How To Quantify Results on Your Resume When Your Job Isn't Big on Numbers“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. It helps to learn how to customize your resume. Here’s where a little creativity goes a long way. To quantify your accomplishments, you have to look beyond the obvious when you think of measurable tasks and the numbers you associate with them. Write it All DownAsk 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. To customize 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:
Brainstorm Creative Ways To Quantify Your WorkYou 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:
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:
Combine Tasks with Numbers and Results for Amazing Bullet PointsIt 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. 2 Strategies for Writing Accomplishment-Oriented and Quantified Bullet Points1. 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 About the AuthorMandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes. Nurse Resume ExampleHere 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:
About the AuthorMandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes. Resume Tips for Seasonal JobsThe 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.
Landing a seasonal job is definitely an adventure, but it is not impossible. When looking for a temporary work it is important to include the experience you have in the field you are applying for. This is because most employers do not want to train candidates most of the time. The earlier you prepare your resume, the better for you, so that you can submit it once the jobs are advertised. You May Also Consider: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 About the AuthorMandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes. Should I Put My Vaccination Status on My Resume?Fully Vaccinated for COVID-19Should you include that information on your resume? I have recently seen many polls on LinkedIn about including one's vaccination status on the resume. It seems as though the reactions are varying with time. In the meantime, my clients have been asking me about whether or not medical information (i.e.: vaccination status) must be included or listed on their job search documents. At this point, there aren't any solid Yes or No answers that would apply to all situations like a regulation. Today, it still depends on each job's requirements. Mandatory VaccineThe 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.) General Guidelines About Disclosing Vaccination Status On Your Resume
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 12 Ways to Ensure That Your Resume Gets ReadThe 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. Tips for Editing Your ResumeYou can make your resume stand out from the crowd. Review it carefully before you start your job search and update it at least twice a year or after any major achievement. Use these strategies:
Tips for Making Sure Your Resume Gets ReadKeep in mind that your resume is just one ingredient in a successful job search. You need to maximize the rest of your strategy too. Try these techniques:
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.
Examples Of Professional Summary On ResumeEmployers 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. Example 1 - Professional Summary On ResumeSoftware 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. Example 2 - Professional Summary On ResumeAn award-winning executive producer with expertise in creative direction and content development for numerous platforms (digital, broadcast, audio), is currently seeking a new role that will draw upon excellence in production operations, creative direction, editorial leadership, storytelling, audience engagement, business growth, content creation, and team leadership Example 3 - Professional Summary On ResumeA global Operations Executive with measurable contributions to strategic planning for food production, wellness product development, retail team training, and production kitchen training, is currently seeking a new role that will draw upon expertise in retail planning, operational leadership, strategic alliances, business growth, cost control, and productivity improvements Example 4 - Professional Summary On ResumeAn expert Financial Analyst equipped with a solid background and experience in financial analysis and reporting, underwriting, and due diligence in real estate currently seeking a new role in asset valuation and management, cost analysis, as well as property management Example 5 - Professional Summary On ResumeAn experienced Producer and Video Creator with a strong background in creating entertainment and educational content is searching for new opportunities in project management, production, post-production, editing, visual storytelling, creative design, interactive content development, scheduling, and budget administration. Example 6 - Professional Summary On ResumeA digital marketing expert with an accomplished career in the music business is currently seeking a new role that will draw upon proficiencies in social media marketing, talent relations, brand messaging, e-commerce business development, advertising, media buying, and project management. 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.
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Pharmacy Technician Resume SamplePharmacy Technician Career
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. AuthorMandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes. ![]()
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How To Customize Your Resume
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.
What Does Customizing Your Resume Mean?
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.
Why Customize Your Resume For Each Position?
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.
How To Tailor Your Resume
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:
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: 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:
The word cloud highlights skills (marketing, planning, communications), key responsibilities (media relations, working with the public, planning and executing events, developing community, soliciting sponsorships, building relationships), and values (collaboration, balance, flexible).
Analyze the job posting (and/or word cloud):
Make sure you are using the keywords used in the job description. “Similar” isn’t good enough. Match the language used in the job posting to help your resume rank higher in the ATS. Mirror the exact words and phrases that are used in the job description.
Be sure to incorporate keywords in your Summary, Skills, and Experience sections. Keywords can also be used in the Education, Training, and Affiliations sections.
If you do not have the skills and experience requested in the job posting, don’t lie on the resume or use a “trick phrase” (such as “willing to learn [x]”) just to get the phrase included. However, you can include “adjacent” experience. For example, if you have experience working as a teacher in a childcare center, but not in an elementary school classroom, you could list it as “Possess two years’ experience providing childcare for children ages 3-5, equivalent to preschool classroom teaching experience.” As important as it is to include targeted information, it is just as important to remove irrelevant information. Remove information that is not relevant — any education, experience, trainings, or affiliations that are not relevant to this job. Be ruthless. If you don’t have a specific job posting, research the company. If possible, use your network to connect with someone who works at your targeted employer. What values are part of their culture? How can you add value with your experience, education, and accomplishments? One final step might be to run the newly customized resume through a word cloud generator to see how well it matches the job description word cloud. Customize A Lot To really stand out, show you are a perfect fit. Past experience is the best predictor of future success, so make sure you are highlighting your relevant experience and accomplishments. Don’t worry, however, if you don’t match all the requirements listed in the job posting. This customization process may take 30-45 minutes per document. Go back to the job posting again. Look how you can incorporate specific keywords into the Employment section. Human readers especially will focus on that section. Again, make sure you are using the exact keywords listed in the job posting. This will help your resume perform better when it is run through the ATS software. Rearrange sections of the resume, if necessary, to match the priorities established in the job posting. For example, highlighting your Education or Training section to emphasize a particular qualification can help it be noticed by a reader. (Remember, the section order will only matter to a human reader — the ATS software will put the information into the appropriate section within the software, regardless of where it’s listed on the resume). If you have a specific Skills section on the resume, re-order your skills to match the job description so that skills that are important to the prospective employer are highlighted first. You can also change the Employment section header to match the job. For example:
Make sure you are spotlighting the experience and accomplishments that are most relevant to the role you’re targeting. Review the company website and/or LinkedIn company page to gain insight into the company’s values, mission, and culture. If possible, click through to review LinkedIn profiles of current company employees. Read the company’s “About Us” page on its website. If the organization is a publicly traded company, look up its annual report. What values do they highlight? Identify specific keywords to include that indicate cultural fit. When customizing the resume, give specific instances of these values, such as: teamwork, communication, initiative, honesty, etc. Also look at your affiliations and associations and identify activities and organizations that might be a cultural fit with the target company. But don’t stop with only customizing the resume! Learn To Customize Your Cover Letter
Learning how to write a cover letter can open doors to new opportunies.
It’s estimated that only one-fourth of cover letters are customized — but this is a perfect place to demonstrate your fit with a target employer. In your initial draft, you can use the “T” format for the cover letter to demonstrate your fit for the role while working in more keywords. Imagine drawing a large letter “T” on a piece of paper, with a vertical line separating the page into two equal halves. The left side is labeled “Your Job Requirements” and the right side is labeled “My Qualifications.” Create a two-column table in the document. Copy-and-paste each of the job requirements into the left-hand side. Across from each requirement, list your education, experience, and other qualifications to meet the requirement. This is a very helpful way for you to write your first draft. Next, it will be much easier to turn this content into a letter format to present a professionally-written cover letter and it allows you to clearly demonstrate your qualifications for the role. Learn To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
There are many ways to enhance a LinkedIn profile. One suggestion is to optimize the keywords in your LinkedIn profile.
While you can only have one LinkedIn profile (you can have an unlimited number of customized resumes and cover letters), if you see specific keywords included in multiple job postings, be sure to add them to your LinkedIn profile — under the About section, in the Experience section, and especially the Skills section. Keywords are critical to search engine optimization and being found by recruiters and hiring managers online. So, don’t just “set it and forget it” when it comes to your LinkedIn profile.
What To Include In A Cover Letter
When applying for a job, never forget to include a cover letter. The cover letter is just as important as the content of the resume itself. Resumes are merely a background relating to your experience and interest that determine if you qualify for a job. The cover letter offers additional information that the resume cannot cover.
Cover letters are often provided when the resume is sent to the employer. A cover letter should have an outline of the basic information included in the resume. The cover letter can bring forth more response from employers if it is presented properly. Never use negative connotations within a cover letter. The usage of negative connotations will only drive the employer into another direction. If you successfully did something in your life, use positive words to bring your success to light. It is important to keep within the guidelines when writing your cover letter. One of the important rules is to stay focused. Do not tell your life story in your cover letter. Be concise and don't lose sight of your goal; in this case, getting the job you're applying for. Relocation Cover Letter Template For NetworkingDear (Contact Name): I recently relocated from California to New York. Consequently, I am looking for my next challenge. My focus is a management role drawing on more than 15 years of experience in manufacturing and production. I have enclosed my résumé which outlines my qualifications. I am asking my network — including you — to help me identify possible employers who would value someone with my experience and skills. My work history emphasizes supervising production teams (up to 30 employees per shift), keeping manufacturing lines operating at peak capacity with a minimum of downtime, ensuring quality and regulatory compliance, and managing special projects. If you know of someone I should contact to explore an opportunity, I appreciate the referral. You can reach me at (phone number) or email me at (email address). I look forward to hearing back from you with any potential leads. Sincerely, Your Name
Writing a resume tips
Starting your resume can seem like a complicated task but it doesn't have to be. When you are creating your resume, you want to make it the most powerful statement that you can about yourself. You want your resume to highlight your strong points that make your resume stand out from the others. Remember that you can make changes to it once you get something on paper and can revise it as you see fit.
Here is a list of tips for resume writing: Tips on resume
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