Avoiding Common Resume-Writing Mistakes

Avoiding Common Resume-Writing MistakesOne of the most common resume-writing mistakes that job seekers encounter is overusing keywords. Employers are more likely to scan through a resume with keyword phrases that might be included at the beginning or at the end of the document, thus keeping the attention of the reader. While it may sound logical to have keyword phrases incorporated in a resume, remember that the search engines look at every other paragraph as well.In addition, a resume that is too similar to your previous job cover letter is a definite no-no. Don't use the same primary colors, fonts, headings, and even indentation. For this reason, you must find a way to add some creative flair to the first paragraphs of your resume by choosing contrasting colors for headings, body and footers.Using redundant, irrelevant information is another great way to make the recipient feel that the hiring manager is not serious about your application. Do not use too many titles, bullet points or mention what you have done before. If you must refer to your previous position, use an introductory or relevant paragraph.When it comes to an applicant's past work experience, the following information is considered redundant: awards, internships, volunteer projects, college diplomas, etc. These types of information would only confuse the reader and possibly impede the reader's ability to understand what you mean when you mention that you had this kind of experience previously.Another common mistake that job seekers do is writing a typical resume that fails to include information regarding skills and experiences. Hiring managers do not see resumes as simple work applications; therefore, it is important to present the applicant's skills in the resume. Simply stating, 'Applicant's skills and knowledge in HTML, JavaScript, CSS, etc.' is often enough to catch the attention of hiring managers.Another common mistake job seekers make is submitting their resume too often to a variety of employers and submitting it on a regular basis to help improve the chances of getting an interview. While this is a legitimate consideration for job seekers, it is also a big mistake. A resume does not possess any special power or intrinsic qualities, so the employer will not be swayed by a resume that has been submitted too often.Jobs that require the candidate to apply multiple times might prove to be more effective than jobs that require one application. More often than not, candidates who are consistently trying to get an interview will find it easier to increase their chances if they submit their resume on a daily basis rather than on a weekly basis.

What to Ask a Friend in HR

What to Ask a Friend in HR If you don’t have friends who work in human resources, you might have a very narrow view of what happens there: It’s the place to go during benefits selection time; it’s the place where people get fired; it’s a mouthpiece for the company. Like most people, you probably only contact HR is when you have a problem. But as someone who has worked in the field for more than 20 yearsâ€"both inside companies and outside as a consultantâ€"I can tell you that getting to know the people who work in your human resources department can be very valuable. HR professionals work on career-related issues every single day. And you can take advantage of that expertise to better manage your own career. Don’t yet know anyone in HR well enough to ply them for insights? Invest some time to build a connection: Invite someone to lunch whom you’ve worked with on matters related to workâ€"say, filling an open position or promoting a star. Also, look at your LinkedIn and Facebook connections to see if you know someone in HR even if not in your own company; they can still be helpful to you. And the next time you’re contacted by a recruiter, return the call and suggest meeting up. Once you’ve got your lunch planned, here are five areas you might want to talk to your HR buddy about: 1. What the straight story is on company benefits Better than a hotline, your friend in HR can translate the doublespeak from the benefits guide into information you can use. Your friend might not know every nook and cranny of the guide, but if you have a specific interest (say, elder care issues), he or she can probably point you to the expert on her team who knows this well. Medical benefits is definitely a company perk you want to understand well. But you might also ask if there are other benefits you’re entitled to that you are likely overlooking. There may be training and development opportunities, or even discounts to local attractions or consumer services (e.g., cell phone plans) that your company offers its employees. Your friend in HR knows about these because it’s part of his or her day-to-day. 2. How the decisions that affect your pay are made What data is used to establish pay ranges? When are raises and bonuses decided? Are promotions granted at specific times only? Does every department do performance reviews at the same time, in the same way? If you want to keep your career moving on an upward trajectory, you need to know how decisions are made around raises, bonuses, and promotions. This includes when decisions are made (if it’s once a year, start planning now so you don’t miss the next cycle), who decides (it’s not just your boss) and how your group compares with others (maybe you’re in a department with little upward movement and need to switch). You can’t ask your boss or immediate colleagues for this information without revealing your intentions, and they may not know the whole story. Someone in HR, however, deals with these issues frequently, and across different areas of the company. 3. When exceptions are made to the rules In addition to knowing how the processes typically work, your friend in HR probably also knows about any exceptions to the rule. Any decent professional keeps confidentiality, and HR issues are absolutely confidential. However, your friend in HR can let you know if exceptions have occurred and how likely they are. For example, you could find out if bonuses really are paid out only at year-end. Your HR friend may not be able to reveal who got the special spot bonus or how much it was, but might say, “I’ve seen it happen from time to time” or “I did hear of one case when…” And if you’re working on an extra assignment and feeling undervalued, your pal may suggest you lobby your boss for special consideration. At least you know an exception is possible, and it’s on you to press on for what you want. 4. How things compare between your company and others Are you fairly paid? Is every company in this industry restructuring so frequently? Are work-at-home opportunities just not available in your line of work? Your friend in HR doesn’t just look at career-related trends inside your company. He or she also needs to have a sense for what other companies are doing to ensure your firm stays competitive. Use that competitor knowledge as a shortcut for your own research. 5. How to approach your boss with requests Now that you have all this useful knowledge about what benefits you might select, how decisions are made, possible exceptions that could apply to your situation and what competitors are offering, you may want to ask your boss for somethingâ€"access to that special training conference, a promotion, a special bonus. But you don’t want your meeting with your boss to be the first time you practice this ask. It is incredibly helpful to role play what that negotiation will look like with someone other than your boss who is experienced in career negotiations. This is another perk of having a friend in HR. He or she has sat through offer negotiations, performance reviews, and other career discussions much more frequently than you (and maybe even your boss). He or she can pepper you with questions you can practice in advance, or give you tips on what works and what doesn’t. __________ Caroline Ceniza-Levine is co-founder of SixFigureStart ® career coaching. She has worked with professionals from American Express, Condé Nast, Gilt, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey, and other leading firms. She’s also a stand-up comic. This column will appear weekly. Read more from Caroline Ceniza-Levine: 10 Easy Ways to Make Yourself More Hireable Your Career is Your Biggest Asset. 5 Ways to Protect it New Degree, No Job? 4 Steps Grads Should Take to Jumpstart the Search

Zebit Challenge Day 3 Budgeting Curveballs (Ouch, Ive Been Hit!) - Work It Daily

Zebit Challenge Day 3 Budgeting Curveballs (Ouch, I’ve Been Hit!) - Work It Daily Today, I woke up sick. However, instead of being able to give myself the TLC I normally do when this happens, I couldn’t. It’s annoying, frustrating, depressing - and of course, stressful. It can be the same with car trouble, taxes, home repairs, medical bills, education expenses, and more. Related: Zebit Challenge Day 2: Budgeting 101 Expect the unexpected. Having studied neuro linguistic programming and the impact of negative self-talk for over a decade, I hate when this happens. Studies show letting the stressful thoughts take over only makes you sicker. One suggestion is to expect the unexpected. That way, you already know how to take control and respond when something goes wrong without so much stress. With unexpected expenses, a budget helps, but incorporating savings and equipping yourself with no or low cost payment options is even more important. Zebit was created to help working Americans steer clear of the “gotchas.” While my curveball of being sick today was minor, in reality, I could get hit at any time with much bigger incidents that are associated with unforeseen expenses. This could range from a broken fridge (not sure how a family can live without one) to needing to replace a stolen iPad that I depend on for work. The scary thing is that unexpected expenses can quickly wreak havoc on our budgeting and savings. Unfortunately, many financing optionsâ€"e.g. high-interest credit, high-cost short-term loans, or risky rent-to-own servicesâ€"can make a hard situation worse, creating a spiral of interest and fees that can take forever to pay off. In fact, did you know that people who use rent-to-own services can end up paying four times the retail amount? Yikes! The good news is that besides financial education, Zebit alleviates curve ball expense stressors by offering access to a worry-free and interest-free credit model called a ZebitLine. Members can use this credit in the Zebit Market, which features thousands of name brand products at retail prices, to make large or unexpected purchases while paying for them over time. Unlike expensive credit cards or other financing alternatives, Zebit members can avoid accruing interest and the stress that comes with revolving debt. I love how ZebitLine defines responsible credit with no strings attachedâ€"no fees, no interest, no credit checkâ€"giving working Americans access to a no-cost payment model and the confidence to make smarter financial decisions without the fear of a “gotcha.” In short, Zebit gives employees access to the things they need now, while paying retail pricesâ€"interest-freeâ€"over time. Next time I need to make a big purchase or face a curveball that carries a hefty price tag, I know where I’ll consider going. No interest? Ever? Sign me up! Do your homework and know your financing options. Today’s challenge is to find a way to feel better about your financial situation, both physically and mentally by becoming clearer on your options when unexpected expenses come up. For example, do you know the interest rate on your credit card? If you use it to pay for the unexpected purchase, you need to know how much more you will pay in interest if you can’t pay the balance off in full this month. Or, are you aware how much is in your savings and how much you can spend based on the budget you’ve set for yourself? Being in the know about your financial options is the key for navigating financial decisions. I also encourage you to learn how you could use an interest-free tool like ZebitLine, and their Zebit Market to access competitive pricing on unplanned expenses. If you are aligned with me and like these Zebit offerings, ask your employer to offer the employee benefit. I’ll share more on this later this week. Don't miss: Zebit Challenge Day 1: My Financial Stress Reality Check Zebit Challenge Day 2: Budgeting 101 Related Posts 5 Tips To Uncover Company Culture 3 Sneaky Ways To Research A Company Company Culture Is Important To Hiring Managers 18+ years of experience in the development of professional HR tools and resources. Has delivered 200+ presentations to more than 10,000 professionals on a wide variety of career topics. Managed teams of 50+ with budgets of $35M+. Launched www.CAREEREALISM.com, which is now a top 3 career blog with 2,300,000+ monthly pageviews, 1,000,000+ visitors/month, 1,500,000+ social media followers, and 100,000+ daily email subscribers. Founded the first Career Improvement Platform, www.CareerHMO.com, an online resource that helps users solve their career problems faster and better than they could on their own. Currently has 5,000+ active members..   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!