Employed Online

Writing a winning resume takes a lot of time and effort. Although getting just the right amount and quality down on paper is difficult the end result is very satisfying.

Many recruiters complain that some resumes are too long. They find it difficult to sort through all the information, given the volume of resumes they receive on a daily basis. Employers do not want to have to read a novel to get the basic idea about a person, and that is what a resume is, a basic idea of your skills and attributes.

Even if you have several years of experience, it is best to condense your message down to two pages. Most recruiters agree that three or more pages are only acceptable if the person is at a senior executive level or if a candidate is heavily credentialed, like a scientist, writer or educator whose work has been published. Do not take this as a downer if you are not qualified enough to sport a three page resume. If that is something you eventually want to have then get qualified, otherwise stick with the basics.

On the other hand, some candidates resumes are too short. Seasoned workers who try to cram all their experience into one page often leave out vital information about what they have accomplished. Or instead of leaving out information they will simply use a small font and cram everything into one page. This will make your resume very unattractive and not many recruiters will want to even glance at it.

Most recruiters recommend using a common font like Arial, Times New Roman or Garamond in 10 to 12 point type. Side and bottom margins should be set at no less than one inch. Crazy fonts or pictures are unacceptable for any reason in a resume.

A one page resume is best for someone looking for an entry level position. If you are just beginning your career and have only held one or two positions, or if you have worked for one company for less than four years, it should be easy to construct a one page resume. Do not worry about trying to make yourself look qualified. Honesty is always the best policy.

Ideally, the first third of a resume should include enough information to give a recruiter a solid understanding of your most recent work experience. The second third should be a summary of all previous jobs. And the last third should provide information on education, accreditation, career related memberships or recognition and any relevant volunteer work, such as serving on a board or committee for a business, non profit or trade organization.

You should also keep hobbies and social activities off your resume. These take up valuable space and are generally not of interest to a recruiter. The only exception to this is if your outside activities are very closely related to the position for which you are applying.

And finally, unless you are applying for a job as a model or actor, keep personal information like height and weight off your resume. Recruiters are perplexed why some applicants include this type of personal information on resumes. Your resume is like the blueprint of your life to an employer. What you present on your resume will determine your prospective employers view of you from the beginning. So follow these guidelines and you will be sure to make a good first impression.

Just like there are signs your job is going well, and signs that you are going to get a raise, there are also signs you should quit your job.

Sign No. 1: Your coworkers are annoying.

Obnoxious people can invade your work life. Always peeking over the cubicle or calling you on the phone just to see what is going on with you. Lunches are not yours anymore instead you have to deal with those people you would rather avoid. You may be one of those people who get along with everyone if so great! You have to admit though that everyone has that very special someone that bugs them to no end.

Sign No. 2: The environment is toxic.

Everyone experiences job highs and lows, but discontent could also be a sign of a chronically depressing work environment or even a company in peril. A bad work environment is reflective of the culture of an entire business. If you find yourself in a work environment that is less than healthy it may be time to move on out.

Sign No. 3: You are mentally exhausted by the end of the day.

Stress can cause low morale, decreased productivity and apathy towards work. Do you find yourself going home in the evenings not able to do anything but go to bed or crash on the couch? What is the point in this life if all you are able to do is work and sleep? Be careful not to end up in a job that is totally draining.

Sign No. 4: Your boss is a nightmare.

Does your boss know he or she is the boss and love it? Do they seem to enjoy making your life as hard as possible? Some people just love the feeling of power and will do anything to try and make others bow down to them. If you have a boss like this you may need to accept the fact that they will not change and you may need to find a new boss.

Sign No. 5: You are watching the clock every 10 minutes.

Though you might not like to work, it is even worse when you are bored while you are there. You do not want to get fired from spending all your time on twitter and facebook and if nothing else can keep your attention during the day you may be having a serious boredom problem.

Sign No. 6: You get no respect.

Does your boss take all of your ideas and use them as their own? Do they seem to treat you with no respect and claim that respect is earned so you should work on it? Although this adage is true to a point you have to remember that disrespect is also earned and nobody deserves to be treated like garbage.

Sign No. 7: Your coworkers act like animals.

They live for themselves and only themselves. They irritate you. They offend you. They have no manners or ethics. And you work with them all. If you try to avoid your coworkers at all costs it is time to move on.

Sign No. 8: Nobody communicates.

If you are in a work environment where the only communication is done over a cubicle wall while whispering you are probably experiencing a lack of real communication in the workplace. This can be a major downer especially when you feel like you are screaming at the top of your lungs and nobody hears you.

Sign No. 9: You are not valued.

Everyone has a value. Everyone has a purpose. You may be the new guy or girl at work but you are still valuable. If you are meant to feel like you have no worth to the company and that nobody cares whether you are there or not you may want to consider your options. Everyone needs to feel important and if you are missing that at work you should not waste your time anymore.

Sign No. 10: You feel stifled.

What kind of quality of life do you have? Is your 40 hour week turning into a 24 7 grind? While salary may seem like the end all and be all, your quality of life determines your overall happiness. How much time you spend on the job, working conditions, supervisors and subordinates can positively and negatively impact your job outlook. If you dread the time you spent at work, it should be a clear indicator that it is time to break free. A job should not stifle you creatively, mentally or physically.

We all do it. You want to make a good impression so you laugh at the dump jokes, and pretend to be interested in things you could care less about. So what is the real trick to flattery? Our bosses are human and can see right through us when we are sucking up to them, so what can we do to make it more believable?

Do not be a spy

There is no need to report everything that goes on in the department, warns Liz Ryan, a former corporate Fortune 500 vice president with more than 20 years of human resources expertise. You gain the trust of your boss and confidence by being mature and professional, not by being the office snitch.

Do not incessantly compliment your boss.

When she has truly distinguished herself, Ryan stresses, go ahead and tell her. But daily proclamations like, You look great, or Your presentation was incredible, only make you appear artificial and brand you a parasite.

Give them some space

Do you track your boss so persistently your bloodhound would be proud? Do not follow your boss around like a puppy. Being dogged relentlessly by Mr. Johnny on the spot can become quite annoying.

Do not be a cheerleader

Your boss does not need his own laugh track. Do not give a hearty guffaw at every lighthearted little comment she utters. It makes you look phony.

Do not be so agreeable

Your boss will appreciate your willingness to speak up, even to disagree with her, more than your blind loyalty to her, Ryan advises.

Be on time

Time is money. Be on time. That means being punctual when arriving to work or meetings and finishing projects on deadline. Your boss will recognize this and appreciate it much more than an idle compliment.

Be supportive

When in a meeting, reference a comment your boss made or build on one of his ideas. He will welcome having someone else in his corner and most likely will return the favor.

Everyone needs validation

Notice when your boss has accomplished an impressive feat. When he finally completes that project he has been laboring over for weeks, let him know you recognize the considerable effort he has made.

Avoid becoming embroiled in office gossip

When someone says, Your boss sure made a dumb move, do not agree or disagree, but say Why dont you share your thoughts with her? Ryan suggests. Your boss will be grateful you steer clear of the breakroom scuttlebutt that can distract you from doing your job well.

Be an adviser to your boss.

Give your honest opinion, Ryan says. Even if it is not what he wants to hear, you can deliver your viewpoint gently. This will endear you to your boss more than any amount of sucking up could do.

Although these jobs may not be helpful for most of us looking for work, they are sure interesting to think about ever doing.

1. Breath Odor Evaluator

Odor judges smell nasty morning breath or breath insulted with strong scents, like garlic or coffee. They rate the breath on a scale from one to nine, one being the worst. To test odor reducing products like gum or mouthwash, they smell the breath again and assign it a new rating.

2. Diener

Prepare cadavers for the pathologist before autopsies are performed in hospitals.

3. Ribbon Candy Puller

After a heated combination of sugar, corn syrup, water and coloring agent has cooled, batches of different colors are laid out side by side. Someone then pulls the candy thin until its about an inch wide. The final product is a multicolored hard candy.

4. Ocularist

In short, they paint artificial eyes. It sounds easier than it is, since as with real eyes, no two are exactly the same.

5. Flatulence smell reduction underwear maker

Create underwear that protect against bad human gas for people who suffer from gastrointestinal problems. The underwear is made with various materials and filters to help remedy hydrogen sulfide gases, the main offender in foul smells.

6. Beer Tester

What they do: Taste and spit out beer all day to approve new and existing flavors.

7. Crack Filler

Using a silicone sealant, they repair the wear and tear inflicted on monumental structures, like Mount Rushmore.

8. Ball Tester

Assess basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls for air retention, inflation, roundness, weight and reboundability.

9. Video Game Tester

For eight hours a day, five days a week, a group of males and females of all ages play video games. They repeat levels, games and characters, looking for any bugs and or glitches in the software.

10. Tampon Tester

Check all sizes of tampons for absorbency and cord strength in accordance with FDA standards. Most testers check up to 125 pieces per day.

11. Gold Reclaimer

Scour old teeth for fillings, melting the gold from them with broken gold jewelry into tiny gold pellets, which is then resold to jewelers.

12. Dog sniffer

Once a week, they analyze the odor of dogs breath to test the effect of their diet on their teeth. Breath is graded on a scale of zero to 10 and is categorized as sweaty, salty, musty, fungal or decaying.

13. Potato Chip Inspector

What they do: Search for over cooked or clumped chips to discard as they come down the assembly line.

14. Porta potty Servicer

Like regular restrooms, portable toilets need maintenance, too. Once a week, service workers clean these single stall facilities to achieve certain standards of sanitation.

15. Barbie dress designer

Fashion designers at Mattel Toys, the company behind Barbie, create hundreds of new styles for Barbie and her ever expanding entourage.

16. Wax Figure Maker

Mold wax to create figures, often for, but not limited to, the human form. Figures are often made in the likeness of people who have achieved historical or celebrity recognition.

17. Safe Cracker

When combinations are lost or forgotten, safe crackers use their ears and fingers to open the safe.

18. Wig Maker

Put simply, they make wigs, but the process is anything but simple. First, wig makers create a plastic model of the wearers head and hairline, and then they transfer the mold onto a padded canvas similar to the clients general head size, covering it with wig lace. Using a needle, they knot and pull thousands of hairs, one by one, through the mesh cap. Once all the hairs are in place, the wig is styled to the wearers preference.

19. Paper Towel Sniffer

Paper towel manufacturers prefer their products to be odorless before, during and after their use. Naturally, paper towel sniffers ensure that once a paper towel is used, there is no noticeable scent.

20. Foley Artist

Use whatever they can find to create and record the noises used to make the sound effects in films, like heavy footsteps, rolling thunder or creaking doors.

Have you ever heard of a resume scanner? Sounds like something you see at a supermarket or to load your documents at home right? They are not just for groceries anymore. Today, many firms use resume scanning, coding and retrieval systems to assist them in systematically weeding through the hundreds of resumes they often receive for a particular opening. Or, they may enlist the services of an online employment site that offers access to a resume bank containing thousands of resumes. Recruitment for jobs has changed dramatically and to keep up you will have to make a few simple changes to your resume as well.

A recruiter will specify a string of search criteria composed of keywords that apply to the position. By incorporating industry specific jargon in your resume, you assure it will be retrieved in a search for a job in your field. Some scanning systems even rank the resumes by the number of keywords found. So for example if you are looking into the accounting field your resume should have some accounting specific keywords in order to show up on the top of the stack.

The main words you will want to include in your resume regardless of the industry are:

Job title keywords
Include keywords from the job title of the position you are applying for.

Use computer program proficiencies
Excel, word, cad, etc. If you are good at it use it.

Degrees
Any and all degrees or education should be listed.

Skill based descriptors
Managed, supervised, team player, independent worker, etc.

General business terms
Use terms that most businesses use in their vocabulary such as managed, supervised, team player, independent worker, etc.

Well known past employers
If you have worked for a large company list it. IBM, google, Citibank, GMC, would all be nice keywords.

The main thing to remember is that you need to be able to back up the keywords you use. Anyone can spice up their resume with some nice sounding keywords and phrases but if you are not as qualified as you say you are it will make no difference. Be honest, use the keywords that fit and your resume will float to the top of your pool.

We all have known someone in our lives at one point that just seemed to have everything down. Everyone likes them, they seems to be bright, fun, and nice people. These are the type of people you always find yourself wanting to be around and wanting to be like. Have you ever wondered if they are just naturally like that or if they had to work on it? Believe it or not but most people that are this way had to work at it. Would you like to know their secrets?

1.
Know what to talk about. Before you meet those you want to like you, pick a few things to talk about. You will eliminate the need for awkward silence when you are prepared with something to say.

2.
Be the first person to say hello. Chances are everyone else is just as shy as you so step out of your box and say hello to someone. It will brighten their day and improve your confidence!

3.
Take your time during introductions. Make an extra effort to remember names and use them frequently.

4.
Get the other person to talk. People love to talk about themselves. If you ask someone about their hopes, dreams, family, etc you will have plenty of material to talk about as they are the number on expert on themselves.

5.
Stay focused on your conversational partner by actively listening and giving feedback. Maintain eye contact. Never glance around the room while they are talking to you.

6.
Listen more than you talk.

7.
Have something interesting to contribute. Keeping abreast of current events and culture will provide you with great conversation builders, leading with What do you think of … or Have you heard … What is your take on … Stay away from negative or controversial topics, and refrain from long winded stories or giving a lot of detail in casual conversation.

8.
If there are people you especially want to meet, one of the best ways to approach them is to be introduced by someone they respect. Ask a mutual friend to do the honors.

9.
If someone hands you a business card, accept it as a gift. Hold it in both hands and take a moment to read what is written on it. When you are done, put it away in a shirt pocket, purse or wallet to show it is valued.

10.
Watch your body language. People who look ill at ease make others uncomfortable. Act confident and comfortable, even when you are not.

11.
Before entering into a conversation that is already in progress, observe and listen. You do not want to squash the dynamics with an unsuited or ill timed remark.

12.
Have a few exit lines ready, so that you can both gracefully move on. For example, I need to check in with a client over there, I skipped lunch today, so I need to visit the buffet, or you can offer to refresh their drink.

Probably the most important thing to remember is that when you get to know people remember that they are people. They can see right through you when being fake and right into you when you are being real. Work at it and you can become much more the person people want to know too.

So you have made it to the job interview, you are nervous, excited, a little sick, and wanting to make a good impression. That is great! This means you are probably a hard worker that cares about getting this job. In your nervousness though you worry that something wrong is going to come out of your mouth right. Here are some topics to steer clear of to make your job interview go a little smoother.

I sure hated my last boss

The majority of todays work force does not have a good opinion of their boss. If asked they will probably say they have a better opinion of the rent collector. With that being said your future boss will want to think you have a high opinion of your superiors if hiring you.

I do not really know anything about this company

Probably the worst thing you can say in some situations. If you do not know anything about the company you are going to work for you should probably get some info before the interview. With the internet you will have plenty of resources to find something.

No I do not have any questions

Even if you have no questions for your interviewer you can always ask them what they like about working for the company, how long they have been there, if they have any advice for you, etc. Do not just say you have no questions.

I need some days off

Your potential boss wants to know when you will be able to work for him or her, when you will not be able to. Do not show up with demands at a job interview, you are working for them not the other way around.

So when will I get promoted?

Why do you deserve to get promoted? You have not even proven that you can do your job yet let alone your superiors job. Getting promoted takes time and you need to give it that if you plan on your superiors even thinking about promoting you.

Yes of course…

I do not know everything, you do not know everything, and your boss does not know everything. If you have no answer or do not know then ask! Your boss will get sick of you having an answer for everything and more than likely will see right through you if you have the tendency to act like you know everything.

When going into a job interview just remember that it is just that, an interview. Do not try to be the perfect person all around, just try to be the perfect person for that job and you will do fine.

We have all heard the term reach for the stars. Have you ever thought it would be nice to know where those stars are? Let me explain. It is nice to want to get a good job and most of us will try to educate ourselves as well as gain experience in hope of getting that high paying job someday. The problem is nobody ever told us what exactly that job is or what we have to do to get it!

When I was a kid I dreamed of being a rock musician. I would listed to Led Zepplin, and ZZ top imagining myself tearing up the stage on an electric guitar while a crowd full of girls screamed and cried. Back in those days when I had no mortgage, car payment, or bills of any kind it was really easy to sit around and dream about whatever I wanted.

As I got older however I began to realize that just dreaming would not pay the bills. In fact if I was not careful I would end up bankrupting myself by chasing things that were less than responsible. I slowly forgot about my dream of being a rocker, and began to have more realistic dreams like getting my accounting degree and taking the CPA exam.

It is hard to remember those times when I was a kid and was invincible. I remember the freedom I felt with no restrictions, as well as the constant joy that came from an absence of worry. But the question I ask myself almost on a daily basis is why? Why did I stop dreaming? Why did I settle for what I thought I had to? Why did I not just push hard to become a musician, or a writer, or baker, or whatever I wanted to be at the time? The only answer I can think of is money, money and more money. We all seem to do things we would rather not all for the almighty dollar.

What is interesting about this weird phenomenon is how many of us get entrapped in it. Ask yourself right now if what you do for work is truly what you want. Probably not if you are among 90% of the worlds population. I would venture to say that you can still dream and be responsible. If I still want to be a rock start I need to work at it, practice, look for gigs, and try out for american idol. I have a lunch break every day and I can always get up early or stay up late working on that one spec of passion left in my otherwise monotonous life.

So I say lift up your heads and do what you love. Stop moping around because of what might have been and make your own reality. You are the only one that will stand in your way, so knock that bully down and press on. The saddest thing in the world is to work your whole life for a few bucks only to realize you just wasted 30 or 40 years on something you will not even be able to take with you.

Friday is finally here and lets be honest the only thing you have your mind on today is what you are going to be doing this weekend. The clock seems to be going extra slow, and your coworkers seem to be extra annoying!

Fridays have always been the typically least productive day of the week for companys. Employees are so ready to be done working for the week they will usually spend their time on Facebook or other entertaining sites trying to pass the time instead of actually accomplishing something. So what are some things you can do to increase your productivity as well as keep your boss happy? Here are a few suggestions.

Ask for work

You should do this throughout the week but especially on Fridays. Ask your boss for something to do if you run out of work. It will show that you are a hard worker as well as honest. When you coworkers are messing around you will be showing your boss that you appreciate your job.

Stay away from social sites

It is easy to want to check your facebook or twitter page really quick throughout the day. This in and of itself is not a bad thing, but too much of a small thing can lead up to a big thing. Spend your time at work working not playing, you will be rewarded in the long run for it.

Create happy Fridays

Have a positive attitude about it being Friday. Lift up your coworkers and make them have a happy day. As you begin to worry about how others are doing you will tend to forget more about yourself and actually enjoy the day.

Do not look at the clock

I play a little game with myself trying to see how long I can go without looking at the clock on Fridays. After a while it becomes a habit and the time usually seems to pass by quicker!

You can use many different techniques to help your Friday go by quicker. The important thing is to have fun and do your best at being a good employee. The better you treat your boss the better they will treat you!

It would be nice to be able to know what our bosses are thinking, but even better would be knowing what they truly want from us. I am not just talking about their hard work and commitment jargon but the real juicy stuff that they will keep to themselves and hope that you figure out on your own.

What do employers want now days from us? What are there hopes and dreams for the company they are building? Here are a few suggestions that will help in any job to impress that boss of yours.

Long Term Potential

When you are hired your employer is making an investment in you. They are spending the money and time to train you and get you ready to be proficient in your job. It is a pretty obvious idea that your employer wants you around for a while and so stroke his or her nerves with assurance that you will be around a while to build the company.

Work well with others

Do you like other people? Can you work well with those who are difficult to be around? Being a person who is easy to work with will get you far in the eyes of any employer.

Make them money

You are hired to make the company money. How good are you at it? How valuable are you really? Put your wages down on paper and then analyze what you do each day to earn money for the company. Does it add up? Do you need to make some changes?

Be a problem solver

Employers want problem solvers not problem creators. Find ways to fix what is broken and avoid breaking what is fixed.

Be enthusiastic

Be happy about your job. Have a cheerful attitude as well as a friendly smile each day. Your employer will appreciate when you come in to work cheerful.

Give the credit

It may be annoying at first but let your boss have all the credit for work that you have done. Even if they know nothing about the project give them a heads up on the details and then let them run with it. It will let them know that you appreciate them and are willing to be a team player.

You may not be able to read the mind of your employers, but you can be better at doing what employers as a whole want from their employees. Follow the above steps and you will be well on your way to being a valuable asset to your company and employers.