A Bad Break With Resumes? Youre Not Alone

A Bad Break With Resumes? You're Not AloneIf you're applying for a job that requires you to write a resume for work with no experience, you might have some serious decisions to make. And chances are, you're probably nervous about the whole process. If you're anything like me, that's probably not the best thing to be when you're trying to get a new job.So the good news is you don't have to do this alone. If you've got any experience at all in getting a resume for work with no experience written for yourself, you'll most likely find that this process is a lot easier than you might think. Many people who have had to do this before understand this and know how to get it done. And so can you.But you should know that writing a resume for work with no experience doesn't have to be so hard that you get nervous or desperate. In fact, when you do this, you run the risk of being seen as lazy. This is not the look you want if you want to get a job at a place like Target.You're going to need to t ake things slowly. And be prepared to make mistakes. That's just how life works, isn't it?So if you've been trying to get a new job without much luck, keep in mind that it's still possible to get one after all these years. That means you shouldn't be so hard on yourself if you are having trouble.If you've been working at a job that pays very little money but you still want to go there for the reasons stated above, you should still be able to get the job. Look for a place that does have openings and who is looking for someone who has previous experience in the field. Then you should send your resume to them.Some of these places may be able to help you with the resume that you send them if you were not able to get into such job. They might be able to post it on their own and let people see it. This could be a great way to get the job, especially if you already have experience in the field.So make sure you keep your eyes open for great opportunities. Even if you can't get into a partic ular position, you should keep looking until you can. You'll be surprised at what you can find.

Graduates Should you join the army - Debut after university

Graduates Should you join the army - Debut after university This post was written by an external contributor.  George Storr discusses the things to consider before joining the army as a graduate.   If you’re a graduate, or soon to be one, the British Army think you might just be officer material. You have to be made of ‘the right stuff’, of course, and you’ll have to be physically fit, but what could a career in the forces offer you? For many would-be-applicants the other important question is: “Is it worth the risk?” What’s the training like? If you join the army as an officer, you first have to undergo and pass a 44-week officer training course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. It’s a famous national institution, and for many young officers the course is a life-changing experience. After that period youll pass into another more specific training course which is dependent on your role and which sort of officer you become. For example, an infantry officer has to attend a 16-week specialised course in the Brecon Beacons. Comparably, if you joined Deloitte’s Tax Consulting Graduate Scheme it could take as long as three years to become fully trained. In many respects then, the army’s officer training course is relatively time efficient. Plus, depending on the area of the military you go into, you will be trained up relatively quickly, and visit a variety of locations. What are the perks? Firstly the salary compares well to most top end graduate schemes. You’ll earn £25,984 while training at Sandhurst and if you successfully pass out as a Second Lieutenant, you will start earning £31,232 annually. These figures look better still when you consider that, during some periods, your food and board are essentially paid for by the army. Secondly, careers in the forces offer amazing opportunities to develop leadership skills and experience ‘adventurous training’ (that’s forces talk for activities like skiing, skydiving and scuba-diving!). If any of those are your cup of tea then it may well be worth considering an army career. The skills that you develop in a forces role are also prized by employers. FDM group, for example, run a programme especially for ex-forces personnel. They say on their website: “We recognise that people who have served in the Armed Forces have many transferable skills, ranging from adaptability and maturity through to responsibility and leadership”. This is especially applicable to the officer roles graduates are positioned to take on. What are the risks? If you take on a combat role the harsh reality is that you could find yourself in life threatening situations. You could also be called on to kill someone. Important questions to ask yourself include: What sort of army role do you want? And at the time of signing up, is Britain involved in any conflicts or peace-keeping missions? If you’re an infantry officer you could face more dangerous situations than, for example, a tank driver. However, this depends on the conflict (or lack thereof) and there are many non-combat roles available. You could be an army officer in a veterinary role, you could work as a military police officer, or even as a chaplain. There are lots of non-combat roles available. How could you progress? You’ll usually remain a Second Lieutenant for around a year after passing out of Sandhurst. Then you’ll be promoted to a Lieutenant and that rank is usually held for up to two years before further promotion. Each step up the ladder takes time but means more money as well as more responsibility. It’s possible to receive a number of qualifications during and after training as an army officer, including a postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management or a BTEC in Management Studies. Alongside valuable management experience these can accelerate your career should you choose to leave the army. Depending on the degree you held before joining, a spell as an army officer could see you find careers in a number of industries. Former officers have become journalists, solicitors, PR and finance professionals and private military personnel, among other things. Could the army suit me? So, how do you decide if the army is for you? Firstly, remember the risks. By taking on a combat role, you must be prepared mentally for huge responsibility. If you are an army officer your work can involve saving people’s lives, but getting things wrong can endanger people’s lives, too. If this isn’t for you, then non-combat roles may be worth exploring. One of the other pluses of an army job can be the social side. The thrust of the army’s latest recruitment campaign is their slogan This is belonging. Essentially they’re arguing that army jobs lead to you forging meaningful, long lasting relationships with your co-workers. Many army and ex-army personnel will vouch for this. You’ll have to be ready to learn new skills, travel and work hard. Remember that physical fitness is key to many roles and that entry assessments can be tough! If you relish a challenge and aren’t put off by the potential risks then an army job can be fulfilling and rewarding work. This is a hugely personal choice and you may well have to do some soul searching. To learn more about a career in the forces, search on their website or visit your local Army Recruitment Centre. There are recruitment centres all over the country and the staff there can advise you in detail on army careers Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Woohoo - Im going back to Chile - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Woohoo - Im going back to Chile - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Woohoo :) I was just booked to speak at Expo Capital Humano (a big HR conference) in Chile in November. I cant wait to be back in Santiago. The pic above is from my last trip there where I spoke at a conference arranged by Caja Los Andes. I should bone up on my Spanish :) Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

20 Things to Remove From Your Resume - Career Advice Blog for Millennials

20 Things to Remove From Your Resume - Career Advice Blog for Millennials Think your resumes ready? Think again. Before you hit the send button, go over your resume one more time. It might have details that need to be deleted or rewritten, such as the ones below.   Summary Section Career Objective. Lets be honest: Can you write a career objective that isnt anything along the lines of To help the company move forward to the next level, To be the CEO someday or To get a job, period? If you cant write it without cringing seven ways til Sunday, leave it out. A Functional Rather Than Chronological Format. To most employers, a skills-based resume is a sign that the applicant is hiding a spotty work history. If you have a great track record employment-wise, you cant go wrong with a chronological resume. Otherwise, try to work with a combined chronological-functional format.   Personal Section Your Photo. Unless youre explicitly asked to do otherwise, its perfectly acceptable to leave your picture out of your resume. Employers are still human, after all, and whether theyll admit it or not, they do judge you based on your appearance. Unprofessional  Email Address. Employers would rather hire someone with an e-mail like [emailprotected] than [emailprotected]. Company Email Address. If you have to do your job hunting at work, remember to use your personal-yet-professional email address instead of your company email. Creative Interests. Yes, its nice that you love to read, write and travel the world â€" but what does that have to do with being a systems analyst? Anything That Can Cause Discrimination. In theory, U.S. employers are supposed to offer equal employment opportunities. In practice, many of these employers do judge applicants based on age, marital status and religion. Dont mention these if you want to be judged on your own merits, rather than your position in society.   Work History Section Jobs That Lasted Less Than a Year. When you change jobs like a cuttlefish changes color, it can be difficult to convince employers to take a chance on you. Hiring people is expensive, and the last thing an employer wants is to spend thousands of dollars on a promising applicant whos not in it for the long haul. Generic Descriptions of Your Previous Jobs. There are better ways to describe your previous jobs than copy-pasting from an ad. For example, you can turn your duties into accomplishments by adding concrete numbers, accolades, etc. The Word Unpaid. Employers already understand the implications of being an intern or volunteer, so theres no need to point out the monetary aspect of it. Instead, concentrate on describing your specific achievements. Any Irrelevant Experience. Your potential employer wont care about jobs youve held more than a decade ago; jobs youve held in high school; jobs at home such as doing chores and caring for children; and other jobs that dont lend the right skills/experience to the position youre applying for.   Skills Section Generic Skills. Typing, MS Office and Internet research are good skills to have. That is, until you realize everyone else has them too, so they wont really help you stand out from the crowd. Any Irrelevant Skills. Being able to do one-handed handstands is cool … if youre applying for a circus, a dance troupe or a gymnastics club. Maybe you can use it to entertain co-workers during breaks, but thats still not a reason to include it in your resume.   Others “Artistic” Resume Design. Unless youre applying to be an artist, its best to leave those quirky, rainbow-colored fonts out of your resume. Also, avoid these deadly sins of resume design, such as fancy decorations, colored paper and weird formatting. Personal Pronouns. Its enough to write something like Doubled sales for the department within two weeks.” There’s no need to add I or your name in the beginning of that sentence. Overused/Vague Jargon. Ever wondered whether words like goal-oriented, innovative and team player are actually hurting you? You might be on to something. In fact, these are three of the 25 most commonly used words that dont add anything to your resume. If any word on your resume feels empty, or cant be backed up by solid evidence, cut it out. References Available Upon Request. This phrase can come across as presumptuous. You should either list your references outright, or not mention them at all. (But be sure to have a list ready in case asked for them!) Typos/Spelling Errors/Grammatical Errors. Even a single spelling or grammar mistake can send your resume straight to the rejected bin. Make sure to proofread your resume at least twice, so youll avoid embarrassing mistakes like I markiplied our production by 50 percent. Anything Exaggerated or Untrue. Its OK to leave out the not-so-flattering parts of your job history. Whats not OK is embellishing what youve written on your resume to make yourself look better than you really are. Just state the facts supporting your achievements, and leave them at that. Anything Over the Two-Page Limit. After doing all of the above, your resume should span two pages, at most. Even if youve had a decades-long career, its not an excuse to turn your resume into a mini-memoir. Even then, it should be limited to one page in most cases.   Remember: Employers have to go through hundreds of applications every day. When an applicant makes the effort to craft a concise yet compelling resume, employers take notice. If you manage to get your foot in the door, its only a matter of time â€" and a matter of preparation and self-confidence â€" before you land that job offer. Image Credit:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/[emailprotected]/13903383190/sizes/l

Resume Writing Services in Western Massachusetts

Resume Writing Services in Western MassachusettsIn this article we will discuss the best types of resume writing services in Western Massachusetts. The services will consist of resume writing services in Massachusetts. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each service and whether they are right for you or not.This is by far the most popular and widely known of all the services. The job market in this state is relatively good and job openings seem to be plentiful. The advantage is that you can find a resume writer in this area very easily. The disadvantage is that the service is typically fairly expensive. As the demand for the service increases, prices will continue to increase.You should avoid writing your resume with the use of this service. It is important to understand the pros and cons of this service before using it. The pros of having your resume written with this service include the following: you do not have to spend any money for the service, the writer is us ually fairly cheap, you are allowed to make changes or add to your resume. This allows you to customize your resume and provides you with a better resume at a lower cost.The cons of the service include the following: it takes a long time to get the resume on paper; the costs associated with the service are high, you do not have the ability to change or add to your resume. With some other services the turnaround time can be as long as a week. Some of the lower cost services offer less service than others.MS Word, or the Microsoft Word program, is a free program available for most operating systems. Many companies can also give you a free trial of MS Word so that you can see if the program is right for you. You can have a professional resume writing service do a resume for you for free, or if you decide that you want to hire a professional writer then you should be prepared to pay for it. You should always make sure that the company offering the resume writing service is reputable and that they will not try to sell you on something or try to dupe you into using their service.If you do not want to pay for a resume writing service, but would like to write your own resume then you can use the internet to find out which resume writing services are the best for you. The best resume writing services are one of the most flexible programs on the internet. They are set up to allow you to customize your resume in any way that you want. There are usually many different payment plans available, depending on how long you want to wait for the resume to go through. These services will usually allow you to request additional information or feedback on your resume from someone who has used the same service, in order to help you improve it.Resume writing services in Massachusetts are vital to your success as a candidate in this area. You can find them easily by doing a search on the internet. Using the internet is a great way to save time and money by using one of the best resume writing services available in the United States.

5 Insane Jobs That No One Will Believe You Get Paid For

5 Insane Jobs That No One Will Believe You Get Paid For Scrolling through job boards can be pretty disheartening, and not just because you need work. There are plenty of run-of-the-mill opportunities â€" barista, sales clerk, systems analyst (whatever that is) â€" but where are the really interesting jobs? The ones that give you great stories to tell at parties, yet still help pay the bills? They’re out there â€" but you probably won’t find them on LinkedIn. Here are a few that might expand your job-hunting horizons. 1. Professional cuddler If the thought of being wrapped in a stranger’s arms sounds comforting rather than a recipe for a panic attack, a career as a professional cuddler might be for you. Cuddlist will help train you and match you with clients in need of a snuggle. Clients pay $80 an hour â€" and, no, there’s no funny business. Cuddler Saskia Larsen calls her job a “heart-opening experience,” and says it’s no more risky than her other gig as a massage therapist. 2. Practice pelvis No matter how medically savvy a doctor might be, ineptitude with a speculum is one thing that separates a very bad gynecologist from a good one. Luckily, there are women like Austin, Texas-based poet Jodi Egerton willing to serve as “practice pelvises” for medical professionals learning to do internal exam. “It’s not a big deal to me,” she laughs. “I’ve had two babies, so that area has been through a lot.” And as for the potential discomfort from having inexperienced students examining you, Egerton swears they are generally very gentle. “They’re fine, because they’re terrified,” she says. While the pay ($25 an exam) doesn’t take care of her mortgage, it does help with the bills â€" and the medical school stacks them so she can do up to nine a day. Besides the financial rewards, Egerton also looks at it as a public service: “I know they’re scared and so if I can be there and make it less scary, by being friendly and smiling, that’s a little service I can do for humanity.” 3. Fire-breathing motivational speaker If you’ve ever been to a corporate retreat, you know how dull some of those team-building exercises can be. That’s why fire-eater Ilise S. Carter is such a breath of fresh (and scorching) air at these events. Carter, who goes by the Lady Aye professionally, has been hired to inspire by corporations like GE and Gap, and while she doesn’t teach her audience to swallow swords, she says she “uses these skills to illustrate a way of overcoming fears.” During her former career in financial services, she apprenticed with a sideshow performer at night and began performing in her 30s. Much to her surprise, she found that experience helpful in all other aspects of her life. “People hold back because they’re waiting to be perfect,” she says. “But there’s a certain point where you need to let go. You have to be comfortable knowing that you’re going to fall down a bunch of times before you get good at something. That helps you allow yourself to become creative â€" and these are important lessons, even in the business world.” 4. Lego artist Jonathan Lopes was a musician when he moved to New York, cut off his hair, and took a regular job in publishing. Though he enjoyed a steady paycheck, he knew he had to find a creative outlet, too. One night after work he stopped by a toy store and picked up a Lego set. He put it together and never looked back. “I did it as a hobbyist for about eight years,” building increasingly complex designs, he says. Because he was immersed in the art world, more people saw Lopes’ work and he started getting gallery shows. Eventually, someone at a nonprofit saw some of his work and commissioned a replica of the group’s botanical garden. That snowballed into more commissions, including his first one from Lego â€" a version of New York’s Apollo Theatre for its display at the now-defunct Times Square Toys R Us. Besides occasional work with the brand, he says, “I do quite a few commissioned custom pieces for marketing firms, architects, private art collectors and corporate art collections.” Now based out of San Diego, Lopes is also a mainstay at the BrickUniverse Lego fan convention, traveling to show his work throughout the year. 5. Artists’ model “You think I’m going to be naked in front of people â€" I just turned 50!” was singer Crystal Durant’s reply when a friend told her she should start posing at New York City’s Art Students League. Days later, Durant was standing on a platform, wrapped in a towel, in a room full of strangers with sketchpads. If that wasn’t awkward enough, the door then opened and a familiar face walked in. “It was a guy I’d had a job interview with two days earlier.” That didn’t stop her, though. In the two years since she started, Durant has worked as a model at least five days a week â€" much of it clothed â€" and derives about 90% of her income from the work. She still DJs and does social media on the side, but the model’s life suits her. Her advice for aspiring muses: “You want to work for private clients â€" they pay more and it’s cash.” This article originally appeared on NerdWallet.com.

7 Bad Beauty Habits That Make You Look Older - Work It Daily

7 Bad Beauty Habits That Make You Look Older - Work It Daily Age is just a number. Irrespective of how clichéd that statement sounds, the fact is that aging depends less on your actual age and more on the environmental factors. Your lifestyle, food habits, and emotional and mental wellbeing actually determine how fast you age. Many a times we come across a person who looks quite younger than his/her actual age. Similarly, there is no dearth of people who are, let’s say, between 28-30 years, but look way older than their real age! Unhealthy beauty habits affect the youth quotient of your skin massively. Read on to find out which bad beauty habits make you look older than you really are: 1. You're Careless About Cleansing Time and again, it has been emphasized that in order to maintain a young and flawless skin, proper cleansing, toning, and moisturizing is essential for you. Failing to adhere to this routine leads to clogged pores, which obstructs breathing of the skin. Naturally, lack of oxygen will lead to the formation of wrinkles and blemishes on your skin, not to mention severe acne break out and blackheads! Toning helps in shutting skin pores after cleansing, which firms up the skin. Moisturizing keeps the skin soft and supple. Hence, ensure that you follow this routine religiously every day. 2. You Over Exfoliate Alright, scrubbing your skin for revitalizing is beneficial and it's great that you are aware of it. However, at times exfoliating the skin more than two or three times a week could sabotage your new and young skin cells. As a result, you would be troubled by skin darkening and experience rough and lifeless skin. Limit your scrubbing to twice a week and use mostly natural homemade scrubs like lemon and sugar scrub, dried orange peel scrub, walnut and rose water scrub, and so on. If you do not have the time to prepare scrubs at home, choose a good quality scrub from a trusted brand. Also, never forget to deep moisturize your skin after scrubbing. 3. You're A Sunbathing Addict So, you simply adore bathing in the sun and attaining that sensuous, sun kissed look! Sunlight is a great source of Vitamin D for your body that will keep your bones healthy. However, at times people tend to overdo it, seldom realizing that excess of sun exposure could not only lead to sun tan, but sun burn, which is an inflammatory reaction. The ultra violet rays of the sun stimulate the pigment called melanin in our skin cells, which leads to skin darkening. The skin cells damaged by the UV rays, not only augments aging but can also lead to skin cancer. 4. You're Too Tired To Remove Makeup At Night You're back from work after meeting the tight deadlines of office, dealing with your boss’s mood swings, sitting in traffic. In a nutshell, you are dog tired and just want to drop dead into your bed and sleep in! It's quite natural. However, sleeping with makeup on your face can prove to be hazardous for the skin. A moment of laziness can sabotage your skin cells and agitate aging as sleeping with clogged pores hinders the oxygen supply of the skin. Use olive or coconut oil, or a high quality makeup remover in order to clean face at night and then sleep. 5. You've Befriended The Yo-Yo Diet These days, people are getting more and more conscious about their body image. Do you envy the slim, sultry girl in your office and the stylish clothes she wears every day? Not accepting yourself and constantly trying to fit into the common mold leads to desperation. Usually, people succumb to crash diets, commonly called the yo-yo diets, which do not include carbohydrates and healthy fats. While fruits and salads are great for your health individually, they would never get absorbed in your body without being combined with proper carbohydrates and healthy fats. They drain out all nutrients from the body and make you look old and weak. 6. You Sleep With Uncombed Hair Not combing your hair at night and with wet, uncombed, and tangled hair is very harmful for your hair health. The roots grow weak and it eventually leads to hair fall. Even worse if you go to bed with tied hair that you did up in the morning. Proper blood circulation is necessary for healthy hair. Hair loss will make you look old and unattractive, so caress your hair with love for a young and gorgeous look. 7. You're A Nail Biter Your nails, the skin around your nails, and cuticles tend to become unhealthy and hard due to lack of proper nutrition and moisturization. Many a times, we do not even realize that have developed the awful habit of biting nails and cuticles. It leads to even more dryness and would make your nails and hands look shabby and will add more age to your hands. Apply a good cream for hands and nails, or you can out some fresh milk cream on the area in order to avoid this problem. Enjoy this article? You've got time for another! Check out these related articles: Beauty Tips: Professional Interview Makeup Beauty Emergency Kit For The Smart Professional Woman 5 Quick And Easy Beauty Tricks For Busy Professionals Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!