From JobsInAL Newsletter: Formatting Online Resumes

Formatting Tips
Your resume will be displayed on JobsInAL.com in plain text, so you will need to remove any special formatting such as bold, italic, underlines, bullets, indents, and centering. If you have a resume created in Word, you can remove special formatting by saving it as a plain text file (with the extension .txt). You can open it up in Notepad (if you have Microsoft Windows) to view how it will look.

1. Manually remove any characters that are not readable and correct any spacing problems
2. If you had bullets, you will need to change them to asterisks (*)
3. Align everything to the left and use line breaks to separate headers from text.
4. Keep line width narrow (about 4.5 inches)
5. Preview your resume and check for any incorrect line breaks or special characters you might have missed before you send the message to a potential employer

Sample Online Resume

Remove unreadable characters Jane Doe 123 Park Street [ᡯ] Portland, Maine 04092 jdoe@yahoo.com 207-222-2222 Summary: I would like to work in an office where I can put my skills to best use. Add Keywords that relate to your industry and skills - making it easier for employers to find your resume in the database KEY STRENGTHS Experienced and professional administrative personnel/office manager, Excellent communication skills, Proficient in Microsoft Office EXPERIENCE June 1999 - Present ABC Company, Office Manager * Maintain office system equipment to include computer tech support and systems and office supplies * Track and maintain corporate charitable donations * Accounts payable support and petty cash reconciliation * Maintain and update property monthly reports Use Asterics & Line Breaks to separate lines of text June 1995 - June 1999 ABC Insurance, Administrative Assistant * Answered phones * Greeted visitors * Drafted correspondences November 1990 - May 1995 123 Health Insurance, Office Personnel * Attended meetings in order to record minutes * Compiled, transcribed, and distributed minutes of meetings * Coordinated and directed office services, such as records and budget preparation, personnel, and housekeeping, in order to aid executives * Greeted visitors and determined whether they should be given access to specific individuals * Made travel arrangements for executives COMPUTER SKILLS Microsoft Office including training in Excel and Access, Outlook, Lotus Notes, PowerPoint and Publisher

Keep in mind that most resumes sent via email or viewed online are viewed for only 5-8 seconds during the initial screening. So, when it comes to e-resume writing, the first half of the first page of your resume should contain a summary of major accomplishments or key skills that sells you to the recruiter.

Making Your Resume Searchable
When your resume is stored in an online database, hiring managers and recruiters will probably conduct a keyword and key phrase search, since using phrases often increases the relevance of the search results. For example, a separate keyword search on "database" and "marketing" would return a larger number of resumes than a search on "database marketing". Therefore, you want to think both in keyword and combinations of keywords that are likely search phrases and be sure to include both in the text of your e-resume.

These basic guidelines will get you started:

• The best source of words/phrases that a recruiter will use in a keyword search are his/her own - review job descriptions, job postings, and classified ads for positions in your field - most of the keywords and phrases that the hiring manager or recruiter will use are in there.
• Use industry "buzz words" and jargon - this is one time where that is encouraged - including commonly used acronyms in your field (e.g., MCSE when listing your certification for a network engineer in the IT industry).
• Other potential search words include the company names of your employers, cities where you have worked, and the college/university that you attended.

Don't completely discard your paper resume. Instead, bring it with you to the interview. Any fancy formatting stripped from the electronic version will still come in handy - perhaps to help separate you from all the other candidates being interviewed.

Finally, just as with the paper version, it's important to remember that your electronic resume is only active with a company for about six months. Resumes are then often deleted or put in an archival section of the company's database. And of course, an e-resume should always be kept up-to-date.

From JobsInRI Newsletter: RI FLOWER SHOW

Stop by and say hello to our Outreach Consultant, Steve Porter at the RI Flower Show!

February 21-24, 2008
Rhode Island Convention Center
Thursday - Saturday: 10am-9pm
Sunday: 10am-6pm

This year, we are exhibiting at the Flower Show because we have seen that ALL types of businesses can have success finding qualified employees, and ALL types of people can find good, local job opportunities, through online employment resources. Four or five years ago, the diversity of companies and job seekers going to the internet for hiring and job searching was relatively limited. However, in the past couple years with increased access to high-speed internet, installation of online resources at career centers and libraries, and the growth of the online employment adverting market as a whole, there has been a significant change in who goes online, and what they're looking for. Think you know all about the profile of the average online job seeker? You may be surprised. We have a free webinar later this month to find out who really is going online, and what they are doing.

We know that seasonal businesses often have a hard time finding the right people for their work, particularly when they are competing against all the other local seasonal businesses also in full hiring mode. JobsInRI will be promoting our service to job seekers and employers at the Flower Show, and will be available to answer questions about advertising effectively, or creating effective online resumes. Whether you are attending as a seasonal agri-business, or a hobby gardener, JobsInRI has the tools you'll need to nurture your business or cultivate your career. So, stop by and say hello to Steve. He'll be available for most of the show to answer any questions about finding a job or attracting the best candidates.

JobsInNH/NHLRA Partnership Announcement

JobsInNH.com Partners with New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association to Increase Networking Opportunities and Exposure for Members and Subscribers

WESTBROOK, ME January 25, 2008 – JobsInNH.com today announced a new partnership with the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association as part of their newly launched JiUS Connect initiative. The agreement provides benefits to the NHLRA membership through discounted services, increased exposure, and industry specific recruitment content provided by JobsInNH, and provides JobsInNH increased brand awareness and interaction with one of the largest professional associations in the state- currently, nearly 1 in 10 NH employees works in the Hospitality and Leisure sector.

"We believe that this is one of those few situations where a partnership has been agreed upon that truly offers both organizations tremendous value and benefits," said Jason C. Blais, the Field Operations Manager for JobsInTheUS.com, the family of state specific websites that operates JobsInNH.com. " With the job growth in this sector projected to outpace the state average by 30% over this decade, employers will need to utilize more dynamic resources to promote their company and build an employment brand that attracts the best talent."

JiUS Connect supports the two primary objectives of JobsInNH.com: To be the most effective resource for local job seekers to find real local jobs; To be the most effective resource for local employers to find qualified local candidates. The JiUS Connect program strengthens JobsInNH.com's efforts to provide the premier local employment resource in the state. Through the program, JobsInNH will also provide educational and outreach programs to both job seeker and employer groups within their partner associations.

* For more information on JiUS Connects partnership opportunities, please contact Jason C. Blais, Field Operations Manager at (877) 374-1088, extension 2069.

JobsInNH Key Stats * JobsInNH averages more than 348,000 unique visits per month during 2007, and more than 370,000 through the last 3 quarters. * During 2007, more than 33,000 NH-based job openings were posted on JobsInNH. * More than 12,000 local resumes were added during 2007.

Bringing the Human Resources Back to Louisiana

Bringing the Human Resources Back to Louisiana

Working at JobsInTheUS as a Recruiting Consultant, Manager of Outreach and Education, and now as the Field Operations Manager, I have presented workshops on how to create more attractive and effective job postings to dozens of employer groups over the past few years. However, after all these presentations, and all the positive feedback and testimonials of success from employers, I never realized the true potential of employment advertising and the internet. That potential hit me like an awakening when I least expected it.

I was at the gym on Saturday morning, just settling in to my 60 minutes on the elliptical trainer, when this realization struck. Now, one of the reasons I picked this particular gym to join was that every aerobic machine has it’s own flat screen TV with a remote control and headphone jack propped up in front of it. This idea of giving me something to distract myself, as I worked out has been great. As is my custom, I try to find an engaging program to tune in to as I sweat away the 60 minute workout. As so often I do, I landed on CNN, which is mostly attractive for it’s lack of commercials, keeping my attention longer.

This day happened to be Saturday, February 9^th, and the presidential campaign was in full swing. Caucuses were underway in Kansas, Nebraska, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, while votes were being cast at the Louisiana Primary. CNN was airing a show entitled Ballot Bowl ’08, and was covering the top candidates as they rallied support for their nominations. CNN aired lengthy clips of each of the candidates speaking to crowds at town halls, diners, senior citizens homes, and various arenas.

Barack Obama was speaking in Lafayette, LA, regarding the tens of thousands of displaced residents who have not been able to return after Katrina. Obama spoke passionately about increasing federal support and speeding up the reconstruction, conjuring up visions of a mass migration back to LA to restore the communities and economy. It was then that the power of recruitment advertising and the internet occurred to me.

At JobsInTheUS, we have been providing informational seminars to help companies use the internet to position themselves as the employer of choice in their area and industry. We talk about what makes them a great place to work, the unique qualities that make them special, and we share what job seekers are looking for. We have seen that businesses who promote themselves with descriptive profiles, including colors, logos, and images, are much more successful in their recruiting efforts, while those who put in little effort, tend to get a return in kind. The internet broadcasts your business and your employment opportunities across the globe. Through the web, a person living in Idaho can find out all about the job openings in Baton Rouge or Houma. That is, they can find out as much as your company tells them. We spend a great deal of effort on search engine optimization, so when a person searches for a “job in Louisiana” in a search engine, we show up to promote the real in-state jobs that are available.

Tens of thousands of displaced Louisiana residents are still living outside the state, awaiting an opportunity to return. Most of the people that we work with wear many hats in their companies. I urge all HR professionals, business owners, office managers, and personnel staff to don one more cap, that of the lighthouse keeper. But instead of shining your light to keep boats from crashing into the coast, your light should serve as a beacon to all who are looking to return to Louisiana. A beacon of light that shines on the great opportunities you can provide and illuminates your unique culture and qualities. A light that will attract people to your company and to the region. Take the time to show what makes you special, and remember, as you write you company profile or fill in your job description online, that you are doing more than merely posting a help-wanted ad. You are broadcasting to the world that there is opportunity in Louisiana, and there is something great to come home to.