21st century job hunting - power building resumes with pre-writing research

Job Hunting in the 21st Century:

Using Technology for Career Search

AdvantagesAn Applicant’s Ultimate Tool to Getting

‘Behind the Recruiters Wall’ for the Career Seeker’s Advantage in Job Searches

Before you spent thou$ands• This video is provided as an alternative to spending gobs of

money you can’t afford for a career assistance company to rewrite your resume, provide mass-mailings of hard-copy resumes, and interview training and feedback, all to pay their huge overhead for fancy offices in high-rises and office buildings.

• The goal for this richly informative training is to provide all you need for a job search – using the skills and knowledge you already have and will learn to use here, to find that ‘next great job’ – and at a cheaper price!

04/10/23 21st Century Career & Job Search: D. Boyer Consulting, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 © 2

WARNING! • This presentation (and other training modules) is not

packed with graphics – BUT you get the most amount of data possible in a short time period for impactful, valuable, educational, and useful information.

• Because of lack of pretty pictures, it might be ‘boring’ to your eyes (e.g., painful to sit and ‘watch’), BUT it is ear candy for the amount of incredible, valuable, information

• Sit back in a comfy chair – get your pen ready for notes.

21st Century Career & Job Search: D. Boyer Consulting, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 ©; www.DBoyerConsulting.com 3

Develop a Plan!• Every trip worth making begins with a goal • Every trip worth taking has a map to follow • Successful businesses have a strategic

short- and long-term plan• Treat your job search as a ‘strategic

business goal’…Job Searches and Career Planning

should be NO DIFFERENT! 04/10/23 21st Century Career & Job Search: D. Boyer Consulting, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 © 4

YOUR RESEARCH RESOURCES

In this presentation segment, you will learn where to go to research job titles and descriptions, as well as salaries related to those job titles and experience levels in your geographic area of the country.

04/10/23 21st Century Career & Job Search Copyright 2010, 2011, 2012 – D. Boyer Consulting 5

YOUR RESEARCH RESOURCESYou will use major job boards and salary websites

to find, compare, contrast, and collect the data needed to determine what should be covered in your resume.


YOUR RESEARCH RESOURCESWhy do you need this research?

• You want to know what your compensation (competitive) worth is in the job market…

• You want to ensure your resume ‘covers’ all the job requirements – generically and specifically – and highlights what you can DO by demonstrating past achievements & metrics

• You need to know what and who you will be competing against for that perfect job


YOUR RESEARCH – ‘To Do’s’

• Compare different sources’ job descriptions• Highlight main job description bullets• Look at broad and unique specifications• Look for ‘gold nuggets’that makes a job

description stand out from others• Determine how your accomplishments can be

written to ‘fit’ into those job descriptions without it sounding like a job description


MAJOR RESOURCESSources, Websites, Commercial & Government:

1. http://www.salary.com

2. http://www.monster.com

3. http://careerbuilder.com

4. Craig’s List: http://craigslist.com

5. USAJobs: http://USAJobs.gov

6. http://www.linkedin.com (groups/events)

7. Bureau of Labor Stats: http://www.bls.gov/oco/

8. http://www.dice.com

9. www.careeronestop.com

10.www.glassdoor.com


http://www.salary.com/

http://www.monster.com/

DO YOUR RESEARCH• Let’s look at a sample to illustrate the point.• We’ll visit:

– http://www.Salary.com – http://Monster.com

• We’ll use Architect as a sample job description

• Look for job descriptions (generic, not unique)• Look for salary ranges (general)• Use this info as a guideline to write resume

job accomplishments.04/10/23 21st Century Career & Job Search Copyright 2010, 2011, 2012 – D. Boyer Consulting 10

DO YOUR RESEARCHUsing online resources, compile a job

description for all bullets noted, entailing the general list of tasks for

that type of job.

Using online resources, compile a job description for all bullets noted,

entailing the general list of tasks for that type of job.


DO YOUR RESEARCHUsing online resources, compile a rich job description entailing all the general list of tasks for that type of job.

The example slide is ‘Architect’ from Career One Stop.

Determine what KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) are required for the general job – but you won’t be writing this text into your resume; you will write your resume to ‘show’ you have these capabilities based on your achievements, goals met, and accomplishments for each employer you have worked for in the past (and currently).


DO YOUR RESEARCHKnowledge demonstrated in this job title (position):Design – techniques, tools, and principles for production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and modelsBuilding & Construction – materials, methods, and tools involved in construction/repair of houses, buildings, or structures such as highways and roadsEnglish Language - Structure /content of English language including meaning /spelling of words, composition, and grammar Engineering & Technology - Practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and servicesMathematics - Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications


DO YOUR RESEARCHSkills you should be able to demonstrate as an employee:Active Listening - Giving full attention to conversations, taking time to understand points made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times (team player, participant)Critical Thinking - Use logic / reasoning to identify strengths / weaknesses of solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.Judgment & Decision Making – Considering relative (comparable) costs /benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriateReading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.


DO YOUR RESEARCHAbilities for which you are hired to provide solutions:Near Vision – Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet).Visualization - Ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.


DO YOUR RESEARCHYou’ll also want to demonstrate you have all the Education and Experience necessary to fulfill the minimum qualifications and capabilities of this job

If you don’t have the exact number of minimum years of experience, some other qualities, education, or even volunteer experience may suffice in lieu of the experience. Don’t let lack of those years stymie your efforts.

The next few slides show what was culled from the job descriptions of the Architect to ‘show’ experience in the resume for job applications.


DO YOUR RESEARCHYou’ll also want to demonstrate you have all the Education and Experience

necessary to fulfill the minimum qualifications and capabilities of this job

Years of Experience:•1-2 years of experience in field or related area (entry level)•2-5 years of experience in architectural and commercial building construction (mid-level)•5+ years experience in architectural design and CADD design; including Construction Documentation, and Construction Administration; Government, Medical, Institutional, Commercial & Educational Building Experience


DO YOUR RESEARCHExperience, Skills:

•Ability to accurately read plans; an eye for detail, dependability•Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field •Inspects structures in the field; inspects raw materials•Performs design computations, compiles data; completes architectural assignments •Proven ability to maintain a high level of organization•Prepares project estimates and architectural plans as requested. •Writes specifications as assigned, coordinates with material manufacturers•Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. •Experience in Commercial Building Projects both high-rise office and residential•Strong Graphic Communication skills in Freehand and computer technologies•Strong conceptual design, excellent graphic representation•Knowledge of construction practices and codes•Ability to assess massing and zoning on potential building sites•Hands-on practical experience with sustainable design


DO YOUR RESEARCHOther important job skills, communication, or business skills and experience in the general job description(s) noted online – examples below:

Team Player Capability/Nice to Have:•Positive team player with a desire to grow and learn•Good communication skills & enthusiasm key•Excellent written & verbal communicationTechnical Skills:•Auto-Architect, MS Project, CADD experience, Revit, AutoCAD 2D/3D, Sketch-up, 3D modeling & rendering, Photoshop, and AcrobatFormal Education, Licensure, Training:•Bachelors in Architecture (Masters preferred)•Advanced Education abroad highly desirableProfessional License (Preferred, not required)


PLAN YOUR RESUME REWRITE

Use the rich job description as a baseline - add what recruiters are seeking ‘between the lines’

for the five core competencies and three skills / personal qualities and provide metrics to

document (show, not tell) your capabilities and KSAs as a well-rounded candidate.


PLAN YOUR RESUME REWRITEIncorporate descriptions of Five Competencies

1.Resources – allocating time, money, materials, space and people2.Interpersonal Skills – team work, training others, serving customers, negotiating skills, working within diverse cultures3.Information – acquiring & evaluating data, organize & maintain files, interpreting & communicating, using computers to process data



Five Competencies (cont.):

4.Systems – understanding social, organizational & technological systems, monitoring & correcting performance, designing & improving systems5.Technology – selecting equipment & tools, applying technology to tasks, maintaining & troubleshooting (employers want to hire computer savvy employee who can help/teach other employees or identify easier/faster ways of task completion)



Incorporate Skills and Personal Qualities:1.Basic Skills – reading, writing, arithmetic, listening, and speaking2.Thinking Skills – creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, seeing things in the mind’s eye, knowing how to learn, and reasoning3.Personal Qualities – individual responsibilities, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, and integrity / honesty


RESEARCH SALARY RANGESResearch shows salary ranges for experience /geographic location - Junior Architect (JA)*:

U.S. National Average $ 32,100 - $ 51,750 Norfolk, Virginia $ 39,303 - $ 45,793Atlanta, Georgia $ 40,000 - $ 58,000Washington, D.C. $ 45,672 - $ 66,000

The ‘average’ salary range is between $39,269 - $55,386 nationally, thus a Junior Architect could request between $40K-

$56K, depending upon base KSAs, experience, and city.• (2011) http://www.salary.com/mysalary.asp• (2011) http://www.glassdoor.com


You Now Have Your Job Search

Notes and Tools to Start Writing


At the end of this presentation /segment you now know what basic

minimum qualities and KSAs you need to ensure are incorporated into your

resume for a higher ROI for your resume and job search

HIRE AN EXPERT!Visit Now!

http://DBoyerConsulting.com Contact me at:

[email protected]

Hire an expert to re-write your resume to obtain results you are seeking to

advance your career!04/10/23 21st Century Career & Job Search: D. Boyer Consulting, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 © 26