There are typically two different situations that a job seeker with an incomplete degree can be in. Either you didn't finish your degree and don't plan to, or you're currently completing it. I know job seekers in both situations and there is a great way to handle the incomplete degree scenario.
I’m hopeful that 2017 will be a year full of great opportunities for all job seekers actively searching, and for those passively open to new opportunities—which according to a new survey by JobVite happens to be 74% of us. Speaking of this survey, its results inject some serious optimism into the job search market, sharing that 69% of employers saw an increase in hiring with 39% reporting a significant increase in hiring and 35% planning to hire more than 100 new employees in the next 12 months. I hope it provides you with some much needed encouragement and optimism as you take a good look at your resume and start making changes for 2017. Here is a list of my top five resume trends in 2017. Related: 2016 Resume Trends – The New, The Now & What You Must Know
Did you know that you can actually be hiding from employers and not even know it? It's true - You could be missing out on new job opportunities. Related: 4 Personal Branding Tips EVERYONE Needs To Know Statistics show that 90% of employers search online for candidates; and although social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and job boards are great places to start—and be discovered, if your actual resume isn’t online—you’re missing out. We have 40+ sample resumes on our website; and almost every day, we’re contacted by recruiters looking for candidates who match the qualifications of positions they are trying to fill. They found the resumes on our samples page by completing a keyword search on Google or some other search engine. Many times, recruiters aren’t going to job boards to look for qualified candidates; they are simply typing the skills, areas of expertise, and specific qualifications into a search engine and then contacting the candidates who pop up. So how can you be the candidate who gets discovered by recruiters and hiring managers conducting search engine searches? Here are three great ways to start:
Human beings, by nature, are visual creatures. Using an infographic resume when applying for a new position is one way to make yourself stand out and be remembered, but they are not suitable in every industry or situation. Knowing when to use an infographic resume and when to stick to a traditional format is paramount during your career search. Related: 6 Creative Tips To Make Your Resume Stand Out 1. Supplement Your Resume An infographic resume uses appealing images such as a graphs or charts to condense large amounts of written data into visuals that are quick and easy to read. Experts such as Marie Zimenoff, Executive Director of Career Thought Leaders, a think tank of career industry leaders, recommends infographic resumes as a supplement to traditional resumes—not as a replacement for them. While you may provide a potential employer with a traditional resume, offer your infographic resume in addition—as part of a portfolio—especially if you are applying for a position in an industry that requires creativity, artistry, or design. Hannah Morgan, an author and job search strategist who regularly contributes to U.S. News and World Report on job searches and careers, said there are three times when an infographic resume is appropriate: when networking, cultivating insider support in a company after locating an opening, and during interviews. 2. Network Morgan advises that when networking with someone in person or online, you offer your infographic resume as a quick shot in the arm. She said people often don’t want to bring a piece of paper to networking events as there may not be a job available or they simply don’t want to look desperate by bringing their full resume. This is where the infographic resume is a great tool. “When you talk to someone in a networking environment, you’re really there to share information,” Morgan said. “The infographic resume makes it easier to have a conversation and allows people to glance at your graphs, charts, and pictures to gather information quickly. It also allows you to engage with the people you are networking with. Our brains are also hardwired to remember pictures better than words, so they will remember you better.” 3. Championing Support Another time to employ your infographic resume is when you have identified an opening at a company and you want a referral from an insider. Morgan said what typically happens if you try to send your resume into anyone is they forward you on to someone else. With an infographic resume, you can engage the first person you talk to, which makes them more likely to advocate for you. “The best way to get your resume to the top of the stack is to get referred,” said Morgan. “If you can find someone inside the company that you know, or don’t know, you can offer your infographic resume to them. That infographic resume is a teaser to get that person inside the company to have an initial conversation with you.” 4. During The Interview “When you are introducing yourself, hand over your infographic resume at the beginning of the interview,” advises Morgan. She said this is an ideal way to break the ice with the person interviewing you, and they can see who you are quickly while you chat. It also engages them in talking about your skills, experience, and accomplishments. Be sure to have a copy of your traditional resume on hand as well, just in case. 5. Which Industries Are Best Some industries are more accepting of infographic resumes than others. Applicants to creative disciplines such as marketing, advertising, and public relations may wish to use one, but as a supplement to a traditional resume. Results-oriented positions such as sales are the perfect opportunity for utilizing infographic resumes since they allow you to highlight the direct results of your work. Those applying to startup companies may also use infographic resumes. It is generally advised that applicants for executive positions and more conservative fields such as finance avoid such non-traditional resumes, except in the aforementioned scenarios. 6. Share It Socially Zimenoff said LinkedIn™ is another great place to use infographic resumes. She said a PDF or JPEG version of your infographic resume adds something special to your profile. “It’s an additional medium people can access,” Zimenoff said. “It can be a nice addition to a LinkedIn profile, but you should have a standard resume available as well.” Morgan said one of the greatest tools people don’t know about is Slideshare, a free application that allows you to upload documents from programs such as Word®, Excel®, or PowerPoint® so it shows up as an image on LinkedIn. Slideshare lets people to see your work easily without downloading it from your page—and your documents can be shared as a status update on other social media such as Facebook™ and Pinterest™. 7. Infographic Resumes Are Not For ATS If you are applying for a position online, especially through an applicant tracking system (ATS), stick with a traditional resume. Zimenoff said ATS strips the graphics, which can lead to valuable information being missed. Morgan concurred, stating one should not use an infographic resume when applying online to ATS. Infographic resumes may be thrown out altogether by ATS as the automated system won’t be able to read the graphics—and ATS search for key terms in resumes in a standard format—thus infographic resumes don’t fit the bill. 8. Make Sure It Says The Right Thing Though it is a supplement, your infographic resume should be able to serve double duty standing on its own or in addition to your traditional resume. If you choose to use an infographic resume, invest the time to ensure it is done correctly. Highlight achievements that make you the ideal candidate for the position you are applying for. Infographics should focus on the results of your work such as growth in sales, number of people reached, or percentages achieved, not on responsibilities. If you are applying for a sales position, an infographic highlighting your superior sales growth at your current employer would be particularly impactful. In other words, the infographics you use must tie directly into the role you are pursuing with a focus on the results of your work. “If your resume is confusing or cutsie, it’s not effective,” advised Zimenoff. “The graphics need to say something important. Employers want to see results. If your graphic shows results, that’s great. A huge pet peeve of mine is an infographic resume where a chunk of it is taken up with a graph that says nothing.” Infographic Resumes Are A Great Tool Infographic resumes are great supplements for your career toolbox. Every professional should have a traditionally formatted resume as well as a graphic resume with the highlights of their skills and accomplishments. The best times to use an infographic resume are when networking, gaining an initial conversation with someone in a company where a position is open, and during an interview. They also make perfect material to for a visually engaging LinkedIn profile, boosting your media presence and encouraging people to linger longer. However, one should never use an infographic resume when applying online through an ATS. Infographic or not, remember that this is your opportunity to shine, so make the contents of your infographic resume tell your story colorfully and succinctly. If you’re searching for tips on how to create a cutting-edge resume or bring your resume up to speed with 2017 resume trends, check out this article that includes my top 10 2017 resume tips. In the meantime, I’d love to connect on LinkedIn and expand both our networks! Feel free to send me an invite here. You can also find me online at Great Resumes Fast where I help time-pressed job seekers create interview-winning resumes within three to five business days—and more than 85% of my clients get multiple interviews in two weeks or less.
Ever wonder what a potential boss wants to hear in an interview? What exactly can you say that will increase your chances of receiving a job offer? I recently heard some great advice that lined up with my previous experience as a human resources manager, and so I thought I would share this great advice with you! RELATED: 5 Things Recruiters Want To Hear From You, Plus… Here are five things to communicate during an interview that will convince the employer you’re a great hire.
Writing your cover letter may seem like a mundane task - something you must do to ensure you submit all documents required when applying for a job. But in reality, your cover letter is so much more than that! This document gives you the opportunity to add life to the technical nature of the resume while showcasing some of your personality. Related: Why We HATE Writing Cover Letters Your job when writing the cover letter is to make sure you grab the hiring manager’s attention from the beginning and, of course, this can’t be accomplished with a “blah” introduction. A great way to lure your reader in is to use your cover letter introduction as a marketing tool by considering the following:
There’s an old adage that one shouldn’t put all of their eggs in one basket, and this is particularly true of conducting a job search. I advise my clients that to get the best results from any job hunt, they must utilize every method at their disposal. One of the many free and effective tools available is LinkedIn®. This element of social media has made searching and applying for jobs easier by launching new features such as Open Candidates to help job seekers like you without alerting your current employer. Related: 6 Things Recruiters Want To See On Your LinkedIn Profile
I’m sure you’re already well aware of the great resource that LinkedIn can be to your job search, but did you know there are actually a few things you can do on LinkedIn that will help you to be noticed by recruiters? Here are three little-known facts about LinkedIn that will help you increase your visibility and receive more interest from recruiters and employers. Related: 7 Tips To Best Utilize LinkedIn Recommendations Matter The majority of job seekers utilizing LinkedIn do not realize the importance of having recommendations on their profile. Whenever you apply for a position that is posted on LinkedIn the employer receives a snapshot of you with that application—not your full profile. Here’s an infographic that outlines exactly what an employer or recruiter sees when you apply to their job posted on LinkedIn. On that snapshot they’ll see how many recommendations you have on your profile. 90% of people have 0 recommendations, which means there is no third party to validate your experience, what you offer a potential employer, or what you’re good at. Most people do not provide recommendations without being asked. Make sure you ask for them. LinkedIn recommendations are verifiable references that potential employers can read that support your personal brand—and they have a positive influence on recruiters and employers. Story Vs. Resume A common misconception I hear from job seekers often is the belief that their LinkedIn profile must mirror their resume exactly. The belief is that employers are looking for an exact match between the two, and if they don’t match up, then it will send up a red flag. This simply is NOT true. In fact, I’ve spoken with hundreds of recruiters and employers, and they tell me they go to LinkedIn to find out MORE about you. How can they find out more about you and what you do if all you’re giving them is what they’ve already read on your resume? On the contrary, give them more! There are countless studies that tell us the effectiveness that stories have on our brains and their ability to engage us and to help us remember. Write your career story in your LinkedIn profile. Use the summary to share with recruiters why you do what you do, why you’re great at it, and how you got to where you are and what you want to do next.
