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December 2005: Issue 37
Editor: Tara West
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In This Issue
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> Welcome and Christmas Trading
Hours
> Article: Dare To Take Control of Your Life by Rupert French
> Quote
> Article: Industry specific advice for your résumé
> Subscribe / Unsubscribe Information
> Contact Information
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Welcome
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Wow, this year has certainly flown!! I realise I say that every year
– a true sign of being one year older! ;-)
I wish to take this opportunity of thanking our existing clients for their
patronage in 2005 (and referring others to Aussie Resumes!). It was also
great to see so many repeat clients who were once again on the job hunt – you
made an initial decision to leap into a new position or career, and you have
gone on to bigger and better things! It just proves that you can
"extend" yourself and reap the benefits once you have taken control
and grasped your career aspirations firmly in both hands. I am so pleased
we were able to offer assistance. "Treat people as if they were what
they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being."
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Aussie Resumes is closing over the
Christmas period:
From: Friday the 9th of December
Re-opening: Monday the 9th of January
It is once again time to recharge the batteries! :-) We'll back in 2006
very refreshed and ready to take on any new challenge you may want to throw our
way.
Keep an eye on our web site early January – we will be offering new
services and products to help you, the job seeker!
Wishing you, your family and friends a safe and happy Christmas and a
prosperous and exciting New Year! :-D
Until next time, keep smiling.
Tara West
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ARTICLE:
Dare To
Take Control Of Your Life
by Rupert French
Many people feel that they have lost control after some major setback in their
lives. Perhaps they have lost their job through a restructuring process or
through poor performance or, perhaps the hardest of all, through injury or
illness. Whatever the reason, they feel that life has dealt them a cruel blow.
Maybe it has but if those
people want to live the rest of their lives rather than just exist, they have to
have the courage to do something about taking back control.
Either you are in control
of your life or you are letting outside factors and other people run your life.
If you complain that something or someone is preventing you from getting on with
your life, then you are admitting that this is what is in control.
Some people seem to wallow
in self-pity and appear to take a perverse enjoyment out of being a victim. They
are not in control. They are allowing outside influences to push them around.
If you don’t want to be
a victim, you have got to make your own escape. You can – and probably should
– seek help but it must be you who is the driving force.
The first step is to
accept the fact that it has happened. However unfair it may seem, there is
nothing further that can be done. Until this is accepted, no progress can be
made. It is difficult to see the doors of opportunity opening in front of us if
we are continually looking back at the door closing behind us. “OK so it’s
happened and now it’s up to me to make the best of it.”
The next step is to work
out what is the best future to work towards. A session with a career counsellor
can be immensely valuable at this stage. Let the counsellor help you to identify
a future that is not only possible but also immensely satisfying. Set high but
achievable goals and then have the courage to strive towards them.
It won’t be easy. But
the struggle and the achievements you make along the way will be hugely
satisfying. All of a sudden, life will be great once again, not because you are
back where you once were – that will probably never happen. It will be because
you feel in control once again.
Mark Bagshaw was 16 when
he dived into shallow water resulting in quadriplegia. Many would have given up
but Mark took control of his life and went on to become the International
Marketing Manager, IBM Australasia. He is also a relentless campaigner for the
rights of people with disabilities. He didn’t give in to self pity. He
accepted what had happened and he got on with his life, taking firm control and
relishing his achievements.
He acknowledges that he
received a lot of support from his family and the community to help him get his
life back together but it was he who decided to make best use of that support.
You may not be responsible
for the event that took your job away. You may be a victim of bad luck. But you
are responsible for the way you react to that bad luck. You, too, will get a lot
of support if you show determination to get back on top.
The choice is yours:
either accept what has happened and make the best of the rest of your life, or
continue to be a victim.
Either way you are
responsible; responsible for your own life management or responsible for
allowing yourself to be pushed around, a victim of your own lack of courage and
determination.
Which is it to be?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Copyright Rupert French,
2004. Used with permission.
Rupert French has more
than 20 years experience in career development. Since 1993, Rupert has
helped more than 1000 people plan new career paths and coached them through
their career transitions.
An active member of the peak professional body, the Australian Association of
Career Counsellors, he is now in his 10th year on the Tasmanian Committee of
Management. The above
article was written for the www.workplace.gov.au website, where Rupert states
"It clearly demonstrates my philosophy that it is the client who is driving
the ship. I am just a pilot to help take you through tricky waters but you must
be in charge all the way through the process." You can visit Rupert's
website at www.tascareers.com.au
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QUOTE
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"You must understand the
whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read,
that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and
write poems, and suffer; and understand, for all that is life."
~ Jiddu Krishnamurti
(1895-1986) ~
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"A diamond is a chunk of
coal that made good under pressure."
~ Anonymous ~
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ARTICLE:
Industry Specific Advice For Your Résumé
© 2005 Aussie Résumés
Over
the next few issues we’re focusing on some industry specific advice relating
to the content in your résumé. These same issues / questions crop up
quite regularly, so we’re sure you’ll find the advice helpful. If you
have any particular questions about your industry please drop us a line at advice@aussieresumes.com
July
issue saw us expand on Sales Orientated Roles
– you can view it at the
following
location: www.aussieresumes.com/newsletter/Archive/july2005.htm
September
issue saw us expand on Admin Orientated Roles
– you can view it at the following location:
www.aussieresumes.com/newsletter/Archive/sept2005.htm
November
issue saw us expand on Accounting / Finance
Roles – you can view at the following location:
www.aussieresumes.com/newsletter/Archive/nov2005.htm
IT
Roles:
·
It's imperative you tailor your résumé
for the type of work you seek – if you are applying for several roles then
ensure you adapt for each. For instance, if you are applying for helpdesk
roles and analyst / programmer
roles, you will obviously need a different focus for each.
·
For instance: the helpdesk role
needs to focus on aspects associated with that role – this would be your
knowledge of various (or numerous!) software and hardware / technologies / etc
– whilst the analyst / programmer role needs to focus on your hands-on
experience – in particular the key projects you have worked on / environment /
technologies / etc.
·
Not all recruiters understand
industry jargon. Sure, you might be blasting your resume to IT recruitment
firms; but what about the recruiter who was only hired just last week and
doesn't understand what a MCP or MCSE is yet?! Spell it out, then insert
the abbreviation in brackets after the full name itself. You can then
safely use the abbreviation throughout the remainder of the resume.
·
Unless you're applying for a
management role which doesn't require a hands-on approach (i.e. you don't need
to have knowledge of / experience in X software / hardware / etc.), you should
be including a Key Technical Skills section or similar. List your competencies
– under sub headings if necessary; i.e. programming, databases, operating
systems, design tools, etc – however, don't list the number of years you have
experience in each, nor your (usually self-evaluated) level of competency.
This could act as a negative to some recruiters. After all, if they want 5
years experience in something and you have listed 4 – but its closer to 5 –
you've done yourself an injustice!
·
Nine times out of ten you would
have performed the same type of duties in each role (for instance, you may have
been a programmer for the whole duration of your career). Don't list out
the same list of key duty statements – this is pointless. Provide a
concise and relevant list of key duties for the first role (i.e. your current or
most recent job), and for the remainder list key projects and / or achievements
only.
·
Ensure you include a brief
company description about the companies you have worked for – this is
particularly important when the company name gives no clue about the business.
·
For instance: you may be applying
for a role at a construction firm who contracts their services to the mining
industry. You may have worked at Zatto Industries Pty Ltd which, on its
own, says nothing at all – however, if you were to state that this was a small
mining company in the outback of Queensland, then the construction firm would be
highly interested in you and your skills as you have an understanding of their
industry.
·
When compiling your résumé look
at everything from the hiring manager's point of view. Most hiring
managers are interested in what you can bring to the organisation… are you a
go-getter? Does your résumé demonstrate it? Ask yourself some
pertinent questions to ensure inclusion of punchy, relevant achievements.
·
Your Profile and Key Strengths
sections should demonstrate your capabilities that are applicable for the
positions you seek – pick out the key elements that are required which may be:
analytical skills, attention to detail, good teamwork abilities, etc.
·
If you haven’t been employed in
IT-related roles throughout your whole career, then tone down prior employment
history. It’s irrelevant so no need to highlight it.
·
And the last rule which should be
applied in all instances – irrespective of one’s profession – is to target
the cover letter and résumé for the job you’re applying for! This
may mean altering the order of relevance in relation to some key
accountabilities or highlighting certain achievements over others. There
is no quick fix solution; thus, you can’t always use the same résumé for
each and every job. You need to read each vacancy carefully and scrutinise
your application – each and every time.
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Contact Information
Editor: Tara West
Résumé Action published by Aussie Résumés, PO Box 3654, Mt Gambier, 5290
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