Category: Employment

Employments covers the self-employed business person and/or entrepreneur as well as salaried individuals working on various shifts, including the standard “9 to 5” shift. Transitioning from employed to self-employed is one of the biggest hurdles to folks owning and operating their own business; the others being start-up capital and an operating budget.

Conveying Your Transferable Skills in a Resume


When making a career change

Many of us, when faced with career changing decisions, put a lot of thought into the steps we need to take in order to make the very best decision possible, because a career change can be one of the most important decisions we make. Since such decisions involve our families, living and financial situations and competitive advantages in the new field, among other such concerns, making a career change typically means starting with a blank canvas.

Of course, an individual may have the freedom to paint that canvas any way s/he wishes; but while doing so, it is important that s/he invests the time and energy, as well as make the sacrifices necessary to prove that s/he’s a credible professional in the new field. S/he also needs to be competitive, motivated, and be able to sustain the drive that is necessary to be successful. And after s/he’s convinced that changing careers is the right thing to do, s/he will then have to convince potential employers that s/he is the best person for the job being sought, and get hired.

If you are that job seeker faced with a career change – or you are able to put yourself in such a job seeker’s stead – the first thing you should acknowledge is the necessity to do your research; because you must demonstrate to your potential employer that you have an extensive knowledge of the industry you’re interested in entering, even if you don’t have the accompanying experience. Before you begin your new career, make sure you understand what professional paths are available for you, and determine what your ultimate goal is, as this will help you form the career objective for your resume.

Identifying your own transferable skills

Additionally, make sure to do your research on the company you are interested in, as well as their competition (if you are interested in non-profit organizations, make sure to brush up on other organizations with similar missions), because if you are invited for an interview, you will want to appear very knowledgeable, not only about your potential new company, but about the industry as a whole. Keep in mind that you will have to convince your potential employer that you are the best person for the job; even better than the candidates with experience. You’ll do this by showcasing your enthusiasm for the opportunity, as well as your eagerness to enhance your knowledge about the field.

about resumes, cover letters and interviews

If you possess transferable skills, you know that such skills can be utilized in numerous fields, and can be key to a successful career change; so consider your qualifications to date. What experience have you acquired that can be transferred across various industries? Transferable skills include verbal and written communication, people management, customer relations, organizational and project management skills, development of new processes, generation of new ideas or concepts, and other such skills, both acquired and innate. Skills which can be adapted to all organizations that you should utilize to showcase your qualifications for the job you are seeking.

Defining your transferable skills

Consider, for example, that you would like to ditch a 9-to-5 desk job for a hectic, unpredictable life of a high school teacher; you’ll have to let your potential employer know that your previous experience in leading by motivation makes you a perfect candidate for the job (even if that marketing project you managed has nothing to do with teaching English Composition); and make a list of all your professional experiences and the qualifications needed for the job you are seeking, as it will help you in determining which skills are transferable to your new career.

Chronological Resume Template: Resume Solution, What you Need to Creat your US and Canadian Resume (Template, Resume, Functional, Jobs, Opportunities)

Once you define your transferable skills, use a functional resume to ensure that most (if not all) the qualifications needed for the new job are met in your resume. In addition to your resume, you should use your cover letter or email to let your potential employer know why you are changing careers, and that your new interest is not a passing fancy or simply an act based on impulse. Make sure that your resume reflects your newfound interest in a genuine and professional manner, and you will give yourself the best chance to make a successful career change.

Utilizing Resume Banks for Optimum Results


Sources of job listings

In today’s technology driven society most job seekers search for work on the Internet whether they’re looking to change jobs; in between jobs and looking for a new opportunity; or fresh out of school and brand new to the job market. There are two ways a job seeker can find job listings on the Internet: company websites and resume banks; the former is evidenced by the fact that most companies now have a special area on their websites which is dedicated to careers.

These days the perusal of a typical company website mentioned earlier will reveal listings of available positions from entry level to higher management, with the exception of executive positions which are often filled through head hunters and/or personal recruitment. And larger, more sophisticated companies allow a job seeker to create a professional profile on their website and upload his/her well-written resume.

This allows you – if you are in search of employment – to apply for an available position in which you are interested, while allowing the company’s recruiting team to match your resume to an available position they are looking to fill. Most companies list contact information for their available positions, so that you can reach out to the appropriate person and submit your resume for consideration.

Resume banks fill the job void

However, unless you are targeting a handful of organizations, consider the amount of time it would take you to review web sites and job postings of all the different companies in your area of interest. You would probably get frustrated and give up before accomplishing the goal. It is for this reason that resume banks – more commonly known as resume databases – have grown in popularity and are considered the better resource for job seekers.

Curricula Vitae

These databases have two functions: first, they allow you to search a comprehensive listing of available jobs from a large number of companies; and second, they provide the facility by which you can upload your current resume and make it available for many of the same same employers you would have applied with to find you.

Popular resume databases such as monster.com and careerbuilder.com have been successful in building their online presence because they responded to the growing needs of companies looking for qualified personnel and professionals to fill their openings, as well as meeting the needs of busy professionals looking to expand their careers. Resume databases are usually free, and although you will be asked to register with the website, you should not have to pay any membership fees.

Register • Upload • Search

Of course there are a few sites that will allow you to search through a resume database without having to register; be mindful though, that these sites may restrict the number of jobs you can view, or the amount of details you can get from a job posting. In terms of convenience it can be said that registering with a resume bank has its benefits, in the sense that the amount of time, effort and frustration which many job seekers experience will be greatly reduced, because making your resume available to a large number of employers will no doubt, speed up the process.

When registering, include your contact information and your most up to date resume; but do not post a sample cover letter. Although they are mostly discarded from resume banks, cover letters are meant to be personalized, so posting a generic cover letter along with your resume doesn’t help you get noticed. More important than the cover letter is If you are seeking a new job while still working, which would justify any concerns you have about your employer finding your resume in one of these databases.

Some people recommend leaving current job information off the resume, but many professionals don’t want to do so because it is their current job that serves as that stepping stone to the next point in their careers, so it can create a dilemma in that respect. You can however, include a title and omit the company name, which would serve both purposes at the same time. Also, consider posting a functional or chronological resume, and make a note in your profile that a detailed and well-written resume can be emailed upon request.

Keeping your undated resume current

Make sure that the resume you have posted in the database is current; and make sure not to date your resume; –this way it will not appear outdated to potential employers. Log into the website once every few months and update your profile and your resume if you are actively looking for a job (always provide most up-to-date contact information, even if you don’t have time to update the complete profile).

about resumes, cover letters and interviews

Resume banks, or databases as they are called, can help you gain access to a large number of job postings, so don’t avoid utilizing them; but make sure your profile and your resume are posted on reputable sites such as monster.com. If you are unsure of the credibility of the site, do a little research online and see what others have to say about it; and don’t rely on employers to find you. If you are actively searching for a new job, review the listings regularly and seek out the opportunities that best meet your career objectives.