As we stand at the threshold of a new year, the desire for a fulfilling career has never been more pressing. Over the past few years, the job market has seen unprecedented shifts, prompting a surge in interest in career coaching.
Transform Your Career in the New Year
10 Resume Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Job Search
11 Compelling Reasons to Create a Career Portfolio
A traditional resume highlighting your awesomeness is mandatory when looking for a job or changing careers. But depending on your situation, developing a career portfolio in addition to providing your resume might tip the scales in your favor.
Why both? The resume and career portfolio have different purposes and unique benefits.
Get Noticed – Quantify Your Accomplishments
When NOT to Include a Job on Your Resume
Applicant Tracking Systems – Friend or Foe?
Are You Making these Job Search Mistakes?
Help Your References Help You
Great news! Someone has agreed to be a reference for you! Now, what’s the next step?
Life Working® career coaches suggest preparing a reference page that you can give to a prospective employer. It should match your resume's format, font style, and font size with the same contact information.
Use this format for each reference:
Myths About Employment References
Do companies need your permission before contacting your references? Yes, they should. But keep in mind that providing contact information for references may be construed as permission to contact in many cases. Some companies will require you to sign a release form. Read it carefully, as it may authorize the company to contact unnamed references as well (people not on your “preferred” reference list — sometimes called “back door” references).
Selecting Your References
Generally, a potential employer will want at least two of your references to be former employers. The advantage of preparing your references in advance is that you can take the upper hand, identify the “best” references, and control whom you offer the employer as your references. You will want to select three to seven individuals to be your “preferred” references.
Reference checks are necessary for both job seekers and employers. References allow employers to confirm the information they learned from your resume and the interview and decide whether to hire you or not to extend a job offer…
Great References Seal the Deal
“Resumes win interviews, but references win job offers,” says Martin Yate, author of the “Knock ‘Em Dead” series of career books.
Reference checks are necessary for both job seekers and employers. References allow employers to confirm the information they learned from your resume and the interview and decide whether to hire you or not to extend a job offer…
Dispelling the One-Page Resume Myth
There is no “rule” that a resume should be only one page. In fact, there are many cases when a multi-page resume is not only appropriate but also expected.
Even though the length is not the only consideration for a resume’s effectiveness, the one-page resume myth persists. Jobseekers are being misled to think that recruiters, hiring managers, and HR professionals won’t read a resume that is longer than one page. That’s simply not true.
12 Resume Buzzwords That Hurt Your Chances
Let’s start at the beginning. You’re probably wondering what words are considered resume buzzwords. A buzzword is a word or phrase that is usually vague and sounds like business jargon. But, more importantly, those words don’t spotlight your unique skillset. Typical buzzwords include I’m a hard worker, results-oriented, and a real team player. Perhaps you consider yourself motivated, a go-getter, responsible, and innovative. These words are used so frequently that they are now meaningless. Resume buzzwords are a buzzkill.
Resume Secrets You Need to Know
Your resume has a job. That job is to position you as the best candidate in the entire application pool. Think of your resume as a marketing brochure—and the product you’re selling is you. Sounds easy enough, but if you’re like most job seekers, the task of writing about yourself is downright daunting.