Career - The Voice of Job Seekers

Grammarly is Useful for Your Job Search and Career Management

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Note: I have an affiliate account with Grammarly and benefit when you click on the ads on the right panel of TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com. This is a small way for you to support the show if you wish to do so.

Grammarly is the best grammar checker software on the planet. There are more than 250 grammar rule checks it makes in its search for errors. It’s hard for those of us who write for a living to create an edit to perfection. I receive help from editors from time to time for client documents and blog posts. I also find the software from Grammarly helpful and useful on a regular basis (I still use an editor to help me with writing for clients and articles from time to time).

I have reviewed other grammar and spellcheckers on these articles:

https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com/five-resources-to-help-correct-resume-grammar-errors/

https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com/3-more-resources-to-help-proofread-your-resume/

https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com/three-more-resources-to-help-correct-resume-grammar-errors-part-2/

My friend and colleague Lauren Milligan and I also walk through some editing and proofreading techniques in episode 49 specifically for writing resumes.

My guest is Shanik Patel of Grammarly. He makes a compelling case for you to get help with writing error-free documents by using Grammarly.

When you visit the blog, you will notice that a Grammarly affiliate ad is one of two that I have on the blog. It is a product I use and don’t mind selling because I benefit far more for the quality of writing I produce than the link itself. I recommend that if you are struggling to create a quality business related document for work, job search, and/or business to invest at minimum the premium version.

How do you proofread documents? What methods do you use? I would love your feedback in one of three ways:

1) Leave a voice mail or text message at 708-365-9822. Let me know if I can share it on future shows
2) Email me: mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com
3) Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com and press the “Send Voicemail” button to leave a message online

The “writing problem” begins in school.

In September 2012, the National Assessment of Educational Progress released the results of its annual writing test, The Nation’s Report Card: Writing 2012, suggesting that 75 percent of 8th and 12th grade students are unable to present their ideas in a clear, grammatically correct manner despite being given access to word processing tools for the first time in the test’s history.
Only 43 percent of all students who took the SAT in 2013 met the SAT College & Career Readiness Benchmark (which indicates a student’s likelihood of achieving a B- average or higher during the first year of study at a four-year college).
Student writing scores on the SAT have declined five points since 2011 and consistently represent the lowest student outcomes of any section of the test.

Poor writing skills continue in the workplace.

More than two thirds of salaried jobs require a significant amount of written work, making written communication a key consideration in hiring.
Experts estimate that low literacy costs the American economy $225 billion a year in lost productivity. Improved workplace literacy can increase employees’ efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity on the job. As a result, employers experience greater customer satisfaction and process improvement, a lower incidence of accidents, reduced waste, and fewer errors.
Business Roundtable’s member companies are still forced to spend more than $3 Billion on remedial writing courses each year, for both hourly workers and salaried workers.

Better writers tend to be more successful in the workplace.

Grammarly’sElance Study

Professionals are judged every day by the quality of their writing — and paid accordingly.Grammarly reviewed nearly 500 freelance professionals’ profileson Elance whose work was rated by employers.
We then reviewed the freelance profiles for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Our goal was to determine whether accurate writing related to the freelancers’ credibility,hireability, or pay.

The best-reviewed freelancers across all categories were those with the fewest writing errors.

Better writers earn more money per job.

Grammarly’s Linkedin Study

Professionals with fewer grammar errors in their profiles achieved higher positions. Those who failed to progress to a director-level position within the first 10 years of their careers made 2.5 times as many grammar mistakes as their director-level colleagues.

We found that:

Fewer grammar errors correlate with more promotions. Professionals with one to four promotions over their 10-year careers made 45 percent more grammar errors than those with six to nine promotions in the same time frame.
Fewer grammar errors associate with frequent job changes. Those who remained at the same company for more than 10 years made 20 percent more grammar mistakes than those who held six jobs during the same period.

You need to proofread to be a better writer!
- Top mistakes you’re probably making in your resumes, cover letters, professional emails
- Options for obtaining a proofreader — human being, Microsoft Word’s spelling and grammar checker, Grammarly

I encourage you to follow them on their Facebook page that has five million members and growing!

Have you subscribed to this show on iTunes? If you haven’t, please do so. This is also a great place to write an honest review. Enjoy listening to the show. Let us know what you think.

Do you need help with resume writing or career direction? Do you need coaching or instruction? I can help.

Also, join our community on Linkedin! You’ll enjoy some of the insights shared by community members and other career pros!

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

2014 Global Career Brainstorming Day Report with Marie Zimenoff

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

For the last five years, the Career Thought Leaders Consortium (CTL) has published a “Global Career Brainstorming Day” through hosting a worldwide brain dump of career trends current and anticipated. MarieZimenoff (@workwithpurpose), the new President of CTL, and I discuss a small part of the whitepaper produced as a result of the meeting. The whitepaper is a useful tool for job seekers and career professionals. The report is free and downloadable for anyone to access as well as other material produced by CTL members.

Marie is a former president of the National Resume Writing Association as well as a career practitioner. She hosts the podcast and radio show through Voice of America, the “Career Confidante (Note that I erroneously announced during the show as ‘Career Confidential’).”

I would love to hear your thoughts about today’s topice in one of the following ways:

Call and leave a message at either 708.365.9822 or go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com and press “Send Voicemail.”
Email me at mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com
Leave a comment on the blog

Here are some of the highlights of our conversation:

1. Marie said she pulled out three words that highlighted the resume section: branded, brief, and visual. Branded: If your resume is not telling your story, you’re at a disadvantage. Brief: Pieces of the resume needs to be in bits and bites so that they are little snapshots. Visual: Not only pertaining to presenting an infographic, but also must be visually appealing as a marketing piece

2. Content is still king. Success stories, skills, and keywords are a must

3. Marie says that the challenge for job seekers is that there are no rules other than the best practices that presented before them. When it comes down to it, the writer must know the industry, the audience and what type of marketing material that is going to appeal to them

4.Job seekers need to be careful with emailing directly to hiring managers. Some companies create a blacklist of people who send unsolicited emails. It is important for them seek out the right person through referrals, other employees, or through social channels (Linkedin, Twitter, etc.)

5. Linkedin is an opportunity to tell more of the story, written in the first person, and easy to read through as well as showing more of your personality

6. Recruiters are more proactive than ever and with the social profile so accessible, and they are actively contacting potential candidates

7. Social media where you should expand your story and leverage successes to add value versus advertising. It is an opportunity to make achievements more real and bigger

8. The pain point letter from a job seeker is a growing trend where the individual sends the hiring manager in a company a letter of why he or she has solutions to specific problems without the job being posted. Marie has seen a high rate of success when the person has conducted extensive research

9. To become more of a “branded product (I love this part)” you have to understand what your value is, your core value proposal, and adjust your message to your audience needs

10. Marie says that the confidence in your brand is important because it is likely that you will tell an employer what you want to make

If you are a career professional in any capacity you’re invited to leave advice, or expand on a point made during the show, or disagree. If you leave permission to read your reply or replay your message on the show, I will include a link to your blog or website.

Have you subscribed to this show on iTunes? If you haven’t, please do so. This is also a great place to write an honest review. Enjoy listening to the show. Let us know what you think.

Do you need help with resume writing or career direction? Do you need coaching or instruction? Then start here and can help.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

5 Ways to Avoid Career Burnout with Julie Walraven

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Career management requires constant monitoring, especially during a job search. Most job seekers must consider the time that it takes to be successful without burning out. I thought that Julie Walraven of Design Resumes wrote an article awhile ago will be useful to job seekers and those employed.

Are you facing career burnout? Have you ever suffered job search burnout before? What did you experience during this time? I would love your feedback! You can participate in one of three ways:

Blog: TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com (Use the send voicemail feature)

Email: mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Voicemail: 708.365.9822

Julie Walraven (@JulieWalraven) is one of 37 Certified Master Resume Writers worldwide through Career Directors International and founder of Design Resumes. She is a new writer for Job-Hunt.org‘s new contract worker section and has been quoted in numerous newspaper articles and blogs.

Here are Julie’s suggestions on identifying and managing career burnout:

Technology-Both is a blessing and a curse. Email inboxes are usually a challenge in keeping up. Phones are always ringing and not letting it manage you. Julie suggests not responding immediately to each as they fly in. Keeping applications and sites closed so notifications won’t be distracting. I suggested YouMail, an app that helps you manage voicemail calls.

The Jumbo Job-This is the person that takes on multiple roles to where their life at work and home are unmanageable. If you are receiving a job offer and dual titles/responsibilities are being offered, delay the decision, and if it doesn’t fit, decline. If you have accepted the offer, and you have staff delegate. I asked Julie what if the multiple roles include “… other tasks as assigned.” Job seekers must ascertain if that job description is their job description, and ask other employees.

Too much going on-Many opportunities are always present, but not always best. Develop a “just say no” policy in your life. Saying no is good business management.

Social obligations-Upper management whose job is to entertain clients after work are susceptible to become overwhelmed. Ask for comp time, which would give you exchange time off for hours worked beyond your regular hours. Research your company (or ask during the interview) to see if there is a comp time policy.

Education-Course work extends past the work day. Slow down, don’t take more courses than what you can handle.

Love to hear your suggestions on how you manage career burnout. If you’re a career coach, advisor, resume writer or help job seekers I would love to hear from you too. If you leave feedback I will reward you with a link back to your website if I read your advice on the show. I will use my discretion in which ones get read, so there is no guarantee that I will.

See you next week!