December 3, 2005 00:04 - Have You Ever Considered a Career Aptitude Test?
If you're not sure what career is right for you, whether you're just graduating from college or if you're contemplating a career change, then a career aptitude test might be just what you need. If you've never taken a career interest test, you may be wondering just what they are all about. Well, it depends on the test, of course, but in general, they're career assessment tools designed to help you figure out what you might be good at and/or have an interest in. You might think of it as a jumping off point for planning your career or your career change. Now, you could hire a professional career coach or counselor to give one of these tests to you. And, there's certainly a lot of value in taking such a step that goes well beyond the test itself.
But not everyone can afford to hire a coach or is comfortable sharing their personal information with a stranger. So, you might want to look into some options that could be cheaper and/or more private, and in today's world, online is the way to go!
You'll have many options when looking for a career aptitude test or other career assessment tools online. Here's one thtat I found this week that I think is really high quality...
LiveCareer.com
At this site, you can take a free career aptitude test. LiveCareer.com offers a nice interface. First, you'll answer a few personal questions and you DO have to provide your email and address, which I wasn't thrilled about.
Next, you start the actual career aptitude test part of the system. You'll be presented with 10 groups of 3 work-related activities. For each group, you'll be asked to decide which activity you like MOST, as well as which activity you like LEAST.
You'll answer 100 sets of diverse questions. It takes about 25 minutes if you put thought into each group. After you're done, you'll be "forced" to look at an advertisement, but you can just click the "No thanks" button to move to the results of your test.
It's a very comprehensive career aptitude test report, complete with...
- An Introductory Page
- Your Basic Interest Scores
- Interpreting Your Basic Interests
- Workplace Fit - Introduction
- Your Workplace Fit Graph
- Preview of Matching Careers and Educational Areas
When you view the results of your career interest inventory test, be sure to look at both the areas of low interest as well as those of high interest.
They'll also give you a bit of analysis and advice, but of course they ARE a business, so they'll ask you to upgrade to get the full report. While I love the idea of a free career aptitude test, you really can't complain too much about paying a measly $25 bucks for such a powerful career assessment tool. Click this link to take their free career interest inventory test:
Check out LiveCareer.com NOW
I hope you enjoy it. I know I did, and I'm not even looking for a new career! :)
Happy job hunting,
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December 9, 2005 01:05 - Some New Powerful Resume Writing Tips
In this post, we'll be looking at a great article by guest author, Shaun Fawcett. Shawn runs a website devoted to all types of business writing, but he does focus often on the topics near and dear to a job hunter's heart. So, look for more resume help articles like this in the future!10 Tips For Writing A Winning Resume
by Shaun Fawcett; © 2002
Your resume (or curriculum vitae), combined with the cover letter, are the master keys to opening the prospective
employer's mind and door so that you can proceed to the next step in the process - the big interview!
RESUME WRITING TIPS AND STRATEGIES
Here are 10 valuable tips for anyone writing their own resume, or who is having someone else write one for them.
These tips and strategies are an abridged version of what is contained in my new eBook, "Instant Home Writing Kit".
1. Keep It Focused and Businesslike
A resume should be specific and all business. Don't try to be too smart or too cute. After all, you are asking an
employer to invest significant time and money by choosing you over many other similarly qualified people. Employers
mainly want to know whether you are appropriately qualified and experienced, and if you have the ability to "deliver
the goods."
2. More Than Two Pages Is Too Much
For students, recent graduates, or people with just a few years of experience, try to keep your resume to one page,
two as an absolute maximum. Even a resume for someone with 20 years or more of extensive working experience, should not exceed three pages. In some cases, one or two "optional" pages can be referred to as "available upon request." These would be such optional annexes as a list of references or an inventory of recent projects and/or publications.
3. Get The Words and Punctuation Right
Make sure the grammar, spelling, and punctuation in your resume are perfect. Any obvious mistakes will hurt your
credibility. Also, be sure to keep the language clear and simple. If you draft it yourself, have someone with
excellent writing skills do an editorial review and a careful proofread of it. If a professional prepares it for
you, such reviews are the responsibility of the resume preparation firm. Use an accepted English language "style
guide" if you want to be sure of the finer points of word usage, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations, etc.
4. Read Between The Lines
Customize the resume to match the stated requirements of the job that you are applying for, without being misleading. Review and analyze the job advertisement carefully. Look for and itemize the key qualifications, skills, and abilities the employer is seeking. Then identify certain key words that are usually repeated in such ads. Make sure that the wording and sequence of points in your resume reflect and address these "corporate terminologies" and "code words" as much as possible. When possible, study the company's annual report and Web site, and weave the themes and terms found there into your resume and cover letter.
5. Make Sure It Looks Good
Use a crisp, clean, simple presentation format for a professional looking resume. Just a bit of simple line work and/or shading, done with standard word processing software will do the trick. If you don't have the aptitude for this,
there is most likely someone among your friends or in your office who can help you achieve a professional presentation. If not, seek professional advice. It won't cost much for a good simple layout, but it will make a world of difference to the product.
6. Show What You Can Do Today
Focus, first and foremost, on your recent experience that is most relevant to the position at hand. Less relevant
and/or dated experience should be either eliminated or summarized in brief point form near the end of your resume.
When reviewing your resume information, a prospective employer wants to know what you are doing now, what you
have done recently, and how that relates to the job requirements of the post they are trying to fill.
7. Be A Straight-Shooter
Be completely honest. When people lie or "creatively exaggerate" on their resume, they are almost invariably
exposed, sooner or later. Think about it - who really wants to get a job based on a lie(s) and then have to live
in fear of eventually being found out? We often read in the newspaper about high-profile folks who get caught in a
resume falsehood or exaggeration, and it isn't very pretty.
8. Follow The Instructions
Submit your resume in exactly the form that the prospective employer requests. If they say e-mail or fax is okay, do it
that way. However, if they ask for it by regular mail, send it the way they ask. They must have reasons for requesting
it in such a form and they are geared up to process it that way. If your resume is to be sent by snail mail, use the
complete address that they specify, or it could go to the wrong office, especially in a large organization.
9. Don't Get Lost In The Mail
Be careful to respect certain conventions that the potential employer may require in your resume. For example, make sure that the cover letter mentions the exact name of the specific position you are applying for, and the competition
number, if applicable. Sometimes an employer will request that the job title and/or number be printed on the outside
of the envelope. You would not want to miss out on a job because you didn't follow minor administrative requirements.
10. Keep The Cover Short and Focused
In the cover letter, don't repeat what is already detailed in the body of the attached resume. It is a "cover" letter.
It should be short and to the point. Introduce yourself first, and then briefly summarize why you believe that you
have the qualifications and experience to fulfill the duties of the position better than anyone else. Express
enthusiasm about the job and the company. Close by stating how you are looking forward to hearing more from them soon, and that you will follow-up if necessary.
The above list can be used as a "checklist" both during the preparation phase, and when reviewing your resume just before submission.
To see a fully-formatted "real-life template" of a resume, click on the following link:
http://www.writinghelp-central.com/resume-sample2.html
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Shaun Fawcett is webmaster of writinghelp-central.com and author of the new eBook "Instant Home Writing Kit". His FREE e-mail COURSE "Tips and Tricks For Writing Success", offers valuable tips on home/business writing. Sign-up for FREE at: http://www.instanthomewritingkit.com/free-course.html
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December 12, 2005 17:39 - Liars Get Caught! What NOT to Put on Your Resume
"Everybody does it" as they say. Face it, the job market can be a very tough place to compete. If everyone inflates their experience then how can an honest person get a job? Well, as tempting as it may be, you do NOT want to risk lying on your resume.
Whether it's personal information, job experience, or schooling - employers are finding new ways to sniff out liars and you don't want to be one of them.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
While some information may not be easily verified, information such as a criminal record, can be very costly to you in the event it is checked out. With sites like rapsheets.com you can never guarantee that an employer won't be able to find the information, even if your employer is hiring you for domestic work and is not a business.
JOB EXPERIENCE
Clearly this is not the place to boast about fake employment as you are going to list the businesses you worked for which may be contacted for verification. As this is the most likely area your interviewer will do a check on, avoid misrepresenting yourself at all costs.
EDUCATION
Think that nobody will notice if you slip in an education you don't really have? Perhaps you do have the skills, but you can't afford to claim education you can't provide proof of. EmployAct.com is a new service that will allow employers to have background checks - similar to criminal or credit checks - to verify your claim.
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE
With all that said and done, how can you create a resume that will highlight your skills and abilities without needing to lie?
Give yourself credit. Your skills in the workforce can be weighty indicators of your ability to work in a given job. You may not know what an employer is looking for. With many jobs that don't require a particular expertise, you many find that they are looking for people who are able to learn on the job. Proof that you have gained skills as a worker (or even a volunteer if you're just starting out) can be very valuable.
Be certain that you focus on skills. Expand your descriptions. Do not say 'I worked in an office', rather say 'I was responsible for answering the phones in a professional manner and directing calls to the proper departments. In a busy work environment I was able to multi-task by providing supportive administrative assistance to the head receptionist including maintaining a filing system, processing inter office memos, delivering documents in a timely manner, directing clients to their meeting appointments and providing relief reception. I was quickly able to learn the filing and switchboard systems as well as create good working relationships with fellow staff.'
As you can see from the above example, it is perfectly acceptable to elaborate on your skills, but do so in an honest and ethical manner. If you need help you can find software programs which will give you suggestions on wording depending on the position you are describing or you can hire someone who writes resumes to help you. Have confidence in keeping the job you are sure to get by doing it right the first time.
Till next time,
"The Resume Queen"
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December 19, 2005 16:52 - The Top 10 Signs That You Need a New Job in 2006
Hello Friends,In today's article, we take a look at job satisfaction and give you some cues as to whether or not you're unhappy and should be considering a new job...
Do you need a new job in 2006?
Copyright 2005 Neil Gordon
A lot of people are unhappy in their current jobs. I don’t know whether you’re one of the 25% that are happy. If so, that’s great. Something like 75% of people are dissatisfied with their jobs. There’s a huge pool of wasted talent. Everybody has their own unique skills and experience and it’s not being used properly. Lots of people are just unhappy with where they are. There’s a whole host of reasons why that could be.
Just in the last week or so, the person that hired me for a consultant position quit, basically because she didn’t feel valued and motivated by the company. She didn’t get the attention she thought her efforts deserved.
That’s just one problem. You might have unreasonable demands placed upon you. You have to work really long hours to get anywhere. The paths to promotion may be blocked. You can’t get to where you want to be because of the view that people have of you, your experience, or your performance in the job.
Termination is quite a common one because of downsizing. Your company might have been taken over by somebody else. There are surplus positions and, unfortunately, you’re at the wrong end of the cost savings that the mergers might produce. You may be under too much stress and aggravation which lead to health problems. You may have to take stress breaks, or end up with some serious health issue.
Maybe you just find the job that you’re in boring. It’s not interesting to you anymore. There’s no challenge. Maybe there’s just a different sort of work that you want to do. You have no confidence in your boss. You’d rather go out and start something yourself. Maybe you think you’re too old to get a new job. Maybe you’ve stayed in a position too long and other people think you’re stuck and set in your ways.
There might be criticism leveled against you that isn’t just. There could be too much politics or backstabbing, you have to grease the right palms to get ahead. The job may just not be what you expected. You were promised one thing, but it turned into something else.
You have so much time invested in the company that you don’t have enough time to look after your family or
personal issues. You’re not really sure where your future’s heading. Maybe there are others in the company who are creating problems for you. There are a whole bunch of reasons why people are unhappy where they are.
There’s another way of looking at, the Top Ten Signs That You Need a New Job. It’s a bit like a Letterman Top Ten. They’re a bit tongue-in-cheek, but there’s a bit of truth in all of them.
10: You’re outgo exceeds your income. You just need more money.
9: The most rewarding thing you did this week was sharpen all 12 of your pencils to the same length.
8: You’re reluctant to be a Career Day speaker at your kid’s fourth grade class.
7: Everyone in your workgroup got a raise except you.
6: Your friends all have jobs that sound more interesting than yours.
5: You were late for work three times this week, but you don’t care.
4: There’s a meeting at 3:00 to talk about the upcoming reorganization, but you’re not invited.
3: Your boss keeps forgetting your name.
2: You constantly daydream about being a forest ranger.
1: Your company was recently acquired and you spent two weeks worrying that you’d be laid off. After that, you worried that you wouldn’t be.
I may have exaggerated a few things, but I’m sure some of them ring true to many people. Many people just don’t know where to start. You need to focus on what you want, get good advice, and get good coaching.
You have to get to the root of what is causing your unhappiness about where you are and what you’re currently doing. The easiest way is The Five Whys. Ask, Why? five times.
"Oh, I’m not happy." Well, why? "Because I got passed for a promotion." Why was that? "Because they didn’t value the project I was working on." Why not? "Because management changed and they changed the objectives." Well, why was that? You really sort of drill down to the root cause and find out what the problem really is.
You can apply the "5 Why's" to any problem. It doesn’t necessarily have to be work-related. It’s like your kid saying, "Why, daddy?" What is the real answer? If you could write the answer down, what would it be?
Once you decide that you need a change - that's where the real fun begins. How to go about finding a new job or
change careers completely. Keep an eye out for future articles.
About the Author: Neil Gordon is the owner of CareerWealth4U, which provides both on-line help/tools, and personal coaching, for those seeking to be successful in their career. If you are dissatisfied with your current position or job search, help is at hand. Sign up for the newsletter at http://www.careerwealth4U.com
Happy Holidays,
"The Resume Queen"
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