Nearly 1.4 million people have been fired or laid off in 2022. If you are one of these people, you’re probably dreading your next interview. Answering, “why did you leave your last position?” isn’t an easy question after a termination. You’re in the right place. This article will educate you on how to explain being fired without making it a huge deal or the focus of the interview. Termination is a tough situation, but with our tips you can move on to your next role soon! How to Get a Job After Being Fired Job searching after termination is a trying time for most people. Not only do you not know how to address it in interviews, but most of the time you will have low confidence due to the situation as a whole. Getting a Job After Being Fired: Do’s and Don’ts You may be wondering what to avoid doing when discussing being fired. We have a few do’s and don’ts to help you stay on track when discussing the situation. Read more below: Don’t Speak Badly About Your Previous Employer Hiring managers do not want to hear you talk badly about another company. This makes you appear bitter and gives the hiring manager a bad impression about the type of employee you are. So, when discussing the termination, stick to the facts and try to keep emotion or too much detail out of it. Do Keep Your Response Simple and Truthful Without Too Many Details You don’t want to lie to a potential employer. This could backfire big time and in a bad way if you did try to lie about a termination. It’s best to keep it simple and truthful without dwelling on it for too long. For example, let’s say you were terminated because of a common mistake in a regular process. It doesn’t matter if the manager didn’t like you and was looking for a reason to let you go. It also doesn’t matter if everyone else in the company did it that way. Those details are not important and shouldn’t be included. Your answer could go something like this: “I was terminated due to an error in a (type of) process. I have since discovered the correct way to do it and feel strongly that the error will not present an issue ever again. In fact, the new knowledge I have regarding (type of) process will help your team with (skill, skill, skill).” PRO TIP: Always end any response, especially one that begins with a negative, in a way that shows what benefit you’ll bring the new company and its team. Don’t Avoid the Question or Lie When asked why you left your previous company, it’s not a good idea to try and avoid the question or to outright lie. Not only will the hiring manager see you are uncomfortable and likely know something is up, but it’ll mean you lose out on the job for sure when they realize what you are lying about. Be straightforward and honest. It’ll show the company you can own up to mistakes (if that was the reason) or handle a challenging situation with grace. How to Quickly Redirect the Conversation to Your Strengths When explaining the reason for termination, it’s vital you let the interviewer know that you have learned from any mistakes that were made and showcase a few strengths. If you were terminated due to a layoff or company closure, those discussions are much more understandable and likely don’t require a lot of redirection. It’s still important you discuss your strengths throughout the interview. For example, if you were laid off, the answer could be: “I was recently laid off at XYZ. While the situation has been difficult, I am confident in my ability to deliver exceptional customer service and help support your company in growing new business.” If you were fired, here is another way to redirect the conversation: “There was a miscommunication about a process and I messed up. I realize now I should have asked for more help on how to do the process correctly. Now, I’m far better at active listening and have become more attuned to my own failings. Being self-aware can certainly be something I use to fulfill the (skill, skill, skill) you require for the (position title).” Job Search After Termination Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful! Now you know how to explain being fired. We hope this article helped you feel more confident going into your next interview. If you haven’t started interviewing yet, you may want to consider a resume update! With a strong resume, terminations aren’t as difficult to explain. Working with a professional resume writer helps you showcase your strengths and abilities in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to know more. Don’t start your job search without an updated resume! Check out our packages and let’s get started today.
Tired of Saying “I Can’t Find a Job?” Discover the Most Common Reasons You’re Struggling
Did you know that 47% of interviewers will pass on candidates who know nothing about the company? Or that 65% of candidates don’t get a job because they don’t make eye contact? There are dozens of other reasons why people can’t seem to stop saying “I can’t find a job.” In this article, we cover the most common issues that pop up and prevent people from getting a first, second, or even third interview. Keep reading to learn more! #1 You Need to Improve Communication Skills Many times, when people interview, they get very overwhelmed or anxious and give long-winded answers to questions that could have been answered more succinctly. This is where practicing effective and clear communication is important. By improving this skill, you make your next interview run more smoothly and make yourself appear more confident. #2 You Aren’t Dressing to Impress While some people would argue it’s outdated to dress up for an interview, just as many people would argue it’s important to do this to make a good first impression. When in doubt, it’s better to wear something professional when interviewing. This shows the interviewer you took the time and effort to look presentable for an important meeting. #3 You Aren’t Researching Before Interviews Once you get an interview scheduled, you must research the company. You can go to the company’s website or social media pages to find out a few facts about when it was created or its mission. A great place to research companies is LinkedIn, it’s also a perfect platform for building your professional network. #4 Your Resume Needs an Update One of the most common reasons people state “I can’t get a job” is because their resume isn’t updated. In today’s world, your document must pass through the applicant tracking system (ATS) before it gets to the decision-makers. This means you have to tailor it to every job you apply for. It also means you need a professionally formatted document that can pass the screenings. Resumes with a lot of tables and integrated designs usually do not make the cut. The format should be clean with white space and clearly defined headings above each section. #5 You Aren’t Applying to Enough Jobs Applying for a new job often seems like a job. It’s a timely, but necessary, process. You must apply to many jobs to get interviews. Choosing two or three and calling it a day on the job search isn’t feasible. You should be applying to 10-15 jobs per week. #6 You Aren’t Preparing Enough During Each Stage Before the first interview, you need to research the company and practice answers to the most common interview questions. You should also think of a few questions to specifically ask the interviewer that relates to the company/culture/job. If you are going to a second interview, it’s important to think of specific examples that showcase your leadership, problem-solving, and customer service skills. Remember to demonstrate both hard and soft skills. If you are making it to the third round, you are so close! You’ll want to really prepare for this one because it often means you’re down to one to three candidates. Research the interviewer, have a game plan about your first few months in the job, and any other scenarios you may have picked up on in previous interviews. #7 You’re Overly Excited or Desperate A lot of people struggle with “I can’t find a job I like” and get overly excited when one does contact them. While it’s okay to be excited, you must contain it and remain professional during the interview(s). Candidates who seem desperate for the role are often overlooked because it’s a turnoff to interviews. Think of it like how you would approach a potential date…a desperate person isn’t as attractive as a confident one, right? #8 You Need to Work on Confidence Expanding on number seven, you may have a confidence issue. It’s easy to let the situation take hold and feel unconfident, but it’s important you don’t convey that during an interview. If you don’t feel confident, fake it until you do. The best way to gain confidence is through preparation and practice. #9 Your References Need a Check No one wants to be in this situation, but if you’ve worked on everything else and you still aren’t getting that call…your references may not be on your side. Take a look at the people you put down for references and make sure they are still solid contacts who will give you a good recommendation. It’s also a good idea to let them know ahead of time that a company may be calling them so they are prepared and know to answer the phone. Tired of Saying “I Can’t Find a Job” to Friends and Family? Resolve #4 Today Now you know a few of the main reasons why most people are constantly stating “I can’t find a job.” Many of these problems are easy fixes with a little practice, help, or dedication. If you are struggling because of number four, we are here to help! Working with a professional resume writing company can help you prepare an ATS-friendly document that wows readers. Check out our packages today and contact us to get started on improving your job search!
Secure More Interviews With a Professional Resume Outline
A professionally written resume boosts your earning potential by 7%. When you think about the fact that most hiring managers spend less than 10 seconds scanning a resume, you realize the importance of having a professional resume. There are ways to make your resume professional without hiring a professional resume writer. In this article, we’ll cover what a professional resume outline is and why you should always use it to develop your career documents. Don’t let your resume be one of the ones that are tossed aside after three seconds. Learn more now: What Is a Professional Resume Outline? A professional resume outline is a skeleton or sections of your resume that must be filled with your unique career history. These sections are vital to passing both ATS and hiring manager scans. Some resumes are shorter and only have five sections, but others have many more. It all depends on your career target, history, and industry. Why Is It Important? First of all, nearly 95% of Fortune 500 companies use some form of an ATS. These automatic scans will reject your document if it doesn’t follow the correct format or have the right information. When you have a professional resume outline and include all relevant information, you’re one step closer to getting your resume to a human being. And secondly, you want your resume to be as professional as possible so it stands up against competitors. That’s why following an outline and including the information we’ll highlight below is a must if you want your resume to be taken seriously. Which Format Should You Use? There are three popular formats we recommend for your resume. The first is the most common and it is the reverse-chronological resume. It highlights your experience starting with your current role and working backward for 10-15 years. However, some high-level managers or those with career gaps may benefit from a hybrid or combination resume. These formats focus more on the skills and accomplishments you have rather than the professional experience. And finally, there is the functional resume. This format is probably the least common and least liked by hiring managers. It is good to use when you are changing careers and need to highlight transferable skills for the new path. We do not recommend using the functional format except in special circumstances. What To Include In the Basic Resume Outline: Now that we’ve explained what the outline is and why it’s important, we’re going to cover what to include in it. The following are the vital elements that every resume must have. We cannot stress enough how important it is to include these sections. Contact Information Summary Skills/Competencies Professional Experience Education and Credentials If you have the space and information to include, you can also have additional sections. These may include: Publications Professional memberships Awards and honors Board membership Volunteer experience Patents Technical proficiencies Speaking engagements Articles submitted to peer reviews or books Conferences attended or invited to It’s vital you remember to keep the resume to two pages. Three pages are okay in some instances, but resume best practices says to stick to two as much as possible. If you have room on the document after you have the basics, you can consider including any of the extras. Resume Outline Examples: Below, we’ll pull information from one of our example resumes so you can see which section contains what information. Keep reading to learn more: Contact Information First Last City, State Zip | (111) 222-3333 | email@email.com You want the contact information to be front and center at the very top of the first page. You should include your first and last name, location, phone number, and email. You can also include a link to a portfolio or LinkedIn profile if those are applicable to the jobs you are targeting. A hiring manager can’t contact you without this first section. Additionally, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) could kick your resume out of the system if it doesn’t find contact information. Summary Title that Mirrors Job Description Optimistic and energetic Business Leader with extensive experience managing stores, creating and executing new processes and procedures, building self-sufficient teams, and revamping operational roadmaps with a positive impact on profitability. Champions an environment of equality and inclusion for all staff members by building an atmosphere of acceptance, mutual respect, innovation, and cultural awareness. Consistently achieve business continuity by establishing productive business relationships and resolving critical human capital issues. Bilingual proficiency in English and German. The above is an example summary to showcase on your resume. It should be between 3-5 sentences that describe your strengths and attributes. The summary is placed at the very top of the resume under your name and the heading of the resume. The heading is the title of your current job or the role you are applying for. Skills/Competencies Core Competencies Customer Service | Operational Strategies | Sales | New Hire Training | Team Leadership | Conflict Resolution | Documentation & Reporting | Recruiting Strategies | Interviewing Techniques | Performance Reviews | Resource Planning | Program Management | Business & Regulatory Compliance Your skills list is one of the most important parts of the resume. You want to make sure these align with the keywords in the job description you are applying for. This will help you pass through the ATS and get in front of a recruiter. You’ll place the skills section directly below the summary. These two sections should only take up about one-third of the first page, but no more than half of the page. Your Work History Section Professional Experience Name of Store Store Manager | 2007 to Present Manage and direct daily operations by analyzing market trends, responding to shifting priorities of consumers, and implementing talent retention initiatives through improved employee engagement and training that fostered a strong team morale and improved productivity. Successfully sourced new candidates and scheduled interviews based on successful pre-screen. Coach and mentor employees on administrative procedures, company policies, and performance standards by turning inefficiencies into opportunities for improvement
How to Handle a Part-Time Job on a Resume
As of August 2022, over 25 million people held part-time jobs. When searching for a new job, many people wonder how to include a part-time job on a resume. Some wonder if including it is even necessary. The answer to both of those questions is more complicated than a direct yes or no. This article will answer these questions once and for all! Keep reading to discover more about how to put a part-time job on your resume. Should You Include a Part-Time Job on a Resume? In short, it depends. If it helps you to meet your job goal, then it should definitely be included. If it is an on-the-side job that doesn’t offer much value to your career history, then you may want to leave it off. Answering the following questions will help you make the best decision: Does It Align With Your Job Goal? If the part-time role showcases the skills and has solid accomplishments to help you get your next role, you have to include it. You do not have to say that it is a part-time role when developing it. Just proceed as you do with the other roles in the professional experience section. Does It Add Value? Adding a position is also a must if it adds value to your job target. For example, let’s say you are trying to get into an entry-level sales role. And your experience is working at a camp for children during summer breaks in college. You would want to include this because it can highlight a few key skills that would help in sales, including: Many times, adding a part-time role can show valuable skills that transfer across many different types of positions. So, if there is room on the resume and you can show the role professionally, adding it is probably a good idea. Will It Create a Gap to Remove it? Another important consideration is if removing the job will create a gap in your resume. If removing the part-time job creates a gap in your work history that exceeds a few months, it’s a bad idea to remove it. Gaps on the resume are a major concern and red flag for a lot of hiring managers, so it’s better to have a little something rather than nothing. In the following section, we’ll describe what sections you must have when writing a resume with part-time roles. Part-Time Resume Template The resume template for someone with part-time roles is exactly like the one for professionals with full-time roles. The following outline will ensure your resume has all of the vital elements: Contact Information At the very top of the resume, you need to include your contact information. This will include: You must include this information so recruiters can contact you. And it needs to be easily noticeable so they know exactly who to get in touch with and how to do so. Summary Directly following your contact information is a short summary highlighting your strengths and attributes. It should only be about 3-5 lines and should focus on the abilities you bring to an organization. You’ll want to customize this section and the next based on the job description you are submitting a resume. Areas of Expertise The areas of expertise section should be 9-15 skills that are directly related to the job applying for. Many formats have these in bulleted form across 2-3 columns. You want to make sure these skills align with the language from the job description to pass through the ATS. Professional Experience The professional experience should include the following about all roles (full- and part-time): Some jobs will have more achievements than others and that is okay. You want to focus on including the most relevant and eye-catching information in this section so hiring managers want to connect with you. Education and Credentials At the end of the resume, you’ll include your education, training, and other related credentials. This should be a short section that encompasses your professional training and education. What To Do If You Have Held Several Part-Time Jobs Sometimes, people have several part-time jobs that are very similar in nature. These roles even overlap on occasion. If you have job roles that have the same title and same duties, it is okay to combine them. This will make your resume have fewer jobs listed so you don’t look like a job hopper. It also cuts down on repetitiveness which is a big deal with most resumes. The hiring manager does not need to read the same information over and over again. Combining similar roles makes sure you don’t have this issue. Contact Us Today to Get a Resume Update! Now you understand how to handle a part-time job on a resume. We hope this article helped you to develop your career documents! However, if you are still unsure of how to proceed or need assistance, check out our packages today to learn more about our professional resume services.
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: How to Measure and Use Each
93% of employers deem soft skills as essential for workers to succeed. But, what exactly are soft skills? And what are hard skills? And how do you showcase both in a resume? A lot of people get confused about the differences between hard skills vs. soft skills. Luckily, after this article, you won’t be one of them! Keep reading to discover more about each. What Are Hard Skills? Hard skills are the ones you’ve learned through hands-on experience, training, or education. These skills are measurable, and it’s easy to see the progression of growth in them throughout your career. Hard skills are often interchanged with technical skills. Though, this should not be confused with technical proficiencies which are commonly outlined on resumes to showcase the software and hardware someone has proficiency in. Hard skills are concrete abilities you have developed. Some of these skills are easier to learn than others. Depending on your industry, you may have to prove your expertise before you get hired for a job. For example, lawyers pass the bar exam, and computer professionals take programming tests. Hard Skills Examples There are numerous hard skills we could highlight, but we’ll outline five common hard skills that are hot in today’s hiring market. Those include: SEO Marketing People cannot naturally develop expertise in SEO marketing. This is a skill that people must learn through courses, hands-on experience, or other types of education, such as marketing degrees or certifications. Language Proficiencies Speaking another language is a hard skill that many companies want. The need for translators or bilingual professionals is on the rise. While a lot of people do learn more than language as a child, just as many learn the language through other means. This is a hard skill that could get you far in your career if you decide to develop it. Programming Languages The tech industry is a rapidly advancing and ever-changing area that is always looking for new professionals. Learning a programming language is a very popular hard skill that is in demand. Budgeting Let’s face it, not everyone is good with money and definitely shouldn’t be in charge of a company’s budget. This hard skill is one that people can learn and develop over time. Website Development Again, we go with a tech hard skill. Designing a website is one of the easier-to-learn hard skills. Many companies want website developers on staff and may require a test project before hiring a new person. What Are Soft Skills? Soft skills are developed throughout your life and aren’t easily learned through training or courses. These are “people skills” or “interpersonal skills” that many job descriptions highlight. Soft skills are directly tied to your personality. They often highlight your personal motivations or reasons behind your actions. Soft skills are just as valuable in the workplace as hard skills. Soft Skills Examples The following soft skills are the most popular ones listed in job descriptions. They are: Communication Communication is a very important soft skill needed in the workplace. Employees communicate with numerous people every day, from their coworkers to clients to their leaders. Being able to articulately communicate in a way that doesn’t confuse or offend others is a must. Leadership Not everyone is leadership material. This is why leadership is considered a soft skill. Being able to motivate, empower, and lead others is a skill that some people are simply born with. Highlighting your leadership abilities on your resume is vital if you want to progress. Even if you don’t hold a leadership role, you can still highlight examples of leadership in your resume. Decision-Making Decision-making is another soft skill that not everyone is good at. Being able to look at the whole picture and make a decision that is best for the team, the company, and everyone else involved is a critical skill. If you have this soft skill, you’ll want to show it in your resume. Critical Thinking The ability to think critically about a situation and solve a problem is an in-demand soft skill. This also ties into leadership skills. Adaptability In today’s ever-changing world, adaptability is a must. This means you can pivot and still meet deadlines even in times of uncertainty. This is a skill most companies want because it means less disruption when situations arise. How to Measure Hard Skills and Soft Skills So, how exactly do you measure your hard skills and soft skills for a resume? There are a few ways you can incorporate them throughout your document. Here are a few examples: Hard skills: Soft skills: Highlight Your Hard vs. Soft Skills Correctly–Get a Resume Update Today! Now you understand the variances between hard skills vs. soft skills. We hope this article gave you the insight needed to make your resume pop. However, if you are still struggling, we can help. At Always Writing, we have years of experience in crafting professional resumes that showcase both hard and soft skills. You won’t have to worry if you’ve captured your capabilities because we’ll do it for you! Check out our resume packages or contact us for more information.
What Is a TikTok Resume, and Do You Need One?
Over 80% of TikTok users are under 40 years old. This makes the social media app a prime hot spot for recruiting new workers. So, if you’re looking for a job, you may need a TikTok resume. You may be wondering what a TikTok resume is, you aren’t alone. In today’s ever-evolving technical world, recruiters and job seekers must adapt at the drop of a hat. In this article, we cover what a TikTok resume is. We’ll also give you some tips on how to make yours stand out to recruiters! What Is a TikTok Resume? A TikTok resume is a video resume. And it’s quickly becoming the go-to way to apply for a variety of jobs. Most of the companies posting jobs on TikTok are modern, but you never know which company could turn to TikTok next. The TikTok resumes feature is semi-new to the company. You can read more about it here. How to Make TikTok Resumes: First, you need to create a script with all of the important elements. By following a script, you ensure you don’t leave anything important out. Following the STAR method when discussing key achievements is a good idea, but remember you want to keep it short and to the point. Before you start recording your video, search the hashtag #tiktokresumes to get an idea of what other people are doing. You can learn a lot about what not to do, too. Your TikTok account must be public to make one of these resumes. It should also be free of embarrassing or inappropriate content. You don’t want to include your full name or any contact information in the video. This is a safety measure. Once your resume is completed, you’ll go to the TikTok jobs tab and submit your resume for the role you are interested in. When you do this, you’ll also fill out a form with your contact information so the company can reach out. Tips to Make Your #TikTokResume Stand Out You want your Tik Tok resume to be memorable enough that the company calls you, right? The following tips will help you make sure your video makes a lasting impression: Have Good Lighting A dark room or poorly lit area will make your video appear less professional. If you don’t have a ring light or other way to make the lighting great, consider recording your video outside in a quite space. Dress Appropriately You need to dress like you are going to an interview. With a video resume, you are giving the company their first impression of you. You need to make it a good one. Have a Professional Background No one wants to watch a video about someone wanting a job and see a toilet in the background. Where you record is very important. You want the background to be as professional as possible and distraction-free. Focus on Key Skills for the Job You Want Your TikTok resume should be tailored to the job description you are interested in. So, when you review the job description, you need to pull out the key skills the company wants. Then focus on discussing these skills when creating your video. Introduce Yourself After you greet the company, you need to introduce yourself. This is the perfect chance to give them your elevator pitch. You should include your name, where you’re located, and the job you are interested in. Other tidbits you could include are your education, where you currently work, any industry-specific certifications, or a fun fact that will make you memorable. Use the Green Screen The green screen effect can be a great addition to your TikTok resume! You can use it to show your accomplishments, such as graduation day or winning an award that stands out in your industry. If you are applying for a designer or photographer job, this would be a great chance to display some of your work. Use Background Music When we say add background music, we mean light background music that adds to your video. You don’t want to include distracting or inappropriate music. You’ll want to make sure the music is low so the company can hear what you are saying clearly. Create Textboxes to Highlight Key Skills As you discuss your key qualifications and credentials, create textboxes to emphasize the facts on the screen. This will help the viewer retain the information. Just make sure you are consistent throughout the video with things like font and text box size, and make it look professional. Have a Strong Closing You want to end this video resume with a bang. A strong closing not only invites the viewer to contact you but also tells them why they have to. If you follow these tips, you’re TikTok resume will soon be at the top of the #tiktokresumes search. Prepare Your Digital Resume Ok, so now you know all about how to create a TikTok resume. This is great, but chances are the recruiter or hiring manager is going to want to see an actual resume, too. Don’t get caught without an updated resume! Contact us today to get your digital resume in tip-top shape before gaining the attention of companies on TikTok.
