Blog for Professionals
10 Resume Writing Tips For 2024: Improve Your Jobsearch Game.
As a job seeker, think of your resume as your marketing tool. It needs to consist of relevant selling points (accomplishments, milestones, and skills) to keep recruiters attracted to you as a candidate. Your resume provides a window for impressing employers and standing out from the competition. This article will present the 10 essential tips for crafting a compelling resume that stands out in 2024.
Conquering the Elevator Pitch in 60 Seconds or Less
An elevator pitch is someone’s monologue that shares what and why someone else should be interested in what you are selling or have to offer. When it comes to the job search, you present your elevator pitch on your resume, phone screen, and interview. Whether you are delivering your elevator pitch in writing or verbally, it should be impactful and straight to the point. Think of your elevator pitch as persuading the other person to understand how you can help them make money, save time, or solve their problem.
Building Your Professional Network with Informational Interviews
How often have you started a job and realized that they require far more than what was listed in the job description? While it can appear that a company is being deceitful during recruitment, many positions across all sectors are “catch-all.” A catch-all position has a core set of duties and responsibilities and additional tasks that sometimes feel unrelated or cumbersome. While most professionals understand that it is a part of many positions, these extra tasks can lead to workplace frustration and resentment depending on the type and frequency. Although we might not avoid the catch-all, it helps to know what we are getting ourselves into at the beginning. Speaking with current or former employees during an informational interview allows you to ask questions and learn about a typical day in their role. While an extra step, conducting these interviews can reassure you when taking a leap of faith and considering your transition into a new position and company.
10 Red Flags During the Interview Process that Warrants a Side-Eye
Have you ever gotten hired on the spot? It’s one of the greatest feelings ever. There are times when an employer can recognize a quality candidate and want to take them off the market immediately. However, other companies are so understaffed that they seem overly eager to offer titles and positions to anyone who needs one. While there’s no sure-fire way to tell if an on-the-spot offer or another occurrence is a red flag, before giving your verbal acceptance, do your due diligence. Then, continue reading to learn of additional red flags that might present themselves during the interview and hiring process.
Using Your Professional Brand to Propel Your Career
Most frequently, when people talk about branding, they are talking about their company or business. However, establishing your professional brand as an individual is equally important. Branding goes beyond colors and aesthetics; it speaks to one's vision, values, missions, and goals, all of which can be attributed to a business ora person. Continue reading to learn how to establish a solid professional brand that creates access and opportunities for you.
3 Steps to Identify Your Next Career Move When You Want to Transition
Taking the leap of faith as it relates to career change is easier said than done. Despite wanting more for themselves, professionals are often hindered by fear that derives from many reasons. While fear commonly stems from the anticipated effect on one’s family and lifestyle, other worries are rooted in uncertainty. Uncertainty about where to start, what you like, what you want to do, and the effect transitioning might have on your overall career trajectory. Don’t worry though, this month’s blog dives into how fostering your curiosity can reveal your interests, passions, and ultimately your next dream position.
5 Steps to Break Up with Your Job
You have planned your exit strategy, and you've succeeded. Now that you have your new job offer (I hope!), it is time to start thinking about your transition from your current role. It is easy to think, "well, it's their problem," but the truth is that you want to ensure that you are transitioning out gracefully. Read below to learn six ways to sustain your reputation as a reliable and professional employee without burning any bridges.
Man, F*** This Job -- 3 Ways to Revive a Job that You’re Over
Having feelings of discontent and annoyance with your job is something that most people experience at one point or another, even when you are doing something you are passionate about. But when the moments where we don't want to attend another meeting or read another email arise, we recognize that we depend on this job to pay the upcoming electricity bill (whew, those winter storm electricity bills have been ASTRONOMICAL!) So, what do you do when these moments of annoyance turn into a slump that lasts weeks or even months? Read below to learn how to recognize if you are in a work slump, and more importantly, how to get out of it!
Using Informational Interviews to Kick-Start Your Career Transition
At the start of a new year or significant change, professionals often reflect on their career and happiness. Often this career reflection may lead to a realization of dissatisfaction in your career trajectory. However, even with this realization, "pulling the trigger" to find a career more fulfilling might prove problematic when considering the significant risk of lost income, lack of direction, or just plain fear. Shifting your career trajectory or starting anew does not have to be scary, though. But before you leap, consider the following to ease your transition.
3 Practical Ways to Achieve Work-Life Balance
How often have you vowed to create and set boundaries to protect your peace at work…how's that going?
66% -- 26% -- 77%
These percentages account for the number of Americans who work during the weekend, take home their unfinished work, and ultimately experience burnout in their current position. When is the last time you have thought about how your work affects your life and causes you to stress, overwork, or worse…burnout? Here are 3 tips that you can implement immediately to gain control of your life and attain the work-life balance that you want.
Are You Overqualified? 3 Reasons You Aren’t Getting the Job! And What You Can Do About It!
When one thinks about qualifications, most people evaluate whether or not their experience makes them a viable candidate for the position. However, have you ever considered that you might be overqualified?! In theory, it seems like a good thing, but in actuality, being marked as overqualified can deter employers from extending you a formal offer. Read below to learn 3 reasons why being overqualified scares employers and what you can do about it!
Using Your Side Hustle for Professional Development: 2 Angles to Consider
A 2019 study revealed that more than 49% of Americans under 35 have a side hustle. However, part-time and freelance gigs can also be valuable in other ways! Finding a side hustle can help you develop skills that will help you become a competitive job seeker.
Typically, when people think of part-time jobs, they think of picking up something that will make them easy money without much demand. Examples such as bartenders, the shopping mall, and hostesses come top of mind. However, there are also ways that you can secure a side hustle that generates both income and skillset development. The key is to identify your angle when seeking a part-time position to increase the chances of obtaining your desired results.
4 Times A Pay-Cut Might Be Worth It!
When searching for a new job, one of the most common motivators is to earn more money. But what happens when you find the "perfect" job, only to learn that it would require you to take a pay-cut?! Most of our first thought is probably, certainly not! However, there are times that a pay-cut might actually be worth it! Read below to learn 4 instances where taking a pay cut might be the way to go!
It's Not Them; It's You: 3 Reasons You Haven’t Gotten the Job Offer
It is daunting not to see the results of your efforts when seeking a new job. It is even more frustrating when you progress through the interview stages, and still not offered the position. However, after several close calls, or no calls at all, you must conduct a job search reflection to evaluate your application materials and overall interview preparation and conduct. To launch your thinking, you must first identify the roadblock that best matches your situation.
1. I apply to jobs all the time, but they never call me to set up an interview.
2. I had a phone interview, but they never followed up with me about the next steps.
3. I thought that the in-person interview went great, but they chose someone else.
In the blog below, you will learn more in detail about how to combat these typical roadblocks to get the job that you desire. Answer each set of questions to guide your thinking and reflection.
Upskilling: Taking Charge of Your Career Trajectory
Several professions require continuing education credits to maintain certification and licensing. However, many others do not. Therefore, it is up to the individual to take charge of their continued development. Upskilling is the idea that you are developing and sharpening your already possessed skillset to be more competitive and stay up-to-date in your field. However, you can still use upskilling techniques and strategies to foster new skills as well. Upskilling can look a variety of ways, allowing you to choose your own adventure to take ownership of your professional growth.