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#CareerAdvice : #ResumeWriting – How to Write a #Resume That Will Impress a Bot ( #AI )…Great REad!

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Getting hired used to mean writing a resume that stood out to the HR manager or recruiter assigned to thumb through them. Today, the gatekeeper is a machine as AI revolutionizes the hiring process. That means the way you write your resume has changed, too.

“AI is handling processes that used to take an enormous amount of time away from engaging with the talent pool,” says Jon Christiansen, PhD, chief intelligence officer of the marketing research firm Sparks Research. “HR managers don’t have to sift through hundreds of resumes, and they can get into their real expertise of recruiting and placing the right talent.”

While this is good news for the HR department, it adds a new challenge for candidates, says Arran Stewart chief visionary officer and co-founder of Job.com, a recruiting platform.

“AI has made the resume writing process far more competitive as it now requires emphasis on personalizing the document for the job in question rather than submitting a generic resume for a myriad of vacancies,” he says. “Where recruiters and hiring managers are able to read between the lines and find the relevance of any skill or accomplishment on your resume to the open positions they have, AI is only concerned with how closely your resume matches with the skills it’s been asked to look for in the job you applied to.”

Get past the bot and in front of the HR manager by doing these six things:

1. WRITE A NEW RESUME FOR EVERY JOB

The ability to blast out one version of a resume and get nibbles is over. Now you have to write a resume that speaks to the job description.

“The job description contains several clues about what the machine is looking for,” says Christiansen. “It’s saying, ‘Here are the knowledge skills I’m looking for, and here’s background I’m looking for.’ Look at the tags, keywords, and streams of text; that’s where you should get started.”

Apply the language to the resume you submit to the job in question, says Stewart. “AI is looking for singular relevance to the role they’re searching for, so including job-specific language is a must if you want to make it to the shortlist,” he says. “It might be slightly more work, but no different than say having different cover letters ready for each position.”

 

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2. USE EASY TO UNDERSTAND JOB TITLES

Some companies like to assign creative job titles, like Branding Guru or Planning Expert, but including them on your resume might get you passed over by the machine.

“It’s cool for culture, but that’s not the tags the machine is looking for,” says Christiansen. “If the job description says they’re looking for a marketing manager or product manger, that’s the tag it’s going to look for.”

Christiansen suggests going to the Bureau of Labor Statistics or O-NETand searching standard job titles. “If you can’t find your job title, it’s probably not going to be picked up and tagged during the machine screening,” he says.

Also consider the job progression, adds Stewart. “AI isn’t at the point of a mass scale predictive, so if you’re applying for a job that is senior to your current role as a logical next step in your career, AI won’t make the connection that it is the logical next step,” he says. “If your experience and skills make you seem underqualified, you should write in aspirational terms about your skills and accomplishments. That way the system views you as ready to take on the added challenge.”

3. RESIST THE URGE TO BE CREATIVE

Machines don’t judge you by the font you choose. If you have a font that can’t be read by most word processors, you might get spit out.

“Any font that isn’t within the Microsoft Word platform might not be able to be read,” says Christiansen. “Sometimes using a PDF format might work, but it’s not worth the risk.”

And don’t add graphics. Tables or images might look good, but again, the bot might not be able to recognize it.

“It might look like wasted space to a machine,” says Christiansen.

4. BE PRECISE

Including a long history of experience is no longer necessary, so try to keep your list of experience within the last five years, says Stewart.

“A full 20 years of work history dilutes the experience concentration weighing your resume, which will result in you being removed from shortlists,” he says. “When writing your resume remember the two Rs: keep it relevant and recent.”

5. CHECK YOUR SPELLING

You never want your resume to include spelling or grammatical errors, but a human might have been more forgiving than a machine.

“AI not only sorts through irrelevant applicants, in some cases it highlights the lazy ones as well,” says Stewart. “It’s still important to be sure your information is still meeting the usual standards of excellence expected for professional documents.”

6. INCLUDE A COVER LETTER

While a resume should be written to match the job and advance you past the bot, the cover letter is your chance to shine, says Christiansen.

“It’s an opportunity to speak like a human,” he says. “You can speak directly to the hiring manager, make yourself sound like a human and talk uniquely about the experiences you mentioned that spoke to the job description.”

Christiansen recommends writing three or four paragraphs about how you could fit that team, company and job. “Get into the why,” he says. “A cover letter may be an old practice, but I don’t see them go away. A good hiring manager wants to hear you in that.”

Taking these six steps involve more work on the part of the candidate, but skipping them might be a bigger risk.

“If you send out a generalized resume, it’s a case of garbage in/garbage out,” he says. “You want to get a match because you fit the job. If you’re getting calls from a generalized resume it’s because those companies want warm bodies, whether or not they fit the job. Is that where you want to work?”

 

FastCompany.com |April 1, 2019 | BY STEPHANIE VOZZA  4 MINUTE READ

#CareerAdvice : #ResumeWriting -New Study: Professionally Written Resumes Score Jobs Faster & Earn More.

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If you’ve been in the workforce for years, chances are you’ve considered outsourcing the dreaded process of writing a resume. After all, needing a new jobis stressful on its own, then add to that the anxiety of capturing your entire work history and value into one or two pages. Hello, migraine.

However, a new study by TopResume may provide a proven solution. The resume writing service commissioned a study to determine if recruiters perceive candidates with professionally written resumes to be more employable, as well as if job seekers benefit from a professionally written resume.

Need Resume Updated or Done?? .…… Contact us at  info@firstsun.com

The results? Recruiters valued candidates with professionally written resumes to be worth 7% more than when assessed using their self-written versions. Furthermore, candidates with professionally written resumes were more likely to secure interviews, land a new job sooner, and advance their career faster.

“Professionally written resumes increase a job seeker’s perceived value by providing a clear career narrative, a visually balanced presentation, and proof of the person’s abilities,” says Amanda Augustine, a certified professional resume writer and career coach.

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According to the data, candidates who invested in a professional resume reported:

  • 32% higher rate of finding a job than those who wrote their resume themselves.
  • 68% secured that job within 90 days of having their resume professionally written.
  • 42% of them moved on to a higher-level position.

“Anecdotal evidence has suggested that professionally written resumes offer significant benefits to job seekers, but there was no data to confirm those advantages — until now,” said Jeff Berger, CEO and founder of TopResume, a Talent Inc. company. “Now, when job seekers wonder whether investing in this critical job-search tool will positively influence their candidacy, there’s resounding proof it will help advance their career faster and at a higher salary and title.”

If editing and tweaking your resume is causing you to go mad or you are still wondering whether your resume is strong enough to beat the competition, consider hiring help via TopResume, especially if you’re changing careers or transferring industries. 

“When you’re changing careers, it’s assumed that your recent work experience will not perfectly align with the role you’re now targeting,” says Augustine. “To ensure your resume isn’t immediately trashed by the ‘bots’ or a recruiter, you need demonstrate that you possess the skills necessary to do the job well, even if this new job isn’t a natural next step after your previous role.”

That’s where transferable skills come in. “Some transferable skills are universal, regardless of the field: leadership, communication, analytical skills, and many others,” Augustine says. But “if you want to land a job faster and maximize your future paycheck, hire an expert to write it for you.”

 

GlassDoor.com | March 26, 2019

 

#CareerAdvice : #JobOpenings -10 High-Paying Jobs With Tons of Open Positions.

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It’s easy to look at someone with a great salary and think about how lucky they are. But the truth is, high-paying jobs aren’t as rare as they seem — in fact, they’re often the ones with the most available positions. While you might first need to develop a special set of skills or pursue a particular degree, there are many in-demand jobs with high salaries that are only increasing by the minute as employers struggle to fill them with qualified candidates.

So if one of the following positions looks interesting to you, don’t wait — apply today before everyone else gets in on them!

1. Project Manager

Open Jobs: ~109k

Median Base Salary: $75,474

As a project manager, you’ll be responsible for leading projects from inception to execution. Common tasks involve managing a budget, setting timelines, delegating tasks and serving as a liaison between teams to ensure that everything is going smoothly. While a college degree is not necessarily required, many Project Managers have bachelor’s or master’s degrees, and possibly a Project Management Professional certification as well.

See Open Jobs 

2. Physician Assistant

Open Jobs: ~52k

Median Base Salary: $93,090

Interested in the medical field and helping others, but don’t want to attend medical school? A Physician Assistant position might be perfect for you. Physician Assistants perform many of the same tasks as doctors, such as examining and diagnosing patients, writing prescriptions and performing medical procedures under the supervision of a  physician. But unlike doctors, Physician Assistants only need to attend a two-year long graduate program.

See Open Jobs 

 

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3. Software Engineer

Open Jobs: ~141k

Median Base Salary: $103,035

You hardly ever run into a list of great jobs that doesn’t include Software Engineer, and for good reason. With how important smartphones, computers and the Internet have become in our daily lives, companies need plenty of talented people to help them create cutting-edge technology, and truly skilled individuals can be hard to come by. In the future, this field is only expected to get hotter — the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 24 percent job growth between 2016 and 2026.

See Open Jobs 

4. Marketing Manager

Open Jobs: ~61k

Median Base Salary: $81,078

Part art and part science, Marketing Managers leverage both creative and analytical skills in order to promote their company’s products or services. No two marketing manager positions are quite the same, but given the abundance of different fields of marketing out there — digital, social media, inbound, email, etc. — you’re sure to find something up your alley.

See Open Jobs 

5. Nurse Practitioner

Open Jobs: ~21k

Median Base Salary: $117,292

Like Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners are medical professionals who take on many of the same tasks as doctors. They can examine patients, order and interpret tests, diagnose illnesses and come up with treatment plans, sometimes without the supervision of a doctor depending on where they practice. In order to be able to perform these additional responsibilities, Nurse Practitioners must attend a two-year graduate program to receive their Master of Science in Nursing.

See Open Jobs 

6. Business Analyst

Open Jobs: ~76k

Median Base Salary: $69,163

Business Analysts can take on a wide variety of projects in a wide variety of fields, but no matter their specialty, they all use data to improve processes. By gathering, examining and synthesizing information to understand patterns and trends, they are able to glean insight into what actions a company should take. As a result, they often help companies improve profits, increase productivity and promote efficiency.

See Open Jobs 

7. Operations Manager

Open Jobs: ~68k

Median Base Salary: $76,971

Operations Managers are tasked with ensuring that businesses are running smoothly. They often analyze different functions of the business in order to determine their performance, then come up with solutions to improve their efficacy. On a day-to-day basis, this might involve analyzing data, creating reports, planning with teams and more.

8. Occupational Therapist

Open Jobs: ~14k

Median Base Salary: $80,782

Occupational Therapists help those with disabilities and injuries build up the strength and skills necessary to perform daily tasks. By assessing patients and developing a treatment plan, they are able to help them regain their agency. In order to become an Occupational Therapist, you must earn both a bachelor’s degree and enroll in a two-year master’s program where you learn about anatomy, kinesiology, therapeutic technology and patient care and communication.

9. Electrical Engineer

Open Jobs: ~77k

Median Base Salary: $86,153

From computers to cell phones to robots and more, Electrical Engineers design and build just about any electrical device you can think of. Because of this, they’re in high demand in many different fields, such as technological hardware, aerospace and defense, green energy and automotives. Electrical Engineers typically have a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, where they learn the fundamental concepts of physics, electromagnetism and electricity.

10. Product Manager

Open Jobs: ~74k

Median Base Salary: $113,886

As you might be able to tell by the name, Product Managers are the leads for a particular product. This might involve laying out the product roadmap, doing user research, conducting competitive analysis, working with engineers and product marketers, etc. While Product Managers aren’t always required to have technical skills, it never hurts to have a solid background in development.

 

GlassDoor.com |  | Posted by 

#CareerAdvice : #JobSearch -How to Succeed at a #CareerFair …Great Read!

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Think a career fair is a waste of time? Think again. It’s a space packed with people searching to fill open roles and make connections for future opportunities—the perfect place for a soon-to-be college grad to score a new job or network with a dream company.

But it’s not enough to simply show up: To be successful at a career fair, there are several things you should do before you go and while you’re there.

Here, we asked career experts to walk you through how to succeed at a career fair.

1. Search for open roles.

Before the fair, get a list of the companies that will be attending—then search their sites (and Glassdoor) to see if they have any open roles for which you might be a fit. “Prioritize which companies you want to visit based on your goals for your target industries, roles, and locations,” says Jenny Zenner, career advisor and senior director of technology careers at University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

2. Research your target companies.

Now, take that list of companies whose booths you’d like to stop by and research them. “Go through their website, current news, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn,” Zenner says. “See if you have any contacts at those companies—such as fellow alums, friends, and family—and reach out in advance to learn more about what they do.” Armed with inside knowledge, you’ll be sure to impress company representatives.

What to Look for When Researching a Company: A Complete Checklist

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3. Plot a path.

Grab a map of the fair (one should be available online) and find the companies you’d like to visit, then create a path that will help you make the most of your time there—one that starts with the most popular brands. “Arrive early so that you can get to the popular companies that likely will have lines,” Zenner says. “After you’ve visited all the companies on your priority list, then you can circle back to visit other booths.”

4. Dress for success.  

Jan Hudson, COO of the recruiting firm Surf Search, recommends that men where a sports jacket while women should don a blazer or other business attire. “You’re looking for a job, not headed to class,” she reminds us. Be “neat, tidy, and pressed.”

5. Connect the dots for representatives.

When you approach a booth and discuss open roles, don’t forget to connect the dots, says career and life coach Kyle Elliott. “Ask questions about open positions, then be ready to discuss how your knowledge, skills, and passion align with the positions your target company is hiring for,” he says. “Demonstrate how your experience has prepared you perfectly to join the company,” or how you’d fit with company culture.  

7 Perfect Questions to Ask While Networking

6. Bring more resumes than you think you’ll need.  

You’ll bring resumes to the fair, for sure, but bring plenty of extras. You never know who you will meet, and you don’t want to be caught without one. “Make sure [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][your resume] is as polished as it can be for a newly graduating candidateentering the workforce,” says Hudson. “Get help from career counseling on writing that resume with applicable examples of your successes as a student.” The very best resumes will include internships, applicable work experience, and college activities, she says.

7. Practice talking with representatives.

Don’t wait for real-time to talk yourself up. “Work on your communications skillsahead of time with a friend,” says Hudson. “There is nothing like good-old role playing to help you feel more comfortable.” Search online and find top behavioral interview question prompts, she suggests, then run through answering them—several times—with your friend. Practice showing confidence without being overly arrogant, she says, as well as listening to another person and not overtaking them.

8. Follow up.

After you leave the fair, “send a thank you email and a hand-written note to each person you met,” says Elliott. Then, you can keep the conversation going by adding the representative with whom you met to your contacts on LinkedIn, as well as “requesting an informational interview to learn more about the company,” he says.

 

GlassDoor.com | March 15, 2019 | Posted by 

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#CareerAdvice : #CollegeStudents – 6 Smart Tips for Turning your #Internship into a #FullTimeJob …Got Kids??

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Your internship is almost coming to an end and right now, all you want is to turn this small stint into a full-time job, isn’t it?

After all, it cannot get better than starting your career in a company you are familiar with and doing the work that deeply interests you. Internships don’t just add to your experience and give you exposure, they are also a great way for companies to take note of well-performing individuals and assess whether they can permanently fit the bill.

So, if you want your internship to end with a full-time job offer, here are six smart tips to make that dream a reality.

Give it your best

“Oh, that’s a no-brainer”, you might think but a lot of students take internships lightly which reflects in their work ethic and attitude. The key is to treat your internship like a real job and give it your best.

You might be juggling college and this internship, but you cannot let it affect your work. Remember that as an intern, you will always be under scrutiny. Whether it’s asking questions, being on time, adhering to deadlines, dressing professionally and managing your tasks well – all these factors matter. Hence, if you wish to convert this internship into a job, you need to leave a positive impression and stand out.

You don’t have to worry about being a know-it-all. This is your time to imbibe and learn. Work with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, and people around are bound to take notice.

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Be proactive

Internships are your first-hand experience of the corporate world. You need to make that transition from a being a college student to an intern because the latter is a completely different space to be in.

It’s no longer just about finishing assignments on time and studying for tests, internships are a lot more demanding. So, put your problems as a university student aside and look ahead.

Take ownership of your work and be proactive in your ways. Identify loopholes and suggest measures the company can take, take up additional responsibilities and always ask for feedback to understand how you are being perceived.

Everyone appreciates proactiveness because it signifies passion and genuine interest.

Network internally

More than networking externally, it’s important to focus on making connections within the office. Here’s your time to strengthen your reputation and make connections. Start with building a rapport with your immediate supervisor and spend quality time with him/her.

In case there are any office activities or off-sites happening, make sure you participate as these are one of the few times you get to strike a connection with colleagues outside of work.

Building a strong network while working is always beneficial when you are trying to land the job and even if you don’t manage to convert the internship, it helps to make connections as you never know who could help you fuel your next career move.

Identify areas of interest

Internships let you evaluate where your interests lie and the line of work you see yourself in so maximize this time to understand yourself in order to set professional goals. Don’t be the intern who is clueless by the end of the internship – it reflects badly on you and shows a lack of seriousness towards your career.

Express eagerness

Many students hesitate in expressing their interest to work in the company as a full-time employee and are often disappointed when the internship does not end with a job offer. Do not wait to be offered a job because you cannot expect the company to magically know about your career goals.

So, towards the end of the internship, speak to the hiring manager and your supervisor and express your eagerness to work with the company. Tell them how you see yourself fit in, the value you will add and your experience as an intern. Do your bit and leave the rest to them.

Keep in touch

Unfortunately, every internship does not end with a job and the reasons are not always related to your capabilities. You might be extremely capable, but the company has a budget allotted for every team and sometimes it’s difficult to fit in someone they hadn’t budgeted for.

In such cases, don’t lose hope. Stay in touch with your supervisor and colleagues even after the internship comes to an end. You can start with adding them on LinkedIn, offer your assistance and ask them to recommend you if they come across a suitable job. Till then, work on building your personal brand and keep the hunt on!

 

Author:  Adela Belin is the Head of Digital Marketing at Writers Per Hour. She creates content surrounding marketing with a focus on social media and digital marketing. Feel free to contact Adela on LinkedIn.

 

TheLadders.com |  March 11, 2019

#CareerAdvice : #LinkedInTips – 9 Mistakes you’re Making on #LinkedIn that Could Sabotage your #JobHunt — and How to Fix Them. A Must REad!

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  • If you’re on LinkedIn, there’s a good chance you’re guilty of (at least) one of the mistakes listed below.

  • We talked to LinkedIn career expert Blair Decembrele about how to avoid them.
  • For example, if you’re job-hunting, be sure to alert recruiters that you’re open to new roles. Your current employer won’t find out.
LinkedIn can be a terrific place to build your brand, expand your network, attract new clients, and find job opportunities.

But use it the wrong way and you could turn off professional contacts — or even lose out on your dream job.

We spoke with LinkedIn career expert Blair Decembrele about the most common (and most egregious) mistakes she sees on the platform, as well as what you can do to avoid them. Read on, and get ready to make some potentially serious changes to your profile.

Your profile headline is incorrect or missing entirely

Your profile headline is incorrect or missing entirelyScreenshot/LinkedIn

This is “prime real estate,” Decembrele said.

It’s the first thing other members see besides your photo. You can use these 120 words either to list your current title (e.g. “senior reporter at Business Insider”) or to describe your job more generally (e.g. “reporter covering career development and entrepreneurship”).

You don’t have a profile photo

You don't have a profile photoScreenshot/LinkedIn

According to LinkedIn data, profiles with photos receive up to 21 times more views than profiles without photos, plus nine times more connection requests.

That’s not to say that any photo will do — it’s important to choose one that’s visually appealing, Decembrele said. Think a solid-color background without distractions like a friend’s arm dangling off the edge. Your face should fill up roughly 60% of the frame.

 

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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You haven’t written a summary

You haven't written a summaryScreenshot/LinkedIn

A summary “describes who you are as a professional,” Decembrele said. It’s your elevator pitch, or your chance to “spark a potential employer’s interest in 20 seconds.”

That’s why you should include your experience, skills, and interests. Most importantly, “don’t be afraid to have your personality shine through.” LinkedIn says summaries of at least 40 words are more likely to turn up in search results.

You never customized your LinkedIn URL

You never customized your LinkedIn URLScreenshot/LinkedIn

Once you do, you can include your LinkedIn URL on your résumé without worrying about it looking clunky, Decembrele said. It also makes it easier for you to be found by recruiters.

You have no idea what your privacy settings are

You have no idea what your privacy settings areScreenshot/LinkedIn

Decembrele recommends thinking carefully about your privacy settings (for example, whether you want your entire network to find out that you’ve switched jobs).

You should also know whether other members can see when you’ve looked at their profile, and vice versa. Decembrele said there are benefits to having people know you checked out their profile, since they might see an opportunity to work together.

If you subscribe to LinkedIn Premium, you’re able to tweak the settings so that you can see when other people view your profile, but they can’t see when you’ve viewed theirs.

SEE ALSO: 9 mistakes you’re making on LinkedIn that are putting off recruiters and making it harder to find a job

 

You haven’t alerted recruiters that you’re open to new roles

You haven't alerted recruiters that you're open to new rolesScreenshot/LinkedIn

Enabling the “open candidates” feature on your profile dashboard is a way to privately signal that you’re open to job opportunities. LinkedIn found that members who enable this feature are twice as likely to see relevant opportunities.

Fortunately, this is not listed publicly on your profile — and luckily for you, recruiters from your particular organization aren’t able to see this.

You’re not using hashtags in your posts

You're not using hashtags in your postsScreenshot/LinkedIn

You can use relevant hashtags to a) customize your feed so that you see the content that’s most interesting to you, and b) to make sure your posts wind up in front of the right people (just like on other social media platforms). For example, if you’re writing about leadership, you might tag “#leadership.”

Once you’ve started writing a post on LinkedIn, you’ll see recommended hashtags to choose from.

You aren’t taking advantage of LinkedIn groups

You aren't taking advantage of LinkedIn groupsScreenshot/LinkedIn

When you join LinkedIn groups for professionals in your field, “it enables you to talk to each other about trends in your industry,” Decembrele said. Plus, it’s a great way to solicit career advice or opinions.

You’re cold-contacting people for jobs

You're cold-contacting people for jobsScreenshot/LinkedIn

The first rule of messaging another LinkedIn member is to make sure you’ve looked at their profile, so you can refer to something about their career that resonated with you. Explain why you’re reaching out and why they should connect with you, Decembrele added.

That said, if you’re job hunting, don’t message someone asking directly for a job. Instead, you might write something like, “Hi, I noticed you work for [X organization] and I’m really interested in learning more about that company. Would you be wiling to talk to me?”

Author: Jillian D’Onfro contributed to an earlier version of this post.

Businessinsder.com | March 7, 2019

 

 

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#CareerAdvice : #ResumeWriting – Here’s Why Prospective Employers Might Not Ever See Your #Resume … Must REad!

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Whether you’re unhappy with your current job or are simply exploring your options, you’re probably aware that to land a new role, you’ll need a solid resume to submit as part of the application process. But what happens when you apply to a series of jobs you’re qualified for and aren’t contacted for a single interview?

You might start doubting your credentials, or doubting yourself. You might also be quick to point a finger at your resume, and wonder whether it’s somehow loaded with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors you just can’t seem to identify. If your job applications are going unanswered, it could be that your resume is to blame — but not in the way you think.

Is Your Resume Getting Seen?

The problem with your resume might not boil down to mistakes, but rather, the fact that prospective employers just aren’t seeing it. The reason? That document doesn’t have the right keywords.

These days, a growing number of companies are using applicant tracking software to narrow down their respective pools of qualified applicants. As part of the process, applications, including resumes, are scanned by software designed to look out for designated keywords — and if yours doesn’t have the right ones, it could be weeded out by a computer program, not an actual person.

The benefit of using such systems is that it makes the applicant-vetting process more efficient for employers. Rather than have to read through, say, 400 resumes for the average position, a company might instead invest in software that whittles the pool down to just 30 or 40 candidates. From there, reviewing resumes on an individual basis becomes far more feasible.

And it’s not just large firms that are using this technology to their advantage. Even small and medium-sized businesses are getting on board the algorithm train, thereby making it even more difficult for qualified candidates to get their foot in the door.

Ask A Resume Writer: Do I Need to “Game” Applicant Tracking Systems to Land Interviews?

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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Beating the System

You’re probably aware that your resume needs to be catchy, concise and informative. But apparently, you also need to worry about it containing the right keywords.

With that in mind, there are a couple of things you can do to increase your chances of having your resume actually reach prospective employers. First, read each job description you apply to carefully, and aim to have some of the keywords contained in those descriptions appear in your resume as well. For example, if a job listing seems to emphasize project management skills, make sure the words “project management” appear early on in your resume.

That said, don’t go overboard with those keywords. Just as search engines penalize websites for keyword-stuffing (putting so many keywords into a section of content so as to render it unreadable), some of the aforementioned programs reject resumes if they suspect that tactic.

Another way to improve your chances of getting your resume looked at? Don’t just apply to jobs through online forms. Instead, identify those companies you want to work for the most and try finding individuals to send your resume to personally. For example, if you determine that an old colleague of yours knows someone at a company you’re applying to, you might ask that person for an introduction, or to send your resume to that contact and request that he or she personally put it in front of the hiring manager.

Many companies offer incentives for referring qualified candidates for jobs, so if you’re a good fit for a given role, someone you don’t know directly might be willing to vouch for you if you have an associate in common and your resume looks good.

Crafting a compelling resume is hard enough, and having to concern yourself with keywords makes for an even more stressful experience. If you’ve been finding that your job applications are going unanswered, it could be that your resume just isn’t saying the right things. Take steps to be a bit more keyword-conscious without going overboard, and that might spell the difference between having your resume ignored versus noticed.

 

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#CareerAdvice : #JobSearch -7 Perfect Questions to Ask While #Networking …Great REad!

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Odds are, you already know how important networking is. You might have leveraged your network to land a job, procure a new client or even switch careers entirely — or at the very least, you probably know someone who has. But despite the endless benefits of networking, many people still dread the experience.

Often, this is because they simply don’t know what to say. After all, approaching a stranger you know nothing about can be pretty intimidating — what in the world do you talk about?

Well, the next time you find yourself wondering this at an industry mixer, don’t fret. We talked to a handful of career experts to get their recommendations on great questions to ask while networking. Use any of these questions for a quick and painless conversation starter.

1. “What brings you here?”

This light-touch question is a great way to begin a conversation, explains Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of The Connector’s Advantage: 7 Mindsets to Grow Your Influence and Impact.

“This question shows you are interested in the other person and are not just trying to figure out how they can help you. Their response will give you a sense of what they are working on and what is on the front of their mind. That will lead you to extend the conversation and figure out how you can add value to them,” Tillis Lederman explains. “They will also likely ask you the question in return and give you an opening to share what your current objectives are.”

How to Network

2. “How did you get involved in the industry/company?”

Once you know a little bit more about somebody’s professional background, ask them how they got their start. It can provide valuable takeaways for you, as well as make you seem more likable.

“Finding out more about their journey leading up to their current role can offer an excellent insight into what you might need to do in order to work in that industry, role or company,” says Lars Herrem, Group Executive Director at recruiting agency Nigel Wright Group. “Demonstrating your interest and enthusiasm is key to creating a lasting impression and making yourself memorable, something which will prove extremely beneficial if you end up reaching out to this person in the future.”

 

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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3. “Since you work in the industry, how do you feel about X?”

Asking about a specific, timely event in the industry — whether it’s proposed legislation, a merger, a recent news story, etc. — is a great way to show the person you’re speaking with that you are knowledgeable and thoughtful, both of which are key to being memorable, says career coach Eli Howayeck of Crafted Career Concepts.

“First impressions matter. The best thing you can do, besides being a nice person, is to demonstrate how you think and what you know about the marketplace,” Howayeck explains. “This helps direct the conversation and informs your conversation partner that you likely know what you’re talking about or, at a minimum, pay attention to what is going on in the world and [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][are] not only focused on yourself and your advancement.”

4. “How would someone get their foot in the door in your company/industry?”

The ultimate objective of networking is often to get a new job, but coming out and asking somebody you just met to help you get one can be pretty off-putting. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t approach the topic at all — you just have to do so delicately.

This question “is a subtle way to ask about opportunities without coming right out and saying, ‘Do you know if they are hiring?’” says career coach Madelyn Mackie. “If you are lucky, they will ask you if you are interested and then provide you with a business card to follow-up with them after the event.”

Even if they aren’t able to help you out directly, though, you will likely gain some valuable insight that will help you in your job search process.

5. “Based on your journey, what do you wish someone would have told you earlier in your career?”

This is a great question to ask if you’re speaking with somebody who is more senior than you are. It allows them to impart the knowledge they’ve acquired over the years with you, as well as appeals to their ego.

“People are way more comfortable sharing their wisdom than they are sharing their contacts, and both can be very valuable,” Howayeck says. “Seeking to learn from others honors them and shows that you’re invested in growth. It also shows deference and can endear the person to you and deepen the connection.”

5 Ways to Grow Your Network From Scratch In a New Industry

6. “How do you spend your time outside of work?”

At its heart, networking is all about forming connections with others, so don’t be afraid to veer towards lighthearted chitchat. Questions like this one help people open up, and make it clear that you don’t expect the interaction to be purely transactional.

“This kind of question lowers the stakes and also gives the other person a chance to discuss what they’re passionate about,” Howayeck explains. “It also shows that you are actually interested in them as a person, and not just what they do and how it could help you.”

Who knows? You may even bond over a shared interest or activity!

7. “What’s the best way for me to get in touch/follow up with you?”

Ask this question, and you’re guaranteed to avoid one of the biggest mistakes that novice networkers make, according to career coach Nikki Bruno: “Beginning networkers often make the mistake of giving away a stack of business cards but gathering none. The only way to ensure that you’ll be able to follow up with new contacts is to get their information; it keeps you in the driver’s seat.”

“Note that this question is intentionally different from ‘May I have your card?’” Bruno adds. “Asking to stay in touch or to follow someone shows that you view him/her as a human being, not as a mere contact.”

 

GlassDoor.com | March 5, 2019 | Posted by 

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#CareerAdvice : #CareerTransition -‘You Have to Package Yourself Differently’; Company Veterans Explore New Horizons.

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Executives often find it hard to jump ship after helping to steer the same workplace for years.

They can lack a sizable network of outside contacts. Their job interviewing skills are rusty. And they worry about fitting in at a new employer.

Despite such hurdles, many longtime business leaders with strong track records are making the leap amid today’s booming job market, recruiters and coaches say. Since early 2018, executives have changed employers following tenures exceeding 12 years at major U.S. companies such as Amazon.com Inc., CSX Corp. , Intel Corp. , General Electric Co. , Nike Inc. and Starbucks Corp.

“Companies want seasoned leaders with broad experience who know how to tackle new challenges,” said Jane Howze, a managing director at the Alexander Group, an executive-search firm. “If somebody has moved around within a company and gotten promoted repeatedly during 12-plus years, that’s now a plus.”

RELATED COVERAGE

About two-thirds of U.S. recruiters report their clients often or almost always are more willing to consider long-serving executives than a decade ago, according to a January survey of 53 recruiters conducted for The Wall Street Journal by the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants.

Yet company veterans looking to change workplaces sometimes struggle to devise ways to tout their protracted stints. “Long-tenured executives tend to lack confidence about what they have to offer the outside world, and they may lose perspective over time even if they’ve been successful,” said Rose Fiorilli, an executive coach.

Scott Schneider is one of several such job hunters whom she recently counseled on the issue. Hired by Ruder Finn in 1999, he rose to chief digital officer of the big public-relations firm. He sought Ms. Fiorilli’s assistance in summer 2017 and let her know he wasn’t good at self-promotion.

“I wanted to go somewhere that was not a replica of where I had been,’’ Mr. Schneider recalled. “I was worried I had been there for too long.”

With Ms. Fiorilli’s guidance, Mr. Schneider began pitching himself as a creative change agent rather than a digital officer. He said he realized that his skills, such as building a team of more than 40 designers and creative strategists, mirrored accomplishments of other creative leaders in his industry.

Mr. Schneider switched employers last October. He now is chief creative officer of Praytell, a new type of PR agency that heavily emphasizes social media.

Other longtime executives go one step further to reposition themselves. “You have to package yourself differently so you’re not identified too strongly with your latest employer,” said Deirdre Latour, who spent 14 years at GE.

When Deirdre Latour resigned as GE’s chief communications officer in 2018, she hadn’t gone on a formal job interview in eight years.
When Deirdre Latour resigned as GE’s chief communications officer in 2018, she hadn’t gone on a formal job interview in eight years. PHOTO: PEARSON PLC

When she resigned as GE’s chief communications officer in March 2018, Ms. Latour hadn’t gone on a formal job interview in eight years. Her professional network was so closely connected to GE that fresh opportunities resembled her last GE role, she said. But running communications for another global business “might be totally the wrong thing for me.’’

That’s why Ms. Latour did mock job interviews with her coach, Angie McArthur. “She helped me explain how I might translate the broad scope of my GE skills to a new culture,” the executive said.

Pearson PLC soon wooed Ms. Latour to be chief corporate affairs officer of the global education company, and she joined the firm in January. She said she got off to a strong start at Pearson, thanks to widely applicable skills that she learned at GE—including a focus on execution and concise thinking.

Some veteran business leaders promote their ability to fit in again before a skeptical employer raises the question. An executive with 25 years’ experience at a big insurer said he took this approach after his eight-month search failed to produce an attractive offer. He hopes to work for a startup backed by private-equity investors.

He’s currently a serious contender for a senior management spot at a health care startup owned by that private-equity firm.

Fresh gigs don’t always work out for senior managers with longevity elsewhere, though. Tim Stone became chief financial officer of SnapInc., the parent company of messaging app Snapchat, in May 2018 after roughly two decades at Amazon. He quit Feb. 5.

Snap, which is struggling, didn’t disclose what triggered Mr. Stone’s surprise exit. He declined to comment.

Adapting to a new workplace can prove tough for highly tenured executives because they often remain deeply loyal to the prior employer. Consider Monique Bonner. Following 16 years at Dell Technologies Inc., “I was definitely somebody who bled Dell blue,” she said.

Ms. Bonner became chief marketing officer of Akamai TechnologiesInc. in 2016. The network security provider uses a similar shade of indigo for its corporate color, but when Ms. Bonner jokingly told new associates that she now bled Akamai blue, “no one knew what I was talking about.”

Akamai colleagues gave her equally quizzical looks when she cited Dell acronyms—such as calling employee-wide meetings “AHODs” rather than “All Hands,” which is Akamai’s nomenclature.

“It takes time and diligence to break 16-year-old communication habits,” Ms. Bonner said. Nevertheless, her new employer “has been incredibly supportive,” she added. “I’m nearing three years at Akamai and couldn’t be happier.”

Author: Write to Joann S. Lublin at joann.lublin@wsj.com

Appeared in the February 21, 2019, print edition as ‘Company Veterans Ponder the Lure of Something New.’

WSJ.com

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