8 Job Hunting Tips for the New Year

8 Job Hunting Tips for the New Year8 Job Hunting Tips for the New YearThis is good time to assess your job search. What has worked well? What are the brick walls you continue to encounter? It might be that you are doing many things well, and all it will take to boost you to your ultimate goal is a small tweak here or there.Remind yourself of these common sense tips now and throughout the months ahead1. Define your personal brand. This should be the consistent lead in your rsum, LinkedIn and Twitter profiles. It is the simple answer to the question Tell me about your (professional) self in no more than two or three sentences. Your brand should describe what you do professionally, and convey how you set yourself apart from others who do the same or similar things.2. Make your rsum shine with accomplishments. If any of your bullet points begin with something like, Responsible for you have work to do. These kinds of statements only serve to lump you in with everyone who possesses a simil ar background. They say nothing about how well you have fulfilled your responsibilities, or how you went about doing your job.Each bullet point should say something about the challenge you faced, what skills or tools you utilized in dealing with it, what you actually did and the results that you attained. Statements like these truly show off your value to any potential employer.3. Complete your LinkedIn profile and keep it current. Liberally sprinkle in keywords of actions, skills, industry and education that are likely to be found on job descriptions for which you would likely apply. Make certain to complete all the sections of the profile. Gain added visibility by uploading into it appropriate videos, audio, images or documents that demonstrate what you have achieved. belastung but not least, make sure to solicit references (as opposed to endorsements) for each of the positions youve held and have them included.4. Identify and keep in contact with your references. While most of th e time references wont be contacted until late in the hiring process, you never know for certain when you will be asked to supply them. You run the risk of appearing unprepared If you are unable, without delay, to provide the names of at least one supervisor and other peers who can speak to your specific accomplishments, skills, work ethic and character.At the same time, you need to keep the people who will be your advocates up to date with you, your activities, aspirations and above all else the names of any people or companies likely to contact them. Its always a good idea to give your references some sense of the challenges you face in terms of landing any specific job, the nature of the work you would be doing, or why you feel the position represents a good fit for you. When your reference knows this, he or she can do much in the space of a few minutes to make the points that need to be made on your behalf to convince the employer that you have the value that they seek.5. Keep y our applications personal. Rsum readers know when they are on the receiving end of a mass distribution of your rsum, and they are rarely flattered or impressed.Even when you dont know who specifically will be looking at your rsum, have pity on the poor human resources person who has to try too keep straight the 100 rsums on their screen each titled simply resume.doc. Show that at least you know where yours is going by uniquely renaming the document for each company, Jane Jobhunter Resume for ABC Company.doc.Make your titelseite letter personal as well, even if only addressing it to HR at ABC, Inc., and show you know something about the company and why you represent unique value for them more than the fact that you want the job in the first paragraph.6. Network, network and network, both online and in-person. Be certain to get out of your shell and attend college reunions and homecomings, professional seminars, networking meetings, trade shows and other events. Dont ignore opportunit ies to build relationships with your peers or others in your industry via social networking, especially through LinkedIn Groups.Remember that networking does NOT mean asking someone, Can you help me get a job? It is most effective when you ask, How can I help you? long before you tell someone how he or she can help you.7. Dont ignore Twitter. No matter what you think of it, there is a huge amount of information available to be captured, including specific job announcements, news about companies and industries, tips for job hunting and much more.8. Never violate the grandmother rule. If anything you ever say, write or post no matter how private you think your conversation might be would cause your grandmother to blush or disapprove, then keep the comments to yourself. You never know whose sensibilities you might offend, or who will regard you as unprofessional even if your opinions are well grounded.What other tips do you have to share?Happy huntingArnie Fertig is the head coach of JOBHUNTERCOACH.COM, where he utilizes his extensive background in HR Staffing and as owner of a recruiting company to help mid-career job-hunters land their next job. Arnie provides one-to-one coaching services to individuals throughout the U.S. in all aspects of the job hunt, including resume writing, personal branding, utilizing social media, enhancing networking skills, preparing for interviews, and negotiating compensation.

National Month Observances in June

National Month Observances in JuneNational Month Observances in JuneMost people are familiar with Fathers Day, Flag Day, and Juneteenth- all special days or observances that fall in June. But many other causes or topics far less familiar to the general public are part of the month of June. Many countries adopt causes or special interest groups to promote during specific calendar months, and the U.S. is particularly prolific at creating national month events to promote businesses or other interests from a marketing or publicity standpoint, often to the point of confusion. Its interesting how National Hunger Awareness Month coincides with so many food-related observances in June. Turkey Lovers Month probably shouldbe November, but it falls in June. June serves as the national month for ansicht topics and causes. Health and Wellness Since Fathers Day falls in June, it makes sense that June also is Mens Health Month, as well as International Mens Month. June also serves as the nation al month for Alzheimers and brain awareness, aphasia awareness, cataract awareness, hernia awareness, migraine and headache awareness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) awareness, scleroderma awareness, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome awareness, child vision awareness, vision research, cancer from the sun awareness, world infertility awareness, and professional wellness. The month also recognizes the International Childhood Cancer Campaign and serves as Pharmacists Declare War on Alcoholism Month. Food Next to health and wellness, this probably is the most popular category for national month recognition. Dairy products are the inspiration for bothDairy Monthand Dairy Alternative Month. Foods and beverages that get their own national month in June include candy, fresh fruits and vegetables, iced tea, papayas, and seafood. And, along with being Turkey Lovers Month, June also celebrates or recognizes soul food, steakhouses, and country cooking. Arts and Culture African- American Music Appreciation Month is a good fit for June since Juneteenth falls on June 19 in recognition of slavery being abolished in Texas on that day in 1865. June also isNational Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Other arts recognized with their own month in June include audiobooks, accordions, and bathroom reading, which might be one of the oddest topics to get its own month. Its probably appropriate that Fireworks Safety Month is in June to prepare people for the Fourth of July. Nature Recognizing that the weather is getting warmer, June serves as Great Outdoors month and also is the national month for camping, gardening, roses, and rivers. Since not everything about warmer weather is pleasant, June also serves as Fight the Filthy Fly Month. Home and Family Childrens Awareness Month falls in June, as does Student Safety Month and Potty Training Awareness Month. For four-legged (or no-legged) members of the family, the month also celebrates shelter-cat adoption and aq uariums. But, remember, its probably best to keep the cats away from the aquarium fish. For family members who enjoy sports, June also is Sports America Kids Month and Womens Golf Month. Business Effective Communications Monthfalls in June and is a good topic for business professionals to revisit, as isEntrepreneurs Do It Yourself Marketing Month. Miscellaneous Flag Day falls on June 14 in the U.S., but all of June isNational Flag Month. Other topics or issues recognized throughout the month include celibacy awareness, gay and lesbian pride, lane courtesy, hunger awareness, safety, smiling, and rebuilding your life.

When to Apply for a Summer Job

When to Apply for a Summer JobWhen to Apply for a Summer JobWhen is the best time to apply for summer jobs? Application deadlines for summer employment will vary greatly based on the organization. Some deadlines for competitive paid internships in industries like investment banking can occur as early as November. The application deadlines for summer work abroad programs are also early. As a rule, the more competitive and career-oriented jobs and internships tend to have earlier deadlines than basic summer jobs in the service sector or with camps. The majority of summer employers will review applications and set deadlines sometime during the period from February through May. This means that applications for summer positions typically need to be in well before the weather turns warm, and several months prior to summer. Starting the Search Another thing to consider is when the best time is to departure a summer job search. Even though application dates vary, its not too early to sta rt looking for jobs in the fall. On the other hand, you wont miss out on lining up a job, especially in the hospitality industry, if you wait until the spring. Summer resort jobs often having a shorter hiring cycle. However, check with employers of interest to see when they start accepting applications. The earlier you apply the more job options youll have. Jobs That Arent Posted Since many summer jobs are not posted, you should reach out to target employers like local restaurants or camps to inquire about positions for the upcoming summer. If they are not yet screening applicants, then ask when you can apply. Many organizations will consider applicants on a rolling basis until all their summer slots are filled. Given this scenario, it is much better to be too early than too late. Networking Early If you accept the premise that many or even most summer jobs are awarded to those who network with staff, then you should begin the process as soon as possible during the fall. Rea ching out to friends of the family, teachers, coaches, neighbors, local professionals, fellow church members, and college alumni for advice and to brainstorm ideas is a great way to launch your summer job networking campaign. Spreading the word that youre looking for a job can do a lot to further your job search and hiring. Available Jobs Many jobs are available in the summer. Here are a few of the biggest summertime work opportunities, and a peek at when they are likely to hire Retail and food services In general, retail companies and restaurants, bars, and cafes hire year-round. In summer, when people travel frequently, behauptung industries often want additional staffers to fill in for employees who are on vacation. Since turnover is high, applying close to the start of summer, or even during the summer, can be successful. Sometimes youll see a sign on the window of an establishment saying they are hiring. If not, just walk in and inquire if they are hiring - bring your resu me and be prepared to fill out an application. Camp counselor While there are winter break camps, summer is camps biggest season. Camp counselors and other support staff are in high demand. Most camps will have an early application process and may favor former campers. Apply early for these positions, and look on the camps website for information on application deadlines. Here are a sample resume and cover letter for a camp counselor position.Outdoor work at beaches, amusement parks, resorts, stadiums Like camp, many outdoor industries flourish in warm weather. From lifeguards to concession stand workers to flugschein takers, many employees are required during this busy season. Application deadlines can vary for these type of positions, but jobs that demand a certification (such as a lifeguard) or specific experience will require an early application. Seasonal outdoor jobs that require less experience or no specific skill, such as ticket takers or concession stand workers, are more likely to hire closer to the start of the summer. Internships Many industries, from banking to the arts, offer summer internship opportunities. These internships may be paid, for school cred only, or offer a small living or travel expenses stipend. Internships are often competitive and have a formal application process. Applications are typically due in the wintertime or very early in the spring. Heres more information on when to apply for an internship.

Forget happiness, focus on unhappiness

Forget happiness, focus on unhappinessForget happiness, focus on unhappinessIn 2009, Stacey Kramer welches diagnosed with a brain tumor. Today, shes better off for it.Kramer was 43 years old. She was just getting ready to celebrate her wedding anniversary, and by all accounts, she was the happiest and healthiest she had ever been at the time.It was the last thing she expected, and at first, it shook her to the core. What followed wasnt an easy road, but looking back, when Kramer tells the story, she speaks of it as a gift.1She believes that in spite of the pain and the suffering, she wouldnt have traded the experience for anything. It brought her closer to her family, made her mora appreciative of life, and reminded her of what really mattered. It inspired a seismic shift in her perspective.Kramer doesnt claim that every form of trauma or suffering brings with it a new hidden meaning. She realizes that its more complicated than that. The only point she tries to hit home is that the u nwanted and the unexpected doesnt always have to be that bad.The phenomenon that shes talking about is actually fairly common, and its based on how the brain reframes stressors. Scientists refer to it as post-traumatic growth (PTG).Though a concrete strategy for happiness is almost impossible to identify and even harder to generalize for a large body of people, there is sense in using what we know about our brain to give us insight on how we can limit unhappiness in our lives. It starts with realizing thatAlmost bedrngnishing is as bad as we think it isHow we feel depends on how we respondThe key is in our ability to adjust expectationsIf we can successfully target unhappiness, we can better guide ourselves to be happier.Almost elendhing is as bad as you think it isOne of the major differences between humans and other mammals is that our brain has a prefrontal cortex that allows us to make rational decisions and plan for the future. We can imagine possibilities that have yet to occu r and use them to make choices.The only problem is that were not always good at imagining how we will feel about something in the future. The primitive parts of our brain that influence emotions dont imagine howfuture uswill feel about something, but they imagine howpresent usfeels.One of the byproducts of this is that we have a tendency to presume that certain things in life will be much worse than they actually are. Luckily, thats not necessarily the case.An array of experiments have been done in fields ranging from behavioral psychology to neuroscience, and although we cant necessarily pretend that anyone can overcome all obstacles, they do tell us that were far more pliable than we give ourselves credit for.One of the most famous of such experiments was done in 1978. A group of researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Massachusetts set out to compare the happiness levels of two vastly different groups of people.The first was made up of recent winners of the State lottery, with the prize ranging from $50,000 to $1 million, and the second was filled with victims of accidents that had caused a form of extreme paralysis. They interviewed each group to measure the pleasure they felt in response to day to day activities in their lives. The results were absolutely fascinating.Lottery winners were unsurprisingly better off in their present happiness level (temporary), but it turned out that there wasnt really a big difference between their day to day happiness level (long-term). In fact, the victims reported they were slightly happier in their daily life.This finding has caught a lot of traction in the decades following. The verdict is totenstill out on the exact degree of control we have over our happiness and where we should draw the line.However, one thing appears fairly conclusive. Human beings are extremely flexible in their ability to adapt to life events. Even if some things really do make or break us, for the most part, many of the th ings we fear will cause us unhappiness when we imagine the future are things that have limited effect on our day to day life once we readjust.Almost nothing is as bad you think it is when youre thinking about it, and its probably not the end of the world if things dont turn out exactly how you ideally imagined.That doesnt necessarily mean that you shouldnt strive for what you perceive to be the optimal result. Its simply about relieving yourself of the needless unhappiness that comes from underestimating your own resilience to life events. Know when not to worry.How you feel depends on how you respondIts one thing to imagine and fear trauma, but its an entirely different thing to experience it.In spite of stories like Stacey Kramers, and notwithstanding that most outcomes arent as bad as we think they will be, some experiences can stay with us for a prolonged period.Mental illnesses like PTSD, depression, and anxiety are often triggered by painful episodes in our lives. And science has yet to provide a reliable answer as to why these debilitating diseases are so prevalent and where exactly they come from.It appears that part of the answer lies hidden in our genetic code and part of it has to do with how we choose to respond to the stressors in our environment.Addressing these extreme illnesses is beyond the scope of this article. That said, if one part the equation is how we respond to our environment, then maybe better understanding how people like Kramer come out on the bright side can help us fight the unhappiness brought on by circumstance in our own life. What exactly is PTG?Post-traumatic growth was originally coined by two psychologists at the University of North Carolina, Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun. At the time, they had spent a decade studying bereaved parents. They found that though the tragedy of losing a child was never really lessened, there was a personal gain within that loss for many of the parents.By choosing to grow and extract mea ning from their loss, the parents moved towards activism and acts of compassion and altruism that they wouldnt have otherwise discovered the richness in had they not experienced the trauma. It might not have been a blessing in disguise, but there was a gain, and thats what they focused on.We can influence our environment and maximize our odds of a favorable outcome with good information, but in life, there will always be a chance factor. The world will hit you, and it will be unexpected. You cant do much to control that.You can, however, to some degree control your response. You have two primary options you can choose to respond with acceptance and seek meaning and growth or any other framing tactic that makes sense to you or you can give in to your circumstances.The result will be the difference. How you respond will affect how you feel, and how you feel will ultimately determine whether or not youre unhappy with your life at large.The key is in your ability to adjust expectation sSo far weve discussed mental tactics for dealing with specific instances. There is, however, an overarching strategy that brings it all together. Ultimately, limiting unhappiness comes down to cultivating the ability to constantly adjust your internal expectations.An outside event is often objective. If a parent passes away, for example, thats something concrete. But how we make sense of such events is through subjective experience. It depends on what you believe about whats happened. It depends on your prior expectations.Almost any feeling that we have in response to an event generally falls into two categories good and bad. Over time, good feelings come together to nurture conditions for what we define as happiness, and too many bad feelings are the cause of unhappiness.Its all far more complicated than simplified labels, but an easy way to make sense of it is to view good feelings as sensations that occur when reality meets or exceeds our internal subjective expectations, and ba d feelings as sensations that occur when reality falls short.Now, many that agree with this general framework often come to one easy conclusion the key to happiness is low expectations. This way, the objective reality almost always meets or exceeds what we expect from it. And on the surface, at least, it should make sense.The problem with low expectations, however, is that theyre just not feasible. We know that mindset affects results. If a professional athlete went into every game or occasion not expecting to be the best they could, they likely wouldnt stay a professional for much longer.The goal shouldnt be to eliminate unhappiness but to limit it. beseitigung doesnt work, and more importantly, doses of unhappiness are needed for true happiness to be appreciated.The secret then lies in our ability to adjust the lever of our expectations when we do fall short. We have to be flexible in how we manipulate our outlook based on new information.Its okay, and sometimes even necessary, to feel unhappy in response to something. The danger lies in going from a moment of unhappiness into a prolonged state of unhappiness.All you need to knowEvery year, a new body of research points out the things that will make us happy in our lives. Most of it is nothing new. Its just a different way of reframing what we already know. Relationships are important, meaningful work is important, and gratitude is important.Most of us know this, and yet, nothing changes. For some, the case may well be that the things that make us happy are out of reach. The vast majority of us, however, are limited not by our pursuit of happiness, but simply by what we dont know about limiting unhappiness.We dont have a solution for clinical mental illnesses. What we do have is a three-step process for how some of us may just be able to remove unhappiness from our lives.I.It starts with realizing that almost nothing is as bad as you think it is when youre thinking about it. We have a unique ability to imagi ne and plan for the future, but were often bad at it. We do so with our current feelings in mind and not the feelings of our future selves. We overlook our immense adaptability to our surroundings.II.Know that how you feel depends on how you respond. Of course, adversity doesnt just go away because we want it to, and certain circumstances really can cause a prolonged state of unhappiness. That said, we can use framing tactics like seeking meaning and growth in hardship to better respond to our environmental stressors.III.Theres a way to bring the whole concept together, and its by cultivating the ability to adjust internal expectations. Over time, whether or not you feel good or bad depends on how consistently reality exceeds or falls short of what you expect. The secret lies in how swiftly you can adjust the lever of these expectations once youve fallen short.To have a shot at being happy, we must first nurture conditions that limit unhappiness in our lives. Getting from neutral to happy isnt the challenge. Most of us can manage that. The challenge is in how to consistently and effectively go from unhappy to neutral.This isnt necessarily a magic bullet cure. Its just another way of thinking that might help.Want to think and live smarter? Zat Rana publishes a free weekly newsletter for 30,000+ readers atDesign Luck.

Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for What to Write in Email when Sending Resume and Cover Letter

Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for What to Write in Email when Sending Resume and Cover Letter When youre requested to schmelzglas your work application to a company, you may either copy and paste your titel letter into the body of your email, or youll be able to attach it like a file, together with your resume. Though its quick and simple to send an email, it doesnt signify you need to write anything under a comprehensive cover letter focused on why you are a superb match for the job youre applying for. How you include a cover letter is dependent on just what the job posting instructions were. The cover letter is going to be the very first impression and must be the personal touch that causes the fact based resume. Bear in mind, the trick to a fantastic cover letter is personalization. A specialist cover letter should adhere to a very clear cover letter format. You should get your cover letter before the folks that are doing the hiring. Sending your work application to a pr ospective employer by email isnt complicated. Double check youve included all of the appropriate attachments before you send the email. Frequently, employers might ask you to follow instructions so that they can see and answer the email, others might be testing you will read and finish the instructions properly. They receive tons of emails a day, and many times, whether or not an email gets opened depends entirely on its subject line. To begin with, before you begin drafting your letter, be certain your email address is professional. Be mindful concerning the time you decide to send your resume email. There are steps that you may take to make your resume email stick out from the rest. The email you send is the very first thing they see so that it is very important to receive it right. Also, avoid using HTML as you dont know whether the employer will have the ability to see it. A resume is basically a list of accomplishments and obligations. A good suggestion is to send t he email to someone you recognize first to look at your formatting works properly. Next enkoranvers use of good resume keywords. Adhering to any instruction given in the description will present your resume the very best possibility of reaching the correct recipient. Yet another tip, always remember to create your whole job application relevant and specific to the job that youre attempting to land. He searching can take a short time as possible or even a very long time before you get success. When youre asking for work, you always need to send a resume and cover letter. Employers would like to know what you do well. You might believe you understand how to email a resume to a possible employer. Once an employer sees someone who knows the way to set objectives and achieve them, they get interested in interviewing you. In the topic line, be specific on what it is you are applying for, remember there are different individuals applying for different different positions. Thou ghts revolving around what you would like to do in your career will lead to the response to the fruchtwein essential question. Networking emails may be the hardest to get noticed, because the individual emailing isnt trying to fix a particular problem or fill a position. Utilizing a short, direct, concise, yet intriguing e-mail will make it possible for the hiring manager to rapidly see that you might be the proper candidate the organization is seeking. With some research its possible to learn to appropriately utilize them. Mentioning the work title is also useful in case theres an automated filter that categorizes the hiring managers email. If you dont know the name of the contact person, research his name on the web or call the business. To start with, its a concise description of your experiences and interest regarding the program you need to attend and the skills that may help you to earn a notable contribution to the area. Its possible to draw someone in with an unbeli evable opening line, and then showcase the manners in which you could add to the team. Based on the position you might have to compose a cover letter to supply extra info on your experience, expertise, why youre applying for the job, and why you are an excellent fit for the position. The cover letter should demonstrate a degree of interest and understanding of the organization and position. A well-written letter of interest is a good backup for your own personal statement and the application as a whole because it may be used to boost your odds of being accepted for an interview. You might discover the job of crafting a cover letter intimidating. You have to make sure your subject line is going to be of interest and considered relevant so as to receive your email read. To make certain your emails are read, you are in need of a clear, professional subject line. Send a duplicate of the message to yourself, and to the company, which means you own a copy for your records. You c ould also attempt to determine the name and title of somebody to whom you will be mailing your application. Most email companies make it simple to attach a document. It is almost always better to tackle correspondence to a name as opposed to a title.

Notes on What Are Skills to Put on a Resume in Step by Step Order

Notes on What Are Skills to Put on a Resume in Step by Step Order What Are Skills to Put on a Resume for Dummies Inside my experience, acting is the very best approach to obtain the skills required to sell yourself to a brand-new person. Every student has some experience developing their communication abilities. Youve got computer abilities. 3 First, you have to select the best skills for your resume. What Are Skills to Put on a Resume - the Story Perhaps your skill set is wholly different. Dont forget, the majority of the distinctive skills that you place on your resume needs to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. There are a few skills which dont necessarily belong on your resume, however awesome youre at them. If you are in possession of a wide selection of technical abilities, however, your abilities might wind up being precisely what gets you hired. Just about everyone has some amount of communication abilities. Youve got leadership abilities. The Appeal of What Are Skills to Put on a Resume Downloading somebody elses expertise will be able to help you see what you require, and will be able to help you brainstorm methods to get there. If you miss anything, however, you could always bring this up in the interview after you have wowed the reader with your amazing resume. Your skills ought to be complete now, and you will need to figure out the format you need to use to include them on your resume. Double-check if youre utilizing the appropriate abilities and experience keywords. You have to mention the skills that are needed for a particular position. Second, you have to determine if you wish to use the skills youve mastered for the past couple of years or if you would like to transition to something new. To begin with, if youre seeing a great deal of hard skills that you just dont have, it could be far better move on to the next position. Obviously, certain skills can assist you a lfruchtwein in any position. Look through the work description and see whether any soft skills are mentioned. Hard skills are the ones which can tie most directly to the job that youre seeking. Hard skills to put on a resume are things that you may do that are especially linked to the job in question or the industry youre going to be working in.