Monday, September 30, 2013

Resume Power Words

20 Resume Power Words
~ Ritika Trikha

A strong resume incorporates meaningful, powerful words. Pick and choose carefully. To help you create the best resume possible, we created an infographic of 20 resume power words. Bookmark this or pin it on your job search Pinterest board!  These words are powerful, so use them sparingly.

Meaningless, redundant words are actually a top resume mistake, according to Dana Case, director of operations at MyCorporations.com.  "I often see phrases like 'hard-working' and 'goal-oriented' in the special skills portion of a resume. These phrases are redundant. If you are applying for a job, I am assuming that you are hard-working and that you have goals, no need to put them on your resume," Case says.
Ditch redundant phrases. Instead, select a few that are truly relevant to your skill (but don't stuff your resume with all 20 words!).  Back each of the few power words you use with a significant achievement and you'll have it made! To help, we created this handy infographic just for you!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Job Seeker Do's and Don'ts

Job Seeker Do's and Don'ts
~ Maren Hogan (seasoned marketer and community builder in the HR and Recruiting Industry). Recruiter.com

When you’re looking for a new job, don’t just stumble around, be purposeful and knowledgeable about your hunt.  You spend 8 hours a day there, 5 days a week, probably more. This is a big decision, and one that shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Common, seemingly small mistakes can make a big difference between landing the dream job and an endless search, wondering why you’re not getting the call back.
Odds are this isn’t your first, or your last job hunt so keep these do’s and don’ts of job seekers tips in your arsenal.
Do Network (but do it the right way)
How many times have you been at the bar and the same drunk guy keeps handing you his business card. Don’t be that guy.  There is a time and place for networking.  Don’t get it wrong, that place is very often the bar, but display some control and know when you’re over that threshold.
It turns out that an incredible 80 percent of jobs are landed through networking. But not everyone is born networker; some of us aren’t good at it. We aren’t all social butterflies and we don’t all check our klout scores every day. But the biggest mistake you can make is not networking at all.
Don’t Wait Around
The average unemployed U.S. citizen spends about 40 minutes per day on their job search, and a ridiculous 200 minutes watching TV. Every minute you spend on Netflix could be the minute that your dream job has just been landed by a go-getter.  This statistic is just pathetic; if you need a job, go get it! Fifty percent of new hires applied for the position within the first seven days of the job listing. Time to fill is in the forefront of every hiring manager’s mind, so get on it.
Do Use Social Media (but again, do it the right way)
Social media is a fantastic way to stay connected and keep some irons in the fire. But it’s not only a networking tool. Sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ are used by employers or hiring managers to catch a glimpse of you, see what you’re about and who you’re in circles with. So keep it clean. Keep your professional networking sites professional, and control what you want others to see. These sites also work the other way. The best way to get a feel of a company’s employer brand or company culture is to check out their sites. You can learn a lot about a company just from searching around their social media for a few minutes.
According to a Forbes article, “How Social Media can Help (or hurt) You in Your Job Search”, of the 37 percent of employers who use social media to screen candidates:
  •  65% said they do it to see if the job seeker presents himself or herself professionally.
  • About half (51%) want to know if the candidate is a good fit for the company culture.
  • 45% want to learn more about his or her qualifications.
  • Some cited “to see if the candidate is well-rounded” and “to look for reasons not to hire the candidate,” as their motives.
  • A third (34%) of employers who scan social media profiles said they have found content that has caused them not to hire the candidate.
Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate Your Salary
Eighteen percent of employees never took the time or opportunity to negotiate their salary. This can be a scary thing. As the new hire, you are sometimes made to feel that the ball is entirely in their court. This simply isn’t the case. They spent time and money on reading your resume, arranging and executing the interview, deliberating over the choice of hire, and doing a background check. They aren’t going to give you the boot if you start talking numbers. If you’re prepared with a counter offer, you’ll know exactly what’s on the table, instead of walking out never knowing, and waiting for a 6 month employee evaluation.
Do Edit
Nothing will kill your chances before you even get in the door like an error  filled resume or profile.  Check and re-check any and all materials that can be potentially seen by a hiring manager. If you didn’t pay attention to detail in your job search, that sends a clear message that you aren’t thorough.
Don’t be a Downer
If you take nothing else from these do’s and don’ts, please take this: Eighty-five percent of the decision to promote or hire an employee is based on the employee's attitude.  No one wants to work with a jerk, so don’t let your nerves get the best of you. Be relaxed, confident and positive in all interactions with your hiring manager.