5 Major Signs Its Time for a Professional Resume Makeover

5 Major Signs Its Time for a Professional Resume Makeover5 Major Signs Its Time for a Professional Resume MakeoverWhether you have been job hunting for 1 week or 1 year, its clear that the process is not fun. I have yet to meet somebody who wakes up in the morning and says I aya cant wait to apply for jobs today All jokes aside, this is a serious matter. Finding a good job takes a lot of time and effort.Dont make the process harder for yourself by continuing to use a low-quality resume. But wait, how do you know if the problem is your resume? It could be so many other thingsIn this article, we are going to break down the 5 major signs its time for a professional resume makeover. Check theseTop 5 Resume Sections You Cant Go Without.1. You have been using the same resume format for yearsIf you belong to that rare group of individuals who have kept the same job for over 5 years then its probably time for a resume makeover. Believe it or not, a lot can change in 5 years. Just like you ha ve grown in your career, the resume is forever changing. As an old wave of hiring managers reach retirement, a new generation is taking over. Some say this is a lazy generation, and other say an efficient generation. Whatever your opinion is, doesnt change the facts.The facts are that resumes willgo out of style faster than your cell phone. If you are not staying up to date with the latest resume trends, it will be a lot harder to find a job. Its not even so much that your resume style or formatting is out of date, its mora about the content.Companies are constantly changing the names and responsibilities of positions. It would behoove you to adjust the wording in your resume by comparing it with the open jobs you are interested in. See theseProfessional Resume Style - Headers, Fonts, Themes.2. You have resume longer than 3 pagesWhoa, a 3-page resume. Really? Any resume over 2 pages is a little excessive. I dont care how senior you are. Yea, yea, it must just be my lazy millennial mindset. But I sure dont want to read a 5-page resume. And I am one of the few people I know that enjoy reading You might as well stop reading this article, and start working on your resume makeover. Whether you do it yourself or use a professional cv writing service makes no difference. Just get it done.Its important to remember that your resume isnt designed to appeal to you, its for the employer. Stop thinking about what you want to see, and put yourself in the shoes of the employer. If I see a 3+ page resume I am crumpling it into a ball, and reading 3 1-page resumes in the same amount of time. I call that being efficient. Again, whether you agree with this or not, it doesnt matter. I am just trying to give you some perspective on what recruiters/hiring managers are doing.I am not saying this is the right way to do things, but when you receive 250 applicants for the same position, there must be some sort of elimination process. See what you can eliminate after readingHow To Writ e A Professional Resume.3. You are receiving rejection emails within days of applyingIn my opinion, this is the worst You spend all this time applying for a job only to receive an automated rejection email within days. Sometimes hours.What nerve these companies have Did they even read your resume? Do you really want to know the answer? The answer is, probably not.So you are telling me I spent an hour filling out their application and they didnt even look over it? Sadly, yes. Most of the time when you are receiving a response within days or hours it is sent from an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). This software scans your application, determines whether you are a good fit, and spits back out a yes, or in your case, a NO. Why are you receiving a no? And what can you do to fix it? Great questionsThis is where CV writing services come in handy. Staying up to date with the latest resume trends, keywords, buzzwords, and applicant tracking systems is a full-time job in itself. It is extrem ely important to optimize your resume in every way possible towards the specific job and industry you are applying for. A resume makeover is attainable on your own, but is this something you want to try to do yourself? After all, it is your future job and well-being. Read more aboutHow To Use Resume Keywords When Applying For Jobs.4. You are changing industries or positionsIf you are changing industries or trying to move into a completely different position, you might be in for a rough ride. With companies becoming more and more particular about the people they hire (due to high competition), its hard to find a job unless you are the perfect fit.The best thing you can do in this situation is to think of any and all ways that your previous experience could relate to the new. Dont expect that your salary should stay the same either. Often, companies are looking for relevant industry experience. This is why they pay what they do. If you are stepping into something new, it would be sill y to expect the same pay.As amazing as your old resume might be, there is no doubt that you will need a resume makeover before applying to completely new positions. Again, you can definitely do this yourself, but if you dont want to, there are about 1,000 professional resume makeover services out there who would be more than happy to help. Finding a professional who has resume writing experience in the specific industry you are looking to get into could be a huge help.5. You have applied to hundreds of jobs with little to no responseIf you have applied to hundreds of jobs with little to no response, dont be discouraged. This is a great sign Heres what we know. They have not given you a ritterlich chance to know if you are a good fit for the position. In other words, its not you who isnt getting the job. Its your resume This is a lot better than having no idea why you arent getting hired and feeling discouraged. If they have never even spoken with you, its clear that your resume is i n serious need of a makeover.The resume is half the battle. Once you start getting phone calls, you might need to brush up on your interviewing skills. But dont get ahead of yourself Worry about the interviewing once you start getting calls. You can be the best interviewer in the world but if you dont get any interviews, what good will that do you?Throughout this article, we have sprinkled various resume makeover articles to help you move in the right direction. If you plan to tackle the resume on your own, these articles will be a great start. However, if you would rather have a professional do the work, I recommend checking out the top 10 resume writing companies for executives in 2018.

What to Do After Accepting a Job Offer

What to Do After Accepting a Job OfferWhat to Do After Accepting a Job OfferCongratulations on landing the new job Now whats next after accepting a job offer?In the time before you abflug, you might want to schedule a brief break between jobs so you can go into the new role relaxed and refreshed. You can practice your new commute and figure out what to wear, too.But dont forget these 7 steps you should take before your first day at your job with a new employer1. Write your acceptance letterYou accepted verbally but you also want to put it in writing. Whether you send an email or mail a letter formally accepting a job offer, its important to restate the final offer details and express enthusiasm and appreciation for the opportunity. Ask if theres anything needed from you prior to the start date.2. Notify your boss that youre accepting a job offerIf youre employed, its good form to tell your manager you are accepting a job offer and then agree on a termination date - usually two weeks from the day you announce your resignation. Submit a formal resignation letter, making sure to give one copy to your boss and another to the appropriate person in the human resources department.You may get a counteroffer from your current employer that includes a higher salary or sweeter perks. Resist the temptation to accept. Remember all the reasons you looked for a new job in the first place.Have you received multiple job offers? Read our tips on how to make the right decision.3. Let other contenders knowIf youve been interviewing for positions with other employers, email them that youve accepted a job offer with another company. Dont be that candidate who ghosts an employer during the hiring process. As you withdraw yourself from consideration, keep your sentiments positive and express appreciation.4. Cultivate your networkYoure headed for a new adventure, but you should keep nurturing the relationships youve built over the years. Your soon-to-be former boss and coworkers are i mportant parts of your professional network. Add them as LinkedIn connections. Get their personal email addresses. Go out to lunch one belastung time. Who knows? You may find yourself going back to them for work one day.5. Facilitate handoversIts basic professional courtesy to help out during the transition period before you leave your old role, either by training your replacement or writing detailed instructions for a future new hire. Leave your electronic and paper files in good order. Now is also a good time to give your desk a thorough decluttering and cleaning, making sure you dont leave behind anything personal.6. Stay in touch with your new managerYour formal acceptance letter should not be the last time your new boss hears from you before your first day on the job. If theres silence during the weeks after youve accepted a job offer, dont be shy about communicating first. Ask how you can prepare for the first day, if theres any paperwork you need to fill out, where and when t o report, and if there will be an orientation.7. Leave on a high noteTheres much to do after accepting a job offer, so dont rest on your laurels and coast during your final two weeks at your workplace. Finish strong and monitor a positive attitude. Make an effort to thank any colleagues who helped you learn and grow professionally in the job. Make the most of this time to create a smooth transition as you prepare for the next exciting chapter of your career.Have you changed your mind about accepting a job offer? Read our post. Do you want to continue your search? Let us helpSEARCH FOR JOBSSEND US YOUR RESUME

8 bad mistakes that make good employees leave

8 schwimmbad mistakes that make good employees leave8 bad mistakes that make good employees leaveIts tough to hold on to good employees, but it shouldnt be. Most of the mistakes that companies make are easily avoided. When you do make mistakes, your best employees are the first to go, because they have the fruchtwein options.If you cant keep your best employees engaged, you cant keep your best employees. While this should be common sense, it isnt common enough. A survey by CEB found that one-third of star employees feel disengaged from their employer and are already looking for a new job.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhen you lose good employees, they dont disengage all at once. Instead, their interest in their jobs slowly dissipates. Michael Kibler, who has spent much of his career studying this phenomenon, refers to it as brownout. Like dying stars, star employees slowly los e their fire for their jobs.Brownout is different from burnout because workers afflicted by it are not in obvious crisis, Kibler said. They seem to be performing fine putting in massive hours, grinding out work while contributing to teams, and saying all the right things in meetings. However, they are operating in a silent state of continual overwhelm, and the predictable consequence is disengagement.In order to prevent brownout and to retain top talent, companies and managers must understand what theyre doing that contributes to this slow fade. The following practices are the worst offenders, and they must be abolished if youre going to hang on to good employees.They make a lot of stupid rulesCompanies need to have rules - thats a given - but they dont have to be shortsighted and lazy attempts at creating order. Whether its an overzealous attendance policy or taking employees frequent flier miles, even a couple of unnecessary rules can drive people crazy. When good employees feel like big brother is watching, theyll find someplace else to work.They treat everyone equallyWhile this tactic works with school children, the workplace ought to function differently. Treating everyone equally shows your top performers that no matter how high they perform (and, typically, top performers are work horses), they will be treated the saatkorn as the bozo who does nothing more than punch the clock.They tolerate poor performanceIts said that in jazz bands, the band is only as good as the worst player no matter how great some members may be, everyone hears the worst player. The same goes for a company. When you permit weak links to exist without consequence, they drag everyone else down, especially your top performers.They dont recognize accomplishmentsIts easy to underestimate the power of a pat on the back, especially with top performers who are intrinsically motivated. Everyone likes kudos, none more so than those who work hard and give their all. Rewarding individual ac complishments shows that youre paying attention. Managers need to communicate with their people to find out what makes them feel good (for some, its a raise for others, its public recognition) and then to reward them for a job well done. With top performers, this will happen often if youre doing it right.They dont care about peopleMore than half the people who leave their jobs do so because of their relationship with their boss. Smart companies make certain that their managers know how to balance being professional with being human. These are the bosses who celebrate their employees successes, empathize with those going through hard times, and challenge them, even when it hurts. Bosses who fail to really care will always have high turnover rates. Its impossible to work for someone for eight-plus hours a day when they arent personally involved and dont care about anything other than your output.They dont show people the big pictureIt may seem efficient to simply send employees assign ments and move on, but leaving out the big picture is a deal breaker for star performers. Star performers shoulder heavier loads because they genuinely care about their work, so their work must have a purpose. When they dont know what that is, they feel alienated and aimless. When they arent given a purpose, they find one elsewhere.They dont let people pursue their passionsGoogle mandates that employees spend at least 20% of their time doing what they believe will benefit Google most. While these passion projects make major contributions to marquis Google products, such as Gmail and AdSense, their biggest impact is in creating highly engaged Googlers. Talented employees are passionate. Providing opportunities for them to pursue their passions improves their productivity and job satisfaction, but many managers want people to work within a little box. These managers fear that productivity will decline if they let people expand their focus and pursue their passions. This fear is unfoun ded. Studies have shown that people who are able to pursue their passions at work experience flow, a euphoric state of mind that is five times more productive than the norm.They dont make things funIf people arent having fun at work, then youre doing it wrong. People dont give their all if they arent having fun, and fun is a major protector against brownout. The best companies to work for know the importance of letting employees loosen up a little. Google, for example, does just about everything it can to make work fun- free meals, bowling alleys, and fitness classes, to name a few. The idea is simple if work is fun, youll not only perform better, but youll stick around for longer hours and an even longer career.Bringing it all togetherManagers tend to blame their turnover problems on everything under the sun while ignoring the crux of the matter people dont leave jobs they leave managers.This article first appeared on LinkedIn.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people8 bad mistakes that make good employees leaveIts tough to hold on to good employees, but it shouldnt be. Most of the mistakes that companies make are easily avoided. When you do make mistakes, your best employees are the first to go, because they have the most options.If you cant keep your best employees engaged, you cant keep your best employees. While this should be common sense, it isnt common enough. A survey by CEB found that one-third of star employees feel disengaged from their employer and are already looking for a new job.When you lose good employees, they dont disengage all at once. Instead, their interest in their jobs slowly dissipates. Michael Kibler, who has spent much of his career s tudying this phenomenon, refers to it as brownout. Like dying stars, star employees slowly lose their fire for their jobs.Brownout is different from burnout because workers afflicted by it are not in obvious crisis, Kibler said. They seem to be performing fine putting in massive hours, grinding out work while contributing to teams, and saying all the right things in meetings. However, they are operating in a silent state of continual overwhelm, and the predictable consequence is disengagement.In order to prevent brownout and to retain top talent, companies and managers must understand what theyre doing that contributes to this slow fade. The following practices are the worst offenders, and they must be abolished if youre going to hang on to good employees.They make a lot of stupid rulesCompanies need to have rules- thats a given- but they dont have to be shortsighted and lazy attempts at creating order. Whether its an overzealous attendance policy or taking employees frequent flier miles, even a couple of unnecessary rules can drive people crazy. When good employees feel like big brother is watching, theyll find someplace else to work.They treat everyone equallyWhile this tactic works with school children, the workplace ought to function differently. Treating everyone equally shows your top performers that no matter how high they perform (and, typically, top performers are work horses), they will be treated the same as the bozo who does nothing more than punch the clock.They tolerate poor performanceIts said that in jazz bands, the band is only as good as the worst player no matter how great some members may be, everyone hears the worst player. The same goes for a company. When you permit weak links to exist without consequence, they drag everyone else down, especially your top performers.They dont recognize accomplishmentsIts easy to underestimate the power of a pat on the back, especially with top performers who are intrinsically motivated. Everyone likes ku dos, none more so than those who work hard and give their all. Rewarding individual accomplishments shows that youre paying attention. Managers need to communicate with their people to find out what makes them feel good (for some, its a raise for others, its public recognition) and then to reward them for a job well done. With top performers, this will happen often if youre doing it right.They dont care about peopleMore than half the people who leave their jobs do so because of their relationship with their boss. Smart companies make certain that their managers know how to balance being professional with being human. These are the bosses who celebrate their employees successes, empathize with those going through hard times, and challenge them, even when it hurts. Bosses who fail to really care will always have high turnover rates. Its impossible to work for someone for eight-plus hours a day when they arent personally involved and dont care about anything other than your output.They dont show people the big pictureIt may seem efficient to simply send employees assignments and move on, but leaving out the big picture is a deal breaker for star performers. Star performers shoulder heavier loads because they genuinely care about their work, so their work must have a purpose. When they dont know what that is, they feel alienated and aimless. When they arent given a purpose, they find one elsewhere.They dont let people pursue their passionsGoogle mandates that employees spend at least 20% of their time doing what they believe will benefit Google most. While these passion projects make major contributions to marquis Google products, such as Gmail and AdSense, their biggest impact is in creating highly engaged Googlers. Talented employees are passionate. Providing opportunities for them to pursue their passions improves their productivity and job satisfaction, but many managers want people to work within a little box. These managers fear that productivity will declin e if they let people expand their focus and pursue their passions. This fear is unfounded. Studies have shown that people who are able to pursue their passions at work experience flow, a euphoric state of mind that is five times more productive than the norm.They dont make things funIf people arent having fun at work, then youre doing it wrong. People dont give their all if they arent having fun, and fun is a major protector against brownout. The best companies to work for know the importance of letting employees loosen up a little. Google, for example, does just about everything it can to make work fun- free meals, bowling alleys, and fitness classes, to name a few. The idea is simple if work is fun, youll not only perform better, but youll stick around for longer hours and an even longer career.Bringing it all togetherManagers tend to blame their turnover problems on everything under the sun while ignoring the crux of the matter people dont leave jobs they leave managers.This arti cle first appeared on LinkedIn.