Resume Writing Tips & Free Resume Examples

Event management in India is still in its nascent stage. It is just ten years old as a profession. Event management is a process which involves market research, planning, marketing, execution and evaluation of an event. It involves procurement management, resource management, crowd management, attendees’ management, risk management, information and finance management.


Event management from a distance looks like a glamorous profession but infact it is not. It involves horribly long working hours and lot of hard work and dedication. Event professionals are required to organize events like wedding, concerts, parties, trade shows, exhibitions etc.


Any person who has good communication skills, enjoy interacting with people, can work for very long hours and has a very strong networking can become an event professional for events which are not corporate (like Meetings, Incentives, Conference, Exhibitions). For non corporate events there is no minimum qualification required to become an event professional.


However when an event is used as a marketing tool to promote a brand or enhance its image or increase sales then it becomes necessary that the event is organized by certified event professionals or people who are qualified enough to understand sales and marketing. There are many event management schools in India which provide courses in event management. These courses are generally certificates, diplomas or sometimes degrees. They also assist students in job placement. However majority of event professionals in India are not certified.


Certified event professionals are basically for corporate events. They are trained to use events as a powerful marketing tool to promote a company's products/services. But most of them end up organizing events which are not corporate like weddings, parties, stage shows etc. As such they don’t get the opportunity to utilize the skills for which they got the training in the first place. Moreover certified event professionals have not been able to differentiate themselves from the uncertified one so far (by organizing events with high degree of professionalism) therefore the relevance of the event management courses in India is still under the scanner. Either the course material is not up to the mark or it is not imparted and implemented thoroughly.


For large scale national/international events (esp. trade shows), companies still prefer MBAs and not certified event professionals. Starting salary of an event professional can range from Rs 3000 to Rs 8000 (depending on the job location, hiring company and amount of exposure to events).After two or three years of experience you can expect a salary of Rs 15000 or above. Working as an entrepreneur after 2-3 years of work experience is the best option to earn in lacs and crores per month.

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The Career Landscape Has Changed

As the economy changes and pink slips pop up, the once optional choice of changing jobs has become a mandatory step towards the top. Times change: 15 years ago employers may have easily rejected a good candidate who held five jobs in eight years. Today, in the wake of company mergers, corporate acquisitions, dot.com shutdowns, mass lay-offs and restructuring, hiring managers are more forgiving of job hoppers. They are realizing it is more of the norm.

While today’s employers may be less weary of job changers than their predecessors, some may still have misgivings. That is why you must come prepared with confident, reassuring answers to tricky questions like:

The Tough Interview Question: "Why have you switched jobs so often?"

What Is The Interviewer After?
When interviewers ask such an uncomfortable question, they are usually looking or one of the following:

1. A reason to choose you. Valid reason(s) for your jumping jobs.

2. A reason to eliminate you from the selection process. Any red flags that indicate you are the problem and will not last long at the company.
   

Popular Reasons For Switching Jobs Often

To receive the employer’s approval and acceptance of your reasons for changing careers, formulate an acceptable response to counter the job hopping issue. Some popular reasons for switching jobs include:

1. Taking care of domestic demands, death/extended illness in immediate family, etc.

2. Moving because of spouse’s job, desire to travel, climate, family, etc.

3. Continually seeking more satisfaction in the workplace

4. Experiencing different jobs to determine where true interests lay

5. Working in positions that were only temporary (internships, summer jobs, campaign work, etc.)

6. Wanting more responsibilities, more money, more respect, more prestige, more flexibility, etc.

Be Honest With Your Answers
Don’t try to leave employment skeletons in your closet because sooner or later, they will invariably come back to haunt you. Be bold. Take full responsibility for whatever leaps you made in your professional past and explain why you did what you did and how you’re a better candidate because of such actions.

In your answer, try to:
Tie Your Work Together. If you worked in different capacities, relate those duties to the position you’re applying for.

Answer Example:
"Since I worked in public relations, marketing and promotions, my communication skills continually improved in various mediums which would aid your advertising firm."
Explain Why This Time Will Be Different.

If you always had to leave jobs because your husband was in the military, say how his retiring will change your pattern. If you jumped whenever another offer looked better, say how you have learned loyalty, stability and commitment take precedence over money.

Answer Example:
"After I graduated from college, I wanted to test my talents in many different fields but now I know that my true passion is for architecture."

Reveal How Your Checkered Career Path Can Benefit The Company.
List how your skills, experience and education improved in each of your previous jobs and that such a varied background can bring a fresh perspective to the current position.

Ref: http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/job-hopping-question.html

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So you've decided to take the plunge and start hunting for a new job. This takes courage, so congratulations on being willing to step out there! One of the next hurdles in navigating your personal career path is the job interview. Maybe interviews are old hat for you; maybe you're fresh out of school and are just learning the protocol. Either way, consider this article a mini refresher course and pep talk to get you going! Below are a few thoughts to file under "Why I Don't Need to be Nervous on Interview Day."

Reason 1: I am not desperate for this job.

Many people approach the job interview with the mindset of "I MUST land this job or else." This is a nice way to push the Instant Panic button and set yourself up to fail. The fact is, you have no idea what the job entails, what your future boss will be like or whether this company has anything to offer you. It may be the career opportunity of a lifetime, but it may not be, and you won't know for sure until you get there. So ditch the desperation, take a deep breath, and just feel honored that someone liked your career profile enough to pick you over the next candidate. It's looking good for you so far.

Reason 2: I have other options.

Sometimes we have a tendency to jump at the first hint of a new job on the horizon. "Someone wants to hire me... I'd better take it before my options dry up!" Remember that if you don't get chosen (or decide to accept) this job, chances are slim to none that you'll end up destitute. There are tons of jobs available on the major job sites like Monster.com. Keep your eyes pealed for new job postings in the local and nearby metropolitan newspapers. You can also find part-time income or freelance work by combing the internet classifieds - try Craigslist.org. And if you're in a layoff situation, you likely have some severance or unemployment to tide you over in the job search interim. So relax. Everything is going to be okay. Know you can and will find something that works for you.

Reason 3: I want to make sure the company is good enough for ME!

How many people do you think approach their interviews with an attitude of, "Is this company worthy of my caliber of work?" and "Is this position a fit for me?" These are legitimate questions and things to consider. However, watch out that the scales don't dip too far to this side. You may honestly be wondering if this company deserves your talent and dedication. But don't let arrogance rear its ugly head during your interview. Stay down to earth, be gracious, answer questions as honestly and objectively as you can. Speak highly of your achievements but without being condescending! Be grateful for the chance to sell yourself and balance that with the intent to determine if this company and position is a fit for you.

Reason 4: I have something to offer.

If you're in a cutting edge field (like technology) or at a highly advanced skill level, realize what a hot commodity you are right now. To help you validate this point, do a little research of the job market. Try some creative career mind benders where you take stock of all your skills and then write down areas where they can be put to productive use. Then, instead of being nervous about the possibility of rejection, approach with an attitude of, "How can I present myself in the best possible light? What strategy can I take to ensure I get the salary I desire?"

Once you realize that a job interview is nothing to get worked up over, cement your self-confidence and develop a "go get 'em!" approach. Do a personal assessment of everything you've accomplished over the course of your career to date. Even if you're new to the workforce and have only an internship to work with, make the most of what you do have. Go over those letters of recommendation to see what you can include in your resume and mention in the interview. Count any and all awards you have received. Dredge up old thank-you notes that clients may have sent.

Bonus prep tip: Pull out those old files and take a look at your work performance reviews from the past. Where do you excel? Which areas are your strongest? Make a mental note of these, then practice how you will work this information into whatever questions you are asked in the interview. Remember, it is okay to answer an interview question in a way that reflects your best qualities, as long as you are still being honest.

Now - are you ready to knock their socks off with your tireless work ethic, great attitude, talent, skills and perseverance? I know you can do this. It's an interview - it's no big deal. Now go out there and take the professional world by storm!

by Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC
Copyright 2007 Hallie Crawford and Authentically Speaking. All rights reserved.

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This career article by Nathan Newberger gives job seekers some important pointers on handle gaps in their work history.

Being unemployed is a difficult and stressful situation. To make matters even worse, the fact that you may not currently have a job can prevent you from finding a job. It is unfair, but true. Having gaps in your employment history are often an immediate turn off for recruiters and interviewers; however, with a little bit of creativity, you can make those gaps disappear.

This month's newsletter explains the 4 steps to handling gaps in your employment history. Don't let being out of work keep you out of work.

These following four methods will be covered:

1. Find Real Gaps
2. Fill In Gaps
3. Dodge Resume Gaps
4. Mention Major Gaps

4 TIPS TO HANDLE EMPLOYMENT GAPS!

1) FIND REAL GAPS
The first mistake many people make is to assume the worst when it comes to being out of work. Not having a job does not mean you have an employment gap. There are many legitimate reasons for not working. These reasons can be addressed directly without any worry.

The most common explanations of unemployment that should NOT be considered employment gaps are:
Attending school
Having/taking care of children
Personal health problems
Serious Illness in the Family
Being between jobs for a short period of time (less than 6 months)

2) FILL IN GAPS
If your bout with unemployment does not fall into one of the categories listed above, you most likely have an official gap in your employment history. Even at this point, you do not necessarily have to let a potential employer know about this gap.

By keeping busy while you are between jobs, you can turn a would-be gap into a learning experience. Consider using the following tactics to fill those gaps:
Take a class related to your profession. Being in school accounts for your time off, and employers like to see people bettering themselves through education.
Look for freelance or consulting projects. These jobs are not permanent, but they do ensure that you keep up-to-date with your skills. You can put this type of work on your resume as if it were any other kind of job.
Volunteer for an organization. Getting paid would be ideal, but future employers are concerned with your work experience. To a recruiter, a volunteering position can be just as good as a paying job.
Read trade journals. Though this method may not be something you put on your resume, it will help you stay current with the industry. Conveying the newest information possible in an interview shows that you have not lost your knowledge of the business.

3) DODGE RESUME GAPS
Not everyone will be able to find a creative way to fill the gaps in their employment history. If you find yourself in this situation, it is no longer an issue of proving your time was occupied. Instead, you should focus on the fact that you are still skilled and qualified.

However, most resumes focus on time by addressing experiences chronologically. Consider using the following suggestions to draw attention away from your time between jobs:

Don't distinguish between paid and unpaid work on your resume. This way you can have a seemingly continuous string of jobs, even if you volunteered for the sake avoiding an employment gap.

Use only years (not months) when listing work dates on your resume. This can discretely cover several months of unemployment.

Summarize what you did while you did not have a job. It may seem awkward to put this kind of information directly on your resume, but it is more important to let recruiters know you used your time wisely.

Use a functional resume. Unlike the traditional chronological resume, a functional resume puts less emphasis on the timing of work experiences. Instead, a functional resume emphasizes skills, which employers care more about.

4) MENTION MAJOR GAPS

The last important step in handling employment gaps is deciding when to discuss them. Unless you can completely hide the gap, a recruiter will eventually spot it. If you are prepared to address the issue, you can avoid a potential disaster.

There are basically 2 schools of thought on this issue: address an employment gap in your cover letter or address it in the interview. Neither approach is wrong; neither approach is right. It is a matter of personal taste. Just consider these points before deciding, which approach you use:

In a cover letter, make your explanation very brief. A one or two-sentence long explanation is enough. Details are not important.

If a gap occurred a long time ago, don't bother mentioning it in a cover letter. Employers are concerned with your recent work, not something that happened 10 years ago.

In an interview, still keep your explanation brief. The only reason to go into deeper detail is if you gained valuable experiences during your employment gap.

No matter what, END ON A POSITIVE NOTE. Whether you address the gap in a cover letter or an interview, state that you are ready and excited to get back to work.

CONCLUSION

Hopefully, these steps will give you ideas on how to handle your own employment gaps. It's a difficult task to do, but it is also one of the most valuable. Having employment gaps shouldn't keep you from finding a job, but only you can stop the cycle from repeating itself. This article can be read online and shared with others directly at:

Source:

http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/tips-to-handle-employment-gaps.html

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In one moment, your life can change forever.

Kathryn got called into the CEO's office. It was a rare event and she got a little nervous when she entered. Her CEO began, "Kathryn, you've done a fantastic job here, particularly in forecasting sales revenues. Every one of us recognizes your contribution and talent so you're being promoted to Director of Finance. Congratulations!"

Dave, an IT supervisor who had had a long career at the same company, strolled into the department meeting. He left with the shock of his life. The company would now be outsourcing the IT function, so Dave and all his team were being laid off--immediately.

Michael had hoped against hope, that a coveted dream job would soon be his. But when the phone rang, and he heard the interviewer on the other end, he held his breath as self-doubt filled his mind. The voice on the phone began slowly, saying, "Michael, we had several strong candidates. Your references spoke so highly of you that we feel lucky to have such a talented man want to join our team. We're offering you the position, and we all really hope you'll take it."

Wow, in just seconds the unexpected, the unwanted, or even the dared to dream of! Things like this can change your life forever.

Today, so many people are struggling with their career situations. Promotions are fewer than ever before. Layoffs come swift and often. A job search is taking people six months to a year before they land a new position.

With the world of work this rocky, I recommend that you spend some time assessing who you are, what you've accomplished, what truly matters to you, and what you would still like to achieve.

Here's a quick career checkup. Answering these questions can help you make 2007 a more satisfying year for you.

Am I happy with my career?
Am I using my strengths to build my career?
Am I doing the work I'm best suited for?
Am I being paid what my skills are worth?
What new skill am I developing?
What are my career goals this year?

Life is made up of choices. You control the job you choose, the amount of success that you experience, where you live, who your friends are, and what you are doing with your life. Give thought to how you want to spend your work days and if you aren't pleased with your current situation map out a detailed action plan to change it.

I encourage you to strive to live a happier life. To be the best YOU, you can be. To see the special, unique, person inside of you and to allow yourself to flourish in your chosen work. Only you can implement an action plan that will lead to a life that's truly rewarding, a life that enriches you every single day.

Note:

Robin Ryan has appeared on Oprah, Dr. Phil Show, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, CNN, CNBC and is considered America's top career coach. She is the author of The Ultimate Job Search Toolbox and creator of the highly acclaimed audio training program Interview Advantage and The DreamMaker.

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In my former life as a recruiter (also affectionately referred to as "headhunter") I received hundreds of resumes a week from all parts of the country. The statement that a person's resume gets a 15 second read is not far from the truth. In fact, 15 seconds is a generous assumption. In reality, a resume must capture the recruiter's attention in the first five seconds to avoid the round file. Candidates can greatly improve their chance of catching the recruiter's attention by following three simple rules: use the correct format, include plenty of quantifiable accomplishments and sprinkle liberally with appropriate keywords.

The first rule, use of correct format, is crucial. There is one, and only one, proper resume format for recruiters--chronological. Recruiter's do not have time or patience to figure out the complexities of a functional resume. To recruiters, time is money. A second danger of using a functional resume is that recruiters automatically assume the candidate is attempting to hide something. This is a universal assumption. No job seeker on earth is able to hide unpleasant facts within a functional resume. Recruiters are trained from the start to pick up on any possible "red flags" that identify the job seeker as an undesirable candidate.

The second rule, use of quantifiable accomplishments, is essential in helping the recruiter see you as money in his pocket. Remember this point--you will only capture a headhunter's attention when he sees you in terms of commission potential. Since recruiters earn their fee by providing better candidates than their competition, your resume should shout "ACCOMPLISHMENTS." Quantifiable accomplishments are most convincing when connected to bottom-line results: revenue earned, money saved, market share increased, costs cut or time saved. This type of information gives the recruiter selling points to market you to their clients and put you in front of employers quicker.

The third rule, liberal use of keywords, is important not only in the short term, but also leads to future opportunity. At any given time a recruiter may have 10 to 100 specific positions to fill. Recruiters categorize their positions by qualifications identified by keywords. When reading resumes the recruiter scans for those keywords. The recruiter may be so tuned into finding specific words that he is oblivious to anything else in the resume except keywords.

The best way to make sure your resume is filled with keywords is to scour job postings of target positions and identify keywords of qualifications. Find the most commonly used keywords in 12 or more target postings and use those words as the language of your resume. For future use, recruiters save resumes in candidate-tracking databases to sort later by keywords. If your resume does not have the correct keywords, it may never be seen by human eyes. Correct choice of words means that your resume will get recruiter attention every time he queries by keywords contained in your resume.

Once your resume is showcased in the proper format, packed with quantifiable accomplishments and strong keywords, be sure to follow proper etiquette in contacting recruiters and headhunters. The most effective initial contact is through email. Recruiters spend 80% of their time proactively calling prospective candidates and employers. They do not appreciate spending phone time with unsolicited callers. Once a recruiter has your resume he will call you if he is interested in you. It does no good to call him up asking if they he has received your resume. You risk ticking him off permanently.

When emailing your resume to recruiters it's best to send it as both a Word attachment as well as in ASCII (plain text) format in the body of the email. This allows the recruiter to access your information in the quickest manner in order to contact you sooner.

Recruiters and headhunters can be a tremendous resource to your job search efforts. They are privy to a great number of opportunities in the hidden job market. They are experts at presenting candidates' best selling points. They also act as go-between for candidate and employer, allowing the candidate to learn important employer feedback. Designing your resume with recruiters in mind is an important first step toward building relationships with influential recruiters who have the power to introduce you to your next boss.

About The Author

Deborah Walker, CCMC - Visit us on the web at www.alphaadvantage.com

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