While you certainly want to take your time building an effective resume, you can easily wrangle it if you take it step by step and one section at a time.

Why not schedule some time now? Turn off your notifications and focus on drafting and polishing your resume. This guide will help you learn how to create a resume that conveys your professional journey in a way that sets you apart from the competition.

Understanding Your Resume: What It Is and What It Isn’t

Before you sit down to start brainstorming your resume, it’s a good idea to ensure you understand the scope of the document.

As a refresher, your resume is a one-to-two-page document that offers the hiring manager a snapshot of your career. Think of it as the synopsis you read to decide whether to watch a movie or keep scrolling.

As job searches become increasingly digital, your resume should be a concise overview of your professional life as it relates to the role you’re applying to. Often, this is the first time a hiring manager will learn your name.

Your goal should be to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements. With the right structure and content, your resume can help the hiring manager begin to visualize you on their team.

Resume Formats: Choosing the Right One

Your resume format is going to be dictated by two factors. The first factor is the career stage you’re in. For example, if you’re working on a career change, you’ll choose a different format than if your career has had clear continuity for many years.

Beyond your career, you’ll generally factor in your skill set and experience for a specific role. You might use the traditional chronological format if your skills don’t align in obvious ways. Instead, you could choose a functional resume where your transferable skills are front and center.

There are three main resume formats to consider:

• Chronological resume: The classic choice, this format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order. It’s great if you have a solid work history and want to showcase your career progression.
• Functional resume: A bit of a wild card, a functional resume can make a bold statement if done well. This format focuses on your skills and accomplishments, rather than your work history. It’s handy if you have gaps in employment, are changing careers, or are new to the workforce. But beware that recruiters and hiring managers aren’t always fond of functional resumes. They’re hard to read, and the recruiter knows it’s easier to hide gaps in work history and career progression with this format.
• Combination resume: Just like it sounds, a combination resume merges the chronological and functional formats, highlighting your skills and your work history. They aren’t always the perfect solution, but they’re worth a second glance if you struggle to make a chronological resume work for you.

So, which resume design is right for you? You can dive deeper into each one with our detailed articles here:

• Chronological Resume Guide: Formatting, Tips, and Tricks
• Functional Resume Guide: Formatting, Pros, and Cons
• Combination and Hybrid Resume Guide

Writing Your Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide

Regardless of the format you choose, every resume needs a clear structure. Not only can you help guide the hiring manager down your career path, but there are certain sections the hiring manager will be looking for. The harder they have to work to gather the information they need, the more likely your resume will end up in the recycling bin.

Your resume should be consistent and easy to follow. You’ll need to include the sections outlined below.

Contact Information

Right at the top is your contact information—your digital business card. At a minimum, your contact information should include your first and last name, professional title, phone number, professional email address, and location.

You can also include your LinkedIn profile, professional social media profiles, and a personal website or portfolio if you have one. Modern resume formats sometimes use a small sidebar for the contact information, which also looks appealing.

Just as important is what not to include on your resume. Take a moment to ensure that your email highlights your professionalism. Ideally, you’ll have one dedicated to your job search to ensure you never lose an email because it got pushed down in your inbox.

It’s easy to create a professional email address with Gmail. You can keep it simple with your first and last names, or some variation of your names. Never use your current work email address, and leave off your full street address. Your city and state will do.

If you’re looking for a bit more detail on how to make your resume contact section stand out, read one of these posts for more tips:

• How to Create an Effective Resume Header (Examples)
• How to Write a Resume Headline (Examples)
• How to Write a Resume Headline

Summary or Objective

Think of your resume summary as your career elevator pitch. This concise paragraph highlights your skills and experience related to the specific role.

Resume Summary Example 1

Highly creative and multitalented marketing specialist with 5+ years of experience developing impactful branding strategies and digital campaigns. Proven track record of improving SEO while increasing customer engagement through carefully orchestrated social media campaigns.

Resume Summary Example 2

Analytical and detail-oriented financial analyst with 10+ years of experience in financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting. Skilled in analyzing financial statements, conducting market research, and utilizing data-driven insights to drive financial improvement and implement strategic decisions.

On the other hand, if you’re a recent graduate or career changer, you’ll likely need to create a more objective-based summary highlighting your transferable skills. Depending on your experience, you might need to connect the dots for the hiring manager—help them understand your career pivot because it won’t be evident from your experience and work history.

New Graduate Resume Objective Example

Motivated computer science graduate with strong problem-solving skills and a solid foundation in programming principles acquired through rigorous academic training. Experience gained through hands-on university projects has fostered Java, Python, and database management skills. Eager to apply these skills in an entry-level software development role at [XYZ Company], aiming to contribute fresh insights and grow professionally.

Career Change Resume Objective Example

Dedicated professional transitioning from 10+ years in hospitality management to a human resources career. Exceptional people skills developed from managing diverse teams and providing top-notch customer service. Proven track record in conflict resolution, team coordination, and employee training. Seeking to leverage these transferable skills in a human resources role to improve employee satisfaction and drive productivity.

To dig a bit deeper into crafting your resume summary, check out this article:

• How to Craft a Winning Resume Summary (Examples)
• How to Write a Powerful Resume Summary (Examples)
• How to Write a Resume Summary of Qualifications (Examples)

Work Experience

While every aspect of your resume should be considered, you should spend most of your efforts polishing this section. Why? Well, the work experience section of your resume is likely where the hiring manager will spend the most time. Your work history is your best chance at getting them to picture you in the position.

List your jobs chronologically, starting with your current or most recent position. For each role, include the job title, company name, dates of employment, and a list of responsibilities and achievements.

Let’s unpack that a bit further.

• Job title: While you should never be misleading on your resume, you have some leeway when updating your title if the last company was creative in their monikers. For example, you might update “social media ninja” to “social media specialist.” The common title will be more effective as long as your duties correspond.
• Company: Use the company’s name, and you might also note their location if it’s relevant to the industry or your remote work experience.
• Dates employed: You won’t need specific dates. In fact, this is a great way to avoid drawing attention to any short employment gaps. Use the (MM/YY) format, and if you can’t remember when you started several years back, a guess that puts you within a month or so won’t cause any significant alarm for the hiring manager.
• Responsibilities and achievements: This is where you’ll focus the bulk of your energy and is one of the best sections to tailor when submitting applications to multiple companies. You’ll want each line to contain a number that highlights tangible, data-driven results whenever possible.

Ensure you’re only including relevant experience if you’re working on moving forward in your career from a role directly related to your target.

On the other hand, if you’re a first-time job seeker or career changer, you want to fill up the page. Fill it out with student organizations or other roles, and highlight your transferable skills.

Use the following articles to dive deeper into effectively communicating your work experience:

• How to Format a Resume: Ways to Outline Your Experience
• How to Demonstrate Relevant Experience on Your Resume
• How to Make a Resume When You Have Little or No Experience

Education

Here’s where you showcase your academic accomplishments. List your degrees in reverse chronological order, including each institution’s name, field of study, and year of completion. If you’ve recently graduated or your degree is relevant to the role, you can include other information, such as your GPA and notable achievements.

Skills

Use your skills section to bring your resume to life in a vibrant way. Use a mix of hard skills and soft skills, and lean heavily into this section if you’re changing careers. However, avoid including basic skills that everyone takes for granted. For example, skills like basic email and phone usage are considered standard.

Certifications and Additional Sections

Bulk up your resume with additional information that might interest the hiring manager. Make sure anything you include is relevant in some way to the role or your career objectives. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s seat for a moment. If it doesn’t enhance their perception of how you’ll fit the role or the team, it’s unnecessary.

Depending on the role, that might include the following categories:

• Certifications
• Hobbies
• Languages
• Projects
• Volunteer Experience

Tying It All Together

Your resume should be as unique as your professional journey.

Unfortunately, an effective resume isn’t a one-and-done sort of document. Rather, your resume is a personalized greeting to each hiring manager. Just as you don’t pay as much attention to generic advertising, the hiring manager won’t either. Tailoring your resume to each role might initially seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Start with a base resume that fits the roles you’re applying for. You might find that you have several iterations of your resume that support slightly different job titles, such as one for a career coaching role and another for a human resources role. In that scenario, you’re likely qualified for either, but the verbiage and focus will be a bit different for each one.

Then, take advantage of action verbs and qualifications that are emphasized in the job description. Note the vernacular that is used and weave that into your document.

To learn more about tailoring your resume, explore these articles:

• How to Tailor Your Resume to the Job: 7 Tips
• Resume Keywords: What They Are and How to Use Them
• How to Optimize Your Resume for an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Build a Resume That Stands Out

Your resume is one of the most important documents in your professional life. But if you allow it to, the anxiety and pressure over crafting that document can hold you back from gaining the professional growth you desire.

To avoid this, block out uninterrupted time and build your resume one section at a time. Remember, there’s always room for improvement and tweaking, regardless of how much time you spend on it.

The post How to Make a Resume: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on Job-Hunt.

The good news is that you can learn from common job search mistakes and implement better strategies in the future. You might need to make minor tweaks and renew your focus in a few key areas, but with some attention, you can breathe new life into your job search and overcome any blunders that might be holding you back.

Top Job Search Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Ask yourself if any of the following job search mistakes sound familiar. Then, adjust your approach.

Mistake #1: Not Tailoring Your Resume and Cover Letter

Sure, the job search process would be much easier if you could submit the same resume repeatedly. On the surface, it seems like you should be able to. Your qualifications are the same regardless of which position you’re applying to, right?

Well, yes, but that approach needs to be corrected for a couple of reasons. For one, if you don’t customize your application materials, you’ll struggle to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS). An ATS is set up to rank how well an applicant’s skill sets align with the job requirements. And unfortunately, an ATS won’t understand nuances in your bullet points. So, tailoring your resume to each role will ensure that your resume better aligns with the job.

Also, recruiters can spot a generic resume a mile away. Reports suggest you have less than 10 seconds to snag the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager. To stand out, you must let your passion for the job shine, rather than come across as if any job will do.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Networking Opportunities

Do you feel like you’re too busy to take time away from more tangible job search tasks? Networking is one of those job search boosts that might not show immediate results. It doesn’t always tally nicely in a spreadsheet, like the number of resumes you’ve submitted or follow-up emails you sent. 

But networking is impactful in a completely different way. Frequently attending industry events, interacting in LinkedIn groups, and connecting with other professionals will boost your brand. And a strong brand can signal you as a thought leader, open doors, and keep your name top of mind when hiring managers consider their options.

Mistake #3: Neglecting Your Online Presence

How’s your business card looking? Not the one you’re carrying in your pocket but the virtual one that recruiters and hiring managers are analyzing. Are they seeing personal sites or social media profiles that lack professionalism, maybe even going so far as to have concerning posts and images?

Your online presence is your chief marketing agent, and it’s working for or against you around the clock. Make sure the online message you’re sending closely aligns with your resume.

Mistake #4: Failing to Research Potential Employers

When you’re updating your resume, are you looking beyond the keywords? How will you align your job search materials with the company culture if not? What about during your interview?

One of the best ways to stand out in a competitive job market is by expressing your passion for the values the company stands for. That means you’ve got to dig deeper than the job description.

Take the time to research each employer before you apply. Set a time limit and review their website, career page, and social media. You don’t need to dive too deep here, but you should understand whether the company is fun-loving, serious, community-focused, etc.

When you get a call for an interview, you can go back and take a more thorough look at the company and, hopefully, the hiring manager you’ll be interviewing with.

Mistake #5: Applying to Too Many Jobs

Job search goals are great! In fact, they might be the critical factor in staying motivated in your job search and utilizing your time effectively. However, make sure you’re not playing a numbers game, thinking that the best way to land a job is to submit as many applications as possible. Quality over quantity should be your mantra throughout your job search.

Look at your job search as it relates to your career as a whole. Rather than focus on this one stage of your professional life, focus on how it fits your long-term goals. Be selective about the jobs you apply to, ensuring they align with your strategy.

Mistake #6: Not Following Up After Interviews

Once you’ve finished the interview, you may think it’s time to take a step back and give yourself a high-five. You’ve finished with this application, so there’s no more that you can do, right?

That’s not the case. Your job’s not done after the interview. Not only do you need to send a thoughtful follow-up to the interviewers, but you’ll also need to send timely follow-up emails to express your continued interest and stay top of mind. 

Mistake #7: Limiting Your Job Search to Online Job Boards

Niche job sites are a gold mine for job postings. But they’re not your only resource. Target companies you’d like to work for and proactively contact recruiters. Sending your application in when a job has yet to be posted can land you a role before it even makes it onto a job board.

Work through your network and attend industry-specific forums and networking events. When there are job fairs, either in-person or virtual, show up and interact with the recruiters.

You also want to expand your job search beyond large, well-known organizations and apply for various companies, including startups and midsized companies.

Mistake #8: Not Preparing for Interviews

Despite your friendly nature and ability to converse with anyone, you must prepare thoroughly for each interview.

Practice common interview questions and research employee reviews to look for mentions of specific topics that are discussed. Then, practice your responses.

Beyond preparing an elevator speech, review your body language and active listening skills to ensure you’re conveying the message you intend to. If possible, work some mock interview practice into your schedule.

Mistake #9: Neglecting Professional Development

Job searching can feel like pausing your career. You step out of your professional trajectory while focusing on entirely different tasks. And while you’re doing that, your industry continues to evolve.

As such, you should make time for professional development during your job search. Not only will you stay current with industry standards and software, but you’ll also continuously increase your value to prospective employers.

As a bonus, you’ll have something tangible to add to your resume, helping you avoid having to highlight any extended career gaps.

Mistake #10: Having Unrealistic Expectations

Balance your ambition with a bit of reality. You can make a career change, land your first flexible job, or achieve a higher salary with enough effort and the right strategy. But you probably can’t do everything within a week or two. 

Set career goals with room for what-ifs. Don’t let yourself get so financially strapped that you must take a job that isn’t a great fit. Instead, be realistic about where you’re starting and what you must do to hit your target.

If you’re pursuing a significant change, there’s a good chance it will take longer than you’d prefer. You can do it, but set yourself up for success by being practical about how you’ll get there.

Consider working with a mentor or career coach to create a realistic timeline that fits comfortably into your life and allows you to meet your needs.

Create Job Search Success

Navigating a job search requires strategy, persistence, and self-awareness. If you’re struggling to gain traction, review this list and decide where to adjust your approach. Avoiding common job search mistakes can help you build your dream career.

The post Top Job Search Mistakes and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Candidates without professional references do have some options, though it takes a bit more creativity to satisfy this requirement without solid recommenders at the ready.

While it may seem odd to be job searching without professional references to recommend you, the situation is more common than you might think. You could find yourself wondering who to use when you don’t have professional references at the start of your career, as a college graduate or young professional. You could also find yourself without these valuable references if you didn’t perform well in your prior positions or failed to cultivate solid relationships at your former employer.

“It’s true that candidates see more job searching success when their applications are supported by a professional reference,” says Max Wesman, Chief Operating Officer at GoodHire, which offers employment background check services for companies. “But if you’re new to the world of work, finding someone to vouch for you is no small feat. Fortunately, there are other options if you can’t reach out to a former boss or supervisor.”

Here are some alternative solutions to help get you over the reference hurdle.

Think Outside the Box

There’s almost always someone who can vouch for a job seeker’s desired work behaviors, according to Nance L. Schick, Esq., an employment attorney-mediator based in New York, New York.

Schick recommends that when job seekers don’t have professional references like prior employers to ask to speak to potential employers, they can ask others who have supervised their work behaviors in some way. “For example, teachers can speak to behaviors such as attendance, timeliness of assignments, and quality of work,” Schick explains. “Likewise, athletics coaches can give insight regarding reliability, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.”

Other innovative reference ideas include asking an academic advisor for a club in which the job seeker served on a committee, or even a neighbor whose pet and home the job seeker cared for while the neighbor was away.

“Think about the job duties of the position and select references that can attest to your abilities to do the job,” Schick says. “That’s really what the employer wants, not necessarily to know whether you are popular or ‘a good person.’”

Use Internal References at Your Target Company

You have to start somewhere when it comes to building your professional references, particularly if it’s early in your career. With this in mind, Wesman believes that some of the most compelling references come from internal contacts who are already working for the company that you’d like to get hired at.

“To get a written recommendation from an existing employee, start by reaching out to them on social media or getting in touch via email,” Wesman suggests. While it may seem like a long shot to snag a professional reference from someone you don’t know personally yet, Wesman recommends focusing on building a genuine connection, withholding your request until you’ve had a few solid conversations to build rapport.

“Avoid making ‘the big ask’ immediately, but be clear about your intentions,” Wesman says. “Let them know that you’re interested in working alongside them, and that you wanted to reach out to learn more about what it’s like.”

By focusing on building an authentic rapport, it gives the internal employee a chance to learn more about who you are and what you do, so that when it comes time to ask them for a reference, they’ll be more likely to go out of their way to help you land the role.

“As an added bonus, you’ll already have a great contact at the company if you are accepted for a position,” Wesman says. “This should make onboarding an easier and even more exciting experience.”

Get Personal

A truly “professional” reference—meaning from someone who knows your capabilities in a work context, such as a former boss or manager—is understandably preferable to most employers as a business reference.

That said, desperate times may call for desperate measures, and using a personal reference may have to suffice. If you can’t drum up a solid professional reference, or even a teacher or professor who’s familiar with your work style and accomplishments, then it shouldn’t hurt to request references from personal acquaintances.

Eran Galperin, who is a marketer and Founder of Gymdesk, which provides bespoke software for management solutions, suggests that you might ask a family member or family friend who may work in a similar industry to the one you’re applying for.

“If you’ve volunteered with a local community group or [nonprofit], they may be able to provide a reference on your good character and work ethic,” says Galperin, who employs contract remote workers and freelancers worldwide.

“If you’ve done some work on Fiverr, helped a friend fix their computer, or have an Etsy shop with great reviews, all of those examples of your dedication, creativity, and professionalism can help you convince a potential employer that you’re a hard worker who is worth their time to hire.”

The post Who to Use When You Don’t Have Professional References appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you have substantially more work experience than is required for a position, some employers may count you out, assuming you’re “overqualified” or have too much experience for a particular role. 

Who’s Considered “Overqualified”?

More senior-level employees may be the ones who most commonly find themselves in this conundrum, particularly when applying for a role that’s more junior than their current title.

For example, if someone who has management experience or an executive title on their resume applies for a position that’s staff or line level, they may find themselves being labeled as overqualified and taken out of the running for the job.

In some cases, “overqualified” label can be related to age bias, since older workers are more likely to have the depth of experience that worries hiring managers who are concerned about bringing in someone who has done far more than the job requires. Younger candidates usually won’t have enough time in the career trenches to be considered overqualified, which can put more seasoned candidates at a disadvantage when applying.

Why Do Employers Worry About Overqualified Candidates?

It may seem counterintuitive that some managers would shy away from hiring the person with the most experience in their industry. But one reason that hiring teams can sometimes be wary of what they perceive to be overqualification is that they may assume a highly qualified candidate will demand a higher salary.

Again, this assumption can carry overtones of age bias since younger, more junior workers with fewer qualifications may be willing to take a job at a lower salary, leaving people who are industry veterans at a disadvantage. 

Another reason why some employers may turn down very experienced applicants is that they may fear such candidates would be bored in the job. While it’s not necessarily true, the hiring manager may assume that if you’ve already ascended above and beyond what the position requires, it wouldn’t interest you for long, and you could end up a short-term hire that leads them to have to fill the role again in short order.

How to Overcome the “Overqualified” Label

What can you do to demonstrate that being overqualified doesn’t mean you aren’t a great fit? Try these strategies to successfully override the “overqualified” label.

Explain Your Career Goals

Not everyone who has made it to management level wants to stay a manager forever. If an employer is concerned that your past experience in more senior roles means you’ll be bored in a line-level job, then communicating about what your goals are at this stage of your career can help.

For example, maybe after spending a phase of your career as a manager, you’ve discovered that you actually prefer being an individual contributor, which can allow you to hone in on more creative or technical projects in your industry, instead of coaching others to do this.

By explaining why you want the job that you’ve applied to, and how it matches your current career goals, you may be able to provide the reassurance that the hiring manager needs about your passion for the position. 

Emphasize How Your Deep Experience Can Help

The “overqualified” label assumes that someone with “too much experience” in a certain area won’t be a good fit for the job. Your goal as an experienced candidate is to prove to the manager how your depth of knowledge and insight in a specific role can be a huge asset to the team and company.

Draw parallels between what you’ve done in the past and what the employer described in the job listing. Share examples and specifics on how your longer range of experience makes you the best person for the position.

Reassure the Hiring Team

Knowing that the employer may be concerned that your price tag to hire you may be too high for them, it’s smart to reassure the hiring team that you understand the salary range for the position and are comfortable with it, if you really want the job.

While you may be able to command more money in a different role, it’s important to be competitive with the other candidates and not price yourself out of the market if you think your experience label may brand you as overqualified. A candid conversation about salary can clear the air.

Also, be sure to emphasize your keen interest in the duties that the job entails to assuage the hiring team’s trepidation that you might get quickly bored with the role.

Being labeled as overqualified isn’t always fair, and may be based in age bias. But if you take the initiative to address the employer’s trepidations upfront, you can give yourself the best chance to convince the hiring team that your qualifications are actually just right.

The post How to Successfully Fight the “Overqualified” Label appeared first on Job-Hunt.

You need to consider which resume font to use and what size. But before you start scrolling through hundreds of Google Fonts, read the tips below. Finding the perfect font that communicates friendly professionalism is much easier than you think.

Why Your Resume Font Matters

Before you pick your perfect font, you might wonder if it’s worth your time to even bother with it. The answer is an emphatic yes!

Ensure Clarity for Applicant Tracking Systems

For starters, applicant tracking systems (ATS) need to be able to read your resume to rank it accurately. Hand-written, curly, or stylized fonts might be read as symbols or blanks instead of words. And if an ATS can’t read or rank your resume, it won’t make it past this initial assessment.

Ensure Font Design Doesn’t Distract From Your Skills

After your resume clears an ATS, it lands in front of a recruiter or hiring manager. There’s no official ruling on how long they look at a resume, but the consensus is that it’s a quick once-over.

When you’re trying to find a way to stand out, you might think that a unique font is the way to go. You may be trying to communicate your effervescent personality by choosing a playful font, like trusty old Comic Sans. But you’ll inevitably have the opposite effect on your reader.

When a recruiter has to focus too hard, or the font and style of the resume are distracting, your resume will end up in the recycling bin quickly. Instead, you want to choose a professional font and let your accomplishments and skills be the attention-grabbers.

Build a Virtual Resume That Displays Well

Additionally, hiring managers spend most of their time looking at screens in today’s tech-heavy world. If they view your resume online, you want to ensure it feels natural and comfortable for them. Professional fonts that are generally found on the web can make it a more comforting and enjoyable experience for them.

What Font Should You Choose for Your Resume?

So, what font should you select for your resume? You can break it down into two camps. On one side are serifs, and on the other side are san serifs. If you’ve never drooled over typography, you might not know which is which, but you may recognize the word “sans” as “without.”

Choosing Between a Serif and Sans Serif

In this case, the sans fonts are without the tiny decorative stroke at the end of each letter. Need help determining which you have? Type a capital M. Does your letter have small lines extending from the ends? If so, you have a serif font.

So, which is the right choice? Simply put, either font could be a good choice, but serif fonts are often seen as more formal and classic. If you’re in a field like higher education or applying for a traditional role, such as at a museum, serif probably makes sense.

On the other hand, if you’re applying for a less formal position, sans serif fonts generally feel more modern and inviting. You get to decide which font style communicates your intentions.

It’s also important to note that you shouldn’t use custom fonts you’ve had to download and install. They won’t render correctly on the hiring manager’s screen, and your resume will likely be unreadable.

List of Professional Fonts for Resumes

Once you’ve chosen to sans or not to sans, you can select a specific font from that family. Here’s a list of the top professional fonts to consider for your resume.

What Size Font Should You Use?

Now that you’ve selected your font, you just need to choose the right size. The size of your font needs some consideration for a few reasons.

A font that’s too small will be challenging to read. On the flip side, a font that’s too large takes up too much space. You will only be able to fit in some of your essential information if your font is too large.

There’s no specific size to select, as fonts and resume templates vary significantly. As a general rule, though, try to keep your font between 10-12 points in size.

Use the same font for your headings, but find a way to make them stand out. Often, that means headers will be one to two points larger than the body of your resume, or use bolding. Regardless of your choice, make sure that your font is consistently sized and formatted throughout your document.

And remember that your name should always be at the top of the document with the largest-sized font. You can always add visual appeal by using italics, underlines, and pops of color, but use these sparingly.

Choose the Same Font for Your Cover Letter

Now that all your resume font choices have been made, you can carry that same font into your cover letter. While your cover letter is an opportunity to show some personality, cohesive formatting with your resume will convey better professionalism and personal branding.

Finding the Perfect Font for Your Resume

Using the wrong font for your resume can make or break your application’s success. Explore the world of serif fonts and sans serif fonts to achieve a professional and inviting appearance perfect for your resume and your target role. Once you find one that speaks to you and fits your industry, test it out and ensure that it fully communicates your vision.

The post The Best Fonts for Your Resume appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you feel like bad workdays outweigh good workdays, it’s tempting to think the only solution is to find a new job. But you might have regrets if you make a rash decision about quitting your job based on boredom or minor frustrations.

While only you can decide if it’s time to quit, give yourself a chance to sit down and thoroughly analyze the situation before deciding on your next steps.

Signs It’s Time to Quit Your Job

Recognizing when it’s time to quit your job while you have the cushion of steady employment is the best-case scenario.

Spend some time diving into your motivations to determine what your best career move is. Perhaps you’re simply going through a rough transition with a new leader, or there’s been a change in company priorities that has resulted in some temporary adjustments.

Consider the following scenarios to determine whether or not it’s time to move on.

Lack of Professional Development Opportunities

Has your career growth stalled? Are you no longer progressing toward your professional development goals? Perhaps you’re feeling unappreciated and frustrated. Is it possible that this is a growth phase that will pass?

If you’re looking for the opportunity to move up in the ranks but you’ve determined that there is no chance for upward mobility in your company, it may be time to move on.

Lack of Interest and Enthusiasm

Take some time when you’re away from work and analyze your feelings. Think about getting ready to start your workday. Do you have to drag yourself to your computer every day because you’ve lost all motivation and energy for your role? That’s not a good sign.

Here’s another way to think about it.

Suppose you have a close friend looking for work. If you were to give your honest opinion, would you tell them your company is, overall, a great one? Would you say your talents and skills are generally appreciated, despite not enjoying some of your current duties? Or, would you advise your friend to steer clear and apply elsewhere? Your response may lead you to your answer.

Lack of Work-Life Balance

What about your mental and physical health? With consistently high stress levels, you might notice that your mental and physical health are plummeting. You’re struggling to concentrate on routine tasks, and your work performance is slipping.

Outside of work, do you lack the desire to enjoy your free time? Instead, are you focused on getting some rest just to get you through the following week?

If you’re regularly overworked and overwhelmed by job-related stress, it may be time to seek a new opportunity that supports a better work-life balance.

How to Quit Your Job Gracefully

If you’ve taken a big-picture view of your job and determined that it’s time to move on, here’s how to do so with grace and professionalism.

Keep Your Job Search Quiet

Resist the temptation to tell your favorite teammates that you’re looking for a new job, or leaving without notice just hoping something works out.

You could jeopardize your current job if your employer finds out you’re looking before you’re ready. They may launch a search for a new candidate themselves. And not only that, but they might decide that they can redistribute your workload and let you go before you have a new job lined up.

Set clear boundaries to help keep your networking and job search-related activities under wraps. For example, never use your work email or phone number for your contact information in your job application. Instead, use a separate, personal email address and your personal phone number for job search-related activities. And schedule interviews or phone calls before or after work, or during your lunch break.

It’s also important to be discreet on social media, including LinkedIn, as coworkers or supervisors could notice even seemingly innocent posts or interactions.

Share the News

When you’ve finalized your plans to leave your current position for a new one, your manager or leader should be the first to hear the news, and you should provide a written resignation.

Ideally, you’ll give adequate notice. Most industry standards require at least two weeks’ notice so your manager has time to transition your workload and start looking for a replacement.

Exiting gracefully also means you should be respectful and courteous in your interactions with your manager, colleagues, and HR department. Don’t vent your frustrations or burn bridges on your way out. You never know when your actions now will impact future job prospects or your industry networking efforts.

Provide Support With the Transition

Focus on helping your company with the transition by completing or detailing outstanding projects or tasks. Participate in an exit interview, and provide any feedback or suggestions on how the company could improve. But remember to stay positive and not to bad-mouth anyone.

By leaving on a positive note, you can maintain your professional reputation and, hopefully, gain positive references and networking contacts.

Moving On to the Next Stage

Quitting your job can be a challenging and emotional experience, but it’s also an opportunity to take control of your career and pursue new opportunities.

Remember that it’s essential to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being, and leaving a job on a positive note can have long-term benefits for your career.

Whether you’re leaving your job to recharge, pursue a new role, or launch a freelance business, you’ll be thankful you did it right.

The post Asking, “Should I Quit My Job?” Here’s When It’s Time appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Read on for advice from an informal panel of marketing experts, entrepreneurs, and executives about what really works when it comes to marketing your freelance services.

Launch a Website

Although it may seem like a no-brainer to start a website as a mainstay of your freelance marketing strategy, many independent contractors fail to follow this basic guideline, according to Robert Smith, Head of Marketing at Psychometric Success, which offers free practice aptitude tests.

“As an industry insider, I can tell you that this is a fantastic strategy for promoting your freelance business,” says Smith. “For those that work independently, a website or blog can serve as a portfolio, resume, and calling card all in one.”

Among the marketing tactics you can use on your business website include: 

• Explaining your freelance offerings
• Providing examples of your work
• Enticing potential customers to request a price 
• Keeping a blog, where Smith suggests “you may write freely about things that interest you and where you can come up with interesting, timely themes to write about that will attract a wide readership”

Use Blogging and Guest Posts

Speaking of blogging, this is another effective method for promoting a solo venture and can help you get the word out as a thought leader in your freelance niche.

Once you’ve started your own blog on your freelance website, try getting others to post on it in addition to writing your own blog posts. “The practice of having visitors post on your blog is an excellent method for promoting a solo venture,” says Andrew Priobrazhenskyi, CEO of the ecommerce company DiscountReactor.

Priobrazhenskyi adds that a practical way to reach new audiences with smart, useful, and entertaining content is through guest blogging on other blogs. “You may also use guest blogging to market your business in a positive light,” the CEO notes. “Yet this is not merely a chance for blatant self-promotion. Articles should be structured to provide readers with useful information.” 

Develop Your Pitch and Sales Skills 

Improving your sales acumen and pitching skills are two of the most important things you can do to promote your freelance business, according to Travis Lindemoen, Managing Director of Nexus IT Group, who has built and managed a multimillion-dollar IT staffing agency and has 15 years of recruitment and career consulting experience.

“Your sales pitch isn’t perfect unless you’re successfully closing 100% of your potential customers,” says Lindemoen. Since he believes that freelancers frequently overestimate the success of their business pitches and proposals, Lindemoen recommends starting by keeping tally of your proposal submissions, interviews, and project wins. 

Increase Your Online Profile Activity

In addition to your own website, you can strengthen your online identity as a freelancer by expanding your sphere of influence, sharing more content, and introducing your freelancing services to the online community, suggests Michael Hess, Ecommerce Strategy Lead at Code Signing Store.

Hess believes this can be as simple as taking initiative, starting some conversations, and disseminating useful information. “You’ve probably heard numerous anecdotes about freelancers successfully finding business via social media,” Hess says. “Using social media effectively is the key to unlocking a flood of new customers and expanding your company’s online presence.”

He adds that establishing a robust social media presence by always keeping your accounts current, publishing frequently, and interacting with others can be the key to effective advertising. “In terms of expanding your customer base and fulfilling your business goals, you can’t beat the use of social media management solutions,” Hess says. 

Don’t Be Picky About Clients

While veteran freelancers with established businesses have more leeway to be selective about which jobs they take and which clients they work with, Priobrazhenskyi advises freelancers who want to grow their influence and promote their freelance work to “constantly accept everything.”

“The digital sphere is ripe with prospects,” he explains. “You can’t afford to turn down work as a freelancer, especially from a potential new client. There is a risk of losing future freelancing business from the same client if you turn down a current assignment because it is too little or you are too busy. Furthermore, you could lose a prospective repeat customer.”

Priobrazhenskyi emphasizes that by always saying yes, you’ll maintain a satisfied clientele. He concludes: “They’ll stick by you and possibly even spread the word about your business.”

The post How to Market Your Freelance Business appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Here are four steps that can smooth your trajectory to the top.

Find a Mentor

Meeting and exceeding career goals usually doesn’t “just happen”—it’s a process that builds over time (or doesn’t) depending on your choices and actions.

One of the most prudent professional decisions you can make early in your career is to benefit from key workplace relationships with people who know more and may be willing to help you out. In particular, intentionally finding and forging business relationships with a mentor can help you achieve success in your company and industry. A mentor is a senior-level colleague who agrees to coach and advise you on issues in your job, company, and industry.

Sean Nguyen, Director of Internet Advisor, explained that when he first started out in the world of online work, he found it quite daunting—he didn’t know where to start, how to manage his time effectively, or even what jobs to look out for. A mentor changed that for him.

“Luckily, when I found my first online job, the CEO of the small business was willing to mentor me and help me to grow my knowledge and skills,” Nguyen said. “I used the knowledge that he taught me to improve not only in that company but in all the other businesses that I ended up working for.”

Seek Sponsors and Other Advocates

While many are familiar with the concept of mentors, sponsors and advocates can be even more instrumental to your career growth.

Sponsors and other advocates are generally even more invested in your career progression than mentors are. They use their own executive connections to help open doors for you while also helping to promote your strengths to others in the organization to create new opportunities.

Sondra Sutton Phung, Marketing General Manager at Ford Motor Company, recommends that young professionals secure a well-respected advocate, which she explains is very different from a mentor. “Advocates must believe in you enough to break down barriers that will inevitably exist in a large corporation,” said Sutton Phung.

Join a Career-Related Community

In addition to the individual relationships you create early in your career with senior-level mentors, sponsors, and other advocates, finding a community of like-minded professionals at different levels of their career can help fuel your own growth more quickly—while helping you enjoy the process more too.

“It’s really difficult to grow your career if you’re off on an island by yourself—you need other people and they need you,” said Jo Harris, a Conversion Copywriter and Business Coach who has over a decade of experience as a remote digital marketer.

One of the easiest ways to seek a professional community is to join an online group that caters to your industry, either through a social media site like LinkedIn or Facebook, or through industry-specific associations and organizations.

Apply Your Passion

Having the best advocates and community in the world won’t advance your career if you don’t do your part to excel. Sponsors will only want to recommend you if you stand out as exceptional, and colleagues in your professional community won’t think of you for opportunities if you come across as bored or negative about your work life.

“However tempting it may be with remote work, forget about quiet quitting and doing the bare minimum,” advised Nathan Brunner, CEO at Salarship, a job search engine for candidates who want to find low-competition employment opportunities. “Pay some time to research the industry and be aware of its latest changes. Take extra time and extra projects, if it’s possible. Remember that good things never come easy, and hard work always pays off.”

Brunner believes that another smart thing you can do to grow your career is to find something you’re truly passionate about. “If you don’t love what you are doing, you will never be able to work at your full potential,” Brunner concluded.

The post 4 Steps to Grow Your Career as a Young Professional appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Baffled, you double-check the job description, but the name of the hiring manager isn’t listed. So, what do you do?

Below, we go over a few steps you can take to address your cover letter when you don’t have a name.

Search for the Hiring Manager’s Name

Conduct an online search to find the name of the hiring manager. Tools like LinkedIn can be great for this. You can search a company’s LinkedIn profile to find the name of the person in that position.

For example, if you know the job ad says you’d report to the senior software engineer, you could use the company’s LinkedIn page to search for employees that hold that title. Then, once you find the name, address that person in the cover letter (make sure to double-check the spelling!).

Focus on Their Position

If you absolutely can’t find their name, focus instead on the position the person holds. For example, if you’re reporting to the content manager, you might try “Dear Content Manager” or “Dear Content Team” when addressing your cover letter.

A Last Resort

If you’ve tried the first three steps with absolutely no luck, it’s OK to use “Dear Hiring Manager.” If you have a name or title, that is preferable to something more generic. But using “Dear Hiring Manager” in your cover letter will suffice when all else fails. 

Avoid These Common Mistakes

There are some common cover letter mistakes that can be costly for job seekers. Even if you don’t know who the hiring manager is, avoid using “To Whom It May Concern,” as this is too vague. At the same time, “Dear sir or madam” is too formal (in addition, some people may not identify with these personal pronouns). 

Also, avoid time-specific greetings. “Good morning” or “Good evening” aren’t considered a best practice for cover letters, since you have no idea when the hiring manager will be reading them. 

Address Your Cover Letter to the Right Person

Cover letters are still a necessary part of the job search process. However, it can be challenging to craft a compelling cover letter when you don’t know who to address it to. If a name isn’t provided, do your research to find out who your recipient is. And if all else fails, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice in a pinch.

The post How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Recipient Name appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Keep in mind these key points that executives need to be prepared for and plan for when job searching.

Search With Clarity

Linda Shaffer is Chief People and Operations Officer at Checkr, a leading HR technology company, where she handles the people and legal teams. Based on her extensive experience in hiring and doing HR for hybrid teams, Shaffer believes it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you’re looking for in an executive position.

“What are your goals and objectives? What are your top priorities?” Shaffer said. “Knowing this will help you to narrow down your search and target positions that are a good fit for you.”

Consider Hiring a Coach

As you think through the answers to those questions, it may help to have a guide.

Bonnie Whitfield, Human Resources Director of Family Destinations Guide, suggests that if you haven’t had any professional coaching before, the executive-level job search would be a good time to start.

“A coach can help you polish up your resume and cover letter so they’re ready for prime time,” Whitfield said. “They’ll also help prepare you for interviews with questions like, ‘What is your greatest strength?’ or ‘What is your biggest weakness?’ The answers will come more easily after working with a coach because they’ll give you examples of what other people have said in similar situations, so that you can use those same words to answer questions during an interview.”

Know Yourself

Another area where a professional coach can help is in understanding what you bring to the table as a job candidate.

Senior-level managers have a career’s worth of experience and skill-building under their belts, and as an executive job seeker, you need to be able to distill your background down into key selling points about your expertise and offering.

With this in mind, Shaffer emphasized that it’s important for executive job hunters to have a strong understanding of their most significant qualifications and experience. “What makes you stand out from other candidates? What are your key strengths and weaknesses? Be prepared to highlight your qualifications and sell yourself to potential employers,” Shaffer said.

Research to Align Your Skills With the Company

In addition to knowing yourself, you also need to understand what the hiring manager is looking for—and ensure there’s a fit.

Kimberley Tyler-Smith, an executive at the career tech platform Resume Worded, reminds executive candidates that not every company operates the same way or requires similar skill sets from their employees.

“Some companies may want executives who are more focused on strategy,” Tyler-Smith said. “In contrast, others might prioritize people who can get things done quickly and efficiently—it all depends on the company’s needs. This is why it’s essential to do some research before going in for an interview, so you can be sure that your skills and experience align with what the company is looking for.”

Grow Your Network

When you’re at the executive level, it’s not just about what you know—it’s also about who you know, according to Whitfield.

“It’s important to be aware of that and make sure that your network is as strong as possible when you’re searching for a new position,” Whitfield said.

She added that exec job seekers should keep in mind that networking isn’t only about reaching out to people who may be able to connect you with opportunities—it’s also about being open to connecting with those who may not have a job opening directly related to your current career path at the moment but who could still become valuable mentors or contacts down the road.

Be Prepared to Negotiate

At the executive level, you have ample experience in the last stage of the job-search journey: negotiation. Leverage your career learnings about advocating for yourself and what’s important to you in an offer.

“When you do finally receive a job offer, be ready to negotiate salary, benefits, and other important factors,” Shaffer concludes. “Don’t accept the first offer that comes your way. Try to negotiate for the best possible package.” 

However, as experienced as you are and no matter how well you advocate for what you want, it may still be necessary to have a backup plan.

Tyler-Smith pointed out that while many companies are interested in having experienced executives on their teams, not all are willing to pay top dollar for that experience. “If you’re looking for a new job as an executive, it’s essential to be prepared for this possibility and create a plan B if it turns out that your salary expectations are too high for the role,” she concluded.

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