8 Tips for Parents Returning to the Workforce

8 Tips for Parents Returning to the Workforce8 Tips for Parents Returning to the WorkforceIf youve been a stay-at-home parent whos now returning to the workforce, you might feel intimidated. After all, youre competing against candidates who didnt step away from a professional track, your skills might feel rusty and it might have been years since you interviewed. But with some effort and the right mindset, you can get yourself back to work. Here are eight key tips to make the transition from stay-at-home mom or dad to working parent. 1. Dont put child-rearing on your resume as a job. Some parents who are returning to work are tempted to list their time at home as its own job, complete with titles, such as domestic engineer, family CEO or household manager, and duties, such as scheduling, budgeting and child care logistics. Dont do this. Your resume is for professional accomplishments and employment where you were accountable to someone outside of your family. And you dont want to co me across as if you dont understand why the difference matters. 2. Explain the gap in employment in your cover letter. Employers will wonder about the gap since you last worked, but you can simply explain in your cover letter that you took a few years (or however long its been) to stay home with your child but are now eager to return to work full time. 3. Dont try to hide your time away from work by using a functional resume format. Stay-at-home parents are often advised to avoid a standard chronological resume format and instead use a functional resume to downplay their work gap. Functional resumes dont show employment dates or a clear career chronology, but instead simply list skills and achievements. The problem is that the format is an immediate red flag to hiring managers that youre trying to hide something. It makes it impossible to understand what you did and when you did it. Functional resumes are often an instant verstndigung im strafverfahren breaker for employers. Theyr e not worth the risk. 4. Lean on your network. Your network will be one of your most important assets when youre ready to look for work again. When youre competing against candidates with more recent work experience, having a connection to the hiring manager or a referral from someone who knows you can be the thing that gets you an interview and serious consideration. Hopefully youve been maintaining your network long before you began thinking about returning to work by staying in touch with past colleagues, occasionally going out to lunch and just generally not letting those connections lapse. But if you havent done that, its not too late. You can still reach out to past colleagues, classmates, neighbors, even parents of your kids friends, and let them know that youre looking for work. 5. If possible, do some contract work while youre out. Completing a few contract projects will give you more recent work to put on your resume, and it will start building a group of new contacts who might eventually hire you for full-time work or refer you to jobs at other companies. 6. Join a professional organization in your field. Professional organizations can be great distribution policys to meet people in your field, get job leads and ort yourself more strongly for your return. You can amplify the benefits of membership even further by volunteering to serve on the organizations board or one of its committees, as well as attending its networking events. 7. Talk with your partner about how youll divide child care duties now that youre returning to work. If your partner has been working while youve been at home, he or she may assume that youll continue to be the primary person responsible for juggling school pick-up and drop-off, homework supervision, packing lunches, field trips and everything else you juggled when you were at home full time. But just because it used to be your job doesnt mean that it should continue to be. Now that youre both working, its time to rev isit that division of labor and come up with a new plan thats fair to you both. You may even need your partner to take on more than half while youre getting settled in your new job. Whatever you decide, dont assume that youre both on the same page. Sit down and talk it through. 8. Make sure you have a solid child care plan with backup options. If your daycare wont take sick kids, do you have a backup sitter, an agreement with your spouse to split the care on those days or some other plan? Sick kids can eat up your annual leave quickly, especially if your company gives fewer days to new employees, so youll want to have plans in place to handle inevitable kid illnesses when they arise.

Resume Example Consultant Targets In-House Work

Resume Example Consultant Targets In-House WorkResume Example Consultant Targets In-House WorkAn example of a before and after resume for marketing executives in brand management.This months Does My Resume Stink contest winner, John Doe, has director-level experience in multiple areas of marketing strategies and brand management.He has also developed a strong consulting client base because of this expertise.Now on to this months before and after resume examplesAppealing to an employer and a freelance client The first step in the writing process was to develop a strategy to separate him from equally qualified professional peers. This can be challenging for someone like John, who is pursuing multiple job opportunities, using multiple areas of expertise. It had to appeal to both a vermgen employer and a potential client.After two years of independent consulting in 2007 and 2008, John wanted to return to a corporate environment. He was considering two career directions targeting a large or global company or perhaps a smaller, regional firm. He hoped to wear multiple hats and play an integral role within an organization.Therefore, I decided to present the last two years of work as a consultant in exactly the same manner as his previous corporate employment focused on skills, knowledge and experience to leverage his strong background in various capacities. Last, given there was no information included about past employers on the original resume, we added context for those that were not name brand.Streamlining a crowded formatJohn tried to make his original resume stand out by adding a prominent red square at the top left edge of the resume. But a resume needs to be written for computer scanning as parte of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). I was not sure how a keyword scanner would read the box, so I decided it was too risky to include.The original resume had no easy way for a reader (or ATS) to extract areas of expertise from the job content. By separating these into a simple table format in the new resume, this section now allows for a quick visual review. It also includes keywords for a computer to scan. Each of these items is a place holder which can be edited for different opportunities.The content was crowded, with no spaces between bullets, so nothing stood out to attract the reader. Also, there was a very wide left margin, so it gave the document a lopsided look and did not make full use of the available writing space.We corrected the formatting to let the information breathe and tell the story.Johns original profile covered a lot of his work experience, but nothing stood out. The new resume includesA headline that places him at a director levelA strong statement that he offers marketing strategies and brand management, including clear subsetsA brief paragraph that matches how he describes himselfA listing of industry experience as a separate paragraphThese are all important selling points.Deciding what to condense and what to expan dIn the new resume, the duties are condensed in to the first two lines for individual jobs, instead of multiple bullets.Marketing roles are not always measured by tangible specifics, like sales numbers and quotas. We had to find other ways to make it clear that John gets things done that really benefit the organization. I decided to bold general categories as an alternative to inserting bullets.Each job has four to six sections, some of which list high-profile clients. It expands the resume from two pages to three, but I thought a two-page resume would understate what he has to offer. A quick review of just the bolded words gives a summary of how Johns career has progressed into areas of more responsibility and impact.In an effort further to condense the dense information, we also combined education, training and publication into one section because there was just one listing under each. I included the publication because it differentiates him from other marketing professionals. I r emoved most of the award listings from the original resume because they were older or no longer relevant. However, the 2001 Presidents Club award is included as a separate bullet. It is unusual that a partie in a marketing role is recognized through the Presidents Club, so this can be a good talking point in an interview.SummaryEven if brand management is your expertise, it is hard to step back from your own professional background, and objectively convey what you have to offer. A resume writer is trained and experienced to play that role in the collaborative writing process.John now has a master resume that clearly presents him as a senior executive with both broad and deep experience in all aspects of marketing strategies and brand management. He can make a strong contribution as a key member of an executive team by providing strategic planning and expertise. He has a strong record of developing and managing profitable initiatives.His new resume is crisp, professional, easy to rea d and can be edited for different opportunities.

Wordsmithing Your Resume Tenses, Plurals, and Optimized Keywords

Wordsmithing Your Resume Tenses, Plurals, and Optimized KeywordsWordsmithing Your Resume Tenses, Plurals, and Optimized KeywordsIf youre unsure whether to write your resume in past tense or present tense, traditional advice sides with common sense. If youre describing something in your past, use past tense.Managed, coded, designed, marketed.If youre describing something youre still doing in your current job, use present tense.Manage, code, design, market.Simple enough, right? Not so fast.If someone is actually reading your resume top to bottom, that advice is sufficient. But fruchtwein large companies use software that adds a layer of complexity to your word choices that extends beyond past and present tenses. Every resume keyword must be carefully considered.Blame it on Applicant Tracking SystemsWhen you click submit on an online job application, your resume isnt usually zapped directly to a hiring managers inbox for review.Most large companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) as an intermediary. These systems can automatically rate applicants or allow the hiring manager to search for specific terms. The problem with that? The matching and search capabilities of fruchtwein ATS stink.Many ATS bill themselves as an all-in-one human resources tool. Many can post job listings, schedule interviews, and onboard new employees alongside their core applicant tracking functions. When ATS companies try to do too much, applicants fall through the cracks.ATS companies dont focus a lot of effort into making search better because they sell the comprehensive solution, Jobscan CEO James Hu recently said on the CareerCloud Radio podcast. That becomes a problem for job seekers because search is not great. Theyre often s-lost during that process.If a hiring manager searches their ATS for the noun analyst but you only have the verb analyze on your resume, they probably wont find you. Even worse, the same problem can arise if they search for the present tense manage but you o nly have the past tense managed.Resume Keyword OptimizationJob seekers have to work around this. A major part of optimizing yourATS resume is figuring out exactly which search terms andkeywords a hiring manager is likely to use, right down to the tense or conjugation.The most direct way to do that is to look at the job description. By reviewing what a hiring manager asked for and how they asked for it, you can get an idea of which words theyll plug into the ATS after applications have been collected.Carefully read through the job description or use Jobscan to determine which keywords (in whatever tense or style) are used the most. Work them into your resume exactly as they appear.When Optimization and Traditional Advice ClashWhat are you supposed to do when using the optimized form of a keyword throws a wrench into the style or tense of the rest of your resume? This is a major frustration in the fight against ATS, as stated by several Jobscan users in a recent survey.Changing the te nse of a verb just to satisfy an ATS often creates a resume that appears sloppy to a human reader because adjacent bullet points are in different word tenses, Darren W. told Jobscan. I need to make the change to get past the ATS, but end up with a poor resume when presented to a reader.It would be great if the system were more intuitive to understand plural use or, even better, different tenses in buchen to get an accurate read, said Matt S. I often find myself creating awkwardly phrased sentences in order to satisfy the system.It is beyond frustrating that the ATS do not recognize various differences in verb tense and singular-plural variants, said Scott H. It forces the applicant to wordsmith and re-write sentences or entire sections to be counted as a match.Some users, like Joy S., are at a loss How on earth do you get your past tense resume to match present tense job descriptions?Wordsmithing Your ResumePresent tense keywords in past experienceIt might not come naturally to conv ert a past tense action verb like managed to manage or managing, but its possible without abandoning traditional advice. Simply move the tense to a different word in the sentence. For exampleCurrent Phrase (Past tense)Optimized KeywordNew Phrase (Past Tense)Managed kollektiv of 15 engineersManageBrought in to manage team of 15 engineersManagerServed as manager for team of 15 engineersManagingTasked with managing team of 15 engineersManagementExcelled in management role over team of 15 engineersUse the same thought process when converting between singulars and plurals or nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Dont just plug your optimized keyword into your old sentence. Instead, build a new sentence around the optimized keyword.Current Phrase (Past Tense)Optimized KeywordNew Phrase (Past Tense)Researched and implemented marketing strategiesStrategyShaped marketing strategy through research and implementation ofStrategizeRequired me to strategize, research, and implement the marketing planStra tegistMarketing strategist tasked with research and implementation ofStrategicResearched and implemented strategic marketing initiativesTweaking job titles is OKIn many cases, hiring managers prefer candidates who have done the job before. With this in mind, the number one resume keyword is always going to be the job title for which youre applying.There are many variations of job titles based on industry, company culture, or experience levels. For example, you might be applying for a job as a front end developer but your most recent experience is as a front end engineer. If the job descriptions are practically the same, its not inappropriate to change the job title on your resume.Ask for helpIf youre struggling to figure out how to insert an optimized keyword into your resume, get feedback from a friend. Writing and wordsmithing might come easier to others than it does to you, and sometimes all it takes is a set of fresh eyes.When in doubt, use common senseAt the end of the day, my best advice is to put yourself in the shoes of the recruiter, Hu continued on the podcast. Would you be searching for this keyword? If the answer is yes, then it would make sense to include it in your resume.

Customize this Impressive Customer Care Representative Resume Sample

Customize this Impressive Customer Care Representative Resume SampleCustomize this Impressive Customer Care Representative Resume SampleCreate Resume Brenda Glee100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234brendagleeexample.comProfessional SummaryAttentive Customer Care Representative with the capacity to handle any type of customer in any situation. Adept at solving customer issues, utilizing company resources to retain customers and following company policy. Specializes in retail and service companies.Core QualificationsComputer skillsCustomer centeredProblem solvingPhone and kiosk experienceGood team memberProfessional demeanorExperienceCustomer Care Representative, April 2010 February 2015Bean Incorporated New Cityland, CAWorked on a team that maintained the highest customer satisfaction rating in the company.Entered all customer interactions into the computer database.Often asked to work as part of a small team on special customer projects.Customer Care Represen tative, June 1999 August 2004Halogen Lights New Cityland, CAOften acted as lead representative for smaller teams.Assisted in updating the look of the customer care software input screen.Worked longer hours during busier times of the year.Education1999 High School Diploma, General StudiesJersey High School New Cityland, CACustomize Resume

Fraud, Deceptions, and Downright Lies About How to Write Resume Summary Exposed

Fraud, Deceptions, and Downright Lies About How to Write Resume Summary Exposed The Pain of How to Write Resume Summary The work candidate does not just copy the work description, but instead includes their very own relevant haircare tactics. No matter whether youre searching for an entry level job or larger career advancement, you most likely already understand how important yur resume can be in your search to discover the ideal job. The absolute most important element of a fantastic career summary is the fact that its tailored to the job which you are applying for. On the flip side, functional resumes are normally used by fresh graduates or individuals who have less experience but want to grab the work vacancy. In other words, resume summaries are definitely the most efficient way to begin a resume. When you are finished with your summary, be koranvers you conduct an exhaustive review of your work. So it is vital you put the absolute most important information they have t o see up front in an executive summary. If you would rather provide a paragraph format for your summary or maybe to acquire extra resume assistance with your summary statement you are able to have a look at our guide to writing one to make sure you create the finest possible introduction to your resume for your job search. Who Else Wants to Learn About How to Write Resume Summary? A simple resume template is going to be your very best bet. This guide gives you the ideas you need to compose an outstanding resume summary statementand tell you exactly what to include, what things to avoid and the way to promote your resume from the very beginning for your perfect job. My Perfect Resume has a massive library of suggestions and examples to explain how to compose a resume summary statement to create your own. A good resume summary should also have keywords that are utilized to compose the posts so that you truly capture the eye of recruiters. So, you should write a brief paragrap h including the above mentioned info. Its fast and simple to use. Resumes are just a page in length (if you dont own a range of years of experience in a given field), and space is at a premium. The Basic Facts of How to Write Resume Summary Telling someone you managed a huge project is fantastic. Youre going to compose a resume summary which gets many more interviews. You may want to think about a qualifications summary which we outlined in last weeks postbut if you simply need to have a summaryhere are a couple examples to help you begin. Whilst you write your summary for your resume, attempt to consider what you want them to discuss with you, and what exactly you desire an opportunity to discuss. On the flip side, a resume objective is information thats necessary when youre asking for work that will indicate a career change. Everyone knows that when browsing for work, the very first task youll need to complete for an expected employer is, Send a copy of your resume. Be a ware that the Quantifiable Point doesnt will need to job right after the action verb. Whether you are searching for your very first job or seeking to earn a career change, the practice starts with your resume. New Questions About How to Write Resume Summary If you do decide to move forward with a resume summary statement, be sure to take care of it as your own private highlight reel. You may want to bring a resume summary statement. You must have five objective statements. A summary statement is a brief expert introduction you may increase the peak of your resume. Employers wish to observe how your efforts impact a corporations business. You might not have LinkedIn testimonials. Bear in mind, LinkedIn is a living resource that you may increase and refine over time. When you upload your summary to LinkedIn, supplement it using a wide variety of multimedia. Hiring managers realize that someone coming right out of school is probably going to have a whole whole lot of work experience, especially within the field. To compose a great career summary, you must be aware of your abilities and be in a position to tailor them to your audience. The summary communicates key information like your degree of experience, your subject of expertise, and your most marketable skills. Writing a great career summary doesnt need to be an intimidating experience. Your summary should function as a substitute for the original source, where readers will be in a position to come up with a better comprehension of the original work. Employers wish to hear your special voice and receive a feeling of your communication skills while reading the summary part of your resume. They dont want to waste time reading a lot of meaningless babble. Where to Find How to Write Resume Summary When it has to do with writing a resume, you might be knowledgeable about the resume objective as the preferred section to start out with. Writing a summary may be a tedious assignment for most peo ple. The above mentioned list just offers you a notion of the elements that may build an excellent career summary. Its also wise to take some time to discover how to compose other necessary resume elements as a resume summary. It is essential that your curriculum vitae should demonstrate that youre an avid candidate for the job as compared to other candidates that are also vying for the exact opportunity. To find out more on what it requires to be a Nail Technician, take a look at our complete Nail Technician Job Description. While it isnt obligatory to have a resume summary, it is critical to include one if you truly need the job. You want to be sure you match each component of your qualifications summary to the job which youre seeking. The extra skills section may be the difference maker in whether you get called in for an interview. The objective statement tells the employer what kind of position youre seeking, where you need to work, and what aspect of the field youre interested in. Finally, a great career summary focuses on your capacity to provide value to the organization. The significance of a career summary is to demonstrate your value to the business. The Importance of How to Write Resume Summary The resume summary will function as their sales pitch. Once your resume reaches a true human, youve approximately six seconds to produce an impression. Since you can see, to be able to construct a very good objective statement, you must have a certain objective in mind. A strong summary statement at the peak of your resume can increase the probabilities of them noticing what youve got to offer from the beginning. Resume objectives are occasionally thought to be the old schooltype of resume. The absolute most helpful summaries target one career objective.

How To Resign - Your Ultimate Guide To A Professional Breakup

How To Resign - Your Ultimate Guide To A Professional Breakup How To Resign Your Ultimate Guide To A Professional BreakupPosted August 14, 2019, by EleshaHow exactly should you resign? Theres definitely a right way and a wrong way to go about ending your professional relationship.Weve put together ansicht 5 steps for resigning so you can leave your job like a pro and keep your references and reputation intact.When it comes to resigning, you probably fall into one of two groups -Group 1- You actually like the distributionspolitik you work but youre resigning for a personal reason like relocating or you dont see many career advancement opportunities.Group 2- Youre a disgruntled employee who cant wait to resign. You dislike your role or your boss.....or find the work culture toxic.Whatever camp you fall into these steps will help you resign with graceful professionalismStep 1 - Confirm How Much Notice To Give Before You ResignHow much notice are you legally obliged to give the organisa tion? Its a good idea to know this before you actually resign. If youre looking to secure another job before you leave, its information youll want to share with your potential new employer too. Theyll need to know exactly when they can get you on board.Check your employment contract or enterprise agreement, it will tell you how long youre legally obliged to stay after you officially resign.Step 2 - Meet With Your Boss In PersonWhen your boss hears the words Can I speak to you privately for a moment?he/she will probably know something is up. It might feel awkward to resign in person but its definitely the most professional way to do it.Remember Even if you do resign in person its important to still put your resignation in writing too.Keep your written resignation letter simple. It doesnt need to go into all sorts of explanations and its never a good idea to vent any frustrations on paper in an emotional way.Dear boss,This is THE WORST job Ive ever had. After 2 years in this hell and putting up with your rubbish, Im leaving Ps - Ive hidden a prawn somewhere in your office, so yeh, good luck with that smell. PPS My last day will be next Friday 16th.Nope. Thats absolutely not what you should say when you resign.Youll be much better off using our professional sample resignation letter templates insteadThis doesnt mean you shouldnt give feedback, but keep it constructive, not personal and save it for the formal exit bewerbungsgesprch or a chat with your boss on the last day.Is your reason for leaving is a lack of progression opportunities - not because you necessarily dislike the role? Have a think about how you might be persuaded to stay before this chat with your boss.If youre a great employee, your boss might be open to making some changes in your favour. Recruiting and training is an expensive process and most organisations prefer to hang on to a talented employeeStep 3 - Let Your Team Members KnowDont breathe a word of your resignation to anyone until youve off icially resigned. Its super unprofessional to be blabbing around the kollektiv about your impending departure before your boss knows.When you resign, ask your boss when theyd like you to let members of your team know - oftentimes your boss or manager will tell your team on your behalf with an email or general announcement. Larger organisations usually have a standard procedure to follow when communicating the resignation of a staff member.Get clear on the process before you skip out of your bosss office and tell everyone within a 3km radius youve quit the job.Step 4 - Let Your Suppliers And Clients KnowHow should you tell suppliers and clients know youve resigned? Again, there might be a professional procedure to follow or it could be left up to you to manage the communication.Depending on your relationship with the clients or supplier, youll want to let them know the following pointsYouve resigned and your final working dateThe name and contact details of the person theyll be worki ng with when youve goneThe status of any outstanding projectsLet them know youve enjoyed working together (if you have)Even if you speak with them in person or over the phone, communicate these points with them over email and cc in your colleague wholl be the new contact.Step 5 - Keep It Professional During Your Final Weeks And Maintain Your ResponsibilitiesIf you want to leave the job with positive professional relationships, this is a crucial step.Remember, some of your teams workloads and projects will be affected by your departure. Sit down with the relevant colleagues and discuss the status of your workload. Manage expectations - decide what is reasonable for you to complete or carry on with before your last day. Dont dump them with a whole list of unfinished tasks at 4pm on the day you leave.Once youve resigned, it can be tempting to slack off and spend more time on social media or on long lunch breaks than doing your work.The professional thing to do, however, is keeping up y our usual pace of work. Doing otherwise can come back and haunt you down the track when you find yourself working with that same boss or colleague again, or you need that all-important reference.For more tips on how to resign like a pro, check out these 9 Dos And Donts When Resigning. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searcheshow to ace your next interviewhr professional titelseite letternew york resume templateprofessional cv template doccover letter examples nursing new grad CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineEleshaRelated ArticlesBrowse moreMassageNatural TherapyNatural Therapies Careers The Path To WellbeingWellbeing. Worklife balance. Holistic health. These arent just buzzwords anymore but are now the mantras for many people, from corporate high flyers to students, mums and natural therapists.ProductivityWellbeingTake more breaks to lose weightRecent research has revealed that taking small breaks from sitting at your desk to stand up and make a phone call or walk down the hallway will not only clear your head, but also help you lose weight and improve your heart health and metabolism.Real EstateReal estate careers boom or bust?The property market is booming but does that mean a job in real estate is a sound career move? From courses, to commissions to your competition, weve got all your questions answered.

6 Skills and Drills for Your Resume

6 Skills and Drills for Your Resume6 Skills and Drills for Your Resume01Your resume is what will set you apart from the competition- so long as its well written, free of errors, and accurately portrays your partieal brand. Below well explore the many skills and drills for your resume that can help you get it perfected.This includes customizing your resume, maintaining multiple formats, avoiding mistakes,usingresume tricks to increase your visibility, and handlingemployment gaps and applicant tracking systems. Read on for a list of great resources to help you make the most of your resumeHere are six skills and drills for your resume1. Customized ResumesCustomizing your resume for EVERY job you apply to is important. bedrngnis only does it show employers your best side for the job you are applying for, but it shows you put in the effort to get your resume into their hands.How to Customize Your Resume for Each Job ApplicationHow to Write Unique Resumes and Cover Letters3 Key Tips to Cus tomize Your Resume3 Answers Your Resume Should Give RecruitersHow to Write Customized Resumes and Cover Letters7 Ways to Tailor Your Resume to the Situation2. Resume FormatsIn the digital age, its necessary to have multiple resume formats. From digital files andcreative formats, to resumes exploring your creativity, you need to know the many different formats to be successful.3 Examples of Resumes for Flexible Jobs5 Tips for Creating a Video Resume on YouTube8 Tips to Make More Creative Resumes6 Tips for Using a Creative ResumeWhy You Need an Online Resume5 Easy Tips to Make Your Resume Virtual5 Alternatives to a Traditional Resume Format6 Reasons Why You Need to Have Several Resume Versions3. Resume MistakesWere all human, but in a job search, resume mistakes can spell disaster. Rather than leaving it in the hands of fate, use these resources to avoid killer resume mistakes.Will One Resume Typo Ruin Your Job Chances?8 Reasons Why You Didnt Get the Job7 Quick Fixes for Your ResumeQu ick Fixes to 7 Common Resume MistakesIs There a Lie on Your Resume? ProbablyJob Search Checklist Where Are You Going Wrong?3 Common Resume Lies You Might Accidentally Commit4 Famous Resume Lies and Their Lessons40 Job Application Buzzwords Job Seekers Should AvoidResume Fonts Which to Use, Which to DitchWhy Lying on Your Resume Is Never a Good IdeaAre There Lies on Your Resume? Most Likely, Yes4. Resume TricksEven with the best intentions, getting your resume into the hands of a real person can be difficult. The resources below show you the many tricks you can use to maximize your opportunities.The Best Day to Send Your ResumeHow to Tell Stories on Your Resume5 Secrets of a Resume Writer3 Tips to Organize the Skills Section on Your ResumeUse Job Search Keywords to Land Your Next GigWhy Your Skills Matter More Than Your Job TitleCareer Accomplishments to Put on Your ResumeWriting a Summary of Qualifications Thats Awesome 3 Tips6 Resume Editing Tricks That ImpressHow to Beef Up Your W ork History33 Resume Headers That May Work for You3 Answers Your Resume Should Give Recruiters5. Applicant Tracking SystemsApplicant tracking systems, also known as ATS, or the bane of every job seekers existence, are a difficult but unavoidable part of job searching. Know how to make your resume play nicely with these systemsApplicant Tracking Systems The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly5 Ways to Stand Out in an Applicant Tracking SystemHow to Break Through Online Job Application Systems5 Tips to Apply for Jobs in Confusing Online Application SystemsHow to Prep Your Resume for Automated Resume Scanners6. Employment GapsFrom career changers to stay-at-home parents to retirees, employment gaps are something many people have to manage. These skills and drills for your resume will help you make the most of any gap in employment.7 Resume Tips for Unemployed Job SeekersHow to Present a Job Gap in a Positive Light5 Resume Tips for Stay-at-Home ParentsHow to Fill Gaps on Your ResumeHow to Handl e Gaps in Your Resume Like a ProHow to Explain Gaps in Your ResumeSAHMs How to Handle an Employment Gap in Job ApplicationsFor more great skills and drills for your resume check out the Resume Tips category on the blogReaders, what skills and drills do you utilize to make the most of your resume? Share your tips with us below

The underutilized power of questions

The underutilized power of questionsThe underutilized power of questionsWhen people think of Einstein, they see a lone genius with his discoveries.Mostof usdont quite understand what exactly these discoveries were, but we all learnfairlyearly on that he changed ourunderstandingof physics.Similarly, Leonardo da Vinci is familiar to us mostly for his famousMona Lisa,and we know that his notebooks also contained a wide variety of sketches that predicted inventions in science and engineering.Theseimmediateimages that we have of themcreate amental narrativein our mind that associates their intellectwith an ability to produce answers.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraAfter all, without Einstein, there likelywould be noTheory of General Relativity, and who knows how far behind the world would be rightnow.While Da Vinci didnt quite shift our understanding of reality to that degree, it mak es you wonder how much mora progress we could have made if something welches actually done with the sketches he produced.Yet, this narrative is limited in the broader context.Theanswersare what history remembers,but they dont represent the process that produced them.Neither of them actually focused too much on getting to a solution.Of course, once they knew what they were looking for or producing, they put in the work to get to an end, but thats only a verysmallpart of it.BothEinstein and da Vinci, like many other effective people,were driven primarilybyasking rather than answering, andit was the strength of their questions that ultimately shaped their lives.How Useful AreAnswers?At some point or another,we all want to know the meaning of life, andits no secret that everyone is looking for a formula to guarantee happiness.The problem is that evenif you were to randomly find an answer to these questions, they likely wouldnt mean anything to you.Everyanswer isconfinedto the context wi thin which itoperates, andif you havent walked through the path that leads to that context, then the answer will either be completely irrelevant to you or it will cause confusion.Further yet,somanyof us spend our timelooking for such answers without realizing what exactly we want from them.Sure,you want to be happy, but what does that even mean and why is it important?Just because you know that the Theory of General Relativity is one of the pillars of modern physics doesnt mean that this fact is going to improve your life in a tangible way.If you dont understand the broader context within which this theory is true, all it does is lead to more noise and disorientation.In a way,our love of answers comes from our need for certainty.We havean innate attraction to the idea of knowing something, regardless of whether or not its worth knowing.This rarely leads in the right direction.The real secret, as both Einstein and Da Vinci knew,wasnt to strive for certainty,buttobe guided by curiosit y.It was to first do the work ofasking the right things before seeking a solution.Creating Smaller Circles ofRealityTherealitywe know is ahugely confusing place defined by its complexity.To dive in and look for answers in this messisto invite more problems than solutions.You cant just ask the world to organize itself.What you can do, however, ismake the effort yourself.If youpay attention to whatsaroundyou, andrather than immediately manipulating things to fit into your existing mental models,you just observe and then ask,you gain a huge advantage that pays dividends throughout any process.Thepower of questionsis that theyallow you to take something big and messy,like our observation oftheworld,and use it to create smaller circles of reality that are more clearly defined.Its creating this definition that reallyallows you to zone in on things.Instead of looking for happiness or the meaning of life, youstart by first asking the obvious questions that everybody neglects.What is happine ss?Why is knowing the meaning of life relevant?Much of the time,the more you ask and the smaller your circle of reality gets, the more you realize thatmany of thesequestions dont actually require an answer.At least not one that is relevant to your life.Other times, youre able to focus in beyond the surface-level assumptions that drive the need for an answer.The result is often the realization of a core truth that generally has nothing to do with the initial starting point.Questions are what truly matter.The TakeawayEinstein got a taste of his future theoryby first asking himself what it would be like to ride a light wave like a surfer rides an ocean wave.Da Vinci spent his timeasking so many questions in his famous notebooks that eventually thosequestions couldnt help but lead to an answer.If you look at the life of any introspective genius, youll notice a similar underlying curiosity.This curiosity is slow to seek certaintybecause its busy getting the context right.Paradoxically, t hats ultimately what leads it to the right answer rather than any random one.In the words of one of my personal heroesBertrandRussellThe greatest challenge to any thinker is statingtheproblem in a way that will allow a solution.We all have a naturaltendency to get stuckfocusing on surface-level problems thatare so far detached from the reality were actually trying to understand that we end up pushing ourselves in the wrong direction.The good news is thatit doesnt take a genius to remedy it.It just requires us to bemore aware andless attached to discovering pre-packaged solutions.A lot of the confusion in life stems from an inability to narrow down reality to the part of it that actually matters for our intents and purposes.Luckily,if you ask the right questions, thats entirely solvable.This article originally appeared on Design Luck.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from nesthkchen Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

7 Careers for Creative Minds

7 Careers for Creative Minds 7 Careers for Creative Minds Much has been made in recent years of the need for more young Americans to specialize in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, and rightfully so, for these areas of study will only become more valuable as our society becomes increasingly reliant on technology and highly engineered products.But lets notlage be so quick to cast off our friends in the arts and humanities. Those of you who have degrees in fine arts, or English, or anthropology we need your skills In fact, as the demand for STEM services grows, the demand for people with creative minds grows with it. After all, well always need creative people to help us make sense of how we interact with new services and technologies.Here are seven great careers that prove your creative mind and college major arent a wasteafter all.1. Animator/IllustratorYes, weve all heard of Pixar. Weve all heard of DreamWorks. We know theres a market out there for good illustrators and digital animators, and there has been for a number of years. What a lot of people dont realize, however, is that this field is set to explode in the coming years.Think about all those commercials you see for the many apps involving some variation of the words clash, war, clan, and/or titans. Every single one of those games relies heavily on its graphics animators to produce great gaming experiences. On top of that, were seeing more and more how insanely realistic video game graphics are getting these days. If animation and illustration are in your skill set, youre in luck.2. Interior DesignerOne of the more lucrative career paths for creative types, the world of interior design is perfect for anyone who has a visual artistic liebreiz but also values practicality. This job is all about considering the ways in which people interact with physical spaces the lighting, the arrangement of furniture, the colors within a room and tailoring that space so that it e licits a certain response from people.Most tend to think that interior designers are only for people with fancy houses. Thats far from the truth. Every commercial space and even some industrial spaces is designed and laid out with a high degree of intentionality. Think about it you wouldnt design a living room the same way you would a weight room or a collaborative office space, would you? Thats where interior designers (and, in some cases, commercial and industrial designers) come in.3. Video EditorAlmost one-third of all people who use the Internet watch videos on YouTube. Thats nuts. So, yes, its safe to say that we are living in a generation of visually obsessed people. In fact, most companies (the smart ones, at least) aretailoring their absatzwirtschaft efforts toward making visual impacts on consumers. This means youve got a world of video-crazy users ready to be wowed.But lets face it not all videos on YouTube are Oscar-worthy. Far from it. So, video editors, heres where y ou can really make an impact a well-shot, well-edited video can be the make or break factor in terms of consumer impact. Its an underappreciated field, for sure, but a vital one.4. Print EditorOkay, English majors, fess up Youve read too many articles,emails, andtext messages that were riddled with infuriating grammar mistakes, and it made you want to rip your hair out. Right? Its okay. Weve all been there. Luckily for you, theres a way to channel all that grammar rage editingOf course, when I say print, I dont mean print exclusively most things written these days dont actually appear anywhere in print. Still, the job of an editor is acrucial one. It helps people with important messages get those messages across in powerful, coherent, and grammatically sound ways. More and more, companies with technical focuses are realizing they have a dire need for people who understand good writing and youre here to help them out.5. Web/App DesignerThe Internet makes the world go round these day s. What does this mean? Well, if you owna company, it means that your website is of critical importance to yoursuccess.But its not enough just to have a website. That website hasgot to look good. Its got to attract users eyes, rope them in, and make them want to explore. Reaching all these criteriacan only be done through avery complicated and subtle art form and only by the best Web designers out there.Companies like Toptal are launching Toptal Designers and taking musiknote of the importance of quality digital designers, so if you have these skills, get ready. People want your services.6. Technical WriterRemember how we were talking about print editors earlier, saying that the world still needs good writers? Yeah, thats still true perhaps now more than ever.You see, as the world becomes increasingly tech-dependent, more and more tech jargon will begin to swirl around us, andmost of us wont have a clue as towhats going on inside the technology that powers our lives.But tech compa nies would really love it if their grand announcements of new technologies and products were able to be understood by the average consumer. What they need, effectively, are translators people who can put this high-level tech jargon into laymans terms. Thats why technical writers are so valuable these days They canunderstand the technology and to put it in termsthatanybody elsecan understand.Technical writers arent just for the tech world the legal world and the medical spheres need technical writers just as badly.7. Avertising SpecialistWe all want to be Don Draper, right?Okay, maybe not. I guess he did some pretty terrible things. But still, he sure did turn us on to the glitz and glamor of the advertising worldIt may not be Mad Men, but the advertising industry is still a great option for creative minds looking to have a real impact on the business world. Weve already established that were living in a visual world. Now more than ever, people are paying a premium to have their pr oducts displayed in the world as attractively as possible.Advertising gives you the chance to really toy with peoples minds, make them think certain things, and even elicit certain feelings about the products youre promoting. Pretty cool, right? You have the power of persuasion and creativity on your side. Go use them