God has to be the ultimate lemonade maker for he has told us “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 – NIV). To me, this verse isn’t assuring me that my life will be easy but that when I am facing difficult situations that God is there to help me. In essence, when we only see the lemons life has handed us, God can see the whole picture and is in the background ready to help us turn those lemons into lemonade.

Losing a job or making a career change usually isn’t easy. I can speak from experience here because I have experienced job loss (in early 1990 and again in 1996).  One was by lay-off and the other by choice, but neither was easy. All I could see was the lemons and I didn’t realize that God was standing ready in the background to turn my lemons into a refreshing glass of lemonade.

I really wasn’t prepared for either type of job loss or career transition scenarios. After the layoff, I did not have an updated resume or a plan of action. In essence, I was caught on an emotional roller coaster and did not know what to do next.

Yes, things worked out for good but with a tad bit of preparation I believe things would have gone a whole lot more smoothly. How?

* Updated Resume – With an updated document, I would have been prepared to hit the ground running and seek out new opportunities. Even without job loss, we never know what opportunity (or refreshing glass of lemonade) God may have for us around the next corner. Always, always, always have an updated resume ready.

* Networking – Broaden your network by meeting and connecting with new people. It is through relationships that unexpected doors may open. Join groups or use social media applications such as LinkedIn or Facebook to expand your network.

* Focus on the Process – Respond to people’s inquiries and don’t take rejection personally. If you are not the right fit for their needs,
that is ok. Continue to seek God’s will and, if you are out of work, volunteer.

Losing a job is stressful but by doing some planning before you are faced with a layoff or career transition, the impact can be minimized and the length of time shortened.

Northeast Indiana – August 15, 2011

Tammy Shoup, Executive Director of Breakthrough Resume Writing Service
has been recognized with publication in the recently released edition of
Gallery of Best Resumes by JIST Publishing, a national publishing company
dedicated to the careers industry.

In the Gallery of Best Resumes, Tammy’s professional resume writing expertise was
put to the test among hundreds of other resume writer submissions and this achievement
further demonstrates Ms. Shoups’ intense dedication to quality, professionalism and as a
leader in her career field. Her work can also be seen in several other JIST and Barron’s publications.

Breakthrough Resume Writing Service provides full-service professional resume and cover
letter writing services to people from both mainstream employment and pastoral / ministry arenas.
To learn more about Breakthrough Resume Writing Service, visit www.BreakthroughResumes.com.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a potential client who was attempting to prepare a resume for the first time in her life.  She is a 17 year teaching veteran and the “simple task of writing (a resume) had become a dreaded project” for her to tackle. I feel the same type of frustration when I am asked to do tasks that I am not really qualified to do or passionate about completing.

As the above client quickly ascertained, there are many components to writing an effective resume but the most important one is usually overlooked. Simplicity.

HR professionals, selection committees, and recruiters will not take extra time to sort through a complex multi-page document.
Less is better. Concentrate on key skills, keep the information factual, and avoid unnecessary details.

Begin your resume with the basics – Contact Information, Summary, Work History, and Education.

Contact Information – Full Name, Current Address, Most Used Contact Phone #, and Email Address

Summary – Craft a cohesive statement that is focused, positive, and gives an accurate but brief overview of your key
skills and ability. Remember the intent of your resume is to market your abilities and secure interviews. Quickly establish why you are “the” candidate.

Work History – Include employer name (include city and state if positions are not focused within one region), dates of employment (by year; 2007 – 2011 rather than by month 3/2007 – 4/2011) and position held. Bullet points should be used for accomplishment statements or to highlight efforts. No need to provide detail after detail or information dating beyond 15 years.

Education – Experienced individuals should place education at the bottom of the page. Recent graduates after the Summary information.

Ministry specific resumes — utilize personal information including marital status, number of children, and hobbies (health status is optional).

Pastoral Proclamation – Core beliefs. Again, simplicity is key so save major details for the interview.

References – References may be listed at the bottom of the page or prepared as a collateral piece that matches the resume and cover letter.

In closing, play the role of employer or selection committee. In hiring a candidate, what essential information would you need to know to qualify a candidate? First and foremost, make sure the information you have selected is focused on the position you are seeking. Second, weed out any redundancies so each entry is fresh and captivating. And lastly, make sure your document is spelling error free.

If you have started out trying to write your own document and have ended up frustrated and dreading what to say next,
get in touch with a certified professional resume writer who will communicate your value with excellence and passion.

About the Author:
Tammy Shoup, Executive Director and Head Writer of Breakthrough Résumés, is among a small number of professional résumé writers in the U.S. who has earned the title of Certified Professional Résumé Writer from the Professional Association of Résumé Writers / Career Coaches. Her firm is the country’s leading Christian resume writing service dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates and Ministry Workers develop dynamic job search documents that win interviews.Shoup is also a member of the National Résumé Writers’ Association and Career Directors International. Her activity in both organizations ensures that her knowledge of industry and employment trends remains current. It also indicates her dedication to continuing education in her industry. Her work is published in both JIST and Barron’s career books. Please review Shoup’s information at www.breakthroughrésumés.com or www.tammyshoup.com or inquire directly to Tammy Shoup at awordpro@aol.com

Wishing you the best in your job search campaign! †

Did you know LinkedIn profiles without photos are far less effective than those that include a photo? A photo puts a friendly person behind the name and the title and adds warmth to your professional profile. If you haven’t done so already, get out of the shadows and add a photo to your LinkedIn account today. This simple act demonstrates confidence and makes you recognizable.

About the Author:

Tammy Shoup, Executive Director and Head Writer of Breakthrough Résumés, is among a small number of professional résumé writers in the U.S. who has earned the title of Certified Professional Résumé Writer from the Professional Association of Résumé Writers / Career Coaches. Her firm is the country’s leading Christian resume writing service dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates and Ministry Workers develop dynamic job search documents that win interviews.
 
Shoup is also a member of the National Résumé Writers’ Association and Career Directors International. Her activity in both organizations ensures that her knowledge of industry and employment trends remains current. It also indicates her dedication to continuing education in her industry. Her work is published in both JIST and Barron’s career books. Please review Shoup’s information at www.breakthroughrésumés.com or www.tammyshoup.com or inquire directly to Tammy Shoup at awordpro@aol.com

Wishing you the best in your job search campaign! †

I am always amazed at how fast the years seem to fly by. Every January we look forward to another year of promise, a new beginning, an opportunity to start over and perhaps learn from mistakes made the previous year. We have already embarked on another year and are in its second month. Are you being Called into another career field or have you thought about making a lateral career move?

If so, the first step in any successful job search is to arm yourself with a powerful resume that will open doors and generate interviews. Your resume should clearly communicate who you are, what you can do, and how well you do it.

Breakthrough Résumés specializes in helping job seekers with their job search campaign documents. We are skilled at developing resumes from scratch, fully rewriting resumes, or polishing job campaign documents.

We can help you show a little personality, summarize important facts, and clearly communicate how you can make a difference so you don’t lose interview opportunities.

Need help with your resume? Send me an email today.

About the Author:

Tammy Shoup, Executive Director and Head Writer of Breakthrough Résumés, is among a small number of professional résumé writers in the U.S. who has earned the title of Certified Professional Résumé Writer from the Professional Association of Résumé Writers / Career Coaches.

Shoup is also a member of the National Résumé Writers’ Association and Career Directors International. Her activity in both organizations ensures that her knowledge of industry and employment trends remains current. It also indicates her dedication to continuing education in her industry. Her work is published in both JIST and Barron’s career books. Please review Shoup’s information at www.breakthroughrésumés.com or www.tammyshoup.com or inquire directly to Tammy Shoup at awordpro@aol.com

Wishing you the best in your job search campaign! †

I recently found an inspirational blog via FaceBook that can be found at www.sheseeks.org. This week’s inspirational entry challenges people to view their New Year’s resolutions with a fresh outlook and then filter out the one thing that can be done today. Although the blog is speaking of life as a whole, it certainly applies to the job seeker.

Rather than looking at your job search as a lump sum adventure, break apart each component into what can be done today.

Recently, I had the opportunity to help a client with a wealth of experience in management, pastoral care, counseling, and writing. He finished his MBA and in less than 72 hours he had his first offer to break into the non-profit world as an Executive Director in training. He simplified, narrowed his choices, focused his resume on important information and secured the job of his dreams.

What one thing can you do today?

About the Author:

Tammy Shoup, Executive Director and Head Writer of Breakthrough Résumés, is among a small number of professional résumé writers in the U.S. who has earned the title of Certified Professional Résumé Writer from the Professional Association of Résumé Writers / Career Coaches.

Shoup is also a member of the National Résumé Writers’ Association and Career Directors International. Her activity in both organizations ensures that her knowledge of industry and employment trends remains current. It also indicates her dedication to continuing education in her industry. Her work is published in both JIST and Barron’s career books. Please review Shoup’s information at www.breakthroughrésumés.com or www.tammyshoup.com or inquire directly to Tammy Shoup at awordpro@aol.com

Wishing you the best in your job search campaign! †