America's Career InfoNet

Follow the links to information on general career outlook, wage trends, state employment profiles, and websites related to individual career fields.

America's Career InfoNet - Occupation Profile

Part of America's Job Bank, Career InfoNet is a "comprehensive source of occupational and economic information." Start your search by choosing a job family from the menu or enter at least the the first three letters of a job title and click on search.

American Society for Training & Development (ASTD)

ASTD represents thousands of members in the field of workplace learning and performance. Go directly to the ASTD Job Bank. Select the link for job hunters, then choose Illinois from the scrolling menu on the following page.

Barrington Career Center

909 E. Main St. (Lake Cook Rd)
Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 304-4157

A nonprofit organization created to provide job assistance and counseling, and serves primarily Chicago's Northwest suburbs. There is a one-time fee of $25.00 for use of the facilities. Those who are unable to pay the fee have opportunities to volunteer.

Business 2.0

Directory of the business links on the web, with a helpful collection of career resources.

Career CLICK

From the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Career CLICK provides overviews of over seven hundred occupations with wage and outlook forecasts.

CareerClick

From the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Career CLICK provides overviews of over seven hundred occupations with wage and outlook forecasts.

Career Guide to Industries

This site provides information on careers by industry including working conditions, occupations in the industry, training and advancement, earnings and benefits, and employment outlook.

The Career Key

Career resource based on Dr. John Holland's theory of vocational choice, this personality test matches your personality type to a set of compatible occupations.

Career Strategies

714 Sheridan Road
Wilmette, IL 60091
847.251.1661
847.251.5191 FAX
MMKCareer@aol.com

Marilyn Moats Kennedy is founder of Career Strategies, publisher of Kennedy's Career Strategist, and a nationally known speaker on issues affecting job seekers and career changers.

Career Transitions Center of Chicago

703 W. Monroe Street
Chicago IL 60661
312.906.9908

The CTC is a not-for-profit organization that helps qualified people gain the skills required for a successful job search. The full range of services are available to Members who enroll at the Center and pay a $80 quarterly service fee.

CareerJournal.com - Salary Data & Hiring Trends

Another great resource! Search the salary surveys by region or by industry and job function, negotiating tips and more.

ChicagoBusiness.com

Crain's does an outstanding job of keeping up with what's happening with Chicago area businesses. Get your news directly from the website or sign up to have news of interest sent to your email account. While they no longer offer a job bank on the site, they do offer career resources.

Education Pays

Table prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor which charts unemployment and earnings for full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and over, by educational attainment.

Employee's Guide to Illinois Employment Law

Check out this website sponsored by Robert D. Banzuly, Employee Rights Attorney. Call Bob Banzuly at (312) 953-4268.

Fast Company

Online edition of the popular magazine for job hunters. Browse the career resources or the core "themes." Back issues are archived online. Fast Company's Guides provide strategies and advice for job seekers and entrepreneurs.

IDES One Source

Since their merger with the Illinois Occupational Information Coordination Committee, IDES offers even more good information. Access the Illinos Occupational Outlook in Brief, or check out the Illinois Career Resource Network, a comprehensive guide to Illinois careers, training programs and schools, along with links to other helpful resources.

Inc.com

"Where to start and grow your business." Offers a variety of information that is more general in scope.

Internet Resume & Cyber-Safe Resumes

Job-Hunt's Susan Joyce offers tips for creating an electronic resume while protecting your privacy. Good stuff!

Jewish Vocational Service

216 W Jackson
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 673-3400

Career counselors at JVS offices in several Chicagoland locations can help with career exploration, cover letters, resumes, and interviewing skills. They also provide networking opportunities, computer services and programming for job seekers and career changers. Services are customized to serve the needs of the individual.

JobHuntersBible

Created by What Color is Your Parachute author Richard Nelson Bolles, the Bible offers his always insightful advice. Read his "Fairy Godmother Reports" and the Bolles take on a range of work issues and job hunting strategies.

Jobs & Careers for Teens

From Skokie Public Library's "Teen Scene," this web page contains a collection of links to job search guides and information for teens.

JobStar

JobStar was designed with the California job seeker in mind, but offers good information for any job hunter. You'll find the best collection of salary surveys on the web, help with the "hidden job market" and guides for specific careers.

JobStar Salary Information

Mary-Ellen Mort's JobStar is one of the best job guides on the Internet. Her Salary Info page includes the largest collection of salary surveys anywhere, plus negotiation tips and related articles.

keirsey.com

This website includes the Kiersey Temperament Sorter, a test designed to identify four personality temperaments as a way to help people assess their job preferences.

Licensed Occupations from America's Career InfoNet

This tool shows the occupational licensing requirements by state, occupation, or agency and includes information on licenses required by law in order to practice a particular occupation.

Maxine Topper, LCPC, currently manages the suburban offices of the Jewish Vocational Service. In addition to supervision, she offers individual and group counseling services for people entering the workforce, changing careers, or looking to improve their job search strategies. She has a special interest in learning about and working with the maturing workforce. Maxine currently teaches "Counseling for Career Development" in the Master's counseling program at National Louis University. In addition, she has presented workshops on and believes wholeheartedly in the power of humor to help people manage and cope with the stress of life. To learn more about the services provided by JVS, visit their website at www.jvschicago.org. To contact the Skokie office, call 847.568.5050.

Monster Career Advice

An overview of more than one hundred careers, their job descriptions, required skills, and outlook.

Monster.com Career Advice

An overview of more than one hundred careers, their job descriptions, required skills, and outlook.

National Able

312.782.3335
312.782.7700 TTY

Leading the way back to work' in Chicagoland for over 20 years, National ABLE is the hub of a network of community based and government agencies throughout Chicagoland that supply assistance to people with barriers to employment. ABLE now serves workers of all ages while continuing its special advocacy and programs for older workers.

Negotiation Articles from WetFeet.com

Browse through articles on how to negotiate with your potential employer for the best salary.

New City, New Job

Quintessential Careers' advice on how to conduct a long-distance job search.

New Trier Township Employment Counseling Service

739 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-4820

Offers free job placement assistance, resume help, career counseling and referrals. New Trier can also help with job search techniques and interviewing skills, and can provide special services to meet individual needs.

O*NET Online

The Occupational Information Network (formerly Dictionary of Occupational Titles [DOT] is a comprehensive database of worker attributes and job characteristics. The Skills Search helps match your skills with today's jobs.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

This federal government publication contains information on hundreds of individual careers including the nature of the work, employment projections, and much more.

Home Fair.com

Moving guides and links to salary calculator, city reports, crime statistics, and more.

The Princeton Review : Colleges & Careers

This site provides general career advice along with two hundred career profiles, day-in-the-life information about various professions, what it takes to pay your dues, salary trends, and a quality-of-life overview.

Princeton Review: Colleges & Careers

This site provides general career advice along with two hundred career profiles, day-in-the-life information about various professions, what it takes to pay your dues, salary trends, and a quality-of-life overview.

Queendom.com

This site contains a selection of useful and fun career search tests that address areas such as procrastination, assertiveness, leadership, IQ, and more.

Ready to Relocate?

About.com Job Search Relocation Tips

Realtor.com Salary Calculator

If you're considering taking a job in another location, use the Salary Calculator to compare the cost of living in hundreds of cities. Select the city you're living in now (or the closest metropolitan area) and the community you're considering moving to.

Rebecca Smith's eResume and Resources

Online since 1995, this site offers eResumes 101, a collection of tutorials for developing your electronic resume. Highly recommended.

Relocation: Selected Web Sites

A collection of research tools selected and organized by reference staff at Multnomah County Library, Oregon. Selected web sites include, rankings of quality of life, city profiles, schools, crime statistics, cost of living and salary calculators, climate, and more.

Resumes & Cover Letters from the Riley Guide

Excellent advice from the premier career website The Riley Guide. Here you can find information and links on preparing a resume and cover letter along with guides to providing references, resume databases, electronic resumes and more.

Resumes from JobStar Central

A detailed guide for writing Resumes and Cover Letters which also contains sample resumes and information on Electronic Resume Banks.

Resumes in an Electronic Age: Tips & Tricks

As the job market evolves to meet the demands of an electronic age, so must the savvy job seeker. Larger employers are now scanning electronically the hundreds of traditional resumes that they receive. More and more prospective employees are mailing their resumes to companies that openly solicit submissions via the Internet. Thus, a resume sent electronically will most likely end up in a database with hundreds of others. It is widely advised that you maintain your resume in a style and format conducive to automated retrieval systems. You do not necessarily have to rewrite your existing resume, but consider creating scannable and plain-text versions for more flexibility.

Scannable Resumes

Objective: Two elements are important to keep in mind--scanners can misread complex formatting and employers will attempt to retrieve resumes that contain desired key words or phrases. Maximize the computer’s ability to read and subsequently to find your resume once stored in a database. Use:

Use white, standard size paper standard address format at top one phone number per line flush left with no tabs plenty of white space keywords, rather than verbs industry jargon, acronyms, and software known*

Avoid columnar layouts (like this!) condensed text (letters touching) italics, underlining, and boldface vertical and horizontal lines folding and stapling (mail flat)

*e.g. A traditional resume might say: "Worked closely with writers and account coordinators in the development of client promotional materials." A resume intended for scanning should read: "Art Director creating four color brochures, multimedia presentations, and newspaper ad books."

Plain Text Resumes

Objective: There exist dozens of resume banks on the Internet. More and more employers accept resumes directly via e-mail or electronic forms on their Web pages. Create a plain text version that can be sent in its entirety via e-mail or cut and pasted as needed into e-forms.

Use: ASCII (plain) text format line length limited to 65 characters ** and – instead of bullets keywords, rather than verbs formal cover letter as introduction

Avoid: sending resume as an attachment to e-mail surprises—mail your resume to yourself first in order to check the formatting sending multiple versions of your resume to one employer

Note: An HTML (Web-based) resume or reference to a personal Web page on your resume can also complement your employment application. However, be wary of including information or links that might cast a negative light on how you are perceived by a prospective employer. For more information about resumes and how to do them, check out the the other resources on the ChicagoJobs.org website at Resumes & Cover Letters page -->© Brian DeHart, DePaul University Libraries

Riley Guide to Relocation

These links include moving and relocation guides, cost of living & demographics, real estate, and school & health care directories.

Salary Relocation Calculators

Career Services @ Virginia Tech links to calculate cost of living and salary comparisons.

Salary.com

Use the tools on this website to create salary reports for hundreds of different positions by location customized by location.

SalaryExpert.com

Like Salary.com This site allows you to create customized salary reports for hundreds of occupations for locations across the country.

Secrets of the Executive Career Search

By Steven Provenzano, CPRW/CEIP, author of Top Secret Executive Resumes

Every day I talk to Fortune 500 Executives who can't get a grip on their overall job search. They ask the same questions: "Where should I start? Whom should I talk to? Should I just start calling recruiters?" Finding a job is a job in itself.

It starts on the inside: step back, do a gut check and take a holistic approach. Ask yourself:

1. Why consider a job search in the first place?
2. What's really going to make me happy on the job, 40-60 hours a week?
3. What trajectory do I want my career to take?
4. If I start a search, what are the first steps to take?

#1: Why consider a search?
This is your key to success because it targets your motivation. In Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan) he says you need to get right with God. This cuts to the core of your spirit, your personal dream, and your overall satisfaction.

Is it all about money? (hint: that's almost never the case). A greater career challenge? Are you stressed out or just tired of your boss and the working conditions...or are YOU the boss and just bored with the industry, the company or the people around you?

Action: Write down a few keywords or sentences about your real motivation and level of commitment. How much time are you willing to spend creating a resume, learning & conducting internet research on target companies, calling them personally and doing personal networking? Will you keep track of your calls? How long can you be unemployed?

#2: The Satisfaction Factor
At this very moment, what do you want to DO with your life? What are you lacking in your current position, and what's going to really satisfy you on the job, regardless of job title, industry, location or money? We hear "Life Is Short" all the time. Yet most of us are content to remain in our comfort zones. Only when that becomes unbearable do we reach out for advice and support.

For many, it's a chance to stand up and help others; you discover whole new challenges. You meet new people, create new relationships, and find greater value and substance to your days, and that's priceless.

#3: The Big Picture
Take the long view; don't be afraid to dream and imagine greater possibilities, meeting new challenges, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is your trajectory.

Talk it over with your spouse, good friends you trust, your Pastor, or co-workers who can keep a secret. Don't rush this; take some time and sleep on it. Think out of the box. I built a career helping others with their careers, yet certainly never thought I'd write six books on resumes and career marketing.

#4: Strategy and Execution
OK: So you've done some dreaming and pictured yourself in the ideal opportunity; how do you get there? Get online and search for job descriptions; talk to anyone even remotely related to the position or industry.

When you're sure about the skills you want to use, sidestep the fear and market your abilities. Track down the names and numbers of key players to contact and line up informational interviews to gain information about the job market, their company direction, their challenges and how you can help them. Such interviews can lead to job offers, it happens all the time.

Studies show only 5%-10% of jobs are filled through internet job sites and bulletin boards. Yet many executives, including those in our Career Workshop at Willow Creek Church, spend hours online seeking the perfect job. But Personal Networking is the single most effective approach to finding - even creating - the ideal opportunity. In fact, 60-70% of all positions are filled through Personal Networking: people who know people.

Real networks are created one call at a time, one person at a time. It can be slow and frustrating, but we see it work all the time. A good career coach can help you perfect the skill of calling companies and creating a 30-second snapshot of your best value and benefit.

Some Final Thoughts:
A job search is a chance to assess where you are right now. We all know life is short, and no one else can make it meaningful for us. It's up to us to get right with God and move forward with greater confidence and determination. It's up to us to use our gifts to add greater impact and meaning to our lives and the lives of those around us.

Seize the day.

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Steven Provenzano is a former corporate recruiter and author of six career books, most recently: Top Secret Executive Resumes, and has appeared on CNBC, CNN/fn, ABC/NBC in Chicago, on numerous radio programs and in various newspapers.

Steven is a Certified Professional Resume Writer / CPRW, Certified Employment Interview Professional/CEIP, and president of ECS (Executive Career Services & DTP, Inc.), and has written more than 4000 resumes.

Email any questions or materials to Careers@Execareers.net or call toll free: 877-610-6810. Site: Execareers

Self Assessment Resources

From the The Riley Guide this site provides a detailed guide to self assessment tools on the Internet.

SHS Careers Front Page

This Chicago recruiter provides one of the largest listings of local jobs with emphasis in telecommunications, health and medical, sales and finance fields.

SPL's Small Business Resources

Good links maintained by the Skokie Public Library

Statewide Occupational Wage Data publication

# Look here for wages in nonfarm establishments, by industry. You'll find hundreds of occupations, along with the mean, median, and middle range hourly wages.

Statistics on Wages, Earnings, and Benefits

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this site provides regional wage rates for occupations and an overview of benefits and earnings statistics by industry.

Strategies for Building Relationships with Search Firms

Beyond The Basics: Career Strategies That Work Part III by Janet M. Shlaes, Ph.D.

Some Essential Facts About Search Firms
Types of Search Firms
Phases of a Typical Search
Building Relationships with Search Firms
Resource for Search Firms
When to Start

Some Essential Facts About Search Firms
Search firms work to serve their clients - employers who want to hire an employee for a specific position. The focus of a search firm is always on finding candidates who will optimally match their client's specifications. These firms want to ultimately find the best candidate for a specific job, a candidate that will result in an "ideal fit" for the position that needs to be filled. In order to find the "ideal candidate," search professionals will extensively research and seek out the best candidates. This research includes identifying and talking to executives that may not be currently looking for a job. When search consultants are seeking a candidate, they are focused on the current search. If your credentials, experience, etc. do not meet the search criteria, consultants will not be motivated to return your calls as quickly as you would like them to.

Types of Search Firms
The two main types of search firms are retained and contingency. Both retained and contingency search firms may specialize in a particular industry or in a particular function. Most retained search firms share the following characteristics:

• They are given an exclusive contract by the client company to source, interview, and present qualified candidates for a particular position until the position is successfully filled.
• They are generally paid 33% of the first year's anticipated salary and bonus plus search expenses.
• They will be interested in you only if you seem to have the background and skills suitable for a current assignment.
• They are used by both for- and not-for-profit organizations to fill a large percentage of management positions.

Most contingency search firms share the following characteristics:

• They receive non-exclusive job orders from client companies to fill specific positions. It is not unusual for competing firms to receive the same order.
• They are paid a fee only when the candidate they present to the client company is actually hired by the client. Their fees are typically less than those charged by retained firms, do not include expenses and may be more subject to negotiation.
• Some contingency search firms will use phone interviews to screen potential candidates prior to submission of names to the corporate client.

In addition to retained and contingency search firms, temporary employment firms are currently an important factor in the employment market. It is not unusual for organizations to routinely employ up to 10% or more of their workforces as temporary employees. IMCOR, an executive level temporary employment firm, places CEO's, CFO's, and other executives on temporary or temp-to-perm assignments. The temp-to-perm trend enables both employees and employers to "try each other out" in order to determine the quality of "fit." All search firms work to fill their job orders for their client companies, not to find jobs for particular candidates.

Phases of a Typical Search
1. The client and search consultant meet and outline the position responsibilities, as well as the ideal candidate's experience, technical/educational requirements and personal characteristics. The position requirements are often subsequently revised in order to reflect the realities of the available candidates.

2. A search strategy is developed after the job specifications are complete. Prospective candidates and networking contacts are identified in as many as 12-60 target companies. The search consultant may also contact CEOs, industry leaders, association directories, place ads in relevant publications, and search their own database of resumes in order to identify a short-list of potential candidates.

3. Once a potential candidate list is compiled, candidate developers will approach prospective candidates in order to pre-qualify or eliminate them. During this stage, search consultants are just looking for the relevant facts about the potential candidate's experience and technical background in order to screen candidates for the next stage of the search.

4. Those candidates that pass the qualification screening will begin to work with the consultant who can provide the candidate with relevant details about the search, the position and the management and culture of the hiring organization. Selected pre-screened candidates are then presented to the search firm's client company. At this point, the search firm will actively advise and prepare candidates in order to increase their effectiveness in their interview(s).

Building Relationships with Search Firms
Retained and contingency search firms are an important component of your job campaign. Unfortunately, most individuals tend to ignore or downplay search firms until they are in a job search and need the services of this type of firm. The time to start networking with and building mutually beneficial relationships with search firms is NOW - before you need their services. The following tips will help you increase your effectiveness in creating and maintaining relationships with search firms:

• Intentionally join and be an active part of the network that helps consultants achieve their goals. When you are employed, talk with consultants who phone you in order to source candidates for a particular search. Establish a relationship with consultants before you need them for your own job search.
• Actively network with other professionals within professional associations and your community to ensure that your name immediately comes to mind when others are contacted by search consultants for names of potential candidates.
• Let your networking contacts know that you are open to talking to search consultants even when you are not actively in a job search and that you are always open to hearing about potential opportunities in your field.
• Cultivate relationships with specific search consultants and firms by referring them for search opportunities within your company and other companies.
• When actively involved in a job search, research specific search firms that specialize in your industry and increase your likelihood of working with them through a high-powered referral. In other words, use your network to network into relevant search firms.
• Be strategic and "thick-skinned." Don't take it personally if search consultants are slow to acknowledge or respond to your resume or phone calls. Always remember that search firms work for their company clients. They will contact you if and when they are searching for a candidate that fits your professional and personal profile.
• When actively working with a search consultant, trust in and use their expertise. Consultants will fully support candidates that are a good fit for a current search position. Help your search consultant to effectively promote you by providing complete and accurate information. Don't posture or play games in order to speed up the process. Search consultants, like candidates, prefer a search to conclude in a timely manner.
• Once you are on a search firm's short-list, elicit and use the search consultant's expertise regarding their client company's culture and other relevant information. The search consultant is also a valuable source of information regarding the specifics of the search, including the number of candidates presented and the entire search process and time-line.
• Know yourself and be able to clearly and concisely communicate your strengths and goals to search consultants. You need to have explicit and non-emotional explanations for gaps and/or setbacks in your skills and experience. The more you know who you are professionally and what your added value is to an organization, the more you will be able to project competence and confidence in your interactions with search consultants.
• Follow-up is essential to relationship building with search firms. Express your appreciation via E-mail, letter, phone-call or voice-mail. Your follow-up communications enable you to keep your name on a particular search consultant's "radar screen." Also, let search consultants that you have networked with know that you are available as an information resource when they are compiling their potential candidate lists.

Resource for Search Firms
The Directory of Executive Recruiters is the primary resource for information about search firms. It is published annually by Kennedy Publications and can also be accessed (for a fee) via the Internet at www.kennedypub.com. The Directory of Executive Recruiters lists over 8,300 recruiters nationwide, along with their functional and industry specialties.

When to Start
Whether you are currently in a job search, happily employed or not so happily employed, the best time to start networking with search firms is NOW. Join professional organizations and create a networking schedule and concrete networking goals.

Research search firms that specialize in your field and network to find referrals to these firms. Inform your networking contacts of your availability as a resource for identifying candidates for a search. Your active and strategic networking within your industry and with search firms that specialize within your industry will enable you to establish mutually beneficial relationships for your entire career and beyond.

Updated 21 January 2000

Top 10 Tips for Career Changers

1. Be Clear on Your Objective. (Research Positions of Interest)


2. Keep Your Skills Current. (Strive to be Flexible and Adaptable)


3. Have a Positive Attitude and Well-Groomed Appearance.


4. Polish Your Presentation. (Both on Paper and in Person)


5. Emphasize a Networking Approach. (The Best Job Search Method)


6. Target Smaller, Growing Companies. (2/3 of Future Jobs will be Here)


7. Research Employers. (Show Your Interest, Thoroughness and Preparedness)


8. Consider a Composite Career. (Combining 2 or more Part-Time Jobs)


9. Be Willing to Relocate. (If You Can't Find What You Want, Where You're At)


10. Thank All that Have Helped Along the Way. (They'll Appreciate It)

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Submitted by Dr. David P. Helfand, National Certified Career Counselor, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, author of Career Change: Everything You Need to Know to Meet New Challenges and Take Control of Your Career, VGM Career Horizons.

Top Secrets of Expert Resumes

By Steven Provenzano, CPRW / CEIP
Author, Top Secret Executive Resumes

It seems no matter how good we have it, we all want a better job.

That means keeping track of job listings, networking, tracking down leads, analyzing potential employers and scheduling interviews. But these depend on other people, word of mouth, and the quality and quantity of job postings available at any given time.

Only your resume gives you total control over how you are perceived by potential employers. It doesn't have to be a passive job listing with subjective information on why you think you're a great and wonderful person (which of course you are). You need a high-impact career marketing piece that takes full advantage of the paltry 10-60 seconds of attention most resumes receive: the breaking point for the email vs. web version.

Perhaps you don't think of yourself as a very good writer, and just don't like "writing about yourself." You're not alone: even published authors and top-flight executives who visit my office tell me they have trouble writing a decent resume. They also tell me, "My resume isn't perfect, but I'll explain myself in the interview."

However, you may be the perfect candidate for a position and still not get the interview, for no other reason than your resume. Resumes are typically used to exclude people from positions more often then include them; whomever is left in the 'potential' stack gets called for an interview.

The Big Picture
First and Foremost: Tell Employers What They Really Want to Know. Pre-digest your information. Employers may have a stack of resumes on their desk and a job to fill, right now. They'll have some key requirements that candidates must meet before they'll consider an interview. What they want to know from each person "sitting" on their desk is: What can you do for me? How can you fill this job effectively? Why should I talk to you?

Consistently Market Your Skills and Abilities
You must extract your most applicable skills and talents from your past work experience and sell them at the very top of your resume in that Profile.

Some key points for creating a better resume:

• Think of a basic Title or Objective for the top of your resume.

This section should be very brief and to the point, just one or two words: SALES / MARKETING or ACCOUNTING / FINANCE, or something like EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. Give the reader some idea of where you're coming from, and generally where you want to go, without blocking yourself from consideration for other positions.
• Create a Profile section that develops your talents in these areas.

Here's where you create the link between your needs and the employer's. In a short, bulleted summary section at the top of your resume, you need to spell out and develop your most relevant and essential skills and talents, in accordance with what you think the employer needs to see.
• Steer clear of fluff words in your Profile such as "Self-motivated, hands-on professional with an excellent track record of..."

Let's face it. The first two items in this sentence could be said about almost anyone. As for your track record, let the employer decide if it's excellent by reading about your abilities (on top) and your duties and accomplishments (under the Employment section).

This can be the most difficult task on any resume, and it has to be written just right. If it's subjective or contains ideas that can't be verified through education or experience, then don't include it, or you'll lose your credibility. Consider getting advice from a Certified Professional Resume Writer who typically won't charge for a review.

Employment and Education sections.
Now your writing must consistently verify, support and quantify what you've stated in your Profile section! Help the reader actually see you at your last position by spelling out daily duties most relevant to your career goals. Explain how many people you supervised or trained, types of clients you work(ed) with, computers utilized, and most important, results.

What are/were your achievements? Give facts and figures like budget amounts, how much you've saved the company over how long, awards, recognitions, etc.

Avoid the ubiquitous "References Available upon Request" at the bottom of your resume. If employers really want references, they'll ask you. Consider "CONFIDENTIAL RESUME" at the top of your resume, and/or stating this in your cover letter. Always respect the reader's intelligence!

Research the company's brochure, annual report and job advertisement, if any, and tailor your resume as much as possible to the position.

Final Thoughts
Although personal networking is the best way to get a job, an excellent resume can open doors all by itself, and is still required in most networking situations. Of course, a brief cover letter should be targeted to the hiring authority whenever possible.

Tell the reader what you know about their operation, and why you want to work specifically for his/her company. Make them feel like they're the only person getting your resume. Consider this: a resume that's only slightly more effective than the one you have now could help you get a job weeks, or even months faster than your old resume.

Resume writing is an art form in itself, and there are few hard and fast rules. You need a complete, professional job search strategy, and your resume must be a key part of that strategy. When you implement these ideas in the next update of your resume, you'll almost certainly get more interviews.

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Steven Provenzano is a former corporate recruiter and author of six career books, most recently: Top Secret Executive Resumes, and has appeared on CNBC, CNN/fn, ABC/NBC in Chicago, on numerous radio programs and in various newspapers.

Steven is a Certified Professional Resume Writer / CPRW, Certified Employment Interview Professional/CEIP, and president of ECS (Executive Career Services & DTP, Inc.), and has written more than 4000 resumes.

Email any questions or materials to Careers@Execareers.net or call toll free: 877-610-6810. Site: Execareers

US News.com - Careers

From U.S. News & World Reports, this site contains articles on all aspects of the job search including information on the best careers of the year and the "Most Overrated Careers."

What Can I Do With a Major In?

This University of North Carolina site provides labor market information, job titles, and employment sites for various undergraduate and professional majors.

The Workforce Board of Northern Cook County

2604 East Dempster
Suite 502
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.699.9040

A nonprofit education and job training organization that serves your workforce, your community and your company's growth and profitability. WDC pledges to serve as a broker, coordinator and catalyst to enhance employment and economic opportunities with many innovative programs.

Workplace Lawyer

Workplace lawyer Ronald B. Schwartz's website has informational links to topics including overtime, defamation, severance pay, and many areas of discrimination law.

Yahoo! HotJobs Relocation Tips

Help to search for homes, find a mover and check out neighborhood information.