Tracy Laswell Valdez is a certified job and career-transition coach, and an accredited, award-winning, nationally published resume writer. She founded her company CAREER-Magic.com in 1994, and has helped well over 2000 individual job seekers, as corporate outplacement clients, and consulting firms in marketing their talent. Sought out by career journalists around the nation, she has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and The Denver Post, among others. Ms. Laswell Valdez is a frequent speaker at job fairs and professional networking events.

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 Cover Letter Writing 101: Paper and Electronic Letters
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
When I think of the average job seeker’s approach to cover letters, I’m reminded of the Publishers’ Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. You know, all those crazy coupons and stickers and NASA-level procedures on how to put it all together correctly. You become excited that you’re going to win that ...
 
 E-mailing Resumes: The Good, The Bad, The Unexpected
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
The following article is based on an e-mail I received from a "recently re-employed UNIX Guru" - we'll call him Louis, because, well, that's his name. Fresh from a relatively short period of unemployment, he still identifies with those still in job search mode - and nice guy that he is, he...
 
 Resume Writing 101: What's In a Name?
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
In the last five years as a career services professional, I have found that approximately 90% of my clients are hell-bent on having their name appear on their resumes as follows: "George M. Smith" or "Susan W. Dingle" It ends up on the resume only about 5% of the time. I will, natu...
 
 Strategic Interview Attire
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
"How to dress for interview success" is a frequently requested topic in the workshops and support groups I conduct. Here are a few strategic suggestions on looking your professional best, no matter your shape, size, gender, or age: If the job is a major step up for you: Dress the part....
 
 The Headless Resume
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
In my business, I naturally see a lot of resumes, written by amateurs and other professionals. Lately I've seen a rash of resumes that seem to have lost their minds. Is your resume "headless?" If your resume reads something like this, you may be missing a critical section. JOHN T. FRUGA...
 
 After the Interview... Now What?
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
Congratulations! You've just completed an interview for a position that interests you, or perhaps you met with a networking contact who offered some insight into your job search. Now that the interview is over, it's time to swing into action with some memorable follow up activities. De...
 
 Asking For Help in A Job Search
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
If you don't seem to be making progress in your job search, perhaps it's due to a breakdown in communications. Here are some ideas on how best to ‘ask your way' into a great new job. BE SPECIFIC. If there is anything that drives me completely batty, it's the generic request for assistan...
 
 Cover Letter Myths and Resume Nonsense
by Tracy Laswell - Apr, 2007
When it comes to know-how on finding work, most folks get their information in much the same way they learned about "the birds and bees." They get their "information" from equally uninformed peers while tiptoeing around behind the current boss's back. With nervous giggles, they repeat what...
 
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