RÉSUMÉ BUILDING Seminar featured in the Ledger

The Water Cooler
the curriculum vitae
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080512/NEWS/805120306/1349/LIFE09



RESUMÉ BUILDING: We've all heard that we have just one chance to make a first impression.The same is true for our resumé and cover letter.If you haven't written a cover letter in years; if your resumé still says you are a member of the FBLA or if you can't even remember where you worked 20 years ago, have we got a plan for you.First, mark your calendar for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites on South Florida Avenue in Lakeland.Second, make reservations at lakelandabwa@yahoo.com right now, today, before all the seats are gone.Dr. Kella Price of Price Consulting Group is going to tell how to create a winning resumé and cover letter. So bring your current resumé and cover letter with you.Price is going to tell you the No. 1 mistake people make in writing their resumé and what three things every resumé should include.Lunch is $20; not much for a new career.adventures overseasAMERICANS ABROAD: The dollar may be slumping steadily and Americans' disposable income may be shrinking, but just try keeping them home.Travel organization AAA and Global Insight, a forecasting company, predicted 25.1 million Americans will be crossing borders for leisure travel this summer, up 2.6 percent from last year. Summer is the most popular vacation season.And they're expected to spend more than ever: $30.7 billion in June, July and August, up 5.7 percent from last year."Those that choose to make these trips are reallocating their budgets," said Ken McGill, executive managing director of Global Insight, a forecasting company. "Leisure travel has become not only a necessity to many American travelers, it's become almost a divine right."Vacationers will cut shopping and entertainment out of their travel budgets, and will cut household expenses before they nix travel plans, McGill said.The forecast is based on an economic model that includes aggregated data about the U.S. economy, domestic spending, foreign exchange rates, historic travel data, inflation in travel costs and other factors.still impressMAKE IT SING: A tight labor market is no excuse for lazy job postings.Candidates may flock to ads, but to attract the best potential employee, job listings need to generate excitement about the company and articulate benefits to the hire while being short, clear and punchy.Some tips from Michael Jalbert, president of MRINetwork, an executive search company:Don't drone on and on about a position's responsibilities and requirements. Keep postings short.Sell the job's strengths: Get in a "what's in it for me" statement at the end of a posting. Job candidates need to know why the position is valuable and interesting.Make sure salary and benefits match what competitors are offering. Job-seekers today can research other companies' offerings and determine their value.In precise, crisp language, make clear the brand of your company and why it's a valuable workplace.For junior positions, creative or cutting-edge wordplay can be acceptable; for senior management roles, keep language drier and professional.[ LYNNE MADDOX/The Ledger and The Associated Press ]