Resume

Maximizing the Impact of Your Resume

April 9, 2019

Job seekers will find conflicting advice about creating resumes, whether it’s about their length, how they should be formatted, if photos should be included and, as we highlighted in an earlier blog, if paper resumes are actually still needed.

While there are no hard and fast rules regarding resumes, everyone will agree the goal is to get yours into the hiring manager’s pile for interviews.

Consider how you can maximize your information to make sure employers will read on after the initial scan.

Jessica Hernandez, executive resume writer in Jacksonville Florida (GreatResumesFast.com) shared the chart below on LinkedIn last month. It provides some sound guidance to follow in preparing your resume.

Be succinct
Tailor your resume
Target key words
Take care to list position titles and dates clearly
Hyperlink and customize your LinkedIn profile URL
Incorporate information that demonstrates achievements

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on successful techniques for writing resumes.

They can also assist you with your other job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.

Following the six tips are easy ways to help you improve the impact of your resume. Ultimately the key is to have a professional presentation with key details that address the prospective employer’s needs with information that is easy to locate.

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Learn more about our programs and services at www.gpworkplace.ca

Is That Dream Job Calling?

March 15, 2019

Have you ever decided against applying for an appealing job because you didn’t meet all the qualifications?

If a position has your name written all over it – except for a bullet point or two in an employment ad – don’t sell yourself short and potentially miss out on your dream job.

When hiring managers develop a job description, they are envisioning the absolute ideal person to carry out a set of duties. Not everything in the document will be a must have.

Employers recognize that everyone has a different skill set and educational background and not every recruitment process will produce 100 per cent of the qualifications desired.

Without knowing who else applied for the vacancy and their qualifications, you have no idea how you stack up. No doubt others also didn’t apply thinking they didn’t meet all the criteria.

Your job as a candidate is to promote what you can do and be able to back these capabilities up with solid examples – not to focus on where you come up short in relation to a list of job duties.

Once you build your credibility into your resume and cover letter and get an interview, factors like your attitude, flexibility, willingness to learn, team work and other where you excel will stand out.

All things being equal, employers want to be sure they are hiring someone who is the right fit for their team and culture.

Your profile may lack in a couple of areas that can be addressed in a training opportunity. On the other hand, you can wow the company with some ideas on how your experience can make a difference in their workplace.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to emphasize strengths and capabilities when applying for jobs.

They can also assist you with your job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.

We have provided links below to four articles with further insight on how you should pursue opportunities, even if you don’t have all the qualifications.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/07/16/dont-give-up-on-your-dream-job-if-youre-missing-one-essential-skill/#401338f06928

https://www.themuse.com/advice/actually-you-should-apply-for-jobs-youre-not-100-qualified-for

https://www.thejobnetwork.com/dream-job-you-arent-qualified-012017/

https://www.careercast.com/career-news/what-do-when-you%E2%80%99re-one-qualification-away-your-dream-job

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Overcoming A Bad Career Move

March 13, 2019

You enjoyed your previous job but it was time to find a new career opportunity.

You scoured the employment market, applied for several great openings and found a job that had your name written all over it. After going through a rigorous competition, you’re offered a position that provides you with increased responsibility, higher pay and benefits, and opportunities to advance in the firm.

Your colleagues give you a huge send off after you announced you’ve accepted the new job and wish you well in your future endeavours. You’ve got it made!

Or so it seemed.

Within a few months, you realize this dream job had turned into a nightmare. Despite your best research efforts, this position is just not a fit. The culture is not what you envisioned. What now?

Changing jobs can be compared to starting a new relationship. Sometimes they blossom into forever situations. Other times, you’re left wondering what you got yourself into and recognize you need to take steps to move on.

There are also occasions where the employer determines you don’t fit into their plans and you are left on the outside looking in.

We have provided links to two articles below. One examines the situation where you realize a career move has gone sideways and what steps to take. The other provides some insight into how you can recover from termination.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to recover from a bad career move.

If you’ve determined your new job is like a poor relationship, you need to get your career back on track as proactively and professionally as possible. Don’t let your career or mental health suffer by struggling in a position that’s not right for you. But remember, it’s easier to find another job if you already have one, so be very cautious about simply up and leaving.

Whether you’re exploring how to make the best of a poor situation or were not given a chance to explore your options, remind yourself that your abilities and skills have brought you to your current place in your career. As difficult as it may seem, you can dust yourself off and find a new and more suitable opportunity!

https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/6687-made-a-bad-career-move-five-moves-to-help-you-recover

https://www.bluesteps.com/blog/bad-career-move

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Learn more about our programs and services at www.gpworkplace.ca

Making a Positive First Impression

March 8, 2019

Killer resume. Check.

Awesome cover letters. Check.

Stellar job with applications. Check.

Interviews secured. Check.

Positive first impression?

There’s an old saying that you don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression. When it comes to the job search process, you could readily lose an opportunity to advance to an offer of employment by not putting your best foot forward.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to shine in their quest to find a job.

Job search expert Sarah Johnston’s article on LinkedIn and the ensuing comments provide some great insight into the difference a first impression can make:

“It’s not overly dramatic to say your destiny hangs on the impression you make”– Barbara Walters

“Citing a trove of studies, Malcolm Gladwell contends in Blink that our first impressions are fairly accurate and stand the test of time. He’s a proponent of a theory called thin-slicing, which states that we make a pretty accurate assessment of a person based on knowing them for only a few seconds,” Kristi Hedges, Forbes, Sept. 5, 2014 – https://bit.ly/2SGrGJK

How can you make a better first impression – especially when job searching?

✔ Confidence and self-empowerment can all start with your diligence to your attire and personal grooming.

It’s easy when you are job searching to wear comfortable clothes (yoga pants) or adopt the no-shave mentality – but personal presentation is important for both mood and personal branding.

✔ Put your own needs aside and show a genuine interest in the other person. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if you have not read the classic book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, it is an absolute must read.

Sarah asked her followers to add their advice:

Maureen McCann, Executive Career Strategist, responded: “My tip is this: don’t force it. Be yourself. It sounds a bit cliché, but it’s easy to spot someone faking it vs. someone genuinely interested. A great piece of advice I received from a colleague at a conference last year was this: “If you can’t be interesting, be interested.”

Certified Resume Writer Candace Barr wrote: “I think it’s imperative to smile and listen. People like to talk about themselves, so ask questions and get to know them better. When the time is right, take their cues to turn the conversation towards you.”

Adrienne Tom, Executive Resume Writer, wrote: “People tend to analyze themselves (look, talk, act) a lot when thinking about impressions and often forget to just be friendly, genuine, and caring. Good ole kindness and human connection can go a long way in this world. Most of us can tell when someone is truly present and engaged and when things are being forced.”

Agile Coach Brad Nelson offered: “A successful career is about managing expectations. I ask the recruiter what the expected attire for the interview would be. Most interviews you wouldn’t show up to in jeans but I’ve had ones where if you didn’t they’d assume you weren’t a culture fit. My best advice is don’t make assumptions, just ask. I find if you ask for what they’re looking for, genuinely listen and show interest in what they’re saying, then respond with how you can fulfill their needs, you’ll be successful.”

Brand Strategist Kevin D Turner added: “In this digital age, that first impression might be what decision makers see, feel and hear about you on the Internet.

“LinkedIn is one of the most popular places for decision-makers to look first before entertaining a meeting or making a personal connection and its one of the few places that we have control of our personal brand image. It amazes, maybe even frustrates, me that so often I see LinkedIn profiles with unprofessional profile photos, misspellings, conflicting info, confusing messaging and bad social behavior on display on this critical business networking platform.”

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Celebrating Job Search Success

March 7, 2019

Job seekers receive a lot of advice on how to produce killer resumes, draft stellar cover letters, master the online application process, be a networking ninja, and rock interviews.

There’s so much information to consume. Sometimes it is important to step back and take stock.

The video we’ve incorporated in this blog encourages people in the job market to celebrate victories. It also provides some great strategies you can use if they’re not already part of your toolkit.

The bottom line is to be targeted, prepared, purposeful, and to continually take steps that will contribute to your job search success – there is always more to do.

Even if you are happily employed, there are ways you can prepare for a future promotion within your company or an advancement to another organization.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to excel in all steps of the job search process.

The presenter in the video, Kamara Toffolo, is an Ottawa-based resume writer, LinkedIn consultant, job search strategist and speaker. She creates videos directed at job seekers and shares them every Tuesday on LinkedIn. Consider following her or subscribing to her videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc6Qx7tRj6I

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Job Fair Next Week – Are You Ready?

February 22, 2019

In our January 28 blog – https://bit.ly/2GDgs74 – we discussed how to be successful at a job fair and the next one in Grande Prairie is on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

There were tips on how to dress, what to take, job fair etiquette, and how to set a strategy for approaching employers. In this blog, we feature two videos to provide some ideas on how to make the most of your time once you get to meet company personnel at their booth.

We’ve also provided a link to some general job fair advice.

The Grande Prairie Job Fair is on Feb. 26 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn (South of the GPRC), 9816-107 St. For more information, check out www.gpjobfair.com. The list of participating businesses is posted on the website in advance.

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can help eligible individuals (see www.gpworkplace.ca) to ensure they’re prepared for this event, including assistance with resumes and cover letters.

Once again, preparation, including research on participating companies, will help you make the most of your time at a job fair.

https://globalnews.ca/video/2897828/how-to-stand-out-at-job-fairs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_WmATfgFg

https://www.jobscanadafair.com/category-s/1147.htm

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

What Would Your References Say About You?

February 21, 2019

Employment counsellors always encourage clients to emphasize relevant skills on their resumes and how they’ve been used to make a difference in the workplace. Job seekers are also advised to continue adding to their capabilities through courses or workshops.

The link below outlines five valuable attributes that may be challenging to describe on your resume. If you possess them, however, your references will gush to a potential employer about why you would be a great asset to their company.

These elements boil down essentially to how you approach your work and those around you. How would peers describe your attitude in team situations? Are you seen as respectful?

How would supervisors describe your outlook? Would they say that you focus only on your job description or do you show initiative? Would they say that you think both big and small?

While your resume and cover letter highlight accomplishments, do you demonstrate perseverance? Are you a doer?

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can help eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) with suggestions on how they approach success on their next job.

Our staff can also assist you with your resume and cover letter and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Updating or acquiring new skills may be part of your action plan.

Check out this article to see if you stand out as a unicorn employee: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-signs-youre-unicorn-employee-ryan-holmes/

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Learn more about our programs and services at www.gpworkplace.ca

Manage Your Online Reputation

February 15, 2019

If you’re involved in a job competition or are being recruited for a position, you can be assured the potential employer will check you out online.

The first link within this article notes this effort is more directed at confirming details in your resume than digging up dirt. However, you don’t want to lose opportunities because what your online reputation reveals.

That means you should ensure your job search documents – paper and digital – and online professional presences such as LinkedIn are factual. It’s also important you review your social media profiles and posts to make sure they do not raise red flags.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to go online to see what prospective new managers would find. They can advise you on how to develop a professional online presence.

Things to review online include photos showing you engaged in activities that could be deemed as immoral or illegal or making racially, sexually or religiously insensitive remarks. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be politically active. There’s a provincial election expected in Alberta this year and a federal vote will also be called. It’s just wise to avoid dropping F-bombs into your content.

Have you ever tried Googling yourself? It’s a good idea to take this step as part of your job search process, just in case something from years ago is online and you have the opportunity to remove any questionable content.

If you’re in job search mode, think before you post. If in doubt, leave it out – on any social media platform, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Also be aware images you’re tagged in can cause you grief.

The old adage was that if you don’t want to see it in the newspaper tomorrow, don’t do it or say it today. The same principle applies in the digital age – but much more so. It also should be noted that individuals have been fired from a job when questionable content has come back to haunt them.

The first link offers more advice on managing your online reputation. The second discusses the downside of not being truthful on your resume.

How your online reputation affects your career

Lying on Your Resume Can Kill Your Career Chances

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Learn more about our programs and services at www.gpworkplace.ca

Interviews – Closing the Deal

February 11, 2019

In our December 17 blog – https://bit.ly/2WAJSaP – we discussed preparing for the interview. It’s great to do mock interviews and stand in front of the mirror to practice like you were in front of the hiring personnel. It’s also important to focus your efforts on your opportunities in the process and how you will avoid missteps.

In this article, we delve further into how to increase your prospects of success in job interviews.

For example, how you capitalize on time allotted for your questions is important. Not having any questions to ask the interviewer is a lost opportunity to learn about the work culture or training possibilities.

Of course, there are also questions not to ask, which are highlighted in the links below, along with pointers on potential errors that can occur.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to prepare and make a great impression at the interview.

The bottom line is to be prepared to answer questions from the interview panel as thoroughly as possible with good examples of when you’ve demonstrated your skills. Think of interviews as learning opportunities. You definitely want to be offered a job if the position speaks to you and the situation is the right fit for you, now and in the future. However, interviews may also be the time to learn that the job or the workplace is not for you.

Check out these links for further advice to increase your chances in your next interview.

http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/10/how-to-confidently-close-an-interview/#sthash.kMjIpBTo.Ku8WgeUQ.dpbs

https://www.businessinsider.com/question-never-ask-job-interview-2018-2

http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/09/easily-avoidable-interview-mistakes/#sthash.fCaxpynr.oWjUVFDv.dpbs

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Research Key To Success In Job Market

February 8, 2019

“You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’”

Movie buffs will recognize that line uttered by Clint Eastwood in the 1971 movie, Dirty Harry.

If you’re using the shotgun approach for your job search, you may get lucky and land a dream job. However, your chances of getting the kind of position you want are much better if you’ve done your research on the companies you’re applying to – considerations such as their work culture, their pay and benefits, and their values.

You wouldn’t buy a house or car, invest money or go on that bucket list vacation without hours of research. Managing your career requires much of the same due diligence, only more.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to check out the important information on potential employers.

Changing jobs is not easy so if you are seeking employment, you want to make sure that next workplace is the right fit.

It comes down to thinking of how that next work opportunity fits into your overall career plans versus a simple desire to get another job – otherwise you may find that your new workplace doesn’t meet your expectations.

How does a prospective employer align with your work own style? What are the opportunities for growth? What does their training plan look like? These are all important questions to consider.

This video provides a humorous but valuable look at doing job search research: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71zcSsKn754

Note: The video makes recommendations regarding using social media as part of your job search toolkit. Not everyone is comfortable with using all forms of social media. Our staff can assist you in assessing what works best to maximize your opportunities.

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Learn more about our programs and services at www.gpworkplace.ca

All posts in Resume

Maximizing the Impact of Your Resume

Is That Dream Job Calling?

Overcoming A Bad Career Move

Making a Positive First Impression

Celebrating Job Search Success

Job Fair Next Week – Are You Ready?

What Would Your References Say About You?

Interviews – Closing the Deal

Research Key To Success In Job Market

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