Fast 5 Resume Tips (and a Bonus Tip!)
I recently offered a Fast 5 Resume Review to my college advising students, which featured resume reviews along with five tips regarding how they can improve their resumes. As I reviewed the documents, certain patterns emerged and I found myself offering many of the same tips to each student. The tips, listed below, reflect perspective gained from my past experience as a professional recruiter and current role as a college career advisor.
read moreCareer growth during a pandemic
Life as we know it has been turned upside down due to COVID-19, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing is the norm as countries desperately try to stop the spread of the virus. There’s been a shift in how we live our lives, from work to activities to taking care of our families. While professionals deemed to have essential roles are working in the midst of this pandemic, many others are working remotely or have lost their jobs. There’s no doubt that this is a difficult time for our society in the United States. What does this mean for your career? In any time of trial, there are challenges but also opportunities. How can you invest in your career right now based on the current situation? Consider how you can build your skills and connect with people in new ways.
read moreHow to get hired without looking for a job!
When you are in the midst of a job search and are looking for a new work opportunity, you’re considered an active candidate. You are actively looking for a job. Makes sense, right? You refine your resume, check out available opportunities, interview with potential employers, and hopefully land your next position. This is how most people define a job search. Do you know that a growing trend is to identify and then hire new employees that aren’t actually looking for a job? These people are called passive candidates, and they are seen as very valuable in the job market. They have skills and experience, and in most cases, are gainfully employed. How can you, as a passive candidate, attract the attention of a potential employer? The key elements are recommendations, reputation, and social media.
read moreDo you understand your professional value?
When shopping, many people focus on finding the best value for their money; a fair price for a good or service that is purchased. Employers do the same thing when they hire new employees. An employer will consider what wage is fair for employees who will use their skills and knowledge to perform work on behalf of the organization. Potential employees should be very aware of this! It can put them in a position where they can understand and communicate their professional value. This can maximize earning potential and allow employees to find positions that will suit their skills, interests, experience, and career goals. How can you identify your professional value? Two ways are to identify your hard skills (also called technical skills) and soft skills (also called transferable skills).
read moreNew year, new job? Ask yourself these questions before you start that search!
Are you thinking…new year, new job? It’s natural to consider making a fresh start at the beginning of a new year. If your fresh start involves a new job, make sure you clarify what you are looking for from multiple perspectives. Asking yourself about these four key elements will allow you to define your goals and create a foundation for a successful search. Those elements are duties and responsibilities, interests and values, work culture, and availability and sustainability.
read moreThe job sounds great, but is the new workplace a fit for you?
A new job brings about a lot of changes, which can make you feel both excited and nervous. Most people do a lot of research throughout the job search process on the jobs themselves so they can best show how they are qualified based on their skills and experience. That is a must when applying for a job and completing the interview process. What many candidates don’t consider is that they are interviewing the company just as much as the company is interviewing them. Part of that consideration is the workplace itself, namely its culture. You can secure what you deem to be the perfect job in terms of duties and responsibilities, but if the workplace culture isn’t a match it significantly decreases your chances of success in the role. How can you find out if that workplace is a fit or you?
read moreGet out of your career rut!
Your work life will most likely feature both highs and lows. Sometimes when you are stuck in a rut you don’t know where to start in order to get out of it. You may feel overwhelmed, frustrated, lost, or even scared. The good news? There are many career opportunities out there that can provide fulfillment. The bad news? It can be hard to find the right opportunity for you given your experience, skills, and interests. The following are strategies to help you get moving forward again. The keys are to start small, educate yourself, and focus on the positive.
read moreAnswer this: How do you define success?
As you explore career options, you will most likely interview with organizations that have job opportunities available that interest you. The interview process can be tricky. It’s important to realize that everything you do and say will be evaluated by a potential employer to determine if you are a good fit for the role, and sometimes more importantly, the organization’s culture. Be prepared to be professional during every interaction with a new employer and also consider the questions they may ask you to determine your qualifications and fit with the company. One question that is often asked is, “How do you define success?” It’s critical to understand why they are asking this of you and how you can answer it effectively during an interview.
read moreSo many ways to learn and advance your career!
Investing in your career is a must in order to keep your professional life moving forward. One way to do that is to engage in educational and professional development opportunities. Advances in technology and the increasing role of analytics in determining how companies make decisions have reinforced the importance of an intelligent and capable workforce. How can you tap into educational and professional development opportunities? Consider participating in employer-sponsored programs, industry options, and online resources.
read moreYes, you should network during the summer!
Professional networking isn’t usually the first thing you think about when it comes to summer. Instead, thoughts turn to vacations, the beach, relaxing, and spending time with family and friends. Networking is essentially connecting with people and sharing information, so summer is actually a perfect time to do that through events and activities that interest you! While networking may not be the main reason you engage in summer activities, it can be an added benefit. You can do this through leisure events, conferences, and back to school programs.
read more