This article was submitted on August 13, 2009 at 07:16 PM PDT
From: Examiner.com | August 13, 2009
Abby M. Locke

Have you ever been bursting with excitement to share your good news with someone, only to have them ask you – “so what’s the big deal?” Well, imagine getting a similar question and response from a recruiter or hiring manager when you are really trying to make a lasting impression.

In my quest to help you transform your professional resume into a compelling storytelling document, I want to focus your attention on work responsibilities and job tasks. Employers and recruiters should not read your resume and feel like they are reading a classified advertisement or generic job description. While you always need to show employers the scope and breadth of your experience, don’t get so tied to your daily tasks that the professional resume falls short on value proposition.

Is your current resume only telling employers what you are paid to do?

• Focus on strong facts/statistics including budget size, the number of direct/indirect reports, the number of divisions or branches you manage, sales/revenue objectives, the number of clients you service and the title of your immediate boss.
• Compile these details to a three-to-five sentence paragraph, pepper it with vibrant action verbs, industry keywords, and eliminate any overused, passive phrases like “Responsible for the development of marketing plans for clients in the West Coast region."

Check out how this candidate’s work responsibilities get enhanced by highlighting the key objectives in his job.

Before: Manage daily activities for real estate portfolio for investment management company and supervise staff members.

After: Challenged to deliver 10% return on $700 million investment portfolio in unpredictable, evolving real estate industry. Oversee all daily activities including ROI maximizations, client relations, loan negotiations, and investment dispositions. Manage and coach staff of ten employees.

Get started on your own storytelling resume:

Use a sell me not “tell me” strategy with your professional resume

Is your professional resume making employers guess?

Avoid writing a "me-oriented" resume

Abby M. Locke of Premier Writing Solutions (www.premierwriting.com) is a master resume writer and career marketing architect who helps talented professionals and senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents, innovative job search tools, and proactive career management strategies.

3 Things We Should Learn in This Recession

With great challenges there are often great lessons, and this recession is no exception.

1. It rains on the just and the unjust. When the world's marketplace is in major flux, we all feel the impact. So don't beat yourself up over challenging times you may be facing in your career or personal finances. Make up your mind to find the opportunities in this moment, protect what is rightfully yours, and develop a new strategy if necessary to move forward. Those that will succeed will have the talent or willingness to develop their existing talent, the character to endure the right way without looking for shortcuts, and the wisdom to make critical adjustments wherever necessary to thrive in a changing world.


2.Take a snapshot of the changing national and global social-economic landscape Do an inventory of your talents and interest, see if you can match a strategic need of people or organizations with your unique personal genius. These times are going to open up new opportunities for innovative thinking, technology, and services for someone, why not you?

3. Hard times have a way of recalibrating our priorities to what matters most. Is it really all about the money, power, and prestige or is there something else more important in life that you need to give more attention to? Whether it is family and loved ones you need to spend more time with, self-preservation strategies such as taking better care of yourself in your eating, exercise and spiritual development, or simply taking a little more time to appreciate the more simple things in life.


KRW

The Value of Your Good Name!

I am excited that so many students and young professionals are striving to start their own businesses, have their sights on the top executive suites in business, government, and other industries. But like the old-timers in my hometown of Princeton, NJ used to tell me, one of the most important qualities you can ever have as a successful professional is a Good Name.

Many professionals today have more degrees than a thermometer from some of the world's most prestigious universities, hold influential positions in business and government, live in exclusive neighborhoods, drive luxury cars, have all the new techie toys and whistles, etc., etc., but none of these should ever be confused with having a Good Name.

The world has a lot of so called "business stars," but often few live up to the hype, and many rarely deliver more than smooth "business speak" and a well sculpted image, in part why our economy is in the shape it is in today, too many drank that Kool Aid!

Former NFL Coach Herman Edwards may have put it best. In a recent television interview Coach Edwards shared how as a boy his father once told him, "Son I don't have a lot to give you but a good name, what you do with it is up to you."

Do you have a Good Name, or "Credibility Capital" with the people around you? The world has enough slick professionals and today people and organizations are looking for real leadership, innovation, and results. As you move forward to make your way in this great time of opportunity and change presented in this new economy, take a moment, and make sure you are doing everything you can to develop and maintain your Good Name.

KRW

Michael Jackson had a Professional Edge

As we all take a moment and reflect on the greatest entertainment performer of our time Michael Jackson, let us also remember the professional and business genius of the man.

Michael found his "personal genius" and developed it to be without question the best that ever was in his industry. He took what he had and maximized it to the fullest.

Michael didn't allow the "establishment" of his time to limit or define him, and broke many barriers of racial and social stereotypes to reach his audience. He didn't take "no" for an answer.

Michael continually reinvented himself and his product to match the evolving needs and demographics of his globally diverse fan base.

Michael was a perfectionist, a hard worker, and relentlessly strived for new standards of performance excellence.

As a professional, Michael continuously sought after and surrounded himself with the very best talent and producers in his industry.

Michael, even with his super star status, was reportedly a very kind and approachable individual.

Michael had the ability to take challenges and turn them around for powerful new material and branding opportunities.

Michael knew the power of business ownership, evident in the his strategic decision to purchase some of the world's most prestigious catalogues of music that will continue to grow in value benefiting his family and estate long after his passing.

We could go on, but the next time you hear Michael was just a singer and dancer, you may want to think again. The world is full of great singers and dancers, but Michael was so much more and that is why he is and will always be the King of Pop.

KRW

Rise and Shine during this New Season in Your Life and Career!

Have the events of the past year been full of change, uncertainty, and even stressful? Uncertain and difficult times can suck the hope and excitement out of our lives and careers. Before you know it you are dragging through your days wondering when will this nightmare be over???

Wait a minute...Did you hear that?...It's your "wake-up call" telling you its time to get up, stop sleepwalking and get excited again about your life, career and the many great possibilities this new season can bring. Stop hitting the snooze button, its time to get up and get yourself together!

Wake Up and Get Ready! Like getting up in the morning, you need to get ready for this new season.

1. Get out of bed. For starters it's time to leave behind your comfort zone and security blankets and get this season started. Laying around thinking about past dreams (or even nightmares) isn't going to help you get up and going. So rise and shine, and lets make something exciting and new happen.

2. Get a good long shower. It's time to wash away all the "funky stuff" (stinking thinking, or nasty attitude) that has built up during your "down time." It's time to clean yourself up and get ready to reconnect with the world.

3. Don't forget to brush your teeth and use a little mouthwash! Make sure you clean out your mouth and stop speaking negative into your world and to the people, circumstances, opportunities in your life. Nobody likes being around people with negative "potty mouth" issues, especially positive people on the move.

4. Put on a fresh change of cloths. As we say in the church, put on your garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness! Its time to put on your new attitude, outlook, and take on the world with a fresh new attitude of success and excellence. If you like designer clothing, show the world your "new brand" of excellence that reflects your commitment to quality and excellence.

5. Read your paper. Start this new season by being more informed or studied about your world, your industry, profession or interests. Being well read will stimulate your mind and prepare you for informed discussions with other professional and forward thinking people.

6. Get a good breakfast and enjoy your coffee. Stimulate and nourish yourself by feeding your spirit and mind with prayer, spiritual study, eating healthy foods, exercising, and good positive conversation with those around you. As they say, "you are what you eat."

7. Get ready for your commute. Set your personal GPS to guide you to your next destination in life and in your career. Many people fumble around and loss their way in their lives and career because they never developed a strategy or road map to get to the next level. Get your strategy together. By the way, it's alright to ask for directions if you need a little help along the way!


Kim W

krwbusinessmail@yahoo.com

Professional Edge is BACK!!!

After a year of global diversity consulting and finally returning to Howard University as our new MBA Director, I decided it was time to relaunch my Professional Edge blog!

If this recession has dragged your professional dreams through the mud, or you simply are looking for a refreshing new perspective in pursuing your career goals, you are in the right place!! Join me, students from Howard and young Black professionals from around the globe as we tackle this new economy, decode the firewall around the new job market and together move forward to success and achieving a PROFESSIONAL EDGE.

These are exciting times, a new President and face of success in the White House, a world hungry for new leadership and solutions. This is your time, time for change, time for new ideas, new business models, global collaboration and new technology integration. Somebody has to lead us into the new era of American and global change, why not you!

We have a lot to talk about, so join the discussion, and get the PROFESSIONAL EDGE you will need to make change happen.

Kim R. Wells


Dedicated to my father Ronald C. Wells and my dear friend Mr. Harold Gray.