ResumeMaker’s Top 8 Tips to Finding a Job

April 3, 2009 - PRLog -- Individual Software, the leader for 20 years in designing award-winning resume software, released a list of the “Top 8 Tips to Finding a Job,” for job seekers. Heading the list at number 1 is Write a Winning Resume. “Job seekers must write the best possible resume to find job opportunities, especially during this economic downturn,” says Jo-L Hendrickson, President & CEO of Individual Software, “and ResumeMaker can help.” The software has over 1,000 professional resumes written by certified resume writers.

ResumeMaker customer, Linda Lewis, Vice President of Workforce Development at Goodwill Job Junction in North Florida remarks that, “one of the biggest obstacles for our patrons is writing a resume. ResumeMaker provides the phrases to put into the resume so they don’t have to struggle with writing. It helps them quickly find the right phrases and put together a resume so they can move forward and find a job.” In 2008, Linda and her colleagues helped over 15,000 people find new jobs using ResumeMaker at Goodwill Industries in North Florida.

ResumeMaker’s Top 8 Tips to Finding a Job

1.  Write a Winning Resume. Your resume should communicate and highlight your background and experience.  State clearly how you saved time, increased revenue, increased productivity, reduced costs – all action/results-oriented activities.

2. Make Your Cover Letter Relevant. Research the company before you send your resume and cover letter. Include phrases in your cover letter that demonstrate your knowledge about the company and how you could contribute to their success. Programs like ResumeMaker include Dunn & Bradstreet company reports that you can easily download.
3.  Network – in person and online. Use all of your networks to find people that know you, professionally, socially, through education or volunteer positions, and can help you the most. Refresh contacts and let people know what kind of a position you are seeking.
4. Be “Interview Ready!” Practice interview questions and answers. Many programs, such as ResumeMaker, include virtual interview practice sessions. Anticipate the questions you may be asked, why, and what responses hiring managers are looking for from successful candidates.
5. Follow-up.  After the interview, capture the high-level points on paper. What did you and the hiring manager discuss? What were his or her main questions? Did they have any concerns? Demonstrate your communication skills, especially listening skills, and address these issues in your follow-up Thank You Letter.
6.  Organize Your Job Hunt.  Use a spreadsheet program or a contact manager program, like the one provided in ResumeMaker, to keep all of your job-related information in one place. Stay organized and be ready to respond to a potential employer’s request for the next step in the hiring process. Have a list of your references available before they are requested.
7. Expand Your Networking. Consider LinkedIn, a site that is full of professionals who are good at networking and adding new contacts to their sites regularly. Join and create your own profile and begin networking. Reach out to alumni of your past employers, educational institutions, or colleagues from volunteer positions.
8. Be Creative. In the current job market, you may need to consider working for a temporary agency or even packaging your skills for sale as a consultant. Many companies use temporary agencies and consultants as a source for recruiting. In addition, you should take the time to learn new skills to add to your resume.

ResumeMaker Professional and ResumeMaker Ultimate can be purchased at major retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada and online at www.resumemaker.com, at a price of $30 for ResumeMaker Professional and $40 for ResumeMaker Ultimate. Colleges, universities, government agencies, and public libraries can add this premium resume building program to their career centers to help students enter the workforce and unemployed workers find jobs. To request an editor's review copy, please contact pr@individualsoftware.com or call 800-822-3522.  Founded in 1981, Individual Software is a leading publisher of personal productivity, business, and educational software.

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Individual Software is a leading publisher of ResumeMaker Professional, ResumeMaker Ultimate, ResumeMaker for the Web, and personal productivity, business, and educational software.