Saturday, May 16, 2020
Writing a Resume - A Resource For UNC Charlotte Alumni
Writing a Resume - A Resource For UNC Charlotte AlumniIt is important that if you are a UNC Charlotte alumnus to be able to create an amazing resume to help land that perfect job and landing your dream job. However, creating a perfect resume can take up a lot of time but this doesn't have to be the case with a great writing resource for alumni resume writing for UNC Charlotte alumni.The goal of any new job or career move is to find a job that will pay the bills and allow the person to provide for themselves and their family. Having a great resume is only half the battle though and how a person puts the information on the resume can make or break the outcome of getting the job.There are many ways to build a person's resume. Most schools have some kind of career development services that offer training and skills improvement workshops to help people who want to improve their resumes. However, this takes up a lot of time which in turn can cost you more money to get the experience you ne ed to make the best resume possible.This is where an online writing resource for alumni resume writing for UNC Charlotte is beneficial. With this resource you will be able to learn all about the different resume writing techniques and how to write a great resume to land the job of your dreams.This online writing resource offers the new writer a variety of tips and information to help them improve their resumes. If you have been looking for the perfect resume for yourself or someone that you know, then this is a good place to start.One of the most important tips from this UNC Charlotte writing resource for alumni resume writing for UNC Charlotte graduates is that all resumes should include the school affiliation of the employer. The main goal is to show that you are committed to the University of North Carolina and that you have taken steps to ensure that your resume has all the information that is required to get you the interview that you want.You don't have to hire a recruiter to do this for you, it is easy and you can even do it yourself if you have the time. Just be sure to include the address of the school, what position you are applying for, and other information such as contact numbers, job titles, and salaries.Your resume is the first impression that your potential employer will get of you so make sure that you get it right the first time. If you are looking for a way to create a resume that will stand out from the rest, this UNC Charlotte writes resource for alumni resume writing for UNC Charlotte graduates is a great resource.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Marcs Lessons on Disappointment from Three Recent Events [Podcast] - Career Pivot
Marcâs Lessons on Disappointment from Three Recent Events [Podcast] - Career Pivot Episode #133 â" Marc Miller shares his reflections on how he has changed his attitudes in the second half of life, especially, most recently. Description: In this episode, Marc explains how he â" but not his website â" got a mention in the New York Times, how he was glad to see family members after a long separation but was not glad to be acting out old roles, and how a negative Amazon review helped him reflect on the direction of the next edition of Repurpose Your Career. Key Takeaways: [1:27] Marc welcomes you to Episode 133 of the Repurpose Your Career podcast. Career Pivot is the sponsor of this podcast; CareerPivot.com is one of the very few websites dedicated to those of us in the second half of life and our careers. Check out the blog and the other resources delivered to you, free of charge. [1:56] If you are enjoying this podcast, please share it with other like-minded souls. Subscribe on CareerPivot.com, iTunes, or any of the other apps that supply podcasts. Share it on social media or just tell your neighbors, and colleagues. The more people Marc reaches, the more people he can help. [2:15] Marc has released three chapters of the next edition of Repurpose Your Career to the Repurpose Your Career review team. A fourth chapter will be released by the time this episode airs. Sign up to be part of the review team at CareerPivot.com/RYCTeam. [2:36] You will receive new chapters as they become available. Marc is looking for honest feedback and would love to get an honest review on Amazon.com after the book is released. [2:47] Marcâs plan is to release the book in late-September and do both a virtual and a real book tour. He will be in Austin, the NYC Area, and D.C. during the months of September and October. Marc would love to meet his readers and listeners. [3:05] Reach out to Marc at Podcasts@CareerPivot.com if youâd be willing to give him some advice on venues or groups who would be interested in hosting an event. [3:15] Marc had planned to read a chapter of the next edition of Repurpose Your Career but decided to delay that a week so he could record this special episode. [3:27] This week, Marc talks about what he has learned in the previous couple of months from three different events he experienced. Marc hopes you will learn from this. Now on to the podcast⦠Download Link | iTunes|Stitcher Radio|Google Podcast| Podbean | TuneIn | Overcast [3:43] Marc welcomes you to the Repurpose Your Career podcast. When Marc woke up on the day he is recording this, he thought of three events over the last eight weeks that have shown him how much he has changed in his attitude and behavior. [4:18] Event 1. Marc was approached by Mark Miller who was writing an article for the New York Times on people who have had their retirement plans disrupted by being laid off. Marc gave Mark a couple of names from his Career Pivot Online Membership Community. You can learn about the community at CareerPivot.com/Community. [5:07] Mark selected Cleo Parker. Cleo was written up in the New York Times article, titled âWhy Working Till Whenever Is a Risky Retirement Strategy.â Marc was really happy to see in the article from May 16 that Cleo got a lot of visibility including a photo of Cleo with her dogs in Livonia Michigan. [5:47] Cleo had expected to keep her job as a marketing analyst in the automotive industry well into her 60s but at 62 is on the job hunt instead. Her plans blew up in 2008 with the whole automotive industry crashing. Cleo was one of the early members of the Career Pivot Online Membership Community. [6:16] Over the last 10 years, Cleo bounced from job to job, mostly by contract. She has turned her life-long love of dogs into a business. As Cleo has written, what was really exciting was that the author, Mark Miller, included a link to her Dog Marketing Blog. [6:51] Cleo was pretty uncomfortable for being the poster child for the unemployed of our [Boomer] generation. This is similar to what Marc heard from Elizabeth White, who wrote the book 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal: Your Guide to a Better Life. Learn more about Elizabeth White in CareerPivot.com/episode-109. [7:12] Out of this article, Cleo has gotten a decent consulting gig of 20 to 30 hours. [7:33] Marc was pretty excited about the article. When Mark asked Marc how he wanted to describe him, he wrote that Marc Miller was a career consultant based out of Austin, Texas. Marc didnât ask to include the link to his website. In the past, Marc would have really beaten himself up over that. This time, he said, âOh, well ⦠Thatâs fine.â [8:01] Marc has noticed that he is not as bothered by his mistakes anymore. A website link in the New York Times would be a very big deal for search engine optimization. He was thrilled that this is playing out for Cleo. [8:30] Event 2. When the article published on May 16, Marc sent an email to his brother and to his own son about being quoted in an article in the New York Times. His brother replied and invited Marc to his sonâs wedding. Marc and his family have been estranged. [10:06] Marc and Mrs. Miller attended the wedding. Marc wants his sister-in-law, who listens to the Repurpose Your Career podcast to know they had a great time and it was an interesting experience. It was nice to see all the family, but New Jersey is not where Marc and Mrs. Miller want to be. [11:43] As much as Marcâs brotherâs family are very wonderful people, Marc doesnât want to go back to the United States all that much. [11:56] Marc grew up very learning-disabled. When he went to college, he graduated from Northwesternâs Engineering School in three-and-a-half years, never taking an English course. When Marc graduated from high school, he could barely read. [12:17] Like many Boomers, Marc became an âactor.â He went to work for IBM and played roles in his jobs and changed himself to fit those roles. He made very good money but wore himself out and became someone he was not. [12:47] When Marc was with his brotherâs family, he went back and forth from being his normal introverted self to being someone talking way too much at the dinner table. How Marc behaved at times at the wedding is not who Marc is. It is a learned behavior. The learned behaviors Marc used in his career have been emotionally damaging to himself. [13:52] Itâs only now that Marc is learning that he doesnât have to behave that way. He has choices. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and he is glad he went and he will not be repeating the trip frequently. Marc will go back for his 40th high school reunion, in October. He hopes not to slip into his old behaviors. [14:44] Event 3. When the Millers came back, Marc went back to his routines. He asked a few people to write reviews for his book. One person wrote a very, very negative review, which Marc shares here. [15:15] The review is titled, âTitle misleading.â It turns out the reviewer assumed the book was about starting a business. The reviewer gave a synopsis, which Marc agrees with, but the reviewer was really looking for a different kind of book. [16:00] Marcâs response on reading it was, âWow!â In the past, he would have beaten himself up over this review. [16:09] Marc is looking at refocusing the next edition of the book he is working on with his co-author Susan Lahey right now. The key piece to remember is that we are living in a time where things are changing rapidly. The rules for careers are changing rapidly. Healthcare in the U.S. is a huge problem for the Millers, which is why they are expats. [17:19] It is really hard to get anyone to write a review on Amazon, either good or bad. Most people simply will not do it. Marc read the review and saw that it fits in with where he is headed with this podcast and the website. In the second half of life, the rules are being rewritten. For a lot of us Boomers, this is really, really uncomfortable. [18:07] Marc sees the old guard in Washington trying to maintain the way things have been and itâs not working. The younger generation taking over are not like us who are over 60. See the three-part series âThe Career Pivot Multi-generational Workplace Workshopâ in Episode 111, Episode 112, and Episode 113. [18:42] This next edition will be more about how things have changed. Your life and career â" which will last into our 80s â" will look very different than it did 20 years ago. Work in your 70s and 80s will probably not be full-time employment. It may be multiple part-time jobs and freelancing. [19:36] That will be a big shakeup for many folks â" not being an employee but possibly being self-employed. [19:46] Marc has reflected from these three events how much he has changed and how much his mindset has changed. Two years ago, Marc would not have believed he would be happily living in Mexico, and his wife would be incredibly happy in Mexico. [20:21] In spite of being well-paid, and being a good saver, Marc has always worried about money. Marc doesnât worry about money, anymore. He is about to make a significant investment in the Career Pivot website. He wouldnât have done that five years ago. [21:34] When negative things come in, like the three events Marc talked about, none of it bothers him anymore. He can make mistakes and move on. That is a huge shift for Marc. [22:01] Marc has built his world the way he wants it to be now, which is not how he was raised. They have gotten rid of pretty much everything they owned. Next year they plan to sell their car in the U.S. and go carless for a while. They make decisions based on their ideas, not on what society tells them to do. Marcâs roles are in mainly in the past. [22:54] The next edition of the book is meant to be more aspirational and get you to understand what is happening, what you need to do, and to get you to think and reflect. [23:09] Some people have asked Marc for generalized roadmaps to remake yourself. The answer is, he canât give them that because we are all so different. Marc has done about 400 Career Pivot evaluations and he can tell you that people are really different. Many people cannot separate themselves from the actors they became in their careers. [23:56] This is the second time Marc recorded this episode. The first time, he went into way too much detail. Marc hopes you will see some of yourself in this episode. [24:40] Marc hopes you enjoyed this episode. A solo episode requires a lot of editing! Show notes can be found at CareerPivot.com/episode-133 with links to the New York Times article and Cleoâs Dog Marketing Blog. In the near future, you will hear about others in the Career Pivot Online Membership Community. [25:10] The Career Pivot Membership Community website has become a valuable resource for about 50 members who are participating in the Beta phase of this project. Marc is recruiting new members for the next cohort. [25:21] If you are interested in the endeavor and would like to be put on the waiting list, please go to CareerPivot.com/Community. When you sign up youâll receive information about the community as it evolves. [25:34] Those who are in these initial cohorts set the direction. This is a paid membership community with group coaching and special content. More importantly, itâs a community where you can seek help. Please go to CareerPivot.com/Community to learn more. They are starting a group for bloggers, writers, authors, and publishers.[26:07] Marc invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn.com/in/mrmiller. Just include in the connection request that you listen to this podcast. You can look for Career Pivot on Facebook, LinkedIn, or @CareerPivot on Twitter. [26:24] Please come back next week, when Marc will read the next pre-release chapter from the next edition of Repurpose Your Career. This chapter is called âBuilding on Weak Ties.â [26:35] Marc thanks you for listening to the Repurpose Your Career podcast. [26:39] You will find the show notes for this episode at CareerPivot.com/episode-132. [26:48] Please hop over to CareerPivot.com and subscribe to get updates on this podcast and all the other happenings at Career Pivot. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, the Google Podcasts app, Podbean, the Overcast app, or the Spotify app. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Monday Tip Anagrams - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog
Monday Tip Anagrams - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I got an email from Mike Dytham, a project manager at Barclays, whos been doing anagrams for all the people in his department. The new names are interesting :o) Chris Benton = Robin Stench (a proud 2nd place!) Claire Rainbird = Cider Librarian (a creditable 3rd place) Dan Hartwright = Hard Thwarting James Knupfer = See Frank Jump Tom Coulbeck = Emu Boltcock (what a great name!) Matt Risk = Smart Kit (or even Mark Tits) Kate Baron = Anorak Bet or Oat Banker Dominic Gloag = Claiming Good, Coiling Dogma Anup Purohit = Pinup Author Harris Musau = Samurai Rush (he is one of my Kenyan team) The winner of best anagram goes to the name of their department, PMC operations, which shall henceforth be known as (pick your favourite) Campsite P0rno, impact snooper, promotes panic,? or tampon copiers. Mike also informed me that my new name is now Axe Fulljerk. Thanks, Mike! From now on, youre The Dimm Yak. What are some good anagrams for your name, your co-workers names or your departments name? Get a competition going and see what people come up with. Mike recommends http://wordsmith.org/anagram/advanced.html, if you want to get in on the game. The Chief Happiness Officers Monday tips are simple, easy, fun things you can do to make yourself and others happy at work and get the work-week off to a great start. Something everyone can do in five minutes, tops. When you try it, write a comment here to tell me how it went. Previous Monday tips. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related
Friday, May 8, 2020
5 Warning Signs you shouldnt accept a Job Offer IM HIRED
5 Warning Signs you shouldnt accept a Job Offer Dont just say yes to the job Dont just say yes to the job After a long job search, the relief of being offer a position can overshadow any concerns you have about the role or company. But before you pop open the champagne and celebrate, you really need to consider what youre saying yes to. These are 5 warning signs you should be looking out for when offered a position. They havent put it in writing Getting offered a new position is an exciting time and definitely deserves a celebration. But once youve had time to cheers with a glass of wine (or bottle) then its time to review your employment contract. Employers should be forth coming with your offer letter and contract and although you might have to wait a few days to receive everything in writing. You dont need to make any final decisions until you have seen it in black and white. If after a few days there is radio silence or every time you chase there is another excuse for the paperwork being delayed then dont give in and stand your ground. Inform them youll not be starting with their organisation or even be resigning from your previous job until you have everything in front of you. If the company is being funny about doing this and just wants to get you in, really consider whats the rush? Its never a good sign for a company to want to rush things through, this is a big decision so take your time. Theyre being vague with the job duties In any position its assumed that your job description will not include every little detail about the role. There will always be ad hoc responsibilities or occasions where you will have to support other functions. However, the warning signs should start to appear when the employer is attempting to widen the range of day to day duties after the interview. For example, if you applied for a sales role and certain tasks were discussed, then after offer theyre trying to add on managerial responsibilities, question how the job is expanding. If these additional functions are coupled with an increase in salary or benefits thats one thing but if they are trying to add without giving any more. Then you need to stay true to the original agreement. Dont be forced into a role that wasnt the position you applied for. The reviews arent good We all scroll the internet for hours to find that one terrible review when were holiday shopping. But we rarely do this same practise when researching the company were applying to. Hopefully, you did your research prior to the interview. But if not, make sure to double check any reviews before signing your contact. Whilst you shouldnt read too much into just one negative comment if there is a pattern of opinions then this can be a warning sign. Look out for reasons why previous employee left the company and if something is questionable. Then consider approaching the recruiter on the subject. If they get instantly defensive or refuse to discuss the topic this is a red flag. A good company will respond to their bad reviews and will want to investigate. And improve on any issues that are raised to them. There isnt develop opportunities available A fulfilling career will allow you the opportunity to progress. That doesnt always mean there has to be chance for promotion. However, the ability to learn through internal or external training is an essential benefit in any role. During the interview or at very least during the offer conversation you should be enquiring as to the prospect of training available. A company that doesnt offer any chance to grow within a role should ring alarm bells. They obviously dont see the benefit of bettering their employees . The environment isnt right Id always advise during an interview to ask for the chance to do a tour of the working environment. In an interview, similar to your approach, the employer is wanting to put their best foot forward. Whereas in a tour youll get a more relaxed and realistic insight into the company. Youll be able to explore the work space. How people are working, the noise levels and the types of employees currently working for the company. If you notice things such management shouting at employees, high pressure to meet targets or potentially employees who look as though theyd rather be elsewhere then see theses as signs. Make sure the environment fits with your requirements and you can see yourself working there.
Monday, April 20, 2020
Common Mistakes in Writing Resume
Common Mistakes in Writing ResumeIf you have been struggling to come up with a great resume that will help you land the job of your dreams, then you need to know about the most common mistakes in writing resume. If you want to have the best chance of landing the job that you are after, then it is important that you learn from these mistakes so that you can make a resume that will really impress your potential employer.The first mistake that many people make is that they choose to use several different resume formats. While it might seem like a good idea to use as many resume formats as possible, this could actually be doing more harm than good.The common mistake here is that many companies will view your resume as confusing if you use several different formats. For example, you might choose to have your resume in a spiral-bound notebook and to attach it to a letter or an email. However, if you are hoping to get a job at an accounting firm, then using a spiral-bound notebook is not go ing to impress them.Another common mistake that many people make is that they try to fit all their accomplishments into a single paragraph. In fact, if you are trying to impress the human resources person at your company, you should write a different paragraph for each of your accomplishments. If you do this, however, then you could end up alienating yourself from the company if you have a number of accomplishments that are all written in the same paragraph.The last common mistake that people make is that they don't list their education on their resume. You might have a BS in management, but if you don't list your bachelor's degree, then you aren't going to have the advantage that many companies are looking for. Furthermore, if you have a Bachelor's in business, then you should at least list your MBA or the MS in accounting.The last and most common mistake is that many people are unaware of their work history. In fact, your work history is one of the most important factors that will help a hiring manager to assess your potential for a job. Therefore, it is important that you be sure to list the complete details of your work history.These are just a few of the common mistakes that are made when trying to write a resume. There are many other mistakes that people make when trying to improve their resumes. The trick is to make sure that you are following a proven system so that you will be able to land the job that you want.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Resume 6-Second Test
Resume 6-Second Test Spread the loveDo you ever wonder whether hiring managers are reading your resume? On the surface, that might seem like an odd question, right? But if youâre one of those highly-qualified candidates who struggles to get interviews for job openings, then itâs only natural to wonder why youâre being overlooked. The fact is that decision-makers may not be reading your resume â" unless youâve managed to capture their interest within the first six seconds.Thatâs right: research suggests that most decision-makers spend an average of six seconds scanning a resume. And if you canât pass that resume 6-second test, you likely wonât receive an interview. In this post, weâll give you the tools you need to pass that test with flying colors.What is the 6 second test? Do recruiters really only look at your resume for 6 seconds?So, what is the 6 second test anyway? Basically, itâs a term that refers to one simple truth: your resume needs to quickly capture a hiring managerâs int erest. Studies suggest that most decision-makers only need about six seconds to make that decision. If your resume passes that resume 6-second test, they may read the entire thing. If not, the resume goes into the rejection pile.The test is simple, of course. Recruiters and hiring managers tend to initially skim resumes rather than read them in-depth. That skimming enables them to quickly determine whether youâre likely to be a good candidate for the job. As you might expect, this process relies on overall impression rather than careful analysis of the resume. In other words, the decision-maker is looking for a sense of whether youâre a good fit. The finer details often get sorted out later.But is it true that recruiters reject a resume is 6 seconds? Not always. Different recruiters and hiring managers may take different approaches to the process. The resume 6-second test is an important consideration, however. Being aware of it can help you to focus on creating a resume that is clear, concise, and compelling for the reader.What Can Decision-Makers Possibly Learn in 6 Seconds?You might wonder how a decision-maker can learn anything in 6 seconds? Well, the fact is that they can learn a lot. If your resume is well-ordered and clear, that hiring manager can check your basic qualifications in just a few seconds.A quick scan will show that you have the education, experience, and skills needed to perform the job as expected. Once you understand what a decision-maker is looking for in that scan, you can better ensure that your resume provides that information in a clear, concise way.Passing the 6-Second Resume TestThere are some specific things that you can do to improve your chances of passing the resume 6-second test. Below are some tips that can help you to capture that hiring mangerâs attention:Make it Easy to SkimYour resume needs to be scannable. That means that it needs to be able to pass the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) screeners and overcome the res ume 6-second test.Most companies today use an ATS to automatically screen resumes. These scanners reject nearly 75% of candidates and its often due to not having an ATS optimized resume.ATS Resume Test You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume ReviewUse keywords from the job description, and section headers that are easy-to-understand. The right headers will make it easier for decision-makers to find the information theyâre looking for.Formatting MattersForget those creative, graphics-heavy resume formats. The idea is to convey as much information as you can in the clearest way possible. Choose a resume format that is uncluttered, using black ink and simple fonts. Donât dress it up with graphics or anything that might detract from the information decision-makers need to see.Choose the Right ToneDonât fall into the trap of trying to get too creative with the language. You want to focus on clear, active sentences that con vey the value that you can bring to the organization. Donât get overly wordy or slip into a more conversational tone. Be simple, direct, and to the point.Focus on achievementsAchievements on your resume help to quantify your value as an employee. They demonstrate qualifications and show that youâre ready to contribute to the companyâs bottom line. Be sure to include easy-to-understand achievements in your resume.Use Bullet Points WiselyWhen you create bullet points, use them for the most relevant details. Always put the most important detail in the first bullet point of any section. Remember, the hiring manager is skimming the resume. That means that the first point may be the only one he or she reads.Use Quantifiable Data to Show ValueNumbers, numbers, numbers. Words are one thing, but numbers stand out on a resume and capture attention. For example, consider these descriptions:Led companyâs effort to cut costs and integrate technologies to streamline sales processes, which increased revenue.Versusâ¦Managed task force charged with applying advanced integrated technologies to streamline ABC Corpâs sales processes. Efforts cut costs by 12%, improved customer contact rate by 15%, and increased sales revenue by 21% in first quarter.The first example makes a claim, without any quantifiable data. The second not only claims value but backs it up using real numbers. Those numbers will be noticed when the hiring manager skims your resume. More importantly, they help to further the narrative that youâre a job candidate who brings real results!Keep it ConciseIt is impossible to overstate the importance of limiting your resumeâs length. Remember, the longer it is, the more difficult it will be to properly skim. Focus on concise descriptions and examples â" just enough to properly convey your experience and qualifications. Which leads us toâ¦Stick to Relevant FactsDonât include anything that may be considered irrelevant to the position. Focus on educati on, experience, skills, and achievements that are directly related to the job youâre trying to get. Irrelevant details will just add length to your resume and make it more difficult to skim.Put First Things FirstSince you only have six seconds to capture attention, make sure that the hiring manager sees the right information at the top. For example:Contact information. Include your name, location, phone, and email address at the top of the page. If you have educational credentials, it can often be useful to include them here as well. That is a quick and easy way to convey those qualifications right away.Include a skill summary early in the resume. With only six seconds to work with, itâs important to ensure that the skills on your resume are prominently placed for maximum effect.Include a cover letter. Customize it to fit the position, so that it doesnât look like a generic presentation. The fact that you took the time to create that cover letter will speak volumes about your desire for the job. Moreover, the cover letter provides an effective way to personalize your resume presentation. You can also use it describe your skills and job-related passion. We wrote a good post here on how to write a cover letter that makes you stand out.Pass the Resume 6-Second Test and Watch those Interviews Roll In! The good news is that passing the resume-6-second test gets you that much closer to the job you need. If you can make it past that initial screening scan, your resume will then be reviewed in greater detail. And if youâve done your job properly, that reading may lead to an interview, and a potential job offer. Of course, none of that will happen if your resume is rejected during that first skim. So, focus on capturing the right kind of attention right away, and you improve your odds of landing the interviews and job you deserve. Resume 6-Second Test Spread the loveDo you ever wonder whether hiring managers are reading your resume? On the surface, that might seem like an odd question, right? But if youâre one of those highly-qualified candidates who struggles to get interviews for job openings, then itâs only natural to wonder why youâre being overlooked. The fact is that decision-makers may not be reading your resume â" unless youâve managed to capture their interest within the first six seconds.Thatâs right: research suggests that most decision-makers spend an average of six seconds scanning a resume. And if you canât pass that resume 6-second test, you likely wonât receive an interview. In this post, weâll give you the tools you need to pass that test with flying colors.What is the 6 second test? Do recruiters really only look at your resume for 6 seconds?So, what is the 6 second test anyway? Basically, itâs a term that refers to one simple truth: your resume needs to quickly capture a hiring managerâs int erest. Studies suggest that most decision-makers only need about six seconds to make that decision. If your resume passes that resume 6-second test, they may read the entire thing. If not, the resume goes into the rejection pile.The test is simple, of course. Recruiters and hiring managers tend to initially skim resumes rather than read them in-depth. That skimming enables them to quickly determine whether youâre likely to be a good candidate for the job. As you might expect, this process relies on overall impression rather than careful analysis of the resume. In other words, the decision-maker is looking for a sense of whether youâre a good fit. The finer details often get sorted out later.But is it true that recruiters reject a resume is 6 seconds? Not always. Different recruiters and hiring managers may take different approaches to the process. The resume 6-second test is an important consideration, however. Being aware of it can help you to focus on creating a resume that is clear, concise, and compelling for the reader.What Can Decision-Makers Possibly Learn in 6 Seconds?You might wonder how a decision-maker can learn anything in 6 seconds? Well, the fact is that they can learn a lot. If your resume is well-ordered and clear, that hiring manager can check your basic qualifications in just a few seconds.A quick scan will show that you have the education, experience, and skills needed to perform the job as expected. Once you understand what a decision-maker is looking for in that scan, you can better ensure that your resume provides that information in a clear, concise way.Passing the 6-Second Resume TestThere are some specific things that you can do to improve your chances of passing the resume 6-second test. Below are some tips that can help you to capture that hiring mangerâs attention:Make it Easy to SkimYour resume needs to be scannable. That means that it needs to be able to pass the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) screeners and overcome the res ume 6-second test.Most companies today use an ATS to automatically screen resumes. These scanners reject nearly 75% of candidates and its often due to not having an ATS optimized resume.ATS Resume Test You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume ReviewUse keywords from the job description, and section headers that are easy-to-understand. The right headers will make it easier for decision-makers to find the information theyâre looking for.Formatting MattersForget those creative, graphics-heavy resume formats. The idea is to convey as much information as you can in the clearest way possible. Choose a resume format that is uncluttered, using black ink and simple fonts. Donât dress it up with graphics or anything that might detract from the information decision-makers need to see.Choose the Right ToneDonât fall into the trap of trying to get too creative with the language. You want to focus on clear, active sentences that con vey the value that you can bring to the organization. Donât get overly wordy or slip into a more conversational tone. Be simple, direct, and to the point.Focus on achievementsAchievements on your resume help to quantify your value as an employee. They demonstrate qualifications and show that youâre ready to contribute to the companyâs bottom line. Be sure to include easy-to-understand achievements in your resume.Use Bullet Points WiselyWhen you create bullet points, use them for the most relevant details. Always put the most important detail in the first bullet point of any section. Remember, the hiring manager is skimming the resume. That means that the first point may be the only one he or she reads.Use Quantifiable Data to Show ValueNumbers, numbers, numbers. Words are one thing, but numbers stand out on a resume and capture attention. For example, consider these descriptions:Led companyâs effort to cut costs and integrate technologies to streamline sales processes, which increased revenue.Versusâ¦Managed task force charged with applying advanced integrated technologies to streamline ABC Corpâs sales processes. Efforts cut costs by 12%, improved customer contact rate by 15%, and increased sales revenue by 21% in first quarter.The first example makes a claim, without any quantifiable data. The second not only claims value but backs it up using real numbers. Those numbers will be noticed when the hiring manager skims your resume. More importantly, they help to further the narrative that youâre a job candidate who brings real results!Keep it ConciseIt is impossible to overstate the importance of limiting your resumeâs length. Remember, the longer it is, the more difficult it will be to properly skim. Focus on concise descriptions and examples â" just enough to properly convey your experience and qualifications. Which leads us toâ¦Stick to Relevant FactsDonât include anything that may be considered irrelevant to the position. Focus on educati on, experience, skills, and achievements that are directly related to the job youâre trying to get. Irrelevant details will just add length to your resume and make it more difficult to skim.Put First Things FirstSince you only have six seconds to capture attention, make sure that the hiring manager sees the right information at the top. For example:Contact information. Include your name, location, phone, and email address at the top of the page. If you have educational credentials, it can often be useful to include them here as well. That is a quick and easy way to convey those qualifications right away.Include a skill summary early in the resume. With only six seconds to work with, itâs important to ensure that the skills on your resume are prominently placed for maximum effect.Include a cover letter. Customize it to fit the position, so that it doesnât look like a generic presentation. The fact that you took the time to create that cover letter will speak volumes about your desire for the job. Moreover, the cover letter provides an effective way to personalize your resume presentation. You can also use it describe your skills and job-related passion. We wrote a good post here on how to write a cover letter that makes you stand out.Pass the Resume 6-Second Test and Watch those Interviews Roll In! The good news is that passing the resume-6-second test gets you that much closer to the job you need. If you can make it past that initial screening scan, your resume will then be reviewed in greater detail. And if youâve done your job properly, that reading may lead to an interview, and a potential job offer. Of course, none of that will happen if your resume is rejected during that first skim. So, focus on capturing the right kind of attention right away, and you improve your odds of landing the interviews and job you deserve.
Friday, April 10, 2020
It seems to be an awkward question
It seems to be an awkward question if it's referring to a workplace, but employees can learn to be resilient (in the workplace). They can think about their three years in the university, of how they didn't give up after missing a deadline for their assignment. It could also be a lack of preparation for an examination. (They were left on their own, which would teach them about independent study. It could turn them into experts in time management or someone who master the art of procrastination.) It would be a natural reaction after months of studying, writing, and reading. And this won't be in that particular order. But this would be as far as they could go. They need to know more. Resilience doesn't mean watching too many football matches. There's also no need to familiarize with the other team sports, of how athletes behave toward each other. And above all, it's not an attempt to live a pauper's existence. Although budget constraints can teach you some valuable lessons on resilience, this is not the thing that can be applied in the workplace. Let's make it clear. Here are some things to keep in mind: Resilience has something to do with stress. If you're a newly-hired employee, no one will tell you about it. (If you're a charismatic figure with a friendly attitude, then one of your colleagues will give you that important piece of advice during your first week. But this is another matter.) Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and maybe months turn into years. Depending on your level of energy and enthusiasm, you'll figure out that the routine can pose challenges. How to make it feel like your first month? Your interests will give you that much-needed distractions, which will keep your mind off work. You need to talk about it. And you must have the right attitude. But let's proceed to the next one. You don't need to be the hero of your own story. Resilience doesn't mean tolerating working conditions that won't make you perform to the level that is expected of you. Unless you're a huge fan of soap operas, make a distinction. Your colleagues may turn out to be your extended family. They also have feelings, and they can relate to what you've been through. You can talk about it, in a lighthearted manner, during breaks. It will be better if you can invite them to an informal gathering on a Friday night or the weekend. A group activity will be ideal; bowling can be a good option. Watching a football game (and cheering for your favorite team) is another one. The possibilities are endless. Don't forget to exercise. The monotony in the workplace can have bad effects on your health in the long run. Resilience may not be enough. Find the time to exercise before reporting to work. Otherwise, invite your colleagues for a stroll (or run). Bicycling isn't bad either. Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies. Reading a book is on the top of the list, but you might consider an interest that involves socialization and more physical activity. Taking part in a campaign seems perfect, and helping a good cause can be a bonus. Do you have other suggestions? Drop us a line.
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