Writing Wordy, Inconsistent and Ineffective Professional Resume Writing

Writing Wordy, Inconsistent and Ineffective Professional Resume WritingPhrases such as 'Important, Motivational'Ever Ready to Take on the World,' are phrases used by resume writers to make job applicants sound more like super human than human. Well, the real trick is to come up with unique job-oriented words and phrases that relate to job expectations. For example, 'Enthusiastic about success'Aiming to excel' would help your resume stand out in an industry where success and excellence are the norm.One of the most common misspellings is the phrase 'Key Players' as it implies an inherent power, which is not necessarily something you are equipped with. So a less obvious misspelling would be 'Key Individuals', which is more apt to fit the industry you work in. The most relevant word is 'key' so make sure you stick to it.Also, phrasing should be detailed and crisp to show the employer what your experience is about. Avoid common phrases like 'Professional'Has Produced Results.' This is a l ittle redundant and, if used, it suggests that you are only responsible for being a professional.If your dream job requires being 'Completely Training,' then 'Desired to Be Trained' will not do. Instead, find a phrase that is more precise and also conveys the idea that you are actually trained and ready to tackle any job. 'Wants to Become Fully Trained'Determined to Begin Training' will convey the same message.An important thing to remember when trying to create your job-focused wording is that you do not want to fall into common pitfalls like trying to stick too closely to the truth. For example, try to avoid the phrases 'Followed Procedures,' 'Learned and Communicated,' and 'Applied Knowledge.' All these words are common to an industry and simply portray that you took an initiative to learn and then apply your new knowledge.You can always use 'Converted to Learn,' 'Applied New Skills,' or 'Developed Skills' but this is not as effective as phrasing which states that you actually pu t time and effort into your job training. Thus, keep your phrases simple and plain. Do not write 'Learned' if you have already mastered a task because that implies that you are stuck with that task forever.You need to ensure that all the information you provide to the recruiter is genuine in all respects. Simply by using common practice and common spellings, you can appear as a skilled professional to potential employers.

Career Advice 6 Moves to Make Before the End of the Year

Career Advice 6 Moves to Make Before the End of the Year With just days before the final quarter of 2016, it’s time to plan your year-end career push. Fall tends to be busy with people catching up after summer vacations, and working parents getting back into the school and work juggling act. If you don’t proactively plan to stay focused on longer-term career goals, they can easily fall by the wayside. Here are six career moves to make before year-end: Take stock of your accomplishments Career planning isn’t just about troubleshooting and fixing problems. You also want to recognize what went right. Your accomplishments are a confidence booster. Did you finish an important project? Did you speak up more in meetings? Did you get more active in your professional association? Your wins also point to strengths that you may want to build on for next year. Finally, make sure you block in some time to celebrate these wins (and the new ones you’ll notch for the 4th quarter). Read Next: 4 Ways to Negotiate Back Up to Market Value When Your Salary History Is Low Identify what’s unfinished At the same time, you also want to take stock of what remains undone. If this is the year you intended to get promoted, where are you in the process and what is left to do? Typically, career goals require research (how are promotions decided?), an inventory of the office atmosphere (will your boss and other senior decision-makers support you?), action steps you should take to close any gaps (have you addressed any misgivings your boss has about your candidacy?), and reaching for your goal (have you asked for the promotion?). Get clear on what you still need to do â€" whether you are targeting a promotion, a new job, better work/life balance, or some other career goal. Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Schedule a performance review Whatever your goal, you want to have a performance review at least once a year (twice a year or after each big project is ideal). Even if you want to leave your job and don’t care how you’re perceived there, a performance review can help you identify areas of development, as well as strengths you might not have realized. What the company measures in their performance review gives you insight into what the company values. This is important for you to know to ensure you’re working on the right priorities. If what the company values is far apart from where you are spending your time, you are not expending efforts in the right place. Schedule a raise or other career-related request If you intend to ask for more money (or a promotion or flexible work arrangement), this should be a separate meeting from your performance review. These requests should be timed well in advance of when decisions are made â€" for example, if budgets are decided in September and you’re asking for a raise only now, you likely won’t get one because the money will have been spent. You should also time these requests after you have received a performance review so you know exactly where you stand. If your performance review is exceptional, you have momentum going into your request. If it’s lukewarm, you want to remediate some of the issues before making other demands. Read Next: 5 No-Fail Ways to Introduce Yourself at a Networking Event Clean out your contact database Career advancement isn’t just about immediate goals at your immediate company. You want to attend to your broader network as well. Fall is a great time to catch up with people because you can ask them about their summer adventures. Pick several people in your contacts database to connect with each week. Or, at the very least, get your contacts organized and make a note of who you’d like to keep in touch with. Then you have your contacts in one place for getting back in touch little-by-little or in a bulk holiday mailing. Send a holiday mailing This is a feel-good gesture and an effective branding, networking, even research tool. When I send a holiday mailing, I share news with my contacts (branding), I connect with them socially (networking) and I often hear back a little update about how they’re doing (research). You don’t want to contact people only when you need something! The holiday season is a built-in reminder and reason to stay in touch. Don’t get sidetracked by the busywork of fall. Don’t get de-motivated by the shorter and colder days as winter approaches. Don’t just punt unfinished business into next year. Make a conscious decision now to use this last quarter of the year to make significant progress in your career goals. You still have a lot of time.

Green Business Strategies For Saving, Sharing, And Sustainability - Work It Daily

Green Business Strategies For Saving, Sharing, And Sustainability - Work It Daily It’s been said that you have to spend money to make money. But no one ever said that you had to spend unnecessarily when alternative strategies are available. Here are some business strategies to think about: Business Travel Face time with customers, suppliers, and financiers is essential for many businesses, but it can get increasingly expensive to send your employees around the country or the world. Loyalty “points” programs can help allay some of the costs. In fact, airlines, hotels, rental car, and other businesses spend $50 billion each year on loyalty programs to get you to fly, buy, stay, and play. United Airlines recently introduced a unique loyalty program targeted exclusively to small business owners. The “MileagePlus Small Business Network” rewards companies for non-airline purchases from partner companies. Over a dozen vendors have signed on with United, including Apple, Staples, UPS, and Home Depot. The points can then be used for flights on United or for other purchases of United-sponsored merchandise or entertainment. Virtual Collaboration Many businesses have reduced or even eliminated business travel through the use of online collaboration tools. These tools are changing the way we work by offering a central repository for information, idea sharing, and communication â€" around the clock and around the globe. Project Management Web-based tools like Basecamp, @Task, WorkZone, and ProjectSpaces allow for optimal project management of a virtual workforce. Employees can update project status, track their time, work from a shared calendar, and more. Instant Messaging Chat IM-ing and chat grew up and entered the business world years ago. However, you don’t have to settle for simple functionality because upgraded tools like AIM Pro and KonoLive now allow for desktop sharing, encrypted communication, and other business-class applications. Social Networking Today’s most transparent companies are utilizing social networks for sharing news and information to widely distributed employee populations. If you don’t want to use Facebook or LinkedIn, consider a closed community such as those available from Ning or Yammer. An estimated 85% of the Fortune 500 use Yammer to enhance productivity, facilitate collaboration, and otherwise engage their employees. Green Business Strategies Going green was a fad that turned into a movement that has since transformed into a way of life and smart business strategy. Consumers feel good about companies that make efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. By going green, companies not only benefit from building their brand in positive ways, but they also benefit in terms of cost savings. Take a look at what these industry leaders are doing: Hilton Worldwide Hilton has instituted a mattress recycling program across all its U.S. hotel chains. The goal is to recycle 85 percent of all mattresses and box springs, eliminating the cost to dispose of approximately 25,000 mattresses per year. The materials will be recycled into tools, construction materials, flooring, oil filters, and carpet padding. Darden Restaurants Darden has a commitment to incorporate green practices across their operation. Water usage is a particularly important concern as access to clean water becomes increasing scarce in several states and countries. Darden is exploring the latest in lower-flow kitchen and bath technologies to reduce both water and energy usage. Boeing Boeing has found ways to divert 76 percent of the company’s solid waste from landfills, with four manufacturing sites sending zero solid waste to landfills. Instead of incurring the cost of disposal, Boeing has employed recycling, composting, and energy recovery strategies. Of course, you don’t have to be a multinational corporation to take steps to save money by doing the right thing. You can choose to use green web hosting services, plant drought-resistant landscapes, reuse grey water for irrigation, install solar panels, and take numerous other actions that will pay off for years to come. About the author: Laura Mingo writes in the field of higher education. This article aims to offer strategic insights for university students in relation to business management and promotes the benefits of advanced study regarding a Boston University Master’s in Banking. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!