"Four Bits of Brotherly Advice"

Want a better job? 

Here's the same advice I'd give my own brother. Actually, 
I did give this advice to my brother. And two weeks ago, 
he got a better job at a higher salary. 

I told him four things ...

1) Your resume is about your FUTURE, not your PAST
Take a good look at your resume. Does it read like an 
obituary?  Is it a dry recitation of past duties and 
responsibilities ... and not much else? If so, your 
job search is taking longer than it should. 

To stand out, you must paint a clear picture of what 
you can do for employers. So, write a resume that 
emphasizes the 2-3 most valuable skills you'll bring to 
the job. Then include specific achievements to prove 
those skills.

2) WHO you know can mean as much as WHAT you know
You'll be hired by a person, not a computer or a Web 
site. 

My brother met the recruiter who placed him via an 
introduction from a woman he worked with five years ago. 
Word reached her through friends that he was in the job 
market.

Lesson? The more people who know about your job search, 
the more help you'll get. 

3) Every NO puts you closer to the one YES you need
Despite being the top sales rep in his region and eminently 
qualified for a number of positions, my brother didn't find 
work the first week or even the first month of his search. 
But he persisted until he was hired for a job that's a perfect 
match.

If a job is worth having, you'll have competition for it. 
Which means you can expect to hear "No" any number of times 
before the final "Yes" that comes with a job offer.

4) Say "Thanks!"
My brother sent a short thank-you letter to every interviewer, 
to reinforce the good things they had talked about. I'm 
convinced his thank-you notes helped land his dream job.

This is a no-brainer that's STILL ignored by some people. 
It's easy, it's polite and it pays off. Send a thank-you 
note after every interview! 

There you have it. The same advice I'd give you if you 
were my kid brother. These four pointers worked for him, as 
they have for legions of others. 

Best of luck to you! And Happy Holidays!

Copyright ©2001 Kevin Donlin 

Kevin Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR 
writers provide same-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance. 
He is also author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," 
a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days 
... or your money back. 
For more information, please visit Guaranteed Resumes