But the movie shows the true resourcefulness each person has in facing and overcoming circumstances by keeping one’s wits and thinking outside the box. It is a movie of self-discovery that each person can experience.  What most impressed me was that regardless of circumstances you have the inner ability to think it through, be resourceful, and change your situation. This may seem too Hollywood, but if you face an impossible situation, take a moment to consider alternatives.  Something that can change for the positive.  If you believe in God, draw upon your Faith, if you have other beliefs draw upon those inner options. You can and will find a way if you don’t stop trying.

Think Outside the Box

As the movie progresses, Hamilton’s character Julia Bedford turns to sleeping in her car until she is able to stay with a friend.  While helping her friend, she begins to find herself, think outside the box, and find her way.   Julia finds a desire to become a realtor. So through borrowed finances from a friend she studies at the local library and gets her realtor’s license.  This leads her to work for a local realtor.  She befriends a store owner who comes to her aid in many ways.  And using her wits and common sense, she connects with others and her circumstances begin to change.  By the end of the movie, she’s got a home, a job, an income, and great friends.

Be Tenacious and Creative

Although it was Hollywood, the point I saw was don’t look at the problem, look at possible solutions. Stop and think for a moment. Regroup.  Make a list of all the things that you can do. Research local or county agencies that might provide assistance.  Find a place to volunteer where you can gain exposure and network with people.  Write them down in a list.  Instead of looking at the circumstances, consider how to work through them one step at a time. How can you overcome? Find a sliver of daylight and walk toward it. Using imagination, ingenuity, tenacity and your wits, you can overcome any problem. Don’t settle for less. You have been given all that you need, the key is learning to find it and use it.

Remove the Mountain

It is not impossible to move mountains if you believe in yourself; if you believe in a Higher Power that gives you additional strength to do the impossible. Chip away at the mountainous obstacle with one tap of the hammer at a time…eventually it will crumble.  Before long you’re reduced that mighty mountain to a pile of gravel.  And then use the lessons learned while creating that pile of gravel to pave the pathway to success.

I’m not a financial genius nor am I an investment analyst, but after reading a lot of articles about the global economy and proper investing, I’ve learned a little about fiat currency and the gold standard.   As international economies slowly recover from the recent financial upheavals, it appears some financial analysts are looking at precious metals and a return to the gold standard as smart investing.  The reason — money in the form of gold, silver and precious metals can be used internationally to make purchases if paper money fails.  Paper money, also called fiat currency, is only as good as the faith people put into it and its relative scarcity, according to an article at Knaves.com.   How you choose to manage your money could be the difference between having buying power in the future or struggling to pay fluctuating day-to-day prices.

What is Fiat Currency

Fiat currencies are another name for national currencies, according to Wikipedia, which include the U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Japanese Yen, Swiss Mark, German Mark, and the Pound Sterling. They are held in high quantities and used by governments for international trades on the global market for products and commodities like oil and gold.   However, in 1971 the U.S. dollar moved from being backed by the gold standard and became a fiat currency backed by the government; other countries followed.  Now, since the global economic crisis, questions arise whether the world will return to the gold standard or continue operating with fiat currencies.  In response to this question, certain countries are educating their citizens in better debt and money management to ensure they are prepared for the future.

Are you Investment Savvy?

Becoming more familiar with stock market trends and money management means being prepared; the younger generation has become more investment savvy and many have learned how to play the stock markets to make and save money.  Because of the economic crisis, many believe the return to the gold standard is coming, so they are buying gold and precious metal stocks, equities, or slowly building gold bullion reserves.  Should fiat currencies fail, they will still have buying power by the strength and price of their hard money, i.e. gold bullion, silver coins, etc.

International investors can refer to the Kitco.com web page to view the daily international prices of gold, silver, palladium, platinum and rhodium.  Resources like The Gold Report, The Energy Report or The Critical Metals Report  provide insight on international mining, drilling, investment strategies and expert insight into where and how to invest in international markets.  Information from varied resources state that sound investments take patience to payoff, but when done well could give the investor a 50% or more return in profits.  Selling too soon could mean a huge loss.

What’s the Best Investment?

From all the information available on the Internet, investment experts suggest people use caution and be frugal in 2011.  History shows various trends and while precious metals and oil are explored, discovered, and drilled, supply and demand play a huge role in determining prices, investment opportunities and affect the international stock markets and world economy.  For those who can afford to invest, invest wisely after studying the markets.  For those that can’t, don’t panic–instead, focus on getting and staying out of debt.  Learn to live within your means. And don’t be frivolous by returning to bad habits that perhaps created financial crises in the first place.
Many see the global business and investment communities slowly recovering and positively moving forward.  Others speak of impending gloom, hyperinflation and more economic woes.  For the average citizen in any international community, the wise choice is to be cautious.  As the world changes through social media and social networking, the Internet has opened the world to international communication by a click of the mouse.  Using this technology to educate yourself on international trade, prudent investing, and financial economics, you can take charge of your own finances.  Becoming your own debt manager not only empowers you, but can be the lifeblood that may save you from future economic calamity.

Christmas 2011 — Birth of a New Tradition

This year can be different. This year Americans can give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It’s time to think outside the box.

Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down money on a foreign-made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another 10 thousand lights for the house? When you buy a $5 string of light, about $0.50 stays in the community.  If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

The Importance of Visibility

Visibility is key to finding a job. Posting resumes on job boards, various Internet job markets such as CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Sologig.com, and Craigslist, is only one part of the visibility need. Network with your friends, tell people you know, join Linked In, create a video resume and post to YouTube for people to view. You never know who’s going to look in the most unlikely spot for a new hire.

I’ve read blog posts where many job seekers seem to think using Linked In or some of these other social media resources isn’t worth the effort. I disagree. The more places you post your resume the more visibility you gain, and that means you’re out there for the world to see. Ted Williams is proof that these social media systems work. It’s all about exposure. And the jobs are there.

Just Do It

A client recently told me that she heard about a job at an afternoon tea where she was meeting friends. The hostess’s daughter heard that the woman was looking for work and told her of a job opening at a local bistro. The woman checked it out even stopping by to see the place and talk to the employees. A week later, this same woman was looking for boxes for a friend who was moving. She walked into a liquor store asking for boxes and the owner said if she wanted to empty the ones that had just arrived she could have them. Having nothing better to do, she agreed and began placing the items on the shelves. The owner then offered her a job in his store as a clerk/cashier. He interviewed her on the spot, including talking salary and schedules. A third person saw a job advertised on Craigslist, submitted a resume with a cover letter via email and then interviewed and hired that afternoon.

Perhaps these are unique situations, but they are real scenarios. December’s national unemployment rate dropped to 9.4%, its lowest since May 2009, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Industry Week reported on January 7, 2011, that “employment rose in leisure, hospitality and health care sectors” (http://bit.ly/h75LFL). While other areas are still struggling, the positive twist is that people are beginning to hire. So it’s critical to get that exposure and continue the search.

A Determined Will Can Never Be Broken

It’s also important to get your resume updated and ready to present. Customizing it for the specific job is essential and presenting a cover letter that gives reasons why you’re the best qualified is also recommended. Make sure your resume shows how you added value to previous employers. What projects did you do and what were your results? How did you make a difference to the employer? These are the questions to answer. Sure, it may appear that you’re answering interview questions on the resume, but if five people with the same background are looking for the same position, why should an employer pick you over everyone else? How are you so different that they should interview you?

Be prepared. Post your resume to get visibility. Keep plugging at the job search. As our economy slowly recovers from The Great Recession, be one of those who contributes to a lower unemployment rate by finding work in the most unusual situation from a most unique opportunity. Your life could change overnight like Ted Williams’ did. You never know when you’ll be that one special person that stands out from the crowd because you gave yourself that extra visibility.

Helpful, excellent customer service means listening, maintaining control of the call and following-through so the next person can pick up where you left off.  Customer service is demanding and draining, but when done well can be the difference between losing a customer or saving one that buys more.

A lot has been written about Customer Service and its impact on both large and small businesses.    But savvy customer service requires more than answering phones, being helpful, courteous and knowledgeable, and offering something more.  Susan Ward provides additional insight in her blog about 8 Rules for Good Customer Service.  Excellent customer service involves listening, maintaining control of the conversation, and follow-through to ensure the matter is completed on the first call.

Getting Past the Technology

We all know how technology has affected customer service help lines.  Your call is answered an interactive voice response (IVR) system asking questions about why you called so it can direct the call to the right caller queue.  You may be directed to a queue where an automated voice answers frequently asked questions (FAQ).  If you want to talk to a live operator it may take several minutes to get through to another queue where you wait until an operator becomes available.  Or, you may find that no live operators are available; you must call another number, send an email or use an online chat for a reply.  Even the most patient customer can become infuriated if you are in a hurry, frustrated over an account issue, or have a simple question for a live person.

This is where true customer service kicks in to either save or repel a customer.  When the caller finally reaches a live person, it is up to the customer service representative to maintain control of the call, calm the customer, hear the issue, and use whatever means available or authorized to resolve the angry customer’s issue.  Regardless of whom you are, this is a huge challenge on both sides of the customer service coin.

Maintaining Control of the Call

Angry customers can easily become unreasonable, demanding and rude.  Calming the customer is essential to maintaining control.  Even when you cannot calm the customer, maintaining control is imperative to resolving the issue and saving the customer.  Good customer service training will teach you to remain calm and understand the customer’s anger is directed at the company; don’t take the complaint personally.  With practice, it will become easier.  If profanity or insults come at you, either politely tell the caller you don’t allow customers to talk to you that way, or escalate the call to your supervisor who is paid to handle more irate clients.

Actively Listen

Ask probing questions about the issue.  Openly listen to what the caller is saying. Allow the customer to vent for a reasonable time, but then try to pinpoint the cause of the issue and the reason for the call. Repeat back to the customer what you hear as the issue. This ensures you are both working together toward a common goal.  Once confirmed, offer options that resolve the problem.  Customers want to know they are being heard, when you listen and offer a solution that is relayed to the customer and helps overcome the aggravation of the issue.  Disclose honest methods of resolution, be up front, but work with the caller to end the problem with the first call.

Follow-through

If the need requires a follow-up, make sure to notate the account and call when you say you will. It is important to do as you say because your actions reflect upon your company. Make the customer feel special about the attention received to resolve the issue.  But always notate the account so co-workers can pick-up where you left off if the customer calls back.

These are essential pieces of customer service. Holding your own with an angry customer is draining and difficult, but when done well will save the customer, generate repeat business, and improve your company’s reputation.  In today’s global business world, it makes the difference between customers dreading a call to customer service or reducing the number of calls received.  Happy customers are positive company promoters who bring referrals and confirm a company’s business foundation.  Providing good customer service is demanding and difficult, but it could be the difference between a company that grows and one that lays-off due to lost business.

In April 2011 hackers got through to Sony Corp.’s Playstation Network making over 77 million accounts vulnerable for personal data.  On March 30, Epsilon, an online marketing company, hackers got email addresses and customer names for millions of clients of  US Bank, Chase bank, Wal-mart, and other companies.  While both companies stated that compromise of their client’s accounts was minimum to zero, clients were still made aware of measures to take to minimize personal data loss.  In each case of identity theft, the consumer should be aware of possible attempts to obtain more data from potential thieves.

Be aware of your email Inbox.

Once aware that your email data is stolen, it is up to you to protect yourself from further damage.  Monitor your incoming emails and talk to those naive Internet users who are more vulnerable and may not understand how phishing scams or Internet fraud scams work.

• Never provide your personal or financial data through email links or phone numbers provided in emails, even if they appear to come from your bank, insurance company or other possibly reliable source.  Instead, contact the company using numbers you know or through their specific web sites found outside of the provided email links.

• Contact your financial institution, insurance agent or credit source personally using phone numbers or email address on the backs of your credit cards, from your statements or from their specific web site.

• Beware of social engineers–those who call you and ask for personal and financial information over the phone.  Most banks will not call directly to ask for information.  Instead, tell them you will call the bank directly using the numbers you have or that you will visit the branch personally.

• Don’t email personal or financial information. If you want to use an online web site to pay a bill or purchase something, look for the secure indicators on the web site — a lock icon on the browser’s status bar, a secure data indicator such as an “https://” in the URL address.  If you have any doubts, don’t complete the transaction.

• Review credit card, bank statements and financial records monthly and report any suspicious activities.  Although some financial institutions may contact you if suspicious activity is suspected, many may not.  Awareness of your account activity can prevent loss and aid in recovery of fraudulent access to your account.

• Use a trusted Internet security system to protect your data.  Most Internet security software includes a firewall that blocks access to your data.  You become invisible online.  While you may receive notices that hackers have attempted to access your system, a good Internet security system will block the attempt keeping your data safe and secure.  Internet providers include Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton and many others that can be located through a good Google search.

• Forward spam that may be phishing scams to spam@uce.gov and to the bank or company that may be fraudulently represented in the email.  Companies that know their data may be compromised will increase their information to ensure client security and prevent a breach.

•  If you believe you have been scammed, contact the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint: ftc.gov.  Provide as much detail as possible and then visit their Identity Theft web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or more information on how to proceed to handle your situation.

These are only a few of the myriad of ways hackers use to acquire personal and financial information for Identity Theft purposes.  With more consumer awareness, Identity Theft can be prevented despite the breach of company databases that reveal information.  Using caution and knowing how to identify potential schemes, your identity will remain yours alone and using the Internet will be a safer way of communication to a global audience.

Read the Small Print

Prepaid credit cards do help rebuild bad credit and offer spending options, they also carry hidden fees that can reduce the deposited spending balance. Make sure to read ALL the small print to avoid fees that leave you with very little to spend on yourself.

While you may not incur an overdraft fee if you go over your prepaid limit, the card issuer may require immediate payment of the overdraft.  Failure of repayment results in card cancellation with no renewal option.  If the card expires, the issuer may reject any further purchases even if you submitted a reload deposit.  And for any reason, the card issuer may choose to cancel your card without notification.

Hidden Fees

When you Google prepaid credit cards, a list of options appears.  You’ll see “No Credit Check”, “100% Approval”, “Direct Deposit”, “Bank Alternative”, “Earn x% APY”, each one designed to lure you to buy from that card issuer.  These are all true, but the card’s true value depends on how each card is set-up by the issuer.  Did I mention to make sure to read the entire Cardholder Agreement?

The fine print may tell you that the Temporary Card is not good for monthly recurring transactions.  Since it is not a regular credit card, even if the needed amount is available, it cannot be used to pay returning monthly insurance bills, car payments, or utility bills.  This may only appear in the Consumer Agreement, but it is your responsibility to know this.  Other hidden fees could include:

• Set-up Fee – a non-refundable fee to set-up your account.  May be up to US$25.
• Interchange Fee - fees paid the merchants when the card is used for transactions.
• Merchant may pass the fee along to you in the form of higher costs or require a minimum purchase amount of US$10-$20.
• Annual Fee – regardless of how often the card is used, an annual fee of US$25 or up to     22% of the deposited balance is charged by the issuer.
• Monthly Fee
• PIN Fee – if you choose to use a PIN identifier, you are charged with each usage in addition to the purchase.
• Balance Inquiry Fee
• Withdrawal Fee
• Currency Concession Fee – could be 2% of the total amount converted
• Maintenance Fee

Optional Fees 

• Express Cash Fee
• Bill Pay Enrollment Fee
• Bill Pay Fee
• Plan Change Fee
• Replacement Card Fee
• Change Card Design Fee
• Cardholder-to-Cardholder Transfer Fee

Based on the amount of each of these fees, a prepaid credit card loaded for US$100 could incur up to US$70-$75 fees, leaving a usable balance of only US$25.

Government Regulations

Globally, it appears more and more consumers are turning to prepaid credit cards to manage debt and spending. As a result, U.S. and international governments are monitoring usage fees, fraudulent use, and non-disclosure of all card fees by issuers to ensure consumer receive the full monetary amount deposited to their cards.  Governments continue to battle with issuers over specific legislation and consumer protection laws.  With the growing trend of prepaid credit card use, the ongoing need remains to monitor and protect consumers while preventing issuers from higher costs and lower profit-margins.

Overall, prepaid credit cards are a good resource for managing debt and regaining control of your spending.  It gives you the option to provide an established purchase limit, moinitor spending and see where your money goes. But the responsibility still lies with the consumer.  Before signing up for a prepaid credit card read the Consumer Agreement; know all the fees attached to that card. Managing your debt means staying in control; know where your money is going on your prepaid credit card before you discover you’ve spent more on fees than on your own purchases.

Even a casual conversation with a total stranger while sitting on an airplane can get you a job!

Never underestimate talking about what you can do because your confidence and talents may be exactly what a business owner seeks in a talented employee; the result can be a fun job thatprovides experience and a paycheck!   During a late afternoon flight returning from the Midwest from a vacation landed me a job as a trophy engraver, and honestly, I thought the employer was joking when she offered me the position.  She was serious; the job provided a stepping stone to bigger opportunities and proved to be quite rewarding!

You are your own walking resume.

Sitting in coach class beside a nicely dressed older woman, we struck up a casual conversation. She asked what I did for a living.  I said, “I own and operate a full service resume and freelance business writing/editing service specializing in crafting personalized resumes and professional profiles for professionals and businesses to position them for success.  I also support small businesses that produce newsletters or need proofreading and editing.  My background in journalism, which includes photojournalism, layout and design and news reporting.”

My background caught this woman’s attention.  As we talked further she learned that my work requires the need for attention to detail, meeting deadlines, creativity, and the right use of font styles and verbiage for certain projects.   Our conversation turned to how I used the computer, easily learned new programs, and used creative writing and layout and design skills in my job.  Her face lit up as I described the same skills she sought for position at her company.

Be confident in how you add value to an employer’s need.

This woman, Kay, owned an awards company, and needed an engraver; someone who knew how to work a computer, was creative, and had a good work ethic.  She needed a part-time engraver and I found her job intriguing.  We connected.  Our casual conversation served as my interview; she liked my ability to work a computer, learn new programs, and perform layout and design from basic information.  By flight’s end, she’d offered me the position, established my salary and told me to show up by mid-week to interview.  It happened so suddenly I thought she was kidding.  I didn’t show up at her store until the deadline date, but when I met her that day she immediately put me to work.

I operated a computer-based engraving machine that required placement of the words on varied sizes of metal plates or glass objects.  Placement and proper wording were imperative, so from the client orders I had to determine size of the lettering, measure placement and layout, font style and then set the machine for the proper settings and perform the tedious task of etching the plates or glass objects.  Incorrect plates were tossed, so getting the job done right the first time was essential.  I seemed to be a natural at it!  It was great fun. I worked with great people, and thoroughly enjoyed the part-time income I generated through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

All experience adds to your resume portfolio.

As my business progressed, this job was short-lived, but lent itself to experience that proved valuable.  I gained insight to the tedious job of engraving, sign printing, and the accuracy required in more artistic jobs like graphic design.  It proved the value of casual conversation and self-confidence when talking with someone about one’s personal experience, skills and knowledge.   That boss liked my attitude, my clean appearance–albeit I was in jeans and t-shirt when I met and interviewed with her on the plane–and the polite manner in which I spoke.  She liked me and I had a customer presence that intrigued her.  All these attributes are important to prospective employers regardless of where you meet them.

Your next employer is in that Starbuck’s line.

Never underestimate your value or self-confidence when meeting new people.  You never know when the person you meet may be a potential employer who offers you a job point blank.  The next time you’re waiting in line at Starbucks, smile at the people around you and welcome their casual conversation.  It could be a break for a job that brings personal and professional rewards along with that welcome paycheck!

During a time when I was kicking back, I had opportunity to read a few books.  One of them, which I’ve meant to read for a while, was Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath.  My attention to the book was spurred by a marketing mentor who swears by it.  I now know why!

For anyone who may be considering a career change, who’s looking for work, or who wants to focus on what they CAN do, Strengthsfinder 2.0 is a great read.  Rath’s idea is that so many books marketed today focus on overcoming your weaknesses, however one of the biggest problems in Corporate America is they are not emotionally engaged in what they do.  This factor alone drains people and leaves them unproductive, inefficient, leads to poor performance and frustration and drained.  Instead, Rath believes you should focus on your strengths and how to leverage them to promote yourself, excel in your work place and thrive.  His idea is backed by proven research with viable results.

The first section of the book explains Rath’s premise and how he established it.  In the Preface, Rath states, “people who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general” (italics from Rath for emphasis).  He makes an excellent point that so many people in the workplace are disengaged emotionally from their job for various reasons.  Emotionally disengaged workers are unhappy and can create issues that work against both the employee and employer.  Managers who focus on workers’ strengths, encourage and help build them, create a happier, more satisfied team that becomes a greater value add making the manager shine while his/her team produces.  It becomes a WIN-WIN-WIN situation.

Following the first section, you take an online quiz (which is free after buying the book) that helps analyze your specific strengths.  You get a report that provides data you can store and/or reference at a later time.  This can be an eye-opener for some people; you might find you are stronger in an area you didn’t expect!

After this quiz, you return to the second section of the book to read about the attributes of your specific strengths.  This may provide a foundation on which you can focus your work-related tasks, job search, or business plans and marketing strategies as an entrepreneur.  Moreover, it may give better understanding as to why one thing doesn’t always work while something else always excites you.

I recommend this book to all my clients.  It’s an inexpensive investment, found at most bookstores, and becomes a reference tool for all facets of one’s life.  One of Rath’s biggest points in the book is that people need to be emotionally and mentally engaged in what they do.  Finding and using one’s strengths helps achieve this goal.

“Our natural talents and passions — the things we truly love to do — last for a lifetime.  But all too often, our talents go untapped. … Every human being has talents that are just waiting to be uncovered.” — Tom Rath, Strengthsfinder 2.0

You can be one of the Top 15 selected by the Recruiter or Employer looking for that perfect job!  Out of 1,000 candidates, you CAN find yourself talking face-to-face with an Interviewer interested in how you’ll add value to the company.  Given the right tools and an attitude of self-confidence, you can find yourself with a new job, a steady paycheck and out of the line of the unemployed awaiting benefits every two weeks.

Be the Best of the Best

Differentiate yourself by making sure your resume stands out by listing the right information.   Make sure it contains the information an employer or recruiter wants to see.  With thousands of resumes to review, if a recruiter finds 15 within the first 40 resumes, chances are s/he won’t wade through the remaining 980.  If you’re not in that top 15, your resume won’t even be considered despite your excellent qualities.

So how do you know you’ll make the top 15?  Make sure your resume WOWs the employer with great skills and value-added qualities.  The feedback I get from both employers and clients who haven’t gotten an interview is that the resume didn’t tell anything about how they could make a difference.  They were no different than the other 980 candidates.  While these tips may be repetitive, they will make the difference.

Get the Job You Want

•    Review the Job Description for the position you seek
Make sure you are qualified for the position you seek.   If you know you can do it and have background, list those qualities and pinpoint them.

•    Use Keywords found within the Job Description.
The #1 complaint I hear from employers is that a resume doesn’t contain keywords that they seek in a candidate.  Regardless of their talents, if these keywords are included in the resume context, chances are their scanner doesn’t pick them up and the candidate is lost in the shuffle.

•    Tell employers how you add value to your job.
You have a great job description, but it says nothing about what specifically you did or how your results impacted company growth or customer satisfaction.  Were you recognized as Employee of the Month–for what reason?  Did you save the company thousands of dollars–what did you do specifically that contributed to this?  Did you create new programs that improved efficiency and productivity–why did you create them and what did they do?   If 50 people have the same background as you do, why should the employer choose you above all others?

•    Include your Job Titles, Company Names and Locations and Dates you worked
Employers want to see dates you worked.  If there’s a gap, what are you hiding?  Where did you gain your experience?  Even if you worked for companies that failed, listing the dates and for whom you worked are key factors employers want to see.  You don’t need to include why you left, leave that for the interview, but do include this information on your resume.

•    List only the past 8-10 years of experience.
What worked 12 years ago, may be obsolete now.  In fact, what worked 5 years ago may be defunct now.  Today’s technology changes our work force so dramatically, staying abreast of the newest systems is imperative to success.  And despite common belief, age discrimination does occur;  listing anything beyond 10 years could hurt you more than help you.

•    Include Education and Training.
You don’t need to list high school, but any technical or junior colleges are important.  If you are pursuing a degree, list this and the school at which you study.  Education is becoming a key factor in all jobs these days; if you have it list it, if you don’t look into ways you can take advantage of school programs to expand your education.

Conclusion

Your resume is your soapbox to shout to the world how you add value as a great candidate.  Don’t lose out in the job field by selling yourself short.  And while writing your own resume is the toughest job on the planet, you have well-qualified professional resume writers and services available to help you.  Invest in your future.  Invest in yourself.  Your Return on your Investment may be that perfect job you’ve been looking for in a Hidden Market that only a few have found!