A Guide to Finding Remote Opportunities

Introduction

Finding a remote job can be tricky. It's not as simple as sending out resumes and hoping that one of them sticks. You need to find the best positions, then convince the hiring managers that you're a good fit for their companies without ever having met them in person. If you're looking to make this process a little easier on yourself (and your wallet), follow these tips:

Check out LinkedIn groups and discussion areas

LinkedIn groups are a great place to find remote work opportunities. You can join groups related to your field of work and look for posts that might be relevant to you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! There may be some in your network who have done this before and would be happy to answer any specific concerns you may have.

Seek out unconventional job listings

You'll want to look for, and apply to, jobs that are listed as remote but require a local presence. You could also look for jobs that are not listed as remote at all, but rather have "remote work" as an option in their description (or even just within their location). This is because many companies will list their hiring requirements separately from the job post itself, so you may be able to find opportunities in unexpected places if you're persistent enough!

Connect with people in your industry

LinkedIn can be an amazing tool for connecting with people in your industry. If you're not on LinkedIn yet, it's time to get on it! Head over there and connect with as many people as possible. Don't be afraid to ask them for help or advice - they'll appreciate the effort, and they may have some great leads for you.

Another way to find remote work opportunities is through your existing network of friends, family and coworkers. See if any of them are aware of companies that hire remotely; even if they aren't working at those companies themselves (yet), they might know someone who does! And if all else fails...social media is your friend once again! Use the right keywords like “remote jobs” or “work from home” when searching social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram.

Ask for help from friends, family and coworkers

Sometimes, the best way to get started on your search for remote work is to ask around. You can do this by talking to friends, family and coworkers who may have experience working remotely.

If you don't know anyone in your field who has done it before, you should reach out to people who are not only in your industry but also outside of it. They may have a different perspective on what's possible or where might be a good place for you to start looking.

It helps if these people are also at similar levels as you—for example, if they're higher up than you (senior manager), then they might be more likely to give specific advice than someone lower down on the corporate ladder (junior employee).

Be bilingual (online, that is)

If you want to find remote work, you'll need to be fluent in digital communication. If you aren’t already fluent in the language of social media, it’s time for some serious study.

The best way to learn a new language is by immersion; learning by trial and error will take too long and cost you precious time when applying for jobs. Instead, seek out local meetups where people can help explain lingo as well as how best to use various platforms—like Facebook or TikTok—to connect with employers or other professionals with whom they want to network or build relationships with.

Try some of these strategies and see if you can land a remote position in your field.

• Don’t give up. It can take time to find a job, but remember that if you are persistent with job searching and apply for several jobs each day, you will eventually find a position.

• Be open to trying new things. If one strategy isn't working, try another one! The key is not giving up and continuing the search until you land something that works for your needs.

Conclusion

To sum it up, there are many ways to find remote work. You just have to be willing to try different approaches and keep an open mind. We hope these tips will help you get on the right path and take advantage of this exciting opportunity while it’s still hot!

The difference between a management and executive resume.

Introduction

Management and executive resumes are similar in that they both have the goal of getting you to the next stage of your career. The main difference between them is that management resumes focus on teamwork, while executive resumes focus on strategy.

A management resume focuses on your ability to lead a team.

A management resume focuses on your ability to lead a team. In the business world, there are many different types of managers, each with their own responsibilities. At their core, however, all of these positions require one thing: the ability to motivate and inspire employees.

Some companies prefer to hire candidates who have years of experience managing other people. Others will take candidates who don't have as much experience but show promise for growth in that area. Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, it's important to highlight your abilities as an effective leader when crafting your resume and cover letter.

Executive resumes are focused on short and long term goals.

Executive resumes are more focused on long-term goals and objectives, while management resumes tend to be more about the present.

In an executive resume, you will be highlighting your achievements and past work experience. You can also include some short-term goals that you have set for yourself if they're relevant to your career and if they help paint a picture of who you are as a professional (examples: "I want to increase my sales by 25% in the next year" or "I want to achieve 100% employee satisfaction").

In a management resume, it's typically best not to include anything too far into the future—or even anything outside of the present day!

Executives are expected to think strategically.

In many ways, a management and executive resume differ more in style than substance. But there are some important differences to keep in mind when preparing your resume for a leadership role:

• Executive resumes should focus more on long-term goals and thinking strategically. An executive is expected to think about the big picture, strategizing about how to achieve her goals and making decisions that will impact the company’s success over an extended period of time.

• Executives are not expected to have as much “nitty gritty” experience as managers or specialists do — they may even lack direct experience in their field if they come from outside organizations with different cultures or training programs that differ from those of their new employer(s). Instead, executives need to demonstrate that their education, knowledge and experience make them qualified leaders who can bring new ideas into play while also leading teams effectively.

Management resumes highlight teamwork.

If you're applying for a management position, it's important to emphasize your ability to work with others. If the job description calls for someone who can lead a team and communicate effectively with clients, be sure to include examples of how you have done so in the past. If you're applying to be an administrator or supervisor at a company, highlight your time spent leading projects or delegating tasks while working on previous projects.

In addition, make sure that all of your resume's content is geared towards teamwork. In other words, if one section talks about how well you worked with another person (or group), make sure that the next section talks about another person (or group) whom you've worked well with before. The point here is not necessarily showing off how many different types of people there are; rather, it's showing that even though each experience required some sort of teamwork effort from everyone involved--and perhaps some form of leadership from yourself--your ability to work well as part of a team has remained consistent throughout these experiences

Management resumes highlight success stories.

Success stories are a great way to show that you have a track record of success in your field. They're basically little anecdotes where you highlight your accomplishments and what you've achieved.

Resumes can be difficult to write, especially if you're not sure what they're looking for or how to write them. Success stories can help make your resume stand out because they're personal—they show who you are as an individual, rather than just listing off your experience and education.

Success stories should be structured around three key elements: the situation/problem, your actions (what did you do?), and the result/outcome (what was the outcome?).

Executives have more technical experience than managers.

A resume for an executive should be more technical than a resume for a manager. Executives are expected to know everything about their field, and they're expected to be able to perform at the highest level in their jobs. They should also have more specialized skills than managers, as well as a better understanding of strategic direction and organizational behavior.

The way that executives make decisions is different from the way managers make decisions: executives are responsible for making decisions based on data, while managers are responsible for making decisions based on people's needs and wants. Managers may have less experience or less expertise when compared with executives, but they can still succeed because they're good at understanding others' wants and needs—and finding solutions that work best for everyone involved.

Executive resumes tend to be longer.

Executive resumes are longer than management resumes.

The length of an executive resume depends on the number of years you’ve been in your industry and how much experience you have; however, most executive resumes run from 1 to 4 pages long. The lengthier your resume is, the better it will stand out from other applicants’ work samples in a pile on someone's desk.

Executive resumes tend to be more detailed than management ones.

Executive-level candidates need to demonstrate that they're able to take charge and make decisions quickly—and this means providing more specific details about their accomplishments than a manager might provide in a similar situation. This can include quantifying results or giving concrete examples of situations where they were able to be innovative, think outside the box, or overcome obstacles through creative solutions (for example: “In order to improve productivity at our branch offices…”).

Conclusion

The difference between an executive resume and a management resume is that executives are expected to think strategically. They have more technical experience than managers, but they also need to be able to lead teams effectively. A good executive should have both leadership skills and technical knowhow, which makes them ideal candidates for higher positions within companies that require these skillsets.

Overcoming Oracle's Taleo Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Introduction

The Taleo ATS is one of the most widely used applicant tracking systems today. It's used by many of the world's largest companies, including Google and Walmart. And while it's designed to help recruiters find qualified candidates, it can also hurt you if you don't know how to avoid being rejected. Here are some tips on how to make sure your resume isn't rejected before even getting read:

Did you know that many employers scan resumes with an electronic keyword scanner? Learn how to get past it!

Did you know that many employers scan resumes with an electronic keyword scanner? It’s true. To get past the electronic keyword scanner, you will need to use the same keywords as the job description. This is important because it helps match your resume to the job description and helps ensure that your resume is read by a human being who can make an informed decision about whether or not they want to interview you.

Use too many keywords though, and risk being eliminated as a candidate (or even worse). And don’t use keywords that aren’t relevant either!

Tailoring your resume to each specific job is the most important thing you can do.

Tailoring your resume to each specific job is the most important thing you can do.

Why? In a competitive market, employers receive hundreds of applications for each position listed. If you want to stand out from the crowd, it's important that your resume matches the requirements of the job description. The more closely tailored your resume is to a specific job description, the higher likelihood of being selected for an interview (and thus getting hired).

Here's how:

• Read through every word of their advertisement carefully; don't just skim through it looking for keywords like "business analyst" or "system administrator".

• Find out as much information about their company as possible—what are they looking for in potential candidates? What background do they expect from applicants? How long have they been around? Look at their website and social media profiles if possible (if not available on LinkedIn). Do some research so that when writing about yourself and sending in applications, you can demonstrate why YOU would be perfect for this role based on what THEY say are their needs!

Avoid having your resume rejected before a recruiter even sees it. Get started with these resume keywords for Taleo.

Avoid having your resume rejected before a recruiter even sees it. Get started with these resume keywords for Taleo.

Taleo is more than just an applicant tracking system—it's also the name of a popular job search engine that uses ATS technology to match candidates with open positions. If you want to get your resume in front of recruiters on this platform, it's important to make sure your document looks as good as possible.

Here are some tips for optimizing your Taleo application:

• Be sure that you’re using the right format (PDF, Word) so that all of the information is easily accessible by recruiters and hiring managers.

• Make keywords stand out with boldface text or italics so they're easy to find when searching through resumes online; make sure they're relevant enough so as not to seem spammy but also not too general ("hard worker," "good communicator"). The last thing a company wants is someone who says they're great at everything! They want someone who has specific skills related to what they need done at work now--so stick with those instead of trying too hard."

How to format your resume for Taleo's ATS

• Use a simple font.

• Use a simple font size.

• Don't use bold, italics, underlining or page breaks in your resume.

• Don't use bullets or footers either.

Save your resume as a Word document, not PDF.

One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is saving their resumes in PDF format. Don’t do this! If you choose to save your resume in Word format, Taleo will accept it with no problem. You may think that saving a resume as a PDF means that it's safe from changes or edits but think again! The truth is that this only makes things more difficult for recruiters because they can't edit your file unless they have an expensive Adobe Acrobat Pro license and know how to use the software. Not only will this put them off of hiring someone who doesn't know what they're doing by sending out uneditable resumes but also puts their recruiter credentials at risk when their clients find out about these kinds of mishaps happening within their recruiting process

Eliminate non-essential information from your resume.

In addition to keeping your resume concise, you should also use bullets to highlight your most important accomplishments. Dates of employment are unnecessary and can be distracting. Personal information should not appear on a resume. You don’t want employers to know about your age or marital status until you meet face-to-face with them and it becomes relevant, so leave out this information from the start. Finally, if you choose to include a cover letter, make sure that it directly relates back to the job description listed in the posting; otherwise, it's not necessary for inclusion on your resume.

Keep your formatting simple.

• Use a simple font. Choose an easy-to-read, non-script and non-decorative font — like Arial or Calibri — that is large enough to see from across the room. Avoid using more than one font for your resume (for example, use bold or italic sparingly) as it can make your resume look unprofessional and confusing for the hiring manager.

Make sure you have a good summary of qualifications at the top of your page.

A short summary of qualifications should be included at the top of your resume. It should be no more than 2-4 sentences and should include a statement about what you can do for the company, as well as how you can help meet its goals.

This section might sound like it's just stating the obvious, but many people fail to take advantage of this opportunity to state their case right away. Having a good summary is especially important if there are multiple resumes in play for a role; if these are all equally qualified candidates with similar experience levels and job titles, then whoever has an impressive summary will stand out among the crowd because they're clearly demonstrating why they're better than everyone else who applied too

Conclusion

We hope these tips will help you understand how to beat the Taleo ATS. Remember that your resume and cover letter are the most important part of your job search. You can make them better by following these simple steps.

How to successfully navigate a gap in employment.

Introduction

There are few things more nerve-wracking than a gap in employment. Whether it’s a layoff, maternity leave or something else entirely, it can be difficult to face questions about why you’re out of work, especially when everyone else is busy hustling and competing for jobs. This post will give you tips on how to navigate a gap in employment gracefully and successfully so that when it comes time for your next job interview, you won’t have anything to worry about!

Take advantage of the break

If you've been laid off, fired, or lost your job for any other reason, take advantage of the break to make some changes in your life. There are many things that can be done with an extended period of time off from work. You can travel, volunteer or intern for an organization that interests you, collaborate on a project with friends and family members, and enjoy time doing something new and exciting. If you have been working at the same job for several years or even decades (no shame!), it's possible that using all of this time off will give you the opportunity to discover new passions.

If none of these options seem appealing to you personally, perhaps starting a business would be more interesting? This is especially true if there has been any sort of unexplained "gap" in employment on your resume due to personal reasons such as illness or injury which resulted in needing more time away from work than usual

Stay current in your field

• Stay current in your field. Keeping up with the latest technology, protocols and procedures will help you stay sharp and current.

• Look for opportunities to volunteer. Volunteering can be a great way to get back into the swing of things without having to commit full-time hours, which may not be feasible given your financial situation at this point. You may also find that volunteering helps you build relationships within the community so that when it comes time to look for a job again there is already a network of people interested in helping you out!

• Take classes if you can afford them. If taking courses or earning certifications will help keep your skills sharp while not requiring too much time away from work then do it! It’s important not only from an employability standpoint but also because it makes sense financially—if something costs more than $100 per class then maybe wait until after graduation when there are no more bills coming due every month like rent or car payments etcetera…

Build your network

The first step to successfully navigating a gap in employment is building your network. You should build your network by meeting new people and maintaining old relationships. It’s also important to understand that networking isn't just about finding jobs; it's also about creating opportunities for yourself. The more people you know, the more likely you are to come across new opportunities—and if you don't have many connections yet, there are plenty of ways to start building them.

Here are some ideas on how to begin networking:

• Meet new people at professional events like conferences or industry meetups (or even just local networking events). These events will help you make connections with other professionals who may not be part of your current network but could potentially become valuable contacts later on down the road (and who knows? They might already work somewhere near where you live!).

• Use LinkedIn as a place where people can find out more about what interests them professionally—not only does this make it easier for others within their field or industry to find out more information about themselves but it also makes it easy for anyone looking specifically at certain skillsets needed by companies around the world - which ensures that even if someone doesn't know much about what they do yet still want

Evaluate employment gaps

If you have a gap in your employment history, there are several things you should do to ensure that you will be able to successfully explain the absence.

If you’re trying to explain a gap in employment, the first thing to do is check out what types of questions employers ask during interviews and why they ask them. By understanding how employers use this information, it will help guide the way you answer these questions when they come up during an interview.

Employers often ask about gaps for three reasons: (1) because it helps them understand who their potential employees are and what their priorities are; (2) because it gives them insight into whether or not an applicant is reliable; and/or (3) because it allows them see if there are any red flags that may affect job performance down the road.

Prepare for interviews

Before you begin the interview, it's important to do some preparation. To ensure that you look your best and are fully prepared for any question that might be thrown at you, consider these tips:

• Research the company and prepare a list of questions in advance. Knowing as much as possible about the job, the company, and its competitors will help you appear interested in working there.

• Dress appropriately for the setting. If it’s an informal setting like a coffee shop or restaurant, wear something casual; if it’s more formal (a law office or accounting firm), dress up!

• Be prepared to answer questions about your gap in employment by talking about how hard work has always been one of your strong suits—and how good it feels to be back on track! You could also mention that this time has helped build character and taught important lessons about life or work; for example: “I learned so much from my time off! I know exactly what kind of worker I am now—and what kind of boss would want me around."

Be positive about your gap in work experience.

When you're interviewing for a job, it's best to focus on what you've learned, gained and accomplished during the time that has passed since you last worked.

For example, if your last job ended because of downsizing and/or layoffs, don't focus on the negative aspects of that situation. Instead, talk about how you used that time to improve yourself in other ways (such as by volunteering or going back to school). Or if your employment was terminated due to personal reasons (e.g., illness), discuss how the experience changed your life for the better so that now you're ready for a new career opportunity.

A gap in employment doesn’t have to be a career-killer

A gap in employment doesn’t have to mean the end of your career. If you find yourself with a gap in employment, here are some ways to make the most of it:

• Make a plan for what you can do during your time away from work. If possible, try to keep learning new skills or practicing old ones, such as networking and attending conferences or seminars related to your field. The more prepared you are for interviews when it comes time for them, the more successful they will be—and the easier it will be for employers who don’t know about your time away from work (or don't care) to see how valuable an employee you are.

• Use this opportunity not just as preparation but also as networking! You never know who might know someone else who needs someone like yourself—and even if they don't hire right away (or ever), building relationships with co-workers can lead down other paths later on down the road if necessary.

Conclusion

While a gap in employment can be a concern when you’re looking for work, it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach and some preparation, you can successfully navigate your way through any break in your career.

Interview Guidance for Executives

Introduction

If you want to be taken seriously as an executive and not just another candidate, there are a few things you can do to ensure that happens. In this article we'll help give you the confidence and skill necessary for successful interviews with executives.

Prepare for a traditional interview.

Before your interview, you should be prepared to answer any question the interviewer may ask. You should also be prepared to ask questions of your own, so that you can gather more information about the position and company.

In addition to preparing for the standard questions, it's important to prepare for anything else that could come up during the interview process. For example:

• If something unexpected happens during the interview (e.g., if there's a technical glitch with equipment), don't panic! Remain calm and composed.

• Ask yourself what might make you stand out from other candidates. This will help you stay focused on this particular job opportunity instead of whatever other opportunities are open at other companies at this time (which is good because it shows initiative).

Take the time to organize your thoughts on the questions you will most likely be asked.

Preparation is the key to success when it comes to interviews. Before meeting with a recruiter or hiring manager, take some time to organize your thoughts on the questions you will most likely be asked. This can help you provide thoughtful answers instead of stumbling over your words and possibly coming across as unprepared.

The following are examples of common interview questions, along with suggestions for how to approach each one:

• How do you stay motivated? (Be specific about what motivates you.)

• What are your greatest strengths? (Describe two or three skills that make up these strengths.)

• What makes an ideal candidate for this position? (Give an example of someone who has those qualities.)

• Tell me about a time when things didn't go well at work and how did you handle it? (Talk about overcoming challenges in your professional life.)

Prepare your own questions to ask in an interview.

Prepare your own questions to ask in an interview.

When it comes to asking questions, people tend to get nervous and forget all the ones they had prepared in advance, or worse yet, ask something that doesn’t relate at all to what the position entails. This is never good for you as a candidate, because it makes you look unprepared or uninterested. It also takes away from the interviewer’s time and attention when they are trying to evaluate how well you would do in their company.

There are some general rules of thumb for preparing questions:

• The best questions are open ended—meaning they can lead into more than one direction of discussion—but still concise and succinct enough that they don't go on too long or waste anyone's time (including yours). While there is no right answer, there is certainly a wrong one: “I love Mondays! What do you think about them?” If this was an interview for a job teaching kindergarteners about weather patterns, then yes you might want someone who loves Mondays; however if it were for an executive administrative assistant position where there are many tasks involved such as scheduling meetings with clients or handling confidential information then maybe not so much.

Practicing with someone who knows you well will help you feel more confident.

Practicing answering questions in a variety of ways helps refine your answers and makes them more natural sounding. For example, if there are two different types of interviews at the same company (e.g., technical interviews vs management interviews), then they may ask similar questions but in different ways — so practicing answering those questions will help give them a deeper understanding of how you think even though technically speaking they're asking the same thing.

Be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions.

Behavioral interview questions are intended to gauge how you've behaved in the past. In most cases, they're trying to assess your ability to handle certain situations and make decisions. For example:

• How have you handled working on a team?

• What steps did you take when a project deadline was missed?

• What did you do when an employee made an error that affected the company's bottom line?

Know what is important to the interviewer and use it to your advantage.

When you are aware of what the interviewer is looking for, it’s easier to prepare. You can demonstrate that you are a good fit by showing that your skills and experience will support the company’s goals. This is why “Tell me about yourself” questions are so important: they give you an opportunity to show what makes you unique and how those qualities align with the company's needs.

You should also focus on selling yourself rather than worrying about whether or not there might be other qualified candidates who would be better fits for this position than yourself. You have nothing to lose by trying!

Finally, pay attention during the interview itself—even though some of our tips may seem obvious or common sense, many people still ignore them because they're too busy thinking about themselves instead of paying attention to others around them (especially their interviewer).

Dress appropriately for an executive interview.

If you're going to a professional interview, it's in your best interest to dress appropriately. It is important not to overdo it and wear something too casual or too formal, as this will show that you are incapable of dressing for the occasion. You must also avoid wearing anything that is distracting or inappropriate for an executive interview.

Show up knowing your speech, timing, and body language in an interview situation.

The most important thing you can do to prepare is to practice your speech, timing, and body language. This doesn't mean memorize every word or detail of what you're going to say; it just means knowing how you want to convey the substance of what needs saying in the interview.

When you're practicing, think about some common questions that will be asked in an interview (e.g., Tell me about yourself). Then write down as many different ways as possible that these questions could be answered so that if one approach doesn't work well with a particular questioner's style or temperament then there are other approaches ready at hand.

Know what employers are looking for and make sure they see it in you!

It's important to know the company's mission and vision. You need to understand what they want to achieve and how they are going to get there. If you don't know the company's goals, you won't know if your skills match those goals.

You also need to know what their values are and how they will affect your work life at this organization. The more closely aligned you are with their values, the better off you'll be in terms of getting along with coworkers, getting along with bosses and supervisors, etc., which all contribute towards being successful on the job!

You should also have some understanding of their history as well as current projects that may be happening within or outside of this organization (e.g., merger/acquisition). This gives greater context for why certain things happen within an organization like this one--such as layoffs or promotions--and will help clarify why certain decisions might occur at any given point in time throughout an employee’s tenure

Conclusion

Interviews are just one part of your job search process. It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s important to get the most out of each interview and make sure that you are prepared for any question or situation that arises.

Network for a Job

Introduction

If you're looking for a new job, the best way to find it is to network. Networking is simply meeting people and learning about their careers in order to build relationships that could help your career down the road. Networking will also help you identify potential employers who might be interested in hiring you or knowing more about your skillset. It can be intimidating at first because sometimes networking involves going up to strangers and introducing yourself, but once you get used to doing it regularly then it becomes second nature!

Networking and interviewing strategies

Networking is the best way to find a job. You might have heard that before, but if you're still looking for work and haven't been networking, it's time to get serious about networking. The sooner you start networking and building relationships with people who might be able to help with your job search, the better off you'll be.

Networking is about being memorable—not pushy! When most people think of networking events, they imagine some kind of room filled with people shouting their name into someone else's ear so that person could yell back his or hers in return (see: my experience at SXSW). But in reality, this isn't how most recruiters operate—and even if it were true for them, it isn't how most successful job seekers operate—so don't act like this! While I'd never discourage anyone from screaming their name when they see someone they know across a crowded room full of strangers (it's always nice to be remembered), there are better ways to stand out at events than just running around like an overeager child without supervision or purpose—such as showing up early or dressing well.

How to write a great elevator pitch

• What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch is a short, concise description of yourself that you can deliver in the time it takes to ride the elevator up to your destination. It explains who you are and what you do so well that people want to hire you right away. Your elevator pitch should be no longer than 15 seconds long—it’s just enough time for someone to hear what your business does, how it helps others, and why they need it/you (this will depend on your industry).

• Why do I need one?

It gives others who don't know much about your business a snapshot into what makes it special—and why they should get involved! An effective elevator pitch helps build trust between businesses and potential customers by demonstrating expertise in their field; builds excitement around projects with coworkers; shows off skills during job interviews; and gives people something constructive to talk about when meeting new friends at networking events like mixers or conferences.

Networking events you can attend to network

• There are many networking events you can attend, including:

• Meet-the-professor events at your school or university. These are an opportunity to meet with professors, who may be able to help you find a job after graduation.

• Industry conferences and expositions (e.g., construction trade shows). Connect with businesses in your industry to learn more about the latest trends and meet people in the field.

• Local industry associations or groups that share your interests (e.g., hobby clubs). These groups often host monthly gatherings where members can get together for talks and presentations on their favorite topics as well as informal socializing time afterwards!

Your best bet for getting a new job is to network.

Networking is one of the best ways to get a job, find a mentor, or get promoted. It’s also the best way to build your professional network.

If you want to get a new job or promotion, networking is the way to go. The chance of finding out about an open position through networking is 10 times higher than simply applying online with no prior contact with the company.

Networking can help you find mentors who can give you advice on your career and offer advice about interviewing for jobs in their field. If you need support with anything from writing resumes and cover letters to preparing for interviews and salary negotiation, these are people who will be there for you.

How to stand out from the crowd of people at networking events!

• Be memorable.

• Be confident, but not arrogant.

• Be friendly, but don't overdo it.

• Prepare for the event and know what you're going to talk about in advance.

• Don't be afraid of getting a little nervous—it can actually help you to make a good impression! Just don't let it get out of hand and turn into full-blown anxiety attacks like they do sometimes at networking events... those are not fun :)

Conclusion

Remember that networking is a very personal activity, and you should always be yourself. Remember to smile, be friendly and respectful of everyone around you. If someone approaches you with an offer of help or advice, always take it!

Quiet Quitting

Introduction

Quitting your job can be a scary decision. After all, leaving your employer with no notice could put your career in jeopardy and could even lead to legal action against you. However, quitting is sometimes the best option for everyone involved. If this sounds like it applies to you, follow these steps to ensure that the process goes smoothly:

Take the time to consider your decision.

In the world of work, there are many reasons to quit your job. It could be that you don't like your boss, coworkers or the company culture. It could be that you're bored with what you do every day and want to try something new—or maybe even go out on your own as an entrepreneur!

But before quitting, take some time to consider if this decision is truly right for you. If it's not a sure thing and if you're still not sure whether or not it's what will make you happy in life then don't quit just yet—take some more time and talk with trusted friends or family members about it first so they can help guide their thoughts too because sometimes we have our own biases about situations when really there is another side we haven't considered yet.

Know your reasons for resigning.

Know your reasons for quitting.

Before you quit, be clear on the reasons why you want to leave and what you want to do next. This can help protect you against feeling regretful or second-guessing yourself later down the line. Make sure that you're confident in your decision and know what steps are needed for you to achieve your goals. Be aware of how quitting will affect others as well as yourself—and keep in mind that there may be some circumstances where quitting isn't an option at all

Draft a resignation letter.

• Include your name, the date and a brief statement about why you are leaving.

• Include a thank you for the opportunity to work at the company.

• State that it has been an honor to work with them, if true.

• State that you will be leaving on x date and send your contact information so they can contact you with any questions or concerns in the future.

Develop your exit strategy.

You should make sure you have a plan in place for when it's time to leave. This includes:

• Leaving on good terms. When quitting a job, it's important to remember that the company is not your enemy and they're not out to get you. It's important not only because it helps keep your credibility intact, but also because any unresolved issues might come back and haunt you later on down the road.

• Preparing for the transition—especially if there are other people involved (i.e., human resources). If there are others who will be affected by this change, then be sure that all parties understand what the plan is moving forward in terms of how things will work or shift now that someone has left their position at the company. For example, if there are other employees who used to report directly into one person and now no longer do so anymore because she has left her job as well; then those individuals need information about where they should go with questions/concerns moving forward since no one else will likely know as much about them or their needs than her former boss did before she left!

Leave on good terms.

Remember to leave on good terms. You don't want your last impression of your former job to be a sour one and you don't want people to think badly of you by association.

Don’t burn bridges. If possible, try to maintain a cordial relationship with everyone at the office after leaving. This will help you stay in contact with some of your former colleagues, which may come in handy down the road if they need someone to help them out with something or are looking for a reference for another job opportunity.

Don’t gossip or badmouth your former employer while employed there, even if they were terrible people who never gave credit where it was due (or even did anything wrong). It could come back around to bite you later!

Quitting may be the best decision for you to make in your career, but it is still a sensitive one and should be handled appropriately.

Quitting a job is never an easy decision, but sometimes it's the right one.

It's worth noting that some jobs are meant to last forever and others are a good fit for you, but not all jobs are a good fit for everyone. If you're thinking about quitting or want to know when it might be appropriate to do so, here are some situations where you should consider quitting:

• Your employer isn't treating your well

• The environment at work makes you feel anxious or unhappy

• You have been offered another opportunity with more responsibility and/or pay that would better suit your needs and interests

Conclusion

Quitting is a sensitive topic and should be treated as such. It’s important to know your reasons for resigning, draft a resignation letter, develop an exit strategy and leave on good terms with your coworkers.

Reaching Out to Recruiters on LinkedIn

Introduction

When you're searching for a job, you want to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn. Recruiters are very busy people who can't spare the time to check their LinkedIn inboxes every five minutes. The key is to approach them in a way that will get their attention and make them want to help you. Here's how I've done this successfully many times:

The Right Way to Reach Out to a Stranger on LinkedIn

You should never send a generic message to everyone in your network. For example, you cannot send this message: "I'd love to connect with you on LinkedIn and learn about what's going on in your world." That's too vague. You need to be more specific about why you want to connect with that person specifically.

To do this, look at the recruiter's profile and see if there are any commonalities between yourself and them--schools attended or degrees earned, for example. Or maybe they have an open job posting that seems like something you'd be interested in pursuing. If so, let them know! You'll stand out among hundreds of other applicants because you took the time to craft a personalized message that shows how smart and thoughtful (er...smart) you are while still keeping it short enough not to bore people who don't want all day long stories about how great their life is going right now (or worse yet no stories at all).

Your Profile Must Be Strong

Your profile is the first impression you make on a recruiter. Make sure that it's up-to-date and accurate. It should have the right keywords in the summary and experience fields, as well as relevant jobs listed under your skills.

Don't forget to include a link to your portfolio if you have one!

A professional picture is also important. Make sure it looks like an actual person, not another stock photo! A good rule of thumb is that if someone can't tell who it is from across the room, then it probably isn't going to help them identify you either—so don't worry about being too recognizable or famous (unless that's what you're going for!). If possible, try to find a headshot that shows off some personality while still looking professional; there are plenty of sites online where people will create high-quality photos at reasonable prices (and often free).

Start With the Basics

Before you start contacting recruiters, it's important to understand how they think. Recruiters are looking for candidates who are interested in the job and have some experience with it. They want someone who can hit the ground running, so the first thing you should do is make sure that your profile reflects this mindset.

When I reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn, I like to start with basic questions: what they do and how they got started doing it. This shows them that you're interested in their work and gives them an idea of where your head is at when it comes to finding a job in a new industry or field—it demonstrates professionalism and respect for those who share similar interests with us (in this case, the love of recruiting).

Include Your Target

In order to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn, you'll first need to identify a target company and then find the right person in that company.

The best way to do this is by searching for specific job titles on LinkedIn's jobs page (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs). You can filter the results by location or industry and then click the "See All" button at the bottom of your results list. This will give you a full list of professionals who work for that company in your geographic area or industry category, with their names listed alphabetically along with their current positions (if they've changed from where it says “last worked”).

Start With a Personal Connection

The first step to reaching out to recruiters is connecting with them on LinkedIn. This can be done by either searching the LinkedIn database, or by asking a mutual connection if they know anyone in your area looking for a hire like you.

Once you've found someone who might be interested in working with you, send them an introductory message and let them know why they should consider hiring you. Make sure to keep it professional and clear about what exactly you want from them—this will help ensure that they're not wasting their time on someone who isn't going anywhere!

If all goes according to plan, after some preliminary discussion about the position and your experience, then it's time for the recruiter to send out some job offers or interview requests so that both sides can move forward together towards filling this position (and hopefully getting paid). If something doesn't feel right along the way though—or if things just don't go according to plan--don't fret: just follow up politely until everything works out!

Leave Room for Them to Respond

This is where your pitch needs to be concise and to the point. It’s also important that you don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be.

You want them to have an opportunity to respond, so give your pitch enough time and space for them do so.

Know how to reach out to people in a useful way

There are several ways to reach out to people on LinkedIn, and the most common way is through the contact button. It's simple, fast, and easy to use. But it isn't always the most helpful way.

Another important thing to consider when reaching out is knowing how you can use LinkedIn as a tool for your job search without just using it as a crutch. There are many ways that you can take advantage of LinkedIn; one thing in particular that I have found helpful is sending messages directly through the message feature on LinkedIn versus contacting people through email or phone calls (which I will talk about later). You can send messages directly from their profile page or by searching their name if they're not listed as one of your connections. This will allow them an opportunity to see what kind of person you are before accepting any potential offers or answering any questions you might have.

I know this all sounds complicated but once you try it out for yourself, there should be no problem getting started!

Conclusion

The right way to reach out to a stranger on LinkedIn is by following your basic instincts and making sure that your profile is high quality. You can also find common ground with the other person through personal connections or by targeting them directly with keywords that they love.

What is the best job board?

Introduction

Choosing the right job board can be a bit overwhelming. With so many different types of platforms out there, from traditional job search sites like Monster or CareerBuilder (which have been around forever) to newer ones like Glassdoor and Indeed (which were founded more recently), it's easy to find what kind of position you're looking for based on these categories and subcategories too!

The best job board is the one where you will get the most responses.

If you’re looking for a job, it’s important to know that there are many channels you can use. One of the most effective ways to find employment is through a job board. Job boards typically generate millions of applicants each month, making them one of the most popular ways to recruit talent and fill positions. However, career experts often advise job seekers to diversify their search across multiple channels in order to increase their odds of finding a great role that fits their needs, including applying directly to the website or going through a staffing firm.

Job Boards are still effective, even in this hot economy.

You may have heard that job boards are no longer effective. You may have even been told that you should stop using them if you're trying to find a new job. While it's true that job boards are losing market share to other platforms like LinkedIn, they're still an invaluable resource for finding jobs and recruiters.

Job seekers should diversify their search across multiple channels to increase their odds of finding a great role that fits their needs, including applying directly to the website or going through a staffing firm.

The best job board is one job seeker should use to find their next position, but they shouldn't rely on it as their only resource. Job seekers should diversify their search across multiple channels to increase their odds of finding a great role that fits their needs, including applying directly to the website or going through a staffing firm.

Job seekers are still most likely to apply directly on company websites because it's the easiest channel for them and requires minimal effort compared with applying through third party applications like LinkedIn or Indeed.

With so many different types of platforms out there, from traditional job search sites like Monster or CareerBuilder (which have been around forever) to newer ones like Glassdoor and Indeed (which were founded more recently), it's easy to find what kind of position you're looking for based on these categories and subcategories too!

With so many different types of platforms out there, from traditional job search sites like Monster or CareerBuilder (which have been around forever) to newer ones like Glassdoor and Indeed (which were founded more recently), it's easy to find what kind of position you're looking for based on these categories and subcategories too!

Job seekers should diversify their search across multiple channels to increase their odds of finding a great role that fits their needs, including applying directly to the website or going through a staffing firm.

When searching for your next career opportunity, make sure you're using the right job board to narrow down results by industry or location!

When it comes to finding your next career opportunity, it’s important to use a job board that is specific to your industry and/or location. By using the right tool for the job, you can decrease the amount of time spent searching for jobs and increase the amount of opportunities found.

• Job boards that target specific industries: If you are looking for a job in healthcare or engineering, check out some of these sites:

• Mediabistro Jobs - A great resource for media professionals in New York City

• Monster.com - One of the most popular sites on this list! This site has office positions as well as many other types of employment opportunities

• Job boards that target specific locations: Some of these great resources offer local jobs only while others allow users to search nationwide. If you're looking locally though, make sure you don't miss these options:

• Indeed - A huge database full of listings from around the world! This is one giant database filled with millions upon millions (and millions) of jobs at all levels including entry-level positions through executive ranks

Conclusion

We hope this article helped you navigate through the world of job boards!

Want to work remote? Here is how.

Introduction

Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years. Remote workers enjoy more flexibility and freedom than traditional office jobs, and they also tend to be healthier and happier. However, it can be hard to find a remote job if you're not sure where to look or what exactly makes a company "remote-friendly." Luckily for you, we've got tips that will help make the search easier:

Understand the difference between freelance and remote work.

The first step to understanding how to do remote work is knowing that there are two types of jobs: freelance and remote.

Freelance work can happen at a location, but it's not necessarily permanent. For example, you could be hired as a consultant for three months or five years; either way, your job would be temporary and based on hourly or project-based pay. Remote work refers to jobs that are permanent in nature because there's no need for you physically travel anywhere else once hired by the company—you just get paid! It's usually a salary rather than hourly pay rate and doesn't rely solely on being located in one particular place (i.e., if your office moves across town).

Find companies that are remote-friendly.

Before you begin searching for a remote-friendly company, make sure that their policies are compatible with your lifestyle. Some companies have strict guidelines that require all employees to be in one physical location at all times, but this isn't the case for every business.

If you're new to working remotely or have worked with teams of remote workers before, it's important to find out how much freedom people get when it comes to choosing their work schedule. This will help determine if the company culture is going to support your needs as an employee who wants flexibility in order to travel more often.

If you want to work at a company where many other employees are also able and willing to work remotely then look for businesses that have already established themselves as leaders within their industry and may even be publicly traded (such as Salesforce). They'll likely provide more opportunities than other organizations because they know first-hand how important team members can become when they feel empowered enough take ownership over projects while still remaining productive on their own terms.

Parse the job description for details.

The job description is a great place to start when you are looking for remote jobs. It can give you an idea of what the hiring manager is looking for and what skills are required for the position.

• If a company has a team, it's likely that they need someone who can work well with others. You might get asked if you have experience collaborating with others or if you have worked on teams before in your interview.

• If the job requires frequent travel or extended stays in one location, then it's unlikely that they will hire someone who works remotely full time—unless they're willing to pay premium rates for their labor (which may not be worth it).

• If there are specific skills listed that relate directly to the role being filled (such as software programming), then make sure that those skill sets match up with yours before applying

Research hiring managers and recruiters.

If you want to work remotely and be successful, it is important to research the hiring manager, recruiter and company. You can also research what the job description says about remote workers, or if they have a policy on working remotely.

If this is your first time applying for a remote position, then it's important that you know who will interview you and whether the person has worked with other remote workers before. If there are any interviews scheduled over Skype or Google Hangouts then make sure to practice beforehand so that no technical difficulties happen during the actual interview.

Rehearse common interview questions.

Rehearse common interview questions.

It's common advice that you should prepare for an interview by researching the company and role, but did you know that it's also a good idea to practice answering any common interview questions? This way, when someone asks "What is your biggest weakness?", or "Tell me about yourself", your answer will be smooth and confident.

Perfect your pitch.

Before you start interviewing for remote positions, you’ll want to consider what makes you a good fit for the job and company. Here are some questions to get you started:

• Why do you think I should hire you?

• What is your experience with [companies]?

• What is your motivation for wanting to work remotely?

• Why do think it would be beneficial for me to have someone on my team who can work remotely?

Finding a remote job is as hard as finding any other job but you can use some techniques to improve your chances of success

Finding a remote job is as hard as finding any other job but you can use some techniques to improve your chances of success.

The first thing that you need to do is be proactive in your search. If you are not proactive, chances are that the right opportunity will pass by without even noticing it, because the right opportunity will not necessarily come knocking at your door.

The second thing that you need to do is be persistent in your search. The fact that you found one remote position does not mean that there aren’t more out there waiting for someone just like you and if they see how hungry and motivated you are they will give them all away!

And finally, don’t forget about being creative with this whole process; I don't want anyone telling me how many times they emailed their resume before getting hired somewhere else and then ending up hating every minute working for them...

Conclusion

There are many companies out there looking for remote workers, but they can be hard to find. If you want to work remotely then the best way is to find companies that hire remote workers and apply directly with them. This will increase your chances of getting hired because you won't have as many applicants competing against each other in a job search process that favors those who live near where the jobs exist (ex: Silicon Valley). Good luck!

Using Boolean Search for Your Job Search

Introduction

Boolean search is a powerful tool for job seekers. It can help you narrow your search, find relevant jobs and gather more information about a potential employer or position. Boolean searching also gives you more control over what you see on the results page than using the search bar alone. In this article, we'll cover how to use Boolean operators to create more targeted searches, as well as examples of how other people have used them in their own job searches.

The first step in the job search process is figuring out where to look.

Boolean search is the act of searching for jobs by filtering out results that don't meet your criteria. For example, if you're looking for a position in sales and marketing, then Boolean search allows you to find only those listings that match that description.

When starting your job hunt it's important to be strategic about where you look for work. There are many places where companies post their vacancies—job boards, social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook; local community groups or forums (such as Meetup); job fairs; employer websites; recruiters—and all these avenues can yield valuable results if used correctly.

Boolean, a little-known search engine hack, can help you narrow your search and find relevant jobs.

Boolean search can help you find relevant jobs.

The term "Boolean," as it relates to a search engine, comes from the work of George Boole, an English mathematician. His work helped develop a system of logic that's still used today. It's called Boolean logic and it allows us to create complex searches based on multiple keywords—a method called Boolean search.

But what does this have to do with job searching? A lot! You may be familiar with Boolean logic in its general sense: an operator (like AND or OR) combined with one or more values (the variables). But the power of using these operators for your job hunt isn't just about finding more relevant positions; it's also about narrowing down your results so that you don't waste time applying for positions that clearly aren't right for you, like ones requiring skills or experience that you don't have.

How to Find Job Boards on Google Using Boolean Search

To find websites that offer job boards, you can use Google.

You'll want to start by searching on the search engine of your choice (i.e., Google). For example, if you're using the Bing search engine, you would enter this query: "job board" in quotes into the search bar and hit Enter/Submit/Search. This will return a list of websites containing the words "job board."

Next up is adding an operator to narrow down results for more relevant results about what we're looking for here: jobs! Boolean operators are used in conjunction with keywords as filters on searches so that only those pages containing both terms will be included in the results page. To do this we need two operators that work together—the OR operator (or +) and either AND or NOT depending on whether we want all our criteria met or not met.

Use Boolean Search to Find Job Boards and Laser-Focus Your Search

Boolean search allows you to use a variety of operators to narrow down your search results.

"OR" is an operator that's used for finding jobs that either have one word or another, such as "nurse" OR "doctor."

"AND," on the other hand, is used for finding jobs where both words must be present in order for it to show up on the results list. For example: nurse AND doctor.

You can also add numbers before some of these operators if you want more specific results; this will help you get even closer to what you're looking for!

The Basics of a Boolean Search

Boolean search is a powerful and unique feature that allows you to narrow down your job search by using special operators. These operators are AND, OR and NOT. They help you create more targeted searches and find the jobs that match exactly what you’re looking for.

• AND (AND) – both terms must be present

• OR (OR) – one or the other term must be present

• NOT (NOT) – one term must not be present

Boolean Operators

• AND: The AND operator will look for instances of the words you enter and only return results that contain both. For example, if you want to search for a job title with the word “retail” in it, your search would look like this: retail AND marketing manager. If you want all jobs with the word “retail” as well as “marketing” or “manager” in them, just delete the first space before AND and add an additional space after each occurrence of those words: retail marketing manager.

• OR: The OR operator allows you to combine two or more keywords while searching. Let's say that one of your top priorities is finding a job at a nonprofit organization; however, since nonprofits are often smaller organizations than businesses with big budgets for recruiting staff members, they might not have much money to offer their new hires initially (if any). In order to find positions that fit both criteria—nonprofit work environment plus competitive salary—your Boolean query would look like this: nonprofit OR community service organization NOT advertising firm OR publishing house.*NOT*: This operator works just like its English counterpart; however it's case sensitive so make sure you capitalize where applicable!*PHRASE*: This option allows you to create a phrase within quotation marks rather than typing individual words together like normal Boolean search does.*EXACT MATCHES ONLY

Boolean Operators Examples

`OR`

You can use OR if you want to match words that have only one of a few given terms. For example, using the word OR in your search will match all of the following:

• `cats` and `dogs`, but not cats and dogs

• `cats`, but not dogs or cats

Using Boolean Search Operators for Your Job Search

Boolean search operators are used to narrow down your search results. By using a combination of Boolean search operators, you can get the most relevant results for your job search.

A powerful tool for your job search is Boolean Search. It's easy to use and can be combined with other advanced operators such as “or” or “not”.

Conclusion

If you’re searching for a job and haven’t tried out Boolean search yet, now is the perfect time to give it a go. With just a few simple steps, you can use Boolean search operators to focus your job search and find exactly what you are looking for. It doesn’t matter whether you are searching on Google or Bing—both platforms support the use of these operators in their advanced search options.

5 MORE Things to Unclutter Your Resume

5 MORE Things to Unclutter Your Resume

Due to the popularity of last months 5 Things to Unclutter Your Resume blog post, today we will be coving 5 additional steps you can take to unclutter your resume. Remember – this is not about deleting valuable content and relevant accomplishments; this is about streamlining the narrative of your resume to communicate value to the potential employer in a clear and concise manner. 

1. Death by bullets

Have you been told by recruiters that they want your resume to consist of only bulleted statements? And have you read a two-page job ad that consists of only bullets? Do you get my point? Reading a résumé like this is mind-numbing. It is hard to differentiate the duties from the accomplishments.

A well-formatted résumé will have a three-to-four line summary of functional responsibilities in paragraph format that shows value and promise of what you will deliver to the employer.  Following that opening section, you should have your bullets highlighting accomplishments, special projects, awards, and other contributions to your employer.

2. Killer paragraphs

The opposite of death by bullets is death by paragraphs. Some job seekers don’t understand that paragraphs—especially exceedingly long paragraphs—are difficult to read. Many hiring authorities will take one look at a paragraph laden résumé and file it in the circular filing cabinet.

A strong rule to follow is that a Summary in paragraph format should not exceed three-four lines. Similarly, a Job Scope or summary of a position should be brief. 

3. Any positions beyond 15 years

Experts will agree that listing history beyond 10-15 years is a deal-breaker. There are two primary reasons for this:

First, what you did before 15 years is probably irrelevant to what employers are looking for today. Think of the software, hardware, procedures, licenses, and methods you used in those positions. They are probably considered ancient today.

Second is ageism. Unfortunately there are still companies that discriminate against age. Hiring authorities can roughly estimate your age based on the years you have been in the workforce. Why rule yourself out of consideration immediately. Once you get to an interview, you can sell yourself based on the value older workers bring to employers.

9. Years you attended university

This is another way to date yourself and face possible discrimination. Hiring authorities don’t expect to see it on your resume. The only exception would be if you graduated from university within the past four years.

10. References

I’ve seen a handful of resumes that included references. The reason why job seekers list their references is to include them in one document. By listing your references on your résumé, you 1) give employers authority to call them before an interview even begins, which might hurt you if your references say something negative; and 2) it lengthens your résumé. 5 MORE Things to Unclutter Your Resume

So there your have it, 5 more ways to declutter your resume. Comment below if you have any questions. 

5 Things to Unclutter Your Resume

I will never advocate that you shorten your resume by cutting powerful content, relevant details, and important experience. However, for many, a four, five, or even 10-page resume is definitely overdoing it. This mainly happens due to resume ‘clutter’. Often these woeful resumes are complete with extra unnecessary details, functional jargon, redundancy, and irrelevant items. These types of resumes need to be de-cluttered.

Now, I’m asking you what has to go when you declutter your résumé. Here are 5 items you should remove from your document before submitting it for a position.

1. Home address

There are 2 reasons why you shouldn’t include your home address on your résumé. The first is pretty obvious. We no longer communicate via snail mail. Hiring authorities will contact you with email, LinkedIn messaging, and even text.

The second reason is that you can exclude yourself from consideration if you live beyond what hiring authorities consider commuting distance. Years ago a recruiter was kind enough to review my client’s résumé for an opening. He looked at it for two seconds and said, “No good. She lives 50 miles from our company.” Case in point.

2. Fluff

Starting a resume summary with worn-out and boring lead ins such as: “Dedicated, results-oriented, Sales Professional who works well as part of a team and independently….” There are so many violations with an opening like this.

The solution is obvious; stay clear of meaningless adjectives. The golden rule is show rather than tell. Try: Sales Manager who consistently outperforms projected sales growth by double figures. Collaborate with departments company-wide, ensuring customer satisfaction is achieved.

3. Graphics*

Graphics are cool. They add panache to your résumé, are visually appealing, and say a thousand words. However, the applicant tracking system (ATS) doesn’t digest them well.

Graphic artists, web designers, photographers, and other artistic types rely on graphics to demonstrate their work. Business developers, marketers, salespersons, etc. feel numeric graphs make a strong point when expressing their accomplishments. The ATS will kick these out.

If you feel your résumé could benefit from graphics, the solution is to get your résumé in the hands of the hiring manager, which is a good policy anyway. Or if your résumé will be opened as an attachment, format your résumé to your heart’s content.

4. Objective statement

These words should be erased from your vocabulary. There is nothing redeeming about an Objective Statement. Most of them read: “Seeking an opportunity which provides growth, stability, and a rewarding opportunity.” Where in this Objective Statement is there mention of what the client brings to the employer?

Nowhere. That’s where. A Summary, on the other hand, does a better job of showing what value you’ll bring to the table. That’s, of course, when fluff is excluded from it and an accomplishment or two are included. If you’re wondering how your résumé tells the employer the job you’re seeking, simply write it above the Summary.

5. Duties

Everyone performs duties, but who does them better; that’s what employers are trying to determine. Take the following duties my aforementioned client showed me followed by my reactions in parentheses. Then read my suggested revisions below them.

Cringeworthy Resume Content

I've read thousands of resumes and cover letters through the years and a few terms immediately come to mind when I think of cringe-worthy phrases or words.

Have you ever read something on a resume (even your own) that made you cringe?

Perhaps you started to read or write a resume and wanted to stop reading, and pull out your red pen and start crossing things out?

Here are just a few of the “cringe-worthy” words and phrases that I have encountered on a client’s resume. DO NOT MAKE THESE MISTAKES!

"Detail-oriented, results-oriented, accomplishment-oriented, sales-oriented, numbers-oriented, people-oriented." 

These overused and underwhelming phrases do nothing to help your resume. Instead, try to identify unique personality traits, soft skills, or performance numbers to use in your resumes summary section.

"Think outside the box".

Many people claim to be active contributors, and perhaps you are one of them! Instead of “Think outside the box” choose “innovation” and back it up with projects or work you've done that proves it. Be sure to use numbers to highlight success and really pop off the page.

"Excellent. Well-rounded. Team-player."

These phrases are subjective and just your opinion of yourself. Add something more concrete that responds to what the position needs.

"Responsible for, handled, managed, managed, managed".

There are ways to show you led a team without repeating words or using outdated jargon. Try: led, directed, guided, headed, built, grew, spurred, championed, bootstrapped, or delivered to create interest and minimize repetitive verbs.

"I, I, I, I, I."

As hard as it may be, don't let every sentence of your cover letter start with "I". Start with keyword action phrases or an interesting work-related (brief) story.
 

Is Christmas a good time to look for a job?

The holidays are upon us and many worry it isn't a good time for a job search. I repeatedly hear the question “Is Christmas a good time to look for a job?” For many job seekers there has been a huge worry that the holidays are not a good time and that they should delay until January to resume their search for a new career.

With many years of experience in recruiting, professional resume writing, and guiding clients on their job search, allow me to highlight some of the many benefits to continuing on with your job search through the holiday season.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬. Companies have new budgets in place to entice and hire new candidates. They are still hiring and actively looking. Furthermore, companies want to head into 2021 staffed up and ready to tackle next years goals.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Your competition is less since many people decide to hold off until the new year. Plus, you will impress companies with your dedication and commitment. 

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. Things are winding down at your company due to the holidays and end of year, so you have more time to focus on job search. In addition, this is a great time to use any vacation days that you have accumulated that do not role over to focus on your job search.

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬. Around the holidays people are (generally) in better moods. Between more time off, seeing family and friends, shopping, and reflection. It's a perfect time to reach out and start a conversation.

So I ask you, will you sit back and battle with all the competition in January, or will you press on with your job searching in December?

Interview Questions to Ask the Hiring Organization

You must be prepared to answer any questions a hiring manager or recruiter has during an interview. However, you must also be prepared to ask your own series of questions about the organization.  Interviews are two-way and this is your opportunity to ask some of your questions in order to gain determine if the company and positions is as good of a fit for you as you are for it.

Here are some possible questions to ask during an interview, not all will apply to your role, but can help spur some ideas of the questions you should be asking:     

• What are the most important milestones or yardsticks by which this organization will evaluate an employee’s performance in this position? 

• What do you see as the organization’s most critical goals for the next three-to-five years?  How do you see the person in this position addressing these goals and objectives? 

• ‘What industry trends have shaped the organization’s goals, objective and priorities for the next year?  What emerging trends are likely to influence this organization within the next three-to-five years?   

• What do you see as this new employee’s greatest challenges in working to fulfill these goals? 

• What’s it like to work here?  What’s the culture and environment?  How would you describe the typical workday?

• How do people tend to communicate, solve problems and resolve conflicts?   

• What do you see as the organization’s greatest achievement of the last three years?  

• What leadership style would never work here?  How would the ideal leader operate in this position?

Finding Recruiter and Hiring Manager Email/Contact Information

Found that new job you have been wishing for but not sure how to get your foot in the door.  Reaching out through LinkedIn or by sending an email directly to the person in charge of hiring is a great way to help secure the interview.  However, targeting key figures, recruiters, and decision makers can be difficult and overwhelming for most.

Don't worry! The first step is to find the contact information, including their name, position, and email address to network. And if you are having a hard time locating this information, there are several ways to easily find their contact information.

Be prepared to put on your researcher hat on, but don't be scared, this isn’t hard at all!

1.     First, check social media profiles. This can include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.

2.     Second, look on the company website. For smaller companies, they may have a biography section, which will include how to contact the person.

3.     Third, Google it! Put the name of the person and company in separate quotation marks, and then add "email."

Example: “name” AND “company” AND “email”

4.     Fourth, Email lookup services. There are several of these, some of which offer free searches or a free trial. Some popular ones are Hunter.io, Swordfish, and RocketReach. and MailScoop.io.

5.     Fifth, find the company email username and domain name configuration. One place to look for this information is either on the Contact page or Press Room page, where an employee's email address might be found.

Networking is an important step in making that next big career move and getting the job you have been working so hard towards and there are a lot of options available, and connecting directly through email needs to be part of your job hunt process. Stay tuned for our next blog post where we discuss how to create the ultimate Networking Introductory Email. Do not let a simple email be the obstacle to your success!

Combing the power of Vitae Express’s Networking Letter with targeting those key players will give you the competitive edge.  We offer a full career consulting suite that will help you land and nail that next interview.  Book your free consultation today and ask about our 5 Top Tips to Stand Out!

Improving Remote Work Communication Part I

When I launched this company I worked 100% remote with clients. As business grew, services expanded, and the budget allowed, I was able to begin meeting with clients and getting to work with them 1:1. Suddenly I find myself back to remote work, communicating with clients via phone, email, and text.

My return to working completely remote has caused me to reevaluate how I communicate and constantly work to improve communication methods.

This measure is one of my personal self improvement goals during Covid-19, and if you are anything like me, we all need to be careful with how we communicate to others because the non-verbal ques such as posture, inflections, and expressions are not available all the time. The last thing I, or any of you want, is come off as curt, passive-aggressive, or ambiguous. Tone can be construed differently by different people. 🥅

Here are a few suggestions on how you can avoid damaging your work or client relationships while working from remotely:

✅ 𝘼𝙙𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧. If you are emailing a close colleague, you can be more informal and casual. They most likely know your quick reply means you are in a hurry or efficient.

✅ 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙. How many times have you read your email or text and thought, "That doesn't sound like how I meant for it to sound." Reread what you wrote to make sure it expresses your thoughts correctly.

✅ 𝘼𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨. Think of how you feel when you read an email or text like, "Your solution didn't work and we've got a problem." Defensiveness takes over. Consider rewording it to: "We have an issue and need your help."

These are just a few tips and focus on communicating via email, text, and messenger. What’s great is these same guidelines also apply to corresponding with recruiters via email and I cover them with clients in the Interview Training and Job Search Training I deliver.

In Part 2 of this series, we will be covering improving remote communication via phone and video conference.

#remotework #remoteworking #remoteworker #remoteworklife #remoteworktips

4 Pro Tips for Video Interviews

In age of Covid-19 there has been a heightened demand for teleconference services. Many applicants who have secured interviews are being asked to engage in a video interview. While this is not new, and web-based video interviews have been happening for years, the demand for the video conference interview has expanded.

For anyone that has ever been part of a video interview, the 1st thought that comes to mind is likely “awkward.” Signal delays, drops in service, uncomfortable eye contact, and constantly talking over one another are normal and should not distract you. Here are 4 video interview tips to help make you stand out.

Practice

Conducting a dry run is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you come across as polished and professional. Do everything you can to ensure your internet connection is as strong as possible and practice with your conferencing equipment so that you are aware of tendencies to delay or lag in the transmission.

(PRO TIP: Grab a friend to help you dry run the interview, this way you are more comfortable with communicating via video.)

Background

The last thing you want during your interview is for the interviewer to be distracted by your background (dirty house/office/busy image or anything blatantly non-professional). Practice proper job interview etiquette by setting your computer in a clean, well lit area and do a test run to see what is behind you and visible on screen.

(PRO TIP: You want to conduct your video interview in a quite, private area. Silence all notifications on your phone and turn off all streaming services in the background.)

Dress The Part

A video interview is every bit as much an interview as an in person one, so make sure you are properly attired. Proper interview etiquette is to always dress appropriately for the job in which you are applying, not necessarily a day on the job. The same holds true for the video conference. You can change back into your pajamas and robe as soon as it's done.

(PRO TIP: There are tons of meme’s online about working remote or taking an interview with no pants on. While we all have a sense of humor it is unprofessional to only be dressed from the waist up. Also, being dressed for the part can instill a bit of extra confidence.)

Proper Eye Contact

As a human, we are conditioned to look someone in the eye when we are speaking to him or her. When we are video conferencing, remember that when you make eye contact during a video conference, it should be with your web camera – NOT the person's face on your computer.

(PRO TIP: Do not touch your face, fix your hair, wipe away a spot, or act like you are alone in front of a mirror.)

At Vitae Express we can work with you on improving your interview skills. This training can be for in person or via video consultation! If you have more questions about this service, contact us for a free phone consultation.

Preparing Your Resume & Career Tools During Coronavirus

This craziness has everyone locking down, but social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation. Now is a great time to prepare in case of layoffs. Use this time to build your career collateral and connect with those who can impact your success.

Here are some ideas to help out: .

PRACTICE YOUR INTERVIEWING SKILLS
Video and audio recording software platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype allow you to practice how you sound and look.

DO SOME DEEP DIVE RESEARCH
Sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor are great for getting insight into companies, learning about opportunities, and gaining exposure into opportunities.

ORGANIZE YOUR JOB SEARCH TOOLS AND COLLATERAL

This is a great time to make sure your LinkedIn and resume are up to date, fresh in presentation, and optimized for keywords.

CONNECT WITH PEERS, EMPLOYERS AND COLLEAGUES
With everyone home, people are online this week more than ever and likely more open to connecting by phone. If not this week likely the next. Take this time to get ready.

If you need help with a resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile, contact Vitae Express. We are working remote with clients across the country right now!