Put Together Your Resume

If you are looking for a job, you must make every opportunity count.  My friend works in Human Resources at a large organization and she receives tons of resumes with mistakes and sloppy cover letters.  What does she do with them?  You guessed it, she tosses them in the trash can.

If you don't currently have a resume, no big deal.  Just make one.  Stop stressing out about what it should look like and what it should say and include, just make one.  You can always enhance, improve, and revise, but you need a starting point.  There are many books and lots of information online about how to put together a resume, so just get started.

Here are some tips to consider when creating your resume:

• Don't lie or embellish.  Lying in general is a bad quality.  If you lie on your resume and/or your application you should assume you will eventually be found out at which time you will be very embarrassed, will likely lose your job, and will forfeit an employment referral for a new job.
• Check, double-check, triple-check for spelling and grammatical errors.  A resume is typically the first impression an employer will get of you.  First impressions are lasting.  A sloppy resume says a person who does not pay attention to details and does not care about presentation.  Maybe you would be a really good employee, but you're not likely to get the chance for an interview if you blow it on the resume.
• Be clear on your objective.  Don't use lots of fancy words that say nothing.  If you write that your objective is "To obtain a position with increasing responsibility in the financial services industry."  What does that mean?  Do you want to work at a bank emptying trash cans and eventually become a teller?  I don't think so.  Say what you mean.  Read it aloud.  Would you be able to explain to a prospective employer what you wrote?  If not, rewrite it until what you have written is something you understand and you are able to articulate what it means.
• Highlight any special skills you have that might translate to the type of employee you would be.  For example, college athletics demonstrates a person disciplined and dedicated, an Improvisational Group shows you are comfortable in front of groups and quick on your feet.   You get it, and if you are not sure if you should include a special skill on your resume, ask someone.
• If you know someone who is in the field where you have an interest ask them to look at your resume to get their input on what they look for when hiring.
• Always include a cover letter with your resume that you have customized to reflect the job for which you are applying.
• Make adjustments to your resume to highlight your skills that specifically target the requirements of the position for which you are applying.   
• If you are sending several resumes and cover letters at the same time be super careful.  My friend receives many cover letters that are addressed to a company name that is not the company for whom she does hiring.  You can see how easy that would be to happen and that's why you need to be super careful and check and double-check your emails and attachments.  It's a simple mistake, one that's easy to make, but it sends a message to the prospective employer, right or wrong, that you do sloppy work.  Know yourself.  If you often screw up stuff like that, I do, then don't send multiple letters and resumes at the same sitting.

Keep in mind, what you do in your late teens and early '20's can have lasting effects on your life choices.  Some jobs require a security clearance, and a DUI or shoplifting arrest can prevent you from being hired.  Also, most employers will run a credit report before they finalize your employment offer, a bad credit report can also prevent you from being hired.  If you have delinquent accounts or are late in making payments on your credit accounts or student loans, you won't be able to hide from that situation.  Ask for help.

Also, don't assume more is better when it comes to sending out resumes.  I've heard people say they've sent out 300 resumes and still can't find a job.  That's not a very focused job search.  Your cover letter and resume should reflect that you know something about the company where you are applying and about the position for which you'd like to be considered.  Your goal with your resume should be to find a way for it to standout from the other candidates' resumes.  Most jobs are filled by referrals, so make sure you take advantage of any contacts you may have who may not be able to get you a job, but may be able to get your resume to the top of the pile, and possibly get you an interview.

So, get to work on your resume and the next post will review the steps you can take to Make the Most of Your Interview.

You Are Going to Need a Job

If for no other reason then to be able to buy beer.

Unless you are independently wealthy, you are going to need a job, or maybe several jobs, in order to support  yourself.  Your parents can help, if they are able, but you'll feel really accomplished when you can take care of yourself.  And, parental help should not go on indefinitely.  More on that later.

This post will focus on steps for securing employment, but for those of you who are fortunate to be employed, a word of advice:  Keep your job.  It doesn't matter if …

• you don't like your boss, 
• the work is boring, 
• you didn't go to college for this type of job,
• the hours are long,
• you don't like the people with whom you work,
• the pay is bad,
• etc., etc., etc.

It's irresponsible to leave a job, especially one with benefits, if you don't have another job waiting for you.  If you don't like your job and/or need to make more money, then you should take steps to get a new job, but please, don't give up your income if you don't have a way to replace it.  It's definitely easier to find new employment if you are already employed, and you don't want to find yourself with big gaps of unaccounted time in your resume.  When you do resign from a job always do so on good terms and give adequate notice.  More on that later.

When considering a job opportunity don't just consider the salary, you must consider all of the benefits that make up your total package.  Do not dismiss the value of company subsidized health benefits and retirement savings programs.  And, even if it's not your dream job, and it probably won't be, if it gives you experience that's worth something too.

Now is as good a time as any to introduce two themes that will pop up throughout this blog:  Know Yourself and Ask For Help.

Know Yourself.  Don't set yourself up for failure.  Don't pursue opportunities that are an obvious misfit for your personality, interests, skills and education.  For example, if you hate math and are a creative, laid-back type person then working at a conservative financial services company that requires you to be in a suit and tie and at your desk from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. is probably not a good fit for you.  However, it does seem like a good choice if you are Type A, very focused, don't mind long hours, and want a career in Finance.

A word of caution: Don't limit your job search to only those positions that are an obvious fit for your degree.  For example, an English major can do very well in a financial type training program since they are probably good communicators and writers and can learn the other skills required for a specific job.  You may also discover you like a field that you previously had no interest in and may decide to pursue a graduate degree in that field.

There are online quizzes you can take that guide you through a series of questions about yourself and then give you suggestions for good career fits.  You can also just ask your family and friends, the people who know you best, what they think you are good at, what special skills you have, how they see you, etc., but don't let that be the end of it because your family and friends may not be able to translate your skills to certain professions.  For example,  If you are outgoing with a fun personality those closest to you may not be able to see you in a serious work environment, but those skills would make for an effective sales person or someone who interfaces with customers.

This leads us to another important theme Ask for Help.  Ask everyone you know, who has acquired experience and wisdom and whom you respect, for help.  If your parents have sheltered, fed, clothed and educated you then that's probably a good place to start.  They also know you pretty well, but if that's not an option for you, or where you want to start, then ask other mature, responsible adults for advice.  People are generally willing to help and to share their experiences, so ask your professors, friends' parents, coaches, advisors, really, anyone who seems to have their act together.  If you are still in college then by all means take advantage of the Career Counseling services offered by your school.  Colleges want to help you get a job so that they can boast high employment statistics for their graduates on their websites.

Remember, if someone helps you get an interview, and maybe eventually a job, do not embarrass them. Don't be a no show, don't be late and don't cancel an appointment at the last minute.  That's bad form.  You should know that all interactions between yourself and a prospective employer will probably be reported back to the person who referred you and helped you get the opportunity.  So behave maturely.

Wait a minute!

I can't believe I got to the end of this post without mentioning that you need to CLEAN UP your social media profiles.  Unless you would be comfortable with your prospective or current employer reading your Facebook posts and viewing your photos, change your profile name before you start sending out resumes.  And, don't make the new profile name your first and middle name because that's a trick employers have already figured out.  Even if your profile is squeaky clean it's good to keep your work and personal life separate.  We'll talk about keeping work and personal life separate in a future post.

Now let's get a job.  Stayed tuned for the next post about how to Put Together Your Resume.

We're Not Smarter Than You

Obviously!  I'm mean look how much fun you are having!

We're not smarter than you, but we have been around a lot longer and we've learned some stuff along the way that we want to share with you.  Don't worry you can still have fun!  Okay, maybe not as much fun as you did in college, but that's probably okay.  College wasn't all fun, don't forget how broke you were, stressed out, annoyed with the people with whom you lived, and all that disgusting food you ate.

So, please pay attention and don't underestimate the value of experience.  Think about how much you learned, and how your view of the world changed, as a result of the people you met and the things you learned in college.  Now, think about 25-30 years of life experiences.  Yes, that's what we parents have to offer you, so please at least listen to what we have to say.  Don't reinvent the wheel, be smart and let us help you, not do it for you, but let us help by sharing with you what we've learned.

There are not many positives about getting older, but gaining the experience and confidence to really not care what people think about you, your decisions and how you live your life is one of the best parts.  Always try to do what's right for you, not for your parents, or any other person.

Remember when you were a senior in high school and everybody was anxious to wear the sweatshirt of the college they would be attending?  At the time, it seemed so important to have the "right" sweatshirt even if you felt the college was not the "right" fit for you.  Well, what happened when you went to college?  By the end of the first week of school you probably forgot about high school and if you were lucky enough to be at a school that was a good fit, good for you, but if you ended up at a school because it was the "right" sweatshirt nobody but you really cares anymore.  Don't become paralyzed by what you think people will think about your decisions.  Move on with your life because that's what everybody else is doing.  Honestly, you are not that interesting and people are not following your every move.

While we are on the subject of not caring what other people think, now is a good time to get in the habit of saying, "I can't afford it."  That is nothing to be ashamed about.  If you have 20-something friends who have unlimited amounts of money, that's definitely the exception, and they're probably getting it from their parents.  Most people your age are just starting out and don't have money because they don't have a high-paying job.  You are not the only one without lots of disposable income, so don't be shamed in to spending money you don't have.  No purchase or adventure will give you the peace of mind that comes from having financial security, and financial security is not a function of how much money you make it's about how much you spend and save.  Credit card debt is a slippery slope, so please, please avoid it.  We'll talk more about finance and credit cards in future posts.

Don't make rash decisions and don't make any major decisions without a good night's sleep.  When you are overtired everything seems awful and problems insurmountable, but the light of a new day can change how you feel and literally your concerns may have gone away over night.  Remember when you were little and overtired and the slightest issue created a meltdown?  We do.  The only way you were going to feel better was to get sleep.  Things still work the same way even though you are grownup.  You need your sleep.

Finally, you are going to have to work hard.  There are no "get rich quick" schemes that are going to be successful, but hard work will lead to success.  Be patient.  You may have to work hard for years before you begin to see a payoff.  Yes, you are going to have to work hard.  Don't even think about fighting against that concept.  It's the way of the world today, you can do it, and when you work hard you can play hard.

Stayed tuned for the next post You Are Going to Need a Job for help on finding a job.

Today's 20-Somethings Have it Tough

Waaahhh... I'm a 20-Something!

You 20-somethings of today have it tough.  Let's start with the label "20-Somethings."  Who came up with that name?  What about all those other cool generational tag lines that came before you:  The Greatest generation, Yuppies, Gen Xers.  Really, a "Something?"  Maybe you prefer Echo Boomers or Millenniums?  Not much better.  Don't feel so bad, how would you like to be called a "Helicopter Parent."  I know, right?  Trust me, we Helicopter Parents don't have it so easy either.  I guess we all need to try and do better.  Forget about labels, just focus on you!

You are expected to transition from complete dependence on your parents to total independence in your 20's in an age of global competition for jobs, a fragile economy, student loans, and all the while living up to expectations set by yourself and others.  That's hard.  To the extent that we parents helped create this situation, we're sorry.  Let's agree to not talk about why we're where we are today because we can't change your reality, but what we can do is accept the situation and provide help.

That's where I come in.  I am the mother of a 20-something who will be graduating from college this Spring and I've been focused on all of the stuff he needs to know and take over when he graduates.  If I'm being honest with myself, it's an unrealistic expectation that he will magically transition to self-responsible adulthood on May 18th, but that's not a reason to not start the transition.  He just needs to get started.  If you are like him, then you just need to get started too.

You may have already acquired many of the skills required of you as an adult, that's great.  Just focus on the areas where you need help.  Just take baby steps.  Don't wait for the perfect mate, the perfect job, the perfect house to start being an independent adult.

This blog will attempt to provide helpful guidance using a little bit of a "tough love" approach, but be assured you are not in this alone and it won't be that tough.  Stayed tuned for helpful posts on a variety of topics, including: Career, Cooking, Drugs (and other vices), Education, Finance, Health, Housing, Laundry, Pets, Relationships & Dating, Social Media, Transportation, and anything else you want to talk about.

Welcome, Good Luck, I have faith in you!  More to come.