4 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover Letter

4 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover Letter4 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover LetterAn extraordinary titelblatt letter can be your ticket to catching a hiring managers eye. But what does a standout cover letter look like? To find out, we posed this question to career professionals, and they had plenty to sayHere are four expert tips for composing a memorable cover letter1. Engage from the get-go.Rather than starting your cover letter with the typical and boring, I am very interested in your blah blah job. Please see my attached resume for your consideration, try using a unique and attention-grabbing opening sentence, suggests Donna Shannon of Personal Touch Career Services.As an example, Shannon offers the following (for a prospective accountant)In this flooded job market, finding a good accountant can be as easy as picking out a new shirt at the mall. However, finding that perfect candidate with a balance of technical skills and an understanding of your industry can be more challeng ing. With over five years of experience, I am sure that I can meet your needs.2. Give insight into who you are.Show your humanness says Denise Dudley, author of Work ItGet In, Get Noticed, Get Promoted. The best thingabout a cover letter is that it isnt a list of accomplishments, or a seriesofsummary statements, like your resume. Itsconversational.And this conversational format allows you to talkabout yourself in a way thatcan really grab the attention of hiring managers- and make them want to meetyou in person.To help employers see you as an individual rather than as a generic candidate, Dudley suggests presenting a personal narrative.Talk about your love of working with children. Or your ability toorganize diverse groups of people. Or howmuch you enjoy the challenges ofzwischenstaatlich commerce. Or how youre at your best when youre presentedwithan impossible project. Showcase your warmth, eagerness, and genuineness- coupledwith your professionalism and competence, ofcourse.3. Off er proof of your fit.A resume already contains a wealth of information on base skill sets, but if a cover letter can tie the measurable results achieved in a candidates past work with the skills expected in the job theyre applying for, this can make all the difference, says Melina Gillies, HR specialist at SalesUp Business Coaching. Showing metrics lets hiring managers know that you pay attention to detail and are able to tie your own results to the big picture of an organization, as well as being able to deliver on what the job advertisement indicates are critical skills to possess.Obviously, measurements differ by industry, but Gillies presents the following as an exampleIf productivity goals and tight timelines are leided as important to the role, dont just reiterate that youre great at meeting deadlines let me know you were able to increase productivity by 34% while reducing costs by 10% and provide a short sentence on how you did that.4. Dont write a novel.Lets get right to the point of this last suggestion.Keep thecoverlettershort(a maximum of one page if at all possible), says Timothy Wiedman, retired associate professor of management and human resources at Doane University.Screeners could easily have dozens upon dozens of application packages to deal with, so a multi-pagecoverletterdensely packed with prose will not likely be appreciated- and may not be read in its entiretyWhile succinctness may be challenging given all you wish to convey, think of it as a way to show the hiring manager another of your talents- the ability to communicate effectively

Tips for Writing a News Script for TV News

Tips for Writing a News Script for TV NewsTips for Writing a News Script for TV NewsWriting a TV berichterstattung script is a lot harder than you might think. Even those skilled in journalism struggle if they have to turn a story meant to be read into a tight script that needs to be heard. However, you can perfect your TV nachrichtensendung writing style if you learn the basics. Be Sure to Write for the Ear Always read your script out loud in a conversational tone so you can judge if an audience will be able to understand it. Unlike a newspaper story, your broadcast audience only gets one weg to understand your story. Also, beware of words that sound alike but mean different things. For instance, words like cite might be confused with site or sight and should be avoided. You may have noticed when listening to a newscast that short sentences are easier to digest than long-winded sentences. Just be sure to make your sentences sound lively and interesting- as opposed to flat and mo notone. Avoid the Passive Voice Passive voice writing jumbles up the usual sequence of subject, verb, object in active voice writing. This sounds like a lesson from English class, but it really makes a critical difference in broadcast news writing. An active voice helps distinguish between verbs and subjects. For example, an active sentence would be, The burglar fired the gun, as opposed to a passive sentence such as, The gun was fired by the burglar. You can see in the passive sentence that viewers have to wait until the end of the line to know who did what. Use Present Tense Wherever Possible TV news is timely as opposed to print news writing that relates a bigger story, putting facts and information into context. In other words, a 6 p.m. newscast must sound freshand of the moment. You need to bring the viewer into the news piece as its unfolding. For example, lets look at a mayors news conference that you covered at 2 p.m. that afternoon to appear on the nightly news. You might want to write, Mayor Johnson held a news conference earlier today. However, if you shift the focus of the sentence to the subject of the news conference, you end up putting the sentence in the present tense. This gives it more immediacy and makes it sound less stale. For example, Mayor Johnson says he intends to slash local taxes by 20 percent. Johnson made the announcement at a news conference. That example above works because it starts out in the present tense and creates the hook, then shifts to past tense. Write Stories for People Its easy to get mired in what your writing and forget who youre writing for- the people watching your newscast. Viewers need to feel your stories are directed at them, or else theyll turn away. When writing, its a good idea to pretend that someone is sitting across from you. Direct the story to them. Lets say your local departement of transportation announces plans to overhaul several major thoroughfares in need of repair. Dont just present the institutional information the DOT provided you with. Transform the information into something of consequence for the viewers at home. For example, you can say, Your drive to work or school will soon be smoother, thanks to a big project by the DOT to fill in potholes and uneven streets suffering from wear and tear. This way youve telling viewers how an upcoming project will change their lives- for the better. Befriend Action Verbs In news writing, verbs are your best friend. Verbs are the part of speech that adds life and verve to your stories. For instance. Instead of saying, Residents are requesting information. Say something like, Residents want to know. That slight change makes the information more compelling. If you can, always avoid words like is, are, was, and were. All of these dilute the impact of the action. Be Careful With Numbers Numbers are hard to absorb, especially if there are a lot of them. Try to make your point with a number or two, then move on. The c ompanys profit was $10,470,000, then fell to $5,695,469 a year later, is just too much information. The companys profit was about 10 and-a-half mio dollars, then fell to about half that the following year. The last example gives the viewer the information without having to listen to every last digit. Sell the Story In most cities, there may be only one or two local newspapers but several TV stations all vying for an audience. That means a news writer has to be a salesperson and sell the product as something superior to the competition. When the school board said there wasnt any money for classroom computers, we decided to dig for answers. A line like that demonstrates that the news team is aggressive, and is taking action to get to the truth. The viewer likes this story because he or she feels someone is championing for them. It personalizes it and brings it home- even if a viewer doesnt have children. If you can combat the perception that all newscasts are the same by leading t he segment with, We have an NBC exclusive of Kim Kardashian with the woman she got pardoned from prison, viewers will flock to your TV station because youve set yourself apart. Move the Story Forward A good TV news story ends telling the audience what will happen next. The school board will take a vote on whether to cut teachers pay at its next meeting a week from today doesnt leave the audience hanging and, it forces viewers to tune in next week. If you wrap-up the segment with, We will be at that meeting and tell you the outcome of the vote, your viewers know your news team is on top of the story. Different Parts of a Script Lets look at five steps you can take to break down a TV News script. A good example is Pope Benedicts retirement announcement because it was a historic event- no matter what religion you practice. If the story looks at footage of people responding to the Popes retirement in St. Petersburg Square, you could write the script as follows The first line inf orms the audience about the main point of the story. If you only had one line to tell your story, it would be, Pilgrims began arriving at St. Peters Square on Monday, February 11, following an announcement by Pope Benedict that hes resigning at the end of the month.Provide a line or two of background information that adds context to your first line. For example, The 85-year-old German-born pontiff said he is no longer strong enough to fulfill the duties of his office, becoming the first pope since the Middle Ages to take such a step. Next, go back to the pictures being broadcast and whats happening in your story as the news of the Popes retirement spreads.You could say, Thousands of people from all over began arriving at St. Peters Square.Next, expand on the scene by saying, People of all religions prayed for the pope and wished him well.Last, wrap-up the story with concrete information. For example, The Vaticans spokesman said the pope would step down at 1900 GMT on February 28. Vi deo may seem like the sexy part of a newscast, but its the crisp news writing that brings it to life and brings in a bigger audience.

Boss tip Do you lack experience Make it up

Boss tip Do you lack experience Make it upBoss tip Do you lack experience Make it upThis month, weve been focusing on how to craft impact-oriented careers and highlighting women in the public and gemeinntzig sectors. But a lot of folks I work with who are trying to break into this space may be coming from a more corporate background.Fortunately, Alexis Perrotta, Editor at Idealist Careers, had just the advice for bosses who are looking to make up for resume shortcomings the smart wayWe get a lot of questions from individuals interested in transitioning to a career in which they dont have a ton of experience. Of course, in the nonprofit sector, when youre on the job hunt and feel like your experience leaves something to be desired, your initial impulse may be to fill in those resume gaps with volunteer service. While I think volunteering is always a fantastic thing to do both for your community and for your resume there is a tremendous opportunity to go deeper by creating your own w ork.If youre lacking the experience that you think you need and youre not finding the professional development opportunities of your dreams at your current gig, consider inventing your own project and then finding a way to showcase the work on your resume.For example, if youre interested in becoming a grant writer but dont have the experience, show potential employers that you can write a proposal from their perspective by actually doing it. Start by searching grants and foundations by category to find a grant that would actually be a fit for an organization youd love to work for. Next, follow the instructions provided in the RFP (which are usually publicly available) and create a draft grant application.Or perhaps, youd like a role developing website copy and content. In that case, creating your own digital portfolio is a great way to go, as it will serve two purposes it allows you to showcase your work and it gives you an opportunity to create your very own website copy (on your v ery own website). Meta, right?My point is that in most cases, you dont need to wait for the work to come to you. Instead, you can create your own opportunities to gain the experience and skill you need by just doing it.My disclaimer here is that, although you may have put your all into this project, dont try to pull the wool over anyones eyes by throwing it into the Job Experience section on your resume. Instead, create a new section on your resume called Independent Projects, or something that makes sense for you and your work, and highlight it there.Whats your take on todays boss tip from Alexis? Have you found clever ways to fill in the gaps in your resume when navigating a major career shift? Id love to hear about them on social media at emiliearies and bosseduporg.Find more related resources in todays show notes and more from Alexis at IdealistCareers.org. And as always, weigh in on the conversation in the Bossed Up Courage Community on Facebook.I cant wait to hear what you th inkThis article first appeared on Bossed Up.Emilie Aries is the Founder CEO of Bossed Up and the co-host of Stuff Mom Never Told You, the fiercely feminist podcast by HowStuffWorks.Learn more and book Emilie to speak at your next fest at wwwEmilieAries.com.

7 Creative LinkedIn Summary Examples to Help You Craft Your Own

7 Creative LinkedIn Summary Examples to Help You Craft Your Own7 Creative LinkedIn Summary Examples to Help You Craft Your Own Writing a LinkedIn summary is incredibly difficult - for everyone, but especially for ausverkaufpeople. Youre not targeting recruiters and hiring managers youre appealing to buyers. That means on top of finding an interesting and genuine way to describe your professional background, you must also come across as a subject matter expert.If you need some inspiration, good news. These seven LinkedIn summary examples will help you find the right words.Adam Buchbinder , a salesperson at Listenwise, draws potential customers in by describing his enthusiasm for improving listening skills and narrowing educational disparities - two goals they probably care highly about, too.His next line tells prospects hes interested in learning their needs, not just selling them. Then Buchbinder establishes his expertise.Try it yourself Describe the fruchtwein rewa rding aspect of your job, whetherbei thats helping small businesses go mobile or making corporations more efficient. Next, highlight why youre qualified. How many people or companies have you worked with? What are their average results? Which high-level problems are you well-equipped to solve?HubSpot inbound marketing specialist Dan Sally shows his personality in his summary. The detail about his previous life as a stand up comedian is intriguing, and the line about realizing his children didnt like starving is funny and relatable.Sally gets more serious in the second section, highlighting his impressive track record at HubSpot.Try it yourself Begin your summary with an unexpected, interesting fact about yourself. In your next paragraph, tie it into your sales career.For example, you might write, I was the third runner-up of the National Spelling Bee in 1997. (You better believe the spelling of euonym is now etched into my memory.) These days, I use my innate desire to learn to help customers.Although it might be a bit untraditional to mention your personal hobbies on your LinkedIn profile, its a good way to make yourself more human off the bat. A prospect reading Wistia solutions associate Fernando Silvas summary might think, Oh, I also love to be outdoors. Theyll immediately feel more connected to him.Try it yourself List a few of the things you like to do in your free time (steering clear of anything controversial, of course). Then explain why you chose your current role and how your customers derive value.Wistia account executive Jonah Silberg opens with his mission Enabling businesses to use video in their marketing strategy. His next two sentences helps you get to know him on a personal level.The summary is short enough readers are guaranteed to finish it - but Silberg makes every line count. He makes you interested in learning more about him.Try it yourself In the simplest words possible, state how your company makes its customers lives easier, better, more enjoyable, etc. Then reveal something about your background ( I was born in Spain and raised in Texas, Ive lived in Chicago my entire life, My hometown boasts the largest Beanie Babies museum in the world ) and end with Always, Constantly, or Frequently followed by your favorite thing to do ( Always reading, Constantly cracking dad jokes, Frequently juggling. )Raphael Parker , head of outreach at Segment.com, uses the same formula as Silberg - but in reverse. He begins with three of his former jobs, which immediately tells you hes (already) had an interesting career. Parker next tells you what hes currently up to.Try it yourself List your former jobs. If youve always been in sales, get creative. Did you ever have a lemonade stand as a child? Were you a camp counselor as a teenager? What was your college gig?For example, you might write Ex-lemonade stand CEO, CMO, and COO ex-juggler ex-college tour guide. Currently helping prospective home owners in Arizona find their next dre am place to live. (And still juggling when asked nicely.)Head of The Muses South and Midwest sales Michah Days LinkedIn summary showcases her passion and enthusiasm for the role. She highlights her main responsibilities and values, tells the reader why shes proud to work at The Muse and what sets the business apart, and lists some fun facts about herself.Try it yourself Explain why youre so fired up about coming into work each day. What excites you? Why do you love your company? What makes your product, culture, and/or team different from your competitors? Conclude with four or five personal tidbits about yourself.Allison Zia , a sales and operations specialist at McMaster-Carr and grad student at University of Southern Californias Marshall School of Business, earns instant credibility with her LinkedIn summary.She starts with a bold statement I like to solve problems. Zia proves it with multiple examples from her career, then spotlights her specialities. Finally, she describes a fe w of her interests.Try it yourself Use a short, impactful one-liner to highlight why youre successful or what youre best at. Give two to four examples of how this skill or desire has manifested itself throughout your life. Discuss your areas of expertise, then wrap it up with your favorite topics of discussion.With these LinkedIn summaries to draw on, you should have plenty of ideas and inspiration for your own description. Make it personal, unique, and engaging - and prospects will feel like they know you already.This article was originally published on HubSpot . Reprinted with permission.

The Debate Over Gis Resume

The Debate Over billag Resume GIS analysts analyze the data based on specific criteria and generate reports which are then utilised in different projects. His training and experience in the subject of qualitative studies have been valuable to bring a new dimension to the departmental needs assessments. In fruchtwein instances, GIS technicians are managed by a senior GIS technician, even though they frequently have a good deal of autonomy in their everyday tasks. There are always new and advanced technologies paving their way to GIS. Recruiters and hiring managers are most likely to keep or reject your application with only a fast glance through your CV, therefore it is vital that every word you write is very clear and meaningful. Employers want to employ individuals who are seeking to improve themselves. However, it shows you are able to learn on your own because employers wish to observe that. Employers want to employ those who can help keep the company competitive. The g oal is to demonstrate the hiring manager quickly and convincingly that youre the ideal person for the job. Stating an objective on your resume is a means to convince employers that you understand what you want in work, even though a profile explains what you need to supply the employer and can help sell your candidacy. You desire a professional with strong advice to share that may help you compose a resume thats not simply OK however is an effective resume that helps you receive the job. Which means you might tailor the content material to each employers specific wants for the position you may be seeking. Additionally, GIS employers can post their positions right to the website. GIS certification could just provide you the edge over other candidates. There are many careers which require similar abilities and educational experience for a GIS analyst. Frequently the situation, GIS technicians are very similar to analysts and specialists with only a different job title. Positio n will stay open until filled. In your profile, only incorporate the abilities and qualifications that are related to the particular job for which youre applying. GIS technician salary depends on location. Understanding Gis Resume Note you may also pay through PayPal. Applications employing free email accounts like Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail is going to be rejected. Also, you are going to want to find some work application objective samples at your disposal to take a look at them before actually publishing your very own objective statement. If you do list your references, make sure tove checked and double-checked they will provide you a very good review and that theyll be accessible by phone or email. Your job application ought to be formatted in a simple, professional method. It takes more than only one survey to be able to receive all the data necessary to demonstrate that prior surveys are correct or incorrect. They also concentrate on their career objectives, and the way th e desired position fits within their plans. You may use the application objective whenever youre focusing on almost any particular job. Job candidates might stretch the truth by employing vague terms to spell out their abilities and experience. Successful history of with higher responsibility positions. The Debate Over Gis Resume The reader is attempting to work out which postbox to file you under. Usually, theres not anything wrong with by utilizing a work application objective. Theres more than a single approach to address an issue. That is the reason why it does not think it presumptuous to contemplate its system for a sort of powerful machine which, so as to embrace the entire world, needs only to be responsive to the directives of authority. The Truth About Gis Resume Through the years GIS has grown to cover an extremely extensive horizon. If youre a new graduate, its OK to not have a range of experience which may be expected. If it comes to work experience, you oug ht to be attempting to give and document QUANTITY. Its crucial obtain experience as early as possible. Ruthless Gis Resume Strategies Exploited Strategies for producing your Objective Statement Outstand Objective statement is readily the most important part of a kind of job application. With a summary statement, it is still possible to emphasize your abilities and accomplishments, but could also highlight your own personal brand. If it is possible to make these statements, I think that they can help you stand out. The aforementioned summary statement is excellent because, they offer a particular breakdown of the candidate due to their skills, what they can offer and what theyre trying to find in the new career.

Surprising Facts About Writing an Effective Profile for a Resume Uncovered by the Experts

Surprising Facts About Writing an Effective Profile for a Resume Uncovered by the Experts Using Writing an Effective Profile for a Resume A CV for a current Ph.D. graduate will probably be about 3-5 pages. Career objectives are most useful for people targeting one specific position, since they enable the applicant to directly deal with requirements of the business and show how they are going to fit in the workforce. Resumes are typically used by employers and admissions committees who need to learn more about a specific candidate. A profile serves to show what youve got to provide an employer what you will do for the business in the future. Stating an objective on your resume is a means to convince employers that you understand what you want in work, though a profile explains what you need to provide the employer and can help sell your candidacy. Now you have a strong LinkedIn profile summary, think about the expert summary on your resume. An expert profile summary is near ly always best. The Pain of Writing an Effective Profile for a Resume As an example, because youll be sending your resume electronically, you can include things like hyperlinks to things like your LinkedIn profile (which you should make certain is updated, also) If you get a professional Web website, include the URL. You also only have one page to capture each of the attributes you wish to share. You should have the ability to communicate whatever you will need to say on a single page. All you include in your resume must reinforce that youre an ideal job candidate. Once you receive a job, you barely have enough time to do laundry. Prepare one resume for each kind of job. The job posting also takes a candidate that has a proven ability to appraise the skills of different nurses. Writing an Effective Profile for a Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone To begin with, you have to review your qualifications and apply for government positions which are a great fit. There are a lot of b asic kinds of resumes used to make an application for job openings. To begin with, you must guarantee a consistent design. Rather, it is a strategic tool for absatzwirtschaft your personal brand. Sorry, nobody would like to read your whole work history. What You Must Know About Writing an Effective Profile for a Resume Should you do, congratulate yourself Before you begin, keep in mind that resume-writing takes time and practice. Resumes are definitely the most important thing in every persons life, and moreover, the only parts of paper, which could either, break or make your day. The absolute most helpful summaries target one career objective. There are two primary kinds of resumes. Writing a resume is not in any respect a difficult job, but, to justify your abilities and to keep an effective resume is among the most daunting task ever. Writing a resume is no simple taskthere are many elements to take into account. Say which youre searching for a challenging position in which you have the opportunity to use your abilities and earn a contribution. You will also should make certain you have an extremely clear comprehension of the job to be able to choose which information about your background, achievements, skills, etc. is most relevant. Get some advice from experts If youre still not getting how to compose an awesome resume, then you will need to employ an expert for you. Learn about the three sorts of skills its possible to highlight and the way it is possible to incorporate them into your resume.

Know What an Old Pro is Saying About Resume/cv Means

Know What an Old Pro is Saying About Resume/cv Means Life, Death and Resume/cv Means Another important part of the agreement thats often overlooked is what is going to happen whether the defendant doesnt comply with the conditions of the agreement. The defendant wont be in a position to contest any of the evidence. A rolleal bewertung is additionally a personal statement isnt happy with a list. In season, key decisions need to be made about what things to reorder, what things to back off on, and the way to allocate any remaining Open-To-Buy dollars. Like EM, its provably likely to discover a local optimum. Theres no guarantee it will stay free. Software licensed at no price tag is normally a weapon in an advertising campaign to market a related product or maybe to drive a more compact competitor out of business. Software that is free only in the feeling you dont will need to pay to utilize its hardly free in any respect. Like EM, it isnt necessarily likely to locate a global optimum. A particular issue arises every time a license requires changing the name by which the program is going to be invoked from different programs. Download the complete package, which also has a discipline program. A leader may have a conversation with anyone and ensure it is pleasant. The one thing they care about is whether your products fulfill their needs. While watching kdramas, youll likely observe a great deal of terms cropping up repeatedly, sometimes without enough time for an entire explanation. If you do publish your changes, you shouldnt be asked to notify anyone particularly, or in any specific way. There are lots of moments in Israeli-Palestinian history where landmark developments appear to change nothing and everything at the identical time. Its also advisable to have the freedom to make modifications and use them privately in your work or play, before mentioning they exist. If youre a person who has a direction then hed like to be aware of if your pl ans match with what his business can offeryou in the subsequent five years. The issue with todays society is that leadership is really a threat. The Upside to Resume/cv Means The company can be transferred only in the event the owner allows it. Blue is almost always a great alternative for job interviews. The chance to write. A great CV is tailored to the particular job and business you are applying for. Built a source dataIf you are asking for an IT job outside the United States of america, you will probably will need to submit a CV rather than a resume. Lets learn about due diligence and the way to utilize it in a real-world setting. Finding the Best Resume/cv Means Merely mentioning the occurrence of export regulations, without making them a state of the license itself, is acceptable since it doesnt restrict users. One of the absolute most important and key terms and conditions of the contract is what is going to happen to the charge at the close of the agreement. How to tether your cell phone largely is dependent on your mobile phone service provider and your mobile phone model. If you encounter any issues, try out the Troubleshooting section. Resume/cv Means - the Conspiracy Links are highlighted just for data types which are available for the station. Macro definitions arent variables and cant be changed by your program code like variables. For example, the list doesnt include changes in asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other areas of the page. It is possible to review the comprehensive collection of adjustments to the page through the cvsweb interface. Theres also a difference in the kind and scope of information collected. To locate the median, your numbers must be listed in numerical order from smallest to largest, which means you might need to rewrite your list before it is possible to discover the median. There are some outliers. These days, marketers depend on the information that they receive from consumers to cre ate decisions on what kind of content their audience prefers to receive, and in what form. A curriculum vitae on the opposite hand is a lot longer and covers much much more details. The letter also contains information on how best to appeal the choice. You will discover tips on writing a CV on the site of the Student Career Services. How To Write A Cv For Teaching Assistant JobHow to compose a CV is the sole guide you could possibly have to create a wining CV.

How Old Are You Readers Tell Job Interview Tales

How Old Are You Readers Tell Job Interview TalesHow Old Are You Readers Tell Job Interview TalesReaders ask, experts answer age-based interview questionsEditors Note A story that ran in Ladders Sept. 16 newsletter, Dont Answer That Interview Question, elicited a nearly unprecedented volume of reader responses. Many recounted their own experiences with interviewers who asked inappropriate questions, and others asked how to respond, whether the questions come from hiring managers or verbunden forms.Ladders took some of those questions to recruiters, lawyers and hiring professionals, asking them about the appropriateness of the questions and the best responses candidates can offer.Question Do I need to date myself?Karl Lohrmann prefers leid to answer questions about his age. But its hard to avoid revealing it, sometimes indirectly.Im filling out a lot of applications online. I dont know anyone who fills out an application on paper anymore, said Lohrmann, 62, of Chicago. Most of these fo rms ask for my college-graduation date. You cant leave the question leer you cant submit an incomplete form. How can I fill out this form without dating myself?Answer There are ways to get around the question, but almost all of them draw attention to the issue, said Janine Yancey, president of emTRAiN of Sacramento, Calif., an employment law training company that educates managers on dos and donts of workplace. By elend answering, you are calling attention to the matter, she said. You can put in vague date ranges for example, you can write, Graduated in the 1980s. If the inquiry comes up during an interview, the best thing you can do is reframe the question, Yancey advised. Tell the interviewer how many years youve been in the workforce. As a candidate, you could say, If you are asking me how many years Ive spent in this particular industry, Ive been working for X years. Youre talking about relevant years of experience its smooth, seamless, not confrontational.You want to avoid conf rontation, which is a challenge. You dont want to point out that they are being inappropriate, even though it may be true. You need to redirect the conversation along appropriate lines.If an online form wont allow you to submit the application without answering a question about your age or dates associated with your career or education, you have the option of bypassing the computer, said Matthew Arrigale, vice president for Human Resources Americas at Schott North America of Elmsford, N.Y.Try to get hold of someone at that company and tell them the site is not letting you submit the application, he said. Tell that person there is one question on the application that is asking for information you dont think you should provide. Its possible they are not aware of it.Your age or dates are not relevant information, and you shouldnt feel compelled to answer it, Arrigale said. The danger, he said, is that many interviewers will ask seemingly innocuous questions but are digging for more inf ormation. Its good to be aware of these questions.No matter how innocently they ask some of these questions, you can departure revealing more information, he said. Its legal to ask, Are you at least 18 years of age? and you might make a joke that reveals more than you want. Or they will ask you to describe long-term career plans. Dont say you are looking for a place to retire from.If a company presses for information on graduation dates and your attempts to avoid the issue arent working, you might reconsider whether you want to work for the company, Arrigale said. If you feel they are trying to get age-related information and it seems they are looking for ways to skirt employment regulations, I would consider opting out and finding a company with integrity.Question License and registration, please?Brian Haley of New York, who is looking for a facilities-management position, has interviewed with several hospitals and corporations. The application form was generally straightforward, b ut in a few places, they asked me for a social-security number or a picture ID, both of which would reveal my date of birth, he said. Can they ask for this sort of information?Answer Asking for a photo ID is not appropriate, Yancey said. If youre uncomfortable presenting it, the best response is to submit the application without it, she said.I would take the passive route and not include the photo ID, she said. And if they kick it back to you, I would say, in a non-confrontational way, I would check your hiring guidelines, its not appropriate. Of course, that might put them on the defensive, and you might not get the job. But the goal is to get beyond the gatekeeper this first contact. I do think that 90 percent of this type of thing is ignorance on the HR persons part they arent trained, and they arent informed. So its worth standing your ground and saying something.Not only is the information unnecessary at the start of the interview process, it raises concerns about identity the ft, said Ellen B. Vance, senior consultant and advisory services practice leader at Titan Group, an HR consultancy in Richmond, Va.Its OK to leave that blank and say youd be happy to provide that at time of hire, Vance told Lisa Vaas for a story Ladders ran on data security. I think the candidate is perfectly OK to say, Im very cautious, based (on) what I see in the media, about identity theft. You can do it in a way thats not confrontational.Question How much professional history can interviewers request?Certified professional resume writers advise clients that only the last 15 years of your resume is relevant, and most recommend using no more than that to cloak your age. But what happens when the company wants to see your full employment history? What happens when the company is the government and its part of a security check?One member of Ladders from the Washington, D.C., area, who asked to remain anonymous, ran into the situation when applying to jobs as a abverkauf manager pos ition in IT and federal sales. What do I say when an interviewer wants my entire employment record? he asked. Is this something the government is allowed to ask? Should I submit my entire employment history if it will date me?Answer Its not, said Kathryn Troutman, author of 10 Steps to a Federal Job and president of The Resume Place. She counsels people to give no more than 20 years of job history. Theres no need for more, she said. And you should emphasize the past 10 years over the previous 10 make your most recent job the most important and the previous 10 less of a focus.There are a few government agencies, such as the Border Patrol and the Federal Aviation Administration, that wont hire anyone over the age of 37. And you should be aware of those restrictions going in. But if anyone is trying to find out your age by insisting you provide a work history, you should stick to your most recent employment and emphasize that this is what is most relevant to the position for which you are applying.People also think that because they are applying for a government job, that birth dates and high-school and graduation dates are mandatory, she said. They are not, and you can leave them open. Most interviewers will know better than to push. And you shouldnt let them push.If the job requires security clearance, Troutman said, there may be no way around providing the information, but such a request usually comes after the initial application and interview process.Patty Orsini is a general assignment reporter for Ladders.

Second-Guessing Your Choices is Bad for Your Career-The Muse

Second-Guessing Your Choices is Bad for Your Career-The MuseSecond-Guessing Your Choices is Bad for Your CareerSecond-guessing is to confidence what a sugar-coated hammer is to dental care. But, inevitably, youre probably guilty of it when faced with a career decision- should I do this or that, whats the right move, what if I make the wrong choice or do the wrong thing?These spiraling questions and thoughts are problematic and threaten your confidence and professional poise. If, every time you make a decision, you fret about whether you made a mistake, before long, all of your energy is going to be spent nervously overthinking every professional move you make. Rather than coming across as a self-assured leader, youre bound to wear your doubt and personal mistrust on your face, and thats not going to help you get ahead.Here are five ways for you to stop second-guessing your career choices. 1. Check in With What MattersTrying to figure out your next move is sometimes like finding yours elf in a pitch-black room thats so dark you cant even see your hand in front of your face. You dont know if the rooms empty you dont even know where the walls are. On your hands and knees is how you have to feel your way around.Luckily, you have a built-in system that helps you make suitable decisions. Your values live deep inside of you, and theyre the foundation, cornerstones, and building blocks for who you are. Theyre the things in life that matter to you most.Find them by reflecting on peak moments in your life and career, times when youve been firing on all cylinders, and try to assess what it was that made those moments so special. When you know what they are, you can line up a range of choices- quit or stay, apply or dont, relocate or not, accept or turn down- and then ask yourself, Which choice best honors my values?Finding the course of action that most appropriately honors, expresses, or demonstrates what matters most to you is a great way to cut through the annoying seco nd guessing. 2. Strip Away the RolesSo, what are you? An employee? A manager? An exec? An entrepreneur or a creative? A gruppe member or a new starter? A victim or a joker? The labels and roles we assign ourselves are many, and its crazy how many different ones we slip into without realizing it.Lets say you find yourself in a boardroom filled with suits. Your reaction to authority, your response to a potentially hostile environment, and the pressure to perform may slip you into a compliant and subservient role, or it might just bring out the rebel in you.How about when youre looking for a new job online and browsing the ads and posts? Your reaction to the process of searching, the scarcity or glut of positions, the words in the ads, and the companies themselves might get you thinking Thats just not me, I dont stand a mglichkeit, Those guys dont have a clue, or maybe Ill look again in six weeks.The next time you fall into this line of thinking, consider it your chance to disrupt the negativity and do something different. One great way of doing this is to pause, then ask yourself How would I respond if I were at my best? 3. Acknowledge UncertaintySecond-guessing is what you do when you dont know whats going to happen. You spin narratives about this and that, conjure scenarios where things go great and things go south, and try to reason your way through all the fiction.Its a response designed to increase your knowledge of the unknown. But while some preparation and legwork are always a good thing, second-guessing your career choices isnt going to get you very far. Sometimes you have to decide whether to stick with your current career or switch to something different. You might decide whether to accept an offer that youre not 100% convinced by. You may decide to hand in your notice when you dont have something already lined up. Sometimes its about choosing to stay in your current town or relocate. Other times, you have to decide whether to apply in the first place .All of those deliberations are saturated with uncertainty. Theres nothing you can do about it. Your career choice may turn out to be the best thing you ever did, or you may end up quitting after three months, having discovered the company you accepted an offer with is about as trustworthy as Game of Thrones Lannister family. So make a different kind of decision. Accept that the unknown is part of making career judgments, recognize that you dont need and cant have all of the answers, and reassure yourself that whatever you decide, youll be OK. Because you will. 4. Make it a GameWe have a real tendency to over-complicate our career decisions. We think that choosing the wrong thing will affect the course of our lives forever more, that if we screw this up, were done. That kind of pressure obviously isnt helpful.Instead of getting mired down in this mindset, play a game. Whether you enjoy tennis, Pictionary, Pocket Mortys, or Call of Duty, you engage to the best of your ability when yo ure playing a game you love. The saatkorn can be said about starting a new job or embarking on an unfamiliar project. When you start playing you have no way of knowing what the result will be, and while youre hopeful, the only thing you know for certain is that if you give your all, thats when you stand the best chance of winning. Practice your serve, get the right shoes, improve your hand-to-eye coordination do whatever it takes to up your game. At some point, youve to get on the pitch and play.So go have a conversation with someone whos already a great player. Send that email. Seek a coach, mentor, or support. Run an experiment and see if works. Dont sweat it if youre rusty. Learn and move on from any setbacks or failures. Have a quick-fire round and see what decisions youd make if you had to make a choice right now. Take a shot. Swing away. Enjoy it. 5. Look for the Content, Not the PackagingJobs come with a heap of packaging a title, a salary, a desk, a team, a reputation, a pen sion, vacation time, perks, and all kinds of other stuff.The logical part of us looks at the package and weighs the pros and cons. We consider, contrast, and compare the various facets. Of course, you have bills to pay and responsibilities to meet, but if all youre looking at is the compensation portion of the package, youll miss the big picture- and make room for a heap of second-guessing. Youve got to think of the quality of experience offered by a job. So, rather than simply looking for a new job that has a Senior or VP prefix, look for the overall value and richness of a role. What will the job allow you to do? How will the position bring out the best in you? What room is there for you to enjoy it, grow with it, and make a difference? Its tough to know some of this ahead of time, but these qualitative elements can be of enormous help in cutting through the second-guessing and making a decision that feels right.And sometimes, that means you need to stop thinking, analyzing, and p rocrastinating and just go with your gut. Photo of confident employee courtesy of Shutterstock.