Alternative Science Careers

This article reveals several key secrets shared by various HR personnel (those that often make the hiring decisions) about resumes, interviews, and salary negotiations. Today’s post covers the first part of the article.

What you should know about resumes:

• “Once you’re unemployed more than six months, you’re considered pretty much unemployable. We assume that other people have already passed you over, so we don’t want anything to do with you.” –Cynthia Shapiro, former human resources executive and author of Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn’t Want You to Know

• “When it comes to getting a job, who you know really does matter. No matter how nice your résumé is or how great your experience may be, it’s all about connections.” –HR director at a health-care facility

• “If you’re trying to get a job at a specific company, often the best thing to do is to avoid HR entirely. Find someone at the company you know, or go straight to the hiring manager.” –Shauna Moerke, an HR administrator in Alabama who blogs at hrminion.com

• “People assume someone’s reading their cover letter. I haven’t read one in 11 years.” –HR director at a financial services firm

• “We will judge you based on your e-mail address. Especially if it’s something inappropriate like kinkyboots101@hotmail.com or johnnylikestodrink@gmail.com.” –Rich DeMatteo, a recruiting consultant in Philadelphia

• “If you’re in your 50s or 60s, don’t put the year you graduated on your résumé.” –HR professional at a midsize firm in North Carolina

• “There’s a myth out there that a résumé has to be one page. So people send their résumé in a two-point font. Nobody is going to read that.” –HR director at a financial services firm

• “I always read résumés from the bottom up. And I have no problem with a two-page résumé, but three pages is pushing it.” –Sharlyn Lauby, HR consultant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• “Most of us use applicant-tracking systems that scan résumés for key words. The secret to getting your résumé through the system is to pull key words directly from the job description and put them on. The more matches you have, the more likely your résumé will get picked and actually seen by a real person.” –Chris Ferdinandi, HR professional in the Boston area

• “Résumés don’t need color to stand out. When I see a little color, I smirk. And when I see a ton of color, I cringe. And walking in and dropping off your resume is no longer seen as a good thing. It’s actually a little creepy.” –Rich DeMatteo

And the results – The 10 best jobs for 2011 according to CareerCast.com are as follows:

1. Software engineer

A software engineer researches, designs, develops and maintains software systems along with hardware development for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes. This job requires computer knowledge, skill with numbers, and an ability to design and create software. A publisher at CareerCast stated “We are in a technological revolution right now, and there is heated demand for software engineers.” The profession is considered to have good pay, a positive hiring outlook, and low stress. Additionally, this job was pushed to number one based on the emerging web applications and cloud computing. Average income is $87,140.

2. Mathematician

A mathematician applies mathematical theories and formulas to teach or solve problems in a business, educational, or industry. Average income is $94,178.

3. Actuary

An actuary interprets statistics to determine probabilities of accidents, sickness, and death, and loss of property from theft and natural disasters. This job was number one on the list for 2010, but has declined to number three based on uncertainty regarding the insurance industry regulation. Average income is $87,204.

4. Statistician

A statistician tabulates, analyzes, and interprets the numeric results of experiments and surveys. Average income is $73,208.

5. Computer Systems Analyst

A computer systems analyst plans and develops computer systems for businesses and scientific institutions. Average income is $77,153.

6. Meteorologist

A meteorologist studies the physical characteristics, motions and processes of the earth’s atmosphere. Average income is $85,210.

7. Biologist

A biologist studies the relationship of plants and animals to their environment through research. Average income is $74,278.

8. Historian

A historian analyzes and records historical information from a specific era or according to a particular area of expertise. Average income is $63,208.

9. Audiologist

An audiologist diagnoses and treats hearing problems by attempting to discover the range, nature, and degree of hearing function. A publisher at CareerCast stated, “Alarge number of audiologists are hitting retirement age. Baby boomers, meanwhile, are reaching an age where their hearing starts to go. More patients and a demand for new professionals make audiology one of the best fields to go into in America.” Average income is $63,144.

10. Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists assist dentists in diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of a group or private dental practice. Average income is $67,107.

For more tips on the elevator speech, I recently came upon an article at Forbes entitled “5 Tips for an Elevator Pitch that Gets Results” by Susan Gunelius. Susan is the President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, a marketing communications company. She also has authored multiple business books and has over 20 years experience in marketing.

Here are Susan’s five tips from the article:

1. It’s not about you.

Believe it or not, no one cares about you.  They want to know what you can do for them.  It’s the classic law of “What’s in it for me” that copywriters (myself included) follow to craft compelling and effective marketing messages that drive results.  Your elevator pitch should address your audience’s problems and offer solutions.  It should focus on the benefits that the audience will get from working with you, so they understand that they can’t live without you!

2. One size does not fit all.

It is essential that you modify your elevator pitch to match the person (or people) listening to it.  For example, you shouldn’t use the same elevator pitch with a hiring manager that you would with a prospective client or with a potential investor.  These are very different audiences who have very different needs from you.  Make sure your elevator pitch addresses those needs appropriately.

3. Leave out the fluff.

Keep it short and succinct.  Omit extraneous details that don’t directly affect your audience.  A cluttered elevator pitch is an ineffective elevator pitch.

4. Tell them what makes you better than the rest.

Don’t be afraid to tell your audience what makes you different from your competitors.  In other words, toot your own horn and explain exactly what you bring to the table that your competition does not.

5. Practice makes perfect.

No one will want to listen to your elevator pitch if it sounds like an elevator pitch.  In other words, practice your elevator pitch so you can deliver it in a conversational tone that does not sound like you’re reading a speech from cue cards.