How to Use job descriptions to land your dream role

How to Use job descriptions to land your dream role by Amber Rolfe Job descriptions come in all shapes and sizes… A job description is a comprehensive outline of a vacancy, covering its duties, required skills and salary, as well as a company’s culture. In other words, it’s the perfect guide for your application â€" not something to be skimmed, brushed over, or worse, totally ignored.To make sure you’re making the most out of the clues they could give you, here’s our guide on how using job descriptions effectively could help land your dream role:  Read the whole thing Finding a job that’s right for you can be tough, meaning it’s all too easy to jump to conclusions at the first sign of a good match.But before you submit your application as quickly as possible, it’s vital to get to grips with the role first.Sure, the job title and salary might be ideal â€" but do the duties listed in the job description match up? Do you have the required skills? And what about the benefits package?By taking the time to read the j ob description thoroughly, you’ll not only be able to figure out if the vacancy and company is right for you, but also if you’re right for them. Then you’ll have all the information you need to demonstrate your suitability with a perfectly tailored CV and cover letter.What job adverts really mean  Figure out how you’re a match OK, so you’ve read the job description at least five times. Now it’s time to figure out if it’s right for you.Start by highlighting/circling/underlining the key elements of the role; from the most mentioned tasks and duties, to the essential skills needed to carry them out.Using this, you’ll be able to match your own experience and abilities accurately â€" avoiding the temptation to add any irrelevant information.Because claiming you’re the world’s greatest Morris dancer might be your go-to party trick, but it’s unlikely to turn any heads if it has nothing to do with the job (hint: hobbies and interests won’t always be relevant).What ar e transferable skills?Five CV skills employers look for in every jobseekerTailor your approachOnce you’ve made a list of what makes you a great fit, it’s time to consider layout, making the first section of your CV and cover letter exactly what the employer is looking for.For example, if your education is more relevant than your work experience, opening with that is far more likely to grab the recruiter’s attention. It’s also key to cover your most applicable traits in your personal statement.But remember: even if the first paragraphs of your CV and cover letter are perfect, the rest of it could still let you down if you don’t pay it any attention.That’s why it’s important to before adapt them in line with the job description for every single role you apply for â€" whether this means removing certain aspects of your skills, or placing more of an emphasis on others.  Five ways to refresh your CVGive examples Identifying your relevant skills and experience is good, but i t’s not enough.To demonstrate your suitability (and make your CV stand out from the crowd), it’s vital to include real-life examples that prove you have each of these attributes â€" whether it’s excellent analytical skills, great attention to detail, or anything else.How? Simple. You know exactly what skills the employer wants (hint: they’re listed in the job description) â€" you just need to think of an example that demonstrates them efficiently.It could be anything from a positive interaction with a customer that resulted in increased sales, to a project that improved user experience. But no matter what you choose, always make sure it resulted in a positive outcome; and always try to quantify it with real figures or percentages.For example, saying you ‘implemented an add-on sales initiative that increased the average basket spend by 5%’ sounds much better than simply saying you helped increase sales.That way, the recruiter will be able to see exactly what your experien ce could bring to their business.How to: Write a CVHow to: Write a cover letter  Check before you send Once you’ve tailored your CV (and cover letter) in a way that demonstrates your most relevant skills effectively, it’s time to get a second opinion.It could be a friend, colleague, family member or mentor. But whoever you choose, a fresh pair of eyes is often exactly what you need to ensure your application is as focused as it can be.If they can’t work out why you’re applying for the job (and what makes you suited), it might indicate that it needs a bit more work. This is also a great way to spot any spelling or grammar mistakes that you may have missed.Lastly, check it over yourself to ensure your CV and cover letter matches up with exactly what they’ve stated in the job description.Remember: it might take a little longer, but tailoring your CV shows passion, dedication, and a real interest in the role â€" which are often the exact attributes an employer is looking for.C ommon grammar mistakes to avoid on your CVWhat not to do on your CVStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the How to start looking for work

Resume Writing For Greensburg Pa - How to Write a Brilliant Resume

Resume Writing For Greensburg Pa - How to Write a Brilliant ResumeOne of the most important parts of a person's resume is the cover letter, and even though the resume is the first thing that is noticed, it is the cover letter that really should catch the reader's attention. If your resume doesn't get the attention it deserves, it will be very difficult to get a job at all.Make sure you are making your resume stand out by highlighting its strong points and bringing to light any relevant experience and previous job experience that are not being highlighted in the resume. You don't want to appear like you are trying to hide anything and this means using interesting titles to list off your experience and past employment.Start your resume off with a couple of paragraphs detailing your qualifications. Use a powerful opening paragraph that brings your reader into the resume and highlights what they will be reading in the rest of the resume. You don't want them to have to read through four o r five pages just to find the information they are looking for.A great title can be found by using your title as your article and throwing in a little bit of a twist. You want to use titles that will catch the eye and make them want to read on. For example, if you worked as a Registered Nurse, and you had five years experience working in the hospital setting, you would want to use your title as the article and state that you were trained as a registered nurse and that you were very happy with your job.List down your experiences and any relevant job titles. You want to get your reader interested in what you have to say and you don't want to be redundant. Simply state that you worked with a few other people that helped you become successful and will provide references to back up your claim.With the names and experiences listed, you can now list down your job titles. In most cases, you want to list the titles of the jobs that you held prior to your current position. Using a good job ti tle can really show that you were successful and that your resume is worth reading.Now that you have listed down your strong point and job titles, list down your education. If you have an advanced degree, use your title and college or university name as your article and talk about how much you enjoyed your schooling. This can be a really powerful piece of writing as you will have placed yourself in a positive light and shown how you went from attending school and completing your degree to landing a job.Last but not least, you need to list down all of your certifications. Most resumes today will list certifications and you want to make sure that they are included in your resume. By listing down your certifications you are showing that you are qualified and that you have achieved a certain level of success in the work place.

4 Tips For Working With Your Other Half And Making It Work

4 Tips For Working With Your Other Half â€" And Making It Work It’s common to hear someone dedicated to their career say they are “married to their work”, especially in today’s economic climate and competitive job market. However, there has been a recent upward trend in couples who actually fuse their personal lives with their work. In the process, they create an incredibly fulfilling career and personal relationship. But how? It’s possible. Meet Maria Orozova and Scott Thomas. Maria  is President and Creative Director of design and marketing house The MOD Studio.  Scott is President of revenue growth agency Intelechy Group. Together, they are a testament to the success spouses can find when they combine forces and work together professionally.  The duo, living and working in Austin, Texas, made the decision to form a partnership between their companies.  Doing so allowed them to offer a broader scope of services to their robust roster of clients, which includes Exclusive Resorts, Lexus, Circuit of the Americas, Dell, Four Seasons Residences and more. Both agree that they experienced their fair share of roadblocks and lessons learned along the way.  But their businesses and marriage have valiantly withstood the tests of this gutsy merger. Are you considering starting a business venture with your partner?  Or do you need guidance smoothing out your existing working relationship?  Either way,  read  on for their advice about how to maintain a vibrant and fulfilling connection.  Theyve made it work both in the office and at home, and so, too, can you. The Work/Home Equilibrium The old adage “keep your work and personal lives separate” has become increasingly unrealistic in our tech-centered world.   To be able to unplug â€" especially when you own your own business or have flexibility to work remotely, is essential. Rather than trying to maintain an even work/home balance on a day-to-day basis, Maria and Scott suggest making up for particularly hectic stretches of putting in extra hours working with relaxing getaways sans responsibilities. Rewarding yourself with some RR after a busy season is an ultimate luxury.   And will ensure you don’t fall into an “all work, no play” mindset, which can be detrimental to your well being and relationship. Opposites Attract One of the primary benefits of working with your counterpart is being able to leverage each other’s unique strengths. According to Maria and Scott, deciding roles and delegating responsibilities based on your individual abilities ensures you are complementing each other’s talents and bridging any potential gaps. For example, spouses who are social and gifted in networking IRL and on social media can benefit from partners who are better at behind-the-scenes, operational duties, and vice versa.  Its a classic example of playing on each others strengths. Team Goal-Setting No road map is created without a destination in mind.  Agreeing upon end goals will keep you both on track for success. Maria and Scott have found that maintaining open lines of communication keep them in tune with each other’s ideas.   It also helps them avoid roadblocks before they arise. While you may not always agree upon the best route to take during your journey, keep in mind that you both want to arrive at the same destination together. #Respect All couples know that having and showing respect for your partner is a must-have in any relationship.  But it’s easy to let tempers flare when business is involved. Even if you already have an understanding with each other, use a tone that is respectful in your personal relationship.  Have a conversation with your other half about maintaining the same level of dignity in the office as you do at home.  Maria and Scott have found that will prevent feelings from getting hurt and small disagreements from turning into full-blown issues. Working Together Can Work All relationships take dedicated effort.  Working together with a spouse or significant other can prove especially challenging.  But the rewards are worth the effort.  With careful thought and execution, you can create the same success that Maria and Scott have shown is possible. Maria Orozova As the President + Creative Director of MOD, Maria has more than a decade of experience developing advertising and branding campaigns for local and national clients. Her work has earned 16 ADDY ® awards 35 American Graphic Design Awards.    She was selected as one of Graphic Design USA Magazines “2012 People to Watch. Maria is also a featured writer for elite publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Texas CEO Magazine and Austin Business Journal. Always the entrepreneur, she started MODpaper, a luxury couture invitation design studio. She also finds time to serve on the Board of Directors for the Center for Child Protection, the Fashion Marketing Advisory Panel for The Art Institute of Austin, both GENaustins Board of Directors and planning committee for the Pathfinder program. She is a long time supporter of the National Childrens Alliance and Ballet Austin.    She was also selected as a finalist in the 2015 Austin Under 40 Awards. In addition to her professional and voluntee r duties, Maria  pursues a wide range of personal interests, including skiing, interior design and adding to the ever-growing list of countries she has visited 28 in total. Image: Teamwork  rama_miguel

Technical Writing Career Profile - VocationVillage

Technical Writing Career Profile - VocationVillage VocationVillage.com interviewed Technical Writer Jude Chosnyk about her technical writing career.How would you describe the main functions of your job in your technical writing career?Im a full-time employee of GrandMasters, LLC. They have me working inside Microsoft as a Vendor. I interview Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to write various types of documentation. I research topics, read legacy documentation when its available, and write and edit documentation. I typically have a project management role in most of my assignments so I organize and setup meetings with key players to drive deadlines for documentation schedules for publication.What does a typical day look like for you?Depending on the needs of the firm and the department that Im assigned to, a typical day in my job can look very different compared to another firm or department. In my current position as a Sr. Technical Writer where Im a Vendor at Microsoft, I am focused on writing one Infrastructure Planning and Design Guid e at a time. I work with one technical lead here to get feedback for the guide Im writing and I also research the information on an internal MS web site as well. This isnt typical, though. At most of my other assignments in other firms I can be writing and editing several (10 â€" 30) documents simultaneously and can be working with many subject matter experts to provide me with feedback. Im not the project manager in my current position but typically Im acting as a Project Manager as well as the Technical Writer. I typically must create a documentation project plan to keep the documentation project on schedule and must be very persistent with my need for feedback from SMEs.What do you like best about your work?I love what I do. It provides me with a wide variety of challenges because I usually work on a contract basis and I change jobs often so Im always going to new companies and learning new software and tools. My skills are always fresh by changing jobs and I never get bored. I g et to meet new people at every new assignment and make new friends wherever I work. I typically work in Information Technology so I get to work with extremely intelligent people.What are the most challenging things about technical writing?My biggest challenge is also what I like most. I must constantly learn new software and tools at every new assignment. There can be a bit of a learning curve for each new assignment. I enjoy learning new things so its a good challenge for me.How did you land your current job?I applied for my current position via Monster.com and got the position.What was your professional background before you chose a technical writing career?In my first job, I was an electrical draftsperson. I drew lines and circles on paper. So, it seemed like a natural progression to become a Technical Writer. Actually, theres no connection there. He-he-he. Ive been a technical writer for about 18 years. Ive been a consultant for about the last 12 years. Ive worked for Honeywell, Wells Fargo, SAFECO, ATT, Washington Mutual, T-Mobile, Boeing, Starbucks, Microsoft, DHL/Airborne, The Port of Seattle, to name a few.What is your educational background?I have an associate degree in applied science with an emphasis in Technical Writing and Business Writing. Thats my formal educational background. After 18 years in the business, most of my educational background is on-the-job experience and the school of hard knocks.What skills are most important to succeed in technical writing?Hard skills, such as knowing the industry-standard software programs, for example, the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Visio, Outlook, and Project) is important but Ive found that soft skills are just as important to succeed as a technical writer. You have to be very organized and you absolutely must be proactive. What I mean by that is you must seek out SMEs and key players who can provide you the most bang for your buck. You must find the people who have the knowledge about your subj ect in their head, or know where to send you to get legacy documentation. You must be willing to produce documentation out of thin air so its important to be ambitious and not be afraid to be horribly off-base on a subject. As long as you produce something, anything, that a SME can see and shoot darts at youll be way ahead of the game. Another important skill for success is flexibility. You will always have deadlines, sometimes short deadlines, and you might have to stay up all night writing that next chapter or an entire guide for a review early the next day because your SME didnt provide you the information until 5:00pm the night before.What advice do you have for someone who wants to pursue a technical writing career?I started out by taking an introductory class at college when I was living in Illinois. Take an Introduction to Technical Writing class and see if its something you might like to do. I talked to some Technical Writers that were already in mid-career for advice. Ask y ourself if you like to write and edit because thats the majority of the job. Be honest with yourself about how you feel when someone critiques your writing because youll get it from all types of folks in an organization and sometimes its good feedback and sometimes its completely wrong. If youre easily offended by others feedback on your writing, this career is not for you. Also, be aware that you will spend a good part of your day reading documentation. Depending on your field, it could be very dry and boring!If a mid-career professional decided he/she wanted to become a technical writer, what are the steps he/she should take to make a successful transition?Take an Introduction to Technical Writing class and see if its something you might like to do. Talk to some technical writers that are in mid-career for advice. Subscribe to writing email lists like the Seattle Writergrrls. Join a professional writing association like the Puget Sound Society for Technical Communication. Read as much as you can about whats happening in the technical writing field. My motto has always been, Knowledge is power.What is the income range for technical writers?Right now Senior Technical Writers in the Seattle area are earning $75K-$85K. To find current info, Salary.com is a good resource.What are your long-term career goals?I started out as a Technical Writing Intern at a company nearly 20 years ago so Ive reached my long-term career goals as a Senior Technical Writer. Ill keep doing what I do as long as someone likes my work.Any other comments?Yes, good luck to any aspiring technical writers that might read this article. I hope by sharing my experience itll help someone who is trying to make a career decision.Thank you, Jude!For the record, Jude completed this interview via email more quickly than any other interviewee has ever done she is a fast writer! . Read more career profiles. .

Resume Writing Services From the Ladders

Resume Writing Services From the LaddersIf you want to apply for a job with the Ladders, you may have to pay for the services. There are different levels of the service, and the more you pay, the better you will get at writing a resume. Also, if you want a resume that will stand out, you should also be willing to pay for these resume writing services, as there are companies who specialize in resumes only.In general, the Ladders services are designed to help with job hunting and writing a resume. These companies do not sell resumes. They also have many other services to offer. Some of these include pre-employment screening, employee background checks, candidate interviews, resume editing, resume distribution, as well as other things.After you submit your resume to one of the companies, they will review it to make sure your information is correct, including your candidate's profile, career history, education, experience, and work history. You will also be expected to provide informatio n on any special skills that you possess that would be useful in the position. The Ladders will then review your resume and contact you directly if there are any items that need to be added.If the company likes your resume, they will email it to the current company, or they will forward the application for you. For some jobs, such as employment in a large corporation, you may be contacted directly by the current company. In this case, they will contact you directly to schedule an interview.In addition to your resume, you will also need a few things such as copies of your letter of intent, a letter of reference, three letters of recommendation, and at least three letters of reference for each person that you recommend for the job. At the time of the interview, the Ladders will make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the occasion. Yourdress is important, as this will reflect your professionalism will reflect upon them as well. This means that they can view you as a profession al who will also be able to take care of yourself.The first step in resume writing is to make sure that you are going to be comfortable with the interview. If you feel that your chances of getting the job are slim, you should take that into consideration and take the other approach. Make sure that you are in top form, and that you do not stress out when you are interviewed. Then you can relax and make the most of the opportunity that you have been given.If you are in a position where you will be interviewing a number of people for the job, make sure that you will be able to complete the task efficiently. Most people prefer to interview with others, and if this is the case, the Ladders will help you with this. They can even have one of their writers to attend the interview as well, so that they can make sure that you are up to the task at hand.After you have submitted your resume, you will have to wait for it to be reviewed by the company that sent it to you. The Ladders provide spec ialized resume writing services and this is why they are the best option for resumes. There are companies that specialize in resumes only, but these are rare. When you choose to use the Ladders, you can rest assured that you will be getting a high quality resume that will be attractive to potential employers.

Why Asking for Help Is Crucial to Your Career and Life

Why Asking for Help Is Crucial to Your Career and Life Do you find it hard to ask for help? I know I do. Partly because I don’t want to impose on anyone else. Partly because of pride: I like being independent, and asking for help feels like an admission that I’m not capable or that I’m conceding defeat. Needing to ask for help often feels embarrassing and, at times, even humiliating. It reminds me of that scene in the movie “Oliver” where Oliver Twist is holding up his empty porridge bowl and begging, “more please, sir”. While it’s good to have a sense of independence and to challenge yourself to find your own solutions, you can definitely take that too far. The key is to know when it’s time to ask for help. For each of us, there are times when it’s easier to ask for help and more obvious we need it. In my case, I have no trouble asking for directions. I have a terrible sense of direction and have even become lost in office buildings trying to find the elevator. Because I get lost so often and I’m usually in a hurry, I’ve moved past the embarrassment and into a mode of practicality. As a result, I can ask without hesitation or embarrassment. But most of the time, my instinct is to be resourceful and try to figure it out for myself. The downside of not asking for help The reality is that not asking for help has hurt my career and well-being at times. There are two instances that stand out as times that I should have asked for help but didn’t. Each time, it turned out badly. Not asking for technical help The first was early on in my career when I was asked to go through eight sets of legal documents, summarize the bond covenant section of each and put the answers into a spreadsheet before the client meeting at 2 PM. It was only 10 AM so I said, “no problem”. Surely I could figure this out in four hours, even though I had never read through bond covenant documents before. I lugged the documents back to my desk where I waded through the sea of legalese filled with clauses and terms like “notwithstanding”, “hereunder” and “hereinafter”. By lunchtime, I had only completed one out of the eight. But instead of going back and asking for help, or better yet asking to swap projects with someone else given the deadline, I persisted. By 1:50pm, I had only completed two of the summaries. I let the team down badly. Fortunately, I wasn’t fired, but I was never again asked to work with this team. Whether it was for lacking the skills to understand bond covenants or lacking the sensibility to ask for help, I’m sure there was a black mark next to my name. Worst of all, this experience dented my confidence and the negative mindset effects of it stuck with me for years. Not asking for management support The second instance was during the year I moved from New York to London to start a new business for the firm. All of our competitors were also going after the same opportunity. I was under significant pressure to produce results. Without a team already formed, because I needed to hire and build it anew, I defaulted to my usual tendency, which is to do everything myself. I covered three out of the six European countries myself while building a new team and leading the strategic vision internally. I can’t count the number of times I redoubled my efforts and shouldered the burdens for the team. In the process, I managed to alienate several of my stakeholders and almost burn myself out. This turned out to be a terrible strategy. I should have and could have asked for help a lot earlier. When to ask for help Knowing when to ask for help is crucial when it comes to your career and life. What I’ve learned about myself is that there are three signs that are triggers for me to go get help. When I’m feeling anxious or worried to the extent that I can’t focus and get things done When I’ve tried to do it myself but am stuck in a loop without making forward progress When I have no idea how to do something For each of us, the triggers may be different. The important thing is to get in touch with what yours are so you’ll know when you need to ask for help. You may even be able to pinpoint the exact language that you use in your head when you’re in this state of needing to ask for help. For me it often sounds like “Am I working on the right thing?” or for a colleague of mine, it’s the recurring phrase, “I feel like I’m not doing enough.” You may find patterns here that make it easier to recognize when you need to get help. Making it easier to ask for help When it comes to actually asking for help, the way you frame it makes a difference. When you think of it as “imposing on someone” or “humiliation” or “conceding defeat”, of course you’re less likely to resort to it. Instead, think of it as “leveraging your resources” or “inviting in new points of view” or “getting results quicker”. Then you can come at it from a sense of greater productivity and give others a chance to contribute. The flip side is that sometimes you’ll be the one in a position to help someone else who’s feeling anxious, unsure or frustrated. So look out for signs, recognizing that we all display them differently. Some people get quiet and withdraw. Others become emotional or angry. And sometimes, people try to please and say “no problem, I’ve got this“ when they really don’t â€" just like me with the bond covenants! When you see those signs, offer to help in case they happen to struggle with asking for it themselves. The bottom line The bottom line is this: we all need help at times. And even though you or I may feel alone or ashamed, we are not alone. Go reach out and get the help you need. And when the tables are turned, make yourself available to help someone else. So how about you? Do you know when to get help? And what could someone help you with now? Leave a comment and let me know.

Top Workplaces To find a job in Portland or elsewhere, look for people - CareerEnlightenment.com

Cover letterYes. Résumé and cover letter in that order.The experts say candidates often dont use cover letters anymore and if they do, they make the cardinal sin of simply focusing on themselves.If youre going to do it, make sure its answering a question, not just bragging about yourself, said Fahey, adding that the question should be why you  are the best match, in terms of qualifications and experience, for this particular company at this particular time.Its just like dating, she said. If you want them to call you for another date, you better not just talk about yourself. Say its Nike, tell them why  you love Nike, whats cool about them and why you want to work for them.NetworkingThough more of the job hunt is online these days, the experts maintain that most of their placements come through referrals. That can mean referrals  through social media, but also face-to-face socializing.Avoid job-seeking events, they say, since that means chatting with a room full of competitors. Inst ead, target gatherings that attract the people you want  to work with.Have cards ready to hand out, but relax. Keep your mind and ears open, taking advantage of a chance to learn something more about the industry.Even though it makes some job-hunters uneasy, Facebook is a good place to establish the ties that could bring home leads.Waldman said many folks misunderstand Facebooks role.Though recruiters attribute millions of job placements to Facebook, its not usually because theyve combed the social media site and plucked up a  candidate for a particular job, he said.Thats one of the biggest misunderstandings of Facebook, said Waldman, adding that the sites new graph search is helping recruiters create large talent  pools from which to seek candidates for a variety of future jobs.Typically, he said, people are finding those jobs from referrals from friends and family on Facebook.TwitterShort and sweet is the key to many aspects of the job hunt. Candidates often must attempt to captur e their skills, attitude and work ethic in a few words  that will catch a recruiters eye.Thats Twitter in a nutshell. Yet its a nut that can crack two ways.Siler of HiringThing says he warns folks about tweets that may show just how candidates conducts themselves in their current jobs.If were hiring for an account management position and we look at your Twitter feed and see you were talking bad about your current companys clients,  that can be poisonous, Siler said. Thats all part of the public record these days, so dont harm your chances.Twitter can help a job seeker get a better view into a company where they may want to work, too.One of the companies Fahey recruits for recently sponsored a team of its employees for the Hood to Coast relay.Everybody was tweeting and posting pictures; thats awesome, she said. That shows theyre a close-knit group, theyre having fun and not just sitting at  their desks 90 hours a week. That helps sell the company.Twitter can help older candidates con cerned about age discrimination prove their mettle.Waldman says he hears from people in their 50s that a picture with gray hair on LinkedIn may hurt their chances of landing a job. But using social media  effectively can show theyre flexible, open and engaged, he said.If theyre on Twitter, he said, that signals they get it.Job boardsThe job board market has boomed in recent years, but not necessarily in a way that will help all job hunters, the experts say. Once again its a tool that  requires research and strategy.Seek out niche boards, by Googling that phrase and particular industries, such as health care, programming or advertising, Siler said. Dont waste valuable  time on general-purpose boards, experts say.A good board will post about a half dozen new jobs daily. Those that only have one or two probably arent as popular.And be aware of scam jobs on such boards. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.Fahey says she uses Indeed.com, a fairly reliable job aggregato r that allows potential candidates to program daily searches in their area. She also  recommends tracking down popular groups and blogs that have become must-reads for certain industries.