Success Blog
Our bi-weekly blog is full of expert advice to help you grow, elevate, and succeed in your career and business!
 Your resume is one of the most important documents you will ever own. A recruiter spends a total of 6 seconds scanning a resume for the first time, so you must make an amazing first impression if you are to stand any chance of progressing to the interview stage.
Here are 7 areas that must be clearly communicated to ensure your resume makes the cut! 1) Tailoring your resume to each job you are applying for is essential, so make sure that the job titles, responsibilities and descriptions on your resume are relevant to the job being offered so that it is streamlined to and relevant to the position you are seeking. 2) Ensure your experience comes across as consistent and relevant to the job you are applying for, and be clear as to HOW you added value, as well as your exact contribution to any projects. This is very important. Make sure you do not merely post descriptions of what your duties were. Always add some highlights that make you a stellar employee. 3) Include all relevant skills gained in previous jobs. Your skills complement your experience and show how suitable you are for the job. They also can be used to step into new professional territories when trying to level up or pivot in your career. 4) Always highlight your results and achievements. Focus on the outcomes and how you played a big part in that. Make sure you demonstrate how you over-achieved in any project or position you were responsible for. 5) Make sure to include any relevant educational certificates, especially if they were listed in the selection criteria. This includes any training, certifications, and courses that you have taken in your career. They can make the difference between getting called for an interview or not, especially if the training is directly related to the position you are seeking. 6) Ensure the layout is clear, clean, and consistent. One font is sufficient, use bullet points rather than long sentences, and make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. 7) Use relevant language. Read the job description and make sure your language is similar so that the reader feels an immediate connection between you and the role. Remember that although you may be the best person for the job, if you do not articulate that effectively on your resume, you may not be considered for the position. If you like to have your resume professionally written, please contact us! Our team will ensure your resume stands out and gets you noticed so you have a better chance of getting hired for the job of your dreams.
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 Are you fulfilled in your present job? If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to start thinking about a decisive change in your life, beginning with a Career Pivot.
When you’ve been at the same job or career for years, thinking about making a switch to something different can seem impossible and even scary, but not only is it doable, it can bring newfound joy and happiness to your life. While Career Pivoting can be risky when you are not prepared, it can be done easily and with much less of a risk factor when you take the following steps to ensure a smooth transition. What is your motivating factor? Many people who feel stuck in their present jobs and careers are overwhelmed with the resentment that comes from doing something they don’t like daily. This feeling can sometimes cloud the reasons they need or want to look for something different. Getting clear on what motivates you to leave your line of work in exchange for another puts things into perspective. It allows for a logical sequence of strategy-driven events to start taking place, rather than basing it solely on your frustrations. Take some time to answer the following questions to help you establish your true WHY so you can decide what the best course of action is and what steps to take toward making your career-pivoting dreams a reality: Why do I want to leave this job? Why do I think a new career will make my life better? What might the downsides or risks be? What are the benefits? Having some concrete answers will help you decide whether you’re just emotionally drained and need a break, but not necessarily an entire career pivot, or can shine a light on how much more appealing switching jobs is to you. Where do you want to go from here? Knowing that you want to leave your present job and being clear on why is the first step, but having a clear picture of exactly where you would like to go next is equally important before making a big career move. Sometimes people leave jobs out of frustration without having a plan in action and find themselves even more stressed out when they have no idea what they will do next. It is always a good idea to have a solid plan and strategy ahead of time that is already in the works before putting in your resignation. To help you get you focused on where you want to go next, answer the following questions: What does your new job or career look like? What does it not look like? What’s it called? And most importantly: Do you have the skills and expertise to leverage to excel in that position? Many skills are transferable, but you should have the firm confidence that your skill-set is aligned with your new career choice to make a successful transition to another career or industry. You're much better off pivoting into roles that leverage the career skills you’ve already built up over the years and drawing upon these areas of expertise in new and creative ways. What will you need to do to get there? Maybe you’ve already figured out that your transferable skills are worth making the jump to another career. It is still worth exploring whether getting certification/class/license may make you a more attractive candidate for the new position you are seeking. Or maybe all you need is a polished professional rebranding starting with your Resume and Cover Letter to give you the push you need to switch roles. It is always a good idea to outline all the resources you will need to transition smoothly to a new job or career and any potential obstacles you will face. This will prepare you to come up with solutions ahead of the game. Once you’ve completed this part, you are ready to move forward and begin putting your Career Pivoting plan into action! What is your action plan? Now that you know your why, you have your what, and you know which resources you will need to set in place before moving forward, you are ready to put it all together and create an action plan. Give yourself an ideal timeline of when you want to make the switch. Then, start activating any skills or credentials you need to acquire. Next, begin networking with relevant connections in your chosen career path, and rebranding your LinkedIn and your professional documents to get them ready for the big switch. Lastly, make sure you spend time wrapping unfinished business up at your present job, and any other personal matters you need to attend to so you can leave with a clear conscience and make your new beginning that much smoother. Give yourself a detailed to-do list and check things off daily, weekly, and monthly that get you closer you completing everything necessary for you to switch careers. Take your time and don’t rush it. The more you get through that checklist, the more excited you will feel, and the more authentic your career switch will start to become. If you complete the above steps in a realistic time frame, your career pivot will be a fascinating and enjoyable process. If you are ready to switch careers but are unsure of how to go about it or need help professionally rebranding yourself to make it happen, consider working with a professional consultant who can guide you every step of the way. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us for a free consultation so we can discuss your options and help you reach your highest potential! We would be happy to help you through this exciting transition.  by Victoria Rubio, Career and Success Coach, VR Resumes and Career Services
If you are serious about your Career, then you must be serious about your Brand! Personal branding is vital when it comes to having a lucrative career, not only for long-term success, but also for your earning potential. How you present yourself to potential employers, clients, and customers is crucial if you want to advance within your industry; your brand shows them clearly who you are professionally and exactly what you can offer them, which can make or break your growth and elevation on your path of professional success. What is Personal Branding? Personal branding is the practice of marketing your skills, experience, strengths, and passions within your career as your brand, which becomes how others automatically think of you. It is establishing your professional image and using that to leave a lasting impression on people so they remember the value you bring, and want to work with you or have you on their team. Find out your Why The first step in establishing your brand is figuring out why you do what you do and why you love doing it. The reason for this is because knowing the passion and purpose behind your profession will help you communicate it fluidly across all platforms, which will assist you to be authentic and genuine in all your communication efforts. Solidify your Branding Package Ensure that your professional documents and platforms have a streamlined appearance and consistent language that presents you and your value effectively and impressively. Your career branding package should include, at minimum, a Professional Resume, Cover Letter, Professional Bio Marketing Page, and Optimized LinkedIn Profile. These platforms create a consistent presence that, together, create the foundation of your brand that you will be able to showcase and share with others as needed. I can’t emphasize how important this is for your career success. Make sure your brand documents and online presence have a streamlined appearance and offer a clear value that summarizes who you are professionally and what skills and experience you bring with you. Expand your Reach Networking is imperative to growing your brand. Once you have your branding package established, you are ready to begin sharing your knowledge and expertise with your network. Share everything you know about your industry and advise others about what has worked for you and what has not. You can also write articles and share your knowledge on many online platforms, including LinkedIn, which will help position you as a leader and authority in your industry and help your brand reach grow quickly. Never Stop Growing Continue to invest in your industry knowledge and stay updated on relevant trends and happenings. This adds to your professional toolbox and shows that you are informed and passionate about your career. Always keep learning. Take a course, obtain training, brush up on your interview skills, sign up for webinars, attend conferences, etc. Bottom line, stay in the forefront and ensure you are learning from the best and taking the knowledge to propel you to new heights. Seek Professional Support If you are serious about growing your career and establishing yourself as a leader within your industry, one of the best things you could ever do for your career is to hire help. A Career Expert can help you discover, define, communicate, and market your personal brand for your career growth in ways you never thought possible. VR Resumes and Career Services specializes in strategies and branding packages for professionals that stand above the rest and help them advance dramatically in their careers. We offer Resumes, Cover Letters, LinkedIn Optimization, Bio Marketing Pages, Professional Portfolios, Interview Preparation, Social Media Marketing, one on one Career Consulting, and more to help you reach your highest possible potential. Contact us for a free assessment and start your journey of purpose, abundance, and success today! Visit our website www.VRsuccesspath.com |