Five CV skills employers look for in every jobseeker

Five CV skills employers look for in every jobseeker by Amber Rolfe Figuring out what employers want isn’t always easy… This is especially true when it comes to your CV. Aside from understanding the necessary skills (and adapting your CV in line with the job) â€" you also have to prove that you have them. In other words, you actually need to back yourself up.We’ve already revealed five lines that are killing your CV, but here are five CV skills employers look for in every application (and our advice on how you can demonstrate them effectively):  Commercial awareness No matter what industry you’re in, almost all hiring managers value commercial awareness.This means showing an understanding of market trends, the business, their competitors, and their products is vital. And although extensive work experience and/or study will help you to develop commercial awareness, it’s not the only way you can get it.Working part time, doing an internship, or carrying out extra-curricular activities are all great ways to gain a better understanding of the industry you want to work in. However, actively following and reading social media feeds, company emails, and journals will all help you to stay in the loop.The most important part? Give practical examples to demonstrate times you’ve actually shown your commercial awareness off.Do say: ‘An active follower of business trends with a great business acumen and commercial awareness â€" proven by the implementation of a new marketing strategy based on competitor insights and comparisons, resulting in an ROI of X percent for the business.’Don’t say: ‘Good commercial awareness.’  Teamwork skills Almost every role will involve some level of teamwork, so being able to demonstrate it well in your CV is absolutely vital.Teamwork skills can be developed through a variety of jobs, hobbies, and study â€" whether it’s from working alongside others in a shop, taking part in group projects at uni, or playing in a local sports team.Once you’ve thought of some uniq ue examples to prove your skills, all you have to do is find a place for it in your CV. This could be in a section of its own (for example, if you have a skills based CV), or listed underneath your work experience, hobbies, or education.Refer back to the job description to see how much precedence the employer places on teamwork, and adapt your CV accordingly.Do say: ‘Excellent at working in a team. Skills demonstrated by a recent group project which resulted in improved website function and a better user experience. The change delivered an X percent increase of monthly revenue back to the business.’Don’t say: ‘I’m a team player, who also works well alone.’  Communication skillsWhether the role involves interacting with customers, clients, or just other members of the organisation, never underestimate the importance of effective communication.The problem is, making these essential skills sound less generic.This could mean referring to a job where you showed excellent cust omer service, or a successful project that involved input from various members of the team.But it’s not just verbal communication that employers are looking for. They might also want to know you can express yourself on paper â€" both clearly and accurately. If you’re applying for a job that involves written communication, always include examples of your skills in your CV.Do say: ‘Able to communicate in a variety of ways, both verbally and on paper â€" demonstrated in various presentations and essays, as well as seminar and lecture contribution. Also a confident communicator on a range of social media platforms â€" as shown when managing my university publication’s social accounts.’Don’t say: ‘I have excellent communication skills.’  Organisational skills Good organisational skills means more than simply being able to work to tight deadlines.They also signify effective prioritisation and excellent time management, not to mention being able to show your prospective emp loyer that you’re self-motivated and proactive.Back up your abilities with real examples, and make sure they focus on achievements as well as the tasks you carried out.The amount of focus you place on this skill will also depend on the job you’re applying for. For example, employers looking to hire in creative and fast-paced industries (e.g. media, publishing, graphic design) will be particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate this.Do say: ‘Able to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks in line with the needs of the business. Recently implemented an improved prioritisation system for raising tasks (including a backlog), which increased average completion time by X%.’Don’t say: ‘An organised worker with an ability to prioritise tasks.’  Job related skills Although many of the key skills employers look for are transferable from industry to industry, others focus on your specialist expertise.These abilities are often required in addition to other essen tial skills, and their importance will be based on the type and level of job you’re applying for.For example, those applying for jobs in programming may need to have proven skills in coding, whilst someone looking for a position in graphic design will need to draw attention to their industry-specific computer proficiencies (e.g. skills in Photoshop).Other industries requiring job related skills include construction, transport, nursing, engineering, and accountancy.And whatever you do, don’t be vague (see also: sell yourself short).If an employer is looking for a Truck Driver with a specific type of license â€" someone who hasn’t specified what kind of qualifications they have is unlikely to get a second look.Do say: ‘Expert skills in web design, shown in the development of a variety of websites â€" all of which have resulted in improved functionality for businesses and their customers. Also proficient in print, logo, and layout design, as shown in my portfolio of successful commissions. Intermediate user of Photoshop, InDesign, and Dreamweaver.’Don’t say: ‘Able to use a range of specialist software.’What are soft skills?Hard skills vs. soft skillsWhat are transferable skills?  Need more CV advice?It takes an employer just seven seconds to save or reject a job applicant’s CV. This means creating a succinct CV is absolutely vital if you want to land that all-important interview. To find out how to make your CV stand out from the crowd, buy James Reed’s new book: The 7 Second CV: How to Land the Interview. Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the CVs

Does Self-Publishing Make Sense - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Does Self-Publishing Make Sense - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Three big questions One of the biggest decisions business owners interested in building their personal brand and promoting their expertise involves choosing between self-publishing and trade publishing. During the past few years, technology has made it easier than ever to self-publish your own book, and the number of self-published books continues to grow. But, is self-publishing really for you? Exploring the trade-offs implications The starting point to answering the self-publishing versus trade publishing question involves recognizing that youre not a trend. Youre an individual operating in the real world, with your own resources, talents, and preferences. As such, the issue doesnt boil down to the popularity of one publishing alternative over another as much as Whats best for you in your specific situation? Since you can build your personal brand with either a self-published or a trade book, ultimately, your decision between them boils down to 3 big questions: Big Question 1: How do you want to spend your time after your book appears? Big Question 2: How much control do you want to have over your book? Big Question 3: What are the cash-flow implications of choosing between self-publishing and trade publishing? How you answer the above questions is far more important than the recent popularity of self-publishing, the credibility factor of a trade-published book, or the greater potential earnings of a successful self-published book. The right publishing alternative for you is the choice most appropriate for your unique aptitudes, preferences, and resources. Big Question 1: How do you want to spend your time? The first question involves task preferences; looking at what tasks needs to be done when self-publishing and determining the fit between what needs to be done (in terms of tasks and time requirements) and your willingness to enthusiastically commit the necessary time. The following are some of the non-writing tasks that need to be done before your self-published book is printed and after its publication date: Pre-publication tasks Professional editorial support. Its nearly impossible for authors to be their own editors, and its unrealistic to expect family and friends to deliver professional results. Professional results require resources like developmental editors to fine-tune and monitor the books structure and grammar editors and proofreaders to ensure an error-free book. Design support. The content and appearance of the front and back covers of your book play a major role in its success, as does the layout of the inside pages of your book. Potential readers and reviewers will take one look at your book and form an opinion about the quality of its contents. Soliciting printing bids. Theres more to choosing the right printer than obtaining price   quotes and choosing the cheapest alternative. There are multiple printing choices to address, beyond simply price, that play a crucial role in your books success. Distribution tasks Obtaining bookstore distribution. If you are interested in widespread retail bookstore distribution, youll be responsible to marketing and selling your book to bookstores and trade distributors. Success requires more than listing your book in a catalog. Youll have to create a unique image for your book and negotiate discounts and terms with both the national bookstore chains as well as the regional independents. Shipping, invoicing, tracking payments. Your post-publication responsibilities will include shipping books to bookstores and regional distribution centers, issuing invoices, andmost importanttracking accounts receivable. Hiring a trade distributor doesnt eliminate the paperwork, it just adds another layer between you and your money. Returns inventory. Shipping books to retail bookstores is no guarantee that they will be sold. Books are sold on a consignment basis. If the books dont sell within a certain period of time, they can be returned. (And, complicating matters, bookstores often return books and then immediately re-order themfurther complicating financial records. Fulfillment Direct-response marketing. If you are self-publishing for a specific market niche, you must become a direct-response marketer, mastering the nuances of web-marketing, e-commerce, and sales tracking. Youll need to continuously test and retest the endless variables that influence conversion, or the percentage of website visitors who buy your book. These variables include offers, prices, bonuses, color, headlines, subheads, order forms, landing pages, keyword choice, etc. Individual orders. After orders come in, books have to packed and shipped. You either have to set up an efficient system for you, outsource fulfillment, or select and manage part-time employees. Some authors thrive on the minutiae of marketing and fulfillment, others prefer to spend their time leveraging their personal brand building books into new business opportunities and writing new books. Whats your preference? Big Question 2: Control The second big question involves the amount of personal control you desire over your books content and design. When you self-publish, you enjoy total control over your book. When you choose a trade publisher, you join a team and must share responsibilities with others. Are you a team player or a rugged individualist? Are you willing to allow input from numerous others to shape your books content and appearance? Here are some of the issues that will be influenced by the publishing alternative you choose: Title, subtitle, and back-cover copy. Titles frequently change between the time a contract is sign and a book appears. In many cases, this is for the good. But, if youre unwilling to compromise Section titles, chapter titles, and contents. Your books table of contents will be continuously scrutinized, with inputs from the publishers sales representatives and others. Front and back cover design, inside page layout. Authors may specify in their contract that they have right of approval on cover designs, but their input is sometimes ignored. Back-end opportunities. In most cases, authors must negotiate the right to purchase books from the publisher for resale to end users. Copyright ownership is usually shared between the author and publisher, limiting the authors ability to use the book title for audios, seminars, workbooks, videos, and follow-up books. Control is always desirable, but the real issue is: How much control can the author afford? as discussed in the following section. Big Question 3: cash flow Author cashflow is often ignored until its too late. The costs associated with publishing a book cannot be divorced from the authors responsibility to themselves, their families, and others who depend on the authors income. For many authors, the most important consideration is the direction of cash flow before a books publication: does the money flow toward the author or away from the author? In the final analysis, choice between self-publishing and trade publishing involves 2 considerations: How much will it cost to self-publish the book? The cost of printing and shipping is just the starting point: how much will professional editing and design cost? How much will it cost to set up an e-commerce website? How much will it cost to distribute the printed book to bookstores and fulfill individual orders? How much of an investment can the author realistically afford? This involves realistically examining the authors liquid assetscash, savings, and monthly discretionary incomeas well as the authors borrowing power. How much can the author safely invest without jeopardizing their familys welfare or credit rating? There are no guarantees in publishing. As the old saying goes: QUESTION: How do you make a million dollars in publishing? ANSWER: By starting with two million dollars! Conclusion Self-publishing has changed the publishing landscapein many ways, for the better. But, what works for others may not be feasible, realistic, or safe, for you. Before making a choice between self-publishing and trade publishing a personal brand building book, authors should carefully examine the 3 big questions introduced above. Author: Roger C. Parker is a “32 Million Dollar Author,” book coach, and online writing resource. His 38 books have sold 1.9 million copies in 35 languages around the world. Roger has interviewed hundreds of successfully branded nonfiction authors and shares what he’s learned at Published Profitable and his daily writing tips blog.

Being a Commuting Student, The Pros and Cons

Being a Commuting Student, The Pros and Cons When I was deciding about going to university, the debt was a big factor. If not the only factor. Did I really want to be thousands of pounds in debt for a degree- something my family had so far proceeded without? Thankfully my love of learning new things won over my fear of finances. And three years later I’m glad I went. I’m also glad I commuted… People say university is about gaining independence as much as the degree, and despite living at home I still feel as if I have grown as a person. It was hard at times and may not be suited to everyone, so I’ve compiled what I believe are some of the pros and cons of being a commuting student. SEE ALSO:  5 ‘What The Heck’ Business Ideas That Made Millions Pro- As I mentioned the debt. I took out loans purely to cover my tuition fees, which means that now I’ve left,I carry a debt of just under £11,000, whereas many of my friends face up to three times as much. Researching and applying for grants and bursaries also meant that most of my living expenses, such as books, bus passes and board money for my parents were covered. Con- This was a big one for me I sometimes (but not often) felt I was missing out. Especially during Freshers week. Although I went to a few events, my memories of it aren’t as colourful as those of my peers who opted to live in. I made a lot of friends through my course but I was never as close to them as my friends were to their house-mates. It might sound stupid but I’d also get jealous at how grown-up they all seemed. They discussed rent, recipes and had no one to answer to. While I could join in about work and the odd recipe I knew, it would be a dividing line when my parents texted to see if I would be having dinner at home. It also meant that spontaneity wasn’t easy; you have to think about planning ahead, such as bus or train times. Pro- It was surprising easy to still be involved in university life. During my time at uni I acted as a Course Rep (attending meetings and conferences) for two years, did a stint as a Student Ambassador whilst considering a career in teaching and volunteered at my Students Union. I acted as a mentor to local school children, took an extra language course and still went on department outings. Admittedly, sometimes a two-hour bus ride for a half an hour faculty meeting was annoying, but it allowed me to meet more people and really get involved in the community. Con- Commuting was extremely tiring at first, especially on those 6am-start days when I didnt finish class until 5pm and didnt get home before 8pm it was depressing. However, give it a couple of weeks and you soon adapt to it. Plus, the two-hour bus ride allowed me some time away from distractions to get all the course reading done; meaning I often had more free time than class-mates who lived in student housing but dragged the work out. Looking back there are many more positive factors about commuting than just these, and many universities have commuting societies which can make it easier to get to know and become friends with people in your position. Commuting worked well for me, and organising my own routines and travel still gave me a feeling of independence. So if I was you, I’d definitely give commuting some consideration. photo credit: neotint via photopin cc 2

Personal Branding Octopus Model of Relevancy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Octopus Model of Relevancy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career An octopus has eight tentacles, as does the subject of personal branding. Each tentacle has suction cups for sensing and tasting other sea creatures and objects such as coral. Personal branding touches each related topic in a dissimilar way. The personal brand or head of the octopus is the centerpiece for the model, which is you. Each tentacle represents an area that either impacts or is influenced by your brand. Social media is a channel by which your brand can persuade, entertain or become noticeable to others. Entrepreneurship is how you take ownership of your career and become your own manager. Human resources within any company analyzes personal brands for recruitment purposes, whereas career development is a routine for positioning yourself as favorable to human resources. Public relations, whether through traditional or new media, is an option for notifying others that your brand exists, as well as managing your reputation online. Self-marketing and branding enables you to have deliverables for starting conversations between you and your audience. Forming relationships through networking is how you enable a brand transaction or establish a new opportunity. Finally, search engine optimization is your ability to rank high in search engines, due to other websites appreciation and trust in your website. Ive been contemplating this model for months now, after brainstorming the various topics that surround personal branding. I think its important to realize that your brand can be manipulated and revised throughout your life and the above categories are items to look into as you progress. Each column in Personal Branding Magazine is built off of this column, to give the full perspective on the topic.

How Working in a Shared Environment Can Boost Productivity - CareerMetis.com

How Working in a Shared Environment Can Boost Productivity Photo Credit â€" cdn.businesscollective.comWhen first introduced to the concept of shared offices and co-working spaces, it’s common for entrepreneurs and freelancers to respond with suspicion. After all, it does sound a little too good to be true.You can work in a fun, lively environment around other people and still get things done? It’s everything that the traditional corporate model is against.Premium co-working spaces are dynamic, exciting, and built around creative collaboration.evalThere are no drab booths, quiet areas are optional, and tenants are encouraged to chat, develop, and grow ideas together. Best of all is the fact that we now know working from a shared environment can boost productivity by a remarkable amount.According to a wealth of studies, co-working really does boost efficiency. So, it’s time to explore the benefits of shared workspaces and find out why this is the case.It Makes You the BossThose same studies offer some insight on why co-working can be so valuable for entrepreneurs and small teams. Many of the benefits are related to control. When you’re not boxing yourself into dull environments or unsuitable routines, you naturally start to feel more motivated.Co-working spaces and shared offices are designed to offer just the amount of flexibility that you want. Whether you’d like to operate in a fully open plan office, with plenty of noise and chat, or a quiet area, with the option for collaboration, you can make it happen.No Time for Office PoliticsOne major distraction in most workplaces is office politics. It can be hard not to get caught up in unnecessary competition, office dramas, and internal disagreements. These things have a big impact on productivity, and they relate to the sense of isolation inherent in traditional setups.In shared environments, there are fewer physical divisions. It’s easier than ever to get out of your seat and ask the person across the room for advice. Competition becomes less destructive, and there is less territorial behaviour because everybody is sharing the space.All the Chances to NetworkIt’s true that coworking can help you avoid many of the issues associated with colleagues and internal relationships, but the good news is that it doesn’t keep you from the benefits of interaction. In these environments, there are professionals from all walks of life.evalPlus, by choosing to operate out of a shared space, they’re opening themselves up to the possibility of collaboration. Chatting, brainstorming, peer reviewing, and all other forms of creative cooperation are encouraged. It’s a great way to meet potential friends and partners.A Better Work/Life BalanceThis next benefit is a big one for freelancers and contractors who usually work from their own homes. It’s certainly possible to be efficient and skilled while sat at the breakfast table, in your pajamas. After all, everybody is different, and we all flourish under different conditions.Nevertheless, a lack of separation between work and leisure tends to degrade the quality of both. You need a clear division between your job and your home life and heading out to a shared office space is a way to maintain it. It will do wonders for your emotional health too.Seeking Out Quality Co-working in AustraliaFortunately, there are many fantastic co-working facilities in Australia. Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and many of the other major cities are home to these shared office spaces. They accept tenants of all kinds. You don’t have to be a ‘solo-preneur’ or even a small business to take advantage of them.evalThey can be a very useful asset for bigger companies planning to expand. For instance, it’s common for larger enterprises to use them as a temporary base while exploring potential markets.They have low rates, negotiable terms, and don’t try to lock users into rigid, uncompromising leases. In fact, you can stay or as long or as little as you prefer.

Summary Sunday The Future of Job Search

Summary Sunday The Future of Job Search The future of job search is about keywords but it is also about soft skills. As a job seeker, you have to understand how and when to use both!   The recruiting process is becoming more automated. This requires you understand how recruiters and hiring managers are using technology. But it isnt just tech. Today, your soft skills are being evaluated too. This means youll want to work on your conversational skills and emotional intelligence. And always have proof to back up your claims (especially samples of work). While it is difficult to predict when a company will adopt new recruiting methods, you can get a jump start and hopefully outshine the competition. JOB SEARCH The Six Second Scan: It’s Not as Bad as You Think by  Caroline Stokes, FORWARD | Undercover Recruiter Recent research reports that a recruiter will initially skim your resume for 6-8 seconds to determine if youre a suitable candidate. Scary and sad, right? But Artificial Intelligence is predicted to eliminate the human scan of all resumes. This could be good news. LINKEDIN Introducing LinkedIn Career Advice, a New Way to Help You Find and Connect with Professionals for Mentorship by  Anwesha Jalan | LinkedIn OK, this is from November 2017. Its still an under-used resource. Mentoring is huge! How else are you going to develop and grow professionally? This feature is described as: Whether you need advice on your career path, switching to a new industry or best practices for a project you’re working on, Career Advice can help you find and connect with the right person who can help. LinkedIn Keyword Finder Check yours out! (no link). INTERVIEWING 8 Essential Steps to Take for Effective Interview Follow Up by Lisa Rangel | Chameleon Resumes Read this before you have your next interview. It walks you through the important steps that will help your candidacy and to stay top-of-mind. Survey of 850 hiring managers finds that this is the No. 1 thing that can sabotage your interview by  Abigail Hess | CNBC Im not going to spoil it for you- read the article so you dont make any of these 17 interview mistakes. The data comes from a survey by SimplyHired. REPUTATION MANAGEMENT How to Position Yourself So Others Can Recommend You With Confidence by Raz Chorev | Firebrand Talent This sums up the whole premise of having a great online reputation: Just like you wouldn’t hire an overweight, chain-smoking personal trainer, a poor financial advisor or a dentist with missing teeth, make sure you practise what you preach. It will make my job (and any recruiter’s job) a lot easier, when recommending you to a potential employer. HIRING TRENDS The Weekly Does of HR Tech: The Top 100 Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in 2018 by Tim Sackett Almost every company today uses ATS. They all function a little differently. Learn what the top platforms are. Then, go read this to learn how they work.   How Top ATS Systems Analyze Your Resume (Job-Hunt.org)

Resume Writing - Best Tips For Resume Writing Administrative Skills

Resume Writing - Best Tips For Resume Writing Administrative SkillsThe first step to start writing a resume is to decide what exactly you are looking for and then proceed accordingly. For instance, if you're seeking an administrative job, consider the administrative skills you will need. Similarly, if you are a stay-at-home mom who's looking for a job in the medical field, medical administrative skills would be important.If your goal is to promote yourself and your resume, be sure to give the proper attention to grammar and spelling. There is a difference between having your resume looked over because of misspellings and having your resume viewed by those who read it as a potential rejection. So make sure that you check your spelling and grammar often. This will help in the overall assessment of your application and could also improve your chances of being hired.When you are applying for an actual job, it is important to have a good networking skills. To get the most out of your netw orking strategy, it is important to go out and meet potential employers. You can attend networking events, conferences, and even search for potential contacts in the business community. Also, you can give presentations and give samples of your work to other companies, including an informative summary of your accomplishments.Lastly, you should be able to demonstrate your interpersonal skills. People come in all shapes and sizes, but when you are interviewing, it is essential to be friendly and approachable. Take a look at how others interact with you and try to imitate them. By creating a relationship with your interviewer, you are building a bond and that is a good indication of how well you would do in the job interview.In addition, when it comes to resume writing, you want to make sure that you do not simply create a resume without any practical skills on it. Most employers like to see a resume that includes some skills that show that you have some knowledge of the job you are app lying for.A few examples of skills that you should include on your resume include experience or education that would help your prospective employer to get an idea of what kind of employee you could be and how well you would perform in their workplace. You could also include examples of projects that you have completed.You may want to also include information about the details of the duties that you would need for your administrative skills, such as how many telecommutes you would have to take during the work day, the number of hours you worked, and your hourly rate. Additionally, you should be honest about your personal and educational background. People who choose to apply for the job that they desire should expect to be hired.When you apply for a job, remember that you should always prepare yourself for how you would come across to the potential employer when interviewing and do not be too eager to know everything about the company and its policies just to be a good candidate. Of course, when it comes to resume writing, you should focus on the areas that you need to add skills to your resume. You should also go over your previous work history so that you can demonstrate your ability to do work in a professional manner.