Understand Employment Strategy and You’ll Write Superior Resumes

Lori Jazvac

By Lori Jazvac.

You cannot hone your craft of resume writing without truly understanding employment strategy. The world of work is shaped by complex and shifting demographic, social, political, and economic factors.

As a resume strategist, you are not only a writer. You are a change leader, a brand innovator, and a value enabler. Using your ability to craft a resume, you position job seekers to tap into rewarding career opportunities within a competitive labour market. Strategic tools and resources that surpass a traditional means of job search are crucial for navigating the labour market.

It is not simply good enough to follow a standard structure for every client without knowing how the labour market affects each client. For example, your client might want to bridge the gap between the job search and landing a full-time role by accepting a part-time or short-term contract. How will you position that client?

It’s important to examine the facts concerning the labour market.

How Has Our Labour Market Changed?

  • 50% of part-time and contract roles in the local labour market are not high-paying, nor do they necessarily lead to full-time or long-term employment.
  • Many jobs are being outsourced abroad, which is helping companies become more competitive in the global marketplace. This may force local professionals to relocate to high-growth regions and/or reinvest in further re-training or entrepreneurial initiatives.
  • Some industries are shaping business prospects for others (e.g. real estate, finance).
  • Innovative technologies are spearheading refreshing talent platforms online.
  • Entry-level professionals are finding it very competitive to secure long-term employment opportunities, and are often returning to school to achieve higher level degrees.
  • Newcomers are facing challenging career transitions and, therefore, require personalized career coaching by astute career professionals.
  • Freelancing opportunities and portfolio careers are becoming more prevalent as a means of supplementary income, especially among millennials who have full-time jobs.
  • Baby boomers are rekindling second careers and hobbies as take-charge entrepreneurs, while generating profitable incomes.

Transforming Resume Writing Attitudes Concerning Work

At CAREERPRO 2016, JP Michel of Sparkpath presented an innovative way of looking at client needs. He suggested clients need to serve as “challenge researchers.” Where challenges abound opportunities for change and innovation can be unleashed.

Understanding career development, career transition, and employment strategy is the key to educating clients about shifting work trends while empowering them as active agents in the development of their resume as a valuable brand marketing tool. Opportunities exist for those who understand their unique value, are focused and proactive, and know what specific challenges they are prepared to solve in the workplace. Work is no longer tied to a place, but defines what can add value to people and to organizations. Security is linked to personal competence and adaptability.

As resume strategists, we need to help our clients market themselves better by conducting thorough research:

  • Go beyond applying via online postings through creative job search planning using a combination of methods.
  • Understand how to position job seekers effectively to interest and secure the attention of recruiters.
  • Utilize LinkedIn and social media to identify meaningful information through appropriate connections.
  • Manage and sustain an authentic online presence that articulates a brand that is consistent with the resume.
  • Investigate labour market and industry trends to forecast opportunities and determine future employer needs.
  • Prospect competitor sites of companies and explore alumni and business networks or corporate annual reports.
  • Network with field-related professionals who can offer valuable labour market insights to incorporate into the resume building and job search processes.
  • Invest in lifelong learning to leverage current marketable skills that are crucial for success.

Validate Your Expertise: Become a Certified Employment Strategist

As a member of Career Professionals of Canada, I attained my Certified Resume Strategist (CRS) so that I could support my clients to navigate challenging career transitions within a dynamic labour market. I then earned my Certified Employment Strategist (CES), which equipped me with a wealth of strategies to help job seekers confidently helm the changing world of work.

CPC offers courses to help you gain the insight you need to serve your clients better:

  • Advanced Resume Development provides advanced strategic principles and technical practices for resume and cover letter writing for the Canadian market.  If you successfully complete this course, you can then choose to fast-track your CRS and get certified right away.
  • Career Transition Counselling  will update your competence in the labour market, legislation, career branding, and social networking. If you complete this course, you can then choose to fast-track your CES and get certified right away.

Learn more about how the changing landscape of work affects you and your clients. Take CPC courses and certifications to enhance your credibility and visibility as a career transition professional. Make the certification this year’s challenge!

Photo: CPC Member, Lori Jazvac

 

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I have carefully read it, Its very well elaborated and easy to understand