Do you remember Pin the Tail on the Donkey? You may look back on the childhood party game with fondness or annoyance. To be blindfolded, spun around and confused, and then asked to propel yourself in a partially unknown direction can be an exhilarating experience. For some, however, it can invoke fear and doubt to be headed toward a goal without a clear sight of exactly where you’re going.   Exhilaration mixed with fear and doubt are also some of the same emotions that we encounter when we are in the middle of switching careers. How nice it is to think of a fresh start and a new look to your day! Letting go of the mundane tasks that have controlled your work week for way too long and opening up a new door to shed light on a whole new [...]

Do you ever find yourself wanting something more? Wanting to step outside of the comfortable box where so many others reside? Desiring to stand out in a unique way?   If you find yourself flailing in your efforts to reach for more when it comes to your current job search, then perhaps you haven’t reached out toward the right resources. At Platinum Resumes, we know what it’s like to feel like you’re at a dead end. You feel tapped out because you’ve been pouring yourself into applying for job after job yet seeing no promise of an interview. You are throwing your best cards out there, but you are not gaining the attention that you hoped to get by now.   We are the solution that you have been missing all this time. The customized resumes that we create for our [...]

You know those two things that just go together? One just wouldn’t be as amazing without the other accompanying it…. Batman and Robin. Andy Griffith and Barney Fife. Peanut Butter and Jelly. Coffee and a 5am alarm clock. There is one more perfect combination that you can add to that list: Platinum Resumes and YOU!   If you feel like your resume is holding you back when it comes to your struggling job search efforts, then we need to get that piece taken care of for you. However, your resume can’t carry you every step of the way. If you want to land the job of your dreams and rise above the serious competition that stands between you and that dream, then you have to bring your drive and ingenuity to the table, as well.   At Platinum Resumes, we are [...]

Has it been eons since you last opened up your resume to take a peek at it? Some of us have forgotten about our resumes because we have been satisfied in the same job for years now. Others have chosen to forget about it because it is so outdated and too painful to even look at.   In our ever changing job market, it is important to have your resume ready to go at all times. Your company might experience some unexpected downsizing, or there may be a potential job opportunity that falls into your lap. Whenever that time arrives, you need to be caught prepared rather than scrambling to throw something together for a quick application.   By putting your old resume to rest and starting fresh, you are taking the bare bones that helped to jumpstart your career and [...]

So, you're counting down the days until your big interview! You look the part for the job and have pieced together the most professional choice of attire. You have practiced and reviewed the most frequently asked interview questions and have rehearsed them while maintaining eye contact. By the standards of many, you are perfectly ready to go. However, if you desire to stand out in a big way and become the hiring manager's top choice, you have to push yourself to the next level.    As we have discussed previously in this series, you have to maintain a solid confidence and keep your edge when it comes to steering your interview in the right direction. Your answers to questions asked of you must not be rushed but, alternatively, must not be drug out for too long. You need to speak concisely, however, you don't need to cut any corners [...]

So, hindsight is 20/20, right? We rarely have the perfect words at the opportune time, and we freeze in the middle of tough conversations and feel a total loss for words. Yet, later that day as we're replaying the scenario a hundred times over in our mind, we can think of a dozen different comebacks that would have been ideal. Losing confidence and courage in an important moment is very frustrating. What happens when one of those frustrating moments occurs right in the middle of an important job interview? You're already sweating bullets and second guessing your outfit. The commute took longer than you anticipated, and you've got less time to collect yourself than you thought you would have before they call your name to go back into "the room". With so much left to chance when it comes to your interview day, [...]

Many people believe that the hiring manager takes the reins when it comes to a job interview. He or she is responsible for selecting the job candidates and organizing the details, and the level of authority of this position does create a great amount of responsibility throughout the interview process. However, despite the take-charge position of the hiring manager, the candidate also has a a fair amount of control and sway. When it comes to the different directions that the interview can potentially go, you have more power than you realize. This potential interview power is what we are going to be focusing on in this current blog series. So many people are unaware of what it takes to fully prepare for a solid interview, all of the hours it takes to get an accurate read of the company you are interviewing [...]

Maybe it was your friend from junior high that moved across the country and lost touch. Maybe it was that random guy from a summer class in college who you exchanged notes with one day. Those connections have proved helpful in the past, and you know that it’s worth the risk of putting your nervous self out there to gain favor within great companies.   Piggybacking on last week’s blog, we know how awkward it can be to reach out to those individuals whom you haven’t talked to in ages. However, we also recognize that pushing past the awkward beginnings can bring fruitful networking relationships that will advance your career in phenomenal ways. So, where do you start? If it’s going to be awkward no matter how you look at it, then how can you cut to the chase and shoot [...]

For those who are planning a big move, securing a job on the other end is often at the top of your list of concerns. Obviously you need to find employment, but, when you're stuck out of town, there are certain limitations that you will face. Does that mean you give up even trying? Of course not. You just have to be diligent and have a solid plan of action.   You need to start by getting organized and making a list of the jobs and/or companies that are available to you in your new city. Once you have explored those possibilities within your industry, then narrow it down to the jobs that look the most exciting and align with your talents. You don't need to go into a ton of depth, but you'll want to research the bare bones of [...]

For those of you who are seasoned veterans when it comes to the work force, it can be hard to determine just how to keep from submitting a 12-page resume. With so much experience under your belt, it is hard to reduce ten or twenty years of accomplishments and learned job skills down to just one page of career highlights. However, if you fail to put in the time and effort to condense your resume, then you are limiting yourself when it comes to the opportunities before you.   When your resume is overstuffed and too wordy, then the personal brand you are building for yourself loses its focus. Even though you may be a very well-qualified, well-rounded candidate, you have to hone in and concentrate on a streamlined approach. At this stage in the game, it helps to have someone [...]