CAREERS & EDUCATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018  Lethbridge Herald – Page 2


Job applicants of all ages need to customize their résumés to reflect the preferences of today’s recruiters. Ways to improve your résumé


Well-crafted résumé can


demonstrate your skill set


METRO NEWS SERVICE C


hanging jobs can be a difficult decision to make, especially later in one’s career. In many


ways, landing a new job is more challenging than ever thanks to the technology-driven society in which people live. Information is shared faster than ever, and applying for jobs isn’t the same as it might have been as recently as a decade ago.


One thing that has evolved is


the résumé. Although creating a powerful résumé has always been a challenge, writing — or modifying one — for today’s digital world requires some insider tips. Adapting a résumé as one


ages and has gained experience can be advantageous. A well- crafted résumé is one way for professionals to demonstrate how their skill set is current and adaptable to today’s business climate. The following tips can help improve a résumé when the time comes to move on to a new job.


1. Focus on your


accomplishments Rather than focusing on job


responsibilities at each job you held, gear the résumé around what you achieved in each position. This will help identify how you performed in the position, instead of just a


general retelling of what you did. It can be challenging to achieve this for jobs that don’t naturally lend themselves to numerically quantitative results (i.e., increased department sales by 15 per cent), but it’s still possible to use a résumé to illustrate your achievements. Rather than state that you


were responsible for providing customer service, explain that you built your reputation on conveying difficult technical terms to the layperson, serving as the go-to employee for translating job jargon for outside correspondence. If you have quantitative proof


of how you accomplished something, certainly add it. This can include measures of profit growth, reduction of debt or increase in customer base.


2. Aim for the future Rather than emphasize what


you did, highlight what you plan to do. This means giving greater weight to the expertise that will translate into your new position. Chances are you can find skills that you honed in one or more jobs that translate into credentials that can be used on another. All of the skills mentioned should be relevant to your career objective and not just added to pad the résumé. Therefore, unless your brief stint waiting tables exemplifies how you developed customer service skills, eliminate it.


3. Choose the right keywords It’s important to optimize a


résumé for digital scanning, which has become a major component of the employment sector. This includes using the correct keywords and phrasing so that your résumé will get “flagged.” Take your cue from the job advertisements


themselves and mimic the verbiage used. Replace the lingo accordingly, tailoring it to each job you apply for. Also, consult the “about us” area of a prospective employer’s website. This area may offer clues about buzz words for the industry.


4. Set yourself apart Engage in activities that can


improve your marketability. Be sure to list training, coursework, degree, or volunteer efforts that pertain directly to the skills needed for the job to which you’re applying. These additions can tip the scales in your favor over another applicant. Résumés continue to evolve,


and it is crucial for applicants — especially established workers — to familiarize themselves with the changes and market themselves accordingly.


Asking for a letter of recommendation METRO NEWS SERVICE Knowledge, skills and


personality can get students far, but having the right people in their corners can open doors for new opportunities that students might otherwise never have considered. Perhaps this is why recommendations are so coveted when applying to schools. Asking for a letter of


recommendation is something that should be done with forethought. The correct approach and proper timing can mean the difference between receiving a recommendation or not.


Who to ask The first step for students is to decide who they want to ask for a recommendation. Select those teachers who know you well or can validate how you performed


or improved in class. Opt for a teacher whose class you recently took so the recommendation reflects the student you are today and not the student you might have been when you were younger. It can also help to


ask for a recommendation from teachers or staff who have sufficient experience. Their input may carry more weight than someone whose career is less accomplished. A well- established teacher who leads a class that pertains to your academic goals is a good fit. Remember to consider the


requirements of a college or university as well. Schools frequently ask for recommendations from specific


recommendation requests around application deadlines and at the end of semesters. It’s better to leave plenty of time than to put teachers under pressure. The same rule applies to anyone else you’re asking to write you a recommendation.


Request in person Underscore the


people, such as a teacher in a certain subject.


Ask early Teachers may be inundated with college letter


importance of the recommendation by making it a personal request. Schedule an appointment with the individual and discuss why you believe he or she


would be the right person to provide the recommendation. Remind the person of your attributes and point out something that exemplifies your skills. Speaking face-to-face


shows respect and gives you the advantage to make your points personally, rather than through email.


Make the process easier Provide all of the necessary


items to help the person along. This can include a brief résumé, academic progress report, required forms, and so on. Also offer any college- or employer- directed requests. As the deadline looms, offer


concise reminders that you will need the recommendation. Offer to pick it up personally. Make copies or scan and save the original just in case a mix- up in the admissions office occurs. Recommendations are a key


part of landing a job or being offered acceptance into a college or university. Asking the right people early will translate into recommendations that paint an accurate picture of applicants.


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