Results tagged “mentor” from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog

Writing a Proposal to Create New Position for Yourself

on June 14, 2009 4:57 PM | Permalink

This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:

Carol writes:

I have read your Quintessential Careers article Moving Up the Ladder: 10 Strategies for Getting Yourself Promoted with great interest because of my situation.

It has been recommended I write a proposal to create a new position for myself to move into. I am having a difficulty finding a template as to how to create such a document. Can you make any suggestions.

The Career Doctor responds:

If I am reading between the lines correctly, I am guessing that someone within your organization has suggested that you create this proposal, but even if I am mistaken, the advice I am suggesting will be useful.

One caveat: If you have not been encouraged to create such a proposal from someone higher in the organization, tread lightly, because management could view such a proposal as you being unhappy with your current job.

There are several keys to success here.

First, you need to conduct research. Try and determine if other similar organizations have the type of position you are proposing. If so, gather as much data as possible to build your case. And even if your search is fruitless, by conducting the research, you are building your network — and perhaps other more interesting opportunities may arise from it.

Second, you need to do a detailed (as possible) cost/benefit analysis. You have to show for the added costs of the position (including salary, benefits, etc.) that there i s also an added benefit — such as increased efficiencies, reduced costs, more revenue, etc. The more numbers you have to support your proposal, the better.

Third, you really need a champion of the new position in upper management. Someone who is going to sing your praises and push for the new position. This person could be your mentor — or anyone else in your internal network.

How likely it is to be approved depends on the strength of your proposal and how flexible the organization is to new ideas.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.

Employment Gaps on Resume: Worse for Males?

Katharine

on May 29, 2009 11:55 AM | Permalink

This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:

Rajan writes:

I have a resume that has large employment gaps. This may be OK for females, but for males, it is a no-no. I have tried different types of resume styles. Nothing.

I don’t get interviews. Is there any way to increase the number of interviews?

How should I explain my resume? At one time I stopped looking for work for about 1.5 years, the biggest gap to explain.

Then I did telemarketing and took a course in it. Telemarketing is not for me. I have stopped again for about 10 months. I don’t want to sit around. Right now I am looking for work as a network administrator. I have a background in hardware and software development, but I can’t move. In this area there is not much call for tech work.

The Career Doctor responds:

The first rule of job-hunting is never expose a weakness to the employer — and never do it before you’ve had a chance to have an interview and build a case for yourself. Yes, employers do worry about employment gaps — for both genders — but you can do some things to make the gaps less obvious and to project yourself in a better light.

First, I would recommend you experiment with a chrono-functional resume that focuses on your technical achievements and skills. If you already have one, then I suggest you ask a professional colleague, mentor, or resume professional to evaluate and critique it for you. My guess is that you are so focused on these gaps that this weakness comes through on your resume.

Second, plan a strategy for explaining these gaps. Were you doing volunteer work? Were you taking classes? Were you working part-time or as a consultant? You will need to fill these gaps with something so that it doesn’t seem as though you were just sitting home all that time (even if you were).

Third, are your technical skills current? If not, you might want to take a course or two to make you more marketable.

Fourth, once you have a professional resume and feel more confident about yourself, you need to go back into the job market. And don’t worry so much about location, as there are definitely high-tech jobs where people work from home at least some of the time. Use all the tools available to you to find a job — your network, the Internet, etc.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.

Writing a Proposal to Create New Position for Yourself

Katharine

on January 29, 2009 10:52 AM | Permalink

This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:

Carol writes:

I have read your Quintessential Careers article Moving Up the Ladder: 10 Strategies for Getting Yourself Promoted with great interest because of my situation.

The Career Doctor responds:

There are several keys to success here.

How likely it is to be approved depends on the strength of your proposal and how flexible the organization is to new ideas.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.

Employment Gaps on Resume: Worse for Males?

Katharine

on January 6, 2009 11:16 AM | Permalink

This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:

Rajan writes:

I have a resume that has large employment gaps. This may be OK for females, but for males, it is a no-no. I have tried different types of resume styles. Nothing.

I don’t get interviews. Is there any way to increase the number of interviews?

How should I explain my resume? At one time I stopped looking for work for about 1.5 years, the biggest gap to explain.

The Career Doctor responds:

Third, are your technical skills current? If not, you might want to take a course or two to make you more marketable.

Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.

Tags:

Have health goals in 2010, but no time to exercise and eat right?
Propose a flexible work arrangement and you'll have the margin of time to prepare healthier meals, work out more often and lose weight as a result. Learn more.