Self-Doubt in the Job Search

Self-Doubt in the Job Search Ill let you in on a little secret. Maybe a few secrets. Ive owned my own business for almost thirteen years now. Im what they call an entrepreneur. Im living the dream. I get to work when I want and do what I want. No, Im not financially independent but for many years I have not commuted and worked in an office, I havent had to ask for vacation leave, I have been able to stop working with people I didnt like, and I could choose to focus on the part of my business that made the most sense at the time. The dream. Over the years, as Ive toyed with the idea of having a real job and becoming a productive member of society and having all of the stableness and security the salary and benefits that an employer offers, Ive had one major problem: I didnt know what I had to offer. I didnt know what skills or abilities I could bring to the table. I didnt even know where to start. I called a friend who is a recruiter and said Rob, I have no idea what position I would even be suited for. Help me figure this out. Without hesitating he said I am clearly a product manager.   Oooooh, I like that. Product manager. It is what Ive done for about twenty years now. I do indeed love all things product management. So I made a product manager resume and put it out. Im sure of what Ive done, and what I can do, but when I put my resume out I found that hiring managers in software companies dont care one bit about entrepreneurs who do product management. We are square pegs, they are round holes. They look at us with pity, maybe disgust, wondering what we could possibly add to their team. Maybe they are afraid of the entrepreneurial attitude. Maybe we are too out-of-the-box thinking for them. Maybe we are better suited for their job than for a lowly product manager role. Im not sure why, but the discrimination Ive felt as a do-it-yourself, self-taught product manager was tangible. In one interview the guy said tell me something. Every product manager here wants to start their own side hustle, and leave their position. You have a side hustle, why would you want to come here as a product manager? It wasnt a regular interview question. he was sincerely asking why in the world I would want to stop living the dream and go into corporate America. It seemed backwards to him. Another, a VP of product, just couldnt get past the idea that I owned JibberJobber. He was sure that I would not do my the job, but would do JibberJobber all day long while on his dime. I assured him that no, I would do the job and keep JibberJobber to my own personal time, but he just didnt buy it. Im not sure why. I didnt really know what I had to offer in the first place. And then, when I got these kinds of reactions in interviews I really wondered if I could actually do anything professionally. I have written three books. Ive authored 30 Pluralsight courses. Ive created and maintained JibberJobber, which is really quite amazing. I have spoken across the U.S. and in Europe. I have an MBA and a CIS degree. I speak Spanish and English. I used to program and have lost any current skills, but I can do html-ish stuff fine. I have been general manager and sat on a (hostile) board of directors. Theres more of course, but looking back on any of these things, how could I possibly have any doubt that I could do this job, or that job, or another job? Any of those things can be broken down into a set of skills and talents Im not lacking skills or talents. But I doubt. I have thought for many years that I am unhireable. Maybe its because what seems to be hired is the younger, less experienced professional. 1 to 3 years experience others need not apply. Am I good for anything? In January of this year my new boss reached out his hand and brought me into a best companies to work for company. It was amazing. He saw me. He say my value. He valued it. And he taught me to see my value and value it. I think that human nature is not understanding who we are and how great we are (or can be). Its easier to see that in others, but hard to see in ourselves. Especially when the job search goes on. Especially when you get rejection after rejection. Or you continually get a third interview, but they pass on you and go with the other person. How many times can you play second chair and not get a complex about yourself? Self-doubt is no fun. It is not productive. It puts you in a place that is not good for your networking or interviewing or just getting out of bed and continuing to fight the fight. I dont know how to solve your self-doubt issues. For me, I had to do stuff. I had to write another book, author another course, build more stuff in JibberJobber, get another speaking gig. I had to rack up virtual points to validate myself. Not because I needed the ego stroke, but because I needed to chip away the self-talk (and the silence in the job search, which was almost as bad), and prove that YES, I could do things. YES, I did have value. YES, I should be on your team. Its a hard battle, but figure out what you can do to win the battle. The alternative is that you find a way to cope, that you sink into depression, and that you go down a path that could be hard to recover from. Figuring this battle out is a life skill. It is what millennial call adulting. Fight this battle because you deserve it for you. And your loved ones deserve a you that isnt losing this battle. I know you have value. I know you can do stuff. Now, prove it to yourself! Self-Doubt in the Job Search Ill let you in on a little secret. Maybe a few secrets. Ive owned my own business for almost thirteen years now. Im what they call an entrepreneur. Im living the dream. I get to work when I want and do what I want. No, Im not financially independent but for many years I have not commuted and worked in an office, I havent had to ask for vacation leave, I have been able to stop working with people I didnt like, and I could choose to focus on the part of my business that made the most sense at the time. The dream. Over the years, as Ive toyed with the idea of having a real job and becoming a productive member of society and having all of the stableness and security the salary and benefits that an employer offers, Ive had one major problem: I didnt know what I had to offer. I didnt know what skills or abilities I could bring to the table. I didnt even know where to start. I called a friend who is a recruiter and said Rob, I have no idea what position I would even be suited for. Help me figure this out. Without hesitating he said I am clearly a product manager.   Oooooh, I like that. Product manager. It is what Ive done for about twenty years now. I do indeed love all things product management. So I made a product manager resume and put it out. Im sure of what Ive done, and what I can do, but when I put my resume out I found that hiring managers in software companies dont care one bit about entrepreneurs who do product management. We are square pegs, they are round holes. They look at us with pity, maybe disgust, wondering what we could possibly add to their team. Maybe they are afraid of the entrepreneurial attitude. Maybe we are too out-of-the-box thinking for them. Maybe we are better suited for their job than for a lowly product manager role. Im not sure why, but the discrimination Ive felt as a do-it-yourself, self-taught product manager was tangible. In one interview the guy said tell me something. Every product manager here wants to start their own side hustle, and leave their position. You have a side hustle, why would you want to come here as a product manager? It wasnt a regular interview question. he was sincerely asking why in the world I would want to stop living the dream and go into corporate America. It seemed backwards to him. Another, a VP of product, just couldnt get past the idea that I owned JibberJobber. He was sure that I would not do my the job, but would do JibberJobber all day long while on his dime. I assured him that no, I would do the job and keep JibberJobber to my own personal time, but he just didnt buy it. Im not sure why. I didnt really know what I had to offer in the first place. And then, when I got these kinds of reactions in interviews I really wondered if I could actually do anything professionally. I have written three books. Ive authored 30 Pluralsight courses. Ive created and maintained JibberJobber, which is really quite amazing. I have spoken across the U.S. and in Europe. I have an MBA and a CIS degree. I speak Spanish and English. I used to program and have lost any current skills, but I can do html-ish stuff fine. I have been general manager and sat on a (hostile) board of directors. Theres more of course, but looking back on any of these things, how could I possibly have any doubt that I could do this job, or that job, or another job? Any of those things can be broken down into a set of skills and talents Im not lacking skills or talents. But I doubt. I have thought for many years that I am unhireable. Maybe its because what seems to be hired is the younger, less experienced professional. 1 to 3 years experience others need not apply. Am I good for anything? In January of this year my new boss reached out his hand and brought me into a best companies to work for company. It was amazing. He saw me. He say my value. He valued it. And he taught me to see my value and value it. I think that human nature is not understanding who we are and how great we are (or can be). Its easier to see that in others, but hard to see in ourselves. Especially when the job search goes on. Especially when you get rejection after rejection. Or you continually get a third interview, but they pass on you and go with the other person. How many times can you play second chair and not get a complex about yourself? Self-doubt is no fun. It is not productive. It puts you in a place that is not good for your networking or interviewing or just getting out of bed and continuing to fight the fight. I dont know how to solve your self-doubt issues. For me, I had to do stuff. I had to write another book, author another course, build more stuff in JibberJobber, get another speaking gig. I had to rack up virtual points to validate myself. Not because I needed the ego stroke, but because I needed to chip away the self-talk (and the silence in the job search, which was almost as bad), and prove that YES, I could do things. YES, I did have value. YES, I should be on your team. Its a hard battle, but figure out what you can do to win the battle. The alternative is that you find a way to cope, that you sink into depression, and that you go down a path that could be hard to recover from. Figuring this battle out is a life skill. It is what millennial call adulting. Fight this battle because you deserve it for you. And your loved ones deserve a you that isnt losing this battle. I know you have value. I know you can do stuff. Now, prove it to yourself!

What Should You Include in Your Resume Writing Declaration?

What Should You Include in Your Resume Writing Declaration?One of the most important parts of resume writing is the resume declaration section. Here you can make a short, simple statement about why you are the best person for the job.Sometimes employers will see this as a statement that you're simply trying to get the job and the other way around. You should be as honest as possible. If you don't tell them why you deserve the job, they won't.Many employers have a standard format when they ask for the resume writing declaration. Most will state the career objectives of the employer, the position and the start date of the job. Usually, the employer asks that you write something like: 'My professional and personal goals are to be a sales manager at General Electric by the end of April.'However, this is only a guideline and you can embellish the career objectives as you see fit. Some employers prefer to hear about your leadership experience. Some don't care about the number of years of w ork experience. The key is to be as honest as possible.Most importantly, do not try to hide the fact that you wrote in your personal statement. It is a smart move to state in your resume writing declaration that you wrote it. This will reflect positively on you in the eyes of the employer and will also provide a solid foundation for the rest of your resume.After you've provided a good justification for your career goals, you need to state why the business needs you. Don't answer a question with another question. Instead, answer the question directly and do not attempt to spin your answers. A simple statement like 'to fill a position' is sufficient.The personal statement is often the one that gets skipped or missed outin a resume. However, it is the one that really counts because it provides the most important content about the candidate.A job requires a personal statement and you shouldn't just be a sales person or manager with a short career objectives. The personal statement, by t he very nature of being brief, tends to go unnoticed by the interviewer and that makes it a golden opportunity to provide quality content.

From good to great make your job applications stand out

From good to great make your job applications stand out You may already be aware how to approach the graduate recruitment process to maximise your chances of success. However, having information hot off the press can help you to fine tune your approach in order to stand out from the competition. Employers requirements are changing This month saw the publication of the CBI and Pearsons Education and Skills Survey 2017 , which surveyed more than 300 recruiters from across all employment sectors. Several key findings were positive; most businesses were satisfied with applicants’ basic skills and general readiness for graduate employment, with more than 90% happy with IT skills, use of English and numerical skills. There has been an interesting shift in the recruitment and selection process however. The majority of recruiters (90%) now place a greater emphasis on the the attitudes and aptitudes that will enable graduates to be effective in the workplace, moving away from a generic skill set.  See our recent blog exploring the theme of a growth mindset Next in importance is your degree result or prediction; 65% of the recruiters surveyed your degree grade as evidence of both effort and ability. 59% highlighted the importance of work experience or a placement relevant to the sector to which you’re applying. Many Warwick graduates do secure graduate jobs due to the paid summer internships they undertake in their penultimate year. So where do candidates fall short? Applications for a number of graduate jobs will be open before finalists return to campus this autumn so it’s worth considering where recruiters feel candidates let themselves down 39% of recruiters surveyed feel applicants are not strong in their ability to demonstrate inter-cultural awareness 40% say they lack business and company awareness 32% have issues with graduates’ attitude and behaviours of self-management and resilience. How can you address these areas in order to present yourself with conviction? Intercultural Awareness : There are a number of ways you can evidence intercultural awareness. However it’s not enough to simply list the activities you’ve engaged with you need to reflect on how these activities have supported your development. You may have spent a year abroad. How has this contributed to your understanding of the language, people, culture and your ability to adapt and nuance your communication and behaviours? Through your engagement with students from many different cultures on campus, what have you learned about yourself and others? How has this changed your perspective, or contributed to your personal development? At the University of  Warwick students have a unique opportunity to access Global People, a website and resource bank to enable you become more effective at working across cultures. This resource will really help to you develop and excel in these competencies at interview.  Kwintessential    provides a free guide to specific country profiles, covering business and cultural etiquette. Business and commercial awareness: Anyone can use a company’s website to trawl for information. But that’s a fairly basic level of research. If you want to impress prospective recruiters you’re going to need to dig deeper  . Make sure you’re up to date with the news on the day as you may be asked for your views on topical news items. Keep an eye on the business sections of newspapers and FT.com as well as political debates and decisions as these will often have an impact. N.B. The impact of technology, government policy and economics on the sectors you’re applying to applies equally to the creative industries, education and not-for profit sectors. You’ll need a similar level of awareness to those seeking positions with a more obvious business focus. You may, for example, be asked for your views on the impact of technology on the publishing sector of proposed government policy on secondary Education or the potential impact of the increase in funding for Mental Health within the NHS. You need to be prepared for these questions! Attitudes and behaviours: self-management and resilience Self management requires you to be aware of the impression you’re creating.   This is something everyone can improve â€" see my recent post on confidence  on how to approach this. You’ll need to understand the culture of the sector and organisation you’re applying to. Take your cues from the company’s marketing and website. How are people working there dressed? When you arrive how are staff conducting themselves? Is the environment relaxed or formal? Are you in tune with this? You want to stand out but not for the wrong reasons. Resilience is how you cope under pressure, how you deal with disappointment and how you can become stronger through dealing with failure. How can you demonstrate your ability to deal with setbacks to recruiters? Be prepared with examples you can give that demonstrate this. See our  post on Resilience.  You may find it helpful to complete a free Resilience questionnaire, which provides suggestions on how to build your personal resilience. Student Careers Skills also run central workshops on this topic. In summary, knowledge is power. If there are areas you need to polish before applying, you will be as well-prepared as you can be. This in turn will help build self- confidence, shifting your performance from good to great and hopefully leading to a successful job outcome.

Managing Gossip and Bullying In The Office

Managing Gossip and Bullying In The Office It’s a sad fact that bullying doesn’t go away once you’re out of high school. According to a survey from the Workplace Bullying Institute, 60.4% of American were affected by workplace bullying. (2017 Workplace Bullying Institute US Survey). You may ask, what does bullying have to do with gossip in the office? While it may feel like idol chitchat, gossip is actually bullying dressed up as “information sharing.” How do you know when the conversation crosses over to gossip? As a baseline, if you wouldn’t say the comments to the person’s face, there’s a really strong possibility you’re engaging in gossip. Here are some other signs: If the information being shared is negative, inflammatory or could hurt the person you’re talking about, it’s gossip. If the information being shared would embarrass the person you’re talking about, you’ve crossed the line from idle chitchat to gossip. Is it an unsubstantiated rumor about a person (whether in the office or in their personal life)?   It’s gossip. Why care about gossip in the office? Many leadership experts agree that gossiping is a key indicator of an unhealthy organization â€" employees are too busy stabbing one another in the back to actually get the job done and/or function as a team. As you might imagine, that negativity culminates in a serious lack of trust and employee morale takes a major hit as well (along with creativity and productivity). Why is gossip so pervasive? In most instances, gossip is typically due to jealousy â€" one employee is fearful that another employee has an advantage over them. What better way to derail someone’s career than to talk about them behind their back (when they can’t defend themselves)? The challenge though is that as humans, we tend to have a strong negative bias; meaning we give more weight (and pay more attention to) negative comments vs. anything in the positive. As an example, think about the last time you posted something to Instagram or Facebook and following a string of positive comments, someone slammed your post. Which comment do you stew on? The 100 positive comments or the one negative rebuke (unfortunately, in most instances, it’s the latter). That tendency to focus on the negative spills over to the information we hear about other people and the data supports it: research by Stanford University shows that “we take negative gossip about others more seriously because we view it as useful information to protect ourselves.” Interesting…. What should I do if I hear gossip about me? First (and perhaps most difficult), is try to keep your emotions under control.   When we’re upset, it’s easy to spiral into bad behavior which can affect our performance.   And if you’re not performing to your boss’ expectations, there’s a chance your long-term career potential at the company could be compromised.   So, step #1 is to definitely keep doing good work for your boss (including hitting deadlines and overdelivering on your promises). Some good tactics to help with that include practicing deep breathing exercises, working out, yoga and/or other mindfulness activities, repeatedly checking deadlines, etc. If you work for a cool boss, I think it’s worthwhile chatting with her or him about what you’re hearing and how they suggest you tackle overturning the negative chatter. Remember, your boss is invested in your success, so bringing them in the loop can be a beneficial in your overall learning experience. After all, when you’re a great employee, chances are this may not be the last time your fellow employees talk about you (because you’re doing great work!).   So, enlist her or his help on how to combat the negative ninnies in your office. Take It To The Source Now, if you can pinpoint the person who is doing the gossiping, it may be worthwhile to have a chat with them about what you’ve heard and how it’s affecting your ability to get your job done. Be prepared though for the person to deny any involvement at which point, ask them if they would be comfortable acting as your emissary to stop further gossip from spreading. Two things can happen from the conversation: 1) they know they are busted and they may stop and 2) hopefully by being honest, you’re enlisting them in being your cheerleader. Now, it can also backfire and the person ramps up their gossiping, but by discussing the situation with them, you’ve done what you can to try to correct their negative thinking about you.   At that point, if the gossip continues, it’s definitely time to bring in your boss or HR if you’ve not done so already. Another option available to you is just to ignore it. Eleanor Roosevelt (diplomat, activist and 1st Lady of the US from 1933 â€" 1945) said “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” Try to not get caught up in their drama. Instead, stay focused on kicking ass at your job. Let your performance speak for you. And if it becomes untenable and you head to a new opportunity, then leave them with a giant hole to fill because of your awesomeness. Depending on how severe and pervasive the gossip is, you may want to dust off your company’s Anti-Harassment Policy and talk with HR on how they might be able to help over turn the negativity. What can you do as an employee to help eliminate gossip in the office? Don’t engage. Gossipers need someone to listen to them. Don’t be that ear for whomever gossips in the office.   I love this unknown quote: “Gossip dies when it hits a wise person’s ears.” So just don’t engage. Be assertive and ask the person to stop, walk away, or change the subject when the gossip starts. The message youre communicating to others is that the behavior wont be tolerated. Let the boss know. If you have a pervasive gossiper in your group that constantly bashes other people in the group, be brave and let your boss know. A good manager will have a discussion with the entire team about how that is not acceptable behavior and won’t be tolerated.  Discuss with HR. In many companies, gossip is a form of harassment and should be protected by your company’s anti-harassment policy. Talk with her or him about how to handle gossipmongers and what steps you should take to shield yourself from getting involved.  Counter with something positive. If you find yourself in with a group who of your fellow employees who are gossiping, turn it back on the gossiper by saying something positive about the person. Keep countering their negative comments with positives and hopefully they will take the hint and stop their toxic behavior (at least around you anyway).  What can you do if you’re a manager?  If you’re in a management position, it’s a great idea to being your team together and discuss the topic of gossip. Educate them on the negative consequences that occur when employees are gossiping about one another (it destroys morale, productivity plummets, silos are created, massive turnover, etc.). Then enact a zero-tolerance policy on workplace gossip in your department and that breaking the expectation is a breach in performance (and you face the risk of disciplinary action or even termination).  If you personally hear gossip (or an employee comes to you to let you know about gossip circulating in your group, address the issue head on. Call on any employees who gossip and remind them how detrimental their behavior is to the department and that it won’t be tolerated. If it continues, follow your company’s performance management process to write them up. Hopefully that will correct the situation, but if it doesn’t, be prepared to follow through on terminating someone with such negative behavior. As a final thought, managers can encourage positive gossip about where employees share positive stories about their fellow employee. As an example, create a culture where employees can readily share (and revel in) on of their fellow employees going above-and-beyond to help a customer. Sharing positive stories encourages similar behavior in others and can help reinforce the cultural values and key behaviors you want to permeate your organization. Final thoughts A very wise Turkish proverb says “Who gossips to you, will gossip of you.” Understand that if encounter an employee who is gossiping about others, you can bet that they will be gossiping about you at some point. So, your best bet is to not engage in gossip from Day 1 in the office (or to immediately pull back and stop engaging if you have in the past). Also, remember to keep your private life private and DON’T connect with co-workers on social media. It’s pretty simple: Dont trust personal information with anyone at work that will be fodder for gossip. This guest post was authored by Val Grubb Val is a sought-after HR authority, speaker, executive coach, author and trainer for small to medium sized companies wishing to expand as well as larger companies seeking efficiencies in their human capital and people processes. She is also the “Work Place Coach” at TONE Networks, an online resource and community for women who want to grow in their personally and professional lives. At TONE Val dishes out concise “How To” expertise in short form videos dealing with work place harassment, dealing with the “office hot head”, how to ask for a raise and so much more.   She is a visionary operations expert with an exceptional ability to zero in on the systems, processes, and issues that can hamper a company’s growth. Valerie founded Val Grubb Associates, Ltd. after holding senior roles at major corporations including NBC Universal, Oxygen Media, IAC and Rolls-Royce. From hiring to firing and everything in between, Val focuses on people issues so senior leaders can get back to running their business. Valerie graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from Kettering University and obtained her MBA from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. She is an alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and she currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Film Society. She has published two books: Planes, Canes, and Automobiles: Connecting with Your Aging Parents through Travel (Greenleaf) and Clash of the Generations: Managing in the New Workplace Reality (Wiley).

Lab Report Writing Resume: Factors to Consider

Lab Report Writing Resume: Factors to ConsiderWriting a good lab report is a must if you want to advance your career. It's important to focus on various aspects of lab report writing. Make sure that you get rid of all those old exam reports that you forgot to give back. You must provide a good and efficient report so that your prospective employer gets the most out of it.Aside from the report, there are other crucial elements to keep in mind. You need to think about the author of the report and how he/she uses these elements. This would also come in handy when interviewing the author. For instance, do you know what the author is writing on?You can ask for additional research on the topic. In this way, you would know what to expect from the topic so that you will not find yourself getting confused and then rushing.By asking for these additional details, you would not be wasting your time. Therefore, make sure that you have been researching on the topic well before hiring them. Not all may be able to give you the best information, so make sure that you ask about the topics in advance.You must also mention in your resume how you would be able to handle the topics that you would encounter with the writer. Some topics may have more than one author, which means that you need to clarify for the writer what parts of the document they can write about. If you are applying for the same position, they should already be in touch with each other so that they can communicate easily about their plans and ideas for the report.It would be a great advantage if you submit your resume online. The reason is because of the convenience that it would give you. It would be possible to get instant feedback on the article based on which you can try to make corrections. The truth is that such feedbacks may give you an excellent idea about the quality of the product and the job opportunity that you may be vying for.You can also write about your experience as a medical examiner. To ensure th at your experience is a perfect one, you should write about its contents carefully. You should make sure that you provide details that would help your employer determine the most out of your experience.A lab report writing resume can definitely be very helpful. It can open doors to lucrative positions. Make sure that you research well and only take the time to write well.

How to Make Your Own Resume Template

How to Make Your Own Resume TemplateA resume template can save you a lot of time and money. Here is a step by step guide on how to make your own resume template.The first thing you will need to do is get hold of a template that you like and that you think will fit your needs. It is always good to start off with a tried and tested template. Your job search could easily turn into a nightmare if you try to make a good resume without a template. This is because, once you have finished writing the resume you are going to send out, it may get lost somewhere or it may be rejected by the employer. It is possible that they will add a few requirements to the resume and thus you might find that the template is no longer a good one.The next thing you should do is to make a draft of the resume in order to take into account any changes that may occur in the course of the job search. You will need to consider any possible changes to the format of the resume. You might want to have sections for educ ation, education experience, work history and references. You should also decide whether the application is going to be on paper or online.You should also prepare yourself in order to be able to answer any questions that your potential employer may have about your past career. If you have had some personal problems, you should certainly mention this as this will help them in getting to know you more. You should also be sure to mention any relevant training and certificates that you have acquired as this will enable the employer to see that you have learned important skills from an expert.Next, you should draw the name of the company and the address of the office. Write down any relevant contact numbers. Also include your contact details like phone number, email address and home address.In terms of your information, you should do some research so that you can gather as much relevant and useful information as possible. This will save you a lot of time and will ensure that you have som ething to submit when you are applying for the job.Your cover letter should be strong and highlight the qualities you have that will make you suitable for the job. You should be able to tell your reader what they will get when they hire you as the right candidate.It is best to use a template when you are working on the job, since this will help you keep on track with what is required of you when you are being interviewed. You will also be able to write your resume without having to worry about losing your template.

Ten Reasons Why Your Resume Isnt Working

Ten Reasons Why Your Resume Isnt Working I dont know what it is about resumes. People seem to get so caught up in what they think a resume should be that they overlook what a resume can bean entree to a new role, a new career, a new life. Some people seem to treat their resumes like they are their tax returnsbreak a rule and get penalized; enter information in a different place and suffer the consequencesit really doesnt need to be so formulaicand it shouldnt be. A good resume is a representation of your strengths, your passion, your dreamsall wrapped up into a compelling message of value. Here are ten mistakes I see people make when writing resumes and some tips for how to avoid these pitfalls.You think there is one acceptable resume format for your industry. I hear this a lot. In my industry we dont use resume profiles or No one in my industry ever writes a resume that is more than one page. Usually these rules are perpetuated by people who have been using the same format for their resume since they graduated from college ten or more years ago. What worked then wont necessarily work now. Or they are perpetuated by people who have gotten used to reading resumes that all look the same so they no longer question their value or relevance in todays market.You think that because you are confident in your writing abilities you can write a good resume. Sure it helps to have a strong command of the English language. But resume writing is less about the actual writing and more about the strategy than many people realize. A resume writer can look at your background objectively, analyze any potential obstacles in your search, and create a strategy that emphasizes your overarching accomplishments and doesnt dwell on your more difficult to explain roles and transitions.You think using visual elements on a resume is weird. Many of us are used to seeing PowerPoint presentations where charts, graphs, and other visuals are used to create engagement and communicate information succinctly. Why would you think that a pr esentation of your candidacy should be any different? Visual elements can differentiate you from your competitors, convey a lot of quality information in less space, and position you as a savvy communicator. Heres an example of a more visual resume.You are using a resume template to convey how special you are. A resume is all about showcasing your unique value. Dont shoot yourself in the foot by using a stale Microsoft resume template to explain your unique value proposition.You have copied and pasted your previous job descriptions into your resume. The reality is that people in similar jobs perform similar job tasks. An accountant in company A may not have job tasks that are that different than the accountant in company B. Yet the value that each brings to their organization may be totally unique. Minimize content about job tasks and focus on more compelling accomplishments.You dont show a clear connection between your past achievements and your future direction. If your resume mer ely represents your chronology it may be difficult for a hiring manager to understand how your past experience relates to their current position. This is especially true if you are trying to transition to a new job function or industry. Your resume needs to be idiot proof. Be sure to connect the dots between past performance and future value to the organization (I recommend a profile at the top of the resume to accomplish this). No one will connect the dots for you. Take the time to create a clear roadmap from past accomplishments to future value.You have no clue what keywords are. Keywords are the buzzwords or industry terminology that is relevant to your job function or industry. You can source keywords by reviewing job descriptions for positions you would consider applying to and looking for the consistency in these keywords from posting to posting. Many employers use ATS or Applicant Tracking Systems to source candidates and they will only find your resume if the words in your r esume correlate to those posted in their job specs.You are uploading a Word version of your resume into a database that requires a text version. Many people make the mistake of taking their formatted Word document and uploading it into a text box on a company website. The format is generally not preserved when you do this and your document will end up looking sloppy and unprofessional. Here are instructions on how to create a text resume.Your resume is made up of big blocks of text that no one wants to read. Imagine going to a website looking for information and being confronted with a homepage with a huge paragraph of text. Would you stay on the site and read everything word for word or would you quickly navigate away in search of a site that enabled you to find the information you are looking for quickly. My guess is you would opt for the later. People who read resumes feel the same way. If they have to muddle through big chunks of text to figure out if you are a potential fit for their job, they will probably navigate away from your resume quickly. Use bullets, bold, shading, or text boxes to highlight critical information and help your reader figure out what you are all about in just a few seconds.Your resume is overwhelming to the reader. If your resume is more than two pages it probably fits into this category. Examine your resume and edit, edit, edit. Do you really need to list the 7 management classes you took in 1987 now that you have been a CEO for the past 10 years? Do you really need to dedicate a full page to your employment experience before 1990? Probably not. Frequently with resumes, less is more.

One Simple Way To Improve Your Language

One Simple Way To Improve Your Language Did you know you can set up your day to have a quick opportunity to improve yourself? One of the nicest things about the internet is the opportunity to learn, and improving your language is going to make a difference in your career. Heres why language is important: the things you write online stay there. The impression you make with your speech and writing doesnt fade too fast, either. If you are consistently using language the way that everybody uses language online, then you are automatically closing the street to opportunity. Learn A Little Every Day I like Grammar Girls Quick and Dirty Tips because they are funny, memorable, and short. You may prefer another source, and there are certainly plenty out there. I also use the Greggs Reference Manual. Its the bible for grammar geeks. What you need is a regular reminder of common mistakes and how to avoid those mistakes that you will enjoy reading. Im always surprised at the things I learn. Something new every day! That small, daily dose of language skills is a regular reminder of the importance of language. It might not seem like much, but the proper use of language moves you past barriers that keep your career from flourishing. It might be true that a top executive dictates letters to a secretary instead of writing them personally, but its also true that the executive still has to use language competently. Learning a little every day is part of being a leader. Looking for life-long learning opportunities keeps your brain active and your attitude flexible for the challenges of being an influence both today and in the future. If your language skills are inadequate, you may have the greatest ideas in the world, but you cant communicate those ideas very well. Adding something like a daily grammar feature takes less than five minutes to read and enables a lifetime of opportunity.