The Top 8 Skills Employers Want

Want to know the skills that employers highly favor in the US? Below is a list of the top 8 skills that employers want in the people they hire for any job. This information came from a study of employers conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Labor and the American Association of Counseling and Development. Do make sure you highlight these skills in your resume!

1. Learning to learn
2. Basic academic skills in reading, writing, and computation
3. Listening and oral communication
4. Creative thinking and problem solving
5. Self-esteem and goal setting
6. Personal and career development
7. Interpersonal skills, negotiation, and teamwork
8. Organizational effectiveness and leadership

Resume for tech/customer service positions.

I've just finished editing a resume applying for technician or customer service position for someone living in Canada. For those interested, please feel free to have a look.

Resume sample for tech/customer service position

Important Facts for Jobseekers - Read it!

Studies have shown that most employers look for certain common traits in the people they hire. Listed below are the traits:

1. First impressions
2. Dependability and other personality traits
3. Skills, experience, and training

Let's examine each and one of these trait.

1. First Impressions

First impressions are important because negative ones are very hard to change. For example, employers in one survey said that more than 40 percent of the people they interviewed had a poor personal appearance. They were not dressed or groomed in a way that impressed the interviewer. It may not be fair, but it is a fact. First impressions can also include things like how you speak or whether you are friendly.

2. Dependability

Most employers will not hire someone unless they think the person will be dependable. This is often true even if the person has good experience or training for the job. Being dependable means being on time, having good attendance, and working hard to meet deadlines. It also may mean that you are not likely to leave the job after a short time. If you convince an employer that you are dependable and hard working, you may get the job over someone with better credentials.

How do employers decide who will be dependable? They look at your past experience as well as your present situation. If you have been dependable in the past, they know you are likely to be dependable in the future. The information you or your references provide about previous jobs, schooling, and personal accomplishments will be very important in helping an employer decide if you will be dependable. If employers are not convinced they can depend on you, they will probably not hire you.

3. Skills, Experience, and Training

Most employers will interview only those people who have at least the minimum requirements for a job. For example, they would quickly screen out applicants for an office job who could not use word-processing software. But employers often will hire a person with less training or experience over another applicant with more. Why? Many employers will hire the less experienced worker if that worker convinces the employer he or she will work harder or be more reliable.

In fact, most decisions are not based only on skills. If the employer thinks you can do the work or that you can quickly learn to do it, the employer may consider you for the job. If the employer thinks you will fit right in, be dependable, and work hard, you may get the job over someone with more experience!

My Paypal account got hacked!

I received a call from my bank at around 2pm today telling me that there has been many suspicious credit card activities occurring within a short span of time. I checked my account online and sure enough there were several unauthorized Paypal transactions made. The bank personnel offered to terminate my credit card and send me a new one in a few days. After that call ended, I immediately logged into my Paypal account. Guess what? My password has been changed! Gave a call to Paypal and they offered to help me resolve the issue.

To tell you the truth, I've heard of stories where Paypal accounts have been hacked, but never did I expect that I would actually fall victim to one. I mean I never give my details to anyone, never go to suspicious site for purchases, installed a firewall and virus scanner since day one I got my pc, but still, I got hacked! So to all of my readers out there. Be careful of your Paypal account. It might seem very secure but you can't be too sure. Always check your Paypal account regularly to see if there are any suspicious activities, and if there are, take action immediately!

Sorry for the delay, Chris.

Feel a little bad about this, but I finally completed your resume with a help from a friendly chap I met on some forum. It's a little late but I hope you don't mind.

I've seen your original resume and should say that it's not quite up to par. This version I've uploaded is better in format and details, go have a look. Wish you luck in finding a job!

Resume for System Administrator (Fresh Graduate)

The 6 most frequently asked questions in a job interview

Someone in Hardwarezone.com forum has asked me if I can post ways to tackle job interview questions. So, here are the 6 most commonly asked interview questions I've gathered and the ways to answer them:

Question 1: Why Don't You Tell Me About Yourself?
The interviewer does not want to know your life history! Instead, he or she wants you to explain how your background relates to doing the job. Following is how one person might respond:

"I grew up in the Southwest and my parents and one sister still live there. I always did well in school, and by the time I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to work in a business setting. I had taken computer and other business classes and had done well in them. The jobs I've had while going to school have taught me how many small businesses are run. In one of these jobs, I was given complete responsibility for the night operations of a wholesale grocery business that grossed over $2 million a year. I learned there how to supervise others and solve problems under pressure."

This answer gives a brief personal history and then gets right into the job seeker's skills and experiences. A different job would require you to stress different skills. Your per­sonal history is unique, but you can still use the three steps to answer the question for yourself.


Question 2: Why Should I Hire You?
This is the most important question of all! If you don't have a good reason why someone should hire you, why will anyone? This question is not often asked so clearly, but it is "the" question behind many other interview questions.

The best answer shows how you can solve a problem for the employer, help the business make more money, or provide something else of value that the company needs. Think about the most valuable thing you can do for an organization. You should probably include that information in your answer. Here is a sample re­sponse from a person with recent training but little work experience:

"I have over two years of training in this field and know about all the latest equipment and methods. That means I can get right to work and be productive almost right away. I am also willing to work hard to learn new things. During the entire time I went to school, I held a full-time job to help earn the tuition and support myself I learned to work hard and concen­trate on what was important. I expect to do the same thing here. Since I won't be going to school now, I plan on putting in extra time after regular work hours to learn anything this job needs."


Question 3: What Are Your Major Strengths?
This is a direct question with a little hidden meaning. These are the skills employers are most concerned about. Here is one answer from a person who had little prior work experience:

"I think one of my strengths is that you can depend on me. I work very hard to meet dead­lines and don't need a lot o f supervision in doing so. If I don't know what to do, I don't mind asking. In high school, I got a solid B-plus average even though I was very involved in sports. I always got my assignments in on time and somehow found the time to do extra credit work, too."


Question 4: What Are Your Major Weaknesses?
This is a trick question. Most job seekers don't handle this one well. If you discuss what you don't do well, you may not get the job. If you say you have no weaknesses, the inter­viewer won't believe you. Ask yourself what the interviewer really wants to know. He or she wants to know that you are aware of your weaknesses. The interviewer wants to know that you have learned to overcome them so that they don't affect your work. Us­ing the second step of the three-step process would result in a response like this:

"I do have some weaknesses. For example, in previous jobs I would get annoyed with cowork­ers who didn't work as hard as I did. I sometimes said so to them, and several times I refused to do their work when they asked me to."

You have answered the question, but the response should not end there! Using step three of the three-step process would result in a statement like this:

"But I have learned to deal with this better. I still work hard, but now I let the supervisor deal with another worker's problems. I've also gained some skills as a supervisor myself I've learned to motivate others to do more because they want to, not because I want them to."

Did you notice that this weakness isn't such a weakness at all? Many of our strengths be­gan in failure. We learned from them and got better. Your answer to any interview ques­tion should always present your positives.


Question 5: Why Are You Looking for This Sort of Position and Why Here?
Employers know that you will do better in a job you really want. Employers want to make sure you know what you want. They also want you to tell them what you like about the job, and what you like about doing the job in their organization. The closer you come to wanting what they have, the better.

The best answer for this is the truth. You should have a clear idea of the type of job you want before the interview. You should also know the sort of organization and the type of people you want to work with. You gathered all of this information earlier in this book. If you are interviewing for a job you want, in a place where you think you would enjoy working, answering this question should be easy.


Question 6: How Does Your Previous Experience Relate to the Jobs We Have Here?
This one requires a direct response. The employer is really asking, "Can you prove you have the experience and skills to do the job?" The question is directly related to the employer's expectation on skills and training. In some cases, other people with better credentials than yours will want the job you're after. You can even mention this, and then explain why you are a better choice. Here is an example of how one person answered this question:

"As you know, I have over five years of experience in a variety of jobs. While this job is in a different industry, it will also require my skills in managing people and meeting the public. In fact, my daily contact with large numbers of people on previous jobs has taught me how to work under pressure. I feel very able to deal with pressure and to get the job done."

The 10 biggest mistakes people make when writing resume...

Here on Free-Resume-Samples.blogspot.com, I try to make every word of my resumes as perfect as possible. Many people have asked me how I do it. Well, I always tell them to avoid the top 10 mistakes when writing their own resumes.

1. Avoid The "Fresh Graduate" Format
The old resume, or block style, with "Objective" and "Education" listed on top are not appropriate for anyone with more than two years of work experience. Try to include a 3- to 5-line summary of your professional strengths.

2. Not Putting Date on Your Resume
If you think you can escape explaining why you have been job hopping all this while by not putting a date beside your job description, you're wrong. Leaving dates off your resume will surely cause eyebrows to raise and make people wonder what you've been up to lately.

3. Not Bragging About Your Own Achievements
A great resume should not only include plain general facts, but also glittering numbers to show off your achievements. Increased sales by 50% in five months! Brought in new contracts worth $255,000 for company! Don't be afraid to brag a little -- but remember to be honest.

4. Avoid "Job Cluttering"
I've seen people who have changed fields more than models changing outfits at a fashion show. His resume looks like a messy clutter of job listings. If you have experience in more than one field and it needs to be included on the resume, consider grouping the types of jobs together under specific headings such as "Instructional/Training" or "Customer Service/Sales."

5. Stop Complaining
Don't include the reasons you've left or are leaving your job. Don't mention about sexist environment, low salary, or "boss is no good." Some situations are better explained during an interview, if at all.

6. PERSONAL INFO
No one cares if you are single, married, play the trombone, or enjoy league bowling. Personal information does not belong on a resume. Do not include your age, race, gender, or blue ribbons for gardening.

7. Long-winded History
Hiring managers only have time to skim through the first 2 pages of your resume. All they want to know is the relevant experience you've had in the past 10-12 years. Try to highlight the most recent jobs and consolidate the past into several lines on a strong 1- or 2-page resume. I would not advice writing a resume that is more than 3 pages long.

8. Avoid Slopiness
Looks count! Print out your resume on good printers using high quality paper. Avoid creases/stains/marks on your resume. It's all these nitty gritty details that count towards your success in being called up for an interview.

9. NO APPROPRIATE TARGET
Do not send a resume to every ad that appeared in the Sunday classifieds! Take the time to target the jobs for which you really have a chance of being interviewed for. It's better to have three targeted jobs than to have thirty unrelated ones.

10. Not Explaining Why You Sent in Your Resume
Please, please do not forget one of the most important items besides a good resume - the cover letter. In the cover letter, you have the chance to state why you are sending your resume and for what job position. This would ensure that your resume would not be dumped into the rubbish bin.

Resume sample for administrative/executive assistant

This is a resume request from Susan for an executive assistant position. This lady caught my attention when she said that she was 56, an age that many thinks too big for job consideration (well, not me). However, that did not stop her from applying for a job. I liked her enormous fighting spirit and offered to help enhance her old resume.

She sent in her resume, I took a few look at it and started crafting out a beautiful resume for her. Below is the resume sample I've prepared for her. Please do not copy the resume wholesale, treat it as a reference when you write your own resume.

Resume sample for Administrative/Executive Assistant

Which company's the best to work for? Make a guess.

If you guessed Google, you're right on! Fortune magazine recently listed Google as the No. 1 company to work for. These are some of the stuff that Google staffs are allowed to do... inside the company:

1. Enjoy free gourmet meals.
2. Do their own laundry.
3. Get an oil change.
4. Have a massage.
5. Annual ski trips to the Sierra.
6. Bring your dog to office.

Wow, I sure would like to work for this company. (Maybe I would be writing myself a resume pretty soon, hehehe...).

Resume sample for Instrumentation Engineer (Entry Level)

Hi Mankaran, your resume is done. This is only an example, you have to fill in your relevant experiences, education, project details, job experience (if any) to make it complete. Try to highlight on your achievements during your schooling days (e.g. won 2nd prize in the 2004 robotics design competition in university.) Hope this would be of help to you.

Resume sample for Instrumentation Engineer (Entry Level)

Here's a FREE treat for all blog visitors...

Hi, I know that you are all geared up for a good start in this new year. Take a break for a while, relax and listen to your ipods or mp3 players. Speaking of ipods and mp3 players, I have just the place for you all to download 25 free mp3s (and it's perfectly legal too!)

I've tried this service myself and find it great! There're simply tons and tons of albums to download from and the speed is fast. There are few things you have to take note though. You will need a credit card to register for their free trial, but you can cancel the membership any time you want, no obligations (I like that...). To start downloading your free mp3s, just click on the below icon and register for your free trial.

Are you at risk?

Are you a potential candidate for retrenchment?

The answer is yes if you are holding a job. No matter how hard working, how energetic, how intelligent you are, you will not be spared in times of company downsizing or restructuring. Your best defense is to be aware of your surroundings. And I have some tips as to how to recognize that you might be the next victim in line.

1. You realized that you have not been invited to meetings lately.

2. Your job responsibilities have been reduced.

3. When there's news coverage on poor financial performances, major restructuring, or rumors of a pending sale of the company.

4. When there is a major budget cut exercise.

5. When there is a new management team coming in.

So, do watch for these symptoms and prepare yourself in case anything happens. Keep a lookout for new jobs in the newspaper classifieds or ask around your network of friends for new job opportunities. Have you updated your resume? If not, it's high time you start to do so. No matter what happens, keep yourself vigilant. Remember, it's not the end of the world yet.

Resume sample for software engineer

Merry Christmas Isamir, your resume is completed, please have a look. For all software engineers who are looking into updating their resume, feel free to download and use this resume template.

Free resume sample for software engineer

Here is a tip for writing resume for a technical job:

List your strongest skills first - Often, I see people list as many as 20 operating systems or 20 languages in the technical skills section of their resumes. Although it's a good way to show that you are well-versed in a lot of stuff, the person evaluating your resume will probably only scan through the first 3-4 items of your resume.

So make sure you just put in those which you have more experience in. Below is an example of how you want to showcase your technical expertise:

• Languages: Perl, Visual C++, C++, awk, C, Fortran, Cobal, AppleBasic, C-64 Basic, Pascal, BASIC.

• Operating Systems: Unix (FreeBSD, Solaris, Linux), Windows 95/98/2000/NT, and others.

You can refer to the resume sample above to have a better feel of what I'm talking about.

How do you write an effective resume?

There are no firm rules for writing a good resume. Every resume is different. But here are some tips that I have learned are important in writing any resume.

• Write it yourself. Look at the sample resumes from my blog, but don't use their content entirely in your resume. If you do, your resume will sound like someone else's. Many employers will know you didn't write it-and that will not help you.
  
• Make every word count. Most resumes should be limited to one or two pages. After you have written a first draft, edit it at least two more times. If a word or phrase does not support your ability to do the job, cut it out. Short is often better.
  
• Make it error free. Just one mistake on your resume can create a negative impression. It could be enough to get you screened out. So ask someone else to check your resume for grammar and spelling errors. Check each word again before you print a final ver­sion. You can't be too careful.
  
• Make it look good. Appearance, as you know, makes a lasting impression. For this reason, your resume must look good, with good design and format. Remember to use high quality printing paper and laser printer to print out your resume if you can.


• Detail your accomplishments. A resume is no place to be humble. Emphasize results. Give facts and numbers to support your accomplishments. Instead of saying that you are good with people, say "I supervised and trained five staffers and increased their productivity by 30 percent."

Resume Sample for Director of Information Systems

Hi Marie, your resume is ready. This is just a rough outline for your resume. Edit the parts which needs to be edited and you are ready to go. (10 years working for the same company? You've got to let go and reach for greater heights!)

Free resume sample for Director of Information Systems

Resume sample for Electronics Engineer (Entry Level)

This is a request made by Kesavan from Chennai. Kesavan, do remember to put in your own achievements. The ones I wrote in the resume are just examples. This resume is suitable for any fresh university graduates looking for Electrical/Electronics Engineering jobs.

Free Resume Samples for Electronics Engineer (Entry Level)

Resume sample for an accounting job.

For Ricky, who has posted his request for an accountant resume. Since you have not stated which company you have worked for, I've made up some of the companies in the resume. Do remember that the resume here is for your reference only. You can use the exact template for yourself, BUT do remember to edit it to suit your own requirements.

To any would-be accountant, or current accountants intending to look for another company, feel free to download this resume sample:

Free resume sample for accounting job

What do you want?

Hi jobseekers, this is the first "what do you want?" post in this blog. You know what it means? It means that you can post any request, be it resume samples or tips, to be placed on this blog, as long as it is related to the theme of the blog. For example, you can post request for a resume sample for the position of a literature teacher, business analyst, etc... or you can post a question on what you should wear during an interview.


Start postin' in the comments link below and I will grant your wish ASAP.

Free resume samples for all jobseekers...

Dear jobseeker, if you are currently eyeing on a job and looking for resume samples to refer to before you start writing your own, you've come to the right place. Here, I will provide free professionally written resume samples to jobseekers, regardless of their profession or job experience. I will also provide you with job interview tips so you can sail through with ease.

The best thing about this blog is YOU. Yes, it's all about you. Every week, I will put up a post titled "What do you want?", and all you have to do is to post the type of resumes you want in the comments section and I will fufill your request ASAP.

You can also post questions regarding resume writing or any job-related issues and I will try to answer them. One reminder though, you HAVE to edit the resumes I provide to suit your own needs. For example, if you do not have the job experience stated in the resume, then don't put it in.

Well, that's all I have for you now. What I put on this blog depends on you, so do send in your suggestions and requests. C u soon!