Should I Put My Vaccination Status on My Résumé?

“Fully vaccinated for COVID-19.”

Should I include that information on my résumé?

The Biden administration announced a new rule from the Department of Labor on Sept. 9, 2021 that will require all companies with 100 or more employees to ensure each worker is fully vaccinated or can show a negative COVID-19 test at least once a week. The standard, which will be enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), will affect approximately 80 million workers.

Requiring employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment is legal. Many large employers — including Disney, Tyson Foods, and United Airlines — already require employees to be vaccinated.

According to job search site Indeed.com, job postings on the site requiring vaccination against COVID-19 increased 34 percent by the end of the first week of August 2021 compared to one month prior. Job postings requiring vaccination were up 90 percent over the same time period.

According to a survey conducted by ResumeBuilder.com in August 2021, 33 percent of hiring managers will automatically eliminate résumés that do not include vaccination status. And 69 percent of the 1250 hiring managers surveyed say they are more likely to favor candidates who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

ResumeBuilder.com also reports that 63 percent of companies surveyed are mandating vaccinations for employees as of August 2021. Another 32 percent will give priority to candidates that list they are vaccinated on their résumé.

Seventy-seven percent of hiring managers surveyed say they prefer applicants include vaccination status on their résumés. 

 As with any information you include — or exclude — on your résumé, carefully consider whether the information is relevant (in this case, it would be if vaccination status is requested in the job posting) and whether including the information (if not requested), might disqualify you from consideration. (Some recruiters or hiring managers may be turned off by the disclosure.)

Here are some general guidelines:

  • Definitely yes — disclose you are vaccinated against COVID-19 if vaccination is listed as a requirement in the job posting you’re applying for.

  • Probably yes — disclose vaccination status for certain roles — especially in the medical field or public health or for positions with progressive companies that have been publicly supportive of vaccine mandates. Consider including it for tech and financial positions where in-person/in-office attendance is required.

  • Probably no — if you are not vaccinated for COVID-19, it’s best to leave vaccination status off your résumé, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile and address it in a job interview instead (if asked). If you disclose you are not vaccinated for COVID-19, that could be a negative to some hiring managers and recruiters.

Don’t want to include your vaccination status on the résumé itself? You can list your vaccination status in the cover letter — although, be aware that some recruiters and hiring managers do not read cover letters.

Immunization records are protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, you are always free to disclose your own medical information voluntarily.

No matter whether you disclose your vaccination status on your résumé or not, this may be part of a background check conducted after a job offer is extended, in the same way a drug screening may be required.

 

How Do I Include Personal Pronouns on My Résumé and/or LinkedIn Profile?

You may have noticed pronouns (he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/hir/zir) being included on social media profiles, email signatures, and in the job search process in general. Including pronouns can prevent accidental misgendering, helping you avoid having to correct a hiring manager or recruiter using incorrect pronouns.

The decision to include — or exclude — pronouns from your career documents is a personal choice.

If you do want to include your pronouns on your career documents, there are a couple of ways to do so.

  • On the résumé, add your pronouns in parentheses next to your name, or under your name. You can also choose to put your pronouns in a different color text to make them stand out.

  • On your cover letter, you can include your preferred pronouns under your signature at the bottom of the page. Or you could add them in parentheses next to — or underneath — your name at the top of the cover letter.

  • When sending an email to a hiring manager or recruiter, you can include your pronouns in your email signature.

  • On job applications, there may be a place to select your gender and/or pronouns.

  • On LinkedIn, you can add your pronouns to the “Last Name” field (so they appear after your name), or LinkedIn has now added a “Pronouns” drop-down to select your pronouns (or input custom pronouns).

Best Practices for Video Conferences

As of March 2020, The Covid-19 pandemic has required people to change their working AND learning habits, and many have resorted to adopting conferencing tools as part of their new routine. Here are some best practices to follow as you learn to navigate, learn, and do business in the virtual world.

When scheduling a conference call, find out:

  • The time of the video conference (and clarify any time zone differences)

  • What is the platform and access information (including any codes needed to join in)

  • How long to expect the conference to last

  • Any specific preparation required for the call

  • Who all will be on the conference call

 

Video Conference Do’s and Don’ts

Here are some “do’s” and “don’ts” for video conferences

 

DO:

  • Think through where you will be when you are on the conference. Pick a location that will be free from distracting background noises — kids, pets, phones ringing. Turn off the TV, computer, and/or iPad. 

  • Be mindful of where you set up for your video conference. Be sure the area is free of visual distractions (clutter). Carefully consider what is in the background. Make the background interesting, but not distracting. Plain white walls are fine, but boring. Can you frame a desk or bookshelves behind you instead?

  • Hang a “do not disturb” sign on the door. Let anyone who will be nearby know that you will be on a conference and should not be interrupted.

  • Check the tech. Test your setup before the video conference starts. Make sure you have Internet connectivity and that your webcam and microphone are working. You may also have to download the software if it is the first time you are using the application. 

  • Look at the webcam when you speak, not at your screen. When you look into the camera, it appears to the other participants that you are looking at them directly.

  • One “pro” tip is to use a USB-connected headset for an interview instead of using the computer’s speakers. Headsets are inexpensive and can provide a much clearer experience.

  • If possible, use a wired Internet connection (plug directly into the Ethernet port) instead of using a wireless connection.

  • See how it looks. Set up your computer or tablet and use the camera function to see how you look on your end. Check your lighting. Use natural light, when possible. If the light source is behind you, you may appear as a dark silhouette on the screen. Position a lamp or other light source in front of you.

  • Positioning is also important. Prop up the computer so that you are not looking down at it and practice where to sit so you are framed correctly by the webcam. Make sure your torso is visible — including your hands — especially if you “talk” with your hands.

  • Keep your clothing color choice in mind. Check how the colors of your clothing appear on camera. Just like TV news anchors avoid some colors — and most small patterns, pick colors that will show up well on video. Jewel tones or pastel colors work best. Do not wear white or black.

  • Dress from head-to-toe. You may think you do not need to wear pants since the other people on the conference call are only going to see the top half of your outfit. But you should always expect the unexpected. You never know when you might need to stand up. Pajama pants or shorts with a dress shirt, tie, and jacket just do not work.

  • If you’re also using your phone to call in, use a landline if at all possible. If using a cell phone, make sure the phone is charged (or plugged in) and has a strong cell signal in the area you are taking the call. If you are using a cordless phone, make sure the battery is charged.

  • If you are using a laptop for the Skype or Zoom session, plug it in so you have plenty of “juice” (battery life) for the call. You do not want to have to dig for a cord to keep the computer from shutting down.

  • Go to the bathroom before you get on the conference.

  • Have a glass of water nearby in case your throat gets too dry.

  • Be on time. Ensure you are ready when the scheduled time arrives.

  • Turn off notifications on your computer and close your other software programs. You do not want to be distracted by beeps every time you receive an email.

  • Speaking of distractions, it is easy to tell on a video if you are not paying attention, so keep your focus on the conference.

  • Don’t be too quick to answer. With video, there is sometimes a delay or interference, so make sure you pause before answering a question to avoid overtalking the other participants. 

  • Slow down. When you are nervous, you are likely to talk faster, which makes you more difficult to understand. So talk a bit slower than you normally would in an in-person meeting.

  • At the same time, dial up the enthusiasm! Someone who speaks with normal energy in a one-on-one conversation can come across as flat and monotone on a video call. So it is important to be a little more enthusiastic in a video conference than normal.

  • When talking, keep your answers brief and to the point. One of the biggest mistakes you can make on a video conference is not knowing when to stop talking.

  • When you’re not talking, be aware of your facial expression. Most of the time, when we are listening to someone else, we have a blank expression on our face. But on a video conference, a blank expression comes across as a frown. Keep a slight smile on your face: not a huge grin, just show a few teeth and raise your cheeks slightly. Practice this in a mirror ahead of time.

  • Lean in. You have probably heard that “the camera adds 10 pounds.” The reason for this is that many people lean backwards in their chair, when they should be leaning forward. If you sit back and relax in your chair your head will be further away from the webcam than your stomach. Unfortunately, the camera latches on to whatever is closest…your gut!

  • Be mindful of your nervous habits. Just like in a face-to-face interview, the interviewer will notice when you twirl your hair or chew your lip.

  • Do consider using the “mute” function on your phone or computer — but make sure you practice using it before the call so you do not accidentally mute yourself while you want to be talking.

 

DO NOT:

  • Don’t forget to silence your cell phone when you are on a video conference.

  • Never answer another call when you’re on a conference. Ignore call waiting (if you have it) — or disable it, if possible.

  • Never chew gum or eat anything during a video conference.

  • Avoid using your phone’s speakerphone feature on an audio conference. Not only can a speakerphone create an echo, but it also picks up more background noise (such as shuffling papers).

  • If you take notes, do not take them on your computer. The sound of typing is distracting. Have a pen and paper to take notes. (Or mute yourself if you must use your keyboard to take notes.)

 

CONSIDER:

Eating a cough drop (especially one with menthol) before the video conference. A medicated cough drop can help your voice and help you avoid coughing during the call. (But make sure you finish the cough drop before you get on the call!)



Best of luck!!!! - Christine

 

LinkedIn Profile Checklist To Maximize Your Success

Profiles that are considered “complete” by LinkedIn’s standards receive 40 times more “opportunities” (contacts from prospective hiring managers and recruiters) than incomplete profiles, according to the social networking site.

Populating your profile improves your chances of being found by people searching for you specifically, or someone with your qualifications, credentials, and background. And that’s true even when using sites like Google and Bing. As LinkedIn’s own materials say, “LinkedIn profiles typically appear among the top search results when people search by name.”

LinkedIn has its own criteria for “profile completeness,” which has changed somewhat over time. As of December 2019, to be considered “complete” by LinkedIn’s standards, you need these items in your LinkedIn profile:

  • Your industry and location

  • An up-to-date current position with description

  • Two past positions

  • Your education

  • At least three skills —> LinkedIn members with skills listed get discovered more and get four more times as many profile views. Profiles with at least five skills listed receive 17 times more views.

  • A professional profile photo

  • At least 50 connections


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Jobseeker's Guide to Your First Résumé

You’ve never had a résumé before. Maybe you’ve never needed one. But now you do. And you don’t know where to start.

The primary purpose of the résumé is to get you the opportunity to interview for the job. Everything you do — and include — should focus on this goal.

Your résumé should be targeted to be effective. If you don’t know what you want, it’s going to be difficult for the reader to know. The first step is to determine what skills, experience, and education are needed for your target job.

The late résumé guru Yana Parker used to say, “A résumé without a job target is like a book without a title.”

Understand that your résumé is not a “career obituary.” It will not — and should not — include everything you’ve ever done in your career.

It still needs to be accurate, but you don’t need to list every job you’ve ever held. Nor do you have to list every aspect of the responsibilities that you held.

Your résumé is not a legal document, unlike a job application that asks you to list all your career experience and that you sign, acknowledging that the information is accurate and complete.

 Instead, your résumé is a marketing document.

 The most important thing to remember is: The résumé is not about what you want — it’s what you can offer to an employer.

 In her book, “Résumé Magic,” author Susan Britton Whitcomb explains there are 10 main reasons that motivate employers to hire. These include your ability to help the company:

  • Make money

  • Save money

  • Save time

  • Make work easier

  • Solve a specific problem

  • Be more competitive

  • Build relationships/an image

  • Expand business

  • Attract new customers

  • Retain existing customers

Everything you put in the résumé — or don’t put in the résumé — should relate to the job that you’re seeking, demonstrating to the person with the authority to hire you for that job what you can do for the company in that position. When trying to decide whether or not something is relevant, think about the hiring manager.

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Technology has changed the hiring process in some ways, but the essence is still the same: How can you attract the attention of the person who has the power to hire you and get the opportunity to get in front of him or her and demonstrate you’re the right fit for the job?

If you are submitting your résumé online, it’s very likely that your résumé will go into an applicant tracking system, which is software that helps hiring managers track applications and select which candidates to interview.

Applicant tracking systems — and the integration of technology into the application process — underscore the importance of tailoring your résumé and cover letter for the role you’re seeking. If there are specific words and phrases used in the job announcement, make sure those are included in your résumé. You can’t simply create a résumé and use it to apply to 100 different jobs. Not only is that inefficient, but it’s ineffective.

Résumés are not “one size fits all. ” You can’t expect a résumé focused on one type of role to open doors for you in another career field. A résumé written for a job as a middle school principal is not likely to generate interviews for a role as a sales professional. Nor is a résumé written for a social media specialist going to work for someone applying as an executive assistant. There may be aspects of the résumé that you can use in both versions of the résumé, but you can’t use the same document.

Nor can you copy someone else’s résumé — even if it’s incredible — and expect it to work for you in landing your dream job. Even if the résumé lands you an interview, you need to be able to speak to the experience and accomplishments described. You not only have to walk the walk, you have to talk the talk.

Tell a story with your résumé. How did what you’ve done in the past lead you to the right combination of skills, experience, and education for the job you want? Who are you? What sets you apart? What can you do for the company that no one else does?

If you are a recent graduate with little to no work experience in the field you’ve studied and are targeting, your strongest qualifications are your just-completed education and any internships, projects, or relevant volunteer experience.

 A few tips for your first résumé:

  • Have a clear job target in mind. If you’re applying for similar positions within a career field, the body of your résumé won’t change too much. But you will want to customize it with keywords and specific phrases that tie into the position as well as the culture of the company you want to work for. Don’t have a specific company in mind? Find job postings for 3-5 positions you’d be interested in and use these to inform the content you include. 

  • Make sure the résumé is visually appealing. The résumé should be designed to appeal to a human reader, even if it initially will be electronically submitted (and likely will go through applicant tracking system software).

  • Focus on accomplishments. It’s often said that “past performance is the best predictor of future results.” Hiring managers can get a sense of what you can do for them by what you’ve accomplished in your previous jobs. Employers want to hire people who can generate results for them. Outlining the challenges you tackled, the actions you took to solve the problem, and the results you generated can be a powerful way to attract the attention of a hiring manager. Quantify the results in terms of numbers (money and percentages are particularly powerful).

  • Follow conventional style. Résumés use a unique style of writing that emphasizes brevity. Résumés use a version of first-person style, but omit the subject (“I,” “me,” and “my”) and most articles (“a,” “an,” “the,” “my,” etc.), except when doing so would negatively impact the readability of the sentence. Use present tense for activities currently being performed, and past tense for past activities and achievements. Résumés are written in a strong, active style that emphasizes action verbs (“direct,” “manage,” “develop,” etc.”) instead of passive descriptions of activity (“responsible for,” etc.).

  • Remember to emphasize what makes you valuable to your next employer, not what you want. Go back to the employer buying motivators list and look for opportunities to showcase how you can be an asset to your employer in one or more of these areas. The résumé should include everything the hiring manager needs to know about you in order to decide to interview you. It should ignite the interest of the hiring manager, making you appear desirable and potentially valuable to the organization.

  • Experience is experience, even if you didn’t get paid for it. If some of your best accomplishments and most impressive experience comes from volunteer work, include it! Where have you gained experience through projects, internships, leadership roles, and community service?

  • Proofread it, then proofread it again. Print it out, set it aside for at least a day, and then come back and read it with a fresh set of eyes. Look for misspellings, inaccuracies in job titles and dates of employment, and grammatical errors.

  • Don’t go it alone. If you are overwhelmed by the idea of how to put these principles into action, consult with a professional résumé writer. The time and money you invest in having your résumé professionally prepared may not only shorten your job search and help you land the interview, but it can give you confidence by arming you with a powerful job search tool that can help guide the interviewer to discover you’re exactly what the company needs!

 

Jobseekers: Don't Quit Your Job Yet

Facts

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low in September 2018, making candidates more desirable than ever. Maybe you’ve been thinking it’s time for a change. You wouldn’t be alone.

According to Ceridian’s 2018-19 Pulse of Talent report, 37 percent of respondents are looking for a new job — either actively pursuing new opportunities (20 percent) or casually seeking a new position (17 percent).

Maybe you were passed over for a promotion, or are having trouble getting along with a new boss. The easy answer would be to just quit, but it’s probably not the right answer.

When you see someone quit their job in dramatic fashion, that may look like fun (especially after a bad day at work), but there are many reasons why that’s not a good idea.

An Addison Group 2019 Workplace Satisfaction Survey of 1,000 jobseekers found 79 percent of respondents say they are likely — or very likely — to look for a new job after a single bad day at work.

One of the top reasons why that may not be the right choice is that “unemployment discrimination” is a real thing. Both research and anecdotal evidence have found it’s harder to find a job when you’re unemployed than if you’re job searching while you’ve got a job.

One recent survey measured the difference. According to “The Science of the Job Search (2018)” survey by TalentWorks, “People who showed they were currently employed (even if creatively) saw a 149% hireability boost compared to their previously-fired or laid-off competitors.”

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Impact

“Creatively” demonstrating current employment can be anything from continuing to show the work experience as “To Present” on a résumé or LinkedIn profile even after leaving a job to listing a “consulting business” as interim employment.

But when a hiring manager looks at your résumé — in particular, at your most recent positions — he or she likely won’t know if you’re not there because you were fired, laid off, or you quit.

Quitting can negatively impact your chances of getting hired. And it’s not just about quitting your job — it can be about quitting your job too soon (or looking for another job too soon).

The need to demonstrate current employment is particularly important if you haven’t been at your most recent job for very long.

Statistics

According to the TalentWorks research, “People whose shortest job was 9+ months were 85 percent more hireable than people whose shortest job was 8 months or less.”

 Furthermore, TalentWorks found that you are more hireable for your next job if you are at your current job for 18 months or longer.

If you did quit your job, you had better be ready to answer the question in an interview about why you left your most recent position.

That’s if you get the chance to interview at all. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for reasons to narrow down the pool of candidates they will interview. It may be worth your while to address the reason for your departure in a cover letter accompanying the résumé, because leaving that question unanswered may result in your application being discarded in the initial screening process.

Why People Quit Their Jobs

There are many reasons to think about making a change. The Pulse of Talent survey found the top five reasons for quitting include:

  • Salary – 28 percent

  • Work was not interesting/didn’t like it – 14 percent

  • I was not respected – 13 percent

  • No opportunity to take on additional responsibility – 12 percent

  • Poor relationship with manager – 12 percent

Nearly a third of employees in the same survey said they would need to leave their current position to move forward in their career.

All of these are “valid” reasons to pursue a job change, but they are not a reason to necessarily quit a job before lining up another one.

Reasons to Look for a New Job While You’re Still Employed

When you’re employed and looking for a new position, not only will recruiters and hiring managers be more inclined to interview you, but you’ll also have more money to invest in your job search. Being unemployed can be expensive! 

The average job search is 13 weeks, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Could you afford to go without a paycheck for that long?

Networking takes time, as does applying for positions. You may have to wait a month for the application window to close, and candidates to interview to be selected. It can take 1-2 weeks after that to even get an interview scheduled, and the hiring decision may not be made for a couple days or weeks after that. Even if you’re available to start immediately, the company may require drug testing or have other pre-employment tasks that can lengthen the time before you actually start the job.

On the other hand, conducting a confidential job search while you’re still employed gives you time to prepare the tools required to support your job search. Having a résumé or professional LinkedIn profile professionally prepared can take 2-3 weeks.

Instead of simply quitting, you can also prepare yourself for a career move. Rather than quit right now, you might stick it out for six months, using that time to get yourself ready for the next opportunity. For example, taking classes or pursuing a certification that will better prepare you for your next job, or starting a side hustle (that might grow into a full-time opportunity in time).

Also, you want to make sure that you’re not running away from something as much as you are running towards something better. Spend some time thinking about what you do want to do next and why this particular job wasn’t a good fit.

If you’re looking to change careers, lining up your next job before quitting is even more important. Switching careers itself is more difficult than finding a job in the same industry, and adding unemployment to that equation can make the job search process take even longer.

The Costs of Unemployment

In addition to the time you’ll spend unemployed, there’s the potential costs of being unemployed. When you quit your job, you may lose benefits that will affect you financially. For example, if you need COBRA to continue to have health insurance coverage, that can be expensive. (COBRA is the temporary medical insurance named for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the federal law that gives people who have lost employer-sponsored health coverage the right to continue their coverage, at their own expense, for at least 18 months. However, the insured is responsible for 100 percent of the insurance premium — plus up to 2 percent for administrative costs — not just the amount you were paying as an employee.)

If you quit your job, you likely will not be able to collect unemployment benefits. So even if you think you are going to get fired, it may be better to let that happen. If you are laid off or fired, you may also get severance pay or access to outplacement services.

In general, you can only collect unemployment benefits after quitting if you have “good cause” — for example, due to an unsafe work environment, or if you weren’t being paid as promised, or if you were subject to harassment or discrimination. You can check with your state’s unemployment office before quitting to determine if you are eligible for unemployment benefits. It may also be wise to talk with an employment attorney to be sure.

Why You May Need to Quit

Now, there may be some valid reasons why you may need — or want to — quit your job immediately. 

These can include:

  • An unsafe work environment

  • Unethical or illegal actions — you’re being asked to do something that is against your morals (or that is even illegal)

  • Financial issues (for example, you haven’t been paid, or your wages are not what you were promised)

  • You are a victim of physical, verbal, or sexual abuse at work

    Personal or family emergency situation

  • Your spouse gets a job somewhere else and you need to relocate

  • You win the lottery 

Can I Just Quit?

The answer is probably yes, depending on where you work. In the United States, all states are formally recognized as “at-will” employment states, meaning the employee can be dismissed by an employer for any reason without “just cause” and without warning, as long as the reason is not illegal. Some states also place limitations on at-will employment, which is more for the employee’s protection in the event of being fired or laid off.

Employees not covered by an employment contract are employed “at will,” meaning neither you nor the employer need to provide notice prior to ending the employment.

If you have an employment agreement, read it carefully to find out how you need to turn in your resignation. Do you need to provide two weeks’ notice? Do you need to provide notice in writing? Make sure you are following the process outlined in the contract.

It’s always a good idea to offer two weeks’ notice to your employer — if you can — even if they turn you down and have you leave immediately. Keep in mind if you quit without giving notice, you are likely burning a bridge with that employer that will lead to negative reference checks in the future.

Prepare To Quit

If you are going to quit your job, do everything you can to prepare yourself ahead of time:

  • Take your belongings home ahead of time. If you quit, you may be asked to leave immediately, even if you offer two weeks’ notice. But do this slowly, so that it’s not apparent that you’re removing items.

  • Make sure you collect any electronic items you need — for example, dates and names of trainings, copies of performance evaluations, sales records, etc. And clean off your computer — remove any personal information you wouldn’t want someone else to have access to after you’re no longer with the company.

  • Update your résumé or work with a professional to create or update your career documents. This can take 2-3 weeks. You can generally list your current job as “to present” for 30 days before you need to put an end date on it. That means if you quit on March 2, by April 2, you should list your employment dates as [Month/Year] to [March/Year]. But résumés you send out prior to April 2 can use “To Present.”

  • On a related note, create or update your LinkedIn profile. But do it slowly. You don’t want to go from a new profile to having 200 new connections in a week. And check your privacy settings so your network doesn’t get notified anytime you update the information on your profile.

  • Review your company employee handbook and/or your employment agreement to determine what you’re entitled to if you leave the company. Can you cash out unused vacation time, or is it “use it or lose it”? If it’s “use it or lose it,” you may want to use some of your vacation time before you leave (and spend that time working on your job search)! Also look at stock options or retirement vesting schedules — you don’t want to quit a month before you’re entitled to these benefits.

  • Cut your costs. Now is the time to start stockpiling an emergency fund. Look at your budget and see if there are expenses you can cut out.

One advantage of quitting your job is that you will have more time to spend on the job search, especially time to interview and network. Looking for a new job has often been compared to taking on a part-time job because of the time and energy required.

A job change may be in your (immediate) future. But don’t act without thinking or planning your next move — especially if you want to make a change in reaction to a bad day, being overlooked for a promotion, or because of a disagreement with a co-worker or manager.

4 Things You Must Do On LinkedIn

To get the most out of your LinkedIn profile, make sure you do these four things.

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  1. Complete Your Profile. Your profile is the “front door” to your LinkedIn account. First impressions matter — so make sure you’ve made your profile as complete as possible. As an added benefit, your LinkedIn profile generally ranks high in Google search results for your name, so make sure your profile is up-to-date, accurate, and complete.

    POWER TIP: Your LinkedIn profile should complement — not duplicate — your résumé. Be especially careful to ensure the two are in sync, as prospective employers are likely to Google you and will compare the two.

  2.  Grow Your Connections. There are two schools of thought when it comes to LinkedIn connections. You can choose to connect selectively — accepting invitations only from those you know and trust — or you can use LinkedIn to grow the network of people you know. You can connect with people you meet through Groups and get introduced to people you don’t yet know offline.

    POWER TIP: The power of networking lies in “friends of friends,” so the larger your network, the easier it will be to connect with someone you don’t know (yet). Remember the principal of “six degrees of separation.”

  3.  Give To Get. Authentic, genuine Recommendations can make or break a LinkedIn profile (just like references can for a job candidate). Select a handful of people in your network and write Recommendations for them, without asking for one in return. You will be surprised at how many people will reciprocate.

    POWER TIP: Make sure your Recommendations are specific and detailed. When reading the Recommendation, you should be able to tell exactly who it was written about. Quantify accomplishments (with percentages, numbers, and dollar amounts) as much as possible.

  4.  Get Involved. Join some LinkedIn Groups. Groups are the “water cooler” of the social site. You can find Groups for school and university alumni, your former and current employers, trade groups, industry associations, and more. Even better, you can send a connection request to fellow Group members, even if they would normally be a second or third degree connection. (Great if you don’t have a Premium account on LinkedIn!)

    POWER TIP: One way to establish yourself as an expert on LinkedIn is to start your own Group. For example, you might consider starting an online job club centered around your industry or geographic proximity. But be prepared to invest time to help it grow! 


“The Military J.I.G.” - Valuable Resume Tips For Transitioning Military Members

Military Professionals transitioning into civilian industry face a number of challenges.  The military is a culture and way of life, regardless of your branch of service.  It comes with its own customs, courtesies, and most often a unique language punctuated by jargon and acronyms.  This fact coupled with a diversity of specialized communities from infantry to aviation, makes the creation of a resume that a civilian employer easily understands one of the biggest challenges that the transitioning military professional faces.

Remember that a Military Resume can make a civilian employer JIG, where JIG reminds you that Jargon Increases Guesswork.  If an employer has to use a cereal box decoder ring to decipher the nature of your work, the employer will move on to the next resume, never considering yours.  As you create your resume, describe your duties and accomplishments in simple terms which present a what, now what, so what approach.

Do not be concerned about removing military specific titles like platoon or element leader, Flight or Company Commander.  They do not generally carry the same impact within industry.  Instead say what you did to include leadership and problem solving that is native to military professionals, describe the now what by saying how many personnel were involved and the impact of their work, and complete each resume remark with a so what to drive home why the reader cares about your resume remark.

Above all, with respect to your civilian resume, be brief and be clear.  Recruiters often times have to sift through hundreds of resumes, and you want yours to be an effective use of the recruiters time.  The process of writing your resume takes practice and revision.

Will Bankruptcy Kill My Chances of Employment?

Many job seekers who have struggled with keeping up with a tough economy are terrified of their chances of potential employment simply due to being forced to file bankruptcy at some point in their life.  As a seasoned recruiter and hiring manager, a handful of my clients/job candidates requested that detailed background checks be performed, to include a lofty credit check.  So what is my advice for job candidates having to press through this rigorous process?  Get through your first round of interviews, whet the appetite of your interviewers with your behavioral responses and demonstration of your professional experience as it relates to the position, wait for a mention of a background check, and THEN own up to the bankruptcy.  Employers will appreciate your honesty and will most likely recognize your efforts in demonstrating respect for them and the organization in owning up to your actions.  You can say something along the lines of:

“I appreciate you taking the time to invite me in for another interview, but before you move forward with the hiring process I feel it’s important that you hear this from me.  About a year ago, I was placed into an unavoidable situation (explain the situation BRIEFLY if appropriate) where I had to file for bankruptcy.  The situation has recently been handed off to a family member to re-mediate and it is my goal to obtain permanent, long-term employment to build my credit again…”

Of course there is no guarantee that this won’t set off some red flags for the employer to ponder, but always expect that the employer will eventually find out and dishonesty never does a job candidate any favors and may possibly position them to be ineligible for employment with that organization going forward as a result.

Don't Let Your Job Title Define You

No matter what position you hold in the office, the military, or at home, your given job title should not limit your ability to be successful in pursuing your career field of interest.  Think of yourself as an ongoing marketing campaign, targeting the career you’ve always wanted – the dream job.  Focusing solely on your job title to define your skills, experience, and education, can limit your career path and direction. For instance, just because you lack “Manager” or “Senior…” within your given position title doesn’t necessarily mean that you lack the corresponding experience.  This is particularly relevant to our military veterans.

Does the position of interest require management experience?  Are you hesitant to apply for the position because you have not had “Manager” in your job title?  Start with answering these questions:

  1. Have you ever been put in charge of something?

  2. Do you or have you volunteered for an organization where you were in a leadership role?

  3. Have you taken the initiative to create something new, to make something, make business operations more efficient, or save money?

  4. Have you mentored or trained a group or another colleague with outstanding results?

  5. Have you ever led a project, task, or program?

If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, you have management experience.

Unfortunately, most career-minded employees bound their thinking, and focus on rigid adherence to roles spelled out in their job description.  The key to changing this behavior is to look holistically at your working experience and assess activities within this experience that point toward your desired profession, while investigating, pursuing, and achieving milestones which balance suitability for desired employment and attractiveness to potential employers.

How?

  • Volunteer for an organization to learn new skill sets and gain experience.

  • Show initiative in your current position by volunteering for a special project.

  • Seek out advancement and promotion opportunities within your organization.

  • Propose a new idea on the job that may improve processes or conditions.

  • Join a professional group and volunteer for a committee leadership position.

  • Are you a subject matter expert?  Propose to assist in training fellow employees.

Why?

You will set yourself apart from your peers simply because you’re investing in learning and applying new skill sets and experiences.  Once you master the basics of what you’ve learned, your professional experience becomes more attractive to hiring managers and you’re better equipped to market your professional background with more confidence, simply because you have gained knowledge about other things outside of your job title.

Conduct a Skills Inventory

We must reflect on and inventory what we have to offer:  Transferable skills, experience, knowledge, challenges, business ethic and values.  The purpose behind this necessary reflection process is to discover alternative ways of describing who you are.  You cannot restrict your definition of yourself to your current or previous job title.  The more you reflect and take note of who you really are what you really have to offer, the quicker you will identify the true value you can bring to the table.