JOB SEEKERS
We do the writing. You get the interview!
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
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You are having trouble getting noticed with your current resume or LinkedIn profile.
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You are receiving too many auto-reject emails.
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You are getting interviews, but you are not getting offers.
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You are uncomfortable writing about yourself or unsure how to do it well.
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You are confused by all the contradicting information about writing effective resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles.
If any of this sounds like your experience, you are not alone and are among the
1000s of job seekers who have reached out to RWCA members for help.
We know how help you get noticed and land interviews faster because RWCA members are committed to staying on top of the latest trends and proven methods to help you succeed in your job search.
Many of our members offer free consultations and we are happy to answer your questions.
Donna Tucker, CPRW, NCOPE
RWCA Co-Founder, Member Since 1996
CareerPRO Resume Center, www.4greatresumes.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & C.A.R. STORIES
Is your resume accomplishment-based? Don’t make the mistake of listing job duties and responsibilities; rather, focus on the contributions you have made. Write in terms of results and achievements. Use this same strategy to respond to questions in interviews.
Often the C-A-R format works well for this: Challenge – Action – Result.
FEDERAL JOB SEARCH
The federal job search process is very complex. Resumes for federal jobs are very different from conventional, private-sector resumes and include KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities), which are rated and ranked with a point system.
APPROPRIATE EMAIL ADDRESSES
What does your e-mail address say about you? Make sure it is professional, preferably your name, such as John.Q.Smith@abc.com.
Lucie Yeomans, CPRW
RWCA Vice President, Member Since 2013
Your Career Ally, https://www.yourcareerally.com/
FONTS MATTER
Choose a common sans serif font between 10- and 12-point font like Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, and Tahoma. Sans serif fonts are easier to read by both human eyes and applicant tracking systems. With the exception of a few industries, a font like Times New Roman can date you.
MARGINS MATTER
Aim for margins between 1.0" and .75” on left and right, and between 1.0" and .5” on top and bottom. You can adjust your margins to increase the amount of information you include in your resume and increase the much-needed white space. Keeping within these margins will ensure your complete resume will print correctly on a page.
WORD CHOICE MATTERS
You have heard your resume should be filled with industry keywords and skills, but that doesn't mean word stuffing. You will have better results by using these words in context rather than a list. Prove your value and experience with these keywords and skills by describing what you accomplished and/or learned. Begin those proof statements with action verbs!
VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS
Like it or not, virtual interviews are here to stay - 81% of recruiters believe they will continue. Prepare and practice for virtual interviews harder than you would for an in-person interview. Your speed, eye contact, volume, lighting, filler words, and so much more are magnified in virtual interviews. Use my free AI-powered virtual interview prep tool to practice for your next interview. https://yourcareerally.yoodli.ai/
Jeri Hird Dutcher, CPRW
Member / RWCA Secretary / Retired
TAILOR YOUR RESUME
Tailor your resume to each job description. Match the things you say about your qualifications and accomplishments to the requirements in each posting.
DIVERSIFY YOUR JOB SEARCH
Diversify your job search with networking rather than relying solely on online applications.
ATS RESUMES
Make sure your resume is ATS compatible. Don't know how to do that? Reach out to one of the resume writers on this site.
MANAGE STRESS
Pay particular attention to your stress level during a job search. If it's getting out of hand, learn more about keeping it under control. Start with 4-7-8 breathing.
