Getting Started:

Email your resume or any other career information to: Careers@Execareers.net for a free analysis by a CPRW.

We'll give you honest feedback on your resume, and let you know how we can help.
If your resume is excellent, passable, or terrible, we'll give it to you straight.

You decide. We'll give you rates and services to meet your specific needs. Our team of experts can compose an expert career marketing piece, and/or develop a customized program with lists of the right contacts at the right companies: the people you need to reach directly to access the so-called "hidden" job market. These jobs aren't really hidden, just not advertised (yet) to the general public. Up to 70% of all jobs are filled this way, through personal Networking.

Networking. At your request, we can coach you on effective Networking - far beyond the obvious - to get you past the resume screening process. We cover how to track down and call the right person at target companies, what to say and how to say it to maximize your chance for a top-level interview, and even increase your chances of creating a new position.

Distribution. We can send your resume to top recruiters, locally or nationally. We can even conduct a search for you and send your materials to recruiters and firms that meet your criteria at just a few, or thousands of large and small companies, in virtually all technical and non-tech fields. We've worked with more than 8000 satisfied clients in all 50 states and around the globe - we know we can help you!

Honesty and dedication drive everything we do. Here are several of our top consultants:

Steven Provenzano, BA, CPRW, CEIP and President, 630-289-6222; Toll Free: 877-610-6810
Careers@Execareers.net Steve is the published author of six career books including Top Secret Executive Resumes and Top Secret Resumes & Cover Letters, and has written more than 4000 resumes. He is CPRW, Certified Professional Resume Writer, CEIP, Certified Employment Interview Coach, and President of ECS. During his 15 years as owner/operator of A Advanced Resume Service, aka AARS Inc., (which he sold 11/06,) he managed the largest group of CPRWs in Illinois, and developed more than 8000 clients in all 50 states and dozens of countries overseas. He is co-leader of the Career Transitions Team at Willow Creek Community Church, and has appeared numerous times on CNBC, CNN/fn, NBC-5 and ABC-7 in Chicago and on numerous radio programs. Steve earned his BA Degree in Journalism from NIU in DeKalb, IL, and his work is endorsed by Chicago Tribune career columnist Lindsey Novak. Steve has 18 years in career marketing and resume writing, as well as a year of corporate recruiting. His books are endorsed by top executives from Motorola, Coca-Cola and other firms.

Diane Shelton, MA, Career Coach/Counselor and Vice President
DiShelton@earthlink.net Co-founder and leader of the Career Transitions group at Willow Creek Church, Diane holds a Masters of Professional Counseling from Argosy University (Illinois School of Professional Counseling). For the past seven years, she has managed a private career counseling practice, where she specializes in cutting to the heart of career and workplace challenges for both professionals and executives. Ms. Shelton has over 15 years of mentoring, managing, and professional business experience, which afforded her significant exposure to a diverse range of industries and employment situations.

Carl Price, former Technology Recruiter
c_f_price@comcast.net Carl advises a wide range of individuals in career transition. A former recruiter in the Information Technology field, he has developed and managed accounts ranging from start-up organizations to companies such as Baxter, Hewitt and Accenture. Prior to his 20 years as Recruiter for Source Services, (now Kforce Professional Staffing), Carl spent 13 years in IT as Project Leader, Programmer Analyst and Operations Analyst at R.R. Donnelley & Sons, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac) and Belden Corporation, (now Belden CDT Inc). Carl is a key member of the Career Transitions team at Willow Creek Community Church.

Here's how it works: Call us at 630-289-6222 or forward your resume in confidence to Careers@Execareers.net
We will contact you by phone or email, again in confidence, to talk about your options. We can discuss prices and services applicable to you: whether you need expert coaching on lead development, resume distribution, networking or the latest interviewing techniques.

When we agree on a package, we'll set a time for your personal, in-depth interview, usually the same day or next day. Following the interview, we take between 1-3 working days to develop and write a custom campaign to meet your needs.

After we agree on a program, you may call your career coach with questions or ideas. We're here to help. And remember it's all tax deductible for our clients in the U.S.

We Become the Bridge Between You and Employers. We know how to link your desire for the perfect job with employer's needs. Our team takes the time to get to know what you really want to do: what's going to make you happy 8-9 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. I titled my books "Top Secret" because they contained some of the secrets of the top resume services, including keywords, designs and formats. It's proven itself for more than 15 years. But remember, your customized job search program isn't in my book, it's in your head and ours, it just needs to be recognized, developed and marketed. It was business guru Tom Peters who reminded us that "People like to do business with people who like to do business." We keep a sense of humor on the job because we love helping people advance in their careers, and you'll love working with us, guaranteed!
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Top Secrets of Expert Resumes

By Steven Provenzano, CPRW / CEIP
Author, Top Secret Executive Resumes

It seems no matter how good we have it, we all want a better job.

That means keeping track of job listings, networking, tracking down leads, analyzing potential employers and scheduling interviews. But these depend on other people, word of mouth, and the quality and quantity of job postings available at any given time.

Only your resume gives you total control over how you are perceived by potential employers. It doesn't have to be a passive job listing with subjective information on why you think you're a great and wonderful person (which of course you are). You need a high-impact career marketing piece that takes full advantage of the paltry 10-60 seconds of attention most resumes receive: the breaking point for the email vs. web version.

Perhaps you don't think of yourself as a very good writer, and just don't like "writing about yourself." You're not alone: even published authors and top-flight executives who visit my office tell me they have trouble writing a decent resume. They also tell me, "My resume isn't perfect, but I'll explain myself in the interview."

However, you may be the perfect candidate for a position and still not get the interview, for no other reason than your resume. Resumes are typically used to exclude people from positions more often then include them; whomever is left in the 'potential' stack gets called for an interview.

The Big Picture
First and Foremost: Tell Employers What They Really Want to Know.
Pre-digest your information. Employers may have a stack of resumes on their desk and a job to fill, right now. They'll have some key requirements that candidates must meet before they'll consider an interview. What they want to know from each person "sitting" on their desk is: What can you do for me? How can you fill this job effectively? Why should I talk to you?

Consistently Market Your Skills and Abilities
You must extract your most applicable skills and talents from your past work experience and sell them at the very top of your resume in that Profile.

Some key points for creating a better resume:

Think of a basic Title or Objective for the top of your resume.
This section should be very brief and to the point, just one or two words: SALES / MARKETING or ACCOUNTING / FINANCE, or something like EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. Give the reader some idea of where you're coming from, and generally where you want to go, without blocking yourself from consideration for other positions.

Create a Profile section that develops your talents in these areas.
Here's where you create the link between your needs and the employer's. In a short, bulleted summary section at the top of your resume, you need to spell out and develop your most relevant and essential skills and talents, in accordance with what you think the employer needs to see.

Steer clear of fluff words in your Profile such as "Self-motivated, hands-on professional with an excellent track record of..." Let's face it. The first two items in this sentence could be said about almost anyone. As for your track record, let the employer decide if it's excellent by reading about your abilities (on top) and your duties and accomplishments (under the Employment section).

This can be the most difficult task on any resume, and it has to be written just right. If it's subjective or contains ideas that can't be verified through education or experience, then don't include it, or you'll lose your credibility. Consider getting advice from a Certified Professional Resume Writer who typically won't charge for a review.

Employment and Education sections.
Now your writing must consistently verify, support and quantify what you've stated in your Profile section! Help the reader actually see you at your last position by spelling out daily duties most relevant to your career goals. Explain how many people you supervised or trained, types of clients you work(ed) with, computers utilized, and most important, results.

What are/were your achievements? Give facts and figures like budget amounts, how much you've saved the company over how long, awards, recognitions, etc.

Avoid the ubiquitous "References Available upon Request" at the bottom of your resume. If employers really want references, they'll ask you. Consider "CONFIDENTIAL RESUME" at the top of your resume, and/or stating this in your cover letter. Always respect the reader's intelligence!

Research the company's brochure, annual report and job advertisement, if any, and tailor your resume as much as possible to the position.

Final Thoughts
Although personal networking is the best way to get a job, an excellent resume can open doors all by itself, and is still required in most networking situations. Of course, a brief cover letter should be targeted to the hiring authority whenever possible.

Tell the reader what you know about their operation, and why you want to work specifically for his/her company. Make them feel like they're the only person getting your resume. Consider this: a resume that's only slightly more effective than the one you have now could help you get a job weeks, or even months faster than your old resume.

Resume writing is an art form in itself, and there are few hard and fast rules. You need a complete, professional job search strategy, and your resume must be a key part of that strategy. When you implement these ideas in the next update of your resume, you'll almost certainly get more interviews.

For a Free Resume Analysis by Mr. Provenzano or his staff, email your resume to:
Careers@Execareers.net
Site: http://www.execareers.net

Steven Provenzano is a former corporate recruiter and author of six career books, most recently: Top Secret Executive Resumes. He has appeared on CNBC, CNN/fn, ABC/NBC in Chicago, on numerous radio programs and in various newspapers. He is a Certified Professional Resume Writer / CPRW and Certified Employment Interview Professional/CEIP. He is President of ECS: Executive Career Services & DTP, Inc., and has written more than 4000 resumes. Email any questions or materials to Careers@Execareers.net or call toll free: 877-610-6810.


Top Secrets of The Executive Career Search

By Steven Provenzano, CPRW/CEIP
Author: Top Secret Executive Resumes

Every day I talk with top professionals and executives looking for a better job. But deep down, they know they want more than a job - they want more fulfillment at work.
They need to see a greater value and satisfaction in the 40-50 hours of brainpower and expertise they put forth every week. They have excellent skills and experience in their industry, but now they're faced with finding a new position, or expanding their career, and have very little background in that department.
They all ask the same questions: "Where should I start? Whom should I talk to? Should I just start calling recruiters?"
Finding a job is a job in itself.
It all starts on the inside: Step back, do a gut check, take a holistic approach and ask yourself:

1. Why consider a job search in the first place?
2. What's really going to make me happy on the job, 40-60 hours a week?
3. What trajectory do I want my career to take?
4. If I start a search, what are the first steps to take?

#1: Why consider a search?
This is your key to success because it targets your motivation. In Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan) he says you need to get right with God. This cuts to the core of your spirit, your personal dream, and your overall satisfaction.

Is it all about money? (hint: that's almost never the case). A greater career challenge? Are you stressed out or just tired of your boss and the working conditions...or are YOU the boss and just bored with the industry, the company or the people around you?

Write down a few keywords or sentences about your real motivation and level of commitment. How much time are you willing to spend creating a resume, learning & conducting internet research on target companies, calling them personally and doing personal networking? Will you keep track of your calls? How long can you be unemployed?

#2: The Satisfaction Factor
At this very moment, what do you want to DO with your life? What are you lacking in your current position, and what's going to really satisfy you on the job, regardless of job title, industry, location or money? We hear "Life Is Short" all the time. Yet most of us are content to remain in our comfort zones. Only when that becomes unbearable do we reach out for advice and support.
Don't let your pride or ego prevent you from working with a certified career coach. Coaches can prove invaluable in helping you come to terms with where you are and where you really want to be. They can assess your current value in today's marketplace, and help create a plan to get you position that will maximize your talents.

For many, it's a chance to stand up and help others; you discover whole new challenges. You meet new people, create new relationships, and find greater value and substance to your days, and that's priceless.

#3: The Big Picture
Take the long view; don't be afraid to dream and imagine greater possibilities, meeting new challenges, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is your trajectory.

Talk it over with your spouse, good friends you trust, your Pastor, or co-workers who can keep a secret. Don't rush this; take some time and sleep on it. Think out of the box. I built a career helping others with their careers, yet certainly never thought I'd write six books on resumes and career marketing.

#4: Strategy and Execution
OK: So you've done some dreaming and pictured yourself in the ideal opportunity; how do you get there? Get online and search for job descriptions; talk to anyone even remotely related to the position or industry.

When you're sure about the skills you want to use, sidestep the fear and market your abilities. Track down the names and numbers of key players to contact and line up informational interviews to gain information about the job market, their company direction, their challenges and how you can help them. Such interviews can lead to job offers, it happens all the time.

Studies show only 5%-10% of jobs are filled through internet job sites and bulletin boards. Yet many executives, including those in our Career Workshop at Willow Creek Church, spend hours online seeking the perfect job. But Personal Networking is the single most effective approach to finding - even creating - the ideal opportunity. In fact, 60-70% of all positions are filled through Personal Networking: people who know people.

Real networks are created one call at a time, one person at a time. It can be slow and frustrating, but we see it work all the time. A good career coach can help you perfect the skill of calling companies and creating a 30-second snapshot of your best value and benefit.

Some Final Thoughts:
A job search is a chance to assess where you are right now. We all know life is short, and no one else can make it meaningful for us. It's up to us to get right with God and move forward with greater confidence and determination. It's up to us to use our gifts to add greater impact and meaning to our lives and the lives of those around us.

Seize the day.

For a Free Resume Analysis by Mr. Provenzano or his staff, email your resume to:
Careers@Execareers.net
Site: http://www.execareers.net/

Steven Provenzano is a former corporate recruiter and author of six career books including Top Secret Executive Resumes. He has appeared on CNBC, CNN/fn, ABC/NBC in Chicago, on numerous radio programs and in various newspaper articles. His work is endorsed by Chicago Tribune Career Columnist Lindsey Novak, and top executives at such firms as Motorola. He is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/CPRW, Certified Employment Interview Professional/CEIP, and President of ECS: Executive Career Services & DTP, Inc. Email your resume for free career feedback to: Careers@Execareers.net or call toll free: 877-610-6810.