Deborah Radman: Stress Accomplishments

Deborah Radman, senior vice president/director at CKPR, has prepared this tip sheet for job seekers:

• Be proactive. Don't rely on job feeds and job alerts, but use a targeted job board like the PRSA JobcenterTM.
• Throw out old resume myths.
• Tell them what you accomplished, not what you did. Show how many sales you created, press coverage you generated, etc.
• Dump the "professional summary." Use valuable up-front space for key qualifications - get recruiters to read on.
• Don't trust spellcheck: Proof your resume, have others proof it and then proof it again. One typo can knock you out of the running.
• Network. Network. Network. Contacts are key; look for conferences, seminars and events sponsored by professionals associations like PRSA.
• Engage Social Media. Use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and look for "job of the day" tweets, too. Profiles, though, must be totally professional.
• Find a mentor. A mentor can bring years of experience to bear for resume writing, interviewing techniques, and industry perspective.
• Use All Job Board Resources. Look beyond listings. Many job boards, like PRSA JobcenterTM, offer a career library, an "Ask the Experts" forum, and formal mentorship programs.
• Do your homework. Research a company before you interview and create a "mock presentation" on how you can help the organization.
• Pay attention to timing. Keep on top of all leads; a company may start hiring again soon, and you'll be the first to know.
• Read instructions carefully. Companies' application procedures differ, and so read the instructions. It's the first screening filter companies use.