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"Resume Action" Newsletter

A newsletter brought to you by Aussie Résumés http://www.aussieresumes.com 

Aussie Résumés offer résumé writing services, a résumé critiquing service, covering letter and selection criteria editing and writing, The Aussie Résumés Cover Letter Software, in addition to The Australian Résumé Writer software.

May 2004 : Issue 23

Editor:  Tara West

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In This Issue

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> Welcome
> Article: If You Think You Can't Change Course... You're Right
> Results of the Free Cover Letter Competition
> Quote
> Writing Your Résumé - Part 9 – Referees
> New provisions of the Spam Act 2003
> Subscribe / Unsubscribe Information
> Contact Information

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Welcome

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Welcome!

You are receiving this newsletter as you subscribed, or a friend has forwarded it to you.  If you feel you have received this in error please contact Aussie Résumés.

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You are welcome to forward Résumé Action Newsletter by Aussie Résumés to interested friends or relatives, provided it is for personal use only and content is not altered in any way.

We are always interested in hearing from our readers, particularly with suggestions on how to improve our newsletter and what you would like to see featured in future issues.  Please email your feedback to: admin@aussieresumes.com

If you are interested in past issues of Résumé Action, you can view these online.  To access the archive visit: www.aussieresumes.com/careercentre-newsletter.htm

Until next time, keep smiling.

Tara West.

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ARTICLE:
If You Think You Can't Change Course... You're Right
© Valerie Young

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You've heard the expression that some people see the glass as half full while others perceive the same glass to be half empty? Yesterday I had the opportunity to see this difference in perception in action.

My father and I drove to the airport to pick up my some family members visiting from Florida. It was 100 degrees and muggy. "Knowing" there wouldn't be any parking spaces close to the terminal, my father was inclined to head directly to the back lot where we'd be sure to find a space.

I, on the other hand, was inclined to start with the row closest to the terminal and work my way back. Since my father was literally in the driver's seat, he reluctantly agreed to check out the last row in the front lot. If we didn't find something there, he said, we'd proceed directly to the back lot. Not only did we find a spot, but as we were walking to the terminal we passed a primo front row space. His response? "It probably wouldn't have been there when we were looking."

In other words, I prefer to think that things will work out. My Dad presumes they will not. Not surprising, during his adult life my father held two jobs. He was horribly exploited in his first job and left only at my mother's constant urging. He stayed at his second job for over 30 years. In part, father's long job tenure has to do with that fact that he is a product of a time when there was a different set of rules regarding employer-employee loyalty. You got a good (or even a not so good) job and you stuck with it for life.

There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with staying in the same job or town or anything else for an extended period of time. My mother's family has lived in this same area of Massachusetts since the 1600s. My father's family came at the turn of the last century. I love it here in what is known as the Pioneer Valley and despite feeling tremendous pressure after graduating from college to go somewhere new, I have never had any desire to move anyplace else on a permanent basis.

When staying in one job or place too long IS cause for concern though, is when it is not driven by a sense of contentment but by the belief that things will not work out anyway, so why bother. A lousy attitude will kill a dream faster than just about anything else.

If you find yourself automatically driving to the back lot of life, maybe it's time to do an attitude check:

• Do you see yourself as deserving of happiness?

• Do you think things will probably work out for the best and if they don't, do you see that as an opportunity to try again?

• Do you see yourself as the director of your life or as a bit player operating from someone else's script?

• Do you think that life generally has it out for you and therefore it is hopeless to even try to change your life?

• Or do you see life as Helen Keller once described it as being, "an exciting adventure or nothing at all"?

Pessimists THINK a lot about changing course; unfortunately those with a negative attitude rarely ever act on their dreams. If you are prone to pessimism but really DO want to go after your dream of a more meaningful work/life, you may need to first practice viewing things from a positive perspective.

Moving from a pessimistic, hopeless view to an optimistic, hopeful one will not happen over night. It is a goal that must be worked on one day at a time. Start by taking one situation each day and trying to reframe it from a glass half-full perspective. Fake it if you have to. After a while you will find yourself readily being able to not only see the glass of life as half full, but enjoying a long, quenching drink from it as well.

When it comes to successfully changing course, attitude really is everything. That's because as Henry Ford once put it, "If you think you can or if you think you can't, you're right."

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About the Author

“Off the beaten career path” consultant, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at http://www.ChangingCourse.com, offering free resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, Redbook, Entrepreneur’s Business Start Ups, and on-line at MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, she’s presented her How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are program to thousands of people.

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RESULTS, Free Cover Letter Competition

Thank you to all subscribers who entered last month’s cover letter competition.  We received a positive response and had an overwhelming amount of entries.

Congratulations to our winners:

Alicia Furman and Gaye Boyle

What a shame we couldn’t write a letter for all those who entered!  Never mind, keep an eye on future issues of this newsletter for more great giveaways.

(A big thank you to Judith West for drawing the competition.)

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QUOTE

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When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.

~ Helen Keller (1880-1968), American Writer ~

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WRITING YOUR RÉSUMÉ - PART 9 – REFEREES

Each month we'll be providing specific tips on what information you could be including in your résumé.

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Only 2% of surveyed employers don’t want to see a list of referees, with 67% of employers surveyed in the Aussie Résumés Employer Survey wanting a list of 2-3 phone referees.

We were advised that most employers phone two referees, however, some requested a third just in case the second referee was unavailable.  If applying for a position within a Government department, 9 times out of 10 they will request two or three phone referees with your application. 

Referee detail should include the person’s name, job title (and relationship to you if it isn’t obvious – eg: if the referee is a client), company name, contact telephone number(s) with area code, and email address.

I strongly recommend that you request the person’s permission in listing them as a referee; likewise, if you’ve been on the job hunt for some time and you originally listed a referee six months ago, double-check they are still available and willing to act as your referee. 

Personal referees are a no-no; your referees should be entirely professional.  Prospective employers are phoning your referee to ascertain your work abilities (and, in some instances, your professional behaviour and characteristics).  A personal referee can in no way vouch for your work abilities, therefore, you will not be doing yourself any justice in providing such.  Only under certain circumstances are personal referees acceptable. For instance, if you are a recent school leaver who holds no work experience; or perhaps you are applying for a position within a Catholic school, thus listing your local parish priest would be acceptable.

Employers shouldn’t be contacting your referees without prior permission - usually obtained at interview.  However, you must also be aware that this isn't a perfect world!  Therefore, you may decide to state “provided upon request”.  Every situation has it’s negatives and positives, and you will need to ascertain what will work best for you.

In closing, provided below are some employer comments received from the Aussie Résumés Employer Survey.

"Not have referees listed - makes you ask why - and you don't have time to waste.  IF you have to make a choice between someone who has given the list and another who has not - you are making the interviewer work - when you should be showing how you can work for them."

and

“Referee names and contact details should be provided.  Failure to do so indicates something to hide.”

To find out what to include and how to structure your résumé, visit Aussie Résumés at www.aussieresumes.com

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NEW SPAM LAW

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