Top 4 Resume Tips for Job Seekers

Top 4 Resume Tips for Job Seekers This article is sponsored by  Careers Australia. The job market is tough as a job-seeker, so how do you get an edge? Having a great resume or CV is one of the most effective ways to stand out in the crowd and get noticed by potential employers. So what makes a good resume? Here are the top four tips to a cracking resume: 1) Less really is more: Probably the number one rule in resume writing is to keep it short and concise. DO NOT waffle on and try to pad out your CV. If you’re lacking job experience, you can’t invent it. Do anything you can to get some, including volunteering for charities or approach employers and offer to work for them for a short period of time, without pay. Another thing you may need to consider is doing some vocational education and training (VET). Distinct from more traditional and academic courses, this type of study focuses on getting you straight into work by providing you with job and industry-specific skills and knowledge. Some education providers even work directly with employers to provide apprenticeships and job-based training. 2) Follow the recipe: When it comes to writing your resume   don’t freestyle it stick to the classic recipe. This consists of: Your name and contact details Your qualifications â€" title of qualification / year of completion or expected completion / education provider Relevant training / skills / attributes Your work experience. The work experience element is undoubtedly the most important and is what employers really focus on. This should always be listed in the following format: Chronological order â€" starting with your most recent work experience Job title Employer and location Key achievements Responsibilities If you can’t think of any key achievements or you’re just new to the workforce, you can probably skip this bit and just focus on role responsibilities. 3) Make it relevant: Resumes can be very generic and after reading dozens at a time, one can blend into another for the people reading them. If you really want to stand out in the resume crowd, you need to tailor your CV to match both the employers and jobs you’re seeking. To do this, give greater emphasis in your resume to the particular skills and experience that a company or organisation is seeking. However, this doesn’t mean fabricating jobs and experience, so ensure that you’re honest and truthful. 4) Keep it clean and uncluttered: Imagine you’re an employer and on the hunt for new talent. You’ve advertised a job and now you’re desk is literally covered in resumes. What’s the first thing you notice when you pick up someone’s CV? It’s the overall design and presentation. Choose styles that are clean and uncluttered, but allow you to express yourself and subtly make your mark. Absolutely avoid detailed and busy page borders and super fancy fonts. When it comes to resumes, it’s what’s inside that really counts. While a nice looking design is important, it all comes down to the content. Don’t ‘fluff up’ your CV, stick to the standard format and where you can, tailor it to suit specific employers and jobs. This article is sponsored by  Careers Australia.

Finding The Right Vancouver Professional Resume Writing Services

Finding The Right Vancouver Professional Resume Writing ServicesThe need for Vancouver professional resume writing services has risen in recent years, as more job hunters are now turning to the Internet to find work. The Internet is also home to a growing number of employers looking to hire qualified people. While the Internet has certainly made it much easier for people to find their way to the workplace, it's only part of the picture.While it's true that some employers have chosen to use resume writing services to provide them with needed resumes, that doesn't mean all resume writing services are the same. The truth is that no two resume writing services are alike, and some even provide customized services. You need to know what to look for when choosing the right professional service for your resume.The first step in selecting the right Vancouver professional resume writing services is to know what types of resumes they have on hand for you to choose from. While some people choose to create a custom-made, tailored resume, others find that it's easy to create one that includes their basic information in the section where they're allowed to do so. After all, your basic information may include your full name, job title, date of birth, and company name. However, your skills and experience may be a little different from what's required for your current position.To help you get the right type of resume, you should know that Vancouver professional resume writing services can provide a wide variety of formats to choose from. Some of the most common include the following: Microsoft Word, PDF, A4, and Times New Roman. If you want to create a resume that will look nice on a business card, you can use the Times New Roman format, while those who prefer a more professional look can choose a format that uses the Microsoft Word format.Your experience is the most important part of your resume, so your skills are the first thing that you should consider including. This should be a bulleted list of your key accomplishments over the last three to four years. Your skills are something else to consider, but remember that you should list only those skills that you have. If you have years of experience in copywriting, but not much experience as a salesperson, then that's something you should leave out.If you have any notes or anecdotes about your past employment, then it's okay to include those as well. However, make sure that they don't have anything to do with your actual skills or experiences. Keep in mind that you will be paying for the services of a professional resume writer to write your resume, so make sure that you know what you're getting into before hiring them. The best way to avoid a bad resume is to spend some time learning about the resume writing services available. The internet is a great place to start if you want to find some information about resume writing services, but don't forget to talk to friends and family.Once you've done that, you can begin to ask the questions that you have about the Vancouver professional resume writing services that you are considering. Some of the questions that you might want to ask include: How long has the company been in business? What is the scope of the services that they provide?Finally, make sure that the service that you are using is easy to use and that the resume writing service that you have chosen has professional workers that understand how to properly construct your resume. Make sure that they also provide you with helpful tips and resources to help you as you build your resume. If you choose a service that isn't going to provide you with that kind of support, you might want to reconsider using them.

You The Brand A Conversation with Bernadette Rivell Daniels

You The Brand A Conversation with Bernadette Rivell Daniels Bernadette Rivell Daniels is principal and founder of Identity Brand + Design, a strategic, full-service branding and design agency located in Ponte Vedra Beach. She landed in Florida in 2009 after a high-powered career in local and network television in New York City and Philadelphia. She’s built her business on the idea that in order to succeed, companies and people must tell a great story about who they are. Rivell Daniels  says that there are several steps to creating a memorable brand, whether it’s for a new network or a candidate newly on the market for a job. Bernadette Rivell Daniels Step one is to figure out who you are â€" identifying your core values, strengths and skills. Most jobseekers make the mistake of trying to appeal to every employer, Rivell Daniels  says.   If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that not every job is a great match for your expertise or your personality. You’ll have a preference for larger companies or small, informal versus buttoned-down, or for profit versus mission-based organizations. The same process of figuring themselves out works for companies as well. You can see evidence in the recent evolution of cable network branding.   They are transitioning from trying to attract every viewer to (in their own words) becoming “branded video destinations” or, in simpler terms, “specializing.” TBS has shifted to comedy, while TNT specializes in drama and USA makes quirky “characters welcome.” They understand their own strengths and just as importantly, they understand their ideal target audiences. Rivell Daniels says that it takes courage to decide that your audience isn’t the entire universe; you have to believe that when the right customer â€" or employer â€" comes along, your value will be apparent. “Once you find the right niche for what you offer,” she says, “selling yourself is a lot easier.” Understanding your audience helps you understand what messages will resonate.   Once you have identified your core values, skills, experience and expertise, you can craft a branding statement, a sort of tag line for your career path. Great branding statements are memorable because they distill what you stand for and your differentiation into just a few words. How few words?   According to marketing agency CEO Patrick Di Chiro in this great article on effective company brand statements, one or two is ideal. That might sound almost impossible unless you’re a strong brand like Volvo (Di Chiro says that its one word branding statement is “safety.”) If you can’t get down to one or two words that describe your talent, you can work on a phrase; expand your statement into a sentence that will resonate with people you meet. Rivell Daniels says that your brand statement should be part of your regular networking, including appearing on your business card.   As a graphic and web designer, she deplores the wasted space on most people’s business or calling cards. “Use the back of the card to list your skills or publish the link to your social media pages,” she suggests. “Jobseekers should take their cue from companies and develop collateral that enhances their brand and makes them memorable.” Bernadette Rivell Daniels will offer more tips for creating and promoting “You The Brand” at the August 20 meeting of the WorkSource Professional Network. Contact Patsy Partin at WorkSource to make a reservation for the meeting at ppartin@worksourcefl.com. Do you have a personal branding statement?   Leave a comment and share yours.

Whats a good question Whats a good answer

Whats a good question Whats a good answer The best questions are not necessarily those that get answers, but those that lead to sharper questions. My friend Marci Alboher, who writes for the New York Times, often calls me to ask questions about blogging and personal branding. I usually give her strongly opinionated answers and add a little emphasis about how I know that Im right. Then she usually does not take my advice. But these are great conversations because she asks really interesting questions like how do the brand of a journalist and the brand of the publication interact? And my best answers to Marci are when I ask more questions. Mark Halpern reported in Vocabula (subscription) about a study on expert advice. He says that people who call themselves experts are no better at making predictions about the future than anyone else, but experts talk more confidently about their opinions, and generally dont get penalized for being wrong. This makes me think we look to experts more to frame conversation. Experts ask questions similar to those that are burning in our own heads, but the experts ask sharper questions; the answers we can take or leave, but the questions change us. For example, I ask myself all the time, Am I fat? Do I look good? What number am I on a scale of one to ten? They are insane questions, I know. And there is no good answer. But so what? I ask myself anyway. And sometimes, if Im feeling comfortable about showing my most pathetic, desperate side of myself, Ill ask a friend. But to be honest, no answer ever surprises me. Then I saw Doves fun and fascinating video of what it takes to get a woman ready for a billboard photo. I watched three times. I love the video because instead of telling me dont worry you look fine it implicitly suggests some sharper questions I could be asking. (Hat tip: Indie Bloggers) And did you know that womens eyes are digitally enlarged on billboards? This is interesting to me because a man can tell instinctively when a woman is interested in him by the way her eyes dilate, according to Barbara and Allen Pease, authors of The Definitive Book of Body Language. Asking someone if they want to have sex is not usually straightforward and clear, but looking at whether or not her eyes are dilated is a primal way that men sharpen the question. Heres another video I love: Did You Know? Shift Happens, by Karl Fisch. This video is fun because I learned so much about how the world is changing. Fisch asks questions and answers them. Here are some examples of those answers: If MySpace were a country it would be the 11th most populous in the world (right above Mexico) and the average MySpace page is visited 30 times a day. One week of the New York Times is more information than someone would have come across in a lifetime in 1800. The department of labor says the top ten jobs that will be in demand in 2010 did not exist in 2004. One interesting thing about these answers is that they only feel satisfying if you use them to create better questions. When I encounter someone or something that forces me to ask sharper questions, the first thing I do is check in with myself. Am I excited or scared? I hate having to hear that the world is not what I thought it was. Everyone has cognitive dissonance, even me. But I also would hate to be in a world where nothing changes. And the best thing we can do to keep up is to accept that sharper questions are often more satisfying than quickie answers.

How Do You Make Your Resume Stand Out Without Adding Any Words That Will Get the Recruiter to Skip It?

How Do You Make Your Resume Stand Out Without Adding Any Words That Will Get the Recruiter to Skip It?If you're job hunt is over a year old and you're looking to get your foot in the door for the new position, how do you make your resume stand out? In this article I'm going to cover some tricks for making your resume look more professional without adding any words that will get the recruiter to skip it. Hopefully this will help you find a job faster.First, if you want to get the most attention for your resume, use a good graphic designer to create a professional looking layout for your work profile. This is a good idea for all writers, but especially if you have very little experience. Although the graphics may not be necessary, they will draw the recruiter's attention to your resume, which may be a sign of interest.Second, don't ever use a cover letter. Use a template to build your resume. And do not put your resume on the cover of an application. Why?Because a professional resume l ooks so much better than an 'applicant' resume which is usually nothing more than filler. See the cover letter? Most of the information in it is worthless.Finally, using a template for both your resume and cover letter will make them more professional looking and stronger. In fact, they are a lot better for the recruiter as well as the company.When I first started looking for a job, I was getting hired on resumes with the same information as everyone else. And I didn't like it. So I made a few changes and I started to get hired.Most job seekers don't have much experience, so they need to dress up their resumes. You can see why because they can look amateurish. This is important for a resume to attract the attention of recruiters and for the company to get noticed.So many job seekers are afraid to add some polish to their resumes. They think that people don't like to be touched. Then they don't bother to put in the work to make their resumes look more professional and they lose out o n many job opportunities.

How to Write a Clerical Resume to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Clerical Position

How to Write a Clerical Resume to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Clerical PositionAre you seeking a clerical position and wish to improve your chances of success in finding it? There are a number of things you can do to make your clerical resume stand out from the other resumes out there. In this article I will discuss how to improve your chances of finding a clerical position with a clerical resume.Clerical personnel require a number of skills. That includes cleaning up client records, filing and keeping documentation, using a computer, faxing documents, organizing files, and more. Your clerical resume should highlight these skills, if you are seeking a clerical position, as the primary aspects of your qualifications. This way you will provide the employer with a clear picture of what you can do, and they will more readily accept your qualifications.Many employers will not hire someone that doesn't have any clerical positions. If you have no experience as a clerk, but you think y ou may be able to find a clerical position in the future, then your best bet is to list your clerical experience on your clerical resume. A clerical resume can save you a lot of time and money in the future.If you want to convince an employer to hire you based on your clerical resume, there are a few steps you can take. First, you need to work on keeping a professional and organized clerical resume. Make sure that it provides as much information as possible about the specific clerical position you are looking for. You also need to make sure that your clerical resume is effective and succinct.A very important part of your clerical resume is your work history. You want to be sure that you have a strong list of all your work experience in clerical positions, including your supervisors and job titles. It is also important to include any training and related courses you completed that provided you with the necessary skills to apply for the position you are seeking.In addition to a good l ist of clerical positions, you should also include a list of clerical certifications. Some employers prefer certifications that were earned within the past five years. Of course, certifications obtained before that time frame may be presented as long-term certificates that are not good as references for future reference.Finally, the most important element of your clerical resume is your education. Show your work history, certifications, and education at the top of your clerical resume. Of course, you may be asked to provide more information regarding your education in your cover letter.All of these things combined can ensure that you get that first call for a clerical position. You will be more likely to get the job if you have a well-written clerical resume.

10 LinkedIn Status Updates For Job Seekers

10 LinkedIn Status Updates For Job Seekers You built an awesome LinkedIn profile, but no one is contacting you. What do you need to do to draw attention to your profile? The secret is in sharing status updates that appeal to your network and potential employers. So what kind of status updates should you post on LinkedIn? What Can You Do To Increase Job Leads? You want to be remembered by contacts in your network and you want to stand out. One of the best ways to stay top of mind and build a memorable reputation is by sharing on-brand news, stories and events. On-brand for a job seeker is NOT job search stuff. It is content related to your next desired occupation. Desperate pleas for help as status updates dont typically result in an outpouring of assistance. This is the most important thing you need to know: LinkedIn reported that job seekers who updated their status update weekly were 10 times more likely to be contacted by recruiters. Is Your Profile Really Awesome? Before you lure people to your profile, review this checklist of 20 things to do to create an awesome LinkedIn profile. 10 LinkedIn Status Updates Use a blend of these types of status updates to consistently add viewable content to your LinkedIn activity. 1. Share Industry Insights LinkedIn’s marketing strategy guide  LinkedIn  Best Practices  Targeted  Status Updates,  which is written for businesses but is as close as we are going to get for job seekers informative, useful updates receive the highest  engagement rates. These are the status updates LinkedIn users value most: 60% of members are interested in industry insights 53% are interested in company news 43% are interested in new products and services You can monitor industry news directly from LinkedIn by setting your feed preferences. 2. Share News About Target Companies One of the first steps you should take is to follow the companies you are interested in working for.  By doing this, you will be able to see the news they share through their LinkedIn company status updates. 3. Post Job-Related Tips/Hacks Well-written, good-quality posts related to the work you do will help other professionals too. Posts might be about time management, new tools or software, success stories or new trends. You can find these tips through Pulse, Influencers, industry publications and newsletter, to name a few. How are you keeping up with whats going on in your field? 4. Ask Questions Asking questions is a way to engage your network. Avoid job search-related questions which may send a message of desperation. Instead, ask your connections for their opinions on certifications or new technology being used. Or you can ask your network to recommend professional associations, clubs or organizations they value. You may even choose to share an article and ask your network for their opinions on a topic mentioned within the article. 5. Share Quotes Motivational quotes are uplifting and stir positive emotions. Either share as an image or just share the quote as text. Remember to always credit the source of the quote. 6. Share Infographics, Images, Videos Infographic by QuickSprout All of these result in greater engagement and sharing. You can learn more in this post by Bufferapp, (and credit to the image from them too!) Status updates you share containing links supply 200% more engagement according to the  Bufferapp post. This is what you are looking for! When your network engages with what youve shared, they associate you with the content and remember you! Images work too! Posting LinkedIn status updates with images increases comments by 98%. Finally, who doesnt love a great video?! Share a TedX Talk or short video and watch your network share it! 7. Group Discussions Show In Your Updates Did you know when you add to a group discussion, it shows in your status update? This is another way to show you are active in your profession. Not only is adding to a group discussion a great way to network within the group, it also shows your network you are talking about a specific topic which may be of interest to them too. 8.  Upcoming Events Are you planning to attend a conference or workshop? Share a link and description of the even with your network- someone may want to attend too! You may also use your status update to ask who else is going. 9. Share Humorous Business/Work-Appropriate Cartoons. Everyone loves a good clean joke, funny meme or cartoon once in a while. Lighten up the seriousness of your status updates by sharing a laugh. It helps people understand you better. 10. Share the Status Updates from Your Network. From your home page on LinkedIn, scroll down through the updates (either set to top or recent). Did you know this changed? Read more here. See what your connections are sharing and talking about. Find something interesting and when you share the status update (no, dont just click like). Why not tag the person you are sharing it from by using their name. This gives them credit for finding the article AND is a nice ping of recognition to show them you are aware of what they are sharing! Consider this network nurturing. Did You Know? Certain activities on LinkedIn show up in your activity section or as notifications. This was updated in November 2018 on LinkedIns Help Page: Your activity on LinkedIn shows all recent posts youve shared, and changes youve made to your profile. It also determines the type of content that will be displayed on your LinkedIn feed. Your activity will be visible to other members depending on your settings. Learn more about the visibility and impact of your social activity on your LinkedIn feed. LinkedIn no longer displays work anniversaries and birthdays of your connections in your LinkedIn feed. Instead, youll receive these updates on the Notifications page. Note:  Turning off the  option to share profile edits  eliminates notifications about changes to a members profile to their network. It does not hide the  Activity  section from your profile.  How Often to Post? According to LinkedIn’s marketing guide (for businesses), Post at least 20 status updates per month to maximize your reach to approximately 60% or more of your unique audience each month. Our best-in-class marketers are posting 3-4 status updates per day, per audience. 20% of followers are typically reached with one status update. Need more help actually sharing status updates on LinkedIn? Check out  HOW TO: 4 Ways to Update Your LinkedIn Status INFOGRAPHIC

Whats the Best Way to Handle Personal Calls at Work - Hallie Crawford

Whats the Best Way to Handle Personal Calls at Work Read  s four tips to prevent your cellphone personal calls from distracting you and your co-workers. Cellphones can be an asset and a burden in the workplace. We all know the pros and cons. No longer are we restricted to the length of the phone cord. Clients or employers can call not only our office phones, but also our cellphone directly to reach us immediately. Vendors with a crisis can talk to us immediately to get a response. We have the option of texting during meetings if we have to, when we cant talk on the phone. Our phones permit us to work long distance, attend to work emails while traveling or solve a work crisis while on vacation if needed. They allow for enormous freedom and accessibility in many ways. But the cons are the same â€" the accessibility and the possibility of not handling our phones in a professional manner at work. Because cellphone use has become so common in our personal lives, for example, how many people out to dinner do you see with their phones on the table? Look around next time. We can fall into the trap of using our phones too frequently in the workplace. The problem is not just the possibility of violating company policy regarding the use of phones or texting during meetings, but also the lack of professionalism you may portray by inappropriately using your phone. Cellphone use at work can be a slippery slope. One thing can lead to another, and â€" without realizing it â€" we may fall into seemingly small bad habits that can end up having a big impact on how we are viewed in the workplace. If you feel you are falling into some bad habits regarding your phone, review this list to rein in your behavior to a more appropriate zone. Read the rest of the article on US News Money.