Current workforce trends reflect constant change: reengineering, reinventing, and re-training. Employees unprepared for this environment may find they are forced to make unwise career decisions and transitions or, perhaps, lose jobs based on lack pf preparedness. Employers look for employees who understand how their knowledge, skills, and abilities match the demands of the current job openings and for possible promotions or developmental projects.
Two things happen when a person is hired to do a job that matches their natural work preferences. First, they immediately focus their energy on the completion of the job. Second, they enjoy doing the job because of the natural behavioral match-up. By contrast, those people who bring different work preferences and motivators to the job first have to focus their energy on changing their behavior to meet the job and then use what energy is left to perform the duties of the job.
Before writing a resume or applying for a specific job, you need to begin the process of knowing YOURSELF, your strengths, the type of work environment that you need to be successful and understand what motivates you. You also need to understand as much as you can about the job or project being offered. By clarifying job expectations, discovering reasons for inner conflict and stress experienced in past or present jobs and in analyzing your perception of the “ideal job”, sound career choices and changes can be made more easily.
TYPES OF RESUMES:
The type of resume you prepare may be directly related to the type of job you are seeking and your work history. The first type of resume is a chronological resume. This resume will list your experience from the most recent and then progress back NO MORE THAN 10 YEARS. Employers are looking at your current areas of expertise.
If you have experiences that are more than 10 years and are relevant to the job you may want to develop an experiential resume. In an experiential resume you identify your skills, give examples of your experience and/or describe how you were successful in utilizing those skills - without putting dates
It is also important to note that you may want to create several resumes or tailor your primary resume so it matches what a potential employer is looking for. Narrow the range of realistic job possibilities and then label your resume according or include the exact job opening in your “objectives”.
So Where Do I Start?
Here are a few hints that will help you in writing and submitting a resume:
1. When sending a resume by e-mail, always have a cover letter as an introduction in addition to attaching your resume. Put the text of your letter in the e-mail as opposed to attaching. People are busy and may not take the time to open two attachments. It is also appropriate to put your resume in the text of your e-mail if you are sure the formatting will hold.
2. When uploading into an online job form or attaching to a direct e-mail, label the document with your first and last name. Avoid unrecognizable or “cutesy” document names, i.e., Jumpingjosh.doc. Instead simply use your name and identify the document, i.e. JohnDoeResume.doc. You want the reader to know immediately who is sending the e-mail and to be able to retrieve it if they save it to a data file for future review.
4. If asked to include references, only use professional or job related references. Organizations know that if you use Aunt Betty as a reference, she probably can’t speak to your work skills. Let references know you are using their name and make sure you have a correct phone number for them.
5. Always take a copy of your resume to the interview so you can refer to any sections where there may be questions or if the interviewer does not have a copy.
6. If asked for a one-page resume, KEEP IT TO ONE PAGE. You will often be given the opportunity to attach or include additional supportive information but, if not, don’t include it.
7. Use Arial or Times New Roman font. This is a professional document, not a letter to a friend. Keep your fonts crisp and easy to read.
8. If you're responding to an email address, check the email address to see if it looks like a person's name. If the email address is a person's name, don't address your cover letter "Dear Hiring Manager" or "To Whom it May Concern." If the email address is amy.jenkins@acmeproducts.com, begin your letter "Dear Ms. Jenkins."
9. Don't, don't, don't send an email message that says "To learn more about me, click here" with your blog or personal website url. Write a proper cover letter, instead.
10. Be personable and conversational in your letter, but don't be cutesy. "Stop! Your search is over. I am the person you want to hire."
11. If you say in your letter "I am perfect for the job" explain why and be specific. If you've had experience in similar jobs, describe your experience.
12. Use spell-check!!!!! Ask another person to read your resume and cover letter for feedback. Find a person who will be honest with you and who has some knowledge about how to write a resume and cover letter.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Veteran Business Opportunities and the Stimulus Package
The new stimulus package opens up many lending opportunities for veterans. Sometimes the ideal opportunity when you transition to civilian life doesn't include working for someone else. Veterans, National Guard, Reservists and their spouses have another option to consider---owning a business. The stimulus bill will temporarily increase the SBA’s guarantee on surety bonds from $2 million to $5 million. It will allow small businesses to bid on bigger projects.
The Small Business Administration has pointed out some major things that can pertain to veterans and the many business opportunities available to them.
• $375 million for temporary fee reductions or eliminations on SBA loans and increased SBA guaranteed shares, up to 90 percent for certain loans
• $255 million for a new loan program to help small businesses meet existing debt payments
• $30 million for expanding SBA’s Microloan program, enough to finance up to $50 million in new lending and $24 million in technical assistance grants to microlenders
• $20 million for technology systems to streamline SBA’s lending and oversight processes
• $15 million for expanding SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program
• $25 million for staffing up to meet demands for new programs
• $10 million for the Office of Inspector General
The bill also authorizes refinancing for certain SBA loans so borrowers can expand their businesses on favorable terms, and expands leverage capability for Small Business Investment Companies.
These things are all important ideas to keep in mind when you are thinking about the business opportunities available to you.
To find out more information check out sba.gov.
The Small Business Administration has pointed out some major things that can pertain to veterans and the many business opportunities available to them.
• $375 million for temporary fee reductions or eliminations on SBA loans and increased SBA guaranteed shares, up to 90 percent for certain loans
• $255 million for a new loan program to help small businesses meet existing debt payments
• $30 million for expanding SBA’s Microloan program, enough to finance up to $50 million in new lending and $24 million in technical assistance grants to microlenders
• $20 million for technology systems to streamline SBA’s lending and oversight processes
• $15 million for expanding SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program
• $25 million for staffing up to meet demands for new programs
• $10 million for the Office of Inspector General
The bill also authorizes refinancing for certain SBA loans so borrowers can expand their businesses on favorable terms, and expands leverage capability for Small Business Investment Companies.
These things are all important ideas to keep in mind when you are thinking about the business opportunities available to you.
To find out more information check out sba.gov.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Starting Your Own Business
Financing for Veteran Owned Businesses
Series 1 of 3
Owning your own business can be an exciting opportunity versus working directly for an employer. But, is business ownership the right choice for you?
Understanding the resources you can access as well as the opportunities that exist can assist you in making that decision. Owning something of your own is exciting, but it takes certain skills, planning and resources to be successful
This article focuses in on some of the financial resources you, as a veteran, can access to help you in your decision making process. This will begin a three part series of articles on Veterans starting their own business.
There are two valuable financials resources for veterans and their spouses to utilize for starting a business. They are the Patriot Express Loan Initiative and the Veterans Improvement Act of 2008.
The Patriot Express Loan Initiative
The new Patriot Express loan is offered by the Small Business Administration’s (sba.gov) network of participating lenders nationwide and features the SBA’s fastest turnaround time for loan approvals. Loans are available up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA’s maximum guaranty of up to 85 percent dependent on loan amount.
Patriot Express loans feature SBA’s lowest interest rates for business loans, generally 2.25 percent to 4.75 percent over prime depending upon the size and maturity of the loan. Your local SBA district office will have a listing of Patriot Express lenders in your area.
For example, a $100,000 loan for 6 years at the maximum SBA Express interest rate of 4.5 percent over prime would total approximately $128,004 at maturity. That would equate to about a $1777.84 per month payment today (Prime at 4% + 4.5% SBA interest rate). The same loan for the same term under Patriot Express would be limited to 2.25 percent over prime providing savings of almost $7828 over six years to the borrower or a monthly payment of $1669.12.
The Patriot Express loan can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases.
About 15 percent of veterans are self-employed and about the same percentage of small business owners are veterans. When you consider that half of the nation’s non-farm GDP comes from small businesses and that small business accounts for two-thirds of new jobs, the drive and persistence of veterans are making a huge contribution to the strength of the US economy.
SBA has been active on many fronts to support America’s veterans. Through their resource partners – the Small Business Development Centers, SCORE and Veteran’ Business Outreach Centers – have targeted veterans, service-disabled veterans and Reservists in their counseling programs. SBA offers low-interest, long term disaster loans to small businesses owned by activated reservists and those that employ reservists. SBA guarantees approximately 8,000 veterans’ business loans totaling more than $1 billion annually.
Veterans, active duty personnel who are in the military’s Transition Assistance Program, and all Reservists and National Guard members, are eligible for Patriot Express. In addition, the spouse of any of the above communities, or the widowed spouse of a service member who died while in the service, or of a service-connected disability, are also eligible to participate in Patriot Express.
For more information or to find a local SBA office, go to http://www.sba.gov/.
Veterans Improvement Act of 2008
Veterans Improvement Act of 2008 was passed on September 21, 2008. Under section 325, veterans participating in on-the-job training for self-employment or operation of a franchise would no longer be required to certify to VA that they are being paid for the training and that the training will lead to employment. Because self-employment and franchise training are typically unpaid, veterans pursuing those goals who are otherwise eligible to receive payments for training are effectively excluded under current law.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that under section 325 an additional 400 veterans annually would qualify for on-the-job training benefits during their training period. For a typical training period of five weeks, veterans would receive around $1,600 in 2009 and that amount would increase by a cost-of–living adjustment each year. In total, CBO estimates that enacting section 325 would increase direct spending by $7 million over 2009-2018.
Business ownership is an exciting opportunity and you have benefits as a veteran to help get you started. Be sure to look for part two in next month’s newsletter which will focus on special veteran programs offered by franchisors to incent you to start a business.
Series 1 of 3
Owning your own business can be an exciting opportunity versus working directly for an employer. But, is business ownership the right choice for you?
Understanding the resources you can access as well as the opportunities that exist can assist you in making that decision. Owning something of your own is exciting, but it takes certain skills, planning and resources to be successful
This article focuses in on some of the financial resources you, as a veteran, can access to help you in your decision making process. This will begin a three part series of articles on Veterans starting their own business.
There are two valuable financials resources for veterans and their spouses to utilize for starting a business. They are the Patriot Express Loan Initiative and the Veterans Improvement Act of 2008.
The Patriot Express Loan Initiative
The new Patriot Express loan is offered by the Small Business Administration’s (sba.gov) network of participating lenders nationwide and features the SBA’s fastest turnaround time for loan approvals. Loans are available up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA’s maximum guaranty of up to 85 percent dependent on loan amount.
Patriot Express loans feature SBA’s lowest interest rates for business loans, generally 2.25 percent to 4.75 percent over prime depending upon the size and maturity of the loan. Your local SBA district office will have a listing of Patriot Express lenders in your area.
For example, a $100,000 loan for 6 years at the maximum SBA Express interest rate of 4.5 percent over prime would total approximately $128,004 at maturity. That would equate to about a $1777.84 per month payment today (Prime at 4% + 4.5% SBA interest rate). The same loan for the same term under Patriot Express would be limited to 2.25 percent over prime providing savings of almost $7828 over six years to the borrower or a monthly payment of $1669.12.
The Patriot Express loan can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases.
About 15 percent of veterans are self-employed and about the same percentage of small business owners are veterans. When you consider that half of the nation’s non-farm GDP comes from small businesses and that small business accounts for two-thirds of new jobs, the drive and persistence of veterans are making a huge contribution to the strength of the US economy.
SBA has been active on many fronts to support America’s veterans. Through their resource partners – the Small Business Development Centers, SCORE and Veteran’ Business Outreach Centers – have targeted veterans, service-disabled veterans and Reservists in their counseling programs. SBA offers low-interest, long term disaster loans to small businesses owned by activated reservists and those that employ reservists. SBA guarantees approximately 8,000 veterans’ business loans totaling more than $1 billion annually.
Veterans, active duty personnel who are in the military’s Transition Assistance Program, and all Reservists and National Guard members, are eligible for Patriot Express. In addition, the spouse of any of the above communities, or the widowed spouse of a service member who died while in the service, or of a service-connected disability, are also eligible to participate in Patriot Express.
For more information or to find a local SBA office, go to http://www.sba.gov/.
Veterans Improvement Act of 2008
Veterans Improvement Act of 2008 was passed on September 21, 2008. Under section 325, veterans participating in on-the-job training for self-employment or operation of a franchise would no longer be required to certify to VA that they are being paid for the training and that the training will lead to employment. Because self-employment and franchise training are typically unpaid, veterans pursuing those goals who are otherwise eligible to receive payments for training are effectively excluded under current law.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that under section 325 an additional 400 veterans annually would qualify for on-the-job training benefits during their training period. For a typical training period of five weeks, veterans would receive around $1,600 in 2009 and that amount would increase by a cost-of–living adjustment each year. In total, CBO estimates that enacting section 325 would increase direct spending by $7 million over 2009-2018.
Business ownership is an exciting opportunity and you have benefits as a veteran to help get you started. Be sure to look for part two in next month’s newsletter which will focus on special veteran programs offered by franchisors to incent you to start a business.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Comparing Offers: Making the Best Choice for Your Career
It is important to learn how much you can earn in order to budget for housing, transportation and general expenses. It is also important to know what the average salary or salary range is for the position that you desire. By using this information you will not price yourself out of a job when it comes to discussing salary, but at the same time you will not sell yourself for less than what is fair.
Use these websites to find out salary information for your area or to do a comparison of salaries in different areas:
Salary Expert
Salary Comparison
Salary.com
Things to compare when looking at the bigger picture:
Years of experience you have at the job.
If you look and see what the median salary is for your job and you are in your first year out of college you should expect to make less than the median compared to someone who has been in the field for 5 or more years. The amount of experience you have will always play a big role in your salary… but your military experience does count. Make sure to use our Military Skills Translator to help identify “civilian equivalent” skills and experience you have gained while in the military.
Benefits
Look at the package they are offering you as a whole. If your salary is a little less than you wanted and you are going to get health insurance and a 401k then it will all balance out. Some companies offer bonuses, stock options, relocation allowance, vacation, leave, tuition reimbursement, professional membership and association activities.
Each one of these things should be taken in to account while you are looking at your base salary pay. Each one of them can benefit you in their own way.Responsibilities and Working ConditionsConsider these things when you are given a job offer:
Use these websites to find out salary information for your area or to do a comparison of salaries in different areas:
Salary Expert
Salary Comparison
Salary.com
Things to compare when looking at the bigger picture:
Years of experience you have at the job.
If you look and see what the median salary is for your job and you are in your first year out of college you should expect to make less than the median compared to someone who has been in the field for 5 or more years. The amount of experience you have will always play a big role in your salary… but your military experience does count. Make sure to use our Military Skills Translator to help identify “civilian equivalent” skills and experience you have gained while in the military.
Benefits
Look at the package they are offering you as a whole. If your salary is a little less than you wanted and you are going to get health insurance and a 401k then it will all balance out. Some companies offer bonuses, stock options, relocation allowance, vacation, leave, tuition reimbursement, professional membership and association activities.
Each one of these things should be taken in to account while you are looking at your base salary pay. Each one of them can benefit you in their own way.Responsibilities and Working ConditionsConsider these things when you are given a job offer:
- What are your responsibilities and working conditions going to be inside and outside of the office?
- What is the geographical location of your new company and what is the cost of living there?
- Will you have to travel and if so how far and how often?
- What are the numbers of hours per week you are expected to work?
- How frequently do you have performance reviews?
If you take into consideration all of these things along with what your salary is going to be then you should have a pretty good understanding of your complete offer package and how it will impact your life.
Get multiple offers from different companies---then be sure to weigh your options and see what each package has to offer you. It never hurts to list each company and put down the pros and cons of each.
At the end of the day, the best offer is the one that includes the most complete and fair compensation in line with the job lifestyle that you desire and the future career path that you aspire towards.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Military Skills Translation
We introduced our Military Skills Translator in May, 2008. Version 1 worked well, but it took some great feedback from our vets to learn we needed to make some tweaks... for example, some people have served in more than 1 branch of the military, so you need to be able to add in military experience from all branches. That update rolled out this summer. Done!
But, we continually tweak adding in new skills, new MOS's/AFSC's based on your feedback. So, tell us what you think. Have you tried the skills translator? Did you review the resume the system created for you? What else would you like to see?
But, we continually tweak adding in new skills, new MOS's/AFSC's based on your feedback. So, tell us what you think. Have you tried the skills translator? Did you review the resume the system created for you? What else would you like to see?
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