5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career Change

5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career Change5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career Change5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career ChangeChanging careers has always been an option for people who want to do something different. But today, in an economy that has impacted millions of people, some are finding they need to change careers, even if they would rather not.Whether your change is based on want or need, you have to take a good, hard look at your transferable skills and highlight the ones that can help land that job in the new field.Thats not as hard as it sounds. So, heres a simple five-step process you can use to match the skills you have with the ones an employer wants.(1)Take a sheet of paper (or open a new document on your computer) and list all the skills you have from your current and previous jobs.(2)Pick out the hard skills, those that were specific to your current and former jobs. For instance, if youve been an accountant, proficiency in accounts rece ivable and accounts payable software would be a hard skill. If youve worked in construction, operating a crane would be a hard skill.(3)Pick out the soft skills, mostly personal traits and abilities, that apply to just about any job and work environment. ExamplesCommunication. How well do you communicate verbally and in writing? Employers look for either or both in just about any job.Organizational skills. How well do you manage your time, workflow, and priorities?Project management. Can you manage and deliver projects on or ahead of deadline?Problem solving. Can you recognize when a process isnt working and can be improved? If so, can you find an innovative way to fix it?Computer skills. Just about everyone needs to know the basics (how to use email and common applications such as a word processing or spreadsheet program). The more proficient you are, the less time theyll need to train you.Foreign language skills. Many companies, especially those that do business globally, value wo rkers who can speak second languages. Some jobs even require such skills.(4)Find postings for jobs that interest you, then determine which of the hard and soft skills theyre looking for line up with those on your list.(5)Prepare a resume and titelblatt letter that highlight the hard and soft skills you possess from your past work, and how well they will transfer and bring value to your desired job. Leave out hard skills that arent relevant to the new field.In the end, the worst that could happen is that you wont be called for an interview. But smart employers recognize that an enthusiastic, likable candidate with transferable experience and a willingness to learn can be a better choice than someone with the right experience but the wrong personality.

7 Reasons Why You Need Personal Business Cards, and 7 Facts to Include on Them

7 Reasons Why You Need Personal Business Cards, and 7 Facts to Include on Them 7 Reasons Why You Need Personal Business Cards, and 7 Facts to Include on Them A funny story I tell my workshop attendees Once, I ordered 250 personal business cards from Vistaprint - only to find when I opened them that Id spelled my occupation wrong worksop facilitator.There went 250 business cards into the trash. Im ashamed to even type this, but Im making a point Spell-check your order before submitting it.That said, my point today is a bit bigger than that. The real message is You, as a job seeker, need your own personal business cards.7 Reasons WhyYou Need Business CardsNetworking eventsPerhaps the most obvious reason why you need personal business cards is to make a good impression when networking. Most attendees of any given networking event will have them. bedrngnis havingyour own will separate you from the pack - in a bad way.Job fairs A great way to introduce yourself to companies for which y oud like to work is by going to job fairs. Impress company repsby attaching personal business cards to your resumes.Social gatheringsEven atcasualgatherings with friends and family, youll want to carry business cards.This will remind people that youre on the job search. That said, dont go from person to person shoving your cards in their hands. Only give out cards when it makes sense.You come across as professionalWhen you were employed, your company probably gave you business cards to help you represent it positively. Now, youre representing a company called Me, Inc.Theyre easier to hand out than resumesYou dont want to carry resumes everywhere you go. Plus, the people youre networking with will appreciate a business cards convenience over a full-size resume.They may create opportunitiesPeople dont remember everyone they meet at a networking event.Your personal business card serves as a good reminder - and it tells them how to get in touch with you if they want to talk mora.Theyre a call to actionWhen someone has one of your personal business cards, theyre more likely to call you back. Similarly, when you have someones personal business card, youre more likely to follow upyourself. What to Include on Your Business CardsContact informationYour home address (optional), email address (make it professional), and telephone number (home or cell). No surprises here.Your social media accountsAlong with your LinkedIn profile URL, you can also list your Twitter handle, Facebook account, and website or blog, if appropriate.Major strengths This is one of the most important bits of information. A personal business card with only contact information is of little value. As a potential networker, Id need more information about you. Lets say youre in marketing.Your areas of strength might include social media, public relations, web content, and trade shows. Keep it short and sweet.A logo Im not a big fan myself, but if you have a professionally designed logo that truly repre sents what you do, go for it. No cheap logos from Google or templates from personal business card providers.A photoAgain, not a big fan, unless youre inan occupation where such a thing is standard (e.g.,real estate, modeling, acting). IT or finance or medical tech? I think not.A branding statementThis may work well if it is short and descriptive enough to show value. Something like, I fix things that break is not descriptive enough. Many job seekers do this. However, Creating marketing literature that generate sales and increases visibility is a much clearer statement of someones value.Leave the back blankYou might be tempted to provide more information on the back, but this is valuable real estate for networkers whod like to take notes aboutyou. Make sure to carry a pen with youin case your newfound connection needs one.This post originally appeared on Things Career Related.Bob McIntosh, CPRW, is a career trainer who leads more than 15 job search workshops at an urban career center .

Walking faster could add years to your life

Walking faster could add years to your lifeWalking faster could add years to your lifeMy parents were notoriously fast walkers. I remember once barely being able to keep with them on my little 8-year-old legs while walking through the city. It was tough at the time, but now I am quite glad for it has trained me to be a very fast walker as an adult. One who will even walk into the street if there are too many people meandering down the sidewalk - which is pretty common in tourism-heavy New York City.Well, I may risk getting hit by a car but I will probably live a little longer as a new studypublishedin theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine found that people who walk faster have a 20% lower mortality risk compared to slower walkers.Fast walkers for the winThe study used data from the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey which provided them with the walking speeds (self-reported slow, average, fairly brisk or fast) of 50,000 English and Scottish adults.The researche rs observed the subjects for nine years.It found that among participants who did not experience a health vorstellung in the first two years of follow-up walking at an average or brisk/fast pace was associated with a reduced risk of bothall-cause and CVD (Cardiovascular Disease) mortality, compared with reporting walking at a slow pace.Now the study cannot definitively state that walking faster makes you healthier and there was no evidence of faster walkers having a reduced cancer mortality rate but the simple exercise of just walking at a brisker pace just helps you become an overall healthier person, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health. So in other words, try walking a little faster on your commute today.

Customize this Impressive Administrative Assistant Resume Sample

Customize this Impressive Administrative Assistant Resume SampleCustomize this Impressive Administrative Assistant Resume SampleCreate Resume Heidi Rollings100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234example-emailexample.comProfessional SummaryReliable Administrative Assistant with the ability to work as part of an effective staff, or manage multiple tasks independently. Tools for success include a strong command of Internet administrative programs, an ability to meet deadlines and the willingness to respond to corporate crisis situations. Dedicated to doing what is needed to help the company succeed.Core QualificationsMicrosoft OfficeInternet SchedulingMeeting Agenda PreparationCorrespondence CoordinationTime ManagementTravel Itinerary PreparationExperienceAdministrative Assistant, June 2012 May 2015Breslin Corporation New Cityland, CAWorked full-time during the summers and part-time during the year to help in a variety of tasks.Assisted in the development and dist ribution of meeting agendas.Monitored and updated several executive schedules.Administrative Assistant, June 2009 June 2010Hilltop Incorporated New Cityland, CAAssisted in distributing internal company memos.Served on the committee that organized social events.Updated the reception area bulletin board.Education2009 High School Diploma, General StudiesGrecian Senior High School New Cityland, CACustomize Resume

6 Sites to Find Freelance Job Listings Online

6 Sites to Find Freelance Job Listings Online6 Sites to Find Freelance Job Listings OnlineWhether youve decided to make freelancing a full-time job or just want to pick up a little extra cash to supplement your existing income, the hardest part of getting departureed as a freelancer is knowing where to look for freelance job listings. Once you get going, however, youre likely to find that potential gigs are all around you, especially online. Here are 6 places to look for freelance jobs. Some sites will be familiar to every job seeker, and some might take you by surprise. 1. CareerBuilder CareerBuilder allows you to post up to five differentresumes, which means that you can look for a variety of freelance jobs at the same time, or look for full-time work and part-time work simultaneously while testing the waters for a potential freelance career. To search for freelance jobs, add freelance or part-time to your search criteria. 2.Craigslist The granddaddy of all local sites, Cra igslist is a solid choice for your hyper-local freelance job search. Go to your citys site and then look at the jobs sidebar on the right-hand side of the screen. Select your industry andsearch by keyword(e.g. freelance) or go directly to the part-time listing at the bottom of the list. For freelance jobs of even shorter duration, the gigs section at the very bottom of the right-hand side of the screen offers work that lasts the duration of a project. Just beware ofscams. Although its no longer free to post jobs on Craigslist, its leise pretty cheap as little as $25 per job, per category, in most cities. And never give anyone your bank account number,social securitynumber, or any other identifying personal information in order to get access to a listing or to apply for a gig. 3.FlexJobs FlexJobs isnt free, but its also one of the few job search sites thats targeted solely to job seekers looking for part-time, flexible-schedule, or freelance work. The site also researches the co mpanies that provide its listings to verify that theyre legit - and promises a money-back guarantee if youre not satisfied with your results. Although FlexJobs offers listings in Canada and overseas, youll find the most jobs if youre looking for US-based companies. 4.Indeed.com Indeed allows you to search millions of job listings, freelance and otherwise, in your area by typing in your keywords and your geographic location. You can also set upemail alertsto have freelance job listings sent directly to your inbox. 5.LinkedIn Youve probably grown to think of LinkedIns resume on steroids service as a way to market yourself to full-time employers, but its also a great tool for freelancers. Once you build yourprofile, including a clear, professional headshot, and relevantkeywordsto grab potential clients attention, you can start searching for freelance gigs by including the term freelance in yoursearch terms. Better yet, use the service to network with connections at companies wh o might need your services, and lay the foundation for a personal introduction to the manager who hires contractors. 6.Monster.com Set up a profile and become a registered user, and Monster will send you listings geared toward your specific needs, or you can search their database of jobs. To find freelance jobs, include keywords like freelance or part-time in your search criteria. Monster allows users to apply directly to jobs from the site. Use an App There are also apps you can use to find quick gig opportunities or to pitch your freelance services. Check out these money-making apps that will help you find a variety of opportunities.

The True Meaning of Resume Cover Letter Samples

The True Meaning of Resume Cover Letter Samples Samples will provide you with a notion of what information to have in your cover letter, and the way to format the letter. Pick the Resume Cover Letter option and choose the template you would like.Short cover letters might not be as familiar to everyone in comparison to an ordinary cover letter. Composing a cover letter is not a simple job. A Consulting Cover Letter can likewise be written in the same manner. Whether youre writing an Accounting Cover Letter or a work application cover letter, it is vital that you abide by the proper format. Sample resume to a single page. Read through some samples, then customize your own letter so that it shows why you ought to be selected for an interview. Cover letter samples are an excellent place to begin before writing your own letter. A sample is able to help you decide what things to put in your letter, and the way to format the letter. New Questions About Resume Cover Letter Samples Your pals at Resume Companion are here in order to assist you with your transition. It may be hard to understand just where to start since there are several distinct strategies and advice out there regarding Cover Letters. Up in Arms About Resume Cover Letter Samples? Employers would like to know what you do well. Resumes cover letters and whats the letter. A Resume Cover Letter Format has an extremely significant role in bringing you the very best employment prospect. Accounting is about numbers. The End of Resume Cover Letter Samples How to offer your candidacy on a cover letter for sales positions to receive any job you desire. At worst, it can earn a promising candidate seem to be an uncreative cut-and-paster. There are several job candidates that are qualified but yet theyre rejected A strong cover letter is able to make your application stick out from the crowd. Just as youve got to discipline yourself to rewriting your application materials, you must decide on th e number of positions youre asking for a day. The introduction briefly states the way the applicant found out about the particular job opening and the particular position hes applying for. If youre responding to a newspaper advertisement, erreichbar job posting or networking with a particular possible employer its important to personalize your cover letter to every employer and each work opportunity to reveal how you fit the job and business requirements. Summarize why youre the proper person for the job. Relating your strengths to the requirements of the organization and the work immediately indicates youve spent time considering the position. One of the absolute most important jobs of any great sales pitch is to refrain from doing harm. Regardless of what engineering track youre on, your cover letter should highlight problem solving skills and the ability to satisfy quality standards. For instance, a cover letter is an excellent place to speak about a career shift or maybe to explain a protracted gap in employment. Your cover letter is able to help you take that additional degree of control over your application package. A terrific cover letter is your opportunity to prove that you know the sortiment of the role and the businesss mission.

Ask Away Does College Matter Anymore

Ask Away Does College Matter Anymore Welcome toAsk Away, Recruiter.coms weekly column Every Monday (we know today is Tuesday. But usually, we postAsk Away on Mondays), well pose an employment-related question to a group of experts and share their answers. Have a question youd like to ask the experts?Leave it in the comments, and you might just see it in next weeksAsk AwayThis Weeks QuestionReceived wisdom says that, if you want to get a good job and have a successful career, you need to go to college first. But plenty of commentators have taken to the Internet in recent timesto argue that college degrees dont really matter in this day and age. So, I ask does a college degree matter anymore?It depends on the job. When it comes to my legal/accounting/finance work, I need you to have a degree and show working knowledge of your capabilities.Those are jobs that require certifications by state and lengthy hours of study time.But customer service, marketing , illustrators, graphic design, IT, etc. I just need you to be able to do the job. I could care less about your degree. And thats because fruchtwein of those jobs are intuitive. A degree may help, but most of the good people in these fields are self-taught.- Jazmin TruesdaleCEOMino EnterprisesYes And they do on so many levels.College is an excellent time of transition, and many students can show that they have loyalty and commitment by getting their degrees.Majors matter. I work in commercial real estate and work with 30 universities across the country that offer degrees in real estate. We recruit and hire students with these degrees. I continue to see generations of these students dominate the industry.- John M. CrossmanPresidentCrossman CompanyIn my opinion, college degrees still matter nowadays. Yes, 20 years ago, a college degree had a better value, but collegedegree still matters.A degree wont automatically make you an expert in your field or put you in a top position, but for sure it will get you noticed when you start and open doors that wouldnt be open if you didnt have a degree. Then, it is up to you how you will take advantage of these opportunities that the degree created.Another reason that a degree still matters is that good careers cannot be pursued without a degree. How can you become a doctor, an economic analyst, an investor, or an academic without a degree? Yes, there are people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates that became billionaires after drooping out of college, but every rule has an exception, right?- Noel GriffithOwnerCareersWikiIn his book AntiFragile, Nassim Nicholas Taleb suggests that college is a byproduct of economic success, not the creator of it. Therefore, it could be said that an entrepreneurial-minded person could be successful without ever attending school. If we broaden our view of the college experience to include making us better citizens and, ultimately, better people, then the importance ofcollege increases.- Dave Popple PresidentPsynet GroupNo a college degree does not matter anymore What most people fail to realize is that, according the U.S. Census Bureau, only about 30 percent of the adult population has a bachelors degree or higher. That leaves approximately 70 percent of people without degrees. The ultimate goal of college is to get a degree in bestellung to be gainfully employed however, based on the data I just shared there, are more adults without degrees than adults with degrees, and these people still work every day.While a college degree is not necessary, some form of higher education or technical training is required. There are college graduateswho leave their institutions with their four-year degrees only to find out that they are unemployable Yet, there are also young people who leave high school with career and technical certifications who will make more money than a degree could ever yield.- Felicia G. MeadowsCounselor, coach, and consultantTomorrows Future Coaching and Consulting College does matter, but what matters the most is how you utilize your time there. Its true that a degree alone may not be enough to set you apart from the thousands of other graduates applying for the same set of jobs thats why you need experiences. While in college, students need to pursue internships and study abroad trips, join organizations, and go to conferences. unterstellung are the things that provide you with a well-rounded and complete education.To fully capitalize on college and land a job after graduation, you need to get out of the classroom. As a society, its important that we provide college students with the access to these experiences and help pave the way for bright futures.- Christie GartonFounderUChicI went to school for English literature. At no point in time have I ever been hired based on my education Ive always been hired based on my experience. I actually dropped out of my masters program to pursue working full time in marketing, which I am now thankfully doing.More and more individuals my age are realizing that college was a huge waste of money and time. Higher education is important for specific fields, but for some people, its just a financial investment that may or may not ever pay off. It makes much more sense for individuals interested in specific fields to begin working in them in a part-time capacity to discern whether or not they actually enjoy the job. Right now, we have a similar model in unpaid internships, but most people cant afford to work unpaid internships. The system obviously needs a shakeup-Rachel MargaritisMarketing managerAcupath Laboratories, Inc.