With so much riding on a resume, it’s sometimes hard to know what information should stay and what should go. After all, it can be hard to distinguish yourself, market your skills, and outline your history and accomplishments all in one page. But in a competitive financial job market, that one little page can make or break your job application.

The first rule of thumb for a flowing, glowing resume hearkens back to Strunk and White’s grade-school mantra: “Omit needless words.” Limit your work history to the last ten or fifteen years unless jobs past that point were C-level, and delete any irrelevant jobs such as lifeguarding in the summer of 99. Anything included in your work history should be relevant to the job you are applying for.

Axing unnecessary words should be a rule for your whole resume. Overly wordy, flowery statements and descriptions don’t sound good—instead, they just don’t get read. Streamline your resume from top to bottom with language that’s simple to read and understand.

Unless you’re applying specifically to a political, religious, or other special interest organization, don’t include information about hobbies, political affiliation, race or religious beliefs. Having these in a traditional application will suggest you have a strong bias, which isn’t what financial employers are looking for.

Salary expectations should also be left out unless they are specifically requested by the employer. Listing a salary range in any application materials could knock you out of the running if you’re too low or too high. Instead, save this conversation for the later stages of the interview process if at all possible, and let the interviewer be the one to bring it up.

If you ever encountered confidential information in a previous position, which in finance is likely enough, don’t put it in your application materials. Aside from showing poor taste and judgment to a potential employer, this information could also reach your current or former employer and be grounds for a lawsuit.

If you have ever been fired, don’t outline that on your resume. The resume is an opportunity to market yourself in a positive light, so don’t use it to highlight your faults. However, if you’re asked to explain why you left a job, be honest. Until then, keep it to yourself.

The best rules for any resume are to make the wording and formatting succinct, relevant, and easy to understand.

Job interviews are complicated. While trying to sound impressive without tooting your own horn, you also have to take in a lot of information about the company, your interviewer, and your potential new job. With that much going on, it’s easy to make mistakes. However, some of the worst ones are more about common sense than simple human error.

First and foremost, be on time. If something major comes up and you can’t arrive on time, call and apologize. Arrive between 10-15 minutes early, but no earlier. If you arrive too early, you’ll appear overeager or as if you don’t know what time the interview really started, and you will interrupt the person who had planned their day around a specific meeting time.

Speaking of time, managing it well is another part of interviewing well. Don’t spread yourself too thin and try to schedule too many interviews. If you look scattered, you’re more likely to make a bad impression. When you interview, the interviewer should feel like a priority. If you’re too busy running to your next interview, you’ll make it clear that the job doesn’t matter and you have more important things to do.

Appearance is another common interview issue. Since smell sensitivities and allergies are all different, skip the perfume or cologne entirely; don’t risk blowing a chance at a job because you couldn’t resist the urge to spritz. Don’t wear anything—anything—that you would wear to go clubbing or to a bar. Stick with a clean, well-tailored suit, and keep personalized accessories to a minimum. The focus should be on your skills, not your clothes. Never, ever use a cell phone during an interview.

Take the time to send a thank you note, no matter how well (or poorly) you think the interview went. It’s a requirement, not an option. If you think it went great, a note could seal the deal. If you think it was a disaster, you should still be polite. In fact, a note could salvage what was damaged.

When it comes to interview blunders, most of them are surprisingly easy to avoid. Mind your manners and be considerate, and the rest will follow.

The contents of social networking sites are in the public domain and available for all to see, including prospective employers. Whether an employer uses the information to actively recruit you or even screen you out can depend on how your content portrays you.

It’s no secret that there’s a growing trend among employers to conduct Google searches as part of their hiring process. The newest twist is that this practice is beginning to seep into social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

In fact, a recent survey found that almost 20% of workers would post their resumes on z social networking site for employers to see, and a third would remove certain content from these sites if they knew their employer (or prospective employers) could see it.

Should you do the same? The short answer is yes, according to many experts.

So, if you are an active job-seeker who also uses sites such as Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn for social networking, consider the following:

• Be sure your profile and chat content reflect the image you wish to portray during your job search.
• When posting messages to friends, remember that prospective employers may be watching.
• Don’t let your screen name give you a false sense of privacy; there are many ways someone can learn your identity despite use of screen names.
• Get the most out of your social networking page. More than just a place to gather online with friends, it’s an opportunity to introduce yourself to prospective employers as well!

Making a good impression on social networking sites can help in your job search efforts. At the very least, you won’t be passed over for a job based on questionable information in your profile. If you play your cards right, it may not be long before employers will be chatting with you!

Large-scale layoffs have many finance workers plotting their next moves. While they may have to think a bit more creatively, many have the skills they need to keep their careers afloat. The key to success is identifying and marketing transferable skills.

On Wall Street and beyond, the roar of the bear is deafening. Job cutbacks have been fierce. Working and laid-off professionals alike are taking stock. For many, the focus is on transferable skills – capabilities that can be parlayed into new opportunities.

The key is to think creatively and be flexible. Here are five strategies for landing on your feet – and maybe even a few rungs up the ladder.

Bad Economic Times, Good Job Opportunities

Hedge funds and private equity firms are trolling for profits in the wreckage of companies, banks and other lenders that have succumbed to the grim economy. The sheer number of these distressed assets, as well as the complexity of transforming them into investments, has created a wide range of jobs. Traders, risk managers, accountants, portfolio managers, workout specialists, bankers, investor relations pros, research and business analysts – a virtually limitless number of professionals is needed to turn these problems into profits.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Create Opportunities

There’s a revolution brewing and accounting and finance pros are the new revolutionaries. As the shift from GAAP to IFRS gains steam, the revolution will need lots of generals, foot soldiers and everyone in between. Right now, those ranks are pretty thin. From mastering and interpreting the new standards to communicating what they mean to investors and others, the need is huge and growing. In particular demand are people with analytic and problem-solving skills, technical expertise and good judgment (the new standards have fewer hard-and-fast rules). The smart money is on getting training and education now. While IFRS is not yet mandatory, it appears to be just a matter of time before the old order crumbles.

Advance Your F&A Career; Go Where the Money Is.

The U.S. may be in a downturn but the Middle East, China and other areas of the world are booming. Banks, securities firms and other financial institutions are opening and expanding abroad and the need for skilled professionals is high. Specialist are needed in the areas of infrastructure finance, asset management, private equity, risk management, compliance, operations, hedge funds, mergers and acquisitions and insurance. Another way to follow the money: Focus on wealth management. The ranks of rich people, here and abroad, continue to grow and require a range of services, from tax planning to investment advice.

Existing Job Skills, New Career Focus

Let’s say finance is your job but technology is your hobby or you always wanted to work in marketing or entertainment. The opportunity to meld existing skills and personal and professional interest can open new career frontiers. As hedge funds have expanded, for example, they are seeking people to not only crunch numbers but to engage with institutional investors in a client-service capacity, to research and write RFPs, and to market the fund. Also, while the big financial services firms may be shrinking, industries such as healthcare and education are faring better. There are also non-profits, government agencies and smaller companies.

More Regulations, Less Tolerance for Risk

Despite the overall slowdown, there is a sustained increase in regulation for all industries. Financial pros who have experience in research, quantitative analysis and forensics are good candidates for selected jobs in compliance, risk management and insurance underwriting, even law enforcement focusing on financial crimes, to name a few. To be sure, the financial services industry is in an upheaval and job dislocations will continue. But by being flexible and focusing on transferable skills, finance pros can keep their careers on track.

Engineering remains a solid and attractive profession in today’s marketplace. Many engineers are seeking ways to become even more marketable – many through the pursuit of an MBA, and for others via certifications. It’s one of the most common questions asked, both by students and professionals in the engineering field: “What is more valuable for my career: having an MBA or certifications?”

The decision to pursue certifications, an MBA, or both, can be difficult and confusing. If you seek advice from others in the field, you will get a different answer depending on who you ask. Some will say you can’t have a successful career in engineering without certifications. Others will tell you to go for the MBA, and your earnings potential increases.

But the reality is the right answer depends on the individual. What might be right for some may not be so for others. Your decision should be based on your individual circumstances: what career path you would like to pursue and your personal goals. To assist you in evaluating the next step in your career, ask yourself these questions based on your own distinct situation:

What type of position do you want?
If you desire a position that is more business-oriented, or in management, an MBA will likely serve you best. Or, if you haven’t exactly pinned down which type of position you’d enjoy, or you want to keep your options open, an MBA generally provides for more opportunities to pursue. Lastly, if your career aspirations are financially-motivated, MBA engineers typically receive some of the industry’s highest compensation.

On the contrary, if you are the type of person who likes to specialize in a particular niche trade or skill, then pursing certifications should be in your future. Certification is an industry standard for professional recognition, and documentation of your specialized knowledge and skills. Certifications alone can build a highly-successful career for engineers, and serve as a stepping stone to an advanced degree.

Why an MBA?
If you’re still knee-deep in an internal debate as to the pursuit of an MBA, here is some additional insight to consider. Many industry experts believe the role of the engineer is changing, taking on greater responsibilities such as implementing new practices, technologies and becoming a manger of change, all of which now require broader business-related skills that can be obtained through an MBA.

Another factor that plays into the equation: How far along are you in your career? For first-time undergraduate college students, it might be a good idea to get some “real-world” work experience under your belt. The top-ranked MBA programs will not even admit you if you don’t have at least several years of experience. Many engineers choose to obtain a technical degree earlier in their career, and later jumpstart their career advancement by completing their education with an MBA and filling in where their technical degrees left off.

If you do decide to pursue an MBA after you have entered the workforce, you will need to think about “how” you will get your MBA, as much as “when.” For example, will you keep working while earning your MBA in a part-time program, or do you have the financial resources to resign from your current position and return to college full-time? Another factor: Who pays for your MBA? If you are lucky enough to secure the right position, at the right company, your employer may help finance your education.

In terms of long-term marketability, engineers boasting an MBA degree will enjoy relative job security in the future. The need for engineers who can deliver the total package with technical skills, work experience, and knowledge of the business world will likely be sought after for a long time to come.

Why Certifications?
Changing market dynamics, innovations in technology and new government-sponsored programs are all fueling growing interest in and need for voluntary professional certification by engineers. In the current environment, employers are seeking out niche talent, engineers who have technical trade skills that are often scarce and hard-to-find. And engineers who have demonstrated their knowledge of skills in a certain area will generally see an increase in marketability, and perhaps pay.

If you are considering certifications to enhance your career, take into account these growth areas within the engineering profession:

Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers are utilized in a variety of industries, but evolving technologies have made those who specialize in analog, radio frequency and wireless skills highly sought after. Signal and applications specialties are high growth opportunities due to fourth-generation cell technology, Wi-Fi, and more.

Green Engineering
Government-sponsored, and funded, environmental programs are fostering a great need for engineers with LEED certifications, and other energy or government-related certifications. Growth of hybrid vehicles, windmills and smart-grid technologies all will require engineers specially-trained across electrical and mechanical engineering.

As you can see, there is no clear cut answer as to whether your next career focus should be certifications or an MBA. However, think about the questions posed, and you will make the choice that makes the most sense for you, as an individual, and for the career goals you hope to achieve.

Change Readiness: The Foundation of Success

Business leaders spend much of their time developing strategies that require implementing changes across the organization. While mapping strategy is important, the inability to accomplish change can derail even the strongest strategic thinking. Organizations with great ideas that are not executed well are often left in the dust by “fast followers” who implement similar ideas and strategies more effectively.

How do you effectively lead change? After breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record, baseball great Roger Maris said, “You win not by chance, but by preparation.” The same principle applies today to any organization hoping to affect change and thrive.

Unfortunately, in their efforts to hit a home run quickly, many organizations bypass the necessary steps that must precede sweeping change. Change management literature indicates failure rates of 70% to 90%.

The foundation for success is the organization’s willingness and readiness for change. Any attempts to bring change to a resistant company will be futile, no matter how smart the strategy.

Are you ready for change?
All experienced business leaders have seen both tremendous success and disappointing failures in change-driven initiatives. Based on our work with organizations across industries, Tatum has found that communicating the underlying rationale and using effective change management techniques will impact the resulting success or failure, but the odds improve when an organization is “ready for change.”

The first step toward determining if your organization is ready is by conducting a Change Effectiveness Review (CER). This is a fact-based process that evaluates your organization’s ability to deal with change and make an orderly and effective transformation.

The CER measures five key characteristics common to organizations that handle change successfully: organizational alignment, transparency, employee engagement, action orientation and accountability.

Organizational Alignment
Does your company have a mission statement? To achieve organizational alignment, your organization’s strategic goals must be mutually supported by company structure, roles, business priorities and metrics. Ensure your employees know the mission of the entire company, not just their individual job or departmental responsibilities. Also, ensure that company leaders are leading by example to accomplish the mission, or in other words, that they are “walking the talk.” If the entire organization understands and is working toward the company’s mission, then change efforts will be more successful.

Transparency
Transparency involves the ability to clearly and effectively communicate information internally and externally. This includes sharing what you have learned from past failures along with the results of key metrics and financials across your organization. For example, are you sharing your company’s financial information, both positive and negative? Do you communicate and celebrate successes? Do you have a formal way of learning from failures or mistakes? Often employees do not want to admit mistakes, but you must create a company culture where doing so is safe, to encourage knowledge sharing and preventing future mistakes.

You’ve landed an interview for a position that you really want. You’ve done your homework on the company, networked with insiders, and you’re current on the latest accounting standards and regulations. You know your strengths and weaknesses and can rattle of a list of accomplishments at the drop of a hat. So what happens when your interviewer asks a question that you didn’t rehearse?

In accounting, a firm’s culture is paramount, which is why out of the blue questions may come into play more often. Your ability to work with clients is also key, which is part of what makes your ability to deal with the unexpected so important. The firm wants to measure your creativity, ability to handle pressure, flexibility, and problem solving skills.

If unexpected questions knock you off your game, it’s because they’re supposed to. Your interviewer wants to see how you handle surprises and gauge how you respond to the unexpected. So if you’re asked something that wasn’t on your roster of practice questions, stay calm and demonstrate a good attitude. It’s all part of the test.

One example of an eyebrow raising question could be, “What would you ask if you were me?” This allows you the opportunity to be creative and outline some accomplishments that may have been glossed over, but surprise questions can also let you have a little fun. One good response could be, “When can you start?” Surprise questions let you think outside the box, highlight your background in a more unique way, and show a little more of your personality and style.

This may sound counter-intuitive, but depending on the firm, even a serious interview can be a little fun. Loosen up and relax, and your interviewer is more likely to as well. This can smooth over any bloopers you may make, but it’s also important to remember that you’re interviewing with a human being, not a robot. Showing your personality and style is part of what will make you memorable among other candidates.

No matter how much you prepare, there’s no way to know every question an interviewer will ask. The best you can do is demonstrate a good attitude, be as prepared as possible, and expect the unexpected.

 

Wishing you all the joys of the season as we look toward new possibilities in 2012!