By Ann Eastham
Contributor, Career Services

Haven’t heard the expression? It’s ok; I hadn’t either, until recently. “Purple squirrel” is a term for a job candidate who has the exact education, experience, and qualifications needed for a particular position. It means that you have the ability to step into a position and immediately perform your job responsibilities. The exact origin of the term is unknown, but it has been widely used by hiring managers and recruiters since at least the late 90’s. Why a purple squirrel? Because the chances of finding someone with the exact qualifications that you are seeking are as rare as a real-life purple squirrel. So, what are you to do?

By Marcia Powers
Contributor, Career Services

You’re ready to apply for a job. You possess all of the required skills and qualifications, and you’re sure that you are the best candidate for the position. You’ve polished up your resume, but you’re still a bit hesitant to submit it. What if the employer scans over some of your qualifications? If only there was a way to immediately highlight who you are as a professional and why you are the ideal candidate for the position. Fortunately, there is, and it’s called a profile statement.

By Cathy Francois
Contributor, Career Services

I believe that tenured professionals have a lot to offer employers, and many hiring managers appreciate the experience and knowledge that “seasoned” professionals bring. However, let’s face it: we live in a culture that values youthfulness – as shown by our billion dollar beauty industry. Given that there are laws to protect workers age 40 and older against age discrimination, I think job seekers owe it to themselves to keep age off of their resume and avoid unintentionally aging themselves.

By Jaymie Pompeo
Contributor, Career Services

Creating resume bullet points for past work experience can be quite the mission. We all know listing job duties will not impress anyone. Only the job function is mentioned, which doesn’t provide any insight into who you are. Accomplishments, on the other hand, explain how well you execute the task. Not only do they provide a glimpse of your successes, but they demonstrate the potential you have as a future employee.

One reason veterans may leave off their military service from their resumés is the advice they receive from peers and online resumé-writing services.

By Adrienne Erin
Contributor, Online Career Tips

No prospective employer wants to read a dry, detailed-yet-vague laundry list of job duties from your recent employment. Chances are that you find your job duties as boring to list as employers find them useless to read. If you’ve never been taught to quantify your accomplishments on resumes, it may seem a confusing and daunting task. Luckily, it’s really quite straightforward.

By Rowe Leathers
Contributor, Career Services

Applying for a new job is sometimes a necessary evil, with candidates often finding themselves overwhelmed with job descriptions, resumes, and cover letters. While the process of applying and interviewing for jobs may be daunting for candidates, take a moment and consider the process from the point of view of recruiters and hiring managers.

By Cathy Francois, MBA, GCDF
Contributor, Career Services

The most common resume style is the chronological resume. However, sometimes the chronological order of your life doesn’t work in your favor. This could be the result of a gap in employment due to school, illness, time served in the military, or a break to raise a family. In addition, you may have switched from one industry or career to other, and your most recent experience does not highlight your potential for your desired career very well. I recommend bringing function to your resume by using a functional style resume, which allows you to highlight specific experience, skills, and/or knowledge as it relates to the career you are seeking.

By Adrienne Erin
Contributor, Online Career Tips

Finding employment is a difficult job in and of itself. Having a resume with unnecessary details will only make that job harder for you. When an employer sees your resume, it reflects who you are and whether you might be qualified for the job. However, there are many things that will make them think the opposite.