Unfair as this may seem, put yourself in their shoes for just a second. Was this candidate laid off or fired? And what have they doing since? The magnitude of uncertainty is great, and considering how expensive it can be to hire and train new employees, resumes with employment gaps can be risky. As a job seeker, this realization is important, because it allows you to be more realistic about your own gap.

The biggest, most important change you can make when you’re out of a job is to eliminate the gap. Duh, right? That’s what you’ve been trying to do while scouring the Internet for jobs all day everyday. The thing is, if that’s all you’re doing, that gap’s just going to get longer and longer. During this time, you’re going to lose, or at least diminish, both your hard and soft skills. The trick is to maintain those skills while also showing your personal drive and motivation by filling those gaps with actual activities.

1. Educate Yourself

Taking classes and getting certified in IT can help maintain those valuable technology skills that employers are looking for. Whether it’s online, at a big state school, or at your local community college, further education help you remain a valuable candidate despite your unemployment. Worried about finances? Resources like MicroTrain Technologies offer free seminars in addition to a wide array of training and certification classes.

2. Working for Free

Are any of your friends or relatives in need of website design? Perhaps your neighbor’s family-owned business needs some help with their database or network? Even “simple” projects like this will keep your skills in practice. Find as much of this free work as possible, and even give your services a company name, and list it on your resume.

3. Contracting and Consulting

A permanent job may be your ideal, but until then, don’t be afraid of freelancing, contracting, or part-time work. Your technology skills will stay fresh, and your soft skills – interacting and communicating with a team – will remain strong as well.

4. Give Back

Volunteering may conjure images of animal shelters, soup kitchens, and nursing homes, and while all these are great and will certainly maintain your soft skills, there are volunteer opportunities out there that will put your IT skills to use too. Check out United Way Triangle and their Teaming for Technology volunteer opportunities.

How to Include These on Your Resume

You may be unsure about listing these on your resume, but the truth is, if you’ve worked hard to maintain your skills, these activities can be listed in your experience, chronologically ahead of your previous position. Want an example?

No matter what you choose to do in addition to your job search, keep two main things in mind: Your chosen activity must answer the employer’s question as to what you’ve been doing since your last job, and it must add value to you as a candidate.

It’s easy to be negative about your employment gap and about employers who dismiss you for it, especially if you have consequent financial worries on the mind. But for the truly motivated job seeker, there’s no such thing as an employment gap, and it is that candidate who will get hired again more quickly. Use the time off to your advantage, and banish that gap.

-Clare Webster - Marketing Director at Ashley Ellis

Well, this is the official eviction notice to the cynicism that has taken up full time residence at the front of your brain. Your job search has been one big exhausting challenge, but now it’s time to punch it in the face once and for all.

1. Schedule

It may be incredibly tempting to sleep in, watch TV, enjoy the sun, etc. But it’s easy to get sucked in further and further until your job search consists only of sporadic glances at job boards, the occasional resume, and the rare follow up phone call. The chances of this working for you are slim to none, and you’ll end up spiraling further into desperation.

So resist those temptations, and maintain a regular schedule. Wake up early, shower, make coffee, and get dressed for “work.” Make your job search your job, complete with duties and responsibilities. Structure like this does wonders for the brain, which will be a valuable resource in your job search!

2. Network

Okay, so no one wants to be stuck on a 9-5 job search everyday, even if it is from the comfort of your own home. So get out of the house, and find yourself some face-to-face networking events through resources like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, local community resources, and more. Be nosy (but not pushy); find out where people work, if they enjoy it, why their company rocks, and if they’re hiring. Treat these events like informational interviews and stay up-to-date in your industry. Be personable and memorable, and get your name out there. Results may not be instantaneous, but stick with it, and the value will eventually manifest itself in your life and career.

3. Goals

Remaining goal oriented in all arenas of your life, from giant goals to small accomplishments, will keep your ball rolling even if your job search is at a stand still. Your perseverance towards these goals – from household projects to marathon running – will eventually project into your job search. The more items you can check off your goal list, the sooner your career will be back on track.

4. Fill the Gap

Unfortunately, employment gaps are stigmatized, and in some cases, the tips above may not be enough. Many employers – especially in IT – worry that valuable skills risk being lost during such gaps. In these cases, your best bet is to fill the gaps immediately. Whether it’s volunteer work, temporary contract work, going back to school, or otherwise, be confident about filling the gaps with activities that maintain, improve, and even add to your skill set.

5. Have a Kit Kat

Even when you are employed, it’s easy to burn out if you don’t take a break once in while, and the same goes for your job as a job seeker. Take a step back and get some perspective if you feel overwhelmed and notice Cynicism lurking in the shadows. Take some time every now and then to revel in the fact that at least in this situation you don’t have to ask permission for time off. Take a break and refresh yourself.

-Clare Webster – Marketing Director at Ashley Ellis

Similar good news comes from TechServe’s latest report, observing that for the first time in over 12 months there is a positive year-over-year job increase in the IT sector. IT employment is also up 7,300 jobs from last month, a growth that continues to outpace many other industries.

“I am heartened by continued growth in IT employment,” comments Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance. “Based on the data and anecdotal reports of our members reporting strong demand for their services, we foresee continued growth in IT employment as we enter the second half of 2010,” says Roberts.

> what you have done
> why your experience is phenomenal
> how you can hit the ground running on the first day of your new job.
You’re an extraordinary candidate: Present your career history in extraordinary terms!

Want to amaze your reader? AVOID using these 7 words in your resume—choose action-oriented, powerful verbs that demonstrate why you’re the best person for the job.

1. Responsible for

Responsibility is a good thing. Taking responsibility is also a good thing. Passively suggesting that you were somehow involved in some activity at your place of work? Not such a good thing. Explain how you project managed a sales project yielding 35% ROI, jump-started new a new promotional technique, or delivered top-line revenue increases.

2. Managed

To manage a task means to control it, guide it, or, in the case of people, coach or mentor them. To manage to do something, however, implies just getting by, a capability that no job candidate wishes to offer a hiring manager who doesn’t have time to waste on apparent slackers.

3. Acted as

This one makes one wonder if the candidate was really doing X or Y, or was he simply acting that way. Substitute engaged as, in the case of a candidate’s being asked to do something apart from his standard job description (think: consulting engagement).

4. Grew

Flowers grow, and gardeners grow flowers. I tend to think that if it’s not organic with stems full of leafy greens, it’s not going to grow. Try increased or generated. Even enlarged will work, in the case of territories or markets. Developed is a good possibility as well.

5. Was involved

Like “responsible for,” this one brings to mind someone who stood and watched from the sidelines. Spice up your accomplishments by telling the recruiter or hiring manager how you identified a new sales opportunity, introduced a new method of communicating across silos, or piloted an investigative project that ultimately yielded $5 million in new business.

6. Bring

“Bring” implies hand delivery, but your resume is a professional, not personal, document. Give displayed, demonstrated, arranged, or exhibited a try to emphasize your strengths in accomplishing any of the foregoing.

7. Assisted

Even if you think you only helped to accomplish a project, demonstrate through careful and strong writing how you teamed with executive management or collaborated with division director to introduce a new product or process.

By Amy L. Adler – Professional Resume Writer and Founder/President of Inscribe / Express

Contact Inscribe / Express for a free analysis of the language you use in your resume. Is it powerful enough? Will you convince a recruiter or hiring manager to call?

The main idea behind a resume is to present your accomplishments to help guide readers through your career. Basically, you’re painting a picture of what barriers you’ve hurdled over and where you want to go. The most important factor here, is that you keep it career oriented. You want to highlight your strengths to show that you can fix any potential employer’s challenges. However, knowing what to put on a resume doesn’t always shed light on what not to include.

Point number one: humor has no place on a professional resume. Though having a sense of humor is a terrific personality trait, odds are it will not land you that hundred thousand dollar a year dream job. I’ll admit, when I come across a resume with some type of humorous anecdote, it’s good for a laugh, but nine times out of ten it’ll just end up in the back drawer. When professionals are looking for professionals, they want just that: a professional.

Point number two: “career oriented” is different from “experience oriented”. Though flipping burgers at the local burger joint to pay your way through college was admirable, it probably won’t imply that you are able to design websites. Every professional experience you mention should cater to your desired profession, even if the position wasn’t specifically in the respective industry. In other words, highlight and stress the similarities between what you did and what you want to do. Doing this will show that not only are you capable of performing tasks related to your profession, but you are focused on moving forward.

Point number three: common sense is sometimes not common when it comes to an email address. If your email address is along the lines of “ibballin@aol.com” or “nvrliketowork@gmail.com,” it’s probably not a good idea to include them on your resume. The basic rule of thumb is to simply create an address that involves your actual name. It looks more professional and, to bring it full circle, continues to avoid being humorous in your professional resume.

Point number four: a resume is meant to be cliff notes-style, not novel length. Typically, when professionals are looking through resumes, they only glance at them for twenty to thirty seconds, trying to find a few key skills/traits. The longer the resume, the harder it is to find what they are looking for and the greater chance it has of being passed over. Ideally, a resume is no more than one to three pages. However, when contract work is involved, additional pages are more acceptable as long as the main points are still emphasized and the layout isn’t cluttered.

Point number five: High schools and GPA’s. Graduating high school is obviously important when trying to get into a university but in the professional world, not so much.  It is typically assumed that you graduated, especially if you have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, and it should be left off a resume. As far as grade point averages go, all they do is group you into an educational hierarchy. This has the potential to put a negative light on you regardless of how high or low your GPA was. For instance, high GPA’s are great but might give the impression that you lived in a book and didn’t develop any social skills. On the other hand, if it’s a low GPA, it may appear that you had a greater ability to absorb alcohol rather than information. Either way, it’s best just to exclude it.

These five main points are a great starting point to adjusting your resume and positioning yourself to be successful. The trick is to be proactive and to always be adjusting minor details on your resume. Building a resume is a lot like building a blue print for a house; you know what the dream house will look like, you just have to show that you have the right pieces to build it.

To be frank, the number one reason cover letters aren’t read by hiring managers is the sheer volume of people applying and the hours it would take to direct personal attention to each and every person’s cover letter.  Today’s world is one of speed and efficiency, and the practice of the cover letter just doesn’t seem to fit in with that vision.  This is especially true in the IT realm: since IT Directors and Managers typically embrace that vision, a cover letter isn’t going to do much for them.

However, even if there was an extra hour in each day to read cover letters, hiring managers are unanimous in the view that if a resume doesn’t hold its own, then a cover letter will not help you get an interview. If a resume is bad, a cover letter won’t be read at all.  On the other hand, if your resume does stand out from the masses, the chance your letter might be read increases.  However, if your resume is good enough to get you an interview by itself, why create a second chance for you to be weeded out with a cover letter that potentially just doesn’t cut it?  In other words, a great resume by itself can get you an interview.  If you add a cover letter into the mix, your chance at an interview might be hurt.

If you’re still tempted to write a cover letter despite all this, keep a few things in mind before you put pen to paper.  If cover letters are read at all, they are not read in depth, so stay brief and to the point. A cover letter that consists of an autobiography, a detailed explanation of personal issues or requirements, or an extended version of the resume just won’t cut it. Essentially, a cover letter should be a snap shot of your resume that can reach out to both technical and non-technical people.  Briefly highlight both your technical and non-technical skills, especially ones that were specifically mentioned in the job description.

Watch for any inconsistencies between the letter and your resume that may inadvertently pop up.  Also, personalization is good: Put some effort into researching the company and briefly explain why you want to work for them and what you can bring to their table.  Finally, please resist any temptation to enclose an autobiography within your cover letter, even an abridged version.  Ultimately, if you really need a measure, a cover letter shouldn’t be more than two or three short and concise paragraphs.

The bottom line is all signs indicate that we’re speeding towards a world where a cover letter is simply not worth your time or brain cells, especially in the IT world.  If you choose to get ahead of this train, then great.  If, however, you’re still intent on writing a cover letter, then our tips will definitely help you on your way.

-Clare Webster – Interactive Copywriter at Ashley Ellis

However, in reality, even if you interviewed well, it’s possible that when you leave the office, all the hiring manager can remember about you is what Disney character was on your tie, or he’s left wondering what your tattoo design stood for or if that perfume would be a nice gift for his wife.

When it comes down to it, no matter how much of a point the hiring manager makes about non-discrimination, first impressions can hold a lot of weight.  Your decisions about what to wear are important.  Don’t make the mistake of neglecting the weight of that decision like so many other talented people out there.

Wondering why you should put in the effort?  Think about it: If you were looking into buying a new used car, would you even bother looking at the ones that looked ill-kept, dirty, or damaged, even if the car was rated well?  Probably not.  Bringing aboard a new employee is similarly a large investment for an employer.  They want to make sure they’re making the best choice, and they’re likely to take your image into account as well as your technical and personal skills.

That being said, when it comes to interviews, your goal is to look sharp and professional.  First impressions are practically irreversible, so here a few pointers so you can dress for success!

One of the Team

Company culture varies far and wide, so find out as much as you can about the company before your interview.  You probably don’t want to show up to an interview in a $500 suit if the company’s employees live in shorts and flip-flops (not that you’d want to show up in shorts and flip-flops to your interview either; nice pants and a collared shirt are more casual but still professional).  Try to look like part of the team from the beginning.

Comfort Zones

Don’t go out and buy a new outfit the day of the interview.  Wear an outfit you know you’ll be comfortable in, so that you’re not distracted in the interview by that stray price tag or sudden tightness when you sit down!  Take time to make sure your clothes are clean and neat, with no missing buttons or frays.

Kick Up a Storm

You don’t want scuffs and chipped toenail polish giving you away.  Make sure to select a nice, polished, and comfortable pair of shoes.  Skip open-toed sandals, 6-inch heels, and beach flip-flops.  Shoes that are in good shape show a meticulous attention to detail. P.S. Guys – that means, shine your shoes!

Eau d’Interview

I recommend you don’t take your morning swim in your cologne or perfume bottle.  Giving the hiring manager a headache from your overwhelmingly strong scent is not going to get your hired.  Stick to one squirt or simply go without your favorite cologne or perfume.

Winter Blues

If it’s cold out and you need a coat, make sure it’s a nice, plain dress coat.  Remember to take a lint brush to it, attacking any excess lint and animal hair.  A dirty coat reflects an unorganized, messy person (plus, you don’t want to trigger an allergy attack for the hiring manager if all those dog hairs on your coat are still flying around!).

Bling-Bling!

Aim to limit the amount of jewelry you’re wearing, and avoid jewelry that may be considered distasteful or gaudy, as this can be distracting.  When it comes to jewelry, subtlety is the key, especially for men.

Don’t Wait Till the Last Minute!

Avoid the stress of rummaging through your closet, throwing shirts everywhere, trying to piece together a last minute outfit.  Invest in a nice suit now so that you’ll be ready when the time for a suit calls.

Letting Your Colors Shine Through

Save the black suits for funerals and formal events.  You want to go with natural, earthy colors so that your tone in an interview is welcoming, comfortable, and personal.  Some of my personal favorite color combos include the following:

-Brown/beige suit with a blue shirt

-Gray suit with a pastel-shade shirt

-Navy suit with a yellow shirt and red/orange accessories

In conclusion, when it comes to interviewing you want to stand out and be noticed, but you don’t want it to be because of a bad choice in clothing. So tuck away your Hawaiian shirts for your luaus and save the four-inch stilettos for the nightclubs, and dress for success!

-Jamie Campbell – IT Search Manager at Ashley Ellis

It may look shiny and exciting, but under all that glitter, what exactly is a counteroffer? Ultimately, it’s an attempt to entice you to stay. A counteroffer is not typically your employer suddenly reviewing your performance or rethinking budget allocations. Their job is to take care of both their employees and their business productivity. When you leave, you upset the balance between those, which is clearly a cause for worry for your employer.

Counteroffers happen more than you’d think, especially in the IT industry. So be prepared! Consider the thought process of your current employer. They think you’re happy and loyal to the company. When you hand in your notice, they assume that you’re no longer happy or loyal. You’ve taken control, and this may shock them. What will they do with your current projects? How will they find someone new to fill your shoes? The hiring process can be lengthy, time consuming, and costly. Combine this with the fact that they will soon feel the hurt from having your position empty, and you’ve caused a major commotion!

So how do they handle it all? Simple! They will offer you more money, a nice new title with more responsibility, or even extended benefits – basically, something to regain that balance for a while. Awesome, you may think! These new terms might seem tempting enough to reject your new offer.

Wait! Keep in mind that when you first turned in your notice, you were – in the eyes of your employer – communicating unhappiness and disloyalty, and this can never be reversed. Inevitably, this will lead to your employer letting you go a month or two or even six down the road – however long it takes them to find someone to fill your shoes; someone who will be happier and more loyal.

So how do you avoid this whole miserable situation? Think about why you initially started your job search and decided to make the move. A counteroffer rarely, if ever, is a solution to your original problems with the company or your role within it. It’s an emergency fix, and once you get over the surprise and novelty of it, the same reasons for your original leaving will return to haunt you.

Before you even send out your resume for another opportunity, make sure you’re clear about the reasons why you’re leaving. Ask yourself honestly if these reasons could be resolved by some form of counteroffer and don’t let yourself get trapped in a situation where you might later regret it.

In conclusion, counteroffers are all too common and are not special treatment. Be prepared and understand your employer’s motives behind the counteroffer. Remind yourself why you’re leaving in the first place, and be careful not to get trapped by the consequences of taking a counteroffer.

-Teresa Olsen – IT Search Manager at Ashley Ellis

In response to the high number of new IT positions that have opened up in the Chicagoland area, Ashley Ellis is accommodating this increase by expanding its services and reach by taking on additional office space that will include a Corporate Headquarters, an expanded recruiting/sales area and 4 additional interviewing rooms for its clients.

The larger office space in Naperville will accommodate 10 additional recruiters to support the on-going demand to locate highly qualified IT professionals for its clients. “Over the past 6 months job openings have increased to levels that warrants hiring additional recruiters to fulfill our clients requirements,” said Katy Gallagher – Co-owner of Ashley Ellis.

Additionally, the expanded office space will serve as the company’s Corporate Headquarters to support additional branch office openings. In 2010 the company plans to open 4 additional offices with the first one in Atlanta Ga., and 7 more in 2011.

Lastly, the additional office space provides 4 additional interviewing rooms to enable clients to interview prospective candidates in a confidential and uninterrupted environment. “Many employers have found off-site interviewing facilities are beneficial when hiring many employees simultaneously or filling confidential openings within their company,” according to Gallagher.

“Overall, the increased demand for Information Technology professionals is good sign that the economy is healing and we are heading toward bigger and better times,” concluded Ms. Gallagher.

The new address and contact information are as follows:

Ashley Ellis, LLC
184 Shuman Blvd, Suite 420
Naperville, IL 60563

Phone: 630-369-6400
Fax: 630-578-2414
Website: http://www.ashleyellis.com

About Ashley Ellis LLC
Ashley Ellis LLC, a contingency recruiting and contract staffing firm specializing in information technology connecting highly talented IT professionals with reputable organizations.

Built on the foundation of training and career development, Ashley Ellis has assembled a team of highly knowledgeable and professional recruiting staff that caters to the career development needs of the candidates represented and long term objectives of its clients.

Contact Info: Katy Gallagher -184 Shuman Blvd Suite 420, Naperville, IL 60563
Email: kgallagher@ashleyellis.com

1. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Questions like this are almost always asked, and you have to be prepared for it.  It can be a tricky one, especially in regards to weaknesses. Your weakness should be something realistic, though original, and resolvable. Avoid answers like, “I’m a perfectionist,” or “I’m a workaholic.”  These answers imply that to improve your weakness, you have to work sloppily or work less. Be sincere, but be careful: you do not want your weakness to appear so bad that it disqualifies you from the position. Also, remember that no one is perfect, and, in fact, self-professed perfection implies arrogance, so be honest about your weaknesses, and you’ll ace the question!

When discussing your strengths, you want to make sure it’s something relevant to the position. For example, speak about personality traits that have resulted in success in your work, such as great communication or teamwork skills. Do not speak about how you are a great snowboarder outside of work. Your strength should be something beneficial for the company or position. Be relevant, but not generic.

2. Tell us what you know about the organization.

Look at the company’s website and read it!  Make absolutely sure you do this.  A hiring manager wants you to show interest in what the company does. They’re not looking for you to have all the answers or information, but they would like you to have general knowledge. Complete silence in response to this question implies that all you’re interested in is getting a job, no matter who company is. In this day and age, with all the different social media outlets, you can do research on everything from Google and YouTube to LinkedIn and Twitter. Be familiar with the product or service as well as the company’s values, history, mission statement, and major figure-heads.

3. Tell us about yourself.

Many people are unsure how to approach this question. There is a fine line between a short generic answer and a novel-length ramble about yourself. This is one of the most common interview questions asked, so you’re going to have to figure out how to walk this fine line without tripping up. The great part about this question is that you can practice and prepare for it at home.

In short, you should create a 30-second commercial about yourself.  Speak about relevant education, recent work experience and accomplishments, and your current professional goals. As with any commercial, this is not the place for personal information such as hobbies, your family history, or personal opinions regarding politics, religion, etc. Don’t forget, this question is all about you, so be confident in your delivery.

4. Why should we hire you?

Be sure to appear confident, not cocky, when answering this question. This may be the last question in the interview process. Go out with a bang. Hit on 3-5 key points that align your experience, accomplishments, and goals with the company, position or scope of the project. Do not give an unending list of all your attributes! Make sure your answer is clear and concise, and be sure to show your value.

5. Bizarre Questions!

If you were a food, what type of food would you be?

If you had a dinner party and could invite three famous people, who would they be?

What’s the last book you read?

What did you want to be when you were 10 years old?

How many gas stations in the U.S. do you think there are?

Many companies, including big names like Microsoft, use these types of questions. These questions are meant to catch you off-guard, and shows how quickly and creatively you can think on your feet. This also gives them an insight to your thought process, which may help them predict your future job performance. If you’re asked a bizarre question, don’t freak out; just have a little fun with it!

These are just 5 of the many 100’s of types of questions that hiring manager could ask. With all interviews, the main thing is to be confident, clear and concise. Practice in front of the mirror or with a spouse, friend or family member.