by Scott Whippo

It’s not hard to find a job, it’s just hard to find a job that fits your skills and interest. Go to the want adds and you’ll find many jobs. Unfortunately, they are at both ends of the scale. There are those that require a great deal of skill and training or jobs so general they require very little training and pay less than you may need to pay the bills.

Over the years, I have read many books and articles on writing resumes’ and everyone claims to be an expert of some sort. As far as I can tell, they are only experts at writing books and articles. For every expert that tells you to do your job search one way I can show you another expert that tells you to do it another way. Do what works for you.

I am no expert so I am not going to tell you how to write a resume’

I do want to run a couple of ideas by you and perhaps you can use them in your job search.

Something that everyone agrees on is know the company you are applying to for a job. Research the company’s capabilities and vision for the future. Know the key words they like to use, this will come in handy in an interview. It will also help you write your resume’. Know what they like and dislike.

If you are applying to a large firm or the government you may want to incorporate key words into your resume’. Before a human ever sees your resume’ a computer selects resumes’ based on key word search criteria. The computer will count the number of times key words show on your resume’. Look carefully at their job description and use their key words in your resume’.

Branding is not a new concept but it is new as far as individuals are concerned. This is the idea that an individual can have a searchable reputation just like a Fortune 500 Company. Search for your name on Google, Yahoo or any other search engine and you will get an idea about Branding. This should give you an idea what prospective employers are seeing about you. More potential employers are searching the web for names of individuals that apply with their companies. This is one way for them to tell what kind of background, expertise or reputation you have. This is why branding is becoming more important.

If you don’t find your name on the web or want to increase your visibility start a personal web site page or start a blog. You should use the site to highlight your capabilities and experience. Place pictures of your work, if you worked on the Boeing 787, take a picture of a 787 and place it with the description of what your job entailed. Pictures get peoples attention. If you made boats or widgets, take a picture of a boat or widget. Pictures are not appropriate in a resume’ but are expected on a web site. You can always add the web site address to your resume’. Because people are curious, most prospective employers will go to the Web site.

Perhaps some of you remember an article I wrote about volunteering. What I didn’t mention is that it looks good on a resume’. It shows that you have stayed involved in something productive that requires people skills and shows an interest in your community. Employers are always in search of people that will make them look good in the eyes of the community.

If you’re thinking you can’t do these things because: “I don’t own a computer.” You will be happy to know that the library will let you use their computers with some restrictions. The Arlington Library is located at 135 North Washington Ave. In Marysville, the library is located at 6120 Grove Street. Both libraries are open 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. They are also open the other three days of the week but on shorter hours. It’s a great place to write your resume’ because all the research materials you need are right there on the shelves.

Remember that perception is reality. When it comes to being hired, it doesn’t matter how you perceive yourself, its how others perceive you. Always be working on your honesty, friendliness and work ethics. People will remember these things about you.

If you can harness persistence with some of the tools listed above, you will go a long way towards getting yourself hired.

Comments may be addressed to sdwhippo@yahoo.com.