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Practical guidance on resumes, LinkedIn, job search, career transitions, personal branding, interviews, and more from NRWA career professionals.
Job searching and career management raise a lot of questions, and the answers aren’t always as simple as they seem online. NRWA professionals share practical, experience-based guidance to help you make better decisions about your resume, LinkedIn presence, job search, career transitions, professional brand, and more.
Browse the latest advice below or explore topics relevant to where you are in your career.
Should I put my education at the top or bottom of my resume?
QUESTION: Should I put my education at the top or bottom of my resume?Screeners have limited time to review your resume and are most likely to read content toward the top of the resume. Utilize this premium space to highlight the most compelling points of your value...
How do I handle references on a resume?
QUESTION: How do I handle references on a resume?I would suggest never putting references on your resume. Instead, have a separate sheet that has aligned branding elements as your resume (similar font, graphic element, layout, etc). It’s another opportunity to show...
How do I work with recruiters in my job search?
QUESTION: How do I work with recruiters in my job search? Today's recruiting landscape is primarily focused on top performers in leadership, engineering, healthcare, IT, legal, accounting, and high-ticket sales. If your resume shows a successful background and...
What are the best tips for job searching as we embark on a new decade?
QUESTION: What are the best tips for job searching as we embark on a new decade?According to CareerBuilder, a majority of job seekers utilize job boards as their primary source for job search. Meanwhile, hiring authorities report that their highest quality candidates...
How do I write my LinkedIn profile if I’m open to multiple career directions?
QUESTION: How do I write my LinkedIn profile if I’m open to multiple career directions?This is one of the reasons that the resume has not yet become obsolete; you can make multiple versions of a resume, but not LinkedIn. The best route is to make LinkedIn specific to...
What is the hidden job market?
QUESTION: What is the hidden job market?If you ask successful professionals how they found and landed their current positions, you will probably arrive at the same conclusion that study after study has shown. Many, if not most jobs are obtained, at least in part,...
I’ve seen a lot of career professionals talk about the ATS. Can you explain what it is?
QUESTION: I’ve seen a lot of career professionals talk about the ATS. Can you explain what it is?Applicant Tracking Systems are technology currently being used by 98% of Fortune 500 companies and about 80% of all companies to screen candidates. This software enables...
Which resume format should I use? Functional? Chronological? Something else?
QUESTION: Which resume format should I use? Functional? Chronological? Something else?Most recruiters don’t like functional resumes, and they don’t work well with employers’ Applicant Tracking Systems. A reverse chronological or “combination” format is better...
Should I always include a cover letter with my resume even if they don’t ask for it?
QUESTION: Should I always include a cover letter with my resume even if they don’t ask for it? A hiring manager told me, “I don’t always read the cover letters, but I go first for the applications that include one.” In addition, a cover letter enables you to go beyond...
I’ve seen resumes that include charts, bar graphs, word clouds, and other graphic images. Is this the new norm?
QUESTION: I've seen resumes that include charts, bar graphs, word clouds, and other graphic images. Is this the new norm? Content remains king. It will always serve you well to present well-matched qualifications and achievement-oriented writing in a clean,...
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Do you have questions about writing your resume, your LinkedIn profile, or about the job searching process? Ask us your question and it may be selected as the topic of our next blog post, with answers compiled from the advice of NRWA members.
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This site is provided by NRWA: The Association of Career Strategy & Branding Professionals, a nonprofit professional association serving career professionals in the United States and worldwide.
The NRWA members help job seekers and career professionals clarify their goals, communicate their value, strengthen their professional brands, and navigate an increasingly complex job market. Many specialize in resume writing, while others also provide LinkedIn strategy, career branding, interview preparation, career transition support, and related services.
Whether you need expert help with your resume or broader guidance for your career, NRWA can help you find a professional whose expertise fits your needs.
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