Career Quiz Is Your Resume Ready for the Applicant Tracking System

Career Quiz Is Your Resume Ready for the Applicant Tracking System Career Quiz Is Your Resume Ready to Beat the Bots?See where your ATS knowledge lies.Applicant tracking systems, or ATSs, are increasingly used by companies to store, scan, and rank applicants resumes before getting them into the hands of recruiters and hiring managers. While these software platforms were popular with large companies at first, they have become a common recruiting tool for employers of all sizes. ATS software is designed with the goal of eliminating the least qualified candidates from the applicant pool however, the software is also known to pass over qualified candidates during its anfangsbuchstabe scan. How does this happen?Simple. Even qualified applicants can find their application knocked out of the running and floating around in the infamous resume black hole if they didnt write their resume with the ATS in mind.Do you know if your resume can beat the bots and make it into the hands of an actual human recruiter or hiring manager? Take our free career quiz to find out if your resume is ATS friendlyCareer Quiz Is your resume ATS friendly?Depending on your results, you are either pretty secure in your chances against the software or you need to tweak your resume. To learn more about how to tailor your resume to the make it past the ATS, check out TopResumes OfficeHours Live Chat video recording here.Not sure if your resume can beat the bots? Learn more about the ATS in our free infographic todayRecommended ReadingThe Top 10 Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You the JobCareer Quiz Is It Time for a Career Change?Ask Amanda How Can I Make My Resume Beat the ATS?Related Articles

How to Put Freelance Writing Work on Resume Guide

How to Put Freelance Writing Work on Resume Guide The Key to Successful How to Put Freelance Writing Work on Resume It can be difficult to fit an independent career into a traditional resume structure. If you select the hundertprozentig freelance, its far better to bring a particular work you performed. If you are a newcomer to freelancing or need to transition to another kind of freelancing work, you can want to contemplate utilizing a functional resume instead of a chronological one. The End of How to Put Freelance Writing Work on Resume On-line company of professional writers can help you with the very best writing or editing services. Dont forget that however great a writer youre, clients will opt not to work with you more often than not in many instances. A freelance resume displays a different sort of skilled background but serves exactly the same purpose as any other resume. Unfortunately, the term freelance in the industry world may have a slightly negative meaning . Nevertheless, the function of the freelance jobs is ambivalent because of an uncertain attitude of distinct employers. Because of the competitive nature of the company, it could be even harder than this to secure freelance opportunities. Fantastic resumes show instead of tell. Writing resumes for individuals supplies you with the chance to help them land work, along with earning money from your writing skills. Choosing How to Put Freelance Writing Work on Resume Its simple to use and you dont need to be a search engine optimization expert to understand how it works. The thing to keep in mind is that sometimes clients hire freelancers due to the fact that they dont understand how to do what you do. Active individuals usually become involved in different kinds of freelance work. If youre doing work for a number of clients, the company name may be your own especially if youre already incorporated. An applicant who doesnt necessarily have to be employed but has the access of her or his time to work flexibly, is thought to be a freelancer work. You always need to tailor your resume to the work description. Every job on your resume will appear more impressive when you could be ready to add numbers. You may probably get by with no more than two or three standard resumes, which youre then adapt further for certain clients. How to Put Freelance Writing Work on Resume Help Writers who are self-employed and who can also be engaged to any employers for a quick time period should construct an independent writer resume to be able to display their job expertise in any technical and internet work. Its better to include published work, but inexperienced writers may consist of work thats unpublished. Dont forget, theres no correct or wrong method to begin a freelance writing career. Luckily, there are a number of freelance writing opportunities obtainable for just about anybody who knows the way to write.

How to Know When Your Star Recruiter Has Checked Out - Spark Hire

How to Know When Your Star Recruiter Has Checked Out - Spark HireIt is difficult to find good recruiters. That is why it can be so easy to overlook signs that one of your star recruiters has checked out and is no longer engaged. Some of the signs are very easy to pinpoint, as long as you are keeping track of production numbers and taking elendice of any changes in the recruiters work pattern.Production NumbersA recruiters production numbers are one of the first things you should always be keeping an eye on. For example, if you track presentations, interviews, and hires, it should be very easy to see any change in trends. If your star recruiter typically achieves 5 hires in a month, but you notice the number is dropping, take a look at the interviews and presentations. If you notice that all production numbers are low, its time to have a chat with your recruiter.If you are not tracking production numbers for your recruiting team, you must begin immediately. Lack of PassionTake notice of any changes in your recruiters habits and attitude. If your star recruiter typically shows up every day before 8AM, excited to start the day, it should be a red flag when that same recruiter begins showing up to work late and leaving right at 5PM. Most star recruiters are very passionate about their work, causing them to work far beyond the Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 schedule.Most of your best recruiters will have a true passion for the hunt and the recruiting business overall. This passion is not typically hidden and can be seen on the faces of many recruiters whenever a placement is made or lost. When your recruiter loses a placement, what is the reaction? If the reaction used to be disappointment but is now a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders, your recruiter may very well have checked out.Lack of ImprovementIn most instances when a manager notices changes in a recruiters performance, there is a string of conversations and or counseling that happens next. Quite often, manage rs will start with an open conversation with the employee. If there is no improvement, they will then move on with written counseling. This lets the recruiter know that you are serious and that the recruiter needs to get back on track or things could go south very quickly.If you see no improvement from your recruiter, in spite of several discussions and written counseling, you should begin searching for that recruiters replacement. One of two things will happen you will let the recruiter go, or the recruiter will resign. In either instance, you will need to hire a new recruiter.What are some ways you determine if your recruiter has checked out and how do you handle the situation? Please share your input in the comments below.Images starfotograf/BigStock.com

Do recruiters and employers check your LinkedIn How to leverage it

Do recruiters and employers check your LinkedIn How to leverage itDo recruiters and employers check your LinkedIn How to leverage itAccording to a recent study, over 70% of employers check social media profiles of candidates to learn more about them. For those who think that they are better off without any digital footprint and have never created or delete their accounts, this is not a piece of good news. According to a recent survey, about 47% of employers said that they would not call a candidate for interview who does not have any social media presence.LinkedIn is possibly the best tool that a candidate has to showcase her professional persona. A well-customized profile attracts recruiters and potential employers who are looking for a suitable candidate. Sometimes all you need is to get your foot in the door, and rest follows.Being precise about the role you are looking for tops the list of things you might want to work on to attract recruiters on LinkedIn. Having clarity about yo ur desired career path speaks volumes about you and also helps in attracting the right recruiters and employers from your required industry. One of the most embarrassing things that often puts recruiters off is poor grammar and incorrect spellings. Proofread your profile for such mistakes and watch out for those repeated words. You also might want to consider sharing it with your family or close friends as running it by more eyes certainly helps.Keeping your status updated can be quite helpful. Creating a profile and then not logging in for months or years together shows a lack of interest in ones own career. Were you the employee of the month a couple recently? Did you just recently take up a course to become more efficient at your job? You might think of sharing it on LinkedIn as bragging, but it is better to stay active and current. Also, these achievements can be talked about without bragging as well. Same goes for showcasing your publications such as your own website, blog or a n article in a popular magazine.There are many other things that you can implement to your LinkedIn profile such as usage of Industry-specific keywords relevant to your roles. This would help you be found by recruiters when they search for those keywords. LinkedIn is a platform that allows you to stop being just another candidate and create your own brand. Stand out from the crowd and learn ways in which you can attract recruiters and employers on LinkedIn. Happy job hunting Checking out this infographic from CV-Nation for more.

How to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume

How to Explain an Employment gemeinsame agrarpolitik on Your ResumeHow to Explain an Employment gemeinsame agrarpolitik on Your ResumeMany of us take time off, for one reason or another, from working. Sometimes, its by choice- maybe you were raising a child, traveling, taking care of a sick relative, or went back to school. In other cases, your time off from work may occur because you were laid off or fired and it took time to find a new job. What is the best way to explain an employment eu-agrarpolitik on your resume and during a job interview? It depends on the situation and what you did while you werent employed. Do You Need to Mention a Gap on Your Resume? If you havent taken a break yet, you can plan it carefully to ensure a smooth return to the workforce. If the gap was in the past, and youve been employed since it occurred, you dont need to call it out on your resume. There is no requirement that you include all your experience on a resume. Thats especially true if youve b een in the workforce for many years. If you are looking for a mid-career position, an entry level role from decades ago is probably not very relevant. It is, however, very important not to lie on your resume - about an employment gap or anything else.If you lie on your resume, it will probably come back to haunt you. Employersverify work history, and if you put incorrect information on your resume, itll be discovered. 4 Ways to Make Employment Gaps Less Obvious on a Resume 1. Use Dates to Cover up the Gap Whenlisting dates on your resume, you dont need to list the month/year if you were in a position for over a year or if your position spans multiple years. For example, you could say 2015 - 2017 (rather than May 2015 - August 2017) for a position. Then, if your next job began in November 2017, you can list it as 2017 - Present, which makes the nine-month employment gap less obvious. Heres an example of how that can look Store Manager, XYZ Store2017 - PresentSales Associate, ABC Store2015 2017 ExpandAs you can see, the resume doesnt specifically say when the candidate started and ended employment, which can cover a brief employment gap. However, if youre filling out a job application youll need to be more specific. Youll also most likely be asked about the dates during a job interview, so be prepared to answer accurately. 2. Consider a Different Resume Format You canformat your resumeto minimize the visibility of gaps in youremployment history. For example, you can put the dates in plain font instead of bold. Or, you can use a smaller font than the one youre using for the company name and your job title. Start your resume with asummary statement and career highlightssection, so you are highlighting your skills and accomplishments, rather than when you did what. These small design and formatting choices can make a big difference. 3. Omit a Job (or Two) on Your Resume You dont need to include all your experience on your resume, especially if you have been in the workforce for years.Its acceptable to limit theyears of experience you include on your resumeto fifteen years when seeking a managerial or professional position and ten years when looking for other positions. 4. Include Other Experience Gained During the Gap What did you do while you werent employed? Did you freelance or consult? Take a sabbatical? How about volunteering? All those experiences count as work and can be included on your resume. List them as you would list your other jobs - with job title, company name, job description, and dates of employment. If you took a class, you could list thatin the education sectionof your resume. If you participated in a gap year experience, that information could be include on your resume as well. Explaining an Employment Gap During a Job Interview Explaining a gap in employment during an interview can be tricky. The best approach is usually to address the issue in a direct and forthright manner. Provide a clear rationale for taking time off if the break was voluntary. If you took time off to deal with a particular issue like caring for a sick relative or completing coursework and are ready to return tofull-time employment, make it clear that the reason for your time off from the workforce has been resolved. If you were laid off due to a workforce contraction, it would be important to provide any evidence of strong wertmiger zuwachs as you explain the circumstances surrounding the downsizing. Whenever possible, secure recommendations from supervisors, colleagues, and customers confirming your competence. Incorporate these into yourLinkedIn profilewhen feasible. Of course, it will be more difficult to make a strong case if you were fired due to performance issues. If you are now targeting a job that requiresdifferent skillsor competencies, then you might emphasize how your strengths are better suited for the job at hand. If you have taken action to correct any problems which led to your dismissal, you should men tion the steps you have takento strengthen your abilities. You should generally avoid any negative characterization of your former employer since many prospective employers would take the employers side. A proactive approach providing evidence of your competence, and any positive recommendations from previous jobs can be helpful. Emphasize the Positive There are ways you can almost seamlesslyreturn to work after a career break. Make sure that you emphasize any constructive activities during your gap period suchas volunteer work, workshops or coursework, consulting or freelance work. Finally, exude enthusiasm for returning to work and make a very strong case for why your target job would be exciting for you and an excellent fit.

10 Ways to Be a Leader at Work When Youre Not the Boss

10 Ways to Be a Leader at Work When Youre Not the Boss10 Ways to Be a Leader at Work When Youre Not the BossWhen founders and CEOs look to hire and promote managers, they want people who exhibit leadership. But how can you exhibit leadership if youre stuck in individual contributor roles? No one reports to you, and youre leidlage even a project manager.Good news is, leader isnt a title, its a group of characteristics, and you can acquire them, even if youre not the boss. Here are 10 ideas1. Communicate ClearlyLeaders dont grumble behind closed doors when things dont go their way. They dont say yes when they should have said no. They say what they mean and do so in a way that people understand. This is not advocating rudeness, but it is advocating dropping passive-aggressive behavior.2. Learn FlexibilityTheres rarely a right way to do something. If you are going to insist that things be done a certain way, youre headed down the micromanager path, and thats not what leadership is about . Ask yourself, Is this the wrong way to do it, or is it just a different way?3. Dont Be a DoormatLeaders stand up for themselves, politely. Jerks stand up for themselves rudely. If somebody interrupts you in a meeting, simply say, Im sorry, can I finish? If your slimy co-worker tries to dump her work on you say, That wont be possible. Does this mean you never do a favor? Absolutely not. You do do favors, but you do so because you are nice or because it benefits you and the company, not because you cant say no.4. Help OthersLeaders bring others along with them and share credit for work well done. Leaders dont look for opportunities to step on others, but rather look for opportunities to help others succeed. Remember, a leader is someone who demonstrates desirable characteristics.5. Take Responsibility for Your MistakesWe all make mistakes. Own your mistakes. When someone points out an error, dont start throwing blame, simply say, Thanks for letting me know. Let me fix that. Addition ally, when things start going south, ask for help rather than panicking and trying to fix everything on your own. That usually makes it worse.6. Listen to Others IdeasYou may be bursting with ideas and cant wait until its your turn on the stage, but take time to listen to others. Other people have great ideas as well, and a true leader acknowledges that good things can come from many sources. Dont cut people off. Do solicit ideas. You may be surprised at what you learn.7. Take RisksLots of times, people think leaders have led charmed lives where everything went well. This is rarely the case. Failure is an integral part of success. When you can acknowledge that the risks are real but the qualifikation payoff is enough to counteract that, youre demonstrating leadership. If you jump blindly, thats stupid. But if you evaluate the situation and take the risk anyway, thats leadership.8. Remember to NetworkNetworking isnt just about finding jobs, its about connecting with people. As you le arn how to interact with people, youll learn which interactions are effective and which are ineffective. As you help others with their career, youre demonstrating your ability to lead and guide.9. Develop a Thick SkinIllegal and immoral discrimination happens. Accept that it does now, and just determine not to let terrible people get you down. The business world is not the university, and the HR department are not counselors. If someone treats you poorly, dont immediately jump to the conclusion that it was based on some immutable characteristic. Instead, evaluate if what they said or did was justified. If it was, change your behavior. If it wasnt, dont let it bother you. Now, in an egregious situation, absolutely report it, but let most things roll off your back.10. Dont Ask for Special TreatmentAll that stuff you learned about being inherently special? False. Youre not. Im not. No one is. So stop asking for special treatment and exceptions to rules. Now, can you become special by w orking harder and smarter than everyone else? Youll get special treatment when you deserve it. That isnt to say you cant ask for a raise or a promotion for extra behavior. Thats not special treatment- thats something you earn by being awesome.More From Inc.12 Things That Successful Leaders Never TolerateThree Ways to Hold the Fastest, Most Efficient Meetings Possible10 Things Highly Popular People Do ConsistentlyPhoto of domino courtesy of Shutterstock.

The 7 Biggest Myths About Changing Careers

The 7 Biggest Myths About Changing CareersThe 7 Biggest Myths About Changing Careers It is estimated that people change careers five to seven times during their lifetime. There is, however, no standard definition of what constitutes a career change . Is working in the same field but different industry a career change? Is becoming a geschftsleben owner a career change if you are doing the same job you were doing as an employee? Or is a career change only a radical move across field and industry?Regardless of how big or small your desired transition is, here are some of the biggest myths people believe about changing careers - and what the reality is.Countless books are written on the topic of how to make changes in life, including how to change careers. I like to read as many as I can and often find great ideas. Yet changing careers, like all transitions, is still a very personal experience. What seems difficult to you could be very easy for abedrngnisher person, and unexpected circumstances can derail the best of plans. Take the advice, for example, of building a side business while you have a job, so you can then transition out of it into the security of your own new enterprise. Some companies include a clause in their employment contracts that prevents employees from abfluging a side business, or you might feel so down after coming back from work you dont like that you feel too demoralized and too insecure to start a new venture. Its bedrngnis that the advice is bad - working on building your business while being fully employed is a great suggestion - its just that not one piece of advice fits everyones situation. Dont look for one fool-proof way of changing careers - focus instead on creating your own path to a new career based on what you find fruchtwein helpful.Nothing happens just in your head. While writing, meditation and personality tests can give you some new insights and ideas, if you have been stuck and unable to change ca reers for a while, the answers you seek are either buried too deep or are out there already - most likely both.We react to our perception of reality - not reality itself. Because of this, each one of us has formed a number of beliefs about ourselves and the world that we mistake for the truth. Some common beliefs I see with my clients are that they are not good at something, or too old to change or bad at money, etc. Even with lots of journaling, the deeper and more ingrained your belief is, the most likely it is that you will not to be able to recognize it for what it is - a belief , not the truth. If you suspect this is the case for you, working with a coach will help you unearth what is driving your behavior unconsciously, and once you see your belief for what it is - just a belief - you will be able to choose what to do with it. I am bad at money might simply become I need to learn how to negotiate my salary better.The other very common situation is that you have no id ea what jobs are out there. I am always curious about what kind of work people do, and am often surprised to find people have professions I didnt know existed. For example, a lot of people dont know what a Technology or Developer Evangelist does. Nope, its not a religious order Heres a gurke definition from Wikipedia A technology evangelist is a person who builds a critical mass of support for a given technology, and then establishes it as a technical standard in a market that is subject to network effects. An evangelist promotes the use of a particular product or technology through talks, articles, blogging, user demonstrations, recorded demonstrations or the creation of sample projects.If you have technical skills and love people and content, this might be a dream job, yet so many people dont even know about it. There are many more professions that are not very well-known, and this is why a huge part of you looking for what to do next has to include talking to people in the fiel d.Some lucky people decide they want to do something different, research different options, find another job they like and voil - they make the transition. For most of us, things are a bit more messy. Very often, people start exploring a different career, and something happens they cannot transition into it, end up not liking it or discover something they like even better . There is no way for you to choose a new career until you try it out. The fastest way to find what you want to do is to try what seems like a good idea job shadow, do it on the side, take a class (not an entire new degree). You will discover that the journey will determine the destination, and not the other way around.While it definitely helps to have a partner, tons of savings or a lucrative job to support you during your career transition, people change careers regardless of how much money they make. In fact, if you dont like your job and on top of it you are making very little money, you should run, not wa lk, towards a new career You are not doing yourself any favor by staying stuck and broke. We are incredibly lucky to have access to more information than ever, from finding free information online to the library (of which I am a huge fan), to talking to people you meet at events, friends of friends, Linkedin the sky is the limit You can do a lot even with no budget, so dont let lack of money stop you from doing what you want. Be resourceful and use it instead as a motivation to take the leap.Sometimes we form ideas about how things are and give up before we have time to check if they are really true. If you find yourself thinking you need a degree to change careers, do lots of research. Some jobs do require degrees and licenses (e.g. medical doctor, psychotherapist, etc.), but many more jobs do not require a degree by law. The most important thing employers want is to know you can do the job. If there is no regulation saying you have to have a specific degree, some employers ask for a degree because they see it as proof that you know what youre doing. Can you prove yourself without going back to school ? More and more colleges now also offer specialized courses and Graduate Certificates to provide people with specific skills without the time and money investment necessary to get a whole new degree. Look at all your options, and then decide what would work best for you. In many cases, you will be OK without having to go back to school for years. And if you find you really need that degree, you will have made an informed choice.Psst I have a secret. Very few people are good at business when they start. Most people have no idea how to run a business , and have to learn as they build it This is why there are so many online courses to teach people how to market their work, get their first clients, etc. Dont let your lack of knowledge stop you. Take it instead as an imperative to learn more about it. And if you can, start your business on the side and learn by doi ng. Then, when youre ready, you can take the plunge and go full-time.When I lived in San Francisco, I took a four-month-long class through a nonprofit to learn everything about operating a business. I used to joke it was the cheapest MBA ever, and even got my friends to take it. The amazing thing? After graduation, some of the students founded highly successful businesses, some started pretty good businesses, some started a business and failed and some realized having a business was not for them. Everyone, though, learned enough new skills and developed such a deeper understanding of how a business works that they could leverage their new knowledge into a better business, job or salary. Some ended up getting better jobs, instead of becoming entrepreneurs. In other words, when you embark on your journey to change careers, you will grow so much that you will be able to use what you learned no matter what. It might not be what you expected, and you might experience a lot of heartbr eak, failure and discomfort along the way. But if you stay open, challenge yourself to learn new things and put yourself out there, you will eventually be able to do something you find fulfilling.Aurora Meneghello is a Los Angeles-based career coach and the founder of Repurpose Your Purpose . She works with groups and individuals who want to live a fulfilling professional life.