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Cheat on Your Job With Your Spouse #6: Tried and Tested

Trials are good. No, they’re great for the soul. And for our relationships with family and coworkers at our job, right?

Be thankful for trials. It tests what we know. The truth is exposed. Trials validate our authority or lack thereof.

But the work doesn’t stop there when relationships become shallow after the war has been waged . So when partnerships are broken after the battle, what did we learn? Better yet, what do we practice?

In business, we practice that trials, battles, wars, fights, and disappointments that we decide to accept each other weaknesses or not. If we accept one another’s weaknesses, then we thrive for years to come. We know the worse, and that’s alright. We can work with it because his or her weakness is my sword and shield.

In marriage, accepting weakness is a routine, but magical if you allow it. Those who see a spouses’ weakness as an opportunity to find mirth but serve anyway ultimately see only good. Weird? Yeah, I know. The more bad or in this case weakness, is good?

If I show you mine, will you show me yours…weaknesses, sins, errors? There’s enchantment. Romance. Is there more natural at the job than home?

Some of us men folk have the damsel in distress complex. We can’t stand to see a woman struggle with a weight, a grocery bag, or bending down to pick up a piece of paper. But it doesn’t mean much to help if there is no opportunity. For anything. Even if its to look at a pretty girl. She could have picked the scrap piece of paper up herself. But as men the natural inclination is to save the day. Thus, the magic.

It translates to our job but often with a lot less tolerance and patience. The energy turns to competition so there must be a winner and loser. The tie can’t go to the runner.

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

10 Epic Ways to Edit Your Professional Resume to Perfection

Editor’s note: Juliana Weiss-Roessler (@weissroessler) is a freelance writer who frequently covers career advice and job hunting topics. She is also a professional resume editor.

It’s been years since you dusted off versions of any of your resumes, and suddenly you find yourself back on the job market. Where do you start, and how do you make yourself presentable again?

Here are 10 epic ways to edit your professional resume to perfection and get yourself back in the game.

1. Get Current – Now!

The best time to chronicle your most recent job is while you’re still in it. Why? Because the details will be fresh in your mind, and you’ll have access to information if you need it.

When you can, use facts and figures to back up your accomplishments. You didn’t just increase sales – you increased sales by 20% in the first month. You didn’t just manage accounts of industry leaders – you managed the accounts of Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

2. Get Rid of the Old

The longer you have been in the workforce, the more experience sludge you have probably accumulated at the end of your resumes. If it’s longer than two pages, it’s time to give it a trim.

Jobs that you held a decade ago or more can be removed entirely. If you feel they are important to show your qualifications, keep the description to one line, such as, “Coordinated a busy desk for two executives,” rather than detailing out each responsibility you handled.

3. Get Rid of the Irrelevant

That one summer you worked as a lifeguard? Probably not important to an employer looking for a new accountant. While you might be tempted to include everything you’ve ever done, you will be much better served by only featuring what is pertinent to that particular job opening.

But it’s not just irrelevant positions you should nix. Look for job responsibilities and accomplishments that don’t directly apply to your current career goals. Consider cutting or trimming them to draw more attention to experience that is applicable.

4. Keep It Consistent

Read your resumes aloud, and see what jumps out at you. Did you write full sentences for the first job description but then brief phrases for the next? Is one job written in past tense while another is in present? What about font and type sizes? Pick one style and stick to it.

5. Make Sure They Can Find You

Bring your resume up to 21^st Century standards with keywords. Many employers aren’t willing to sift through resumes by hand, so instead they have a computer do it for them. They type in what they are looking for and the computer looks for a match.

That means it’s important to ensure that your professional resume contains the exact skills someone may need. It may seem obvious to you that an accountant needs to know Quicken, but if you don’t include it on your resume, you may not even be considered. A “Skills” heading is a great place to capture these keywords without bogging down your entire resume.

6. Use Bullets

Most resumes aren’t read; they’re skimmed. In fact, on average, recruiters spend just 6 seconds before deciding whether or not to consider you.

Hands down, the best edit you can make is to break up dense paragraphs into bullet points. Then consider the order. Put the most impressive accomplishments at the top, so they’re easy to find. You can even offset the ones you really want to draw attention to by putting them in bold.

7. Reconsider the Objective Statement

If you need a objective statement, it’s likely your resume isn’t quite working. It should be apparent by looking at your past positions or education what type of work you are qualified for.

The exception to this rule of thumb is when making a career change. You still want to make it as obvious as possible about the new direction you are headed, but a objective statement can help further nudge an employer in the right direction.

Never include a generic objective statement, such as, “Looking for a position with career growth opportunities where I can use my excellent communication skills.” It doesn’t tell employers anything beyond the obvious, and it just takes up space that could otherwise be spent showcasing your qualifications, skills, and talents.

8. Consider the Section Order

Many applicants make the mistake of listing their education at the top of the resume. This is great for recent grads, but for most other professionals, work experience should be front and center. The exception to the rule is for IT professionals who may want to consider including their specific skill sets at the top, such as programming languages and other technical areas of expertise.

Not sure if you’re including all the sections that you should? Consider using a resume builder to get you started. You may not need all the sections listed, but it will give you something to start from.

9. Give Yourself Praise

Sometimes it’s hard to “sell” yourself, so watch for a resume that’s all job responsibilities and no accomplishments. Don’t just tell future employers what you did, but also how it helped your current company. It’s great if it’s quantifiable, but it doesn’t have to be. Did you boost morale? Improve communication? What did you do to go above and beyond? Make sure your accomplishments include clear measurements.

10. Be Human

Giving a brief glimpse at your personality in your professional resume isn’t always a bad idea. Consider adding your soccer league under the Organizations heading. Or keeping that internship you had in Brazil even if it’s not quite relevant anymore.

Don’t do so at the expense of including your qualifications, but sometimes it’s breaking the rules that gets you noticed.

These tips, along with the general rule of thumb to keep it simple and not too long, should help get you back in the game, and with some luck, land you quickly and painlessly in a new job of your choosing.

Bio

Juliana Weiss-Roessler is a professional resume writer based in Southern California. She’s written hundreds of resumes and cover letters in a wide range of fields. You can learn more at WeissRoessler.com.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

2013: Year of The Unappreciated Job Seeker

Without being asked Freddie decorated the office, and attempted to foster the Christmas spirit among coworkers. There were decorations everywhere but her cheerful yet quelled spirit responded to the lack of recognition. The following year she refused to participate or promote the Christmas spirit the following year. Freddie is looking considering leaving without job leads.

John had talked to his wife about leaving his IT Project Management position because of the stress and strife faced daily. It had taken a toll on his health to the point his wife a professional counselor suggested he hand in his resignation sooner than later. John’s boss took exception to his two week resignation and escorted off the premises.

Appreciated? NOT!

Everyone’s lack of appreciation threshold of intolerance is different. Everyone wants to be appreciated and understood. When neither occurs, quitting is the next step unless there is radical gratitude being offered by supervisors, managers, or anyone in authority. Recent studies and observations suggest that people are starting to make career changes. Some of my recent and former clients are overwhelmed from work resulting from long-time unfulfilled vacancies. They feel, well, under appreciated.

I can see this year as the fed up will move out and start more business. Others will seek out another shot of audacity and venture out without having another gig without preparation or strategy. Those of you who know better should opt out for planning your exit.

Do you fear change?

This economy has caused many employed to fear change for several years. Piled on responsibilities often gone unnoticed, without gratitude and compensation.

A recent article, Feeling Chronically Unappreciated Can Lead to Burnout, cited the following burnout signs:

Every day is a bad day

Caring seems like a total waste of energy

You’re exhausted

Most of your time at work is spent on tasks either boring or overwhelming

You feel nothing you do makes a difference

Last spring, USA Today reported that employees quitting their current position outnumbered those fired. One could make the case that this is good for our economy, and inspire a plethora of bold job seekers to venture. This would cause unemployment to spike but lead to happily employed job seekers.

This is the year of the unappreciated job seekers!

Not that you should have a personal parade or a drink, but this will serve some well. Job seekers with fewer skills face challenges because of the lack of job skills currently possessed. I want to suggest the following to you get on track:

1) Before quitting, assess the relevancy of your skills

2) Take the emotion out of your decision

3) Where is your anger placed? People (your boss is a person)? The job duties? The process?

4) Does your frustration include the lack of abilities you demonstrate or the lack of ability?

Wrestle with these questions and discuss them with someone you trust possessing good career judgment. I’m available to help you and feel free to unload your concerns and comments below.