Sunday, March 15, 2020

How Changes in the Last Decade Impact Your Search

How Changes in the Last Decade Impact Your SearchLike many other industries, the job search market has seen remarkable changes in the past 10 years. Heres a look at some of the most compelling changes that have occurred and how they affect your job search, the application process, and how you should approach your career advancement.Searches Have Moved angeschlossenThe days of reading the want ads in the morning paper are long gone, according to Chelsea Kerwin, a certified job search professional and client services manager at Great Resumes Fast. She says todays job searches are conducted online. This may seem obvious, but what might not be quite as obvious is how you need to change your resume, online presence, and other career documents to adapt.Kerwin says the modern job search and application process requires digital resumes that work well with applicant tracking systems (ATS) a strong, positive presence on social media such as LinkedIn and effectively utilizing technology such as job sites, job boards, and listings on company websites to supplement your search for career opportunities.The Rise of ATSWhile applicant tracking systems (ATS) have been around since the early 2000s, they have become the norm in the last 10 years. Kerwin says 97% of large companies now utilize ATS to sort applicants, and 80% of small- to medium-sized companies are doing the same. This can create problems for job seekers who dont know what ATS do or how to make their resumes work for them.You dont have to have a different resume for each job, but you do need to tailor it to each position to get through the ATS software, says Kerwin. You need to make your resume as relevant as possible to the job for which you are applying.For clues about making your resume relevant to the job, you can look to the job description to determine which key terms and phrases you should be using in your resume, particularly in crucial areas such as the header. Key terms and keywords are important because ATS scan for them, and only those resumes with key terms that reflect the job description will be forwarded on for review by an actual rolle.If you dont have a job posting to go by because you are sending a resume and cover letter directly to an employer, you can research similar positions on a job board like Indeed to find key terms to use in your resume.Strong MaterialsAnother big change in the job search market is how people are hired. While you might be the most qualified of all the job candidates, Kerwin warns you may not be hired if you dont have an optimized marketing profile or knowledge of todays job market.To combat this problem, your career marketing materials need to be stronger than ever before. Kerwin says the trifecta for job search success is a oben liegend LinkedIn profile, a modern resume, and an updated cover letter. She says these itemsparticularly your resumeshould be fresh and dynamic while avoiding generic or vague content.Make them as specific as possible, sa ys Kerwin. A modern resume has some formatting that is more visually distinctive such as incorporating color, charts or graphs, an endorsement quote, or a table of key competencies. You want your resume to stand out from the pile.A human resources employee or a recruiter might look at dozensor moreresumes and cover letters a day when trying to fill open positions. Modern formatting and striking language will get you much further than a plain old black and white resume with tiny font that lists dozens of irrelevant skills.Longer Hiring TimesCompanies are now taking longer to hire people. Glassdoor reported the average hiring process in the U.S. increased from 13 days to 23 days between 2010 and 2014. Kerwin attributes this trend to a more competitive job market where hundreds of people may be vying for a single position.A big company like Disney may get more than 500 applicants for a position, she says. They put them through the ATS and still dont see them all.So dont be surprised if it takes quite a while for you to get a phone call about an interviewand then even longer to get a call about hiring.While the length of time it takes to find a job has increased, Kerwin says people are staying in a position for less time. That means more people are looking for jobs more frequently, leading to increased competition for positions. A 2015 Department of Labor report found the average person born in the U.S. from 1957-1964 went job hunting 17.2 times during their working lives and Kerwin expects this will only increase with future generations.More Thorough ScreeningThe screening of individuals has also become more strenuous over the last decade. Kerwin says it boils down to trust. When candidates are applying through job boards or sending in resumes, companies want to be sure they are getting solid employees who fit with their work environment. Thats one of the reasons networking is such a great strategy when job searching. It allows you to make a connection with a com pany, learn about job opportunities, andvery importantlyput a face with your name, instead of just being another among many applicants.An Employment ShiftThe economy has also changed in the last 10 years and there are fewer permanent jobs as employers try to save money on things like benefits. The current economy is shifting to more part-time, temporary, or freelance work as a result.If they need a project completed, they will hire someone on a short-term basis as theres a desire to keep costs down, says Kerwin, who attributes the change to the 2008 recession. The number of part-time, freelance, and self-employed workers is expected to account for 40% of the workforce by 2020. Its kind of insane but makes sense with some of the trends we are seeing now.Additionally, Kerwin says, fewer permanent positions means job seekers have had to change their strategy. They now have to find out what employers want as they are competing with the cream of the crop for work. Do they want specific s kills? A specific type of experience? A specific type of personality, maybe someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, or someone who is more relaxed and appreciates that the employer encourages a work-life balance? In todays professional world, many companies are looking for different thingsyou need to convey to employers that you not only have the skills and achievements, but are also the type of employee who will do well in their work environment.So what are the most effective modern strategies for job hunting? Read The Modern Job Search Part 2 to find out.Are you tired of your resume being rejected by applicant tracking systems? I know how frustrating it is to submit your resume and receive no response. I hate seeing qualified people never breakthrough the screening process. It shouldnt be that way. Thats why I created this guide and I encourage you to download the FREE portable document format so you can start seeing better resume response rates

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Dear Companies Dont Give Us Flex Time if Youre Going to Punish Us for Using It

Dear Companies Dont Give Us Flex Time if Youre Going to Punish Us for Using It Youve probably heard this story before A female employee is pleasantly surprised by zu sich companys willingness to accommodate her new role as a mom. Shes given permission to leave at 5 p.m. sharp to pick up her son from daycare, and shes even allowed to work from home when hes sick or the center is closed.But then her managers lip curls when she actually tries to leave the office. Shes inundated with emails on her days off, and is taken to task for being unresponsive when she doesnt reply at 930 p.m. The promotion she was promised goes to anotherchild-freeemployee. Her career stalls.Now, researchers have coined a new term for the phenomenonworkplace flexibility biasto describe environments where employees believe they are unlikely to get ahead if they take leave or work flexibly. And that perception is damaging in mora ways than one, according to two new studies published inSociological Perspectives andC ommunity, Work, Family.When employees believe workplace flexibility bias exists in their organizationthat their career will be derailed just by taking time off or asking for small accommodationsthey are less happy professionally and are more likely to say they will quit their jobs in the near future. It also increases the number of minor health problems and depressive symptoms, and leads to more absenteeism at work and worse self-rated health and sleep, say the studies authors, Dr. Lindsey Trimble OConnor, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology at California State University, and Dr. Erin Cech, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Michigan.The two published anarticle in theHarvard Business Review recapping their results, and while they note working moms are particularly impacted by flexibility biasmommy-tracked into less-demanding, lower-paying positionsits actually harmful for everyone. So harmful, in fact, the title of one study compares the toxic s ide effects to second-hand smoke.The researchers surveyed 2,700 U.S. employees from a range of occupations, industries and sectors and from different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. They found that even men who dont have kids and who have never taken family leave or worked flexibly are harmed when they see flexibility bias in their workplaces.We think employees generally do not like working for organizations that penalize people for having lives outside of work, they continue. They dont feel supported, and they feel a lack of control over their schedules.Of late, more and more companies have paid lip service to the notion of encouragingwork-life balance. Certainly, more have madeflexible work policies officially available for their employees. Of theWorking Mother 100 Best Companies, for example, 71% offered flex time in 2009 by 2017, 80% offered the benefit. In 2009, 46% offered telecommuting in 2017, it rose to 57%.But official policies arent enough, Dr. OConnor and D r. Cech argue. Our research also shows that having an engaged, committed and healthy workforce does not come just from offering a generous suite of family-leave and flexible-work options. Organizations also need to pay close attention to the messages they send to employees about actually using these policies. A great set of flexible policies from HR means little when employees think their careers will be derailed by them.In addition to offering formal flex policies, they say, employers need to keep tabs on how many workers actually use them. If employees arent taking advantage of their benefits, its a red flag that probably points to a toxic work culture. Most importantly, managers should lead by example.When managers take full paternity and maternity leaves, head home early a few days a week to help their children off the school bus, or arrive late after a dentist appointment, those around them feel less anxiety about taking leave or working flexibly.In other words, dont just talk the talk. Companies need to walk the walk by actually allowing employeesall of them, moms includedto have a life outside the office. We couldnt agree more.This article originally appeared on Working Mother.WorkingMother is amentor, role model,and advocate for the countrys more than 17 1000000 moms who are devoted to their families and committed to their careers. Through our website,magazine, research, radio and powerful events,WorkingMotherprovides its readers with the community, solutions,and strategies they need to thrive.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Why People Arent Talking About Expert Ways of Writing a Resume and What You Should Do Right Now About It

Why People Arent Talking About Expert Ways of Writing a Resume and What You Should Do Right Now About It Expert Ways of Writing a Resume - Is it a Scam? Its fast and simple to use. A good example is able to help you make a decision as to what information to include. Such information gives them a notion of what youll promote their firm. You may have a foundational resume that compellingly articulates the most significant info, states Heifetz, but you need to alter it for each opportunity. By comparing different resumes from various Professional Resume Writers, youre going to be in better position to produce a determination that is right for you and your job search. For instance, the summary section needs to be written in the very first individual. A resume is basically a succinct overview of your professional qualifications. It is vital that you keep it as short as possible highlighting only the crucial information that is related to the job which you are applying for. N o, you dont need to call or email the geschftliches miteinander. As soon as you set up the preliminary small business framework, you can begin working on the fun parts of your organization. If youre on the lookout for a steady, high-paying career, then mechanical engineering is a good field for you to think about. The job, the market, and the institution proved not the proper fit for me. Definitions of Expert Ways of Writing a Resume Many job seekers feel compelled to lie since they think its the only means to compete. Much of a work hunters success is dependent on attitude. Landing your fantasy job is dependent on a lot more than the resumeensure youre employing a thriving job search strategist who understands the total recruiting process, of which the resume is one particular part of that approach. Be Brief Never forget that you arent the only one applying for that specific job. Details of Expert Ways of Writing a Resume If you are able to catch an employers attention r ight off the bat, youre going to be on their short list once it is time to choose interviewees. A resume isnt a detailed collection of everything youve ever done. Make it simple to find info about you by including a header or skilled summary at the peak of the webpage. If you resume appears too long with a lot of irrelevant info, the man reading it is going to be bored and will just bypass it making you drop the opportunity. Resume writing is a writing discipline unlike many different kinds of writing, and is frequently described as a mixture of business writing and copywriting. Come back to it as soon as youre done writing the other sections. There are a couple routes you may take with resume writing. If you need assistance writing your resume, itll be our pleasure to aid you.