Saturday, May 30, 2020

10 Essential Verbs to Use in Your CV

10 Essential Verbs to Use in Your CV Your written vocabulary is obviously extremely important in the process of writing your CV, but you must pay particular attention to the verbs you include. Verbs are used to describe actions and are commonly known as “doing words”, so they are crucial if you want to describe how your input impacts your employers. Verbs quite literally explain what you have done, which is why choosing them correctly will have a huge effect on your CV’s success. So take a look at StandOut CV’s 10 essential CV writing verbs. 1. Managed Management skills are important across a wide range of professions and industries, but this is not limited to people management only. Skills like time management, supplier management, stakeholder management and process management are also valuable and highly regarded by hiring managers. So include any elements of management you use in your roles to show potential employers that you have control over the outcome of your work. 2. Delivered Employers always prefer to hire staff who deliver results for them. So whether you deliver cost savings, product sales or projects, ensure that your CV shows exactly what you deliver and how you deliver it. Including numbers when doing so can really quantify your value. 3. Improved Businesses are always looking for ways to improve their offerings, so if you are a candidate who can bring serious improvements to an organisation, make it clear in your CV. Whether you can introduce improved processes, improved sales figures or improved performance, explain the improvements clearly to recruiters in your role descriptions. 4. Reduced Reduction can often be perceived as a negative term but when it comes to spending money and resources, companies are keen to make reductions. If you have been involved in cost or time saving initiatives, then include them in your CV and use facts and figures to detail the value you have added. 5. Negotiated Negotiation is a core skill in the workplace, and it’s not just exclusive to sales staff. Negotiation is an important tool which can be used to obtain better prices from suppliers or to gain budget approval from a line manager. Any CV could benefit from one or two examples of negotiation that has benefited the candidate and their employer. 6. Planned As the saying goes, “fail to prepare and prepare to fail” â€" this basically means that preparation is the blueprint of success. Therefore it makes sense to show recruiters that you have the ability to plan effectively in the workplace and see your plans through to completion. 7. Supported In every profession, employees need to support each other and also support other individuals they encounter outside of their organisation, such as clients and suppliers. Use your CV’s role descriptions to show that you can be relied upon to support your colleagues and others. 8. Trained Having the ability to train others not only shows that you have expertise in your field, but it also indicates that you have the communication skills and confidence to deliver training sessions. If you have held training responsibilities in your previous roles, be sure to include them in your CV. 9. Resolved Businesses face problems on a daily basis, so employees who can resolve these problems are highly sort after. Detail the issues that you face in your roles, the steps you take to resolve them and the results you achieve in doing so. 10. Presented From presenting findings of research to an internal stakeholder, to presenting a new product to a crowd of potential customers; presentation is necessary across most businesses. If you’ve got any presentation experience at all, ensure that you include it in your CV if you want to make an impression.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

IT Director Job Description - Algrim.co

IT Director Job Description - Algrim.co It Director Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs. Related Hiring Resources IT Director Resume Example

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Guest Post 5 Places to Find People Who Work at Your Target Company

Guest Post 5 Places to Find People Who Work at Your Target Company A guest post by    Lauren McPherson One of the best ways to advance your career is by targeting a specific company in the industry where you want to work. You probably already know that customizing the goals and experiences on your resume to the specific company to you are applying will help you get your foot in the door, but imagine how much more impressed that company would be if you had already done deep research on the company’s business and objectives, and knew people who work there. These three actions will increase your attractiveness to any employer, but networking with people who work at the target company can be a challenge. Here are five places where you can find and network with the employees at your target firm. 1. Local Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations Virtually every city has its own chamber of commerce, and larger cities will also have multiple business associations. These associations regularly throw networking events, casual meet and greets, and industry specific seminars where the employees of member businesses gather to talk about challenges, successes, and professional goals. Since these meetings are all held within the framework of professional business gatherings, those who attend are prepared to network and meet new people â€" the perfect opportunity for you to make a good impression, and a new contact. Check your city or county’s website for a list of active associations, and ask those associations about upcoming events. You might not even need to become a member to participate. 2. Eventbrite Eventbrite is an event management portal that many businesses use to manage conventions. Eventbrite handles everything from website set up to promotion to tickets. For the purpose of meeting people at your target company, Eventbrite is useful because it often lists the attendees and the organizations that they will be representing at an event. You can search by keyword, date, location, price, or category to locate events where your target company is likely to be, then view all of the details for that particular event. This will help you choose where to spend your time, rather than constantly searching Google news for events where you think your target company is likely to be. 3. LinkedIn Company Search Did you know that you can search for specific companies on LinkedIn? This feature allows members to easily search their connections’ networks to determine whether or not he or she is connected to employees at a target company. Although the feature is limited to first and second degree connections only, it is these first and second degree connections who are most likely to be able to arrange a meeting between you and your target firm. To search your network, you must be logged in to LinkedIn. Next, click the drop down menu beside the search box in the upper right hand corner of the page. Type in the target company name and click the magnifying glass. If you don’t see any matches, you can also use the LinkedIn company directory to view employees at a firm; this might help you determine where to go to meet these individuals. 4. Followerwonk If the idea of meeting employees of your target companies makes you nervous, Followerwonk can help you identify and meet the company’s employees online. This social media tool is primarily used by businesses to determine and improve the effectiveness of their Twitter activity, but you can use it to find people who work at a specific company as well. Followerwonk can search Twitter bios for a company name or other keyword to let you know who might be a good person to meet. You can then follow that individual on Twitter and start a conversation. 5. Google Searches In addition to doing a standard Google search for information on your target firm, you can also use Google Search, Google blogs, and Google Plus to network with your target firm’s employees. Using keyword strings such as “Company A employees” or “works for Company A” can help you locate press releases, bios, and blogs for workers at your target company. This information can help you make contact through email, blog comments, Facebook, or other social media websites. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! Lauren McPherson is a staff writer for Paralegal 411, a career resource for anyone interested in getting started in a paralegal career

Monday, May 18, 2020

5 Ways to Boost Your Hiring Appeal (That Dont Require a New Degree)

5 Ways to Boost Your Hiring Appeal (That Dont Require a New Degree) When you want to switch careers or struggle get ahead in the one you already have, it can feel like the only way to advance professionally is to go back to school and start over. But paying for a new degree is expensive, and going back to school takes you out of the job market. Luckily, there are other ways to improve your skills and stand out in the interview process that are much cheaper than a new MBA. Try one of these five types of professional development to make an impression on hiring managers. Grant Writing Certification Grant writing is an essential skill needed by non profit organizations, educational institutions, corporations, foundations, research centers, and government agencies both local and national, who all rely on grant funding to function. But it’s a very specific skill set, requiring more than just writing ability to succeed. According to the World Organization of Non-Governmental Agencies, nearly 85% of grants submitted are left unfulfilled. National organizations such as the American Grant Writers’ Association offer training and online courses to become a Certified Grant Writer. There are also free, online resources for studying grant writing: On the Art of Writing Proposals from the Social Sciences Research Council A Quick Guide for Grant Applicants from the National Institute of Health Grant Writing Tutorial from the Environmental Protection Agency Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal from Dr. S. Joseph Levine of Michigan State University If you are interested in applying to work at an organization that relies on grants to fund their operations, having grant-writing experience or certification on your resumé is a great way to stand out from the applicant pool. Leadership or Management Training If you’re interested in management positions within your industry, but haven’t yet held the official job title, you can still give your skills and resumé a boost by taking an intensive training course in business leadership. Yes, these types of programs still do cost money but they are significantly cheaper than paying for a master’s degree! A quick search online for “management training program” will provide hundreds of results, so make sure you sift through the options and pick one from a respected organization. Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education teaches a variety of courses in various aspects of leadership and management, as does the Dale Carnegie Training Institute. The American Management Association offers online courses and webinars designed for those whose current job responsibilities prevent them from attending a several-day seminar. Many of these courses are the very ones that large corporations send their own managers and leaders to attend. By taking the initiative to study on your own, you make yourself a more attractive job candidate as well as giving yourself a leg up when you actually start your new management job! Volunteer Work Volunteering is always recommended when you’re between jobs as a way of filling gaps in your resumé and practicing your skills. But strategic volunteering can also help boost your hiring appeal, creating a space for you to learn and practice skills that you aren’t getting in the workplace. Want to show that you can handle team management or event planning? Look for volunteer work with an organization that will allow you to use and develop those skills. If you’re interested in switching industries or moving into a new career path, volunteer work also allows you to explore and gain experience before making the transition. Most companies and organizations recognize the value of skills learned through community service just as they would for paid workplace experience. Volunteering gives you gain hands-on training that enhances your professional skills and new abilities to talk about at your next job interview. SEO Certification Every business these days needs a web presence and strong search engine optimization to help them be found online. At the end of 2014, LinkedIn named SEO marketing one of their 25 hottest professional skills and the demand for SEO work has only grown since then. In large corporations, this is usually taken care of by a SEO specialist in the marketing department. But smaller companies and nonprofit organizations don’t usually have the budget to hire dedicated workers for each task which means you can push yourself ahead of the competition by studying a little online marketing strategy in the form of an SEO certification. Paid courses offer more official-looking certifications, are taught by experts that you can ask questions and approach for help, and have more organized training modules. Some are offered as continuing education courses by colleges and universities. Well-rated choice include: Search Engine Optimization Search Engine Marketing from Oregon State University Strategic Online Marketing Certification from University San Diego Healther Lloyd-Martin’s SEO Copywriting courses The Online Marketing Institute’s SEO Certification program Free, online webinars and courses teach you the skills you need but don’t provide anything in the way of paperwork. Many of them, however, are run by recognized and respected companies, such as: Udacity’s Website Performance Optimization training, supported by Google The Google Analytics Academy Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide HubSpot’s Introductory Guide to Local SEO Language Study As globalization increases the potential pool of customers that a company has access to and immigration increases the diversity within a single country, the need for multilingual communicators has grown. Speaking a second or third language instantly makes you a more valuable candidate in industries from healthcare to nonprofit work and from customer service to international banking. There are a variety of places to go for official language programs, including: colleges and universities community colleges local continuing education programs private tutors You can also find free resources for studying a new language, including apps and online programs such as: crowd-sourced language modules from Memrize the Duolingo app BBC Languages BBC Quick Fix vocabulary lessons Open Culture language courses from the Foreign Services Institute Which language will serve you best depends on your industry and geographic region. For example, if you’re interested in government work, Mandarin or Arabic would be highly beneficial. If you live on the West Coast of the United States, Japanese might be more helpful. For nonprofit work overseas, Spanish or French might serve you best. No matter where you are in your career or job search, professional development can help you get ahead. You don’t have to pay for a whole new degree you just have to spend some time developing the skills that will help you stand out. Bio: Katharine Paljug is the freelance writer behind Katharine Writes. When not researching career development and job hunting tips, she helps small businesses and start-ups develop their web presence with strategic copywriting and web marketing tools.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Tips for Writing a Resume For a Medical Research Internship

Tips for Writing a Resume For a Medical Research InternshipWriting a resume for a medical research internship is different than writing one for any other job. It requires more attention to detail and accuracy of the information. If you want to land a job as a medical researcher or analyst, be sure to have everything in your application as accurate as possible.The first thing you need to be very clear about is the basic type of education you have completed. In order to determine what your expected course load will be, ask your undergraduate or graduate school. Another good way to get this information is to ask your advisor or your prospective employers for it. Your supervisor at your current work environment should also be able to help you answer this question. Some employers may require your last and preferred school to give you a list of schools you should apply to.You should also check if you are required to have clinical rotations during your internship. This is very important inf ormation to keep track of. Make sure you include it in your resume. Most clinical rotations should be listed somewhere in the first paragraph of your application.The next thing you need to be prepared for our internship opportunities available after your internship has ended. Some employers will only accept an application after your internship is complete. Do not waste time trying to contact them.Look over your application for any errors or omissions. It is important that you proofread and edit your resume as needed. This is because you may have omitted something or it may be something that really didn't affect your final decision. Be sure to have the interviewer look over your resume before making a final decision.While you are preparing your resume, also be sure to include your previous and educational background, as well as any other relevant information such as your work experience and professional affiliations. To show the employer that you are a dedicated and hard working indi vidual, provide the employer with some examples of projects you were involved in during your internship. If you were planning on working on a new project, but did not get a chance to start it, include this as well.Lastly, while preparing your resume for a medical research internship, be sure to include your GPA. This will help to show the employer that you are indeed serious about this job. They will appreciate this effort.It is very easy to forget about all of the information that is listed on your resume, but it is crucial to have complete and accurate information. This is the first impression a potential employer gets of you. Remember that employers are looking for someone who is serious and committed to their career, so make sure you take care of your resume.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Step by Step Guide to Landing Your First Job - CareerAlley

The Step by Step Guide to Landing Your First Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Finding your first job after college can be a daunting task. Many college grads are astounded by the minimum 3 to 5 years experience expected for most positions, while others find that an entry-level salary in their field wont pay the bills. Both groups hit obstacles when long lists of job requirements arent met by their minimal on-the-job experiences. Its hard to land your first job. The best chance you have at landing a job in your industry once you've graduated is to plan and launch a job search campaign.It's much easier to find a job when you know what you're looking for. Tweet This Your job search as a college grad should start long before you graduate, but if youve not done any first job prep yet, then its time to start. You cant go back in time but theres plenty you can do now. If you are still in college (even if you are a Senior) there are still many things you can do to improve your chances of getting a job when you graduate. In some instances, you might even have a job offer before you graduate. Job Search Checklist Current unemployment rates for college grads can run as high as 13% for some majors and as low as 5% for others. Even on the high end, that still means that 87% of college grads have found a job. The question is, have they found a job in their industry/major? Possibly not. The best chance you have at landing a job in your industry once youve graduated is to plan and launch a job search campaign.Its much easier to find a job when you know what youre looking for. Create or Update Your Resume If you already have a resume, great, just update it. If you dont have a resume yet, you will (obviously) need to create one. There are lots of styles and formats and much depends on any experience you already have (like internships). Experience is important, but your first resume should focus on your college career as well. TopResume Free Resume Review Price: TopResume writes and analyzes more resumes and LinkedIn profiles than any other service in the world. Let our resume experts provide you with objective feedback and personalized recommendations to improve your resume and land the right job sooner. Get a free, confidential resume review from TopResume Get Your Killer Resume We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Knowing how to market yourself to each potential employer is just as important as ensuring your skills and qualifications are included on your resume. But its hard to create a beefy resume without any practical job experience. Senior students and recent grads can visit their school or alma maters career center for free resume help. College career centers regularly help students with little-to-no related job experience create impressive, job-winning resumes. If you are a Junior or Senior, its not too late to do a summer internship (which will add tremendous value to your resume). As a Senior, unless you already have a job offer lined up, you can do an internship the summer following their graduation. Where Do You Want to Work? You need to know where you want to work- country, city, state, etc. You probably already have an idea where you want to work and it probably based on where you went to school, where you grew up or where a significant other might be located. So you will need to research a few things before finding your first job. If you already know where you want to work, do some research on the companies that are located there and start to get some data on job locations, salaries, etc. If, on the other hand, you do not know where you would like to work, do some research on the best cities to work in for your industry/job function. Who do You Want to Work For? It helps to know which companies you want to work for. Depending on your profession, this may be someone easy (such as public accounting). Or, you may have a few favorites based on information from friends or relatives. Whether or not you have picked your companies, you will need to research to answer questions like: Are these good companies?, Do they pay competitively?, Are they profitable or in danger of going bankrupt?, Do they have jobs in my industry/functional role?. You should create a list of companies where you would like to work based on your knowledge of their corporate culture, products you admire or a good fit with your career choice. Many job seekers fail to leverage company career sites. Many larger companies also have a career site dedicated to college grads. Large companies have more entry-level positions to fill and are more likely to offer benefits, which can help supplement lower wages. Businesses and corporations intentionally recruit fresh blood and plan extensive training as part of the job. These companies invest a lot in new employees because their workers tend to stick around to move into higher positions within the company. Social Networks Nows the time to leverage all of those social network skills you have to help you find a job. Who do you know that is working for a company where you want to work? How do you get the word out that you are looking for a job? Where can recruiters and hiring managers find you? These are all important questions and the answer is your social networks. Sounds easy on the surface (and it really is), you just need to spend a little time working your networks. Networking for job search is under-rated. For some of us, there is nothing I like less than bothering a former co-worker, friend, relative or business associate to let them know that I am looking for a job. There are, of course, many people who dont have a problem with this. There are a number of ways you can leverage your network using some basic Networking concepts and methods. You dont have to have a Network of hundreds of people to have any hope of finding a job (take a look at LinkedIn these days). While the larger your Network the better your chances, it is really the quality of your Network that will improve your job search prospects. Dont make excuses, create your network list and start putting it to work. Who to include on your network list: Friends Family Former co-workers from internships and part-time jobs Teachers / Professors Friends of friends Youve got your list, but what about the best practice for Networking? There are plenty of ideas out there, and most of them are good (and some of them are a bit wacky). Interviews Its never too soon to prepare for interviews and the questions you are likely to get asked will be somewhat different from the questions asked experienced hires. Equally as important is having a good list of questions that you should ask. Lack of questions is generally interpreted as a lack of interest (or failure to research the company). But interview questions are not the only thing you should research. You should research the company as well and be prepared to answer questions like Why do you want to work at XYZ company?. Once youve secured an interview, you should also do some research on the interviewers (LinkedIn is a great source). Elevator Pitch Having an awesome elevator pitch is so important. You never know who you may run into (and it doesnt have to be in an elevator). Separate and apart from having an elevator pitch (just in case), the exercise helps you refine your thought process in terms of what you want to do. This can help you as a lead-in during an interview process as well. Elevator Speeches That Get Results Price: $5.99 You’re nicely dressed and striking all the body language to be just the right person others want to meet and remember. What do you say when they ask you the inevitable question “What do you do?” Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 College Career Office College grads tend to underestimate the importance and value of college career offices. Besides the fact that they are staffed with individuals who have experience in helping college grads find their first job, many employers will leverage college career offices as a lead to grads looking for jobs. While every college is different, the vast majority have a college career office in some form or fashion. Internships While taking an internship after graduation should generally be a last choice, internships are not only for college students and they can provide an important hands-on experience that will help you land your paying job. There are many choices and opportunities and an internship should certainly be a consideration if you have no luck in finding a job. One advantage recent grads have upon entering the job market is that most summer internships are designed to help them gain practical experience in their field of study. A major disadvantage is that many internships dont pay much or at all, and the ones that do can be highly competitive. Accepting a full-time internship after graduation is a consideration (if you dont land a paying job). Students who were awarded financial aid during college may be able to plan ahead prior to graduation to receive an extra loan or grant money to help cover living expenses as they graduate and pursue an internship. Scholarships intended to help interns cover living expenses are available as well. Working in Other Fields Sometimes you need to take a detour from your original route. Roadblocks and missing roads may keep you from your selected career but think of it as a short-term change of plans. Eventually, you will get back on track. ZipRecruiter Price: Never miss an opportunity. On ZipRecruiter, top companies reach out to you. Complete the required steps to get started. Get Recruited We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to land your first job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Friday, May 8, 2020

Happy Hour giveaway - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Happy Hour giveaway - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Im doing a book giveaway on goodreads.com sign up below to get a chance to win a copy of my book :) Goodreads Book Giveaway Happy Hour Is 9 to 5 by Alexander Kjerulf Giveaway ends July 21, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related