Ampersands (&) - Ampersnds (&) DO NOT belong on a resume. There are a few exceptions. One exception is a well-known company name (AT&T). Another exception is well-known industry terms (P&L).

Pronouns - Pronouns are not allowed on a resume. As a rule 101 in resume-writing, the use of any pronouns on a conservative resume is not allowed (i.e.: Me, I, mine, my, you, your, yours, us, our, ours, them, their, theirs, he, him, his, she, her, hers.) For example, it is not advised to write sentences such as: “Helped clients with their projects” or “Supported the client to meet his objectives” or “Our aim was to support our clients’ vision”. 

Numbers - Spelling one-digit numbers vs two-digit numbers (or more) - Another rule in resume writing is to spell out one-digit numbers, but we type them as numbers when there are two digits or more. 

​When you already have a resume, at a certain point you’re faced with a dilemma: Should I update my existing resume, or is it time to completely reinvent it?
 
This guide is designed to help you decide when it’s time to update — and when it’s time to rewrite it entirely.
 
When you’ve got a great resume — especially one created by a professional resume writer — it can be difficult to decide to throw it out and start over again. But even the best formats can become outdated as technology changes. And what worked in one profession may not be appropriate in another. 

So, how do we know when is the right time for resume update or resume rewrite?

Here are some guidelines:

• Anytime you take on a new role (new job or promotion), update your resume. (You may wait 30-90 days to add it to make sure that the position is a good fit and you’re going to stay in the role, but three months is usually a sufficient time to make that decision.)
• You should review your resume at a minimum at least once a year. Evaluate your current roles and responsibilities, update any accomplishments, list new skills, and add in any new education, training, or volunteer activities.
• Update the resume when something significant happens — even if it’s only been a few months since your last update. That could be completing a certification, adding a new skill to your repertoire, or finishing a big project. Add information while it’s fresh in your mind so you don’t forget to include all the important details.
• When you’re laid off or fired, you’ll need to include the ending date of your last position on your resume. You can take advantage of a very short window (30 days or less) to apply for roles while your current position still says it is “to present,” but much beyond that could turn off prospective hiring managers when they learn you’re currently out of work and you didn’t update your resume accordingly.
• If you’re ready for something new, and if you want to stand out in your field,  having a fresh, modern resume ready to go is important. You never know when the right opportunity might open up and if you don’t have a resume ready, you might miss out on it.

 
When in doubt about anything related to your resume or job search, ask your professional resume writer! Career industry professionals stay up to date about trends in resumes and hiring technology and will be able to advise you about the best solution for your specific needs.

​“Quantify your achievements” is one of the most common resume writing tips you’ll hear. Sure, adding numbers in your resume bullet points makes it stand out and it helps recruiters imagine the impact you’ve made at your previous job. But this is easier said than done, especially for roles with no easily measured achievements or tasks.
 
Here’s where a little creativity goes a long way. To quantify your achievements, you have to look beyond the obvious when you think of measurable tasks and the numbers you associate with them.

​Ask your supervisor about your job’s performance metrics even those not directly tied to your output. Check your annual performance reviews as well because it might have quantifiable information about your job. If you can’t dig up anything, that’s okay. It’s just going to take a bit of elbow grease but there are still plenty of ways to add numbers to your resume.
 
 Start with a list of all your responsibilities, skills, and achievements. Write everything you can think of even the ones you obviously can’t quantify. That might change later and you might be surprised how that one task could be rephrased to present your value as a candidate.
 
Now imagine you’re a recruiter browsing resumes, what qualifications would impress you enough to invite a job seeker for an interview? Highlight those qualifications on your list.
 
Below are example skills and duties for three positions with no obvious quantifiable achievements:

1. Nursing: Supervise nursing aides, monitor patient medication intake, worked for the labor and delivery unit (L&D)
2. IT or Programming: responding to help desk requests, installing new software, monitoring database and security systems, debugging programs, creating a new app for budgeting
3. Administrative roles: direct calls from the company trunkline, make travel arrangements for CEO, maintain records for petty cash, organize filing system
4. Creatives such as writers and video editors: Write ad copy for brochures, design logos, collaborate with clients and executive team to conceptualize designs for product launch

You should now have a pretty long list of skills, achievements, and responsibilities. Continuing from the example above, ask yourself the following questions to brainstorm ways to quantify your tasks:

• Nursing: How many beds or patients are included in your rounds? How many patients does your department or unit usually handle per shift? How many medical billing and coding languages are you familiar with? How many aides or nurses do you supervise? How many have you trained? How many surgery patients do you assist with per week or month? How long have you worked in your department or unit?
• IT or Programming: How many servers, networks, or databases do you manage? How many users are there for each server? On average, how many support tickets do you process daily? How many workstations are you responsible for in terms of maintenance and upgrades? What is the average turn-around time for your coding projects? How much is the biggest project you’ve ever handled?
• Administrative roles: In your past role, how many executives or officers relied on you for travel plans, calendar management, and other administrative tasks? How much was entrusted to you for arranging travel plans and other company events? If you help coordinate events, what’s the average number of attendees? How long are these events? How many vendors or suppliers do you work with? Have you ever done something that directly resulted in time or money saved? How many new hires have you trained in using your employer’s in-house software? How many orders—or any type of important paperwork—do you process on a daily or monthly basis? If you maintain the company’s social media account, how many followers do you have?
• Creatives: How many designs or articles can you finish per week? How many clients do you work with regularly? How much was the biggest design or creative budget you handled? How much engagement did your most popular article or video get online?

 
These are just some of the questions you can ask but the concept applies to all industries. The key here is to keep an open mind. Take a long hard look at your list, then try to see if any of the following measurements might apply:

• Budget allotted
• Can the task be measured in terms of time, size, duration, scope, or frequency?
• Time or money saved or earned
• Can I estimate how often it occurs on a weekly or monthly basis?
• How many people are involved?

​It might be hard to imagine how the questions and the tasks you listed could translate to anything worth including in your resume. That’s because you’re missing one ingredient: the result.
 
How does your task benefit your employer or co-workers? And if a direct benefit can’t be established, how does that task signify the importance and complexity of your role? The examples below will show you how.

1. If you’re unsure of the exact numbers involved
Ask your supervisor or co-workers to estimate the impact of your work, then make it clear in your bullet point that you’re only providing an estimate.
 
Before: Manage product supply ordering procedure.
After: Streamlined inventory purchase procedure to decrease projected surplus by 15%.
 
By adding the word “projected” you’re making it clear that the 15% decrease is just an estimate, but the improved bullet point still feels tangible and shows the impact of your work.
 
Your work may involve a varying number of people, but you could still show recruiters how many depend on you by using a range instead of an exact number.
 
Before: Assisted undergraduate students with thesis-related projects
After: Assisted 15 to 20 undergraduate students with thesis-related projects
 
2. Establish Productivity Rate and Impact Using Frequency
Repetitive tasks, even those with no direct relation to the bottom line, show how much work you can handle. Don’t let those tasks go to waste, add a frequency to quantify them so recruiters can see how hardworking you are!
 
Before: Manage company trunkline.
After: Manage company trunkline connected to 5 different departments, receiving an average of 250 calls a day.
 
Before: Read and graded essays of grade 8 English students.
After: Read and graded essays of grade 8 English students for 5 classes, or about 250 students.  


Source:  ​https://www.market-connections.net/blog/how-to-quantify-results-on-your-resume-when-your-job-isnt-big-on-numbers

Here is a new video to show a Nurse Resume Example.  The video demonstrates a two-page nursing resume sample, a cover letter, and a Reference Letter. If you are a Nurse or have a related position in the healthcare industry, come to https://www.market-connections.net for a medical resume that will help you stand out from the crowd. 

This resume is designed for:
​

• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Travel Nurses
• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Medical-Surgical Nurse
• Emergency Room Nurse; Operating Room Nurse (OR)
• Home Health Nurses; School Nurses
• Cardiovascular Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse
• Radiology Nurses
• Nurse Manager…

Source: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/Nurse-Resume-Example

The holiday season is here and many people start wondering if it’s appropriate to include temporary and seasonal work experience in their resume. This question can be relevant to you whether you’re a recent graduate, unemployed or a college student.
 
There is nothing wrong with taking a freelance, temporary, or seasonal job until you get full-time employment in your field. In fact, this is the best way to gain experience, close gaps in employment, and earn extra cash. Keeping your resume fresh will not only help you to embark on temporary jobs but new careers as well.
 
You need to tailor your resume to meet the requirements of companies that are hiring seasonal employees. Below are the tips that will help you write a good resume for seasonal employment.

• Resume presentation - Never give out a folded or rumpled resume letter. Submit a clean copy that is presentable. You can print it out using white or ivory resume paper on a laser printer.

• Stick to the design - It’s important to maintain the standard design format when writing your resume. Use a standard font.  Use bullet points to help you break up long paragraphs. Avoid using pictures or graphs.

 

• Indicate your work experience - Please list all types of employment and experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for. And remember that any work experience can help you secure that seasonal job.

 

• Be specific - When you want to list the positions you have held in your previous seasonal work experience, be descriptive. A good example is the case of “customer service” where you can use this format: "customer relations and quality assurance." If you claim that you exceeded expectations in your department, you should be specific even with the numbers.

 

• Point out your skills - You need to tie your skills gained from your previous seasonal work and how these skills will help your future employer.

 

• Be positive - Avoid highlighting negative issues about your previous employers. You might have issues with your past jobs, but it’s important to mention the positive n your resume. Positive attitude will help you to snag that position.

 

• Be honest - Avoid any temptation to inflate your set of skills or even embellish your working history. You should not risk your credibility. If you don’t have any formal work experience, you can include your volunteer work experience or summer jobs experience.

 

• Update your resume regularly - Review your resume regularly. You want to find out how to make your resume stand out.  This will give you the chance to add any new information such as awards and training programs.

 

• Make sure your information is relevant - For most employers, it is unnecessary to list all he details of some jobs that you held more than 15 years ago. Information related to your religion, family and political leanings should not have a place in your resume either. Avoid including outside interests.

 

• Make sure you read your resume - It’s very important to proof-read your resume and if possible get your trusted colleague to review it.

WHERE TO FIND SEASONAL JOBS: 
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/seasonal-jobs-near-me

TYPES OF SEASONAL WORK:
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/types-of-seasonal-work

TIPS TO FIND YOUR FIRST JOB:
https://www.market-connections.net/blog/people-first-careers​

The Biden administration announced a new rule from the Department of Labor on September 9, 2021 that will require all companies with 100 or more employees to ensure each worker is fully vaccinated or can show a negative COVID-19 test at least once a week. The standard, which will be enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), will affect approximately 80 million workers.
 
Requiring employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment is legal. Many large employers — including Disney, Tyson Foods, and United Airlines — already require employees to be vaccinated.
 
When you log into Indeed, you will note changes. For example, the number of job postings on the site requiring vaccination against COVID-19 has increased by 34 percent at the end of the first week of August 2021 compared to one month prior. Job postings requiring vaccination were up 90 percent over the same time period.
 
According to a survey conducted by ResumeBuilder.com in August 2021, 33 percent of hiring managers will automatically eliminate résumés that do not include vaccination status. And 69 percent of the 1250 hiring managers surveyed say they are more likely to favor candidates who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
 
ResumeBuilder.com also reports that 63 percent of companies surveyed are mandating vaccinations for employees as of August 2021. Another 32 percent will give priority to candidates that list they are vaccinated on their resume.
 
Seventy-seven percent of hiring managers surveyed say they prefer applicants include vaccination status on their resumes.
 
As with any information you include — or exclude — on your resume carefully consider whether the information is relevant (in this case, it would be if vaccination status is requested in the job posting) and whether including the information (if not requested), might disqualify you from consideration. (Some recruiters or hiring managers may be turned off by the disclosure.)

• ​DEFINITELY YES — Disclose you are vaccinated against COVID-19 if vaccination is listed as a requirement in the job posting you’re applying for.

• PROBABLY YES — Disclose vaccination status for certain roles — especially in the medical field or public health or for positions with progressive companies that have been publicly supportive of vaccine mandates. Consider including it for tech and financial positions where in-person/in-office attendance is required.

• PROBABLY NO — If you are not vaccinated for COVID-19, it’s best to leave vaccination status off your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile and address it in a job interview instead (if asked). If you disclose you are not vaccinated for COVID-19, that could be a negative to some hiring managers and recruiters.

 
Don’t want to include your vaccination status on the resume itself? You can list your vaccination status in the cover letter — although, be aware that some recruiters and hiring managers do not read cover letters.
 
Immunization records are protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, you are always free to disclose your own medical information voluntarily.
 
No matter whether you disclose your vaccination status on your resume or not, this may be part of a background check conducted after a job offer is extended, in the same way a drug screening may be required.

SOURCE URL: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/should-i-put-my-vaccination-status-on-my-resume

​The average corporate job opening attracts 250 resumes, according to the employment website Glassdoor. With that kind of volume, it’s little wonder that most resumes get looked at for seven (7) seconds or less.
 
If you think it's time to change your job, be sure to learn to increase the odds that a hiring manager will pay attention to your resume long enough to appreciate what you have to offer.
 
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to make sure your resume gets read. Study these suggestions before you reply to another job listing.

Even if you're a star performer, you will need to know how to make your resume stand out. Learning about what employers want to see in a resume and making it easier for them to recognize your value will help you to land more interviews and job offers. 

Employers review your resume before connecting with you. Given the many that apply, this usually takes seconds. Consequently, we  must use limited words while we also have to be sure that the resume is well-written and grammatically correct. 

The resume must say almost everything about the person. This should always start with pertinent information such as the person’s name and contact information.  

Next is the Summary which briefly gives the audience an idea of what to expect as they continue to read the resume. It's almost like a quick introduction. If written in a precise and concise way, one can give a very professional introduction. 

However, many people find it difficult to write a brief resume summary. Below are six (6) examples for your review. 

Software development leader and technology evangelist with a strong leadership presence; is currently seeking a new role that will draw upon expertise in software leadership, data protection, business transformation, enterprise-level implementation, automation, analytics, AI, client relations, and strategic planning.

​There is no ideal resume. It depends on the job. It is an important step one must pass before being called for that first interview.

Becoming a Pharmacy Technician is a great career opportunity. As a student you will need to follow the same path that an individual looking to become a Pharmacist travels but only stopping short of completing your PharmD degree. A Pharmacy Technician serves both patients and the Pharmacist. A Pharmacy Technician has duties that are both challenging and rewarding too.

Median hourly earnings for pharmacy technicians vary by geographical location as well as by the level of individual experience. 

The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is phenomenal. Any pharmaceutically-based occupation will certainly be important now and also in the future. With people living longer and medicines becoming more sophisticated and numerous there is no way to go wrong with a career in medicine. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will always be in demand. Pharmacy technicians are more in demand due to the fact there can be as many as four technicians aiding one single pharmacist.

Pharmacy technicians have several options for workplace settings. The overall duties will not vary greatly in the field of pharmacist technicians. The variations in workplace choices add just enough spice to the career opportunities to make becoming a Technician greatly appealing. Seven of the ten jobs occupied by pharmacist technicians are in retail pharmacy positions. Retail pharmacy encompasses both independently-owned or chain store pharmacy settings.

Nearly two of ten pharmacy technician jobs are in hospitals. There are also smaller proportions that belong to the aspects of the pharmaceutical trade such as mail order, clinic, and wholesalers.

It takes grand people skills to participate as a pharmacist technician. Successful technicians are alert, organized, dedicated and efficient in their work. A technician should have an eye for detail and not be easily distracted. An independent reliable nature encourages the supervising pharmacist to be confident you can handle all types of situations. Your work is directly related to life and death in more ways than one.

As a technician you will have to interact daily with patients, pharmacists, and various healthcare professionals. Teamwork is an important part of the successful career of any pharmacy technician as you will be working closely with pharmacy aids and pharmacists too.

Your duties will vary greatly from those of any other health care professional but will relate directly to the duties of a pharmacist. Your responsibilities are receiving prescriptions sent electronically for your patients where by, you as a technician have to verify the information is accurate and complete. Then the prescription must be prepared.

These tasks take special attention to details. Prescriptions must be measured, counted, and weighed in some cases in order to for them to equal the dose requested by the physician for the patient involved. Technicians will label and price the prescriptions. Then the information has to be filed in an accurate and timely manner. There is no room for error in this type of career.

​Customizing your resume demonstrates your interest in a job and shows you have taken the time to tailor the resume. This guide will help you navigate the customization process.

It’s the difference between seeing a car commercial on television and having one show up in your Facebook feed. One is geared towards a large audience of viewers — the other, presumably, is more targeted to meet your specific interests in a vehicle. In a similar way, a customized resume demonstrates the alignment between what the employer wants to see in the resume of their next hire, and the exact skills, experience, and education you have to offer.

Estimates are that 70 percent of larger companies use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to screen resumes. If you’re not customizing your resume, you may be less likely to be selected for an interview. Even if the company doesn’t use ATS software, customized resumes are more appealing to human readers. One size doesn’t fit all. 

The process of tailoring your resume starts with your professionally written document. It helps to have guidelines or at least a list of tips for resume writing. Most resumes can be customized to target similar roles within the same industry. For example, you could customize your teaching resume to target different grade levels, different types of schools (public, private, etc.), and different school districts. But that same teaching resume should not be used for a different industry or profession — for example, to pursue a position in sales.
 
Tailoring the resume (and cover letter) can help your documents successfully get through ATS software and into the hands of the recruiter or hiring manager. This process doesn’t require a full rewrite of the resume. Tweaking the documents will improve your chances of getting your resume seen.
 
If the thought of customizing each resume stresses you out, don’t worry! You always have the choice to customize “a little,” “the middle” (more than a little, less than a lot!), or “a lot.” Another pro tip is to keep a second “master” document of your customizations. That way, you can copy-and-paste them into your customized document if they are applicable to a specific role.
 
Prioritize quality over quantity. Instead of sending the same resume to apply for 50 jobs, take the time to research and customize your resume for 10-15 roles. You may be submitting fewer resumes, but you are increasing your chances of landing the interview … and the job.
 
Customize “A Little”
You should always customize the resume, even if it’s just a little. Never send a generic resume. You wouldn’t send the same greeting card for a birthday and for an anniversary, would you? So don’t send the same resume to two different companies. Minor customization will only take 5-10 minutes.
 
The first step when customizing your resume is to do a “save as” of the document to preserve the original file. Re-name the file with your first name, last name, and desired job title (for example: JaneJobseekerSalesResume.doc).
 
The easiest change to customize the resume for the position you want is to include the desired job title and company name at the top of the resume. This is a quick visual cue to show you customized the resume for this specific opportunity:
(Job Title) at (Company Name)
 
For example:
Public Relations Specialist at ABC Company
 
If the job title of the position you’re seeking is not the same as your current job title, put this at the top of the resume:
Job Target: (Desired Job Title)
 
For example, if you are currently a sales associate and you’re seeking a sales consultant role, your headline on the resume would read:
Job Target: Sales Consultant
 
You can also use this formula:
Seeking (Desired Job Title) Role at (Name of Company)
 
For example:
Seeking Public Relations Specialist Role at ABC Company
 
When customizing “a little,” be sure to customize the Summary section. For human readers, this is often the first section they read. You want to ensure the skills and experience most desired by the prospective employer are highlighted in the top one-third of the resume.
 
Take a few minutes to make sure the job responsibilities and accomplishments listed in your resume match the needs of the employer, especially those outlined in the job posting.
 
You can also re-order accomplishment bullets to prioritize achievements related to the job being targeted.
 
Customize “A Middle” Amount
When customizing more than just “a little” — but not a full customization, focus on the company’s needs and how you are a match for what they’re looking for. This type of customization may take as little as 10-15 minutes.
 
When possible, have the job posting in front of you so you can tailor the resume to the job description. Companies hire employees to solve their problems. In her book, Resume Magic, author Susan Whitcomb identifies 12 specific needs (“Employer Buying Motivators”) a company has. These include the company’s desire to:

• Make money
• Save money
• Save time
• Make work easier
• Solve a specific problem
• Be more competitive
• Build relationships / an image
• Expand business
• Attract new customers
• Retain existing customers

 
Identify the problems this job is designed to solve and help the prospective employer see how you can help them solve these specific problems.
 
You can either print the job description and highlight it or feed it into a word cloud app. Examples of free word cloud software includes:

• WordClouds
• MonkeyLearn Word Cloud Generator
• WordItOut

 
A word cloud generator will highlight some of the most important keywords being used in the job posting (especially ones that are mentioned more than once).
 
For example, here is a word cloud generated from a Public Relations Specialist job posting: