Your applications get nowhere. You never get call-backs and the jobs seem to get filled way before you even apply to them.

Well, the job market is in a bit of turmoil right now (much like the rest of the world). But it doesn’t mean that there are no good employment opportunities left. There’s still plenty!  

The problem is that you might be looking at the wrong place. Wait, what? What’s wrong with responding to job ads on popular aggregator websites? 

Nothing really. But that’s exactly what every other job seeker is doing, heating up the competition for popular positions. 

So rather than doing what every other job seeker does, try some of the alternative job search strategies we’ve rounded up in this master-post! 

Cracking the “Hidden Job Market”

Ah, the mighty and mysterious “hidden job market”. It is estimated to be between 40% and 80% of all jobs, depending on which source you trust more.

But it’s true: a good chunk of jobs is never actively advertised online. Why? Well, because they get filled via other means such as in-person networking, internal promotions, and direct recruiting placements. 

When you think about the next figure, it only makes more sense: every one of us has about 150 people in our network. Every person we know is connected to 150 more people, so that’s already some 22,500 people just one handshake away from you. High chances are that someone among those folks knows someone else who’s looking for a person just like you. What you have to do is just start asking around. 

In essence, that’s what good networking is all about — you constantly go about making intros, telling what you do, learning what others do, and seeing if you can be of any help to the other party or vice versa. 

Network, Network and Network S’More

If you want to remain in-the-know of the latest job opportunities, you’ve got to get connected to more people, both online and in-person.  Here’s who you should connect with first: 

• Former colleagues, educators, employers, mentors, partners, and other people that played a role in your educational and professional development. 
• People who already work in your field and who do what you’d wanted to in the future. 
• Thought leaders, industry experts, practice leaders whose knowledge can help you stay updated on the trends and developments in your job niche. 

These are the “targets” you should approach online on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter (more on that later!). 

When networking in-person, learn to lead intentional conversations with people you meet in-person at the office or during other work-related events. 

Make Sure That All Your Self-Promotion Tools are Spot On!

First comes your resume, of course. It should be up-to-date, customized to the job posting, and well-designed. If you are struggling with the latter, you can browse our attractive free resume templates and grab one! 🙂 

Setting up a personal website or blog is another lever you can use in your job search. Research suggests that 56% of HRs are more impressed by the job seekers’ personal website than by any other personal branding tool. At the same time, only 7% of candidates have a website up and running. 

“But I’m not a coder” is a lame excuse. There’s plenty of drag & drop website builders around that you can use to create your website in several hours.

OK, so what information should I place on my personal website? 

• A quick about me/bio section explaining who you are
• Overview your main skills & interests
• Current affiliation 
• A carousel of recent projects 
• Accolades, achievements and other “bragging rights” 
• A copy of your resume clipped as a downloadable PDF file
• Easy way to contact you 

You can take a look at a funky and memorable personal website that Mona Chalabi made for herself. It acts as a perfect representation of here data storytelling and other creative skills:

Also, if you have time, consider starting a blog on your personal website. It’s another “passive” avenue for drawing more attention to what you do and showing how you could be of use to a potential employer. 

Become a Boomerang

Boomerang employees are people who leave the company and then choose to “boomerang” back for a new (often higher) position. 

What you may not suspect is that 94% of decision-makers will gladly hire back former employees who left on the good terms. The survey further explains why:

• They have proven job performance and required skill sets
• Can rapidly assimilate and start contributing to the team
• Require less initial training and onboarding 
• Are a known-fit to the company’s culture
• Bring in new skills, expertise, and knowledge 

If you liked working with your former employer, go on and reach out to them to discuss any new potential openings they may have. Doing so is a win-win for both! 

Write to Employers Directly

This tip may seem offensively simple, but really how often do you cold-pitch potential employers? Chances are you did that a grand zero times. 

So let’s change that, shall we? Depending on your industry and position, you may want to either write:

• A more formal letter of interest — just like a cover letter, this one also sells your expertise. But rather than targeting any particular role, this letter is just a way to ‘tread the water’ and see if you may be seen as a fit for some role. 
• A “cold networking” note — keep this one short & sweet. Briefly introduce yourself, share a sentence or two about your expertise and lead up to how you may help this particular company. Cold networking notes are best to be sent via LinkedIn or to Department Manager’s (not HRs) in corporations. 

Source: The Muse 

NB: Don’t Go After Jobs That are Not Within Your Scope or Position

If you haven’t got good responses on your applications and cold pitches, it may be because you are aiming a tad bit too high. Sure, you should be ambitious and seek out promotions. But always double-check that you are truly fit for the announced position. 

Every “Junior” or “Senior” role will assume a different degree of responsibilities and expertise within a certain company. To avoid appearing over-qualified or under-qualified for the job, read and re-read that job description carefully and realistically assess your chances! 

Also, there’s always a possibility that recruiters are not able to comprehend the details of your previous work experiences resulting in a job mismatch. That’s why you should always provide a clear and short description of your work history and avoid jargon. 

Learn a New Skill While You are Job Searching

…after all, you have nothing to lose, and much more to gain. 

If you are constantly seeing a recurring skill in the job descriptions that you don’t have, it’s time to fix that. The best part? You no longer have to go to formal school or pay a ton of money for upskilling. 

The world-best universities offer free lectures on platforms like Coursera. Popular industry tools offer free educational programs and certificates (think Google, HubSpot, Webflow, etc). Plus, you can always find a ton of free lectures, masterclasses, and workshop recordings on YouTube. 

Alternatively, if you have some extra cash to spare, you may also want to invest in paid industry certifications and licenses that could help you move up the career ladder. Again, look for specific credentials that employers in your niche demand. 

Lastly, you always choose to re-skill, rather than upskill. Of course, upskilling requires more time and investments. But going from being a graphic designer to say a UX designer can very positively reflect on your paycheck. 

According to LinkedIn Emerging Jobs Report 2020, the following skills and expertise will be in high demand among U.S. employers:

• Tech skills: Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Robotic Process Automation, TensorFlow, Python, Natural Language Processing, Data Science, Apache Spark, React.js, Node.js, JavaScript, AngularJS.
• Customer service skills: Salesforce, Customer Relationship Management, Account Management, Customer Retention.
• Sales skills: Cold-Calling, Software as a Service (SaaS), Lead Generation.
• Managerial/executive skills: Strategic Partnerships, Go-to-Market Strategy, Executive Management, Agile Methodologies, Scrum, Product Management.

Speaking of LinkedIn…it is the place to be if the traditional job search isn’t giving you the results you want! 

Master LinkedIn

Seriously, if you do not have an up-to-date LinkedIn account these days, you are missing out on a ton of potential employment opportunities! 

Over 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly to reach out to potential hires and as the official company stats say: a new person gets hired on LinkedIn every 7 seconds. 

Source: LinkedIn 

A separate study re-confirms that data and states that over 122 million people around the world got a job interview via LinkedIn. Plus, some 35.5 million were hired by a person they connected with on the platform. 

So no matter what your level of expertise is or which niche you work in, high chances are that you may land a new opportunity on LinkedIn. But to make that happen, you gotta have a well-optimized personal profile and network regularly. 

Write a Compelling LinkedIn Profile Summary

A profile summary is the first thing your new connections will see. So make that ‘real estate’ count. Place the most important career insights within the first 300 characters.

Specifically:

• Briefly summarize your career path 
• Share your biggest accomplishment (or two)
• Write a passion statement, explaining what motivates you to do your work 
• Highlight several of your core skills and competencies. 

Also, don’t forget to sprinkle in some keywords — the common terms, describing your skill sets that HRs use in job postings. Stanford University published this great list of LinkedIn keywords for entry-level professionals. 

You can also use pre-suggested keywords from the official LinkedIn database to beef up your profile even further. Lastly, read several job postings in your industry and pick out some other commonly used terms and add them organically to your profile. 

Add The Right Skills To Your Profile

The second bit of your profile to optimize for keywords is a dedicated Skills & Endorsements area. 

Sources: LinkedIn Profile 

You can pack as many as 50 different skills there. But don’t rush to max out these! Here’s why: 

LinkedIn algorithms rely on the number of endorsements per skill to rank each profile. The more endorsements you have — the higher you’ll appear in search results. And if you have as many as 50 skills on your profile, every one of them will have few upvotes. 

So it’s best to optimize your profile around 10-15 key skills and get endorsements for these.

Start Following Companies

Find the biggest employers in your industry and follow their corporate LinkedIn pages. This way you’ll be instantly notified about new job postings. Plus, engaging with their shared content is an easy way to get on their HR’s radar and make some virtual intros.  

Join LinkedIn Groups

Just like other social media networks, LinkedIn has a bunch of groups you can join.

First of all, add yourself to active industry/career-specific groups. Mingle with your peers, make new connections, and keep an eye for emerging job opportunities — a lot of requests for referrals get shared in such communities. 

Next, you can also join LinkedIn groups for job seekers. These are another great place of fresh job gigs. Just don’t get signed up for too many or you’ll get quickly overwhelmed with the incoming stream of posts.

Some of the popular ones include:

• The Recruiter Network –  a group to connect with recruiters.
• Job Angels – curates opportunities in the nonprofit sector.
• Jobs Alert – mostly features listings for managerial positions. 

Feature Your Work On Your Profile

LinkedIn recently added a new profile section called “Featured” where you can place images, links, and texts that showcase your work. Be sure to fill it out if you can!

Source: LinkedIn 

Again, it’s a simple step you can take to command more attention to your profile. 

P.S. If you like the idea of delivering freelance services or ad-hoc consulting, you can also indicate that you are “open for business” on your profile. Doing so will also let you add “Featured Services” to your profile so that people could easily reach out to you! 

Speaking of freelancing…

Join LinkedIn Pro Finder

LinkedIn runs a separate freelance marketplace called ProFinder. To get your profile listed, you’ll need to go through a simple application process. At the moment, they are accepting people offering the next types of services:

• Software development (mobile app development, web development, IT consulting, etc). 
• All-things-design (UX/UI, web, graphic, animation, videography)
• Writing, editing, and translations 
• Marketing, copywriting and SEO
• Business consulting
• Legal consulting
• Accounting and financial services
• Coaching (including resume writing and life coaching) 
• Photography 
• Real estate services — ranging from marketing to insurance 

To increase your chances of getting accepted to ProFinder, you’ll need to have several profile recommendations, though.

Bonus Section: Finding Jobs on Other Social Media Networks 

LinkedIn is the obvious platform of choice for most job seekers. But it’s not the only place where you can find fresh job postings and well-paid gigs. Last year’s Job Seeker survey revealed that 35% of respondents found new job postings on social media. 

So where exactly should you look for work? 

Reddit

Reddit, also dubbed as the front page of the Internet, is an assortment of forums (subreddits), based around certain subjects. Anyone can come and join the conversation any time but has to stay mindful of the Reddiquette – a collection of rules and courtesies you should follow on the platform. 

While roughly 80% of the platform’s subreddits are meme-focused and hobby-focused subreddits, there are also several popular communities around entrepreneurship, coding, startups, and general job search advice. 

And that’s where all the social hiring action takes place. One recruiting agency reports that they placed over 111 hires from Reddit last year, mainly for tech roles. So the opportunities are there. But how do you find them?

Similar to LinkedIn, you can join industry/skills specific groups and keep an eye on [Hiring] posts in your feed. Alternatively, you can sift through the regular, freelance and remote work gigs published on dedicated subs. Or publish a post yourself saying that you are for hire.

Some of the popular subreddits for job search are:

• r/Jobbit 
• r/forhire
• r/JobOpenings
• r/IWantOut (expat jobs)
• r/Jobs4Bitcoin (blockchain-related positions)

Twitter

Twitter is another less obvious choice for job seekers. Shamefully so because it’s actually a great place for building connections and networking with people in your niche. Twitter is particularly popular among editors & journalists, startup founders, marketing, sales, and tech crowd. So the job opportunities pretty much reflect that. 

Now, unlike Reddit and LinkedIn, you don’t have groups to join. Browsing general hashtags like #jobpost won’t nail you good results either. Twitter is more about building 1:1 relationships with individuals and jumping into the conversations (THREADs) as they happen online.

Your best bet is to follow different thought leaders & business owners in your industry. Engage with their posts and keep an eye on requests for referrals or updates in hiring. These happen more often than you think!

Next, you can also find and follow job-focused accounts at bigger international companies and keep an eye on updates. For example:

• @BBCCareers 
• @Guardian Media Jobs
• @Guardian Marketing Jobs
• @PayPal Jobs APAC
• @AirbBus Careers 
• @Disney Careers 

By running a quick search on the platform you can discover plenty of other career-related accounts. 

To Conclude

Finding a job requires dedication so you need to stay on track for the entire process. Aside from practicing discipline, you need to have that stamina of pitching, networking, and interacting with people online and in-person in search of “hidden” job opportunities.

So polish up your personal elevator pitch. Have your resume up-to-date and ready-to-be-sent anytime. 

Always follow up with your contacts and stay updated with the latest information and every activity that concerns your job application.

Lastly, don’t be over-dependent on job postings or recruiters. Putting too much reliance on traditional job search channels will only result in lost opportunities. 

The key to improving your job search techniques is becoming more attentive and observant. Listen to and participate in industry discussions. Raise your profile online and on social media. Stay in the know of the latest industry news and developments, so that you could spot and jump on a potential opportunity the soonest it comes up!

The post The Ultimate List of Job Search Strategies To Land Your Next Job appeared first on Fancy Resumes.

Cover Letter Examples

They have an attractive landing page for cover letter examples. The first thing that catches the eye is a search bar, prompting to browse for what you need. I’ve quickly tested it using ‘designer’ as a job title and got suggested two relevant posts to check out. So far, so good.

Next, you can review the highlighted ‘best cover letter examples’. Every example opens up in a new window so that you can first review some writing tips and then see the sample itself in text format and as a downloadable Word file. I really liked the ‘download’ option as it allows you to stash the finds for later. Also, you can download all the sample cover letters for free and there seems to be no cap for that :).

Lastly, you can choose to search for cover letter examples by industry. Right now they have:

• Education
• Administrative
• Marketing and Design
• Entry Level
• Medical
• Legal
• IT
• Business
• Sales
• Social and Government Services
• Career Change

I liked the ‘Career Change’ category that featured less standard examples for folks who want to switch industries or relocate.

In general, their cover letter examples collection is pretty decent. It looks like they’ve been adding new posts regularly, so it seems it will soon live up to the ‘jumbo size’ description.

Cover Letter Templates

The second main offering is a collection of free cover letter templates. You have 10 professionally designed templates to pick & choose. All of them are available for instant download in Microsoft Word format.

I grabbed myself a copy of “Modern Cover Letter in Blue”. Upon opening it up I was pleasantly surprised to see a quick test prompting me how to write my cover letter instead of the standard lorem ipsum placeholder text. That’s actually helpful! And their “Jesse Ninja” as a dummy name cracked me up a bit. The team really did work on their branding.

The verdict? Their cover letter templates look very professional and since they are free, I wouldn’t hesitate to grab a few different ones and use them instead of a plain Word file.

A small draw: they explicitly state that the designs are for Word only, meaning that they may not open properly in other word processors. I tried opening one template in Google Docs and while it was displayed normally, the editing process is a bit clunky. However, it did work alright in Mac Pages.

How You Can Use The Templates

Like most people, I can get a bit suspicions when pitched a ‘good deal’ for free. So I’d wanted to make sure that there are no strings attached to using the templates. Cover Letter Ninja’s license terms are pretty clear.

Their templates are for personal use only. That means you can download and customize them as you please. You can also print or send them to employers digitally. However, you cannot sell them or re-publish online or otherwise attempt to profit from the freebies. Well, that’s fair enough.

Our Conclusion

It’s immediately noticeable that a lot of work has been put in the cover letter examples and templates. One of their ‘ninjas’ is a certified cover letter and resume writer, another one is a career consultant. Every sample comes with additional cover letter writing advice and those tips are on-point. The letters themselves aren’t generic and well-written.

The final ruling? Cover Letter Ninjas appears to be giving away much more value than you’d expect for free.

The post Our Cover Letter Ninjas Review – A Huge Collection of Cover Letter Examples appeared first on Fancy Resumes.

By using the internet, you’re saving yourself from all the hassles that come with the traditional job search. Here are some of the advantages of using the internet for job-hunting:

It saves you a lot of time and effort.

The old process of finding a job is not only time-consuming but also very limited. Thanks to the internet, it only takes just a few clicks of the mouse to find job posting without spending a great amount of time online. There’s also no need to print multiple copies of your resume because everything is now done online. All you need to do is to submit your resume or post it online where it can be easily recognized and scanned by potential employers.

It gives you more refined results.

Going online gives you more options as compared to the traditional method of job-hunting. With the modern job search websites, you can adjust your search parameters and filter results just the way you want them to be. You can get a list of job openings based on location, salary and field to name a few. And it doesn’t matter what kind of experience you have. Whether you’re a fresh graduate, a neophyte or an experienced applicant, finding the job opportunities according to your level of experience can be done without any difficulty.

It’s both beneficial to job-seekers and employers.

Most employers nowadays also rely on the internet to find candidates to fill-in their job openings. In fact a lot of companies are getting higher success rates in employing the right people for their manpower. Both employers and applicants are benefiting from this modern method of job-hunting as online job portals become the convergence various job openings in different fields. It’s more systematic and produces much better results.

It gives you the chance to get noticed.

Recruiters obviously want to hire the most qualified people for their company which is why they also rely on these online job search sites where they can browse various profiles of possible candidates to fill-in their open positions. If you want to get considered, you need to make sure that your resume or profile has all required information and details that would make you more marketable and qualified for the job.

There’s no doubt that the internet is currently one of the best tools to use for job-hunting as it makes the whole process simpler, faster and less complicated. Best of all, it delivers much better results not just for you the employee but for employers as well. So what are you waiting for? Get started with your job search on the internet today. Who knows, you might just be a few clicks away from landing your dream job!

Credits: Photo by Bruno Cervera

The post Online Job Search: The More Productive Way to Find Your Dream Job appeared first on Fancy Resumes.

Have a Good Explanation

Before going into an interview, understand that more than likely gaps in resumes will be addressed in some way or another. Usually, the interviewer will be blunt about it and simply ask for you to explain the period of long term unemployment. While the languid economy should be reason enough, that simply isn’t going to work with most employers as they’ve heard that excuse from every other long term unemployed applicant as well. Instead, have a legitimate reason as to why you’ve been unemployed for so long.

There is a nearly endless list of explanations but some of the best include that you tried to start your very own business, you took a mid career sabbatical and traveled throughout the world, you returned to school in order to gain better credentials, or you even volunteered to help other people.

The point is that the employer wants to see that you’ve been doing something productive with your time instead of just sitting at home looking at the walls.

Always Stay On Game

It is often the case that the interviews we feel offer little hope for working out in our favor are the ones that open up the doors to opportunity and employment. Because of this, the job hunter should always remain positive, be mindful of their body language, and stay on game despite how tedious the process may seem at the time. After weeks of going through dozens of job offers, applying without receiving call backs, and going to interviews that lead nowhere, it is easy enough for any person to begin feeling discouraged. Yet it is important to have a well-grounded perspective on things. Every interview represents a unique opportunity unconnected to the ones before or after it. The interviewer doesn’t know how many jobs you’ve applied to or how desperate you may be in reality. You can use this to your own advantage by staying confident and trying to nail every interview that comes your way. Above all else, never give up hope.

Consider Alternatives to the Internet

While it may seem hard for some of us internet junkies to believe, there is a whole world out there of opportunities that doesn’t involve online resumes and social networking sites. In fact, many experts agree that those who have gaps in their resumes may do better by presenting themselves in-person. Some companies still allow for one to actually show up and talk to a hiring manager before applying. Also, networking events and job fairs allow for one to make a better first impression than an emailed resume can ever accomplish. Meeting someone face-to-face shows that the applicant is truly motivated which helps to mitigate some of the deficiencies that gaps in employment may cause.

The post How to Find Work After a Long Period of Unemployment appeared first on Fancy Resumes.

Don’t quit just yet!

It may be tempting to quit when you feel stressed out or when you’re not happy with your current company. However, never make a sudden decision unless you’re sure that there’s another one waiting for you. Securing employment these days can be laborious especially if you’re in an industry that is difficult to penetrate. Remember that having no work and no pay is tough, so make sure to keep your current position until you have more concrete options.

Never search while you’re working

You might be enticed to use your free time at the office to search for new job opportunities, but do your best to avoid this as it could backfire on you. No matter how cautious you may be, there’s a possibility that you may get caught by your boss doing something that is against company policies, such as talking to a recruiter over the phone. Not only can this be an embarrassing situation, but it could also jeopardize your current position. Make sure to always separate personal activities from the workplace environment.

Never tell anyone about your plans

You may have friends at the office with whom you can share details about your personal life; however, it’s not a good idea to divulge plans that involve looking for greener pastures. Office gossip spreads quickly, and before you know it, your boss may be asking you about your new plans. Keep such information to yourself and stay silent about anything that has to do with your work.

Be honest about your current position

No matter how bad your experience is with your current employer, never say anything derogatory about them as interviewers consider this negative. Give them assurance that it’s okay to call your employer for feedback. It can be difficult to divulge details regarding what’s lacking in your current job, but you can use it to your advantage. Turn the tables and tell the interviewer that you see such opportunity in the position you are applying for.

Don’t become lazy or inefficient

Just because you’re planning to leave doesn’t mean you have the right to become lazy and unproductive. You may have a host of reasons, but it is better to remain driven and maintain optimal performance until your last day. Parting with your employer in a friendly and professional way will enable to use colleagues as future references with the assurance that they will supply positive feedback.

Credits: Photo by rawpixel.com

The post Tips For Job Search While You’re Still Employed appeared first on Fancy Resumes.

Prepare your resume

Your resume is the only tangible connection that you have to recruiters which is why it is important for you to make a good impression out of this 1 or 2-page document. Since you’re a newbie, every detail needs to be clear and presentable with a strong emphasis to your career details such as your work experience, education, abilities and skills. Another important part that you shouldn’t miss is to include is your career objective which needs to be very straightforward as this will be one of the foundations of your starting career.

The important details. Fitting the most important details in 2 pages of paper can be very difficult especially if you’re just starting to build up your career. If there are two important details that you want to include in your resume but there’s only a space left for one more detail then the best solution is to include the more relevant detail in the document and the stating the other detail in person as a form of complement.

Order of information. Fresh grads usually don’t have any work experiences yet which is why it is important to put the education at the upper part of the resume. It is only then moved to the lower part of the document when you have significant work experiences that are in connection with the job you are applying for.

Prepare to have multiple copies on hand because you need to submit this document to recruiters and headhunters.

Have an elevator pitch ready

An elevator pitch is an oral overview of who you are and what you do compressed in a very short speech that can last for less than a minute. It is basically a brief summary of your career objectives while putting spotlight on your skills and abilities.

How to come up a good pitch for starters. Preparing an elevator pitch can turn out to be difficult especially for those who have no work experiences yet, which is why it is recommended that you practice on your short speech with family and friends until you feel more comfortable in delivering this one-liner. If you’re not sure on how to start then try giving a smart answer to this question: What do you want to do with your career or what are you interested in doing?

Show your confidence!

Self-confidence is an essential skill that is required for job fair interviews where the most confident ones get the best job offers. If you want to be on par with the rest of the job market then prepare to be very sociable by making an eye contact and regularly smiling when there is a conversation. Making an eye contact exudes confidence and can lead to very positive results.

Now that you know what to work on and what to do, you can certainly make this experience rewarding not just for you but also for your career!

Photo by Timon Studler

The post Career Fair Tips for Fresh Grads appeared first on Fancy Resumes.

Simplified website

On first impression, their homepage effectively communicates what they can bring to the table. In comparison to other template providers, their website has a one-of-a-kind feel and differentiates itself from the overly used themes and motifs usually found on the web. It’s not over-the-top, but it does command attention which I found really amusing. The gallery was also very stylish and presentable thanks in part to the great rendering of the templates. It felt I was browsing a creative portfolio with an enticing preview of all the digital layouts on paper.

Superior quality designs

Their finely crafted resume templates are incredibly eclectic, with a generous use of colors and graphical elements that are sure to make an unforgettable impression. Everything on offer is quite sleek, modern-looking and very stylish. What’s more, some packages come with templates for business cards and cover letters to add a personal branding effect. Some of my favorites include Flavorful Celery Seed, Piquant Pumpkin Pie Spice and Fresh Fusion of Flavors.

Affordable and competitive pricing

The cost of purchasing a template ranges from $7 to $9 which I found very reasonable. In fact, their fees are only a fraction compared to typical template prices online. I also discovered that Spicy Resumes regularly holds special promotions where you can download their products and packages at discounted prices. Make sure to watch out for these campaigns!

Easily editable file format

The requirements are all listed in the text file that is included in the package. The template is in PSD format and can be edited using Adobe Photoshop CS4 or higher. When it comes to required fonts, there are no setbacks as most typefaces can be downloaded for free and can easily be found on the internet.

Spicy Resumes has done a wonderful job providing creatively designed resume templates that are sure to attract attention. They may only have a portfolio of 30 designs, but each layout has the ability to substantially increase the chances of any applicant and win the approval of headhunters.

The post Spicy Resumes: A New and Exciting Way to Design Your CV appeared first on Fancy Resumes.

Not sure if you’re doing something wrong? Here are some of the most common reasons for which hiring managers may not be getting back to you:

Improper grammar

You may see this as an insignificant point, but did you know that this is one of the greatest mistakes that deters recruiters? Grammatical errors can occur during interviews, written exams and resume writing for example. It is a common frustration for headhunters, so make sure to watch out for sentence structures and spelling. It may seem like a minor issue to you, but it’s certainly significant for employers. Being careless in your resume writing may reflect how careless you could be on the job.

Your contact details are wrong or improper

Check that you have supplied the correct contact details. There are instances where headhunters fail to contact applicants simply because they were unable to get in touch with them. Recruiters go through countless submissions daily and they certainly don’t have time for errors. There’s also a possibility that the email address you’re using is unfit for a job application. Always use a basic email address that has your name or initials for a professional approach.

Your resume is not detailed

Just because you have the skills and all the qualifications doesn’t mean you can easily land the position you’re applying for. Make certain that the details in your resume are complete, especially with work experiences and credentials. This will be your selling point to companies, and if you’re not serious in outlining them in detail then you certainly won’t receive the phone call you are seeking.

Your social media profile is inappropriate

Did you know that recruiters do a background check on the social media profiles of prospective candidates? Yes, companies browse your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other accounts to evaluate how you present yourself throughout the Internet. Make sure to clean up your digital tracks and keep all your posts private.

You’re not following up

One of the most crucial aspects in the hiring process that is overlooked by applicants is the interview follow-up. Don’t forget to get an update on the status of your application by giving your interviewer a call or sending a follow-up email. Employers appreciate those that have the time to do this simple task as it demonstrates how determined they are to get the position.

The post Why Employers Are Not Getting Back to You? appeared first on Fancy Resumes.