I love cats. I had two in my life at one point, and one of them was my Best Buddy. I brought him to work one time (long story involving him hiding behind a piece of heavy furniture).  

A potential employer might also love cats. And the hiring manager might think it's cute if you use your cat's name as part of your email address: " FluffytheImperialQueen@google.com.' Hey, look at this person's address...! So cute!"

Except, it's not.

When you are crafting your job seeking materials, follow this rule:

• Keep it professional
• Keep it simple
• Make it easy for reader

The best thing? Use your name, so everything matches. 

Your resume has your name at the top (and on page 2). 
Your LinkedIn profile contains your name.

Your email address should also contain your name (example: Sarah.Davidson@gmail.com). Don't worry if you have a few numbers after your name. It's unavoidable nowadays. But try different combos, such as using a "dot" between the names, or a dash, or an underscore. Try using a middle initial.

Yes. It's more professional. But it also ensures that whoever is reviewing the resumes will find yours easily on the list of emails in their inbox.

And here's another tip: Use gmail. It has become the accepted standard. You may think that this doesn't matter. But trust me, if you have an AOL address, you are dating yourself! You don't want to be seen as behind the technology curve.

Here's a bonus: When you create a NEW personal email account, it will become the main place where you can find all your job-related correspondence. That way you won't miss that email about a possible interview.

Need help creating your search plan? I'm here to help. Let's set up an appointment to chat.  

“Just write me a general résumé.”

I get this request frequently. There’s a feeling that having one great document can you get you into many doors.

It used to be somewhat true.

But it’s not anymore.

These days, employers are sophisticated. They want to know they are hiring the exact right person, so they don’t waste a lot of capital on rehiring. Large companies (and some smaller ones) employ computer methods to screen the candidates. It’s much harder to stand out.

Employers also are wary of being contacted, often don’t provide phone numbers, and well, they generally don’t make life very easy for job seekers who just want to find out more about the position and make themselves known.

It is these circumstances that create a complicated situation. It’s also why trying to correct for all of these situations is stress-inducing – and may require professional assistance.

Today’s effective résumé does these main things:

• It showcases how you can specifically deliver what the employer needs.
• It addresses the specific employer’s requirements as closely as possible.
• It triggers the Applicant Tracking Software to see and grab your application.
• It helps you stand out from the hundreds of other people who have your basic skills.
• It creates an opportunity to get in the door (its main purpose).

Crafting an effective document is not a clerical task. It’s not like making  “grocery list” of the tasks you performed in your previous jobs. It requires knowledge about tracking software, design, and expressing and summarizing key accomplishments so they resonate with an employer.

One size does not fit all. You need documents that are optimized to address each employer you are contacting. It is not an easy task. But I can help.

That's why I do this work. I want you to succeed.

Talk to me about your résumé challenges. Contact me at ruth@polish-publish.com. You may also call me at 614-746-4587. The conversation is free. Your career is gold.