Monthly Archives: May 2012

Tips to Looking Your Best on a Budget for Women

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Let’s face it you want to look amazing but your bank account is a little less amazing. Sure, you could look dewy, do eyed and perfectly groomed if we were all celebrities that have live in chefs and makeup artists. And with that fresh out of college bank account, chances are we aren’t millionaires and we have to work with what we have, no worries- here are a few ways you can look like and feel like a million bucks using what you already have:

Sleep: First and foremost, sleep is probably the most important thing we can do to look our best. Getting a goodnight’s rest will decrease the amount of bags and circles under our eyes. Our attitudes tend to be more outgoing and happy if we have had a full 8 hours of sleep. Happy and perky always looks good on anyone.

Hair: Obviously to start you want to wash your hair. The more polished your hair looks the more expensive you look. Depending on your hair type, do what you need to do to have a soft look. Straight, layers, volume and a slight wave is a look that movie stars go for. For an even more polished look, try your hair in a ponytail.

Makeup: When you go to apply your makeup, think young, dewy and natural. More make up does not mean more money. Keep it fresh and light, make one feature your stand out, if you want to play up your eyes, have a nude lip; if you want your lips bright red, skip the heavy eyeliner. Make sure your eyebrows are not out of control and throw on a fresh coat of nail polish, deeper dark tones or nudes.

Clothes: You don’t have to shop at Nordstrom’s to look like you have expensive duds. The key is to wear something simple on the bottom and something more festive on the top. Popular looks celebrities are wearing now are darker skinny jeans, neutral flats and an embellished top of some sort. The deeper and darker the color of your garment the more expensive they look. Avoid wearing faded and hole-y pants and tops.

Accessories: The more minimal the better. Like makeup, play up one area. If you have big earrings on, limit the necklace, bracelets and rings. Find ‘one piece’ and stick with it. Consider investing in one good, versatile piece for a necklace, bracelet/watch, ring and earrings. Gold is a really popular and easy to wear color.

Carry yourself: Stand up straight and walk with a purpose. Be confident. Smile and be nice. Nothing is more beautiful and screams a million bucks than these things.

The key to looking like a million bucks is to feel like a million bucks. You don’t need money to feel right inside, embrace the person you are and love it. Then when it comes to dressing yourself, rummage through you or your sister’s closet to find pieces that work for you. Keep everything simple and always have one piece or feature that stands out. Have fun with it and don’t forget to smile!

 

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How to Create an Interviewable Resume

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Many job seekers have the misconception that creating a great resume will help them score a job. But this is actually not the case. The great resume actually scores the interview—and if the interview is great, then you may score the job.

In other words, if you want a company to call you in for an interview, you need to create a resume that encourages a hiring manager to do so. But why not take it one step further by not only writing a resume that prompts a callback but one that shapes the course of the interview? This type of resume is known as an interviewable resume.

Understanding the Interviewable Resume

The interviewable resume is unique in that it does more than make a hiring manager interested enough to want to learn more about you in an interview; it actually provides such intriguing information that it sculpts the interview questions.

For instance, if you write in your resume that your responsibilities include filing documents, the interviewer may feel the need to come up with his or her own questions to learn whether you can develop your own filing system.

But if you write in your resume that you “coordinated efforts with company president to innovate a companywide standardized filing system,” the interviewer may want to know what steps you took to develop the system—and even how you were able to coordinate efforts with the company’s president to make it happen. See the difference?

Creating Your Own Interviewable Resume

So how can you develop a resume that effectively intrigues hiring managers? Here are a few steps to consider:

  1. Think in terms of employer needs: Keep in mind that a resume is always about what you can do for the company, not what the company can do for you. So when you create the interviewable resume, your first step is to write examples of what you’ve done for previous companies based on what you know the prospective employer wants from the person who wins the job.
  2. Deliver a consistent message: A great way to get an employer to ask more about what you’ve written in your resume is to deliver a consistent message that tells the story of how you plan to transform the position based on your previous experience. If you deliver this message in your resume, the employer will certainly want to learn more in an interview.
  3. Make use of action words: Also, as noted in the previous section, you want to make use of action words like “correlated” or “developed” to show you were not just handed responsibilities but actually initiated your own projects. This proves you’re a leader with great ideas to share in an interview.

The more you present yourself as an active leader with innovate ideas, the more you’ll pique the interest of an employer. So as you write your resume, make sure the information you provide is so impressive that the interviewer can’t wait to learn more.

Author Byline: Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of http://www.greatresumesfast.com is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

4 Ways Online Education Enhances Convenience for Students

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In many schools across the country, taking online courses is no longer a choice. Educators from elementary school to higher education are recognizing the vast importance of introducing students to the benefits of digital learning materials as a way to prepare them for the tech-dependent professional world they’ll soon encounter. Although students may not always be able to make the decision to take these courses on their own, there are several noteworthy reasons why they might consider earning an undergraduate degree entirely online.

1. Education is Everywhere

Unlike a traditional classroom, online classes allow learning to occur virtually anywhere. Whether you juggle a career, family, participation in the community, or other obligations that take up a great deal of your time, you can make your education fit in with your schedule instead of the other way around. Through the use of devices like tablets and educational mobile apps, keeping in touch and squeezing in study sessions is always conveniently accessible.

2. Learning Takes on Different Forms

Are you a visual learner? Verbal learner? Audio learner? Or do you learn best through a combination of a few different techniques? No matter what your preference is for discovering new materials and concepts, online education allows you to tailor your learning experience according to the medium that resonates most for you personally. Many online programs utilize a variety of different materials, including physical and digital textbooks, videos, audio recorded lectures, PowerPoint presentations, interactive charts and more. This diverse collection of material facilitates a holistic education.

3. Online Education is Environmentally-Friendly

One of the less emphasized benefits of online education is that it’s the greener choice compared with attending a traditional institution. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for every 2,500 miles you drive, you release approximately one ton of carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. Say you lived just ten miles from your college and attended classes there three to four times per week. This equals almost three tons of greenhouse gases released during the course of the four years. Multiply that by all of your classmates and you’ve got an environmental crisis!

4. Greater Access for Students with Disabilities

Although traditional college classrooms may have established special programs and classroom features that accommodate students with disabilities, online learning typically offers more resources and flexibility for these unique learners. Students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have other visual complications can use online learning materials to achieve a better grasp of concepts that may have been difficult to understand through traditional classroom instruction.

Overall, online education grants heightened convenience to students who may have otherwise felt intimidated or excluded from achieving a higher degree because of the limitations of traditional institutions. By improving the ease and accessibility of learning and obtaining a degree, online courses and programs make education more appealing and feasible for students who are limited due to factors such as a career, family, and obligations that often consume a student’s time. When making your own decision about whether or not to choose online learning, be sure to keep the above four factors in mind.

 

Interview with an Advertising Executive

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This is a true story as told to LatPro.com, the worldwide leader in providing online employment resources for Hispanic and bilingual professionals. LatPro is the largest diversity employment site in the U.S. and the most complete personal career advancement service for Latino and bilingual professionals. Read the following interview with an Advertising Executive and get started on your job search today.

My job title is Account Executive for a mid sized advertising agency in Ohio called Justinity Advertising. I work in the advertising industry and I have had 12 total years of experience in this business.

I would describe what I do as drawing in a businesslike fashion and suggesting places for these drawings to be displayed.

I would rate my job satisfaction at a 10. I’m happy as this job moves my heart.

I got started in this line of work once a professor noticed my graphic design skills. I did not know how I would make a living off of them. He suggested that I intern at an ad agency and I loved it.

I learned the hard way that people have varying perspectives on the artistic portions of this job and you cannot take it personally. They do not see you as an artist; they see you as a businessman. Therefore, they will be quite harsh when judging your hard work.

The working world has told me that hard work beats talent any day, whereas in school, talent rules. This is the number one lesson, I think, for anyone to learn about the world.

I get up and go to work each day because I love seeing my work out there knowing that I am influencing someone to purchase something. One example of something that made me especially proud was when my campaign completely turned around this local tire business that was about to fail. The proprietor was a personal friend, and he had kids to feed. I was very glad that I was able to help him stay in business.

The challenges that I handle that make me want to pull my hair out all stem from clients who do not know their own business. If they do not know their own business, they tend to take it out on you. They want this; they want that. They switch their minds on a dime. You end up creating like three campaigns for them instead of just one.

My job is actually quite stressful. I am only as good as my last campaign, so it’s almost as if I am a rookie with every single client, no matter how long I have known them. I really do not maintain a great work / life balance. My job can easily become my life. I give away my personal phone number to clients. This is a practice that I definitely do not recommend if you have dependents, because they have no compunction about using it at very weird hours.

My position (in my size company) will earn the average person anywhere from $60 – 85K per year. This is enough for me to live. Ohio is definitely not that expensive. However, people in my position in more metropolitan areas should demand more because of the higher costs of living. The market can afford to pay them more out there.

In order to get hired, it definitely helps to have a degree from an accredited four year university at least. There is really no other barrier to entry. If you have graphic design skills, however, you may be able to forego the degree. All of the old owners who wouldn’t know a computer from a typewriter need the young, computer savvy types to keep their firms relevant. In order to succeed in the field, you need to be ready to work late. You also need to be very empathetic to other people’s needs, since that is what you will be serving for a living. Leave your ego at the door.

Concerning my line of work, I would tell my friend that he (or she) should be ready for a lot of late nights. You would never think that getting someone’s message out there would be so difficult, but if you want to really differentiate your clients from the competition, you have to burn the night oil. It really is a time oriented business, because great ideas tend to come in their own time. It’s almost as if you have to be awake to receive them. If you are not, they move on to the next person.

If I could write my own ticket, I would definitely be running my own ad agency. I believe that I have the experience and the contacts now. Many clients have said that they would follow me if I took that step.

 

3 Steps to Creating an Attention-Grabbing Resume

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In a time when millions of workers are unemployed and competition for positions is higher than ever, you want to make sure that you’re able to stand out among your competition. But how can your resume make an impact when so many others are applying? Take a look at these three steps to creating an attention-grabbing resume:

Start with Visual Attractiveness

It may seem that creating a visually attractive resume isn’t important, but nothing could be further from the truth. While you don’t need to spend your time adding pretty borders or cutesy fonts, you do need to ensure that your document is readable.

Creating white space with the use of bullet points and subheadings improves readability tenfold. Also, ensuring your fonts are professional can make a huge difference in guaranteeing your resume will be read by a hiring manager.

Create a Standout Branding Statement

When a hiring manager reads your resume, he or she wants to determine within a few seconds that you’re right for the position. Creating a solid branding statement helps to deliver this message.

The branding statement, which is typically situated near the top of your resume below your name and contact information, allows you to brand yourself by stating your title, disclosing your contributions to other companies, and communicating your expectations of making a difference in the future.

The branding statement can absolutely encourage the hiring manager to read the rest of your resume. In fact, if written correctly, it could help you get the interview call you want most.

Add a Career Summary or Certification/Training Section

Another great section to add to your resume—typically directly below the branding statement—is the career summary or certification/training section.

In your branding statement, you’ve outlined your contributions to previous employers. Now you want to highlight top moments in your career that show you’ve made a huge difference—whether you’ve raised tons of money, or perhaps changed the direction of a company for the better. You can also use this section to list your expertise in the form of certifications and training courses.

As you write your resume, you always want to consider qualifications that make you stand out as a top candidate. What value do you bring to the table and how can it make a difference for the company you’re applying with? By making these considerations when tailoring your resume you can prove you are indeed the right person for the job.

Author Byline: Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of http://www.greatresumesfast.com is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Diversify Your Job Search

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In our technologically advanced world, there are more and more ways to be job searching. Although email and craigslist are your go-to searching techniques, it’s important that you employ a variety of tactics. This ensures that you are getting a complete view of your job options and reaching every employer possible.

“You’ve posted your resume online and are submitting resumes and cover letters for all the job openings that seem to fit you. Is there anything else you can do to look for a job? Absolutely! In fact, the more diverse your job-hunting strategy, the more effective it’s likely to be.”
– Career-Advice.Monster.com

 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great static resume to have online. With your qualifications clearly listed, you’re available for anyone and everyone. However, LinkedIn can provide a number of other job hunting opportunities that differ from any other medium you may be using.

  • Groups: LinkedIn has over 500,000 groups you can join that already have a large amount of members. Within these groups people post jobs, ask for advice or suggest topics to be discussed. This is a great way to jump on a job before it’s posted somewhere else online. With email notifications, you’ll be on-top of your LinkedIn job search.
  • Job directory: Tweak your resume and LinkedIn info while you search for jobs. You can search within connections as well, giving you the opportunity to take advantage of networking you’ve already done.

Twitter

Although Twitter is seen as platform for business marketing and casual conversation, it’s actually a valuable tool for job searching. Getting the job you want is all about networking, and what better way to network than through Twitter. There are a number of tactics you should utilize.

  • Who you follow: Be sure that you’re following the right people. This means, following companies you would love to work for, professionals in the field, job search engines, etc. You’ll get up-to-the-minute job opportunities.
  • Tweeting it out: Go ahead, tell everyone you’re looking. The Twitterverse is one big community, and you never know who will end up seeing that Tweet. Consider directly tweeting a company that you want to work for; worse comes to worse, they don’t respond.
  • Let visitors know: The about me area of your Twitter profile is the perfect spot to announce you’re on the hunt for a position. Be sure to include what you do, any titles you have, what you want and how to contact you. It can be as simple as, “Professional blogger, owner of iwantajob.com, looking for a writing position – Tweet me!”

Secure An Informational Interview

Although your job search is about getting actual interviews, it can be helpful to get yourself an informational interview or meeting. What is an informational interview? According to Quintcareers.com, “An informational interview involves talking with people who are currently working
in the field to gain a better understanding of an occupation or industry — and to build a network of contacts in that field.” So, how does this work for you?

  • Email a point of contact at the company you’d like to work, and ask outright.
  • During the meeting, ask about their success story, their advice, potential pitfalls, etc. Take time beforehand to come up with an extensive list of questions – you want to take advantage of this opportunity.
  • Follow up afterward. Thank them for taking the time to talk with you, and express your interest in a position if it should come available.

 

Diversifying your job search will expand your view of the job world. In an under-employed society, it’s important that you are seeing all your options, instead of sticking with the same old sites. Taking your job search off the beaten path may lead to you to a position you would otherwise never find.

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3 Ways to Contribute to Your Resume without “Real” Job Experience

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One of the most difficult aspects of finding a job immediately out of college is approaching a competitive job market with little to no actual work experience. With so many qualified individuals on the job market today, it can be a real struggle to get your foot in the door. Experience is everything. Or at least that is what many employers would have you believe. If you’ve been job searching at some point in your life, you’ve probably heard it before—”we’re looking for someone with more experience” or “five years of experience minimum”. This is a real challenge for new graduates. You’re right out of college and ready to work, but have very few of the actual tools to land a job. The job market is a frustrating and tricky place, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. If you are continually running into the “no experience” issue when you apply or interview for positions, there are several things you can do to help your odds. Try these three resume tweaks to help display solid work experience on any young resume.

Volunteer
Volunteering can be one of the best ways to gain direct experience in the area of work you are interested in entering. If you are having trouble finding work or can only find a part time position, try taking on some volunteering opportunities. Find areas that relate to the professional field you are interested entering and look for volunteering options in those areas. While this doesn’t actually count as “work experience”, it can add a lot to an individual’s resume. Try to find volunteer positions that would directly relate to the area of business you are interested in. While this can be tricky, they are surely out there. Not only can this be a wonderful addition to your resume, it’s also a great way to make professional connections. Networking is key for job searching today. Volunteer and get to know your peers and supervisors. They may be just the person you need to know to get your foot in the door in the right office or business. Even though it’s not paid, volunteering demonstrates that you are passionate about your field of interest and you want to stay busy even in your unemployment—all positive things to a potential employer.

Take an Internship
Just as a volunteering opportunity can look good on a resume, so too can an internship. Of course, a paid internship would be the ideal situation for any job hopeful, unpaid internships are also greatly worthwhile. An internship that is related to the area of work that you are interested in entering provides valuable experience for your resume and for future employers. An internship for many is as good as “real” work experience. Be sure that you use the opportunity to network and get to know the business. Many people enter internships simply so they have something to put on their resumes. Get to know the people you are working with. Try to make some business connections that might be able to make the difference in your job search. At times, just knowing the right name during a job interview can make all the difference. It is important that you make the most of every opportunity that is presented to you.

Education
While this may sound like a back step to some, adding some education to your resume can be a good step to take if your job search has fallen flat. However, rather than heading back to school and taking on more student debt, consider other educational opportunities. Of course, this all depends on the area of industry that you are interested in entering, but there are typically some certifications or specific classes that can really supplement your resume in a positive way. Look into taking accelerated programs for certifications that will look good to a potential employer. If there are no certificates that you need, look into online or open courseware classes that you can take to supplement your resume. Many big name universities throughout the US offer online open courseware options for any individual with internet access. You can take specific classes from MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and many others that can look really good on a resume and add to your body of knowledge on a subject. Explore you educational options. This doesn’t meant that you have run back to school for a masters or a new bachelor’s degree. Think smaller. Even just one specific class can be a huge attribute to your resume.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at accredited online colleges about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5@gmail.com.

Oh, The Places You (Might) Go

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When it comes time for a major life transition, there are so many factors to consider. Whether you are looking for a new career or continuing your education, you have to decide where you want to live, what kind of experience you’re looking for, and what school or job fits your needs best. If you fall in love with a certain area of the country, today’s technology means that you can virtually go to school almost anywhere. The Internet has opened up new possibilities, making moving across the country much more manageable.

Moving for Work

​If your job transfers you to a new office, you may have very little say on where you end up. It’s important to research your new area. Odds are there are opportunities that may surprise you. Get a feel for local restaurants, parks and trails, and cultural events. Local magazines or papers are a great resource for activities in your new neighborhood. Then, once you are settled, consider using this as an opportunity to broaden your skill set, to keep your mind sharp and meet new people. If your area doesn’t have the kind of coursework you are interested in, look into online classes. For example, you don’t necessarily have to live in (http://www.coloradotech.edu/CTU-Online) Colorado to attend an online college with a multitude of educational offerings.

​A Fresh Start

For late-in-life career changers, sometimes a new job must be accompanied by a new home. If your passion is publishing, you may need to move to a literary hub like Boston or New York. But if you have a fondness for the Midwest, and you’re ready to open your own business, maybe you’d prefer Indiana. Things are looking up there, many would argue, due to economic growth and a climate that is good for business. When starting anew, consider using resources like Richard M. Bolles’ popular series “What Color is my Parachute?” ​He recommends focusing on your skills and the activities that make you happy such as leadership, creativity, organization, or research for example. Then, instead of distributing resumes everywhere, do a focused search and contact the people with the authority to hire you directly. Being willing to move may help you get the job.

Continuing Education

Even if you are happy with your career, there’s something to be said for a lifetime of learning. You can get up-to-date information about topics in your field, learn something new, and simply enjoy the educational experience. If you’re looking for a specific degree program or certificate, you may have to move out of state. However, you also have the option to do online learning, everywhere from Colorado to Connecticut. Online education allows you to work on your own schedule, eliminates transportation costs, and in many cases allows you to design a personalized curriculum, tailored to your needs.

Geographical constraints are less limiting today than they were in the past. Now, you can consider your interests and passions when looking for a new job, instead of just seeing what’s available near you. International education options available through the Internet mean that you can get a degree in a specific area of interest without moving to a specific area of the world.