For  graduates just coming out of colleges and finding themselves challenged due to dire economy, there is plenty of food for thought here:

Barack Obama never escaped from Corporate America. But he has made many courageous and non-traditional career choices — all of which helped guide him to the White House.  He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School and took a job as a community organizer. “Community organizer” was certainly not the most lucrative or prestigious choice to make (just ask Sarah Palin). Obama could have easily opted for a more traditional path and accepted a position at a law firm or as a corporate attorney. I’m sure many wise people advised him that he would never make any money as a community organizer.

But Obama followed his principles and his passions. They led him to the Illinois Senate, and then to the U.S. Senate (after an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives). And now, he’s preparing to move his family and new puppy into the White House. Oh yeah, and  along the way, he also became a bestselling author (so much for those predictions that he’d never make any money).

So what is Obama’s lesson for career changers? Don’t let anybody tell you that your dream is impossible or unrealistic. Your goal may very well be a long shot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve it. It may take a lot of hard work and some temporary sacrifices and discomfort, but so what? Nothing worth achieving is easy.

Now step back and think. Be unrealistic. Hard work and sacrifices.

Vikash asked this question if Web2.0 social media resume is good for seeking employment and answer for this question is viewed by most of the Codemunchers as Web2.0 resume is a frequently used term these days; but don’t know if it helps in seeking job.

Shruti gave a excellent reply to this question emphasizing on updating and sharing resume, promoting resume by adding badges and unique URL on your social profiles. She made it clear that job opportunity may knock anytime and in her own words ” Who knows a new job may be hanging around nearby “.

According to me, Web2.0 social media resume is really helpful for seeking employment as many employers are looking for potential candidates through social media. One can easily find recruiters on Orkut or Facebook and contact them directly for any job opportunity. Also showcasing resume on your social profile increases the chances of getting the resume viewed. It allows recruiter to know your Internet presence and credibility. This is also one of those reasons why hiring managers are preferring social media resume.

Create a good social media resume and promote it effectively using your social network, so that you don’t miss any opportunity hanging around.

“Make your personal brand work for you !”

Some common mistakes made while sharing resume are:

• Sharing resume with inappropriate person:

Sharing resume without knowing whom to share with is the biggest mistake and almost ends with frustration. Before sharing resume it is necessary to know which job profile you are looking for and job profile offered by employer. Once you are clear with objective and get the opportunity matching your profile, then only share resume.

• Sharing without Cover letter:

Cover letter is a letter of introduction and creates first impression about you. So when you are sharing resume with someone it is necessary to enclose the cover letter. Many times job seekers send their resume without cover letter, which is just like going for tea with someone without introduction. Cover letter must be brief and to the point, and should demonstrate that you meet the requirements listed in job description. You can add bullet points to make it attractive. Also address your cover letter to a specific person and avoid general salutations like “Dear Sir/Madam” .

• Improper Subject Line:

Most of the recruiters in job description specifies job code along with title to be entered in Subject line, so proper subject line must be entered. Even if any specific job code or title is not given in job description, then also subject line must be relevent and indicate which job you are applying for.

• No Customized resume:

You may be eligible for some different type of jobs, so while sharing offline make relevant changes in resume as per needed. This is a common mistake as job seekers have only one resume and they share it without even customizing it. So make sure to share a customized resume as it will increase your chance for an interview call.

• Spelling Mistakes:

Check for spelling mistakes not only in resume but also in cover letter and subject line as any spelling mistake in this will create a bad impact.

• Using vague email id:

Email id used for sharing resume must be professional and simple. It can be your name or somewhat similar to it if exact name is not available. But make sure not to use absurd email ids.

• Sharing resume in bulk:

Often job seekers share resume in bulk and this habit can yield adverse effects on job hunt. When resume is shared in bulk, then in cover letter general address is made which is wrong. Also recruiter can see all others with whom resume is shared.

• Sharing with friends:

Social networks are the biggest source of job opportunities today, which makes it very essential to share resume with friends. But many times job seekers share resume in a very informal way, forgetting that they are sharing it for job opportunity. This is a very common mistake as while sharing resume with friends everyone thinks that our friend is going to take care of all things, which is not the case.

Creating a good resume is easy and so is sharing it effectively, if these common mistakes are avoided. Just remember that -

“Be discriminating; don’t shoot at everything that moves and shoot such that you hit the target”

Key is to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Remember, the HR who sorts through thousands of resume for a said job will spend less than 1 minute per resume. Unless he/she finds something interesting and creative, the resume would go into the trash bin. If you are a fresher and don’t have much experience to show, you got to get creative.

Not having work experience does not mean you are not intellectually and technically sound.

This is where CodeMunch can help you differentiate from thousands of resumes. When you actively participate in groups, start intelligent threads, respond to others queries. One is not only becoming more technically savvy, but one is also proving to the world that he/she can tackle situations and get the said job done.

Add to it, the added advantage of having friends review your resume, rate and comment on it. Just another way to know where you would stand in the crowd. These could be friends or potential employers seeing how the community views you.

Happy munching!