Career Advice & Insights

Employers already know your goal is to get a job, so ditch the objective statement and instead write a summary that compels them to read on. Are you “looking to obtain a challenging position that will facilitate your work ethic”? “Seeking to obtain this challenging position in,” oh, let’s say the music industry? Perhaps you … Read More

When do you need a recruiter, career coach or professional resume writer and how to choose? You need resume advice. To whom do you turn? What’s the difference between a professional resume writer and a career coach? What about advice from a recruiter? What about resume advice from professional associations or from government career centers? … Read More

Does your resume include an objective statement, fax number, a “typewriter” font or “references are available upon request”? If so, your job search is full of outdated furniture. I recently posted a picture on Facebook of myself as a kid sitting in my living room. I love this picture because it reminds me what my … Read More

How to approach recruiters, HR pros and resume experts for advice without being a pest. It’s not that Linda M. Duffy minds giving a little advice to job candidates. It’s just that, well, you’re not exactly helping her pay her grocery bills. “I don’t mind giving quick advice to candidates, especially if it’s someone I … Read More

Software Project Manager Afzal Baradi’s resume was boxed in by long descriptions that said nothing about his accomplishments. A resume rewrite cut to the chase. After re-reading Afzal Baradi’s original resume three times, I had some vague idea that he developed software applications for financial systems – but I didn’t see any career progression or … Read More

Take these professional tips to evaluate feedback on your resume. Resume critiques can feel like a barrage. You might have been excited to revamp your resume by getting a critique from friends or a professional resume writer. But the results can leave you defensive, deflated and confused about what’s legitimate feedback and how to incorporate … Read More

Unless you’re prepared to edit out old information and streamline the rest, your resume becomes an outdated clutter. The budding daffodils and the financial-page headlines are saying the same thing: It’s a great time for spring cleaning. For your job search, that means your resume. To spruce up your resume, you’ll have to tack on … Read More

By highlighting every line in his resume with a bullet point, Kevin Kennedy made sure none of his accomplishments stood out. Enter certified professional resume writer with some fresh ammo. Kevin Kennedy’s old resume was difficult to read. He had some great material buried deep beneath a two-page pile of verbiage that included more than … Read More

Six years out of the Navy, Bonnie Adams, an engineer and project manager for a defense contractor, needed a resume that highlighted her civilian skills. “Bonnie Adams” (not job seeker’s real name) advanced through the ranks for eight years as a Navy officer and helicopter pilot. She still flies helicopters in the Navy Reserve. But … Read More