Sunday, March 15, 2020
How To Handle Being Fired On Your Resume
How To Handle Being Fired On Your ResumeHow To Handle Being Fired On Your ResumeJuly 15, 2014 By the Resume Genius Team Reviewed by Mark Slack, CPRWJust because you were let go from a job doesnt mean that you cant include the experience on your resume. Well explain how to turn a negative into a positive. Make a Resume in MinutesResumes Dont Include Why You Were Fired or QuitSurprised? Dont worry, youre elend alone. One of the most popular questions the experts at Resume Genius face on a regular basis is that of how to deal with being fired from a job or quitting a job on their resume. This seems like such a common problem weve decided to create a simple guide to help job seekers understand how to deal with leaving their old jobs on their resume.The problem is all-to-common and goes something likeI was fired from my brde jobBeing fired from a job isnt necessarily indicative of being a bad worker or being an underperformer. In fact, the term being let go is attached to an overly neg ative stigma from a resume experts perspective.There could be multiple reasons a good employee may be fired. From poor management, office politics, and lack of leadership to simple downsizing, many job seekers who are looking for jobs are actually high caliber talent and should present themselves in just such a way. So just how does one go about creating a resume to reflect this all?The Wrong ApproachIncluding why you were fired under each position in your professional experience section is not only the incorrect distributions-mix to state such information it also overshadows the positive elements on your resume and reduces your chance at landing an interview.The Correct ApproachThe resume is a place to detail achievements, skills and knowledge, not failures. Your resume should focus on the positive, up-selling yourself as an applicant. The place to explain your current situation and why you are applying to the position is actually in your cover letter, not in the resume itself.Resu me Expert TipsAvoid using the word fired, as its probably the worst possible way to frame your leaving your last employer. Instead, try some of these phrases to describe your separationMutual beneficial separationOutgrew my previous roleEmployer downsizedCompany restructuringCost cuttingDecided to go our separate waysLeft on good termsOur paths divergedOur long-term goals differedWording is so important in resume writing, as it can mean the different between a relatively positive impression and a negative, or skeptical impression at worse from hiring managers.Ultimately, its best not to focus on negatives when composing your resume. Instead, focus on the positives and leave any potential negatives for the interview where you can apply a glass half full mentality in how the questions are addressed.If you are applying for an entry-level job and the job application asks why you left your previous job avoid flat out saying you were fired and instead use some of the more positive synonym s mentioned previously.Never lie to try to cover up the source of a previous termination, as this only creates professional liabilities that could easily surface and be a detriment to your career later on. Its a bad idea to invest in building a history with a company when all of your achievements could easily be toppled because of an unnecessary lie.Remember, the job of the resume is to simply land you the interview, so dont worry about potential negatives and just build an attractive, interview-winning resume.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Engineers Amazon Doesnt Care About Your Ivy League Degree - Jobscan Blog
Engineers Amazon Doesnt Care About Your Ivy League Degree - Jobscan BlogPosted on February 25, 2019October 10, 2019 by James Hu My grandfather used to preach about how smart his friends grandson was for getting into MIT. I never even applied, but worried that without an education at a top tier university I would forever be at a disadvantage in tech compared to my Ivy League counterparts.Attending an Ivy League such as Harvard may be the holy grail for many who grew up with ambitious parents or in a competitive school environment, but does it matter when it comes to landing a software engineer job at Amazon or Microsoft? We dug into our data. Our methodologyOur methodology first defines what signals could correlate to a specific outcome for software engineers. The list of signals we considered include having an advanced degree, the number of LinkedIn connections, and whether they went to an Ivy League or a top engineering university. Then, we performed regression from our list of sign als to test whether each factor was statistically significant as it contributes to the predicted variable. In this case, those that have Amazon listed as a prior or current work experience from mora than 2,000 randomly sampled software engineers LinkedIn profiles. What kind of engineering degrees does Amazon care about?We found no correlation between having an Ivy League degree and working at Amazon as an engineer, however we did find a strong correlation with a different set of schools. Fig 1 Amazon Correlation MatrixHaving an engineering degree from one of the top eight tech schools (MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Berkeley, Caltech, CMU, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and University of Urbana Champaign) has significantly higher correlation with working at Amazon. Top tech schools offer rigorous coursework in the fundamentals of computer science. Schools such as Stanford bring in leading professors with Turing awards and former nobel prize winners. Fig 2 To confirm our suspicions, we ran regression against the two predictor variables to test for significant coefficients. As it shows, the p-value (In statistics, a p-value helps determine the significance of results) for going to a top tech school is significant at a confidence interval of 95%, while the p-value for going to an Ivy League is not.Advanced degrees help land software engineer jobs at Amazon Having an advanced degree (master or PhD level) also has a correlation score of 0.052. This isnt surprising as Amazon has 4,239 machine learning scientist openings, all of which require a masters degree as the basic qualification and a PhD as the preferred qualification. Fig 3. We ran regression against the single predictor variable of having an advanced degree to our dependent variable (working for Amazon). The p-value for advanced degree is significant at a confidence interval of 95%.Microsoft cares less about degrees or specific schoolsWe also analyzed the data from those that worked at Microsoft in the past an d found little correlation between Ivy League schools, top tech schools, and advanced degrees. Our hypothesis is that the war on software engineering talent is so fierce that Microsoft is open to non-traditional educational backgrounds for software engineers. Surprisingly, we found a correlation with having a high number of LinkedIn connections and also a significant correlation with a high LinkedIn Optimization score the score Jobscan assigns based on how well your LinkedIn profile matches job descriptions in your field. One might wonder if the fact that LinkedIn is now owned by Microsoft has any relationship to how they hire. If Microsoft recruiters are more likely to rely on LinkedIn, theyre more likely to find engineers with optimized LinkedIn profiles. Fig 4. Microsoft Correlation MatrixFig 5. We ran regression against two predictor variables, going to a top tech university and going to an Ivy League, to our dependent variable (working for Microsoft). Neither coefficient is si gnificant. Fig 6. We ran regression against a single predictor, their LinkedIn Optimization score against our dependent variable (working for Microsoft). The coefficient came back highly significant based on the p-value.ConclusionEvery company has distinct hiring preferences. An advanced degree, Ivy League education, or years of professional experience will mean more to one company than it does to another. But at the end of the day, there are many paths to Rome. If youre not an ideal fit for Amazon, another industry giant like Microsoft could still be impressed by your qualifications.Recruiters for companies you havent yet considered are searching LinkedIn for talented engineers with your exact skill set, but they wont find you unless your profile is optimized based on your career goals. If youre determined to land a job at a particular tech company, carefully tuning your resume based on the specific software engineer skills requested in the job description could make a huge differe nce. Jobscans resume optimization tool helps to automate this process while providing customized, AI-driven insights.James Hu is the founder and CEO of Jobscan, who started with a vision to build the best tools and content for job seekers. Prior to Jobscan, James started a carpooling startup and worked at Microsoft, Groupon, and Kabam Games.Facebook Commentswpdevar_comment_1 span,wpdevar_comment_1 iframewidth100% important
Thursday, March 5, 2020
The Quintessential Handbook to Writing Summary of Qualifications on Resume
The Quintessential Handbook to Writing Summary of Qualifications on Resume How to Choose Writing Summary of Qualifications on Resume Resume summaries are a breeze to write. Qualifications summaries likewise dont necessarily consist of quantifiable data, which is standard for the expert summary. The qualifications summary is among the most essential parts of your resume. Therefore if youd like to go noticed at once, you should incorporate an overview of qualifications on your resume. Your summary of qualifications should incorporate a wonderful variety of examples that produce your resume really stick out. If you would like to create a strong resume, writing a thoughtful qualifications summary is frequently a great option. The Birth of Writing Summary of Qualifications on Resume Resume objectives are from time to time thought to be the old schooltype of resume. The resume summary will act as their sales pitch. The Lost Secret of Writing Summary of Qualifications on Res ume Well, summary statements are great when you have a few years experience in your selected field. When you own a list of the keyword phrases and key abilities and values, you can begin building your career summary further. A superb career summary is basically a glimpse of your skill set and the value it is possible to bring to your possible employer. Finally, it focuses on your ability to offer value to the company. The New Angle On Writing Summary of Qualifications on Resume Just Released You desire an overview of qualifications if you would like the quickest way to secure more interviews without a whole lot of work. Basically, you wish to demonstrate how your credentials can help you in your upcoming position. Or you might demonstrate your skills in regard to public speaking or giving presentations. Among the requirements is a resume in a particular format, called a federal resume. As a way to type up a good resume you first need to understand the fundamental component s a resume is composed of. If youre uncertain how to compose qualifications, it can help think of each bullet in your summary as having a particular function. Be very strong ability to incorporate an overview of qualifications, look at using a resume is best if youre able to reference. Writing Summary of Qualifications on Resume for Dummies The summary isnt as detailed. 1 A resume summary is a brief, snappy introduction paragraph that offers a summary of your very best work. Many summary statements begin to your present job title or primary function. The resume summary statement is put close to the peak of your resume. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Writing Summary of Qualifications on Resume The skills section of your resume is the ideal place to list the particular skills that make you a prime candidate for those jobs you desire. You wish to sell your skills in a fashion that will garner an interview. An overview of qualifications is utilised to hig hlight the range of work experiences youve built up as time passes. You will need to guarantee you match each component of your qualifications summary to the job which youre seeking.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Women more likely to drop STEM class if theyre the only female
Women more likely to drop STEM class if theyre the only femaleWomen more likely to drop STEM class if theyre the only femaleFor women studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, they are often trailblazers charting new paths in male-dominated fields.But this comes with the burden of being the first. Being a pioneersounds inspiring to others, but it can be isolating for the people living through it.A new paper published in the National Bureau of Economic Research found that women in the minority at STEM programs are much less likely to stay in them. Looking at2,541 students enrolled in 33 graduate programs at six Ohio public universities between 2005 and 2016,Valerie Bostwick and Bruce Weinberg at Ohio State University found that when there is only one woman enrolled in doctoral programs, that woman is about 12 percentage points less likely to graduate within six years than her male counterpart.Women pioneers were not only more likely not to finish their degree in time , but they were also more likely not to get it at all. Freshman women who were the only female in their class were about 10 percentage points more likely to drop out in that first year.Women keep women in STEMIn general, a woman who welches joining a class with more men than usual for her field was about 7% less likely to graduate within six years than her male peers. But that disparity went away the more women were in the program.Seeing someone who looks like you succeed can be a motivating force to keep going. The researchers suggested that a female peer can give women visible benefits like a study partner to boost their grades and someone to inform them of research funding opportunities. It can also give them less visible benefits like a feeling of belonging the share of women in a cohort might have an intangible effect on the climate surrounding the students in that cohort, which increases female persistence in a less measurable manner, the paper concluded.The value of a support system cannot be underestimated in ones career. The study follows research that found that women keep women in engineering. One study found that female freshman engineers who had a female mentor stayed in their programs at a 100% retention rate. When you are facing doubts about whether or not you belong, it helps to have a mentor to support and advise you. If they got through it, so can you.
Saturday, December 28, 2019
What kinds of work samples can or should you include in your portfolio
What kinds of work samples can or should you include in your portfolioWhat kinds of work samples can or should you include in your portfolioWhat kinds of work samples can or should you include in your portfolio? You might be surprised by the variety of work samples you can use. Check out the list below to get started. How many work samples should you include? In general, be selective about what you feature. If you include too many examples, employers may experience information overload. They may also question your ability to identify the work that best illustrates your skills. If you include too few, employers may think you are inexperienced. Keep it simple and showcase only your best. Most of the time, less is more. How should you get started selecting your work samples? Start by creating an outline. Make a list of your skills, knowledge, and experience. This will help you categorize your work. The type of work samples you include will depend on your occupation and industry. Here are some examples Occupation You could include Artist Photographs of your paintings, illustrations, sculptures, etc. Chef or baker Photographs of your culinary creations Dancer, actor, musician Video and/or audio recordings of your work Designer Photos of graphic, interior, or web design work Facilitator or trainer Copies of presentation or training materials, participant evaluations, and video recordings of your presentations Mechanic Pictures of auto restorations Multimedia specialist Copies of interactive programs you have created Photographer Prints of your photographs Public relations specialist Copies of press work and marketing plans as well as results of auffhrung promotions Office suppor t staff Brochures, reports, newsletters, spreadsheets, and other examples of work that you have completed Researcher Copies of research reports, peer reviews, technical documents, and articles in newspapers and professional journals as well as any awards received Sales person Graphs showing sales results Tailor or seamstress Pictures of the clothing that you have produced (and wear your own creations to the job interview) Teacher Copies of lesson plans, class projects, and assignments Writer Copies of blogs, newspapers, and journal articles as well as grant proposals, reports, marketing plans, etc. Other sources of work samples include hobbies, sports, scouts, hunting, fishing, crafts, volunteer work, and other interests. You could even include leadership, teamwork, or before and after examples. Make sure you update the samples in your portfolio regularly.
Monday, December 23, 2019
How to Talk to Your Boss About a Co-worker You Hate - The Muse
How to Talk to Your Boss About a Co-worker You Hate - The MuseHow to Talk to Your Boss About a Co-worker You Hate So, how are things going at the geschftszimmer? I asked my dinner companion, a longtime business veteran who manages a small team. Last week, you mentioned some kind of conflict. What happened?She told me the story about how two of her employees were having trouble working together and then individually coming into her office to complain about the other person.Its frustrating, she said. Because one person will come into my office saying, so-and-so did this But when I ask the other person, did you do that? Theyll say, I never did that And vice versa. She sighed, heavily. Its becoming a he-said-she-said situation. I honestly dont know what to do.She ordered anotlageher martini. I mulled over the story, sipping my Old Fashioned. In your fantasy world... I began. When this kind of conflict happens, and an employee comes into your office to talk about it, what would you like t hem to say?She paused, considering. What I dont want is complaining and blaming. What I do want is a positive attitude. A desire to make things better, not just vent.OK, I said. So, what would that sound like, specifically?Several sips later, we came up with the following conversation script Hey Managers Name,Thanks for agreeing to meet with me today. I know youve got a lot going on, and I dont want to add anything more to your plate, but theres something Id like to discuss. Im hoping it wont take more than a few minutes. Before I begin, I want you to know that Im not here to vent or complain. Theres a situation thats come up- that Im a part of- and Im here to find a solution, with your help. So heres whats happening Whenever Other Persons Name does describe the thing thats causing the conflict, I feel describe how you feel. This situation has come up several times describe a couple of specific incidents. I respect Other Persons Name and I love being part of this team, but these fee lings are making it harder for me to do my work, effectively. And while I cant know for sure, Id have to guess that this situation is affecting Other Persons Name as well.I want to resolve this before it turns into a bigger problem, for both of us. Ive tried to resolve it on my own by describe something youve tried, but that didnt have the effect I was hoping for. I know theres a good solution, but Im not seeing it clearly, which is why Im here seeking some help. Im hoping that you might be willing to offer some guidance, hold a conversation with the two of us, or perhaps bring in an outside mediator or conflict resolution specialist. Again Im not here to vent or blame. Im aware that Im just as much a part of this conflict as the other person. Id really like to find a solution that makes both of us happy and strengthens the team.Thanks for listening.Something like that? I asked.Yes she said. If someone came into my office and said those words to me, calmly, Id be seriously impressed . Id think, this is a great person to have around. Someone I can trust to remain cool under pressure, and someone I might want to promote to a leadership level, someday.So, there you have it A boss-approved script to use the next time youve got a workplace conflict.Naturally, you may need to adjust the script depending on the nature of the conflict, your companys policies, and your relationship with your boss. But the main thing to remember isYoure there to find solutions- not rant, tattle, or uncork your emotions. Channel your inner peace-maker, and go set things right.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
How to properly apologize if you messed up at work
How to properly apologize if you messed up at workHow to properly apologize if you messed up at workMaking mistakes is a perfectly normal part of being human. When you mess up, doing the right thing means owning it, learning from it, apologizing and moving on.Thats not how reality usually happens, because humans arent known for being graceful, and most of us dont want to do anything to make life more awkward than necessary. When you mess up, fessing up feels hard because it might disrupt what harmony you do have in life. So, though you dont mean to, you respond awkwardly.An effective apology shows you understand what happened from both sides, recognize the damage and communicate regret and responsibility. What role did you play? You must take real responsibility, and leave but or if out of the equation.You cant text or email yourself out of this. Body language and tone will aid in your authentic approach of having a real conversation from one human being to another. Here are five sit uations with five appropriate apologies for when you mess up at work.1. You didnt have the authorityYou made a mistake on an issue that proved more complicated than you bargained for, and whats worse, you gave the green light on a matter you had no authority on.Talk to your supervisor promptly before the scenario escalates and you end up in deeper water. Be honest, present the case as it stands now and listen. Accept responsibility and take the necessary steps as instructed. Assure your boss it wont happen again because you see this as a learning opportunity.What to say I did not have the authority to make that decision, and I felt I was taking the initiative at the time. Im sorry, and I assure you I will learn from this situation, so it doesnt happen again. I need your help to fix what went wrong. How do we proceed?2. You promised the client that pigs really can flyExceeding client expectations nails you gold stars in the fasson of business trips overseas and big bonuses. Naturally , you aim higher each time to show how much your organization cares and the value you contribute to the team. Good on you - until you promise the client that pigs really can fly.The problem is, they cant, unless you put them on a plane. That costs money, and you may have just wasted the clients time and company resources on something completely impossible.Share what went wrong with the team, and ask for help on bringing it to the client and any higher-ups who need to know. When you break the news, you should also bring a proactive solution to the table.What to say Unfortunately, what I promised you is not possible due to my oversight. I was eager and enthusiastic to make this happen for you, but I should have checked the budget/resources/etc. before giving that say-so. My team and I have worked out something you will love instead. Heres what weve got3. You offended your coworkerYou said something inappropriate and your coworker took offense, or maybe you made a passive-aggressive c omment. Perhaps you corrected your coworker in front of everyone and sounded like a jerk. Consider your motivations, and know that its best totalk about such matters in private. Your coworker may be a highly sensitive person, and you used an inappropriate communication style.Whether disagreeing over a project or the right way to grow sage, you realize the greater good of positive work culture means clearing the air. Maybe you meant it, maybe not, but focus on how you regret contributing to a rift at work.The following apology will only work for everyday mishaps in miscommunication or when you got impatient or frustrated due to stress. It wont work if you said something bigoted, sexist or racist, for example.What to say Im sorry for speaking to you like that. It was unprofessional and wrong. I plan to work on remaining calm in tense situations.4. You blankedYou forgot to complete a project or blanked on rushing a document to a client. Brain fog due to stress or another health conditi on can mess with your memory. In the short term, cortisol can help combat stress as it calls white blood cells to action and boosts the immune system, but in the long term, stress causes the production of cortisol tobind to the brains hippocampus cells, the region that generates new memory from experience. The binding can disrupt the process and permanently damage synapses.Sometimes, you turn into a space cadet for a day, perhaps due to the loss of a loved one or the short-term effects of a stressor youre not yet aware of. You can also get distracted by more positive matters, such a new love in your life.Your boss discovered you spaced and wants to know what happened, with a less-than-friendly look. What do you say to demonstrate that youre not making empty excuses or an insincere apology? Your response should be genuine and provide a concrete timeline for when and how you plan to complete the task.Dont make the details too personal, but if you are suffering from stress, anxiety or a loss, speak up. The company and HR can work with you to make your load a little easier and flexible while you move through everything.Forty-two percent of Americans report stress-related irritability, so work to know your triggers and take breaks to get out your head. If you need time away, take it.What to say Im going to be honest and say that finishing the task got completely away from me. I sincerely apologize. I would like to work with you to develop a plan of action. For this task, I will come in early and have it complete on your desk by noon tomorrow.At first, speaking up will feel awkward, but thats part of being human, feeling and doing uncomfortable things in addition to the struggles and joys of life. At work, trust and open communication are intrinsic to success and positive work culture.Let these answers guide you through tricky and tense situations to emerge on the same page with your boss or coworker. Adjust the answers to your situation and personality to make a st ronger connection in your communication. Its best to be accountable and be a proactive part of the solution. Take the higher road. And, if its truly not your fault, hereshow to handle misplaced blame in the workplace.This article was originally published on PunchedClocks.
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