Monday, April 20, 2020

Key Points to Remember While Writing Resume

Key Points to Remember While Writing ResumeThe first and most important point to remember while writing resume is to make the resume as appealing as possible. The keywords or titles of the resume must be catchy, simple and persuasive. Thus, you must avoid using vague words or cryptic statements on your resume.Secondly, these are some of the most important things that must be incorporated in the resume. People are able to see through a resume very easily. You have to make sure that all your basic information is properly included in the resume. This includes your previous employment history, education, job details, your interests, your hobbies and so on.Many a times, people give a lot of useful information in their resumes. The next step is to choose the resume format that is useful for your particular purpose.The next thing that you must keep in mind while writing resume is the type of job that you have been employed with in the past. It helps if you can provide some details about the role that you played in the company. This will help you stand out from other people who have been employed with the same job in the same company. This will also help you figure out which aspect of the job that you would excel in.If you do not have a job that matches the description of the position that you are applying for, then you should prepare your resume in a way that it is an amalgamation of all your previous jobs. This way, you will be able to include the aspects of all your jobs in your resume and this will help you land up the job that you have been looking for.If you are applying for any technical or professional position, then you should highlight those skills that you possess in your resume. It is highly recommended that you highlight your skills by focusing on them. For example, if you are applying for a job that requires an understanding of internet marketing, then make sure that you talk about how you like to work with people on an interactive level.Moreover, you sho uld always concentrate on the main ideas of your resume. This will help you get the maximum attention that you would need from the employer. This will also help you land up the job that you want to get.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

The Pros and Cons of Joining a Crazy Workplace

The Pros and Cons of Joining a Crazy Workplace Much of the recent election news has focused on the rapid comings and goings at the Trump campaign â€" a new campaign manager is named, the team under the previous one might leave, if that happens even more changes could be afoot. Sure, a presidential campaign makes for high drama, but sudden staffing changes are not limited to politics. Given the market volatility and the speed of technology change, workplaces in all industries are subject to periods of turmoil. If you’re a job seeker and considering joining a workplace in turmoil, here are some pros and cons: Pro: You can make an impact If your area is communications and you join a company in the midst of a media firestorm, you will play a much bigger part than if you joined just any old company. If you’re an accountant and your prospective employer is in the midst of a sale, your number crunching may be part of that decision. I once hired a CFO whose earlier experience included closing down a subsidiary. She came in with her days numbered, as her workplace would be shuttered. But the two years of experience unwinding that business included substantive experience in managing complex financials, operations, and people situations that made her a unique and desirable candidate. She also felt a special sense of pride that she took a difficult situation (people were losing their jobs) and created as soft a landing as possible (moving as many as she could into other subsidiaries). Con: You discover even more turmoil and can’t make an impact While you may join with the full intention of working through the turmoil and perhaps contributing to a solution, the situation may be worse than you expected. Even with the most diligent interviewing, you won’t know the full picture till you’re there. You may find that your role is relegated to a small part of the problem, such that you can’t change the bigger picture. Or you find that senior management is less committed to a solution than you thought. I once coached an experienced business development professional who joined a consulting firm to grow their financial services practice, which she did, only to find out that it was a much smaller percentage of the overall business and also a much lower priority to top management. Even with big contributions within her practice, she barely influenced the overall bottom line and therefore could barely influence the direction of the firm. She left shortly after joining. Read Next: How to Explain Your Bad Workplace to a Future Boss Pro: You have a unique opportunity to hone your skills, expertise and experience Even if your role isn’t directly involved in the crisis, sale or other difficult situation, by virtue of being there, you are performing under difficult circumstances and demonstrating grit and perseverance. If you don’t have other difficult workplaces in your background, this could be a nice testing ground for you. If you’re in marketing, you can see how well you do when market conditions are against you. If you’re in operations, you can see how well you do in an organization without well-defined processes. From a recruiting perspective, being able to produce results in a difficult environment is a competitive advantage. (Keep in mind, however, that succeeding amidst turmoil also makes you more desirable specifically for these difficult environments so you may get tapped for more of the same.) Con: The opportunity shifts faster than you can adapt Or you may arrive at your difficult workplace and find that your skills, expertise and experience are insufficient. You’re in over your head. The allure of solving the big problem is actually not as enticing as it looked from the outside. Your personality is not suitable for the constant anxiety, stress, and frustration sure to accompany any role in a difficult environment. If you misjudge your ability to adapt to the turmoil, you could be faced with having to leave a job earlier than you had expected. This has implications for your resume and for your confidence. The decision to join a workplace in turmoil is highly individualized â€" based on the workplace and the job seeker. You need to do your research into the workplace and get as realistic a picture as possible of what is happening there. This way, you know what you’re getting into â€" what the problems are, what senior management intentions are, how feasible potential solutions are, and what the culture is like day-to-day (you have to work with these people, after all). At the same time, you need to do a realistic self-assessment of your skills, expertise, and temperament for such an undertaking. You need to know that you can make a contribution and that you have the constitution to endure the difficulties you will encounter.

Friday, April 10, 2020

3 Things Your LinkedIn Summary MUST Say - Work It Daily

3 Things Your LinkedIn Summary MUST Say - Work It Daily The summary of your LinkedIn profile is 2,000 characters of prime real estate to genuinely differentiate yourself among the 3,000,000-member online community. Too often, this is the area people squander, by either not completing the summary at all, or by lifting something directly off the resume â€" the tone of a resume does not read correctly in the living, breathing, conversational LinkedIn community. Related: 5 Tips For Upping Your LinkedIn Game You definitely have it within you to transform the summary into an illustration of your authenticity, practically in Technicolor. I’ll show you three things your LinkedIn summary must say, by using the example of a finance executive whose LinkedIn profile directly led to her landing the senior role she holds today: 1. Say who you are. We are all human beings seeking personal, individual connections with other human beings. That applies to not only job search, but also to life. Who you are at your core matters to another person, so take this initial step to reveal yourself. In the first person mode of voice, speak directly to the employer or recruiter. For example, “I am a senior executive in the financial services sector who knows how to drive revenue, raise service levels, build brand, and cultivate profitable relationships.” This single sentence indicates her functional level, industry, and most importantly, brand â€" all the things the recruiter needs to see in two seconds. 2. Say what you do. Be more than your job description, which only describes the job â€" the focus here is on your particular brand of excellence â€" big difference! There is something you do that’s both unique and authentic to who you are. To zero in, ask yourself, “If two people were talking about what I do, what would they say?” For example, “I envision, then execute, especially in tightly-competitive environments, and deliver multi-million dollar results. My impact has been international: the US, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.” This says she has vision, plus the tactical skills to drive that vision, and she’s achieved results repeatedly in markets around the world. 3. Say the value you bring. True value has to do with what you deliver that’s above and beyond â€" it makes people say, “Wow!” Value in this sense may or may not have to do with actual dollars. It’s more about professional approach and distinctive style, which happens to achieve a monetary end result. For example, “I cultivate corporate growth by leading expansions into new markets, deeply penetrating existing markets, and strengthening relationships with key customers. Further, I build alliances inside the organization, using people management and employee engagement skills throughout my career.” The value here involves how she touches people inside and outside her business â€" remember: that human connection. You have a story within you that’s 100% yours. Own it. Tell it. Doing so puts you miles ahead of your competitors who rely strictly on buzz words, keywords, and expertise. Telling your story expresses a fuller picture of who you are, demonstrates your sweet spot, and gives your audience a glimpse of your 360 degrees. Incorporating these elements into your LinkedIn profile is a must to truly connect with another person and land the good opportunities that you deserve! This post was originally published on an earlier date. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!