Archive - Feb 2012

If you’re in school, getting ready to graduate or already out in the workforce, chances are you’ve had some practice crafting a resume. You know all the requirements of a resume, too. Name, contact info, education, work experience, objectives and interests are all important elements.

Sometimes you can have the right ingredients, but you need to know how to use them to make the perfect finished product. Here are some of the important ingredients to your resume to help you stand out in the crowd:

• Font – Keep it professional!  No crazy fonts that you used for your blog. Keep it black and at 11 or 12 point font size.
   
• Education – Save some space and leave out your high school information. Always add in certifications you’ve earned or trainings you’ve completed that may give you an advantage.
   
• Interests/Hobbies – You may not think your future employer would want to know about your favorite free time activities, but they do!  It gives you a bit of personality and a glimpse into the type of person you are. This helps hiring managers not only remember you, but identify whether you’d be a good fit into the company’s culture. Be sure to leave out religious or political activities and views, which are always touchy subjects.
   
• Job History – Include your most recent endeavors by making older job descriptions briefer. Never leave out an experience. A significant gap in your work history will leave your potential employer wondering what you’re trying to hide.  It’s better to just type up a single line explanation.
   
• Header – Arguably one of the most important parts of your resume and often the most simple to create. Make sure your name is the name you prefer, and include your title, which can help qualify you for your desired position, and all your contact information, including your LinkedIn information.

You’ve got the recipe, the ingredients and the instructions on how to use them!  Now, go out and find that dream job! 
 

As snow begins to fall and the bitter, cold wind turns the tips of our noses red, many of us are trying to find a way to escape the winter blues. This is why Dawn Career Institute is offering you something special at their New Beginnings Spa.

Here’s a way to warm up: Check out LivingSocial on Monday, Feb. 20, and treat your loved one or even yourself to a spa treatment. The Valentine’s Day flowers have wilted, and the chocolate has made us feel guilty, but taking an hour out of the day to be pampered is timeless and relaxing and promotes good health.

Bring some warmth to that special someone, your mom, or even yourself, and be sure to check out LivingSocial for a deal that will bring warmth to the heart and relaxation to the mind.
 

You’ve typed up an impressive resume, proofread your cover letter a million times and perfected your interviewing techniques. What’s left on your job searching to-do list? How about a list of references? If you are like most people, providing a list of references may have been an afterthought.  You thought of an instructor from school, an old boss, or maybe a former co-worker, and quickly typed their names and contacts on your reference page of your resume. They all seemed to like you – they’ll be great references, right? 

Truth is – it’s very important to put more time into your references than a few rushed minutes.

Here’s what you should look for in a reference:

• A cheerleader. Your reference should be supportive of you and genuinely want you to succeed. Make sure you had a good working relationship with your reference to guarantee this.
• An expert. Can your reference provide relevant information about why you are a qualified applicant?  They should be able to explain your areas of expertise and your strengths well.
• A storyteller. Find a reference who can speak clearly and provide good examples of your strengths as an employee. Any reference who only gives short, vague answers isn’t giving you an advantage.
• A friend. Do you feel good about your reference?  You need to like your reference and they need to like you. Any bad experiences or feelings with a reference should send you looking for another reference!

Once you’ve found the right references, contact them to let them know you’ve listed them as references on your resume.  No one likes to be caught off guard with a phone call. When you give them a heads up, they can prepare and will be more likely to speak more highly of you. Selecting the right references can truly give you a leg up in today’s competitive world. Take the time to find the right people for the job – literally! 

Job experience is a tricky subject. Many places are hesitant to hire someone without any prior job experience, such as recent college graduates. But without the opportunity, how is that grad supposed to gain any experience? It’s like a paradox – stuck in an endless circle.

Then, at the other end of the spectrum, there are people who may have held a senior management position at one company but can’t find anything greater than a mid-level role at another.
If you’re unsure about what job titles to hone in on when job hunting, consider these steps as a map to a career title that’s right for you.

Step 1: Entry-level

You’ve got to start somewhere
Don’t let the term fool you. Entry-level positions aren’t just for workforce newbies. In fact, many people fail to realize that most entry-level positions are for those who have 5 years or less of workforce experience.

If you’re looking for an entry-level spot, it’s more about letting your personality and dedication stand out. Most companies use entry-level jobs as personality fits. Obviously, basic skills relating to the task at hand and communication are important, but eagerness and being real and likeable are crucial for landing entry-level gigs.

Step 2: Mid-level

Halfway up the totem pole
For most companies, mid-level careers require a Bachelor’s degree and 5 to 15 years of industry experience, including tasks like managing people, departments, functions or projects among other miscellaneous leadership roles.

It’s also important when searching for mid-level positions to not overstep your boundaries. You want your prior experience to showcase how well you can fit into a company’s hierarchy – not how you can step in and change their whole system. Telling employers about how you’ve positively impacted your last company is important, and conveying how you will fit in and work as a cog to a greater whole in your new company is crucial.

Step 3: Senior-level and executive

The horizon is expansive
Don’t exclude the possibility of applying to positions just because they’re missing the “senior” title that you may have previously held. That term means something different everywhere you go. In some cases, it might imply an increase in skill and knowledge. In others, it might simply denote time spent holding a certain position at a particular company.

Use helpful career search sites, like Indeed.com or Monster.com, and social networking sites, like LinkedIn, to compare your current job responsibilities to the duties of the position you’re interested in. Always match your skills and not your level as these can fluctuate depending on everything from business field to company size – large or small, public or private.