Monday, April 20, 2020

Getting Your CS Resume Noticed

Getting Your CS Resume NoticedA CS resume is probably the best way to get a job when you're in the computer field. However, it's no guarantee that your CS resume will be taken seriously by the people who have the power to make or break your career. Here are some tips to keep in mind for you to have an amazing CS resume.While it's true that your CS resume needs to contain your greatest achievements, there are certain things you must do to make it stand out from the other people's CS resumes. For example, you should do your best to write the information about yourself as simply and concisely as possible. All of your information should be listed first so you don't have to look through pages of dense and thick writing to get to the point. All of the information should come together in one paragraph and be organized properly.When doing your CS resume, it's also important to put your best qualities in perspective and not just focus on the low points. You can always add in something about t he competition you're up against so it can be a surprise, but just don't forget that the person reading your resume knows that the key is to make it readable and not to keep it too lengthy. The length of your resume will determine how well you do on the interview.If you really want to make your CS resume stand out, you need to try and get it in front of as many people as possible. This means sending it out to a large number of people who may have the power to hire you or not. To do this, you need to write a thank you letter to your contacts. Write a short and sweet letter stating how much you appreciate their help, your communication, and all the things they did for you and give them a call if they don't answer your mail or call back with a quick text message to let them know how much you really appreciate their help.One of the worst things you can do is use LinkedIn to get your CS resume out there. Some companies have rules on how you can use LinkedIn, and they won't allow it unles s you're sending out an invitation to the company. This means you'll get a lot more rejections if you try to advertise your resume through this network. Other companies use it to help hire employees and are now blocking resumes that are trying to advertise the fact that they have someone at their company.Another way to get your CS resume out there would be to start a blog and to write on it regularly. Your blogs can also be used as references for future employers. Plus, you'll have more people reading your resume to give it a second look and this will help you get noticed.If you follow these resume tips, you will have a professional looking resume that will help you get hired and help you get ahead in your career. The key is to make it short and sweet so you can look over the document at a glance. Once you start your job search, your resume will start to reflect you.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Heres How to Make a Career Change, According to a CEO Coach

Here’s How to Make a Career Change, According to a CEO Coach My former student took the first job he was offered out of college. Cold-calling in sales was not something he ever saw himself doing or excelling atâ€"but he did. He thought he would stay in sales until he found a marketing position. Ten years later, he’s still in sales, with a lifestyle that doesn’t easily lend itself to starting over. He feels like he’s missed his opportunity. Work, family, community, friends. Each come with their own joys and demands on your time and energy. You put one foot in front of the other meeting deadlines, going to school, paying bills, walking the dog, and caring for others. Among all these priorities, you can get stuck in a job that isn’t fulfilling or doesn’t use the skill sets you hoped to develop. You may bend to others’ expectations of who you should become. Ambition can turn to complacency: You’re doing well, and isn’t that good enough? I’ve seen this with people I’ve coached. They become comfortable with their roles, avoiding the uncertainty of pursuing something they always wanted to do. I worked with an artist who went into advertising, and a stockbroker who wanted to become a high school math teacher. They found it easier to keep doing what they were doing than reaching for what they really wanted. But it’s always possible to make a change, no matter which phase of life you’re in. Here are some actionable tactics to help you get unstuck in your career. Start by Identifying Your Heroes The one thing that will hold you back from achieving your fullest potential is a lack of vision. The first step is to be honest with yourself about what you want to do in your career, organization, and life. Give yourself permission to think about what really matters to you. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you quit your job (although it might for some). It means that you have conversations with yourself about yourself. You can ask yourself: “If I had a magic wand, what would I be doing?” I recently ran a workshop with people who found it difficult to let themselves think about what could be next or what they value. I had them think about someone that they admireâ€"either from history or in their family, politics, etc. When we explored their role models it opened their eyes to what they want in their own lives. Then we created realistic action plans around how to change what they were doing or build more of what they valued into their day to day. Change the Way You Talk to Yourself If you tell yourself it’s too late, or you are in too deep, you will squash your ability to make a change. Constantly debating reasons to go forward or not will keep you in the same spot. Behaviorally, we are comfortable with language that supports ideas and practices that have gotten us to where we are. Using different words can trigger the brain to engage its more comfortable system of thinking, subconsciously fighting your emerging new ideas. However, a new language will help you rewire your brain to think differently, the precursor to acting differently. Using new words is like learning a new language. Research has demonstrated that people who are bilingual trigger different brain activity in the prefrontal cortex, the front of the brain, that is responsible for organizing and acting on information. Creating a new language for yourself uses your brain differently, ultimately creating more cognitive flexibility and, eventually, new actions. So pay close attention to the language you use when talking about your career. If you say “I can’t” engage in new activities, transform it into “I can try something different.” Ideas such as “I shouldn’t dwell on what I’m not investing my time in” can turn into “I will try and invest my time in something I want to do.” And if you’re burnt out from job hunting, convert “I won’t talk to another recruiter” into “I will hear what she has to say.” The idea is to speak in a language that creates possibility for change. Get Honest About Your Strengths and Opportunities I recently ran a workshop on “Finding Your Next” for professional women. One participant was a 20-year corporate media veteran who always wanted to write a novel. She thought it was too late in her career. But she took an accounting of her personal strengths: she was a good and quick writer who managed her time well. And also surveyed her opportunities: she had no dependents living at home and had just completed an obligation with a local charity. She realized that she had time and desire, and the only thing in her way was her mindset. She chose to get unstuck. During her vacation she went on a writers’ retreat to outline her novel and develop her characters with a coach and other writers. Now she’s on her way. You can do the same exercise for yourself. Ask yourself what your strengths are, and what capabilities might need to be developed. I once coached a successful corporate lawyer who loved the law but felt numb in her large firm. She wanted to create a practice in the nonprofit sector, but didn’t believe she had the accounting and marketing skills to run a business on her own. The idea of keeping her own books, billing clients, and making sure they paid their bills was more than she wanted to think about. After some prodding, she enrolled in business courses. It took a few years, but she’s now practicing in her own firm, and is so successful she hired an account management person and took on an associate. Share Your Goals with Your Current Employer When good employees share their vision with executives, their career paths can change in unexpected and fulfilling ways. A mid-careerist in finance always harbored a dream of coaching lacrosse. He believed the sport helped cultivate discipline and teamwork, two skills he wanted to foster in his own children. There was only one problem: No opportunities existed for him to begin coaching in neighboring schools. He expressed this to a co-worker during a break at a quarterly meeting. The CFO happened to overhear him. Two weeks later, he was spearheading the creation of a company-sponsored lacrosse club for his co-workers. He also was soon promoted. There’s no reason to stifle what you feel passionate about. Most employers want good employees to be satisfiedâ€"this is not only altruistic, but may result in a more engaged and loyal worker. Making space in your life for striving toward your vision can help you develop new skills and bring a sense of purpose to what you do. So take a breath, carve out some time, and dream on.

Friday, April 10, 2020

9 Signs You Are On The Right Career Path - TheJobNetwork

9 Signs You Are On The Right Career Path - TheJobNetwork Choosing the right career for you can be an incredibly difficult task. There are so many variables and curveballs that will be coming at you from every angle. It’s easy to lose sight of the path you thought you were onâ€"and whether or not you still want to be on it! But whether you’re brand new to the workforce or have been there for years, here are a few ways to know when you’re on the right track in a rewarding career: googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0'); }); 1. You wake up happy.Trust us, most people don’t wake up energized and jazzed up to go about their days. If you actually look forward to going into the office, congrats! You’ve done it!2. Your to-do list doesn’t make you cringe.You look at your list of daily tasks and are eagerâ€"even excitedâ€"to tackle most of them. You get right down to work when you get to work, rather than dragging your feet and putting it off as long as possible.3. The day flies.Before you know it it’s quitting time. Did you even eat lunch? You actually enjoy the time you spend in the office. And you find yourself wishing you had just another hour to finish off a few loose ends.4. You’re appreciated.It’s clear that your coworkers and boss truly value the work you’re doing. You have their respect. You have their trust and thanks. And sure, hopefully soon, you’ll have that promotion.5. You won’t shut up.You get home or out to happy hour with pals and all you want to talk about is your work and how great it is, or what you’re currently working on. A lot of people can’t stop talking about work because they can’t stop complaining about it. If you’re doing the opposite, you’re probably in the right place.6. You see the future.And it’s huge! You can see a clear and challenging career path for yourself at this company. Maybe not “all the way to the top,” but certainly to a satisfying end point that you would consider a milestone. If you start associating y ourself with your job as part of your identity, and you see the company’s future success as integral to yours, then you’re right where you should be. One with the company!7. You’re positive and helpful.Your coworkers like you because you’re upbeat, positive, and generous with your help. They turn to you first when questions or problems arise. You’re looked to for leadership positions on projects and teams. You routinely go the extra mileâ€"and you like doing it. The added effort only energizes you more. You are desperate to keep proving yourself and not lose your position or esteem.8. You don’t get sad on Sundays.You know those old Sunday afternoon blues? The feeling of dread when you realize you have to go to work tomorrow? If you’re not getting those pangs on a weekly basis, then that’s a pretty good sign.9. You sing your company’s praises.If your company comes upâ€"either for its products or services or as a place to work, you can’t shut up about it. You’re constantly encouraging friends or contacts to come work with you. You’re pimping out your company at every turn. If this is you, well, you should probably stay right where you are. In your dream job!