PANDEMIC PAIN The last 18 months have been difficult for most and on many levels. The wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated entire industries or at the very least

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞? Give me a minute to explain … 𝐀 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 starts with an attention-grabbing

In the Total Resumes 2-part Career Brand Series, I talk about managing your career brand. It’s about telling the story of you. See part 1 here. How Having a Personal

In the Total Resumes 2-part Career Brand Series, I talk about managing your career brand. It’s about telling the story of you. Why a Personal Brand is Important You must

Virtual interviews usually precede in-person interviews, but if you do not make a good impression in a virtual interview, you likely will not get the chance for a face-to-face one.

When your car is broken, you know you need a mechanic. If you’ve got a persistent cough, you call a doctor. But you might not be able to recognize the

Telecommuting is in the news these days, but the idea of working from home has always held some appeal for many workers. Advantages to telecommuting include eliminating a lengthy commute,

𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 (CGRA) I’m thrilled to announce that I’m now 1 𝘰𝘧 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 6 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. In a “So What? Make Me Care!

This cheat sheet will provide a quick reference to the current LinkedIn guidelines (as of December 2019).   Character counts on LinkedIn include letters, numbers, spaces, punctuation, and symbols (including

What? You’re not on LinkedIn yet? What are you waiting for? These seven reasons outline why you should be on the social networking site. Because That’s Where The People Are.

Having an online presence on LinkedIn can be important in your job search. Why? Because That’s Where The People Are. LinkedIn is the number one social network for professionals —

If you think your storytelling skills are only useful for authors and getting the kids off to sleep, think again. The ability to tell great stories can also be a

We’ve all heard that you need a solid resume to get an interview. While this is true, a resume alone may not be all you need to be contacted by

To create a flower garden that blooms all year you first need to plant and nurture the seeds. Likewise, your career (and ultimately life) success rely on actions, nourishment and

Do you have career change on your mind for 2020? If so, you’re not alone! Whether you are thinking about finding a new job or contemplating a career shift to

Are you already dreading going back to the daily grind after your end-of-year break? Do you feel that it’s time to move on to greener pastures? Are you hoping for

You may have heard the term “the hidden job market.” What is it, and how do jobseekers get access to it? The “hidden job market” is a phrase that describes

Dear Carolyn,  I hate my new job. I worked at my old company for 12 years but was let go in a major restructuring. I found a new job, and

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬? I hear this from people almost daily. FOOD

Joyce Meyer said, “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐍𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝.” What I’ve learned through my work in career services over the last 15 years, is that people

Does this sound familiar? You’ve never had a résumé (or professionally developed résumé) before. Maybe you’ve never needed one. But now you do. And you don’t know where to start.

Changing jobs can be time-consuming and very stressful. Society likes to put a certain pressure on us to find our destiny which is compounded even further by our own individual

Looking to hire someone to write your resume? Not sure how to find a good resume writer? To help you hire a resume writer, we outline how to review resume

If you’ve read any of my articles, you know that I’m a big fan of LinkedIn and the power it has for career advancement and network building. LinkedIn is the

Social media is becoming increasingly important in the job search. More than 22 million jobseekers used online social networks to find their next job. Being active on social media —

Firstly, congratulations on your new job! Landing a job in today’s highly competitive market is no easy feat. You’ve put in the hard work it takes to get to this

The average raise is three percent annually, according to consulting firm Korn Ferry. What if, instead of simply spending that money, you reinvested it in your career? You could potentially

It’s either the start of a new financial year or halfway through the calendar year. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a great time to take stock of your

Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched lower to 4.9 percent in February 2019 from 5.0 percent in the previous month and below market expectations of 5.0 percent. It was the

Did you know that in 2019, 86%+ of recruiters are using LinkedIn to source talent? When analysing your own LinkedIn profile, how does it stack up? Is it empty, outdated,

LinkedIn is the top social networking website for jobseekers. As Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, explains it, “Post a full profile and get connected to the people you trust. Because

Post-interview thank-you correspondence is MANDATORY, not optional. In fact, some employers WILL drop the top candidate for neglecting this courtesy. Here is why you need to send a follow-up letter: 1.

In today’s highly competitive and difficult job market, a single job posting may receive hundreds of applications. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) have become widely used in recent years because reviewing

LinkedIn Recommendations can be extremely powerful and one of the best ways to get LinkedIn Recommendations is to give them! Here are my top 6 tips for giving and getting

LinkedIn is the top social network for professionals, with more than 590 million members worldwide. Recruiters and hiring managers are actively searching out candidates on LinkedIn. Optimise your profile and

Personal and professional growth is a continuous journey that you must undertake throughout the year. As the new year approaches it is a great time to evaluate your progress and

Job hunting can be a difficult time for anyone. Are you feeling disheartened by the results of your job search? If so, I’ve outlined 10 strategies you can apply to

Do you have career change on your mind for 2019? If so, you’re not alone! Whether you are thinking about finding a new job or contemplating a career shift to

Here are five common myths about modern job hunting: 1. You don’t have to conduct outrageous, attention-getting stunts (like sending a single shoe in a box to a hiring manager

**************** How can something so seemingly unimportant be so powerful? What is a cover letter? What’s the importance of using one? **************** It seems silly to examine such a simple question

It’s important to identify our level of employability, recognize its advantages and limitations, and work consistently to improve it. Rapid market changes and disruptive technologies are having an unsettling effect

Most people have never been taught how to find a job. However, research shows that the average worker only spends 4 years in a job — and you’ll have as

During the negotiation process, your goal as a job seeker will likely be different from the goals of your would-be employer. The company often focuses on base salary. For you, the

You’ve spent hours writing your résumé — or may have invested hundreds of dollars hiring a professional résumé writer — and maybe even drafted a cover letter to accompany it.

Are you already dreading going back to the daily grind after your end-of-year break? Do you feel that it’s time to move on to greener pastures? Are you hoping for

Do you have career change in mind for 2019? If so, have you considered conducting informational interviews? Here’s a startling statistic: One out of every 200 resumes (some studies put the number

We’ve all heard that you need a solid resume to get an interview. While this is true, a resume alone may not be all you need to be contacted by

What does this mean? When someone creates a resume using MS Word, Resume Assistant will enable them to add YOUR LinkedIn content to his or her resume. Check yours now!

Job hunting has evolved drastically over the last decade — primarily due to the fast changes in technology. The interview process, the way people look for jobs, and what employers

If you’re back in the game of job hunting, your first priority is to bring your resume up to date with all the skills, training, and accomplishments that have added

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Ok, maybe it’s a little bit early but the decorations have officially arrived in retail stores, so surely that counts right? Anyway, the recruitment

Research shows that it is easier for a job seeker to find a new job while they’re still employed. Why? Because it gives assurance to the employer that one possesses

As a jobseeker, you would like to believe that a hiring manager is reading your resume thoroughly and is looking minutely as to how you would be the best fit

Despite what you might have heard about knowing yourself (the product) best, it rarely if ever means you are the most qualified to sell yourself on paper. Think about it—if

Your résumé is customized just for you — no other jobseeker has the exact combination of experience, education, knowledge, and skills that you possess. Consequently, your résumé is a unique

Unfortunately, it is not possible to create an effective “generic” résumé that will be truly effective in helping you land your dream job. A résumé that is not tailored towards

Résumés use a unique style of writing to emphasize brevity in order to maximize the reader’s time. Many people find this style of writing a bit confusing when they first

September is international “Update Your Resume” month! Many professionals are aware of the importance of a professional resume, but often forget to keep their resume up-to-date. A demanding career or

Employers looking to hire someone for a sales position want to see more than just a worker bee. Hiring managers are keeping an eye out for specific skills in the

Most people have never been taught how to find a job. However, research shows that the average worker only spends 4 years in a job — and you’ll have as

There is no “rule” that a résumé should be only one page. In fact, there are many instances when a multi-page résumé is not only appropriate, it’s expected. Length is

Joining a non-profit or becoming a member of a corporate board is an excellent way to boost your career. Apart from the fact that the experience will be personally rewarding,

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are third-party software providers that give employers the ability to manage applications efficiently and effectively. It is also known as a talent management system that processes

The job search has changed over the past 10 years. So have fashion trends. But one thing that hasn’t changed in the job search process is that people will judge

Keywords are an integral part of the executive resume writing formula and will help to propel your resume from a database of competitive candidates and bring it in front of

Are you using LinkedIn to network with your connections, find new job opportunities, or research business development projects? To spruce up your LinkedIn profile and grab the attention of visitors,

There’s a saying in the careers industry that you’ll know it’s time to make a job or career change when you start asking yourself if it’s time to make a

Are you feeling disheartened about your job search journey? Do you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Has it been a while since you’ve been actively seeking a

The least effective way to find a job is to apply for advertised openings, sending your résumé online through a company employment portal or a third-party website. You are just

Are you submitting your resume to online job postings, but not getting contacted for interviews—even if you’re a perfect fit for the role? An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is potentially

The first 90 days in a new job generally set the tone for your employment. Three (to six) months is the standard “grace period” for new employees, and how you

One of the best times to look for a new job is when you already have a job. Currently-employed jobseekers are perceived to be more desirable by some hiring managers

What is an ATS-friendly resume? An ATS-friendly resume is formatted in such a way that it can be easily imported and read by the ATS. However, because there is no industry standard, the general

Are you looking to create an outstanding impression on LinkedIn® but are overwhelmed with where to start? LinkedIn is a great way to connect with your internal and external network

When your car is broken, you know you need a mechanic. If you’ve got a persistent cough, you call a doctor. But you might not be able to recognise the

When you see a survey that says 55 percent of hiring managers don’t pay attention to cover letters, it may be tempting to think that you don’t need one. But

Hiring new employees is expensive for a company. There’s the time and effort involved in attracting candidates, screening them, and conducting interviews. There’s staff time required to set the person

With 500 million+ members, LinkedIn is a very powerful platform for managing your professional identity, building and engaging with your professional network, advancing your career, and accessing knowledge, insights, and opportunities.

Are you making these mistakes in your job search? Chances are, you’re making at least one or two — if not more! Go through this checklist and mark which mistakes

You may have heard that you need to “brand yourself” in order to be successful in your career. While “branding” (which is defined as “to make an indelible mark or

If your goal is to get a new job, here are 7 things you need to do to prepare yourself for your job search. 1. Update your résumé. While ideally

There are some who argue in this digital age, a strong online presence and network for C-level executives can often be enough to get you the job you desire, even

Many executives think they don’t need a cover letter – their resume should speak for itself. While a professionally written resume will do wonders for your job search, an impressive

If you’ve tried to write your executive resume, you may be staring at a blank page wondering where to begin—how do you capture all you’ve done concisely? Or maybe you’re

As an executive, you know quality when you see it. Whether it’s a potential new hire, a business acquisition, or an innovative product, your experience, intuition, and the ever-present ‘spidey

As you look for a new job, it’s important to ensure your resume is capturing the attention of the right people in the right way. Research shows that hiring managers

We’ve all heard that you need a solid resume to get an interview. While this is true, a resume alone may not be all you need to be contacted by

I work with many executives that either have a LinkedIn profile but don’t use it, or don’t have a profile at all. Their concerns range from a lack of time

Investment or Cost? Do you think hiring a Résumé Writer is an expense? The chart below shows how much income is lost for every month, week, and day you’re unemployed. Hiring a

Outplacement Services Despite the unemployment rate of 5.6% in July 2017, down from 5.7% in June, companies still need to prepare for staff layoffs and terminations. As organisations strive to

We’re Certified… by Career Money Life Have you ever booked a hotel online only to show up and find out that it wasn’t really what you expected? Your perception didn’t

Don’t get burned by getting fired. Your first job interview after being fired can be intimidating. You probably think you have no chance at getting the job. Who wants to

Make sure your resume has all the right stuff. Sometimes, you do need to sweat the small stuff. Resume writing is one of those times. After all, you only have six

Is it time to turn to the pros? Searching for a job is an expensive process. Commuting costs, interview outfits, dry cleaning, coffee dates, networking event fees… they all add

Does your resume show your past positions’ challenges, actions and results? Why it needs to. Your resume is more than just a list of previous jobs and education. It’s the

In today’s competitive job market, it should come as no surprise that recruiters are often pressed for time when reviewing the loads of job applications they receive for each open

Are you ‘prepared’ to take your career advancement to the next level? 5 Things To Do To Get Ready for Your Job Search Update your résumé. You never know when ­your

Wisdom from the Pope, “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” He’s right. We talk about what we’re GOING to do tomorrow or next month when we’re not so tired, busy or

Are you lost or stuck in your job search? Want to give your job search a jump start? The Total Résumés 30-day job search challenge is designed to help you

9 out of 10 hiring managers are looking at your social media profiles before making a hiring decision, according to Jobvite’s annual Social Recruiting Survey (2014). More than half of those

Having an online presence on LinkedIn can be important in your job search. Your LinkedIn profile can present your credentials to prospective employers and hiring managers, increasing your chance of

Certified Executive Resume Master – Just 1 of 5 in Australia Carolyn Whitfield, Principal of Total Resumes, has been awarded an international designation as a Certified Executive Résumé Master. Evaluated

Making Sure You’ve Not Falling for Common Myths About Jobseeking You don’t have to conduct outrageous, attention-getting stunts (like sending a single shoe in a box to a hiring manager

What To Do When Your Job Search Isn’t Working First, figure out where you’re lost or stuck in your job search. Is your résumé getting interviews? Are you getting offers

When to Hire a Reference Checking Service If you’re getting interviews, but not offers, the problem isn’t your résumé — it’s probably your references. Give some thought to who you’re

What To Do After the Job Interview Before ending a job interview, be sure to ask about “next steps.” What happens next? When? Ask if it’s okay for you to

Things every jobseeker can do to be successful in a job search: Managing Your Personal Brand To help you figure out your personal brand, identify what you are already known

EVEN MORE Things every jobseeker can do to be successful in a job search: Conduct a Social Media Audit Google yourself. Think like a hiring manager or recruiter and conduct

We all know the saying, “you get what you pay for,” so I’m going to present this to you a few different ways. Firstly, as a financially conservative (often downright

The answer is yes you should be sending a tailored cover letter out with every job application. Getting your cover letter right is a crucial step in applying for any

Resume Examples Australia: Resume writing is not for the faint hearted, it’s a skill that often needs more mastering than the writer thinks! Whether you’ve got years of experience under

Resume Australia: Let’s be clear, ANYONE can write a resume! The internet is jam packed full of articles from self-professed experts about how to write and present a resume along

Are they the same? Not quite… The primary differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV) are length, what is included, and what each is used for. While both are

EVEN MORE Things every jobseeker can do to be successful in a job search: Getting Ready for Your Job Search The first thing to do is figure out what you

MORE Things every jobseeker can do to be successful in a job search: Why You Need a Résumé Keep your résumé up to date even when you’re not actively seeking

Things every jobseeker can do to be successful in a job search: Make sure the top 1/3 of your résumé is a qualifications profile/summary that emphasises what you can do

Our Top 10 Job Interviewing Tips Once you have successfully mastered cover letters, resumes, and job applications and are being selected for interviews, it’s time to understand how to succeed

“Résumés win interviews, but references win job offers,” says Martin Yate, author of the “Knock ‘Em Dead” series of career books. Reference checks are important for both jobseekers and employers.

At Total Resumes we love it when we come across a user-friendly job search tool for you to add to your toolbox. How cool would it be to find a FREE

Why does a résumé cost so much? There’s a story that Picasso was sitting in a bar in Paris and a woman approached him and asked if he could do

You just left the interview. You think it went great. Now what? Now is not the time to let up. Everything that you’ve done up to this point is moving

To get the most out of your LinkedIn profile, make sure you do these four things: Complete Your Profile. Your profile is the “front door” to your LinkedIn account. First

If your goal is to get a new job in 2016, here are seven things you need to do to prepare yourself for your job search.  Update your résumé. While

If you are like many job seekers, you are probably disappointed when you don’t receive a request for an interview after you’ve taken the time to submit an application .

Client’s Guide to Working With Your Résumé Writer  (“10 Simple Things To Help Us Help You”) When you make the decision to hire a professional résumé writer, you’re not only investing

What is a Certified Advanced Resume Writer? The world has changed. The times when people searched for professionals based on geographical proximity to home are over. Today, the Internet has set

Total Resumes Principal Profile ★★ Certified Advanced Professional Resume Writer (CARW) | Internationally Recognised for Superior Knowledge & Experience in Resume Writing. Assisting clients Australia wide ★★ Warning: All résumé

Don’t Make These Mistakes On LinkedIn Don’t Dismiss LinkedIn as Something Only for People Who Are Looking For a New Job. The best time to build your LinkedIn profile, connect

Tips for Your LinkedIn Profile Photo Your profile photo on LinkedIn is very important. Did you know that profiles with pictures attract 50-70 percent more views than profiles without pictures? Here

LinkedIn Profile Checklist Profiles that are considered “complete” by LinkedIn’s standards receive 40 times more “opportunities” (contacts from prospective hiring managers and recruiters) than incomplete profiles, according to the social

With the 2016 job market now in full swing, what can you do to boost your chances of getting noticed and to improve your strike rate? The following are ‘quick tips’

Frequently Asked Questions: Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Do you have an ATS friendly resume? Not sure what one is? Read on…… Question: How do I know if a company

When applying for online positions its advisable to upload your resume in ATS format. This reduces the chances of your resume being complicated by Applicant Tracking Systems. At Total Resumes

All job seekers need a resume, even those who are fortunate to have a good connection influencing them into an interview. A resume can be enhanced in many ways and given