Is Your Résumé Good Enough for Today’s Competitive Job Market?

Local Business Owner Is One Of The First 100
To Join New Internet Technology Universe

LINCOLN, NE – Oct. 25, 2006 – Angela Jones, Owner of Haute Résumé & Career Services (headquartered in Lincoln), is pleased to announce her affiliation as one of the first 100 members of the Career Masters Institute™, the world’s first Internet-based training and development organization for employment industry professionals. Career Masters’ President, Wendy Enelow, believes that “as we transition into the new millennium, there will continue to be massive changes in the complexion of the US workforce. It is Career Masters’ mission to train, develop and support those individuals who are preparing our workforce and leading our 'Employment Revolution.'"

Jones was accepted into the organization based upon her extensive professional experience and industry credentials. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (testing process administered by the Professional Association of Resume Writers).

Jones provides complete resume, career marketing and job search services to clients worldwide from her office in Lincoln. She already uses the Internet extensively to service job seekers around the globe.

Surviving a Layoff

NEBRASKA, January 12, 2007 – Losing a job is one of life's most stressful experiences and can create panic among workers. After all, whether layoffs are temporary or permanent, they create significant financial hardships for workers and their families. By doing some planning before a layoff occurs, and by taking the right steps after a layoff, you can minimize the impact that your job loss will have on your finances, says Angela Jones of Haute Résumé & Career Services.

Plan ahead. Today, few jobs are completely secure from layoffs, so it’s a good idea to determine how a layoff might affect you. Start by looking at your current financial situation and determining whether you have enough money to survive being out of work for several weeks or months. Most experts recommend that you have at least the equivalent of three months’ pay in a bank account. You may want to reduce your spending for luxuries such as eating out and going to the movies in order to save more.

If you are laid off, there are many ways you can minimize the negative impacts:

Use benefits. Request a meeting with your company's HR representative. Find out if you're entitled to severance pay, unused vacation or personal days and how to continue your benefits and roll over your 401K. Find out how vested you are in the company's pension plan, if applicable.

If your company provides outplacement assistance, such as help in preparing a resume or a job fair, take advantage of it. Usually, there’s no charge for this assistance, and your participation may help you land another job. In addition, you may qualify for state unemployment compensation. Apply as soon as you can, because there is often a delay between the application and receiving your first check.

Inform creditors. Let your major creditors know that you’ve been laid off, and although you still intend to pay your debts, you may have a difficult time doing so in the near future. Many creditors will help you by restructuring payment terms or allowing you to make interest-only payments while you’re out of work. While it may seem difficult to ask a creditor for help, it’s much easier to take this approach than to face damage to your credit rating or legal action for nonpayment down the road.

Cut back. This is a time when most people cannot afford luxuries. While things like cable TV, dinning out and new clothes may brighten your spirits, they can put a drain on your finances. Eliminate all non-essential expenses, and look for ways to reduce essential costs, such as buying fewer convenience foods at the grocery store. Don’t view shopping as recreation.

Watch credit. Whenever money is tight, it’s very tempting to bring out the credit cards or take advantage of “buy now and pay later” plans. However, you’ll have to pay for those purchases eventually, and accumulating a lot of debt will mean that money may still be tight long after you’ve landed a new job.

Garage sales. Do you have things that you no longer need? Having a garage sale can be a great way to turn them into some extra cash. Look through your closets and shelves for items that you could sell.

Get Help. Utilize free or inexpensive services that provide career counseling and job search assistance such as college career offices, state Department of Labor offices or your local public library.

Stay Busy. For someone who is accustomed to working each day, a layoff can be frustrating and boring. Instead of sitting in front of the TV, use your time to exercise, do volunteer work, or visit friends and family. Keeping busy will help you keep your spirits up, and will make your return to work easier.

Angela Jones, owner of Haute Résumé & Career Services is the first and only Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW) in Lincoln and one of only three in the state of Nebraska. CPRW’s have been rigorously tested and have demonstrated their knowledge, talent and writing expertise while meeting the industry standards of excellence. Angela Jones has been certified by PARW/CC - Professional Association of Résumé Writers/Career Coaches and is a member of NRWA – National Résumé Writers Association, Career Masters Institute and Association of Job Search Trainers. Angela knows what today’s hiring managers are looking for on a resume and presents her clients at their very best, visit www.anewresume.com, or call (402) 817-3922.

Local Career Professional Featured in New Book for
Jobseekers with Military Experience

Lincoln, NE, July 2 2007. Angela Jones, owner of Haute Résumé & Career Services, has been selected from among hundreds of professional resume writers across the globe to contribute samples of her work to "Military-to-Civilian Resumes and Letters: How to Best Communicate Your Strengths to Civilian Employers" (3rd Edition) , a new book by professional By Carl S. Savino, Major, USAR (Ret.) and Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D.

The authors invited hundreds of career professionals to submit samples of their best work for consideration. Angela's work was included because of the quality of the writing and formatting, and how well her work demonstrates the best strategies for launching a successful transition into the civilian world.

"Military-to-Civilian Resumes and Letters: How to Best Communicate Your Strengths to Civilian Employers" (3rd Edition) assists jobseekers in the creation of impressive résumés and cover letters that showcase the skills and experience the military service has provided.

For additional information on Angela Jones, visit www.anewresume.com. "Military-to-Civilian Resumes and Letters: How to Best Communicate Your Strengths to Civilian Employers" (3rd Edition)  will be available this month in bookstores worldwide and directly from the publisher at www.impactpublications.com.
 

JOB SEEKERS: LYING ON A RéSUMé

WILL GET YOU IN HOT WATER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  Contact: Angela Jones

March 4, 2008                                                            1-866-695-9318

Job searchers can learn from the misfortunes of Robert Irvine, a British-born chef and presenter of Dinner: Impossible on the Food Network. Claiming credentials you don’t have is a recipe for disaster, says Angela Jones a professional résumé writer.

“Job seekers are most likely to lie about things like their education or the number of years they worked for a company -- and these are the easiest things to check,” says Jones “If you don’t get caught when the company checks your references, you will likely get tripped up somewhere along the line. And many companies have a policy that they will fire employees caught lying on their applications -- even if it’s not discovered until several years later."

Lying on résumés is on the rise. An online survey conducted for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that more than 60 percent of the 373 human resources professionals who responded reported finding inaccuracies on the résumés they review. Inaccuracies aren’t necessarily lies, but anything that brings the job seeker’s character into question is likely to end his or her chances for getting the job.

Irvine admitted that he lied about being a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and exaggerated his role as a traveling chef for numerous heads of state.

“If the issue is the job searcher’s insecurity about his or her qualifications for the position, there are ways to address the issue without lying,” says Jones. “It’s just not worth the risk when there are perfectly legitimate ways to position your credentials -- for example, your lack of a degree -- and still win the interview.”

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Angela Jones, CPRW is a nationally published Certified Professional Résumé Writer and owner of Haute Résumé & Career Services in Lincoln, NE.. She has been writing résumés since 2001 and is a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches, National Résumé Writers Association, as well as Career Directors International. She is available for interviews on the topic of "lying on résumés" and how job seekers can legitimately overcome potential shortcomings in their work history and education. Call (402) 570-3888 or e-mail angie@anewresume.com.