The Work Buzz's Latest News: Resumes 101 – everything you should & shouldn’t be doing

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Resumes 101 – everything you should & shouldn’t be doing Posted: 13 Apr 2012 08:00 AM PDT Over the years, we’ve provided nearly a metric ton of résumé tips and we thought, “Why not just put some of our best and most popular posts on the topic together for people? What a gift that would be!” Gift, indeed. So I’m happy to present you with some of our best résumé articles from this blog and the Career Advice & Resources section on CareerBuilder.com. But first, let’s hear from employers on how you can address a gap on your résumé: You can check out the rest of our Expert Advice series on our YouTube channel, as well as our #AskCB series. So what should you be doing with your résumé? Check out these articles that can put you on the path of what to include and how to write a stellar résumé: The importance of résumé keywords Don’t bury the lead on your résumé 6 things you should take off your résumé  20 unusual résumé tactics to avoid The elements of résumé style 10 useless résumé words (and 10 eye-catching ones) Résumé missteps that hurt your career search In addition to these articles, did you know that CareerBuilder offers résumé writing services and résumé upgrade opportunities? Once you’ve implemented these tips on your résumé on CareerBuilder.com, we’re going to give you the opportunity to take $15 off of our Résumé Upgrade service by using this code, which expires 5/31/2012: RUWB1 After logging in to the site, determine which resume you want to upgrade and use the code above in the ‘Coupon Code’ section.

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ResumeBear Blog

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ResumeBear: Signs an Employee is Job Hunting, Don’t get Caught! Posted: 13 Apr 2012 06:36 AM PDT Job hunting in the workplace is always a risky business and, unless you're being right-sized out of your present job, should be done only on your own time. If you insist on searching for a new job during work hours, or suspect that one of your employees has one foot out the door, you may want to know about these ten online signs that an employee is job hunting: Job site- A straightforward indication that an employee is on the lookout for a new job is finding their resume on a job searching website. Particularly if the resume includes their current position in their work history. Twitter – Tweets from their Twitter profile mentioning things like job openings, interviews, etc. Social networking is after all, networking as well as social, so job searches often begin there. Facebook – Status updates on a Facebook page might also allude to a job search, or dissatisfaction with the employee's current position. The frequency with which people are busted by their bosses making such comments on their social profiles is pretty sobering. Blog – The employee may also have a blog where she is posting and networking about job hunting. This is another area where the level of privacy and separation between professional and social life aren't always what the person thinks. Email – Email responses from prospective employers may be visible in the employees inbox. Correspondence regarding job hunting should be limited to your private email account, and for that matter your personal time. LinkedIn – LinkedIn recommendations will tip off an employer that one of their workers is actively seeking a new workplace. It's a good idea to use confidential profiles, avoiding public access to private information like name, phone number and email address. Desktop – An employee might have a desktop icon for something like resume-making software, which is another pretty reliable indication that all is not well in Cubicleville. Also having multiple resume copies on the desktop or job sites in bookmarks are big signs. Resume – An employer might find the resume of one of their own employees while scanning the internet for potential candidates for current openings within the company. This could very well lead to one more opening within the company. Silence – Another sign that an employee might be looking for an alternative job is when he stops griping about his current job. So if his boss's inbox is no longer dotted with complaints from a disgruntled worker, it may be because he's given up complaining, and started looking for greener pastures. Music – Music selection on your employee's online playlist could provide some clues as well. If she's blasting Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It" over her computer speakers, she just may be sending a message that she's going bye-bye. No matter the reason, a job search should never be done during company time. If you find an employee looking for a new job, let them know that is not acceptable. If you don't know why they want a new job, this would be a good opportunity to find out if there is something you need to change for the next employee or other current employees. To employees searching- always remember not to burn bridges. You may need a reference in the future.

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The Work Buzz's Latest News: Job search, work expenses underutilized for tax deductions

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Job search, work expenses underutilized for tax deductions Posted: 12 Apr 2012 08:00 AM PDT With tax day quickly approaching on April 17, a new survey by CareerBuilder and Liberty Tax Service has revealed that many job seekers may be missing out on tax deductions related to either their job search or work expenses. According to the survey, only 20 percent reported to have claimed work-related expenses on their taxes, with just 7 percent claiming job-search expenses. Job seekers may hesitate when claiming such expenditures, because they can’t clearly identify what’s eligible. That’s why it’s important to consult a tax professional to understand what items you could be deducting. Eligible job-search expenses At least three-out-of-four workers surveyed weren’t aware that you may be able to claim professional résumé-writing services and résumé paper. While more than half didn't know travel to and from job interviews may be claimed, the majority of workers were aware that costs associated with relocating for a job may be tax deductible. Number of workers who didn't know you could potentially claim the following job-search expenses: Professional résumé-writing service – 78 percent Résumé paper – 84 percent Travel (parking, tolls) to and from job interviews – 57 percent Relocation to another city or state for a job (moving trucks, travel, temporary housing, etc.) – 38 percent "Documenting the costs of a job search may deliver a tax break whether it results in a new position or not. Job-search expenses may be deductible when, totaled with employee expenses and other miscellaneous deductions, they exceed 2 percent of adjusted gross income," says John Hewitt, CEO of Liberty Tax Service. READ “9 TAX TIME TIPS FOR CONSULTANTS & FREELANCE WORKERS” Eligible work expenses Workers were across the board in terms of understanding which items were and weren’t tax deductible. Number of workers who didn't know you may be able to claim the following work expenses: Uniforms – 37 percent Steel-toe boots for work – 42 percent Safety glasses for work – 44 percent Travel to see clients – 50 percent Travel to work at different locations – 53 percent Home office equipment – 38 percent Home office phone/Internet services – 40 percent Home office furniture – 59 percent "Home office expenses may be claimed if you exclusively and regularly use your home office as your principal place of business and/or meet other requirements. It's important to be aware of the criteria for any eligible work-related expense, so you can appropriately maximize your return," Hewitt says. Eligible education expenses Continuing education is another area in which workers often overlook potential tax deductions. Only 23 percent said that they claimed their education expenses on their tax return, while 55 percent were not aware that going back to school for new skills in their current occupation may be tax deductible. As more and more individuals continue their education to supplement their skill base, it’s good to know what relevant tax breaks there may be. Again, consult with a tax professional or with someone from your educational institution’s financial aid office to understand the full tax implications of your education. "With so many workers transitioning to faster-growing industries post-recession, we see greater investments in acquiring new degrees and certifications," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "If you're not researching which educational or career-related expenses are tax deductible, you could be leaving money on the table." What are we doing with our tax returns? Good news – it seems most people are spending their tax returns wisely or saving it. Forty-one percent of those surveyed said that they plan to pay off their bills, and 34 percent said they were going to put their return into a savings account. Here’s what other people were planning to do: Make home improvements – 11 percent Go on vacation – 9 percent Invest it – 7 percent Pay back money they owe to people – 5 percent The national study, conducted by Harris Interactive from February 9 to March 2, 2012, included 6,000 workers across industries and company sizes. Click here for more CareerBuilder surveys

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ResumeBear Blog

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Entrepreneurs Who Changed the Market Posted: 11 Apr 2012 03:29 AM PDT Starting a business is hard work, but making it successful is a whole other challenge. Some entrepreneurs want to do something that’s never been done before, while others want to build upon existing business niches or ideas and become a strong competitor. Whatever the goal may be, entrepreneurship is a tough undertaking and these risk takers have helped change the world for the better. Here are nine unlikely entrepreneurs who changed the market: (Photo source: Wikipedia Commons) Bill Gates It’s hard to believe that the genius behind the co-creation of software giant Microsoft never finished college, but it’s clear he didn’t need his diploma to do big things. Gates made the decision to leave Harvard to go work with Paul Allen at Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS). This risky decision to leave school truly paid off when Gates and Allen partnered up to create Microsoft in 1975. Today, Microsoft and its line of operating systems are the biggest and most widely used in the world. His entrepreneurial spirit and incredible intellect have made him one of the world’s wealthiest people and most admired entrepreneurs. George Eastman George Eastman was the mastermind behind the Eastman Kodak Company, in which he invented roll film and helped make photography a mainstream form of art. Eastman’s roll film invention also paved the way for the invention of motion picture film. His incredible contributions and commitment to the field of photography and film making helped change the industry in so many fundamental ways. Sergey Brin Sergey Brin is a co-founder of Google and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. Before starting the multinational Internet and software corporation with Larry Page, Brin was a student at the University of Maryland, studying mathematics and computer science. He went on to get his PhD at Stanford University and met his future business partner Page there. Together, the two developed new search engine designs and algorithms, which led to the creation of the PageRank system and later Google. Henry Ford Henry Ford gave us the first affordable automobile and prompted the use of assembly lines in mass production. His incredible contributions to the American public changed the way people got from place to place and performed work. But Ford didn’t become a successful businessman overnight. In fact, he had to overcome some adversities, such as dyslexia and rejecting taking over the family farm to pursue his own business ventures. Mark Cuban Mark Cuban is best known for his wide range of business ventures, ranging from owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks to the owner of Landmark Theatres, Magnolia Pictures, and chairman of the HDTV cable network, HDNet. But the tech-savvy businessman and investor wasn’t always a huge success. Before Cuban struck gold, he was working as a bartender, then a salesman at a computer software store. Cuban was fired less than a year after working at the store, and decided to turn his attention to starting his own company, MicroSolutions. Cuban diversified his wealth and business ventures as a serial entrepreneur and influential leader in sports business. John Mackey Whole Foods Market might be a household name today, but back in the late ’70s it wasn’t quite as promising. Before becoming a supermarket chain, Whole Foods was a small natural foods store in Austin, Texas, called Safer Way Natural Foods. John Mackey and his then-girlfriend Rene Lawson Hardy opened up the store in 1978 and later partnered with Clarksville Natural Grocery owners Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to join the two grocery stores. Together, they opened the original Whole Foods Market in 1980, and it soon became a hit among health-conscious shoppers. It is now a leader of the premium natural and organic supermarkets, and thanks to Mackey’s expert leadership, it has maintained its ranking as one of the 100 best companies in America. Walt Disney No one would have guessed that the man who created Mickey Mouse and one of the largest motion picture production companies would have ever been doubted or rejected for not being good enough. But the truth is Walt Disney and his creations weren’t always a hit. In 1919, Disney was fired from his job at the Kansas City Star because he lacked imaginative ideas. He went on to create a cartoon series that later developed into what we now know as The Walt Disney Company. Walt’s undying creativity, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit helped him become one of the most admired and successful businessmen of all time. Mark Zuckerberg Who would have guessed that a young brainiac from Harvard would create the biggest and most successful social network in the world? Facebook originally served as a directory-like website for Harvard students, but was later expanded to other colleges in Boston and in the Ivy League. Facebook quickly spread to various universities around the world and eventually became available to anyone 13 and older. The incredibly popular social network now has more than 845 million active users. Zuckerberg’s creation has significantly changed the way people socialize and use the Internet. Oprah Winfrey It’s hard to believe that anyone could ever doubt the incredibly powerful and successful Oprah Winfrey, but in the beginning, few thought she had what it takes to be a successful talk show host. The odds were against her as an outspoken black female working in a field dominated by white males. Despite the doubts and negative predictions, Oprah’s talk show career became a huge success. After the initial success of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah began to explore her entrepreneurial side by creating Harpo Productions, Inc., which includes Harpo Films and Harpo Radio, Inc. After seeing how successful her Harpo Productions creation has been, Oprah joined with Discovery Communications to create a new channel called OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in 2011.

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ResumeBear Blog

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ResumeBear Hits USA Today: Four online tools for navigating the job market Posted: 12 Apr 2012 02:53 AM PDT Since the beginning of April, many of us, especially seniors, have been wondering where the semester has gone. Summer is right around the corner, but an even greater event is looming for all of us fourth years: graduation. For some of us, graduation is an exciting time because it is opening the doors of a new chapter for our lives. For the rest of us entering the post-grad world without a job, graduation impends upon us like a dark, stormy cloud. Resumes, cover letters, applications and interviews are all things that can be more than a little daunting when applying for a job and starting down your career path. Yet, knowing which tools to use can make this step less painful. ResumeBear A resume: that 8 ½ by 11 sheet of paper marks all of your skills and experiences in the past four years. After researching ways to improve my own resume, I stumbled upon "ResumeBear," an online resume builder tool. You can upload your own resume or follow the steps they give you to showcase your experiences in an even better format than the one you just printed out. You can then send your resume off to the job listings "ResumeBear" lists, but it doesn't just stop there. "ResumeBear" offers real time statistics highlighting when your resume is being viewed or forwarded on by notifying you via text or email. Helpful, right? Google Alerts What doesn't Google have? Google Alerts is a notification service that allows for you to keep track of different subjects that concern you. Entering in a company you are interested in working for, your own name or simply employment buzzwords will keep you up to date. Google will send you an email as soon as a new result pops up, ensuring that you know what is out there about yourself and that company you hope to have your foot in the door with. Twitter Jobs Although following Britney Spears and other celebrities may be entertaining, following prospective employers may prove to be more helpful than you think. Many companies now have twitter handles dedicated to their own job pages. They often send tweets out notifying candidates of opening positions that you can apply for. If you are wondering what openings they have or questions about a position, try tweeting at them. They will usually respond and it will set up some type of flag letting them know you are interested. Want to take it a step further? If the responsive tweet proves successful, try direct messaging them with your online resume. LinkedIn By now most of us have a LinkedIn Profile. Creating a LinkedIn profile has become a standard for almost any professional or up-and-coming professional in the job market. If you don't have one, I suggest you get on this social media bandwagon. Besides listing your credentials, you can also see which individuals were recently looking in on your profile. Check LinkedIn's job listings and cater your profile to the job you are applying for. Knowing the ins and outs of the employment world is extremely helpful when applying for jobs. There are still things that won't reveal themselves until you actually experience it all, but having small helpful hints, like the aforementioned ones, can make the campaign toward your career path a little easier. The process might be intimidating, but many that can attest that the outcome is sweet. Sabel Harris is a senior at George Mason University studying history and economics. Although she enjoys both of those subjects, her intended career path is set in the fashion industry. Her passion for fashion (rhyme, intended), has grown from writing for CollegeFashionista as a style guru and now as an editorial intern, acting as editor-in-chief for Her Campus George Mason and contributing as a style advisor for Dormify. Even though she is a busy-bee, feel free to contact her at sabel.harris21@gmail.com or by sending her sweet tweets. Original Post in USA Today http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/career/four-online-tools-for-navigating-the-job-market

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The Work Buzz's Latest News: 5 feng shui tips for job seekers

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5 feng shui tips for job seekers Posted: 11 Apr 2012 08:00 AM PDT Let's face it — job searching is stressful. So if there's anything that can be done to help bring positive energy to the experience, it's worth exploring. That's why the practice of feng shui is so intriguing. While feng shui may seem like something you do when decorating your house, its applications can extend beyond the abode and into your job search. According to the Encarta World English Dictionary, feng shui is "a Chinese system that studies people’s relationships to their environment, especially their home or workspace, in order to achieve maximum harmony with the spiritual forces believed to influence all places." "Feng shui is about how the space you live and work in affects your mood, energy level and your decisions," says Donna Stellhorn, feng shui expert and author of "2012: Year of the Water Dragon." "By making the appropriate changes to your physical environment, you shift the energy flow and prime your subconscious to recognize success opportunities." Stellhorn notes that when it comes to the job hunt, it's easy to feel down and defeated by what seem like insurmountable obstacles. "To protect ourselves from these obstacles, we can set up blocks to new opportunities. We may not feel these blocks, only those opportunities seem to stop coming. By making Feng Shui changes, we stimulate the energy so the opportunities can come again." So how can job seekers benefit from feng shui? Stellhorn shares the following five tips to help bring balance and positivity to your job search: 1. Avoid horizontal lines on your résumé or cover letter. "Horizontal lines break up the flow of energy, giving the reader a chance to look away — the same way we may close a book when we come to the end of a chapter," Stellhorn says. "Horizontal lines may cause the reader to pause to check email or answer the phone, and once their attention is lost they may not return to finish reading your résumé." 2. Choose paragraphs over lists. Stellhorn says that if you're pursuing a position that requires certain expertise, try using paragraphs instead of just bullet points. "Studies show we have an internal clock that judges the amount of time it takes us to scan information. The longer we linger, the more complex it seems. A paragraph gives the impression of more in-depth knowledge and a stronger skill set." Conversely, Stellhorn says that if you're applying for a position requiring people- and sales- skills, bullet points work well, because they exude the energy of being more straightforward and easy to understand.  3. Focus your energy on interviewing. After applying for a position, Stellhorn suggests blocking out a few dates and times on your calendar when you're available for interviews. "Make a point of marking them in your calendar, and picture how the company will contact you. By focusing your intent on getting the interview, you call the energy of opportunity to you." And no matter what happens, a little positive thinking never hurt anyone. 4. Choose your interview clothes wisely. When picking an outfit for an interview, Stellhorn recommends choosing clothes based on the position for which you're applying. She suggests wearing darker colors when interviewing for a management position, as black and navy indicate a person of power and authority. Lighter colors — grays, tans and creams — are good for a supporting role, because they can indicate a person who is willing to work hard. "If the job involves communication, consider wearing blues; if it involves making quick decisions, then wear red; if it’s financial, consider wearing charcoal." 5. Be mindful of your movements. Stellhorn says that during an interview, job seekers should be cognizant of their body language. Men should avoid folding their hands in their lap as this may send a subconscious message that they're feeling threatened. "Women should avoid playing with their jewelry during the interview. This can be seen as covering up a lie." While there's no silver bullet when it comes to conducting a successful job search, integrating feng shui may just help you better focus on your future.

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