Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Resume Do's and Don'ts

Here are the keys to successfully preparing and writing a resume. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in job-hunting for a new career.

Do consider a bulleted style to make your resume as reader-friendly as possible.
Don't go beyond two pages with your resume.
Do consider a resume design that doesn’t look like everyone else’s. Many jobseekers use Microsoft Word resume templates and wizards. There’s nothing wrong with them, per se, but your resume won’t look distinctive if you use one.
Don't use justified text blocks; they put odd little spaces between words. Instead, make your type flush left.
Don't ever lie on your resume.
Do include as much contact information as possible -- any information that would enable an employer to reach you during business hours.
Do give your resume as sharp a focus as possible. Given that employers screen resumes for between 2.5 and 20 seconds, you need a way to show the employer at a glance what you want to do and what you're good at.
Don't use personal pronouns (I, my, me) in a resume.
Don't leave out the locations of your past jobs (city and state). This information is expected, but many jobseekers unwittingly omit it.
Do list your jobs in reverse chronological order.
Don't mix noun and verb phrases when describing your jobs. Preferably, use concrete action verbs consistently.
Do avoid the verb, "Work" because it's a weak verb. Everyone works. Be more specific. "Collaborate" is often a good substitute.
Don't use expressions like "Duties included," "Responsibilities included," or "Responsible for." That's job-description language, not accomplishments-oriented resume language that sells.
Do emphasize transferable skills, especially if you don’t have much experience or seek to change careers.
Don't list too much experience on your resume. Don't emphasize skills and job activities you don’t want to do in the future, even if they represent great strengths for you.
Do remember that education also follows the principle about presenting information in the order of importance to the reader yet.
Don't include on your resume your height, weight, age, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, sex, ethnicity/race, health, social security number, reasons for leaving previous job(s), names of former supervisors, specific street addresses or phone numbers of former employers.
Don't include hobbies or other irrelevant information on a resume.
Don't list references right on your resume.
Do realize that the phrase "References available upon request" is highly optional because it is a given that you will provide references upon request.
Do proofread carefully. Misspellings and typos are deadly on a resume.

The Baltimore Employment Guide wishes you luck on your career search.

EG Weekly Publication March 30th-April 5th

Weekly EG Publication
Weekly EG Publication

Check out this week's great career opportunites:
Professional Healthcare Resources
North American Trade Schools
Maryland Department of Public Safety
Canteen Correctional Services
Baltimore School of Massage
Quality Automotive Warehouse
Gallagher Services
AEX Group

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Baltimore Job Fair Success!


In today’s job market, we know that job seekers are looking for ways to find employment. The Employment Guide is here to help the young, old and mature get on the right path to a new career.

The doors were opened from 10am until 2pm and this allowed the thousands job seekers to talk with employers and hand them their resumes.

There were about 2,000 + job seekers who attended the job fair at The Baltimore Convention center in hopes of finding a job. Nearly 50 companies in the Baltimore area were looking to hire candidates.

Many job seekers said they were looking for anything they could get. However, with the unemployment rate on the rise and the economy decline, this was the biggest turn out for the job fair yet. The employment Guide host several job fairs every year.

Our job fair at The Baltimore Convention was a complete success!!

The next job fair is scheduled for Tuesday July 21, 2009 from 10am-2pm at The Baltimore Convention center.

Please check out our video from the job fair at http://www.wbaltv.com/money/19012095/detail.html

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Weekly EG Publication March 23rd-March 29th

EG Weekly Publication
EG Weekly Publication


Check out this week's great career opportunitites:
Chimes
North American Trade Schools
Bed Bath & Beyond
All-State Career
Avon
Harbor Hospital
Cricket
Core-Mark
Lighting Express
The Fudgery

Don't forget to join us at the job fair on Wednesday, March 25th
Where: One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Time: 10am-2pm

Hope to see you there!!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Resume Writting Tips!

The though of writing a resume can be intimidating because it is difficult to know where to start and what to include. It’s important to take the time and make sure that all your experience is documented appropriately because your resume is a very important document that can make or break whether you receive a job interview.

Your resume is the only thing you have to make a good impression on the company that you are applying with, and could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate with same amount of experience. Take the extra time to make sure your resume outlines every single job responsibility in a concise manner.

Here are ten (10) tips in writing for good resume writing.
1.Use a headline that matches the job you want- Most employers receive hundreds of resumes and take a quick 5 second glance. Use job titles and skill headings that relate to the job you want.
2.Spell-check- Always click the spell check button. A recruiter or hiring manager may skip over your resume since they see you didn’t take the time to correct spelling errors.
3.Use proper English- When you are writing about a current job use present tense and when you are writing about a past job use past tense.
For example:
CDE Company 1/2005 Present responsibilities: Answering phones, scheduling appointments
QRS Company 2/2005-3/2008 Responsibilities: Answered phones, scheduled appointments.
4.Format your resume so that it is easy to read-A giant paragraph of one sentence after the other all jumbled together is difficult for an employer to read. Use bullets because the organize each job responsibility and makes it easier to read
5.Tweak and target your resume and cover letter-you will increase your chance of receiving an interview by tweaking your resume and cover letter so that address the specific skills each employer request.
6.Remember your resume is a business document-Avoid any pictures, and hobbies unless they directly relate to the job description.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

EG Weekly Publication

EG Weekly Publication March 16th-March 22nd
EG Weekly Publication March 16th-March 22nd


Check out this week's great career opportunities:
North American Trade Schools
Prestige Delivery Systems
Fleet Transit, Inc.
Lifetouch National Studios
BurgerKing
Genesis Healthcare
Oakcrest
Matthew's Media/NIDA
Allines
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

What is a job fair?

Job fairs are typically fair-like environments, in that employees assemble in rows of booths to speak to you about their jobs. They take place on college campuses, hotels, arenas and auditoriums.

Employers at some of the larger job fairs buy sophisticated booths to show off their products and services. That’s to attract your attention and “sell’ you on the companies. The event producers provide giveaways, networking and knowledge events and other activities to make it more festive, a fair-like atmosphere. Candidates walk up and down the rows of booths essentially “shopping” for jobs.

Job fairs are excellent places to land employment, because employers are there to set up interviews for candidates. Some interview and hire on the spot. No employer is going to hand you a job on a silver platter, you have to sell yourself if you want you resume to go into the “maybe” stack.

Here are some helpful tips to take with you to our job fair on March 25th, 2009.
Before the Job Fair:
•Find out what businesses will be there. The more information you can gather beforehand, the more successful the job fair is going to be for you
•Develop some questions you'd like to ask employers. Narrow down your list of businesses to include those who have positions you are interested in, or are businesses you think you might like to work for
•Proofread your resume - at least twice. If you don't already have one, it is a good idea to put a resume together for a job fair and make sure you have updated contact information included on your resume

At the Job Fair:
•Dress the part. As with a job interview, first impressions at a job fair are important. How you represent yourself sends an immediate message to employers about how serious you are in your job search
•Take time to talk to employers. Don't just drop off a resume and move to the next booth
•Have a firm handshake and maintain eye contact. Let employers know how serious you are. Greet the employer with a firm handshake, and maintain eye contact throughout your conversation

After the Job Fair:
•Follow up with a thank you note. If you picked up a business card, or the name of the company's job fair representative, send a thank you note a day or two after the job fair

The Baltimore Employment Guide wishes you luck in your job search. Please feel free to leave any comments of your past job fair experience.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Weekly EG Publication

EG Weekly Publication
EG Weekly Publication


Look at these Great Career Opportunities:
First Transit
Mercy Ridge
FutureCare Northpoint
Vantage House
North American Trade Schools
Oak Crest
All-State Career
Allines
Eyre Bus Service
Wackenhut Corporation
American Beauty Academy
CES Security

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Looking for Employment?


The Baltimore Employment Guide is hosting their first job fair for 2009 at The Baltimore Convention Center on March 25th. There will be employers recruiting from Baltimore County and surrounding areas. The job fair will be a great opportunity to hand your resume to a recruiter and talk to them face to face. Please be sure to dress to impress the employers and bring plenty of resumes.
The following companies will be attending our job fair:
Airport Terminal Services
All-State Career
Anointed Words
Auto Zone
Avon Products,Inc.
Baltimore City Dept. of Social Services
Baltimore Research
Chesapeake Financial Group
Chimes Maryland
Coca-Cola Enterprises
Constellation Energy
Coventry Healthcare
DeVry University
DISH Network
DLLR
Flowers Baking Co.
Fudgery
Hertz
Kaplan Test Prep
Lifeline Screening
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Maryland Army National Guard
Maryland Dept. of Public Safety
Maryland Transportation Authority Police
McCormick & Company
NIDA
North American Trade Schools
Primerica Financial
Paradigm Services
Social Security Administration
Stein Academy
The Wellness Company
United Insurance Company
United States Army
United States Navy Recruiting
United States Park Police
UtiliQuest
WCBM
Wendys

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The Employment Guide March 2nd-March 8th

EG Weekly Publication
EG Weekly Publication


Check out this week's great career opportunities:
Tesst College of Technology
Corporate Express
North American Trade Schools
Allines
All-State Career
Gallagher Services
MV Transportation
National Aquarium
ColorTyme
The Arc of Central Chesapeake Region
Capital City Nurses
Oak Crest