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#RemoteJobs : Convincing Future Employers to Allow Work From Home (WFH). Businesses are Trying to Move Workers Back to Office. Thoughts?

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A recent Statistics’ Time Use report by the US Bureau of Labor showed a whopping ~35% of all employed persons in the US spent the average work day WFH — up from the previous year (2022) after a slight peak of ~38% (2021). Statistics show ~16% more employees work from home than twenty years ago. A  LinkedIn survey found only 39% of US workers are interested in an in-person job, and The Economist’s study showed workers preferred a minimum of two days of WFH.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, employees and employers scrambled to create home office setups with new protocols to support the employee work-life balance. The upside for employers was reduced time in commuting and expenses. Over the two years encompassing the pandemic’ stay at home’ recommendations, employees became comfortable from their personal offices, desks, or couches.

Employees acclimated and enjoyed the WFH schedule and conveniences (flex time to run errands and pick up kids from school). Other research studies indicated WFH workers were more productive. Businesses are now trying to move workers back to the ‘office space’ and reduce WFH hours, including flex schedules (WFH 2-3 days telecommute and 2-3 days onsite weekly).

How does the job seeker showcase their ability to work from home and be productive enough to convince the future employer their skills are desirable and a WFH employee can fulfill the work required? Resume wording is the key. It is vital to convince a future employer that the job seeker has the responsibility, equipment, and self-control to accomplish tasks without supervision or consistent monitoring. The job responsibilities (description) must also be of the nature that physical presence is not a mandatory obligation. The resume should use ‘contactless’ associated keywords, including ‘cold calls,’ ‘warm leads,’ ‘follow-up,’ ‘telecommunications,’ ‘virtual meetings,’ and ‘online research.’

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Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

A virtual administration assistant should note expertise in software, including group call familiarity and management (Zoom, Google MeetUp). Information Technology technicians should indicate involvement in virtual tasking, including help desk (Tier 1, 2, and 3), metrics indicating how fast PC issues are resolved, and expertise in virtual access to client computers. Professional writers should produce content by timely deadlines. Social media (SM) managers should showcase metrics of how clients’ SM accounts have gained followers, responses, and page likes within days or weeks. Regional retail store managers may travel to physical sites to inspect, audit, and meet with store managers. Still, there is a possibility that two or three days of virtual work may be spent researching, gathering, and auditing site data to report to HQs.

Even federal government workers see opportunities for WFH in positions where they access online systems to respond to inquiries between agencies and customers. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) secondary responders can field phone calls after natural disasters to provide assistance information to victims. Federal Contract oversight officers can manage their team and clients working from home – even in differing time zones. Workers can showcase metrics in resumes, e.g., how many contracts they worked on, the value of the contracts, and how long the contract ran (annual renewal, 2, 3, or 5-year contract).

Transcribers for the deaf can also showcase metrics, indicating how many phone calls they transcribed daily (or per X-hour shift). Healthcare customer service or roadside assistance representatives can showcase metrics on how many clients they resolved issues for per day, week, or month to document how fast job tasks were completed. Even car salespeople can develop business and target customers online to make ‘contactless sales’ by identifying sales points for vehicles, making the sale, and scheduling the dealership to deliver the car to the customer’s home.

It’s not easy for employers to create telecommute jobs for some jobs that have to be hands-on, e.g., the medical profession, the construction industry, and food or hospitality fields). If a worker is required to sit at a desk, answer a phone, or conduct work on a computer, that job can likely be converted into a virtual position. This effort will entice more applicants and qualified workers, resulting in workforce stability and company reliability.

The job seeker’s ultimate goal in applying for telecommute career positions is to showcase and document the quality outcome of work efforts, including quantitative ‘proof in the pudding’ for how much can be accomplished as a WFH worker. Use wording and metrics indicating how much one has achieved for past employers to show performance standards as a WFH worker.

FSC Career Blog Author :  Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D., manages and operates a consulting firm in Norfolk, Richmond, Colonial Beach (Dahlgren), and Gloucester, VA. Her background is 25+ years in the Human Resources field, of which 12+ years are within the Federal & Defense Contracting industry. She is the author of 1,012+ books and textbooks on business.

Dawn Boyer, Ph.D., owner of D. Boyer Consulting – provides resume writing, editing, publishing, and print-on-demand consulting. Reach her at Dawn.Boyer@me.com or visit her website at www.dboyerconsulting.com.

 

FSC Career Blog – July 1, 2024

 

#JobSearch : 25 Companies Hiring Now For Fully Remote Jobs In 2024. You are Sure to Find Something Suitable for Your Career Goals & LifeStyle. A GReat REad!

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Within the United States, the professional, scientific, and computer-related occupations have the highest shares of job postings for hybrid roles, and most importantly, fully remote work, according to recent findings from a National Bureau of Economic Research study.

Across these sectors can be found companies who have taken innovative approaches to hiring and proactive employee retention, ensuring employee wellbeing is consistently upheld, including fully remote, hybrid options, unlimited PTO, and even offering access to meditation, yoga, and wellness classes.

When searching for employers who are hiring for fully remote jobs, remember to consider the bigger picture. Is remote an afterthought, something that they’ve shoved into their policy as a way to attract talent, but hasn’t been fully thought through? Or is remote working part of a more extensive employee support and development package, in which your wellbeing and professional growth is holistically championed?

Some of these employers have been highlighted by FlexJobs as being most active in posting the highest number of remote jobs, hiring fully remote and flexible roles since the start of the year.

The industries represented by these employers span the most popular industries for remote work, mirroring the sectors listed in the NBER study, such as healthcare, consulting, technology, finance, and social media.

They also are highly diverse and span a wide range of career paths and interests, so you are sure to find something suitable for your career goals.  Here are 25 from their full list, and some noteworthy highlights for a few of these employers:

1. Robert Half International

Robert Half, a recruitment agency and HR consulting firm, is listed as being the one of the “Best Workplaces for Parents” in 2023, was included in Fortune’s “Most Admired Companies” in 2024, and provides strong career development support and an almost four-star rating on Glassdoor.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

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Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. Veeva

Veeva is an international cloud-computing company specifically focused on the life sciences industry. They also have a work-from-anywhere policy, while investing in their global offices for occasional meetings.

3. AECOM

AECOM is an infrastructure consulting firm, covering several projects on a multinational level, including large-scale construction management, urban planning, and engineering. The employer was also listed as one of the Most Admired Companies.

4. CVS Health

A household name for many, CVS Health is the second-largest healthcare company, being beaten only by UnitedHealth Group. It provides health solutions including CVS Pharmacy, Aetna Health, and CVS Speciality, with associated apps. CVS Health expresses commitment to diversity including employees with disabilities, and is transparent about its hiring process on its website.

5. HubSpot

HubSpot, a leading provider in digital marketing, sales and customer service tools, training, and support, is based internationally and takes a very flexible, innovative approach to employee location, providing three options for candidates when they join the company. This makes it very attractive for those who desire fully remote work, as well as those who wish to come into the office from time to time.

All roles are eligible to be fully remote, however you have the option of also selecting their flex plan (coming into the local office more than twice a quarter), or their office-based plan if you would prefer in-person work and the office is local to you.

Some of the other employers listed who are hiring and support fully remote and flexible working for their roles, include:

  1. Creative Financial Staffing (CFS)
  2. LHH – Lee Hecht Harrison
  3. UnitedHealth Group
  4. Prime Therapeutics
  5. Guidehouse
  6. TELUS
  7. Thermo Fisher Scientific
  8. Kelly
  9. Samsara
  10. Motion Recruitment
  11. Randstad
  12. Zscaler
  13. Insight Global
  14. Vaco
  15. Cloudflare
  16. Rubrik
  17. Kforce
  18. Canonical
  19. Circle Internet Financial
  20. Token Metrics

Many of these employers not only offer remote jobs, but they are proactive about providing you with the opportunity to thrive while working from home, so you do not feel isolated, and to ensure that your role is fully supported so you can deliver your best work. For example, some employers such as HubSpot provide a stipend for working from home, in addition to a Slack hub and extra training resources to enable you to thrive in your job.

When searching for employers who are hiring for fully remote jobs, remember to consider the bigger picture. Is remote an afterthought, something that they’ve shoved into their policy as a way to attract talent, but hasn’t been fully thought through? Or is remote working part of a more extensive employee support and development package, in which your wellbeing and professional growth is holistically championed?

 

Forbes.com | June 21, 2024 | Rachel Wells

#ResumeWriting : In a Hot Job Market, Forget A.I. – Get in the S.H.A.D.E. … Caution: Recruiters are Using Programs to Weed Out AI Resumes. GReat REad!

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In the week ending June 8, 2024, seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims for benefits were ~242,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week of 229,000 (according to the USDOL). Going into the hot summer months, it will get harder for job seekers to find work. Job seekers need every advantage to get noticed by hiring managers. With more applicants per position, employers can be picky.

Interestingly, the ‘hot trend’ of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to write resumes seems to be picking up steam. Unfortunately, using AI may hurt versus help job seekers. Over the last year, I have noticed AI-generated resumes focusing on ‘high-dollar words,’ glorified and subjective descriptions, and trendy buzzwords, and unfortunately, do NOT explain what the job seeker physically did nor achievements for current or past employers.

Job seekers are paying third-party platforms to create resumes for them. These resumes look and sound impressive on the first read. After the initial glance, recruiters may have difficulty deciphering the ‘fancy language’ used by the AI generator. There is a term used by computer programmers – GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out). Artificial Intelligence gathers thousands of resume samples from the web to learn. Still, AI cannot discern the difference between a poorly written resume and a keyword-packed, metric-rich resume that recruiters seek. So everything gets lumped together – the garbage and the gold.

Increasingly, recruiters are using programs to weed out AI resumes and auto-reject those applicants. AI-generated documents have an almost recognizable style and tone, and the ‘anti-AI’ software is trained to identify and reject those. Recruiters want to see a human-written resume.

Job seekers must show why hiring them will increase the employer’s revenue, reduce overhead expenses, and answer why this job seeker is the best hire?’ against job-seeker competitors. When writing a resume, there are specific elements hiring managers want to see in a resume: 

Skill Capabilities

Hard (vs Soft) Skills

Achievements & Accomplishments

Diversity (broad job skills)

Education & Training

 

Like this Article?  Share It!You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

The worst thing job seekers can do is copy and paste the job description announcement from a public job notice. Adding AI-generated job descriptions is a second worse scenario. The best resumes have unique language that describes specific Skills (capabilities). The resume needs to list job-related Hard skills or unique technologies used in current or past jobs. (The job seeker can showcase their soft skills [personality, speaking capabilities] during the interview.)

The resume job descriptions should showcase Achievements and accomplishments and the monetary or positive organizational results. What sales revenues resulted? How many manufacturing units were completed in a record time?

The job seeker should include a Diversity of tasks and responsibilities (not only performing their job but backup co-workers’ responsibilities). What cross-training tasking can the job seeker perform? Does the job seeker have a broad range of skills (e.g., accounting, budgeting, sales, presentations) from previous jobs they can perform? Did they supervise others?

Education and training demonstrate knowledge of a specific industry and experience in training others. What computer skills are the job seeker bringing to the table? How many certifications do the job seeker have in the industry or field?

Job seekers should showcase how they have been ‘leaders’ – team lead, supervisor, or oversight to coworkers. What projects did they volunteer for, or did they lead others in accomplishing company strategic goals? How successful were the project achievements in metrics (e.g., sales increases of $XXX; reduction of XX man-hours)?

The resume should be a richly-worded document of ‘what the job seeker has done’ and ‘capabilities’ for hiring consideration. A vague or poorly written resume can easily be ignored (or marked as insufficient experience in the ATS software platform).

The goal is to get enough rich ‘teaser’ information into the resume that the hiring manager wants to call the applicant in for an interview to find out more. Artificial Intelligence programs have not yet reached the pinnacle of compiling information into a practical document. If the job seeker focuses on the S.H.A.D.E. in writing their resume, they will increase their success of catching the eye of recruiters.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:   Dawn Boyer, Ph.D., owner of D. Boyer Consulting – provides resume writing, editing, publishing, and print-on-demand consulting. Reach her at Dawn.Boyer@me.com or visit her website at www.dboyerconsulting.com.

Bio: Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D., has been an entrepreneur and business owner for 20+ years, with a successful business and consulting firm (CEO) in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, Dahlgren/Colonial Beach, and Gloucester, VA. Her background experience is 24+ years in the Human Resources field, of which 12+ years are within the Federal & Defense Contracting industry. She is the author of 1,022+ books on business, human resources research, career search practice, women and gender study, genealogy and family lineages, quotes for motivation and self-improvement, and Adult Coloring Books. Her books are on Amazon.com under her author’s page for Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D.

FSC Career Blog – June 19, 2024

 

 

#JobSearch : Employers Are Restarting In-Person Job Interviews: 7 Mistakes To Avoid. Say Goodbye to the Zoom Interview in your Sweatpants. Are you Ready??

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While my career counseling client Robert sailed through his first two online interviews, he expected the last one to be the same. It wasn’t. “I’m kind of shocked,” he said. “The employer just told me my final interview is in person. I haven’t done that in six years, and I’m worried about how I’ll come across.” Robert discovered what many job hunters are now experiencing, and it’s a significant change in the hiring process. Many employers now conduct final interviews in their offices when the positions are onsite or hybrid.

If you are surprised by this change, you should also worry about how you will handle the in-person interview. How will your professional demeanor and presentation come across? Will you impress the employer and have them select you for the job? As we move away from the monitor and desk where you can have lots of notes and a resume displayed to help you nail the answers, now you must go and talk face-to-face with no help from any cheat sheet.

Will you make a mistake? The HR and hiring managers I’ve talked to say that people are losing that position because they are making some avoidable errors. Several hiring decision-makers mentioned they were concerned that the candidates had forgotten how to conduct themselves in live meetings, seeing customers, and interacting with team members.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

So, say goodbye to the Zoom interview sitting in sweatpants since no one sees anything below the desk. Here are some crucial interview pitfalls you must avoid when you meet the hiring team at their office.

Not controlling the opening.

This is a critical time when you must market yourself effectively and quickly capture the employer’s attention. So, your answer to the typical first question, “Tell us about yourself,” must showcase why you are the right person for the job. Develop an answer defining your five top selling points to demonstrate your key strengths, credentials, and accomplishments. Be concise and practice your answer so it is smooth and will get the employer to focus on you and what you bring to the roles. For an example of how to create this and what to say, read my Forbess article Best Way to Open An Interview To Secure A Job Offer.

 

Not knowing how to answer situational questions.

Job candidates report that these are always the most difficult. Your answer requires a work example when the question begins, Tell us about…, Give us an example…, Describe a time… etc. You won’t do well if you just wing this. Work examples require thought and practice. A common mistake is launching into the story without covering the basics, which will confuse the employer. Paint a clear picture from start to finish. Ensure the beginning defines who this is about, where it is, the circumstances and the problem, what you did, and note the outcome. Be sure the example shows you in the best possible light.

Failure to demonstrate your ability.

Many people will sit through the interview without clearly telling the employer what skills they’d bring to the job. They don’t emphasize the results they have delivered to past employers. They’re quiet; their answers may be very general or very vague. Employers don’t hire for vague generalities. They hire for specifics – and results. Specific skills, experience, and good examples of how you have successfully done that kind of work before. Specifics are what employers use to make decisions on who to hire. Know what you are best at. Offer details about the results you have achieved in the past to assure them you can do the same for them. Be succinct and keep the story brief.

Not doing your research.

Many candidates lost out on that job because they appeared clueless about the company and how to meet its needs. You need better preparation. The more inside information you can get, the more accurately you can phrase your answers to say that you are the best person to hire. Get as much insight as possible into the job and the company. When you first speak to the recruiter, take notes. Review the company’s website. What do they do? Are there details on new projects or new products coming out? Are they in the news? What is morale like? Try to uncover current problems the company is facing. Be wary of companies who are going through layoffs. Learn as much as you can about that job. Talk to your network to get some insider information. Look up the recruiter and hiring manager on LinkedIn. Connect with them. All this background will enable you to explain more effectively how you can do the job, demonstrate your interest in the company and the position, and impress the employer.

Making a poor presentation.

Most people no longer think about their appearance. They don’t realize the importance of those first few seconds when they meet the employer for the first time. The employer will check out your appearance from head to toe. Be aware that the employer often makes an immediate decision based on whether you would be an appropriate person to represent the company. It’s time to leave the casual look at home. Dress up. Select – or buy – a professional outfit. While only lawyers and Wall Street bankers may need to wear a suit, you must show you still know what business casual means in the office. Demonstrate your business savvy and professional appearance so they are assured you look appropriate to anyone you come in contact with.

Babbling.

Nervousness often makes people ramble on and on when answering a question. Nothing is worse than a candidate who talks for five minutes to answer one question. Instead, be concise – complete your answer in 60 seconds or less. To prepare, write out answers to common questions like “What’s your greatest weakness?” or “What are your salary requirements?” Then, edit your responses, create your best answer, and review it so you are comfortable with the response to ensure it’s no longer than a minute.

Failure to inspire confidence.

Interviews are not the time to be humble, meek, or too quiet about your accomplishments. If you don’t demonstrate competency and confidence that you can do the job, the employer will recognize that you probably can’t do the job. Eye contact, a smile, and some enthusiasm in your voice are essential. Express genuine interest in the job and working for that employer. Remember to mention people’s names when appropriate, especially as you say goodbye.

Forbes.com Author:  Robin Ryan   – Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

 

Forbes.com | June 18, 2024

#YourCareer : How To Crush Your Career Goals In The Second Half Of 2024. Great REad!

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As we have reached the midpoint of 2024, it is essential for both job seekers and employed workers to keep up the momentum in advancing your career in this current, ever-changing job market. You will need to devote time, energy and thought into maintaining career growth and job security.

Since it is midyear, now would be the opportune time to revisit the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Evaluate the progress you have made and determine if any adjustments are needed, based on any changes in your circumstances or priorities. Don’t be afraid to refine and recalibrate your goals to ensure they remain relevant and achievable. The following strategies can position yourself for success.

What To Do In A Tough, White-Collar Job Market

Demonstrate your value proposition by showcasing how your skills, experience and contributions are a much needed asset to the organization. Always remain adaptable and open to change. Raise your hand and look for new, exciting internal opportunities within your organization to advance and earn more money.

By putting in the time and effort, show that you are committed to the company and its mission. Despite any setbacks or problems, always keep cool, exude a positive attitude and maintain a strong work ethic.

However, to play it safe, always be on the lookout for new and intriguing job leads to take your career to the next level. Continually build, cultivate and grow your professional network to gain insights into open jobs and other opportunities. Seek out mentors, coaches, recruiters and others who can help you guide your career in the right direction.

For Job Seekers

Stay up-to-date on industry trends and in-demand skills. Continuously upskill by taking courses, attending workshops or obtaining certifications relevant to your desired field. This will make you a more competitive candidate.

Leverage your network. Attend industry events, join professional associations and connect with people on LinkedIn. Your network can provide valuable insights, job leads and potential referrals.

Additionally, it is essential that you are tailoring your application materials to the specific job requirements for each role. Customize your résumé and cover letter for each job you apply to, highlighting how your skills and experience align with the specific role and company.

Do not go into a job interview unprepared. Before the meeting, research the company, practice answering commonly asked interview questions and have thoughtful questions ready to ask the interviewer.

To demonstrate that you are a proactive hard worker, it is important to show hiring managers that you did not let your skills atrophy during an employment gap. Consider a temporary gig, contract work or a bridge job to keep yourself busy, engaged and earning a steady paycheck. These opportunities can help you gain experience, build your network and potentially lead to a permanent position.

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

For Current Employees

Foster positive relationships with colleagues, managers and cross-functional teams. A strong professional network within the company can open doors to new opportunities.

Document your achievements and keep track of your accomplishments, quantifiable results and positive feedback from colleagues or clients. This will help build a strong case for a raise or promotion.

Seek out new responsibilities and assignments, which will enable you to grow. Volunteer for projects or tasks that allow you to develop new skills and demonstrate your value to the company.

Schedule regular check-ins with your manager to discuss your goals, accomplishments and areas for growth. Be proactive in seeking feedback and addressing any concerns.

Participate in training programs, take online courses and attend industry events to enhance your knowledge and skills.

Look for ways to improve your online presence, networking activities and self-promotion strategies. Explore new platforms or channels to increase your visibility and reach potential employers or clients.

Maintain a positive mindset and celebrate small wins along the way. Acknowledge your accomplishments and those of your team or colleagues. Recognizing and appreciating progress can boost morale and motivation, helping you stay focused and energized for the second half of the year.

While pursuing your career goals, remember to prioritize self-care and work-life balance. Identify strategies to manage stress, recharge and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A balanced approach will help you sustain your productivity and avoid burnout.

How To Schmooze Your Boss

You want to make a plan to ingratiate yourself with your boss to get in their good graces, and increase your chances of earning a raise, promotion and bonus.

Consistently deliver high-quality work and results. Meet and exceed deadlines, pay attention to details and demonstrate your competence and reliability.

Find out your boss’ goals and priorities. Then, align your efforts to support those objectives. Take the next step by anticipating their needs and how you can make their life easier. For example, gather all the necessary documents and information for your boss before they go into an important meeting.

You want to be on the same page as your supervisor. Figure out the manager’s communication style and mirror it. For instance, if the manager likes face-to-face meetings, make yourself available. If the boss prefers emailed updates, send them accordingly.

Make your boss look good by offering solutions. Don’t complain and only point out the issues. Respect your manager’s time. Admit when you don’t know something and offer to find the answer or consult with someone who is knowledgeable on the matter.

Actively seek feedback from your boss on areas for improvement, and then take the steps to address their concerns. This shows your willingness to listen, learn, grow and develop.

 

Forbes.com – Jack Kelly

#JobSearch : 5 Helpful Ways To Rebrand Yourself After Getting Laid Off. There is Something Better Waiting for You!! A MUst REad!

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Being laid off can be an unpleasant experience to say the least. All of a sudden, the job that you loved and invested so much time and energy into has shut the door on you.

But worst of all, your income has been cut off, and you don’t know how you are going to survive. While these worries are legitimate, it is also important to remember that sometimes, what looks like a bad situation is often a blessing in disguise.

Oprah Winfrey once said that “failure is just trying to move us in a different direction.” In other words, there is something better waiting for you once you get over the disappointment of losing your job.

Now that you’ve got some free time on your hands, level up, rebrand yourself and become the person you’ve been dreaming about. Here are 5 ways to rebrand yourself after getting laid off.

Why Create A Brand After Getting Laid Off

Focusing on a task is a helpful way to move forward – and in this case, focusing on creating a new or pivoting your existing personal brand will be helpful for your next job rodeo.

How To Rebrand Yourself After Getting Laid Off

1. Spend Time Self-Reflecting

Self-reflection is the most important part in this process because if you don’t know where you are going, you will never arrive at your destination. Go back to the drawing board and think about your goals. What exactly do you want to achieve? Use this time to write a five year plan that will give you clear direction for what you intend on doing moving forwards. Rebranding yourself requires intentionality, you’ve got to be specific about how you are going to take yourself to the next level.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. Invest in Upskilling

Your skills will set you apart from the competition and give you a competitive advantage in your field. Whatever industry you are in, it is constantly evolving, whether it’s updated technology, marketing strategies, or consumer trends, keeping up with these shifts is essential. Successfully navigating these perpetual changes requires an adaptable and proactive approach. Therefore, use this time of unemployment to update your skills via taking courses, and reading about your industry.

3. Change Your Image

Your image is the most important part of your brand because that’s the first thing that people see. Therefore, you need to make sure it’s on point. When companies rebrand themselves, they give themselves an image overhaul. Your aim should be to look better than you did before you got laid off. Get some more professional photos taken, improve your website, and change your social media content. Your new image should be so sharp, that it will make people want to know who you are.

4. Update Your Message

Since you are rebranding, your brands message should also change. Your values, core principles and beliefs may be slightly different because you are on a new journey. Spend time updating your message so that it aligns with your new image and what you hope to achieve.

5. Get Your Name Out There

Once you have everything in place and you are ready to get back into the corporate world, start networking and get your name out there. The people in your industry were familiar with the old you, now it’s time to reveal the new you along with your new brand. Make an effort to attend networking events both online and offline because consistent attendance will allow you to establish a reputation within your industry which will enhance the overall image of your brand.

Finally, it’s important to understand that rebranding takes work. You will need to invest time and energy into this endeavor to ensure you reap the rewards you desire. Rebranding is nothing new, businesses have been doing it since the beginning of time, the key is to do it, and to do it well.

 

FSC Career Blog | June 10, 2024 | Goldie Chan

#JobSearch : Top 10 In-Demand Fully Remote Jobs In 2024, From Research. Question: What Does “Remote” Look Like to You?

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For some people, remote means the opportunity to work from home or in the nearby café as they please, while for others, it entails what is known as the “work-from-anywhere” policy.

Almost 50% of workers admitted they’d take a pay cut for the freedom to work from any location, according to a recent FlexJobs survey, while 75% of respondents said they would use a work-from-anywhere policy if this was granted by their employer.

Non-freelancing professionals who are digital nomads, are able to work from any location in the world (sometimes with the sole restriction of needing to work within reasonable time-zones for collaboration) and are employed by companies that take a fully remote, work-from-anywhere approach.

Top 10 Companies Hiring Fully Remote Jobs, From FlexJobs

Such companies can be hard to find. Thankfully, FlexJobs recently analyzed and compiled a list of companies from their database of employers that adhere to providing the following benefits for the majority of their recent remote job listings:

  • Follow a “work from anywhere” arrangement with zero location restrictions
  • The job is fully remote in every sense of the word and doesn’t require any time in the office
  • The role is full-time or part-time

The top 10 employers pulled from their 2024 analysis are:

  1. Canonical
  2. Veeva
  3. Invisible Technologies
  4. Remote Technology
  5. Quadcode Group
  6. Chainlink Labs
  7. Yodo1
  8. Social Discovery Group
  9. WOO Network
  10. Percona

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Top 10 In-Demand Work-From-Anywhere Jobs

But what about roles? According to the same report, the main careers that came out as being most likely to be adapted to working from anywhere as a digital nomad, due to the number of work-from-anywhere job postings that involved them, include IT, marketing, project management, and sales and accounting.

If you’re looking to get hired sooner this year, it might be worth checking these in-demand remote job titles which have witnessed a surge in flexible job postings for work-from-anywhere candidates:

1. Account Executive

An account executive manages client accounts and builds relationships with them; their goal is primarily to meet sales targets and achieve customer satisfaction.

2. Content Writer

Content writers create written content for various platforms such as websites, blogs, and email marketing, which engages and informs audiences, with the goal of making sales and increasing brand awareness.

3. Data Analyst

As a data analyst, you would be collecting, processing, and performing analysis on large datasets. This helps organizations make well-informed business decisions backed by solid evidence.

4. DevOps Engineer

A DevOps engineer’s role bridges the gap between software development and IT operations through automating workflows, managing deployments, and ensuring system reliability.

5. Editor

Remote editors work for magazines and journals, and other news publications, and they review and sometimes revise content to ensure accuracy and that the correct writing style is adhered to. This ensures written content meets publication guidelines.

6. Engineering Manager

As an engineering manager, you would be leading and managing engineering teams as project develop, ensuring achievement of technical and operational goals are met.

7. Marketing Manager

Marketing managers apply their expertise to develop and implement effective marketing strategies to promote products and services, or increase brand awareness, with the goal to realize return on marketing investment by driving sales.

8. Product Designer

A remote product designer’s role is focused on the entire design of a product, which is more holistic than a UX designer’s role. This will often involve prototyping and user testing.

9. Product Manager

Product managers, on the other hand, oversee the development and lifecycle of a product, aligning it with market needs and business goals through strategic planning and execution.

10. Software Engineer

Software engineers are critical to the success of new products, as they are the brains behind the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications and systems.

Fortunately, you don’t need to take much of a pay cut to work anywhere in these jobs.

If you’re looking for the highest chances of working from anywhere in the world, then it would certainly be worth checking these job titles out and ensuring you meet the criteria for living in your host country on a digital nomad basis, so you can experience what “remote” work looks like for you.

 

Forbes.com | June 7, 2024 | Rachel Wells

 

#YourCareer : 5 Free Online Courses To Learn High-Income Skills In 2024. Can’t Expect Consistently High Pay without Effort & Upskilling. Great REad!

/in /by

Having high-income skills results in…well of course, high income. But to have a consistently lucrative career, it’s important to concentrate on continuously adding to those skills. You can’t expect consistently high pay without consistent effort and upskilling.

This is because, high-income skills, are by nature, highly volatile, and not only do they change frequently, but their demands can change pretty quickly too. They evolve rapidly and require you to always be on your toes and be “in the know” with latest developments so that you don’t fall behind.

Whether you’re seeking to upskill, reskill, or anything in between, here are five courses—free of cost to you—that you should check out so you can boost your earning potential at work and in business:

1. Content Marketing Certification, By HubSpot Academy

HubSpot Academy provides several free sales and marketing courses and certifications to help you improve your digital marketing skills and online presence, and boost your income. While there are tons of options to choose from, one course that stands out is HubSpot’s content marketing certification.

And, like the name implies, not only will you build new high-income skills within the lucrative digital marketing industry, but you will also get a free certificate that you can proudly show off to employers and prospective clients on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate, By Meta

Meta offers a number of social media marketing courses delving into a range of specific topics, but this introductory course made available on Coursera is a great start if you are preparing for your first job (or freelance venture) as a social media marketing manager. This also comes with a free professional certificate.

3. Dropshipping 101: Build Your First Online Store, By Shopify Academy

If you’re feeling at all hesitant about entering the fascinating multi-billion-dollar world of ecommerce, ecommerce platform Shopify has created this course with all the basics and fundamentals you need to build and launch your store, using dropshipping. This allows you to build passive income and can be a very profitable side hustle, with minimal costs involved.

4. Introduction To HTML And CSS, By Udacity

This foundational course is a great choice if you want to test the waters and see if working in tech is right for you. The course comes with no prerequisites—no experience required—so literally anyone can join, and of course, it’s free. The course has four core lessons and you can enroll at any time.

5. Adobe Illustrator Basics for Beginners, By Skillshare

If you have purchased Adobe Illustrator and consider yourself to be a budding graphic designer but don’t know where to start, Skillshare’s platform has an entire host of courses and learning paths to help you learn Adobe Illustrator skills. This particular course teaches Illustrator fundamentals, however it is worth bearing in mind that your access is only free for one month, after which you will be charged if you decide not to cancel your free trial.

There is such a vast range of free options available for professionals desiring of improving their skills, that no one has any reason to be left behind in their career. If you have a device and a good internet connection, you have all you need to launch a successful career and develop high-income skills.

Forbes.com | June 6, 2024 | Rachel Wells

#JobSearch : How To Tailor Your Resume/CV For The Executive Job Market. Great REad!

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Recruiters in search of their next executive-level candidate have high expectations. They are looking for someone who can make an impact and add real value to the business. With that in mind, you need to successfully prove that you’ve got what it takes.

Your CV is your first opportunity to impress them, so an entry-level application won’t cut it.  As you enter the executive job market, your CV needs to reflect not only your skills and experience but also your expertise and achievements.  Here are five key enhancements you can make to your CV to help you navigate the executive job market and secure your next exciting role.

Level up your skills

It’s time to go through your CV and remove entry-level skills and cliché phrases that no longer add value to your executive application.

Recruiters will assume that you have the basic skills as you’re applying for a more senior role, so don’t waste pressure space on simple transferable skills. Instead, emphasise core competencies that reinforce your suitability for an executive position.

For example, skills like team leadership, strategic planning, change management, decision-making and business development.

Of course, you should also do your best to match your executive skills to those listed on the job description as this will enable the recruiter to quickly determine that you’re a good match for the job.

Communicate your unique value

Before you begin writing your CV, take some time to think about what makes you stand out from other candidates; what you would consider your unique selling point (USP)? Once you know what it is that makes you special, you can market yourself more effectively on your application.

This enables you to build your personal brand and through keywords, facts and figures, you can communicate your unique value.

Start doing this right away in your personal profile, outline the experience or achievements that are most impressive. You can then build on this in your employment history.

Identifying your USP and focusing on this throughout can help you to stand out in a competitive job market and prove your executive-level competencies.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Prove that your impact with results

It’s not enough to merely list your daily responsibilities, instead, your executive CV needs to prove that you can deliver results. You can do this by providing examples of achievements from your past roles and quantifying these wherever possible.

For example, you might have increases productivity by 25% within 6 months, or maybe you reduced department spending by £10,000 per month.

Whatever results you’ve achieved in each role, make sure you highlight them clearly to ensure that you prove the return on investment that a company will make from hiring you.

Add professional affiliations and credentials

As you grow and develop in your career, it’s likely that you’ll start adding professional affiliations, memberships and industry associations to your name.

So, as you update your CV, make sure to include information about these affiliations, for example, The Chartered Institute for IT or CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma.

These can help to show your professional development and credentials, as well as your dedication and involvement in your industry. This can also help you to stand out from other candidates, as roles become more competitive at an executive level.

If your professional credentials are particularly relevant, you might wish to put them alongside your name at the top of your CV or mention them in your profile.

Otherwise, you can include these in your employment section or even create a dedicated section for affiliations and memberships. But only do this if you have space.

Rethink your format and structure

Finally, in the early stages of your career, your CV might have been just a page long and it’s likely that you placed more focus on your education, hobbies or interests.

But at an executive level, your CV format should be two pages long, placing more focus on your experience and achievements in past roles. It also needs to be professional and polished and most importantly, easy to read.

Avoid choosing a design that is too colourful or ‘quirky’ and make sure you use a clean, easy-to-read font. You should also improve readability by utilising headings, sub-headings and bullet points, making it easier for the hiring manager to scan through and find the key information. And with 70% of businesses using ATS to filter out unsuitable CVs, be sure that relevant keywords are easy to spot for both robots and humans.

If you follow these steps to enhance your executive CV, you can increase your chances of standing out from the competition.

By choosing your content, keywords and power verbs carefully, you can showcase your unique value and effectively demonstrate your executive skillset, improving your chances of securing an interview.

 

Forbes.com | June 4, 2024 | Andrew Fennell

 

#ResumeWriting : 10 Must-Have Skills To Put On Your Resume In 2024. Must Read before You Submit your REsume. Great REAd!

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Have you ever felt tempted to skip the skills section in your resume, just to get to the most important part—your employment history? After all, it’s your employment track record that matters, right?

Recruiters and employers on LinkedIn don’t seem to think so. “Skills have become more important than ever in landing opportunities today,” said LinkedIn’s head of product for Jobseeker, Employer Brand, and Skills, Rohan Rajiv in 2022. “In fact, over 40% of companies on LinkedIn globally explicitly rely on skills to search and identify job candidates on LinkedIn (up 20% year-over-year).“

 

This staggering figure is certainly set to increase even more in 2024, as more companies turn to new and unconventional methods to evaluate the skill set of job applicants, and LinkedIn continues to empower applicants and recruiters alike with state-of-the-art tools to showcase and filter skills.

All this demonstrates that although your employment background is important, your skills and strengths—especially the ones unique to the role—are even more important. And off LinkedIn, there is an increased focus on skills-based-hiring, leading employers to place greater weighting on the skills a candidate includes in their resume.

While you should always look out for the core skills listed in the job posting and ensure you put them on your resume, there are some other skills you should always aim to include in your resume (whether in the skills section, your online portfolio, LinkedIn profile, or throughout the professional profile and employment sections).

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

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And of course, it might seem fairly obvious, but don’t forget to only include those skills that you can truthfully say you possess. Lying on your resume will work against you and you’ll get caught out.

Top 10 Skills To Put On Your Resume

According to FlexJobs, some of the core skills that should be put on your resume include a combination of soft, or “power” skills and hard skills, listed below:

1. Problem-solving

Employers want to onboard candidates who take ownership for a problem instead of shifting or evading responsibility. Working out creative solutions to a business or customer issue is a skill that is, at least for the present, irreplaceable by AI.

2. Critical thinking

Listed in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2023 report, critical thinking is a skill akin to problem-solving, that involves evaluating a problem and possible solutions, and developing new and improved methods of working.

3. Flexibility

Although this has become a taboo term for employers and employees to discuss, it’s importance cannot be evaded. So far as possible, maintain a degree of flexibility in your work, reaching a compromise with your prospective employer to ensure both parties are happy with working arrangements, and learn how to be dynamic and embrace change.

4. Communication

The importance of communication skills can never be overrated. They are needed everywhere to ensure the smooth delivery of projects, streamlined processes, and a healthy work environment. Get specific on your communication skills, showcasing aspects such as presentation skills, conflict resolution, negotiation, or even writing copy, depending on your role of course.

5. Teamwork

The saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Although it might sound cheesy and you may not enjoy working with people, it’s essential to know how to collaborate and communicate well within your team and cross-functional teams. It will be very difficult to find a role where teamwork is not involved to some degree.

6. Digital skills

You’d be hard-pressed to find a job that does not require you to possess digital skills. Almost every role requires the use of company-specific software, design software, MS office suite, or a CRM. You should highlight the technical skills that you are proficient or comfortable with, including any that you are currently learning.

And if you observe through your research that the employer uses a specific type of software, always ensure you include this in your technical skills list (including proficiency level if possible).

7. Design

You don’t need to be a designer to need to have a grasp of design. Design principles (and related software) appear everywhere, from engineering, to social media management, to creating the slide deck for a PowerPoint presentation, to event planning.

8. Data analysis

Data analytics is another in-demand skill that is necessary, even outside of the data profession itself. If you find yourself called upon to analyze reports, Excel spreadsheets, or other data, to arrive at conclusions or to inform decision-making, you’re likely doing some form of data analysis.

9. Negotiation

Sales, partnerships and agreements, and internal stakeholder arrangements all require negotiation skills to some degree. Add this skill to your resume and include some proof of where you have used it successfully, as a bonus.

10. Mathematics

No, do not list “mathematics” in your resume unless you’re straight out of high school. But mathematical skills? Absolutely. Think about budget management, financial forecasting, cost reduction, statistical analysis, probabilities, machine learning, and financial modelling.

These are all highly desirable and specific skills.

Remember most importantly, listing skills is a relatively easy job. Detailing how you demonstrated them in your roles and the positive impact they made as a result, is another job altogether. Be careful that you do not fall into the copy/paste trap, without ensuring the skills listed are relevant, truly reflect you, and are backed, as far as possible, with evidence.

 

Forbes.com | May 29, 2024 | Rachel Wells