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Home » Business And Finance Articles » When Wellwritten Resumes Dont Work

When Well-Written Resumes Don't Work

Job seekers spend more time fretting over their resumes than any other process during a job search. This is because most believe that the resume serves as a magic bullet. But no matter how great you sound on paper, the reality is that a resume can get you only so far in the job search, even if it is well written.

The job search is made up of several key components including your outlook, job search activities, and interview performance. Each component builds on the next and if you lack strength in one area, your search will be handicapped. Below are telltale signs that your job search may be in jeopardy and the quick fixes you can incorporate to increase the chances your job search will be successful.

Signs You Have an Unenthusiastic Outlook

• You are quick to dismiss someone's advice by making statements such as, "That doesn't work. I tried it." Solution: Keep an open mind when someone is offering you guidance, even if you have heard the advice before. Sometimes it takes a few times for a message to penetrate.
• After an interview you find yourself making comments such as, "The moment the interviewer saw me, I could tell he wanted someone younger." Solution: No jobseeker is the perfect candidate. Some are too old, others are too young; some don't have much experience while others have too much.
• You send out emails that read, "I sent a resume early last week and followed up, and you never returned my phone call. Are you ignoring me?" Solution: When you feel overwhelmed, frustrated or just plain angry, take a walk and clear your head before you send an offensive email.
• You aren't taking personal responsibility for your own job search, instead blaming external factors for your lack of progress. Solution: There are some aspects of your job you can't control, but the ones that you can (e.g. the number of calls made per day, networking events attended), take seriously.

Signs You Are Taking the Passive Approach

• You haven't developed a job search plan and are flying by the seat of your pants. Solution: Don't wing it. Take the time to map out a strategy and write it down. Don't rely on your memory. There is something about writing down thoughts that makes you more accountable.
• You're going it alone without the guidance of an interview coach and/or career coach. Solution: Partner with someone who will provide objective and constructive feedback. In doing so, you will be able to identify areas of strength and those that need improvement.
• You adopt the if-they-are-interested-they-will-call-me approach and never follow up. Solution: Take the initiative to call employers to inquire about the status of your application.

Signs Your Interview Skills Could Use Some Work

• You are always second best. Solution: Call past interviewers and ask them why you didn't receive an offer. When you make it that far in the process, interviewers are more likely to disclose the reason you weren't selected.
• You walk out of an interview saying, "Darn it! Why did I say that?" or "I wish I had mentioned my experience in ________." Solution: After each interview, jot down everything you said that didn't work, and how you would rephrase it for the next interview. Then, when you get home or back to the office, write a thank-you note to the interviewer(s) that mentions the lacking information or carefully revisits what you wish you hadn't said.
• Every time you leave an interview you believe your performance was strong, but you never receive a job offer. Solution: Work with a Certified Interview Coach or a professional who specializes in interview training who will be able to assist you in discovering and correcting the problem.

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Various Aspects Of The Lease Purchase Business

In a previous article, we wrote why we believe that Lease Purchasing is the perfect home-based business, here we want to briefly touch on some of the actual aspects of operating such a business, the pluses and minuses and why Lease Purchasing represents a win-win situation for the seller, the tenant/buyer and just as importantly, you, as the business owner.

One of your goals in operating a Lease Purchase business is to contract for property that you then move to the tenant/buyer. There are a number of unique strategies that can be employed to reach this end.

You can lease purchase the property and then sub-lease to a tenant/buyer. In this strategy, you are taking on the responsibility for all payments to the seller. However, it also affords you great profit potential. You can collect money up front as option consideration, you receive the positive cash flow and you can make additional money at the end if the option is exercised. For those of you not familiar with the term positive cash flow, this is the difference between what the tenant/buyer pays you and what you pay to the original seller. This is also known as a sandwich lease purchase.

Another unique strategy is called the co-operative assignment. Here, you contract for a property and assign or sell that contract to a tenant/buyer, with the approval of the seller. In other words, the owner/seller has final approval over who goes into the home.

Another way of doing business is the straight assignment. Here, you contract for a property and assign or sell that contract to a tenant/buyer. This method does not require a seller's approval.

You can also take a pure option on a property which allows you to purchase the home at a future date with set terms. This option can then be sold to another investor.

As you can see, there are a number of unique strategies that can be employed in this business. We have touched on just some of them to give you an idea of the type of income Lease Purchasing can generate for you.

After you've gained experience in the business, you can start consulting with sellers and tenant/buyers. There are many reasons you may want to consult with a seller rather than get directly involved in the deal. The property may be to distant to work conveniently, there may not be enough money in it for you to receive what you need, or the seller may prefer to do it him or herself.

When you consult with a seller, you are providing the proper contract, a marketing plan and supporting material. We also provide a period of time for follow-up questions.

You can also consult with tenant/buyers. You may want to do this with those individuals who have limited funds available to get into a rent to own home. There are also occasions where people just prefer to do their own house hunting.

We've really just touched on the various ways to generate income with a Lease Purchase business. Lease Purchasing allows you to develop multiple income streams. By utilizing all of the income generating strategies available to you, you can build a very solid financial base for yourself.

We've covered many of the pluses of Lease Purchasing as a business, but we'd be less than honest not to point out some of the minuses.

If you're the type of individual who has poor attention to detail, this may not be for you. You need to be able to keep good records of whom you spoke to and do business with.

Also, if you're an impatient type and don't like to do "hand holding", again this may not be for you. There are many deals where you will need to be able to walk the participants through and provide constant reinforcement to them.

Although the risk level in this business is minimal, there are some risks involved. You may contract for a property and not move it for example. If you're adverse to any risk, re-think Lease Purchasing as a business for you.

In our opinion, Lease Purchasing provides a truly win-win scenario for all parties. You get to help a seller who has a problem, you provide a nice home in a nice area for the tenant/buyer that they can get into today and buy tomorrow and finally, you are generating a wonderful income for yourself. This is a business that can be operated anywhere there are free property rights.

Believe us when we say that Lease Purchasing is the best business we will ever own. It's that good!

Copyright 2002, DeFiore Enterprises.