Top 10 Things NOT to Include on Your CV

Top 10 Things NOT to Include on Your CV There can be no denying the fact that we live in an increasingly tough world nowadays. Increasing populations across the world and rising rates of unemployment mean that more and more people are applying for the same types of jobs you are interested in. This means it is truly imperative for you to take the matter of your CV as seriously as possible. There are certain things that should not show up on a CV in order for it to be an effective reference piece, as opposed to a document that has the employer run in the other direction from you. The following are 10 things you should never include on your CV: 1) An objective that makes no sense or is completely insane: A crazed objective will have the employer not take you seriously and in the end have your CV lying in the comfort of a rubbish bin. RELATED:  How to Ensure Your  Resume  Goes in the  Trash 2) Irrelevant job experience: Having times of the past that you truly enjoyed is a nice memory to cherish. If it has nothing to do with the job you are applying for,  it’s best to leave it out and focus on the jobs that have direct experience with your current interest for work. 3) Achievements that are not exactly achievements: Because you were the Secondary School Team Captain is not an achievement relevant to the job you are applying for! Professional achievements or even community service are notable achievements. 4) A physical description: A description about what you look like or even images of yourself should never be included on a CV. It isn’t professional and will be viewed as a mockery if it includes this information. RELATED:  What  Recruiters  Really Want to See on Your  CV 5) Proper hobby listing: If you have hobbies that will have you viewed in a strange light, they might be better kept to yourself. Common hobbies of reading or writing, even working out are acceptable choices. Hobby lists should be kept short and precise. 6) Private information: Whether it is your religious belief or your sexual orientation these are things that are irrelevant on a CV and are best kept to yourself. There is no reason to put this information in the open for observation. 7) Bad grammar: Bad grammar immediately shows carelessness and laziness. The last thing you want a potential employer to feel you are will be verified immediately once a mistake like this is found. RELATED:  Why Good  Grammar  (and Teeth) are Important for Getting a Job 8) Contact information that will raise flags: If you have an inappropriate email address then simply don’t use it. Or if it is essential to have this information included, create a new one via the use of Google to have an appropriate one on hand. An inappropriate email will only bring you attention and not the kind that will contribute to a path of success. 9) Social Security Number/National Insurance Number: While in the world of information this is the biggest factor that can lead to endless scams, this is not the information that you supply on a CV ever. It could be left out or disregarded and if the wrong person should get this information then you could be in quite a bit of trouble. Have it on hand for the employer, don’t feel the need to hand it out initially. 10) Colourful text and creative fonts: No employer wants to have a staring match with your CV to try and figure out what it says. Nor do they want to have a potential seizure due to the colourful daze you have compiled in your information. Keep it simple and normal and stick to the pure facts. So there you have it. There is a general guide of what no to do when you are truly pursuing a job. It is all for the most part common sense, but sometimes common sense can be overlooked. The first impression you set for your potential employer is what will get you in the door, the CV will get you inside to make an impression, and from there it is entirely in your hands to make it happen. Don’t feel intimidated, the world is a place of vast personality and profession, go for a job that suits you, and make the impression that is needed to make it happen. Author: Richard McMunn is the founder of JobsInLancashire.com; a online jobs service provider in the UK. Richard has a real passion for helping people prepare for and pass tough recruitment processes and assessment centres in order to secure their dream job. Find them on Google Plus here.

Writing an It Resume

Writing an It ResumeResumes can be a chore, but when it comes to writing an it job resume it is very simple. First you need to decide on what you want to include in your it resume and when you are getting ready to write your resume to make sure that you write about what you want to highlight about yourself. There are many advantages to this, but perhaps the biggest advantage is that your it resume is going to read much better than a typical it resume.When you write an it resumes all you have to do is describe what you are going to be offering to the company. At first you should keep it short and sweet. If you feel that you have the potential to write a great it resume then do not worry. The advantage of having a this kind of it resume is that you will actually be able to tell who read your it resume because it will read much more concisely than someone who has a typical it resume.So how do you get started with writing an it resume? The easiest way to write an it resume is to use a pr ofessional writer or to hire a professional to do it for you. If you are not sure about the pros and cons of using a professional then you might want to use a freelance writer that has a decent amount of experience.When writing an it resume, you are going to encounter two main challenges; the first is that there are no set rules as to what your resume should look like and the second is that it can be hard to know exactly what to write. This means that you are going to have to make sure that you are patient and take your time before you get started.There are some guidelines that you are going to want to follow when you are writing an it resume. You will want to start by taking out all of the irrelevant items from your past. What I mean by this is that you are going to want to take out the sections that you have written about in the past. Now don't just take out a couple of sentences here and there, but take out the entire thing.In order to make sure that you are on the right track wh en you are writing an it resume you are going to want to have a working knowledge of the section that you are going to be writing about. Make sure that you understand the definition of the word, then go through and check every sentence for grammar and punctuation. If you have any questions or doubts, make sure that you ask them and you will be doing yourself a favor in the long run.If you are unsure about the grammar of your it resume then it might be wise to hire a professional writer to proofread it for you. It is also a good idea to make sure that you have a proofreader on retainer, but this will only work if you are sure that you have proofread your it resume properly. If you get your resume to a proofreader they can correct anything that you miss.Writing an it resume is easy and it can be very effective. If you are on the lookout for a new career then you should definitely try to write an it resume.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The Real Reasons You Didnt Get the Promotion

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The Real Reasons You Didn't Get the Promotion There are very few things that are more discouraging than being rejected for a promotion. You may feel youre ready to move up the ladder, but you watch others get promotions while youre passed over. Why? Believe it or not, the reasons are often pretty simple. Its not some complicated plot that involves Vladimir Putin orthe CIA. It often comes down to this: Youre like a bull in a china shop.You not only gossipandcomplain loudlyenough to be heard by anyone with a half-mile radius, but you make inappropriate comments and swear like a sailor on shore leave. Obnoxious and bratty behavior that could net you a reality show isnt the professional attitude that is appreciated by bosses. If you embarrass, offend or anger co-workers with your demeanor, you can bet the boss doesnt want you carrying your offensiveness into a leadership position. You cant go anywhere without your GPS.If you cant take the next step in a project without clear guidance from your supervisor or a trail of bread crumbs from team members, then youre not showing the boss that youre capable of taking on a new challenges if promoted. Standing around dithering while you wait on instructions reveals you as someone who needs to be constantly supervised, and thats not a recipe for a promotion. Huffy is your middle name.Do youtake feedback well, or get huffy and pout or gripe about any criticism? Youve got to develop thicker skin the higher you go on the career ladder, so an inability to accept feedback professionally could be sending the message youre immature and not ready to play with the big kids. Yourenever late for happy hour.Theres nothing wrong with enjoying your time off after work, but you cant expect the boss to consider you for a promotion when you hit the door at 5 p.m. like a bullet, racing out to your car to get to happy hour or yoga class. Try lingering a bit after quitting time to show the boss that something else isnot always more important than your job. Youdontspeak up.Bosses are not mind readers. If you want a promotion, ask for it. Then, give all the reasons why youd be great for the job. Youdonthave the right skills.Its surprising how many people ask for a promotion when they have no real idea of what the job entails. Do your homework so that you know the specific skills or certifications you need to fulfill the job duties. Then, take stock ofwhat soft skills you have to offer. Perhaps youre adept at soothing angry customers or youre good at rallying diverse team members around a common goal. A combination of skills are critical for getting a promotion because any boss wants to feel like shes getting a well-rounded person who wont require a lot of hand-holding. You never make a good suggestion. Sure, you thought your idea of putting a slushie machine in the breakroom was brilliant, but how exactly does that help the boss or the company? Those who want to be promoted have to show that (read more here)

How To Make 2014 A Year of Budget, Planning and Saving - A Guide From A 25-Year-Old Guy

How To Make 2014 A Year of Budget, Planning and Saving - A Guide From A 25-Year-Old Guy Whether you are working, looking for a job or still a student at university, money is one issue that is common to all of us. Those who have a lot of it are not happy; those who don’t have much, like me, are unhappy as well. Thats me I used to be pretty poor in monetary decisions whilst at University and even for some time after graduating. And on some level if I hadn’t been that bad, I wouldn’t have noticed the difference. A couple of years after graduating I learnt my lessons by reading blogs and from a friend, who is really good at budgeting and planning. I took action in 2013 and saw good results, so 2014 is about doing the same and sharing my tips with you. 1. Make a budget to save and to spend. Making a budget isnt hard its taking stock of how much you can spend.photo credit: kenteegardin When I used to hear the word budget, I used to cringe. But it was my biggest mistake of student life and even afterwards. You don’t need to go hungry to meet a budget; broadly, there are three ways you can budget: a. 20% hard save, 80% spend â€"  you save 20% of your income every week/month in hard cash and budget to spend the rest of the 80%. Here, you have to be strict about how you spend. Look for savings there. Also, things like tuition fee loans or car loan repayments fall under spending. (Note: phone contracts, gym membership, etc. is also spending). b. 40% saving, 60% spending â€" this is a slightly more lenient and a psychologically satisfying way to save, where things like tuition fee repayments, car loan repayments or any loan repayments are accounted for under savings. This is because over time you will repay the loan and from that point onwards this money will be extra money over and above your budget. c. Make a budget and stick with it, save the rest â€" I love to follow this. I make a budget of what I want to spend each month and then save the rest. I save at the end of the month because it helps me from not going into overdraft some months. But at times, when I am on holiday, etc., I just remove my savings as soon as I get paid and then whatever remains in the account goes according to the budget. Now, I am not a financial expert, but that is what I have noticed most people follow. The key thing is that you need to budget. Not always because it will save you money, but it also gives you an indication of where your money is going. I realised I spend £25 on a gym membership per month and about £30 on 5-a-side football a month. Not playing footy a month would save me £30 which can go towards a holiday trip I genuinely want to make. It’s a small sacrifice but it helped me put into context how much I am spending on sports. Over a year I am spending £600+ on gym and footy-  is it really worth it? 2. Cook whenever and wherever possible. Oh, those burger meals which I thought were dirt cheap, those sandwiches at University, and that lunch deal when working All those options sound cheap for what one earns a day but it all adds up. This isnt my lunch, but you get the point.photo credit: Sakurako Kitsa Here are some ways I saved up and have seen a big increase in savings: a. I pack my own lunch to work (most days). Even if it is a sandwich, I make it at home. Buying the ingredients for making lunch every week costs me £5. When I was buying a lunch I was spending £2.50- £3.50 a day, which equates to a saving of £10 per week. By simply making my lunch I now save about £40 a month, about £500 a year. b. Avoid junk food â€" not only does it help you save, but it also helps being more healthy. I loved my Friday evening with junk food listening to fighting talk on BBC 5 live, but I now prefer cooking my own meal whilst listening to it. c. Say NO to peer pressure to eat out â€" If you are saving, one thing you need to learn is to say NO to excess. Some days I would go eat out with different sets of friends. When I decided to start saving I realised I had to say NO to eating out a lot. And I did it was hard, but good habits are contagious; one of your friends might pick up saving money that way, too. So, those are my 2 broad tips to budget, plan and save for this year. It is important that you start saving money because it really helps at times when the sun is not shining. Budgeting and being in control of your money makes you self-disciplined and this will show through in your behaviour. Note that none of the above two tips is asking you to go hungry or cancel your trips. So they should be doable and you can do it. This comes from a guy who owns 3 laptops, 1 netbook, 1 iPad and a printer. Out of all that, he only uses one laptop and the iPad. The rest £1000 was wasted. I learnt my lesson and now do everything moderately. Make 2014 a year when you gain financial discipline. You can follow these tips and save. Dont doubt yourself.photo credit: sara | b. If you have any tips to help students, graduates and young people save money, do comment below. I would love to update this article with your tips. 0

Evolution Resume Writing

Evolution Resume WritingEvolution resume writing is a term which many workers and employers use these days. It is also called 'evolution' as it is seen to be on the verge of bringing about a significant change in the way that people do business.Evolution means different things to different people. The way in which the term is used to describe a trend in business or more specifically how the word evolved in the history of human society is just one part of this evolution. A simple look at history will prove that humans have evolved their whole way of working, living and doing.Evolution is not just one single word; it is a way of life, the way in which the past was transcended to make way for the future. Many people and organizations see that it is necessary to adapt to the changes that are made by the customers and consumers, they do so by trying to increase the knowledge of the customers in order to take advantage of their demands and their needs.The ever-changing world has proved to be a problem for the many companies that are now scrambling for new ways to keep up with the changing market. One of the best ways to do this is through Evolution resume writing. Evolution can be seen to be a good thing because it is seen to help businesses remain competitive.The word 'Evolution' was coined by those who were looking for something to make the business of their organization stand out from the rest of the pack. They saw the need to change the business to keep up with the competitive industries in the world. If they did not make any real effort to evolve the company then they would have to face extinction in the coming future.Evolution, in the name itself, means that the organization should be working towards the development of the consumers in order to cater to their ever-changing demands. It should help them identify their needs and wants, and find solutions to all their problems. Evolution also needs to think out of the box so that it can put together the latest info rmation, knowledge and strategies so that it can provide the best solutions to its clients.It is advisable to hire a good service provider for this job. A good company is one that can adapt to any change in the business in order to stay ahead of its competitors. It must also be able to look into any negative trends that could potentially affect the company, and therefore come up with good solutions.A good resume needs to give a good overview of the individual's abilities and other assets. It should also highlight his skills and achievements, his work ethics and character and the way in which he solves problems. This should also include his aspirations, likes and dislikes and the traits that have brought him success in his chosen career.

How to Guarantee Success When Taking an Online Course - CareerMetis.com

How to Guarantee Success When Taking an Online Course Source : Pexels.comAlthough most of us would like to advance our education, the hectic routines of modern-day life prevent many from going back to school. But this does not mean you can’t possibly squeeze college into your busy schedule. All you need is some wiggle room, and this is where online courses come in.For starters, you will enjoy much more flexibility than you would when taking an in-class course, at least in terms of when and where you do your coursework.In addition to this, you may end up saving several hours per week since you won’t have to commute to college. With this level of flexibility, however, you’ll have to take a few extra steps in order to be successful. Here are some tips to help get you on the path to success when taking online courses.1. Know your resourcesevalevalOnline courses can prove quite beneficial, especially if you have a busy schedule. This will, however, depend on whether you can access the materials. You should, therefore, confirm the techn ical requirements as early as possible.Figure out which technologies and resources are likely to be used in the course and master them before starting the program.Install and update any required software and verify that your computer is working well. Your computer has to be compatible with every online tool applicable. So test these tools early to confirm that each works on your system. Remember, some courses will use special tools.You won’t be distracted by technical problems during the course if you figure out your requirements early. As a result, you’ll be able to center your attention on the course materials. Also, familiarize yourself with how James Cook University onlineprograms can help you as a student.2. Connect with your peers and instructor earlyYou need to interact with your classmates and instructors. Although you probably won’t be sitting next to someone else, you won’t be alone! Just as with an in-class course, such connects allow for a rich and engaging exper ience.Online courses will often feature early activities that are meant to help students connect with each other. Even so, you don’t have to take part in these activities to know your classmates. Just make sure you introduce yourself to the others, even if it means going out of your way.It pays to cultivate strong relationships with your classmates and instructors since you will be working with them throughout the semester.3. Ask for assistance when you need itevalJust like coordination, being able to seek help, especially from your instructor, is also extremely important. It’s true that your instructors are less likely to see your body language during class.As a result, it can be harder for them to tell when you are struggling. Even though you are not likely to meet your instructors in person, they are there to help you.Taking an online course does not mean working in isolation, so don’t retreat into seclusion. Instead, stay in touch and reach out for help whenever you need i t.4. Have the right expectationsContrary to popular belief, online courses can be a little bit more difficult and require more input than their in-class counterparts. In fact, many online courses will offer a full semester’s worth of content in half the time. Since this is double the pace of an in-class course, you’ll probably fall behind if caught off-guard.evalAs such, you shouldn’t have a carefree attitude if you want to complete an online course successfully. Approaching your online course with the right expectations in mind can help prevent failure.eval5. Stay organizedWhen taking an online course, you’ll have to stay organized from the very beginning if you want to be successful. Face-to-face courses offer consistent schedules that feature in-class instructions and out-of-class assignments.But when taking an online course, you may have to create some of the structure associated with face-to-face courses. Being proactive might be the only way to stay on top of your work .Organize your files in a sensible manner. Include all assignment due dates in your calendar, create folders for every week, keep all your coursework materials together, and maintain a clean and quiet work area.Keep a copy of everything you submit in case a technological problem occurs, making it necessary to resubmit. Also, remember to take good notes.6. Have a good workspaceWhen taking an online course, none of your time will be spent in a traditional classroom. You must, therefore, establish a consistent workspace.Besides offering a good internet connection and constant access to power, your workspace needs to be quiet, free of outside interferences and ideally situated. It should be in a location that you will be able to visit whenever needed throughout the course.7. Manage your time wiselyYou need to cultivate strong time management skills. While online courses offer a lot of flexibility, this does not eliminate the need for a schedule. Scheduled time is of significant importan ce when taking an online course.You need to set aside enough regular time to be able to can study the course materials and complete assignments on time. Stick to these blocks of time and treat them with the same level of seriousness as a face-to-face class. Make your family, friends and colleagues aware of your unavailability during these times.

7 ways to knock it out of the park on your next interview - Sterling Career Concepts

7 ways to knock it out of the park on your next interview 7 ways to knock it out of the park on your next interview A few ground rules to start: all things being equal, a company is much more likely to hire someone they like than someone they don’t. That’s why it’s key to find ways to build rapport with your interviewer. Equally true, nobody can be good at everything so anyone who tries to sound in an interview like they’re great at everything is more likely to raise disbelief than garner respect. Proper preparation and strategy helps dissipate the inherent stress in interviewing. Follow along with these seven suggestions to put your best foot forward in your next interview: 1. Confidence is contagious. You need to be able to look in your interviewer’s eyes and know for a fact that they’re going to be better off hiring you than anyone else. 2. Two things that will impress an interviewer: Putting forward a strong case as to why they should employ you and showing why you are interested in their company. 3. Use verbal mirroring: match the interviewer’s tone of voice and the kind of words they use. If they talk fast, chances are they want to hire quick-thinking people. 4. Remember the C.A.R. strategy in interviews. When asked for an example of your work, think (what was the) Challenge, (what) Action (did I take) and (what was the) Result. 5. Don’t talk too much in a job interview. It’s a delicate balance, but you run the risk of boring the interviewer if you go on and on about yourself. 6. Use the “Big to Little” interview strategy. First mention a “big picture” accomplishment, and then tie in a more specific, targeted achievement. 7. Subtly take control of the interview. Give complete answers to the interviewer’s questions and then segue into topics that you wish to discuss. (“Yes, I do have experience writing proposals. And, I also have secured more than $100,000 in grants. Would you like to know more about my grant-writing skills?”) One last word of advice: visualizing success in the interview is important. Picture yourself interviewing. You are relaxed and confident. You hit it off with the interviewer and get the job! Give us a call to inquire about our interview strategy coaching that will help you ace the interview.

The Declaration of You BlogLovin Tour starts Monday! - When I Grow Up

The Declaration of You BlogLovin Tour starts Monday! - When I Grow Up Wow wow wow. Remember when I asked ya last month if ya wanted to be part of my book tour? Well, we currently have about 200 confirmed posts going up in the next two months (!) we just cant wait for the virtual party to start on Monday! Its not too late to join us, neither. Youll find all the details of the BlogLovin tour as well as how you can participate right here. And if you dont have a blog, no bigs you can be part of the party every Friday on Facebook. Ill be back on Monday to kick off our first topic: Enthusiasm! YAHOO! (See? Im getting a head start!)