6 Resume Tricks to Beat the 6-Second Rule

6 Resume Tricks to Beat the 6-Second Rule By now you’ve certainly heard some of the ridiculous job search  stats  that are being thrown around. Yet, none are as silly as the claim that  recruiters only spend 6 seconds on a resume before they decide  whether or not to trash it.  Job seekers have been led to believe that all the hard work they put into  their resume and their chances of getting an interview rest on a mere 6  seconds. With a stat like that, how can anyone feel hopeful about the job  search?  Resume Genius decided to give some  hope back to job seekers  and  put this resume  myth to bed but how? More than 9,000 participants (average Joes AND experienced  recruiters) completed a challenge, whereby different resumes were to be judged as good or bad in just 6 seconds. The results are compiled in the  infograpahic below. What do they tell us?    The success rate  hovered around just 50% for both cohorts not very promising! So although the 6-second rule, or myth, has now been debunked, we cant become complacent with our resumes. It doesnt mean hiring managers and recruiters won’t stop  making judgements about a resume as soon as they lay their eyes on it. The experiment also concludes that  you increase your chances of getting your resume past the  first 6 seconds of judgment by 25% simply by making  it  aesthetically pleasing and well-formatted!   Here are some top tips on how you can make a strong first impression with yours: 1. Apply Proportional Margins Most job seekers don’t play around with the margins of their resume,  but a few minor tweaks could really improve its readability. One-inch  margins are usually the safe choice for most resumes as they help keep  the length of the lines of text short and skimmable. 2. Maintain a balanced white space to text ratio This point is directly related to your resume’s margins. “White space” is  another overlooked aspect of the resume. Too much white space makes  a resume look desolate and can give the impression that the applicant  lacks experience.  On the other hand, a resume with too little white space can appear too  crowded and leave recruiters feeing claustraphobic. Therefore, it’s  important to find a happy medium between text and white space on the  page. 3. Use an easy-to-read font When choosing the right font for your resume, aim for one that is  scannable and not distracting. Some applicants disregard these goals  and try to get too creative with their fonts. Sure, this may help them  stand out from the competition, but for all the wrong reasons.  Don’t choose a font that will distract recruiters from what’s actually  important â€" your skills and experience. Instead, choose a font that will  add a subtle hint of style while maintaining your resume’s readability.  Fonts like Calibri, Helvetica, Garamond, and Bookman Old Style are all  appropriate choices. 4. Make sure all your bullet points are evenly aligned Although this tip sounds like common sense, uneven bullet points is an  issue that recruiters see way too often. Before sending out your resume,be sure to double check that all your headings, subheadings, and bullet  points are evenly aligned. Otherwise, you will give the impression that  you are a sloppy individual that doesn’t pay attention to detail. 5. Use lines to break up the text Adding horizontal lines is an easy way to improve your resume’s  readability. Lines cue recruiters to pause momentarily and process the  information they just finished reading. 6. Add a bit of color Deciding whether you add color to your resume really depends on the  job or company you are applying to. If you are applying for a position at  a conservative company, it’s probably safer to go with the traditional  white and black.  However if you the job you applying to is in a more creative industry,  then you should definitely make use of a subtle color scheme. It’s best to  stick with primary colors and avoid any bright or neon variations. To sum it all up, job seekers no longer need to fear the first 6 seconds  that a hiring manager or recruiter spends on a resume. With an  aesthetic and properly formatted resume, your chances of getting past  the first 6 seconds are significantly higher. About the author:  Erik “EPIC” Episcopo is a career adviser and hiring manager at Resume  Genius.   Image credit: Shutterstock

How to Overcome Spring Fatigue - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Overcome Spring Fatigue - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Spring means renewing yourself and getting ready for the summer. Therefore, you need to wake your body up and get into full speed. However, adapting to the change in mother nature is not always easy and can bring challenges with it. This is called spring fatigue and below you can find ways to overcome it. Start Eating Healthier: Start your day off with a healthy breakfast. Don’t skip eating breakfast. You don’t need to eat a full breakfast everyday but at least you can eat fruits, oatmeal, yoghurt or cornflakes. This will help you boost your energy in the morning and also, you will get all the necessary vitamins and minerals you need to take. In addition, drink enough water to keep your body hydrated and get rid of the toxins. Don’t forget that dehydration can cause headaches and exhaustion. Exercise: Adding exercising into your work day will help reduce your stress as well as lower your anxiety. For example; going for a walk during lunch time definitely boosts your energy. Also, exercising enhances the immune system. Therefore, it reduces your risk of being sick. When you exercise, you use more energy and in order to regain your energy, you need a good sleep. Therefore, if you exercise regularly, you can fall asleep easier and also, get a better quality of sleep. When you wake up in the morning because you had a good sleep, you become more energetic. Change Your Mindset: Don’t focus on how tired you feel. Try to remove this thought out of your mind. Change your mindset and think positively. If this doesn’t work, then try to take breaks during the day at work. For example; take your coffee and go to your coworker’s desk for a chit chat. This will help you recharge your energy and refresh your mind. This is a win-win situation for both parties because it will make the same effect for your coworker too. Listen to Your Body: Your body actually tells you what it needs. You just need to listen to it and act accordingly. If you started to feel sleepy, then go to bed early and sleep more. If you feel overwhelmed, then, slow down and work less for a few days or take a day or two off and go to somewhere where you can get some rest and clear your mind. For emotional stability, you can try yoga, meditation or any kind of similar practice.

Juggling an Online Masters Program and Full-Time Job

Juggling an Online Master’s Program and Full-Time Job According to a “Forbes” report, the reasons for going back to school after joining the workforce run the gambit. Some professionals see an advanced degree as a way to get ahead in their careers, some fields require continuing education for licensure, and some people simply love to learn. Whatever your reasons for taking some online classes toward a master’s degree, it’s important you maintain a balance between your education and your job. Why an Online Program? Tom Snyder, President of Ivy Tech Community College, is convinced there are several benefits of online graduate programs. “I strongly believe that the future of higher education lies with online learning,” he wrote in “The Huffington Post.” Snyder says ongoing education is simply a part of the modern career path, and he sees online courses as an excellent way to learn at your own pace. He also points out that online courses are every bit as intense as in-person classes. Furthermore, Salary.com reports that a degree from an accredited online university has real credibility in professional circles. The key is to seek out a reputable online institution. What’s more, if you’re not sure an online program will work for you, there are ways to “test-drive” them without spending a dime. Massive Open Online Course’s (MOOC) offer cost-free online learning to anyone. “The New York Times” recently reported that one of the few downsides of such courses is they do not result in a degree. The quality of education, however, is top-notch. Before You Enroll Online courses offer some nice perks in the form of convenience, but once you choose an online program, you’ll need to do a bit of prep work to set yourself up for success. “U.S. News World Report” covered several helpful tips. First and foremost, be sure you know the technical requirements of any online course before you sign up. What software is required? Is your computer compatible with the web-based tools used? The same article advises eLearning students to carve out space specifically for coursework. “One thing online and in-class courses have in common is that students still need a place to study or complete assignments,” the article states. Especially if you have children, it’s imperative to find a place where you can work undisturbed, whether at home or somewhere else, like a local library. Finally, iron out your schedule. Arizona State University (ASU) is currently tied at fourth on “U.S. News World Report’s” list of Best Online MBA Programs. The ASU website includes a guide for online classes which advises students to allot six hours per week for every one hour of course credit. Make sure you’re prepared to set aside the time you’ll need for the classes you plan to take. Balancing Work, Classes, and Life Once your classes start, you’ll be wearing one more hat. Keeping yourself sane means finding ways to maintain a sense of balance. Dr. Savitri Dixon-Saxon is the Associate Dean for the School of Counseling and Social Service at Walden University. She encourages online students to download all available coursework to a smartphone, tablet or laptop. “Whether commuting to and from work on public transportation or waiting for your child’s sports game to start, little blocks of time can provide you with an opportunity to work on readings and assignments,” she wrote in “Expert Beacon.” Dixon-Saxon also sees the value in online study groups. She advises students to plug into study groups with others as early on as possible. This will keep you from feeling isolated and give you one more tool to boost learning and retention. But what if other students aren’t local? Lifehacker.com calls Google Hangouts “one of the best video chat and conference services,” making it an ideal resource for online study groups. As an added bonus, Google Hangouts is totally free. With classes and study groups throughout the week, you’ll need to be ready to guard your schedule and stick to it. “Set aside a block of time daily for schoolwork, preferably at the time of day you are most comfortable studyingyour time is more valuable now than ever,” they advise. Finally, keep your priorities straight. Your job comes first. “Id rather have mediocre grades and keep my employer happy about my performance,” wrote one About.com user. You’re studying to advance your career, not end it. Online degree programs are a viable, smart option for the working professional. Balancing an online master’s program with full-time work is simply a matter of being prepared and maintaining a high level of organization. Do that, and you’re on your way to online educational success.

7 Habits of the Successfully Published, Part 5 Empathy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

7 Habits of the Successfully Published, Part 5 Empathy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Successful authors exhibit a great deal of empathy for their readers. When an author writes with empathyfrom the readers perspectivereaders feel that the book was written for me! This empathy can generate decades of reader loyalty; loyalty that may be far out of proportion to the value of the information contained in the book. (I still receive e-mails from Looking Good in Print readers who credit my book for their first job in graphic design.) Authors whose writing exhibits reader empathy often benefit from decades of reader loyalty. Building blocks of reader empathy Where does reader empathy originate? There are four primary elements: Perspective Style Attitude Accessibility Perspective Successful authors write books for their intended readers, rather than writing the books they want to read themselves. Empathy is the result of planning and research. Success is proportional to the authors ability to get inside their readers heads to identify the information that readers urgently need. Todays successful nonfiction authors recognize that readers are busy; theyre not reading for pleasure, and theyre not buying frivolously. Rather than writing books to showcase their knowledge, they understand where their readers are coming from, and they provide the focused information their readers need to solve a problem or achieve a goal. The success of the for Dummies series is testament to the power of reader empathy. The for Dummies books originated at a time when publishers were coming out with increasingly complexand expensivebooks aimed at computer power users and experts. The for Dummies contained everything anybody might ever need to know detailed and arcane information about the popular software programs, while neglecting the real world of employees and business owners who were not computer literate. Empathy leads to focus: when you know what your readers are looking for, you serve your reader best when you provide just the desired information, organized and presented at the appropriate level of detail. Proof of the strength of the empathy-driven for Dummies brand is that the book series now includes over 1,400 titles, which have sold over 150 million books! Style Empathy also influences the style of successful authors; readers can sense when a book has been written for someone just like me. When an author writes with empathy, readers experience the warmth of receiving a personal communication from the author. Looking back to my favorite books, the ones that have influenced me the most, their common style characteristics are: Enthusiasm. Writers with empathy tend to be enthusiastic, even passionate, about their topic. They understand their topics relevance to the reader, and they write with a feeling of momentum because they are anxious to share what theyve learned with the reader. While educating their reader, theyre having fun sharing the magic of discovery. Specificity. Writers who have empathy avoid generalizations. They use examples, case studies, profiles, and quotations to add concreteness to information. This specificity is often communicated using story, to enhance their message. Engagement. Empathetic authors dont just provide information; they go a step further and provide exercises, questions, and other tools to help readers apply the information to their specific situation. Personality. Authors who have empathy for their readers are not afraid to take off their masks of expertise and share their enthusiasms, experiences, and prejudices, with their readers. A well-written book makes readers feel that they have known the authors for years and have shared their experiences. Shared journeys. Rather than feel like theyre being taught, authors who write with empathy make readers feel they are sharing journeys of mutual discovery with the author. This, of course, is what really happens when an expert writes about their area of expertise, as William Zinsser has documented in his Writing to Learn. Attitude Finally, authors who write with empathy avoid value judgments or condescension. They dont look down on their readersespecially newcomers to their area of knowledge. These authors scrupulously avoid jargon and complexity. When introducing new ideas or terms, they define them and explain their importance to the readers understanding of the topic, or of the readers journey to solve a problem or achieve a goal. Accessibility Finally, authors with empathy tend to be accessible to their readers. they are genuinely interested in their readers comments and experiences. They respond to reader mail and e-mail; they are courteous when approached at conferences and workshops, and invite feedback. This accessibility, or receptivity to reader communications, is evidence that authors with empathy are in it for the long haul: they are interested in cultivating long-term relationships with their readers. Examples of high empathy books The following are just a few of my favorite high empathy books, the books that most influenced me and continue to inspire me decades after I originally encountered them. Editing by Design, by Jan V. White. Editing by Design continues to amaze me. Reading it is very much like talking to Jan White, or attending one of his seminars.   You not only get the feeling that hes in the room with you, but that he knows what you already know, and what you need to know. One of my goals when I wrote Looking Good in Print was to emulate the immediacy of the author/reader connection created by this book. What Color Is Your Parachute?, by Richard N. Bolles. This was the other book that played a pivotal role in my wanting to write. Like Editing by Design, I felt the author knew me better than I knew myself. He had tremendous empathy for individuals who were suffering the daily indignation of a job that was paying the bills but holding them back. He shared the indignations and contradictions of the job hunt. When I discovered Parachute, I felt better just reading the book. More importantly, when I met and interviewed Richard Bolles, there were no surprises: his writing style, his in-person style, and his interview style are the same. With over 10 million books in print over a 30-year span of time, Parachutes success speaks for itself. Your turn So, how do you define author empathy? Have you read either of the two books, and experienced the same feelings? More important, what are your favorite booksthe ones that have inspired you the most? The comments area, below, is for your use; use it to share your comments about author empathy and your favorite reading experiences! Author Roger C. Parker is a “32 Million Dollar Author,” book coach, and online writing resource. His 38 books have sold 1.9 million copies in 35 languages around the world. The NY Times called his Looking Good in Print “…the one to buy when you’re buying only one!” Roger has interviewed hundreds of successfully branded authors and shares what he’s learned at Published Profitable and in his daily writing   tips blog.

How To Write An Objective On Resume For Education

How To Write An Objective On Resume For EducationWriting an objective on resume for education is very important in the process of getting a decent job. It allows the potential employer to know exactly what the career goals are, what exactly it is that a potential employee will be doing once hired, and what they will be expected to accomplish.An objective on resume is extremely vital because this will make a candidate stand out in the first round of interview questions. Every interviewer has a different way of asking questions. It may be as simple as stating, 'Tell me about yourself' to more complex 'tell me about your last employment' or something along those lines.One might assume that when they get into an interview, they would be asked about their education, but it has been proven that they get more questions about their prior work. For this reason, an objective on resume for education can really get you ahead in the interview process. It can also give the interviewer the impressi on that you are a hard worker and organized, and that this company will be an ideal place to work.Employers want to know exactly what a candidate brings to the table, and how he/she matches up with the job requirements. It is very important that a potential employee knows exactly what is expected of them and what their responsibilities are. A candidate who knows what to expect is a candidate who makes their prospective employer look good in the eyes of the hiring manager.Writing an objective on resume for education gives the interviewer the impression that your goals are aligned with the job description, and that your previous experience and educational background should put you in a position to succeed in whatever it is that you wish to do. An objective on resume for education can be a great place to begin the process of making your potential employer's expectations known.There are a few ways thatan objective on resume for education can be written, but none are worse than the other . Just remember that an objective on resume for education should not only be accurate, but should also be specific.Some examples of specific dates that should be noted include, 'Current Position - Deputies' Assistant,' 'Selected Coursework - Masters Degree - April 2020,' or 'Recent Education - 2020 Bachelor's Degree - Fashion Design.' These are just a few examples of possible dates that could be used.Writing an objective on resume for education is a must if you are hoping to land that dream job. Take a moment to think about it now, and then take the time to write one for yourself. When it comes down to it, having an objective on resume for education is the best way to begin the interview process.