5 Tips for Resume Hurdles

5 Tips for Resume Hurdles5 Tips for Resume HurdlesAre you avoiding putting together your resume because of what you see as a potential hurdle? Hiring managers and recruiters can spot resume issues from a mile away, so you might as well think about your best approach. Below are five of the most common resume hurdles, with tips on how to address them.Job hopping on resumeIf your job history includes numerous stints such as 10 months here, a year there, and 6 months elsewhere, you may get branded as a job hopper. Given the amount of time and money it takes to find and train new employees, employers want to hire people who will stick around- which could mean your application lands in the no pile.Be direct about your reason for leaving each job. While you can obviously expand on the details in your cover letter or resume, you might consider listing the circumstances on your resume itself. Dont say anything negative about previous employers stick to the facts, and present them concisely. L aid off as a result of budget cuts or failed startup folded in 2011, for example.Covering up the employment gapIf you are unemployed, or if you have an unemployment gap of months or years on your resume, you might be viewed less favorably by employers. Many employers believe that a workers skills deteriorate during periods of unemployment, or that someone without a job will take any job, then leave when a better opportunity comes along. Whether or not that bears out, it is a fact that most employers tend to hire people without employment gaps over those who are, or have been, unemployed.If you have been out of the workforce for more than six months, or have a fairly recent time in your work history when you were, it can be worth addressing on your resume. Keep your explanation brief, and dont apologize or come across as negative or defensive. Provided elder care for a family member during illness, for example. You could also use an alternate resume format, such as a functional or co mbination resume, rather than the traditional chronological format. These put the focus on skills and accomplishments rather than a timeline. Keep in mind, however, that not all hiring managers like resumes that stray at all from the typical chronological format.Above all, if you find yourself in the midst of a long period of unemployment, take steps to show that you are keeping your skills current. Seek out volunteer opportunities, attend industry events in your area, or start a blog related to your field. Experience doesnt have to be paid to be valuable.Missing resume skillsMany job listings these days include a wide range of desired technical skills. Writers may be expected to have experience with video production, receptionists are often asked to know content management systems, and more. If you are applying to jobs and not hearing back, one issue may be that your resume does not include enough of the technical skills sought by employers. Entering your resume and a job descripti on that interests you into Jobscans resume tool can give you a sense of whether your skills are a match for the job.Dont let yourself be intimidated by job listings including skills you dont yet have. You can learn the basics of many software programs quickly using online tutorials from YouTube, Skillshare, or Lynda.com. Even if you just learn how to use pivot tables in Excel, you will find yourself ahead of many applicants.If you want to apply for a certain job before you have had the time to learn a new skill, spend some space on your resume going into detail about what you already know, and your efforts to continue learning. Use keywords specific to the job you are applying for. I have even seen an applicant list on their resume specific Excel functions they can perform.You can also focus on selling the value of the skills you do have in your cover letter. You could even consider putting together an online portfolio to show off your abilities, and include the link to the portfoli o along with the contact information on your resume.No degreeThere are countless reasons for starting a degree program and not seeing it through to completion. But if you are applying for a position that lists a bachelors degree as a requirement, you may be at a disadvantage. What can you do to combat this? For starters, list the school you attended, and the dates when you attended, on your resume. Follow it up with a one-sentence explanation for why you did not finish. Be matter-of-fact rather than apologetic, and do not give a sob story.Next, focus on the experience section of your resume. You may have more applicable, relevant experience than others applying for the job. In order to stand out, you should not just list your previous duties- be sure to include details about specific things you accomplished in each role. When formatting your resume, be sure that your experience section comes ahead of your education section. In your education section, be sure to include any training or professional development you have done. You can even list conferences, seminars, and relevant self-directed study.Do you have digital dirt?Online presencePart of a successful job search is cultivating a consistent personal brand. fruchtwein employers will do an online search to see what turns up for applicants they are interested in. If you perform a search for yourself and arent pleased with the results- in other words, if you have some digital dirt- you can use two different methods to improve your online image.Spend some time going over the privacy settings of all your social media accounts. Untag yourself from inappropriate photographs and social media postings, such as those involving drinking, drugs, and discriminatory or disparaging comments. If you have digital dirt that you cannot delete, or that others cannot or will not delete when you request it, then your best option is to bury it.To do so, you need to become more active in a professional context online. Use Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogs to post and comment on content relevant to your field. You can even leave book reviews on Amazon.com. Not only will these entries push negative ones down, but they will allow you to replace the negative stories with ones that demonstrate your devotion to your field. New entries do not always show up at the top of search results, so you will need to make positive posts consistently over time. Listing your LinkedIn profile and Twitter handle with yourcontact information on your resume is one way to draw attention to your positive contributions.

Great Jobs for People Who Love to Build Things

Great Jobs for People Who Love to Build ThingsGreat Jobs for People Who Love to Build ThingsHow anyone ends up on a particular career path varies. Some people know exactly what they want to do from a very young age others spend time experimenting with different careers looking for the best fit for themselves.There are some habits, likes and hobbies that lend themselves to great job opportunities. Identifying traits you possess and discovering the careers they relate to can be tricky. As part of a series of posts to Simply Hireds blog, well be looking at a particular trait people possess and the jobs it prepares them for. Today were focusing on people who love building things. If you get satisfaction seeing something where there was once bedrngnishing and always tout the value of Legos, perhaps one of these jobs is a good fit for you.Architect average $73K a yearArchitects entwurf and oversee the construction of buildings. Its their responsibility to make sure building projects meet s afety and zoning regulations. To work as an architect youll need a certification and experience in the field that you can get from internships.Carpenter average $31K a yearOne of mankinds oldest professions, carpenters create items from many materials- most often, wood. Carpenters may not build things on the sheer scale of architects, but they get to build with their bare hands. A big part of carpentry can be dangerous (electrical, etc.), so if you dont have attention to detail, then carpentry may not be for you.City planner average $51K a yearOkay, the job title may be a bit misleading. City planners are not designing and building cities. They determine ways to use public land to meet the needs of the community. This job offers the opportunity to positively impact a community. As public policy grows more concerned with renewability and sustainability, city planners are increasingly focused on green initiatives.Landscape architect average $63K a yearAll building doesnt have to be wi th steel and wood. If you love the outdoors and have a green thumb you may want to think about working in landscaping. Working as a landscape architect youll have the chance to make parks and other outdoor spaces pleasant to the eye.UI designer average $70K a yearDo you ever find yourself on a website saying to yourself, Why did they design this the way they did? Its so confusing If so, there may be a career waiting for you in user interface design. UI designers figure out the best design for webpages so users can engage with them in an efficient manner. To work as a UI designer youll need to code and have some working knowledge of design theory.Visual merchandiser $33K a yearRounding out our list is visual merchandiser, a job mainly attached to retail where you have the opportunity to design, set up and install visual displays in order to catch the eye of potential customers. This is a fun way to utilize your interest in building because you have the chance to see firsthand what im pact your product has on customers. Although a degree can help you land one of these jobs, it may not be completely necessary.All salaries via Simply Hireds salary estimator.

Famous Women Who Dropped Out of College

Famous Women Who Dropped Out of CollegeFamous Women Who Dropped Out of CollegeGetting a college education is important, and this list is elend intended to suggest you should forsake getting a higher education. However, not having a college degree should not be used as an excuse for holding back and not reaching for your dreams. The following women dropped out of college and went on to achieve success, wealth, and fame in their own fields. Although some these women may have gone back to school after they dropped out they achieved their success before continuing their education. Kirstie Alley, ActressMaya Angelou, PoetCourtney Cox Arquette, ActressKate Beckinsale, ActressBrooke Burke, ModelCarol Burnett, ComedianJill Clayburgh, ActressCindy Crawford, ModelEllen DeGeneres, Comedian, Talk Show HostHeidi Dinan, Mrs. America 2004Gigi Fernndez, Tennis Player, Won Two Gold Medals for Doubles 1992,1996Tara Fitzgerald, ActressLady Gaga, (birth name Stefani Germanotta)Singer and SongwriterLilli an Gish, ActressFlorence Graham (aka Elizabeth Arden), Founder, Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics Ruth Handler, Founder, Mattel, BarbieHelen Hunt, ActressNorah Jones, MusicianLisa Ling, Talk Show Host (The View)Heather Locklear, ActressAndie MacDowell, ActressMadonna, MusicianJenny McCarthy, Model, Actress, MTV Host, AuthorEva Mendes, ActressMegan Mullally, ActressJulie Newmar, Actress, Patented Ultra-Sheer, Ultra-Snug PantyhoseRosie ODonnell, Comedian, Talk Show HostMary-Kate Olsen, Entrepreneur and BillionaireCathy Podewell, ActressGilda Radner, ComedianRebecca Romijn, Model, ActressRoselyn Sanchez, Actress Margaret Sanger, Started the American Birth Control MovementMuriel Siebert, Entrepreneur, First woman to purchase a seat on the New York Stock ExchangeMolly Sims, Model, ActressPatti Smith, Poet, MusicianDawn Steel, Entrepreneur, First woman to run a Hollywood studio Columbia PicturesSharon Stone, ActressCyndi Thomson, MusicianMarisa Tomei, ActressNina Totenberg, Radio Personality