Interview: Piece of Cake

The practical management of your job search will lead to a successful capturing of an interview, read my new blog post Interview: Piece of Cake.

In this new post I provide job seekers advice on how to best engage during a job interview and in turn calm themselves enough to take part in an informative and employer-focused session (Interview).

Hope you enjoy if you have an recommendations for blog post topics, feel free to comment. As always, if you have any questions, I am here to help you can email rvargas@creatingprints.com

Career Collective -- Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers

I've been invited to participate in a group of expert career coaches and certified resume writers called, Career Collective. Visit http://careercollectiv.net/

You can follow us on Twitter and use the hash tag #careercollective

We will blog monthly on the same topic to provide job seekers with different perspectives to tackling job search obstacles. Be sure to check out my first post for this group here: Resume Writing blog and follow links to my colleagues' wonderful blog posts.

If I can be of any assistance, please email me at rvargas@creatingprints.com or visit my website

http://www.creatingprints.com/

Certified Resume Writer -- Hiring the Right Help

So many interesting, and unsettling post out there warning job seekers of hiring resume writers. So many in fact that I won't bother making this one a long post. The main message I'd like to convey is that hiring a resume writer is smart! But, like hiring assistance for anything else, perform your due diligence. What would be considered your due diligence? Well, for starters, I know first hand that a resume writer that is certified has trained, honed their skill, and has proven to a very discerning panel that they deserve the certification. I can at least vouch so for the following certifications (because I proudly possess them!).

Nationally Certified Resume Writer by The National Resume Writers' Association

This certification requires the writer earn CEUs (education credits) before he/she can submit samples for review. These samples are reviewed to determine if the resume writer is ready to take a very comprehensive test, which includes a challenging grammar test and developing a resume and cover letter that wins over the votes of resume-writing leading experts! In order to maintain the certification, the writer must nurture industry knowledge and continue to earn CEUs.

Master Resume Writer Credential by Career Management Alliance

This is considered the cream of the crop! The most elite certification out there, which is only granted to writers with more than five years in business; who have excelled at demonstrating their knowledge via an extremely challenging grammar test; and who have impressed

with a Master Portfolio, some of the most discerning judges ! Certification must also be maintained by proving to the judging panel that the writer has evolved. Proof is conveyed via resubmission of a Master Portfolio and an essay in which the writer enlightens the judges as to how the writer has morphed into an even more masterful writer!

Academy Certified Resume Writer by The Resume Writing Academy

This certification is only earned after a very comprehensive eight-week course during which the resume writer trains with leading experts, Louise Kursmark and Wendy Enelow, who also hold the Master Resume Writer credential. These ladies are experts not only because they earned the Master Resume Writer credential, in addition to other numerous credentials, but they are experts because they have been successful in this business for more than 20 years, have numerous books published (Google them or look them up on Amazon.com); and they continue to give back to the resume-writing community via webinars, teleclass, and seminars. Moreover, they help executives navigate their careers successfully and empower these executives with remarkable resumes!

Back to the course, the Resume Writing Academy provides a rigorous course, requiring the resume writer prepare numerous resumes and cover letters based on challenging candidate profiles. The work is scrutinized by these experts and the writer will only attain their certification if he/she passes each assignment with an 80 or above!

Another great certification association is Career Director's International. I am in process of attaining this certification, so I will keep you posted and I will come back and blog about my experience. So far, I can share that the professionalism demonstrated by the members who are certified via this organization and the attentiveness, knowledge, and hands-on leadership provided by the President, Laura De Carlo, has motivated me to pursue this certificate.

Ok, so I was wrong when I said this would be a short post (I got a bit fired up!). My point is that you should at least begin with someone who is certified if you are weary of not hiring a professional. Now, I must say there are very good writers who are not certified yet! But, beginning your search with a certified resume writer will at least narrow down your search and provide you certainty of qualifications. Still, ask for a free consult, get to know your writer, email that writer your resume, have them provide you feedback!

My last point is that certified resume writers don't come cheap! Why should they? Why would you want them to be cheap? Hiring someone to create your marketing tool (resume), should be something you are happy to invest in as it will save you money and make you money in the long run!

As always, if you have any questions, email them to me at rvargas@creatingprints.com. Feel free to email me your resume for a critique as well.

My telephone number is 303-600-8603!

Best!

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas

Resume Writing Expert

Creating Prints Resume Service

Job search: Special Attention Goes a Long Way!

Erica had been searching for a job (or even just a good lead for months)! She sent out countless of resumes daily; answered online job postings, emailed them directly to recruiters and hiring managers -- yet, little responses.

I asked her, " Erica, tell me how you are conducting your job search?" What are you saying in these emails?" She replied, "Nothing. I am just sending out the resume and the cover letter attached."

I was perplexed! NOTHING!? How could this be? I could hear the frustration in her voice, but I advised Erica that although I understood she was tired of emailing 30+ people per day and obviously she was angry at the no call backs, she needed to personalize every email. I will say it again...PERSONALIZE EVERY EMAIL! (No matter how many emails you have sent out.)

Let's analyze this advice for a moment. Erica was tired, frustrated, and was desperate for any lead -- but on the receiving end of her email there was a person who had been receiving countless of resumes and was probably bored of all the submissions. The hiring manager certainly was not going to take the extra step and open the attachment of an empty email, which conveyed such lack of care. Why would the hiring manager take another look at Erica's empty email? To be nice? Sure! But, in this economy why leave it up to nice?

Make it easy for hiring managers to want to meet you. Outline in an email what is about to come in the resume and cover letter attached. Make a connection. Show you are are are real candidate who knows they will bring value to the company. The special attention will result in better results -- It sure did for Erica!

As always, if you need my advice or assistance, please email me at rvargas@creatingprints.com.

Rosa E. Vargas
Master Resume Writer
Jobsearch Consultant
Creatingprints Resume Service
303-600-8603

Twitter Can Work as a Great Job Search Tool!

Everyone wants to know how can you use a social networking site that only allows you to communicate in 140 characters or less for a job search?!

I can understand your doubts and at first, I too was very confused and doubtful about Twitter. You really have to begin to start using it and use it well in order to fully understand the magnitude of how powerful this tool is and how it can connect you to others who may lead you to a great job or business opportunity!

You must keep in mind that the Internet is about gaining information -- Twitter is about sharing information and that is your ticket!! How you impress others and gain their respect is via the value of your tweets (messages) and via the value of your tweets, you will build your online presence and establish yourself as a pro in your industry. If someone is looking for a pro in your industry -- guess what! They will be led to you by someone who is following you, thinks you are qualified, and knows you are searching for a job!

Read my latest blog post here http://www.resume-writing.typepad.com/ and email me at rvargas@creatingprints.com if you have any questions.

Rosa E. Vargas
Certified Resume Writer
Master Resume Writer
Creatingprints Resume Service

New Blog Post on Job Search Strategies

It has been a while since I posted to this particular blog. To catch you up, I have been relocating from Florida to Colorado. Like many of you who have had to relocate for job purposes -- I am not immune to that scenerio! So my husband and I packed and moved!

Having recently experienced the job search woes in my own family, I wrote a blog post to advice everyone to employ a strategic and aggressive job search campaign.

I am a resume writer but can tell you that if you are sitting back and waiting for your resume to do all the work -- that is not an effective job search campaign. Take control, follow up on all leads, be prepared, and thank every one for any lead!

If you have any questions, please email me at rvargas@creatingprints.com

Rosa E. Vargas
Certified Resume Writer
Job Search Consultant
Creating Prints Resume Service

Free Resume Evaluations

Is your resume ineffective? The job market is competitive -- but with a professionally prepared resume, you will give yourself and edge! If you would like to inform yourself before hiring a resume writer, email your resume to rvaras@creatingprints.com or call 407-802-4962.

You can also visit www.creatingprints.com for more information!