Thursday, May 28, 2020

Resume Services and Cover Letters - Take Advantage of the Benefits That Resume Services Provide

Resume Services and Cover Letters - Take Advantage of the Benefits That Resume Services ProvideResume services are often the answer for getting that perfect resume to send out. Unfortunately, a lot of times, many people make the mistake of focusing their attention on getting the most impressive resume possible. This is a sure way to miss the mark on your cover letter, if not, you could end up with a whole different set of problems on your hands.One thing to consider is that the person you're addressing should be able to read your resume. If it's very difficult to read, then your prospects are slim to none.The next thing to think about is what additional topics to include in your resume. Some good suggestions are job responsibilities, experience, education, and on top of that, skills.Skills should be put forth in a very well organized manner. Many times the employer will be able to see if the person can do the work they want done. Let them know how much more can you be made to work fo r them.Of course, not all skills need to be listed. Employers can easily skip over it and go straight to the most important things.Employment history is also another great place to place the skills section. Explain why you've been hired before, as well as how long it has been since you've been employed. This may even help persuade an employer to put a little more emphasis on your previous job.If you've ever been on a job interview, chances are you came away feeling more prepared than when you went in. Most resume services don't know this. They just want to get your resume to as many employers as possible.However, the next time you're out of luck with your resume services, try and contact someone in the industry that knows what you need. You may have some good ideas that will make your cover letter stronger.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Dan Schawbels Promote Yourself is Available Today! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Dan Schawbels Promote Yourself is Available Today! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I hope youre doing well and thank you so much for following this blog and supporting both my company and my career. I appreciate you taking the time to read my work on careers, workplace trends and personal branding. Today, Im proud to announce that my second book,  Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success  (St. Martins Press) is officially available at bookstores across the world. Its been a five year journey for me. It took three years and three book proposals to land my publishing deal, one year of research and one year of writing it. It captures my best work and like my first book,  Me 2.0  , this book is focused on not only providing you with high level trends but the  tips and strategies you need in order to get ahead in your career. Promote Yourself does two things that no other business book has done in the past. It gives cutting edge strategies on how to stand out and get ahead at work based on new research, interviews and insights. It also explains how millennials will shape the future of work. I hope that you will purchase a copy for yourself, for your family and friends and for the people that you work with. The book features: Modern career strategies:  You will learn how to turn your passion into a job, how to become an intrapreneur, how to manage relationships between different generations, the skills you need to succeed and figure out what to do if youre stuck. Exclusive research:  It contains an exclusive research study on millennials in the workplace in partnership with American Express. The research will reveal the qualities managers are looking for when promoting, the conflict between millennial employees and their managers, social medias role at work and much more. Individual  interviews:  It has 75 interviews with executives, managers and millennials from the worlds most prestigious companies including Intel, Ernst Young, DELL, PepsiCo and NBC Universal. Foreword:  Marcus Buckingham, the New York Times bestselling author  of  Now, Discover Your Strengths,  wrote the foreword and its the only one hes ever written. Order the book

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

What if I lied on my resume

What if I lied on my resume Some recruiters say that as many as one in five job hunters lies on their resume. Why isnt this news plastered on the front page of The Wall Street Journal? Quite frankly, its because we all know businesspeople lie the issue is how bad are the lies? Some people make a distinction between the falsehoods that put us in a better light even if its a light we dont deserve to be in and saying something thats totally untrue. The latter, even on a resume, is morally wrong and emotionally exhausting. Not only do you have to remember the lie but you also have to live with knowing you built your career on it. Even more difficult is the stress of waiting to be caught. Exhibit A is Ronald Zarella, the CEO of Bausch and Lomb. He was caught saying he had finished business school when he hadnt. He did not get fired, though. While he volunteered to resign, the board kept him on, presumably because the other directors had told a lie or two in their lifetimes. Clearly, as Mr. Zarellas case indicates, not all lies are equal on resumes. To determine the varying degrees of lying terribleness, context matters. For example, murdering 50 people and then saying in court that you never killed anyone is a very bad lie. On the other hand, its pretty innocuous when married partners tell each other that they just had great sex when it wasnt that great. What should you do if you lied to get your job? If youre a career veteran, plan to go straight. Youll need to undo the lies youve told over the years to get jobs or promotions. However, dont be quick to make a public confession that could kill your career. First, determine if the lie is considered bad. Sometimes, this is pretty easy. For instance, who cares if a metal welder said he graduated from college when he didnt? But a college professor who tells this lie should consider a career change, and perhaps a name change as well. In a recent speech, the president of Hamilton College quoted Amazon.com without attributing the quote. This lie cost him his job. Ronald Zarella should be thankful hes not a university president. Some situations are murkier. If youre a high-profile executive at a big company who lied on a resume, you should get a lawyer because the shareholders are likely to create a fracas and you may get fired.. And if, like most senior executives, you have a clause that allows the company to fire you for cause, you could lose your severance. If your lawyer cant save your job, she might at least be able to save your golden parachute. If you are middle manager, pray that your company doesnt invest a lot of money in double-checking resumes. For now, dont mention the lie, but be truthful the next time you seek a job. Meanwhile, be an outstanding performer. You dont want to provoke your boss into searching for legal ways to fire you, because he might check out your resume and see your falsehood. If you lied about having a college degree when you dont, consider finishing college. Not having a degree will eventually impede your career advancement but you already know that because you wouldnt have lied otherwise. For those of you just starting out, heed the duress that lying causes those at the top, and figure out another way to get there. A career is something you should want to live with, and a lie isnt. Choose your life partners wisely. Take action to bolster your experience with hard work so you dont have to bolster your resume with lies.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Professional it Resume Writing Service - How to Choose the Best Professional Services

Professional it Resume Writing Service - How to Choose the Best Professional ServicesFinding the best it resume writing service in San Francisco can be difficult. When you are looking for professional help, many of the different companies will try to sell you on their services. There are things that you should look for when choosing an it resume writing service.First, you want to make sure that they actually write the resumes that they claim to. The quality of their work is very important. If the people who are writing the resume are inexperienced or unprofessional, then you will most likely not be satisfied with their work. You want to make sure that the professionals who are helping you write your resume are professional and that you have a real professional looking resume.You also want to make sure that the it service you choose can help you figure out the proper format for your resume. This is important because you will want to be able to show your employer your skills and abilit ies. If you are going to get hired, then you need to show your employer that you are a good fit for the job.The best professional services can help you figure out how to format your resume. This is important because you want to make sure that your resume looks professional work is professional. You want to make sure that you look professional in every way.The next thing that you need to make sure of is that the best it resume writing service is experienced. You do not want to hire a company that does not have any experience at all. You want to make sure that you hire a company that has been in business for a while.Make sure that the company has a good reputation for making your resume look professional. If they do not seem to know how to format your resume properly, then you might want to consider doing business with another company. If you hire a company without professional skills, then you will most likely end up with an it resume that looks very amateur.The best it resume writin g service in San Francisco will help you design your resume. This is important because the resume is what the hiring manager is going to look at first. You want to make sure that you can get your resume to look professional without it looking like you were trying to get out of your current job.When you are looking for the best of the best it resume writing service in San Francisco, you want to make sure that you hire a company that has experience in the field. This will allow you to get the highest quality product. You do not want to spend money on a service that is not professional and you do not want to waste your time with an inexperienced service. Once you have found the right one, you will have a resume that will impress the hiring manager and you will find out what it takes to be a professional.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

5 Reasons to Work for the Federal Government CareerMetis.com

5 Reasons to Work for the Federal Government Government work might not initially sound like the most exciting employment opportunity, but there’s a lot more to working in the public sector than meets the eye.It can mean an opportunity to make a difference in your community or find more fulfillment in your day-to-day job responsibilities.evalGovernment jobs also have many practical reasons why they might be the next best thing for your career.From greater job stability and longevity to excellent retirement plans and industry-leading healthcare benefits, the federal government offers some of the best perks and incentives of any employer. And the wide variety of jobs that fall under the governmentumbrella means there’s plenty of opportunities to find something appealing.Let’s explore some of the benefits of working for the government.1) Comprehensive Medical CoverageOne of the most important benefits of any job is healthcare coverage, and the government takes great care of its employees. In fact, federal employees have the l argest selection of plans in the US. Government health plans fall under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program a) Predictability.evalYou know exactly what benefits you’re going to get and when you’re going to get them. There’s little guesswork, and retirement plans are rarely changed.b) Pensions.All federal employees receive a pension when they retire. The amount varies with your years of service, but it tends to be quite high compared to many private retirement plans. And again, the amount is predictable. This takes some of the uncertainty out of retirement since you’ll always know how much income to expect.c) Plans.There are actually three separate retirement plans that come together to provide your post-retirement income: your pension, your Social Security benefits, and the Thrift Savings Plan, which functions like a 401These features combine to create a comprehensive retirement package that ensures government employees are rewarded for their years of service and c an retire comfortably.3) Better Job Security and Higher PayHistorically, government jobs tend to be more secure and stable than those in the private sector. Although some sources claim that this is no longer quite so clear-cut, generally speaking, government employees see less risk of layoffs and are less impacted by economic shifts than other types of workers.Studies have shownthat government jobs are more secure in general and that the gap widens during recessions and other economic downturns.Government workers are over four percentage points less likely to lose their jobs than private-sector workers, and this increases to over six percent during recessions. This all should be great news for anyone who’s been affected by layoffs during past economic slowdowns.The jobs aren’t just more secure, however: on average, government employees are paid quite a bit morethan their private-sector counterparts. Benefit packages also tend to be significantly better for government jobs. Priva te-sector compensation does pass government jobs on average for workers with post-grad degrees.4) Strong Focus on Work-life BalanceWork-life balance is becoming increasingly important for many employees. People are unwilling to sacrifice their family time or mental and physical well-being to put in endless hours at the office, and it’s being acknowledged more frequently that poor work-life balance and chronic stress contribute highly to employee burnout and lost productivity.Many government jobs offer flexible working environments:a) The option to work from home.This flexibility can be a huge benefit for employees dealing with family issues, illnesses, or other difficult circumstances. Some studies also show that working from home can be a major boost to productivity.If the office life isn’t for you, a government position could let you find productivity and calm working from your own home.b) Remote-work jobs.evalevalThe ability to work from another city entirely can be a major a ttraction for many, and more government positions are offering remote work as an option. Studies have indicated that working remotely, or telecommuting, may actually improve productivityand efficiency and contribute to reduced stress.c) Generous time-off packages.Vacation and sick time tend to be above average compared to private-sector jobs, and managers may be more likely to approve requests and be flexible with sudden circumstances. Employees start with 10 paid holidaysand up to 26 vacation days a) Recruitment bonuses. New employees in positions that are considered hard to fill may be eligible for up to 25% of base pay in sign-on bonuses. This is a great way for agencies to get employees in the door, but it doesn’t just benefit the government: workers may be more engaged when they feel their presence at the workplace is valued.b) Relocation bonuses. As an incentive to fill difficult positions, employees may be eligible for up to 25% of base pay as a relocation bonus. This amoun t applies to jobs in different commuting areas.c) Incentive awards. Employees who do a particularly good job may be eligible for a variety of incentives, including cash awards, referral bonuses, honorary recognition, and additional time off. These awards can also be set up in advance to encourage completion of a specific goal.d) Retention allowances. Government employees who move to a lower-paying position are eligible for pay retention allowancesthat allow them to keep their current pay. This can be a great incentive for those that want to move to different departments or agencies.e) Employee development and continuing education. The government provides employees with incentives to continue to grow and develop as workers, as well as to continue their education and better themselvesâ€"which can keep them from feeling stagnant and overworked in your careerf) Student loan repayment. The federal government is also able to offer student loan repaymentas an incentive or recruitment bonus for employees. With student loan debt being a hot topic lately, this perk is sure to appeal to many.No matter your passion, there’s a government job for you. And the benefits help ensure that you’ll feel well-compensated for your work.If you’re looking for a stable career that pays well and takes care of employees, the government just might be for you.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

6 Tips for Freelancers - CareerEnlightenment.com

6 Tips for Freelancers Freelancing can be incredibly liberating, as you are typically in control of your own schedule and surroundings. Of course, with this freedom comes a lot of responsibility. You don’t have an accounting department, boss, or other company employee handling your paperwork, payment, etc. If you stay on top of all these things, however, freelancing can be the most rewarding experience of your life. If you’re doing so already or are considering this lifestyle, we can help. Read on for six tips for freelancers to achieve career success.1. Set Your ScheduleOne of the best things about freelancing is that there is no 8 AM office report time. However, if you allow yourself to go completely unstructured, your productivity will likely suffer. You should still try and stick to a daily schedule so that you don’t allow other activities to take priorityâ€"whether consciously or subconsciously. It’s far too easy to think that you will get to your work later, only to allow yet another task or lagging energy to impede your success. Use a project management system like Asana to stay on top of assignments.2. Become a Savvy SalespersonUnless you have a recruiter that regularly dishes out work to you, you are likely the one responsible for getting your own work. You can’t just spam resumes and hope for the best. Be strategic about what jobs to apply for, only sending your information in for jobs for which you are qualified. Learn how to sell yourself by honing your resume and cover letter, brushing up on your interview skills, and even coming up with an elevator pitch.As this thebalancecareers.com article notes, “If youre job searching, you can use your elevator pitch at job fairs and career expos, and online in your LinkedIn summary  LinkedIn  or Twitter bio, for example. An elevator speech is a great way to gain confidence in introducing yourself to hiring managers and company representatives.” Consider having business cards printed and have them on you at all times, as you never know when an opportunity could arise.3. Keep Track of Your WorkAgain, no one else is going to catch it if you aren’t paid correctly, so it’s imperative that you track your hours, report them accurately, and then ensure that you have been paid the right amount for your projects. It will also help you to gauge your hourly rate, as you’ll see how long various types of projects take and can charge accordingly in the future. You don’t want to charge so much that everyone passes you over but, alternatively, you don’t want to be underpaid. If the latter happens, you’ll be tempted to take on too much work to make up for this, which leads to stress and possibly even work that isn’t up to your usual standard. Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. 4. Make Sure Y our Home Office is StockedYou likely don’t have an office manager monitoring supplies as you would if you had a full-time job, so it’s imperative you keep track of what you have and what you need. There is no worse feeling than being under a tight deadline and having a home printer or computer that isn’t working properly. Make sure you’ve got printer paper and other supplies, and that your computer is updated with the latest version of your operating system. This will ensure it’s working at its optimal level.5. Know What You Can Write Off on Your TaxesThere are drawbacks to freelancing when it comes to getting paid, such as chasing down your paycheck and typically not getting benefits with your position. Because of these things, you want to make sure you take full advantage of all the tax breaks you get as a freelancer. You can make a home office deduction as well as write off things like office supplies, medical costs, transportation costs, retirement contributions, and m ore. If you’re not well versed in this area, outsource this to a tax professional to make sure you are getting all the tax benefits that come with being a freelancer.6. Don’t Be Afraid to Say “No”It can be terrifying to turn down work as a freelancer, as it’s often feast or famine. And, as any freelancer will tell you, the “famine” periods can be far more stressful than the “feast” periods, as you worry about your next paycheck. Because of this, you might be tempted to say yes to everything that comes your way, but this can often be a huge mistake.As freelancer James Sowers notes on this DigitalFreelancer.io article, “No matter what you do, you’ll disappoint someone. Whether it be the client because you’re unable to deliver halfway through the project, your family because you’re working long hours, or yourself because you’re stressed with the work you’ve chosen to take on.” Sowers recommends asking yourself the following three questions when being app roached for work:Do I specialize in the work that’s needed by this client?Why am I taking this project on? Is it a commitment I should be making?Why am I adding that project to my plate?Once you’ve nailed down the “why” behind the possibility of accepting the work, you can decide whether this is a good decision or not.Freelancing can be a wonderful lifestyle, but it does take a lot of discipline and preparation. Follow these tips and you should have a long and prosperous career in this realm.

Friday, May 8, 2020

What NOT to do when you start a new job -

What NOT to do when you start a new job - Youre starting a new job. How can you avoid getting off on the wrong foot? Avoid the following and youll be more likely to have a job next week. Dont wear an outfit if you have to check with your friends first to see if it will be okay.  Hopefully, you have a good idea of the office dress code. However, some workplaces support very casual attire, and you may be tempted to sport something that is a little too casual. If youre tempted to call a friend to ask if he or she thinks you can get away with wearing your new tank top or your perfectly torn jeans, think again. It doesnt hurt to dress up a little when you start your new job. Plan everything in advance, as you would for an interview, so you will be comfortable and suitably attired from the start. Dont be late.  Perhaps there is a lot of traffic, but there are no excuses for being late your first week. If you have to arrange to be early (even very early) to ensure getting there on time, do it. Do not put yourself in a position of offering excuses for being late on the first day because you didnt understand the traffic patterns. The early bird gets the worm isnt just a trite cliche; its a reminder that when you appear prepared and ready, youll put yourself in a position to succeed. Dont flub your introductions.  Think beyond My name is Be sure you can explain who you are and what you do! What do you want them to remember about you? What do you want to be known for? Be sure to work on your eye contact, a pleasant smile and a firm handshake. All of this will contribute to the first impression that your colleagues have of you. Dont forget your colleagues names.  Dont be the one who tells everyone youre not good with names. Maybe you really arent good with names. However, your job is to become better at it before you embarrass yourself and forget your boss name. A few tips: Use peoples names as soon as they are introduced. Say, Nice to meet you, Sara. If you didnt catch the name, or are unsure of the pronunciation, ask the person to repeat his or her name, and make a real effort to learn it. Take notes so youll remember people later. For example, jot down something to help you match a new colleagues name and face. Another trick? Make an association with the persons name. If Tom is tall, think, Tall Tom and youre more likely to remember it later. Get my free white paper:  5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week   Dont be a slob.  If your co-workers start to question their choice in hiring you the minute you dump your things all over your desk, beware! Look around to see how other people organize their areas. If no one else has personal items or photos out, consider keeping your area clear of those types of things. Dont leave your food out or extend your personal items into anyone elses space. Dont make a big decision without asking a question.  If youre of the mind that its better to ask forgiveness than permission, think again. When youre new at a job, ask before you do anything significant for the first time. Dont make executive decisions that otherwise wouldnt be your call. Keep your questions to things that you are curious about and try to save the Why do you do it that way instead of this other way? types of inquiries for later on. Dont eat the pudding from the refrigerator.  You know how possessive people can be about their food! Do not take anything that doesnt belong to you, or you could risk wrath that might impede your career path. Avoid loud phone conversations.  In the open workspaces so common today, its virtually impossible to avoid overhearing colleagues personal phone conversations. If at all possible, stick to texting when absolutely necessary to connect with your friends outside of work. Do not be the loud talker everyone cant stand to have in the office. Dont bolt at the end of the day.  Especially when you start a new job, dont be a clock watcher. It cant hurt to stay a little beyond your designated hours so that everyone sees that youre more interested in getting the job done and less interested in running for the door. Appeared on AOLJobs.com.