Does it feel like you've been looking for a job forever? The problem might not be with you or your credentials it could be how they are presented on your resume. Resume advice from ten years ago is outdated and, especially if you are new to the job-seeking market, your resume might not be as effective as it once was. Fortunately, by making some quick tweaks, you can make your resume start working for you again, leading to a better chance of being noticed by a hiring manager. 1. Change Your Method of Delivery If you are just firing off a resume in an email to every job ad you see, chances are your resume is winding up in the trashcan. You have to make your resume stand out. That might mean faxing, mailing or even hand delivering your resume. 2. Change the Recipient of Your Resume Networking is the name of the game today. Looking to be hired at a company where a friend or an acquaintance is working? Instead of emailing your resume to the HR department, ask your friend who is involved … [Read more...] about 6 Resume Tweaks to Get Hired Faster
Career Advice Blog
11 Ways to Erode Your Personal Brand
Accept a new job offer? Drive the company car? Exercise during your lunch hour? Whether you are on the company's clock or not, you are representing yourself, 100% of the time. You've heard it before, but it's worth repeating: YOU ARE YOUR BRAND. And you need to be cognizant of your actions around the office - both big and small - to keep your integrity in check. Here are several ways that employees damage their personal brand at the office: Engage in Gossip. If you are going to talk about other people, it's safe to assume that they will expect you to talk about them too. The real problem with gossip is that much of the information is not based in fact, this can cloud other people's perceptions. Words might not be a stick or a stone, but they are verbal termites that can quietly destroy your foundation. Make Enemies. Unless you just had your wisdom teeth pulled, it doesn't hurt to smile. A pleasant greeting and reasonable eye contact can be enough to get someone on your side. If … [Read more...] about 11 Ways to Erode Your Personal Brand
The Worst Halloween Costumes for the Office
If your office has a Halloween party, you are likely Googling costume ideas while you are at work. For the record, I am not a fan of office Halloween parties. In my experience, people use the holiday as an opportunity to show something off. It could be large biceps or ginormous breasts; if you've ever been to an office Halloween party, you know what I'm talking about. In general, it is best to keep your costume simple and generic. I know that doesn't sound like much fun, but we are talking about your livelihood, and in these troubled economic times, now is not the time to risk your job to get a laugh. Here are several of the worst costume ideas you can wear to Halloween party at work. Nun/Priest/Crucified Jesus: Bringing religion into your place of work is never a bright idea, no matter how innocent or funny the idea may seem. Don't Bring Sexy Back: Turning Snow White or Cinderella into a tramp, or showing off your Pimp cane during the 9-to-5 is a loser idea. No Twins: Never … [Read more...] about The Worst Halloween Costumes for the Office
5 Tips for the Office Halloween Party
Office Halloween parties are becoming as popular office Christmas parties. Even though it's a time to celebrate, you don't want it to become that story that everyone's whispering about for months (the kind where they stop whispering when you come in the room). All office parties are a great time to mingle with your boss and co-workers and to have a little fun, but you should remember to remain professional at all times. It may be a party, but you're still at work. Here are 5 tips for how to navigate the office Halloween party: Be Festive Parties are a great opportunity to relax and get to know your boss and co-workers on another level. Take the opportunity to show that you're a team player and someone that people want to know. Be a full participant in the festivities: wear a costume, get out on the dance floor, and talk to a wide variety of people that you don't already talk to every day. Don't be that person standing in the corner with your drink and not talking to anyone. Show … [Read more...] about 5 Tips for the Office Halloween Party
3 Tips to Determine if Your (Future) Employees are Trustworthy
People who are interviewing potential employees always have one single overwhelming concern: that the person across the table is out and out lying to them. There's little worse than sinking thousands of dollars in taxes, fees, training costs, and materials into an employee only to have them turn out to be a dud. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to find out if an employee is trustworthy or not -- some obvious, some devious. Get Your Facts If the candidate has passed a few rounds of interviewing and looks quite promising, you can (and should) take the time to contact their previous employers. Get every bit of information you can about how they were as employees, why they left, and so forth. Also, call their references and ask for details that might be less than perfect about them. Then, simply ask them about their previous work experience. If they don't give you a perfectly honest answer, that's OK -- everyone has a tendency to remember the good and forget the bad -- but if … [Read more...] about 3 Tips to Determine if Your (Future) Employees are Trustworthy
Nipping Workplace Gossip In The Bud
Gossip is seen by many as part of life and certainly as a part of most workplaces. Gossip can sometimes be harmless but more often than not, gossip has repercussions for the gossiper and the subject of the gossip. It is amazing how an off-the-cuff remark can have us thinking about someone in a completely different way. We’ve all found ourselves thinking differently about a person due to gossip – whether we know if the gossip was true or not! We also know how hurtful gossip can be when aimed at us. Do you find yourself wishing you could get away from others gossiping around you? Or do you find yourself being drawn into gossip at work and wishing you could stop? Some questions to ask about gossip: Is It Useful? Sometimes a little gossip does have a place in the workplace. Talking to peers about pay rises or some good news that someone has heard can be genuinely informative and positive. Think about what you are about to say or listen to and weigh it up to see if there is a purpose. I … [Read more...] about Nipping Workplace Gossip In The Bud
Workplace Bonuses: Tips and Ideas
Although the workplace bonus performed a disappearing act in many companies during recent tough economic years, it’s making a comeback. While caution may still be required with your workplace bonuses until profits return to normal, you may be eager to reward employees for their loyalty and productivity during these uncertain times. Bonuses can be effective means of showing appreciation for employee efforts and for enhancing worker loyalty to a company. Unfortunately, many employers aren’t using their reward systems in the best possible manner. When employers offer the predictable holiday bonus at the same time each year, their employees come to expect this gesture, which takes the excitement and purpose out of it. The following are a few tips for spicing up this year’s bonuses to effectively show your appreciation for employees and enhance their corporate loyalty. Change It Up While predictability is essential for many workplace processes, it has no place with the employee bonus. By … [Read more...] about Workplace Bonuses: Tips and Ideas
National Bosses Day Is a Joke
Bosses should thank employees, not the other way around. Case closed. Even if your boss pampers you. Fights for you. Goes out of her way for you. Bosses are thanked every time that you make them look good. Every time you let them concentrate on another project because they know you have yours under control. Every time they get promoted. Perhaps this is why Boss's Day drives me nuts. Mad Men's Don Draper had it right when he shouted... "THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY'S FOR!" It's a lesson I learned from my mom as a kid and have never let it go. So if you hate my stance on this, take it up with Mama Rosen, the payroll secretary from Queens. Mark Stevens, president of the marketing firm MSCO and the author of Your Marketing Sucks, offers up his take on Bosses Day. "The dumbest idea I have ever heard of. It is my job, and that of every leader, to celebrate my team not to have them go through the motions of a Hallmark day for me. " Yet Hallmark has been cashing in since … [Read more...] about National Bosses Day Is a Joke
Is It Possible to Work Remotely After Moving?
One of the hardest things about moving to a new city is leaving a job you love. Yes, there really are people who love their jobs! It’s especially tough if you’ve been with a company for a while and have established yourself as a valued employee. Starting over with a new company after you move can feel rather daunting. Increase in Remote Workers Many companies are switching to a less centrally-located working platform and having employees not just telecommute from their nearby home offices, but also work from anywhere in the country. So maybe you have another option besides leaving your job when you move. Why not explore the idea of working for your company remotely after the move? Your Company’s Culture If your company expects nothing less than constant face time, meaning you must have your B.I.C. (Butt In Chair) at the office, you may have to say goodbye to your job. However, if your company already has a percentage of telecommuters and people working remotely from different … [Read more...] about Is It Possible to Work Remotely After Moving?
My Office View: 41 Bricks
I've been blogging for a long time, but I'm not sure I've ever told you about the view from my office. My cubicle. I see 41 bricks. And this makes me grateful. These bricks let me know when it's raining outside. Or when the sun is shining brightly. It's a reminder that a world exists outside of these grayish-blue-cloth-lined walls. Would I rather be staring out across a meadow? An ocean? A city skyline? Of course. However, when I look at all of the people in the office building who have no window view whatsoever, I realize that I am one of the lucky ones. Here's why you should covet thy window: Connectedness. Whether you are a writer, a manufacturer, or a salesperson, a key element to success is keeping your audience/consumer in mind. A window gives you a portal, a constant reminder that the world extends beyond the project you are working on. Outside Elements. When the dark clouds gather and imminent danger presents itself, you'll be one of the first to know. This can help … [Read more...] about My Office View: 41 Bricks