Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:00 pm
Posts: 1041
Location: Maine
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I posted this reply elsewhere in response to a question - but figured it might deserve its own thread! 
 When it comes to working in this economy, don't stop looking for WAH jobs when you find ONE or even when you are in the middle of one - I say APPLY to any position for which you feel comfortable and confident that you possess the majority of the job requirements. Not only that - maintain a consistent job search, inquiring and applying - improve your odds for consistent work flow and income!
FIRST, however, concentrate on your RESUME and COVER LETTER - crucial components of your job search "tool kit" 
 Make sure you have an updated resume, typically limited to 2 pages, in the most recent professional format, which includes:
 BRANDING - what is your career focus? Are you merely an "IT Professional" like thousands of others or are you a "Dynamic, High-Caliber Multimedia Technologist" ?
NO objective - this is seen as too egocentric - you want to describe what benefits you can bring to the company, not what you want the company to do for you!
Career summary - this now takes the place of the objective and is the most important part of your resume - you present a strong introduction to the skills and experience you can bring into a new position - include strategic KEYWORDS that catch the HR person or hiring manager's attention.
Core competencies and areas of expertise - a quick overview of your most proficient skills offers clarity into why you can fill the position.
Detailed job descriptions and duties- don't make the HR person or hiring manager try to guess where you have worked, what the company's purpose was, or what job responsibilities you fulfilled -AND be sure to use powerful ACTION verbs - not passive phrases like "responsible for" and "participated in"
*ACCOMPLISHMENTS* - the HR person or hiring manager wants to see more than what you DID in previous jobs - he or she wants to see what you ACCOMPLISHED, how it benefited that company, and why this makes you an excellent candidate for the position under consideration - in other words, you SELL it, not TELL it!
Education & Training-include your specific educational background, degrees earned, specialized training you have had.
Awards, certifications, published works - the last section on the resume is usually reserved for listing these types of categories.
Then, you need a professionalcover letter to further highlight your skills and explain why you are the best candidate for the position; if you feel it is necessary, you can include a sentence that says something like "While I may not have "x requirement," I am confident that my experience/expertise in ... makes me an excellent candidate for this position." Be courteous, but confident, and customize your cover letter to emphasize key points of the position for which you are applying!
_________________
~K'Lee~
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