Sunday, May 31, 2020

Baker Resume Sample Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

Baker Resume Sample Writing Guide [20+ Tips] Baker Resume SampleSebastian S. Tracsebastian.strac@hotmail.com502-374-2395Summary of QualificationsHead baker with 4+ experience in bread baking and pastry crafting. Administered daily product order and supervised the team of bakers at Sweet and Wheat Bakery. Obtained 100% in food safety and developed 10 authorial pastry recipes used at several bakers shops in Atlanta.Work ExperienceHead BakerSweet and Wheat Bakery, Atlanta, GAJune 2016Dec 2018Run bakery goods production schedule and supervised daily product orders.Prepared ingredients to deliver goods to up to 200 customers a day.Supervised the team of 4 bakers and performed quality checks of bread and pastries.Prepared a variety of baked goods, including bread, pastries, cookies, and sweet rolls.Operated baking machinery, including ovens and slicing machines, and ensured machine safety.Key achievement:Developed a recipe for the best-selling bread of 2018 at Sweet and Wheat Bakery.BakerGreen Valley Cafe, Atlanta, GAJan 2014-May 201 6Baked all types of sweet bakery goods, including cinnamon rolls, French pastries, cookies, pies, and cakes.Decorated cakes designed for a variety of occasions and completed special orders agenda.Ensured the sanitization of the baking area on a daily basis.Key achievement:Minimized ingredient waste to 5% by developing new ingredient planning and organizing food sharing events.EducationAtlanta Culinary Art School, GABaking Arts Associate DegreeSpecialty: Pastries and cakes2012-2014Key SkillsBaking machinery operationKnowledge of the baking chemistryTeamworkAttention to detailOrganizationLeadershipCake decorationCulinary CoursesBaking Pastry Crafting Certificate of New Yorks Sweets Academy, 2018Make Baking Green Course, Baking Academy Atlanta, 2017The Chemistry of Baking, New York, 2017InterestsArtisan cake decoration and icing techniquesDeveloping own baking recipesChocolate temperingWant to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample Baker ResumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowTargeting other jobs in the food industry? See our dedicated guides:Chef ResumeFast Food ResumeLine Cook ResumeRestaurant ResumeServer ResumeWaiter / Waitress ResumeFood Service Resume1. Choose the Best Format for Your Baker ResumeHow to strengthen the dough, develop gluten, and get the best bread flavor?You need a special formula.Proven formulas also work in the job search context.Heres a tested one for a perfect resume formatting:Stick to tradition and use the respected reverse-chronological resume layout. List your last job first and follow up with other positions.Put relevant contact information in the header of your baking resume. Use the right resume font and leave enough white spacing.If you wonder which is better: PDF or Word format, the answer is a PDF.Pro Tip: Culinary world is also about how the food looks like. Maybe you have a blog or Instagram profile where you post the pictures of the artisan pastries, cakes, and rolls that come straight from your oven? Add a link to it in the contact info section of your resume.2. Write a Baker Resume Summary or ObjectiveChoosing candidates is like sorting the wheat from the chaffpretty monotonous.And each resume gets only a 6-second look-see, according to our HR statistics report.Thats why you need to grab the recruiters attention right away.How to achieve that?Create a catchy resume profile and put it at the top of your baking resume.Baked a lot in a variety of places? Write a resume summary that will recap your job history and show the future employer how you can contribute to their baking business.If youre looking for your first job at the bakery, a resume obje ctive is a better choice. It will promote your culinary skills and familiarity with the baking equipment, and most of all show your willingness to learn.3. Create the Perfect Baker Job DescriptionJob description section is the sourdough of your baking resume.So showcase job experience examples that can contribute to your future companys needs. Think of your previous baker duties and make each piece relevant. These can be everything, from the sheer process of bread baking to managing the bakers team.Follow these steps to cut your baking experience section to the chase:Begin with your most recent job and follow up with the previous positions.Name your job titles, companies, and add years of work to show the recruiter how much experience you have.For each position list up to five bullet points that describe you relevant baking duties.Focus on your most tasty work achievements: list some specific numbers and awards.Pro Tip: New to the baking industry? If youre trying to craft a resume w ith no experience, collect all your apprenticeship and voluntary gigs and add them to your baker resume.4. Make Your Baker Resume Education Section Sell Like Hot CakesNo matter if you learned the tricks of the baking trade from Duff Goldman or you attended an evening baking course in your neighborhoodThe employers will surely look at the education section of your resume.If you have years of experience in the baking business, make your education section succinct. List the institution name, location, years in school, your degree or field of expertise.When the experience section of your baker resume is not very long, elaborate on your education. Apart from listing culinary schools, add any baking courses you took part in.If you were individually tutored by a chef or any other baking guru, its also worth a mention in your resume education section.Pro Tip: Youre a diligent disciple of your grandma but lack formal education in baking? Tell your story in a cover letter attached to your res ume. Show the recruiters your passion. And that its never too late to learn!5. How to Put Your Baker Skills on a ResumeCombine technical abilities and soft skills and add a spoonful of creativityThese three ingredients make an excellent recipe for your resume skills section.Baker Skills for a ResumeBaking machinery operationMaintenance of baking equipmentUse of measuring toolsKnowledge of chemical processes in bakingTeamworkAttention to detailPhysically fitOrganizational skillsTime managementPro Tip: When youre looking for a senior job in a bakery, be prepared to meet expectations related to leadership. These require lots of interpersonal skills and communication abilities.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.6. Add Other Sections to Your Baker ResumeResumes without extra sections? They may look half-baked.Show your future employers that youre a creative who practices the art of baking in many different ways.And not only from 9 to 5.Think of volunteer work that you can put on a baker resume. Run cake decorating workshops for kids or baked rolls for 100+ summer camp members?Create a list of hobbies and interests. This will add a personal touch to your resume.If you took part in a variety of culinary courses resulting in tasty certificatesits a good idea for a separate resume section.7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Baker ResumesA well-written cover letter works like frosting on the cake.Follow these instructions and add a baker cover letter to your resume:Hook the employer with a great opening line. They will want another piece of cake and theyll read on.Use neat cover letter format. How things look like matters in the culinary world.Everyone remembers the smell of their grandmas carrot cake. Tell your story and your future employer will think of her own culinary memory.Finally, end your cover letter with a cherry on top. Add a PS with one more baking achievement.Now youre all set to write your resume for a baker.And that baking job of your dreams will no longer be a pie in the sky!Have any questions on how to write a baker resume? Need further assistance? Get at us in the comments below and well answer all your questions. Thank you for reading!

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Resume Writing Service - What Is the Difference Between a Resume Writing Service and a Professional Resume Writer?

Resume Writing Service - What Is the Difference Between a Resume Writing Service and a Professional Resume Writer?A resume writing service company are a perfect match for every job seeker. But before you decide to hire one, it is important to know the difference between the two. Resume writing service company are similar in many ways but there are also some points that separate them from each other.For starters, the job search is already full of confusion, stress and even procrastination. The average candidate is already aware of the fact that his or her potential is in the hands of the recruiter, the HR person or any of the experts. He or she does not have any idea as to what he or she should do or what the 'right' thing to do is.So you can understand the trouble that an applicant goes through during the job search. When you hire a resume writing service, all the effort and the responsibility is on your shoulders. All your decisions are up to you. You can make some inquiries, seek a dvice and make all the possible choices that you feel will benefit you the most.The job search is definitely more complicated and challenging than that of a normal job hunt. You cannot just walk into a business, take their phone number, call them up and explain to them what you are looking for and why. And you cannot simply call your friends or acquaintances or even your family and explain your requirements to them.Resume writing service providers provide their service to individuals who want to find jobs, they are also looking for a job. They understand that your career is in the hands of the professional who knows the ins and outs of the job market. You need to be very careful about the company and the quality of service that you choose. A reputable resume writing service provider can tell you about the background and qualifications of the professional who is trying to hire you.A professional resume writing service can offer you tips and suggestions on how to improve your resume. They will also share the quality of the professionals who you can work with to achieve the goal of getting a higher position in the future. A service provider can save you a lot of time, energy and effort if you know what to look for.To conclude, a resume writing service is not a substitute for doing your own job. It is a method by which you can share your thoughts, skills and abilities and give others the opportunity to learn from you. You will gain knowledge from them in turn.If you have a relative or close friend who can help you with your job search, it is a good idea to seek their help. Even if you just want to get your foot in the door and to keep your dream job, hiring a resume writing service will help you out tremendously.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Best Generic Cover Letter Template Greetings, Skills, Example - Algrim.co

Best Generic Cover Letter Template Greetings, Skills, Example - Algrim.co If you’re looking for a generic cover letter to help meet the needs of a job application or maybe for your career or job fair, we’ve got you covered. Cover letters don’t have to be long in length to be impactful. In fact, simple cover letters with a shorter word count can often time before more impactful. Here’s everything you need to know in order to get yourself a great cover letter. Table Of Contents What Greeting Should I Use For My Cover Letter Your Cover Letter Format Don’t Forget To Include Skills or Accomplishments Generic Cover Letter Template What Greeting Should I Use For My Cover Letter Your opening greeting is a tough one. Most people go with “To Whom It May Concern” but that isn’t always the best option. Here are some better options for opening greetings when thinking through your cover letter: “Dear Hiring Manager” “HR Team” “Dear Team” “Dear HR Team” “Hello” Keep it simple. Keep it personalized. Try to avoid using “To Whom It May Concern” as that could be caught by SPAM indicators and send your job application into the SPAM folder of my Applicant Tracking Systems. Related: To Whom It May Concern (2019): Capitalization, Sample Letters, Expert Tips Your Cover Letter Format The format of your cover letter should always be the same. You’ll need to include your contact information and prior experience or recently graduating bachelor’s degree as part of your header. Then the body of your cover letter and then the ending to your letter. Here’s what your header should look like: John Smith 123 Ridge Lane, New York, NY 11211 john@smith.com 888-888-8888 VP of Product at Apple Computers And when you begin your cover letter, start with the greeting. It should look like this: John Smith 123 Ridge Lane, New York, NY 11211 john@smith.com 888-888-8888 VP of Product at Apple Computers Dear Hiring Manager â€" Then begin your cover letter body and don’t forget to close the letter with a warm and sincere salutation. Something like, “Thank you so much” Include your written signature if you can, as this adds a professional detail that shows you’re willing to go the distance to put your personalized stamp on the cover letter. Here are some letter closing salutations you can use: “Thank you” “Thank you so much” “Warm regards” “Appreciated” “Best regards” “Best” Related: How To End A Letter: Examples Of Salutations, Closings, Sign Offs Don’t Forget To Include Skills or Accomplishments If you can, try to include at least one accomplishment as part of your cover letter. Something that makes you stand out. For example, “Accomplished a net decrease in customer service tickets in Q4 2018 by 17%. Did this by improving the usability of our customer support portal.” Something like that will be largely impactful to your cover letter. Be sure it’s aligned with the job function you’re applying for. If you can, mention a few skills as well. Something like “listening skills” may seem easy enough but they’re valued quite heavily. Here are a few skills you can use: Listening skills Empathy skills Comprehension skills Analytical skills Problem-solving skills Communication skills Generic Cover Letter Template Here’s a generic cover letter template you can use to craft your own version. Be sure you replace this information with something that’s personalized and targeted to your work history and personal life story. Ryan Smith 123 Road Lane, New York NY 11211 ryan@smith.com 630-777-7777 Prior Role: VP of Product at Apple, Inc. Dear Hiring Manager â€" I’m interested in applying for the position of Sales Engineer at House, Inc. The company holds something dear to my heart as the passion for children and education is something I wish existed when I was younger. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend school until much later in life due to coming from a poor family. This is something I’m particularly passionate about changing for our future generations and I’d love to join your mission. I look forward to interviewing with you. If you have any questions for me, I’d love to help answer them. Thank you so much, Ryan Smith

Thursday, May 21, 2020

6 Ways to Upgrade Your Life

6 Ways to Upgrade Your Life If you want to start living your dream life, there might be a few simple changes to make it a reality. Rather than just make do with your life, you need to ensure you’re content with all areas of your life, be it work or play. Ensure you enjoy each and every day by reading the six ways to upgrade your life. Start Taking Power Naps Power naps are not for lazy people. Various studies have found that 20 minutes of napping can improve a person’s mood, alertness, and psychomotor performance. So, if you want to feel happier, healthier, and enjoy improved mental function, give yourself twenty minutes of naptime to refresh your mind, mood, and body. Improve Your Organization Skills Effective organization skills can positively impact both your personal and professional life. This is because it can reduce stress, improve your control on tasks, and can boost confidence in your ability. You can improve your organization skills by regularly decluttering, writing important information down, utilizing color coding, and ensuring everything has its place within the home or inside the office. Regularly Track Your Expenses Are you guilty of allowing your finances to spiral out of control? It doesn’t matter if you are running a business or a household, you must keep a tight control of your finances. To do so, you must routinely track your expenses. Write down every item you buy, no matter how small, so you can identify where you are unnecessarily spending money to improve your financial habits. You can, therefore, enjoy a bigger bank balance and a greater quality of life. Change Your Car If your car no longer performs how it used to, or looks a little tired and unloved, it might be time to change your vehicle. Not only will replacing your car allow you to travel from A to B with ease, but upgrading your vehicle will change people’s perceptions of you. For example, an unflattering car could offer a first impression of your business to a prospective client. If you want to sell your current vehicle, discover the best steel prices junk cars. With the cash you make, put it towards a new one, whether it’s buying the car outright or putting down a deposit. Follow the 60/10 Rule If you want to become more productive, you should concentrate on one task for no longer than 60 minutes. Once the time is up, you should take a ten-minute break to distance yourself from your project, so you can recharge your batteries and return with a fresher mindset. On your break, go for a walk, call a friend, or treat yourself to a cup of coffee. Read a Non-Fiction Book Every Day Most people will have enough time in the day for a little bit of reading, but choose to perform other tasks. If you want to increase your concentration and prevent age-related mental decline, you should try to read a book each day. Non-fiction is also a great option, as it can improve your general knowledge and analytical thinking. So, try to squeeze in a book, even if it is just one small chapter each day, to improve your focus and increase your intelligence.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

None of us has especially unique career trouble - not even Emily Gould

None of us has especially unique career trouble - not even Emily Gould One of the most dangerous things you can do in your career is to think you are different from everyone else. The biggest validation of that idea comes in AA meetings it is widely understood by this group that thinking youre different is just an excuse not to get help, an excuse to think you live outside what we already know to be true. Its a dangerous way to live because you are reinventing the wheel for yourself and you risk just spinning in place. Yet we jump through hoops to convince ourselves that we are different from everyone else and the experience of others does not apply to us. Daniel Gilbert found, for example, that most of us think we are worse jugglers than average, and most football players think they are better than average, but most people really are surprise just average. Gilbert has also shown that we are terrible at making decisions for ourselves, in part, because we think were special. If you stop thinking you are so special, then you can learn from watching others, you can take advice from people who have been there before, and you can make decisions based on tried and true methods. So finally, heres an example of this problem in action: a blogger gets on the cover of the New York Times magazine, Emily Gould. She talks about how her boyfriend hates that she blogs about him. Of course this hits close to home. But, its old news. Ive already spent 20 years only dating/marrying/then dating people who will put up with me chronicling their every move. So heres another way for Emily to think: Instead of thinking that shes so special because shes blogging about her own life and everyone is knowing her through that, she could look at what has come before her. Women have been writing about their relationships forever, in transparent ways. Its what women write about. And sometimes, it destroys relationships. But for forever, some women have been absolutely driven to put their life in words. They cant stop. Emily is part of that history. And so am I, so I know the history pretty well. Anne Frank did it, too in the face of war. And Edith Wharton did it risking the wrath of her high-end social circles. And Colette did it with any guy who would put up with it, including her editor. When I was a child, Anne Frank spoke to me not because she was documenting war, but because she understood that in some people, the drive to write down what is happening is stronger than anything else. I told this to my divorce lawyer last week when he told me would not represent me if I didnt stop writing about my divorce. He told me that he cant represent me if I am undermining my case in my blog. I told him there is nothing worth saving more than my ability to document my life. I told him that somewhere, my husband understood this, because I published weekly documentation of our courtship which focused on him never going down on me and me being pissed offand we still got married. At that point, there is nothing left to hide. I told my lawyer its how I run my life, and I dont know how else to do a life. In the history of documenting ones lifeI hate to be snippybut Emily Gould is no great example. The stakes are not very high for her. And relative to what other women have gone through, the stakes are not high for me, either. After all, I married someone who had already signed up for this life. Heather Armstrong is maybe a good example of the stakes being very high, because her blog, Dooce, includes her daughter so often. But the poster-child for a woman going through hell in order to document her life is the photographer, Sally Mann. When I bought her monograph, Immediate Family, I had no idea it was controversial. I only knew that I was mesmerized by how the photos of her children captured the pain of adolescence, the edgy gross innocence of childhood and the closeness of a familys bond: All at once. Every photo. But stores wouldnt sell it. They called it pornography. And people accused Sally Mann of child abuse for making pornography from her kids. In Sally Manns eyes, she was just documenting her family life, and her love for her kids, and the fun of childhood. And with an open mind, you can see that in the photos. Wait. Ill link to some (probably not safe for work). Herman Melville is another great example of the stakes being much higher than Emily, or me. Melville had many children, whom he did not really support. He found his family depressing, and he thought his writing was too important to be distracted with the task of family life. The history of obsessive writers destroying lives around them is not new. The history of writers feeling an insanely huge need to tell something to the world at all costs is not new. So back to careers. In the New York Times, Emily portrays her career as anomalous, eccentric, and so difficult to manage that she needs to quote magazine articles to her therapist in order to describe her life. But if you put Emily in historical contextwhich I would have expected the NYT magazine to dothere are a lot of people who have paved the way for her. She can learn from lots of people who came before blogging, how to manage ones career as a blogger. And this is true for most of us.Very few of us ever have a totally unique career problem. Most problems come down to five or ten situations that happen all the time. I think we get clouded by the specifics of our own story, and that makes us unable to see why we are just like everyone else. Each persons details are different, but the problems we have repeat themselves over and over againespecially in careers. Thats why a community of people helping each other with their careers works so well. Thats why I love my blog. So take time to figure out why you are the same, instead of focusing on why youre different. There is a community out there who can help you. This is true for everyone. Anyway, its not that interesting to operate as if we are the only person like us. None of us should reinvent the wheel by ourselves. Ever. Its too lonely.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

How to use student media to land your dream job in journalism

How to use student media to land your dream job in journalism Getting a job in journalism can seem like a Hunger Games-style battle against thousands of other hopefuls for a handful of openings. But instead of weapons, youre more likely to have a couple of unpaid internships under your belt. There is cause for optimism, however. You have a strong ally, and that ally is student media. If you really make the most of it,  (and by that I mean writing more than a couple of articles per semester), you can really set yourself apart from the crowd. While getting your work out on more well-known platforms in the local and national media might seem more impressive in your portfolio, the skills you gain from student media cant be found anywhere else. In student media you get thrown in the deep end, developing new skills on the job and solving problems creatively.  Its also the perfect time to throw yourself into all aspects of media, finding out where your passion lies and what youre best at. At the end of it you should come out with a solid portfolio of  work and a network of connections that will be invaluable in helping your secure that graduate job in journalism. But how do you get there? Here are our top tips for making the most of student media and using it to make it in the real world. May the odds be ever in your favour Build connections Especially for those of you who arent studying a journalism course, working on student media is the perfect way to build friendships with like-minded student journalists who will go on to be your colleagues in the industry. Try not to see journalism as a literal battle to the death. Cheer your fellow student journalists on in their successes and help them when you can. You never know when they might be able to return the favour. Working in student journalism is also a good way to build connections with professional journalists who might be able to give you a helping hand with securing work experience placements, or getting your work printed in bigger publications. If you get invited to a press event, dont be afraid to introduce yourself to fellow journalists. Also dont forget to sell yourself as a journalist, not just a student journalist know your worth! Become an ideas machine Essentially there is only one thing you need to make it in journalism. And that is ideas. No matter which publication, station or channel you walk into, if youre brimming with ideas, youll reap success. Student media is the perfect way to get that creative side of your mind working overtime. That front page story isnt going to write itself; its up to you, as a student journalist, to come up with the ideas necessary to fill it. Producing ideas, week in week out, prepares you for the relentless nature of the media industry, and the mindset needed to constantly generate new ideas. Learn to deal with deadlines By far my favourite memories from my time at university involve being sat in the newspaper office at midnight surrounded by pizza boxes frantically putting the finishing touches to that weeks newspaper issue five minutes before the deadline. There is no denying juggling student media with a degree is tough but learning to deal with the stress of deadlines is a really important skill that will stay with you for the rest of your career. Build your portfolio These days, employers look for evidence of your previous work more than anything else. They want to see your ideas manifested on the page, speaker or screen. Anyone can tell an interviewer theyre great at what they do, but being able to prove it with examples of previous work is much more impressive. Getting work featured in the local or national media is of course beneficial, but this can often be tricky to break into, so student media is a great stepping stone. Itll also force you to keep producing content around your studies it can be easy to retreat into the library and bury yourself in books as deadlines loom, but student media stops for no one. It might be stressful at the time, but youll be thankful for it after graduation. Keep saying, Why not? Fancy doing a weekly campus dogspotting show? Or writing about the experience of eating chips with every single meal (including breakfast) for a week? (These are definitely not ideas Ive had over the past year) Student media is sea of creativity where literally anything goes. In fact, the weirder and more wonderful the better. So embrace the opportunity to try out as many wild ideas as possible. If it doesnt work out, its no problem its not like your job is on the line. If you dont know exactly what kind of journalism youre most interested in, then student media is also the perfect playground to experiment. Try the newspaper, radio station and TV channel (if youre lucky enough to have all three), and youll probably be surprised at what youre capable of. After years of  writing for our student newspaper, I tried out a bit of radio and loved it. Youll probably never have free reign over these kind of facilities again, so make the most of it. Make mistakes and learn from them Take this with a pinch of salt. Getting your student newspaper sued or causing an outrage on social media isnt a good idea. But your time as a student journalist is your time to make mistakes without the risk. You can try out article ideas and interviews, without the pressure for views the professional industry places on its journalists.  Youre not getting scrutinised as much, so theres space to find out what works and what doesnt. Most importantly though, youll learn from your mistakes. If you carry out an interview that doesnt go so well, you can sit down and figure out why, and not make the same mistakes next time. If you keep making mistakes and learning from them, youll grow in confidence, so when you do walk into that professional newsroom, youll know exactly what youre doing. Nail interviews Trying to organise interviews for student media is often no mean feat. Many press officers dont want to take you seriously, and theyll palm you off and ignore your emails for months on end. But eventually, youll hit the jackpot. Whether its Charlotte Crosby or Owen Jones, your favourite band or your favourite chef, if you try hard enough you will eventually manage to secure that all important interview. Its natural to get nervous before an interview, especially with a big name, but doing interviews as often as possible will eventually eradicate these fears and unleash your inner Jeremy Paxman. Using your time with student media to do this will impress employers; carrying out interviews shows initiative and the ability to think on the spot. Youll be able to waltz into your job, Dictaphone in hand, and carry out an interview confidently. Go for awards While student media is an experience in and of itself, try to get some official recognition for your work. The Student Publication Association, the Student Radio Association and the National Student Television Association all organise respective awards ceremonies for their industries. Even if you just get shortlisted, its an extra notch on your CV-belt, and the events themselves are a great way to meet student journalists from other universities building that all-important network. Sell to local (and national) media The biggest weakness most student media platforms have is a lack of faith in the quality of their content. If you uncover a big story that you think local or national media would be interested in, dont be afraid to send it across to them. Coverage from a bigger platform (always make sure they credit your publication) will provide extra publicity both for yourself and your student media channel, and will look super impressive on your CV. Just make sure you know your rights, and dont let bigger organisations take credit for your hard work. At the end of the day, student media is what you make of it. Do it right and it can take you far. My experience with student media led me to my first graduate job, a national award, a newspaper column and countless friends for life. So make it your commitment as you go into your next year of study to give student media all youve got, and let it lead you that all important graduate journalism job. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Interview Mistakes Straight From American Idol

Interview Mistakes Straight From American Idol Last night was the season premier of American Idol. Ive always been fascinated by the show because it is like watching one really long job interview unfold over several months. Every season, contestants make the same classic interview mistakes. Here are a few of the more painful ones to watch.Expecting job interest to make up for lack of experience. How many times have we heard a contestant say  If you just put me through to the next round, I wont disappoint you. I will work hard and I know I can meet your expectations. But these contestants, like job seekers, rarely get through to the next round unless they can quickly prove during round one that they are a good fit for the position and that they have transferable skills and relevant success stories.Failure to research the company. One of my favorite questions that Simon Cowell asks is Have you seen this show before? He asks this to people who appear clueless regarding the level of the competition and the expectations for future Ame rican Idols based on the caliber of their predecessors. Likewise, job seekers need to understand the history and culture of the organization they are interviewing with to determine the likelihood of meeting their selection criteria and being perceived as a good fit.Confusion over the job role. Every year there are always a few contestants that are dancers, comedians, or actorsbut not singers. They basically ignore the job description and go into the audition showing off what they can do, even if it is incongruous to what the judges are looking for. I see this same tactic used in the job search worldit manifests itself as the job seeker who applies to any position, regardless of the positions relevance to their skill set. This strategy rarely works and it can damage your credibility as a legitimate candidate. If you are applying for specific opportunities, you should only apply to those where your skill set matches numerous requirements as specified on the job posting.Inappropriate d ress. Last night a girl showed up for the audition in a bikini to be different, garner attention from the judges, and possibly distract them from her mediocre voice. While its true that she got through (Randy and Simon couldnt say no) I dont expect her to last past round two. During an interview, you want to be  remembered for what you said, not for what you wore.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Dont Lie Embellish How to enhance your resume without being dishonest - Hallie Crawford

Don’t Lie… Embellish How to enhance your resume without being dishonest We always hear we need to sell ourselves on our resume, of course, without being dishonest. If you have been out of the workforce for a while, are changing careers, or have been in school without working for a few years-what are some of the experiences you can use to enhance your resume and fill those gaps where you lack traditional work experience. Here is a quick list of possibilities. Instead of experience you can list: 1. Sports team memberships â€" Yes I had a client at a presentation say she did this with great success. *She played a leadership role on the team. That makes a difference. If you played a leadership role, add that higher up on your resume under a category called Leadership Positions and Activities for example. List the role you played there. If you did not play a leadership role, leave it at the bottom under Volunteer Work and Activities or leave it off completely. 2. Internships â€" Yes they count, even if they are informal for example if you worked at a friend’s office for free for a few months. Only include them if they are relevant of course but if they are, list them and specify a) what you learned, and b) the results you provided while there. 3. Volunteer work â€" This can be included, again, as long as it’s relevant. Reference the location, length of time and specific duties focusing on results and achievements. 4. Classes â€" If you have just completed your MBA for example and attended full time so did not work, list the relevant coursework at the top of your resume in your Professional Profile section. Mention is was a course and, if there was a specific project you were involved in that is relevant, for example a corporate case study, be sure to include that as well! It’s about showing relevant experience or knowledge, however you came by that experience. Focus on results here as well. Was there a report you provided to the organization, what did they do with that report and your results or suggestions? For example did they adjust their marketing efforts based on your project recommendations? Be specific here, use numbers to quantify whenever possible. 5. Involvement in organizations on campus or otherwise â€" Again, only if you were in some kind of leadership position and utilized skills that would be relevant. Did you serve on your child’s class committee for fundraising and raise a certain amount of money? If you were just the class parent with no specific relevant results, leave it off. Each listing on your resume has to demonstrate relevant skills. Relevancy is critical. Career Coach P.S.  Are you in the ideal career for you?  Find out if you’re in the right career with our  Ideal Career Quiz.