I often work with older GenX job seekers, younger Baby Boomers and those who haven’t conducted a search in years, who come to me for Read More The post 8 Essential Tips for Job Seekers Over 50 appeared first on Virginia Franco Resumes ..read more

Often times, applicants must explain a career gap on their resume. Whether you got laid off, took a break to care for a loved one, Read More The post How to Explain a Career Gap on Your Resume appeared first on Virginia Franco Resumes ..read more

At the time of this publication, there are 151,000 (7X more than last year!) LinkedIn members who call themselves “career coaches.” Over 119,000 identify as Read More The post 4 Job Search Myths that Can Wreck Your Job Search appeared first on Virginia Franco Resumes ..read more

As a career storyteller, while most reach out to get a resume professionally written, my favorite part of the job is hearing about their fascinating journeys. Read More The post 3 True Stories of Successful Career Change appeared first on Virginia Franco Resumes ..read more

My mother always said when I complained about work – “If a job was the RIGHT work, the RIGHT hours, the RIGHT salary AND makes Read More The post Navigating Job Search Transition: How I Stumbled Upon Career Happiness appeared first on Virginia Franco Resumes ..read more

Applicant Tracking System Software (or ATS) is the software that reads your resume when you apply for a job online. The telltale sign ATS is at play is when you upload your resume, and it instantly reformats it into what I affectionately term gobbeldy-gook. If not formatted properly, crucial components of your resume may get lost in translation. Avoid this by creating a Plain Text (.txt) document to upload instead that incorporates these six key considerations: #1 ATS-recognizable Headlines ATS often only recognizes basic headings. Play it safe and stick with traditional ones like Profile, Edu ..read more

In today’s competitive job market, a resume and cover letter alone won’t cut it. You likely will benefit from a supportive network to carry you across the finish line. But how do you build one – and how can you harness it to help you leap to the front of the line and secure interviews? I’m a fan of the “networking in threes” technique. It’s a simple strategy that can help you expand your network swiftly and I’ve seen it accelerate job search while providing long-lasting benefits. Here’s how it works: Start by making a list of everyone you know who might be able to help you in your job search ..read more

“At first glance, my job history looks scattered!” Sound familiar? As a resume writer, I hear this all the time. For those of us (present company included) who have held roles that at the surface seem unrelated, have worked across industries or whose job titles are misleading or confusing, writing a cohesive resume and LinkedIn profile can be daunting. Fortunately, with some strategies to connect the dots, you can rest assured that readers of your resume and LinkedIn will not be left wondering or confused. When Roles Seem Unrelated Whether to explore a new opportunity or be ..read more

Often times, applicants must explain a career gap on their resume. Whether you got laid off, took a break to care for a loved one, quit a job due to spouse relocation – employment gaps are a workforce norm across all industries. Nonetheless, the stigma persists. The worry continues that a gap is negative — especially when not clearly explained. As an Executive Resume writer, I hear the question, “Should I address my employment gap?” all the time. As always, my response is “yes.” But how you address it depends on the situation. Stick with the Truth Honesty is always the best policy when it come ..read more

Whether you are testing the waters, looking to make a career 180, struggling with job security, or are miserable in your current role, the first step toward finding or changing jobs is a resume and, more often than not, an updated LinkedIn profile. The question becomes: is it worth it hire a resume writer? As an executive career-marketing documents writer specializing in resumes and LinkedIn profiles, I work with everyone from exceptional writers and communicators to those who absolutely dread the thought of putting pen to paper. Before you decide to outsource and hire a professional or deter ..read more