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Checklist: Things to Do Before Applying for a Job
oosting a bland résumé or sim-
B ply polishing it before applying
for a job isn’t as cumbersome
as you might expect. According to
Evelyn Salvador, author of Step-by-
Step Resumes, there are many simple,
yet effective, tricks that can signifi-
cantly strengthen a résumé’s readabil-
ity and overall appearance.
March 2011 | VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3
“Connect with people who
like people and who are
open to new ideas.”
— Katherine Carol
Résumé Tips
In her book, Salvador recommends words, delete them and restructure
that job seekers take the following
steps to improve a résumé before
using it to apply for jobs:
sentences if necessary.
3 Check for action verbs. Be
sure each bullet in an “Experience”
3 Remove personal pronouns. section starts with an action verb or
The subject (I, me or my) is already adverb that precedes an action verb.
understood and should be left out. If
the résumé contains any of these 3 Delete redundant words.
Review each sentence or bullet and
delete any words that a sentence reads
just fine without. “The” and “that” are
among unnecessary “fluff” words.
Use the most concise sentence possi-
ble without omitting any important
content, such as achievements.
3 Include personal attributes.
Double-check that primary attributes are
included in a “Summary” section and
that any important ones weren’t left out.
3 Ensure that all pertinent, tar-
geted qualifications are included.
Compare the résumé to the description
of the job being targeted. Is there any
information that wasn’t mentioned
that would address a function or need listed in the description? If so, revise the
résumé to include this information. More Quick Tips
3 Prioritize bullets. The job seeker must review responsibilities and Musts for Job
achievements for each position and move the more important, targeted ones
closer to the top under each position. Developers!
3 Remove irrelevant information. Check to ensure that anything irrele- Consider this top-10 list for job
vant or not directly related to the targeted goal is minimized, put toward the developers in tough economic times:
end or omitted completely.
1) Research grown trends.
3 Check for quantifying information. When reviewing sentences, the job
seeker must ask himself/herself,“Did I include how many, how much, how 2) Look for emerging industries.
often, how big, how fast, or how well?” If not, edit to include more specific,
concrete information. 3) Look for hidden jobs.
3 Verify that “CAR” and benefit info is included. Do achievements 4) Increasing networking
include the Challenge the job seeker faced, the Action taken and the Result? opportunities.
Show how well you performed these functions and always include the bene-
fit(s) to the company. 5) Capitalize on benefits.
3 Check grammar, punctuation and spelling. Spell-check the document 6) Offer choices.
and proofread several times. Be consistent in the use of capitalization and
hyphenation. Be sure you have used correct grammar and punctuation. If this 7) Recommend volunteering
is not one of your strengths (and it isn’t for many people), give the completed and internships.
résumé to someone you trust to proofread it for you. v
8) Increase your services.
Step-by-Step Resumes, Second Edition, is available at www.amazon.com,
major bookstores, and from the publisher (www.jist.com or 1-800-648-JIST). 9) Use technology.

10) Form partnerships with

QUICK TIPS other organizations.

Source: Laura Owens, APSE Executive

When Looking for a Job Takes Director.
Longer than Anticipated
lthough people may hope their

A transition between jobs will last

only a few weeks, the reality is that
many job seekers spend months, or even a
year or more, trying to secure work. This
delay can wreak havoc on a job seeker’s
confidence, motivation, and sense of pride
—all of which are characteristics critical to
achieving success in the job market.
Jean Baur, author of Eliminated! Now
What: Finding Your Way from Job-Loss
Crisis to Career Resilience (JIST
Publishing) offers these tips for persever-
ing through a long transition:
Do:
1. Work hard on your search but don’t
let it consume you. Find the things that
restore you so that this demanding pro-
cess doesn’t become drudgery.
2. Research opportunities for training,
whether it’s in an existing area of exper-
tise or something new. Adding new skills
will broaden your job market.
3. Use volunteering to expand your
network. This effort keeps you connected
and ensures that you’re doing something
productive besides looking for work.
Don’t:
1. Get stuck. If one method isn’t work-
ing, try another one. Remember the say-
ing, “You can’t expect different results by
doing the same thing all the time.”
2. Be unwilling to compromise.
Sometimes you might have to take a
small step back to move forward.
3. Assume you know how and when
you’ll discover your next opportunity.
Have your eyes and ears open at all
times. Opportunities often crop up when
we least expect them. v
Fast Facts!
 An estimated 73% of employ-
ers report that their employees with
disabilities did NOT require any
special accommodations.
 People with disabilities often
have highly developed problem-
solving skills (a key trait cited by
many hiring managers) because
these individuals have had to find
creative ways to perform tasks that
many of us may take for granted.
 At 54 million, people with
disabilities comprise the third-
largest market segment in the U.S.
Source: ODEP. (www.dol.gov/odep).