Are you looking to change industries in 2019? A recent college grad? If you are, you may want to take a look at this list from Career Builder of the 20 industries anticipating big growth! https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/the-list-20-industries-expected-to-have-huge-job-growth-through-2019.
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Drum roll please… I am stepping out of my comfort zone.
Again.
Not so far out as the vlog, but intended in the same spirit. Here is where I thank all my wonderful friends, clients and family for the encouragement and great counsel.
Again.
Today I am growing my community and launching a group page, Resume Central. You can read the group description for yourself, but, in a nutshell, I am hoping it will be a supportive and uplifting group. In my heart of hearts it is a positive place for professionals to commiserate and share wise counsel based on their experiences. Zero judgement.
Of course, I will share what I know about the industry, answer your questions, share industry factoids, my blog / vlog – and anything else I can to support you in your professional endeavors.
Looking forward to having you join us!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461959227636089/?source_id=482220901902592
Click on the link above and then on the “Visit Group” button in top, right of the page below the banner.
My answer to this question is, “Yes.” I can say this without knowing what industry you are targeting for your career search, because I am confident in my ability to conduct quality keyword research and my knowledge of the resume industry. And really, in the resume game, keyword research is everything! Remember just a few blog/vlogs ago when we talked about the power of ATS as a first line of defense for hiring managers. ATS eliminates over 50% of candidates without their resume ever being seen.
Keyword research and inclusion in a visually appealing, well-formatted (in other words, professionally written) resume enhance your chances of being seen, therefore considered, by 40% by hiring managers. Beyond keyword research, you want someone who is going to make a deep dive into your career history. Learning my clients’ story is an honor that translates, for me as a resume writer, into a customized format and highest quality content for each client.
So, while a resume writer specializing in an industry – as long as keyword research is current and in-depth – can certainly be a benefit to a candidate, the better question to ask is, “How good are you at research?”
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What do we mean, in the hiring / resume/ career – world when we talk about continuing education? I am sure the answers vary from individual to individual, but for the most part, and in most cases, you will find that continuing education doesn’t just refer to degrees held. Stop underselling yourself relative to your training and lose the humbleness. Consider your career, past and current, as well as all those courses your employer may have required of or offered you.
When I begin working with a client I want to know every training, course, certificate and workshop they have ever taken. Sure, some of these will not make it to the resume, but you would be surprised at what “golden nuggets” people leave off their resume. For the most part, each of these courses will not only enhance the hard achievements included in your resume, but it communicates (subliminally) your commitment to ongoing learning and professional development. The subliminal things your resume communicates can be pretty important when it comes down to you and the average 4 additional candidates being considered for a given position.
My advice regarding continuing education? Soak it up! You invest your time, your talent and work product in your company, let your company, current or future, invest in you and your professional development. Take advantage of any training programs they offer. It looks great on your resume!
For those of you transitioning industries and worried that you don’t have every one of the certifications listed in the pie-in-the-sky position description? Or for those of you whose current employer does not invest in their employee’s professional development, consider the many free online learning courses out there. To help you along, here is a list, provided by Mashable, of free online resources available to you https://mashable.com/2015/10/13/free-online-classes/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-pete-link#qreItOgL3sqJ . Don’t be afraid to do your own research if these don’t appeal to you.
Bottom line, investing the time, if not the money, in your professional development is worth the investment. Every time.
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These days hiring managers must be savvier than ever. The hundreds of submissions for consideration for each open position posted mandates that human resources professionals use any and every available tool to help them manage the barrage. We know applicant tracking systems (ATS) are a wonderful first line of defense – eliminating over 50% of online submissions.
One of the most overlooked tools hiring managers have at their disposal is social media. Candidates need to be aware of, clean up, and manage their personal brand. More than 73% of companies are using social media to recruit, screen and hire candidates. Conversely, over 70% of employers turn down candidates due to something negative found online.
Employers need any edge they can get in the current hiring game. Social media allows them to further sift through and eliminate candidates from that extensive pile. If you want a shot at being one of the average 5 out of hundreds of candidates earning an interview, you need to make sure your online presence / personal brand is a positive representation of who you are as a person and potential candidate.
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(Credit to TopResume for statistics included in this article).
We know numbers are great to use in resumes for a plethora of reasons. Numbers demonstrate measurable results, showcase achievements and quickly communicate your abilities in a quantitative way that, hopefully, catches the eye of the hiring manager in that initial 60 second review of your resume – after it makes it through those pesky applicant tracking systems.
The numbers I want to talk to you about are the percentages. Out of the 20% of jobs posted online (that’s right, according to TopResume, 80% of jobs are not posted online), 50% of candidates are eliminated from consideration by applicant tracking systems. It’s all about keywords and quality keyword research, my friends.
There is a silver lining, however, for the more than 50% of people currently employed and considering a new career. A professionally written resume gives you 40% greater chance of being seen. Imagine that percentage increasing as you focus your career search and allow your resume writer to refine that keyword research… Not only that, but resume services are tax deductible. Win and won.
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(Credit to Wendi Weiner at Forbes and TopResume for statistics included in this article).
Absolutely! I am a big fan of using available resources and not recreating the wheel.
I would advise you to use caution when downloading templates from the internet. One of the advantages of hiring a resume writer is that you get fresh keyword research based on your industry and target position. If you don’t understand keywords and their importance in getting you through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), I recommend that you hire a resume writer.
As we have talked about, ATS is self-defense for hiring managers and the huge amount of resume submissions they receive. Their objective is to filter out unqualified candidates based on keywords. Your goal is to make it through ATS to the interview phase, where you win over the interviewer(s) and get the job. Keywords are critically important to getting your foot in the door. If you aren’t getting calls for interviews, there is a good chance you aren’t using the proper key words for the role you are applying for.
Another important word of caution is relative to formatting. Be sure that any templates you download are using current industry standards. The format, content and keyword standards are constantly changing. So, again, if you are not comfortable determining current resume formatting and relative keyword research, I encourage you to hire a resume writer.
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What a great, thought-provoking article from Money this morning. While it seems counter-intuitive, metropolitan areas are not the best places to go for work due to the high cost of living. Time to begin considering the lifestyle you want and where that means you need to live, prior to your career search. Read the article to learn more – >
People, we have lost the art of true relationship building. In the professional world, we call this networking. While nothing can take the place of face-to-face relational exchange, LinkedIn is a powerful tool in any career search. Many people tend to overlook the power of LinkedIn (and a strong social media presence/personal brand) in searching for a new career. I have heard that LinkedIn is dying out… Yet, I continue to receive job offers and clients through it, as do my clients.
In point of fact, prior to launching Your Resume Writer, I was recruited away from my last three brick-and-mortar positions through LinkedIn. One, after the other, after the other. Particularly for those that are short on time, LinkedIn is a tool you should make a point to invest that little time in. Complete your profile. Be thorough. Build your skills section. Ensure your profile matches your resume – with the exception of the “summary” statement. (Your summary statement should now be written in the first person and highlight your most prominent achievements).
Most important of all, connect, connect, connect! Connect to your counterparts, past and present. Connect to your clients, vendors and supervisors. Don’t be afraid to “invite” them to complete a recommendation for you. Once you have taken the time to do these things, you can choose to sit back and let the tool work for you – Or, take a proactive role in searching open positions and keeping an eye on organizations and opportunities that are attractive to you.
Finally, we all know we can join local chamber and business networking groups for opportunities to develop relationships. We have talked about this before, but as a reminder, don’t forget about the power of becoming a volunteer. Volunteering is such a strong opportunity. Not only do you have the potential to gain new skills, you gain new (and sometimes, influential) contacts. Let’s not forget the real possibility of sliding into those open positions as they come available.
Please remember to make networking a part of your career path and career search plans.
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I know. I know. It’s been a while.
I can’t think of a better reason to break my blogging hiatus than to take these few stolen moments to share with you the latest “jobs report”. For those of you looking, this should hearten you. There are more jobs available, in more industries – and these numbers continue to climb. As do wages.
So, while it never feels good to be at that in-between place where you are out of work and looking, or just looking for a better opportunity, the opportunities are out there.
Remember, don’t grab at the first offer you receive. Test the waters, vet the employer and DO NOT SETTLE for less than you deserve!
Here’s a snapshot from the USDOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics “Employment Situation Summary”:
Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 in March, following a large
gain in February (+326,000). In March, employment grew in manufacturing, health
care, and mining. (See table B-1.)
In March, employment in manufacturing rose by 22,000, with all of the gain in the
durable goods component. Employment in fabricated metal products increased over
the month (+9,000). Over the year, manufacturing has added 232,000 jobs; the durable
goods component accounted for about three-fourths of the jobs added.
In March, health care added 22,000 jobs, about in line with its average monthly
gain over the prior 12 months. Employment continued to trend up over the month in
ambulatory health care services (+16,000) and hospitals (+10,000).
Employment in mining increased by 9,000 in March, with gains occurring in support
activities for mining (+6,000) and in oil and gas extraction (+2,000). Mining
employment has risen by 78,000 since a recent low in October 2016.
Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up in March
(+33,000) and has risen by 502,000 over the year.
Retail trade employment changed little in March (-4,000), after increasing by
47,000 in February. In March, employment declined by 13,000 in general merchandise
stores, offsetting a gain of the same size in February. Over the year, employment
in retail trade has shown little net change.
In March, employment in construction also changed little (-15,000), following a
large gain in February (+65,000).
Employment changed little over the month in other major industries, including
wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities,
leisure and hospitality, and government.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged
at 34.5 hours in March. In manufacturing, the workweek edged down by 0.1 hour to
40.9 hours; overtime edged down by 0.1 hour to 3.6 hours. The average workweek for
production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down by
0.1 hour to 33.7 hours. (See tables B-2 and B-7.)
In March, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls
rose by 8 cents to $26.82. Over the year, average hourly earnings have increased
by 71 cents, or 2.7 percent. Average hourly earnings for private-sector production
and nonsupervisory employees increased by 4 cents to $22.42 in March. (See tables
B-3 and B-8.)
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
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