Making the Right CV:

The most critical step of all is to make the right CV, your CV should always be according to the latest market trends, three years back Objective was an integral part of resumes , today its waste of potential space, four – five years back we used to list out Personal information like father name NIC number Marital Status on the top / front page, this list now contains fewer items and falls on the last page of your CV.

The second most important thing is your CV should match to the job you are applying to, specifically for the entry level positions, the freshers have a generic degree and they fit in a wide cadre of jobs, and to compensate the lack of experience they fill up the CV with all sorts of information matching all types of requirements, DO NOT DO this, make sure you modify your CV as per the job requirements, I understand that some of you might have experience in say both Web Development and Network Programming, but if the recruiter is not looking for that then by entering information and projects about these two skills will only confuse the recruiter waste his time and at the end will damage your chances of getting short listed. If you feel changing the CV for every job is tough and time consuming, make multiple copies with each resume catering and highlighting one SPECIFIC set of skills.

The third very crucial thing is DO NOT LIE, in the second step I have said to modify the CV this modification by any chance do not mean that you should lie about the skills you do not have or the projects you have not done. The recruiters are professional people, and it is their job to analyze the resume, one look over it and they know how much you have lied in the document and trust me it gives the worst impression, probably you might sneak through the first filter but the moment you are in the interview and the panel realizes that you have lied in your resume, they would grill you like anything for wasting their time and this grilling will make you demotivated and will break your confidence for any future interview. Hence Do NOT Lie, have some faith its a career and you should start it on the right foot. Be TRUE in your CV

Coming towards the components of Resume, the market trend changes every now and then, as of yet what’s in.

1. Compactness:
With the advent of internet the worse thing is Over Flow of information, in the past a recruiter had 10-20 CVs to look in and decide which is a better potential candidate, I remember when I started my career we were told that your CV has three minutes to make an impression, gradually this interval became one minute and Nowadays a recruiter has ONLY 30 seconds to review and judge your CV, only after the 30 seconds he will decide if he has to put you in the second review list or not. So be sure whatever you enter on the first page is the most relevant.

2. Contact Info:
The first and most important section in your resume is contact information, I have personally seen a CV of a pretty promising candidate who had all the qualification but didn’t write the contact information and I had to look through various records in order to reach him, not every recruiter does that, hence always make sure that your contact information is at a highly visible location, also addition of a document footer with your Name, CV Page and your phone number is a good practice. Also always make sure that your contact information is most recent.

3. Email Addresses:
Though a pretty stupid yet most frequent seen mistake, your CV is a professional document, even if you have an email address since the grade 8, if it is of the likes of boogieman47@XYZ.com or sweet_princeses@ABC.net PLEASE do not add it to your CV, try getting a serious looking email firstname.lastname is normally the easily available address on various free email services or F.Lastname can do the trick, if you can’t get any other reasonable looking email address, add some random number to your first name, make sure that random number is not your birth year.

4. Bye Objective Welcome Profile:
Writing I want to be The Best of the best as an objective is as old as a floppy disk now, the time has changed and so are the fields in resume, now you write Profile on the top most section of your CV, the level of Profile is right after your Name and contact information. Your profile should give a brief intro about you and the things you can do in NOT More than 2 lines. Use key words instead of complete sentences i.e. instead of writing “I am a Computer Engineer and have interest in Programming C language, I have also worked on Cisco Switches” what you should write is “Computer Engineer with expertise in C Programming, Data Networks specifically Cisco”, this not only gives a mature look to your resume but also saves precious space.

5. Experience,Qualification and Certification:
These three sections are the most shuffled sections of your resume, you have to change the order as per the job requirement you are applying to.

6. Certification and Trainings:
If you have got a training on some specific technology, make sure you have got the certification from an International or National credible authority, the training certificates of small institutes and colleges are useless, hence if you get a training get a certification in it asap, I know it is costly, but with out a certificate from Cisco even your CCIE training is no match to a CCNA certificate holder, and this is valid for all the trainings be it Computer or some other technical training in Electronics, Safety or Ticketing. You should have a certificate from a reputed standardized organization to compliment your profile

7. Projects:
This section is gradually getting obsolete, however this is a personal favorite and highly useful if you are a fresh graduate or have done projects which were not directly under your current job description but were completed by you because of any reason.

Since in certain case the list of projects is quite long, hence I recommend keep all the projects in CV and delete the unnecessary ones while sending the CV. However, if you feel lazy (which you should not) in that case 2-3 projects are more than enough in this area, Projects section should never be on the first page, it is a second page item. However, if you are at entry level and trying to use projects to complement experience then it can come on the front page as well.

8. Skills:
This section is pretty important during entry and mid level positions, again use key words here instead of sentences, if overall look of CV allows you can add the skills in columns.

9. Hobbies and Interests:
This section has gone completely obsolete, if you just want to fill up some space use Interest section instead of Hobbies and in the interest section even only add the professional interest i.e. web development or blogging etc, don’t enter Playing Football or cricket unless you are applying on some special quota.

10. Memberships:
If you have a valuable membership i.e. of a national or internationally acknowledged body like PEC / PMDC / IEEE / ICMA do include it in your CV, as sometimes companies need certain certified members to bid in specific tenders. But membership of a local gym or cricket club is again a big NO.

10. Personal Information:
Once on the top now this section falls in the bottom, do not add unnecessary information like Father’s name and Blood group here, they don’t need to know your height, gender or age here as well, the only things which should be included here are If you have a driving license, passport number (if you are not a national for security check), languages you speak or any other information which you think might be of interest to the employer

11. References:
This section is also near obsolete, normally a reference can be furbished upon request is used, I personally recommend adding one or two previous bosses as a reference, so that the employer knows that you have not lied. Or if you have a friend/relative already working in the company you are applying, you can mention them as a reference only after their consent.

Please help me welcome Rashmi!

Most business owners understand that running a business involves risk.  However, these companies most often overlook risk management.

 Obtaining insurance for your property and equipment is important but not the only aspect of risk mitigation.  An effective risk management plan goes beyond insurance.  You prepare for marketplace risk through your business plan. In the same way you need to prepare for the risks of illness, disability, damages, losses, injuries, and even disasters.[i]

What is Risk and how is it perceived?

 Most people perceive risk as a bad thing.  However, risk is the probability that good or bad things may happen that will impact your business objectives.

 Therefore risk management is:

• Identifying and minimizing events that can negatively impact your objectives.
• Identifying and maximizing events that can positively impact your objectives.

 How do you begin?

 The first step in a risk mitigation plan is to identify the types of risk that your business may face.  Some risks are common to all businesses and some are specific to your business.

Cheerful and happy employees naturally provide superior customer service.

A proactive accounting team constantly seeks opportunities to provide both its internal and external customers with the information and documentation that they need to effectively achieve their objectives.  The team members need to go beyond fulfilling the requests of the internal customers promptly and accurately;  they need to think outside the box to develop new reports and ways to view data to enhance strategic planning, particularly revenue and profitability growth.  Furnishing exceptional service to the purchasers augments  the efforts of the sales and customer service personnel.  Working closely with vendors, financiers and outside consultants reduces costs as much as feasible.

Cheerful and happy associates naturally provide superior customer service.  They take pride in their company, their department, and their performance.  They want to do their best and strive to exceed expectations.

The team’s leader has an entrepreneurial vision for both the department and the company as a whole.  This executive sets clear goals , communicates effectively, builds trust, holds team members accountable and recognizes their efforts and accomplishments.  When setting goals, I have found that employees appreciate having the desired results specified, but value the prospect of using their creativity to determine the method.  Communication involves  two-way dialogue; in order to keep staff engaged and motivated, the manager needs to solicit input, be available and encourage learning and growth.  Finally, it is essential to recognize and reinforce team members’ efforts as well as their accomplishments.

Principle:  Remembering your financiers and professional service consultants achieves cost savings.

A 1 percent reduction in the interest rate on a $3 million loan adds $30,000 to pretax profit annually.

Often ignored as a source of profit, an excellent relationship between the accounting department and your financiers and  professional service providers can garner significant rewards.  Delivering accurate financial data on time or ahead of schedule, speedy reply to inquiries, and attentive assistance at audits, lowers both the banker’s cost of servicing your account and his perception of your firm’s risk level.  Benefits include increased credit extension, lower interest rates and reduced fees.  Providing your CPA firm with records and backup documentation required in a timely manner will keep hours billed to a minimum and may earn a discounted or project rate.  Responding to requests from marketing and other consultants will gain similar advantages.

I know from my experience as a commercial lending officer and credit analyst that after capacity, capital and collateral are judged acceptable, character, including customer responsiveness, is a factor included when setting the conditions for the extension of credit.  This is not inconsequential; a 1 percent reduction in the interest rate on a $3 million loan adds $30,000 to pretax profit annually.

Professional service firms,  unquestionably, take client history into account when establishing rates.  CPA firms, for example, look at the timesheets from the previous years’ audits when quoting a fee.  Some consultants even include an “aggravation factor” when determining their proposed charges.

I have always maintained excellent relationships with bankers, accountants, attorneys, designers, and marketing consultants.  At Mandel and Company, we undertook a minor renovation of the Los Angeles showroom in 1984.  The relationship that was forged between my team and the designer/space planner enabled me to negotiate excellent terms for three future projects.  In my capacity as the liaison between a client and his CPA firm, I was able to lower the annual cost of professional accounting fees by 75% through reduction in hours billed.

Question: Does your firm need to improve service to your financiers and consultants in order to merit the best rates?

About the Author

Contact Information:  Elaine Mandel, Mobile: 949-422-1299, Email: elainemandel@cox.net

http://linkedin.com/in/elainemandel

Innovation, Vision & Experience

Elaine Mandel has had more than 20 successful and fulfilling years providing management and accounting solutions.   Her career really began when she left the world of commercial lending and became the treasurer of a wholesale furniture business in Chicago.  When the opportunity arose to expand into the Los Angeles marketplace, she moved to California to head up the West Coast operation.

Within a two-month period, she launched the startup from conception to grand opening. This entailed creating a business plan, incorporating, obtaining bank financing, leasing showroom space, hiring a staff, negotiating product distribution agreements, and throwing a grand opening party.

Ms. Mandel built the “Mandel & Company” brand from scratch, generating sales of $650,000 in the first year, and growing sales by 300% to $2.5 million over the next 4 years.  During the same period, she increased gross margin from 23% to 35%.  She achieved this by mentoring her team to provide exceptional customer service, constantly analyzing and refining the product mix, and developing outstanding vendor relationships. Since then, Ms. Mandel has held several senior management positions in wholesale and retail.  She has also worked with professional service providers, property management and non-profit entities, on a consulting basis.

She sees the big picture and understands the information needs of executives to facilitate their planning and control decisions as well as the creativity to gather, analyze and present that information in the format which best suits the executive team.  She is also adept in designing presentations to address the interests of bankers, directors and shareholders.

She earned a Master of Management with distinction from Northwestern University, majoring in both Finance and Accounting, and received Distinguished Scholar certification. Ms. Mandel also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

Cartoons reprinted with the permission of Randy Glasbergen, http://www.glasbergen.com

Great service never goes out of style.  Not for Norstrom’s or for your organization.  Elaine Mandel continues with part 4 of her 6 part series.  I’m enjoying the phone calls and emails from those who are enjoying her series.

Good rapport with your suppliers will help you cut costs and grow revenue.

I’ve had some very interesting responses to Elaine Mandel’s special report.  It seems she has struck a nerve.  Please share your thoughts.  Here is the next installment.

Principle:  Using honey instead of vinegar hastens collections while solidifying customer relationships.

Extension of credit is the prevalent practice in the B2B world, and invariably, there comes a time when a customer does not make payment by the due date. When a firm employs sound credit policy, only occasionally is this delay due to true inability to pay.  Much more frequently, when an invoice becomes past due, it is because the customer has no sense of urgency to remit.  This is especially true when the customer’s policy is to pay as late as possible without incurring a penalty, or when there is a quality, price or service issue.  Yet, every day that payment is late incurs interest, collection and opportunity costs for your firm.  The objective is to encourage the client to pay promptly while retaining or increasing his eagerness to purchase in the future.

Customers often ignore a statement of account sent via “snail mail” so it rarely produces the desired result.  It is my experience that a more personal approach is essential by the time an invoice is 10 or 15 days past due.   I have devised several effective accounts receivable communication policies and procedures.  A favorite tactic, which I have trained my team to implement successfully, is to thank customers for their business and then inquire about any problems.  Establishing the tone of the dialogue as pleasant and non-confrontational sets the stage for swift and proactive resolution of any perceived issue.  It is human nature to hold onto cash until the last possible moment. When terms are net 30 days, but customers know that your firm will not contact them or charge interest until day 60, they will pay on day 59.  When courteously held accountable, they change their habits and pay as agreed.

Expressing appreciation reinforces this behavior so that in future dealings:

• Your firm becomes a higher priority for payment
• Fewer collection calls are needed
• Cash flow improves significantly
• Customer relationships are strengthened
• Credit losses become infinitesimal:

Question: Is your firm incurring unnecessary costs and missing opportunities to enhance the customer experience?

Principle:   A managerial accounting staff serving the internal customers enables effective planning and control decisions.

Outstanding managerial accountants think outside the box to design financial models and other reports which best assist management in the decision making process.

“Accounting is the art of recording, classifying and summarizing in a significant manner . . . and interpreting the results thereof,” according to the AICPA.  For purposes of clarity in this discussion, the “art of recording, classifying and summarizing” is financial accounting and “interpreting” is managerial accounting.  Frequently, a firm’s accounting department performs the financial accounting function competently but neglects the managerial one.  It delivers balance sheets and income statements in a timely, accurate and consistent manner, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); these documents only tell what happened and where  the business stands at a particular point in time, not why  a change happened, or how the situation can be improved.

The internal customers, who are the executives, managers and supervisors responsible for making planning and control decisions, need an accounting team which goes beyond the scope of financial accounting.  Outstanding managerial accountants think outside the box to design financial models and other reports that best assist management in the decision making process.  These reports faciliate the process by forecasting, budgeting, analyzing variances and recommending adjustments and corrections to solve any problems.

At Mandel & Company I filled the roles of both CEO and CFO.  When I was looking for ways to increase sales, functioning as the accountant, I designed  and programmed a tracking system for sales and gross profit per square foot of display space occupied.  Performing the CEO/Sales manager role I utilized the reports generated as a tool to assist in refining the product display mix.  If I had used the reports as the only criteria to determine what to display, I would have displayed only bar stools, since they generated the best profit per sq. ft.  That would not, however, have maximized profitability for the business as a whole.  By using the reports in the proper context, I boosted sales per sq. ft. from $108 to $340 over a 4 year period.

In a time where we know so much about motivation and leadership, there are still bosses conducting “Management Malpractice”.

I know, it’s so easy to blame the lonely souls who are in-charge.  If you have ever been in a position of leadership you already know it is so, so lonely there…BUT! That’s why you get paid the big bucks.  Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman have completed some very interesting research that really confirms what we already kind of knew…a bad boss is far worse than “Neutral” when it comes to the health of the whole organization.  Read further…you will find this information fascinating.

Creating a positive first impression:

When a hiring manager or recruiter first reads your LinkedIn profile, they will typically make their opinion of you within the first 20 seconds. A professionally written and completed profile that includes up-to-date information about your skills and experience will automatically get the reader’s attention. Including key achievements, examples of projects and value added skills towards the top of your profile will further maintain the reader’s attention and create that positive first impression. Don’t forget to include a picture. This will help to humanise your profile and put a face behind the name. Remember that your picture is a representation of you. If you are applying for a corporate position, a picture of you at 3 o clock in the morning holding a beer will not portray that professional corporate image.

Be Found:

Different companies are now using social networking such as LinkedIn when it comes to hiring or headhunting new talent. A good example is seen within the ultra-competitive credit card industry, where companies who often try to poach talented staff from their competition and the easiest place to find these people are via LinkedIn. Even if you’re not actively seeking a new job, just by having an account could change your career!

Network:

The benefits of LinkedIn are almost endless with no downside to having a LinkedIn profile. Get involved in forums, join groups and meet like-minded individuals like yourself. Best of all LinkedIn is totally free.  Job seeking is a tough business and applying for online jobs each and every day is a job in itself! From a job seeker’s perspective, LinkedIn is another tool that you can use to help get ahead when searching for a new job.

Don’t forget one important aspect. While the advantages and benefits of having a LinkedIn profile can help open up doors to opportunities that may never have existed previously, having an incomplete or unprofessional LinkedIn profile can actually have a detrimental effect and portray a negative impression of being lazy or having a lack of attention to detail. If you choose to create a LinkedIn profile (which I suggest) prepare it properly and utilise everything that LinkedIn has to offer.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com

RedStarResume are the Resume Writing Experts. Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

Stand Out From The Crowd With A Brand New Professional Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile From RedStarResume

Still, a freshman might face difficulties in landing smoothly in a respectable programming job. There are many reasons behind this. As a freshman, an individual does not have many relevant contacts, does not have a good strategy for finding jobs and is many times, ignorant about the open positions. Lacking a smartly crafted resume can also add to the difficulties. Here, we have some really good resume writing advice (you can also refer some samples available on bestsampleresume.com) for you that would lead you to a better layout of resume, making it an efficient entry level resume:

• Keep it short: You don’t have any experiences to include and so you definitely don’t have much to write on your resume. Strictly cover all that you wish to include in it in; one and a half page would be enough.
• Make a skill-oriented resume: Leave educational qualifications at bay. Concentrate more on you skills, interests and analytical skills. If you are really proficient at what you say, you hold good chances of entering the field even if you are not very good academically. What recruiters need is a coder, an individual who is practically sound rather than just theoretically well scoring.
• Show them that you love to code: Include any awards you have won at local programming competitions or references that you have participated in some. Show the recruiters that you love to code as much as your favorite pass-time. Recruiters love to see programming geeks working for them; show them that you are one and you are all set to go.
• Explain your role and achievements in your college-level project, don’t explain how it worked: When explaining your programming skills through a college-project, explain what you did to make it working. Explain the technologies you learned especially for it and the ones that you learned while working on it. Let recruiters know what you did rather than what your project did.
• Don’t over-exaggerate your skills: Though recruiters want to see programming geeks, don’t exaggerate things. Include only what you really know rather than including a skill that looks very good on the resume, but you hardly know.

Just as an athlete will have to prepare and train in order to win gold, a job seeker needs to ensure that their resume is worthy of winning a gold medal! Although competition for a job may not be as fierce as competition for a gold medal, the same rules apply. A simple spelling mistake could lead to your resume being deleted and you missing out on your dream job.

Preparation is key for any athlete and the same applies for any job seeker. Going online and using an out dated resume template which you complete in 10 minutes will not stand you out from your job seeking competitors. Before you even begin writing your resume, you need to have an understanding of the type of positions you are going to be applying for, and the type of skills and experience that will be required for that particular position. With this understanding, you will be in a far greater position to target your resume towards the types of jobs you are applying for.

Market your Skills on Page 1 of the Resume:

Reports suggest that hiring managers spend between 10-20 seconds when first reading through your resume. In this short time you need to grab the reader’s attention. Introducing a qualifications profile or career summary is a great way to show off your skills to the reader within the first 2-3 lines of the resume. Rather than opening your resume with an objective statement (telling the reader what you want out of the job) -introduce a qualifications profile where you tell the reader the value-added skills that you can offer the business. From a hiring managers perspective which resume would you rather read?

Highlight your Achievements:

Your resume is your marketing document. Don’t be afraid to highlight your achievements, awards, skills and expertise. If you are a manager include how many people you manage. If you received a promotion or award, point these out in the resume. The more quantitative examples you can provide the greater. Remember that your resume may be competing against hundreds of other resumes. Although you may be the most qualified or the most talented, if you are unable to portray your achievements throughout your resume than you greatly reduce your chances of being selected for the interview stage.

Just as an athlete needs everything to go right on their day in order to win gold, a job seeker is the same. There is not one most important aspect that makes a professional resume but a lot of smaller details that goes into preparing a gold medal winning resume. Marketing your skills and highlighting your achievements will give you a strong advantage over your competition and help you stand out from the crowd.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com

RedStarResume are the Resume Writing Experts. Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

Stand Out From The Crowd With A Brand New Professional Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile From RedStarResume

Please LinkedIN or Follow Gail Spencer.  Thank you Gail for sharing your expertise regarding marketing in the Non-Profit space.

5  Things to do NOW to prepare for your Integrated Marketing Communications strategy:

Part 5 of 5

1. Inventory your current  marketing activities and campaigns (brochures, website, social media, appeal letters, etc.) and list all the marketing activities that will be affected by your new integrated approach
2. Identify your various constituent groups (individual donors, corporate funders, community members, etc.)
3. Survey your various constituent groups to understand their perceptions of your organization
4. Based on this feedback, develop what your non-profit brand  should be – the umbrella under which all your marketing efforts reside
5. Make sure everyone is on board (executive board, staff, etc.)

About the Author

Gail can be reached at gmspencer1@gmail.com or 949-280-9963.

Gail Spencer is a marketing executive with over 25 years of experience with organizations of all sizes from Fortune 500 corporations to mom and pop shops and non-profits.  She provides strategic marketing and marketing management expertise in all areas of the marketing function from product management to market research to communications, advertising and public relations.

Ms. Spencer began her career at TRW Information Services, working on the business marketing division start-up project that eventually became the Business Information Services division of TRW Credit Services.  She became manager of marketing and then director of the market research and communications departments, working on numerous cross-functional teams and projects for the credit division.  After 13 years there, she left the company to become an independent marketing consultant working with clients such as Fluor, Symantec and Experian, as well as many small, privately owned companies.

Having always been involved with non-profits on a voluntary basis, Gail decided to fuel that passion and make working with non-profits her full time job.  She joined the Taproot Foundation, a non-profit national organization that awards service grants to non-profits, in 2011, and works as an Account Director leading teams of consultants in marketing projects for clients.

Ms. Spencer has lived in Mission Viejo for almost 20 years and has two children in college.  She coaches AYSO soccer, and has served on the boards of non-profits and other volunteer organizations throughout her career.

She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with emphases in Marketing and Economics from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Cal State Long Beach.

Don’t Wait!

Part 4 of 5

Are you done yet? NO!

In order to fully promote your non-profit’s brand you must…Train the staff and executive board to be brand ambassadors

Stretching your dollars

Making marketing dollars stretch as far as possible is not unique to non-profits, but may be most strictly adhered to by these organizations.  While the marketing budget for a consumer products Fortune 500 company can be up to 30% of revenue, a typical non-profit spends only one-tenth of that amount:

A 2008 study by the American Marketing Association and Lipman Hearne found that the average non-profit marketing budget was between 2% and 3% of the total operating budget.

The need to stretch the marketing dollars couldn’t be clearer.

How much does your non-profit spend on marketing campaigns?

An example

Working for the Taproot Foundation, my team of consultants developed a brand strategy and key messages for the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood.

“Having the focused messaging allows us to choose a campaign and very quickly execute it.  We’re using the same messages in our grant applications, appeal letters, brochures and our other communications to our constituents.  We are already seeing a tremendous savings in time to get a campaign ready to go.”

Julie Hite, Director of Resource Development, Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood

Invest in the strategy…now

Is your non-profit struggling with decreasing donor dollars that led you to reduce your marketing efforts?   Don’t let the short-term dictate your long-term success—investing in defining your brand and your messaging now will allow you to stretch your marketing dollars more effectively.  Clear messaging by itself is a cost saver – once you have it done you can recall and reuse it at any time.  It will ensure whatever marketing you do decide to do will be consistent to your various audiences and will create the brand awareness your non-profit needs to compete for donations.

Quality over Quantity:  Launching a few focused, on-message marketing campaigns well is better than doing many campaigns halfway. 

It’s smarter than you think

Putting marketing resources toward creating an Integrated Marketing Communications strategy now will pay off big time in the future.

Why reinvent the wheel every time you want to communicate to your constituency?  Spend the resources to focus the message and create it right, now.

• You will save time and money in the long run
• You will make it easy to create advocates who can invite additional donors

You will enjoy the benefits of a recognized brand that attracts your audiences and increases your fundraising results across all fronts.

About the Author

Gail can be reached at gmspencer1@gmail.com or 949-280-9963.

Gail Spencer is a marketing executive with over 25 years of experience with organizations of all sizes from Fortune 500 corporations to mom and pop shops and non-profits.  She provides strategic marketing and marketing management expertise in all areas of the marketing function from product management to market research to communications, advertising and public relations.

Ms. Spencer began her career at TRW Information Services, working on the business marketing division start-up project that eventually became the Business Information Services division of TRW Credit Services.  She became manager of marketing and then director of the market research and communications departments, working on numerous cross-functional teams and projects for the credit division.  After 13 years there, she left the company to become an independent marketing consultant working with clients such as Fluor, Symantec and Experian, as well as many small, privately owned companies.

Having always been involved with non-profits on a voluntary basis, Gail decided to fuel that passion and make working with non-profits her full time job.  She joined the Taproot Foundation, a non-profit national organization that awards service grants to non-profits, in 2011, and works as an Account Director leading teams of consultants in marketing projects for clients.

Ms. Spencer has lived in Mission Viejo for almost 20 years and has two children in college.  She coaches AYSO soccer, and has served on the boards of non-profits and other volunteer organizations throughout her career.

She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with emphases in Marketing and Economics from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Cal State Long Beach.

Don’t Wait!

Part 4 of 5

Are you done yet? NO!

In order to fully promote your non-profit’s brand you must…Train the staff and executive board to be brand ambassadors

Stretching your dollars

Making marketing dollars stretch as far as possible is not unique to non-profits, but may be most strictly adhered to by these organizations.  While the marketing budget for a consumer products Fortune 500 company can be up to 30% of revenue, a typical non-profit spends only one-tenth of that amount:

A 2008 study by the American Marketing Association and Lipman Hearne found that the average non-profit marketing budget was between 2% and 3% of the total operating budget.

The need to stretch the marketing dollars couldn’t be clearer.

How much does your non-profit spend on marketing campaigns?

An example

Working for the Taproot Foundation, my team of consultants developed a brand strategy and key messages for the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood.

“Having the focused messaging allows us to choose a campaign and very quickly execute it.  We’re using the same messages in our grant applications, appeal letters, brochures and our other communications to our constituents.  We are already seeing a tremendous savings in time to get a campaign ready to go.”

Julie Hite, Director of Resource Development, Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood

Invest in the strategy…now

Is your non-profit struggling with decreasing donor dollars that led you to reduce your marketing efforts?   Don’t let the short-term dictate your long-term success—investing in defining your brand and your messaging now will allow you to stretch your marketing dollars more effectively.  Clear messaging by itself is a cost saver – once you have it done you can recall and reuse it at any time.  It will ensure whatever marketing you do decide to do will be consistent to your various audiences and will create the brand awareness your non-profit needs to compete for donations.

Quality over Quantity:  Launching a few focused, on-message marketing campaigns well is better than doing many campaigns halfway. 

It’s smarter than you think

Putting marketing resources toward creating an Integrated Marketing Communications strategy now will pay off big time in the future.

Why reinvent the wheel every time you want to communicate to your constituency?  Spend the resources to focus the message and create it right, now.

• You will save time and money in the long run
• You will make it easy to create advocates who can invite additional donors

You will enjoy the benefits of a recognized brand that attracts your audiences and increases your fundraising results across all fronts.

About the Author

Gail can be reached at gmspencer1@gmail.com or 949-280-9963.

Gail Spencer is a marketing executive with over 25 years of experience with organizations of all sizes from Fortune 500 corporations to mom and pop shops and non-profits.  She provides strategic marketing and marketing management expertise in all areas of the marketing function from product management to market research to communications, advertising and public relations.

Ms. Spencer began her career at TRW Information Services, working on the business marketing division start-up project that eventually became the Business Information Services division of TRW Credit Services.  She became manager of marketing and then director of the market research and communications departments, working on numerous cross-functional teams and projects for the credit division.  After 13 years there, she left the company to become an independent marketing consultant working with clients such as Fluor, Symantec and Experian, as well as many small, privately owned companies.

Having always been involved with non-profits on a voluntary basis, Gail decided to fuel that passion and make working with non-profits her full time job.  She joined the Taproot Foundation, a non-profit national organization that awards service grants to non-profits, in 2011, and works as an Account Director leading teams of consultants in marketing projects for clients.

Ms. Spencer has lived in Mission Viejo for almost 20 years and has two children in college.  She coaches AYSO soccer, and has served on the boards of non-profits and other volunteer organizations throughout her career.

She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with emphases in Marketing and Economics from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Cal State Long Beach.

Where to Start

Part 3 of 5

Where to start – It’s a process

How to Develop and Convey the Messaging:

• Understand your constituency
• Identify personal connections to and perceptions of your organization
• Close the gap between YOUR perception and reality
• Create the brand that guides the messaging
• Create the messaging that closes the gap, engages the constituents and connects them to the organization long-term

About the Author

Gail can be reached at gmspencer1@gmail.com or 949-280-9963.

Gail Spencer is a marketing executive with over 25 years of experience with organizations of all sizes from Fortune 500 corporations to mom and pop shops and non-profits.  She provides strategic marketing and marketing management expertise in all areas of the marketing function from product management to market research to communications, advertising and public relations.

Ms. Spencer began her career at TRW Information Services, working on the business marketing division start-up project that eventually became the Business Information Services division of TRW Credit Services.  She became manager of marketing and then director of the market research and communications departments, working on numerous cross-functional teams and projects for the credit division.  After 13 years there, she left the company to become an independent marketing consultant working with clients such as Fluor, Symantec and Experian, as well as many small, privately owned companies.

Having always been involved with non-profits on a voluntary basis, Gail decided to fuel that passion and make working with non-profits her full time job.  She joined the Taproot Foundation, a non-profit national organization that awards service grants to non-profits, in 2011, and works as an Account Director leading teams of consultants in marketing projects for clients.

Ms. Spencer has lived in Mission Viejo for almost 20 years and has two children in college.  She coaches AYSO soccer, and has served on the boards of non-profits and other volunteer organizations throughout her career.

She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with emphases in Marketing and Economics from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Cal State Long Beach.

It is an undisputed fact that if a hiring manager has two resumes sitting on the table, they are instinctively going to be drawn to the resume that is professionally presented and formatted in the correct way. No matter what the resume has to say, the first impression is already made. If both candidates share similar skills, education and experience, just take a guess at which resume the hiring manager is going to choose.

When you sit down to write your resume, remember one thing. Your resume is a marketing document. This document is all you have to prove to the hiring manager that you are the right person for the job.  Present a professional picture and make sure that you stand out above your competition.

10 Tips to Writing the Perfect Resume

Create a Qualifications Profile:

A great way to begin the resume is by creating a 2-3 sentence qualifications profile. Rather than an objective statement (telling the reader what type of job you want), focus on creating a powerful profile that highlights your value-added skills and qualifications. A hiring manager is interested in the skills and qualifications you are able to bring to this particular role, as opposed to being told about the type of job you want.

Include Keywords:

With the demand for jobs so competitive, hiring managers and recruiters can often receive upwards of 500 – 1000 resumes for one particular position. As such, many firms now use software programs as a way of performing “first round interviews”. Using selected keywords will ensure that your resume passes the first stage of selection and will not be deleted before a hiring manager has even had a chance to read your application. The best way to find these keywords is by simply reading the job positions. See what the company is looking for and make sure your resume is full of these keywords!

Provide Specific Quantitative Examples:

Hiring managers hate to read clichéd resumes. It’s boring and adds no value to your resume. Use quantitative examples as much as possible to highlight your experience and the value-added skills that you can bring to the job.

Target the Position that you are applying for:

As a job seeker, everything you include in your resume needs to reinforce the message to the reader that you are the right candidate for the position. Don’t waste time on information that doesn’t reflect your suitability for this particular position. Being a good skier and having an interest in tennis will probably not be relevant to the job that you are applying for. Focus your resume on the value added skills and experience that you have to offer. If the job requires management experience than provide these specific examples. Your resume is your marketing document so ensure that your document is marketed correctly.

Highlighting Achievements/Accomplishments:

Does your resume show off all the wonderful skills and talents that you have to offer? If you were the hiring manager would you want to employ yourself? If the answer is no, it’s time to have a serious think about rewriting your resume. If you wouldn’t hire yourself then why would a hiring manager hire you? Turn your resume from a boring resume into an achievement based resume focusing on highlighting achievement based examples. From a hiring manager’s perspective, would you rather read “strong communication skills” or read this statement backed up by an example. “Strong communication skills capable of projecting a strong, credible, articulate and engaging personal presence with experience in producing and creating PowerPoint presentations”

Error Free:

When you open your resume do you see the red or green lines underneath words or sentences? This is such a major turnoff to a hiring manager and will create an immediate unprofessional first impression. The easiest way to avoid this from occurring is convert your word document into a PDF. Not only will it enhance your professionalism but will also ensure that those ugly looking lines don’t occur!

Clean Font:

Make the reader’s life as easy as possible by using an easy to read and professional looking font. Wired looking font not only looks ugly but will detract from the professionalism of your document.

Be Concise and Succinct:

Use bullet points to emphasise your skills and experience. Long drawn out sentences are boring to read and when a hiring manager is staring at a table full of resumes, they do not want to read long winded sentences. Ensure that you are able to catch the reader’s attention immediately and portray the professional image that is required.

Power Words:

A great way to make your resume stand out is by including action words throughout your resume. A clichéd resume is boring to read and can lead to the reader losing interest in your application. Strong action words will further highlight your skills and expertise.

Demonstrate Flexibility, Adaptability and Innovation:

In my experience employers want to hire individuals who can demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and innovation as well as a passion for wanting to gain further knowledge and experience. Remember that an employer wants to know that you are going to bring value to the organisation. Your job duties will change constantly and you need to be able to demonstrate that you are a forward-thinking self-starter with vision and desire to implement innovative solutions to any problem that may arise.

Final Thought …

Job seeking is a cut throat business and in order to succeed your resume needs to be 100% right, and it needs to be presented and formatted professionally and correctly. When you apply for a particular job you only have one chance to succeed. Make sure that you give yourself every opportunity to get that new job!

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com

RedStarResume are the Resume Writing Experts. Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

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Consistent, Focused, On-Target

Part 2 of 5

Why is it important to be consistent? 

“Every year large proportions of online-acquired donors switch from online giving to offline sources—primarily to direct mail.” – 2011 donorCentrics Internet and Multichannel Giving Benchmarking Report

Not only do you want to send similar messages to different audiences, you want to send similar messages to the SAME audiences who find you through different channels – the result will be greater brand recognition AND economic efficiency.

Being inconsistent leaves your audience saying “please remind me, who are you and what do you do?”

Once the foundation is laid, the execution becomes a much more doable exercise in choosing the appropriate implementation for any given marketing effort from event promotion, to brochures to website content and social media, to annual reports, and also in your grant applications, appeal letters and board members’ business cards. 

Where to start – It’s a process

How to Develop and Convey the Messaging:

• Understand your constituency
• Identify personal connections to and perceptions of your organization
• Close the gap between YOUR perception and reality
• Create the brand that guides the messaging
• Create the messaging that closes the gap, engages the constituents and connects them to the organization long-term

About the Author

Gail can be reached at gmspencer1@gmail.com or 949-280-9963.

Gail Spencer is a marketing executive with over 25 years of experience with organizations of all sizes from Fortune 500 corporations to mom and pop shops and non-profits.  She provides strategic marketing and marketing management expertise in all areas of the marketing function from product management to market research to communications, advertising and public relations.

Ms. Spencer began her career at TRW Information Services, working on the business marketing division start-up project that eventually became the Business Information Services division of TRW Credit Services.  She became manager of marketing and then director of the market research and communications departments, working on numerous cross-functional teams and projects for the credit division.  After 13 years there, she left the company to become an independent marketing consultant working with clients such as Fluor, Symantec and Experian, as well as many small, privately owned companies.

Having always been involved with non-profits on a voluntary basis, Gail decided to fuel that passion and make working with non-profits her full time job.  She joined the Taproot Foundation, a non-profit national organization that awards service grants to non-profits, in 2011, and works as an Account Director leading teams of consultants in marketing projects for clients.

Ms. Spencer has lived in Mission Viejo for almost 20 years and has two children in college.  She coaches AYSO soccer, and has served on the boards of non-profits and other volunteer organizations throughout her career.

She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with emphases in Marketing and Economics from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Cal State Long Beach.