Embrace Diversity or Face Adversity

Embrace Diversity or Face Adversity Forget naming, shaming and blaming; workplace diversity is everyone’s responsibility. When it comes to encouraging inclusive company cultures, it shouldn’t be about pointing the finger at the lack of diversity in an organisation and hoping the bosses will get what’s coming to them. Instead, it should be about going, “right, this is the situation, something has to be done, how can it be made better?” Regardless of whether or not you’ve been publicly outed over your organisation’s lack of diversity, everyone has to make the issue a serious priority. Take a look at the reputation repair work being done by Facebook, Intel and Google. Sure, it might have taken some really bad press to put the gears in motion, but the benefits these organisations will feel from addressing internal diversity problems will make it all extremely worthwhile in the long run. Growth empowerment The pros of diversifying your workforce are abundant, from increasing passion and productivity on an individual internal level, to establishing your company as progressive and people-focussed from an external perspective. Additionally, from a business point of view, embracing and encouraging difference and uniqueness among employees fosters innovation, creativity and daringness, which will ultimately open new opportunities lead to greater success. People who feel they’re a minority employee who doesn’t exactly ‘fit in’ at work are likely to feel less confident and empowered to lead from the front. What’s worse, these people might even feel compelled to conform; an idea coined in social psychology as Normative Social Influence. How disastrous? The key is truly nurturing and maximising various skillsets and backgrounds of employees to create an inclusive and positive environment. Time to act These days, there’s nowhere to hide. If your company is severely lacking in diversity and seen to be doing nothing about it, it’s only a matter of time before your stakeholders notice not only employees and candidates, but customers and potential customers too. While it shouldn’t be your main driver for officially addressing the issue, it should be enough to at least get you thinking about the topic! Your company might operate on the notion that when it comes to staffing, if it doesn’t appear to be broken, then don’t fix it. The danger here is that a lack of workplace diversity is often a silent business killer; sabotaging employee productivity, inhibiting growth, reducing retention rates and damaging reputations in the long run, with no flashing neon red warning signal. So, where to from here? Make it mainstream Diversity shouldn’t be a taboo subject. People need to talk about it, to make something happen. When it comes to talent attraction and recruitment, many companies and individuals are unknowingly biased, perhaps even unaware of how it’s affecting the organisation. Companies might not necessarily be actively trying to discriminate against people from certain demographics; it might just be occurring because of societal norms, long running trends and procedures which go many years back. The first step in tackling this issue is acknowledging there is likely room for improvement, and then committing to doing something about it. Get digging! Being proactive starts with analysis and understanding. Starting off is simple. Look around your company. How would you describe your internal workforce dedicated, daring, delightful… diverse? If the latter doesn’t ring true immediately, where are there gaps? We know women are underrepresented in technology and STEM careers in general. Is your company a culprit of continuing this trend? What other demographics are under or overrepresented in your business? What patterns do you see emerging? Conducting what could be called an employee audit, measuring race, gender, age and other metrics will give you a good starting point for putting some new methods into practice. The next step is to analyse your recruitment and hiring processes closely. Can you spot ways that bias and discrimination are being silently encouraged? Have a game plan To make positive changes towards becoming a more diverse workforce, you need a game plan and support from the whole business. They say good management always starts from the top; a CEO’s attitudes to work, staff and the company will likely infiltrate down through the tiers of management and be reflected across the remaining workforce. To really make diversity and inclusion a priority, we’d recommend putting into place an actual team of people whose job it is to embed a framework that supports improvement. It’s now or never Whatever you do, don’t ignore diversity and inclusion as a serious issue! It’s important, and tackling the issue NOW will be better for everyone in the long run.

How To Stay Productive When You Are Tired

How To Stay Productive When You Are Tired Forging ahead towards the achievement of your ambitions is not always a question of inner drive. Sometimes it comes down to pure stamina! Whether you’re working late on a big project that is sure to get you a promotion, or you’re trying to fit in a job application between tasks, doing your best isn’t easy once your energy is drained. What you need are some proven techniques to help you go that extra mile.You can start by slowing down. It may sound counter-intuitive, but taking regular breaks can make you more productive â€" especially if you use them well.Take five minutes off every 50 minutes If stretches are beyond you at this level of fatigue, you could at least try moving closer to a window. Daylight is a proven performance-enhancer, and if you can open the window to let in some fresh air â€" that’s all the better.This new infographic is packed with other ways you can recharge yourself when you need to go that extra mile to advance yourself at work. Learn it well, and you ’ll be able to power on during the most trying times of your career.Infographic Credit â€" microsofttraining.net

Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Job Search - CareerAlley

Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. I spend a lot of time with vendors, service suppliers and consultants in my job. One consulting firm in particular screwed up a project big time. Cost overruns, unfinished work, stuff that didnt work at all, you get the picture. And then, to add insult to injury, they wanted more money to finish the work that they should have done for the original boatload of money we paid them. Anyway, I was talking with the sales guy from the consulting company and he went on and on we should have done this, we should have done that, we should have communicated early, wah wah wah. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Who cares? Move on, you cant change the past. So whats the point? Whatever your reason for looking for a new job, you cant dwell on what got you here and you cant worry about what you should have done in your job search. Forget the past, look forward to what you can do and make today the first day of the rest of your job search. Restarting Your Job Search: Nothing like a fresh start. The next few links will help you get started. 20 Ways to Restart Your Job Search Great article posted from business news daily, covers (you guessed it) 2o ways to [easyazon_link asin=1285753461 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=yes]restart your job search[/easyazon_link]. What you need to do before you get started (or restarted) lots of good bullets on this. Next is restarting your search (the usual suspects, but worth the read). Also take a look at the links within the article. How to Start a Job Search Okay, maybe you dont need to restart your job search, maybe you just need to start. The article, posted on jobdig.com, starts with the basic steps job search plan, job search tools, etc. Written by one the top experts on job search, Alison Doyle. The article provides all of the steps you will need to take to have a successful job search. Definitely worth a read if you want to kick start your search. Restarting Your Job Search When All Else Fails Vol 1 Written and posted by yours truly, CareerAllley, it covers the basics of what you need like rebuilding your resume, checklists for job search (also, see below) and of course there will be a Restarting Your Job Search When All Else Fails Vol 2! Job Leads Where to Start: At the beginning of course. Some great resources listed below. 10 Ways to Develop Job Leads Career site quintcareers.com posted this article which includes tips (10 to be exact) to[easyazon_link asin=0764551639 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=yes]developing job leads[/easyazon_link] (such as Networking and Corporate Career Centers). There are related embedded links throughout the article as well as related links at the top left hand side of the page. Use the Internet to Find Job Leads Rileyguide.com, another leading Internet job search and career site, provides a great outline for leveraging the Internet to develop job leads. Tons of embedded links as well as great advice. Take a look. CareerAlley Job Search Find your job leveraging CareerAlleys job search site! We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by

Gift Giving at Work Dont Stress It!

Gift Giving at Work Dont Stress It! While the holiday season is supposed to be full of “good tidings and cheer”, we all know that this is not something that comes easily to many of us. Between long lines in stores, wallets that grow empty as the season goes on, and angst over what to get the person who isn’t happy with anything, the “cheer” part of the holiday season sometimes goes by the wayside, especially in the workplace.   However, there are things you can do to make the holiday season less stressful and more enjoyable, even during the workday. Know your staff and their holidays: If you are a department head, you should have an awareness of what customs/traditions your employees follow during the holidays. Saying “Merry Christmas” to the Account Manager who celebrates Hanukkah can be offensive, even if you don’t mean for it to be. If you take your staff to lunch as a holiday gift, try to organize the luncheon on a day when they are all present. Some staff may take days to celebrate holidays in their own cultures/religions, rather than the customary Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dates that most companies observe. Gifts for coworkers: Many of us already have too many people on our shopping list during the holiday season, and adding coworkers to that list sometimes puts us over the financial edge. Don’t sweat it and don’t spend money that you don’t have just because somebody asked you to. If you have a group of co-workers you feel you need to buy a little something for, suggest drawing names and doing a gift exchange. Set a strict price limit, and encourage the co-workers to give gift ideas (within the price range) to help the buyer find something appropriate for that person. If you decide to buy for someone outside of the gift exchange, make sure you set up a special time away from the workplace to exchange gifts. Or, forgo the gift-giving completely and instead do a cookie exchange or potluck with your coworkers to keep the mood festive. Both options cost less and still give you the holiday social time to enjoy with your coworkers. Doing a Secret Santa gift exchange? While this isn’t always a favorite and can be very awkward, consider suggesting a theme to keep gifts from getting weird. A “coffee” theme, or “Star Wars” theme or whatever your office is into keeps the mood light. Be clear on whether the gifts are supposed to be “nice” or “gag”. Set a dollar amount so everyone’s gift is the same value. If one person gets a whole full basket of goodies but another person gets a pair of Dollar Store socks, resentment may replace the tone of the festivities. Gifts for the boss: This is a tough one. If you are the person who has been assigned the task of organizing the gift for the boss, there are a few things to remember. First, salaries are not the same. Find a gift where everybody can chip in and not have their wallets cleaned out. Set a limit (maybe $10/person) and if people want to give more they can. Have a card at your desk ready to go so when your coworkers bring you their donation, they can sign the card before they leave. Be prepared for those who may not want to donate and don’t badger them. Finally, when you are ready to present the gift to your boss, gather everyone together and give the gift to your boss as a group. Gifts for Clients: Before you even think of giving a gift to a client, make sure you are very clear on the gift-giving/receiving policies for your company, as well as your client’s company. Many companies have established strict guidelines regarding what types of “gifts” can be exchanged between clients/customers and suppliers, buyers and sales associates, etc. While some companies have a zero-tolerance policy on receiving any type of gift, they are not opposed to business luncheons. If this is the case, take your client out for a nice lunch and express your gratitude in words instead of a gift that could get you, or them, fired. By following some of these simple guidelines, you will make your holiday celebrations in the workplace light on the stress and heavy on the cheer! Happy Holidays!

What Makes Elite Resume Writing Services Special?

What Makes Elite Resume Writing Services Special?As a resume writer, I have seen first hand how an elite resume writing service can change the way a potential employer sees you. Many people think that it's difficult to become an executive recruiter or a candidate for that matter because of the stigma associated with those jobs. However, the truth is that it's actually not all that difficult, and one person who is a great resource for elite resume writing services is me.One reason why an elite resume writer is so effective is because they have such a broad understanding of the industry. Many executives at a top management position may know a lot about the job you're applying for, but they don't necessarily have all the information you need to make the best impression. A good writer will be able to research your potential employers to know what they do and how they do it. And because of their background in the industry, they will know what you need to say.An elite resume writing servic e will also take the time to understand what you do and how you do it. They will want to know your career objectives, what you hope to accomplish in the company you'll be joiningwhat you are looking for in a professional relationship, and the types of experiences you are seeking. To help make sure you tell them everything you need to, they'll want to know your goals as well.If you're considering hiring an executive recruiter, then you'll want to check out an elite service. Both have strengths and weaknesses, and you should get a recommendation from someone you trust to use your services. In addition, an elite service will help you prepare for interviews by sending you samples of past examples of your work.Resume writing services may also help you customize your resume to fit the job you're applying for. Most executives don't see a resume when they arrive for an interview; they're reviewing their own resume. When you talk toan elite recruiter or professional resume writer, they'll be able to give you examples of other resumes from other applicants and help you make the changes that you need to make. Sometimes, it's just that simple.One thing that you'll always want to be sure to ask is what is covered by the services. If you've done any work previously, you'll want to ask if they offer samples that you can use. If you're considering changing your career path, the services will be able to help you make the transition easier.Elite services are the only way to go if you're looking for help with your resume. You can save time and money, while also getting qualified candidates in the door as quickly as possible.

Building a Flexible Resume

Building a Flexible Resume Spread the loveFlexibility is essential to any career, and it’s just as important to your search for a career. Yet, most people build a single, static resume that they use to apply to different job listings â€" regardless of the job type.Unfortunately, while this may be the quickest way to send out as many resumes as possible, it’s also the quickest way to get overlooked by potential employers.Why change a resume to apply to similar positions?While it may be quicker to send out the same resume to every job listing (especially if the listings are similar), the popularity of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) makes it more important than ever to optimize your resume for each specific listing. Matching the filters for keywords and criteria used by the Applicant Tracking System is essential. Doing this will ensure that your resume isnt weeded out before the prospective employer sees it.How can you keep your resume flexible?The best and most efficient way of doing this is to build a fle xible resume with interchangeable parts. Organize those parts separately and plugin information, depending on its relevance to the specific position. How do you know what each listing is specifically looking for?There are some fool-proof ways to accurately determine what a listing is looking for, and we will go over those techniques later in this post.Though it can be difficult to create a flexible resume that will get you interviews for similar but not identical positions, you will soon discover that organizing your resume and your information correctly will help you to make the necessary changes quickly and easily.The fool-proof flexible resume systemFirst, put together a collection of all your accomplishments, skills and anything else you think would be relevant for your job search. Include anything you think an employer should know about you. This is going to serve as the source you use to compile and organize information that can be used on your resume for any number of job app lications. Let’s call this your “master resume, even though its essentially just a list.Second, you must identify what each employer is looking for. This gives you an insight into how they most likely configured their ATS. There are certain keywords and phrases you can look for in a job description that will give you a good indication of what the employer is specifically targeting; those keywords are likely how the employer set up the filters for the ATS scan.Finally, using the information that youve compiled, swap in and out the details that best match the specific job description you’re applying to. This includes keywords and phrases that receive prominent mention in the description.Heres that information on a handy infographic you can save. Dont worry if youre still confused: weve gone into much more detail for each step below the graphic. Let’s take it step-by-step to make sure you’re ready to take on your job search with every trick in the book!How (exactly) to build a flexible resume1. Create a “master resume”What’s the best way to build your all-encompassing list or “master resume” of professional experiences and achievements? Start writing everything down. There’s no need to be formal about it; you just want to make sure that your list is well organized and easy to navigate so you can quickly find any information you think is relevant for each specific application. Keep track of the little things, as this will be incredibly helpful when building your master resume. You never know what a potential employer may be looking for, but you can get a really good idea!Organize your master list using the same headers you used to organize your resume. Doing this will make it easier to quickly find the information you’re looking for and plug it into your resume. When it comes time to make changes, youll be able to do it in no time!  Dont forget anything on your list, because you never know what’s going to turn up in a job description. May be those swim lessons you taught all those years ago have some relevancy in your application to a sales manager position.Tips on how to create a master resumeThink about your daily responsibilities in all of your previous experiences (not just the related experiences).What unique skills do you have?Which responsibilities have been common throughout your work history?What do you do differently than your co-workers?What do people say about your work?Is there anything that you regularly get complimented for?Is there anything that you regularly get in trouble for?Your master resume should end up looking like a long, rough draft of a regular resume. This way, you can go section-by-section and quickly scan for information that matches the job description. Then you simply copy and paste it into the resume youre going to send to apply for the specific job.2. Determine what the employer is looking forOf course, in order to successfully tweak your resume for a job listing, you need to make su re you know exactly what you’re applying for. Let’s go over how to successfully read and analyze a job description and use it to accurately determine what will give your resume the best chance of getting past the applicant tracking system.Job description overviewMost job descriptions start with a general overview of the available role. Try to tie your past experiences to this overview. Look for words or phrases that you can relate to and include something similar on your resume.For example, if an overview for a sales position mentions “client-facing sales” or “collaborative environment, you should make sure to include these exact phrases on your resume. Either integrate them into the descriptions you give for previous positions or list them under your “core competencies” or “skills” section.Job description responsibilitiesUsually, the general overview is followed by a list of responsibilities that will be required to be successful in the position. This part is usua lly pretty easy. Simply read the responsibilities carefully and try to include at least a phrase or word from each one on your resume. If you can include full matching descriptions and tie them to previous positions, that’s even better. Remember, the more words or phrases you have in common with the list of responsibilities, the better chance you have of passing the ATS scan. Dont be afraid to get creative; if you can find a way to tie in similar but unrelated previous responsibilities, do it. Even phrasing your responsibilities similar to the responsibilities listed to the description will give you a huge leg up on the competition.Job description requirementsThe one section present on nearly every job description is the requirements section. This is the most important section to the employer as these are the things you absolutely NEED in order to be a successful candidate for the position. Luckily, this is also the easiest section to decipher and, after reading through them, you should have a pretty good idea of whether or not you’re qualified for the position. Be flexible; if it says something like “3+ years’ experience” and you only have 2, that’s fine. However, if it says something like “master’s degree in psychology” and you don’t have that, you’re probably better off moving to the next application. Even if your qualifications arent perfect, you can match keywords and phrases in the requirements to words and phrases in your resume. At the very least, your resume then has a shot at being seen by a human.Job description desired qualificationsSome job descriptions have a desired qualifications section. This is generally a list of unquantifiable qualities that dont require any specific experience. If your job description has this section, make sure you take advantage of it!This is your chance to make your resume match the description exactly. The desired qualities are almost always soft skills, like “teamwork” and “good communicato r.” Be sure to include everything applicable on your resume. Also be prepared on how these skills apply to you so that you can back up your resume come interview time.Job description keywordsAs you can probably tell, the one thing that all these sections have in common is the importance of matching keywords on your resume to those in the job description.It may sound a bit redundant at this point, but keywords are the key to any application. If you can seamlessly include skills and experience that match keywords in the job description, you will give yourself a huge advantage over the competition when it comes to passing the ATS filtersas well as standing out to the human employers.3. Organize your master resume like a real resumeNow that you have a master list of your skills, and you know how to successfully decipher a job description, let’s go over how to set up your resume in a way that is conducive to quick changes.First off, you definitely do not want to include any long para graphs. Not only are these very time-consuming to alter for each application, but ATS systems only scan them for keywords and most human hiring managers dont bother to read them at all. For these reasons, including long or specific paragraphs on your resume severely diminishes the flexibility of your resume. Skip it!Instead, if you stick to short points and specific skills on your resume, it will be much easier to make adjustments on the fly. How to write a flexible experience sectionMost often, the biggest and most important section of your resume is the past experiences section. This is the meat of the resume and where you can really make yourself stand out to potential employers. Now, you can’t change your experiences to match those required on a job listing. But, you can certainly change the way you present those experiences! In the experience section, presentation is everything. Even if the responsibilities of your past experiences dont match exactly with the responsibilities of the position you’re applying for, find a way to draw similarities. Look at the responsibilities listed in the job description and word the description of your experience in a way that makes it sound applicable. If youve built a master resume correctly, you should have a long list of responsibilities for every position youve held. Look through them and choose the ones that best match the job description. For example, if you’re applying for an account management position and you have experience in sales, then make sure to put the biggest emphasis on your experience working with clients. How to write a flexible skills sectionNow, let’s discuss where the real magic happens: the skills section of your resume. This is the easy part! Usually, the desired skills are listed right on the job description. All you have to do is look through them and add the ones that you can reasonably say apply to you.Keep in mind that some employers are looking for specific hard skills while most ar e looking for more general soft skills. Read the job description thoroughly and try to extract from it the skills that seem most important to the employer. If you dont already have those skills on your resume but you think you’re skilled enough to include them, put them on your resume! This will help ensure that your resume makes it through the screening of the ATS, and make it stand out to hiring managers. Consider working the skills into your work experience, such as software you used or how you achieved a goal. Showing how you used the skill is more effective than simply listing it on your resume.Technical skills on your resumeIf the type of job you’re applying for involves specific technical knowledge, you can include a technical skills section where you can list specific technical skills like a programming language or framework, a specific degree or certificate, a foreign language, or even math. But dont forget about the relevant soft skills! Soft skills on your resumeSoft skills can also be swapped depending on the job description. If the description puts a big emphasis on teamwork or problem solving, make sure to include those things throughout your resume.Core competencies on your resumeA core competencies section is also incredibly helpful if your employment history or the jobs you’re applying for share common responsibilities or points of emphasis. For example, if you’re applying for a software development position and youve held multiple, similar positions in the past, you can include something like “software development life-cycle” in your list of core competencies.SummaryIn today’s market, the job search is more complex than it’s ever been. Luckily, with the modern implementation of ATS in the majority of businesses, we can roughly quantify what each company is looking for. And, if you have built your resume to be flexible, it will only take a few minutes to make sure it provides you the best opportunity to secure that interview.Go od luck with your job search! Building a Flexible Resume Spread the loveFlexibility is essential to any career, and it’s just as important to your search for a career. Yet, most people build a single, static resume that they use to apply to different job listings â€" regardless of the job type.Unfortunately, while this may be the quickest way to send out as many resumes as possible, it’s also the quickest way to get overlooked by potential employers.Why change a resume to apply to similar positions?While it may be quicker to send out the same resume to every job listing (especially if the listings are similar), the popularity of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) makes it more important than ever to optimize your resume for each specific listing. Matching the filters for keywords and criteria used by the Applicant Tracking System is essential. Doing this will ensure that your resume isnt weeded out before the prospective employer sees it.How can you keep your resume flexible?The best and most efficient way of doing this is to build a fle xible resume with interchangeable parts. Organize those parts separately and plugin information, depending on its relevance to the specific position. How do you know what each listing is specifically looking for?There are some fool-proof ways to accurately determine what a listing is looking for, and we will go over those techniques later in this post.Though it can be difficult to create a flexible resume that will get you interviews for similar but not identical positions, you will soon discover that organizing your resume and your information correctly will help you to make the necessary changes quickly and easily.The fool-proof flexible resume systemFirst, put together a collection of all your accomplishments, skills and anything else you think would be relevant for your job search. Include anything you think an employer should know about you. This is going to serve as the source you use to compile and organize information that can be used on your resume for any number of job app lications. Let’s call this your “master resume, even though its essentially just a list.Second, you must identify what each employer is looking for. This gives you an insight into how they most likely configured their ATS. There are certain keywords and phrases you can look for in a job description that will give you a good indication of what the employer is specifically targeting; those keywords are likely how the employer set up the filters for the ATS scan.Finally, using the information that youve compiled, swap in and out the details that best match the specific job description you’re applying to. This includes keywords and phrases that receive prominent mention in the description.Heres that information on a handy infographic you can save. Dont worry if youre still confused: weve gone into much more detail for each step below the graphic. Let’s take it step-by-step to make sure you’re ready to take on your job search with every trick in the book!How (exactly) to build a flexible resume1. Create a “master resume”What’s the best way to build your all-encompassing list or “master resume” of professional experiences and achievements? Start writing everything down. There’s no need to be formal about it; you just want to make sure that your list is well organized and easy to navigate so you can quickly find any information you think is relevant for each specific application. Keep track of the little things, as this will be incredibly helpful when building your master resume. You never know what a potential employer may be looking for, but you can get a really good idea!Organize your master list using the same headers you used to organize your resume. Doing this will make it easier to quickly find the information you’re looking for and plug it into your resume. When it comes time to make changes, youll be able to do it in no time!  Dont forget anything on your list, because you never know what’s going to turn up in a job description. May be those swim lessons you taught all those years ago have some relevancy in your application to a sales manager position.Tips on how to create a master resumeThink about your daily responsibilities in all of your previous experiences (not just the related experiences).What unique skills do you have?Which responsibilities have been common throughout your work history?What do you do differently than your co-workers?What do people say about your work?Is there anything that you regularly get complimented for?Is there anything that you regularly get in trouble for?Your master resume should end up looking like a long, rough draft of a regular resume. This way, you can go section-by-section and quickly scan for information that matches the job description. Then you simply copy and paste it into the resume youre going to send to apply for the specific job.2. Determine what the employer is looking forOf course, in order to successfully tweak your resume for a job listing, you need to make su re you know exactly what you’re applying for. Let’s go over how to successfully read and analyze a job description and use it to accurately determine what will give your resume the best chance of getting past the applicant tracking system.Job description overviewMost job descriptions start with a general overview of the available role. Try to tie your past experiences to this overview. Look for words or phrases that you can relate to and include something similar on your resume.For example, if an overview for a sales position mentions “client-facing sales” or “collaborative environment, you should make sure to include these exact phrases on your resume. Either integrate them into the descriptions you give for previous positions or list them under your “core competencies” or “skills” section.Job description responsibilitiesUsually, the general overview is followed by a list of responsibilities that will be required to be successful in the position. This part is usua lly pretty easy. Simply read the responsibilities carefully and try to include at least a phrase or word from each one on your resume. If you can include full matching descriptions and tie them to previous positions, that’s even better. Remember, the more words or phrases you have in common with the list of responsibilities, the better chance you have of passing the ATS scan. Dont be afraid to get creative; if you can find a way to tie in similar but unrelated previous responsibilities, do it. Even phrasing your responsibilities similar to the responsibilities listed to the description will give you a huge leg up on the competition.Job description requirementsThe one section present on nearly every job description is the requirements section. This is the most important section to the employer as these are the things you absolutely NEED in order to be a successful candidate for the position. Luckily, this is also the easiest section to decipher and, after reading through them, you should have a pretty good idea of whether or not you’re qualified for the position. Be flexible; if it says something like “3+ years’ experience” and you only have 2, that’s fine. However, if it says something like “master’s degree in psychology” and you don’t have that, you’re probably better off moving to the next application. Even if your qualifications arent perfect, you can match keywords and phrases in the requirements to words and phrases in your resume. At the very least, your resume then has a shot at being seen by a human.Job description desired qualificationsSome job descriptions have a desired qualifications section. This is generally a list of unquantifiable qualities that dont require any specific experience. If your job description has this section, make sure you take advantage of it!This is your chance to make your resume match the description exactly. The desired qualities are almost always soft skills, like “teamwork” and “good communicato r.” Be sure to include everything applicable on your resume. Also be prepared on how these skills apply to you so that you can back up your resume come interview time.Job description keywordsAs you can probably tell, the one thing that all these sections have in common is the importance of matching keywords on your resume to those in the job description.It may sound a bit redundant at this point, but keywords are the key to any application. If you can seamlessly include skills and experience that match keywords in the job description, you will give yourself a huge advantage over the competition when it comes to passing the ATS filtersas well as standing out to the human employers.3. Organize your master resume like a real resumeNow that you have a master list of your skills, and you know how to successfully decipher a job description, let’s go over how to set up your resume in a way that is conducive to quick changes.First off, you definitely do not want to include any long para graphs. Not only are these very time-consuming to alter for each application, but ATS systems only scan them for keywords and most human hiring managers dont bother to read them at all. For these reasons, including long or specific paragraphs on your resume severely diminishes the flexibility of your resume. Skip it!Instead, if you stick to short points and specific skills on your resume, it will be much easier to make adjustments on the fly. How to write a flexible experience sectionMost often, the biggest and most important section of your resume is the past experiences section. This is the meat of the resume and where you can really make yourself stand out to potential employers. Now, you can’t change your experiences to match those required on a job listing. But, you can certainly change the way you present those experiences! In the experience section, presentation is everything. Even if the responsibilities of your past experiences dont match exactly with the responsibilities of the position you’re applying for, find a way to draw similarities. Look at the responsibilities listed in the job description and word the description of your experience in a way that makes it sound applicable. If youve built a master resume correctly, you should have a long list of responsibilities for every position youve held. Look through them and choose the ones that best match the job description. For example, if you’re applying for an account management position and you have experience in sales, then make sure to put the biggest emphasis on your experience working with clients. How to write a flexible skills sectionNow, let’s discuss where the real magic happens: the skills section of your resume. This is the easy part! Usually, the desired skills are listed right on the job description. All you have to do is look through them and add the ones that you can reasonably say apply to you.Keep in mind that some employers are looking for specific hard skills while most ar e looking for more general soft skills. Read the job description thoroughly and try to extract from it the skills that seem most important to the employer. If you dont already have those skills on your resume but you think you’re skilled enough to include them, put them on your resume! This will help ensure that your resume makes it through the screening of the ATS, and make it stand out to hiring managers. Consider working the skills into your work experience, such as software you used or how you achieved a goal. Showing how you used the skill is more effective than simply listing it on your resume.Technical skills on your resumeIf the type of job you’re applying for involves specific technical knowledge, you can include a technical skills section where you can list specific technical skills like a programming language or framework, a specific degree or certificate, a foreign language, or even math. But dont forget about the relevant soft skills! Soft skills on your resumeSoft skills can also be swapped depending on the job description. If the description puts a big emphasis on teamwork or problem solving, make sure to include those things throughout your resume.Core competencies on your resumeA core competencies section is also incredibly helpful if your employment history or the jobs you’re applying for share common responsibilities or points of emphasis. For example, if you’re applying for a software development position and youve held multiple, similar positions in the past, you can include something like “software development life-cycle” in your list of core competencies.SummaryIn today’s market, the job search is more complex than it’s ever been. Luckily, with the modern implementation of ATS in the majority of businesses, we can roughly quantify what each company is looking for. And, if you have built your resume to be flexible, it will only take a few minutes to make sure it provides you the best opportunity to secure that interview.Go od luck with your job search! Building a Flexible Resume Spread the loveFlexibility is essential to any career, and it’s just as important to your search for a career. Yet, most people build a single, static resume that they use to apply to different job listings â€" regardless of the job type.Unfortunately, while this may be the quickest way to send out as many resumes as possible, it’s also the quickest way to get overlooked by potential employers.Why change a resume to apply to similar positions?While it may be quicker to send out the same resume to every job listing (especially if the listings are similar), the popularity of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) makes it more important than ever to optimize your resume for each specific listing. Matching the filters for keywords and criteria used by the Applicant Tracking System is essential. Doing this will ensure that your resume isnt weeded out before the prospective employer sees it.How can you keep your resume flexible?The best and most efficient way of doing this is to build a fle xible resume with interchangeable parts. Organize those parts separately and plugin information, depending on its relevance to the specific position. How do you know what each listing is specifically looking for?There are some fool-proof ways to accurately determine what a listing is looking for, and we will go over those techniques later in this post.Though it can be difficult to create a flexible resume that will get you interviews for similar but not identical positions, you will soon discover that organizing your resume and your information correctly will help you to make the necessary changes quickly and easily.The fool-proof flexible resume systemFirst, put together a collection of all your accomplishments, skills and anything else you think would be relevant for your job search. Include anything you think an employer should know about you. This is going to serve as the source you use to compile and organize information that can be used on your resume for any number of job app lications. Let’s call this your “master resume, even though its essentially just a list.Second, you must identify what each employer is looking for. This gives you an insight into how they most likely configured their ATS. There are certain keywords and phrases you can look for in a job description that will give you a good indication of what the employer is specifically targeting; those keywords are likely how the employer set up the filters for the ATS scan.Finally, using the information that youve compiled, swap in and out the details that best match the specific job description you’re applying to. This includes keywords and phrases that receive prominent mention in the description.Heres that information on a handy infographic you can save. Dont worry if youre still confused: weve gone into much more detail for each step below the graphic. Let’s take it step-by-step to make sure you’re ready to take on your job search with every trick in the book!How (exactly) to build a flexible resume1. Create a “master resume”What’s the best way to build your all-encompassing list or “master resume” of professional experiences and achievements? Start writing everything down. There’s no need to be formal about it; you just want to make sure that your list is well organized and easy to navigate so you can quickly find any information you think is relevant for each specific application. Keep track of the little things, as this will be incredibly helpful when building your master resume. You never know what a potential employer may be looking for, but you can get a really good idea!Organize your master list using the same headers you used to organize your resume. Doing this will make it easier to quickly find the information you’re looking for and plug it into your resume. When it comes time to make changes, youll be able to do it in no time!  Dont forget anything on your list, because you never know what’s going to turn up in a job description. May be those swim lessons you taught all those years ago have some relevancy in your application to a sales manager position.Tips on how to create a master resumeThink about your daily responsibilities in all of your previous experiences (not just the related experiences).What unique skills do you have?Which responsibilities have been common throughout your work history?What do you do differently than your co-workers?What do people say about your work?Is there anything that you regularly get complimented for?Is there anything that you regularly get in trouble for?Your master resume should end up looking like a long, rough draft of a regular resume. This way, you can go section-by-section and quickly scan for information that matches the job description. Then you simply copy and paste it into the resume youre going to send to apply for the specific job.2. Determine what the employer is looking forOf course, in order to successfully tweak your resume for a job listing, you need to make su re you know exactly what you’re applying for. Let’s go over how to successfully read and analyze a job description and use it to accurately determine what will give your resume the best chance of getting past the applicant tracking system.Job description overviewMost job descriptions start with a general overview of the available role. Try to tie your past experiences to this overview. Look for words or phrases that you can relate to and include something similar on your resume.For example, if an overview for a sales position mentions “client-facing sales” or “collaborative environment, you should make sure to include these exact phrases on your resume. Either integrate them into the descriptions you give for previous positions or list them under your “core competencies” or “skills” section.Job description responsibilitiesUsually, the general overview is followed by a list of responsibilities that will be required to be successful in the position. This part is usua lly pretty easy. Simply read the responsibilities carefully and try to include at least a phrase or word from each one on your resume. If you can include full matching descriptions and tie them to previous positions, that’s even better. Remember, the more words or phrases you have in common with the list of responsibilities, the better chance you have of passing the ATS scan. Dont be afraid to get creative; if you can find a way to tie in similar but unrelated previous responsibilities, do it. Even phrasing your responsibilities similar to the responsibilities listed to the description will give you a huge leg up on the competition.Job description requirementsThe one section present on nearly every job description is the requirements section. This is the most important section to the employer as these are the things you absolutely NEED in order to be a successful candidate for the position. Luckily, this is also the easiest section to decipher and, after reading through them, you should have a pretty good idea of whether or not you’re qualified for the position. Be flexible; if it says something like “3+ years’ experience” and you only have 2, that’s fine. However, if it says something like “master’s degree in psychology” and you don’t have that, you’re probably better off moving to the next application. Even if your qualifications arent perfect, you can match keywords and phrases in the requirements to words and phrases in your resume. At the very least, your resume then has a shot at being seen by a human.Job description desired qualificationsSome job descriptions have a desired qualifications section. This is generally a list of unquantifiable qualities that dont require any specific experience. If your job description has this section, make sure you take advantage of it!This is your chance to make your resume match the description exactly. The desired qualities are almost always soft skills, like “teamwork” and “good communicato r.” Be sure to include everything applicable on your resume. Also be prepared on how these skills apply to you so that you can back up your resume come interview time.Job description keywordsAs you can probably tell, the one thing that all these sections have in common is the importance of matching keywords on your resume to those in the job description.It may sound a bit redundant at this point, but keywords are the key to any application. If you can seamlessly include skills and experience that match keywords in the job description, you will give yourself a huge advantage over the competition when it comes to passing the ATS filtersas well as standing out to the human employers.3. Organize your master resume like a real resumeNow that you have a master list of your skills, and you know how to successfully decipher a job description, let’s go over how to set up your resume in a way that is conducive to quick changes.First off, you definitely do not want to include any long para graphs. Not only are these very time-consuming to alter for each application, but ATS systems only scan them for keywords and most human hiring managers dont bother to read them at all. For these reasons, including long or specific paragraphs on your resume severely diminishes the flexibility of your resume. Skip it!Instead, if you stick to short points and specific skills on your resume, it will be much easier to make adjustments on the fly. How to write a flexible experience sectionMost often, the biggest and most important section of your resume is the past experiences section. This is the meat of the resume and where you can really make yourself stand out to potential employers. Now, you can’t change your experiences to match those required on a job listing. But, you can certainly change the way you present those experiences! In the experience section, presentation is everything. Even if the responsibilities of your past experiences dont match exactly with the responsibilities of the position you’re applying for, find a way to draw similarities. Look at the responsibilities listed in the job description and word the description of your experience in a way that makes it sound applicable. If youve built a master resume correctly, you should have a long list of responsibilities for every position youve held. Look through them and choose the ones that best match the job description. For example, if you’re applying for an account management position and you have experience in sales, then make sure to put the biggest emphasis on your experience working with clients. How to write a flexible skills sectionNow, let’s discuss where the real magic happens: the skills section of your resume. This is the easy part! Usually, the desired skills are listed right on the job description. All you have to do is look through them and add the ones that you can reasonably say apply to you.Keep in mind that some employers are looking for specific hard skills while most ar e looking for more general soft skills. Read the job description thoroughly and try to extract from it the skills that seem most important to the employer. If you dont already have those skills on your resume but you think you’re skilled enough to include them, put them on your resume! This will help ensure that your resume makes it through the screening of the ATS, and make it stand out to hiring managers. Consider working the skills into your work experience, such as software you used or how you achieved a goal. Showing how you used the skill is more effective than simply listing it on your resume.Technical skills on your resumeIf the type of job you’re applying for involves specific technical knowledge, you can include a technical skills section where you can list specific technical skills like a programming language or framework, a specific degree or certificate, a foreign language, or even math. But dont forget about the relevant soft skills! Soft skills on your resumeSoft skills can also be swapped depending on the job description. If the description puts a big emphasis on teamwork or problem solving, make sure to include those things throughout your resume.Core competencies on your resumeA core competencies section is also incredibly helpful if your employment history or the jobs you’re applying for share common responsibilities or points of emphasis. For example, if you’re applying for a software development position and youve held multiple, similar positions in the past, you can include something like “software development life-cycle” in your list of core competencies.SummaryIn today’s market, the job search is more complex than it’s ever been. Luckily, with the modern implementation of ATS in the majority of businesses, we can roughly quantify what each company is looking for. And, if you have built your resume to be flexible, it will only take a few minutes to make sure it provides you the best opportunity to secure that interview.Go od luck with your job search!

4 Ways To Make Your Resume Perfect For A Job Opening - Work It Daily

4 Ways To Make Your Resume Perfect For A Job Opening - Work It Daily When a hiring manager reviews your resume you want them to say, “Wow! That person sounds like the perfect fit for the job!” And then, of course, they call you for the interview! So, how do you create a resume that communicates that you’re exactly what they’re looking for in a new employee? RELATED: Need to write a resume? Watch these resume tutorials! Below are four tips to make your resume perfect for the job you're applying to. Customization Is Critical Remember, you always want to tweak your resume when you apply for a job. No two positions are exactly alike, and each employer is going to have different standards and requirements that are very important to them. Key in on those requirements, and be sure to incorporate them into your resume. You’ll know what these requirements are by reviewing the job advertisement and noting special keywords throughout; or, in most cases, the employer will state required skills or preferred qualifications. You’re a perfect match when you meet all of the required and preferred qualifications, which leads us to the next point. Required And Preferred Skills Are Essential When reviewing the description for a job opening, be careful to note exactly what the employer lists as required and preferred. This is critical information. You want to make sure your resume communicates very clearly that you possess all of the required skills. This means you’re capable of doing the job and performing the essential functions. Preferred qualifications are the employer’s wish list of things they’d like to have in a new employee. They can live without them, but if you can prove you possess them, you just upped the ante for the other candidates being considered and are one step closer to positioning yourself as the ideal candidate. Keywords Are A Must Scan the opening for important keywords listed throughout. Chances are any recruiter or HR person is going to use these keywords when searching job boards for your resume. You want to make sure these keywords are listed throughout your resume or the applicant-tracking software the organization is using won’t pull your resume in the search results. Don’t Forget About Branding Branding your resume is important to your job search, but it is also vital to proving you’re the perfect fit for an opening. You need to think about what makes you unique as a candidate. What can you offer that others can’t? Show the employer you can offer them value and benefit that others cannot. Do this through a branding statement, branded career summary, and metrics-driven accomplishment statements. Creating a resume that communicates you’re a perfect fit for an open position can be challenging, but following these simple tips can make the process easier and less painstaking. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 3 Reasons Why Your Resume Isn’t Helping You Get Hired 3 Steps To A Killer Resume Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!