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Let’s Talk Resume Boosters!

As we move full-force into the new year, it’s time to update our resumes! For those who are in a job transition, job hunt, or soon to be college graduates- let’s discuss some ways to boost your resume. Your resume gives the hiring manager a first glimpse of who you are and what you have accomplished.  Adding role-specific or software certifications to your resume is one way to raise your value as a candidate.

Role-Specific Certifications

Online certifications are popping up everywhere and they are very accessible to everyone. Make sure you are taking the time to complete certifications that are tailored to your field of work. This will help ensure that your certification can make a difference on your resume. A recruiter might not take a second look if you are certified in something that is not applicable to your field. With the right research, you will be able to find a certification that is helpful for your job/role. To get started, a few role-specific certifications are listed below.

Software Certifications

Software certifications are very relevant in our world of technology. This certification can help any resume stand out, not just people in the field of IT. Careers like digital marketing, software engineering, data science, etc,  can all benefit from a software certification. Read below to find out more about these software certifications.

Google: Analytics, Publisher, AdWords

  • Google has plenty of free online certifications that you can complete. You simply make an account and start the certification courses. Google Analytics is especially useful for students who are going to be graduates soon and on the job hunt. Adding a certification like Google Analytics will show the hiring manager that you can analyze reports, track data collections, processing and configurations, and many more.

Salesforce: CRM certifications

  • Salesforce is a website that offers customer relationship management services. This can be useful in any career where you are directly working with other people- like sales, marketing, customer service, etc. Completing a Salesforce certification will help you to be well-versed in analytics.

Not all certifications are useful, in fact, some can be pointless to add to your resume. Do your research before completing a certification in order to know it will benefit your resume. Certifications can be time-consuming, but they can also be worth it. Your resume might stand out more to the hiring manager if you have appropriate certifications.

Working on your resume? Read here to find out what fonts to use!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

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Key Strategies for Job Search Success

The job search process can be scary and long at times. Finding a job you love and that you are qualified for should be everyone’s goal! Today we are going to talk about the key strategies that will help you find success throughout the job search process. Continue reading below to find out!

  • Perseverance: This can be a tricky strategy. You might find yourself feeling hopeless after a few months filled with rejection and no luck. There are many long and hard stages of the job search process, but perseverance will keep you going. It will help you stay positive and realize that this search will be over soon and at the end of it, you will have a great job! Those who persevere will feel more rewarded!
  • Timing: Timing can be everything! If you find that perfect job, perfect location, but you think the time isn’t right, this is where you make a mistake. Good jobs aren’t open for a long time. They fill up pretty fast usually, so jump on something when you see it!
  • Skill: Your skills are your greatest asset. Prepare yourself on how to sell people on your skills and talk about the great things you can do. Use your downtime to improve on your current skills or even learn new ones. Online certifications are a great way to improve and update your skillset.
  • Customization: Take the time to tailor your resume to each job you are applying for. This may seem extremely time consuming, but it can be worth it. Make a few different versions of your resume that are specific to certain job titles you apply for.

We know how frustrating the job search process is for some people. Try to apply these strategies to your job search and remember to stay positive!

Do you have a job offer coming your way? Read here to find out what questions you should be asking!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

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5 Reasons Recruiters Toss Your Resume Out

Recruiters at Esquire Recruiting, LLC and recruiters everywhere look at many resumes each day. They can spot the difference between the good and the bad. Today we are going to discuss the top 5 reasons that recruiters will pass your resume up or even throw it in the no pile. Continue reading below to find out why!

  1. It’s way too long! Resumes are generally 1 page, sometimes 2. When recruiters receive resumes that are 4 pages or 6 pages, they simply cannot read through it without getting bored or annoyed. Keep it short and to the point.
  2. It’s overstyled! Resumes should be clean and simple, for the most part. If your resume has multiple different fonts, includes broken hyperlinks, uses buzzwords or overly formal speech, or is too long-winded- then you need to fix it up! Those four are examples of some of the biggest mistakes you can make on a resume. Style issues like those make it difficult to read the resume, which is exactly what you don’t want happening.
  3. It doesn’t include keywords! Make it easy to connect the dots! Include words or short phrases that relate to the particular job requirements you are applying for. This will help catch the hiring managers eye when they are looking over your resume. Recruiters will also benefit from this because they are looking over hundreds of resumes a day, and the keywords will help them narrow their search.
  4. It’s not ordered correctly! The order of everything on your resume matters. It needs to be in the order of relevance or impact. You don’t want to add your current job in at the bottom, everything that is the most current should be placed at the top. Make sure your resume highlights your accomplishments and relevant information at the top.
  5. It doesn’t tell a story! We talked about telling your career story in last weeks blog regarding job interviews. The same goes for your resume! Tell your story through the words on the paper. When a recruiter looks at your resume, they need to be able to tell what your career story is and where you are hoping to go in your career.

Resumes are very tricky! A resume is something you want to take your time on completing because it is the first thing a hiring manager and recruiter will see. It is basically your first impression that you are giving. Follow the dos and don’ts above to help make sure your resumes do not end up in the trash pile!

Missed last weeks blog? Catch up here!

Searching for a new position? Submit your resume to any of our open jobs!

Read some resume tips from our very own recruiters here!

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Top Tips for Being a Better Team Player

In any job, you are most likely working with or beside other people. Work teams are common in organizations and they help functions to run effectively. Continue reading below for some tips on how to be a better team player at work!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Let Others Help You: Letting your coworkers help you with tasks opens the door for more communication. It takes some of the weight off of your shoulders and makes the task at hand way easier to accomplish. Your coworkers will see you as approachable and great to collaborate with.

Listen Well: This one is important when you are on a team. You need to be an active listener when your coworkers are speaking. This will make them feel heard and valuable. And they will probably return the favor when you are speaking too.

Lead With Good Intentions: You can accomplish this by leading authentically. Your team needs to be cohesive in order to collaborate, and your intention should be to achieve that cohesion. Utilize everyone on your team and engage with them. This will help strengthen everyone’s relationships on the team.

Share Your Gifts: Bring your A-game to the team. Use your best qualities and strengths to help your team advance and get your projects done. There may be tasks that take you minutes to complete, but for someone else, it might take the whole day. Your team will appreciate you for giving it your all and saving them the hassle of spending too much time on a task.

Volunteer to Do the Dirty Work: Team members will like you if you volunteer to do the hard tasks. This doesn’t mean you need to volunteer every time when a difficult task is presented, don’t let yourself get taken advantage of. With that being said, if you’re the only person who never takes on the dirty work, your teammates might start to build up some animosity towards you. Find a healthy balance and rotation.

Spread Positivity: Be the positive light in your group when things get hard. When a group is under pressure to get something done, tensions can get really high. Take off some of the pressure by keeping things light. If someone makes a mistake, don’t dwell and judge them, acknowledge it and move on.

Observe Others Work Styles: This is an important part of being a cohesive team. You might notice that your teammate hates emailing and prefers phone calls. Or that someone would rather have meetings in the morning than afternoons. Take notice of how your teammates work best, and be flexible towards them.

These are just a few ways you can be a great team player. Collaborating with your team will help your job run smoother and make for a better work experience. Be open to feedback from teammates, don’t gossip, and don’t judge. If you give your best work and the best attitude to your team, you will become a better team player.

Read here about successful qualities a team should have!

Searching for a new position? Read through our open jobs!

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Recommendation Letters: How To Guide

Recommendation letters aren’t usually necessary when applying for a job, but it will sure help your chances of landing an interview or making a great impression. They provide another information outlet for the interviewer or hiring manager. It helps them see you, the candidate, through someone else’s eyes. Follow the tips below regarding recommendation letters!

Who To Ask

When reaching out to people in your network about writing you a recommendation letter, it’s important that you’re asking the right people. You will want to ask someone who is going to give you a strong endorsement and that you have/had a good working relationship with. This might be your former boss, a fellow colleague, vendors, business acquaintances, etc. Make sure it is someone that can attest to your abilities and that has worked with you or beside you. This person is going to be writing all about you including your strengths, qualifications, and why they think you would be a good employee.

How to Ask

Asking for a letter of recommendation can feel awkward to some people. Make sure you communicate clearly what you need and ask if they feel like they know you well enough to write the letter. That way, if someone wants to say no, they will be able to say they aren’t comfortable and it will be an easy out. Don’t put pressure on anyone or make them feel like they have to write you a recommendation letter. If they say yes, provide your updated resume and your qualifications so the writer has something to reference when they are writing your letter.

What to Include

In the recommendation letter, make sure you make it clear that you need certain criteria. The letter should have the following things: dates of employment, the position held, the company name, job responsibilities, qualifications, strengths and abilities, and contact information. The writer can add their own personal touch and discuss their own positive feedback as well. If you have those 7 things in the letter, you are ready to go.

Don’t Forget to Say Thank You

Just like following up interviews with a thank you note, the same goes for letters of recommendation. Extend a thank you note/email/phone call to the person who wrote you a recommendation letter. It shows that you appreciate them for their time and energy they put into the letter and it makes a big impression.

A letter of recommendation is a great way to vouch for your job knowledge, skills, and overall performance. It can give the hiring manager insight into who you are and how you work. Keep in mind that recommendation letters aren’t everything- the most important part of the job search process is to have a great resume and cover letter!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Are you worried that your cover letter isn’t up to par? Learn how to write a great one here!

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