How to show you know the company and can contribute
During a job search, you should make the most of every opportunity to showcase your skills and illustrate how you are a fit with the company or organization. As you do this, focus first on the company itself. Why is this important? By developing a comprehensive understanding of the organization and it’s needs, you’ll be able to better understand and then explain how you can be a valuable employee. Tell them why you want to work there. Do your research and then carefully craft your pitch. You can accomplish this doing your research on the company, understanding where it’s going, and then aligning your skills and experience with a role within the organization that will help them get there.
read moreHappy New Year! Resolutions that will help boost your career.
Have you ever considered making a New Year’s resolution related to enhancing your career? If you haven’t, why not? We invest a significant amount of time and energy into our work, so it’s important to identify ways to generate happiness and fulfilment related to our professional lives. We’re not talking about huge shifts such as changing jobs or entering a new career field, but rather more subtle things that you can identify and adjust as soon as you get back to work in the new year.
read moreAre you sure you want to quit your job?
It may be a fleeting thought or something that’s on your mind a lot. You want to quit your job. It can be due to frustration, fantasizing about a new opportunity, a desire to grow your skills and experience, or just wanting a change. Regardless of the reason, after you make that decision it’s important to carefully consider your next steps in order to make a successful transition. Some key things that you need to determine include if you can do it, when you will do it, and how you will do it.
read moreYes, cover letters are still a thing!
Cover letters are an important part of the job application process. Don’t believe the rumors that tell you otherwise! A well written cover letter will move you forward through the candidate selection process and help you stand out from your competitors. Rather than just going through the motions and submitting an unremarkable cover letter, draft a cover letter that will inform and impress the hiring manager. You can accomplish that by showcasing your written communication skills, illustrating your knowledge of the company and the role, and telling your story while effectively connecting your skills and experience to the specific opportunity.
read moreAre you aware of this change in resume content?
Resumes are traditionally required to apply for jobs in most industries. Their formats, however, are always evolving. One current trend involves the header section of your resume, and it applies to most formats. It’s a result of the changing times, the way organizations currently do business, and how hiring managers manage their candidate pipelines. Are you curious about what this trend is? It’s omitting the street address on your resume. The reasons why are related to technology, security, and discrimination.
read moreShould you take that new job?
Deciding to accept a new job can be exciting, but it may also feel a bit scary. There are so many unknowns, and the workplace is changing in new and unpredictable ways every day. While a job change may seem like the right move, make sure you consider the many factors involved to determine if it’s the best choice for you given where you are in your career. Consider the following questions as you decide.
read moreLinkedIn: Quick tips, big impact
LinkedIn can be an extremely valuable professional social networking tool, if you know how to use it! The LinkedIn platform allows you to connect with professionals and organizations, find jobs, and gain knowledge that is specific to your career field. To take advantage of all that LinkedIn has to offer, it’s critical to effectively create and cultivate your profile. These quick tips that involve your headline, keywords, skills, and accomplishments, can significantly enhance your profile!
read moreWhen and why should you update your resume?
When you are entering the professional world for the first time or making a career change, of course you’ll create or update your resume. But what about when that’s not the case? Regardless of whether or not you are looking for a new job, it’s important to maintain a current resume. A good guideline is to update it at least twice a year, possibly at the beginning of a calendar year and during the summer. Still not convinced? Here are some important reasons why you should update your resume regularly!
read moreTips for Changing Career Fields
Changing career fields can be scary and exciting! I’ve done it twice. Both times, I took my favorite part of the career I was in and made is the focus of my next. This allowed me to build upon my skills and interests while continuing to move forward professionally and challenge myself. As you transition, it’s important to know that you will need to make adjustments in order to successfully align yourself with your new chosen career field. Three tips for making a successful transition include acquiring the skills and training necessary for your new field, customizing your application materials (resume and cover letter), and growing your network to connect with relevant professionals and content.
read moreThree ways to build your professional community
Chances are you belong to at least a few different communities related to factors such as where you live (geography) and what you like to do (interests and hobbies). Doesn’t it make sense that you should have a professional community as well that is related to your work? If you are currently employed or have work history, you most likely do. At the core of each community is the presence of relationships. These are associations and interactions that you have with people. Does this sound like networking? Shhh…yes, in many ways it is, since networking is essentially connecting with people, sharing information, and maintaining relationships. However, for our purposes we will use the term building a professional community because it sounds less intimidating for some than the term networking. There are so many ways that you can build your professional community including connecting with people that have similar work-related skills and interests through professional organizations and social media platforms, securing mentors, and accessing resources specifically related to professional development.
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