Age Discrimination Revisited Can Old People Get Jobs

Age Discrimination Revisited Can Old People Get Jobs Yes, that is an inflammatory title.  I hope it gets your attention. By old, I might mean older than 40. When I was 32 I was in the job-search-that-would-become-JibberJobber. I faced age discrimination. I was too young and inexperienced to continue to have the title I had (general manager), and I realized I was too old to compete with some of the newly minted college graduates (who could make a lot less than I needed, and had junior/entry-level roles, compared to what I was ready/qualified for). In the past few years Ive spoken across the United States to job clubs. Guess who comes to these?  Maybe one GenY person, usually one the three GenXers, and the rest are Baby Boomers. That didnt make sense to me until a friend explained that GenY tend to do their networking at other social events, not at job clubs.  In every single presentation I have done, the #1 issue that is on everyones mind is age discrimination. Of course, there is all kinds of discrimination we face, and none of it is fair.  But we arent going to fix the issue of discrimination on a big scale.  So how do we deal with it in our job search? Check out this blog post I wrote in 2010: Age Discrimination, Old Job Seekers, Options. Its always fun to revisit old blog posts.  That one had about 20 comments.  There is an amazing conversation, wisdom, and evidence of discrimination in those comments. I recommend you read the post and answer my questions, and then see what my readers had to say. So, can old people get jobs? Yes. Absolutely. Ive seen it.  Coaches and resume writers see it every day with their clients. Job clubs and outplacement firms might have people come in and ring the bell when they land or bring donuts for everyone, and share their message of hope and hang in there.  Ive sat through these and enjoyed the success stories. Ive also talked to people who I dont think will ever have a traditional job again.  Close to retirement age, but not ready to retire, some of these people dont have the skills to do the job, or they dont have the networking or branding skills to make a case for themselves. There are options, although none of them are necessarily exciting to think about.  BUT, THEY ARE OPTIONS. And having options means you have hope.  And thats something all job seekers need. What are these not-exciting options?  Perhaps downsizing your expenses and get a job that is less pay, but also less stress.  I know some of you think thats a disgrace and an embarrassment I know others think that actually sounds pretty good! Another option is to start your own business. I love telling teens to start their own business because they will learn SO MUCH from it.  And usually a teen has very little to lose from a lost business.  Im not suggesting that you take your life savings and invest in some no-name questionable franchise, although franchising might be a good option.  There are plenty of opportunities to make money through your own business, though. Of course, you can keep on with your job search, and for many people, thats the right answer. I suggest that you get REALLY smart about your job search.  Like, really do the stuff!  Im not talking about thinking about your job search.  Get a very strategic plan in place and do things, even if they are hard.  Figure out your brand, and communicate it well. Call people who you might be afraid to call this is your job as a job seeker. The cool thing about being in a job search later in your life is you have more maturity than younger people (I hope). As Ive talked to people across the country, its obvious that they have a much better idea out of what is fulfilling to them, and what their boundaries are. Instead of working in a role that they wouldnt like, but just putting in their time, they know that life is short, and they should spend time in an environment or with a challenge that they enjoy.  This maturity is worth something dont discount it. Like I said, discrimination is everywhere. Sometimes you will do better to walk away from a bad situation than to fight the discrimination.  Move on from the ignorant, and keep looking, and youll find whats right for you. Now, having said all that, let me share a bit of my story: I lost my job, and was anxious to find something better.  My job search was horrible and depressing, and eventually I saw a light at the end of the tunnel: It was starting my own business.  Heres the twist: After I started my own business, I got MULTIPLE job offers. It was night and day, going from a job seeker to a business owner.  Maybe, just maybe, owning your own business is the best job search tactic you could employ! This post is my contribution to the Job Action Day series. Click the link and read other posts tied to the 2015 theme Act II: Finding Career Satisfaction After 50 Age Discrimination Revisited Can Old People Get Jobs Yes, that is an inflammatory title.  I hope it gets your attention. By old, I might mean older than 40. When I was 32 I was in the job-search-that-would-become-JibberJobber. I faced age discrimination. I was too young and inexperienced to continue to have the title I had (general manager), and I realized I was too old to compete with some of the newly minted college graduates (who could make a lot less than I needed, and had junior/entry-level roles, compared to what I was ready/qualified for). In the past few years Ive spoken across the United States to job clubs. Guess who comes to these?  Maybe one GenY person, usually one the three GenXers, and the rest are Baby Boomers. That didnt make sense to me until a friend explained that GenY tend to do their networking at other social events, not at job clubs.  In every single presentation I have done, the #1 issue that is on everyones mind is age discrimination. Of course, there is all kinds of discrimination we face, and none of it is fair.  But we arent going to fix the issue of discrimination on a big scale.  So how do we deal with it in our job search? Check out this blog post I wrote in 2010: Age Discrimination, Old Job Seekers, Options. Its always fun to revisit old blog posts.  That one had about 20 comments.  There is an amazing conversation, wisdom, and evidence of discrimination in those comments. I recommend you read the post and answer my questions, and then see what my readers had to say. So, can old people get jobs? Yes. Absolutely. Ive seen it.  Coaches and resume writers see it every day with their clients. Job clubs and outplacement firms might have people come in and ring the bell when they land or bring donuts for everyone, and share their message of hope and hang in there.  Ive sat through these and enjoyed the success stories. Ive also talked to people who I dont think will ever have a traditional job again.  Close to retirement age, but not ready to retire, some of these people dont have the skills to do the job, or they dont have the networking or branding skills to make a case for themselves. There are options, although none of them are necessarily exciting to think about.  BUT, THEY ARE OPTIONS. And having options means you have hope.  And thats something all job seekers need. What are these not-exciting options?  Perhaps downsizing your expenses and get a job that is less pay, but also less stress.  I know some of you think thats a disgrace and an embarrassment I know others think that actually sounds pretty good! Another option is to start your own business. I love telling teens to start their own business because they will learn SO MUCH from it.  And usually a teen has very little to lose from a lost business.  Im not suggesting that you take your life savings and invest in some no-name questionable franchise, although franchising might be a good option.  There are plenty of opportunities to make money through your own business, though. Of course, you can keep on with your job search, and for many people, thats the right answer. I suggest that you get REALLY smart about your job search.  Like, really do the stuff!  Im not talking about thinking about your job search.  Get a very strategic plan in place and do things, even if they are hard.  Figure out your brand, and communicate it well. Call people who you might be afraid to call this is your job as a job seeker. The cool thing about being in a job search later in your life is you have more maturity than younger people (I hope). As Ive talked to people across the country, its obvious that they have a much better idea out of what is fulfilling to them, and what their boundaries are. Instead of working in a role that they wouldnt like, but just putting in their time, they know that life is short, and they should spend time in an environment or with a challenge that they enjoy.  This maturity is worth something dont discount it. Like I said, discrimination is everywhere. Sometimes you will do better to walk away from a bad situation than to fight the discrimination.  Move on from the ignorant, and keep looking, and youll find whats right for you. Now, having said all that, let me share a bit of my story: I lost my job, and was anxious to find something better.  My job search was horrible and depressing, and eventually I saw a light at the end of the tunnel: It was starting my own business.  Heres the twist: After I started my own business, I got MULTIPLE job offers. It was night and day, going from a job seeker to a business owner.  Maybe, just maybe, owning your own business is the best job search tactic you could employ! This post is my contribution to the Job Action Day series. Click the link and read other posts tied to the 2015 theme Act II: Finding Career Satisfaction After 50 Age Discrimination Revisited Can Old People Get Jobs Yes, that is an inflammatory title.  I hope it gets your attention. By old, I might mean older than 40. When I was 32 I was in the job-search-that-would-become-JibberJobber. I faced age discrimination. I was too young and inexperienced to continue to have the title I had (general manager), and I realized I was too old to compete with some of the newly minted college graduates (who could make a lot less than I needed, and had junior/entry-level roles, compared to what I was ready/qualified for). In the past few years Ive spoken across the United States to job clubs. Guess who comes to these?  Maybe one GenY person, usually one the three GenXers, and the rest are Baby Boomers. That didnt make sense to me until a friend explained that GenY tend to do their networking at other social events, not at job clubs.  In every single presentation I have done, the #1 issue that is on everyones mind is age discrimination. Of course, there is all kinds of discrimination we face, and none of it is fair.  But we arent going to fix the issue of discrimination on a big scale.  So how do we deal with it in our job search? Check out this blog post I wrote in 2010: Age Discrimination, Old Job Seekers, Options. Its always fun to revisit old blog posts.  That one had about 20 comments.  There is an amazing conversation, wisdom, and evidence of discrimination in those comments. I recommend you read the post and answer my questions, and then see what my readers had to say. So, can old people get jobs? Yes. Absolutely. Ive seen it.  Coaches and resume writers see it every day with their clients. Job clubs and outplacement firms might have people come in and ring the bell when they land or bring donuts for everyone, and share their message of hope and hang in there.  Ive sat through these and enjoyed the success stories. Ive also talked to people who I dont think will ever have a traditional job again.  Close to retirement age, but not ready to retire, some of these people dont have the skills to do the job, or they dont have the networking or branding skills to make a case for themselves. There are options, although none of them are necessarily exciting to think about.  BUT, THEY ARE OPTIONS. And having options means you have hope.  And thats something all job seekers need. What are these not-exciting options?  Perhaps downsizing your expenses and get a job that is less pay, but also less stress.  I know some of you think thats a disgrace and an embarrassment I know others think that actually sounds pretty good! Another option is to start your own business. I love telling teens to start their own business because they will learn SO MUCH from it.  And usually a teen has very little to lose from a lost business.  Im not suggesting that you take your life savings and invest in some no-name questionable franchise, although franchising might be a good option.  There are plenty of opportunities to make money through your own business, though. Of course, you can keep on with your job search, and for many people, thats the right answer. I suggest that you get REALLY smart about your job search.  Like, really do the stuff!  Im not talking about thinking about your job search.  Get a very strategic plan in place and do things, even if they are hard.  Figure out your brand, and communicate it well. Call people who you might be afraid to call this is your job as a job seeker. The cool thing about being in a job search later in your life is you have more maturity than younger people (I hope). As Ive talked to people across the country, its obvious that they have a much better idea out of what is fulfilling to them, and what their boundaries are. Instead of working in a role that they wouldnt like, but just putting in their time, they know that life is short, and they should spend time in an environment or with a challenge that they enjoy.  This maturity is worth something dont discount it. Like I said, discrimination is everywhere. Sometimes you will do better to walk away from a bad situation than to fight the discrimination.  Move on from the ignorant, and keep looking, and youll find whats right for you. Now, having said all that, let me share a bit of my story: I lost my job, and was anxious to find something better.  My job search was horrible and depressing, and eventually I saw a light at the end of the tunnel: It was starting my own business.  Heres the twist: After I started my own business, I got MULTIPLE job offers. It was night and day, going from a job seeker to a business owner.  Maybe, just maybe, owning your own business is the best job search tactic you could employ! This post is my contribution to the Job Action Day series. Click the link and read other posts tied to the 2015 theme Act II: Finding Career Satisfaction After 50

Avoiding the Black Hole - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Avoiding the Black Hole - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In this context the black hole is not a scientific term but rather the annoying condition when people apply for posted job openings and they never hear back.   It is very frustrating because applying for positions is a time consuming effort often with no results.   But why is this so prevalent?   The answer is simple; because 72% of job applications are never seen by the human eye.   Applicants need to understand that different from the past most companies today, except for the smaller ones, are utilizing software named Applicant Tracking System, in short ATS.   This software acts similarly to the spam filter on your email.   The majority of your spams never reach your inbox thus, you are not even aware of it. How does the ATS works? The ATS scans resumes and then takes relevant information and plugs it into predetermined columns by categories in its database.   For example the contact information on the top of the resume is plugged into the database so that the recruiter can sort it and search. The applicant’s education goes into a slot in the ATS assigned for education and so forth.   If such information is not properly picked up from the resume the entire content might be omitted or placed in a different part of the ATS’s database.   Often, resumes have sections’ headers or titles different than what the ATS is expecting.   Assume a section title on the resume says “Further Training and Skills”.   This may confuse the ATS, and again this may result in omission of the entire section or attaching this section to another area where it does not belong and make sense.   The human brain can deal with such variations and exceptions but not the computer.   Another example might be placing periods when separa ting sections in a 10 digit phone numbers instead of what the ATS is expecting such as the area code to be in parenthesis and then separating the first three digits from the last four by a dash.   And there are many other such examples by which the ATS is not properly coding the resume. How is the recruiter using the information in front of him? The recruiter can sort the information provided to him by the ATS by status for example: interviewed, hired, offered, in-review or rating at his discretion, geographical location or he may even tag it for future sorting.   He can group people by skills or status or other criteria he establishes as relevant to his search. Conclusion Use conventional terminology when using section headers. Check others to see what is common.   This is not an area to use your creativity. Use synonyms for example HR and Human Resources since you never know what query the recruiter is using. Best if you apply for one position at a company. If you apply for more than one position the second position might be ignored unless the recruiter is manually indicating that this is the second position you apply for. Use Jobscan â€" software that allows you to compare the words used in the job description to better match your resume. A final word The logic of a job seeker is to apply for as many positions on line as applicable.   And that makes sense. I am reminded of the famous bank robber Willie Sutton who was asked why he robs banks.   His humorous and logical answer was “that is where the money is”.   Indeed, recruiters have jobs to fill but it is known too that the chance of a candidate to get a job via a recruiter is around five percent.   However, most people, 60% to 80% get their jobs by networking.   So how will you spend your time finding a job?

How a Recruitment Agency Can Help You Land Your Dream Job

How a Recruitment Agency Can Help You Land Your Dream Job You have done all the hard work and have a degree to prove it, but taking those first steps on your career ladder can be daunting! Even if you have prepared yourself fully you are likely to face some rejection whilst finding your first career related job. One of the best ways of landing your dream job is to utilise the skills of a recruitment agency. What is a recruitment agency? There are various types of recruitment agency ranging from ones that deal with a wide variety of jobs in a number of areas to agencies that are quite specialist with a narrow job field. It is probably best to find a recruitment agency that specialises in your industry as they will have more knowledge of your specialised area and are more likely to access relevant jobs first. The recruitment agency will invite you in for a meeting. It is important to treat this meeting professionally â€" almost like an interview. Dress smartly and have certificates or other evidence such as show reels to hand. You may be required to complete aptitude tests so your skill levels can be fully assessed. This means you can be matched more accurately to the jobs that match your skill set. If you can show the recruiter you have prepared and mean business then they are far more likely to remember you and put you forward for higher profile jobs! What else can a recruitment agency provide? A recruitment agency will be able to provide guidance on things such as CV writing and interview skills. It is amazing how often people make silly mistakes in their CV so having an experienced recruiter looking over it can really help. They might suggest relevant keywords to include or spot punctuation mistakes. Either way, if you are serious about getting a job you need to take their recommendations on board and make changes. Why is it important to find the right agency? Finding the right company to work for is equally as important as finding the right position. If you are using a recruitment agency then they will build a relationship with you and start to recognise companies and positions that would fit with your skills and personality. Many recruitment agencies now try to build long term relationships with clients and candidates meaning it is even more important to be receptive to the recruitment agency you have chosen. If a long term relationship is gained then it is likely you will recommend the recruitment agency to others, use them if you wish to change jobs and dependent on your position you may use them to recruit new staff at the company you are with. What next? After your initial meetings with the agency the hard work of finding relevant positions is up to the agency. Rather than you having to trawl through job sites they will bring the relevant jobs to you meaning you save on time and resources. These can then be used on activities that will increase your job prospects whether that may be voluntary work in your chosen sector or preparing answers for the most common interview questions. It is a good feeling to know that you have support. A good recruitment agency will provide a supportive network to you and talk you through roles that may be suitable for you. This means you are fully briefed and can prepare properly for interviews. However, don’t just rely on the information provided by the recruitment agency. Do your own research and check out things such as the company website, blog and their social media sites. Formulate articulate questions to ask at the end of the interview and show within these that you have done your own, independent research. This will impress employers as they can see you have used your own initiative and taken an interest in them. It also shows that you are prepared and organised which are qualities all employers look for. Feedback: The recruitment agency will often provide feedback to you if you were unsuccessful at an interview. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn where you can improve and where your interview strengths and weaknesses fall. Rather than take the information as criticism use it to improve your performance at the next interview. Key strengths can be built upon and any weaknesses can be investigated and worked on. For example it may be that doing a night course will give you an extra qualification that is recommended or it may be that you just need to provide a stronger example to illustrate your skills. Your recruitment agency can help you with these areas and suggest ways to improve your performance. It is no wonder that so many people are turning to recruitment agencies to help them land their dream job. After all, if the stress and time are taken out of the job search it leaves you with more time to perfect your CV, job applications and interview technique. If you would like further details on how a recruitment agency can support you then do not hesitate to contact us at  Charter Selection. We specialise in HR, sales and marketing and finance and are a leading recruiter within these key areas.

Startup Capital Guide for the Future Business Owner

Startup Capital Guide for the Future Business Owner Starting your  own business is an exciting endeavor. Many dreamers disenchanted with the daily grind of their 9-5 job, dive headfirst into the startup rabbit hole. Don’t jump yet. Before you can even get the business off the ground, you  will need to come up with startup capital. As a potential business owner, you can use a variety of strategies to come up with the funds. 4 Ways to Get Startup Capital For Your New Business 1. Crowdfunding Campaigns Businesses that rely heavily on selling an innovative, fun, or technologically advanced product might want to consider starting a crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding allows inventors, artists, and business owners to receive the capital required to create their product. Crowd funders set up a campaign page, explain their product or idea, and then set a monetary goal that needs to be reached. The person in charge of the campaign sets different amounts that people can contribute. Each different amount has a different level of award granted. On top of that, exceeding the stretch goal usually grants additional features. If this sounds like a strategy that could work for you, check out this Forbes article on the top 10 crowdfunding sites. 2. Small Business Loans Small business administration (SBA) loans are pretty self-explanatory. A bank loans you the capital to start your business. In order to acquire that loan, the potential business owner will need to put a lien on their house or some other possession of high monetary value. A lien means that the creditor can take possession of the house or possession if the business owner fails to pay back the loan. The only marginally good news is that unlike student loans, individuals can declare bankruptcy to remove the SBA debt. Unfortunately even with the removal of the SBA loans, it can take around 10 years to financially recover. If you go down the SBA loan path, watch your finances carefully. Failure hits hard. 3. Equity Investors Not sure what an equity investment is? Think ABC’s hit television show Shark Tank. When business owners accept equity investment, they receive a certain amount to finance their business from the investment. In return for the financial contribution, the investor now owns a portion of the stock in the company. When the company goes public or sells, they will receive their share of the profits. You need to be careful when you accept equity investments that you don’t sell too much of your company. You can track how much of your company a potential equity investment is worth with this equity investment calculator. 4. Sell Your Idea Whatever type of funding you pursue, you will need to carefully come up with a business pitch. If you want a good idea of what not to do, take a look at Kanye West trying to convince people to invest in his ideas on February 14th and 15th of 2016 on Twitter. Let us count the ways that Kanye West went wrong here. One: No hash tags. The people he wanted to see those messages never even went to them. Two: Increasingly desperate tweets are a tad too informal when asking for thousands of dollars. Requesting a meeting in person or over the phone would be a far more professional method. Three: Yes, you don’t have the money, but don’t focus on that. Potential crowd funders, investors, and banks already know that. Four: Make the business idea as concrete as possible. A vague declaration of a desire for start-up capital is not enough. Banks, individuals, and investors need to know exactly what your brilliant idea is and what you will do to ensure it succeeds. Five: A Me, Me, Me attitude won’t get you anywhere. While it would be nice to use other people’s money, unless you’re opening a charity, most people just won’t hand over their money to you with no strings attached. Be sure to make it clear what they have to gain. Startup capital is necessary to start any business. Thankfully entrepreneurs have many options. As you pursue start-up capital just ensure that you don’t follow the Kanye West philosophy. With proper planning, a tight rein on your finances, and a little luck, you will one day have a successful business.

Tips for Getting a Job When You Have a Criminal Record CareerMetis.com

Tips for Getting a Job When You Have a Criminal Record Getting a hit on your criminal record, no matter how big or small, can make it feel next to impossible to jump back into the working world. If you have a record that’s going to get pulled up during a background check, you might even avoid certain jobs altogether.Further, you might be unable to earn the experience, education, or the right skills needed for a variety of jobs due to the consequences of your record. However, putting yourself out there to get a job can start you off on a brand new journey so you can build up your resume and continuously grow over time in a career field.evalWhether you’re embarrassed or certain employers won’t hire you based on your past, finding solid work isn’t easy when you’ve been convicted of a crime. But it’s not impossible.Putting Yourself Out ThereevalThere are a few things to keep in mind as you start your job search. First, keep in mind that you’re not alone.About one-third of the adult populationhas some type of criminal record. So , as you go to check “that” box on a job application â€" the one that asks if you’ve ever been convicted of a crime â€" remember that you don’t have to feel ashamed or embarrassed about your past.Feel proud that you’re trying to do better for yourself and move ahead in life. When you get over your own personal fears that might be attached to your past life of criminal activity, you can start to focus on how to land the job you really want.It’s important to know what employers are looking for, and not being afraid to put yourself out there. You also don’t have to box yourself into a “conventional” 9-to-5 job.Don’t be afraid to try something new if you’re striking out in the corporate world. While teaching, law enforcement, finance, and government jobs may largely be off the table, there are many other opportunities to explore.It might even be a good idea to hold off on applying for jobs right away. Instead, you could focus on building up your skills through some thing like a trade schoolor online coursesto further your education. You might try performing odd jobs to gain experience that you can put on a resume.evalEverything from landscaping, to driving for rideshare companies, to other freelance gigs can be great resources to eventually help you land a more stable career.With all of that in mind, let’s dive in a little deeper on how you can get a job, despite having a record:Know What Employers Are Looking ForWhen you fill out an application and are being considered for a job, your potential employer will probably run a criminal background check. They’re typically looking for past convictions or any dealings with the police.Employers are often afraid that people with criminal pasts might end up costing them money or doing damage to the business, other employees, etc.evalWhile you need to answer truthfully when confirming that you have a criminal background on the application, some employers will unfortunately look at that checkmark and disregard your application completely. This is wrong and unethical, but it happens.It’s important to know what employers are looking for and how you can get around the potential stereotypes surrounding your conviction â€" not with dishonesty, but with hard work and a true showcase of the kind of employee you’re willing to be.One of the best things you can do is to build up as many references as possible. This includes both job references and character references. If you had a steady job in the past, you might be able to get a recommendation from them.Other options include former teachers, guidance counselors, advisors, or past supervisors. If you’re friends with anyone in your community who has a strong reputation or is held in high regard, ask them for a reference too. It isn’t impossible for someone with a criminal past to build up a lot of professional and personal references quickly, depending on who you know.You can also work on making a good impression from the start by dressing appropriately for any interviews you might have. One of the best things you can do is dress for the position you’re applying for. Try to avoid wearing things like T-shirts and jeans or clothes that are dirty or damaged.During the interview, you’ll need to know how to discuss your criminal history tactfully. While you might be hoping that the topic simply won’t come up, it’s important to offer a short explanation â€" generally no longer than a couple minutes â€" of your past.Explain what the charges were and how long you were incarcerated, but focus most of your time on how you’ve been rehabilitated. Note that you’ll want to be more specific when it comes to charges that are vague or could lead an employer to worry.However, remember that there is a difference between being honest and being prudent with information. If you have multiple felonies and misdemeanors, it’s wise to only answer questions that the interviewer asks; don’t volunteer additional detail s or discuss unrelated offenses.You must be honest when asked a direct question about specific events, but building a case against yourself by offering unnecessary information isn’t the best use of your energy and can cast you in a negative light. Carefully assess your criminal history, then only discuss relevant details.Building Your Resume After a ConvictionevalIt’s important to stand out somehow when you’re trying to get a job. That’s the case whether you have a criminal record or not. But, if you do, it’s even more essential to be seen above other applicants as someone who is the perfect fit for the specific job.Things like past job experience, training, and schooling help. But, even without a lot of those things, you can still set forth a good impression before you even land an interview.One of the best ways to do that is with an impactful resume.Resume templatescan help you personalize your resume to suit the career field you’re interested in. While more traditiona l fields may call for a more conventional format, art- or tech-related fields may warrant a more creative approach. However, instead of just jotting down your past experience and life skills on a piece of paper, why not try something new?Online portfolios and personal websites are becoming more popular than ever because they’re no longer limited to certain industries or careers. They can offer a potential employer so much more than a sheet of paper ever could.evalYou can include photos and media, share more about your personal experiences and your professional skills. If you do go this route, make sure you know how to design a quality website that works quickly and is easy to navigate.In your resume, you might even mention how your troubled past has changed and shaped you as a person. It’s a great way to form a more personal connection with your potential employer before you even meet them, and by acknowledging your record, you gain control of the situation, rather than allowing it to work as a surprise against you.The truth is, it doesn’t matter what kind of crime you were convicted of. Because past convictions are so common, you don’t have to feel as though you’re not good enough to land the job you really want.The best thing you can do is to be honest and straightforward with a potential employer. Rather than getting stuck in your past, focus on showing them what you have to offer going forward.

Tracking Your Job Search Activities

Tracking Your Job Search Activities It is hard to know whats working and whats not if you arent tracking your job search activities and how you are spending your time. I remember asking a job seeker how many jobs they had applied for in the past week, the response: A lot. Probing further, I asked for a number even a range.   The person couldnt estimate how many.   This isnt unusual. How can you fix your job search if you dont know whats broken. Weekly Assessment Ask Yourself These Questions Weekly: Looking back over the past week, what do you feel youve accomplished? Where do you feel you fell short? What will you do to fix or change this? What are your goals for next week? How will you accomplish them? Is there an issue or problem you need advice on? Ive heard people complain that tracking this stuff is a job in itself.   At first, yes, but after awhile it becomes easier. 2 Solutions for Tracking Job Search Activities There are lots of ways to track your activities.   I dont like re-inventing wheels, so below  are two solutions that work well! Jibberjobber.com  is a great job search tool.   FREE. It is internet-based and user-friendly! Orville Pierson wrote The Unwritten Rules of a Highly Effective Job Search.   Ive found his productivity chart to be super effective at tracking and evaluating! Here is a pdf   cs-productivity-horizontal-and-definitions Measuring Is Only A Part Of Your Job Search To really get the most out of tracking your activities and time, meet regularly with an accountability partner and review it with them. Job seekers who try to do this solo have a very difficult time. They lose motivation when faced with rejection or indifference.

A Project Manager Resume That Suits Your Needs

A Project Manager Resume That Suits Your NeedsWhen you are searching for the best project manager resume, it is best to start by considering what you want from your career. How do you want to spend your time?It is a good idea to discuss your work preferences with a professional resume writer before you start work. You may be required to provide a medical history and work history which can be a valuable resource. If you are not sure of these things at this time, talk to a professional resume writer who will provide these details when you submit your resume.The best project manager resume is one that is prepared and presented using standard project management methods. Although the content and formatting may vary slightly depending on the requirements of your job, this is the way that should be followed.If you are applying for a managerial position in a small organization, you need to ensure that your project manager resume includes the business portion of the job description. If you ar e planning to relocate from another area, you should also indicate that the project manager position will be located where you are now or within the same region. You may also indicate where the relocation will occur.Your project manager resume must include some type of sample of leadership or managerial duties. It will be helpful if you can add in the ideas for the responsibilities and the areas of emphasis to make the most of the opportunities that will be available to you. For example, a project manager who will be serving as a lead in the day-to-day decision making of the client or business may want to highlight the key roles they will play on that project.The content of your resume may also vary somewhat depending on your job responsibilities. While it may be appropriate to include descriptions of work events, such as instructional training, project milestones, tasks, and milestones, you may also want to consider including a statement about any volunteer work or community servic e experiences. This is important since you will be asked to disclose any volunteer or community service that you may have performed in the past.It is also important to keep your resume current-like yourself. These days, there are a variety of computer based applications that allow you to input your information, print it out, and print it out again. These applications are becoming very popular because they allow you to customize your resume to fit your needs and also to view it in a variety of formats.One of the best components of a project manager resume is to ensure that you include your unique writing style. You may choose to provide a personal statement, to list your professional interests, or to provide other information regarding your work history, personal life, and your goals for the future. These are all important when you are choosing the best project manager resume, and they are vital in gaining employment.