Tracy Laswell Valdez is a certified job and career-transition coach, and an accredited, award-winning, nationally published resume writer. She founded her company CAREER-Magic.com in 1994, and has helped well over 2000 individual job seekers, as corporate outplacement clients, and consulting firms in marketing their talent. CAREER-Magic.com's services include job search coaching, resu...
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Cover Letter Writing 101: Paper and Electronic Letters by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 When I think of the average job seeker’s approach to cover letters, I’m reminded of the Publishers’ Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. You know, all those crazy coupons and stickers and NASA-level procedures on how to put it all together correctly. You become excited that you’re going to win that $10-million prize because the letter says so…it has your name all over it, just as if they wrote it to you personally, right? Of course, ... |
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E-mailing Resumes: The Good, The Bad, The Unexpected by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 The following article is based on an e-mail I received from a "recently re-employed UNIX Guru" - we'll call him Louis, because, well, that's his name. Fresh from a relatively short period of unemployment, he still identifies with those still in job search mode - and nice guy that he is, he wanted to share a few pointers with you regarding e-mailing of resumes in the hope that it would improve your success. His company gets lot... |
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Resume Writing 101: What's In a Name? by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 In the last five years as a career services professional, I have found that approximately 90% of my clients are hell-bent on having their name appear on their resumes as follows: "George M. Smith" or "Susan W. Dingle" It ends up on the resume only about 5% of the time. I will, naturally, put any truthful bit of data on the resume as my clients dictate (after all, they are paying me). But first they get my professional ... |
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Strategic Interview Attire by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 "How to dress for interview success" is a frequently requested topic in the workshops and support groups I conduct. Here are a few strategic suggestions on looking your professional best, no matter your shape, size, gender, or age: If the job is a major step up for you: Dress the part. If that means borrowing a great watch and/or investing in a fabulous new suit and shoe leather, then do it. Don't forget to check out facto... |
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The Headless Resume by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 In my business, I naturally see a lot of resumes, written by amateurs and other professionals. Lately I've seen a rash of resumes that seem to have lost their minds. Is your resume "headless?" If your resume reads something like this, you may be missing a critical section. JOHN T. FRUGALBERRY (with that dreaded middle initial, no less) 1122 Boogie Woogie Avenue, Middletown, CA 94000 frugal@zippynet.net (714) 111-111... |
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After the Interview... Now What? by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 Congratulations! You've just completed an interview for a position that interests you, or perhaps you met with a networking contact who offered some insight into your job search. Now that the interview is over, it's time to swing into action with some memorable follow up activities. Depending on the nature of your interview, follow up can take several forms. What you do can greatly influence whether you succeed in generati... |
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Asking For Help in A Job Search by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 If you don't seem to be making progress in your job search, perhaps it's due to a breakdown in communications. Here are some ideas on how best to ‘ask your way' into a great new job. BE SPECIFIC. If there is anything that drives me completely batty, it's the generic request for assistance. As a job search consultant, I have many, many clients to “keep in mind” as I hear of opportunities. These are people I know, people I ca... |
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Cover Letter Myths and Resume Nonsense by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007 When it comes to know-how on finding work, most folks get their information in much the same way they learned about "the birds and bees." They get their "information" from equally uninformed peers while tiptoeing around behind the current boss's back. With nervous giggles, they repeat what they've heard on the street, and end up latching onto some very silly notions. This misinformation is a mixture of outdated notions (that w... |
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