Month: October 2021

It’s hard to believe we are now almost two years into the pandemic. If you are struggling to navigate job seeking in this new “normal” (we could even question “new”!), we are here to help with tips on how to find your dream job, and quickly!

Keep reading for our top tips!

Don’t spend time reviewing each job posting.

The truth is, the more jobs you apply for…the better your odds are of getting noticed, in for the interview, and ultimately landing your dream job. Instead of spending hours analyzing jobs, uploading your resume in different file formats and slightly editing your CV for all sorts of jobs (can we say “ugh! Hours and hours!”), let us blast your resume out to verified recruiters hiring in YOUR industry. Remember that the first week is free and you can cancel any time! 

Know what you want.

If you’re looking for a strictly remote job, state it in your short description / summary (precursor to work experience and education). Right now, the job market seems to be continuously changing, and you need to set  clear expectations for what you’re seeking. If you are currently living in California (due to Covid) and working for a company in New York City and aren’t willing to move back (hence the need to find a job…where you now live!), that’s something to highlight in the most “noticed” location on your resume! Our recruiters at BlastYourResume.com are here to help. We will work with you to write the perfect subject line and intro. Just reach out to us at service@blastyourresume.com!

Contact mentors/ reach out to professionals in your industry. 

If you have a mentor, there is no better time than now to utilize them and tap into their expertise. But, in case you don’t have a mentor, reaching out to professionals in your industry is always a great idea (check out LinkedIn and find individuals who share your alma mater / are members of your professional associations / or are friends of coworkers…you get the picture!). What you don’t want to do is reach out to someone with the sole purpose of getting a job…right now! Instead, ask to meet with them over the phone for 30 minutes for an informational interview to hear more about what they’re doing and the company they work for. People love to help – trust us! Be honest, explain why you are looking, and ask for suggestions / feedback. 

Build out your LinkedIn Profile.

If you’re planning to apply to any job or reach out to any professional in your career via LinkedIn, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date first! Delete anything from your LinkedIn profile that no longer serves you, and make sure you and your skills are highlighted. Pro tip: reach out to past employers or co-workers and see if they would be open to writing you a LinkedIn recommendation (offer to write one for them in return!). Those recommendations are always a nice touch to a page and can help you stand out.

Accept the gaps in your resume, and know how to explain. 

Having gaps in your resume, especially during the pandemic, is normal. But, you will need to be prepared to speak to them during interviews. Frame a gap as a positive (learning experience!); and explain that although you do have a gap in your resume, you have taken your time off to continue learning and growing in your field. This would be a great opportunity to speak to any courses or certificates you have gained recently.

Intro.

Last week I was interviewing for a junior role on my team. I am seeking someone with limited work experience but the right level of enthusiasm and raw intelligence needed to make a difference. I want a fresh perspective and I am willing to coach. What’s the issue? Most applicants focus on their most recent “traditional” work experience. Example, sales calls or legal rounding and review. What am I finding? When these applicants begin to talk about their hobbies, their real skills are made clear. Take songwriting / musician / performer…In the marketing world this screams “strong presentation skills, calm under pressure, able to tell a story effectively and clearly”. I could go on and on. 

Think outside of the box as you do your resume and interview homework. One question you are sure to be asked (if it isn’t completely clear on your resume) is, “Why are you interested in this position?” The story is yours! Drive it in your favor. 

Personalize the summary section of your resume.

This might be the most important section of your resume. More than likely you are applying to many different roles, but the summary section is your time to shine and to really personalize it for each role. Yes, this takes a little bit of extra time but recruiters can tell when a summary section is very generic…or even inauthentic. Add the company name in the summary section and share your skills as to why you would be a good fit for the role you are applying for (and add the role name!).

Be upfront about why you are seeking transition between jobs.

Don’t skirt the truth. Explaining your hard stops is fine! Ex. “I don’t want to relocate to another state for X job.” or “I hope to work in a line of business that more excites me and better aligns with my education / interest.” or “I am seeking a more collaborative team where I can feel connected to something big feel heard.” All of these answers – great! Your story (the real story) is often the best answer. Head it off – and explain in your CV / resume “summary” section.

Play up your skills and drive the conversation towards what you love.

Stay at home dads during COVID have leveraged strong time management, organization, and negotiations skills. Entrepreneurs who recognize it is time to reassess and reposition have developed strong strategy and risk analysis skills. Flaunt these skills and tie them to the role you are applying to. 

Highlight only the most relevant work experiences.

Understand that many roles can be covered with one bullet and a sentence descriptor. If it isn’t adding to your broader resume narrative, limit space allocated. Also, know that the more dated the work experience is, the less relevant it is. No need to feature work experience from over 10 years ago (beyond a few bullets).  Recency is real – take what you have done recently and relate it to the job at hand. 

Share key learning and experiences from your relevant work experiences. 

Adding any actions/ results you have had in previous roles and being able to quantify that will help you to stick out! How much (ballpark!) did you drive when you launched X product? How many stakeholders did you manage? Did you create a better CX that drove higher retention? Put a number to it if you can. Ballpark / high level is fine….but the importance of quantifying your impact is real. 

List your skills and abilities.

While you can touch upon skills and abilities in your summary section, be sure to have a dedicated section to add your skills and abilities. Have you recently received any certifications? Even if you completed a LinkedIn training course, list it if it is relevant. The point is to show that you are investing in yourself (with your time and energy) and you are passionate about your field.  

Working from home over the last year and a half + has certainly changed our “ways of working”. It is easier than ever to just keep on working…logging in beyond traditional work hours…because your office is right there! On top of that, kids are home (more) and the number of chores seem to have grown (no surprise there!).  

Are you now finding yourself wondering…”What is normal? What’s too much? And when is it time to leave your job because it just isn’t right?”

Having work/life balance may not come easy but it is necessary for your sanity. Life is short – why not set yourself up to enjoy it?! Read on for tips to create the right work-life balance

Create a dedicated workspace. 

Your space for “work” must be separate from your space for “play”. Chances are if you’re working in your bedroom or living room, you won’t leave that room all day. You will be more likely to log back in during your “off time” and will eventually hit a wall. If you’re able to, create a workspace that is outside of the area you associate with “turning off” and “relaxing”! Whether or not you have space for a true and isolated “office”, you can still create a dedicated workspace (potentially with the help of a room divider – check out some ideas here) that is furnished with a true desk, upright office chair, and monitor. 

Dress the part. 

Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest impact. By “dressing” for work, or at least changing out of your PJs and into “real” clothes, you are telling your mind that you should be “on” and “alert”. PJs = relaxation; a collared shirt or blouse = work. 

Communicate your needs and your limits to your team.

While new job commitments and a growing scope is a sign of success, know your limits. Sometimes you can’t single handedly do it all – and there just are not the hours in the “workday” to get it done. Bringing in members from your team to help you out on a project is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of care for the project you are working on and wanting to see the project succeed. Similarly, setting boundaries and saying “no” to certain projects could actually increase the quality of your output on the projects you see to fruition. The moral of the story –  set the right expectations for your teammates, stakeholders, and clients, and don’t be afraid to speak up when it comes to your limited bandwidth. 

Take breaks.

Sitting at my computer for 8+ hours straight a day is the best – said no one ever. Take your breaks, you deserve them! Breaks will prevent burnout. Remember to move to your separate space (bedroom or living room) associated with “relaxation” and “time off”. Get out of your “office” when you take a break. 

Create a daily check-list of MUST-do’s.

Yeah, we’ve all heard of to-do’s, but how about MUST-do’s? To-dos are a very easy way to become overwhelmed when you see a list of 50 tasks you must complete. Instead, write down your daily MUST-do’s, and then if you complete all of those tasks, you can move on to any other tasks. This will help you focus on the “big rocks” first and make the most impact with your limited time. 

CONGRATS! You’ve received an offer for the role of your dreams…but you are underwhelmed by the offer salary. If you’re looking for tips on how to negotiate your salary, and how to even do that before the offer by setting expectations…keep reading!

Know your worth.

Knowing your worth is never easy, but it’s importance does not need to be defended! You can’t negotiate your salary properly without knowing what you’re worth. Your level of education, certificates and awards earned, years of work experience, pedigree of past positions, professional associations and positions held, market / location in which you reside (or desire to work remote), and so much more goes into determining your worth. If you have no clue where to start, we recommend looking around on websites like Glassdoor where you can view what other people are currently making in your role/ a similar role. Surprisingly, you can even turn to the Department of Labor for guidance, as their site posts salaries of almost 1K roles. Another great source (just launched) is LinkedIn Salary. Simply input info on your current salary and location (confidential to LinkedIn), and they output market median and more.  Also, don’t be afraid to talk to people around the same career level / industry in your network. Talking salary is not something that you should hide from – as might have been the case in the past. 

Ask for a quarterly review to be put in place.

If you are hoping to increase your salary within your current company / role, request an in-person review with your manager quarterly. Be transparent with them. You should feel empowered to ask what the maximum and minimum salaries for your “band” / “title” are. Ask what more you could do to position yourself for a raise and set measurable benchmarks to getting there. Quarterly reviews can also work in your favor simply by providing you with dedicated time to “share and tell” your great contributions to the company. If you can show your boss the value you bring, a raise will come. 

Ask for what you want.

Sometimes, raises and perfect salaries don’t just happen and you have to have a conversation with your boss. Being open and honest will be best here, and your boss should hopefully be open to listening to your request. Tip: always ask for a slightly “above goal” salary, knowing that they (your company / hiring manager / HR) will counter your offer. This way, you can still receive a decent increase. If you are in the market for a new job, the recruiter will likely request your salary expectations in an introduction / screening call. Go into this conversation with a number in mind and justification for why you deserve X salary. Also, do not feel like you have to reveal your current salary.  If asked and your current salary is not in the ballpark of your goal salary (within 10%), then divert by restating your desired salary and giving a couple solid bullets on the why. 

Start any conversation with a positive mindset/ attitude. 

While sometimes you do need to ask and start salary conversations (ugh – if only merit increases were…reliable), ALWAYS go in with a positive mindset and attitude! You should never shame other co-workers on your team to make yourself look better, and you should speak to the positive ways you have impacted the company (numbers = real proof matters) while remaining humble. 

So, you’re looking to get a raise, but have no clue where to start. Well, you’re in luck! Below are BlastYourResume.com top tips for not only how to get a raise, but how to feel confident in doing so.

1. Ask for LinkedIn recommendations from previous employers and coworkers. LinkedIn reviews not only boost your credibility but grant you the opportunity to allow others to speak to you and all that you accomplished while working for them or alongside them. If you don’t feel comfortable asking your previous employers for a review, reach out to coworkers that you know and trust. It always helps to offer to write a reciprocal review (in return!). Win win for everyone involved! Once you receive recommendations, sift through them and choose your favorites to include in your resume or cover letter. 
2. Switch your job every three to four years. Yep, you heard us right! And we don’t mean switching roles internally at your current company — we mean leaving your company entirely. In fact, one study (though from 2014) showed that staying at the same company for more than two years on average leads to 50% less in lifetime earnings (Forbes). While finding a new job may be scary, opportunity awaits and if you’re looking for a higher salary, this may be the way to go. 
3. Never stop learning. Just because you finished your degree doesn’t mean that learning should stop! An excellent way to brush up on old skills and obtain new skills is through LinkedIn Learning or taking Grow with Google courses. Both websites allow you to complete courses and certifications that you can take (quickly!), add to your resume, and speak to. 
4. Last but not least, ask for a raise. If you’re not quite ready to leave your company, ASK FOR A RAISE! Don’t expect the opportunity to present itself — be a go-getter. A good place to start is to create a bulleted list of why you’re worth it and how much of a raise you’d like to see. This list will be very helpful when speaking to your boss about why you should get a raise and will help you to feel confident answering hard questions. 

Remember, you are worth it! Never be afraid of growth — confidence is key and know your worth.

Changing your career can be scary! But, updating your resume doesn’t have to be. Check out our top tips for what to put on your resume when changing careers

Write a resume objective. 

The purpose of a resume objective is to express the type of job you’re looking for in just a few lines. Make this section about you and highlight what you’re looking for in a role and what you can bring to the table in your new role. For example, if your background includes 7 years as a brand marketing manager and experience from that role (ex. agency management, design oversight, strategic planning) would be applicable to your new role, mention that! 

Be transparent 

So you are trying to change careers. Employers respect that! Write a brief blurb on your new career aspirations and any certifications / educational experiences that will help you transition easy.

Highlight your experience with featured skills. 

Chances are if you’re changing career paths, you probably have little to no experience in the field you are looking to enter…and that’s okay! You can still share your top 3 experiences that feel the most relevant to your new career and incorporate the type of skills you learned into the description. Skills can be related across industries and career paths. 

Make sure your education section is prominent. 

Go ahead and show off your degree(s)! It’s not often you get to show off your education, and this is the perfect opportunity. While your degree(s) may not be “typically matched” to the role you are applying for, you can share relevant courses that may help you in your new role. Additionally, you can add any relevant student association positions, volunteer work, work-study programs, or even hobbies that are related to your new career.

Show certifications. 

Only add these certifications if they’re relevant to the new role you’re applying to. For example, if you’re CPR certified and applying for a role in Public Relations… not too relevant. But if you’re certified in Google Analytics IQ, that would be relevant and helpful in your role! Feel like your resume is a bit light? Go take some micro courses and list them out once complete. This will show your dedication to learning this new field.

Getting your dream job isn’t always easy. But, writing a resume doesn’t need to be hard! If you’re looking to create a killer resume to get in front of the eyes of potential employers – we’ve got you covered. 

Here are our top 5 tips on how to write a resume:

1. Reflect on your  top three biggest achievements. 

These achievements should be among those achieved within the last ten years. The achievements should be top tier…and some that you are not only proud of, but also some that you can easily speak more in-depth to. Examples of great achievements to share include a project you’ve worked on with great results (ex. “negotiated to achieve $XX in savings”), money or time you saved a past company (ex. “designed a product that generated $XX in revenue over X time”), procedures you developed (ex. “workflow that increased efficiency by XX%”), etc. Once you’re in an interview setting, you are more than welcome to speak to other achievements that weren’t listed on your resume. 

(PS – when interviewing and elaborating on these achievements – remember to utilize the STAR (Situation, Task,  Action, Result) method to structure the story behind the achievement. This will structure your responses and ensure the interviewer can follow your thought process / work experience overview.)

2. Gaps in resumes are okay – just offer an explanation. 

Gaps in resumes happen – especially between major life events (new addition to your family, relocation, etc). Of course employers are also aware of the impact of the pandemic on the job market – and they are understanding! Simply explain how you continued driving self development during this “gap” period. Did you take any online courses? Did you take care of your newly homeschooled kiddos? Did you spend time reflecting on your goals and interests? All of this can convey organization, time management, self motivation, etc. Offer an explanation and state that skills were still exerted during the gap and you were continuing your education in your given field. For example, perhaps you mention some courses you completed, or how you have been listening to note-worthy podcasts in your desired field.

3. Include a maximum of three roles on your resume. 

While work experience on your resume is incredibly important, don’t clutter your resume with the last 8 jobs you’ve had. Instead, include the most relevant ones and one’s that you feel comfortable speaking to the most/ stand out the most. Yes, this means leaving off your college bartending job. Or, if you are further along in your career, consider pulling in achievements from the beginning of your career with simple skill bullets (ex. “IBM data science mastery” can replace “5 years implementing XYZ”). Just because it’s not listed on your resume doesn’t mean you can’t speak to it in the interview. If you’re asked a question about leadership and in a past role that wasn’t listed on your resume is a great example to share — go for it!

4. Have an awards and recognitions section. 

Having an awards and recognition section will help you level up your resume and show off all of your accomplishments. Appropriate things to add in this section are education awards, company awards, industry awards, community service awards, etc. Be sure to add the name of the award, the year you received it, the purpose of the award, the scope of the award, and why you received it. If you’re able to link any of these awards or recognitions to your reference list, be sure to note that in the list so your potential employer can speak to that when reaching out to any reference. 

5. Use at least an 11 points easy-to-read font

Your future employer needs to be able to read your resume quickly. On average, employers spend 6 seconds per resume, so your selling points need to be communicated immediately. Font any smaller than 11 points can put you at a disadvantage. Don’t clutter your resume with every single minuscule detail of your life, instead keep it informative yet brief at the same time so you can use a font that is at least 11 points or higher. Fonts like Times New Roman and Arial are great options!