'Dear Sam' Job Search Advice Column

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198592082009-04-13T09:53:08.271-05:00'Dear Sam' Job Search Advice Column'Dear Sam' is published weekly in several newspapers and online publications, including The Columbus Dispatch, one of the nation's Top 50 newspapers. Samantha answers questions on such topics as resume writing, interviewing, job search strategies and more. To send your question to 'Dear Sam' email <a href="mailto:dearsam@ladybug-design.com">dearsam@ladybug-design.com</a>. If you would like Samantha's firm to write your resume, visit <a href="http://ladybug-design.com">Ladybug Design</a>.Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-90369898834709764102009-04-13T09:47:00.001-05:002009-04-13T09:53:03.756-05:00Stop…don’t forget the cover letter!

Dear Sam: I think I have a pretty good résumé, but I have no idea where to start when writing a cover letter. Is it necessary to submit a cover letter when applying for a job? I’d prefer to just submit my résumé so I don’t have to write a cover letter for every job I am interested in. I’m finding I don’t apply for some positions as I can’t get over the stumbling block of writing the cover letter

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-67507191041151614002009-03-19T09:43:00.000-05:002009-03-19T09:45:54.568-05:00Handle tricky situations with grace

Dear Sam: I worked for 23 years for a well-known company until 3 years ago when I and 99 others were asked to take early retirement. I was off for 3 months when I found a new temp-to-perm position. After 18 months I was promoted to an administrative assistant position with the idea I was a potential permanent hire. I really love the work I do and I enjoy the team I work with, but I am finding

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-56661400405198489142009-03-12T04:44:00.002-05:002009-03-12T04:50:55.978-05:00Accomplishments—quantified or not—play vital role

Dear Sam: Thanks for your helpful, practical insights about résumés and job hunting. Would you please address the matter of quantifiers? Certainly it is valuable if one can present documented value by quantifying achievements (such as growth in sales or reduction in expenses), but what about those of us who don't have that kind of achievement to document? Perhaps you could identify quantifiable

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-81465008114426007202009-01-22T06:33:00.002-05:002009-01-22T06:39:18.314-05:00Don’t sell yourself short…rewrite, redesign, and re-launch your search

First impression…Several areas of Simone’s résumé required immediate attention. Simone’s objective was to secure a permanent interior or graphic design position, and she planned to do this by leveraging her freelance engagements and educational pursuits to get her foot in the door. Her current résumé was not doing an effective job of showcasing her skills nor her vast design talents. Not only was

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-73472767448320202002008-12-23T16:29:00.001-05:002008-12-23T16:38:41.355-05:00Notes of a Résumé Writer – Revamp to emerge a competitive candidate

Dear Sam: I am 21 years old and I have 3 years of experience in administrative assistant and customer service roles. It seems like the opportunities in my field are slowly dwindling, so I know I need to really sell myself in my résumé; my problem is that I do not know how. About a year ago, I received some money due to a family tragedy, so when my previous employer laid me off due to cutbacks, I

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-90762235111840290202008-11-24T08:03:00.004-05:002008-11-24T08:11:18.724-05:00Don’t assume people can “see” your value…show them

Candidate’s Background:Sandy had an extensive human resources background, yet it was hidden in a plethora of bullet points in a lengthy and somewhat redundant résumé. She was also seeking a management-level position and was finding the fact that she did not have a college degree hindered her search. She did not know how to position her experience to overcome the potential disqualifier.Résumé

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-21275895853162419042008-11-05T09:11:00.000-05:002008-11-19T09:12:29.235-05:00Transition Focus from Family-Owned to Value-Added

Dear Sam: I am seeking a job as an Accounting/Operations Manager. Half of my experience (aside from education) comes from running a family-owned (i.e., my husband is the President) business. I've been meeting with recruiters and submitting my résumé for consideration online for certain opportunities, without much luck. Could working for a family business affect my ability to get a job? How do I

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-67690503163630366782008-10-08T09:09:00.000-05:002008-11-19T09:11:08.660-05:00Strategic Presentation of One’s Background Key to Success

Dear Sam: I am a 43-year-old father of two who was recently downsized from my engineering job due to a lack of work in the field. I have a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, but have never been able to use it as a plus in my job search.As I want to branch out or leave the field, how do I update my current résumé that basically lists one type of job with different firms? I attempted to get a

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-11560481899778964972008-09-01T09:07:00.000-05:002008-11-19T09:09:33.093-05:00Shorten Your Job Search with These Strategies

Dear Sam: I recently graduated with a degree in Spanish and a minor in Communication Studies. I have been job hunting for the past three months but have been unsuccessful. My problem is that I have little work experience. How can I make my résumé eye-catching to employers? – EmilyDear Emily: I wish there was a formula to predict the length of a job search, but the success of each candidate’s

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-39236851897984398512008-08-14T12:04:00.002-05:002008-08-14T19:07:32.700-05:00Show personality and charisma on paper

Dear Sam: I am a parent trying to understand my daughter's job search. It has been 42 years since I sought my first job, so things have changed. She passed the nursing board exam two months ago. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (pre-med) a year ago. She had three years as an LPN in a Cleveland hospital. In two months, she has had only one interview. I am concerned. I asked her why she

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-80057708874163382162008-08-14T12:01:00.001-05:002008-08-14T12:04:16.748-05:00Focus on related, not recent experience

Dear Sam: Previously, I worked for several years in the financial services field with a company that eventually shut its doors. I was also in the middle of finishing up my degree in a course of study that was somewhat related to the industry. To be able to pay bills and support my family while I went to school, I took a job that was not related to my experience or education in the financial

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-37761055413810606762008-07-28T11:26:00.002-05:002008-07-28T11:31:06.536-05:00Engage hiring managers with a strategically written cover letter

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-24285610180042538402008-07-14T20:10:00.001-05:002008-07-14T20:11:55.896-05:00Handle 30+ years of work experience with care

Dear Sam: I am 57 years old and have just lost my job due to downsizing. I am concerned that my age will turn off prospective employers. As a result, I have removed the years of service on my résumé from each employer I have had; that seems to have helped a little.When employers contact me, they always want me to walk them through my résumé, and I can almost hear them counting the years as I do.

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-39508024996971676232008-07-06T05:00:00.000-05:002008-07-06T05:00:00.181-05:00Overcome situations outside of your control

Dear Sam: I am 59 years old and trying to return to work after being on disability for 6 years. How do I handle this on my résumé? I have never had the need for a résumé prior to this "new age” handling of job applications and searches. Most jobs require an online application and this stops me in my tracks! Also I have another question for a friend. He was let go from his employment due to a

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-40464567763575339162008-06-29T04:59:00.000-05:002008-06-29T05:05:21.190-05:00Don’t be afraid... be creative!

View Before ResumeView After ResumeDear Sam: I am struggling with the design of my résumé. I’m trying to make it look a little different than the standard templates, but I’m scared it won’t be well received if it looks too different. How do I know if what I want to do is okay and will support, not hurt, my chances of getting an interview? – Linda Dear Linda – First, I applaud your willingness

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-50811501539310243302008-06-22T04:57:00.001-05:002008-06-25T05:03:50.862-05:00Avoid rejection, think strategically

Dear Sam: I can do anything and everything and I want the hiring manager to know that. How should I organize my experience so they understand I can fit into multiple roles? - Georgia Dear Georgia: I cringe when candidates tell me they can do anything, they just like working with people, and don't have an idea of what type of jobs they will be applying for. While I certainly understand the need

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-48634552408340830572008-06-15T04:55:00.001-05:002008-06-25T05:04:14.847-05:00Demonstrate flexibility despite career-long tenure with one employer

Dear Sam: I have been working for the same company for 18 years. Through mergers and buyouts, the company name has changed three times. During these 18 years, I worked for one department for the first 7 years and another for the last 11 years. I have been promoted two times while working in each of these departments, thus a total of six different titles. How do I display this on my résumé? Steve

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-38311793725412864372008-06-09T06:17:00.002-05:002008-06-09T06:18:34.488-05:00Unique qualifiers win over obligatory credentials

Dear Sam: I have been struggling for the last four years to find a teaching job. I know the market is saturated and there are hundreds of people competing for the same job. I want to find a way to make myself stand out over the rest of the crowd and I was hoping to be able to do that with my résumé. I would love suggestions you have to make these more powerful. – KendraDear Kendra: Let me ask you

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-69102840110777617302008-06-08T04:54:00.000-05:002008-06-25T04:55:19.449-05:00Overcome not having a degree

Dear Sam: I read your column often but I have never seen anyone's question that hit this topic… maybe I just missed it. I am 49 years of age and for the past 7 years I was a senior plant manager of a small food processing plant in the area. Recently, I had the pleasure of being replaced, and not because of my inability to do my job (but I won't go into that). My focus now is to find a new job and

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-39498087132514708212008-05-25T08:51:00.003-05:002008-05-25T08:56:37.180-05:00Story of the Search: Make the Transition from Business Owner to Employee

View Before ResumeView After ResumeIn response to the recent column titled, “From Entrepreneur to Employee” this week’s ‘Story of the Search’ will showcase a candidate who made a successful transition from business owner to employee. Background Steve was seeking training and organizational development roles. He had 10 years’ experience with a leading airline, but for the past 2 years had

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-41031021506177235642008-05-18T05:12:00.000-05:002008-06-25T05:14:36.863-05:00Revitalize résumé with balance of content and design

Dear Sam: After working for the same company for more than 25 years, I find myself unemployed. I am not current on what the buzz words or trends are for which hiring managers are looking. Also, while I have knowledge of the operations of the company I left, I am not sure how to transfer those skills to a potential position in a totally different field. I've created a résumé and have had a few

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-35764688973330542982008-05-11T05:10:00.000-05:002008-06-25T05:12:36.157-05:00Finding Legitimate Work-From-Home Jobs

Dear Sam: I have been employed with the same government agency for 16+ years. The last 7 years, I have also worked a part-time job as a gas station cashier. I am not getting any younger, and needless to say, I am very tired. The gas station is going to be cutting back on hours, since I am the oldest, and only able to work a few hours a week, guess who is being cut? I am looking for a

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-81838528152542969362008-05-04T09:13:00.003-05:002008-05-04T09:42:59.122-05:00Spring Makeover Series - guiding you through first professional résumé

View Original ResumeView New ResumeI often find entry-level candidates do not understand the transferability of the strategies I speak of each week to their own situations, thinking what I speak of only applies to professionals and executives. In this week’s example, I am presenting a résumé I rewrote for a client of a local social service agency and I hope this demonstrates what entry-level

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-89758529888901670422008-04-27T09:23:00.001-05:002008-05-04T09:43:35.302-05:00Spring Makeover Series – Focus on transferable skills to land interviews of choice

View Cover LetterView ResumeBackground Alex’s objective was to secure a highly coveted pharmaceutical sales rep position. His main concern, and one brought up in previous interviews, was that he lacked the business-to-business (B2B) sales experience required. Alex had however been engaged in B2B transactions throughout his career, but they were not highlighted prominently, instead there was a

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19859208.post-6585732459775838482008-04-20T09:29:00.001-05:002008-05-04T09:44:04.571-05:00Entrepreneur to employee: strategy important

Dear Sam: I am an avid reader of your column and need your advice in handling a sticky situation. I am trying to reenter the workforce after having managed my own business for several years. I closed my business while going through a divorce about eight years ago. I went back to school to complete my degree and reinvent myself so to speak. After earning my degree in 2005, I thought it would be a

Dear Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15223790399412940127noreply@blogger.com