#CareerAdvice : #JobSearch -How To Impress #HiringManagers During A #PhoneInterview . #MustRead !

Companies are increasingly using phone interviews at the early stages of screening candidates, before inviting them on-site for in-person interviews. This is a way to efficiently screen through large candidate pools, as the average job has over 250 applicants. Moreover, the phone screen is typically conducted by recruiters, many of whom may be remote so the phone-screen is a good medium to tap into remote talent and reduce the recruiting overhead for the hiring manager.

The recruiter has three main goals for a phone screen:

1. CONFIRM LEVEL OF INTEREST

Hiring managers have a limited amount of time, and a recruiter’s first filter is to make sure they are passing along candidates that are truly interested in the role. We are in the era where recruiters reach out to candidates more often than the other way around, and often prospective candidates will take a phone screen just to get interview practice and see what the market is willing to pay. As such, recruiters use the phone interview to ensure you have a genuine interest in the company and the role.

2. MATCH CORE SKILLS

A recruiter will not typically conduct a deep-dive on each of your core skills, but rather, they want to make sure you have general experience in the core requirements of the job. For example, if you are interviewing to be a digital marketing manager they are less likely to get into the specifics of how you measure the success of a marketing campaign, but they will want to ensure you have indeed run marketing campaigns of similar size and scope as theirs. This is more of a checklist approach rather than grading your skills in each category.


Related: This Former Tesla Recruiter’s Most Revealing Interview Question 


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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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3. ASSESS CULTURE FIT

Behavioral interviewing is how most companies comprehensively assess “culture fit” in later rounds. However, the phone screen is also meant to do a preliminary check on how well suited you are to the company’s culture. Key areas of interest for the recruiter is whether you have worked in similar environments (e.g., pace of work, level of collaboration), your overall demeanor (e.g., level of humility), and your mindset (e.g., growth orientation).

Here’s how to ace this stage of the interview process:

1. DEMONSTRATE SYNTHESIS

During a phone interview it is easy for the interviewer to get distracted (e.g., check email). This makes it even more important to be succinct and compelling to ensure you capture their attention. This can be applied to the first question the recruiter will ask–“Tell Me About Yourself.” Many candidates ramble and spend too much time on unimportant details, and miss out on highlighting the core aspects of their candidacy. A practical way to solve this and demonstrate synthesis is to focus on the themes of your career progression. For example, you might describe your career in three stages– your first role, your ascension into leadership roles, and your current job, instead of reciting everything on your resume.

You can also describe your career by functional themes especially when your career has breadth and a non-linear path. For example, you might frame your career as being a mix of bringing new products to market, developing and coaching teams, and partnering with cross-functional stakeholders.

2. BE PRECISE ABOUT WHY YOU WANT THE JOB

As mentioned earlier, often the recruiter has reached out to you, and it is important to show you are not passively taking a call, but rather have a clear interest in the role. This is why it is important to do your research on the company to understand them more deeply, and then weave that into why it fits with the career path you are charting. Specifically, you should have clarity on their mission, their ecosystem (e.g., customer segments, key competitors), and their products/services. Ideally, in your research, you will find something that truly connects with your experience and/or professional interests and speaking to that will show a deep interest in the opportunity.


Related: How You Should Answer The 10 Most Common Interview Questions 


3. SIMULATE A REAL INTERVIEW ENVIRONMENT

common mistake candidates make is not recreating the environment that brings out their best, professional self. Often candidates will take a call from home, while reclining on their couch, and this casual attitude shows up in their communication style, dimming their professional energy.

Given this, it is important to find an environment that can simulate a professional aura (e.g., a home office, in front of a desk), and dress accordingly as your communication style will be more polished as your brain picks up on the subtle cues. The right posture will also ensure your voice projects well, as opposed to reclining on your couch and sounding muffled.

4. ASK THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS

The questions you ask towards the end of the phone screen serve as an indicator of what is important to you in the opportunity so avoid administrative questions such as vacation policy. Instead, focus on high-value questions that show you are thinking about things that really matter such as “What does success in the role look like?” These questions will also better prepare you to engage on a deeper level in the following rounds, especially when speaking with the hiring manager.

5. AVOID RECITING FROM PAPER

Some candidates use phone interviews as an opportunity to script their answers and read them word for word. This takes away from having an authentic conversation, and most interviewers can sense when you are reciting from a script. Instead, you can have a few bullet points written out that you want to make sure you cover in the conversation and also have your resume handy so you can speak to specifics when asked.

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FastCompany.com  March 28, 2018 | BY JEEVAN BALANI—GLASSDOOR 4 MINUTE READ

Your #Career : 8 Companies That’ll Take You to Exotic Locations… #TravelPerks & #InternationalTravel are Offered by #Companies in Nearly Every Industry Enabling #Employees to Fill their Passport while Being #Productive .

Why work in a bland cubicle when you can work in Cancun, Punta Cana or Hanoi? Travel perks and international travel are offered by companies in nearly every industry enabling employees to fill their passport while being productive.

Whether you want to work in hospitality, communications, the armed services or sales, here are 8 cool companies with open roles that offer the chance to travel the world.  Polish your resume and grab your sunscreen — your next career adventure awaits!

Axis Communications
Exotic Destinations/Details: Axis Communications has a Kickoff Event once a year – most recently to the Bahamas, last two years in Cancun, before that Puerto Rico. Plus trips to Sweden within your first year for onboarding at HQ. Trip locations have included Jamaica, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Sweden, China & more.
What Roles: Distribution Account Manager, Solutions Engineer, Business Development Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist, Database Coordinator & more.
What Employees Say: “Benefits, optional travel, lenient staff, friendly employees, Bagel Fridays, tuition reimbursement, ability to work from home, guidance from managers, the list goes on!” —Current Employee

See Open Jobs 

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WeWork
Exotic Destinations/Details: With 320 offices in 62 countries, WeWork enables employees to work from Shanghai to Santa Monica. Employees also enjoy company events and retreats like WeWork Summer Camp and Summit, nightly programming for professional, educational, and social events in every city.
What Roles: Billing Associate, Real Estate Transaction Manage,r Enterprise Account Executive, Audio Visual Engineer, Community Lead, VP of Total Rewards & more.
What Employees Say: “I had outstanding and empathetic team-members. I love how chic the office spaces are. Makes coming into work more enticing. I was reasonably paid and since the company is still young, there are many opportunities to set yourself apart. I definitely took advantage of all the free food and coffee. I flew out to 4 major cities throughout my time there and Summer Camp was awesome.” —Former Member Technology Specialist

See Open Jobs 

3M
Exotic Destinations/Details: “Through our 3M Impact program, diverse teams of 3Mers travel to communities around the world. There, they spend two immersive weeks collaborating with a local nonprofit organization, social enterprise, or government agency to contribute to a solution for a pressing social or environmental issue.” Locations have included: Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia & more.
What Roles: Marketing Specialist, Area Sales Executive, Account Manager, Project Engineer, Financial Analyst, Senior Clinical Specialist & more.
What Employees Say: “3M is an outstanding company with a very strong innovative culture. I enjoyed my role there and really respected the people I worked with. They are well positioned for years to come. 3M prepared me for significant growth in my career and gave me a unique perspective of business development strategies.” —Current Key Account Manager

See Open Jobs 

Department of the Army
Exotic Destinations/Details: “Are you looking for a job where you will have opportunities to travel the world, work in a field that you are passionate about and have benefits for you and your family? Well, look no further. The U.S Army is now offering full time and part time jobs to people who want to do more with their life. You can make a career out of the U.S Army and retire in 20 years.”
What Roles: Foreign Language Teacher, Public Affairs Specialist, Aviation Operations, Cyber Operations Specialist, Aircraft Electrician & more.
What Employees Say: “Best career ever. Pros: The relationships and opportunities to travel and meet people. Also discovering new cultures.” —Former Employee

See Open Jobs 

Screen Shot 2018 03 25 at 11.25.53 AM

Airbnb
Exotic Destinations/Details: “Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 34,000 cities and 192 countries.” The company gives each employee a $2,000 travel coupon (or $500 every quarter) each year to use for seeking their own adventures in any of the over 34,000 cities that the company operates.
What Roles: Luxury Retreats Program Manager, Home Consultant/Property Inspector, Luxury Travel Advisor, Experience Expert, Public Policy Manager EU, Guest Experience Trainer, Trust and Risk Management Manager & more.
What Employees Say: “Beautiful office space, talented co-workers, amazing meals and perks (such as travel coupons). Founders are sincere and seem to really care about the culture – demonstrated with initiatives that engage all global employees once a year.” —Current Employee

See Open Jobs 

Lonely Planet
Exotic Destinations/Details: “Want to skydive in Ecuador? Travel on the cheap in Chile? Avoid getting devoured by Komodo dragons on your honeymoon? You’re not alone. Lonely Planet provides essential tools for the independent traveler, including published books and, very soon, a slew of sexy new apps and services.”
What Roles: Travel Writer (Freelance), Marketing Executive, Analytics Developer, Mobile QA Engineer, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Content Producer & more.
What Employees Say: “Lonely Planet is full of people who are passionate about travel and are determined to stay innovative. Executives are open to your ideas on how to move the company forward. Office culture is creative, fun, and laid back.” —Current Employee

See Open Jobs 

Screen Shot 2018 03 25 at 10.48.58 AM

Power Home Remodeling
Exotic Destinations/Details: At Power Home Remodeling, sales representatives are treated with monthly opportunities for performance-based rewards, such as luxury vacations, high-end electronics, gift cards and tickets to concerts and sporting events. Activities have included whitewater rafting, go-carting, concerts, pool parties, NBA games, golfing trips and hiking in destinations like Cancun, Colorado and beyond.
What Roles: Sales Representative, Project Manager, Special Events Intern, Staff Accountant, Inside Sales Representative, DevOps Engineer & more.
What Employees Say: “Power allowed me to move to the city of my choice. They gave me a relocation bonus. Power has amazing all inclusive trips to Mexico at the end of the year. Everyone is on the same team, and no one will go behind your back to improve their situation. Overall, since I started working here 4 years ago, they have delivered on all their promises.” —Current Pre-Install Inspection Manager

See Open Jobs 

NetJets
Exotic Destinations/Details: “NetJets operates more than 800 planes co-owned by its clients and offers its services in the US, Europe, and the Middle East.”
What Roles: Pilot, Contract Compliance and Operational Performance Specialist, Flight Coordinator, Fleet Supervisor, Aircraft Delivery & Resale Manager, International Trip Planning Customs Coordinator & more.
What Employees Say: “Incredible environment- collaborative employees, great benefits and compensation, and supportive, approachable leadership team. Employees have a great passion for the Company and are dedicated to the 20/20 Flight Plan which sets a great direction for the Company, employees and customers. This was not in place with previous management. The Company is clearly trying to establish expectations and direction for all employees and align them with something pretty great!” —Current Employee

See Open Jobs 

 

Glassdoor.com | March 26, 2018 | Posted by 

#BestofFSCBlog : Sixteen(16) #InterviewQuestions that are Designed to Trick You. Here are a Few Particularly Thorny Questions — and Some Suggestions on How to Answer Them.

Savvy hiring managers know exactly what to ask candidates. Sometimes, that means asking prospective employees seemingly simple questions.

These questions may seem innocuous at first, but they’re actually trying to get you to reveal information you may have been trying to conceal.

Hiring managers often love these queries. Used correctly, they break through the traditional interview noise and clutter to get to the raw you.

So it’s important to learn how to answer questions designed to trick you.

Here are a few particularly thorny questions — and some suggestions on how to answer them:

1- ‘Can you tell me about yourself?’

“The employer wants to hear that the candidate did their homework,” Tina Nicolai, executive career coach and founder of Resume Writers’ Ink, told Business Insider. “The interviewer is also listening for a level of confidence in how well the candidate portrays herself through the information that is communicated.”

So, how can such a straightforward question be a trap? Nicolai said that it’s important not to use this question as an opportunity to chat about your personal life. You need to focus on your potential value to the organization.

“The employer wants to hear about your achievements broken down into two or three succinct bullet answers that will set the tone of the interview,” Nicolai said.

Remember, what we tell people about us is what they hear. So stay sharp and convey your top strengths when answering this question.

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2- ‘How would you describe yourself in one word?’

With this question, interviewers are likely hoping to elicit several data points.

They want to know about your personality type, how confident you are in your self perception, and whether your work style is a good fit for the job, explained Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job

This question can be a challenge, particularly early on in the interview, because you don’t really know what personality type the manager is seeking.

“There is a fine line between sounding self-congratulatory versus confident, and humble versus timid,” Taylor told Business Insider. “And people are multifaceted, so putting a short label on oneself can seem nearly impossible.”

When in doubt, opt for the conservative route. For example, if your coworkers find you both hilarious and reliable, Taylor said to stay on the safe side and emphasize the latter trait.

But most of all, try to tailor your response to the role or organization in question.

“Most employers today are seeking team players that are levelheaded under pressure, upbeat, honest, reliable, and dedicated,” she added. “However, it would be a mistake to rattle off adjectives that you think will be well received. This is your opportunity to describe how your best attributes are a great match for the job as you see it.”

3- ‘How does this position compare to others you are applying for?’

They’re basically asking: “Are you applying for other jobs?”

“The hiring manager is first trying to figure out how active you are in your job search,” Nicolai said. The interviewer wants to see how you speak about other companies or positions that hold your interest — and how honest you are.

If you say, “This is the only job I’m applying for,” that’ll send up a red flag. Very few job applicants apply to only one job — so they may assume you’re being dishonest.

If you openly speak about other positions you’re pursuing, however, and you speak favorably about them, the hiring manager may see you as unattainable and pass.

“Speaking negatively about other jobs or employers isn’t good either,” she said.

It is appropriate to say, “There are several organizations with whom I am interviewing, however, I’ve not yet decided the best fit for my next career move.”

“This is positive and protects the competitors,” Nicolai said. “No reason to pit companies or to brag.”

4- ‘Can you name three of your strengths and weaknesses?’

The interviewer is looking for red flags and deal-breakers, such as an inability to work well with coworkers or an inability to meet deadlines.

“Each job has its unique requirements, so your answers should showcase applicable strengths, and your weaknesses should have a silver lining,” Taylor said. “At the very least, you should indicate that negative attributes have diminished because of positive actions you’ve taken.”

Exposing your weaknesses can hurt you if not ultimately turned into positives, she said.

“Your strengths may not align with the skill set or work style required for the job. It’s best to prepare for this question in advance, or risk landing in a minefield,” Taylor said.

And, as for strengths, Hiring managers want to know that they will be a direct asset to the new position.

But the most important thing is to be able to show the interviewer that you’re capable of well-thought-out self-reflection.

“They are also looking for your ability to self-assess with maturity and confidence,” Taylor said.

5- ‘Why do you want to work here?’

Interviewers ask this because they want to know what drives you the most, how well you’ve researched them, and how much you want the job.

“Clearly you want to work for the firm for several reasons,” Taylor said. “But just how you prioritize them reveals a lot about what is important to you.”

You may be thinking to yourself, “I’m not getting paid what I’m worth,” or, “I have a terrible boss,” or, “All things being equal, this commute is incredibly short” — none of which endears you to the hiring manager.

“You’re also being tested on your level of interest for the job,” she said.

Hiring managers want to see that you’ve taken the time to research the company and understand the industry.

They also want to know that you actually want this job (and not just any job); that you have a can-do attitude; that you are high energy; that you can make a significant contribution; that you understand their mission and goals; and that you want to be part of that mission.

6- ‘Why do you want to leave your current job?’

“Your prospective boss is looking for patterns or anything negative, especially if your positions are many and short-term,” Taylor said.

The interviewer may try to determine whether you have had issues working with others leading to termination, if you get bored quickly in a job, or other red flags.

So tread with caution. If you’re not diplomatic, your answer could raise further questions and doubts or sink your chances entirely.

The hiring manager is likely hoping you are seeking a more challenging position that is a better fit for your skill set, according to Taylor.

“Know that hiring managers don’t mind hearing that you’re particularly excited about the growth opportunity at their company,” Taylor said.

7- ‘What are you most proud of in your career?’

Interviewers want to understand what you’re passionate about, what you feel you excel at, and whether you take pride in your work.

“How you describe your favorite project, for example, is almost as important as the project itself,” Taylor said. “It’s assumed that if you can speak with conviction and pride about your past work, you can do the same during important presentations at the new employer.”

Managers may assume that this type of work is what you really want to do most or focus on in the future.

It can make you sound one-dimensional if you don’t put it in the context of a larger range of skills and interests.

Hiring managers want to see your ability to articulate well and foster enthusiasm in others, as well as your positive energy.

“But one note of caution: In all your zeal to share your successes, remain concise,” Taylor said. “You want to showcase your ability to present well once on the job.”

8- ‘What kind of boss and coworkers have you had the most and least success with, and why?’

The key to answering this question is staying cool.

You run the risk of appearing difficult by admitting to unsuccessful interactions with others, unless you keep emotions out of it.

Interviewers are trying to ascertain if you generally have conflicts with people and/or personality types.

“Secondarily, they want to know how you can work at your best,” Taylor said.

You may also inadvertently describe some of the attributes of your prospective boss.

“They want to hear more good than bad news,” Taylor said. “It’s always best to start out with the positive and downplay the negatives.”

You don’t want to be evasive, but this is not the time to outline all your personality shortcomings either.

This is an opportunity to speak generally about traits that you admire in others yet appear flexible enough to work with a variety of personality types.

For example: “I think I work well with a wide gamut of personalities. Some of my most successful relationships have been where both people communicated very well and set mutual expectations up front.”

9- ‘Have you ever considered being an entrepreneur?’

In most cases, this question gets at whether or not you’re planning to abandon ship and found your own company, Taylor said.

“No firm wants to sense this, as they will begin to ponder whether their valuable training time and money could vanish,” Taylor said.

Don’t get lured into talking about your one-time desire to be your own boss with too much perceived enthusiasm. An employer may fear that you still hope to eventually go out on your own and consider you a flight risk.

It’s okay to tell a prospective manager that you once considered entrepreneurship or have worked as an independent contractor.

Turn the experience into a positive by saying that you’ve already experienced it or thought about it, and it’s not for you.

That might be more convincing than saying, “No, I’ve never considered that.”

This is an opportunity to discuss why working in a corporate environment as part of a team is most fulfilling to you.

You may also enjoy the specialized work in your field more than the operational, financial, or administrative aspects of entrepreneurship.

You can further allay their fears by explaining exactly why their company appeals to you.

10- ‘If you could work for any company, where would you work?’

Hiring managers want to ascertain how serious you are about working for them in particular, versus the competition, as well as your level of loyalty, Taylor said.

“It also helps them weed out candidates who may veer from the core career,” Taylor said. “You may have heard that Google is a great place to work, but that off-road strategy would spell doom, as you’re being given the opportunity to theoretically work at your ‘dream job.'”

Basically, stay focused on the job at hand. Don’t get caught up in the casual flow of the discussion and inadvertently leak out your preference for a well-known firm.

“Your interviewer wants to know that you’re interviewing at your first company of choice,” Taylor said.

A response to this might be, “Actually, I’ve been heavily researching target firms, and [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][your company] seems like the ideal fit for my credentials,” Taylor said. “It’s exciting to me that [your company] is doing XYZ in the industry, for example, and I’d like to contribute my part.”

11- ‘Why were you laid off?’

“Employers want to know how you hold up under pressure and less fortunate circumstances such as job loss,” Nicolai said. “They want to hear that you are positive and ready to get back to work with a great attitude. They also want to hear a level of confidence — not defeat or anger.”

For starters, you may be bitter or angry about the layoff, and this question may prompt you to bad-mouth your former employer, which you never want to do in a job interview.

“Stay away from finger pointing, desperation, or portraying a victim,” she added.

Instead, talk about the business decision behind the layoff and keep your own feelings about the situation in check.

“Be sure to not cast blame or any discontent,” Nicolai said. “Stay on track with the facts as you know them.”

12- ‘What would you do if you won $5 million tomorrow?’

What’s the goal of this out-of-left-field question? The interviewer probably wants to know whether you would still work if you did not need the money.

They want to hear that you would continue working because you’re passionate about what you do — and they want to know you would make smart financial decisions.

If you would do something irresponsible with your own money, they’ll worry you’ll be careless with theirs.

Your response to this question tells the employer about your motivation and work ethic.

Your interviewer also might be testing your ability to handle a somewhat random question.

“They have nothing to do with the job at hand, and you may wonder if there is any significance to them,” Taylor said. “Whether there is or not, the fact remains that you can easily lose your cool if you don’t pause and gather your thoughts before you respond to a question like this.”

13- ‘Have you ever been asked to compromise your integrity by your supervisor or colleague? Tell us about it.’

Your prospective boss is evaluating your moral compass by asking how you handled a delicate situation that put your integrity to the test, Taylor said.

“They may also dig too deeply to test your level of discretion,” she said.

Essentially they want to know: Did you use diplomacy? Did you publicly blow the whistle? Did a backlash ensue? What was your thought process?

Interviewers want to know how you manage sensitive matters and are also wary of those who bad-mouth former employers, no matter how serious the misdeed.

“They will be concerned if you share too much proprietary information with the interviewer,” she said. “So it is tricky because you must carefully choose your words, using the utmost diplomacy.”

It’s wise to be clear, concise, and professional in your answer, without revealing any internal practices of prior employers.

“You have nothing to gain by divulging private corporation information,” Taylor said.

14- ‘Can you give us a reason someone may not like working with you?’

Prospective bosses want to know if there are any glaring personality issues, and what better way than to go direct to the source?

“They figure that the worst that can happen is you will lie, and they may feel they’re still adept at detecting mis-truths,” Taylor said. “The negative tone of the question is bound to test the mettle of even the most seasoned business professionals.”

But be careful. You can easily shoot yourself in the foot with this question.

If you flip and say, “I can’t think of a reason anyone wouldn’t like working with me,” you’re subtly insulting the interviewer by trivializing the question.

So you have to frame the question in a way that gets at the intent without being self-effacing. “Hiring managers are not seeking job candidates who have self-pity,” she said.

Taylor suggested leading with the positive: “‘Generally I’ve been fortunate to have great relationships at all my jobs.'”

“‘The only times I have been disliked — and it was temporary — was when I needed to challenge my staff to perform better,'” Taylor added. “‘Sometimes I feel we must make unpopular decisions that are for the larger good of the company.'”

15- ‘How did you make time for this interview? Where does your boss think you are right now?’

Hiring managers want to find out if your priorities are in the right place: current job first, interviews second.

“They know that the habits you follow now speak to your integrity and how you will treat your job at their company should you undertake a future job search,” Taylor said. “They also want to know how you handle awkward situations where you cannot be truthful to your boss. Ideally your interview is during a break that is your time, which is important to point out.”

The implication is, “How is it searching for a job behind your boss’ back?” For most employed job seekers, it’s uncomfortable to lie about their whereabouts.

So they’re vague and treat it like any other personal matter they handle on their time.

It’s wise to explain that you always put your job first, and schedule interviews before or after work, at lunchtime, during weekends if appropriate, and during personal time off.

If asked pointedly, “Where does your boss think you are right now?” be vague.

Don’t say: “I took a sick day.” Instead, Taylor suggested you try something like: “My boss understands that I have certain break periods and personal time — he doesn’t ask for details. He’s most interested in my results.”

16- ‘Tell me about a time you disagreed with a company policy’

The hiring manager is attempting to determine a number of things with this query.

Namely, your decision-making ability, ease of working with others, and most importantly, whether you will speak up after identifying an area in need of improvement.

“To say, ‘I’ve never disagreed with a company policy’ is tough to believe from even the most amenable employee,” Nicolai said. “This also sends a message that you may just accept anything that you are told to do without thinking through all possible outcomes.”

While companies want leaders and employees to follow the rules, they also want people who are going to review potential outdated policies and have the courage to push back and propose changes to maintain a current, competitive edge and productive workplace.

So offer up a real situation that points out a logical and business reason that you were in opposition of a policy, she suggested.

“Focus on how your idea to rework the policy was beneficial to the company as a whole,” Nicolai said. “Speak up on the research that you conducted, the facts that you presented, and the outcome of your attempts to have the policy rewritten.”

Jacquelyn Smith contributed to a previous version of this article.

 

Businessinsider.com | March 27, 2018 |  

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Your #Career : How To Tell The Difference Between A Career Pivot And A Distraction…When you’re Unhappy at Work, Quitting for Something Else can be Tempting. But here’s How to Tell If you’re Chasing a Rabbit or Heading Down the Right Path.

Rather than look for a new job, Chon put her energy into volunteering at Dawg Squad, a Los Angeles rescue organization, taking head shots of dogs to help them get adopted. The photos became so popular that pet owners asked Chon to photograph their dogs, and eventually ad agencies sought out her work, too.

Chon soon realized that her side hustle wasn’t just a distraction from her full-time job, but an opportunity for a purpose-driven career pivot into pet photography. “I realized I was at a crossroads when I started have to turn down opportunities because I had a day job,” Chon says. “I started to think, What would happen if I could put 100% of my attention into this side business?”

BE INTENTIONAL

What makes Chon’s experience a successful pivot is she deliberately moved toward something, not away from something, says Alison Cardy, career coach and author of Career Grease: How to Get Unstuck and Pivot Your Career.  When you only focus on moving away from something, such as a job you don’t like or career that doesn’t satisfy you, you’re more likely to jump into something that is familiar and feels secure, such as going back to school or starting a business, and that can be a big distraction, Cardy says.

It’s important to take time to understand what you want from your career, and to consider whether you know what you want to do, or if you’re feeling stymied. “If you know what you want, by all means, go for it,” Cardy says. “But if you’re feeling stuck or confused, that is a good signal that it would be helpful to bring in some support.” But, she says, if you seek assistance from a career coach, be sure he or she specializes in helping people figure out what they want to do, not the just how to navigate the nuts and bolts of a job search, because if you don’t know where you are going, all that information won’t be helpful.

 

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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APPLY REVERSE ENGINEERING

We often confuse passion and purpose, says Melissa Bradley, managing director of Project 500. “You might be passionate about something, but will it get you to your goal?” she asks. And what exactly is your goal? Rather than using an activity to determine your goal, Bradley recommends using metrics to define what will change externally when you reach your goal. Bradley started her career working with low-income families in Washington, D.C., and transitioned into policy work but found she couldn’t make as large of an impact on bringing equity and equality to people of color. “Policy work was a distraction,” she admits, noting she is back to working directly with community members. She helps them receive the training and support they need to advance their businesses and improve their communities.

STAY LASER FOCUSED

Distractions are all around us, and it’s easy to follow a job opportunity that looks or sounds good down a rabbit trail, even when it’s not the right fit for us, says Robb Holman, founder and CEO of Holman International and author of Lead the Way. “You want to make the best career decision that is the most efficient and effective use of your time,” he says. Before pursuing a new opportunity, he recommends asking these five questions:

1. Does it help me achieve my priorities?
2. How much time and effort will this take?
3. Will it help me to gain new skills or improve existing skills?
4. Will this opportunity evolve into something I truly want to do?
5. What is the short-term and long-term payoff?

If your answers to these questions aren’t all positive, it might be best to let that opportunity pass, he says.

DISTRACTIONS AREN’T ALL BAD

Don’t discount every distraction, warns Tracey Adams, PhD, founder of ThriveOn Seminars. “Career development isn’t linear anymore,” she says. “You don’t move up, you move to different organizations.” If you’re unsure about your next career move, Adams recommends asking yourself what brought you joy to do as a child.

For instance, when Nerea Gibson, a molecular biologist working in the biotech industry, found she couldn’t get into a PhD program, she went back to an early interest, fashion design, and started designing wallets and bags as a respite from everything else in her life. Gibson decided to leave her full-time job when she realized she was putting equal amounts of energy into her design work as her full-time job. “The passion, design, and potential were too great for me to ignore,” Gibson says. She started her company Aeren Waters last year and was invited to present her designs at London Fashion Week last fall.

We can label distractions as bad, or we can label them as getting more information about who we are today, says Adams.

 

 

FastCompany.com | March 27, 2018 | BY LISA RABASCA ROEPE 4 MINUTE READ

Your #Career : On Thin Ice ( #JobTermination) ? …. Have you Ever Wondered If you Were on Thin Ice at Work? You are Doing your Job, Contributing to the Company and Even get Good #PerformanceReviews . But Something is Different.

Have you ever wondered if you were on thin ice at work? You are doing your job, contributing to the company and even get good performance reviews.  But something is different.  You can feel it, but you can’t quite pinpoint it. Maybe you were left out of a meeting. Or someone made an odd remark to you.  You wonder if you’re being paranoid, if you are making a mountain out of a molehill.

To write my book, “Fired:  How to Manage Your Career in the Age of Job Uncertainty” I interviewed 65 people who lost their jobs.  I asked them if they saw it coming.  The vast majority of them said they were completely shocked.  Then, I asked them if looking back, they could see some of the signs.   With hindsight being 20/20, many of them were able to identify warning signs that their jobs were in jeopardy.

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One of the biggest signs was changes in interaction patterns at work.  For examples, meetings were canceled or removed from their calendars.  Co-workers avoided them or cut conversations short. There were even out of the blue comments like “Are you still here?”  or “I hope you quit before I have to fire you.”  Most of the time, the people I interviewed said they  brushed off the comments and kept working.  But in hindsight, they could see that these were signs they were about to be let go.

The unfortunate reality is that many people are aware of an impending termination before the employee is told.  Human resources, security, information technology, the supervisor’s manager may be notified  that the dismissal is coming.  Sometimes word leaks out and others become aware.

Knowing someone is about to be let go is awkward.  It’s hard to “act normal.”  People generally don’t want to be fake or lie, so they avoid.  Others make nervous jokes.

The lesson here is: Pay attention to changes in interaction patterns at work and listen to that little voice inside of you telling you something is wrong.  Then develop an exit strategy and a back up plan in case you need them. 

Dr. Nancy Koury King is a guest author on the FSC Career Blog (https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/) & is a participating member of the FSC LinkedIn Networkwww.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork ) . 

As mentioned above, her publication of the book, “Fired:  How to Manage Your Career in the Age of Job Uncertainty”  & is available on Amazon below.

https://www.amazon.com/Fired-manage-your-career-uncertainty/dp/1978407130

 

FSC Career Blog (https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog)  | March 25, 2018

Your #Career : What #Recruiters Pay Attention To When They Look At Your #SocialMedia …Great REad!

You probably already know recruiters are looking at your LinkedIn page, but what about your other social media platforms? You know, the ones where you post pictures of your latest vacation, share what you had for dinner and occasionally tag your friends in memes. Why, you might wonder, would a recruiter possibly be interested in viewing things like that?

As it turns out, those personal details are precisely why recruiters and hiring managers keep tabs on applicants’ social media accounts, says career coach Hallie Crawford. “It can help them get a more accurate idea about who you are outside of your resume–a more personal view into your life,” she explains. “A resume can tell them your qualifications, but your social media profile can help them determine your personality type and if you would be a good fit for company culture.


Related:How To Tidy Up Your Digital Footprint Before Your First Job Search 


Plus, recruiters are looking for red flags–risqué photos, bad language, signs of drugs use–that would show them you’d be a less than ideal man or woman to have in their offices.

So now that you know why they’re looking, how about knowing what they’re looking at?

FACEBOOK

According to Crawford, recruiters and hiring managers are concentrating their efforts on two sections of your Facebook page–your “about me” section, and your photo albums.

About Me: “They will want to see how you describe yourself and if it matches up [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][with] how you have described yourself in your cover letter and resume,” Crawford says. Any discrepancies could cost you points pre-interview. What’s more, Crawford says, “they will also be looking for proper spelling and grammar” in this section, to see how seriously you take those skills.

Photos: When it comes to your photos albums, “a hiring manager will be checking not only your photos but also your descriptions,” Crawford warns. “A hiring manager wants to see if you represent yourself in a professional way.” To come off in the most positive pre-meeting light, “you will want to avoid using profanity, sexual or drug references,” Crawford says.


Related:Here’s How To Use Social Media At Every Stage Of Your Career 


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TWITTER

Who You’re Following: “Recruiters like to see if you have any mutual connections and if you are connected with others in your industry,” Crawford explains. Following others in your industry is a smart thing to do no matter what–watching their feeds can give you a scoop on a new job opening, company announcements, the latest tech and much more.

Tweets: “Recruiters will be checking to see if you share useful information, if you share information relevant to your trade or if you just use tweets to fight with others,” Crawford says. If you’re applying for a job, take a look at your tweeting history and consider deleting anything that won’t show your best–and most thoughtful self to a potential employer.


Related:This Is What Recruiters Look For On Your LinkedIn Profile


INSTAGRAM

Followers: Recruiters will check out the kind of followers you attract, Crawford says. Plus, they’ll want to see “how friendly and social you seem to be with your followers,” she says. What you say to them and what you say back, she explains, “can also give them insight [into] your personal relationships and if you would be a good cultural fit for the company.”

Pictures: You probably figured this, right? But recruiters are looking to see more than your photography skills (or lack thereof). “They will want to see how you represent yourself,” Crawford says. For example, “if you are at a party, do you represent yourself in a dignified way?” Crawford asks, or, “do you post things that others would consider inappropriate?”


This article originally appeared on Glassdoor and is reprinted with permission. 

 

 

FastCompany.com | March 26, 2018 | BY JILLIAN KRAMER—GLASSDOOR 3 MINUTE READ

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Your #Career : #OlderWorkers – How to Manage a #PhoneInterview & Not to Sound “Old” …..You Need to Know Two Things. One, How to Present Yourself Well in General in a Phone Interview. And, Two, How Not to Sound “Old.”

Your cover letter and resume did the trick. You have an interview. But it’s by phone. That’s your first experience with being checked out on the phone instead of in-person.

You need to know two things. One, how to present yourself well in general in a phone interview. And, two, how not to sound “old.”

In a phone interview the burden is on you to create through your voice, words, and pacing the kind of professional that organization wants to hire.

That means you have to do research on its culture.

If it’s a fast-paced hard-charging startup, for instance, that’s what you have to mirror. An interview is really a sales call. What successful salespeople do is mirror, that is, they simulate everything about the prospect.

The most common mistakes in a phone interview are:

  • Talking too fast. Therefore, practice with a recording device maintaining a normal conversational pace.
  • Finishing the interviewers’ sentences and interrupting. That comes from being nervous. To control anxiety position and package this particular interview as “practice.” In time, you will get better. That’s why you should grab all the interviews you can. You need as much practice as possible.
  • Volunteering damaging information. That too comes from being nervous. In the courtroom and in a job interview, don’t go beyond the scope of the question. If the interviewer asks what you are doing now, say doing consulting assignments for ManPower, for instance. Don’t say you have been laid off for 18 months.
  • Not listening. Instead of focusing on what the interviewer is saying you are in your own head. To stay tracked with the conversation take pen-and-paper notes.
  • Not asking questions. Asking questions demonstrates you have given careful thought to what the job is about. Not asking questions signals indifference.

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Okay, now how do you not present yourself as “old?” From the moment of conception, everyone of us is aging. But not one of us has to become “old.” You can prevent being perceived as “old.”

Here are 5 tips for maintaining your phone presentation as youthful:

  • Stick to recent experiences and accomplishments. It’s useful to rehearse talking about them before the phone call. No, don’t mention the award you won 15 years ago for increasing sales 25%.
  • Highlight what you are currently working on. If out of work you should be involved in some project. It could be consulting, writing an article for publication, operating a paid-subscription newsletter, or doing temp assignments. Having work gets you work.
  • Use the in lingo in your field. To ensure you know it, monitor trade publications about your field. Outdated language will knock you out of the box.
  • Don’t apologize for your age. A typical example is saying, “I can still work 18 hour days even though I am 50 years old.” It is illegal for the interviewer to introduce age into the conversation. So, you don’t do it either.
  • Ask if you can make recommendations. That demonstrates initiative. You ask to indicate you’re not going to come in and take the place over. You must signal you understand who has the power.

As you would with an in-person interview, follow up this one with a thank you note. Yes, it should be transmitted online. It probably will get to the wrong desk if sent snail mail. Be specific in what you learned during the interview which made you want the job even more. Explicitly say that you look forward to hearing from the organization again.

For more insight on how to get what you want/need after the age of 50, you can download my new book. No charge.  Download Over50ebookpioneersinwildwildwest

Coaching on all aspects of aging, from careers to retirement. Complimentary consultation. Sliding scale fees. Please contact aging expert Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com

 

FSC Career Blogs | March 25, 2018 | Jane Genova 

Your #Career : How To Sell Yourself For A Job When You’re #Overqualified …Sometimes Being Too Experienced can Work Against You. Here’s What you Can Do to Prevent that from Happening.

When it comes to job searching, we often hear how difficult it can be for recent graduates, who are somehow expected to have years of experience straight out of school, to even be considered for an entry-level position. What happens when the situation is reversed, and your years of experience begin to work against you? How can job seekers set themselves up for success when recruiters keep telling them they are overqualified for positions they’re interested in?

Hiring managers might challenge you by saying you’ll be bored and leave for a better-suited position, or your compensation expectations won’t be met.

In these situations, your context will influence your course of action. Let’s examine what you can do when you’re considered to be overqualified.


Related:Why The Next Person You Hire Should Be Overqualified

Here, you must explain your motivation for applying to a position that you might seem “overqualified” for on paper. Highlight “how the organization can benefit from your experience, and how taking this position can advance your own skill set,” says Alan Zelnicker, executive recruiter. If the job scope is more narrow and the compensation is less than your old position, you must emphasize what you can contribute in terms of added value and what you can get from the role.

How to respond: Make an important mind shift

Going into any interview, you should always project confidenceand take on the mind-set that recruiters are getting a great deal from you, rather than going in feeling like you’re overqualified for the job. You have to drive the power seat and never feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick. Instead, adopt the mind-set that any company would be lucky to have you! Without seeming arrogant, remind recruiters that the learning curve involved with your onboarding will be cut in half, leaving you more time to learn the organization, and giving you a competitive edge.

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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How to respond: Re-evaluate compensation

Managing expectations around compensation is a separate conversation. You need to be realistic and accept that sometimes you’ll need to take a step back. Whenever possible, make a direct touch point with the hiring manager over the phone to talk about compensation. This way, you can form a personal connection, and you can articulate all that you have to offer. As mentioned before, what is the win-win negotiation for you that makes taking a pay cut worthwhile?


Related:How To Land Your Dream Job When You Feel “Overpriced” For It 


SITUATION NO. 2: YOU’RE SWITCHING CAREERS/INDUSTRIES

How to respond: Highlight your new career path

It is not uncommon for people to switch industries or careers. In fact, millennials report switching jobs four times in their first 10 years out of school. When working with recruiters, highlight any new credentials you’ve earned to demonstrate your commitment toward this new path you’re taking. Emphasize your desire to learn and retrain to create a new path forward for yourself.

How to respond: emphasize the rudimentary

Though you may have 20 years of experience in one field, you must demonstrate to recruiters that you’re ready to check your ego at the door and learn about a whole new world. That being said, relevant and rudimentary skills can always be transferable and should be considered as your added value.

How to respond: know your worth

When discussing salary, make sure to mention that you’ve done your research, you’re aware of the industry standards, and are comfortable with what these types of roles typically offer.

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”–Japanese proverb

What not to do: The worst thing you could do is tell a recruiter you’ll take anything just to get a job. Though this often may be the truth, people want to see that you possess the right enthusiasm and fit for the role. You must always sell your skills and highlight how you are the perfect candidate for the job.


Related:Try These Resume Templates For Every Stage Of Your Career 


Your resume: If you’re having trouble getting through the door and you think your resume might be the culprit, there are some workarounds to try:

  1. If your resume demonstrates work dating back more than 10 years, consider consolidating your experienceand only keeping what is still relevant today
  2. If you have multiple designations and education, consider only keeping what is relevant to the jobyou’re applying for and removing anything that is redundant
  3. Consider reformatting your resume in a way that tells a new story

If you can demonstrate how a role will help you develop, and show how you can be an asset, then don’t let a recruiter persuade you that you’re overqualified! Remember, you need to maintain your confidence throughout the process and let your resiliency guide you as you continue your search.


This article originally appeared on Glassdoor and is reprinted with permission. 

 

FastCompany.com | March 23, 2018 | BY STACY POLLACK—GLASSDOOR 3 MINUTE READ

 

Your #Career : 5 Reasons You’re Not Hearing Back from #Recruiters (Prospective Company)……There is So Much About the Recruitment Process that is Beyond Any of your Control. Control the Parts of the Process that you Can, and Take the Rest in Stride!

Not hearing back from recruiters can chip away at our confidence and motivation to continue a job search.

Rather than getting discouraged, let’s look at some common reasons recruiters might not be calling you back and discuss your possible course of action to see better results. 

1. Your Resume

Your resume is the first critical step to getting you through the door. Some common resume mistakes include: 

Format: Color, pictures, funky fonts, wasted white space, misaligned paragraphs, and inconsistency all create an unfriendly experience for a recruiter

Grammar: 58% of recruiters will automatically dismiss a candidate over typos. Make sure to always print your resume out and have someone read it over! 

Content: Your professional story and accomplishments should stand out immediately on your resume. If the bullet points are not relevant to the job, it will serve as a distraction. 

Consider your resume as a marketing piece that is constantly evolving. Don’t wait until you are unemployed to build your rockstar resume, as this should be a continuous practice. 

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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2. Your LinkedIn Profile 

Think of your LinkedIn profile as an extension of your resume, and landing page for recruiters to see what you’re all about. When it comes to LinkedIn, two red flags for recruiters include:

  • Having an incomplete or unprofessional LinkedIn page: Your profile is a reflection of your personal brand. Having a sloppy, incomplete, or unprofessional page will leave a bad first impression with a recruiter. 
  • When your resume and LinkedIn don’t align: If the dates and titles on your LinkedIn don’t match up, this will raise concerns with recruiters and make them question your level of detail, or how truthful you’ve been about your work experiences. 

Make sure your LinkedIn profile has a dynamic headline with up to date and accurate information. Like your resume, it must be perfectly formatted, with a professional headshot, and no typos! Highlight your achievements and make sure your skills are listed. There are so many ways to up your LinkedIn game, so don’t miss out on this low hanging fruit! 

3. You’re not qualified

Unfortunately, you simply might not be qualified for the job you’ve applied to. It’s possible that not all the criteria required for the job was not listed, or the needs of the job have changed. Take the time to properly evaluate the position and consider if there is a strong enough alignment between your credentials and job requirements. 

If you’re not qualified on paper, but know you could still add value to the organization through this position, you can always try bypassing the recruiter by reaching out directly to the hiring manager through LinkedIn. This way, you can sell yourself directly to the decision makers and demonstrate how your work has consistently led to successful outcomes.

4. The job was put on hold

Candidates can often make it far down the interview process before the organization decides to put the job on hold. Reasons for this can vary from lack of internal agreement about the role, hiring freezes, or changing needs of the organization. 

Ideally, the recruiter should communicate any changes, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. There is not much you can do besides follow up with the recruiter and tactfully ask for an update. 

5. An offer was made to another candidate

The competition for most jobs is fierce! Typically, a recruiter will consider a handful of candidates before narrowing it down to one person. Additionally, an internal applicant might have appeared and been given preference for the role. 

6. Your interview didn’t go as well as you thought 

Evaluating ourselves and our performance objectively is quite challenging, even for the best and the brightest of us. Think back to your interview, and really reflect on how things went. 

The only way to really make sure you’re performing at your best is to prepare, prepare, and prepare! Ask for feedback whenever possible or consider having a friend do a mock-interview with you. Constructive criticism is important and the sooner you understand where you’re going wrong, the sooner you can make improvements! 

There is so much about the recruitment process that is beyond any of our control. Though it can feel like a personal hit when a recruiter ignores your efforts, remember that a big organization can receive up to 900 applications for a single job posting. Control the parts of the process that you can, and take the rest in stride! 

 

Stacy Pollack is a Learning Specialist with an MA in educational technology. She is passionate about building leadership programs that engage and contribute to the success of her organization. She loves to share her perspective on job hunting, career building, and networking for success. Connect with her onLinkedIn or Twitter.

GlassDoor.com | March 20, 2018 | Stacy Pollack

Your #Career : 7 Ways To Make It Easier For #Recruiters To Skim Your #Resume …Recruiters Rarely Read your Resume from Start to Finish. Follow these Tips in Order to Grab their Attention Right Away.

It’s easy to think that after all the work you’ve put into perfecting your resume, recruiters will at least spend the time thoroughly reading it from start to finish. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case. Recruiters are generally very busy. 

Resume-writing blogger and long-time recruiter Steve Wang says, “During my more busy weeks, sometimes I have to fill as many as 15 positions at once, and when each position gets over 100 applicants, I can only afford to spend a minute or two on each resume.”

So, like anyone faced with a whole lot to do, recruiters take shortcuts. Instead of looking through every single application carefully, they’ll simply skim through each resume to see which ones might be worth taking a closer look at. Because of this, it’s crucial that even a quick glance at your resume will leave readers awestruck. With this in mind, here are some techniques you can dish out to make your resume super easy for recruiters to skim through and understand.


Related:Here’s Exactly What To Put On Your Resume To Land An Interview


USE STANDARD HEADINGS

I get it, you want to get fancy with your headings to stand out from the pack, but doing so can have the unintended consequence of making your resume way harder to skim. Recruiters are used to reading the same old headers over and over again. If you change “Work Experience” to “Work Background,” that can throw off a recruiter’s rhythm–even by just a little. So when it comes to resume headings, stick with what is tried and true.

DIGITIZE YOUR NUMBERS

When it’s time to decide whether to spell out numbers on your resume, you might find yourself in a dilemma where you’re unsure whether to use APA or MLA style rules to approach this common concern. While it’s great that you’re paying attention to this type of detail, it’s a lot simpler than you think. Just write your numbers as digits to make information like numerical achievements nice and easy to spot. Whether you follow APA or MLA protocol is the least of anyone’s concerns here.

Related:Exactly How To Format And Save Your Resume (And Why It Matters) 


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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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LIST ALL YOUR SKILLS SEPARATELY

Some job applicants like to intertwine their skills with their job experience. If they used skills A, B, and C while working for Job X, they’ll mention those skills in the same section of the resume that describes the job. While this is certainly a fine way to format your resume, it’s still important to have a separate section that lists out all your skills in their entirety.

USE SHORT BULLET POINTS

One to two lines is an okay length for bullet points. If they get any longer, not only will your resume become more difficult to understand, but it can also hint that you’re trying to get at too many different things at once. Instead, keep your bullet points short, sweet, and to the point.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEMPLATE

Some resume templates do a far better job than others at making your content aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand. Make sure that the template you use is taking full advantage of techniques like bolding, USING ALL CAPS, italics, underlining, and even colors to make information like job titles, company names, and dates more distinguishable from one another.

Here’s what I mean:

Job title, Company Name, New York, NY May 2016–Present

This would be considered hard to read. While everything is bolded and italicized to differentiate the entire line from the rest of the resume, individually, the job title, company name, location, and date are hard to distinguish.

Job titleCompany Name, NEW YORK, NY May 2016–Present

Here the formatting is far superior. The job title, company name, location, and date all have their own unique style, which makes everything much easier to discern.

If you’re ever unsure about whether a particular resume template might be easier to skim than another, simply test them out by skimming them yourself.

ALIGN DATES TO THE RIGHT

Keeping all your dates to the right allows you to create a clear timeline of your resume. If a recruiter wants to check to see if you have any work gaps, all the recruiter needs to do is look over to the right and all the dates will be lined up as clear as day.


Related:Add This To Your Resume After Deleting Your “Objective” Statement


BEGIN EACH JOB DESCRIPTION WITH A SUMMARY

In some cases, even though each individual bullet point on a resume may be easy to comprehend, sometimes they don’t paint a clear picture of the job applicant collectively when put together. This difficulty is exacerbated when bullet points describe assorted one-off achievements at a particular job. To alleviate this issue, it’s often a good idea to use your first bullet point to give a short summary describing what the core of your job is all about. This way, recruiters can better contextualize how your later bullet points fit into the bigger picture of what you do.

Getting recruiters to thoroughly read your resume is a luxury you have to earn. By making your resume more skimmable for recruiters, you’ll position yourself as a strong candidate worthy of being taken seriously.


This post originally appeared on Glassdoor and is reprinted with permission.

 

 

FastCompany.com | March 22, 2018 | BY PETER YANG—GLASSDOOR 4 MINUTE READ