Career Professionals of Canada News Feed
Recently, a good friend of mine was transitioned out from her long-time corporate employer. Collaborating with her outplacement consultant, my friend created and polished up a new résumé. She then sent it to me and asked what I thought. The new résumé was pretty good, but something didn’t sit right with me, even after reading it over several times. For a couple of days, I tried to figure out why it left me feeling “blah.” Then it struck me. The résumé is BORING. My friend is brilliant, funny, and very…
If you had asked me about résumé writing ten years ago, just as I was starting my career practice, I would have said that it is as much an art as it is a science. Résumé writing requires comprehensive research, forethought, and strategic planning, and an ability to gather the right information. It’s all about presenting the client’s value through high-quality content, yet design and formatting are equally important if you want to catch the reader’s eye. I’d like to share what I’ve learned over the years about how to…
During a recent Advanced Résumé Development (CDP-105) course, students enjoyed a lively and interesting discussion about the pros and cons of clients following up on a job application. The discussion came out of the analysis of a cover letter in which the job seeker closes with the statement “I will try to reach you next week to see if we can arrange an interview or a brief meeting.” Some students took exception to the phrase “try to reach you next week to see if…,” labelling it passive language. But, even…
After receiving a gentle nudge, I decided to submit my résumé work for consideration in CPC’s prestigious Awards of Excellence program last year. Previous résumé award recipients include Canada’s top résumé writers so, as someone fairly new to the profession, my expectations were not high. I figured I had nothing to lose and got busy preparing my submission. Through the process, I discovered benefits that went beyond recognition, and the experience helped me become a better résumé writer. No matter what category of award you submit an entry in, I’m…
Job vacancies in Canada remain high and the news continues to tell us that many people are in career transition. As a career professional, you advise and coach your clients on the use of various strategies to connect with employers and distinguish themselves from the competition. A portfolio of career documents has the potential to strengthen a candidate’s confidence and credibility, yet some clients are reluctant to invest the time it takes to create such a portfolio. The following describes just some of the career documents candidates can have prepared to boost any job…
Ernest Hemingway is misquoted to have said “write drunk, edit sober.” In fact, it’s believed that the quote actually originated with American editor and writer, Peter De Vries. If there’s any value to this idea, it’s that your writing can be fast, but editing has to be slow and careful. As a résumé writer, you may have been following your employer’s style sheet or have created your own. As a writer and copyeditor, I’ve developed tactics and strategies that work to make my clients’ documents effective and readable. In this…