Feet on the Street

Feet on the StreetFeet on the StreetMarket yourself outside your box.The last few weeks have certainly been difficult for the folks on Wall Street and the companies affected by the credit freeze. If you had asked me if there was a surplus of talent in August, I would have said no. Even with todays landscape and with more feet on the street, I would still be inclined to say no. So take heart companies will always need top talent with specialized skills.You may feel that your skills are industry specific and that prospective employers could pigeonhole you. However, many experts believe that certain attributes are transferable, such as strategic thinking and herausforderung solving skills. To quote an excerpt from Caliper, a Princeton-headquartered HR consulting firm who surveyed over 1,000 executives, Employers want to know whether applicants can solve problems and are conscientious. These attributes are demanded the most, but the most difficult to find.The survey goes on to express th at problem solving and conscientiousness were selected more than twice as often as other qualities (i.e. the ability to handle stress, being assertive, being agreeable and having good self esteem).Consider what your bosses and co-workers would say your intrinsic value is to the bottom line. Companies need to be competitive, especially in this economic environment, and they will always be open to hiring people with talent. Apply for a position even if its outside your box. As maintained by Caliper, 25% of employers frequently hire individuals without the qualities they are seeking most.Here are some tips to help you market yourself outside your boxAttend Industry EventsIts extremely important to listen to leaders in the industry speak about trends and best practices. Conferences are a terrific way to learn from these select few. Introduce yourself after their speech or panel segment is finished. Ask provocative questions that you have prepared, and increase your chances of being reme mbered. Hold on to their business cards, and follow up with an appropriate email and then a phone call. Yes, a phone call its called building a relationshipDo Your HomeworkOnce youve landed an interview, find out about the rolle you will be interviewing with. Know the companys business such as their competitive advantage and competitive landscape. Know the names of the founders, the history of the company and be prepared to answer why you would like to work at the company. The internet has given todays job seekers an edge. Knowing more about a company provides you the ability to ask insightful questions.Question, Question, QuestionI am consistently surprised by people being unprepared for interviews. Being armed with questions is your most basic responsibility. Would you be more inclined to listen to a person who focused expressly on themselves or the person that wants to know all about you and your successful company? Stop selling start asking questions its the best sales tool ev er Talk about the big picture, but ask for specifics into their way of thinking.Prioritize AuthenticityAt the end of the day the person sitting across the table from you is just as scared about the economy, so why not empathize and share war stories. Right now, people do not want to hear your 15-second elevator pitch and why youre the perfect fit. Its much more interesting and effective to be honest, and impart examples of your past performance. Just last week I was interviewing a candidate who gave me answers they thought I wanted to hear instead of real life examples from their own experience. If they had just provided me with one example, he would have legitimized his value proposition.Translate Your Skills into SuccessesTake time to consider your skills and how they may be applicable to other industries. Always remain clear on what your value-add is for the company. How can your track record of successes translate into an impressive ROI for a prospective future employer? Revisit accomplishments think of problems confronted, solutions developed and results achieved. Think about how those situations could be relevant for a different industry.Work Your NetworkWho you know will often help you land your next opportunity. Network, network and then network again. A positive attitude is contagious, and people enjoy helping people who have this quality. My A candidates have terrific attitudes, a good sense of self, and an awareness of their strengths.Make It PersonalYour career is individual, so show passion for the industry, position and company. When looking outside your industry, its wise to ask trusted advisors who work in the field to tell you about what constitutes success. Ask them for their story.Remember, there are a lot of feet on the street. Differentiate yourself. Be passionate, personable, and authentic by asking the right questions.

At the intersection of food, influence, and leadership

At the intersection of food, influence, and leadershipAt the intersection of food, influence, and leadershipStill new to the art of deciding when to do what others ask, children endearingly learn their usual way they play games.Simon says touch your toes. Simon says do a jumping jack. Look at the sky. Laughter erupts as the pig-tailed girl eagerly looks up, then dissolves in giggles, realizing she goofed.For many of us, it was a rude awakening to become the boss. And we were leid giggling. We had imagined our new title would make us a grown-up version of Simon. So we started issuing requests. And learned fast that true power the ability to get things done through others - doesnt come on a silver platter along with the new business cards and office nameplates.The leader as hostageAs Harvard Business School professor Linda Hill puts it in her wonderful article, Becoming the BossNew managers soon learn that when direct reports are told to do something, they dont necessarily respond. In fact, the more talented the subordinate, the less likely she is to simply follow orders. (Some new managers, when pressed, admit that they didnt always listen to their bosses either.) After a few painful experiences, new managers come to the unsettling realization that the source of their power is, according to one, everything but formal authority.Or as one disillusioned manager put it in Hills article Becoming a manager is bedrngnis about becoming a boss. Its about becoming a hostage.Todays need for complex corporate collaboration is rough on those comfortable with old-style command-and-control leadership. Colleagues juggle requests not just from their boss, but from other departments, leaders, suppliers, prospects, and clients. And they frequently have great discretion in how they handle those requests. They can tackle a task today - or next Tuesday. They can dive into an assignment with great creative gusto, or just cross the ts and dot the is in a perfunctory way.Factors inc reasing that other IQ (influencing quotient)Odds are highest that people will do what a leader requests if she meets one or more the worlds most obvious power criteria if shes their boss if she has strong credentials if they know her personally and/or if she can inflict consequences for non-compliance.But there are far less blatant characteristics at work when it comes to weaving influence. If we scrutinize leaders who meet none of the above power criteria, yet who manage to change how we behave today, we stand to unearth powerful lessons on moving others in the directions wed like.Take one of my favorite behavior-changers Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivores Dilemma plus three other New York Times bestsellers. In 2010 he was the only food/ nutrition leader named to the magazines list of the worlds 100 most influential people. But his top influence credential is more personal he has changed what many of us put on our forks each day.Yet Pollan is not our boss. By his own admission , his formal credentials are sketchy (hes got no nutrition degrees or research experience). We dont know him personally, and if we dont follow the food tenets in his books, there are no negative consequences.So why is Pollans influence in the food world so strong?In How Michael Pollan Actually Gets us to Listen to Him, Christine Champagne lays out five reasons people follow Pollans advice. Three of them offer leadership lessons to those of us who scramble hard on a daily basis to enlist others to do our bidding.1 SIMPLICITY In a world of shifting, often contradictory nutritional advice, Pollan is a breath of fresh uncomplicated air. Dont eat anything incapable of rotting. Or Dont eat anything your great-grandmother wouldnt recognize as food. Think Ronald Reagan and small government. Or Steve Jobs and great product design.2 HUMILITY Pollan is clear that hes out to learn, get his hands dirty, and succeed alongside us, not to lecture us or pose as the person with all the answers. To le arn firsthand where our meat comes from, Pollan famously bought a 6-month old black steer in January 2002, then followed steer 534s life all the way to the slaughterhouse in June. As he puts it I dont think we like the voice of the omniscient I think we like much bettersomebody who is on a quest, and we want to know how it turns out. Leaders who highlight and celebrate how they and their teams are constantly learning create a great result more learning.3 DIRECT ENGAGEMENT Like many authors, Pollen admits to loving the solitude of writing. Yet like other successful leaders he pushes himself out the door (on a real and virtual basis) so others can get to know him wherever they are via Tv, magazines, at talks in lecture halls, on Twitter or Facebook, or on the street basically anywhere outside the book-writing ivory tower.Can these factors work for me?Can these 3 factors - which amplify Michael Pollans influence - make a difference for you and other leaders?Lets look at another hig hly influential voice in todays world of food drink that of Jim Koch, brewer of Sam Adams beer. Jim founded Boston Beer with his secretary in 1984 the company is now worth over $2 billion.Jim provides a living, breathing example of how leadership gains steam (or should we say, a rich head of foam?) when the three influencing factors described above are present. In a recent INC Video interview, simplicity, humility, and direct engagement are evident in spades in Jims responses.Simplicity We have a very simple rule about hiring that I think has enabled us to maintain a world-class group of people at Boston Beer Company. We never hire somebody unless they raise the average. If the answer is no, were not improving the company.Humility I never sold anything in my life until I had to put cold beer in my briefcase 31 years ago and go cold call on bars in Boston. I was scared to death. I didnt want to get out of bed the first day.Direct engagement On a new employees first day, I spend tw o hours with them first thing in the morning talking about the companys mission, cultures, and values. Then at the end of the day, Ill spend another three hours with them tasting and discussing 30 different Samuel Adams beers. After about 20 beers, people feel really comfortable asking me any question they want.Yes, one way to a man (or womans) heart is still through his or her stomach, as evidenced by the number of Dunkin Donut boxes that find their way daily into corporate conference rooms.But when it comes to influence, simplicity, humility, and engagement beat donuts and even beer hands down. (Methinks Jim Koch credits the wrong substances for building loyalty and trust in him, including the courage to ask the Chairman crazy questions on ones first day of work. )So be sure youre dishing up generous servings of simplicity, humility, and direct engagement if youd like to get more done through others.And who doesnt?

How to Build Stronger Professional Relationships - The Muse

How to Build Stronger Professional Relationships - The MuseHow to Build Stronger Professional Relationships Im a big believer in the power of a strong professional network. So, Im always keeping my eyes peeled for tips to be better at building more meaningful connections.Theres tons of great advice out there (just take this article, for instance). But, I recently stumbled upon one suggestion that really resonated with me.In an article for First Round Review, Chris Fralic, a highly successful venture capitalist (and, if I do say so myself, an expert relationship builder), shares some networking advice.The article is packed full of helpful tips, but there was one point in particular that stood out to me. It was this End every meeting or conversation with the feeling and optimism youd like to have at the start of your next conversation with the person.The world is small- especially within your specific industry or profession. Assume youre going to run into everyone again- it usually hap pens either by plan or happenstance, says Fralic in the piece, There are no closed connections.So, what exactly does it mean to leave a conversation with a sense of optimism?Well, whenever you end an interaction, do so with the knowledge that you very well might cross paths with this person at some point in the future. When they notice you across the room at an industry function a few months from now or run into you in the grocery store on a random Saturday afternoon? You want them to be excited to see you again- rather than dreading your conversation or ducking between the produce aisles in a futile attempt to avoid you.If you envision running into this person again and how you want that to go, itll undoubtedly influence how you navigate a present conversation- usually for the better, Fralic explains.With that in mind, I can already think of numerous interactions I wish I could turn back the clock on and redo.Rather than complaining to a new acquaintance about the stuffy room at th at networking event, I wish I wouldve sucked it up and engaged in a more productive conversation about his career. Instead of venting endlessly about a difficult project to an industry peer, I wouldve been better off briefly mentioning my frustrations and then asking what she was working on. Rest assured, leaving a conversation with a sense of optimism doesnt necessarily mean you can never air your grievances- we all have our off days, and its always best to be authentic. However, it all comes back to making your best effort to leave a positive impression on everyone you meet. And, for me, that doesnt involve fostering a reputation as a serial complainer.So, the next time you meet someone new, keep this in the back of your head If you ran into this person again, would you be proud of this interaction? Would that person be excited to see you? Make your best effort to ensure those questions can be answered with a resounding yes, and youre much more likely to build stronger relationshi ps.

9 accountability questions to ask your team

9 accountability questions to ask your team9 accountability questions to ask your teamBe honestwhats your initial reaction when a team member slips up on a critical commitment or misses a deadline?.bxc.bx-campaign-1012255 .bx-group-1012255-lyDBLV9 width 900pxheight 550pxYou might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Lies Youve Been Told About Nursing Resume Samples

Lies Youve Been Told About Nursing Resume Samples In addition, your nursing resume will want to be specifically tailored to the work advertisement. Even though the nursing field demands specific technical abilities, employers search for different abilities, called soft skills-the type of skills that make you a superb employee. Writing general duties is a typical mistake because applicants feel that nursing resembles various hospitals and departments, but in fact, your duties will differ between different facilities. It is possible to make use of these resumes also when trying to find a center to perform your internship program. Dont neglect to highlight certain skills you have which are associated with the work description, in addition to accomplishments youve achieved and tasks youve managed. You may totenstill prove that youre great for the job. Nursing is somewhat of a special field, as securing that job will be dependent on your soft abilities and personality along with y our experience. Naturally, each job will call for unique abilities and experiences, so make certain you read the job description with care and concentrate on the skills listed by the employer. Life After Nursing Resume Samples All nursing programs need Basic Life Support (BLS) certification to take part in clinical hours and supply the class during school. You should choose a nursing resume template according to your experience and knowledge. The verb nursing is connected with caring. Any good nursing resume needs a crystal clear presentation of vital skills. You need to use skills in caring and implement different procedures to help the individual improve from present health condition. Nurses should have a lot of health understanding, and will need in order to carry out certain procedures (for example, giving vaccinations and drawing blood). While they are not typically responsible for diagnosis, the doctor might not be present when the change happens, or when the patient s hares the information. If you wish to be a prosperous nurse, you are going to have to win the trust of patients. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Nursing Resume Samples Nursing is among the super prestigious and most sought-after professions in america. Certifications matter a lot in the verlottern competitive world. Employing the resume examples weve developed, its simple to create your RN resume much better. Besides Clinical Rotations will choose the workplace experience. New Ideas Into Nursing Resume Samples Never Before Revealed Our resume builder gives you tips and examples about how to compose your resume summary. Its wise not to ramble. Nursing Resume Samples Options Actually, mentioning the license number could just produce the recruiters job very very straightforward and could function as a distinguishing element for you. The recruiter shouldnt be confused and wonder about the data in the resume. Make certain you include everything thats perti nent to the job. Whatever youre looking for in a nursing resume, youre sure to get the best samples in our site. In some places, the work market for nurses are often quite tough. Exactly like a patient whos about to get unfortunate news on her or his condition, it would do you well to receive it over and done with. With the aid of our writing guide and licensed practical nurse resume sample, you finally have the skills you have to stick out from the competition. Your clothes help make a great impression. As an issue of fact, it includes many samples with different writing styles. The description ought to be short and concise, however in the vorstellung the graduate should fill space on the webpage, creating numerous lines of experience descriptors could be wise. Locate a resume template which suits your taste. Writing, you may make a distinct section resume your licenses. A couple of lines are sufficient. Youre able to download as many resumes as you desire. Available o nline at no cost Many employers would rather leave positions unfilled rather than hire someone whos unqualified. Some are academic affiliations. You may also opt to design high-quality resumes for business purposes. These resumes are sure to make you stand apart from your competition.

Careers in dental assistance something to smile about

Careers in dental assistance something to smile about Careers in dental assistance something to smile aboutPosted October 13, 2011, by Mike KermodeIf youre like fruchtwein people and hate going to the dentist, youre probably going to appreciate anyone who makes the process as smooth and fast as possible. In fact, dentistry and teeth for that matter just wouldnt be what it is today if it werent for the magical touch of one person the dental assistant.Becoming a dental assistant is a career you may elend have considered, but its a great option for a whole host of reasons especially for those who have recently finished school and are seeking a stable career with a good income and good working conditions, and who enjoy working with people.Here are some reasons why a career in the dental industry could bring a smile to your face, as well as the faces of others.What dental assistants doDental assistants perform a whole range of tasks, balancing clinical and administrative roles to ensur e dental procedures are conducted in a smooth and efficient manner. This allows the dentist to focus all their attention on the matter at hand you and your teeth.On the administrative side of things, a dental assistant books and follows up appointments, controls the invoicing, receipting and stocktaking of dental supplies, creates and maintains patient dental records, processes payments and attends to patient enquiries.In addition to the administrative stuff, theyre also responsible for welcoming patients, getting them settled, and putting them at ease if theyre a bit reluctant, a tad nervous, or completely terrified of whats about to happen in their own mouth. In this way, dental assistants are adept at making sure you dont freak out, so your teeth can get the treatment they need with as little fuss as possible.On top of this, theyre also in dienstgrad of various clinical procedures, such as sterilising instruments, preparing syringes for local anaesthesia, passing instruments dur ing a procedure, holding a suction device, creating dental radiographs (X-rays) and handling radiography equipment, constructing provisional or temporary crowns, performing first aid and safely disposing of surgery waste.These health professionals are also involved in educating patients on various aspects of oral care, and sometimes crafting oral health programs for clients.What attributes do you need to become a dental assistant?First and foremost, you need to be a good communicator with a positive attitude. You need to be able to empathise with people, and to communicate with people of all ages and backgrounds. For this you need a caring approach. You also need to be able to multitask, capable of handling both clinical and administrative sides of the business simultaneously. Being computer literate is also a big help.What qualifications do you need to get in?For starters, youll at least need a Year 10 school certificate. People sometimes become dental assistants without formal qualifications, but professional training definitely helps. While formal training has not been considered a necessity in the past, more and more dental practices now require their dental assistants to be accredited, calling for a Certificate III in Dental Assisting as a minimum. That said, you can also do it the other way around finding a position as a dental assistant first, and then complementing your practical experience with theoretical studies. In this way, you learn the theory while getting the experience you need. The course will take up to 12 months to complete, at the end of which youll have a thorough understanding of everything involved in dental assistance, a professional qualification and a higher rate of pay. This scenario is ideal for recent school leavers, who can continue studying but can work and get paid at the same time. On top of the Certificate III, you have the option to extend your studies by completing a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting. In doing th is, you can elect to become more specialised in one of two areas radiographic imaging or oral health promotion. Whichever way you go, this higher qualification will make you more attractive to employers, and will see that youre paid a bit more for your work.Five good reasons to become a dental assistant1. There are hundreds of jobs on offer right now. At the time of writing, there are over 200 dental assisting jobs on SEEK.com.au alone. 2. As weve explored above, its not hard to become a dental assistant and the time investment is minimal. 3. Dental assisting is a growing industry that offers good stable work. Most dental assisting positions offer decent pay with good working conditions, and most dental assistants report high job satisfaction. Its also pretty much recession-proof regardless of how the economy is going, people still need dental procedures. 4. You will learn skills you can take anywhere. Given the rising demand for dental services the world over, becoming a denta l assistant will ensure that your skills will be valued wherever you go. 5. You can take it further. Dental assistance can be a stepping stone to practice management, or further study in dental hygiene or dental therapy.Health ResourcesOccupational therapist sample resumeOccupational therapist sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesSarah Key - Physiotherapist to the QueenInterested in becoming a?Business ManagerOffice AdministratorHuman Resources ManagerPractice ManagerOccupational Health and Safety (OHS) OfficerPopular Career Searchescertificate iii in health services assistance in gippslandcertificate iii in health services assistance operating theatre techniciancertificate iii iv in allied health assistancecareer opportunities after a masters in public healthbachelor of physiotherapy onlineHealth CoursesCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire zugreifbar Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Nutrition and Di...Enquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Exercise)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineMike KermodeRelated ArticlesBrowse moreEmployment trendsEmployment winners and losersThe health and aged care and mining sectors are the two big industry winners when it comes to employment gains during the last year, as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.Allied HealthHealthAllied health careers Not just doctors and nursesIf you love the idea of helping people with their health issues but dont think becoming a nurse or doctor is for you, then consider a career in allied health.Aged CareHealthFive life-giving careers in health careMany of us would agree with Gandhis assertion that health, not money, is the real wealth. But have you ever thought about putting yourself in the healers seat?

Writing an Effective Resume After Youve Been Laid Off

Writing an Effective Resume After Youve Been Laid OffWriting an Effective Resume After Youve Been Laid OffLets say you were unexpectedly laid off, and you need a new job ASAP. Out of desperation, you may be tempted to start sending out your resume, which hasnt been updated inyears, immediately.But dont Youd be far better off taking the time to update and tailor your resume, no matter howbig a rush youre in to land your next job.Writing an effective resume can be a time-consuming, daunting task. But investing the time and energy to perfect it will likely be well worth the effort.Here are some stepsfor writing an effective resume after youve been laid offLearn about the current resume rules or trends.If it has been a while since you last wrote a resume, do your homework on the current rules or trends. Read as many articles as possible, like the ones wepublish on the blog, to get a better understanding of what employers look for in resumes today.For instance, since youll be sending you r resume electronically, you can include hyperlinks to things like your LinkedIn profile(which you should make sure is up to date, as well).Create a template and master doc you can pull from.Since its imperative that you customize, or at least tweak, your resume for each job you apply to, creating one generic resume that you send to everyone wont cut it. So, instead, come up with a great template you want to use, and fill out all the information that will remain the same (i.e., your personenname and contact information, your education, etc.).Then, create a master document where you have everything else- volunteer work, achievements, all your past work experience- with tons of bullet points for each one, focusing on different areas of those jobs. This way, you can easilypull the most relevant information from that document when youre working on each individual resume.Read, and reread, and reread the job posting.Without being so obvious or over-the-top,youll want to include keywords f rom the job posting within your resume, if possible. This will not only help your resume get through an automated tracking system, but will also tell the hiring manager that you spent time on this application, which theyll likely appreciate.Youll also want to make sure you have a very clear understanding of the job in order to decide which information about your background, achievements, skills, etc. is most relevant.So, as simple as it may sound, reread the job posting at least a few times, and pay very close attention to the language the employer uses.Dont lie.If you were laid off, you dont need to write that on your resume(you can explain during the interview, if it comes up), but you also dont need to hide the fact that you had a small employment gap since.Never fabricate or lie on your resume Theres a good chance the employer will eventually figure it out, and when they do, they probably wont be very happy.Explore your experience. If you thought that job experience only came fr om paid jobs, think again. Job experience can come in many forms, such asfreelance gigs, part-time jobs, unpaid internshipseven volunteer jobs They all count towards solid work experience, and should be listed as such in the work experience section on your resume. Just make sure not to go beyond 10-15 years of past experience, since youll only want to include mora recent, relevant information.For each position youve held, include your job title, the companys name, your top duties, and your accomplishments while working there. Use numbers instead of words since it can help a potential employer see your success (e.g., Saved the company $450,000 by recommending a new computer program.). And dont forget to use the past tense for jobs youve held, and the present tense if youre including a job that you are still working at.Consider if its time to moveyour education to the bottom. Again, if it has been a while since you last updated your resume, there may be some things youll want to move aroundlike your education.If you last worked on your resume as a recent college grad, you likely featured your Education section toward the very top. But ifits been, ahem, quite a few years since you graduated, it may be time to move that to the bottom and use that prime resume real estate to feature your most recent, relevant work experience, instead. Also consider leaving your graduation year off your resume.Proofread, proofread, proofread.If you were recently laid off, and youre currently unemployed, youll likely be anxious to get the ball rolling and send out your new, updated resume the second you finish working on it. But its so important that you take some time to proofreadand edit your resumecarefully. You may need to step away from it for a day or two before you begin the proofreading process to let your brain get some distance. You should also ask others to read it for typos, grammatical errors, or anything else that could easily land your resume in the no pile.You wouldnt want all your hard work to go to waste because you spelled Experience wrongWriting your resume might seem like a laborious, daunting experience, but it can make your job searchmove faster if you invest the time to take these steps upfront.Looking for even mora help recovering from your layoff? partnered with LinkedIn Learning to create a whole course for you. Get a 30 day free trial with unlimited access to LinkedIn Learnings full course catalog Heres an overview on Recovering from a Layoff to learn more about the course.

The Case Against Résumé Writers

The Case Against Rsum WritersThe Case Against Rsum WritersIt seems that ever mora people are hiring a rsum writer. But if you think about it, thats no more ethical than hiring someone to write your college application essay.In fact, hiring a rsum writer is worse because the effects are worse. For most professional-level jobs, employers use rsums not just to see applicants work history but to assess their ability to organize their thoughts, write well and produce an error-free document. An applicant who chooses to do his or her own work for ethical reasons or because he or she cant afford to hire a rsum writer is unfairly penalized. And if that candidate ends up getting hired, not only is that unfair to the superior applicants, its unfair to the employer and the co-workers who are thus saddled with an unten liegend employee. And inferior employees result in worse products and services and so, indirectly, its unfair to society. True, the effect of a single bad hire is rarely enormous, but collectively, across all the rsums and cover letters written or heavily edited by hired guns, it is.If appeals to ethics are insufficient, perhaps it might help to realize that if you get a job under false pretenses, youre more likely to fail at that job and soon be back on the street, pounding the pavement and your keyboard. If, instead, you reveal your true self, including weaknesses, in writing your rsum and cover letter and in interviews, youll more likely be rejected from ill-suited jobs and more likely hired for better-suited ones.There are other benefits of writing your own rsum and cover letter When you land a job, youll feel you earned it. Your application will be more credible because the writing level will be consistent with your competency level. If when you interview, your verbal and thinking skills are lower than are demonstrated in your rsum, many employers will realize you had someone do your work for you. If you write your own rsum, it will more likely create th at all-important connection with the reader than does the typical rsum writers effort. The latter is too likely to be filled with rsum-speak, such as self-starting team player who delights in exceeding customer expectations and specializes in spearheading profit-maximizing initiatives, seeks leadership position with PL responsibility in dynamic, high-velocity organization. True, some employers expect applicants to play that game, but wiser employers will appreciate the credibility of a more human, less robotically created document.Rsum writers try to defend their profession by saying speechwriters and ghostwriters also write for other people. Thats a weak argument. Just because a practice exists doesnt make it justifiable. For example, theft is common but certainly not ethical. With regard to speechwriters, citizens would be in a better position to choose which politicians to vote for if candidates wrote their own speeches. We should be voting for the best candidate, not the best sp eechwriter or teleprompter reader.And its far from ethical to say you wrote a book when someone else did. Thats why ethical putative authors credit ghostwriters on the books cover with such phrases as with or as told to, on, for example, The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. Besides, the impact of an unacknowledged ghostwriter is much smaller than of hiring someone to write your rsum. Readers rarely use the fact of a book having been ghostwritten to decide something as important as whom to hire.If it welches ethical to hire someone to write your rsum, why, at the bottom of each rsum, dont rsum writers write, written by Jane Jones, professional rsum writer? If you hired a rsum writer, would you want that written on your rsum? If hiring a rsum writer was ethical, you wouldnt mind.Most people like to think of themselves as ethical. If you do, might you want to reflect on whether hiring a rsum writer is consistent with your values?And if you are a professional rsum write r, might it be worth considering that, as has been argued here, the rsum-writing profession makes things worse, not better? With thousands of societally beneficial professions available, might you want to consider a career change?The San Francisco Bay Guardian called Dr. Nemko The Bay Areas Best Career Coach and he was Contributing Editor for Careers at U.S. News. His sixth and seventh books were published in 2012 How to Do Life What They Didnt Teach You in School and Whats the Big Idea? 39 Disruptive Proposals for a Better America. More than 1,000 of his published writings are free on www.martynemko.com. He posts here every Monday.

Even a Genius Has to Sell Himself...The Resume of Leonardo da Vinci

Even a Genius Has to Sell Himself...The Resume of Leonardo da VinciEven a Genius Has to Sell Himself...The Resume of Leonardo da VinciUse Leonardo da Vincis resume as inspiration to create a strong one of your own.Before he welches famous, before he painted the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, before he invented the helicopter, before he drew the most famous image of man, before he was all of ansicht things, Leonardo da Vinci was an armorer, a weapons guy, a maker of things that go boom.And, like you, he had to put together a resume to get his next gig. So in 1482, at the age of 30, he wrote out a letter and a list of his capabilities and sent it off to Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan.So to celebrate Leonardos birthday thisFriday, April 15th, Id like to share his wonderful resume with you.The translation of this letter is quite remarkableMost Illustrious Lord, Having now sufficiently considered the specimens of all those who proclaim themselves skilled contrivers of instruments of war, and that the invention and verarbeitungsschritt of the said instruments are nothing different from those in common use I shall endeavor, without prejudice to any one else, to explain myself to your Excellency, showing your Lordship my secret, and then offering them to your best pleasure and approbation to work with effect at opportune moments on all those things which, in part, shall be briefly noted below. 1. I have a sort of extremely light and strong bridges, adapted to be most easily carried, and with them you may pursue, and at any time flee from the enemy and others, secure and indestructible by fire and battle, easy and convenient to lift and place. Also methods of burning and destroying those of the enemy. 2. I know how, when a place is besieged, to take the water out of the trenches, and make endless variety of bridges, and covered ways and ladders, and other machines pertaining to such expeditions. 3. If, by reason of the height of the banks, or the strength of the place and its position, it is impossible, when besieging a place, to avail oneself of the plan of bombardment, I have methods for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were founded on a rock, etc. 4. Again, I have kinds of mortars most convenient and easy to carry and with these I can fling small stones almost resembling a storm and with the smoke of these cause great terror to the enemy, to his great detriment and confusion. 5. And if the fight should be at sea I have kinds of many machines most efficient for offense and defense and vessels which will resist the attack of the largest guns and powder and fumes. 6. I have means by secret and tortuous mines and ways, made without noise, to reach a designated spot, even if it were needed to pass under a trench or a river. 7. I will make covered chariots, safe and unattackable, which, entering among the enemy with their artillery, there is no body of men so great but they would break them. And behind these, infantry could follow quite unhurt and without any hindrance. 8. In case of need I will make big guns, mortars, and light ordnance of fine and useful forms, out of the common type. 9. Where the operation of bombardment might fail, I would contrive catapults, mangonels, trabocchi, and other machines of marvellous efficacy and not in common use. And in short, according to the variety of cases, I can contrive various and endless means of offense and defense. 10. In times of peace I believe I can give perfect satisfaction and to the equal of any other in architecture and the composition of buildings public and private and in guiding water from one place to another. 11. I can carry out sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay, and also I can do in painting whatever may be done, as well as any other, be he who he may. Again, the bronze horse may be taken in hand, which is to be to the immortal glory and eternal honor of the prince your father of happy memory, and of the illustrious house of Sforza. And if any of the above-named things seem to anyone to be impossible or not feasible, I am most ready to make the experiment in your park, or in whatever place may please your Excellency to whom I comment myself with the utmost humility, etc.What a fantastic piece of personal marketing Theres none of his famous backwards-mirror writing here - this letter was intended to be read and to persuade.Im a hopeless pedantic, so heres what I think we can learn from Leonardos resumeYoull notice he doesnt recite past achievements. He doesnt mention the painting of the altarpiece for the Chapel of St Bernard he doesnt provide a laundry list of past bombs hes built he doesnt cite his prior employment in artist Andrea di Ciones studio.No, he does none of these things, because those would be about his achievements, not the Dukes needs.Instead, he sells his prospective employer on what Leonardo can do for him.Now imagine being the Duke of Milan and receiving this magnificent letter from the young prodigy of Fl orence. The specific descriptives paint a vivid picture of siege engines and bombardments and mortars and trench-draining and bridges to defeat the enemy. You can imagine the scenes that ran through the Dukes head as he held this letter in his hands and read through Leonardo da Vincis bold statements of capabilities.What Renaissance Duke wouldnt want kinds of mortars most convenient and easy to carry that can fling small stones almost resembling a storm? Sounds pretty enticing.And thats exactly what your resume needs to do, too. Not the laundry list / standard bio that talks about you, but the marketing piece that talks about the benefits to your future employer and how you fit into his or her needs and desires.You can use Ladders free resume reviewer to help you be (almost) as persuasive.So it turns out that even on his 564th birthday, this remarkable fellow Leonardo da Vinci is teaching us about the future. What a genius.Heres wishing you an illustrious week, ReadersAs the Italian s might saySto tifo per te (Im rooting for you),