Your employer just let you go. You need to find another job, but how should you handle your termination on your resume? The days when you signed on with a company and stayed with it until retirement are gone. In today’s climate, employers are much more understanding when they see a less-than-perfect work chronology, but you still have to be careful how and when you present a termination.
Remember, your resume is a marketing piece: positive, upbeat, and selling yourself to a potential employer. There are many reasons someone gets fired, some outside of your control. It could be corporate politics, downsizing, or poor management. But presenting the information correctly is important.
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Do not put the termination or the circumstances surrounding it on your resume. You will have a much better chance of impressing hiring managers if you deal with this question in face-to-face interviews. If you were recently let go, resist the urge to keep your position listed as “to present” on your resume, giving the appearance that you’re still employed. You will have to explain yourself later on, and potential employers might think you tried to mislead them.
It’s a different matter if you were laid off instead of fired. In this case, you can mention the lay off in your cover letter. Employers are more forgiving of layoffs, so mentioning this might work in your favor.
Focus on your accomplishments in your resume. Your goal is to wow your potential employers by highlighting those accomplishments and skills. Even if hiring managers are wondering why you left a certain employer, your resume should be strong enough for you to receive invitations to interviews in which you can explain your situation in person.
Be sure to list all of your contributions to a previous employer, even any that laid you off. This too can be a red flag to hiring managers. Talk about your responsibilities, overall contributions to the company, and if you received any awards or special recognition. All of this will go a long way in your favor and that’s what you want.
No matter how the termination came about, you still learned skills and accomplished things at the job. Focus on these aspects when creating your resume, presenting the best pieces. But be ready to answer what you learned about losing the job as well. Being able to pick yourself up after a fall speaks to your resilience and ability to learn from mistakes.
FSC Career Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.
FSC Career Blog – January 16, 2021
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/youre-fired-letter.jpg565849First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2021-01-16 15:54:472021-01-27 16:38:04#BestofFSCBlog : #JobSearch – How to Deal with a Termination on a Resume. Great Two(2) Min Read!
Companies increasingly rely on software to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm.
Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike.
Use your résumé to play up your achievements.
A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.”
“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.
Customize your résumé for each job application.
Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.
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Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate. Read more about résumé formats here.
Make sure your contact information is easy to find.
Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.
Consider adding a summary.
Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says.
Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.
Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of 7.4 seconds.
To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio.
Make your résumé robot-friendly.
Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:
Optimize keywords. Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.”
Use a straightforward format. Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
Think about order. When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title.
Structuring your résumé around keywords is just one tactic.
Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC.
Craft compelling and concise bullet points.
The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed.
Don’t focus on tasks. Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
Instead, explain what those tasks achieved. Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
Use metrics. Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says.
Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable. Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your soft skills.
If you lack experience, focus on transferable skills.
If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.
Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.
If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.
Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.
The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have gaps on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be prepared to talk about them in an interview. “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.
While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick.
Highlight relevant skills.
It is common to add a skills section to your résumé, outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.
Prioritize work experience over education.
The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.
If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page.
If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick.
Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart.
Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”
It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.
Proofread and double-check the formatting.
You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending.
Make sure the saved file name includes your name.
Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.
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You have just over seven seconds to make an impression with your résumé. That is the average time it took recruiters to make up their minds about candidates based on their résumés, according to a 2018 eye-tracking survey by the career site Ladders.
Professional résumé writers say you could try shaking up your résumé format if you are struggling to get callbacks.
1- Chronological résumé
The most common résumé format is chronological, listing your work experience in order, with the most recent experience at the top. It is straightforward, and many hiring managers prefer it because it is easy to understand.
How to format a chronological résumé
Contact information: This should come first. Include your name, phone number, email address and location (city and state). You could also include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. Make it easy for hiring managers to reach you.
Work experience: List your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Format each position in the same way so it is easy for the hiring manager to read. Include the employer’s name, location of the role (city, state), your job title, and start and end dates. If you are still in the job you can write, for example, “January 2020 to present.” If you had more than one role with an employer, make it clear as a subheading or another line under the company name. List three to five accomplishments under each job. See more tips here.
Education: What you include here depends on your education history. If you didn’t attend college, recently graduated or are still in college, you may include your high school here. Otherwise, it usually isn’t necessary. Include the name and location of the college you attended, your degree and the years you were there. Recent graduates can also bulk up this section with their grade-point averages, although Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC, advises her clients not to include their GPA if it is below 3.5. Extracurricular activities and accomplishments can also go in this section.
Additional skills: This section is a great place to put expertise that goes beyond a specific job or internship experience, such as other languages you speak and proficiency with certain software or other technology. You may also mention soft skills, such as the ability to work independently, a particularly useful asset if you will be working remotely.
Certifications: If applicable, include professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.
In most cases, résumé-writing experts say the chronological format is the way to go. “Overall, the chronological format is the most used format, and you don’t really see other formats too often nowadays,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer, and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.
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If you don’t have much work experience and the chronological format is not working, you could try the functional format. This type of résumé prioritizes skills over direct work experience and can also be useful for those who have been out of the workforce for some time.
Think carefully about using this type of résumé. “From a hiring manager’s perspective, I find this to be less effective,” says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. “They want to know what you did on the job even if it wasn’t directly related. Were there some kinds of transferable skills or experience?”
How to format a functional résumé
Contact information: No matter the format, this should come first. Include your name, phone number, email address, location (city, state), and the URL to your LinkedIn profile, if appropriate.
Summary: Start with a paragraph of three to five sentences that serve as your pitch to the hiring manager. Highlight the skills that qualify you for the job.
Expertise: Identify the top skills you have that relate to the job you want and make a section for each. For a coding job, you could title a section “Programming Languages,” and list the ones you are proficient in. Under a “Customer Service” section, in bullet points, you could list the total number of orders you have processed and skills related to the role, such as communication, problem-solving and product or service expertise. You don’t need to say when or where you used the skills or accomplished the aforementioned responsibility.
Experience: In a short section, list the company name, location of the job, your job title, and start and end dates. You don’t need to use bullet points to describe your accomplishments under each position.
Education: If applicable, include the name and location of your college, your degree and the years attended.
Certifications: List professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.
Functional résumés often work best if you are sending your résumé to a person you have had contact with, as opposed to submitting through a job portal, which often will use an applicant tracking system, says Ms. Watkins. “Functional résumés work for direct contacts because you are there to have a conversation, the feedback is there, and they can put a person to the position,” Ms. Watkins says.
3- Hybrid résumé
Hybrid résumés combine the best parts of the chronological and functional formats. The hybrid format allows you to emphasize your skills, but also provides more context around your past work experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick, who favors the format and says it tends to give a “better picture of who the candidate is on the whole.”
How to format a hybrid résumé
Contact information: Include your name, phone number, email address, location (city, state), and the URL to your LinkedIn profile, if appropriate.
Summary: Similarly to the functional résumé, include a strong statement outlining your expertise, the types of employers you have worked with and your accomplishments.
Skills: List your relevant expertise in bullet points.
Select projects: If relevant to your desired role, you could add a section highlighting projects or campaigns you have worked on and what you achieved.
Relevant professional experience: Focus on relevant duties when describing your work history. Elaborate on how you used the skills that you listed.
Education: If applicable, include the name and location of your college, your degree and the years attended.
Certifications: Just as with the chronological and functional résumés, you can list professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.
WSJ.com | December 11, 2020 | Allison Pohle
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ResumeInHole.jpg600857First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2020-12-15 16:17:032020-12-15 16:17:03#JobSearch : Résumé Formats to Play Up Your Strengths. You have Just over Seven Seconds to Make an Impression with your Résumé. Great Read!
Yesterday a Baby Boomer called me with a question that many of you might be tossing around. Sandy asked, “I really dislike my current boss, and I want to leave this job, but should I just be grateful I have a job and not try for a new one? The pandemic has caused so much bad news about company closings, reduced hiring, and my brother just lost his job. It has got me down, so should I stop complaining, suck it up, and hang on for another year or two until times are better?”
Sandy’s fear is understandable. She thinks that few employers are hiring, which is not valid. I never advocate for anyone to remain in a miserable work situation. Understanding she needs a paycheck, I suggested that she test the hiring waters to see if her skills are in demand. I reassured her that I’ve just had four clients get hired for great paying jobs. Two were Baby Boomer professionals making over six-figures. Another was a 2020 grad getting an excellent opportunity to launch his career in a field he wanted. Lastly, the mid-level client who got the remote job he wanted.
There are new opportunities available. So, don’t assume all the bad news means you can’t land a better job – YOU CAN! It will take more time than before. You must use some job search savvy and know what is effective and what doesn’t work. You need to take the calculated risk and see what develops. I think you’ll be surprised by the positive results if you implement the right job-hunting strategies.
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What is the ideal strategy to land a new job? The answer is being referred to the company and the hiring manager by an employee or colleague they know. Jobvite, a talent acquisition system reported that employee referrals only make up about 7% of potential candidates, but the number of those referred candidates hired is 44%. 44%! That makes this well worth the effort to try and locate a connection to someone inside the company. LinkedIn is the ideal place to search for contacts and obtain a referral.
In today’s challenging economy, people who learn and use networking techniques will be those that succeed. But for some people, the task of networking is hard to do. Ken was a Program Manager for a tech company who had lost his job because of the Covid pandemic. He became a client and told me he had no network to speak of. Ken had no LinkedIn profile and did not belong to professional or civic organizations. An introvert, Ken disliked the idea of networking, but he did email a few colleagues and his old boss, but no one had any job openings, so he stopped. We started our career counseling sessions by educating Ken on what today’s job search involved.
First, I wrote him a powerful resume, and then we developed a complete LinkedIn Profile. I gave him the mission to make connections with a target of obtaining at least 300. Next, we worked on having him learn some effective networking strategies. He was surprised by the fact that according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University report, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. Learning more effective techniques, he began again. The changes he made worked. Recruiters contacted him, and an old colleague he found on LinkedIn passed on his resume for a great job opportunity at her company. The employer called, and after several interviews, he was selected and hired for a terrific new job.
Today’s job market requires you to approach the job hunt differently than before. Here are a few tips to get started.
Increase your contacts.LinkedIn has become the place to collect contacts. An excellent way to farm for connections is to think about all the people you have worked with. Note former bosses, coworkers, colleagues, vendors, anyone you interacted with at your last job, and other positions you have held. Many people add their company’s Executive leadership team too. Next, invite your friends, neighbors, family, and college alum friends. Then branch into your professional associations and connect with those folks, especially the group’s leadership team, and board members. When it comes to networking, the more connections you have, the better.
Do not waste a contact. Do not approach people until you are ready. A common mistake is to frantically call EVERYONE you’ve ever met and say, “I’m looking for a job – do you know of one?” Huge error! You must clearly articulate the specific job title, company, and kind of company you want to work for. Instead, you can reach out to connections individually. Calls are great, emails work, and if you don’t have those, use LinkedIn to send them a message. Tell the contact you are job hunting. Be specific on the job title you seek. Ask them what is happening in their company. Don’t expect them to know of a job, but some will and usually share that information as they want to help you. Another thing to ask is if a job comes up at their company, would they pass on your resume. Most times, the answer is yes.
Have Your Resume Ready. The goal of your resume is to secure interviews. Is your resume updated and downright the best it can be? Will it get through the employer’s Applicant Tracking System? Is it full of accomplishments and the results you achieved on the job? Will it stand out in a crowd? Find out before you network. A useful Forbes article to read to ensure your resume is topnotch and will impress employers is: Employers Ignoring Your Resume? 5 Mistakes To Avoid.
Dig deep so you can use a Referral. When you hear of an opening or find the opportunity online, go to LinkedIn and search “the employer’s name” and use the “people” drop-down tab. This will bring up anyone in your online network who works there. You can also see 2nd connections and who you know that may know someone at that company. Reach out to the person and tell them about the opening you plan to apply for, and would they be willing to pass on your resume to HR or the recruiter. Some companies pay their employees for any referred person they hire, so this might help your contact too. Forward on your resume. Just to cover all bases, do apply online for the job opening also. You want to be found in the employer’s system if the connection doesn’t come through. (Most do, in my experience).
Know What to Say. Be able to offer a concise intro about your skills and experience when talking to connections, recruiters, and eventually hiring managers. A technique I call the 60 Second Sell (outlined in this Forbes article Best Way To Open An Interview To Secure A Job Offer) gives you the easy formula to create your persuasive elevator speech and verbal business card. You want to quickly outline experience, your top strengths, and some key outcomes you’ve achieved on the job as you only have about one minute to impress them.
It’s a whole new job market, so you’ll move ahead of the competition if you use these strategies.
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After talking with so many people, I know many of you work and work to create the perfect resume, only to look it over when you are finished and realize your resume doesn’t say, or reflect, just what you want it to. And often times, it keeps you from being called for interviews.
I’ve included a list of “deal breakers” that might hinder your chances for an interview:
Mizspelld Words or Bad Grammar While spell-check is good, it doesn’t catch everything – there could be a word that’s spelled right, but not the right word for the context of the sentence. Keep that spell-check in action but don’t rely on it exclusively. Misspellings can be the death of your application, no matter how qualified you might be. Think of how embarrassing it would be if you have been a mechanical engineer for 30 years and spell it ‘michanical’ engineer on your resume. Lots of times we accidentally misspell words that are actually words themselves i.e. “manger” instead of “manager”.
There can be other consequences, as well–misspelled words could interfere with resumes being found in the keyword search of a resume database. So, proofread your resume yourself – it’s important. *Be sure to keep tenses consistent and check for the correct word usage (such as “counsel” versus “council”).
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Using a Vague Job Focus Be clear on the type of position you want to target – your resume should be geared toward that. If you just say “Medical Field” or “Manufacturing,” the reader does not know what type of position you want, so your resume will probably not be considered. Make sure you are specific as to the type of job you want, such as “Accounting Professional”, “Senior Management Executive”, or “Educator.”
Not Including your Personal Brand, or your Value In today’s challenging job market, you must show your uniqueness, your personal brand, and let potential employers see the value you bring to a new position. Your resume must reflect why an employer should pick up the phone and call you for an interview over the hundreds of other resumes sitting on their desk. You ultimately get hired for the value you contribute to a company, so make sure it shows on your resume.
Including your References on the Resume YOU NO LONGER NEED TO ADD REFERENCES UPON REQUEST on your resume. It’s a given that you will bring a list of references to the interview. Only provide references when they are asked for. Never include them on your resume. It’s understood that if a company wants your references, you’ll provide them.
5. Adding Pictures to your Resume This might sound like a good idea if you are good looking, but it can also work against you. Unless you are applying for a job as a model or actor, pictures on your resume is not a good idea.
Making Reference to Political or Religious Organizations A GIANT NO-NO!! Don’t scare off prospective employers by referring to your political or religious opinions or affiliations that do not directly relate to your ability to do the job. An employer might not agree with your politics or might feel that the workplace is nowhere to display attitudes that might alienate others. The only time this would be appropriate is if you are applying for a position in this field, say a church or political arena.
Including your Salary Demands This should not be put on the resume – it’s only used to screen a candidate out of the running or influence the employer to offer less money. Salary should not be discussed until you have had the opportunity to explain your value – in person or over the phone.
Creating a Resume that’s Too Long People do not have the time to go over resumes that state everything you ever did in your career. Edit your profile down to the most relevant experience for the job at hand. Employers often gauge whether an applicant can deliver information about themselves in a quick, clear, and concise manner to sell themselves. Your resume must be long enough to show your value, but not too long, or the reader will lose interest.
Using Incompatible File Types and Formats Electronic resumes should be created in the most readable file for most [Internet-recruiting] systems, which is plain text or Microsoft Word. Today’s resume needs to be readable by machines, which means text needs to have a font size between 10 – 12 and a simple font style, such as Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, or Microsoft Sanserif.
Stick to the Truth We’ve seen what happens with CEO’s who embellish on their resumes. If you lie on your resume, you will have to defend yourself and your resume in an interview. Employers also do background and even credit checks, and inaccurate info could come back to haunt you.
Plus a few more…! 11. Don’t Put your Reasons for Leaving on the Resume
Save this for the interview. It doesn’t need to be on the resume.
12. DO NOT Make Changes to the Resume in Pencil or Pen Add it to the document on your computer, not jotting it down or crossing something else out. This is never acceptable on a resume.
13. NEVER send a resume without a cover letter! You must always have a cover letter. It states your intention to the reader. It’s expected and is important in job search etiquette. This is a powerful tool that can give you the competitive edge.
FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.
FSC Career Blog | November 30, 2020
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ResumeInHole.jpg600857First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2020-11-30 16:50:512020-11-30 16:50:51#JobSearch : 10 Resume Mistakes to Avoid. Often Times, it Keeps you From Being Called for Interviews.
There are hundreds of free online offerings for job seekers 50+, but many of them perpetuate workplace myths. One career coach posted a Youtube video claiming that karma is why workers over age 50 are overlooked in the recruiting process. She explained it was payback for calling Millennials lazy and not hiring them during the 2007 recession. Other career offerings for 50+ suggest age bias isn’t the problem at all; it’s the applicant – even when they are doing everything right.
“The good news is that if you can become aware of your ageist beliefs, then you can control them,” said Branka. “And once you own your power, thoughts, wisdom and experience, you can project your competence with confidence.”
Fortunately, not all complimentary coaching webinars are tainted with misinformation or conflicts of interest. Given the competitiveness of a COVID-19 economy, it’s critical to level the playing field so all qualified job applicants have a fair chance for employment.
Which is why Christy Watz of Christy Watz Coaching, and Laura Leach, founder and president of Meredith Consulting, decided to address the elephant in the room – workplace age bias is real. But instead of victimizing applicants hurt by the oversight, their idea was to ensure experienced talent shines.
“I recently met a group of people laid off from a large corporation in St. Louis – some notified by mail while working remotely,” Watz explained. “They meet weekly to share job leads and provide support in the job search as the economy continues to struggle.”
What Watz realized later was that everyone in the group was over the age of 50. All had been long-term employees, some having spent 30 years with the company.
Then the lightbulb went off; most of her coaching clients were also over the age of 50.
That’s when she knew it was time to step up and help. Watz turned to Leach, who she had met through a business coach and certification program. As a woman in her forties navigating the tech industry, Leach knew firsthand that age bias was real.
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Together they designed a webinar with career experts to provide the very best job search tips in the face of ageist stereotypes, myths and bias. One of the most important messages to the participants – don’t self-sabotage.
“We want to make sure applicants are not fueling the fire inadvertently,” explained Watz. “It’s easy to unintentionally include or leave out information that sets off a bias flag and removes them from consideration.”
Since it’s impossible to eliminate age bias, the webinar focused on how to lessen the impact of ageism in the job search and stand out in the competition.
LinkedIn “A picture on your LinkedIn page makes you 36 times more likely to receive a message,” explained Leach. “Frame the photo from the chest up and make sure it represents how you look today,” she stressed, adding that looking directly into the camera and smiling with your eyes makes you look trustworthy and approachable.
Leach also suggests a solid colored background and avoiding direct or fluorescent light, which can make you squint or appear too harsh.
“When describing your experience, use relevant language to describe skills and do not include older technologies which might age you out of the picture. Instead of saying you were responsible, write what you accomplished and what you are most proud of while in previous roles,” she added, suggesting applicants capture how people felt about working with them when referencing employment going back more than ten years.
When it comes to education and certification, Leach advises applicants to remove all dates unless, for example, one is a new MBA graduate.
One of the most underutilized areas on LinkedIn is the use of recommendations, according to Leach. “I’ve seen people with 20 and 30 years of experience, but not a single person to testify for their skills and abilities.”
Not only should you ask for recommendations, but it’s also important to give them. That’s how to show up on other people’s pages.
Resumes Ron Visconti, the founder of Phase2Careers, a nonprofit organization assisting workers over 40, says the resume must quickly demonstrate relevance in today’s job market. Not only is the content important – what you say and how you say it – but formatting is key.
Because of COVID and the necessity for remote work, Visconti encourages applicants to highlight their capability to work remotely by referencing home office set up and competency with current technology platforms. For a deep dive, read his key tips for how applicants with years of experience can make their resumes work for them instead of against them.
Online Presence In today’s remote environment, most interviews are conducted by videoconference, adding layers of vulnerability and anxiety to an already stressful situation. Executive presence coach Natalie Venturi talks about five areas critical to enhancing on-camera presence.
“The job search can leave us feeling very vulnerable, and when you add ageism to the mix, it can make us feel like the cards are stacked against us,” she said.
To help overcome feelings of vulnerability and create an empowering presence, Venturi recommends a simple visualization exercise. “Think about a time when you felt on top of the world; when you knew what you were doing and felt unstoppable. Bring that moment forward and feel it in your body. That’s when you become grounded and self-empowered.”
Internalized Ageism One place where ageism is alive and well is in our minds. Often, without awareness, we are ageist against ourselves through inner dialog. Nancy Branka, the founder of StartUp Decoder, an online community for mid- and late-career workers in tech, knows how disempowering the voice in our heads can be.
“We all have a narrative in our brain, and it impacts the energy in your job search, said Branka, “You can’t control what the person thinks about you, but you can control your thoughts.”
“We all have ageist thoughts. The best advice is to recognize them,” she said.
Do you worry that your teammates will think you are too old? Do you consider employees at the beginning of their careers kids? In both cases, that thinking represents internalized ageism.
Creating a more age-equitable workplace begins with how we think about age. It means deleting the age bias in our minds and reprogramming our thinking to embrace age inclusion and equity.
“The good news is that if you can become aware of your ageist beliefs, then you can control them,” said Branka. “And once you own your power, thoughts, wisdom and experience, you can project your competence with confidence.”
Are you interested in future complimentary webinars geared at the 50+ audience? Check out Leach’s events page to register.
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Older-Worker-Looking-at-Board.jpg250400First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2020-11-19 22:10:232020-11-19 22:10:23#JobSearch :How Competitive Job Seekers 50+ Are Upping Their Game. “The Job Search can Leave us Feeling Very Vulnerable, and When you Add Ageism to the Mix, it Can Make Us Feel Like the Cards are Stacked Against Us.
“Yes, ageism is real,” said Ron Visconti in a recent career guidance webinar geared at applicants aged 50 and older. Visconti, the founder and executive director of Phase2Careers, a nonprofit organization assisting workers over age 40, knows a thing or two about ageism in the workplace. He has worked with small and large organizations, both public and private, on recruitment and career transition issues.
When it comes to the resume, Visconti says job seekers must understand the negative perceptions and bias directed at older workers. When applicants know the barriers they’re up against, they can craft their resumes to defuse those stereotypes and dismiss fears.
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Visconti offers these guidelines to increase interview opportunities and, if all goes well, a solid offer.
Recruiters are overworked and don’t have time to analyze your resume for possibilities. They want to see evidence that you can do the job. That’s why it is critical to ensure that your career story is a perfect match for the position.
Most resumes go back ten years; however, older candidates typically have valuable experience beyond that. If that experience is relevant to the position you seek, you can add the heading other relevant experience at the end of your career history. Include the name of the company and your title, but do not include the dates of employment.
Don’t oversell yourself. Candidates with 20 or 30 years of experience are inclined to emphasize that experience. If a vacancy requires 8 years of experience and you have many more, write that you have 8+ years of experience. Otherwise, you risk experience discrimination if recruiters and hiring managers consider you overqualified.
Do not submit a resume longer than two pages. If you require two pages, make sure the content is relevant to the job you seek. Use language that is current and relevant to your industry. And, if you are skilled in outdated technologies, don’t include them in your skillset.
Recruiters spend an estimated seven seconds per resume. Make your resume pleasing to the eye with the use of white space. Highlight skills that align directly with the role near the top of the page, emphasizing metrics.
COVID has made remote work the new normal. Show relevancy by including your work-from-home setup and familiarity with critical applications such as Slack and Zoom. If those applications are not familiar to you, find someone to mentor you so you can include them in your skillset.
“Your resume shouldn’t be about responsibilities,” Visconti said. “It should be about your achievements and directly relate to the job you are applying for.”
While there may be stereotypes in the workplace that make it harder for older applicants to get noticed, following these guidelines will increase your visibility to talent scouts.
References to older technologies feed the stereotype that older applicants are not in the game. As an example, Visconti warns applicants never to use a Hotmail or AOL address as a contact.
“Get a Gmail account and don’t feed the myth!”
To join Visconti in a future free job search offering, check out his events page and register.
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/OlderWorker2.jpg639959First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2020-11-17 16:23:382020-11-17 16:23:38#JobSearch : Insider Gives Top Resume Tips For Older (40 & Up) Job Applicants. “Yes, Ageism is Real,”
If you’ve suddenly found yourself unemployed or furloughed for the first time in a long time, don’t despair! You are not alone. Many of my clients are taking this time to reevaluate what they have done and opting to try something different instead. When trying something different, you’ll have to renovate your job search for this as well.
Overhauling your job search can be a daunting experience. You might have the feeling that you’re starting everything over from the beginning, but that’s not the case. You have tons of experience that will be valuable no matter what job you decide to take. Things like knowing how a business works, getting along with coworkers, and knowing proper work habits already put you ahead of new candidates coming in. You have the advantage over workers with no experience.
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So, how do you renovate your resume? You have a lot of options, so before you start changing your resume, try out a few other options first. One thing you can do is go back to school or get more training. But you should do a self-assessment and see if this would actually be beneficial to you, work with a career counselor and let them help you to the right path. Look around and see what kind of options you have, don’t panic and just try to examine your situation. Then you can begin to retool your job search.
Start with what you enjoy Do you have a long-lost passion that you wish you had embarked on? Maybe it was teaching skiing lessons in Colorado, who knows, but just start with what you enjoy. What do you want to continue doing in your next role? Think through the tasks you currently do that you excel at and what to keep doing. Look for roles that focus on those tasks or projects. Perhaps there’s a job related to your hobby that you would enjoy. It could be a completely different field than what you’ve ever worked in, so take a look around and don’t limit yourself. Maybe it’s time to get out there and try your luck.
Create a company list Find 20 different companies you’d like to work for. Follow them on social media to get to know what they stand for and what their future plans are. There are always options out there, especially if you’re in a large city. You can find a multitude of positions that would fit your job search choice. But, try to reach out a little past your current job and find something that is different or that would excite you. Put this list together because you’re going to need it.
Create a contact list
For every company you have listed, create a list of 10-20 people you can reach out to via LinkedIn. Go through your 1st and 2nd connections to help you make contact with a decision-maker. Craft a personal message to these individuals, mentioning your common connection.
Begin renovating your resume This is definitely key. Start updating your resume to send to these potential employers, but make sure that you emphasize different aspects of your career that would be beneficial to your prospective employer. You should consider getting some help from a professional resume writer, they can take a drab old resume and create the right blend of personality and accomplishments. Make sure your resume is focused on what you want to do NOW.
Network, engage, respond.
Use LinkedIn to network with people in the industry you want to be in. Spend 10-15 minutes on LinkedIn each day commenting, liking, and joining in conversation. Demonstrate your knowledge by posting original content and commenting on other’s posts.
Send resume to potential companies Starting sending that new resume out! You have to get your name out there, right? So, what are you waiting for? You already have a list of potential employers, so what’s stopping you? It’s time to get the word out about you!
Starting calling people back After sending out your resume, hit the phones hard. Don’t just sit back and wait for the company to call you. Be assertive, show them that you want this position, and that you are right for it. If you’ve renovated your resume correctly toward your new career path and showed the desire to learn, then you can have the job that you want.
FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.
FSC Career Blog | November 16, 2020
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/finger-pointing-up-in-box.jpeg350467First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2020-11-16 21:42:292020-11-16 21:43:37#JobSearch : Seven(7) Steps to Renovate and Fire Up Your Job Search. When trying Something Different, You’ll Have to Renovate your Job Search for This as Well.
COVID-19 tore through the global economy this spring, leaving extended shutdowns, stay-at-home orders, and mass layoffs in its wake. It might not seem like the best time to find a new job, but waiting for the perfect moment will only increase your risk of a career stall. Whether you’ve been laid off because your industry or company downsized or you just want to start moving your career in a different direction, it’s time to seize the day and start connecting with hiring managers.
For many job seekers, procrastination takes over because they’re afraid of rejection. One way to boost your confidence is to rethink your résumé, turning up the volume on your personal brand while focusing on the inspiring traits of the job you want—not the rigid expectations of the jobs you’ve had. Although personal branding is based in authenticity, there’s an aspirational element to it. Here’s how you can set yourself up for hiring success when you’re venturing into a different field alongside a daunting number of applicants:
1. Practice writing a personal branding statement.
Personal branding statements are like company mission statements, which are short and sweet and state their core message in general terms. For example, Tesla aims “to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” Notice how this mission doesn’t refer to cars at all. You need to craft a branding statement that tells employers what your core purpose is, no matter which job you land.
In your branding statement, address the value you will bring to organizations. Touch on the problems you solve, the unique ways in which you do so, and who benefits from your solutions. A personal branding statement is a great way to garner attention from hiring managers and recruiters, but it’s also a tool to help you decide what you want out of the next phase of your career. You may want to consider adjusting your statement slightly for each position you apply for.
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2. Restructure your experiences for the career change.
Your current (or previous) job likely taught you valuable skills, but you’ll want to frame those experiences in a way that suits your desired career. Recruiters will almost certainly rely on applicant tracking systems to sift through all the résumés they receive, and that software is based largely on keywords. Identify the keywords most commonly found in your target job descriptions and incorporate them throughout your résumé where applicable.
You should also think about refreshing the education section of your résumé, especially if you haven’t been in school for some time. If your college degree isn’t relevant for the career you’re hoping to transition into, list any recent classes or courses you’ve taken that might be more applicable. If you haven’t done any self-directed learning, there’s a wealth of free online resources and training courses you could take to help your résumé stand out.
3. Highlight your transferable skills.
What tasks did you need to perform in your last role? When you think about that question, the first skills that come to mind are likely job-specific. Think deeper and pinpoint transferable skills that your potential future employer will value. Were you a manager? Try listing skills like “people development” or “teamwork,” for example. Add skills that apply to any line of work, such as “financial acumen,” “written communication,” or “personal motivation.” More importantly, what’s special about the way you apply those skills? Infuse your personal brand while you’re bringing those skills to life. Which of those skills are the basis for your superpowers?
Here’s a great example from academia. Isaiah Hankel, founder and CEO of Cheeky Scientist, encourages degree-holders to promote what makes them unique. Only about 2% of the U.S. adult population (ages 25 and up) has a Ph.D., according to 2018 Census data. Why is that? ”Because adding to a field is hard,” Hankel explains. “Anyone can learn something and then repackage it. Anyone can regurgitate information. That’s easy. It’s so much harder to create information — to bring knowledge into existence for the very first time. If you have a Ph.D., you are a creator of information. This is one of your most valuable and most transferable skills.”
4. Show, don’t tell, why you’re a good candidate.
Anyone can make lofty claims about their past job performance, but a great applicant knows how to validate those victories. Would you be more likely to hire someone who “led successful marketing campaigns that reached new markets and yielded a tangible return on investment?” Or would you rather hire the person who “spearheaded three successful marketing campaigns that grew the company’s audience by 43% and earned an average ROI of 560%?” The first applicant is telling you they would be a good fit (and hoping you’ll agree), while the second applicant is showing you why they deserve the job.
According to Ryan Corbalis, a business recruiter at Indeed, employers are looking for applicants who can quantify and communicate the abilities they’re looking for. “One of the biggest things I’d stress that candidates need to convey is adaptability — this was true before Covid-19, but I think it’s even more the case now,” he says. “Likewise, I’d say this to anyone looking for a new role, but it’s even more important for those looking to change industries or careers: Show how your abilities adapt to this new field and focus on skills more than just experiences because skills can be applied in so many different ways.”
If you’re thinking about waiting until a more opportune time to switch careers, remember that there’s no telling when the uncertainty will pass. That’s why you should take steps toward the job of your dreams. Tap into your professional networks for real-world advice, and use the myriad free online resources to learn new skills and locate relevant job openings. Your most valuable resource is your own time, so don’t waste it on a job or an industry that no longer excites you.
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ResumeInHole.jpg600857First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2020-11-15 16:25:152020-11-15 16:25:15#JobSearch : The 4 Keys To Writing A Résumé That Gets Results. For Many Job Seekers, Procrastination Takes Over Because they’re Afraid of Rejection.
Cathy is a 59-year-old Hotel Sales Director who has had a vert successful career until COVID hit and she lost her job. She has been job hunting for seven months and has applied to over 300 jobs. “No one is calling. No interviews, not even one email or inquiry. I’m so frustrated. Is the job market really that impossible right now?”
“I have to wonder what I’m doing wrong,” says Tom, a Baby Boomer IT executive who contacted me about resume help. “I have sent out so many resumes – literally over 100—and I haven’t gotten one interview. Any recruiters that email me are looking at work I did two jobs ago as a project manager, but I never get any interviews for current my job level. Help!”
Although it is a difficult job market, there are still jobs available, and more positions are opening up every day. If you aren’t getting any response to your resume, no matter who helped you write it, you have to wonder if something is wrong with your resume.
The first and most important thing is to be sure that you are applying for the correct job opportunities and are a good fit for those opportunities. That you have the specific skillset and the experience the employer is asking for. You are not “just trying to get your foot in the door,” which is a very old-fashioned strategy that does not work anymore. Recruiters complain that too many people are applying for jobs that they aren’t qualified to perform. This approach will not work when you have such a competitive marketplace. Assuming that you are applying for jobs at the correct level, you have to analyze your resume closely and ensure you get the next two items right.
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The number one mistake that most job hunters make is that they do not create a resume full of accomplishments and results. Instead they focus on vague, boring job descriptions or take the job listing and copy the content and paste it into their resume. These approaches do not work. Employers want to see results. They want to know the level of success that you have delivered in your previous jobs. So vague statements that don’t have any quantification won’t be effective at all.
The formula to follow isMY ACTIONS = My RESULTS
Whenever possible, use numbers, statistics, money or time saved, or note the dollars added to the company’s bottomline.
Here are some examples:
· Streamlined the company’s sales process from start through installation. Improved processes. Implemented new sales training and changed suppliers. Results tripled sales within twelve months from $10M to $30M.
· Spearheaded the moving of company facilities from one expensive location to three inexpensive locations including warehouses. Created strategic plan. Negotiated new leases. Results decreased rent, reduced labor, and transportation costs. Total savings of $7M.
· Drove the turnaround of the department during acquisition. Restructured organization reducing team members by 35% plus improved processes and implemented new direction. Resultsincreased revenues by 13% within nine months.
· Developed the company’smarketing strategy and execution launching a new product into 13 countries.
· Led the team project involving a complex redesign of a complex electrical system. Collaborated with engineering, manufacturing, and factory supervisors. Oversaw the implementation. Results saved $2.5M.
· Created the training class for a new change management course. Taught class to over 300 managers.
· Negotiated terms and pricing contract with the vendor. Results saved $100,000.
· Established a new service program to improve the reach of the organization. Results delivered a 27% increase in aiding women and children.
Not everything is quantitative. When creating a new program or service, or you make an innovation that in and of itself is the accomplishment.
ATS blocks 75% of resumes
Over 95% of Fortune 500 Employers use an applicant tracking system called ATS software, that uses robots to review the resume and streamline the process. According to a study by job search firm Preptel, 75%of all resumes are never seen by a real human being. Instead, they are filtered out by ATS software robots. That’s right; these systems delete 75% of resumes when you apply online. That means if 300 resumes are submitted, over 225 are deleted and never seen by human eyes.
WHY?
CNBC reported that out of 1,000 resumes analyzed that were submitted through an ATS, 43% were sent in an incompatible file type. That means not even the computer saw them. You need to ensure that you are using a WORD file and which seems to be universally accepted. Also, avoid using graphics, tables, columns, text boxes, headers, or footers. And of course, you must include the keywords that are specific for performing your job. (For more specifics, read Employers Ignoring Your Resume? 5 Mistakes To Avoid )
To get a different result – employers calling you for interviews – you must change what you have been doing. Improving your resume is a great way to increase your odds of getting hired.
Forbes.com | October 20, 2020 | Robin Ryan
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Man-frustrasted.jpg280425First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2020-10-20 16:10:202020-11-05 16:28:01#BestofFSCBlog : #JobSearch -Not Getting Job Interviews? Your Resume Is The Problem. ATS(AI) Software Robots Deletes 75% of Resumes When you Apply Online.
