Employers ask for resumes because they want to review your work history, so it’s important to get it right. In general, keep the layout consistent and easy to read. Show your potential employers that you pay attention to detail. Don’t use first person, and use present tense for your current job but past tense for previous jobs. Here are five other guidelines to show off your experience on your resume.

It should tell a story

Whatever you call it—work experience, employment history—it should be the first section on your resume and should be a highlight reel of your best accomplishments. Start with your current job and list everything in reverse chronological order. Under each job, summarize your responsibilities and achievements. Six bullet points per job is plenty, remember that you don’t want your resume to exceed two pages.

It should be relevant

Experience is important, but you don’t need to show your entire work history. Jobs have changed so much that experience more than ten years old is irrelevant. If you stretch too far back, you risk seeming ancient, which means you might not be up-to-date with the latest technology. So brag about your technological aptitude and make sure your language is current.

No need to include jobs in high school or those random filler jobs you had unless it leaves huge holes in your resume.

Keep a master list

Keep a master list of all jobs you’ve had so that when you’re tailoring your resume you can pick and choose accordingly. The list should include every job—full time, part time, temp positions, internships, work studies, self-employment, and independent projects. For each one, include your duties and achievements. You won’t include all that on the resume you circulate, but this is a resource for your memory.

Highlight your accomplishments

Emphasize your accomplishments, not years of experience. Think about when you’ve impacted revenue, minimized costs, won an award or received a promotion. Use action verbs and quantifying points—brag about the fact that you helped the company cut back manufacturing time by 30% or that you supervised a team of twelve people. Numbers attract attention, so use them whenever you can. If possible, repeat phrases and language from the description of the job you’re applying for.

If you lack experience

If you lack serious experience because you’re a student or you’re new to the workforce, you can list volunteer positions, roles in student organizations, or group projects. Label it “other experience” because it’s not really professional experience.

For more information on how to use your resume to drive your career, contact us today!

Obtaining a management position is all about attitude and willingness to do more than what’s in your job description. Managers handle external relationships, budgets, contracts, negotiations, goal-setting, difficult conversations, and managing teams. Aside from being a master of communication, you need to be the one going above and beyond to move up. Here are a few critical tips to make sure you reach a management role.

Make a development plan

Managers need to be great planners anyway, so let the practice begin! Find out what managers do, watch the ones around you closely, and ask questions. Read books on leadership and management and research management job descriptions. Know what requirements your company looks for and what gaps you have on your resume. Is there any additional training you need?

Develop people skills

Learn how people think, react, and function when challenged or incentivized with rewards or other outside forces. Respect people and learn how to work with them, not forcing them to do things.

Look to impress

Work with your manager to identify areas where you can expand your responsibilities. Be on the lookout for projects and tasks that will get you noticed by higher-ups in other parts of the company. Management is best learned by doing, so start taking on small management opportunities whenever you can.

Show initiative

Volunteer to help your boss in any way you can without letting your current job suffer. Be a problem solver. Be proactive and express interest in a management role. Even if you don’t get it right away, they can at least keep you in mind the next time a position opens up.

Understand the whole company

Don’t limit what you know and do to simplify your role. Volunteer to help your boss prepare the budget or collect necessary information. Offer to help so you can learn what other departments do, what could be done more efficiently, and about the company’s overall health. The more you know and understand how the company functions, the better prepared you’ll be to make decisions about it—or at least answer questions about it in an interview!

Tailor your resume

You might need to completely rewrite your resume to tailor it to a role with additional responsibilities. Highlight your professional training, qualifications, and achievements. Include instances where your role has been expanded into additional responsibilities. Use numbers whenever possible to quantify your achievements

Nail your interview

Show off your communication and people skills with handshakes, smiles, and professional, considerate responses! Managers have to be experienced, so you’ll probably be asked about past situations. Expect questions about when you’ve delegated work, made unpopular decisions and managed people, projects, or budgets.

Looking for management roles? Contact our professional recruiting team today!

Soft skills help you land a job! They’re hard to measure and can’t be listed on a resume, but they usually show up—or don’t—in an interview. These are the skills that help you develop relationships with co-workers and customers, and can set you apart when it’s time for promotion. The truth is a lot of employers care more about your ability to communicate, work with others, think on your feet and work hard than qualifications and experience. Skills and licensures can be taught, but attitude cannot!

Communication

Express yourself clearly in both oral and written communication. You can handle emails, phone calls and in-person interviews in a kind and professional manner, but also know which method you’re most comfortable with. In person, use eye contact, a firm handshake, speak up and exude just the right amount of confidence to show you take pride in your work without seeming arrogant.

With communication comes effective conflict resolution. It’s key to developing relationships with peers and managers to maintain a healthy, collaborative workplace. It’s also a sign of maturity and good leadership.

Critical thinking

Companies are looking for someone who can solve problems, take action and think on his feet. Convey that you know how to be part of the solution, without adding to a problem. One way to show off your good judgment is simply to show up to the interview on time and wearing appropriate attire.

Collaboration

Your company’s success depends on everyone blending their talents and working together for a common goal. Show you’re flexible and open to new ideas and approaches. Welcome suggestions and mention that you appreciate the importance of diversity in the workplace.

Creativity

A positive attitude is really important to hiring managers because it’s contagious in the workplace. Express that you’re willing to accept challenges and handle obstacles gracefully. Instead of getting frustrated or complaining, you should be able to find alternate solutions to rapid, unavoidable changes and help your colleagues adjust.

Work ethic

A strong work ethic is part of your character and not always something a manager can train you to have. Show that you have a history of being productive, reliable, diligent, proactive, always looking for more efficient opportunities. Research the company’s mission and values, and mention them with reverence during the interview to demonstrate that you’ll be loyal to them.

For more information on how to land your dream job, contact us today!

The best positions in 2018 will be jobs that still aren’t automated, They’re for highly skilled workers and require people to really be experts in their fields. They’re likely to continue being resistant to automation, providing good income and future prospects for many years.

Machine Operators

Machine operators, or machinists, work with heavy machinery—either setting it up or actually operating it. They use computers to control the equipment and make sure they’re working well and well-maintained. Certification is sometimes required, but you at least need some vocational school or community college, an apprenticeship, and some on the job training. Machine operators need to have math and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and some analytical skills to read blueprints, schematics, and CAD/CAM technology. The broader your training is and the more diverse your skills are, the more employable you’ll be—especially if you’re comfortable with technology and computers.

Welders

Welding and ironworking jobs are expected to increase more and more by 2024. They require apprenticeships and specialized training and sometimes a two-year or technical degree. But they earn an average of more than $50,000 per year.

Masons

Mason construction jobs are booming, and brickmasons and blockmasons also earn an average of more than $50,000 per year. Technical degrees and apprenticeship experience will bump that salary up even more. Cement mason and concrete finishers generally earn a little less, but technical degrees usually aren’t required—just an apprenticeship and some specialized training.

Plumbers

Not only do plumbers fix the pipes and gift us with flush toilets, but they also have to be experts in natural gas fittings. Thank your plumbers! They keep us clean and warm and those positions are always in demand. Plumbers need to be detail-oriented, and be licensed and apprenticed.

Electricians

Electricians have long apprenticeships and also require licensures, but they’re always needed, especially as our world becomes more and more digitalized. We can all live without lights for a few hours, but could we really survive without Wi-Fi? Electricians need to be able to read blueprints, install and repair wiring, and diagnose problems.

Related to electricians are more specialized positions such as elevator repairmen and HVAC technicians. These people, who install and repair heating and cooling units, generally need two years in trade school and then an apprenticeship.

Heavy equipment operator

The demand for operating engineers is expected to continue to grow. Since this equipment is dangerous to operate, workers will need extensive training, which is usually provided by the employer, for each different machine. But the pay is decent and the experience and expertise is valuable!

Carpenters

Most carpenters find work in residential building jobs, but there are always commercial and industrial sites that need workers, too, as building never seems to stop! Demand is especially high in areas that have been ravaged by natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. The more technical education and apprenticeships carpenters have under their belts, the greater their pay will be.

Drivers and Warehouse Associates

Even as many jobs are becoming automated, freight still needs to travel from one place to another, so jobs that involve handling freight and stock to and from warehouses or retailers are still expected to increase in the coming year.  

Are you on the right track for 2018? We can help! Contact us today, to see what roles we have available that can help get you on the right path.