5-Minute Hacks to Make Your Resume Great

5-Minute Hacks to Make Your Resume Great Here’s some food for thought. The time you spend at work will likely accumulate to around ten solid years. That’s ten years of sitting in an office, behind the wheel of a bus, or behind the counter of a supermarket checkout line.  Day in, day out.  A decade is a long time to spend doing something you don’t like.  Okay, okay, so we don’t all get to have the luxury of doing work we love. Someone has to do the dirty work, but  if you’re not convinced that YOU have to be the one doing work you don’t love,  it might be time to change your job. With that decision comes another daunting statistic.  If you want to change your job, your resume will go up against an average of 250+ other resumes. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was something you could do to improve the chances of your resume making it out of “The Swamp of Similar Resumes” alive? Good news! There are several things you can do; and the best part is that they are quick fixes that take about five minutes to do instead of another ten years of your life. Take a look at the infographic by Uptowork below to get the full list of tips: Before You Start Writing Your Resume The sheer number of resumes recruiters and hiring managers get means that they must resort to skimming to weed out irrelevant resumes.  There are a few things you can do to make your resume un-skimmable. First, follow the adage that beauty is symmetry. Keep one inch margins, align your content left, and make use of white space. Balancing your content with the blank space will make your resume more aesthetic. An aesthetic resume has more of a chance to get past a recruiter than a flat out ugly one. Speaking of ugly… Choosing a proper font is more important than you may think.  Choose a font that is easy to read and socially acceptable. Comic Sans spends its days being ridiculed by half of the Internet. Do you really want to show up at the party with Comic Sans as your wingman? No. Try Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana. Here’s What to Do While You’re Writing Your Resume When a recruiter scans your resume, the top third is going to get the most attention. Think of it as the penthouse of your resume. So, you need to nail it in the first few lines.  That’s why it’s a good idea to start off with a resume summary.  Think of a it as your “elevator pitch.” Ideally, it should be two or three quick, snappy lines about yourself that tell a recruiter who you are, what you’re doing, and what you can do for them. The top third of your resume is also where you need to add keywords from the job description. In fact, your entire resume should be tailored to match the job description. Because a job offer is like a recruiter’s Christmas wish list. Do you think they are going to be happy when they get an off-brand doll instead of Malibu Barbie? That’s a rhetorical question. Grab a highlighter and mark all of the required skills and experience listed in the job description. These are your keywords, and keywords are what recruiters want to see. Once you’ve got your keywords, decide which reflect your strongest skills. Put these near the top in your resume summary and experience section. Now add numbers and achievements. It’s not enough to write that you’ve got mad skills. You’ve got to prove it.  They asked for a team leader? How about “Coordinated cost savings of 10% on projects through the efficient management of large groups of 15+ people.”  Now you’re a winner, and the recruiter will say to herself, “I want someone who can save me 10% of my costs too.” Last Minute Tricks to Try Before Sending Proofread, proofread, proofread. First, try outsourcing the boring part to apps like Grammarly.  Second, grab a real human being and make them read your resume. Bribe them if you must. To err is human, to err on your resume is fatal. The bonus of having a proofreader is that you will also be able to get an objective opinion of how you are selling yourself.  Before you click send, you will also want to check to make sure that all of your information is current, and that all of your online information matches what you’ve written on your resume.  Most recruiters check out LinkedIn or other social media platforms, and discrepancies in dates or contact information make you look dubious. Key Takeaway If you spend the five minutes that it takes  to implement most of these tricks, you could potentially save yourself a decade of misery. Not a bad investment. You are one tailored resume away from your dream job. So, what are you waiting for? About the author: Natalie Severt is a writer for Uptowork, the  resume builders. Top image: Shutterstock

What Is the Correct Tense For Resume Writing?

What Is the Correct Tense For Resume Writing?Is it acceptable to use either a past or a present tense in a resume? If you answer yes, then why not try a more diverse approach. Your resume may be good but it doesn't have to remain the same as every other resume out there on the internet.The most important thing to remember when writing a resume is to retain the right tone and format. It does no good to have the resume to be written very smoothly and cleanly in one language but be thick and hard to understand in another. A job seeker will find his/her resume useless if it contains confusing and awkward sentences.Thus, if you are searching for technical terms and phrases that will be used in your job application, then make sure you can clearly understand them when translated into English. This does not mean you have to translate everything in another language. It's okay to write them in your native language, but to translate all the same. You will find people who can do this, so make su re you find someone you trust.Now that you know which is the correct tense to use in a resume, there are different ways on how to write a resume that will be remembered easily. The first step is to write a concise and short resume, and focus on getting your attention immediately. It's a job interview.Do not rush your way to a simple resume. It does no good to have your resume cluttered with too many things. If you only have a few things to say, use a sentence or two for each topic.Use bullet points for all the crucial information like your skills, qualifications, and keyword skills. Use the correct verb forms and sentences when describing your accomplishments. Avoid having too many irrelevant things in your resume, like dates, geographical location, hobbies, or credentials.Always emphasize the things that the interviewer is looking for: things that will help you get the job, be hired, and where you can be hired. Once you have made sure that the company is serious about hiring you, y ou should write a summary of the key points that you want to emphasize in your resume. Be sure to focus on what will make you stand out from the rest, and then you can take advantage of some of the tips above.Once you learn how to write a resume, the next step is to be patient, because the process can take time. There is nothing to be discouraged by, as this is a skill that you will pick up over time. Follow the tips above and you can write an impressive resume that will go a long way in helping you land that great job!

Honoring Those with Teaching Careers

Honoring Those with Teaching Careers In honor of Back to School season, Id like to honor those with careers in teaching.  Ive always admired teachers and there have been a few that have touched my life immensely.  My sister had a college professor that ended up becoming her coach outside of the classroom. My Dad was lucky enough to have a teacher who helped him improve his reading skills when he was too shy to ask for help. My friend  Katie  has a career I truly admire. Listening to her tell stories about her work could keep me occupied for hours.  Her stories reflect patience, creativity, her love for children and a deep understanding of the newest methodologies in her field. Katie works as a Reading Specialist in the school district I grew up in.  Last school year she worked with many elementary school students who started the school year unable to read and finished the school year with significant improvement. Some of her students had learning disabilities and social issues, while others were attempting to learn English as their second language. Still others came from homes where practicing skills like reading were left entirely to the teachers. Last week Katie was headed out to get supplies and decorations for her new classroom. My Dad got wind of this and insisted on donating money to her classroom as a way of acknowledging how important her work is.  Many of us forget how many classrooms are in need of basic supplies. According to a recent survey by the makers of Excedrin ®, a large majority of parents (85%) think their schools are in need of new or upgraded supplies such as pencils and paper and computers or software and gym/sporting equipment. In addition, 44% of these  parents also say they expect to get a headache during the  back to school season. In honor of all of the amazing teachers, schools and parents out there, Excedrin ®  has put together a program that gives back with every purchase of Excedrin ®. People can enter for a chance to win $10,000 for the school of their choice: whether its the school that gave you your start or a school that has somehow inspired you. To enter the “Help Your School Excel with Excedrin” sweepstakes and have the chance to be one of the five lucky winners, visit Facebook.com/Excedrin. In keeping with the back-to-school theme, this month’s giveaway package is meant to help you stay organized, hydrated and headache-free as you adjust to hectic schedules and spend increasing amounts of time on-the-go.  We will select one giveaway winner who will get a 2013-2014 academic planner and pen, a magnetic memo board and an aluminum tumbler. Just share a story about a teacher that inspired you in the comments section for the chance to win! I am an Excedrin ® Extra Strength brand ambassador. I’ve been compensated for my work and all opinions are my own.  

Use These Methods to Keep Your Target Market Research Fresh - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Use These Methods to Keep Your Target Market Research Fresh - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Target market research is an ongoing process in a constantly changing marketing world online. Its important to have a personal brand message that is relevant and up to date. There are several factors that determine whether a customer is driven to make a purchase, including seasons of life, the current economy, competition, ect. After you have done the necessary research and have created an ideal customer profile its time to evaluate how to bring your brand image up to date. The right marketing strategy takes consistency, knowledge, and time. Here are several ways your business can keep up with your competitors and best reach your leads and customers: Track your industry Create a specific schedule in order to stay up to date with the new trends inside your market. Plan this well ahead of a new product to launch or an update for your branding. Use your existing social networks to find out what your audience is responding to the most in addition to the analytics from your website. Meet the customers needs Your buyers want to know how your brands product or service will best meet their needs. Find out how to improve, and even exceed their expectations over the competition. With both communication and feedback you will also discover the needs and desires of your community. Create something of value A strong social media presence with daily interactions will create trust. Great content and advice can also go a long way in providing real value that they can use. Surveys for reviews and feedback as well as activity in social groups will also help you reach people where they are at. Use segmentation Find out through your lists who is purchasing your products or services and why. These can then be broken up into different subgroups depending on they type of transaction, the geographical location, ect. This type of information will allow you to provide something to your customers that they may not have considered before. Creating a fresh target market research plan throughout each month on a consistent basis will keep your personal brand on top when it comes to creating more visibility. Track your progress on the number of interactions, subscribers, sales, and so on. Regular research will help your brand stay ahead of the game in a changing online marketplace.

Resume Letter Writing Versus Letter Writing

Resume Letter Writing Versus Letter WritingWhen it comes to resume letter writing there are a lot of similarities and differences between the two. I'll explain the differences here and then we'll explore the similarities.Before I get into the similarities, I want to talk about how resumes and letters have different qualities. In my experience the difference between a resume and a letter is that the resume is much more formal, it says 'you're hired' while the letter says 'I'm hiring you'. This is probably where you've heard that the letter is superior.So let's start with what the difference is between a resume and a letter and why this is important. Here's the short version of the difference.A resume is an overview of who you are, your experience, what skills you have, and what you're looking for in a job. It makes it easy for a human resources professional or a hiring manager to come back to you and say 'Hey, what position do you have available that fits your skill set?'. When you ge t a resume, you get a summary of what you can do for them, not who you are as a person. Now, when you hire someone, you're going to be hiring who they are, not what they're capable of doing.Another thing to take note of is that resumes are much shorter than the letter. One example of a resume is one page that looks like a script written by a committee. A letter is two pages long and more personal. Let's discuss why.In a successful relationship both parties need to work together and understand one another. The writer of the letter needs to make sure they write in a way that is able to meet the standards of the hiring company. This means that the letter needs to look like a personalized email from you to them. The letter needs to be able to convey the message clearly in a matter of minutes and to do this you should use lots of bullet points and to use a more personal tone to tell the hiring manager who you are and what you have to offer them.Now the next difference is that a resume is going to be more formal and professional than a letter is. Because the resume is longer than a letter, they are going to be made up of elements like dates, names, and titles. With a letter, they are more personal and informal, which is actually why they were created.It's easy to get these two mixed up because there is some overlap between the two but these differences are fairly important. If you are a professional copywriter, resume letter writing should be something that you want to hire a professional to do. Just keep this list in mind and realize that these two areas are two sides of the same coin.

The case for holidaying closer to home - Debut staycation

The case for holidaying closer to home - Debut staycation This post was written by an external contributor.  Ethan Shone describes why students and graduates should consider a holiday in the UK instead of going abroad.   We all deserve a break from time to time. Holidays provide us with some much-needed respite from our day-to-day lives, and the work which comes with them. Now sure, it’d be nice to jet off to some farflung exotic destination for a week of 5-star luxury every year. However, its also pretty costly. So sadly, for a lot of students and young professionals, this isn’t always an option. Never fear though, because you don’t have to go abroad to go on holiday. In fact, there’s a good chance it’ll be even better if you don’t, and here’s why. Money money money One of the main benefits of holidaying domestically is the financial saving. If you’re not travelling abroad for your holiday then you can immediately discount the cost of flights often the most expensive element of a holiday as well as a number of other costs, like transfers, travel insurance and more. Chances are, you’ll probably spend less while you’re holidaying at home than if you were abroad, too. Now OK, this might not apply if you’re planning a flash city-break in London or Edinburgh. But if youre looking at a beachside BB, an activity holiday or a week in the countryside, you will likely spend significantly less than you would on a foreign-holiday, but youll have just as much fun. Plus, whatever money you spend there, you’re putting back into a (relatively) local economy, which can only be a good thing. A better experience One of the best things about going abroad can be meeting new people and learning about other cultures. Unfortunately, this can often be hindered somewhat by the language barrier. But that’s not going to be the case if you’re holidaying domestically. This applies even more so if you’re travelling alone. The ability to strike up conversation with local people in bars or restaurants might just give you a better insight into local-life, or help you chance upon a hidden-gem. At the very least, being able to confidently ask for directions or recommendations is a nice bonus of holidaying in Britain. Do you have pets? One of the hardest things about going on holiday can often be leaving behind our beloved animal pals, but driving a few hours to the countryside instead of flying across the Atlantic means you might be able to bring your pet along with you. An ever-expanding number of hotels, airbnbs and holiday apartments now offer pet-friendly accommodation, just be sure to double-check before you load Buster into the travel-cage. Variety Great Britain might not be a huge place, but we manage to pack in a lot of variety. Without even leaving the country you can experience beautiful coastal towns, expansive metropolises, lush verdant forests and pretty much everything in between. From the breath-taking Scottish Highlands right down to the Cliffs of Dover. There are potential holiday destinations scattered all across the landscape. As for culture, youre spoilt for choice! All the major cities are brimming with museums, galleries and events, plus Britain is home to some truly intriguing historical sites. Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall and Warwick Castle are just three out of literally hundreds. And if wandering around museums and big old castles isn’t exactly your idea of fun, you won’t struggle to find the perfect spa getaway to fully relax and rejuvenate. Or maybe a quiet countryside cottage, with a nice wood-fire you can sit in front of and just read for a weekend? Ultimately, the choices available to you are almost endless. And by choosing to holiday closer to home you’re saving money whilst still having an unforgettable breakaway. Plus, when holidays cost less, you can have them more often. And who doesn’t want that? Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Happiness at work in Russian - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Happiness at work in Russian - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Last november I was interviewed by BBC Russian about stress and happiness at work and you can hear the resulting program here in Russian. Im introduced at 5:15. If youd like to know more, you can read my Top 5 Myths about Workplace Stress. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

What Is The Best Job Search Tool Failure

What Is The Best Job Search Tool Failure Failure is inevitable in a job search. The likelihood that you will find the perfect job and that you will get that job in your first search is next to none. This means that you will have to search again and again. You will fail. You will fail at finding a job. You will fail at landing a job. But that is not a bad thing. Failure is your greatest tool and I am going to help you understand why. Rethinking: Failure will cause you to rethink the way you go about your search. Obviously something is not working so you will have to rethink how you are going about your search and do something new. That is a great thing. Rethinking and finding a new way to do something is one of the best things you can do for your search. Focusing: Failure will also cause you to focus your search. Focusing you search will make it more successful and if you fail repeatedly, then you will take the time to focus your search. Motivating: Failing again and again can be disappointing, but more than that it can be incredibly motivating. If you really want to land the job then you wont let the disappointment keep you from searching. Instead you will let the disappointment motivate you until you find the job that is perfect for you. Failure really is your best tool. Use it. Let your failure lead you to rethink your search process, help you focus your search, and most importantly, let your failure motivate you to keep going until you finally find the job that you have been waiting for.