job & interview

What's the Best Résumé Format for You?

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What's the Best Résumé Format for You?</h1>
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Rethink your résumé. Here are four layouts and who should use them.</h2>
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The best résumé format for you depends on your work history and career goals.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">Not all résumés are created equal – and they shouldn’t be. There are different formats out there that are accepted by recruiters. Consider your professional history carefully before deciding which one to use. Use the guide below to decide if you are using the right</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/11/25/try-these-resume-formats-when-job-searching" style="color: #005ea6; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/11/25/try-these-resume-formats-when-job-searching">type of résumé</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">for your background and career goals.</span></div>
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<b>Chronological Format. </b>The traditional chronological résumé presents employment history from the perspective of time. This is the format to use if you have a consistent employment history without gaps, and you are trying to land a job similar to the one you have now. You can’t go wrong with a chronological résumé, since it’s the most common and widely accepted.</div>
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If you have a short period when you were a stay-at-home parent or went to graduate school, you should include that in the résumé rather than leaving a gap. Holes mean questions, and if the questions aren’t answered on the paper, it’s unlikely the recruiter will take the time to call you for an interview to find out why you weren’t working during a certain period. If you held many jobs for a short period and are worried about perceptions, you might consider including a brief and diplomatic explanation for why you left each company.</div>
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<b>Functional Format. </b>If you have a minimal work history, <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/05/17/how-to-handle-an-employment-gap" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">gaps in employment</a> or have frequently jumped around to different jobs types, this might be the right layout for you. It also works well for career changers. The functional format is set up to demonstrate your skills through your accomplishments. For example, if you’ve employed customer service skills at several jobs, you can use this as one of your skill headlines. Below the headline, include bullets that point to your key achievements related to that skill. It’s important to not use cliche phrases in your bullets, because your intention should be to <i>show</i> how you’ve exhibited the skill rather than tell.</div>
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You should also include a professional or work experience section, in which you list your place of employment, job title, location and dates. However, bullets with your achievements will fall under each skill headline at the top rather than below each job.</div>
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<b>Combined Format. </b>The combined format can be useful for those who are switching careers, especially those in more senior positions or with longer <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/18/5-red-flags-in-your-job-history--and-how-to-combat-them" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/18/5-red-flags-in-your-job-history--and-how-to-combat-them">career histories</a>. As the name suggests, it is a blend of the functional and chronological résumé. This format allows you to translate your skills to the language of the new job or career field. You want to focus the recruiter’s attention on your skills relevant to the job at hand.</div>
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Below the skills and accomplishments, as with the functional résumé, you should include a professional experience portion where you list basic information for current and prior jobs. With this format, you can also include bullets below each position that reflect achievements that didn’t fit in to a specific skill category above. Even if you are a senior executive, you should still avoid including every single piece of information. Only use the most pertinent facts to keep it concise and readable.</div>
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<b>Visual Résumés.</b> <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/20/how-to-use-visual-marketing-techniques-in-your-job-search" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">Nontraditional résumés</a> have become popular recently. These types of résumés use graphics and other media to present information about the job applicant. While this is a way to stand out from the candidate crowd, many companies still want to see a traditional résumé. A story résumé might make sense for a person in a creative field, such as advertising, social media or communications – but probably not for an attorney. It’s worth researching a company’s culture before you send your résumé,  and it’s always a good idea to include a traditional version.</div>
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No matter which format you choose, make sure you include your name and how to get in contact with you. Education is another must. Other information, such as professional affiliations, volunteer work, languages and technical skills should be included if they are appropriate for the job you’re applying to. That information can also be helpful if you need to fill out your résumé more, like if you are an entry-level candidate.</div>
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In all cases, you should think about including a brief career summary at the top. This should be restricted to a few lines that tell the recruiter you fulfill the required (and possibly preferred) qualifications. The way to do this is to write how you meet the most essential credentials, which are usually listed first in a <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">job description</a>.</div>
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Choosing the right format is important, because your résumé is your chance to get your foot in the door. The traditional format might be hurting rather than helping you. If the person reading it cannot understand why you are applying to a job in the retail industry after spending 10 years in accounting, she is not going to take the time to reach out to you to find out why. Make sure it’s clear in your résumé why you are a good fit, which may require highlighting your skills up front instead of burying accomplishments under each job. </div>
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<b>Marcelle Yeager</b> is the president of <a class="" href="http://www.careervalet.com/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.careervalet.com/">Career Valet</a>, which delivers personalized career navigation services. Her goal is to enable people to recognize skills and job possibilities they didn’t know they had to make a career change or progress in their current career. She worked for more than 10 years as a strategic communications consultant, including four years overseas. Marcelle holds an MBA from the University of Maryland.</div>
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What's the Best Résumé Format for You?

What's the Best Résumé Format for You? Rethink your résumé. Here are four layouts and who should use them. The best résumé format ...

Whitney Port on the Realities of Building Your Professional Brand

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Whitney Port on the Realities of Building Your Professional Brand</h1>
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The former reality TV star discusses her transition to fashion entrepreneur.</h2>
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Whitney Port attends Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">In today’s fast-paced consumer culture, we are surrounded by brands trying to get our attention. Most of us are able to weed out the clutter and focus on the few we feel are worth it. Like it or not, you too are a brand. But do you ever stop to think about how</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/04/30/7-key-elements-of-a-great-personal-branding-statement" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/04/30/7-key-elements-of-a-great-personal-branding-statement">your professional brand</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">is being examined and therefore the impact it can make on your career?</span></div>
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Whitney Port, former reality TV star whose current titles include CEO, entrepreneur and fashion designer, was recently honored at the LinkedIn Discussion Series in New York City. She shared a variety of powerful tips for creating, growing and maintaining your professional brand.</div>
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Port transitioned from a fan favorite on MTV’s reality series “The Hills” to her own show, “The City,” where she learned from industry icons like Diane von Furstenberg. Now CEO and designer of her eponymous fashion line, Port is a master professional brand builder. Using her own experiences in defying misconceptions, overcoming <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/27/4-mistakes-of-career-experts-and-what-you-can-learn-from-them" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/27/4-mistakes-of-career-experts-and-what-you-can-learn-from-them">unforeseen challenges</a> and being unwilling to accept “no,” Port offered an inspiring view into the strategies we can all use to create our professional brand:</div>
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<b>Be real:</b> You may be surprised to learn that when Port signed on to intern at Teen Vogue, she didn’t know or expect she’d be staring on MTV’s hit reality TV show “The Hills.” What you saw then is who Port is now. While there is definitely some strategy involved in establishing your professional brand, and certainly the goal is to bring the best of you forward, the critical part of the equation is in fact<i> you</i>. If your brand is based upon someone you aren’t, it’s simply too exhausting to maintain. The facade is going to break down in the face of obstacles.<i></i></div>
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Port parlayed her relatable characteristics that viewers saw on TV – being a good friend, deeply committed to family and a fearless fashion risk taker – into the launch of her clothing line Whitney Eve, which debuted in 2008. With the goal of establishing credibility among fashion industry insiders and consumers alike, Port understands the importance of keeping her brand consistent online. When asked how she leverages her online presence to build her brand, she offers the key to authentic brand-building: “I try to reveal as much as possible on a daily basis to give an inside and honest look on what is going on with my brand.”</div>
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Port hits on another reason why it’s critical to be authentic when establishing a professional brand identity: It has to hold up across multiple platforms. The biggest mistake we can make is to be one brand in-person and another online. In today’s economy, the first place potential customers, clients and hiring mangers look for more information about you is online. And the only thing worse than giving an inconsistent message about who you are is giving no message at all.</div>
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Port’s presence on LinkedIn is a great example of how to leverage your LinkedIn profile to reflect your professional brand and identity. But you don’t need to have a history in Hollywood to do this. Like Port,<a href="http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/07/01/creating-a-killer-linkedin-profile-tips-from-link-humans/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Link: http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/07/01/creating-a-killer-linkedin-profile-tips-from-link-humans/">show off</a> examples of your work, share your industry-leading opinions and build a network of professional peers and fans. By maximizing the opportunities to illustrate your professional brand on your LinkedIn profile, you increase the chances of getting noticed by potential clients, colleagues and employers.</div>
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<b>Prepare to pivot: </b>You’d think with the cache of being a TV personality, it would have been easy for Port to transition into the world of fashion, but that wasn’t the case. “It was definitely a difficult transition becoming a full-time designer and having everyone take me seriously,” she says. Port’s experience is not unlike what the rest of us are likely to experience in the case of a career pivot. It can be difficult for people, colleagues, industry peers and even family to see us in a new light. Expect some pushback. This is where a solid professional brand is essential in terms of standing your ground and outlasting the protest.</div>
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Port puts it this way: “Do not take 'no' for an answer. You will be faced with a million noes when starting out, but it’s important to stay focused on your goal and not let those noes deter you. It is then the sweet smell of success after those noes that makes it all worthwhile. I get a series of noes and yeses every day of my life. It is an inevitable part of life. Don't come into this [or any] industry thinking you will be an overnight success. There is just too much competition.”</div>
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<b>Decide on your “why”:</b> Getting past the naysayers wasn’t the hardest thing Port had to contend with in her career, and in all likelihood it won’t be yours, either. More often than not, it’s the personal stuff that becomes our <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/06/21/7-ways-to-motivate-yourself" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/06/21/7-ways-to-motivate-yourself">professional motivation</a>.</div>
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It’s sometimes called the "fetal" or "black hole," but whatever word you use, it’s a point at which you don’t know if you're able to go on. It requires, as Port explains it, the decision to show up. When asked about her proudest professional accomplishment, she shared: “Honestly, this is hard, but it’s the decision I’ve made to still show up.”</div>
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Port’s father passed away in March of  2013, a few years after helping her launch Whitney Eve. “He was my business partner, my fearless leader and the man I turned to for every question I had. I am proud of myself for simply showing up after his passing. Every day I walk into my office and feel his energy there. Sometimes it’s so physically and emotionally handicapping that I don't know if I can continue doing it. But we [she and her siblings] did it, and we have shown up.”</div>
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Port has leveraged her personal loss and grief into motivation to succeed not just for herself, but for her family. The vast majority of successful people have something more than the mortgage, a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes or their personal ego at the core of their drive to achieve. Whatever your “why” is, the more powerfully you understand, define, <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/11/07/what-is-personal-branding-anyway" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">build a brand</a> around and harness it, the more likely you are to live out your dreams.</div>
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What are your experiences in building your professional brand? To learn more about Port’s career insights and professional lessons learned, search for her on LinkedIn and and on follow her.</div>
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Whitney Port on the Realities of Building Your Professional Brand

Whitney Port on the Realities of Building Your Professional Brand The former reality TV star discusses her transition to fashion entrepr...

How To Win The Job

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<a href="http://www.interviewbest.com/?p=5177" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51) !important; line-height: 50px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Interview Tips From The Expert – How To Win The Job By “Figuring Out the Problem”</a></h2>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Figure out the problem, be the solution, get hired</strong><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Organizations hire people to solve problems. The problem can vary from, we need another set of hands to get our trucks unloaded on time to our stock price has declined and we need someone to take this corporation in a new direction. When interviewing, thinking about solving a company’s problem provides a perspective that helps focus your interview preparation and guides your presentation in the interview.</div>
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The initial step in preparing for the interview is defining the problem. Typically, job descriptions do not specifically say “here is the problem, the problem is we need someone who can sell more of our product in a difficult market” or, “we need someone who can manage this new project and bring it in on time and on budget” or “we need someone to help the emergency department process medical records accurately”. Job descriptions talk about what the person needs to know or do to fix the problem but does not specify the problem directly. Interview preparation, and the initial part of an interview, should be dedicated to defining the problem in as much detail as possible. Once you have defined the problem, you can clearly state how your skills and experience makes you the best solution for the problem.</div>
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Pre-interview defining the problem is a matter of researching the company, the industry and the position. Also, use the screening interview to ask powerful questions that will define the problem. An example of a good problem-defining question is, “what are the three or four priorities for the person in this position in the next six months? Learning the priorities will inform you of what the “hiring problem” is. In the interview, spend the initial part of the interview listening to the hiring manager talk about the position and his or her needs and think, “what is the problem that needs solving?”</div>
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Once you have the problem clearly defined, follow a two-step process. First, clearly state the experience, skills, background and education that demonstrates you can do the tasks required to fix the problem. Second, provide an action plan of how you will fix the problem. What will you do in the first 30 days on the job what will you do in the first 60 days? Your action plan items can be as simple as learning company policy and procedures so you can get along in the company or as complex as an initiating an analysis of current sales strategies and market trends. An action plan communicates to the hiring manager a high level of motivation and a proactive orientation. It says, “I am going to hit the ground running and contribute to the success of this organization right away. I have good ideas and I am eager to get started”.</div>
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What hiring manager wouldn’t love to hear a candidate talk about how they are the solution to their problem and how they are going to solve it?</div>
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<a href="http://www.interviewbest.com/?p=5177" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How To Win The Job

Interview Tips From The Expert – How To Win The Job By “Figuring Out the Problem” Figure out the problem, be the solution, get hired ...

The 5 Elements of a Compelling Job Recommendation

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The 5 Elements of a Compelling Job Recommendation</h1>
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A 360-degree view of what goes into a good, effective job recommendation.</h2>
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<span class="item drawer_paddingTop" style="display: block; float: left; padding-top: 8px;"><img alt="A man double checking some data. " src="http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/80718b4/2147483647/resize/652x%3E/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2F60%2F6b%2F26f8c8ff4947abf6568c1f9a9e1d%2F140911-checkingthenumbers-stock.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">A simple Google search for “consumer reviews of” yields millions of hits.</span></span></div>
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In this social age, we have all become reviewers. Both professional critics and everyone else can offer an opinion and give a rating for just about any product or service.</div>
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Popular examples include: Rotten Tomatoes for movies; Yelp, OpenTable and Chowhound for dining; and CNET, PCMag and Macworld for electronics and <a href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs">technology</a>.</div>
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If you take the time to read the reviews, you can discern a bit about what’s being reviewed and the individual who’s commenting. A balanced, thoughtful review of a dining experience can whet your palate, while a review that simply says “great food” doesn’t reveal much about the communications skills of the reviewer or present a compelling reason to make a dinner reservation.</div>
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When you stop and think, employment reference checks for job seekers are simply reviews. The employer (buyer) wants to know what others (reviewers) have to say about the product/service (candidate).</div>
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In the old days the standard procedure was to write “References available upon request” at the bottom of your résumé. And even if a hiring manager requested the references early in the process, chances were good he or she wouldn’t waste time checking until he or she was pretty certain a given candidate was about to get an offer. It is only a part of we-gotta-do-this-before-we-hire due diligence.</div>
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Wise job seekers don’t want to burn through the goodwill of people who are willing to recommend them by offering them up to numerous calls from multiple employers. Yet, hiding them until the end of the process blunts the positive effect that the validation of your worth from others can bring to bear.</div>
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Today, you can post a reference for anyone with whom you’re connected on LinkedIn, and it’s searchable. It’s easy for a recruiter or employer to see what people have to say about you, and what you have to say about others. When viewed at the beginning of the process, <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/05/31/mastering-the-art-of-giving-a-job-reference" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/05/31/mastering-the-art-of-giving-a-job-reference">a positive reference</a> for your knowledge, skills, attitude and successes can bring an employer to you.</div>
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When you take the time to proactively recommend someone on LinkedIn, you accomplish multiple things: First, you demonstrate a relationship to the individual and what you have done as well, thereby fleshing out information that might be found in different form on your résumé or LinkedIn profile. Second, you demonstrate that you go out of your way to be a team player and praise quality co-workers. Most importantly, you rekindle/build your relationships with your network.</div>
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Conversely, when you <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/26/how-to-get-your-references-in-tiptop-shape" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/26/how-to-get-your-references-in-tiptop-shape">ask others for a reference</a>, it is important to help them understand what they might say that would be of value to you. For example, you might say: “Joe, I’d really appreciate if you could write a reference for me about our time together eight years ago at such-and-such company. You told me at the time you were quite pleased with how I did XXX, and how it turned out. If you could speak about what it took for me to get those results it would be great!”</div>
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Whether you’re asking someone to vouch for you, or are putting yourself out there for them, be sure to include these five elements:</div>
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<b>1.</b> <b>Context of your relationship. </b>How long have you known each other? At which company? What were your respective roles? Does the relationship extend beyond the workplace?</div>
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<b>Sample: </b>“XX and I first met at ABC Corp eight years ago when I hired her to make great widgets as part of our production process. She has directly reported to me throughout her employment here.”</div>
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<b>2.</b> <b>Technical competence.</b> What are <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/08/21/5-sales-skills-everyone-needs-in-the-workplace" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/08/21/5-sales-skills-everyone-needs-in-the-workplace">the skills required</a> and technical aspects of the role, and how well were they mastered?</div>
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<b>Sample: "</b>Widget-making is a complex process, requiring knowledge of AAA software, and the tightly defined procedures that are required in our highly regulated industry. XX’s mastery of these aspects of the job is exemplary, and she willingly mentors others to bring them up to speed as well."</div>
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<b>3.</b> <b>Communications skills. </b>This can cover a wide swath: ability to understand what is asked, persuade/sell a viewpoint in a team or to a customer, document and compile written reports and much more.</div>
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<b>Sample:</b> “XX is a great communicator. She has made numerous presentations to our group, and when dealing with senior management she always brings at least one or two possible solutions to their attention when presenting a problem. She gets the attention and respect of everyone who hears her.”</div>
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<b>4. </b><b>Timeliness and accuracy. </b>No one wants to hire someone who doesn’t show up on time, get work done on time or who makes errors that can cost time or money to remedy.</div>
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<b>Sample: </b>“XX is the consummate professional. She consistently meets or beats demanding deadlines. There have been numerous times when she put in extra hours at the beginning or the end of the day to make certain that her job is done, done right and done under budget.”</div>
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<b>5. </b><b>Greatest strength. </b>It’s a good idea to <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/25/unsung-hero-or-mvp-what-workplace-superlative-best-describes-you" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/25/unsung-hero-or-mvp-what-workplace-superlative-best-describes-you">figure out what one is good at</a> and what one is good at that will be most valued by a prospective employer.</div>
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<b>Sample:</b> “XX relishes working in a field that is constantly changing. She loves the opportunity to continually learn new software and add to her skill set, and continually looks for ways to get X done with lower cost and greater efficiencies.”</div>
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When taken together, these parts of a reference are sure to make a positive impression on a perspective employer.</div>
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Happy hunting!</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/15/the-5-elements-of-a-compelling-job-recommendation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

The 5 Elements of a Compelling Job Recommendation

The 5 Elements of a Compelling Job Recommendation A 360-degree view of what goes into a good, effective job recommendation. A simple ...

Summertime, and the Job Searching Is Easy – Not.

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Summertime, and the Job Searching Is Easy – Not.</h1>
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This isn't the season to slack off on your job hunt. </h2>
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Some think of the summer as a slow hiring season, but don't use vacation plans as an excuse to go easy on your search.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">“This is</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-10-worst-times-to-switch-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-10-worst-times-to-switch-jobs">a good time to lose my job</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">,” an acquaintance proclaimed recently. “Now I can take a long-deserved vacation. I’m going to the beach for the holiday, and then we are going to spend a good chunk of my severance package on that trip to London I’ve always wanted.”</span></div>
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Interwoven into the conversation she offered other justifications for putting off a job search:</div>
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“I’m just too overwhelmed to begin a job search now.”</div>
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“Nobody hires during the summer.”</div>
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“I don’t have <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-resumes" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-resumes">a résumé</a>, and I don’t know where to begin to put one together.”</div>
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To be sure, she may feel incapable emotionally of starting a search now. The beach and London certainly are places to escape the realities of the moment. But still, summertime is excellent for starting a job search: figuring out the next logical step in one’s professional life, researching opportunities and putting together a plan to guide the whole searching process.</div>
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While people often feel like summer is a slow hiring season, it is also a major time for families to relocate so that they will be set for the new school year.</div>
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Moreover, we are witnessing a major resurgence in hiring, with the U.S. unemployment diving to the lowest rate since the Great Recession.</div>
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The Labor Department reports that the economy added <a class="" href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/07/03/us-employers-add-288-000-jobs-in-june" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/07/03/us-employers-add-288-000-jobs-in-june">288,000 jobs in June</a>, for a total of more than a million new jobs in 2014 thus far. Information technology is red hot, but employers report having difficulty filling IT job vacancies, according to a recent Robert Half International survey.</div>
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This is arguably the best season for job hunters in years, and it's no time to sit on the job-hunting sidelines. Whether you're recently unemployed, stymied in your current job or have opted out of the job market out of frustration, now is the time ramp up your search.</div>
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Here are six tips to guide your process:</div>
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<b>1. Get going</b>. Numerous studies show that the longer you're out of work the harder it is <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/01/29/how-you-can-find-a-hidden-job" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/01/29/how-you-can-find-a-hidden-job">to find work</a>. Your chances are best within the first six months of unemployment. While the weather is warm and you might want to just chill for the summer, doing so wastes precious job-hunting time. Putting your job hunt on hold is likely to make it more difficult to find success later.</div>
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<b>2. </b><b>Think marathon, not sprint. </b>One common mistake people have at the beginning of a job hunt is identifying a job or two that seems ideal and hurrying to apply without adequate preparation. Of course, some people may be lucky in landing that first opportunity, but most won’t. Gear up for a multi-month process.</div>
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Just as a successful runner practices continuously, stretches and wears the correct shoes and clothing, so too must the job hunter. It takes carefully practicing your message, stretching the reach of your network and presenting yourself appropriately.</div>
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<b>3. </b><b>Perfect your tactics.</b> A success-based résumé, LinkedIn profile, branding statement and elevator pitch are all crucial and tactical elements of a job hunt. So too are social media and in-person networking. It is worth investing your time and effort to sharpen your message and skills with all these arrows that should be in your job-hunting quiver.</div>
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<b>4. </b><b>Don’t confuse tactics with strategy. </b>If you only operate at a tactical level, you will likely waste a great deal of time and overlook valuable opportunities. You can kill endless time when you loose yourself online, even at valuable websites like LinkedIn.</div>
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It is critically important to develop a strategy of how to integrate your tactics into an overall plan that you will find workable. There is no one right strategy or methodology. Think about how to invest your time, what professional networking opportunities are available, other individual constraints with which you contend and how to leverage and sequence the use of all the tools in your quiver in conjunction with each other to create an effective strategy.</div>
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<b>5.</b> <b>Volunteering is a job, albeit without a paycheck. </b>This is a perfect time <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/06/volunteering-that-extra-boost-needed-to-propel-your-career" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/06/volunteering-that-extra-boost-needed-to-propel-your-career">to volunteer</a> for a community organization, a nonprofit or a cause in which you believe. It's a way that many people can utilize their skills and keep them fresh, plus add new skills.</div>
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When you devote a significant amount of time to volunteer work, it's totally appropriate to list it as an unpaid job on your résumé. And, it is often the case that when these organizations have a job to fill they will first look to those who have shown a devotion to their cause.</div>
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<b>6. </b><b>Always keep your antenna up for networking opportunities. </b>Even if you are at a summertime party with friends, take time to get to know people you haven’t met before. Explore things and people you may have in common, take pains to learn how you can help others, and you may be amazed to see new possibilities for valuable contacts develop spontaneously.</div>
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When you take advantage of this season, you may find yourself humming that wonderful Gershwin melody, “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess, and be filled with the hope of its lyrics:</div>
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“One of these mornings<br />You're going to rise up singing<br />Then you'll spread your wings<br />And you'll take to the sky”</div>
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Happy hunting!</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/08/summertime-and-the-job-searching-is-easy-not" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Summertime, and the Job Searching Is Easy – Not.

Summertime, and the Job Searching Is Easy – Not. This isn't the season to slack off on your job hunt. Some think of the summer as...

How to Use Visual Marketing Techniques in Your Job Search

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How to Use Visual Marketing Techniques in Your Job Search</h1>
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These simple tips will help your stand out among other candidates.</h2>
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Catch the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers by embedding visuals in your LinkedIn profile and sharing documents via SlideShare.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Recruiters rely heavily on Internet search to source candidates, and they're using social networks as a sourcing platform as well. Using marketing tactics for your</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings">job search</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">may not be as far-fetched as you think. You probably already realize that it's vital to establish an online presence to aid your search. Plus, some research shows that 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and visuals are processed 60,000 times faster in the brain than text. Visual marketing is a hot trend this year, so doesn’t it make sense to update your career portfolio to include visuals?</span></div>
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If you are seeking a job in a creative field, such as design, marketing or advertising, using visuals is an obvious way to prove your creativity. But even smaller companies and startups tend to look for standout candidates who can demonstrate multifaceted skills and entrepreneurial spirit. If you aren’t using out-of-the-box thinking as part of your job search, you probably should be.</div>
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With so many tools available today to show what you can do, isn’t it worth at least trying to incorporate unconventional techniques and visuals into your job search? These are some ideas to help spark your creativity: </div>
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<b>Leverage LinkedIn as a Portfolio</b></div>
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Uploading the traditional text version of <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-resumes" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-resumes">your résumé</a> to LinkedIn is a no-brainer. But don’t stop there. What other documents can you embed? Think about including samples of your work. Did you create a flow chart or process? Did you write a summary report or technical instructions? Did you design a form, logo or website? Any of these would provide evidence that you know how to do your job and offer proof of your abilities. You could also take a screen shot, video or link to your Behance portfolio.</div>
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Before you upload anything to your LinkedIn profile, be sure you think about the confidentiality of the information you are about to share. You may be able to remove identifying information or data. Or you could recreate a generic version of the documentation.</div>
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You can embed your document within the summary or work experience section of your profile. Just look for the blue paperclip.</div>
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Another alternative to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/01/10-ways-to-boost-your-linkedin-presence-to-that-next-level-of-awesome" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/01/10-ways-to-boost-your-linkedin-presence-to-that-next-level-of-awesome">amp up your profile</a> is to use LinkedIn’s publisher function, also known as a long post. It is essentially a blog post. By now, most LinkedIn users should have access to this. The long post is the perfect opportunity for you to answer the question, “Why should I hire you?” Here are questions you could use to write your long post:</div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">What do you do? (job title or occupation)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">Why are you qualified to do this job? (certifications, previous experience and such)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">What industry experience do you have? (paid or unpaid)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">What types of problems are you great at solving?</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">Who benefits from your work? (Who are your internal or external customers?)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">What makes you one-in-a-million? (How do you do what you do differently?)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">What inspires and motivates you?</li>
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Your published long post will appear immediately under the contact section of your profile, which is very visible to anyone viewing your profile. And be sure you use a visual in your long post to call attention to your content.</div>
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<b>Slip Your Documents into SlideShare</b></div>
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SlideShare is a free service that let’s you upload and share files via the Web. It is also a social network, which allows you to follow other users, comment on uploaded content and share across other <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/16/how-to-use-social-media-to-land-a-job" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/16/how-to-use-social-media-to-land-a-job">social networks</a>.</div>
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The main benefit for you is that it makes your files public and searchable on the Internet. What documents might you create and upload? How about the emails from customers, colleagues or managers that offer praise or recognition? Currently, you are the only one who has seen these words of praise. It is up to you to make the positive feedback public. Remember: This is your reputation.</div>
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Compile the testimonials in a PowerPoint presentation, or if you prefer, through Prezi or Keynote. If you don’t have permission to use the testimonial, you can leave off the last name or identifying information. Add visual elements to your presentation, such as logos or pictures. Review, finesse and get feedback from those you trust and respect. Once you’re satisfied with the results, create a free Slideshare account and upload your presentation. Be sure you title your uploaded document with your name, completely fill out the description section and tag the file with appropriate terms someone searching for your qualifications would use.</div>
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Testimonials are just one idea. You can upload an <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/05/02/the-411-on-infographic-rsums" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">infographic résumé</a>, flow chart, report or any other document you feel is worthy of public recognition. As an added bonus, SlideShare users will receive an email that includes the number of people who have viewed your uploaded presentations. Use this information to evaluate if you have used the correct keywords. You can always update your file’s description or tags to help improve the results. Most importantly, don’t forget to share your SlideShare documents as status updates on LinkedIn or other social networks so your network can check them out. </div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/20/how-to-use-visual-marketing-techniques-in-your-job-search" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How to Use Visual Marketing Techniques in Your Job Search

How to Use Visual Marketing Techniques in Your Job Search These simple tips will help your stand out among other candidates. Catch the...

Unsung Hero or MVP: What Workplace Superlative Best Describes You?

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Unsung Hero or MVP: What Workplace Superlative Best Describes You?</h1>
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It's never too early to start thinking about the impact you want to make in your career.</h2>
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Are you the office MVP or its unsung hero? Think about what superlatives fit the legacy you'd like to leave professionally.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Starting a new job or internship this summer? Before you step into your</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs">new place of work</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">, think about the legacy you want to leave. It's never too early to think about the impact you want to make and how you want your peers and management to perceive you. Likewise, it's never too late to alter your behavior and establish a positive and memorable reputation.</span></div>
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<b></b><br />No matter what your past legacy was, you have the opportunity to create a new one. Rather than focus on what you need to fix, your weaknesses and flaws, choose to lead from a position of power by accentuating your natural talents. Whether you're starting a new job or holding on to one, set a new course. Review the list below and think about which award will fit most comfortably with your strengths and motivation.</div>
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<b>1. Unsung hero.</b> You may have strong <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/02/21/7-key-skills-you-need-to-get-hired-right-now" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/02/21/7-key-skills-you-need-to-get-hired-right-now">organizational skills</a> or excel at managing details. Are you the type of person who does your best work behind the scenes? The unsung hero award goes to players, like you, who modestly make a difference. You don’t do it for the recognition. You're probably the type of employee who says “I was just doing my job.”</div>
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<b>Success tip</b>: When you find yourself with extra time in your day, look for the opportunity to help someone. Offer to pitch in on a special project or help a teammate. Not only is your willingness to help appreciated, it can also set you apart as an invaluable asset. Be sure you have completed your own work to the highest standards before going the extra mile.</div>
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<b>2. Customer appreciation award.</b> Both internal and external customers love you. <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/24/8-keys-to-communicating-effectively-during-the-job-search" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/24/8-keys-to-communicating-effectively-during-the-job-search">Your ability to listen</a>with an open mind and help resolve problems is a desirable skill. Whenever possible, look for the chance to delight your customers. You can resolve an issue ahead of schedule, give more than your customers ask for or keep customers up-to-date on your progress. A word of caution when trying to serve: Always adhere to company guidelines. Your customer-service strengths apply to almost every job you’ll ever have from this point forward.</div>
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<b>Success tip</b>: Be sure you collect the raving testimonials from satisfied customers and share them with your manager.</div>
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<b>3. Best in class.</b> You can’t compete against everyone. This may be the reason carmakers use “best in class” designations. It allows a vehicle to stand out in its appropriate category. Is your category “new hire,” “accounting,” “team leader” or something else? Think about where you are in your career and organization and then think about how you can stand out in your category. You can use your job-specific knowledge and dedication to your field to set yourself apart. Consider one of these ideas: attend a professional conference to keep up to date on new trends, volunteer to develop content for the new hire orientation or offer to deliver training for your team. Overachieve in whatever category or class in which you want to receive recognition.</div>
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<b>Success tip: </b>Talk to your manager about ways you can help raise the knowledge level within your department or group. Once you’ve completed your project or assignment, don’t forget to ask for a<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/16-things-youre-doing-all-wrong-on-linkedin" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/16-things-youre-doing-all-wrong-on-linkedin">recommendation on LinkedIn</a> from your manager and teammates.</div>
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<b>4. MVP.</b> The most valuable player award goes to the best-performing athlete in a game, someone who outshines all other players. You can take advantage of your confidence, hustle, dedication or effort to bask in the glory of being a star. Use your innate strengths in problem-solving or taking initiative to make a difference. Step forward to lead a project or take on a challenging issue.</div>
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<b>Success tip</b>: No one ever achieves greatness alone. Be sure you give credit and <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/06/how-to-truly-show-appreciation-to-colleagues-and-clients" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/06/how-to-truly-show-appreciation-to-colleagues-and-clients">show your appreciation</a> to your colleagues. Be humble and show gratitude.</div>
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<b>5. Best tech gadget of the year.</b> No, you aren’t a gadget, but you know how to get the most from technology. You naturally gravitate toward shiny new apps and your friends and family may already consider you their go-to tech genius. Why not carry your expertise over to the workplace? Keep in mind you may not be the only employee in your organization with great tech skills. Share your reviews of apps and software solutions among your teammates, and perhaps your entire organization.</div>
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<b>Success tip:</b> Partner up with the other gurus for a greater overall impact and visibility. And always be sure to show the financial impact or efficiency gained through using the new technology</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/25/unsung-hero-or-mvp-what-workplace-superlative-best-describes-you" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Unsung Hero or MVP: What Workplace Superlative Best Describes You?

Unsung Hero or MVP: What Workplace Superlative Best Describes You? It's never too early to start thinking about the impact you want ...

The 7 Ingredients of a Well-Written Entry-Level Résumé

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The 7 Ingredients of a Well-Written Entry-Level Résumé</h1>
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How to play up your strengths and experiences on a résumé when just starting your career.</h2>
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<span class="item drawer_paddingTop" style="display: block; float: left; padding-top: 8px;"><a href="http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/23ab258/2147483647/crop/367x330%2B80%2B0/resize/300x270/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2Ff3%2Fe845db30736815954ad24a20b3e7a7%2Fresizes%2F500%2F44248WideModern_Resume_120709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The ABCs of Résumés" border="0" src="http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/23ab258/2147483647/crop/367x330%2B80%2B0/resize/300x270/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2Ff3%2Fe845db30736815954ad24a20b3e7a7%2Fresizes%2F500%2F44248WideModern_Resume_120709.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" /></a><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-resumes" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-resumes">Writing a résumé</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> is rarely fun – but having a good résumé ready to go is critical to job-seeking success. A résumé serves many purposes. Obviously, it displays pertinent contact information and an overview of your skills and experience. It also is one of the best ways to display a job seeker’s commitment to her career, writing/editing skills, level of detail orientation and overall professional sophistication. As a new graduate, even with limited out-of-the-classroom experience, it is still possible to maximize the critical first impression. Here are seven ways to make more of your entry-level résumé.</span></span></div>
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<b>1. Font and point size</b>. Your choice in font and point size is <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/01/22/6-resume-red-flags-you-can-avoid" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/01/22/6-resume-red-flags-you-can-avoid">the first thing</a> an employer sees. Make sure to choose a style that visually matches the level of professionalism of your selected industry. Arial, Times New Roman and Calibri are popular choices. Other selections are fine, but make sure your choice doesn’t make your résumé look too casual or trendy. A 10-point size is commonly used. You can go a little smaller or larger, but remember that less than 9 is usually hard for the eyes, and larger than 11 makes is obvious that you're trying to compensate for a lack of content.</div>
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<b>2. Contact </b><b>information</b>. Emphasize your name by making it several point sizes larger than everything else on your résumé and in bold. Include your phone number, your email address and your LinkedIn public profile address. These days, including your physical address is preferred but no longer a must, particularly if you're running low on space. If you still live on campus but you're looking to work in a neighboring city or back home, try to include the address closest to the work location. Make sure the layout of your contact information is symmetrical and doesn’t waste valuable space at the top of the page. Also, use only <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/12-steps-to-email-rehabilitation" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/12-steps-to-email-rehabilitation">email addresses</a> that paint a professional picture of you. Whatupdawg@gmail.com is less likely to get a recruiter’s call for that accounting position than johndoe123@gmail.com.</div>
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<b>3</b>. <b>Objective</b>. Only include an objective if it's specific regarding position type and possibly timing. For example, “Targeting internship roles in social media marketing for the fall of 2014” is helpful and targeted. Writing “Looking for a role in a great company where I can apply my educational background in a dynamic environment” is generic and not a good use of space. The top third of your résumé is often all that is seen if it is opened on a mobile device, so make the most of that space. If you don’t have a specific objective, skip it all together to allow room for other important details.</div>
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<b>4. Summary</b>. A summary is helpful to provide a two to three sentence overview of a larger or very diverse track record of work experience, projects and professional skills. This is most often used with more experienced professionals who have years of experience and should be customized for each position for which you apply. Most new graduates don't have enough content to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/02/04/5-things-you-might-not-have-on-your-resume-but-should" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/02/04/5-things-you-might-not-have-on-your-resume-but-should">require a summary</a>. As with the objective, generic or cliché-filled summaries should be avoided – as they don't assist the reader in determining your candidacy and waste valuable visual space.</div>
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<b>5.</b> <b>Education</b>. Typically, the greatest accomplishment for most entry-level job seekers is their college degree. List your education as close to the top of a résumé, and include your GPA if it's 3.3 or higher. You may also include RELEVANT coursework, based on the role to which you're applying. Don't feel the need to list all of your courses if they will not aide a recruiter in determining that you're prepared for their role. Most new graduates should not include high school graduation information after their second year of college. The only exception would be someone who has exemplary pre-college education that is professionally relevant or may give an advantage in networking with alums from a certain school.</div>
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<b>6. Experience</b>. Include internships, volunteering and other relevant out-of-the-classroom experiences. To determine relevancy, look at the targeted job description to see the top three to five required skills or experiences for the role. Now, reflect on your background to think of what you have done that would show you have that background. Include these with descriptions that highlight your accomplishments. Do your best to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/27/7-steps-to-break-into-a-new-career-with-no-experience" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/27/7-steps-to-break-into-a-new-career-with-no-experience">customize your descriptions</a> to the position requirements. Also remember that most employers are looking for basic traits of problem solving ability, communication skills, drive/initiative, leadership and certain technical skills that match their needs. Make sure to highlight how your past allowed you to learn or demonstrate these traits.</div>
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<b>7. Skills</b>. The ability to use specific software or knowledge of desirable technical processes is a great differentiator for qualified candidates. Include a skills section that lists your software and relevant technical skills.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/17/the-7-ingredients-of-a-well-written-entry-level-resume" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

The 7 Ingredients of a Well-Written Entry-Level Résumé

The 7 Ingredients of a Well-Written Entry-Level Résumé How to play up your strengths and experiences on a résumé when just starting your...