Getting your resume noticed by a prospective employer is an art, especially in a down economy. As a result, you have to find a way to stand out from the stack of resumes, which is something I’m quite adept at doing.

After my employer laid me off in February 2009, one of the first things I did was create an online resume on Monster and CareerBuilder; however, I also prepared a Word version of my resume. I have learned that recruiters always ask for a Word version of my resume, so I make sure that presentation is everything in the one I provide. Here are a few guidelines I suggest when preparing your resume for a prospective employer:

Customize/Create Your Own Look & Feel

I realize that not everyone is adept in Word or designing templates from scratch, so some people use the standard templates available in Word. Unfortunately, many use those same designs and never change anything to personalize the look of the resume. A prospective employer will not discard your resume if you use standard Word templates; however, if you have a personal stamp to your resume’s design, it is likely to stand out.

If you are using a standard Word template, take time to tweak the design. If you are a proficient Word user, try creating your own resume template. You can always refer to the templates as a guideline. Look at different resume template styles, and mix and match the things you like to create your own look for your resume. While you should keep your resume’s design professional, you can also be a little creative. For my resume, I used a clip art design in the header to designate my profession. When I interviewed with my prospective employer (now my current employer), the hiring manager commented on the impressive design and structure of my resume. Therefore, how your resume looks matters and creates a lasting impression if designed well. (more…)

I was laid off for 48 days after getting laid off on February 2, 2009. On March 23, 2009, I walked back into an office complex as an employee. In this economy, I consider finding a job so quickly a miracle. As I chronicled on Twitter, I’m extremely grateful and thankful to be working again. Thanks to everyone who has been supportive of me during my layoff. I appreciate you.

On February 2, 2009, I was terminated by my employer due to business considerations. In short, I was laid off due to cutbacks, which was an effect of the economic downturn hitting everyone, everywhere. I can’t say that I didn’t see this coming, so I wasn’t overly shocked when they told me. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had been mentally preparing myself for this possible outcome for several months. I tried to stay positive and hoped that the down economy wouldn’t grab me in its clutches, but I couldn’t evade its hungry claws.

I worked for my former employer for nearly two years. I left my Fortune 500 corporate job due to the corruption and craziness going on around me for an opportunity at a small firm. I felt I would be relatively safe from the corporate politics which plagued me previously, which I was, and somewhat safe from the huge, annual layoffs that the Fortune 500 company I worked at. All in all, working for my former employer was not a bad experience. I appreciated them for rescuing me from my corporate gig and gave my all (and then some) the two years that I worked there. Yes, I had my frustrations like anyone would at any job, but other than my own desire to change careers in recent months, it wasn’t a totally miserable experience working there. (more…)

If you’ve been following me on Twitter, then you’re well aware of my frustrations with my current career path. I’m an IT worker who loves technology but can’t bare the thought of continuing to work the type of IT work that I do. Quite frankly…it’s boring and completely unchallenging. But writing is not.

I’ve been writing since I was in middle school. The first fictional piece I ever wrote was a play for my English class. We were given an assignment to come up with ideas, write a play, and perform the play in front of the class. None of the classmates in my group wanted to take responsibility for writing the play, so I decided to do it. Other than my English assignments for class, I had no kind of writing experience or interest in writing. But I took up the task of writing the play and eventually ended up directing it as well. I guess I did a pretty good job at it since my group got an “A” and a standing ovation from our fellow classmates. Even though my English teacher pulled me to the side and told me that she saw me becoming a great writer one day, that career path wasn’t in my future. I struggled against the idea of being a writer vs. the career path my parents had drilled in me for years: college and a good job that would make me lots of money. Even though I continued to write fictional stories, I kept going down the path my parents wanted for me for the most part. I dropped out of college but did end up landing a good job where I make “lots of money.” The problem is, I don’t want a job anymore. That’s just not enough for me. This 9 to 5 crap just isn’t working for me, and I’m struggling with it more and more cause I’m suppressing my artistic nature for a lifeless career in IT. (more…)

In a slowing economy and a world where gas prices are out of control, I noticed many commuters seeking alternate forms of transportation. Some are carpooling or taking the bus to work. Some are buying the Toyota Prius, which I have seen a high ratio driving on the streets recently; seriously, I spot at least one Prius daily (and it’s not the same vehicle, either). Some are parking their cars to drive newly purchased scooters. Nevertheless, out of all these forms of transportation, I have noticed the largest increase with people biking to work on bicycles.

It’s not unusual for me to see people riding bikes in my city, but I typically notice them near the college campuses and on Sundays where people are masquerading as Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. However, I have noticed bicyclists sharing the road with motorists in places where I previously didn’t see them. My city has had bike lanes for years on certain highways, but you never saw any bikers using them until the gas price scams hikes. While I’m all for people who choose to bike around the city, some are doing so at the expense of their lives.

While I’m sure bike messengers and bikers (in general) dying in New York and other larger cities is a common experience, that’s not the case where I live. My city is downright small when you compare it against New York, Los Angeles, and even Miami. However, my city is large enough where we have busy morning rush hour and evening commute traffic jams between 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. In fact, there has been an alarming rise in bicycle deaths and serious accidents over the past few months, enough to garner ongoing coverage in the newspaper here. Based on what I’ve read, the bicyclists who are getting hit by motorists are almost always at fault. They weren’t following the rules of the road and as a result, they are landing in hospitals with serious injuries or worse because of it. As motorists, we have an obligation to share the road responsibly with bicyclists, but in many cases, the bicyclists don’t seem to reciprocate. I think some believe they have the right of way at all times and that it’s okay to break the rules of the road. It’s either that or they’ve seen too many underground bicycle videos and think they’re in an alley cat race (with non-existent bicyclists) when they’re on the road. (more…)