Write Killer Resumes

The blank page usually scares people as BLANK depicts the state of their minds because most people don’t know what to write and therefore can’t get started.

For a start, you can simply write about what is or isn’t going through your mind. For example, if you don’t know what to write- just list down the feelings of nothingness, the fleeting topics that float around in your mind, the various things you have done for example travel.

It does not matter what trivia you come up with. Just write because the whole aim is to get you to put thoughts into words. You are merely getting started.

At the start of my career in journalism, I practiced writing by choosing a passage from any book and then rewrote that passage in my own words. You can do this many times, each time trying to word it differently. Remember this is an exercise to help you get started in writing and not practice in plagiarizing.

Another useful way is to write letters to you. This should be easy because you are always thinking all the time and thinking is merely talking mentally.

Then you should keep it going. You probably will feel frustrated at first as you might not see an intelligible article but that will come with time.

Practice makes perfect and that is what you have to do. Write. Write.Write.Each time you do so you will improve a little though you might not see it.

You should also develop patience and take the time to examine what you have written and then analyse how you can improve. As a budding journalist I struggled with in my internship and even years after that. But when I got into the swing of things, the words just flowed smoothly. That’s how things work as far as writing is concerned.

Finally you can do others a favour and write for them. Most people are terrified of writing and you would do them a favour by writing for them. This way you practice your skills as a writer. The mere fact that people will entrust their writing to you should give you confidence. Write office minutes and that will help you kick-start the habit.

Writing is a habit. With practice even the mediocre become good.

No one is an island and that is very true in all areas of life especially business. A study of the most successful business people will show that without exception, the more successful ones have a wide circle of friends. They leverage off each other to promote their businesses. And that is very important if you want to get somewhere.

Some call it forming alliances and some call it plain old networking. That’s why we have Public Relations people or Customer Service managers to keep up a good rapport with clients of new acquaintances to keep or maintain relationships. If you have read the book ‘How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie you would see how important it is for us to value people as people - and that forms the basis of networking.

How does one network? Well, there are two ways-the informal way and the formal way.
The best informal way is to start a conversation. I know it is not easy as most people will feel uneasy talking to someone new for the first time. Just got to a bar and notice that people who don’t make the first move within the first minute to strike up a conversation will not be able to have a conversation with a stranger. That takes guts and the only way to get courage is to force yourself to talk.

Of course, you could be told to go away. I have been snubbed and told by the other person that they would rather not have a conversation. I have even been told to buzz off! But , on the positive side, I have started conversations with strangers who then became my friends, some even lovers and we keep in touch even after all these years! Many have become useful business allies and I owe quite a bit of my success to their friendship.

If face to face is difficult for you then try blogging. Here the personal element is taken out so you can be more at ease. When blogging you are less conscious of how you look (you may even be in your shorts or pyjamas) Many introverted people become very extrovert on the internet as they don’t have to show their faces. Of course you could enhance the blogging experience by having a Skype call , cameras and all.

Don’t stay silent whether in person or online. That does not mean that you should simply talk to anyone anytime anywhere. That would be courting danger so use your discretion.
Once your build a bridge, a good one I mean, it could take you to a new business venture or a new social contact but only if you connect.

The other way to network is to join a networking club. The club will promote its members by matching members with members in business or simply getting each member to promote your services just as you would them. It can be a good way forward but that depends on the dynamics of interaction within that club .