Getting Employment and Job in any economy: Ways to Make Yourself More Marketable

Ways to Make Yourself More Marketable

By Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs

The economy is shaky -- and it may feel like your job is, too. Whether you're already job hunting or believe you may need to soon, there are steps you can take to make yourself more attractive to potential employers. Here are eight tips from the experts on increasing your marketability:

Use Your Name as Your Brand, Especially in Email

Don't confuse potential employers by using your maiden name on your resume and your married name in your email. And the nickname your friends find funny may not look professional.
"Manager jobs don't go to people with cute email addresses," says Marianne Adoradio, a recruiter and career counselor.
Meet an Employer's Need

Employers "want a round peg for the round hole," said Kathryn Ullrich, a career expert and executive recruiter.
You may want to stretch yourself by trying a job you've never done before, but there's not much in that for the employer. Any time you apply for a job, make sure you can tell a story about your career that shows why you would be the best person for the job. "It's really about what the employer is looking for," Ullrich says.
Maintain a Smart Online Profile

"All that stupid stuff you put on Facebook -- take it off," says Richard Phillips, owner of Advantage Career Solutions. At the same time, find industry blogs and forums and start contributing comments.
Ask for Help

"Ask everyone for one thing they would suggest you do if they were in your shoes," Adoradio says. "It seems to reveal things that you wouldn't have thought to ask."
Become Active in a Professional Association

This means doing more than paying dues and showing up for meetings. Find a way to help. For example, perhaps you can organize expert speakers in your field to be on a panel. It will boost your resume, build your self-esteem and give you valuable connections. "You're building up relationships with people who are going to hire you," Ullrich says.
Take a Class or Get a Certificate

This is especially helpful if it teaches you a skill -- new technology that's being used in your field, for example -- that you don't already have.
Take on a New Project at Work

It should be "something that lets you add something new to your resume," Phillips says. "Think in terms of the resume that you're going to be writing. What do you want to have on there that isn't on there now?"
Be Flexible

You may not want to commute more than 10 miles, but being willing to bend a bit will open up more opportunities. It will also make you a more attractive candidate because it signals to employers that you're able to handle change.

Common Resume Mistakes

Make sure your resume is in top-notch shape by avoiding the top 10 resume blunders: 

1. Being Too Focused on Job Duties
Your resume should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. One of the most basic resume tips is to go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your achievements, ask yourself:

• How did you perform the job better than others? 

• What were the problems or challenges faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results? How did the company benefit from your performance? 

• Did you receive any awards, special recognitions or promotions as a result?

2. Using Flowery or General Objective Statement
Many candidates lose their readers in the beginning. Statements such as "a challenging position enabling me to contribute to organizational goals while offering an opportunity for growth and advancement" are overused, too general and waste valuable space. If you're on a career track, replace the objective with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.

3. Making Your Resume Too Short or Too Long
Many people try to squeeze their experiences onto one page, because they've heard resumes shouldn't be longer. By doing this, job seekers may delete impressive achievements. Other candidates ramble on about irrelevant or redundant experiences. There is no rule about appropriate resume length. When writing your resume, ask yourself, "Will this statement help me land an interview?" Every word should sell you, so include only the information that elicits a "yes."

4. Using Personal Pronouns and Articles
A resume is a form of business communication, so it should be concise and written in a telegraphic style. There should be no mentions of "I" or "me," and only minimal use of articles. For example:
I developed a new product that added $2 million in sales and increased the market segment's gross margin by 12%.
Should be changed to:
Developed new product that added $2 million in sales and increased market segment's gross margin by 12%.

5. Listing Irrelevant Information
Many people include their interests, but they should include only those relating to the job. For example, if a candidate is applying for a position as a ski instructor, he should list cross-country skiing as a hobby.
Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and weight, normally should not be on the resume unless you're an entertainment professional or job seeker outside the US.

6. Using a Functional Resume When You Have a Good Career History
It irks hiring managers not to see the career progression and impact you made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history or excessive job-hopping, avoid the functional resume format.
The modified chronological format, or combination resume, is often the most effective. Here's the basic layout:

• Header (name, address, email address, phone number).
   
• Lead with a strong profile section detailing the scope of your experience and areas of proficiency.
   
• Reverse chronological employment history emphasizing achievements over the past 10 to 15 years.
   
• Education (new grads may put this at the top).

7. Not Including a Summary Section That Makes an Initial Hard Sell
This is one of the job seeker's greatest tools. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the position. The career summary should demonstrate the skill level and experiences directly related to the position being sought.
As part of your resume preparation, peruse job openings to determine what's important to employers. Next, write a list of your matching skills, experience and education. Incorporate these points into your summary.

8. Not Including Keywords
With so many companies using technology to store resumes, the only hope a job seeker has of being found is to sprinkle relevant keywords throughout the resume. Determine keywords by reading job descriptions that interest you, and include the words you see repeatedly in your resume.

9. Referring to Your References
Employers know you have professional references. Use this statement only to signal the end of a long resume or to round out the resume layout.

10. Typos
One typo can land your resume in the garbage. Proofread and show your resume to several friends to have them proofread it as well. This document is a reflection of you and should be perfect.