RPS Search Group of NJ, LLC

In part 3 of the series on resumes I mentioned that honesty is the best policy and it is the best way to start a relationship with a potential new employer. That brings me to the next resume topic -- the chronological versus topical resume. A recent study showed that most hiring managers prefer the chronological resume as it is easier to read than a topical resume. The chronological resume lends itself to showcase accomplishments with each position and ideally will show growth.  Two other points to remember is to put education at the bottom of the resume and it is not necessary to include references or even typing in "references available upon request" at the bottom of your resume as recommendations come much later in the application and interview process. You can go to www.rpssearchgroup.com to submit your resume for a free evaluation

The retail industry in a sense is a “small world”.  After almost 45 years in and around the industry, I have gotten to know a great many people and I have been asked all too many times, “Do I have include all of my jobs on my resume even if I was only there for a few months?” or “How far back should I go with my resume?”. Basically, you do not have to include anything on your resume. What you include on your resume is up to you. However, when asked the advice that I give is to ask the person if he or she wants to start a relationship with resume omissions or incorrect dates of employment. I am of the belief that everything you write on your resume should be true and accurate.  Over the past few years, gaps in employment are commonplace and easily explained. Be prepared to explain the gap itself by pointing to an activity that filled it, such as volunteer work, caring for an ill family member, or launching a business. The best strategy when...

Your Resume Part 2 I cannot tell you the numbers of times that I have heard from a candidate who sent in a one page resume and upon questioning learned that anywhere from 5 to 15 years were left off the resume! People have been told at one time or another to keep our resume to one page, but this old standard no longer holds true. If you have enough experience and accomplishments to highlight on two pages, go for it. Of course, if you're new to the workforce, one page should suffice. Now that resumes are often entered into an applicant-tracking system, it is more important than ever to include keywords that help the system match you to the appropriate position. You might need more space to do that. This is even more essential for loss prevention professionals who have evolved into more technical or analytical roles. If you are an experienced professional and you need the room to showcase your accomplishments, do not be afraid to go for the extra page or pages. ...

After almost thirty years as an executive recruiter, I have lost track of the number of resume formats that I have received. I have received resumes from candidates who paid hundreds of dollars to have a resume professionally prepared and I have received resumes prepared by the candidate. The major similarity in all of those resumes is that the the accomplishments/results were missing but there was a good deal of space dedicated to what that person did in his or her various positions.  Most hiring managers and human resource professionals will know by job title what a candidate does in his or her job. That being the case, why would you want to dedicate so much space on the resume with job duties and responsibilities when it is the bottom line accomplishments/results that relate how well you have done your job and it is those accomplishments/results that will set you apart from other candidates. I recently received a resume from a candidate and under each of his posit...