to order this book from Amazon.

The combined cost of these 3 books is around $20, so you might want to get all 3. They’re perfect for giving yourself a competitive advantage over others who will try to outperform you in interviews. They’ll also make great gifts for anyone who’s in the job market.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is “form an interview group.” When I first heard it, I didn’t realize the impact it would have in my life. Now, it’s resulted in me getting job offers from almost every interview I’ve ever had.

When I was in college, I asked a career counselor, “What’s the one thing I should do to set myself up for success.” Without hesitation, she uttered the four words that have changed my life, “Form an interview group.” She went on to explain that an interview group consists of a few students who practice answering interview questions together.

I followed his advice and formed a group with three other students. We met every week and practiced interviewing together. The impact has been profound with all of us becoming amazing at answering interview questions and getting the jobs we’ve wanted.

To form your interview group, find classmates, friends, or family members who are willing to meet with you once or twice a week. Then, schedule recurring meetings with them at the same time every week so you get into the habit of practicing together.

In my new book,  Start-to-Finish Job Search Guide, you can find instructions for setting up your own interview group. Plus, you’ll find tips for building your job hunting strategy, polishing your resume, and connecting with potential employers.

When you meet with your interview group, start by picking one question to practice. I recommend starting with, “Tell me about yourself,” since it’s the most common question that employers ask during interviews. Follow the directions in my book to develop your response to this question, and keep practicing your answer until it’s amazing. Then, move on to other questions.

Interviewing is a surprisingly easy skill to master. You just need a game plan and time to practice. You can find a game plan in the Start-to-Finish Job Search Guide. Forming an interview group will ensure you get the practice you need.

If you’re a college student, form an interview group of your own and dedicate a few hours every week to master your interview skills. It could be the most valuable experience you have in school. If you know college students, please forward this article to them. It may help them get the jobs that they’ve always dreamed of.

About the Author:

Richard Blazevich has developed and led interview training workshops for students at some of the top business schools in the United States. He has also led the campus recruiting efforts for the marketing department of a multinational consumer products company. Over the past 20 years, he has interviewed hundreds of candidates for a wide variety of roles.

Richard received an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing and Business Strategy from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Montana State University.

To see Richard’s books, online classes, and other job hunting tools, go to www.AmazingJobSkills.com.

To celebrate the launch of my new book, Amazing Interview Answers, I’m giving away free copies of the Kindle version of this book. Click here to see if you’ve won your free Kindle version of this book.

Amazing Interview Answers is designed to help anyone succeed in job interviews. It’s filled with commonly asked interview questions and sample answers for each question. In this book, I also include insider tips for what you should and shouldn’t say during interviews.

The book was published in ebook and paperback formats earlier this month. It’s available in the Amazon and Kindle online stores, and the audiobook version is scheduled to launch in mid-August 2017.

This book giveaway is open to everyone, so if you know someone who is in the job market, please forward this article to them. The giveaway ends the earlier of July 23, 2017 or when all prizes have been awarded. Click here to see if you’ve won your free Kindle version of this book.

If you enjoy learning about business and leadership, but you prefer reading fiction over typical “how to” books, you might want to try these 3 business fable novels. They include fictional stories with meaningful business lessons.

1. THAT’S A BULLSEYE delivers practical advice for creating marketing strategies and improving business results in an ever-changing world. In this leadership fable, a young executive takes over the marketing department in a struggling company. The story follows him as he takes 6 simple steps to build a powerful presence for his company’s new line of products.

This book also provides a summary of key lessons and helpful templates that you can use to build relevance for your organization. It’s available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats. Click here to order your copy from Amazon.

2. THE FIVE DYSFUNCTIONS OF A TEAM is a story about an executive team that is in disarray. If follows their struggles as they strive to come together and lead a company.

This book outlines five dysfunctions that are at the heart of why teams fail. It outlines actionable steps that can be used to overcome these common dysfunctions. The steps in this book can be used to build cohesive, effective teams that provide strong leadership for organizations. This book is available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, audiobook, and audio CD formats. Click here to order your copy from Amazon.

3. THE GOAL is a classic fable that is often required reading in business schools. Originally published in 1984, the lessons are as relevant now as they were then.

This book makes challenging concepts like bottlenecks, throughput, and operational efficiency easy to understand. The author tells a dramatic story with characters representing various aspects of production plants. The lessons are powerful, but you’ll need to be patient as your read this book. It takes a while for the lessons to unfold, but if you’re interested in production processes, it’s worth the wait. This book is available in paperback, Kindle, audiobook, and audio CD formats. Click here to order your copy from Amazon.

Whether you’re interested in marketing, teamwork, or manufacturing processes, these 3 books can satisfy your desire to learn something new. Plus, their fictional story formats make for engaging reads.