Top 4 questions I get asked as a resume writer

Top 4 questions I get asked as a resume writerTop 4 questions I get asked as a resume writerAs a professional resume writer, I aim to be a resource for clients and readers, so I answer a lot of questions relating to job search and resume writing. There are a lot of questions that get asked repeatedly, but these four questions are among the fruchtwein common questions I get.How long should my resume be?This is a hard question to answer because there is no one size fits all for a resume, but there are some guidelines you should follow when youre figuring out the perfect length for your resume.Keep in mind that you dont want your document to be too long because no one will read it, but you want it to be long enough toinclude your achievements and qualifications. My general rule of thumb is that if you can fit everything on one page in a clear and reader-friendly manner, try to do that, but if you would have to leave out pertinent information or reformat the document so it is barely legi ble, (i.e. size 9 font with .5 inch margins) its best to expand your resume over a page.One important thing to note is that if your document is only 1/3 of a page or less onto the second page, youll either want to condense it to fit within one page or spread things out to span a full (or close to) two pages. Having a document with just a few lines on another page appears unfinished and as if you didnt want to spend the time to either condense it or add more.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIs there a specific font I should use?Believe it or not, font does matter. A lot. The font of a resume determines the aesthetic of the document, gives off the correct feel, and greatly determines how people view your document. Think of font like clothing. Even if you are showered and have your hair done, your clothing largely affects your overall appearance. You might have great information an d formatting on your resume, but if you pick a font thats hard to read, youre not going to have a great document.Stick with a simple and easy to read font. Garamond is my go-to serif font (serif fonts have the extra little lines on the outer edges of the letter, and are often considered to be more traditional). Arial is a solid sans serif font choice that almost everyone has on their computer. For more of my favorite fonts,check out this article.What information should I include?Think about your resume as a snapshot of your career. You know how they always show the best parts of the movie in its trailer? Your resume is just like that You want to make sure that your resume shows the most valuable and noteworthy aspects of you and your career so that potential employers can see the value you bring to the table.Youll want to include contact information, skills, job titles and dates of employment, along with metrics and achievements that make you stand out. Think abouthow youve gone abo ve and beyond the scope of your responsibility thats the kind of information you want to include. If your resume just shows job responsibilities that someone could pull off of Google, your document wont be super effective. Additionally, make sure to include your education along with any certifications or specialized training you have. Want more details?This articlegoes more in depth about what kind of information you need on your resumeWhat is an applicant tracking system (ATS) and how will that change/affect my resume?People often ask me if I am familiar with ATS as if ATS is a program like Microsoft Office. An applicant tracking system is a type of program, and there are hundreds of different applicant tracking programs out there. There is no way to know exactly how each applicant tracking system will work and what it will and will not catch in your resume.An applicant tracking system is a system used by many hiring managers and recruiters to sift through resumes and find qualifie d candidates. It basically lets the user type in keywords to find candidates who have those words or qualifications listed in their resume. This is an easy way to separate seemingly qualified candidates from unqualified candidates. The most important way it affects your resume is thatif your resume doesnt include the right keywords, it may not get you past the weed out phase of a job application. Just be sure that you scan the job description youre applying for and note any recurring verbiage that is used. If a word appears in the job description multiple times, it will likely be keyword searched in your resume.At the end of the day, you want to make sure that your resume includes the right keywords, but it also has to be appealing to an actual person when they read it. If you cater your resume completely to a computer, it wont be effective when an actual person reads it and vise-versa. Its all about balance.This article originally appeared on Write Style.Michele Lando is a certifie d professional resume writer, personal branding expert, and founder of Write Styles. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves both on paper and in person and works to polish individuals application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles provides resources to enhance your resume, professional appearance, and boost your confidence.

How to Find the Best Boss

How to Find the Best BossHow to Find the Best BossWorking for the right anfhrer (or the wrong one) can make a huge difference in how you feel about your job and the company youre working for. One of the keys to job satisfaction is the quality of the relationship between employees and their supervisors, and one of the fruchtwein important career decisions that youll ever make is selecting your next anfhrer. So, how can you find the best boss to work for? The boss is the person whos typically making the hiring decision, but you dont have to accept a job offer if you feel the chemistry between you and the person you would be working for doesnt feel right. Even though you are the one getting hired, youre also interviewing the company and your potential boss. Its important to make sure that youll be working for someone with the right skills to enable you to be successful on the job. Its also important to be sure that your personality meshes, not clashes, with your prospective managers per sonality. Tips for Checking Out a Prospective Boss Candidates are often not thorough enough in the assessment of their prospective supervisor since they are preoccupied with making a strong case for being hired during the interview process. By taking the following steps prior to accepting an offer, you can increase your due diligence and improve the odds that your next boss will be a good one. Make a Criteria List In advance of your interviews, reflect on your work history. Identify the type of supervisors under whom you have thrived, and those who have made life difficult for you. Develop a list of specific qualities that you would like to see (and avoid) in your next boss. Review the list before interviews so that you can keep these criteria in mind as you go through the interview process. How Does Your Future Boss Measure Up? Most individuals look for a boss who is approachable, provides feedback in a constructive manner, recognizes accomplishments and gives credit to employees, provides direction, but doesnt micromanage, is open to eingabe from staff and supports the career advancement and professional development of their employees. Keep your eyes and ears open during the interview process for any and all indicators regarding whetherbei your prospective boss can measure up in these areas. Meet With Employees if Possible Many prospective employers will provide an opportunity during the interview process to meet with employees who either report to your prospective boss or are familiar with their style. If opportunities to meet with other staff arent offered during the interview process, you might ask to meet with other potential colleagues after you receive a job offer. During these lunches or interviews, you should prepare and ask questions that can help you gain some insight regarding how your boss is perceived. Questions to Ask You can learn a great deal about your prospective supervisor by asking questions likeHow would you describe her management style?What are some of his strong qualities as a leader?What is it like to work for him?How frequently do you meet with her?What opportunities are there for professional development? Check With Your LinkedIn Connections Look through your LinkedIn contacts to determine if any of your immediate or second level contacts may have worked in your target organization. If so, you might ask them some discrete questions about your prospective supervisor and his or her style. This should be done in the spirit of due diligence without revealing any misgivings or concerns you may have about your potential supervisor unless the contact is a well-trusted friend. You dont want anything remotely construed as negative getting back to the person who may become your new manager. Ask for One MoreMeeting Do you have still have concerns? Once ajob offerhas been tendered it is appropriate to ask for an additional meeting with your prospective supervisor if you havent had sufficient oppor tunity to interact with her during the interview process. During the meeting, you can inquire about expectations for performance and how it would be measured, frequency of meetings, resources for professional development, your new employers posture on supporting career advancement over time, and any other concerns which have may have emerged during the process of interviewing for the position. Taking the time to carefully evaluate your new boss prior to accepting a job offer can help you avoid any unpleasant surprises once you are on the job. Remember, you dont have to accept a job offer immediately. You can ask for more time to consider the offer before you accept or decline.

5 Steps to Transform a Job you Loathe into One you Love

5 Steps to Transform a Job you Loathe into One you Love 5 Steps to Transform a Job you Loathe into One you Love 1. Before simply going gently into that good night (of temporary unemployment), approach your boss and ask about finding ways to alter the kind of work you do. Depending on the cause of your discontent- be it overwork or lack of challenge- your boss will probably see that you will be mora productive doing something different and is mora likely to choose to work with your needs than simply see your talent moved elsewhere.2. If your routine simply needs a refresh ask to be partnered with different people, even if you personally like your current coworkers. By adding a new set of ideas and experiences to your regular assignments you may see your job from a fresh perspective that allows you to reevaluate your relationship with those parts of your job that you may hate and renew your enthusiasm for your work daily routine.3. Change up your surroundings so that your workspace f eels more homey and relaxing. You dont want to feel like youre in prison for 40-plus hours per week staring at the same humdrum desk and wall space. Spruce up your area with as much personality as your employer allows. Bring in sentimental photos, decorations, or pleasant smelling plants. If the setup of your chair or desk makes you physically uncomfortable, ask your manager about changing your furniture or receiving assistance with properly adjusting your office necessities.4. One of the most demoralizing aspects of any office job is seeing your inbox full of unread emails and your desk covered with unexamined documents. Plan at least one session during your week dedicated solely to sorting through your backlog, organize your workspace, and investigate ways to use your workspace in a more systematic, efficient way.5. One way to improve your outlook at work is to live a fuller life at home. Many times, you may end up resenting your work time because it impedes your ability to do the things that you want to do. Make sure you are spending your off time with people you care about and doing things that invigorate your life. Scheduling times of calm can also help you unwind so that you can stay more relaxed at home and at work.