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Mistakes to avoid when searching for a job online

Published on June 9, 2021June 9, 2021

Business

Applying for jobs can be a stressful and nerve-wracking time. There is too much uncertainty and anticipation in a job-seeker’s mind of whether they will get a job or not. Add to that the several factors you need to keep in mind during the interview, and most job-seekers end up succumbing to their stress. In such situations, we are more likely to make a mistake than ever before. However, these small mistakes can actually cost you a potential post if you don’t resolve them.

The Covid-19 situation has forced every job-seeker to apply from the comforts of their home. This leads many job-seekers into the illusion that there are much lesser things to worry about when you apply for a job online. This couldn’t be farther from the truth as there is an equal number of things you need to ensure when applying for a posting online as you will do offline. According to Optima Tax Relief Review indeed.com, even applying for a position like a call center representative should be done with proper etiquette and professionalism.

While many people learn the etiquettes of applying for a real-life job through experience and training, it’s the online factors of applying for a job that most job-seekers are unaware of. It’s essential that you acknowledge these factors and know the mistakes you should avoid to apply for a job online successfully, and in this article, we’ll help you do exactly that.

Having inaccurate discrepancies between your CV and resume

It’s essential to have an accurate CV that not only matches the work’s description and requirements but your own resume and cover letter. Many rookie job-seekers exaggerate on their resume, but when interviewers compare it with your CV, they find a considerable difference in it. This primarily occurs a lot when applying for online posts where people think it might be okay to do so because it would improve the chances of getting hired when in reality, it actually backfires.

Always check your CV, resume, and cover letter thoroughly and ensure there isn’t anything mismatched. Also, don’t use the same resume for every job. Make it unique for each posting you apply for, especially when you are applying online. It leaves a wrong impression when your employer gets to know that you are so lazy that you can’t even write custom resumes for the positions you apply for.

Keeping an improper social media presence

Most people who apply for their jobs online don’t realize that the chances of their social media being checked by their interviewers are much likelier than an offline hiring process. Interviewers will often visit the candidate’s social media pages, see how they react with everyone and how their behavior is, and based on that, decide whether the candidate is worthy of working in the company.

Your social media can significantly impact your recruitment chances depending on how well you present yourself on social media. For example, suppose the interviewer checks your Instagram (which is set on public) and sees that you are an individual who always parties outside, posts obscene pictures, and has very controversial opinions. In that case, your interviewer will have no qualms about outright rejecting your application.

Improper maintenance of your social media can give the wrong picture that your behavior is unprofessional or inappropriate. That’s why you should ensure that your personal social media pages like Instagram are always set to private and the visibility of your Facebook posts be set to ‘Friends only.’ Alternatively, you can positively use your social media by creating posts on your interests, passion, and skills, which can impress your interviewer.

Making no usage of all available online resources when job-hunting

The Internet is an enormous place, and it only makes sense that you should utilize it as much as possible to improve the chances of your application getting accepted. Firstly, researching the company you are applying for helps you understand the company’s goals and motives. It gives you a perspective of how things work in that company. You can implement that perspective in your application when you are applying to let your interviewer know you do your research before doing anything and that you are very serious about getting this post.

There are also various blogs and websites that are more than glad to help you write your first resume, draft your CV or cover letter, or tell you how you should interact with your interviewers. These resources strengthen your application’s chances of getting accepted into the company. Additionally, there are also various tools that you can use to your advantage, like Grammarly, which can proofread and check the grammar as well as the tone of your resume and tell you if it’s appropriate or not.

Lacking proper conduct and planning during your online interview

Your job search doesn’t end when your application gets accepted by the company. There is still a step that needs to be done before getting your job – a virtual interview with your interviewers. In fact, this is the most crucial step out of all because small mistakes here can leave an adverse impression on your interviewer and make them choose someone else over you.

Always remember, first impressions matter a lot. When your interviewer informs you about an online interview, and you are not available or busy that day, let them know. When you do get to the interview, dress appropriately before attending it. Even if you are attending it from your home doesn’t imply it’s wise to participate in it in your daily wear. Wear a formal shirt, at the very least, and tidy yourself up properly. Ensure that your microphone and camera are working beforehand.

The last thing you want is your interviewer not seeing or hearing you just because you forgot to check a few things. This only wastes the interviewer’s time, and they may reject you for it. Similarly, your Internet should also be working correctly during the interview, and there should be no background noise coming from your side.

Conclusion

There are several mistakes new job-seekers make that can cost them from getting a potential job. We hope this article helped you avoid these mistakes, and if it did, please consider following our website for regular updates as it will help us immensely.

8 Huge Mistakes You Can’t Afford Making in a Resume

Published on April 20, 2021

Education

A resume tells your story and sells you, so it should be flawless. Recruiters receive many applications and look for the slightest reason to eliminate candidates. One cannot afford to make a mistake because it can cost them a job even if they are qualified.

With the increased use of technology by hiring managers to sort through applications, you need to ensure that your resume is well-written. Let’s look at some of the mistakes you should avoid when making a resume to land that dream job.

Grammatical Errors and Typos

There is no excuse for grammatical errors and typos because there are many available resources that help one correct any of these mistakes before submitting an application. It is vital to proofread your resume multiple times as typical overlooked errors are instant disqualifiers.

Spacing issues are also very problematic, so you need to ensure that you choose the right option. Besides, you can ask a friend or a career advice expert to look through the resume and confirm that it is visually appealing and correct.

Non-Customized Resume

When it comes to resumes, one size does not fit all. One has to tweak and customize their resume to fit the position one is applying for. Most employers dismiss a candidate if they send in a too general resume and constantly advise one to tailor their application.

Job seekers should also include the job title at the top of their documents as it ticks the keyword box if their resume is scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS).

If you are having a problem with customizing your application, you can refer to SkillHub and create a bot-beating resume essential for getting your dream job. Note that when saving the resume, you should not use the file name that makes it evident that you’ve used the document before. It is better to save the file in your name.

Failure to Highlight Achievements

Another mistake that most job seekers make is listing job responsibilities instead of their achievements and results. While recruiters want to know what one did in their past roles, they are more interested in how one made a difference in the company. They want to see that the potential employee left their former workplace better than they found it.

To make your resume stand out, you should quantify your accomplishments by mentioning figures. It is also okay to use expressions that show you did an excellent job as this is exciting to the reader and allows them to see the positive outcome of your efforts.

Use of Vague Statements

If one wants to land a job that they apply for, they cannot afford to be vague in their resume. This shows an employer that an applicant does not care enough to give the details. Every statement on the resume should paint a clear picture on the recruiter’s mind of what exactly you did that is relevant to what they are looking for.

Avoid using redundant language as the hiring manager may not give the resume the attention it deserves. Instead of such phrases as “responsibilities included,” use such words as “accelerated,” “mobilized,” and “coordinated” to make the resume more engaging.

Adding an Unprofessional Email Address

This may seem like a small detail to some people, but it can explain why one fails to land an interview despite the top-notch resume they attach within the job application. It is vital to use a professional email address to avoid making the wrong impression. One should not let this be the reason why a recruiter overlooks their glowing qualifications.

Failure to Use Keywords That Match the Job Posting

Most recruiters use resume scanning software to sort out applications, and failure to use appropriate keywords leads to elimination. Check the job description and incorporate the keywords from the listing into the resume. When the software picks up these words in one’s resume, they appear to be a strong fit for the job. This increases the chance of landing an interview and hopefully getting the job.

Submitting Incorrect Information or Missing Contact Information

One needs to proofread their resume in case there is information they forgot to include. Failure to incorporate important information such as one’s contact details makes it hard for the recruiter to reach them. It also reflects poorly on the candidate as the recruiter may see them as not being accurate enough and eliminate them.

You should not put your contact information on the header portion of a document or paste it as an image. This is because ATS systems cannot read the information and list the contact details as missing. Some people change the job title to match the job posting even though it doesn’t match the listed duties. It is a sure way to set oneself for failure as recruiters always find out the discrepancy during further interviewing.

Getting Carried Away With Formatting and Styles

The most important thing is for the recruiter to see how qualified you are once they look at the resume. Therefore, it is necessary to use the proper format and styles that do not distract the recruiter from what is essential.

If you use bullets, you should maintain the same size and shape, and the font should be easy to read. You should also keep revising the resume style as you progress in your career and entice the hiring manager with interesting content.

Conclusion

Searching for a job is not always easy, but the reward is great, especially if you take the time to ensure your application stands out. It is always discouraging when you apply for a job and don’t get it because of mistakes that could have been corrected beforehand.

You can avoid some of them by using online resources such as Grammarly to eliminate any grammatical errors. It is also okay to get professional help from a career coach or expert resume writer to raise the chances of landing a dream job.

11 Benefits of Continuous Learning

Published on February 5, 2021

Education

Gone are the days when people expected to have a lifetime of professional success based on a high school degree or a university degree. The global job landscape is rapidly changing, with new technological inventions disrupting the skill market every day. Lifelong learning is more of a necessity than an option if you want to remain relevant in your career. Are you still having second thoughts? Here are six reasons why learning should be continuous.

1. The market is not static

The market evolves every single day, and so should your skills. 30 years ago, MS-DOS and the VHS tape were still relevant technologies, but today only a historian or an antique lover would be interested in them. Fast forward 10 years, Google, YouTube, smartphones, and websites made their debut in the 2000s, and workers had to adapt by learning how to use them.

The world’s industrial landscape changes with every new technological invention, and you have to learn how to use it to remain competitive. You can’t wholly serve a 2021 clientele with a 2011 approach. Always be updated with industry-related technology and pick some interest on what is relevant. As a business owner, it would be best to design an internal program to facilitate employees’ continuous learning.

2. Build your academic profile

While learning is not limited to universities and colleges, it is prudent to further your education if possible. Enrolling in a bachelor’s or postgraduate program in an institution like aiu.edu.kw allows you to learn from the best professionals in various fields.

Modern-day employers look for academic qualifications before moving on to other soft skills when browsing through resumes, and you want your academic portfolio to stand out from other candidates. Fields such as medical sciences require continuous learning to catch up with modern medical practices and innovations available for the patients.

3. Increases your productivity

Mastering the latest technology and marketing practices keeps you ahead of your competitors. Additionally, continuous learning increases your efficiency as you learn better and faster ways to tackle business-related challenges.

4. Get accredited certifications

In the world of online learning, there are millions of online courses on almost anything teachable. These courses, which might appear expensive, facilitate continuous learning in all sectors. Now, you don’t have to enroll in a university to get certifications, thanks to online courses that can be taken as you continue working. Professional certifications put you ahead of the pack when looking for a job or seeking a promotion.

5. Acquire relevant soft skills

Most employers are looking for candidates with soft skills on top of academic qualifications. Leadership and communication skills were the most sought-after soft skills in 2020 and might distinguish you from the next candidate. Additionally, having these skills improves your working relationships with your colleagues and boosts overall efficiency.

6. Spark new ideas

Continuous learning enriches your mind with different perspectives and approaches to various issues. The skill learned makes you more innovative by changing your attitude on what you already know. This is an essential quality if you are in a fast-changing competitive sector, such as the smartphone industry.

7. Prepare you for future uncertainties

Billions of people lost their jobs globally due to COVID-19. Those who had mastered different skills through continuous learning made a smooth change to freelance opportunities while their rigid office counterparts without relevant skills struggled to make ends meet. Continuous learning equips you with skills that you can use if you lose the job. Your industry could undergo major changes within a short period, and continuous learning provides more mental flexibility during such times.

8. Become multi-functional

The job sector has become a multi-faceted industry with high interdependency between various sectors. For instance, most enterprises today add IT knowledge as a requirement when hiring employees. Continuous learning equips you with knowledge in other unrelated fields, giving you proficiency in various areas. As jobs become scarce due to automation, it pays to have different professional options to secure a job.

9. Enrich your resume

The first thing a hiring manager looks at on your resume is academic qualifications. In medical and aviation sectors that require industry-specific skills, academic qualifications determine whether you will get the job. Nonetheless, taking short courses on top of your professional degree adds diversity to your resume and distinguishes you from other applicants. Additionally, taking a short course increases the number of referees who can draft letters of recommendation when applying for scholarships and jobs.

10. Boost your confidence

Nothing boosts confidence better than being conversant with the topic at hand. Picture those co-workers who make presentations seem flawless and effortless. They do so because they are adequately versed with whatever subject they are presenting.

Continuous learning equips you with the knowledge that would have otherwise been inaccessible to you, and this removes any underlying sense of inadequacy that might affect your self-expression.

It doesn’t end in the workplace; interviews for higher positions are bearable if you know you got the job’s best certifications. As mentioned earlier, high self-confidence translates to unmatched self-efficacy and productivity.

11. Foster social transitioning

Everyone loves a change of titles, and the easiest way to walk up the stair of social strata is through studies. New degree certifications come with titles such as Dr. and professor.

These titles not only put you on the society’s most respected and admired list but are also keys that open job opportunities you never dreamed of. People don’t just take master’s, Ph.D., or MBA programs for fun; these are ideal paths to the top of the food chain. Furthermore, with higher academic qualifications comes opportunities for promotions or high paying job positions.

Endnote

Continuous learning is essential in a fast-changing job market as it gives you a competitive edge over other professionals in your field. It gives you a better understanding of your industry, enhancing your productivity and efficiency as you get to collaborate better with your colleagues. You can always enroll in a less demanding online course as you continue working or take a full college degree course; either way, learning should be continuous.

5 Tips for Finding a Job in India as a Foreigner

Published on September 16, 2020

Business

Finding work in India as a foreigner is very easy. If you are willing to work very long hours for very little pay, then there is enough work to last a lifetime. If you are looking for a good job, then consider the tips that Ava Williams from resume writing company Resumeble came up with below. However, before starting, it is important that you understand the Indian culture and preferably the Indian language before you start looking for a job. English is a very popular language in India, but you will have more success if you can speak the local Indian language.

1 – Apply for Jobs While Already in Your Home Country

Do not fly out to India with a hand full of resumes. You need to start looking for jobs while you are in your own country. You also need to set up video interviews before you ever consider visiting the country.

It is obviously a good idea that you go and visit the country before you take a job there since you may get over there and decide that you do not like it.

Consider the many jobs available for expats, and look into the higher paid jobs. Skilled jobs are typically in these areas:

Sales
Pharmaceuticals
IT
Automotive
Manufacturing
Tourism
Marketing
Banking
Engineering
Financial services

Again, a career in India can be well paid and not so well paid. These job areas have their high paid sections, but there are also jobs in these areas where you will be paid very little, and benefits are minimal.

2 – Clever Networking

A lot of people have stories about how they got jobs in India because they knew people. It helps if you have college friends or family out there in India so they can get you a job. People who you already work with may have contacts out in India, or may have clients they telecommunicate with, and they may be able to find you work.

If your company has an Indian branch, then sign up through them. If you have social media friends in the country, perhaps they can help you get a job. Maybe you have clients who have contacts with certain companies in India, and perhaps they can get you the job too.

3 – Start By Working Remotely

You can try getting a remote-worker job with an Indian company, and then move over there when you have proven yourself. Take a look at the list of jobs from earlier, and you will see that many of them can be done remotely (at least for a temporary amount of time).

For example, if you were working in sales, you could perhaps get a few sales and make a little money for the company before you move over there and do it full-time. The same is true of financial services, marketing, and banking jobs.

4 – Try Recruitment Companies

There are quite a few of them dotted around the globe, and they all advertise on the Internet, so finding them is not difficult. The hard part is finding companies that actually exist and are not there to make you sign up for things.

For example, many companies take your details and have you sign up for “Tax Back” or one of the other mischievous companies, and you then find that they are taking a slice of your taxes for the coming years. Others are there simply to harvest your details to sell on to other companies. So, be very careful who you sign up with.

5 – Double Check You Are Even Eligible to Work in India

To work legally, you will need an employment visa, which you have to apply for, and you will need a work permit. If you have been following the advice on this article, and you already have work lined up in India, then your employer may be able to help you out with some of the paperwork.

If you want an employment visa, you will need to prove that you have and/or comply with at least one of the following:

You are a qualified foreign language teacher
You are an interpreter
Your work history shows you are a trainer, coach, or sportsperson
You are an air pilot
You are an artist with proof of event participation
There is work waiting for you from a multinational company with a branch in India
You are in a senior management position within an international business
You have been hired by a foreign company in India to work on a project
There is paperwork proving there is full-time work waiting for you from an Indian business
You are involved in an NGO
You are a remunerated consultant

Some of these look easy, after all, anybody can call themselves a consultant. However, you have to prove that you have been a tax-paying consultant, either through full-time work for somebody else, or through your self employed tax returns.

Another easy one is the artist one, but you have to prove that you are a regular participant in events, which means anything from being a paid set designer to ranking in art contests.

Another easy one is to say that you have work waiting for you, but it is at the immigration department’s discretion as to whether they believe you are going to work full-time at Ahmed’s samosa cart, or Pindar’s home-office selling dried roses.

Conclusion

You have probably given this a lot of thought already, but make sure you are doubly sure you want to move to India and start working full-time before you take the job. It is not just a culture shock, there are also problems that arise through the heat and humidity, and sometimes the food disagrees with you. Plus, remember that the work culture is very different over there, especially if you are a woman. In short, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into before you take the leap, and perhaps consider doing a little remote-working before you take the job full-time.

7 Best Ways to Build an Impressive Resume

Published on September 3, 2020

Business

Crafting a resume is one of the most stressful aspect of applying for jobs for many people. The document should be a simple, effective way to get your qualifications across to an employer. However, it’s tough to perfect the art of resume writing!

Of course, you should always include your education, relevant experiences, and licenses or certifications. But what are the ways to improve your resume that applicants overlook?

Here are the six best ways to build an impressive resume.

1) Strategic Formatting

Always make your resume easy to read. After all, no employer will know what you can do if they can’t make heads or tails of it! You don’t format it like a novel. Concise bullet points with bold titles make for easy organization and easy-to-read formatting.

One strategic formatting tip is to keep your roles, companies, and dates listed in the same columns each time you start a new section. That way, the interviewer can scan their eyes straight down the page without adjusting to a new format with every section.

You should also choose a simple font. Many people stress about the font that feels “right” for them but keep that for your name at the top. The rest should be a simple font, like Times New Roman, Arial, or whatever seems most appropriate for the kind of position you’re pursuing.

Formatting also entails the structure of your content. If certifications make you stand out in your field from other candidates, emphasize these accomplishments by placing them at the top in a section of “Education” or “Skills.” For example, contractortrainingcenter.com has many different exams that allow you to earn contracting certifications. These would be appropriate to highlight on your resume if you were seeking a career in the construction industry.

2) Quantifiable Data

When you write out positions you have within a company, you often want to accompany this information with the job requirements. Most people have bullet points that describe the position they had. However, you should also ensure that these bullets have quantifiable accomplishments, rather than vague statements.

Instead of saying something like, “led new store openings throughout the world,” say something specific with quantifiable results, such as “led new store openings in eight new countries across Europe.”

This small change is eye-catching and underscores concrete improvements you created for your previous job. You don’t have to detail every accomplishment you’ve had – the biggest ones will work to keep your resume short and sweet.

3) Honesty

Not everyone has extensive experience with big company names, and that’s okay. It’s more crucial that you tell the truth at all times. Instead of making up new roles, or fudging what you’ve done, make the qualifications you have sound stellar.

It’s possible to get hired even if you have a blemish on your record. For example, it’s not impossible to get a job if you have been to jail – it may be more difficult for you than it is for others, but it’s all about how you present it.

Don’t forget that you also have an interview process and other chances to get the real you out there in a positive light.

4) Best Qualifications “Above the Fold”

Though we’d like to think it’s not true, most employers only read the first half of every resume they need to consider. That’s why you should keep your best qualifications “above the fold,” or within the first half of the document. This way, you’re putting your most impressive stuff where they’ll definitely see it.

The first one or two sections, including your name, is your first impression. It needs to be eye-catching so it will compel the hiring manager to keep reading. Since you’ve put your most relevant experience first, they will want to get a better picture of who you fully are as a worker right from the start.

5) Update your Resume for the Job

You should have a resume that lists all your professional experiences. This also means you should update it frequently with any jobs, volunteer opportunities, or classes that you may take throughout your career. You should take things off your resume by the oldest item first. It’s also possible to have a CV on hand, which is a more appropriate place for all your experience.

You can take this a step further by having separate resumes for each type of position you apply for.

Looking for keywords in the job description helps with this. If you have the skills in the exact way the employer wants, it’s great to write them down. It’s a surefire way to get noticed, and tell your potential employer that you’ve been paying attention to their listing in particular.

6) Use Common Sense With Contact Info

You should always put contact information in your header. However, you don’t have to put everything – usually a phone number and email address are all they need. Your address will usually only work in your favor if you already live in the area, which means you’re ready to work whenever they need you.

Make sure you have a professional email address to use! This means no addresses from when you were in high school, or from your current job. The easiest way to ensure you have a good email is to connect it to the name you use for your applications.

7) Always Build For Connections

As a final tip, always be sure to introduce yourself warmly to everyone you meet. It will make your working life more pleasant and open the gateway for fantastic references that you can easily use.

Depending on who they are, your references can give you an easy “in” – always make sure to ask their permission first!

In Conclusion

Writing a great resume is daunting, even for many highly qualified people. If it doesn’t look right, it can cost you excellent opportunities down the line.

However, with these six steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating the most impressive resume you can muster.

Is relevancy and length of your resume important?

Published on September 5, 2019November 27, 2019

Business

If you are updating your resume or even writing a new one, you are probably faced with a daunting task. You know that it has to be well-written, concise and to include all necessary information. When there is a job opening, managers receive hundreds, and sometimes even thousands of resumes, so you have to ensure that yours won’t get overlooked. In the following text, we are going to give you some tips on how to write it and also discuss how important is its length.

The first piece of advice we have got for you is to never send the same resume for different job applications. If you use a generic one, it will never stand out from others and it might never be inspected. When you write or customize an existing paper, it is a good idea to have a job description nearby. What’s more, read it thoroughly before writing the resume. This way you will know what the requirements are, thus what information you should include and what to omit. The CV should not be overcrowded with unnecessary information, because not only will they make it too long, but the chances are no one is going to read it.

This brings us to our next point – the length. If the resume is too short it might seem that you have no experience, therefore, the company cannot benefit from your work. On the other hand, if it is too long, the managers will not lose precious time reading it. Even though there are no specific rules when it comes to this and there is no right answer, there are some things that affect the length of your CV.

The biggest debate is whether one should write one-page or two-page resume. The first one should be used by people who are hunting for their first job. This includes recent college graduates, people who only have a small amount of experience in that field or even those that are making a career change. In order for your resume to make a good first impression it has to be concise, include important keywords, and list your achievements. On the other note, employees who have experience of 10 or more years and thus have many accomplishments in their careers should write the two-page resume. It is always better to format a CV to be readable and professional instead of cramming everything onto one page. Just keep in mind that the second page of it probably won’t get as much attention as the first one, so you should organize it in a way that all the important information are easily detected. Take a look at some great resume examples at The Ladders.

Lastly, many people opt for hiring professional writing services to complete this task for them. Since they fully understand the importance of the CV, they perceive themselves as not capable to rise to the challenge, so they ask others for help, which is okay. If you are considering this option, from this CNBC article you will learn some things you should know before employing a writing service.

All in all, as you can see, although there are no specific rules when it comes to writing a CV, there are still some guidelines that you should follow. Use the job description as guidance, customize a resume for every job application, use specific keywords and also apply bullet point to highlight the important words or phrases.