How to Plan a Company Retreat

How to Plan a Company Retreat With 80% of employees reporting that they’re too stressed in their office jobs, it’s more important than ever to facilitate employee happiness in the workplace. From snacks and a casual work environment to flexible work hours and office retreats, there are plenty of ways to show employees you appreciate them without breaking the bank. Although there is no quick fix to creating company culture, ensuring that your employees are building relationships outside of the office is key to boosting morale. Encourage your team to spend at least 20% of their time building relationships in-office to increase gratitude and empathy between employees. Doing so can improve communication between teams, leadership, and different departments. The Importance of Time Out of Office A study by Harvard Business Review found that even though the technology is constantly increasing productivity in the workplace, the amount of vacation days employees take off is steadily decreasing. In 2015, employees took an average of 4 days less paid time off than years prior. Considering people that take at least 10 of their vacation days have a 65.4% chance of receiving a raise, there’s more reason than ever to make time for hobbies and trips that get you away from the office and encourage the mentality among peers. The Benefits of Company Retreats Hosting a company retreat fosters a culture that many in the workforce today and seeking in their potential employers. Inspire your employees to work towards a shared goal, break communication barriers, and expose hidden talents in the office with a retreat. By inspiring employees to look at the big picture outside of their typical day-to-day tasks, they’re able to destress, get to know their coworkers, and create lasting bonds that can foster greater creativity in the workplace. Company Retreat Planning Planning a meaningful company retreat doesn’t have to be an elaborate production. Start with the basics: goals, scheduling, and location. Make sure you’re able to measure the results of your company retreat with viable KPI’s. Some examples of attainable goals at your retreat could be: improving communication between departments, breaking the monotony of office work, employing a creative mindset, or even education in a new product line or service. Next, schedule the retreat during your company’s slow season. The goal is to help employees destress, not create a more stressful schedule during a busy time. Last, find the perfect location. Think about meeting rooms, outdoor space, lodging, and restaurants within walking distance or close proximity. Make sure that leadership attends the event. Company culture starts from the top-down, and to get buy-in from all your employees, your leaders need to have a positive attitude about the event. Involve your leadership from the beginning and take off some of the stress of planning the event by having them assist in creating and planning team-building activities and networking events to host during the retreat. You’ll want to ensure to provide transportation to and from the event, so check if you can get a package deal or discount on the service. You’ll be bringing in a lot of business, after all. Lastly, make sure you carve out time after the retreat to discuss what went well and what didn’t. Transparency is key when it comes to improvement, and the feedback from your first-ever company retreat will help you build successful events in the future. Run a survey and find out what your employees liked and didn’t then revisit the KPI’s you set while planning the event and see what you were able to accomplish. Make sure to speak with the location of the event for future deals and early-bird booking discounts for future retreats! Check out this detailed roadmap created by Fundera for more tips on planning a meaningful company retreat. About the author:Meredith Woodis Editor-in-Chief at Fundera. Specializing in financial advice for small business owners, Meredith is a current and past contributor to Yahoo!, Amex OPEN Forum, Fox Business, SCORE, AllBusiness and more.

Description of Freelance Writing in Resume

Description of Freelance Writing in ResumeIt's a common scenario for hiring managers to see an applicant with a great idea for an article in resume but have little or no experience to back it up. It can be tough to gauge how well written the resume is without any actual content. Many people try to write a resume using their own words, but the best way to ensure that your resume is unique and has a reason for being written is to use a tool that allows you to capture an idea of what the reader might expect to find in the content of the resume.The key here is that the description should be clear, concise, and interesting. Some examples of writing samples are the first paragraph, the second paragraph, and then the third paragraph. There should also be a summary, which will give the reader a taste of the work that has been done and should also include a few paragraphs on how long the writer has been in the field.One example of an interesting description is, 'Describe the freelance writing experience that you have had as an employee for the past three years. What was your job title, and what was your working environment? Do you have any other titles that were used during this time frame? How did you transfer?You can also go with another option of describing the writing experience as you came about it. This way the resumes end up looking a lot like a resume and having more substance than just a list of responsibilities and accomplishments. It will also make the resumes easier to scan because they have a story that is not totally random.Other writers will start the second paragraph of the writing experience in a more personal way. The first paragraph can then lead into the second paragraph, which are much more informative, more focused, and includes the candidate's education, background, skills, and work history. This gives a reader an idea of what the resume is about without necessarily telling them about the person who wrote it. This is especially important when you are writing about experiences and skills that are important to the job that is being sought.Some would call this a description of the writing style. With this style, the resume will look much more professional than if you were to write it yourself. For one thing, many hiring managers might see a freelance writer who is completely skilled and know exactly what they are doing. However, if you have a bit of personality in your writing, you will probably have more success with the hiring manager by being more personable and letting them get to know you.When it comes to formatting, many people tend to do things differently when they are trying to convince a hiring manager to hire them. The resume is actually a writing tool and is meant to be read, not written. It may take you longer to write, but the end result is far more likely to be used.Even though you can create a better resume, be sure to follow the rules of writing in order to maximize the chances of getting hired. Remember that e mployers are not going to read someone's resume. Their focus is on the person interviewing them and if they have to rely on a resume as a full explanation of a person's past and present life and career, it will not sway their decision.

10 Best Resume Writing Services in Colorado

10 Best Resume Writing Services in Colorado You live in one of the highest elevations in America. Naturally, you need a resume that will meet your high expectations.Thankfully, our top 10 list of the most accomplished resume writers in Colorado is here to help you identify a resume writing service that will polish up your resume and make it shine like never before.Let's be honest: a resume can make the difference between getting a callback or not.That being said, if you want a resume that won’t get lost in the pile of other resumes, the run-of-the-mill resume writer is not going to be able to help you.A resume writer worth their salt will be able to tell your story and translate all of your abilities and skills into a concise and powerful document.Check out our list of the top resume writers in Colorado and prepare to find your next gig.Best Resume Writing Services in ColoradoIf you are in a hurry and don't want to read our detailed reviews below, here is a list of the Best Colorado Resume Writing Services:Find My Profession (that's us!) Advance Your Career Personal Touch Career Services A Platinum Resume Myer Resumes Kelley Resumes Wordsmithing Pink Sky Career Counseling Writing Matters Turning The Corner Career Pro Impressive ResumesYou can also take a look at our lists of the best resume writers in the following major Colorado cities.10 Best Resume Writers InDenver, CO6 Best Resume Writers InColorado Springs, COAnd now for the detailed reviews...1. Find My ProfessionFind My Profession is not just a top-notch resume service available in Colorado. We are a global company headquartered in the US on a mission to master effective, ATS compatible resumes that convert into offers.A major perk of Find My Profession is that we are not a one-person shop.Collectively, our team of elite resume writers has experience in 85+ unique industries/professions. This allows us to assign you a professional writer (in the United States) based on your unique background and experience.We are also not a resume factory. We w ill never use “ghostwriters”. You will have your resume writer’s name, email, and phone number for direct communication.With 100+ 5-star reviews and a 60-day interview guarantee thatspeaks for itself, you can sleep easy knowing that your satisfaction is our #1 priority.Pros:Find My Profession commits to working with each client until they are completely satisfied. Don’t worry about having a limited number of edits, or a set amount of time with your writer.Cons:Find My Profession is a virtual/online company. While we provide services in your city, we don’t have a physical office.Also, with a focus on more senior positions, our entry-level resume service may be a bit pricey for recent graduates.Turnaround: 3-5 business days. Can expedite to 2 business days.Cost: $395-$895Phone: (831) 888-0967Don't take our word for it, check out some of our 5-star reviews.Trustpilot2. Advance Your CareerAdvance Your Career takes the problem of looking for a job and turns it into a quick tran sition by utilizing a powerful resume and job search strategy. Started in 2000 by Michele Angello, the firm applies marketing knowledge and copywriting to the creation of your resume. Their goal? To grab the reader’s â€"â€" AKA hiring manager’s â€"â€" attention. There are a few sample resumes that you can take a look at on Advance Your Career’s website. Michele released her first fiction book The Secret Key of Pythagorum last year. How’s that for a fun fact?Pros: Advance Your Career offers payment plans. Spreading the payments out can make her services more affordable, particularly if you are unemployed. Michele has been published in eight different resume books over the years. She must be doing something right to attract interest from so many authors.Cons: Advance Your Career has a ton of great services that you can take advantage of. The downside of that, however, is you can quickly rack up a sizable bill. Just like dinner at an expensive restaurant, you can easily spend o ver $2,000 by getting everything that you want.Turnaround: 7 daysCost: $485 - $2,240Phone: (303) 537â€"35923. Personal Touch Career ServicesPersonal Touch Career Services brings humanity back to resume writing. Donna Shannon founded the company after years and years of human resources and workshop experience. Donna now leads a team of 8, including an adorable doggo named Pepper. The entire team at Personal Touch Career Services has extensive “real world” experience that they can bring to the table in order to help your resume stand out from the crowd.Pros: Personal Touch Career Services has a bunch of resumesamples that you can check out right on their website. Rather uniquely, their infographic resumes are a joy to look at and a service worth considering. Personal Touch Career Services offers monthly meetups where you can watch a presentation on job hunting skills for free.Cons: Despite having established prices for most resume levels, Personal Touch Career Services does not ha ve any pricing if you are an executive looking for a resume. However, based on the pricing of their other services, you can certainly expect to spend at least $1,000 if you need an executive-level resume. Additionally, there are a lot of different packages to choose from, which can be overwhelming for some clients.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $265 - $1290+Phone: (720) 452â€"34004. A Platinum ResumeA Platinum Resume offers resume writing services for essentially every situation that you could think of. A Platinum Resume is the only Colorado resume writing service with the distinction of Certified Resume Writer Specialist for military to civilian transitions. If you are transitioning from a military role, in particular, A Platinum Resume could be the service for you.Pros: A Platinum Resume has worked with clients in a bunch of different industries and will have no trouble with yours. Kara has more certifications than most resume writers have; she personally writes every single resume so you know you will receive a quality document.Cons: A Platinum Resume only has a handful of online reviews that you can check out on Google. It’s also worth noting that their turnaround time is one of the longest that you will see in the resume writing service industry. Depending on when you order and how the business days fall, it could take up to a month before you get your final resume.Turnaround: 8-15 business days.Cost: $307 - $1267Phone: (719) 339-26595. Myer ResumesMyer Resumes creates unique and modern resumes that can get your foot in the door. Winifred Myers is the mastermind behind Myer Resumes. She leads a talented team of three additional resume writers, all of whom bring their unique voice to Myer Resumes. Winifred herself worked for a few other resume writing services before she realized that she brought quality and effort that few other resume services provided and thus decided to branch out on her own.Pros: Myer Resumes does not use basic questionnaires. While t hat may seem inefficient, the team at Myer Resumes is able to understand your life and goals while asking the right questions in the context of your career. Winifred herself has written resumes for CEOs, senior executives, public officials, and board members.Cons: Myer Resumes does not have any standard pricing. So just like a car mechanic, it is impossible to know if you are getting ripped off or not. Additionally, you will have to wait for the team at Myer Resumes to get back to you with a resume evaluation and quote. There is no information on how long that could take.Turnaround: 5-7 business days after receiving your quote.Cost: Not stated.Phone: (720) 938â€"00316. Kelley Resumes WordsmithingKelley Resumes Wordsmithing was founded under the most wholesome of circumstances. One of Melissa Kelley’s relatives was just laid off from his job. He was struggling to find another position, but when Melissa revamped his resume he was able to find a new position within weeks. Melissa i s motivated to bring that same quality and passion to every resume she works on.Pros: Kelley Resumes Wordsmithing donates 6 resumes and cover letters each year. If your situation is unique, you might qualify for a free resume! Interestingly enough, they also offer a discounted resume package â€"â€" to assist with overcoming a wide variety of life circumstances â€"â€" for just $250.Cons: Kelley Resumes Wordsmithing rush fees are some of the highest that you will find in the industry. The rush fee is double the price of the package. Altogether if you purchase the highest package and the rush service, you could pay more than $2,800.Turnaround: 7-10 days.Cost: $450 - $1,410Phone: (720) 588-97937. Pink Sky Career CounselingPink Sky Career Counseling is a play on words and named after the founder, Carrie Pinsky. Carrie runs Pink Sky Career Counseling by day; by night she hosts intimate dinner parties with her close friends. Takoda is her fiercely loyal 113-pound Doberman Pinscher that a ccompanies her on nature walks. Carrie has all of the necessary certifications that a career counselor needs to take your career to new heights.Pros: Pink Sky Career Counseling has over 15 years of experience creating resumes and marketing materials that open doors for clients. Carrie has fantastic Google reviews that highlight her ability to create breathtaking resumes that stop hiring managers dead in their tracks.Cons: Pink Sky Career Counseling is a career counselor first and a resume writer second. Carrie is also not a certified resume writer. That is not the end of the world, but it should be a contributing factor when choosing a resume writing service.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $295 - $775Phone: (970) 225-07728. Writing MattersWriting Matters is located off the beaten path when compared to most resume writing services in Colorado. Located in the town of Durango, Malia has made a home for herself and her freelance writing career. One of Malia’s specialties is non-profits; she is incredibly passionate about helping those who are less fortunate and lends her skills to organizations with fantastic missions.Pros: Writing Matters has been around for a while and Malia has been successful in her many different career paths. You can check out a lot of the work that Malia has completed on her website and Malia's personal resume is free to view there as well.Cons: Writing Matters only has a few online reviews, neither of which are directly related to her resume writing abilities. Resume writing is not her main focus. However, that could be a good thing. Maybe your resume needs an outsider with fresh eyes, who is not necessarily a resume writer by trade.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: Not stated.Phone: 970-403-30819. Turning The CornerTurning The Corner brings together employees and employers for a cohesive experience. Kendra Prospero founded the firm after realizing she had spent countless hours thinking about how people could be more fulfilled in their jobs. Her team is constantly reading resumes that candidates are using to apply for jobs. This provides them with the knowledge and insight to craft a resume that stands out from the generic resumes that all too often land on a hiring manager’s desk.Pros: Turning The Corner has nothing but certified resume writers on their talented team. You will certainly walk out with a fantastic resume in hand that exemplifies your abilities and experiences. They might even have a job opening that you could be a perfect candidate for.Cons: Turning The Corner has a rather large team, meaning the quality of resume writing could vary from writer to writer. With so many services being offered, your resume could be lost in the shuffle due to the other responsibilities that the team members have.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: Not stated.Phone: (720) 446-887610. Career Pro Impressive ResumesCareer Pro Impressive Resumes has been writing resumes for a long time and has been a member of the Better Business Bureau since 1992. They offer four different resume styles and formats that you get to pick from. If you live in the Colorado Springs area, they offer a free face-to-face consultation to take a look at your resume.Pros: Career Pro Impressive Resumes gives you an additional free service that teaches you how to find jobs that are not advertised. This could be an invaluable tool for your job search as some of the best jobs out there never hit the job boards. Career Pro Impressive also offer a lifetime of resume updates along with their standard services.Cons: They may create impressive resumes, but Career Pro Impressive Resumes does not have a very impressive website. Additionally, they offer little to no information about how their services work and who is writing the resumes.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $95+Phone: (719) 591-6155This List Serves The Following Areas In Colorado:Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Thornton, Arvada, Westminster, Pueblo, Centennial, Boulder , Highlands Ranch, Greeley, Longmont, Loveland Broomfield, Grand Junction, Castle Rock, Commerce City, Parker,and more.Best Executive Resume ServiceNot worried about finding a Coloradolocal company? Want to work with the best of the best? Check out the Best Executive Resume Services.

128 Free Practice Interview Questions - Sample Behavioral Questions and More - Career Sidekick

128 Free Practice Interview Questions - Sample Behavioral Questions and More - Career Sidekick 128 Free Practice Interview Questions Sample Behavioral Questions and More Interview Questions and Answers / https://www.edenscott.com/blog If youre looking for free sample job interview questions to practice, you came to the right place.In this article, youll find the top behavioral interview questions and standard interview questions more than 100 in total.Reading through and practicing these interview questions will also help you identify areas you need to improve so you can work on them before the interview.In Part I youll get 53 free sample behavioral interview questions to practice (behavioral interview questions are questions that start with phrases like, tell me about a time you had to)Then in Part II well cover 75 other common interview questions you should practice along with your behavioral questions.Lets get startedPart I: Free Sample Behavioral Interview QuestionsSample behavioral questions about teamwork:Talk about a time you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yoursTell me about a challenge or conflict youve faced at work, and how you dealt with itGive me an example of how you have worked on teams. What role did you play?Describe a time you struggled to build a relationship with someone important. How did you overcome it?Tell me about a time you wish you’d handled a situation differently with a colleagueTell me about a time you needed to get information from someone who wasn’t very cooperative. What did you do?Tell me about a time you exercised leadershipDescribe a time when you didn’t agree with others. What did you do?Tell me a time when you worked with a colleague who was not completing his or her share of the work. Who, if anyone, did you tell or talk to about it? Did the manager take any steps to correct your colleague? Did you agree or disagree with the manager’s actions?Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or guide others to a compromiseSample behavioral interview questions about motivation:Describe a time when you saw a problem and took the initiative to correct it rathe r than waiting for someone else to do itTell me about a time when you worked under close supervision or extremely loose supervision. How did you handle that?Give me an example of a time you were able to be creative with your work. What was exciting or difficult about it?Tell me about a time you were dissatisfied in your work. What could have been done to make it better?Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty in order to complete the jobTell me about a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at workGive me a specific occasion in which you conformed to a policy you didn’t agree withGive me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching itDescribe some times when you were not very satisfied or pleased with your performance. What happened and what did you do about it?Sample behavioral questions about handling customers:Describe a time when it was especially important to make a good impressi on on a client. How did you approach things?Give me an example where you did not meet a client’s expectations. What happened and how did you attempt to fix the situation?Tell me about a time you went above and beyond what was required to make sure a customer was happyDescribe a time when you had to interact with a difficult client. What was the situation, and how did you handle it?When you’re working with a large number of customers, it’s tricky to deliver excellent service to all of them. How do you go about prioritizing your customers’ needs?Sample behavioral questions about problem-solving:Tell me about a time you were under a lot of pressure. What was going on, and how did you get through it?Describe a time when your team or company was undergoing some changes you had no control over. How did that impact you, and how did you adapt?Tell me about the first job you ever had. What did you do to learn the ropes?Tell me about a time you failedDescribe a difficult work situatio n and what you did to overcome itTell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the informationTell me about a time you made a mistake at work, what happened?Tell me about a time you were under a lot of stress at work and how you dealt with itDescribe a crisis you faced at work. What was your role? How did you resolve it? What were the results?Describe a time when you were asked to do something you werent trained to do. How did you adapt?Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to solve a problemTell me about a time from your work experience when your manager or supervisor was unavailable and a problem arose. How did you handle that situation?Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic to solve a problemSometimes it’s easy to get in “over your head.” Describe a situation where you had to request help or assistance on a project or assignmentWhat steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision?We can sometimes identify a small problem and fix it before it becomes a major problem. Give an example of how you have done thisGive an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decisionSample behavioral questions about time management:Tell me about a time you had to juggle multiple high-priority tasks. How did you handle it?Describe a long-term project that you managed. How did you keep everything moving along in a timely manner?Sometimes it’s just not possible to get everything on your to-do list done. Tell me about a time your responsibilities got a little overwhelming. What did you do?Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you go about ensuring that you would meet your objective?Give me an example of a time you managed numerous responsibilities. How did you handle that?Sample behavioral questions about communication:Describe a time where you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your wayGive me a n example of a time when you had to explain something fairly complex to a frustrated client or coworker. How did you make sure they understood you?Tell me about a successful presentation you gave and why you think it was a hitDescribe a time when you had to use your written communication to get an important point acrossGive me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when they may not have personally liked you (or vice versa)In a supervisory or group leader role, have you ever had to discipline or counsel an employee or team member? What steps did you take? How did you prepare yourself?Tell me about a time you thought you communicated clearly but were misunderstood. What happened and how did you handle the situation?Part II: Standard Interview QuestionsAfter youve reviewed the behavioral questions above, wed recommend also practicing for these other common interview questions that employers ask.See below for 75 other questions empl oyers love to ask to find out about your background, your skills, why youre job searching and more.Also, if you want word-for-word sample answers for the top 14 questions employers ask, view this article.Questions about your job search:Why did you leave your last job?How has your job search gone so far?What other types of jobs have you been applying for?What other companies are you interviewing with?Why are you looking for a new job?Why do you want to leave your current job?What is one thing youre looking to either have or to not have in your next position?What are your salary requirements?How soon could you be available to start?Would you work holidays/weekends?Are you willing to relocate/travel?What are your career goals?Do you have any questions for us?Questions about the job and company:How did you hear about this position?What do you know about our company?What is it about this opportunity that most excites you?Whats your greatest fear about this opportunity?Who are our competi tors?What is the name of our CEO?Why did you apply for this position?What concerns or hesitations do you have about this opportunity?What is something you think we could do better or differently?Why should we hire you?Why would you excel at this job?Why do you want this job?Practice interview questions about your background:Walk me through your resumeTell me about yourselfTell me about your current or most recent workWhats your greatest strength?Whats your greatest weakness?Why was there a gap in your employment?Can you explain why you changed career paths?What professional achievement are you most proud of?What is something you are working on improving right now?What can you offer us that someone else cant?If I called your last boss right now and asked them an area you could improve on, what would they say?What are some of your leadership experiences?What sets you apart from others?UPDATE:Ifyou have interviews coming up and don’t want to leave anything to chance, I’ve created a new guide where you can copymy exactstep-by-step method for getting job offers. You canget more details here.Interview questions about your personality and motivation:If I had your three best friends sitting with us now, how would they describe you to me?How would your previous coworkers describe you?How would your current or former boss describe you?If you had only one word to describe yourself, what would it be?What type of work environment do you prefer?How do you take advantage of your strengths? How do you compensate for your weaknesses?What’s your leadership style?How do you make decisions?How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?Describe the boss who would get the very best work from youWhat will make you love coming to work here every day?Are you a leader or a follower?What makes you uncomfortable?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?Whats one thing you would like to do better? Whats your plan for improving?How do you handle pressure?What role do you tend to move into in group or teamwork, and why?Common interview questions about your interests:What motivates you?What is your dream job?Who do you look up to or idolize?What was the last book you read for fun?What are your hobbies?What is your favorite website?What do you like to do outside of work?What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?What was your favorite job you ever had and why?What was your favorite part of your last job?Common hypotheticaljob interview questions to practice:Where do you see yourself in five years?What would you do in the first 90 days of this position to succeed?What would you do if you made an important business decision and a coworker challenged it?What would you do if management made a decision you didnt agree with?What do you do when you make a mistake at work?What would you accomplish in the first 30 days on the job?Assume that you come to work here. One year from now you go home one Friday afternoon thinking that acce pting this job was the best thing you ever did. What happened during the year for you to feel that way?How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?How would you fire someone?If you have had a million dollars, what kind of work would you do and why?How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?(or any number of other brain-teaser questions. Hint: It’s not about getting it 100% right with these. They want to see your thought process and how you break it down into smaller pieces to get an answer that’s “pretty close”)How Should You Practice Your Interview Answers?Okay, now you know the questions youre likely to face, but whats the best way to practice? I recommend you record yourself speaking or practice in front of a mirror.And dont just memorize a ton of answers word-for-word. Its going to get all jumbled up in your head and come out wrong in the heat of the moment! And if they ask something slightly different than what you prepared for, youll panic.So practice ta lking about general topics and ideasWhat youre looking for in your job searchWhy youre searching right nowThe most impressive pieces of your experience (accomplishments)What your strengths are and how they relate to the companys needsNote:Ifyou have moreinterviews coming up and don’t want to leave anything to chance, I’ve created anew guide where you can copymy exactstep-by-step method for getting job offers. You canget more details here.

Creating a Resume Using the LinkedIn Resume Generator

Creating a Resume Using the LinkedIn Resume GeneratorA LinkedIn resume generator has become more popular in recent years. It allows you to customize and tailor your resume to be just right for you and your career. There are a few features that make this tool a standout amongst other career planning tools.The first feature of the LinkedIn resume generator is that it can generate a resume and cover letters that are just right for you. It gives you options to edit the material in the documents. This feature is a huge time saver as you will be able to create a well-crafted professional resume.Another unique feature is the recruiting database that is powerful recruiter tool. LinkedIn has a recruiting database that will allow you to place yourself in the pool of candidates for a job post. By doing this, the recruiter is going to see you in the same way they would a job posting. Once they find you, you will have the advantage as they will not want to pass you up.You can also sign up with an other member's profile or personal link. Once signed up, all of the information from the other profile will show on your own personal link. The recruiter is going to see the links you have to your current profile in the application.This feature allows you to link your resume with your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or MySpace account. As soon as the recruiter finds your link, they will immediately know that you are a candidate. This means they can actually find out what you are looking for and where you are looking for a job, as opposed to you posting a link on a job site or e-mailing it to the wrong person.Since these tools come with a professional looking resume and cover letter, it makes it very easy to write both. With many other tools, you have to go through a ton of drafts, delete bad material, and then re-create your own resume. This allows you to focus on crafting your resume instead of spending time creating a poor quality resume.Once you get the hang of creating your resume and cover letter, it is pretty easy to update them at any time. Instead of wasting a lot of time creating your new version, you can just update your resume and cover letter. You can also track changes that are made on your resume.Finally, it is very convenient that the resume generator comes with tutorials to help you create a great resume. You can find these on the Internet or in-store to teach you how to create the perfect resume. This is an invaluable time saver for you when creating a resume as you can use the tutorials to help you make the most out of your time.

How To Improve Your Chances Of Getting A Pay Rise At Your Job

How To Improve Your Chances Of Getting A Pay Rise At Your Job Do you feel like you have put in your time, demonstrated your skills, improved in your job over the past few years and deserve a raise? Unfortunately, wanting a pay raise and getting one are two different things. On top of that, broaching the subject of a pay raise with your boss is not an easy conversation to have. For some, it can be overwhelming.If you find yourself struggling with the idea of approaching your boss for a raise, or are not sure how to justify getting a pay raise, then check out the following tips. They are meant to help improve your chances on getting that raise you deserve, and give you the confidence to approach your boss.Figure Out Your WorthevalIn order to convince your boss that you deserve a raise, you have to understand your worth in terms of pay. A great way to figure out what someone in your position, and with your experience, is worth is to scan similar job listings.Check out what others in your job are making and start with a rough idea of what you could , or should, be making. Another source of information is LinkedIn, as you can find a basic salary range for your job.Keep in mind that the size of the company, the location of the business, your educational background, and experience will all factor into your worth.Another factor to consider is your replacement cost. Your replacement cost is what your employer would have to spend if you were to leave. They would need to search for someone new, invest in training, probably deal with interruptions and delays in the work, and disrupt a department in the company.Think About Why You Deserve a RaiseIn order to convince your boss that you deserve a raise, you need to believe it yourself and have facts to back it up. Stating that you deserve a raise because you have been there a long time is not convincing enough. Start by reviewing the description of your job.Next, honestly assess how you are doing in each of area of your job’s description:Have you excelled in all areas?Are you surpassin g what you were hired to do?How much money have you likely brought in for the company?How many clients do you have?How do you help the business to operate in a smooth manner?These are the kind of facts that an employer wants to see before they agree to a raise.evalWhile you are answering these questions, it is a good idea to jot everything down. This will ensure you do not forget any of the important details during your pitch for a raise.Brush Up On Your Negotiation SkillsWhile it is certainly possible to walk into your pay review and get exactly what you asked for without any difficulty, more often than not there will be some sort of negotiation process involved. Be willing to be flexible and give a little. Massive pay raises are not likely, but if you go in with a realistic number then you have a much higher chance of succeeding.While you are in negotiation, make sure you are confident, positive, clear, and concise with your arguments. You do not want to take a combative approach, so remain professional at all times.Make Sure the Timing Is RightevalSometimes it can come down to timing. You may be deserving of a raise, and it may be clear to everyone including your boss, but if the company is in the middle of downsizing and pulling in poor profits, this is not a good time to ask for a raise. While there is never going to be a perfect time, some occasions are better than others.When it does look like the time is right, ask to schedule a meeting with your boss rather than just barging into their office to discuss things. Let your employer know you would like a pay review so they have time to prepare on their end.Work Hard at All TimesThe main reason employees are rewarded with a pay raise is because they work hard. So, if you want to get noticed, this is the best way to do it. Make sure you are showing up on time, getting your work done without complaints, are a team player, and you are willing to go that extra mile to ensure your work is excellent.A Pay Raise is Within ReachBy using these tips, you can improve your chances of getting the pay raise that you desire. Prepare yourself with information, boost your confidence with a self-evaluation, and continue to work hard to meet or exceed your job’s description.

Tune into CNN (Wed Jan 28th) at 230pm eastern and Learn What Every Job Seeker Needs to Know Now

Tune into CNN (Wed Jan 28th) at 230pm eastern and Learn What Every Job Seeker Needs to Know Now As the number of those joining the laid-off ranks increases, it can feel as if opportunities are drying up. Tune in for my appearance on CNN Newsroom with Kyra Phillips at 2:30pm eastern (Wednesday, Jan 28th) for tips and advice that every job seeker needs to know now. Youll gain new perspective and start to see the opportunities that exist for you!I know what job seekers are going through. Just this week I volunteered to coach in a free program sponsored by Vault.com and the New York Public Library. There were many coaches and even more coachees from various levels, backgrounds, and industries. All impacted by the downturn.There is good news however. I was excited to help with ideas and solutions that the job seekers hadnt thought of. Here are highlights of the advice I shared and will expand on tomorrow on CNN:Separate your short and long-term strategy. You may need a job now to pay the bills but to provide yourself with lasting job security, you need a career. Too often I see peop le throwing themselves into the next hot industry or job without thought to what theyll do after the bubble bursts. Dont jump on the bandwagon. Rather focus on a career path that will keep you happy and satisfied for more than the next year or two.Make the transition easy on yourself. Identify the top one or two skills you already possess that an employer would find valuable even in a downturn. Are you good at bringing people together to execute on a project? Do you have great analytical skills to be able to solve problems? Forbes just announced the top companies to work for. Many are are taking advantage of the downturn to snap up top talent. You are top talent in the areas you excel in so go after the jobs!Prepare your pitch. To get your foot in the door, youll need a compelling pitch that communicates your value as a potential hire quickly and clearly. Invest the time and energy to work with a coach on your customized elevator pitch and visit sites like 15secondpitch.com. You ca n not only develop your pitch online but also see examples from others in your industry. Exude and exhibit confidence. If you dont believe youre a worthwhile hire, no one else will. Now more than ever its essential that you maintain your self worth. Desperation will not land you a job but confidence and poise will. Testimonials are a great help as well. Ask colleagues and former bosses to recommend you on sites like LinkedIn.com. Employers use sites like these to research candidates so make sure you are putting your best image forward.What do you need to know as a job seeker to land your next opportunity? What advice has worked for you in getting a new job during challenging times? I welcome your comments and ideas.

Tough (Question) Tuesday What can you ask for today

Tough (Question) Tuesday What can you ask for today Lend Me Your Wing by Kelli Murray Art, found via kind over matter My vlog yesterday was all about what-you-cant-control-itis, part of dealing with what you cant control is to ask for help. Take something off your plate. Learn something from an expert. Now think about that challenge that has you stuck. Whether its plain ol overwhelm, or thinking youd be great in a job that you dont really know anything about, or that you need to find space to paint.. What can you ask for today? Join me in the comments section with your request!