Tuesday, April 21, 2020

How to Write a Cover Letter and Resume - Find Out What You Really Want

How to Write a Cover Letter and Resume - Find Out What You Really WantThe first thing you need to do when writing a cover letter and resume is to figure out what you really want. You should know what your cover letter is trying to accomplish and what you really want in life. Next, you need to figure out what you really want in life.Write down what you want. Know your worth. When you write your letter and resume, it is not just about you. It is about all of the people you are trying to get to like you. If you know how much you are worth, you will be much more confident in what you say.You may want to consider doing something else. If you are very proud of your accomplishments and have a great plan for the future, then you should consider asking for an interview instead of writing a cover letter and resume. Remember, you are your own worst enemy if you just don't write.But if you want a job, but are not sure about your ability to write, then this can be good sense to do some practice f irst. There are plenty of ways to practice and a lot of places to get feedback on what works and what doesn't. Even just writing a few letters or using an online service can help you find out what you are good at and what you are bad at.Then you will have to decide which words you need to use to express who you are and what you are good at. Do you need to use formal writing to say who you are? Do you need to use informal writing to say what you are good at? If you are not sure which one to use, then a little research can be helpful.Do not worry if you need to practice or to write several letters before you can be confident enough to put them into the type of letter you need to write. A cover letter and resume can be written quickly. Practice is important and you need to know what words you need to use so that you don't end up wasting your time.So if you want to know what you need to do, then the first thing you need to do is figure out what you want in life. You can find that out by looking online or talking to other people who are in your same situation. After you figure out what you really want, then you can figure out what words you need to use to make your letter and resume stand out from the others.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Career Changing for Older Workers

Career Changing for Older Workers You may be thinking that an old dog can’t learn new tricks (or find someone to pay them for learning of said tricks), but it simply isn’t true. Even if you’re an “older” member of the workforce, you can (and maybe should) think about switching careers. New jobs and different responsibilities can lead you to discovering amazing things about your personality, interests, and what makes you actually want to get up in the morning. Now, here are some good reasons to think about switching. Read More: How to Recognize a Toxic Worker Before They Do Their Worst 1. Your years of experience are never a liability. Having faced different jobs, clients, and circumstances is great for your resume, unless you lean on your experiences as the “only way to do things” and refuse to accept new ideas. Talk to recruiters about your “past life” and learn how to spin your resume into a personal narrative that led you to the door of your potential new job. How has your time in sales made you the perfect manufacturing manager? How have your years in the classroom prepared you for a job in publishing? Have answers ready for the questions that HR will inevitably ask, and better yet, get them out of the way in your cover letter in a way that doesn’t snooze on the page. Read More: 4 People Who Actually Love Their Job (and How They Figured It Out) 2. There are resources ideal for changing careers, no matter your age. AARP points out stories of career change of those over the “traditional” age of job exploration. Some of the entrepreneurs received training or financial aid from government programs or even corporate fellowships. Not all internships are made for college freshmen, you know. Check with your current employer to see what exciting retraining programs they may offer. Why would they want to start from scratch with someone they don’t know, when they could teach you how to run the new software or transition to a new team they’re developing. Read More: How to Work Two Jobs, But Keep Your Head 3. It could make you happier (even if it scares you a little). Last year’s American Institute for Economic Research study showed that “almost nine in 10 (87%) of those who said they had changed careers successfully said they were happy or very happy with their change, and 65% said they felt less stress at work.” While it may be stressful, it’s no weirder than any other job search process. While you could take a pay cut (the study showed this happens 31 percent of the time) or a bit of a title drop, the ultimate rewards could be a happier and more fulfilled you. And even if (SIGH) you’re “old” in your mind, you’re really not. And life, they say, is too short to be unhappy, right?

Saturday, April 11, 2020

6 Tips For Using Bullet Points On Your Resume - Work It Daily

6 Tips For Using Bullet Points On Your Resume - Work It Daily 6.7 seconds. According to recent studies, that is the average amount of time people spend on their first glance of your resume. So using bullets on your resume is an important way to make sure people see what you want them to see. Related: 4 Red Flags Employers Watch For On Resumes But using bullets requires a careful balance. Too many bullet points can have the opposite effect and look more like a laundry list. To develop a clear structure to your resume and present bullet points with impact, follow these tips: 1. Use paragraphs for roles and responsibilities, and bullets for accomplishments and success statements. In most instances, the bullet point is used in the Summary and Work Experience sections of the resume. For example, under the information for your current employer, job title, and employment period, begin with a short paragraph highlighting what you do and then follow it up with three or four bullet points that directly highlight your accomplishments and success on the job. 2. Be selective about what you highlight. Consider what’s important for the job and select the most relevant points that will detail what you’ve done, how you’ve done it, and what results were made. Use bullet points on the resume to bring attention to something, but when you go beyond three or four bullet points at a time, it can come off like a laundry list. Each bullet point also shouldn’t need more than two lines in length. Keep it tight and succinct! 3. Begin with the most impressive point first. Remember that most hiring managers will only spend a few seconds on each resume, so you want to immediately impress. Start with the most impressive point first. 4. Start each bullet point with a results and action verbs. You want to start with the results rather than the how. For example, which is more likely to capture the reader’s attention? Developed daily and weekly goals to achieve 133% of sales quota. or Achieved 133% of sales quota by developing daily and weekly goals. 5. Apply numbers to your bullet point. For greater impact, apply numbers to your bullet points. You want to put the information in context and show results. For example, “Increased sales 300% within the first two years of product re-launch.” 6. Use it to highlight awards. Relevant awards are always worth highlighting on the resume because it helps distinguish you from others who may have the same experience. If you’ve been recognized at Salesperson of the Year or something similar, use it in your bullet points. An effective resume informs the employer of your experience and skills, but it also provides insight to how good you are at the job. The correct use of bullet points can help you deliver the message! Related Posts How To Customize Your Resume 3 Tips For Flaunting Your Value On Your Resume How To Make Dates On A Resume Work For You About the author Don Goodman’s firm was rated as the #1 Resume Writing Service in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Don is a triple-certified, nationally recognized Expert Resume Writer, Career Management Coach and Job Search Strategist who has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Check out his Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call him at 800.909.0109 for more information.   Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!