How to Forge Your Own Distinct Career Path Building Your Future Now

How to Forge Your Own Distinct Career Path Building Your Future Now Sometimes we need a little push or maybe some luck in our careers. Its always helpful to have someone watch out for us or simply to catch a break to lands us a job that we truly enjoy. But the reality is nothing will simply fall in our laps. We must be smart about our choices that lead us towards the correct direction in our careers. We must be positive and think logically. We must surround ourselves with helpful individuals who desire to grow and be of service to others that want to succeed. However, what is the best way to forge a distinctive career that you want? Its a simple question that requires a lot of thought and just plain out doing! And that is key: doing. Being both active and present to fostering a fruitful career. You must also be aware of your uniqueness and what specialty you bring to the tablewhether it be helping a company grow or carve out a market share as an entrepeneurial company. You have to dig deep inside and find out what is your essencethat heart that drives your desire to accomplish your goals. Forging a distinct career path is up to you: its the way you dress and act; the way you treat people and the way you place your indelible mark on everything that you do. As you walk further on the path of your choosen career your experience continues to growthe people you have built relationships with and the things you have encountered. This is another essential part of forging a distinct career path which is yours and yours alone. Part 2 of this article will be feature on Monday. Image: Evro Photography

Free Tips For Help With Writing a Resume and Cover Letter

Free Tips For Help With Writing a Resume and Cover LetterThere are many free sites online that offer tips on how to help with writing a resume and cover letter. It's always best to have a written letter that spells out exactly what you do for a living and what qualifications you possess to work in your field.These free resources online allow for a more personalized touch. You'll be able to review the resume and cover letter that will be sent to an employer and get some suggestions on how to make it better. It can be helpful to have the know-how, but most people feel they have to hire someone just to get a hold of a resume and cover letter, so using these tips can help make the process a little less daunting.First of all, a first impression is the first impression. Before even opening up your resume and cover letter, take some time to peruse through some of the free websites online. By seeing it from the perspective of the reader, you'll be able to get a better idea of what the person reading it would like to see. Just remember to go beyond the obvious; there are certain traits that will usually get a first job interview accepted and others that are not worth considering.Another tip to help with writing a resume and cover letter is to go beyond the basics. It might be worthwhile to specialize in one or two specialties to get the job of your dreams. Take some time to research these skills and become familiar with all of the terminology that is involved in this particular area. Remember, that your future employer does not want a resume that simply has the skills that are required for the job. The cover letter should be able to explain those qualifications as well as to provide some insight into the skills you may possess.Some free resources online will also point out that hiring managers like to see that you have worked in several different fields to get an idea of how versatile you are. It's important to be able to demonstrate that you are always available to wor k in a new area to show that you're adaptable. If you're not too sure about how to write a resume and cover letter, try some free resources online to help.By using some of the tips on writing a resume and cover letter from the free resources online, you may be able to get a good feel for what is expected from a potential employee. This will allow you to craft a more professional and appropriate cover letter. It might also be worth trying to get the opinion of your friend or family member who may have hired someone for a position before.Since these free resources online are free, it is possible to get an idea on what a person is looking for in a job. They are usually looking for skills, experience, and credentials to be able to meet the challenge of their job. This will give you an idea on what to include in your resume and cover letter.Overall, it can be helpful to look online for ways to help with writing a resume and cover letter. It will enable you to be able to present yourself in a way that will make a future employer appreciate you more.

How to Kick-Start Your Graduate Job Search

How to Kick-Start Your Graduate Job Search As a soon-to-be graduate, it is an exciting time for you, as you’re about to begin a new phase of your life. However, you may also begin to feel the pressure of finding a job and setting the ball rolling for your career. Don’t stress yourself out! Each year, there are tons of new grads who successfully find work and the perfect opportunity could be waiting just around the corner for you! Here are some tips that will help you kick-start your job search. 1. Start early: Job searches usually take much longer than expected and I dont mean to dishearten you, but its unlikely that you will nab the first job you apply for. It’s understandable that you want to take a post-graduation vacation before you start your job search. However, there could be a price to pay, because the longer you put off job searching, the harder it’ll be for you as a new graduate to find work. Ever heard the early bird catches the worm? 2. Reach out to your network: Let your friends and families (and their friends and families) know that you are actively looking for work, as you never know what connections they may have or if they have heard of any vacancies that may suit you. The companies they work for may even have unadvertised job opportunities that only “insiders” know about and they may be able put a good word in for you. 3. Learn how to job search effectively: Nowadays, you can find information about anything online. If you are not sure how to write a cover letter or a resume, do a web search and you’ll find tons of information (not to mention all of our super helpful articles on Undercover Recruiter!) If in doubt, ask for help. Chances are that nearly every person you know who has been employed at some point in their life  has probably had to write a cover letter and resume before, so theres bound to be someone who can lend you a hand.   4. Don’t leave out your work experience: As a new grad, employers don’t expect to find an enormous amount of work experience on your resume. However, don’t leave this section empty. If you really don’t have any work experience, include any unpaid experience, such as volunteer experience, to highlight your skills. Keep in mind that sometimes your academic achievements may not be your strongest qualification in the business world. Many employers value work experience, even if the work is not in your field, more than your academic results. 5. Connect with people who work in the field: If you know people who work in the field that you want to work in, take them out for lunch or coffee and ask them for advice. If you don’t know anyone in the field, seek them out on social media, such as LinkedIn and Twitter, or attend industry events. You’ll be surprised to know how many professionals are willing to help and they may even be able to give you a recommendation. 6. Look and act professional: Once you graduate, you are not a college student anymore, so don’t act like one. As a start, sign up for a professional email address if your current email address looks something like smartypants@email.com. When you go for job interviews, leave your t-shirt and shorts at home and wear something more appropriate. Its also a good idea to clean up your social media presence.  Uploading those photos of alcohol fuelled nights seemed like a hilarious idea at the time, but its probably not what a prospective employer wants to see when they look you up. If you dont want to remove the photos, make sure that your security settings are set for just your friends to view your profile. Platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn can be great tools for building yourself a professional personal brand.   Image Credit: Shutterstock

How to Find a Job Tips on How to Succeed in an Interview

How to Find a Job Tips on How to Succeed in an Interview Do you want some interview advice from an HR consultant with over twenty-five years of experience with a focus in recruiting?   I do!   When Judith offered to guest post with her tips on how to nail an interview, I jumped at the opportunity!   I hope you enjoy these great tips! Assuming you’ve done the appropriate research on the company and the person who will be interviewing you (Google’s a wonderful thing!), below are some proven strategies that will help differentiate you from the rest. Dress appropriately; don’t look too prosperous, but don’t look like a bum! Cover tattoos, unless applying at a tattoo parlor or similar establishment. Bring your resume and a notepad to take notes. Be pleasant to the receptionist and everyone else you meet; they’re interviewing you too! Start with an equal and firm handshake. Watch your body language; relax in the chair, but don’t slouch; don’t fidget; look confident. Make eye contact. Use your hands to be expressive; smile when appropriate. Laugh if the interviewer makes a joke, even if it isn’t funny. Be aware of sloppy speech habits. Avoid filler words like “um”, “ah”, “OK”, “like”. Think before you speak. Avoid grammatical errors. Speak in complete sentences. Slow down. Avoid rushing to answer a question.  Wait two beats before responding. Use power words â€" “I’m confident that”, “ I believe”, “My goal is”. Take notes, even if you’re just doodling. It makes you look conscientious. Ask questions; i.e. “What type of person succeeds at ABC Systems?” “What are the top priorities for this position?” Don’t ask about salary or benefits in the first interview. Wait until you’re a final candidate. Think of a job interview as a test the more time you spend preparing, the better the chance of a positive outcome. Judith Marshall is President of Human Resources Consulting Services in Concord, CA, and is a Senior Associate Consultant with Merit Resource Group, located in San Ramon, CA. She is an Author, Trainer, Public Speaker, and former Human Resources Executive with over twenty years of experience. For more information about Judith, go to hrconsultingsvcs.com. (Photo credit: bpsusf)

Using Resume Templates For Credential Renewal

Using Resume Templates For Credential RenewalIf you are in the process of writing a resume for one of your upcoming job interview appointments, then you will need to get started with the credential renewal section. However, if you do not have the time or the talent for the written word, you may want to consider using resume templates to help you out. There are lots of available resume templates on the Internet that can help you craft a more professional looking document. In this article, we will discuss a few of the most commonly used templates.The standard template is a chronological resume. In this template, you will simply list the names of the positions that you have held, the dates at which you held those positions, and the dates when you moved on to new positions. You should note that this particular format will work well with most job openings, as well as many of the entry level positions.An example of this format would be a person who has recently completed a new entry level position in the health care field. Their previous positions included being a health aide and a nurse's aide. This individual has moved into the managerial position of a nurse's aide.You may also want to keep an old resume for an earlier job that you wish to re-write. After all, what did you do once you left the first position?If you are working toward a degree, then include your work experience. However, if you have a bachelors or masters degree, then you should put your work experience and/or education on your resume. Be sure to provide a specific work experience, as not all work experience will be relevant to a degree program.Another common format is the skill acquisition and demonstration format. Here, you will list your skills, including your academic qualifications, professional licenses, certifications, and related expertise.Finally, you will need to include the contact information, as well as any placement data that you have obtained. While you may want to create a different section of your resume for each job you have worked, it is generally a good idea to include placement data on the same page that lists your educational credentials. In addition, when working on a credential renewal, you may want to review the credentials that you currently have in order to get any updated certifications or licenses.When creating your resume, remember that a well-written document will help you stand out from the crowd and also impress potential employers when they view it when reviewing various job openings. In addition, you may find that the resume template you choose will also save you the time needed to write the document on your own.

Light bulbs and Revelations in Job Search

Light bulbs and Revelations in Job Search There are times when the stars and moon align and everything works the way you wished it would. And then there are the times of complete disaster, chaos, and discombobulation. I think your attitude greatly impacts the road you end up on. Based on my experience working with job seekers in transition, Ive seen my share of train wrecks. Ive also been fortunate enough to witness a ha moments! the job seekers who fare best tend to have some common traits. I dont think you can flick a light-switch and embody these traits immediately, but you can have a greater sense of awareness about how you think and feel and begin working on changing your outlook. Embrace Change Everyday your world changes around you. This can be a good thing or it could drive you crazy. A layoff or downsizing can feel like the world has crashed around you, or it could be your ticket to a happier life! It is all how you look at it. My favorite story is an oldie but a goodie! Two men, both close to retirement, were laid off on the same day. But their stories were completely different. One man was in shock. He was angry, and rightfully so. How could his company do this too him? He had given them his life and was banking on retiring in a few months. Now what was he going to do? The other man, with a spring in his step, said he was so happy his company had released him early. Now he could start that business he had always dreamed of. Self Awareness What do you love doing? What makes you different? These two simple questions are often difficult to answer when you are in the midst of turmoil or stress. Lets not forget to assess what your weaknesses are and how you may want to improve as well. At the end of the day, we all have a reputation or a story. You are a brand, if you want to use that term. During one of my conversations with a budding entrepreneur, he told me he didnt know what his brand was. He didnt know what made him different, unique or special. He confessed this shortly after chronicling his career path, which was quite spectacular. I said to him Your story is your brand! Enthusiastically Try New Things Dont knock it until youve tried it! Sounds kind like your mom telling you to eat your vegetables or something right? Couldnt we all benefit from experimenting with new ideas and actions? One woman in transition (after a 20+ year career with one employer) said to me, I am loving networking! I have met so many interesting people- who knew! Of course, this job seeker found a new job within several months and has a new-found appreciation for connecting with people which she still carries, even in her new job. Admit Defeat and Reprogram Sometimes you just need to know when to throw in the towel. But that doesnt mean give up. It means re-adjusting your goals or reprogramming your destination, if just for the short term. There are countless stories of reinvention and those who have taken interim jobs to pay the bills. But the wisest job seeker have opened themselves up to Plan B options in the very beginning of their searches. Who knows when the perfect Plan B job will come along? It certainly wont appear if you are looking for it. Have a back up plan and start those wheels in motion from the get-go! How Will You Respond? There are endless possibilities to find satisfaction in the work you do. One of my favorite quotes is: Life is a journey not a destination Enjoy your journey!

TODAY is International Quit Your Crappy Job Day. Happy quitting! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

TODAY is International Quit Your Crappy Job Day. Happy quitting! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Are you unhappy at work? Have you been wondering for a while if maybe its time to quit? Youre in luck: Today is International Quit Your Crappy job Day. This is your chance to get away from a?terrible boss, meaningless job, toxic workplace culture, boring tasks or whatever is dragging you down. Because?no one should stay in a job they hate. It hurts your career, your health and private life. At the web site www.internationalquityourcrappyjobday.com?you can: Test yourself to see if it might be time to quit Read?interesting articles like 5 Myths?About Quitting or the 10 Worst Excuses for Not Quitting Read inspiring stories of people who found the courage to quit bad?jobs For anyone who is?unhappy at work, the site may?help you?consider the?options and get some clarity in how to proceed. So we wish everyone a happy and productive International Quit Your Crappy Job Day 2016 :) Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related