Sunday, May 17, 2020

Tips For Writing a Killer Resume

Tips For Writing a Killer ResumeWriting a killer resume is no joke. You need to know what to put on your resume, how to put it together and keep your information straight. Knowing these tips will help you become a successful professional who gets hired for all kinds of jobs. After all, the resume is a simple form of advertising to get the attention of the hiring manager.The first tip in writing a killer resume is to make sure that you're objective is clear. If your objective is to get a job as a secretary, then it's important to state this. A more open-ended objective might be to get hired as a receptionist or training clerk. Another thing to consider is if you can even fit this objective on your resume. If you are not sure, just stick with your current job title and objective.The next tip is to put a cover letter with your resume. It's important to have a short cover letter but it should be informative and convincing. Your resume and cover letter should be as complete as possible. M ake sure to include all the necessary information about yourself and how your resume will be of assistance to the employer. If possible, you may also want to provide a few samples of your work history so that the employer can see your qualifications for the job.The third most important tips on writing a killer resume is to make sure you write it in an organized way. This means that you will need to choose one organized file format such as Microsoft Word or Open Office format, even Microsoft Publisher. These programs come in handy for creating neat documents that you can easily search with keywords. You can even turn them into Word documents, which will be much easier to read.When you get to the end of your resume, you will want to have all the information about yourself. Remember to include dates of birth, dates of graduates and certificates, schools attended, the kinds of hobbies you have, your income, employment status and your current employer. You should also list any other expe riences that are relevant to the job you're applying for. All of this information is important to get the employer to notice you. Also, don't forget to include contact information including your phone number, email address and fax number.It's a good idea to include a summary of your education. Most employers today want to see the skills you already have when interviewing. Also, make sure to include any type of certification you have. A reputable educational website will usually provide a list of education you can use as a reference. Do not be afraid to include all of your academic degrees.One of the most effective ways to add a little pizzazz to your resume is to include a photo of yourself. You can choose from photos of yourself at school, the beginning of your career, or a favorite vacation spot. You may even want to consider posting your resume online. This way, potential employers will see your resume through your blog or Facebook page.Writing a killer resume isn't as hard as it may seem. However, remember to have fun and keep your resume concise and professional. Just remember that you are applying for the same job as another person and your resume needs to show the employer why you are the best candidate for the job.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The 9 Most Infuriating Email Habits In Every Office CareerMetis.com

The 9 Most Infuriating Email Habits In Every Office Do you love your inbox?If you’re like most people, the answer is probably a definitive ‘no’. That’s because, for most of us, our inbox is a forsaken place where we collect the detritus of our working lives and get the latest updates from that one website we thought might be useful in 2009 whose newsletters we just can’t work out how to unsubscribe from.But there’s one thing that makes all this worse â€" the frankly appalling etiquette of our email contacts.eval“Every office is filled with people who can’t use their emails properly, and it drives everyone mad,” says Brian Johnson, Director of Forward Role, the UK’s leading digital and marketing recruitment specialists. “Despite most people’s common sense, some part of their brain switches off when they come to open up a new email and type up that ‘urgent’ 48-line paragraph and then CC in the entire team.”Below, we’ve listed the worse email offenders each office has, and what you can do to mitigate them. 1) The Email EnforcerevalSource : Giphy.comLike some unsolicited apparition, these Email Enforcers magically appear next to you, just as their oven-fresh email drops into your inbox. “I’ve just sent you an email,” they helpfully say.And then they proceed to explain to you everything they’ve said in the email… which means that all you can do is just sit there and listen to what you’ve just read that second.This is like a parent knocking on their teenager’s bedroom door after they’ve already let themselves in. They’re probably even the type of person who says“Knock knock” instead of actually doing it.Ugh.When dealing with an Email Enforcer, do: Take in what they’re saying, repeat it back to them to confirm you understand, and wrap up by suggesting next time they just come and speak to you rather than emailing as well.evalDon’t:Ask them to book a meeting in which they can explain their email in more detail.2) The GhostSource : Giphy.comThe Ghost is the profess ional equivalent of that person you dated who never messaged you back. They’re charming in meetings, pretend like they’re interested in your strategies, and then â€" POOF! â€" they disappear from the email stratosphere, never to respond to your emails again.You get paranoid. Was it something you said? Maybe they didn’treally like your strategy and are avoiding having to tell you.Then you realise you’re not alone… they’ve ghosted before â€" and they’ll do it again!evalWhen dealing with a Ghost, do: Ask them privately to send back a quick reply confirming that they’ve read and understood your email.Don’t: Harass them at the water cooler demanding to know why they didn’t email you back. “I thought what we had was special” doesn’t look good on an HR report.3) THE SHOUTERSource :Giphy.comHAVE YOU RECEIVED AN EMAIL WRITTEN ENTIRELY IN CAPS LOCK? IT COMES ACROSS AS INCREDIBLY AGGRESSIVE AND MEANS YOU AUTOMATICALLY THINK THAT THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END IS EITHER L IVID OR IS ACTUALLY YOUR GRAN TRYING TO COMMENT ON A FACEBOOK POST.Shouters are people who somehow write entire emails without reading them â€" because why else would you send it on? Weirdly, Shouters are often very agreeable in real life, which makes you believe that their habit of yelling their emails is purely an online quirk.When dealing with a Shouter, do: Email back privately and politely inform them that they might have left their caps lock on by mistake.Don’t: Use a megaphone to shout your reply back to them.4) The Blank Subject LinerSource : Giphy.comIn a detective novel, a mysterious email is an exciting thing, promising a secretive plot that is exposed by a clever protagonist who can piece together the clues to solve the case.But at work, mysterious emails are about as exciting as your Aunt Audrey’s holiday photos.The blank subject line surprises you every time you see it. You say ‘What’s this?’ and click on it, only to find yourself reading the same memo about that one project you finished months ago. Seriously, guys. A two-word summary is not that hard.evalWhen dealing with a Blank Subject Liner, do: Explain to the sender that your inbox is usually very full, so without a subject line, their urgent messages might get lost and work won’t get done.Don’t: Send them a mysterious email containing your Aunt Audrey’s holiday photos.eval5) The Captain of the Seven CCsSource : Giphy.comYou get an email from your boss. It looks important. Very important. At that moment, you start to believe that maybe â€" just maybe â€" they’ve realised they need your help. You hear the word ‘promotion’ echo in the distance. It’s happening.But then you read it… and you realise the email isn’t addressed to you. It doesn’t even have anything to dowith you. It might as well say “FOOLED YOU!” in Comic Sans.Instead, you find yourself on a CC list longer than the Treaty of Versailles. There’s the marketing director, the head of IT, three intern s that no longer work there, your mum, her dog… it leads to a lot of confusion, and a lot of wasted time.evalWhen dealing with a Captain of the Seven CCs, do: Reply to them directly, asking whether they need your input on this email chain or whether you can be removed from the CC list.Don’t: Type something witty and hit ‘Reply All’. You know who you are. Stop it.6) The One-word WonderSource : Giphy.comIt’s late afternoon. You’ve just spent the best part of an hour crafting that perfect email to your manager explaining the next steps of your marketing strategy. It has charts. It has chapters. It even has a list of contents and an epilogue in which you thank your family for all the support they’ve given you in writing such a wonderfully crafted email.And the reply you get?“Great, thanks.”CEOs and Managing Directors are particularly bad for this. To them, they’re just trying to be efficient by providing quick sign-off on a good-enough suggestion so they’re not a b ottle-neck. But to their staff, it can come across like they don’t care, which can be frustrating.When dealing with a One-word Wonder, do: Ask for specific feedback in your email at the beginning and the end so they can’t miss it if they skim read.Don’t: Yell “You’re not even trying!” before sobbing quietly at your desk.7) The In-office Auto-responderSource : Giphy.comThere’s something incredibly satisfying about setting an auto-responder. It’s a badge of pride â€" that little message that tells your contacts that, sorry, you can’tanswer their email right now because you’re too busy enjoyingyourself in some sunny corner of the world.But once you’re back at work, the auto-responder makes you look like a fool. It’s not just annoying for staff but for clients, too. One might be given some leeway on their first day back, but by day two, it’s embarrassing.When dealing with an In-office Auto-responder, do: Politely inform them that they might have left their auto -responder on and, if necessary, show them how to switch it off.Don’t:Make loud, sarcastic comments about how amazing it is that someone could be at work andon holiday at the same time. You’re not funny, Jill.8) The False AlarmerSource : Giphy.comFalse Alarmers are those people that somehow missed the parable of the boy who cried wolf. They mark their emails as ‘URGENT’ so that they catch your eye, and naturally, you open it in a panic, only to find that they want to know whether there was a milk delivery this morning because they just checked the fridge and, well, we’re out.False Alarmers make trouble for themselves. It’s not long before you stop opening their urgent emails, which means when they have something important they need to communicate, no one is going to listen.Come on, people, we learned this in primary school.When dealing with a False Alarmer, do:Explain to them that, although you understand they believe their projects are top priority, they should only mar k emails as urgent if it’s a genuine emergency.Don’t: Secretly fill their pockets with meat before a company hike to recreate the parable of the boy who cried wolf.9) The HistorianSource : Giphy.comYou know it’s going to be bad when you see this subject line:“Fwd: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Changes to homepage”.Historians like to forward LONG email chains to people. They want you to scroll to the very beginning, painstakingly making your way back through time until your finger hurts. You scroll past the Millenium, the Great Depression, the Ice Age. You’re pretty sure email can’t have been around long enough for this email chain to be possible, and yet you’re still scrolling.And justwhen you’ve caught up, they forward you the next batch of updates.Kill. Me. Now.When dealing with a Historian, do: Ask for a quick summary of the key things they need you to action to make sure nothing is missed.Don’t: Build a time machine to go back and stop them from being h ired. You might bump into yourself and let’s face it, you were not cool in the nineties. No one was.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Get Hired in Dallas With This Job Search Guide

Get Hired in Dallas With This Job Search Guide Dallas has become quite a booming city when it comes to employment opportunity. Thats good news if you are seeking a job in Dallas. In recent years, Dallas has risen to become the fourth largest employment center adding 3M non-farm jobs (Wikipedia) in 2013. There are many industries represented, including real estate, consulting, technology, healthcare and transportation. Dallas is now competing with cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Not too bad not too bad at all! Whether you are moving to be closer to family, relocating for a specific industry or simply looking for a change of scenery, these three steps can help your Dallas job search. Step 1 â€" Make a list Making a company list is essential for mitigating information overload. The information on the web can be overwhelming, potentially adding to the fear and uncertainty already associated with a job search. So, as with any other type of big decision, organization is key to not being overwhelmed. Write down your company list. I would recommend about 15 â€" 20 employers; however, the number is really personal preference and based on your circumstances. The idea, though, is to make a list. The list is important because it serves two purposes. One, it helps synthesize information to avoid information overload. Two, it is time-efficient. The process is similar to buying a car. Once you have researched the make and model of your favorites, you start to see them everywhere. When you make a company list, you start to see that job and connections to that job everywhere. If you need help, check out the lists of employers below. According to the Dallas Business Journal in 2016, there is a growing middle market and the following are examples of the fastest growing companies in the Dallas area: Pinnacle Group Daseke Howard Hughes Nexstar Broadcasting Zoes Kitchen Gehan Homes Ltd Dave Busters These are just a sampling of the many companies that may be adding jobs to Dallas area. Also, here are the top 10 public companies that are doing just fine and headquartered in Dallas: Exxon ATT Energy Transfer Equity American Airlines Fluor Corp Kimberly-Clark Southwest Airlines Texas Instruments Holly Frontier Step 2 â€" Who do you know? The next step is finding a person who works in one of the companies on your list. I recommend LinkedIn for this step. Connect with people from your Alma Mater. Navigate to Network and select Find Alumni. You can search by all sorts of filters including location, employer, or skill set. Reach out, let them know you are looking for a job and that you’d love about 20 minutes of their time. Another good way to reach out is by going to professional organizations in your current city. You’d be surprised how interconnected we really are. Remember, once you are looking, you start to see connections everywhere. Step 3 â€" Prepare your professional brand Hopefully with the first two steps, you’ve made some progress finding out how open the organization is to hiring. Dont forget to search the company website and job boards for specific jobs you are qualified for. If so, apply. To do so, you need to brush up on your resume and cover letter. Here are just a few easy fast tips for resume writing and cover letters: no periods on your bullet points, add dates to your education section, and have it reviewed by at least one person. After these three steps, you should be looking good and feeling good about your job prospects. Until then, good luck with your Dallas job search! If you feel that you need a little help with your job search please consider contacting a Dallas career coach.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Do you follow companies on LinkedIn -

Do you follow companies on LinkedIn - You may already know that LinkedIn is one of the most popular (I might dare to say THE most important) site to optimize if you want to make it easier for employers to find YOU. But, did you know that LinkedIn now has a feature that encourages users to follow companies? Sound a little too much like Facebooks offer to allow you to like a company or business? Read my post at Job-Hunt.org to learn about the feature and how you can use it to propel your search.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Information About Writing Your Job Search Is Confidential On Resume

Information About Writing Your Job Search Is Confidential On ResumeWriting your job search is confidential on resume. This is a common misconception among job seekers and even employers.If you have been out of work for some time, your resume is the one thing that has not yet come in the light of the public eye. At this point, it will be placed at the back of your cubicle with other unnecessary, unimportant papers. While employers might view it favorably, the same may not be the case with employees who have been out of work for a while.If your resume is honest but too lengthy and seems like you are wasting your time, then you can be sure that your job search is likely to have landed you nowhere. Your resume is not only an individual document but as an employee's document as well.In fact, your resume is the single most important part of your job search. If you do not have a good one, how can you expect to have any success in the job market? Even if you submit a resume with a long list of achievements, and none of them give a clue to why you have applied for the job, you may have still lost the race.While the length of your resume might have been a bother for some, you may also want to avoid writing about your past experiences and the job that you have held previously. Employers may be very sensitive to these types of details, especially if you have never been hired before.Some people write to look for jobs online. While writing resumes that look professional and detail oriented will increase your chances of getting an interview, there is no guarantee that you will get a job when you apply for it.A resume should only be used when you have reached the point where you feel that you need to express yourself. You have the ability to talk to a potential employer about why you want to be a part of their company.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Job Interviews How to Ace Any Type of Meeting and Win the Job

Job Interviews How to Ace Any Type of Meeting and Win the Job Planning your next big career move? Get ­going. Job openings climbed to 4.7 million in June, the highest level since 2001, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And in a recent survey by Challenger Gray ­ Christmas, 77% of hiring managers re ­ported trouble filling slots because of a talent shortage. To succeed in this sunnier market, though, you need a firm grasp on today’s hiring process, one that may be far different from what you faced the last time you hit the circuit. For starters, businesses are going slow, spending an average of 23 days to fill a slot in 2013, vs. 12 days in 2010, according to employer review website Glassdoor. And many are replacing antiquated hiring methods with more offbeat ways to vet job seekers. “Companies are finding traditional job interviews aren’t identifying the high-quality candidates they need,” says Parker McKenna of the Society for Human Resource Management. Numerous academic studies have unearthed flaws in the process. A 2013 one co-written by psychologist Jason Dana at the Yale School of Management found that many hiring managers are mistakenly overconfident in their ability to assess how well a candidate will perform through a one-on-one interview. To get an edge on your competition, you should prepare for these four types of tests. The Video Chat What to expect: Last year nearly one out of five job seekers sat through a video interview, more than double the number the year before, according to a survey by workforce consultants Right Management. Firms want to see your communication skills, says ­McKenna. Plus, recruiters can cast a wider net for candidates without the cost of flying applicants into the office, notes Paul Bailo, author of The Essential Digital Interview Handbook. Since American Wedding Group, a Huntingdon Valley, Pa.â€"based provider of photographers, videographers, and disc jockeys, began video interviewing in May, the company has conducted more than 300 screenings. The firm used to interview candidates from across the country by phone. This new approach, says head of human resources Scott Mitchell, works better for a business that places a high value on professional appearance. “We want to be confident the candidate is someone we feel comfortable putting in front of our clients,” he says. How to be ready: Most video interviews are via Skype, so make sure you have a professional-sounding username and profile photo. Then nail down the mechanics. “Don’t let technology get in the way of getting hired,” says Bailo. That means investing in quality gear instead of relying on your computer’s built-in microphone and fisheye camera. “If you want to get a job, you have to buy a suit,” he says. “If you want to nail a digital interview, you have to buy the right equipment.” His picks: the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 ($100) and Blue Microphones Snowball sound kit ($90). To cut the risk of technical hiccups and a bad Internet connection, do a practice run with a friend an hour in advance. As with an in-person interview, looks matter. So dress appropriately, head to toe (be ready to stand to adjust the camera). Sit opposite a window for the best lighting, and pick a backdrop that’s clutter-free; off-white is ideal. During the interview, keep looking at the camera. “If your eyes are shifting around, it distracts from the content of your interview,” says Bailo, who recommends taping a script to the wall behind the camera so that you can hit on key points without having to look down or shuffle through notes. The Group Session What to expect: While some employers rely on group interviews to weed through a large pile of applicants, companies more commonly use them to survey a refined pool of potential hires for certain qualities. You’re likely to be one of three to five candidates, says Dan Finnigan, CEO of the social recruiting platform Jobvite. Typically you’ll be tasked with a group exercise. At Taste of D.C., a culinary event-planning business, groups must work together to develop a marketing campaign, say, or make a presentation. Even beforehand, the company observes how candidates waiting outside the interview room interact in a casual setting, says CEO Steuart Martens. Adrian Granzella Larssen, editor-in-chief of career advice website The Muse, points out that interviewers are looking for a very specific set of interpersonal skills, such as leadership, communication, and collaboration. That’s what the Boston-based international tour operator Grand Circle is after when it gives groups a task to complete, such as building a vehicle to transport an egg. “We analyze how candidates react,” says senior vice president of human resources Nancy Lightbody. “We’re looking for natural leaders to emerge.” How to be ready: No matter how tempting it may be to grab the spotlight, don’t. “Dominate the conversation, and you’ll be perceived as aggressive,” says Priscilla Claman, president of Boston coaching firm Career Strategies. Sit back, though, and you risk being overlooked. Give others space to offer ideas and then build on what they say. (“Josie brings up a great point?…”). “Having the ability to politely piggyback demonstrates you can collaborate and work well with others while taking a leadership role,” says Finnigan. (Letting someone else speak first gives you more time to craft your idea too.) Being in the same room as your competition, though nerve-racking, may give you a feel for the atmos ­phere at your future workplace. You’re getting a glimpse into the types of people the company likes. If the competition is cutthroat, employees may be as well. The Panel Approach What to expect: A third of employers put prospects in front of a group, Glassdoor reports. You’ll probably meet with three to five people, such as an HR rep, your prospective super ­visor, a senior peer, and heads of departments you’d interact with daily. For employers a panel interview has several advantages. “It eliminates different people hearing different things in one-on-one interviews,” says Peter Cappelli, director at Wharton’s Center for Human Resources. The insurer Kaiser Permanente asks finalists for midlevel management positions to present to a group. “It creates efficiency for both the candidate and the company,” says Jason Phillips, vice president of national recruitment and HR operations. “Many senior job seekers have a tight calendar.” Another upside for you is the insight you can gain into the company culture. Pay attention to how panelists interact with one another; in a healthy environment co-workers are collaborative but also welcome and respect other points of view, says Finnigan. How to be ready: To make it past a board, you’ll need everyone’s buy-in, says Washington, D.C., career counselor Karen Chopra. Contact your point person ahead of time to learn whom you’re meeting and roughly how long the interview will last (some run two to three hours). To give yourself a preview of the folks you’re facing, look up everyone’s profile on LinkedIn. Introduce yourself to all the panelists and jot down the seating order; you can glance at the chart throughout the session so you can address each person by name. (Save it for writing your thank-you notes.) Eye contact conveys confidence, says Chopra, so look directly at the person who poses the question, pass your eyes around the room as you answer, and circle back to the questioner as you’re wrapping up. Bring any mum panelists into the conversation, especially if there’s a chance silence means a closed mind. Posing a question about their divisions or clients also shows you’ve done your homework. The High-Stakes Game What to expect: Borrow your kid’s Xbox controllerâ€"you might need it for a job interview one day. Employers in a number of fields, including energy, consumer goods, and financial services, are starting to take a look at gaming technology to assess job candidates. Through custom-made videogames, companies can measure skills and personality traits that may be tough to pick up in person. “This is in the testing phase,” says veteran recruiter Mark Howorth. “But I do feel like it is about to take off.” Take Knack’s Wasabi Waiter, a 10-minute game that has job seekers act as a sushi server at a virtual restaurant. Not only are your customer service skills tested, says Guy Halfteck, founder and CEO at the game developer, but “the game evaluates everything from your problem solving to critical thinking, logical reasoning, empathy, conscientiousness, and emotional intelligence.” How to be ready: Gaming is in its infancy as a hiring tool, and how well the approach identifies ideal workers remains an open question. Nonetheless, get used to the technology. You can play Wasabi Waiter on Knack’s free mobile app, “What’s Your Knack?,” but don’t overthink your strategy: Your instincts are what interest employers, says Halfteck. When you’re finished, though, get back to working on your in-person interview skills. Odds are the last leg of the hiring process will be a face-to-face one. Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

If You Support Trust Agents - Ill Support You! - Work It Daily

If You Support Trust Agents - Ill Support You! - Work It Daily By J.T. O'Donnell We live in a time where everyone (yes, we're ALL guilty), expects to get a lot of stuff for free on the Internet. In fact, a recent study showed that young people in particular (read We Will Pay for Nothing, Says Gen Y) feel most things should be free. Personally, I believe this mindset is going to change. In my short time on this earth, one thing I've learned to be true: You get what you pay for. However, until that day comes, I think we'll continue to see a lot of talented professionals give incredible amounts of time, energy and expertise for free, in hopes it will allow them to earn a living doing something they care about. Here's one such example: Chris Brogan. The name may not mean much to you if you are job seeker, but ask anyone who is focused on building a strong social media presence and they know Chris. His blog is a must-read for those trying to understand what it takes to navigate tools, like Twitter, for business and personal use. Look up the definition of 'giving a lot of one's professional self online' and you should see his name. So, when Chris wrote a blog post this week asking his followers to consider supporting the new book he just co-authored (their trying to get enough copies purchased this week to get him on a best-sellers list), I knew it was time I paid Chris back for all he has given me for free. His advice is worth $$$, and this book is very affordable. But now, I'm going to sweeten the pot on this deal. If you support Chris buy purchasing his book this week, (click on the book graphic to find out where you can get it), AND send me proof you bought it at trustagents@workitdaily.com, I'll sign you up for 3 FREE MONTHS in our private career network, CAREEREALISM University (a $29 value). In our network, you not only get a free copy of CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, but you also get lots of other unique career resources, including access to 'live' office hours with a career coach to get your professional questions answered in real-time. It's like having your own personal career coach - and now you can try it for FREE. NOTE: This offer is only good until midnight, Friday, August 21th. I hope you'll consider the offer. I rarely endorse books on this site, and I've never offered free access to CAREEREALISM University to promote one. But Chris Brogan has taught me so much this past year, I'm hoping this can put a tiny dent in what I owe him. Thank you Chris! Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!