Resume, Interview, and Career FAQs

Resume, Interview, and Career FAQs Resume, Interview, and Career FAQsJuly 1, 2019 By Mark Slack, CPRW Weve pooled all of the most common resume, interview, and career related questions here. If weve missed anything, please ask your question in the comments Well be happy to answer it.Build My Resume NowYour Questions, Resume Genius AnswersThis Questions Answers page has been broken down into three sections Resumes, Interviews, and Careers. All questions are answered by Resume Genius staff of professional resume writers, career coaches and former HR professionals. Find the answers to the questions youre looking for nowResume Questions AnswersInterview Questions AnswersCareer Questions Answers1. ResumesQ. How do I make a resume?A.There are many ways to make a resume. Most commonly, people will use Microsoft Word to write their resumes. Youll need to know how to format the text with proper margins, fonts, and font sizes.Alternatively, you can save time by using a resume builder like Resume Genius, which will help you automatically write and format your resume in professional manner.If you arent aya about common resume writing practices, please read this information about resume format.Q. How do I make a free resume?A. Resume Genius is a free resume builder. It will generate all of the information and text for you automatically with a small amount of input. You can export this information into a .txt file for free. However, there is a charge to export into .doc or .pdf.Nonetheless, we provide a powerful resource and help you generate solid resume content at no cost at all.Q. What skills should I put in my resume?A. Every section of your resume should be specifically targeted towards the company you want to join. This includes the Additional Skills section of your resume. Here are two examples of what you shouldnt include, and the reason whyIf youre interested in becoming a waiter, your ability to use software like Microsoft Word is irrelevant so dont include i t.If youre interested in becoming a secretary, your ability to carry 20 pound serving platter over your shoulder is also irrelevant so dont include it.Youll need to think carefully about what skills you have that are relevant to the job youre applying for. However, we have included a list here of general skills that companies are looking for. Ideally, youll want to replace ansicht with mora specific examples.Read more in our guide on skills to put on a resume.Q. I dont know what my resume should look like. Are there any resume samples I can look through?A. We provide a section on resume samples for people to look through various industry resumes. Remember, these are only for inspiration, ideas, and guidance, and canelend be used as a substitute for your resume.Modify them to match your own work experienceQ. I need help correcting my resume Can someone please critique my resume?A. This page is dedicated to visitors like you who would like to have their resumes critiqued. Simply leav e a comment on this page with an image of your resume, and well happily take a glance and make some comments on it.Alternatively, we have found that Reddits resume community is extremely helpful and willing to lend a hand to those in need.Q. How do I write a resume with no job experience?A. Every single one of us didnt have any job experience at some point. The key is to be realistic about your expectations for employment. For an entry-level retail resume or food service resume you wont even need one thats too formal. Instead, youll only be expected to complete a generic application.For other positions that require a resume dont worry, because writing a concise one-page resume is actually a positive thing. Without much experience focus on your educational section to fill the body of the resume. Including a targeted career objective in addition to additional skills should easily fill up a single page. Also, dont forget to include any part-time work and volunteer experience.Q. Should I write a personal statement on my resume?A. No, you should not Recruiters are interested in your work experience, accomplishments, and skills. That is the information that really speaks to who you are, and what abilities you have.Q. Should I include my picture in my resume?A. You should absolutely not include a picture, unless you are an actor. Then youll need to include a headshot.Q. Can I include images in my resume?A. Do not include any images. It will make your resume look unprofessional, and also make it difficult for Applicant Tracking Software to read your resume.Q. How do I write a Career Objective?A.Career Objectives are a very common way to target any resume to a specific industry and position and make yourself seem like a custom fit for the position. Writing a Career Objective is as simple as reverse engineering the job description while mentioning your own experiences all in just a couple of sentences at the top of the resume, following the contact details.For example, if the job posting reads Seeking an enthusiastic addition to our customer service department to manage and help grow our North American operations,then a good Career Objective to write for a resume being sent to this position might read Experienced customer service professional with 8 years of industry experience seeking position to exercise management talent with high growth potential.*Remember, keep your Career Objective short, concise, and targeted to optimize its benefits. Never use the same Career Objective for multiple job applications, this could indicate that you are lazy, sloppy and unmotivated.2. InterviewsQ. Why havent I heard anything back from the jobs I applied to?A. There are several reasonsYour resume is unprofessionalThey already filled the positionYou are underqualifiedYou are overqualifiedThe companys strategy has changed and they are no longer hiringThe company is simply slow to actionThey are waiting for a larger pool of candidates to choose fromYou are being di scriminated againstIf you are consistently not hearing responses from employers, its probably because your resume is unprofessional. If your resume is professional, you may be applying for positions that you are not qualified for. If you are qualified, you may be suffering from discrimination of some sort especially age discrimination.Learn more about age discrimination law and what to do here. TipWhen you do get the call to come in for an interview dont be unprepared. Check out our list of best questions for the interviewer, so you know exactly what to ask to learn more about the company and role youre applying for.Q. Is it possible to get a job if your work experience is weak?A. Yes, it is possible. Resume consultants frequently say that your resume needs to clearly express your achievements. But what if you joined a company that had performed poorly thanks to external circumstances, and therefore left little room for you to achieve anything?Dont worry. So long as youre able to use your resume to communicate that you have the basic skills necessary to succeed, you will be fine. Your cover letter is another key aspect to convincing the hiring manager that you have what it takes to succeed in the position they are looking to fill.3. CareersQ. Will listing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on your resume help you get a job?A. MOOCs are still in their baby stages, so there are those who would say yes and others who would say no. At Resume Genius, we advocate including this information if you feel that it is relevant to the job description posted by the hiring manager.Weve heard of candidates applying for jobs related to coding and data analysis that including a MOOC class impressed the hiring manager, as it gave them a base of understanding that other candidates did not have.Other industries, or companies, may not be as impressed. Definitely do not include MOOC courses unrelated to the company youre applying for. Your resume is not supposed to be a list of accomplishments its a document selling your ability to do a specific job.Do you have a question youd like a Resume Genius to answer for you? Let us know in the comments below wed be glad to answer them

Books That Will Change Your Life

Books That Will Change Your Life When I got this assignment to share a list of life-changing books that will transform your perspective, I was inspired. Over the past few years, Ive made the shift from simply surviving a co-dependent marriage with a narcissist to working toward healing my life. Along the way, Ive used these compelling books to help my daughter and I heal and thrive.As these books and authors often intend, Ive been inspired to change my life and even my career. The thoughts and concepts these authors shared have helped mold my future and inspire me to pursue writing and life coaching full time. Below, Ive compiled my own full list of inspiring books and authors but I thought it would also be fun to reach out to my network of friends, family, and influencers and ask them to share their experiences withlife-changing books, too The result is what I believe to be a great line-up of self-help resources for effective people who want to break through barriers, live their mo st meaningful life, and understand more about themselves and otzu sichbeis along the way. Certainly, my ownreadinglist has grown through this experience and hopefully yours will, as well1. Thoughts from my high school English teacher, Patsy HaddixMy favorite book is mucksmuschenstill The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. I can always find some comfort or thought-provoking questions there. It is a simple little black book that discusses the many parts of life. He talks about love, marriage, children, joy and sorrow, etc. I canreada part of the whole book and always find something new to think about.2. Author Elizabeth Lesser shares what she learned through the process of her divorce, an affair, and from working as a midwife. I am fascinated by what it takes to stay awake in difficult times. I marvel at what we do in times of transition how we resist, and how we surrender how we stay stuck, and how we grow. Since my first major broken-open experience my divorce I have been an observer and a confidante of others as they engage with the forces of their own suffering.Thoughts from friend Christina AmmermanI read this years ago and I always refer to it as the book that changed my life In this book, Elizabeth Lesser talks about the Phoenix Process, or positive life change that can occur from difficult life events. We are broken open to discover parts of ourselves and emerge into our true selves and growing toward a life of purpose This book literally started my journey of removing myself from a toxic relationship with a narcissist and realizing that my empathetic nature was not a weakness, but a schadstoff to be utilized, and to truly become myself.3. Lamott has written many books throughout the years about her eclectic writing family and the processes she uses to create her art. In Bird by Bird, she offers the guide she uses to produce. Anne has sage advice for writers and creatives, with vibrant, blunt language, and a lovely independent and sassy streak that I admire. She goes through each step, but my favorite is the Shitty First Draft, because, well, they are She covers every phase, including writers block andtips for getting published. I saw her speak atConFab 2015, an annual content strategy conference, and fell in love with her style. Read all of her books4. This sachbuch book held several a-has for me. Brown talks about having courage, compassion, and connection for yourself and in your relationships. Compassion was the biggest takeaway for me, especially when she says that the most compassionate people she knows arethe ones who can say no. Mind. Blown. Being compassionate to yourself is not only OK, but necessary, and it will give you needed strength to face lifes battles.5. This book of fiction is a modern classic that has sold millions of copies and inspired a generation. Its the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who wants nothing more than to travel and find worldly treasures. During his journey, he learns to listen to his soul, read th e warning signs, and follow his dreams. There are so many beautifully quotable lines throughout this book, but a popular favorite is And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.6. Atlas Shrugged is a schriftart of self-help book, centering on Objectivism, a philosophy for living on earth. Rather than trusting in the Universe and hoping for good things to come our way, the author promotes the practice of selfishness. According to authorAyn Rand, Selfishness means following reason, not whims or faith working hard to achieve a life of purpose and productiveness earning genuine self-esteem pursuing your own happiness as your highest moral aim and prospering by treating others as individuals, trading value for value. Rand gives examples of living that way through sage storytelling, using compelling characters that offer you a different way to move forward in life.Thoughts from my step-daughter, Valerie Gohringer BeerbowerThis book made its way to me in my early 20s and taught me so much about the kind of person I want to be.7. Author Elizabeth Wurtzel shares her painful struggle with addiction to Ritalin and cocaine in this book, More, Now, Again. After the success of her book Prozac Nation, a memoir about her battle with depression, she struggled with her success and the pressures that came with it. Spoiler alert Wurtzel ultimately broke free of her addictions and learned to love and forgive herself. Shes a great storyteller, and there are so many life lessons within the pages.Thoughts from friend Kate Shafer BloodAn amazing read It was basically a warning for me, to stay away from drugs. I know that sounds silly, but it made me realize how addictive and scary drugs really are.8. Thoughts from fellow hypnotherapist and healer, Taffy KilroeIts a very inspirational memoir about a young woman who was fighting cancer for almost four years, and then her body began to shut down. As her organs failed, she entered into a near-deat h experience. In that experience, she had the realization that she had the power to heal herself, which she did The power of the mind is incredible how it can create illness/disease, as well as heal9. Author Mitch Albom had a second chance to ask his college professor mentor about his life and advice during the last months of his life. Albom visited Morrie every Tuesday in the months leading up to his death from ALS, and those visits turned into a life class on the best ways to live life.Thoughts from friend Jennifer Leah DuncanThere is so much great life advice. Lessons that can only be shared by those with age and experience. You can never learn enough from your elders. I read it during a time in my life filled with trials and needed the advice.10. Sylvester uses powerful storytelling of good vs. evil to captivate us with stories of excess, mental illness, and addiction, and how spirituality can help us overcome even the worst experiences.Thoughts from friend Christine Bester Haga rSo many times we feel like we are alone with the things we struggle with as individuals or within our families, but what you will see in reading this is that you are never alone, and you always have a choice in your life to learn from your struggles or let them defeat you.11. Big Magic addresses all the fears and concerns budding and seasoned artists alike have about producing their art. If you suffer from self-doubt or are worried that someone else has already done it or done it better, read Big Magic. Gilbert assures us that it doesnt matter if its been done before most unique ideas are recreations in some way, shape, or form. What matters is your spin on it that your own unique offering is just what you need to create and share with the world. 12. LaPorte is a self-proclaimed kick-ass spiritual muse, best known for her books,website, and Truth Bombs regular emails and now embossed cards with sayings that offer bits of wisdom to spur you on. One of my very favorites is Dear Fut ure, Im going to love you so hard. In fact, its still on my bathroom mirror to remind me of all the goodness thats ahead for me.In The Fire Starter Sessions, LaPorte offers three separate sections Mojo, Moxie, and Results. Each section has multiple chapters addressing different concepts and motivation to inspire you to start your entrepreneurial endeavor. One of the chapters, Desire Mapping, became the inspiration for her next and most successful book and franchise. Both books were extremely helpful and motivational, and I return to them often.LaPorte was the first modern-age, self-help writer I came across as I was struggling with what I wanted to do with my career and life post-divorce. It will help you search your soul for your passion and true calling The Desire Map is also a fabulous book and guide from Danielle that will help you figure out how to live your life based on how you want to feel. It changed my whole career path for the better.--Kimberly Gohringer startedEmpower No w to help women create positive change in their lives. As a neuro-linguistic coach, mom and professional writer, she has the tools to help you crash through the barriers that can stop you from pursuing your dreams and true potential.