Is Your Resume All It Takes?

An executive resume is an extremely important career document that has the power and the influence to mould your career.

From initiating that first step with employers, securing first interviews and providing you with the leverage to negotiate the salaries you want.

 

Yet many of my clients enquire about why they still sometimes find themselves facing job rejection, even with the most persuasive and impressive professional resume. There are many reasons why this can happen and many factors that can impact how successful you are in your job applications. Let’s take a look at the most common:

Do You Actually Have a Professional Resume?

A professional resume is a resume that has been written by a qualified resume writer. Writing your own resume is a good first step for many candidates, but despite best efforts, an amateur resume will most likely fail in reflecting your skills and experience in the most effective or accurate way. As a result, this can lead to decreased job prospects and opportunities.

An expert resume writer can greatly improve your career opportunities simply because they:

(a) have impeccable creative writing skills and know how to word your experience in an appealing way and

(b) they have a thorough understanding of what a great resume should be.

Most resume writers will have a high level of experience in the recruitment and resume industries and will know exactly what an employer or a recruiter wants to see in a specific application. Consider how proficient and well written your resume really is when assessing your job success.

Competencies & Talents

An absence of the desired competencies and talents for a job can also lead to your application being dismissed in favour of someone else, even at the final interview stage. If your resume is written in a highly impressive way, you still need the right level of skill and expertise in order to fulfil the job requirements. If you don’t have what the employer is looking for, no amount of resume writing can change your level of skill.

There is a big difference between having the right experience and simply not demonstrating it well in your resume and, lacking the right experience altogether. While the former is the outcome of a poorly written resume, the latter means you should consider whether you are actually under-qualified for the role.

Being Over-Qualified

Being over-qualified is also a common reason why some candidates do not move onto the next stage of the recruitment process. Employers and organisations will often be especially reluctant to hire over-qualified or highly experienced candidates, simply because they fear that they will become too bored in the role and will subsequently start looking for another job.

If this has happened to you, you should think carefully about why you want to apply for positions that are below your skill level? While your reasons might be financial (or because you need to find employment urgently), put some serious thought into how applying for lower level positions fits in with your long-term career goals.

Do You Fit In Culturally?

Every company that you apply for a position with will have a specific culture and environment that needs to be taken into account.  A large part of the recruitment process is to find a candidate, who not only has the right expertise, but who will also have the right characteristics, beliefs, attitudes and values to culturally fit in with the organisation.

While you might have all the right skills and talents on paper, it’s also extremely important to an employer that you will blend in well with your colleagues and teams. Some organisations are brash, aggressive and demanding while others are laid-back, casual and fun, so when applying for jobs, consider how your personality does (or doesn’t) fit in with the organisation.

Is your resume limiting your career success – or is it something else? Resumes Australia is a complete resume writing and career coaching service that can help you identify (and fix) why your job applications are going wrong. Contact Us today for a complete resume or career audit!

Regards,

LinkedIn & Resumes Growing Closer Together

LinkedIn has grown incredibly since its inception in 2000 and anyone who has a profile on LinkedIn knows just how easy is it to connect with others.

As recruitment methods continue to incorporate technology, LinkedIn also continues to drive innovation into their platform, and make profiles more functional and appealing, for users and employers alike.

New Profile Design

Recently, LinkedIn launched a new profile design with the goal of making user profiles much clearer and visually engaging. The idea is to give users a quick and clear idea of who somebody is, and what they can do as soon as their profile pops up. LinkedIn hopes that this new design will help members “tell their professional stories, be more easily found for opportunities, and build relationships through meaningful interactions.”

What’s changed with the new LinkedIn profile?

1. It’s much more visual. The new profile is set up in a more visually bold and appealing way, making additional use of photos and images. Inline editing functionality has also been added to make updating easier and faster.
2. It’s more people-focused. LinkedIn has also made improvements to the way members and connections interact. At a quick glance, you will now be able to see more in-depth information on the people and businesses you are connected to. This gives you a more reliable way of working out who can help you achieve your next career goal, assist with getting you that ideal position, or introduce you to an important connection.
3. It’s more up-to-date. Enhancements have also been made to the layout of information and updates posted by others in your network; this is now displayed at the top of profiles. The benefit is that you can quickly gauge what your connections have been up to, or what they’re currently talking about.

One of the biggest challenges in enhancing the LinkedIn site has been to make sure that it remains professionally relevant, and that it doesn’t simply turn into yet another ‘social’ platform that’s simply about sharing content and posting comments. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is much more of a professional networking tool and is one of the few places online where recruiters and employers can gain a strong idea of a candidate’s actual work history and skills.

LinkedIn Projects

One of the other, crucial updates that LinkedIn has made is to also include a section for current ‘projects’.  In this area, you’ll be able to enter and describe professional projects that you are presently working on. This demonstrates to viewers (who are often recruiters and headhunters) precisely what your activities are on a day-to-day basis. The main benefit is that it can help you portray your experience and your responsibilities in a fresh way.

How to Manage Your LinkedIn Profile?

For executive job seekers, the key to maximising opportunities on LinkedIn is to treat it like your second resume, and keep it as up-to-date as possible, particularly if you are currently looking for employment. You should make sure that:

• Experience, skills and achievements are updated accordingly, especially in relation to your current position; add notable skills to your summary, and the designated ‘skills’ area of your profile
• Your work history is updated and relevant, especially if you have recently changed companies or positions
• Your summary is expertly written, utilising the right terminology and keywords
• Your contact details are clear so that potential employers and contacts can easily get in touch with you outside of LinkedIn
• You share relevant and updated content, such as industry news

Do You Need Help With Your LinkedIn Profile?

Working on your LinkedIn profile is essential, especially if you are keen to connect with others and find employment. However, for busy executives, finding the time to work on your online brand is not always easily achievable.

Resumes Australia has a range of resume writing and LinkedIn profile services to help you manage your complete resume portfolio. Get in touch with us today.

Regards,

Important Ways to Refresh Your Professional Life This Christmas

As we look forward to another relaxing Christmas and holiday season, it is beneficial to spend some time reflecting on how your career has grown over the past year, and where it is headed for 2013.

Here is my best advice on how to refresh your professional life this Christmas.

 

1. Review Your Career Goals

The end of one year and the beginning of the next is one of the best times in which to review your career goals. Consider whether much has changed in your career over the past year, and whether or not your professional actions are continuing to drive your career fulfilment. If you have lost perspective of your goals, or feel that they are no longer in your sights, career coaching can be of great assistance in making some renewed decisions and getting your career back on the right track.

2. Refresh Your Resume

Resumes are one of the most crucial tools that can assist in shaping your career. If you have got some downtime at the end of the year, it can be highly valuable to spend some time reworking your resume. Make an effort to update your work history, skills and any achievements you have made this year.

If you are enthusiastic about making a new career move in 2013 or if you feel your resume is simply not up to scratch, a professional resume writer can significantly improve the success and opportunities that your resume can bring you, giving you a competitive benefit in the marketplace. Having an executive resume that’s ready to go with the New Year will also give you an advantage over your job-seeking rivals.

3. Research New Opportunities

If a job change is on the horizon for your career, you can also utilise any holiday downtime to research any new opportunities that are available. This can include searching job sites for prospective positions, investigating new companies, or getting on top of your networking and connecting with recruiters and headhunters. This should then give you a more specific idea of the opportunities available to you in 2013 and it can help you determine where your career is headed. If you are a member of LinkedIn, you should also refresh and update your LinkedIn profile.

4. Refresh Your Knowledge and Training

Have you fallen behind on industry developments, or maybe realised that there are areas of weakness in some of your skills? Give your career (and your confidence) a boost by looking into any training and education options for the coming year.

You might want to simply attend a short course or an industry conference, or you may prefer to investigate something more challenging, such as starting a new degree or mentorship program. Whatever you choose, investing in your education and training can significantly enhance your career and skills.

5. Spend Time Away From Work

There is nothing worse than being stressed about work over Christmas. For those of us who are incredibly busy and/or who don’t have much time off over the holidays, it is still important to spend some time not working. Make sure you find the time to spend with family, children, relatives and friends – and be proactive about taking time off, even if it is only a day or two. The distance will help clear your head and give you a fresh perspective on anything that’s causing you stress or frustration.

Resumes Australia offers a multitude of resume writing, career coaching and interview coaching products that can help you refresh or accelerate your career in time for the New Year! Send us an email today to learn more.

Regards,

Resume Writing & Photographs – Do They Go Together?

Are you including a photograph with your resume?
One of the key questions I’m often asked in managing an executive resume writing service is whether or not candidates should include a photograph as part of their resume application. There are many myths and assumptions surrounding this practice and although there are sometimes good reasons to include a headshot with your resume, there are far more negative reasons and outcomes that a photo can produce.

At Resumes Australia, we strongly advise our candidates NOT to include a photograph or headshot when it comes to resume writing.

The Resume-Photograph Myth

Some candidates feel that a photograph provides their application with a “personal” quality, allowing the recruiter to put a face to the name, or that their professional appearance will somehow affect their success and gain them an interview.

But these assumptions are largely unsubstantiated and rarely have we heard of a candidate being successful with an application simply because of the way they look. It is important to remember that it is not your appearance that pushes your career forward, but your achievements and experience. Your persuasiveness in a resume should come from the document itself – not from a photograph.

Why No Photographs?

Resume writing and photography do not usually go together. Here’s why:

No Value

Unless you’re applying for a role as a model or an actor or something similar, there is no need for an employer or recruiter to know what you look like in considering you for the position. An employer may look at your photograph and think, “this person looks suitable” or “this person doesn’t look like they could handle this job” – but where’s the proof in these ‘guessing’ statements?

An employer’s decisions should be completely based on the way your skills and experience are outlined in your professional resume. A photograph is going to have no influence over whether or not you can do the job, and it doesn’t add any value to your application.

Wrong Impression  

If you do include a photograph in your professional resume, how do you also know it is not going to create the wrong impression with the employer?

You have no way of knowing what sort of impression your photo will create and this can lead to your photo strategy backfiring completely.

It can lead to employers refusing to give your application a second glance, despite your skills, and can create just as much distaste for your application as your hopes were for success. A recruiter or an employer might think, “this person doesn’t look professional” or “does this person really think their looks are going to get them the job?!”

As a result, your resume may be summarily dismissed and you may miss out on valuable opportunities that you would ordinarily be ideal for and – zip! your career prospects are reduced to zero.

Poor Applications

Poor quality photos can lead to a poor quality application.

Let’s say you are applying for a corporate role and your resume is not well written. In addition, you decide to include a headshot of yourself from your last surfing holiday. A recruiter would most likely view this as a poor application – the resume is only slightly convincing, but the photo makes you look completely unprofessional. The result? The rejection pile.

Are There Any Circumstances When Photographs ARE Acceptable?

If you are submitting a resume for a position based in another country, you may be required to include a photograph with your application. In circumstances where the employer has specifically asked for a photograph, you should comply with their request.

In addition, as mentioned earlier, if you are applying for a job where a certain type of physical appearance is required for the job, such as modeling, acting or being an extra in a commercial, the foregoing comments obviously do not apply.

Another exception, is where a corporate resume may benefit from high impact formatting, which unlike a standard resume, will creatively showcase your experience, capabilities and potential, in a visually high impact manner. Utilising impressive strong visual communication, including corporate photographs, your background can be presented with ingenuity and flair that highlights your creative capabilities.

Resumes Australia is a leading resume writing service that provides expert and qualified resume advice and career coaching solutions to many executive candidates across Australia.  Learn more about our resume writing packages today!

Regards,

When You Don’t Want to Be A Senior Executive

Climbing the corporate ladder and becoming a high profile senior executive or industry leader is not for everyone.

There is a great deal of pressure being at the top and sometimes, candidates are content to stay in a mid-level position.

How do you know when you don’t want to be a senior executive and what can this mean for your career?

1. Are You Senior Executive Material?

Before you begin applying for those big promotions and senior executive roles, you should consider if you are really senior executive material. You will need to seriously think about whether you can handle a large amount of pressure, constant demands, important decisions, long hours and mammoth responsibilities. Most high-end executives are dedicated to their jobs and are often accountable for millions (or billions) of dollars.

If you gain more satisfaction from the day-to-day running of the business rather than making vital strategic, corporate decisions, you might be better suited to an intermediate management position than a senior leadership role.

2. Integrate Yourself Into the Business

Just because you don’t want to sit in the CEO’s chair doesn’t mean that you can’t be highly valuable to a business. Integrate yourself into your company by becoming a specialist in local operations, developing your expertise in processes and product knowledge, and establishing yourself as an indispensible asset.

Becoming a company expert will ensure you can go far in your job and career, without necessarily having to climb further up the corporate ladder.

3. Develop Your Transferable Skills

Being an exceptional manager or mid-level executive is all about knowing where your skills and values lie. You may not want to increase your salary by climbing the corporate ladder, but you will probably be able to improve your remuneration by changing companies or even industries.

Developing transferable skills is crucial in progressing your management future, and will give you the flexibility to shape your career despite not wanting to step up into senior leadership roles.

4. Tailor Your Professional Resume

If you do find yourself wanting to change companies or even industries, your resume will be a significant tool in taking you where you want to go.

You should ensure that your professional resume highlights your transferable skills, emphasising your talents in mid-level management, and your capacity to successfully transform business operations. As a general rule, avoid any terminology that will portray you as a rising executive or an experienced senior leader; this can confuse employers about your intentions, or convey that you are over-qualified for a mid-level role.

5. Be Clear In Your Goals

Finally, be clear about the fact that you want to remain in a mid-level position and that you prefer not to accelerate your career upwards. This should come across in your professional resume, your job applications, and also in your interviews and your career strategies.

Are you keen to be a mid-level executive?

Resumes Australia provides expert advice to many candidates who are keen to develop their management careers and strive for success without climbing the corporate ladder.

Regards,

Returning to Work – Tips for Executive Women

Being a woman executive can be tough. Believe me, I know! You’re playing in a male-dominated field and sometimes, you need to work a lot harder to get your voice heard.

At certain times in the lives of many executive women, motherhood and parental/maternity leave will also be on the cards. When it comes time to return to the corporate field, it might be a little daunting easing back into your career.

If you’re a returning-to-work mum, here are some tips that have proved successful for many of my career coaching clients who are mothers.

1. Have a Plan

You have probably created and executed countless plans and strategies throughout your executive career, so why not do the same to follow your maternity leave? Develop a ‘return to work’ plan for yourself that involves relevant goals and specific actions that will help you settle back into the corporate sphere.

This may involve scheduling regular meetings with your employer, seeking support and updates from colleagues, attending industry events to learn about what’s been happening in your absence or perhaps working from home before returning to the office full-time.

2. Know Your Industry

If you’re returning to your same position or even to a similar position in the same industry, it’s important to realise that much may have changed, particularly if you work in a field that’s dynamic and fast-paced, or that is constantly affected by legislation.

Before heading back to the office, ensure you familiarise yourself with any major movements that have occurred in your industry, and make an effort to update yourself about current trends and attitudes that may be affecting your business or specifically your job role.

Company changes (restructures, redundancies, changes in strategies) may also have taken place in your absence, so it’s a good idea to get on top of these as well.

3. Get Your Professional Resume Together

If your return to work involves embarking on a new job hunt, it’s important that have an updated and comprehensive professional resume and cover letter ready to go.

If you’re unsure about how to put this together (or if you just don’t have the time), consider using a resume writing service. Professional resume writers will know exactly how to portray your experience, your competencies and your maternity gap so that you still remain a powerful and influential candidate when it comes to job applications.

4. Recharge Your Self Confidence

Many employers will be patient and welcoming when you come back from maternity leave, but many businesses will expect you to dive in the deep end and hit the ground running. If this happens, it’s important to remain confident and assertive.

Chat with your employer about easing into your role or leverage help from colleagues and staff who may be able to pass on any useful knowledge about the business. If you really need to recharge your self-confidence or if you have some interviews lined up, career coaching or interview coaching can also be highly beneficial, and can help you refine your confidence and therefore your success.

Are you a corporate mum looking for that executive edge before you return to work?

Resumes Australia has a wide range of resume writing and career coaching services that can help you get back on your executive feet! Just contact us today to learn more.

Regards,

Job Search Tips for Older Executives

It is no secret that searching for a new job can be tough for older executives, particularly for those who are re-entering the workforce after some time.

However, the number of older workers in Australia is growing, with many executives keen to work past the age of 63, and many corporations opening up opportunities to older executives who possess the life experience that younger candidates do not.

Need assistance in your job search?

If you are an older executive searching for employment, there are many areas in which you can develop your professional persona.

1. Resumes

A well- written Resume is the important document for a job seeker of any age, and it’s important that you have a fully updated professional resume that effectively demonstrates the experience and skills you can bring to the table.

If you are unsure how to go about resume writing or if you are uncertain if your resume is adequate, you may want to engage the help of a resume writing service. Professional resume writers can appraise your current resume and help you write a winning document that promotes your competencies and talents in a way that appeals to prospective employers.

2. Get a LinkedIn Profile

One of the most important recommendations I make to my older executive clients is to also establish yourself on LinkedIn. This can be crucial in portraying your professional image.

LinkedIn is a professional networking site where you (a) create a profile that is similar to your resume and then (b) connect with other industry executives you know or used to work with. Through these networking activities, you can keep up-to-date on what’s happening in your industry, put yourself forward professionally, and perhaps identify job opportunities.

3. Leverage Resources for Older Workers

There are many resources available for older workers, such as: websites dedicated to mature age jobs, technology and IT training courses for older people, interview coaching programs to help you with interview skills, and recruitment agencies dedicated to finding work for older candidates.

The Australian Government has also introduced a new program (starting in 2013) that has been especially designed to help older candidates find work. If you are job seeker over the age of 55, you will be able to participate in this program and receive training courses, career counselling and a $500 bonus to cover technological purchases (like computers, Internet connections) that will help you with your job search.

4. Further Tips

As they say, older is wiser! Here are my best tips to motivate you and keep you thinking positive:

• Include in detail only recent work history (up to10 years unless it is directly relevant to the position) in your professional resume; and yes, volunteer experience should also be included, but again only if relevant.

• Don’t include your birth date on your resume; it’s not about how old you are, but what experience you have. In Australia it is illegal for recruiters or employers to ask your age as it can be considered discriminatory.

• If you find you are a little rusty on the skills side or need help preparing for a job interview, consider enrolling in a short course or program to refresh your skills.

• Make use of professional networking and social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter; this will show employers and recruiters that you’re not afraid of technology.

No matter how old you are, there is always assistance available for older executives. And at Resumes Australia, some of us are older workers too! Get in touch today to find out how we can help you with your resume and your job hunt.

Best of luck,

How to Empower Your Resume

If you are searching for a new job, you’ll know how fiercely competitive the corporate job market can be.

It takes a strong level of dedication and skill to produce a persuasive executive resume.

Your executive resume should not only land you an interview, but it should portray you as an industry expert and an effective leader.

You might be a powerful executive, but how do you empower your executive resume?

1. Be An Industry Leader

If you are applying for a leading executive role, you need to showcase yourself as a leader, innovator or up-and-coming frontrunner in your industry.

•  Customise your executive resume so that it highlights your specific industry experience and knowledge
•  Focus on your achievements, rather than just on your responsibilities
•  Include any industry memberships or groups that you belong to
•  List any conferences you have spoken at or papers you have had published

2. Show, Don’t Tell

It’s also important to be as specific as possible in your executive resume: “show” rather than “tell.” Anyone can claim to “manage a team of 8 staff” or be an “expert problem solver” – but where’s the proof?

Generalised descriptions do not empower a resume and leave the recruiter to “guess” at what you actually did and what you achieved.

Ensure you quantify your claims and use specific examples when writing your executive resume. Include statistics or measurable results where possible or (if these are not available) demonstrate the value of your efforts and outcomes. Remember to describe:

• What the issue or problem was
• How you approached the issue and what you did to resolve it
• What the results were
• What the benefits were and how your actions added value to the company

3. Use Powerful Words & Language

Many candidates make the resume writing mistake of being vague and ambivalent in their resumes. Utilising the words and terms below will help you to add value to your executive resume, forcing you to dive deeper into your achievements and abilities.

In order to create a persuasive document, you should use these or similar terms, and couple them together with evidence of the outcomes that your contributions produced.
Remember, great language + great evidence = an empowered resume!

Succeeded	Transformed	Pioneered
Diversified	Negotiated	Increased
Eliminated	Improved	Achieved
Lead	Influenced	Marketed
Strengthened	Mentored	Motivated
Restructured	Designed	Integrated
Evaluated	Streamlined	Expanded
Measured	Maximised	Advanced

4. Remember the Job Description

This may be an obvious point, but it’s one that many candidates often miss. A powerful executive resume not only accomplishes all of the above, it also specifically meets the criteria set out in the job description.

While you can showcase yourself as an industry leader, give examples of your achievements and use convincing verbs, it will mean nothing if it is not relevant to the employer.

Ask yourself:

• Do I understand what the employer wants and what they are looking for in a candidate?
• Have I described my experience well, using specific examples, and does this relate to the skills listed in the job description?
• Is there anything in the job description that I haven’t addressed?

Need help empowering your executive resume?

All of the above is much easier said than done. Resumes Australia works with a wide range of executive candidates to help them empower their resumes and drive their success.

Just contact us today and let us transform your executive resume into something truly powerful.

Regards,

The Five C’s of Resume Writing

Does your resume reflect the Five C’s?

If you’re working on your resume, I believe it is instructive to go back to basics with the old resume writing adage called the “Five C’s.” The 5 C’s were created to help job applicants and resume writers produce strong, effective resumes that utilise powerful language, contain easy-to-read formatting, and utilise best practice when it comes to resume writing.

1) Is Your Resume CONVINCING?

•  Your resume should promote and showcase your experience and skills as much as possible; be specific in your descriptions. Instead of simply saying, “managing a team,” include more details: “managing a team of 8 staff, developing communication strategies, improving team processes and conducting performance reviews.”

• Write your resume for the particular job you are applying for. Always refer back to the job description when writing your resume – this will tell you what the employer is looking for.

•  List your most relevant and important experience and skills first. If you are applying for a management position, highlight your management talents and mention them first. Don’t, for instance, include your sales skills at the top of each section and leave your management skills at the bottom.

2) Is Your Resume CONCISE?

• How long or short your resume is, is not the important issue; instead, it is how succinct and concise you are in your descriptions. Use short sentences and bullet points to keep your resume concise.

• Use action verbs when describing your job roles, e.g. managing, achieving, reaching, succeeding, selling, bringing. If you are unsure of how to use action verbs, a professional resume writer will be able to help you.

•  Don’t include any unnecessary information in your resume; do not include details like hobbies, marital status, religion or salary. Instead, focus only on your competencies and experience, and any other skills that promote your suitability for the job.

3) Is Your Resume CLEAR?

• A clear resume will have excellent formatting. If your resume is cluttered and messy, it will be difficult to read.  If your work is looking like a disaster, contact a resume writer or use a resume template to help you format your document clearly.

• Ensure you include bolded headings/subheadings and sufficient white space so that it is easy for recruiters and potential employers to skim through.

• Don’t use abbreviations or industry terminology, since some recruiters may not understand these. Use plain English instead.

4) Is Your Resume CONSISTENT?

• Employ consistent language throughout your resume. Use the present tense when describing your current employment (forecasting, selling, facilitating) but use the past tense for past employment.

•  Make sure that your line spacing is even throughout the document – don’t use single line spacing on one page and double line spacing on another.

•  Use the same font throughout the text of the document and ensure that your headings all use the same font/size.

5) Is Your Resume CLEAN?

•  Proofread your resume! Check for spelling mistakes, grammatical and punctuation errors.

• Use a clean, easy-to-read font, such as Arial, Georgia or Times New Roman. Stay away from fancy or cursive fonts that are hard to read.

•  Avoid “cluttering” design elements like pictures, colours and fanciful borders. These don’t look professional. Remember, simple and plain is best!

Not sure how to proceed? If you don’t have the expertise or time to follow the five C’s, why not contact Resumes Australia today for help in writing your executive resume.

Regards,

LinkedIn: Networking Beyond Your Contacts

In early August, LinkedIn announced that it now has over 175 million members across the globe, with over 3 million of those members being in Australia. Add this to the 2 million Company Pages that exist on the platform, and it becomes clear that LinkedIn is one serious, professional networking tool.
Connecting with colleagues, friends and other professionals via LinkedIn is one of the best benefits of being a member. Yet what happens when you want to network beyond your current contacts?

You might want to get in touch with an industry executive, connect with a potential employer or introduce yourself to a headhunter.

What should you do before you make contact?

1. Refresh Your Profile

Before you start diving into new LinkedIn connections, it’s crucial that your LinkedIn profile is accurate, detailed and up-to-date. Ensure that your work history is included, along with details of your experience, skills, education and any other relevant information. This should align with what you’ve included in your executive resume.

You should also focus on your summary, since this is one of the first things a reader will encounter when reviewing your profile. Use short, succinct sentences, and employ bullet points where possible to highlight your talents and achievements.

2. Have Your Executive Resume Ready

If you make a successful connection with someone outside your network, it is vital to have your executive resume ready, especially if you are seeking additional contacts to progress your career. An outstanding executive resume can create a strong impression, and could lead you to the next career opportunity, while a poorly written resume will have your opportunities dissipating quickly.

Make sure your executive resume is fully updated and adequately reflects your competencies and expertise in relation to your industry. If you are unsure about how what an executive resume should contain, our executive resume writing service can help transform an average resume into a highly effective one that will help you get an interview.

3. Who Are You Contacting?

There are over 3 million people on LinkedIn in Australia and so you will need to be selective about whom you are contacting.

Research is key when it comes to connecting with executives, firstly because you will only want to contact those who can influence your career and secondly, because you will need to know whom it is you’re going to be dealing with.

If you don’t know whom to contact, a good place to begin your research is with employers in your field, or with executive search consultants and or headhunters who specialise in your industry.

4. Decide How To Make Contact

There are many ways to make new connections on LinkedIn, but if you are searching outside your circles, the best way is to make direct contact with someone is through the official mail system, called ‘InMail.’

You will need to purchase InMail credits and use them to send an email to your desired contact (if you don’t receive a response, your InMail credit is returned).

Make sure that you include a detailed but brief introductory note in your InMail message (the same as you would with any email) that effectively describes who you are, your present situation and why you’ve decided to contact this person. Be clear and concise in your message and remember to keep it short – executives are busy and they don’t have time to read one-page emails.

5. What Next?

Once you’ve successfully received a response and made a new connection, it is important to keep the relationship going. Depending on whom you contacted, you could politely request a meeting or offer to send them your executive resume. Alternatively, you may simply choose to join a LinkedIn ‘group’ that your contact belongs to. You can also follow the contact (or their company) on Twitter, Facebook or other networking sites.

Are you ready to make contact?

At Resumes Australia, we specialise in executive resume writing, with the expertise to tailor your executive resume and your LinkedIn profile for the greatest success.

Good luck connecting!