7 Job Search Tips for Working Moms

7 Job Search Tips for Working Moms7 Job Search Tips for Working Moms2As a working mom (or dad), you juggle it all. You have a job, you have a family, and you only have 24 hours in a day to complete a multitude of tasks. Job searching is one such task. Below are seven job search tips for working moms that can help alleviate some of the stress of managing it all, particularly when job hunting. With time clearly being a precious resource for working moms, it is important that tasks are as efficient and effective as possible. Working moms have the unique challenge of being both a professional and a parent. Trying to fit mora activities- such as a job search- into an already packed schedule is sometimes daunting and frustrating.Using just a little time each day can help you job search and create job search strategies while being a busy working mom. Whether you are in the market for a new career, your job search has just begun, or you are at a stalling point, consider the following job sea rch tips for working moms to get your job search up and running.Spruce up your documents.The first job search tips for working moms begins before you start your job search. You should get your documents up to date. Make sure that you have a fresh cover letter and resume, along with a private and professional email address for all correspondence. It is also worth considering sources for letters of recommendation and beginning to prepare your interview wardrobe.Showcase your parenting skills.Parenting takes a lot of skill and patience. Translating those skills and experiences into soft skills for the professional workforce is acceptable. During your job search, restate your birthday party planning, play room cleaning, sibling rivalry, and do-it-all-at-dinnertime experiences into professional soft skills such as event planning, organization, conflict management, and multitasking. This is one of those job search tips for working moms that many women forget to use.Tap into your mom netwo rk.As a working mom you would use your professional network to make a career change, so take no shame in tapping into your mommy network for the same reason. Hit up your mom friends for a little help and guidance. You may be surprised who they know or the type of connections or opportunities they can help you build.Leverage social media.How many times a day do you check your social media channels? Start using some of that time to connect with people you would like to use in your job search. With up-to-date and professional profiles, social media can be a great tool for working moms.Put YOURSELF out there.In other words, market yourself. Making yourself known and available can be scary, but it opens up opportunities that otherwise wouldnt exist. If you dont put your name, your skills, and the fact that you are in the market for a job out there, you wont find that opportunity you have been searching for. Remember this job search tips for working moms when you are at soccer games, the grocery store, play dates, and parties. Market yourself not only as a mom, but also as a professional.Outsource home duties.This doesnt have to be permanent and is not necessary, but if you have the option to outsource some of your home responsibilities, it will help free up time to use for your job search. Have your partner and children pick up a few extra chores around the house. If you have a babysitter or nanny, inquire about having them run a few errands for you or doing some light housekeeping and laundry.Consider professional job search services.A great job search tips for working moms is to use Professional services such as Resume Deli andto take the guesswork out of the equation. Using a professional service to write your resume or a job search site to help you find the best career matches can help with saving a lot of time and stress.For more great job search tips and advice, check out the blog. There are thousands of articles to help you with your job search, along with c areer advice and supportReaders How do you manage your time while job hunting? What are your best job search tips for working moms?

The art of goal achievement Prioritizing the process

The art of goal achievement Prioritizing the processThe art of goal achievement Prioritizing the processIn the 16th century, one man produced a monumental composition. It changed our view of art.The Sistine Chapel ceiling welches commissioned by kleriker Julius II in 1508, and it took four years for the great Michelangelo to paint. Due to its inaccessibility, he put an incredible amount of strain on his body to craft mora than 300 individual figures and their environment.During busier times, 25,000 people visit the Vatican Museums per day. The Chapel is the primary attraction. It is a cultural, historical, and visual spectacle.Interestingly enough, Michelangelo never really considered himself a painter. He had quite a low opinion of the art. He saw himself primarily as a sculptor, and he had already produced two of his most famous works, Pieta and David, before the age of 30.More than anything, however, what he did love regardless of his choice of expression was creating. He though t of himself as a man in the constant pursuit of learning, and he was far more concerned with the process of what he undertook in than the medium itself.Theres an old myth of a friend watching Michelangelo labor over a small, obscure corner of the Sistine Chapel. The friend asked, Who will ever know whether or not its perfect?Michelangelo had only two words for him, I will.In our pursuit of success, we direct a disproportionate amount of attention to the result. Ironically, by doing that, we often neglect the path that will get us there. To have a better chance at goal achievement, we need to learn to prioritize the process byDeliberately designing a strategy into a ordnungsprinzip we loveFocusing on marginal improvements to get movingRecording and measuring to drive our progressionMichelangelo was a Renaissance man, but his talent wasnt in what he did, but how he did it.Deliberately design a strategy into a system you loveAchievement is built on three steps goal definition, strateg y creation, and implementation.The goal is the easy part. Its bright and shiny, and its what we daydream about when we should be directing our focus and energy elsewhere. In truth, its mostly just a distraction.The strategy is the first productive step. It establishes commitment, and it sets us in motion. This is where we spend much of our time, and its what outlines the details of the journey.The final part of the equation is implementation, and this is where things usually fall apart. We spend too little time actually thinking about it. We mistakenly presume that, beyond a strategy, its simply a matter of moving. Thats precisely why we give up once we realize how hard it is.The most important part of accomplishing anything is deliberately translating a strategy into a system you love. Implementation requires purpose, and if you cant learn to enjoy the quirks of the process leading you to a goal, sustained motivation will always be a problem.It took Michelangelo four years to compl ete that ceiling, and he wasnt even crazy about the art of painting. In spite of that, he consistently showed up and invested his time and even compromised his health to do the work. The goal of finishing his masterpiece was no doubt a driving factor, but if that were his sole motivator, he likely wouldve quit like many of us do.For him, it was about more than that. It was about the process of creating, the quest for perfection, and the joy of improving and getting better. On a day to day basis, what he did was likely mundane and uninspiring, but it was a system that he had committed his life to.He understood what great work required, and to that end, he knew what was necessary. He learned to fall in love with the process, and the result was a byproduct.Almost all of our big goals take hard work. Theres no way around it. There might be ways to be more efficient, but no shortcuts eliminate the need for actually putting in the hours and going through the gestures. And these gestures a rent always romantic.Theyre redundant, draining, and boring, and to succeed is to make them not so. Theres no big secret. You just have to deliberately question what about the system you love, and you have to learn to enjoy the work, day in and day out. Its about making the unsexy sexy.Focus on marginal improvements to get movingThe conventional wisdom says that big results require big leaps. Thats not entirely untrue. Its just that those leaps rarely occur as sudden, big jumps, and it doesnt make sense for them to.If you want to andrang a local marathon by the end of the year, its probably not a good idea to try to do so during your first practice session. Its just not happening, and it will likely lead to injury.If we presume that to go big, we have to act big, the initial burden of effort is far too high, and it demotivates us into inaction. It makes more sense to focus on marginal improvements.Researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer provide some interesting evidence for thi s in The Progress Principle, a book they published with the Harvard Business Review Press.Their ideas are based on the analysis of 12,000 journal entries of over 200 knowledge workers, whose jobs required consistent creative productivity, at seven different companies.They found that one of the most significant predictors of well-being at work is the idea of small wins. When people had smaller goals designed into their larger ones, and when they reached these milestones, they felt that they made more progress.This worked as a catalyst that kept them going for more, and the researchers believe that this fact is one of the hidden forces that drive the overall performance of effective organizations.Sudden, big jumps are often not only impractical but to get started, we need the drive brought on as a byproduct of marginal improvements. These improvements are easy to strive for, and they also reinforce our conviction to keep going.Instead of running the marathon on the first or even the e ighth practice day, if you focus on adding half a mile or a mile to your run with each new session, you find yourself a more manageable way to get to your eventual goal. Its subtle and not overwhelming.The beauty of it all is that these marginal gains add up through the compound effect. Each improvement builds on the one before it, and over time, the result is a massive multiplier.Hypothetically, if you gained one percent daily, youd be almost 38 times better than you were at the start.Record and measure to drive your progressSmall wins keep us going, which makes intuitive sense, but another part of that equation which significantly impacts the likelihood of progress is recording and measuring.By simply tracking and documenting where weve been and what weve done, we can visualize the chain of growth thats been nurtured from the marginal steps taken over time.Sometimes, with marginal gains, precisely because they make the larger goal more bearable, it can be difficult to see whethe r or not theyre getting us as far as we need to go. A one to five percent improvement per week or month doesnt appear too mightily in the moment.Recording and measuring, however, captures their compound effect, and that matters.In late 2015, Benjamin Harkin and his colleagues published a meta-analysis of 138 studies made up of almost 20,000 subjects to try and figure out whether monitoring goal progress promotes goal attainment.They primarily studied health goals across categories like weight loss, blood pressure, and smoking. Not surprisingly, they did find the correlation they were looking for. More interestingly, however, they observed that the more frequent the monitoring, the better the shot at success. And something as simple as physically recording progress as opposed to just making a mental note made a significant difference, too.We all have a tendency to direct our focus ahead as opposed to backward, especially in matters of goal attainment and accomplishment. Its a tendenc y that gets in our way because it stops us from utilizing the same feedback tools that will get us to where our sights are set.Marginal improvements add up over time, but if we dont find ourselves looking for the accumulated effects of these increases, it can be easy to lose the drive to keep pushing.Identify your metrics, designate a time to monitor them, and put your pen to paper.All you need to knowWe all want things. We want to be smarter, wealthier, and more successful. The list is long.The exact priorities may be different for each of us, but a greater desire for something in the future is an impulse we all share. We spend a lot of thinking about it. In fact, so much so, that the disproportionate focus on our end goals detracts from our ability to achieve them.What leads to a goal is a path, process, or a system. And for most of us, this part of the machine is the most difficult to maintain. Its the one that takes the most time and effort.That isnt to say that goals arent impo rtant. Clear direction is almost always necessary. The point is simply that once a target has been set, goal achievement is about attending to the process. The research points to a three-part plan for doing this.With a goal and an initial strategy in place, it starts with deliberately designing that strategy into a system that you love. The process of getting to the end is lined with hard work, redundancy, and boredom. On a day to day basis, it isnt very sexy. The only way through all that is to learn to enjoy the system that will take you to your goals.Focus on marginal improvements to get moving. Our goals are often bigger than we are when we first decide to strive for them. The way to them isnt with sudden, big leaps. Its through tiny step by step gains. Starting small lowers the motivation barrier, and the incremental improvements eventually compound into massive progress.The last step is to record and measure marginal improvements to continuously drive the process until the end . Itll help you visualize the effect of compounded gains, and it creates a chain of progress that paves the path towards further progress. It can be done by simply picking a time and a relevant metric and putting pen to paper.Learning to think in terms of the process while partially neglecting the goal isnt easy. The goal is straightforward and romantic, while the process is long and mundane. The pointers may not cover every base, but they offer a place to rethink how to approach the art of accomplishment.The biggest hurdle between you and your goals is often your approach. Do something about it.Want to think and live smarter? Zat Rana publishes a free weekly newsletter for 30,000+ readers atDesign Luck.

5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial Boss

5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial Boss 5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial Boss 5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial BossAs baby boomers retire, millennials those between the ages of 23 and 38, and who happen to outnumber their older generation X colleagues in the workplace are increasingly landing management positions. Young engineers with valued technology skills are often promoted over their older peers.What does all this mean? Engineers, even relatively young ones, can find themselves working for a anfhrer who is younger than them, said Kathi pica pica, a career and executive coach at K Squared Enterprises, which provides tools and tactics to workplace navigation.A Harris Interactive poll conducted in 2012 on behalf of CareerBuilder found that 34 percent of employees in the United States works for a younger boss. And 15 percent of respondents said their boss was at least 10 years younger than they were. That number is expected to grow as baby boomers retire and as millennials become managers. That percentage has probably increased in the past few years, pica pica said.Get the Edge Five Job Interview Questions Young Engineers Can ExpectWorking under someone younger than yourself can present challenges. You may encounter differences in work habits, work styles, or viewpoints, she added. By following the five tips below, you can significantly decrease any on-the-job uncomfortableness or outright strife, and take your working relationship in a positive direction.1.Maintain a Positive AttitudeA recent study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that most workers at firms with managers younger than themselves reported having more negative emotions, such as anger and fear, than those with older bosses. Youll need to manage those emotions by staying positive, Elster said.You were probably once the rising star with the clever ideas. Think back to those days and to your enthusiasm for your early jobs as you liste n carefully to what your manager has to say. You could find echoes of a younger you in their words, she added. This will help, should you struggle to respect your high-ups title and position.Brush Up Six Project Management Tips Every Engineer NeedsLet go of your past. You know your latest achievements. Call them to mind. You know youre a great engineer. Your boss, however, is focused on current challenges and wants to know how youre addressing todays challenge and working to meet tomorrows goals.2.Refrain from Knowing it AllWhile related to the first consideration, the older know-it-all-employee is so feared by young managers that it deserves a category all its own, Elster said. To ensure you dont fall into that role, keep your thoughts and tone free of condescending thoughts.You cant be a know-it-all if you realize you dont, in fact, know how to do everything, said Adwoa Dadzie, a career coach who runs Yes Shes the Boss academy, a leadership program for corporate women.No matter yo ur experience, your boss will probably have their own spin on things. And thats okay.You have to be open to new ways of doing things even if its different than what youve been used to, she said. Even if you have your own ways of working and doing things, your boss may have new ideas for how to be efficient and do the job. Those ideas may exceed your expectations.Along those same lines, avoid any biases, stereotypes, judgements, or even envy you may have about this young leader being your boss, she added.Read ASMEs Top Story Air Taxi Aces Test FlightJust because theyre a young leader doesnt mean theyll be a sucky leader, Dadzie said. Dont make the judgement that less tenure means they wont be a strong leader.3.Watch What You SayDont make age-centric comments. You wouldnt want your age to become a part of any conversation, so steer away from all talk of others ages or experience, even if youre referring to hobbies or activities that take place outside of work, Elster said.Dont compare what they do to what your adult kids are doing or what you were doing at that age, she said. Your boss also doesnt want to hear you talk about your kid. And skip any chitchat that dates you, like Im expecting my third grandchild.4.Concentrate on Your Own RoleFocus on what you have to offer as an employee, Dadzie says. Doing this builds confidence and keeps you from focusing too much on concerns about age.We bring maturity, commonsense, and experience to our jobs, Elster said.Remind yourself often of those and other positive qualities you have as an engineer.5.Stay Open to New LearningYour boss may have been promoted because they understand a new technology or a new way of doing things. Respect that knowledge. A younger boss can actually bring a great deal of experience and expertise to a job. Learn from them. Youll gain their respect by letting them know youre willing to learn from them.Along the same lines, if you achieve a new certification or attain a new skill, be sure to let y our boss know. Dont keep your own achievements a secret because you feel old bringing them up to a younger person.The bottom line Respect your leader, no matter their age. Work to earn their respect. And prepare for an ongoing, positive working environment.Jean Thilmany is a freelance writer in St. Paul who frequently writes on engineering topics.Read More Exclusive Stories from ASME.orgYouTube Star Goes Viral with Glitter BombDrone Deploys in Just Minutes but Flies for HoursWho Are the Engineers of the Future?Just because theyre a young leader doesnt mean theyll be a sucky leader. Dont make the judgement that less tenure means they wont be a strong leader.Adwoa Dadzie, career coach.

Job Fair Yields Cold Truths about Resumes

Job Fair Yields Cold Truths about Resumes Cold Truths about Resumes Job Fair Yields Cold Truths about Resumes If you happened to catch Good Morning America on Wednesday, you know that hundreds of job seekers braved the bone-chilling cold of a pre-dawn New England winter morning to attend GMA's Great American Job Fair and Career Camp in Boston. The event paired recruiters from a mix of Fortune 500 companies, medium-sized businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies with men and women looking for work in a wide range of disciplines. I wasinvited to critique resumes at the job fair. For more than four hours, I came face to face with some of the pain caused by todays recession, as I consulted with a steady stream of job seekers concerned about the health of their resumes. After seeing dozens of resumes in that short space of time, here are three lessons I came away with: Always Have a Professional Summary or Objective at the Top of Your Resume. Some of the resumes I reviewed didnt have either; a few that did were vague. If youre unemployed, I cant overstress how important this is: To land a new job, you need to be as specific as possible with your summary or objective. Know what you want and be very aware of the value you bring to an employer. As I advised those whose resumes I critiqued: Write a personal mission statement or 30-second elevator pitch. Once youve got it nailed down, edit it to about half its length and use it as a boilerplate summary or objective. Then, adjust the wording to fit each job you apply for. Volunteer Experience Counts. This came as a revelation to a handful of the people I met. If youre looking for a different line of work, maybe in a different industry, think about anything youve done as a volunteer in your community, for a charity, or with a professional group or association. For instance, if you would like a sales position, but have little to no work experience in sales, it can make a difference if you did fundraising as a volunteer. How much you did or did not get paid is irrelevant if you have the skills. Accomplishments over Duties. There were many resumes that listed the job seekers duties rather than what they accomplished or how they made a difference in their previous roles. If you generated more revenue for an employer, saved money, or made a process more efficient, say so, with numbers (e.g., Generated $4 million in new revenue by recruiting 10 new clients.) and list them above your duties and responsibilities. Other improvements might include streamlining an awkward process, improving customer satisfaction, reducing accidents, or any other result that helped the business. Jobs are hard to come by in a recession. So, look for any way you can gain an edge over other candidates. Your resume is first and foremost a marketing document and you are the product. Make it easy to for employers to see that you are the product they need. With the added competition a recession generates, that's a cold, hard truth for an equally cold winter day.

Employee Manual Handbook Table of Contents

Employee Manual Handbook Table of Contents Employee Manual Handbook Table of Contents Here are the policies, procedures, benefits, expectations of the employment relationship,  professional behavioral expectations, and more that are  often found in an employee handbook. This sample table of contents also covers pay, performance expectations, and legal issues. Please use these samples as guides for developing the policies and content of your own employee handbook. This table of contents, and the linked policies, articles, and other material  may not be reprinted online or  used for  publication without written permission from Susan Heathfield. When additional resources are available on the site about a particular handbook item, I have linked additional articles, policies, checklists, and forms here for central interest. Overview and Employment Relationship Introduction and Purpose of the HandbookWelcome Message From the President/CEOCompany HistoryCompany VisionCompany MissionCompany ValuesCompany Overall GoalsCompany Commitment to EmployeesCode of Conduct and Business EthicsNon-solicitation PolicyEmployee and Employer Confidentiality AgreementNon-compete AgreementEmployee Handbook DisclaimerEmployment Relationship: At Will EmploymentEmployee Signoff Signifying Receipt of the Handbook, the At Will Statement, and Employee Acknowledgement That He or She Understands and Will Abide by the Contents General Employment Information Equal Employment Opportunity Policy (article)Accommodation for People With Disabilities (article)Employment EligibilityInternal Employee Application ProcessPromotionsEmployment of RelativesRehiring PolicyOpen Door PolicyPersonnel File PolicyAccess to Personnel RecordsHarassment and DiscriminationHarassment and Discrimination Reporting ProcedureHarassment Investigation ProcessOffice Romances: Fraternization Policy Attendance at Work Exempt and Non-exempt Employee DefinitionsWorking Hours and OvertimeBreak and Lunch PeriodsAttendance Expectations and PolicySevere Weather and Emergency ClosingsTelecommuting PolicyTermination When Unable to Work Policy Workplace Professionalism and Company Representation Work Dress CodeSmoke-Free WorkplaceDrugs and Alcohol: Drug-Free WorkplaceWorkplace ViolenceWeapons at WorkSafety and SecurityParkingWorkplace VisitorsConflicts of InterestAccepting and Giving Entertainment or GiftsTravel for Business PolicyMileage Reimbursement Payroll Information Compensation ScheduleRecording Time Worked Benefits Benefits EligibilityHealth InsuranceDental InsuranceVision InsuranceGroup Life InsuranceDisability InsuranceCOBRAHealth Care Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)401(k) PlanBonusesWorkers Compensation (article)Unemployment Compensation (article)Expense ReimbursementEducational Assistance (article)Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Paid Legal AidSupplemental InsuranceStock OptionsEmployee DiscountsRetirement Employee Time Off From Work Paid HolidaysPaid Time Off (PTO)VacationSick LeaveAttendance PolicyFamily and Medical Leave (FMLA) (article)Bereavement LeaveJury DutyMilitary Leave (USERRA) Use of Company Equipment and Electronics Telephone UseCellphone PolicyCompany Tools, Equipment, and SuppliesComputer and Internet Use PolicyBlogging and Social Media Policy Monitoring in the Workplace Email, Computer, Voicemail, Internet, and Telephone UsageVideo Surveillance and Physical Searches Performance Expectations and Evaluation Performance Development Planning and Feedback ProcessEmployee Conduct and PerformanceImmediate Employment Termination (article)Progressive DisciplineConflict ResolutionComplaint ProcedureEmployment Termination (article)Exit Interviews (sample questions)Return of Company Property Disclaimer Please note that the information provided, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. The site is read by a world-wide audience and employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from state, federal or international governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. This information is for guidance, ideas and assistance.

How to Write a Resume The 2019 Guide for Beginners (Tips Examples)

How to Write a Resume The 2019 Guide for Beginners (Tips Examples) How to Write a Resume The 2019 Guide for Beginners (Tips Examples) Style reflects both your attitude and your personality. In a generation of a multitude of characters, it is important for you to stand out. Therefore, it is important to be aware of how you express yourself. To better understand how to make a resume you must understand what a resume is and how it is different from a CV. Thereafter, you should know when to use a resume and how to make a resume and customize it for your best experience. The best way to write a resume is to tailor it professionally once you have your data ready. We suggest you use Hiration's online resume builder for a facilitated resume building experience. You may further find free examples on our website. We have experienced how writing a resume could be extremely painstaking. Over that you must tailor the keywords and write one to two pages of crisp information. Sounds hard, right? But nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into smaller parts. But first, what is a Resume? Simply put, a resume is a formal and official presentation of an applicant's work experience and education, and his/her definite skills. A resume is therefore a one or two-page document to summarize your qualifications for your target job profile. A resume purposely provides a summary of your skills, abilities and accomplishments. It is a brief of who you are with respect to your interests, and experiences. A good resume gets you an interview. Since your resume is a primary tool in your job search, it needs to be carefully written and critiqued. This article is designed to guide you through the process. Resume vs. CV The three major differences between CVs and resumes are: the length, the purpose, and the layout A resume is a brief summary of your skills and experience over one or two pages, a CV is more detailed and can stretch well beyond two pages. The resume will be tailored to each position whereas the CV will stay put and any changes will be in the cover letter. A CV has a clear chronological order listing the whole career of the individual whereas a resume’s information can be shuffled around to best suit the applicant. The main difference between a resume and a CV is that a CV is intended to be a full record of your career history and a resume is a brief, targeted list of skills and achievements. Check out this blog post for a greater understanding of the difference between the two. Who Needs a Resume? You'll need to submit a resume if you're applying for a job with an organization that doesn't rely solely on standard, handwritten application forms. Companies that require resumes will say so in their job postings, and those that don't will ask you to fill out an application. It is also always a good idea to have a typed resume ready to submit with the application form. Why Do You Need a Resume? A resume is not necessarily a sanction of your personality. To Find A New Job Change is sometimes forced on a worker â€" companies do not share all the information that could potentially impact employees or sometimes the company is blind-sided by changes outside of its control. If you are caught in this position, your stress will be somewhat eased by an updated resume on hand and ready to send to potential employers and colleagues. To Find A New Opportunity A visible resume posted online or shared among a network of trusted friends or colleagues could open doors to opportunities not recognized, considered, or thought of. How exciting to be presented with the perfect opportunity out of the blue? A network member might recognize a match between contents of a resume and an opening only they are privy to at the moment. After an “AHA” moment or two a line can easily be drawn between the needs of the opportunity and the offerings outlined in a well-formatted resume. To Improve Or Maintain Status In An Industry Or Field In many industries, it is crucial to have a standing in one’s professional community. A recommendation from a competitor can often carry more weight than one from a friend or customer. Visibly impressive qualifications communicated well and often ensure that few people will have ill words to speak. To do so would be to risk dissension. Skills vs. Employer Benefits One way to rise above the competition is to make sure that your resume is loaded with employer benefits, not just skills. According to resume expert Peter Newfield, today’s resumes must be results driven rather than the skills driven resumes of the past. By reading your resume, the employer must quickly understand what advantages you offer his company. Think of yourself as a product and the employer as the consumer. How to make a resume and how would you sell your product (yourself) to the employer? An employer is more interested in the benefits you have to offer, than your impressive repertoire of skills. When you write your resume, make every effort to highlight these employer benefits. For example, if you are proficient in PageMaker and desktop publishing, do not just list your skills (such as Mastery of PageMaker). Translate those skills into benefits. Tell the employer what you are able to do with your desktop publishing skills (for example, ability to produce attractive brochures at a low cost). Skills indicate your potential, while benefits demonstrate your actual accomplishments- what you have achieved with your skills. An employer realizes that many applicants are well versed in PageMaker. Your job is to explain to the employer what you can do with it. Other Reasons for a Resume To Identify Gaps In Skills, Knowledge, Or Abilities Prior planning prevents… Well, enough said! Just the exercise in pulling together the information for an updated resume may be enough to identify areas for improvement. There is no time like the present â€" not having an up to date resume is like playing Russian Roulette with one’s income. No one wants to have to look for work because they lost their job. Be prepared, keep a current resume, and keep skills current. Prepares you for the interview Most employers will use your resume as a guideline when they interview you. They will ask you to explain in detail many of the statements you have made in your resume. Organizes you Preparing a resume forces you to assess your skills. This in turn will help you evaluate the many employment options open to you. It will also help you plan an effective job search campaign. Gives you a sense of security It’s a good idea to always have an updates resume on hand. You never know when you will want to seek a better job or just a change. Also, in case you unexpectedly lose your job, it is wise to have your resume updated and ready. Can be used as a calling card It’s there when you want to conduct informational interviews to test potential opportunities. When Do You Need a Resume? The popular belief is that resumes land jobs. Not true. The resume's sole purpose is to land you an interview. If employers like what they see in your resume, they'll contact you to schedule an interview. During the interview, they'll evaluate how well your skills match the job requirements, and how well your personality fits with their team. CVs are used almost exclusively in countries outside of the United States. In Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Asia, employers may expect to receive a curriculum vitae rather than a resume. Within the United States, people in academia and medicine tend to use CVs rather than resumes. CVs are thus used primarily when applying for international, academic, education, scientific, medical, or research positions or when applying for fellowships or grants. How to Write a Resume? First Steps Review the Purpose of a Resume Think of a resume as “self-advertisement” that sums up your experience on one page. Your resume is one of the most important pieces of your job application. It gives the hiring manager an overview of the qualifications you have for the job for which you’re applying. You should also familiarize yourself with the difference between a resume and a cover letter: A resume is typically sent with a cover letter, which is a document that provides additional information on your skills and experience in letter form. A resume is a concise, often bulleted summary, while a cover letter highlights and expands on certain traits or accomplishments that would be unique or ideal assets for the particular job. Initializing ***In order to effectively convey your strengths, you must do a self assessment. Begin with a list of your greatest accomplishments and personal qualities. Describe your skills and accomplishments with each employer by using action words. List only the skills that you would like to use on a new job. If you are writing a resume thats scnnable then use key words.Write a chronological history of your employment, training, volunteer work and extra-curricular activities. Analyze the requirements of the new job you want to apply for. Compare the skills required with your background and indicate how you have demonstrated these skills. (Apply for jobs where you have the closest fit and interest. * Create a Master Resume An effective resume lays out a summary of qualifications that will push the hiring manager or employer to move forward and invite you to interview for the position. As well as details on skills, education, and work history, resumes can also have optional sections, such as an objective, summary statement, skills, or career highlights. Those sections can be added after you’ve compiled all the factual information you need to list on your resume. For many people, it can be helpful to sit down with a pen and paper, or a blank Word document, and jot down their work history from start to finish. Of course, if you have been in the workforce for many years, this is not going to be time-efficient, so you may choose to focus on your most prominent and relevant positions. Once you’ve decided on a resume type, it’s time to start writing a resume. You don’t have to start from scratch. First, review examples of the resume type you’ve selected. Then, choose a template which you can copy and paste into a document, and then fill in with your own work history. Regardless of the type of resume you choose, aim to tailor your resume to the job you are applying to. While it's perfectly acceptable to use a resume template, which you adapt to fit each job description, it's a bad idea to send the same exact resume to multiple openings, even within the same field. Your goal should be to write your resume with both robots and humans in mind. Many organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems to sort and vet resumes, before hiring managers ever take a look at them. This means that you could have the best experience and qualifications in a whole field of candidates, and a pretty decent resume besides, but your information will fall through the cracks if your resume doesn't contain the right keywords. Good keywords will refer not only to your experience but to the job description in the posting as well. Your Master CV should include all information about your past work experiences, duties and achievements, along with: Volunteer activities Extracurricular activities Internships Memberships Publications and presentations Honors, awards, and achievements Certifications and trainings Degrees Hobbies Grades ... and anything else that could be significant in getting yourself a job. After preparing the Master CV, prepare your resume outline. Keep the following tips in mind to ensure your resume outline is tailored for each application: Read the target job description carefully and research the organization to identify the significant parameters and key skills Use targeted headings which direct to the main requirements of the position Include additional section for key achievements during your work profile Make sure the order of your sections ensues the most important experiences to appear early Make a List of Your Work Experience No matter your approach, your goal will be to produce a chronological list of experience that is relevant to the jobs you’re applying to. Although this should focus on professional work experience, you can also include awards or accolades, volunteer or community experience, post-grad coursework, and skills, as well as your college education, which can move to the bottom of your resume once you get your first job after college. When you’re working on your brain dump, make sure to include the name of the company, its location, dates of employment, and several bullet points describing your role and responsibilities for each position you list. Although you may need to expand on the bullet points later on, you’ll need this information at the minimum. Focus on Your Achievements When writing a resume description for the jobs you’ve held, focus on what you accomplished in each position rather than what you did. Listing quantifiable achievements in a numerical manner (increased sales by 20%, reduced expenses by 10%, for example) will help your resume stand out. Be sure to match those accomplishments to the criteria the employer is seeking in the job posting. If it’s challenging (and it can be!) to write resume descriptions that will catch the attention of the hiring manager, review these tips for how to make your resume employment history sound better â€" and get you picked for an interview. Content ***What is included in the resume content? THE ENTIRE SECTION COPIED upto 'Choice'. Use the categories below which are most appropriate to your situation. How to Make A Resume Theme In order for a resume to make a positive impression, you must develop a theme. Do you want to show your extensive work history? Do you want to highlight your educational background or stress your skills/qualifications and achievements as well as duties and responsibilities. For more information, link to Organization and/or Resume Format. How To Write A Resume Heading The heading is always at the center or the left-hand side of the resume or near the top of the page. List your name, temporary or permanent street address and e-mail address. Do not forget to include your home or work telephone number if you are comfortable with prospective employers calling. If using an answering machine be certain you have recorded a message that is clear, concise and businesslike. How To Write A Resume Job Objective Including a job objective is optional but highly recommended. This indicates what your job goal is; be specific. In twelve words or less, clearly state what type of job you want. Avoid overused phrases, such as utilizing my skills or offering a potential to grow without being specific about how to accomplish that goal. How To Write A Resme Education Section Indicate the school or college you have attended, any seminars, workshops, military training or special courses you have taken. If you have taken college courses, list the college, city, major, most recent degree awarded and when you graduated. You may also list your grade point average (G.P.A.), if desired but specify on what scale (e.g., 3.5 on a 4.0 scale). If you are just beginning college, list the high school, as well as any significant college courses you have studied. If you have been out of high school for a number of years, omit the high school; a significant career history may be more meaningful. If your career history is more important than the education, list the experience first and place the education later in the resume. Employment, Work History, Experiences, Work Experiences, Military or Volunteer Positions (Need not be paid to be included.) This is a critical section of the resume and probably the most extensive area. Begin with your current or most recent job and use reverse chronological order. List the information in this order: Job title Name of the employer and dates (if applicable) City and state of the employer A summary of your accomplishments and responsibilities For a military entry, current or most recent rank and job classification When writing a resume summary of accomplishments and responsibilities, explain concisely the duties relevant to the position you are seeking. Emphasize the responsibilities and skills that would readily transfer to your next job. Be careful not to overstate your duties. Use action words to describe your qualifications. Use key words if you are writing a resume thats scannable. Other Related Work Experience In today's job market, internships, apprenticeships, co-ops and other related experiences are very important. State as briefly as possible those activities which are relevant to the job for which you are applying. This information could be similar to that provided for work experience. Licensure List certification and licenses in your field of expertise, indicating the dates and type of test taken for licensure. Include the number of the license, if relevant. Quantifying your contribution is a sure-shot way to instantly grab the recruiter's attention. For instance, mention how many reports, how many vendors, how many stakeholders (and how their problems were resolved), etc. Try to bring out as many numbers as you can. This goes for the entire resume. Numbers help to quantify the impact of your work which otherwise gets drowned out. You can always mention a ballpark figure in case you don't have the exact numbers. Then again, don't overdo it. Mention numbers only if you think they're significant enough, and where they'll further enhance the impact of your work. Try to draw a cause-effect relationship. Recruiters can understand your contribution, but you also have to bring out the impact of your contribution. How did it benefit the stakeholders? HIRATION PROTIP: You should structure your project points and your experience points in such a way that 2 things come out: what you did and what was the impact/result. Most resumes do a good job of explaining what was done. However, we do not get to know what the result/impact of it was. This will help your resume stand out from all the other resumes in the crowd as the result/impact will let the recruiter understand the depth of your contribution to the work. Tips for Perfecting your Experience Section Write your job history in reverse-chronological order - start with your current position. Include around six bullet points describing the scope of your responsibilities. Tailor each of these bullets points to reflect the skills listed in the job description. Follow the bullet point format (see below), and include facts and figures. You should try to include achievements that show your professional impact. Tell a career story that reinforces your professinal persona. Skills, Accomplishments, Awards or Achievements (optional) If you are creating a functional resume, divide into skill headings, with specific examples bulleted under each section. Begin with the skill for which you are applying. Some of the headings may include: communication, management, leadership, customer service, financial skills, etc. If you have won athletic awards, presented research at a professional conference or were recognized for community involvement or a competition then consider including them. Memberships or Professional Organizations List any memberships, campus activities or professional organizations you are currently or were engaged in that relate to your career objective. Indicate office(s) held. Hobbies or Interests (optional) This section may be included if you have hobbies or interests which demonstrate and highlight skills, abilities and characteristics about you. Some examples are: work with your hands, theater, art work, travel, historic preservation, hiking or even hunting. Personal Background This section is rarely used in resumes today, but should you feel some personal information relates to the job objective, it may be included in the resume or in the cover letter. References Preparing a separate sheet of four or five professionally related references is acceptable. References are not normally included with your resume but may be furnished upon request on a separate sheet of paper. Divide references into work related, professional and personal. Final Touches Here are some additional resume sections you can consider adding if you don't feel the traditional resume sections are doing it for you. Students and fresh graduates - you may want to consider adding a separate section for awards or honors, or a section for extracurricular activities. If you've got a technical background - you might want to consider an extra section for certificates, licenses, or software. Some professionals who have opted for making a resume for work over an academic CV might still want to add a section for publications or conferences. Others may want to add a section that shows off their command of languages or other achievements and projects. Hobbies Section The hobbies section of a resume is optional. But you can add one if you have space. Adding your interests shows off extra skills for a resume, makes your resume stand out, and gives the hiring manager a fuller image of you. Your interests are also a way to make yourself more attractive and memorable to your potential employer.However, make sure yoour hobbies are specific. For example, instead of writing a resume hobbies like Reading, include Reading American Literature. Final considerations are the selection of text, fonts, paper, printing and mailing methods. Use white space liberally. Create a resume with at least one-inch margins. Also, leave some blank space between various sections of the resume's text, so several distinct chunks of information can be seen. Fonts (type size). Two types are generally used, 10-point and 12-point. An exception to this could be a header typed in a large font to highlight your name. Paper and Envelopes. Resumes, cover letters and thank you letters should be printed on a high quality cotton paper. These choices reflect your style, your attention to detail and thoroughness. Variations are acceptable in some instances if they accentuate or highlight your field of interest or expertise. Printing Methods. Always use a quality method of printing, such as a laser printer. If you do not use this, then have your resume typeset. Use graphics very sparingly or not at all unless their use appears appropriate for the field for which you are applying. Mailing/Distribution. If you fax a resume, use white paper. Use the largest font which comfortably fits within your resume margins. Always mail or deliver a original to the prospective employer the same day. When doing a global job search, consider the electronic resume. Some local printing companies can help with the service of on-line resumes, but consider the fees and confidentiality issues involved in this choice.*** Organizing your Resume The entire resume must be targeted to a specific job objective. Arrange a resume to highlight your strongest or most extensive skills. For example, if you have just graduated from college, your education, class-work and internship or co-op experiences are most important and should be placed at the beginning. If you have an extensive work history which is the highlight of your resume, the education section would go near the end of the resume. If you are not quite finished with your degree and you are currently taking college courses directly related to the position; then either your co-op work history, the highlights of school achievements or specific courses can be indicated. Below are some suggestions in setting up your resume. Link to Resume Content for categories that may be used in the content of a resume and a description of each of these categories. Organize the resume so it is easy to follow. Margin space should be approximately one inch around the edges. Write short sentences. Distinguish categories clearly with headings that are bold, underlined or CAPITALIZED. Use bullets, underlining and capitalizing sparingly to guide the reader to detail within a category. Place key words or the main point of each statement at the beginning of each line. Bolding and Bucketing. You should highlight the important words/numbers on your resume. This is to ensure that you pass the 10-second test. On average, a recruiter will go through your resume for only 10s in the first go. If you do not highlight any words using bold/italics, then it is up to her to read whatever she wants to. This can lead to an immediate rejection. Hence, highlight all the important keywords to ensure that she reads what you want her to read. But do not overdo it, otherwise it makes the highlighting redundant. The general principle that you should follow while highlighting your resume is that you should only highlight those words/facts that are relevant to the roles you're targeting. For example, highlight where all you led a team, what all targets you were able to meet, what all methodologies you're aware of, etc. Highlight the things which you have a good knowledge of because in case of an interview questions are generally asked around those highlighted points. This can actually be used to your benefit. Additionally, under all your job experiences, you can create a resme with subheadings or 'buckets' as we call them (mainly what all broad level skills you acquired in that job) and club similar points together. Consequently, the recruiter won't have to necessarily read all the points, just perusing through those subheadings can suffice. Then highlight significant numbers and achievements in each or most points to make the recruiter's job even easier. For every work ex, you can have a separate Key Achievements section. This section usually contains specific contributions/cases, impact, result, figures, etc. See if you can enrich your points here and in general throughout your resume, by better showcasing the extent of your role. Additionally, make sure that all your points don't exceed one line. If they do, either split it into multiple points or create a resume with sub points. Not only will it help weed out fluff, it will force you to only mention your contribution and its impact while leaving out everything else. Leave a space between lines to enhance readability. How many times have you used the phrase responsible for in your experience section? More than once?You may want to consider mixing up your vocabulary. Overusing words and phrases like “responsible for” or “manage” is boring. Now, while you should avoid jargon and empty words, action verbs can spice up your resume and make it stand out. Also, be sure to use the present tense when describing your current role. Keep resumes to one page, if possible; however, two pages is acceptable. Use whatever space is needed to relate information to potential employers. Resumes should be long enough to convey your qualifications and experience, but not wordy. If you are not able to concentrate information into one page, make sure the information on the second page has sufficient content. It is important to share your resume with someone who can provide objective feedback. Focus on customizing your resume to the job offer and prove you fit the job by showing related accomplishments. If you can do that in one page, definitely do. If a single page makes you look too light for this particular career, add more achievements. Formatting Your Resume The Chronological Resume format is the most effective choice for individuals with a strong or continuous work history and increasing levels of responsibility in the occupational area stated in the resume objective. Dates should be placed on the resume in reverse chronological order (most recent jobs listed first) to highlight the continuous work history and increasing levels of responsibility. Job titles may be italicized, capitalized, underlined or printed in bold to emphasize increased responsibility. The resume should then list those skill qualifications or characteristics offered to an employer. The Functional Resume is usually chosen by individuals without a strong work history or current work experience. It emphasizes skill areas and de-emphasizes work history and dates. The functional resume is for someone who would like to change careers, has no career history or desires a job in another field. It lists areas of expertise, skills and qualifications with the most extensive skills listed near the top of the resume. For example, this could include management, leadership, technical or communication skills which employers desire. The Combination Resume combines the strongest elements of the chronological and functional formats to include both job-related qualifications and work experience. This provides strong support for the stated job objective. The combination resume may be useful for someone who wants to emphasize work history in addition to specific skill areas. This is a hybrid resume with the functional format at the top portion of the resume and the chronological format at the bottom. How To Make A Resume Scannable The Scannable Resume uses key words and phrases to increase the likelihood that the resume will be selected in an electronic search. It may be useful for someone who is applying for a job with a large company. Larger companies utilize software to electronically scan resumes for sorting, reviewing, distributing and filing. The scanning process searches for key words which may be important to the field you have interest in or the job for which you are applying. In fact, the most important aspect of a good scannable resume is the use of key words. Instead of the action verbs used in the traditional resume, you will want specific phrases or words. Resumes can be sorted with all kinds of data bank keywords looking for such things as skills, knowledge of computer software packages, education and technical terms. To determine the key words in your field, first go to the job advertisement and use as many of those key words as possible or go to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the O'Net or the Michigan Occupational Information System. It is important to know these key words or phrases but not to overuse them. The scanning process will then indicate which resumes could be reviewed in more depth. This process is referred to as having a certain number of hits (key words, phrases, etc.) identified. Tips for a Scannable Resume: Do Don't Use white or light-colored 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper Print on both sides Provide a laser or ink-jet printer original Use pixelated photocopy Use sans-serif typeface Use boldface type for your name, dates or the body of your resume Use a 10-point or 12-point type Underline or use italics Leave space between your lines of copy Use graphics, logos or bullets Use boldface or all CAPITAL letters for section headings only Use vertical and horizontal lines and boxes Use only commonly recognized abbreviations Abbreviate all possible terms Place your heading on top of your resume Fold your resume Definite Tips Keep your resume short and concise to make a good impression in a quick glance. Consider one to two pages if you have under 10 years of professional experience. Format and style The design and layout of your resume or CV should be neat and easy to read. Use only one or two easy to read fonts and include headers, bullet points and paragraphs. Make sure you write your resume consistently in first person, and have perfect spelling and grammar. Match your resume or CV to the position This is most important when writing a resume, but it applies to a CV too. Make sure that you highlight your education, work experience, and skills as they relate to the particular industry or job. Use a template You may want to use a template to structure your resume or CV. This will give your document a clear organization, which will help the employer quickly see your qualifications and experience. Edit, edit, edit No matter whether you use a CV or resume, you need to thoroughly edit your document. Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Proofread, Proofread, and Proofread Again Not even professional proofreaders can easily proofread their own work. Once you've made a typo, it's hard to catch it yourself. For that reason, it's a good idea to have one or two trusted friends take a look at your resume before you send it in for consideration. Use this resume proofreading checklist first, then ask someone else to give it a final review to be sure it’s perfect before you click send or upload to apply for a job. What to exclude from your resume Personal details such as your religion, age or marital status are prohibited in the US. Although they are accepted universally you should check your job description necessities to understand whether you should absolutely include them or not. Try excluding irrelevant jobs. If you are applying for a profile in the aerospace, your internship at McDonald's might not count. Salary expectations or previous salaries that you have received. This information is usually discussed during the time of the interview. Refrain from including images on your resume. They can create problems with the recruitment softwares and also reduce the appeal in a professional layout. Stick to professional and simple fonts and formats so that it is easier for recruiters to review your resume. It also means any recruitment software that reviews your resume can easily read the information. Good fonts to use include: Verdana Arial Century gothic Calibri Don't use large headers to break up the sections of your resume. Use a 10- or 11-point font for your main content and a 12- or 14-point maximum for headers. Some resume templates present information in tables to help with layout, but some recruitment software is unable to read tables. Your resume should only be formatted using line breaks and simple formatting (like setting multiple columns across the page). Key Takeaways Tailored You’re bringing steak to the tigers with your resume. The employer can look at it and know immediately that not only are you qualified but that you’ve done your research into what the job is and what they’re looking for in an employee. Your goals are clear as are your skills, areas of expertise and or body of experience. Aesthetically Pleasing Remember what we said about a resume being a work of art? It should be clean, concise and have a simple structure that invites a reader to glance at it and immediately know what they’re looking at. It’s balanced and flows between sections smoothly. It’s not crowded, the margins are clean, and the font is professional. It’s also devoid of ANY ERRORS. No missing periods, no misspelled words, no grammar issues. It’s also correct and the information included is current and accurate. Complete That means everything you need to include is included, including (but not limited to) your name, current phone number and accurate email address, a listing of all the jobs you’ve held (in reverse chronological order), educational degrees (including any certifications and the highest degree achieved â€" again in reverse chronological order) and any targeted information that will help a hiring manager realize you are the perfect candidate. The easiest way to make sure you remember all of this is to keep track using the “Perfect Resume” Checklist we made for you. You can simply check off the boxes as you complete them. Click here to your “perfect resume” checklist. Accurate Jobs listed also include your title, the name of the company or organization you worked with, the city and state where you worked and the years you were employed. The bulleted lists are summarized in a clear way that highlights the key ideas without taking up too much space. And PLEASE! No fibs. Hiring Managers can easily verify anything you put on your resume, and getting busted lying isn’t exactly a winning formula for getting job offers. Focused The hiring manager can look at your resume and immediately know what you’re applying for and what you bring in value to the company. It’s clear and concise. There’s no confusion as to what your profession is and what you can do. Short One page to two pages max, depending on your field, level of experience and skill set. Don’t bore people with details, keep them wanting more…but also learn the balance between not saying enough to saying just enough. Relevant Never include anything on a resume that might turn off an employer including political or religious affiliations, anything controversial, or that could be taken in a negative light. Professional This includes font, layout, and paper as well as content. Again, this is for a job and should be used as such. This isn’t a platform for personal statements or a novel detailing every job you’ve ever had since birth to present. It’s printed on high-quality paper in an appropriate color and is clean of any smudges, tears or wrinkles. Current Every time you apply for a new job, check your resume to ensure that it’s not only targeted, but also current. Make sure your dates are correct and that you include the most up to date information (this is especially important if you’ve changed your phone number or contact email!) It Is YOURS That’s right…it might seem strange to say this, but the number one thing you have to remember when applying for any job is to be honest! Use action verbs and power words to give your resume life, but don’t let yourself get carried away and overstate your skills, positions, or abilities. Remember, they’re hiring you…and the last thing you want is to get a job you can’t do.

Use Training Technology to More Effectively Engage Participants

Use Training Technology to More Effectively Engage Participants Use Training Technology to More Effectively Engage Participants With flat HR budgets, changing audience expectations, and increasing training requirements due to new regulations and evolving technologies, corporate learning and development professionals face many challenges today. Regardless of individual business circumstances, the central challenge for training professionals remains the same: finding a way to ?engage employees and increase knowledge retention. Using the right approach and technology tools, it’s a challenge training professionals can take on with confidence. Virtually all training professionals understand that getting their audience to participate in a training  session is essential to engaging employees. But trainers are frequently tasked with instructing large groups under strict time constraints, which makes it difficult for individual audience members to directly participate in the conversation. That’s where technology can make a difference. Use Response Technology Response technology, that allows trainers to embed questions into presentations and empower audience members to respond via a remote device or smartphone, can help training professionals measurably improve results. Here are five ways technology can help: Training technology can improve engagement. Training is more effective when learners actively participate in a discussion rather than listening to a top-down lecture. Trainers can use technology tools to make training a two-way conversation, embedding questions into presentations, enabling audience members to respond via remotes and smartphones, and displaying aggregate results directly in slides. When their voices are heard, training session participants pay more attention.Response technology can deliver real-time metrics. Sometimes it’s difficult for trainers to gauge their audience’s grasp of the material during presentations. Technology can provide a way to administer real-time quizzes and instantly view aggregate results so trainers know whether they can move on or if they need to spend more time covering a specific topic. This makes the training session more efficient since trainers can focus on the right topics. Technology tools can increase the course review response rates. Many instructors hand out course review cards after training classes to solicit feedback on the instructor and material. But the participation rate of session attendees is typically dismal.Allowing students to respond to questions or rate their experience using remotes or mobile devices can bring participation rates up to 100%. The faster the instructors can process the feedback, the quicker they can incorporate changes to ensure that they are delivering the most effective presentation. Polling software can expand audience participation. Some training course participants are reluctant to speak up in a group setting. This can mean that instructors who ask for input must rely on a handful of extroverts.Polling software that enables anonymous audience responses to preset questions can broaden the pool of active session participants. That means even audience members who are generally too shy to participate in a traditional classroom discussion contribute their responses â€" and become more engaged as active participants in the virtual conversation. Technology solutions can unlock the power of peer learning. The concept of peer instruction, pioneered by Harvard Professor Eric Mazur, can improve corporate training sessions through the power of crowdsourcing.In this scenario, instructors can embed open-ended questions in presentations using response technology and facilitate discussions between learners. This allows them to leverage their collective wisdom to arrive at the correct answer rather than providing the solution. Training is Essential Employee training remains an essential component of the HR function, but as training demands increase, audience expectations shift and competitive pressures accelerate. In this environment, training and development professionals must find new ways to engage  participants and improve retention. Training technology can give instructors the tools they need to measurably improve employee engagement and results. By following these tips, trainers can use technology to enhance their efforts to create an informed, engaged and knowledgeable workforce, and give their company an unbeatable competitive advantage.

How Showcase Gigs Can Help Your Career

How Showcase Gigs Can Help Your Career How Showcase Gigs Can Help Your Career A showcase gig is an introduction to an audience for a new act. It also sometimes serves as an opportunity for an established act or band to present new material. Showcase gigs (also called showcase concerts, music showcases, or simply showcases) sometimes represent great opportunities for you to get your music in front of people who can help you get ahead in the industry. But theyre not always advisable. Here are some details on showcase gigs and how theyre used in the music industry. Who Uses Showcase Gigs? There are several different ways that showcase gigs are offered. In some cases, labels organize showcase gigs in an effort to get their new signees some press exposure. If your label offers this, it may be mandatory (or all but mandatory) for you to participate. However, it shouldnt cost you anything to participate, either, and it will give you a chance to impress the press. All in all, these types of showcase gigs are mostly win-win for labels and bands. In other cases, unsigned acts play showcases in the hopes of impressing someone in the industry enough to get a deal. These shows may be arranged by music industry magazines or other media outlets, or at music conventions, and may be attended by music industry contacts whom you would like to impress. Showcases can be handy for labels or others who have enough pull to get the right people out to see musicians. Obviously, being chosen to play at one of these showcase shows indicates someone thinks enough of your band to put you in front of their industry contacts, and thats a good thing, as long as youre not being asked to pay for the chance to play. Dont Ever Pay for a Showcase Gig If youre offered the chance to play a showcase gig in exchange for paying a fee, run the other way- fast. These outlets are taking advantage of unsigned musicians and their desire to advance in the music industry by promising them a chance to get in front of important industry people, in exchange for money (in some cases, lots of money). In fact, some of these showcases charge thousands of dollars for minutes on stage, and there is absolutely no guarantee that anyone who can do your music career any good will be in the audience. Sadly, chances are, they wont be. These types of pay-top-play gigs often attract other types of industry lowlifes who will be just as eager to prey on eager, unsigned musicians and the organizers of the showcase gig themselves. If you are tempted by a paid showcase opportunity, do your homework and find out who attended past events and whether anyone has ever had success finding a deal at that particular event. Most worthwhile showcases, like showcases at music industry trade shows, do not charge musicians to play and will be honest about who they expect to attend. The Bottom Line Music industry showcase gigs potentially can help you advance your music career. But beware of gigs that require you to pay in order to play.

3 Ways to Get More Respect in the Office

3 Ways to Get More Respect in the Office 3 Ways to Get More Respect in the Office Nearly every time someone says the word “respect,” a few things come to mind- namely Aretha Franklin and Rodney Dangerfield. What rarely comes to mind- but always should- is workplace relationships. Respect among colleagues is a powerful connection, and without it, things can get pretty difficult (not to mention miserable). So, what do you do if you, as Mr. Dangerfield used to say, “can’t get no respect” in the office? If you’re feeling like you’re not getting the appreciation (or assignments) you deserve, try these tips. 1. Build a Reputation Whether it’s with clients, vendors, or colleagues, your reputation will always precede you, and working hard to build a great one is a surefire way to earn respect in the office. After all, we all know respect is something that’s earned. Several years ago, I worked on a small team in a small office. Each of us mostly worked independently, so it was sometimes difficult to get a sense for what each person was working on, let alone how hard they were working. This was especially the case when we had someone new join the team- we’ll call him Bob. Bob recognized immediately that it was important to establish respect within the team, but because none of us worked directly with one another, he had to go about it a bit differently. Fortunately, Bob was a rock star at his job, and by treating clients, business partners, vendors, and colleagues professionally and with respect, word soon got around that Bob was the cat’s pajamas. Bob never had to say a word about it- but rave reviews from everyone who interacted with him showed the rest of the team he was pulling his weight. As a result, he quickly won us all over. It’s hard to ignore results, and when you’re striving for the respect of your colleagues, one of the best things you can do is show you’ve got the right stuff. Soon, you’ll find you have the respect you’ve earned. 2. Make Allies Even if you’re doing everything right, there may sometimes be colleagues who seem impossible to win over. And when you just can’t seem to get an ounce of respect from a particular colleague- or colleagues- it’s time to call in cavalry. Several years ago, when I worked for a large bank, a new woman- we’ll call her Sally- joined the marketing department. She was young and lacked the years of experience held by the rest of the team, which automatically gave her a bit to prove. From the start, my manager had his doubts about Sally’s abilities. Whether it was by dismissing her ideas in front of the team or just excluding her from meetings completely, our boss made it clear he didn’t respect our newest employee. While it would’ve been easy for Sally to feel singled out, she decided to fight back. And, by fight back, I mean she started to make friends. When Sally realized my boss would be hard to win over, she went to work on the rest of us. Before long, she’d proven to the entire team she was not only capable, but a great asset and someone we could- and did- depend on. After a few months, Sally had an entire department of allies on her side, which made it much harder for our boss to ignore her contributions. It took a while, but after several months our boss eventually realized he hadn’t given Sally a fair shake. And he ended up respecting her so much more because he realized she had proved herself in such a mature, professional way. You may not always have the chance to win over a doubting colleague, but chances are, you’ll have a shot at impressing others in the office. Start by wowing the pants off everyone else, and your reluctant co-worker will soon follow suit. 3. Look For Probable Cause It’s not easy to admit, but sometimes the lack of respect you’re receiving in the office, justified or not, has something to do with your behavior in the office (or when you’re off the clock). Just because you’re doing stellar work and have an army of supporters behind you, doesn’t mean no one will notice when you’re habitually late or had a few too many at last month’s company happy hour. Take one of my old employees from a few years back. He was a fantastic worker- when he actually made it into the office. For whatever reason, he just couldn’t get it together, was late every morning, and managed to have a different excuse each day. After I had a chat with him about the issue and he still didn’t change his ways, I quickly lost respect for him as an employee. To me, the fact he had so little respect for the company’s hours of operation or his fellow colleagues who did manage to make it in on time every day meant I couldn’t rely on- or respect- him. Although he did great work, I stopped trusting him with any major projects or deadlines. Doing great work in the office is obviously a step in the right direction toward winning the respect of your colleagues, but all that hard work can easily be overlooked if you’re not minding your actions before and after you’re on the clock. I wish earning respect in the office was as easy as just spelling it out, Aretha-style, but the reality is, sometimes you’re going to have to fight a little harder to get your “profits” when you get to the office. But, follow these tips, and soon you’ll find you don’t need to ask for respect in the office, because you’ve earned it. Photo of people working courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to Stop Imposter Syndrome From Holding You Back -The Muse

How to Stop Imposter Syndrome From Holding You Back -The Muse How to Stop Imposter Syndrome From Holding You Back You’re the first one into the office every day, bring in the most new business, and command more praise from managers than any of your colleagues. So why do you feel this overwhelming fear of not being as smart, as talented or as deserving as co-workers think? This nagging worry of being “found out” as a fraud is known as Impostor Syndrome, and you’re far from alone in feeling its effects. Aside from narcissists and sociopaths, we all experience the type of self-doubt that feeds this impostor phenomenon. Unfortunately, though, it could be holding you back from achieving your career goals. Here are some ways that it may be disrupting your career- plus some useful tips to help you flip the script. 1. You’re Thinking: “I’m Not Qualified to Have This Position” It happens when you’re scouring the LinkedIn pages of our peers, noting all the accomplishments they have that you don’t. The thought comes creeping in: “I don’t measure up.” High achievers have a tendency to focus on what they haven’t accomplished as opposed to what they have. You might cast doubt because you’re younger, didn’t go to the same school, work for a certain company, win this or that award, and a myriad of other trivial reasons. Flip This: “I’m Qualified to Be Here Because I Beat Out Lots of Other Candidates to Land This Job” All too often, people fall into the trap of comparing their internal weaknesses to the outward strengths of others (all the while ignoring their own talents). But instead of focusing on all the credentials your colleagues possess that you don’t, flip the script and think about all your unique achievements. One reason why you might not feel qualified for your job is because the standards that you’re setting for yourself are unreasonably high. No one- no matter how stacked their resume- will perform every task of their job flawlessly. So, take some of the pressure off yourself. Remember that no one’s perfect and keep in mind that your company chose you out of a number of other qualified candidates because they saw you as the best fit for the position. Remember, fit doesn’t always mean the most skilled, but the best fit. Perhaps they saw more potential in you over others and are willing to invest in you. 2. You’re Thinking: “My Question Is So Dumb, I Bet Everyone Else Knows the Answer” Sometimes it’s as simple as not being able to hear your supervisor during a team meeting, but with Impostor Syndrome, every admission for help seems like another chance for your co-workers to discover that you really don’t know your stuff. It can leave you feeling paralyzed, afraid to speak up. When you feel like you’re not in a safe place to learn or feel vulnerable, it puts you between a rock and hard place. On one hand, if you raise your hand, you risk sounding unintelligent. On the other, you can go on trying to figure everything out on your own- an impossible task that may hamper your professional growth and further exacerbate that feeling of being “outed” as a fraud. Flip This: “I’m Qualified to Be Here, So That Means My Question Isn’t Stupid, But Rather a Smart Way for Me to Learn More” You might’ve convinced themselves that asking questions will out you as a fraud. From the outside, you can see this is clearly irrational and may actually stunt your professional growth. When I’ve been afraid to speak up or ask questions during my career, I later realized those were missed opportunities to become more efficient and comfortable in my role. First, remind yourself that no one has all the answers (and those who seemingly do got there by asking questions) and be competitive enough to admit when you don’t know so you can ask for help. Next, look to foster a support system by seeking out trusted colleagues who you feel comfortable bringing your questions to. 3. You’re Thinking: “If I Screw This Up, I’ll Definitely Be Fired” It can come off as joke: “If I don’t get this decision right, I’ll be fired and never work in the business again.” When you contemplate the idea of failure, you often exaggerate the outcomes to the extreme and convince yourself that the worst is bound to happen. It’s human nature to steer clear of danger, but when playing it safe becomes the crutch that prevents you from even trying at all- it limits your potential and leaves you coming up short of bigger career goals. Flip This: “I’m Qualified and Therefore I’m Allowed to Make Mistakes” You’re never going to be perfect, but in order to move fast enough in the working world, you have to make judgment calls. No matter how much homework you’ve done, there is always going to be some lingering fear when making a major business decision, leading a big presentation, or sharing an important report. Think positively! Someone trusts in your ability and put you in this position for a reason. Take a moment to visualize success, and then turn your focus to the steps needed to get there. Who knows, you may surprise yourself. And when you do make a mistake, it’s better to admit it rather than try to cover it up or redirect the blame. Openness about when you fall short helps keep you grounded while creating an open and welcoming environment for everyone- one in where making mistakes and learning is seen as a natural part of professional growth. By focusing on positive thinking, you can flip the script on Impostor Syndrome and in the process, realize that the only “impostor” you should be concerned with is enabling self-doubt to let people think you are one.

Top Forensic Science Career Job Posting Sites

Top Forensic Science Career Job Posting Sites Top Forensic Science Career Job Posting Sites Youve earned a degree in one of the natural sciences with a minor in criminology, or maybe youve received a certificate in forensic science or crime scene investigation from a local community college. Youre ready to go to work, but you have no idea where to look for a job in forensic science. If anyone told you that a forensic science career was a sure thing, they lied. While the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics expects there to be better-than-average job growth in the area of forensics and crime scene investigation, popular television shows such as CSI have fostered an increased interest in the field. Some fear the increased interest in crime scene investigation is flooding the job market with candidates, making it harder to find jobs. Finding a job in forensic science can be hard, but its not impossible. Jobs are out there. You just to know where to look. You also have to be flexible. Understand that there is a possibility that you may have to move to get the job you want or need. Rest assured, though, that with patience and diligence, youll be able to find a rewarding career. Top Forensic Science Job Sites To help get your feet on the ground and get started on your career search, here are a few of the best sites for finding forensic science and crime scene investigation jobs: American Academy of Forensic Science: The American Academy of Forensic Science is made up of people who work within all facets of the forensics discipline, including forensic psychologists, criminalists and criminologists, professors, and forensic science technicians. Most useful for those looking for careers in forensic science, though, is the academys online job listings, featuring employment opportunities all over the United States.Crime Scene Investigator Network: The crime scene investigator network website maintains an active list of jobs in crime scene investigation across the country. Simply go to the employment section to see all of the employment opportunities available. There is also a forum to ask questions of people who are actively working in the field. International Association for Identification: Founded in 1915, the International Association for Identification claims to be the oldest forensic science association in the world. The associations website contains helpful information on training, history and current trends. Most importantly, though, it contains a page dedicated to job listings in forensics. The listings arent as numerous as some other sites, but the opportunities are up to date.Forensic Magazine: Forensic Magazine is an online and printed media publication that explores trends and technology in the field of forensic science. While its primary focus is on technology, product reviews, and recommendations, the magazine has a section for job listings. You can even sort job listings by specialties, such as forensic engineering or linguistics. Pay close attention to the start and end date on the job postings. The site is kept up to date and postings are continuously added, but some of the ads are older and may have closed b y the time you see them. The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors: As the name implies, the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors was formed to keep managers and administrators apprised of trends within forensics and criminal justice. Fortunately for job seekers, though, society also features employment opportunities. The jobs listed are a mixed bag of specialized, entry-level and management positions. It may be an especially useful site for those looking to advance their career or move up the chain.Indeed.com: An old standby in job search sites, Indeed.com features a comprehensive job search that allows users to find careers by location, job type, salary, or all of the above. Using a keyword search, Indeed.com allows job seekers to find exactly what theyre looking for. A quick search for forensics can yield more than 2,000 possibilities. Career Builder: Like Indeed, Career Builder offers keyword searches and advanced search features that allow people looking for jobs to search by salary or location. Many local newspapers partner with Career Builder for their online job classifieds, making Career Builder a good place to start a search for forensic science jobs in your area. Important Considerations Its important to remember that online job sites are not the be all, end all of the job searching. Theyre a great starting point to get a feel for whats out there, but they should not be the only tool on your duty belt. Remember to apply the keys to job search success: networking, cold calling, informational interviews, and perseverance. When using online job boards, dont forget to look closely at the opening and closing dates; some job advertisements tend to hang around on the Internet long after theyve been filled. Also, take the time to tweak your resume to make sure your qualifications match the job youre going for. With the right combination of diligence and patience, all of your hard work will soon pay off, leading you to a fun and rewarding career in crime scene investigation. Stay focused on the job search, and youll be working in forensic science in no time.

The Secrets of Example of Resume Exposed

The Secrets of Example of Resume Exposed Job seekers deserve to locate decent content quickly. Instead, you're highlight relevant abilities and achievements from previous work in the neatly-aligned bullet points. Your jobs could possibly be varied, your experience and abilities vast, and it can be challenging getting it all on paper. Usually you aren't the only one applying for a specific job. On the two-page sample resume format above, you are going to observe that theSummary of Qualifications in addition to Other Qualifications show up on the very first page since they are definitely the most important portion of your resume. Employing a template in creating your Resume Format can be helpful should you are in need of a guide regarding the essential content and the suitable format. Employing a resume template is getting an acceptable and smart practice for quite a few explanations. An excellent instance of resume writing is one which can be kept to a page of text. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Example of Resume What's also cool about our hand-picked selection is the simple fact that lots of packages include bonuses like cover letters or company cards. Since you may see the STAR procedure is a simple way to make excellent descriptions of work experience. So whichever resume format you decide on, utilize the skills section to highlight that you've got the soft and difficult skills necessary for the job which you're applying for. Example of Resume for Dummies After you have prepared and submitted your resume to an employer the hope is you will be requested to attend work interview to go over further whether you are going to be suitable. The organization you wish to work for, can readily and quickly see whether you're a fit for the job. More so, it is also going to depend on the sort of job you want to have and the industry where you want to get involved in. You are able to also mention what type of job that you want to know more about. You also have to speak about past experience. Only go back further in the event that you have earlier experience that is immensely relevant. If you wish to display your organization skills, acquiring a tightly structured resume certainly helps. It can be helpful to observe how other folks have written about their abilities and experiences. Top Choices of Example of Resume When you work in a field for some time, jargon gets second nature. Resume objectives can be a little controversial. When it's as a result of a shift in the business or a shift in your interests, there are plenty of reasons to earn a mid-career transition. Then it may be time to bring some style to your resume! The Dirty Facts on Example of Resume You want to not just catch the hiring manager's eyeyou should make certain that they study your statement and say Whew! You ought to have five objective statements. If you're applying for work, you're often requested to send a motivation letter with a resume. Yo u are also able to get a feeling of the internal language used within a specific industry or company. Reading content backwards awkward and time-consuming although it may be is a good way to catch minor mistakes which you might otherwise miss. Below, you will discover a list of resume examples that may assist you with your work search. Even in the event you've never held an official job, it's still true that you have life experience that's applicable to the work search. Locating a new job isn't just about the current moment. The discipline of information technology gets more important each and every day. A resume introduction is the statement that you must make and put following your contact info. Nonetheless, there are 3 primary elements which each prosperous personal resume statement should incorporate. Your resume, after all, isn't an autobiography, but instead a summary of your previous experience and qualifications. Example of Resume - Overview There are lots of re sources about how to really engineer your own screening questions. They are simple to add. Writing a strong application is a difficult procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Notice how the example resumes are extremely specific when it has to do with technical skills. Should you do any one of these things above, you will stick out and find the recruiter's interest. When you've reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary using action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a highly effective accomplishment statement. The solution is yes in the event that you wish to. Example of Resume Features It's helpful to generate a list of all your high school and college experiences. Short, one-page resumes are perfect for fresh graduates. You will have lots of options in the event you choose the acceptable city. It is possible to either list down your personal mobile number or you may also write your house telephone number.

Vital Pieces of Template for Resume

Vital Pieces of Template for Resume What You Don't Know About Template for Resume All your abilities and experience ought to be in the suitable format and these templates can help you at it. There are three major types of resume templates. You also receive the choice to select a template from the bunch of beautiful resume templets out there. There are various well-designed templates that can help you to construct a great cv. Afterward, you may be asked to bring a printed resume to the in-person interview in the case if you've passed that first phase of the application procedure. The cover letter provides you with the possiblity to highlight the positive attributes that make you a best employee. A regular cover letter should include your name, email and contact number at the peak of the webpage. The resume cover letter is supposed to allow the employer to understand how they may benefit from what is presented in your resume. The Template for Resume Cover Up Moving your r esume on a digital platform permits you to get really creative with your presentation. Share your work as soon as you're completely delighted with your design and work, you can share it to the world via your social networking accounts, personal site, or many different different channels you might utilize. If you're planning to search for a work then the ideal thing to do is to become prepared. The work search may be a lengthy process just consider the statistics below! Top Template for Resume Choices One of the primary benefits of using templates that are found on the internet to compose your resume is the simple fact you will save yourself plenty of time which you would have used to compose a resume. A perfect option for candidates with a great deal of experience who want to have a really good one-page resume template. Obviously, you'll have a good deal of unique templates to assist you in making a cv. If you are searching for a chronological resume template for a reception you are able to try out browsing for that at Bing or your favourite search engine. The template scene on the internet is bustling with a wealth of photographer resume templates to select from, dependent on your kind of photography. Unlike the majority of the online resume builder sites that need the user to register, it doesn't require registration. ConnectCV is another exact efficient online resume building tool at no cost. The first thing you will need to contemplate when looking online for resume templates is the work title that you're applying for. The online resume builder was created particularly for people of all potential professions. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that can help you get your fantasy job. The War Against Template for Resume The Free Resume Builder helps prepare resumes even when you don't possess the slightest idea on the best way to do so utilizing a seven step procedure. Resume Builder Free is still another free and light application that will allow you to create a resume in almost no time. Then the Quick Resume app is a superb selection. Template is totally responsive and has an integrated contact form. The Argument About Template for Resume Your educational qualification is important even in the event the job you're applying for has no relation to the academic degrees you've attained. If you are searching for work in the accounting sector, an accounting resume template would be beneficial for you. Zety's resume templates are made with the aid of recruiters and ad here to the best practices in HR. Functional template will surely hide your job hopping or employment gaps and offers you the chance to grab your fantasy job. Resume Builder Pro is just one more helpful app which will help you make a decent resume in under 10 minutes. Premium version will enable you to take pleasure in the CV building process without advertisements. You might find yourself sending the same resume to different job applications and although you may think you're saving time you're actually lessening your probability of receiving an interview! Should you wish, you can attempt to customize the template that you chose a bit so it can reflect your personality and also so it can fit the work application to create the probabilities of you getting the job higher. You need to be particular about the job objective mentioned at the start of your resume. Only three steps which you want to complete to be a step closer to a job of your dream.