How to Build a Resume the Right Way

How to Build a Resume the Right Way A great resume  is the perfect  tool to  showcase your skill to potential employers. Resumes can be hard to get right, but this infographic from Degree Theory provides some interesting tips to help you get it right. If you have any other tips, please leave them in the comments below! Takeaways Only include relevant information- employers dont need to know your pets name or your favourite band. Keep the design simple, anything too garish will look unprofessional or compensatory. Keep it minimal but stylish. Tailor your CV to each application Dont lie on your CV, it will catch up with you at some point in the future! RELATED: How to Craft the Perfect Modern Resume

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Use Time Off for Job Reflection

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Use Time Off for Job Reflection Probably the last thing you want to do on your Thanksgiving break is think about work. And yet it intrudes into your thoughts, whether you want it to or not. You wonder how many email messages are piling up; how the boss will receive the report you left; and whether you're still in the running for that promotion.OK, youre going to think about work whether you want to or not. So why not channel that mindset into something productive? Like taking a mental step back and really considering where your career is at, and where you want it to be. Consider, for example, whether youre happy. Not happy just sitting there eating that second piece of pumpkin pie, but happy at work. How do you feel about your job? Is it something you look forward to, something you endure (kind of like your grandmother's fruitcake), or something you truly hate?These and other questions are not easily answered when youre running a meeting, rushing to meet a customers order or doing reports at home. These are questio ns best answered when you can sit back, relax, and let your mind and heart work together.For example, maybe youve been thinking about quitting your job, but havent really considered the reasons behind it. Look back over the last year. Has something changed that has made you feel unhappy at work? Maybe youre required to travel more, or perhaps youve gotten a new boss that is giving you a hard time. Make a list and decide what must change in order for you to enjoy going to work, and then whether youre willing to work for those changes in order to stay put.Or, maybe youve been thinking about starting your own business. What do you see yourself doing? Who would be your customers? Do you have the financial and professional resources to make it a success? Can you receive moral support from family and friends?At the same time, sketch out where you see the business in the future, what resources it would take to get it off the ground, and what failure would mean to you both personally and p rofessionally.And while youre considering your career, look into your crystal ball and try and predict where your employer will be in the next year. Considering industry reports, the economy, and your own observations, do things seem solid? Many times those who have been laid off say they never saw it coming, until they reconsidered all the warning signs they ignored. Do you have a game plan in place if things begin to look rocky?Also consider your time away from the job to think about how you feel -- deep inside -- about your work life. Are you committed to what youre doing? Are you able to stay focused on your goals, or are you often distracted and depressed? If anger and resentment are present more often than not, maybe its time you were honest with yourself about your job. You may realize that your work is making you really unhappy, but you're afraid to give it up because you've grown accustomed to the lifestyle it can give you.Maybe you can't come up with the answers to all the se questions right now, but it's important to take the time to try. Often, we're so busy hacking through the forest that we forget to climb to the top of the trees from time to time to see where the heck we're going. So, find some time between all the eating, shopping and football to do just that.

What Do Your Words Say About Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Do Your Words Say About Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Choose your words carefully: the words you use in articles, blog posts, and emails do more than just share informationthey create a lasting impression of your personal brand. The next time youre tempted to dash off a blog post or email, slow down and reread your message.   Ask yourself: Are the words that I used appropriate for the personal brand I want to project? Each time you write, your words play both short-term and a long-term roles: Utility. In the short-term, your market will judge your words pragmatically, by the utility, or value, of the advice that you share. Likeability. In the long-term, however, your words will either enhance or undermine your personal branda measure of your attraction, likeability, and value as a source of future information and assistance. Ideally, individual reading your words for the first timeno matter what the topicwill be so impressed theyll want to visit your website or do an online search to find other things that youve written. Always remember: its possible to be knowledgeable and relevant, yet present an image that creates an obstacle to a personal connection. Measuring the impact of your words Use the 7 characteristics of a strong personal brand to evaluate the impact that the words youre using say about your personal brand. As always, asking questions is the best way to gain new insights and perspective. In addition, it often helps to think in terms of opposites, and consider where your words would fit on a continuum running from good to bad. Knowledgeable. Do your articles and blog posts accurately reflect your experience and accumulated knowledge? For example, does you writing project deep experience and understanding, or do you emerge as a relative newcomer writing about a trendy topic? The details and examples you include with your recommendations and conclusions play a big role in your ability to project strong knowledge of your topic. Relevant. Does your writing address topics of relevance to the market you want to serve? Do your headlines and titles of your articles promise information that will help your prospects solve their problems or achieve their goals? Your market is always in a hurry; few have time to read for the sake of reading for the sake of reading. The sooner you establish the relevance of your topic, the better. Caring. Does your writing reflect your empathy, or genuine concern, for your readers? Can your readers immediately relate what youre writing to their specific goals and objectives? Can they see themselves in your article? Years ago, the first time I read Richard Bolles What Color Is Your Parachute?, I got the feeling he wrote the book specifically for me. Your readers should feel the same thing. (Parachute is now in its 40th bestselling edition!) Professional. Do the words youre using project a trustworthy, professional image? Or, do your words project an amateur, or newcomers, image? The way youve organized your words plays a key role in projecting a professional image. Do you start with a premise, support the premise with details, and end by summarizing the the relevance of your ideas? Do your ideas follow each other in a logical sequence, or do you jump around from topic to topic? Reader cues, like subheads and lists, also help project a professional image. Brevity focusing your message and eliminating unnecessary ideas and wordsalso projects a professional image. Friendly. Does your writing project a conversational, friendly image? Your writing style previews what conversation with you would be like. Does your writing style resemble a one-way speechdelivered from a podium (with questions reserved until the end)or does your writing resemble a game of tennis, where ideasor, the ballis in constant motion? Providing exercises and questions for readers to address helps project an open, friendly image. Sharing your own personal experiences also builds bonds with your readers. Actionable. Do your words provide enough information for readers to take action? If you want to build the trust necessary for readers to contact you for assistance, you have to prove your ability to help readers take action. This requires more than abstractions and theory; you have to provide examples of stepslike simple tasksthat readers can take that will help them solve big problems and achieve complex objectives. Avoid fast food writinglots of spices and sizzle. Help them get started before they even contact you. Inspirational. Do your words project a positive image? Avoid focusing on the negativechallenges, difficulties, obstacles, and threats. Negativity doesnt win elections; in the depths of the depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt stressed We have nothing to fear, but fear itself! His campaign song was Happy Days are Here Again! Appeal to your prospects optimistic side by stressing how you can help them improve their current situation. Resist that urge Resist the urge to immediately press Send until youve reviewed what youve written, and are confident that the words youve used will support the long-term personal brand youre building. Theres lots of competition out there; your value as an author, employee, coach, consultant, or speaker is constantly being judged relative to others with similar qualifications. Take the time for a second review of your project, paying particular attention to the words youve used. View everything you write as a portfolio piece. Make sure prospects reading your work for the first will want to know more about you and how you can help them. And, let me know if you have any comments or suggestions about the 7 ways to measure what your words say about your personal brand. See another approach to words in an earlier post. Author: Roger C. Parker is an author, book coach, designer, consultant who works with authors, marketers, business professionals to achieve success with brand-building books practical marketing strategy. Visit Roger’s blog to learn more about writing productivity tips or to ask a question.

Monday Motivation Top 10 Classy Career Posts of 2010

Monday Motivation Top 10 Classy Career Posts of 2010 Thats right!   In case you missed any of these posts, here is a look back at  our top ten  career posts in 2010. Ever wondered.Are you the speaker you want to be? Are you ever so stressed from the week that you need some tips on How to unwind after a busy week? Who doesnt need a refresher in Networking Tips for the Young Professional? This post  continues to  haunt meI think I need to take my own advice and get off the couch and Find time to work out! Never forget to thank those around you!   Get some great ideas here! Only 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, read more about what I think about that darn glass ceiling here Ever wonder How to handle the nonstop email madness?   I do too! These Salary Negotiation tips  will help you get that salary you want! Want to read an inspirational story about a job seeker?   Check out our Monster.com Success Story. Getting ready for an interview in the new year?   Check out these interview tips  first! Now its your turnwhat is your favorite career post from around the web in 2010?

Clean Resume Template - What to Look For

Clean Resume Template - What to Look ForYou can easily create a custom resume with a clean resume template. It is essential that you know how to use these templates correctly so that you will be able to use them for your benefit. You can find free templates online but if you want to get more professional looking template then you have to pay a small fee for it.When choosing a template, the first thing that you should look at is whether it is clear and coherent. It should also be easy to read and understandable so that your readers will be able to comprehend what you are trying to say. There are templates which use words that are slightly different from the common ones. These words are often used to make a document easier to understand.Simple and concise are two important things to look for when choosing a template. It should be simple and concise, so that it will not take much time to read and understand. It should also be simple and concise, because people would prefer that you writ e something that is easy to understand and read. If they find it difficult to read, it means that they are less likely to remember your resume.The importance of this is crucial because it shows that you are giving the most important things your attention. People who are in jobs that require a lot of writing should avoid writing their resumes on personal websites that do not allow free writing. Remember that you are writing a resume for yourself and not a business.One of the best things about using a clean resume template is that it will be easier for you to turn your paper into a job application. A clean resume template is always simple and easy to read so that you will be able to get through it faster. You will also be able to concentrate more on the things that you have to say instead of having to read the entire document.Also, you can make sure that your resume template will be easy to edit. You can also change any part of it to make it appear the way you want it to be. It is imp ortant that you keep this in mind when choosing a template because you need to avoid spending money if you don't have to.When it comes to the template, you should not worry about the quality of the template because this will not affect your ability to get a job with it. Since you are using a template for your resume, you should never expect the template to be perfect. If you can find a clean resume template which is full of mistakes, then that will be better.If you cannot find a clean resume template then you should stick to using a generic one. It will be fine as long as you know how to use it correctly. The most important thing about a template is that you need to make sure that you know how to use it properly so that you will be able to get the best results.

5 Tips to Help Speed up Your Job Search - CareerAlley

5 Tips to Help Speed up Your Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Lets face it, job search can take a really long time. Looking for work is generally a frustrating experience, and after filling out multiple job applications and putting together who knows how many cover letters, it can feel like youre just hitting a dead end. While this is a completely normal experience for any job seeker, there are ways to make the process a little less grueling by doing what you can to speed it up. Modify Your Resume for Each Employer To really help move the process along, or at least help increase your chances of getting called back for an interview, it helps to modify your resume to fit each individual line of business you apply for. This means to specify your objective, as well as your relevant skills, to better suit each company; a well-crafted resume that shows you know what the industry is looking for is much more likely to stand out than a generic one designed to fit multiple positions. Take a look at CareerAlleys 5 Steps to a Great Resume Book Corner A good book to help you in creating your multiple resumes [easyazon_link asin=0814417620 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]Unbeatable Resumes: Americas Top Recruiter Reveals What REALLY Gets You Hired[/easyazon_link] Look for Jobs in More than One Place When looking for work, avoid putting all your eggs in one basket, and instead, seek employment in every direction. Job websites such as Monster or Craigslist are a great place to start, but make sure youre looking in other locations as well; your local employment center, newspapers, classified ads, and even Now Hiring business signs are other places that showcase many community job openings, and youre guaranteed to land a job faster if you utilize all the available resources. Weed out the Junk Many people seem to believe that in order to find a job faster, they should apply to every open position. While its good to keep an open mind and pursue various possibilities, applying for a job you arent qualified for, or one you know you arent planning to have any longevity with, can be a waste of your time. Pursuing only a few realistic options that you can use your relevant qualifications towards increases your chances of finding something much more than going after a handful of jobs that you have absolutely no background or interest for. Create a Plan of Action and Follow Through Looking for work needs to be treated as if its a job, and in order to make it a priority, it helps to set up realistic goals and follow through on them; this helps you feel less aimless and have more of a clear direction to take your job searching in. For example, set a goal of filling out six online applications one day, and then for the next day, aim to go to the employment center and find out what applications you can fill out there. By being consistent and clear about your goals, and by diversifying the manner in which youre applying, youll feel less burned out and more motivated to keep the search alive and strong. Take a look at CareerAlleys Planning for Your Job Search Book Corner A great book to help you get focused on your job search plan -[easyazon_link asin=0989378721 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]The Job Seeker Manifesto: The Job Search Marketing Plan[/easyazon_link] Get Personal and Follow Up To speed up the process, it always helps to think like an employer would. Every time a manager advertises a job opening, they get a flood of applicants, so try to think of ways to make yourself stand out. Many individuals simply fill out their resume and/or application, send it off, and then patiently sit back and wait for a response. Instead of following this mindset, be more proactive and aggressive; dress nice and go directly to the company to hand them your resume in person. Putting a face to the applicant helps employers remember who you are, and theyll already have a good impression of you when it comes time to review your resume. Another very vital thing to remember is the follow up; if your resume has been out for a week and you havent heard anything back, call or go in to politely follow up on the status of your application. Being assertive and eager (but not desperate) is a quality many employers look for in a candidate, and by making it clear youre on the prowl for the job is a great thing to do in order to stand out and land an interview. Its normal to feel run down and worn out after applying for a slew of positions only to have no luck come through, but remember there are always ways you can fine tune your job searching approach. By applying these tips, keeping your eye on the end result, and more than anything, managing to stay positive and know that something will eventually come through (it always does), you should experience a more efficient and bearable job seeking experience. Arlene Chandler is a freelance writer who loves helping people face lifes unexpected turns. She currently writes about finance tips, career advice, and income protection Australia from AAMI. This is a Guest post. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ Job Search job title, keywords, company, location jobs by

What I Learned from My Daughters Graduation

What I Learned from My Daughter’s Graduation I love this time of year. Not just because it’s my birthday month (and the month I was named for!) but also because it’s graduation season. And more specifically, it’s commencement address season. It’s the beautiful time of year when an inspiring and diverse group of people are invited to give their best advice to young people in transition all across the world. For example, the class of 2019 will be hearing from Viola Davis, Bill Nye, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, Yo-Yo Ma, and Angela Merkel to name just a few. And the best part is that they’re usually filmed for us all to enjoy! What I love about a good commencement speech is that it’s a simple, easy and fun way to gain advice on how to live a good life and succeed in your career. After all, someone with rich experience has worked hard to distill their wisdom into an easy-to-digest TEDTalk-like send-off. There are three commencement speeches that have had the greatest impact on me and I’d love to share the insights I’ve learned with you. The first not only because of its powerful message, but also because I just heard it this past weekend so its message is fresh in my mind! The other two I heard in past years but they’ve stuck with me and have messages that I still think about in my life and work. “Be careful who you listen to” Last weekend, I attended my daughter’s college graduation from Emerson College. I’ll spare you the whole “proud mother” recap of the day and simply tell you it was a joy to watch her cross the stage to receive her diploma â€" and smile at us as she strode back to her seat! The commencement speaker was the broadcast journalist, Soledad O’Brien. She was not only witty and engaging, I loved her message to Emerson’s Class of 2019. 1. Be careful who you listen to because there’s a lot of bad advice out there. People will caution you not to do things and tell you that you can’t do things you want to do. But this comes from fear. Fear you’ll get hurt. Fear you might fail. Fear you’ll be disappointed. For example, people told her mother and father not to enter into an interracial marriage, which was illegal in Maryland at the time. But they drove to Washington D.C., got married, and had 6 children and a happy life. Great things can come from ignoring bad advice and doing what you feel is right for you. 2. To change the world, “start with the common ground. Find the sliver we have in common” and focus on that. Remember, “your dream doesn’t have to be at the expense of others’ dreams”. 3. “Search for the truth, then fight for it to get air time.” Each of us can make the world better by doing the research, getting the data and telling the story (or helping others to tell their story). “It’s not enough to do the work, you have to share the work.” “Work hard, have fun, be nice” I was inspired by Joe Wicks’ story which he spoke about in his speech to the 2017 graduating class at St. Mary’s University. Joe is “The Body Coach” Fitness Coach, TV Presenter and Author. Joe went from having no idea about his career and no money to finding what he loves to do and turning it into a business â€" The Body Coach, which helps people change their lives through exercise and nutrition. And by the way, it became a multi-million-dollar business in just 5 years. To quote Joe, “When you know what you love to do, success can come quickly.” And don’t worry if you don’t know right now. “Be patient, explore, you’re going to get there.” Echoing a theme from Soledad O’Brien’s talk, he pointed out that “so many people will say your idea’s no good, it won’t work, it’s been done before” but you have to keep doing what you want to do. 1. Always be yourself â€" it’s never too late. 2. You’re going to get rejection â€" keep going and don’t give up when you get knocked back. 3. Focus not on money but on how you can solve a problem and make people feel better â€" if you’re adding value to someone’s life, it’ll come around. Finally, if you live by Joe’s simple mantra, it will all turn out well: “work hard, have fun, be nice”. “We are the wolves” Abby Wambach’s speech to the Barnard Class of 2018 was inspirational. Abby is US Women’s National Soccer Team Legend and world record holder for most international goals for both female and male soccer players. Abby shared four out of her eight rules for life. She writes about all eight in her book The Wolfpack, which I highly recommend (I bought a copy for each of my daughters). These are the three messages that resonated with me the most: 1. “We are the wolves”. Abby calls out the childhood story, Little Red Riding Hood, for sending the message to young girls to “keep your head down, stay on the path, and get the job done.” In the fairytale, when Red Riding Hood becomes curious and deviates from the path (spoiler alert!) she gets eaten by the wolf. Wambach reframes the story to tell you that “you were never Red Riding Hood, you were always the Wolf”. 2. Rules to live by: Make failure your fuel â€" let the feeling of failure fuel your power, don’t allow it to be your downfall. Lead from the bench â€" wherever you sit in the team or organization, you can lead. Champion each other â€" when we support each other, we all get stronger. Demand the ball â€" step up and add the value you were meant to add. 3. Don’t let your job or what you do define you. “Who do I want to be?” is more important a question to ask yourself than “what do I want to do?” In the end, “what you do will never define you, who you are always will.” Be Inspired If you have a graduate in your family, then congratulations and enjoy the ceremony! And if you don’t, then I encourage you to check out some of the videos and articles about commencement speakers. There are so many great ones! A great place to start is to search for commencement speeches on YouTube. I’d love to know which commencement speech you’ve felt inspired by and what you’ve taken away from it. And what would be your best advice to young people as they embark on the next chapter in their life? Leave me a comment â€" I’d love to know!