7 Quick and Easy Resume Hacks You Need to Know

7 Quick and Easy Resume Hacks You Need to Know 7 Quick and Easy Resume Hacks You Need to Know In an ideal world, wed all have hours on end at our disposal to learnhow to write a resume and tailor it to each position we apply for. In reality, nobody has that kind of time, so we have to strike a balance between working efficiently and creating attention-grabbing job application materials. Sometimes, the best option is to make use of simple solutions to get the job done as well as we can in the time available to us.With that in mind, are are seven quick and easy resume hacks everyone should know1. Use a Resume BuilderThe structure of your resume is as important as its content, and no recruiterwill read a submission that is sloppy or poorly organized. Reputable resume builders and resume templates can help by doing the formatting work for you, saving you the hassle of making difficult decisions about font, color, headers, and section order.2.Use Word Clouds to Identify Important Keywor dsMost employers use applicant tracking systems (ATSs) to screen resumesbefore they are seen by any human team members. These ATSs look for specific keywords in your resume,forwarding only those resumes that contain the right keywords to the hiring team.Tapping into the power of keywords is one of the most important resume hacks you can implement to get past gatekeeping ATSs.It is also the fastest way to tailor your resume to the job.To identifythe best keywords to include in your resume, try running the job description through a word-cloud generator.Youll end up with a visual depiction of the most frequently used words and phrases, which you can then integrate into your resume. Once your resume is written, you can also run it through the word-cloud generatorto make sure the terms you want recruiters to associate with you predominate.3. Include HyperlinksAdding links to your personal website and social profiles to your resume header is an effortless way to get a hiring managers atte ntion. Recruiters and employees will want to visit unterstellung platforms anyway, so make it easier for them. Plus, when they click through, they will discover more attractive information about your skills and accomplishments, all those extra little details and work samples you just couldnt squeeze into your resume.4.Vary Your VocabularyWhile it is important to include relevant keywords for ATSs, you dont want your resume to get lost in the crowd because it sounds like everyone elses. Replacing words that are vague, generic, or clichd with more concrete and powerful language is one of the easiest resume hacks to execute.Terms like experienced and responsible are used too often, meaning theyve lost most of their impact with employers. Unique and original descriptions add more color to your narrative and make you more memorable. Remove subjective descriptors like clever, innovative, and acclaimed. You want to show your value rather than simply telling it, which you can do by outlinin g your actual accomplishments. Start bullet points in your work history section with action verbs, but be sure to replace static terms with success wordsthat indicate change and improvement, such as increased, optimized, and minimized.5.Quantify When You CanThe one question your resume must answer is, How is your previous employer different as a result of you working there? You can answer this question by including metrics that capture your impact. Skim through your resume, highlight places where youve referred to a duty or accomplishment in vague terms, and rewrite these instances with numerical values where possible. For example, instead of saying you wrote articles and newsletter content, you could say you wrote 10 articles per week and raised the newsletter open rate from 15 to 65 percent. Whenever you can, mention how much money you generated or time you saved for the company.6. Front-Load Your ResumeIf you only have time for one hack, use it tomake the top part of your resumes first page as powerful as possible. Why? Because this might be the only bit recruiters read.Craft a strong summary statement that captures all the attributes that make you a brilliant candidate and includes important phrases like job titles. Consider leading with a core competencies section that summarizes your skills and expertise usingrelevant keywords.7. Employ an Online Proofreading ToolOnce your resume is complete, use an online proofreading tool to scan it for errors. You could also ask a friend to look over the finished product, buta digital tool can catch errors neither of you would have noticed on your own. Most platforms will check everything from grammar and spelling to structure, flow, and readability while providing advice on how to make improvements.LiveCareer develops tools to help job seekers draft cover letters, prepare for interviews, and build targeted resumes via itsresume builderand an extensive collection ofresume templates.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

How to Build Conflict Resolution Skills and Overcome Fear

How to Build Conflict Resolution Skills and Overcome FearHow to Build Conflict Resolution Skills and Overcome FearA former colleague holds complete conversations in his head with people with whom he is angry. He rarely speaks directly with the other person. This anger in his mind continues to build because of his frustration, yet he never lets the other person know that he is frustrated and subsequently angry. His conflict avoidance almost cost him his marriage because he didnt let his wife into the conversations he welches having with herbut by himself in his head. It was almost too late by the time he did bring her into the real conversation. His need to avoid confrontation is so strong that he has a safe confrontation in his mind and feels that he has dealt with the issue. As you can imagine, this doesnt work- especially for the other person involved who doesnt even know that they are involved in the conversation. Do You Hold Mental Conflict Confrontations or Practice Conflict Avoidance? Are you guilty of holding mental conflicts and confrontations? Many people are uncomfortable when it comes to confrontation. You can understand the concept of having the conversation in your head so you can plan out what you want to say and how you want to say it. Sometimes these mental conversations are enough to settle the issue, as you realize you are making too much out of a simple situation. Many of you know that you have spent hours lying in bed at night having conversations with people with whom you are angry and frustrated. Not only does this practice disrupt your sleep, your attitude, and your health, it never really resolves the issue, and this approach is also potentially damaging to your relationships. Dont get this advice wrong, you dont need to confront every action that other people take. If you have the conversation once in your head, dont worry about it. If it comes back and you have it again, perhaps start thinking about holding a real conversation. Or, figure out what you are afraid of that you are avoiding an essential confrontational conversation. By the third in your head confrontation, you need to start planning how you will deal with the real confrontationbecause it looks as if you are going to need to have one. How to Hold a Real, Necessary Conflict or Confrontation Start by preparing yourself to confront the real issue. Be able to state the issue in one (or two), non-emotional, factual based sentences. For example, assume you want to confront your coworker for taking all of the credit for the work that the two of you did together on a project. Instead of saying, You took all the credit, blah, blah, blah... and venting your frustration, which is what you might say in your mind, rephrase your approach using the above guidelines. Say instead, It looks as if I played no role in the Johnson account. My name does elend appear anywhere on the document, nor I have been given credit anywhere that I can see. (You will notice tha t additional communication techniques such as the I-language have also been used in this gutachten. Notice that using the words I feel was avoided because that is an emotional statement, without proof and facts. The facts in this statement cannot be disputed, but an I feel statement is easy for your coworker to refute.) Make your initial statement and stop talking. When the person you are confronting responds, allow them to respond. Its a human tendency, but dont make the mistake of adding to your initial statement, to further justify the statement. Defending why you feel the way you do will generally just create an argument. Say what you want to say (the confrontation), then just allow the other person to respond. You want to listen very carefully to catch the differences between what your initial statement indicated and your coworkers response. This is not a time when you should rehearse responses in your mind. Just listen effectively and stay open to the possibility that your cow orker has a good reason for the actions taken. Especially since youve probably held the conversation in your head a few times, you may think you know how the other person is going to respond. But, its a mistake to jump to that point before they have the opportunity to respond. Resist the temptation to say anything else at this point. Let them respond. Avoid arguing during the confrontation. Confrontation does not mean fight. It means that you need to state what you have to say. Listen to what they have to say. Many times the conflict actually ends right there. Do you need to prove the other person right or wrong? Does someone have to take theblame? Get your frustration off your chest, and move on. Figure out the conflict resolution you want before the confrontation. If you approached your coworker with the initial statement, You took all the credit, blah, blah, blah... her response is likely going to be quite defensive. Perhaps shell say something like, Yes, you have been given cred it. I said both of our names to the anfhrer just last week. If you already know what you are looking for in the confrontation, this is where you move the conversation. Dont get into an argument about whether she did or didnt mention anything to the boss last week- that isnt really the issue and dont let it distract you from accomplishing the goal of the confrontation. Your response could be, I would appreciate if in the future that we use both of our names on any documentation, and include each other in all of the correspondence about the project. Focus on the real issue of the confrontation. The other party will either agree or disagree. Keep to the issue at this point, and avoid all temptation to get into an argument. Negotiate, but dont fight. The issue is that you arent receiving credit, your colleague left your name off of the documentation, and you want your name on the documentation. (Projects in written form are better remembered in organizations than verbal credit when perf ormance development planning and meetings about raises or promotions are held.) Thats it. It isnt about blame, about who is right or wrong or anything other than your desired resolution. You want to affect how this issue is handled in future projects you work on with this individual. They will remember that you called them on their schwimmbad behavior. You will rarely look forward to confrontation you may never become completely comfortable with, or even skilled in holding a confrontation. However, it is important that you say something when you are frustrated and angry. If you cant stand up for yourself, who will? More About Meaningful Confrontation and Conflict Resolution For additional ideas about confrontation and conflict, see Fight for Whats Right Ten Tips to Encourage Meaningful ConflictHow to Tackle Annoying Employee Habits and IssuesHow to Hold a Difficult Conversation

Why an Adult Internship Can Be Good for Your Career

Why an Adult Internship Can Be Good for Your CareerWhy an Adult Internship Can Be Good for Your Career12 really good for your career. Heres why.In a story called Internships Arent Just for College Kids, career coach Nancy Collamer discusses why so many adults are now heading back into the workforce as interns. Affectionately known as returnships, these adult interns are acutely aware that many people view interns as high school or college-aged kids. And while some intern postings will be targeted towards the younger set, theres no reason why an adult cant enjoy the benefits of interning.Adult Internships for Career ChangeUnder the right circumstances, internships can provide a useful bridge to a new field later in life and offer a smart way to take a test-drive before investing a lot of time and money retraining yourself, says Collamer, who runs the site My Lifestyle Career. Interning also provides a safe way in which people can dip their toes into a new industry without making a big financial commitment, such as shelling out big bucks by going back to school. It provides an outlet for workers who feel bored or stuck in their current positions, and a way to explore other career possibilities so they can eventually become unstuck.Companies Where You Might Find an Adult InternshipWhile there are a number of internships listed on job sites (such as ), some midlife internships are created by the individual herself. There are some companies, however, that have internship programs designed for adults changing careers or returning to the workforce after time away. Sara Lee and Goldman Sachs are just two companies that offer this type of program. Or you can always check with your alumni association to see if there are any interesting internships being offered.How to Make Your Own Adult InternshipIf you find a company that youd love to work for but isnt currently hiring interns, that doesnt mean that you cant work for them. Youll need to sell yourself, your years of wor k experience, and your dedication and loyalty. Craft a great cover letter that details why youre passionate about working for that company sans pay.Says Collamer To overcome an employers concern that youre unfamiliar with its field, stress that you bring years of transferable skills and experiences you can put to work. And according to Collamer, nonprofits tend to be a bit more welcoming to older interns than for-profit companies. Why? They value skills similar to those of a remote worker, such as the ability to self-manage and work independently.Understand Your Goals with an Adult InternshipBefore you start the first day of your internship, you should know ahead of time what youd like to get out of it. Your expectations and goals should be clearly defined and communicated with your boss ahead of time. After all, you are working for free, so topics such as your hours, responsibilities, learning opportunities, and your boss expectations should be mutually agreed upon by both of you.W hile the goal of many interns is to turn your internship into a full-time job, there will most likely be no guarantees that will happen. Companies dont want interns or volunteers to come with the agenda of potentially getting hired for a regular job. Rather, they want you to learn, grow, show passion for their mission, and become a part of the team. By doing all those things, youre showing them youd be a worthwhile hire without needing to say it.That said, you should definitely make the most of your internship Your goal should be to learn as much as you possibly can, take advantage of any opportunities given to you, grow your network, and above all, decide if this is a field that you would really love to continue on in.An internship is the opportunity to have a front row seat to the potential next phase in your career. That alone, job seekers, can be priceless.Readers, have you considered, or are you considering, an adult internship or returnship? What industry were you in before, a nd which one would you like to try now? Let us know in the comments section below