What to Look For in a CV When Hiring a Remote Candidate

What to Look For in a CV When Hiring a Remote Candidate Hiring a remote candidate is a little different from hiring someone to work in-office or on-premises. Remote workers have certain attributes that make them awesome at working independently and as any recruiter knows, there will be little “tells” hidden and sometimes not so hidden in a remote candidate’s CV. It’s often soft skills that demonstrate whether a candidate is a good choice for a remote position, especially if they don’t have a lengthy history of remote work. Usually, the duties and skills to perform the actual job are the same as a non-remote equivalent role. So, what should a recruiter look for in a remote worker’s CV? Commitment Remote workers must want to work. This could be demonstrated by self-discipline and enthusiasm too, but ultimately, a remote worker has to be committed and dedicated to getting their job done. If you can find that perfect level of commitment in a candidate, you can be sure that despite any of the comforts or distractions of working from home, and with the trust of working unsupervised, they will get their job done, and well. Self-discipline Where commitment is evidence that a candidate set out to achieve something and did, self-discipline could be viewed slightly differently. Self-discipline could be seen as the ability to consistently achieve or to regularly perform an activity, by using willpower to overcome distractions or hurdles. Enthusiasm and passion A remote worker doesn’t just need to be committed to their job and be self-disciplined, they need to be self-motivated do their best with little or no supervision. A remote worker doesn’t have a team to bounce ideas off or someone they can look to for words of encouragement. Their willingness to complete their tasks and do so well needs to come mostly from within themselves. This takes the form of enthusiasm and passion for what they do and who they do it for. If a remote worker doesn’t enjoy what they do, they won’t do it well. Organization and time management Without supervision, a remote worker needs to supervise themselves by being organized and managing their time effectively. A remote worker’s CV should either visibly demonstrate or infer that the candidate is organized. If a remote worker loses focus or gets behind in their task, the impact for a business may be greater as it might not be noticed immediately. Attention to detail Remote workers are usually expected to submit completed work of one kind or another or perform duties that might not be checked by another employee. It’s mistakes in particular that will be costly to employers especially errors that aren’t picked up, perhaps until a customer is impacted. Communication skills Perhaps surprisingly, remote workers need to have excellent communication skills. Although they might not need to communicate, or even report in all the time, it is expected that when they do that communication is accurate and concise. A remote worker needs to be able to convey, perhaps even in an email or by telephone, if they are having problems or need a task carried out by a colleague. Positions of trust If you can see a remote working candidate has held a position of trust, this illustrates they were relied upon by another business to get their job done, effectively. And, it doesn’t have to be a remote position of trust. A supervisory or management role indicates a candidate had less supervision and was expected to be self-disciplined as well as making sure others performed their roles effectively. An aptitude for technology Remote working is growing alongside digital transformation. Technology is empowering remote working; employees can work as seamlessly remotely as they could in the same building with colleagues and on-premise technology. Remote workers need to use, sometimes multiple, communication and collaboration platforms. And, they need to be aware of cybersecurity and cloud technologies when using business systems remotely. Problem-solving skills A remote worker’s CV should ideally demonstrate problem-solving skills. When working alone they’ll need to be resourceful when facing a challenge, as they may not be able to contact another employee or a manager immediately for assistance. Equally, a remote worker can’t be on the phone to a head-office or senior every five minutes. Ability to work independently Many of the above points culminate in an ability to work remotely. But a remote worker is unlikely to be successful if their personality is such that they excel only in a team environment. Look for jobs that show a remote working candidate has worked predominantly alone and enjoyed it. Remote working experience Of course, the ideal thing to look for in a CV for a remote candidate is previous remote work experience. With the number of remote working jobs growing daily, the pool of available and experienced remote workers is falling, especially those with plenty of experience. As such, it’s the soft skills and attributes above, and others, either innate or gained during other work experience that will indicate if a candidate has what it takes to be a high-performing remote worker.

How to Get a Good Resume Writing Service

How to Get a Good Resume Writing ServiceWhile the job market in Texas is generally tight and job seekers have to be more cautious, there are still several firms that can offer resume writing services. However, it would be good if you get to know the basic of resume writing before you hire the service provider. This way, you will have a better idea of how to go about the process.Resume writing service firms in Austin TX can offer a wide range of services. However, the service providers are bound by a number of rules and regulations, which means that there should be certain criteria as to what they provide. In fact, the standards of resume writing are quite strict, so take care to adhere to them. For instance, you should consider whether the company can provide you with a clean copy or not.The resume should look like the person who is providing the resume has personally reviewed it and has made comments. This way, the resume becomes more professional looking. You must also consider tha t most of the people who are looking for such services are already working professionals and you should not try to trick them into submitting your resume on account of the attractive cover letter or the attractive resume.In fact, most of the times, these services providers need to keep personal details such as date of birth, address, etc., out of the resume. These types of details should only be included once, and then only with the names of the person. Furthermore, you must make sure that the resume is not really submitted with the intention of getting yourself fired.Since a standard resume is easily available, then it would be best if you are able to use it. Even if you are not that skilled in the field of writing a resume, the chance of making a good first impression and gaining an interview can still be guaranteed if you write the resume in such a way that it looks professionally written. The writer has to make sure that the resume looks professional, and not amateurish.One othe r thing that you can do to improve the chances of getting a good impression from the interviewer is to carefully prepare the resume for the interview. Once you start your search for such services, make sure that you have an idea of what information you want to include. That way, you will know what types of information to leave out. However, at the same time, you must make sure that you have everything ready, because the more prepared you are, the better impression you will make when meeting with the recruiter.A single mistake or even a single sentence can cause you to lose your chance of getting a good impression from the recruiter. Therefore, if you are not that confident with the things you are writing, you can always rely on the help of a professional resume writer. Just make sure that you have talked over the things that are expected and agreed to the requirements of the company.Resume writing services in Austin TX can help you a lot in getting a good job. However, make sure tha t you read all the legalities and requirements carefully before submitting your resume. Make sure that you do not try to game the system by writing a fake resume and even after the interview.

9 Questions to Ask Before Sending Your Resume - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

9 Questions to Ask Before Sending Your Resume - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Finding a job is tough. It takes time and effort. You need to pay attention to tiny details, especially in your resume, and make sure everything is flawless. StandOut CV has recently put together a great infographic for candidates searching for a job. As a candidate if you want to look professional and get noticed among others, you must pay attention to the below 9 points in your resume. Be Professional: If you want to show that you are professional, your resume should reflect this. There shouldn’t be any grammar mistakes or a funny email address. Also, you should use a simple and readable font. Create Impact: Use the keywords that are on the job description and highlight your key skills and successes. Make sure you have a persuasive profile and a recruiter can quickly match your profile with the job. Easy to Read: Your resume should be easy to read. Use bullet points, bold headings and clearly divided sections. Recruiters generally only scan resumes and don’t read them. They spend less than a minute in one resume. Right Length: Your resume should be in the right length. It shouldn’t be too long or too short. In this infographic, it mentions that it should be under 2 pages long. However, for the US, your resume should be 1 page long unless you have a Ph.D or at least 7-8 years of experience. Requirements of the Job: If your skills, knowledge and experience don’t reflect the requirements in the job description, then, you need to revise your resume. Don’t send the same resume to all of the jobs, tailor it according to the job description and responsibilities. Structure: Having a structure is important in your resume. You should have a summary section which mentions your key experiences and job roles. Also, don’t forget to add your key achievements to your resume. Show Your Value: Employers want to see the return on investment. Therefore, your resume should reflect your value to the potential employer such as “I did this and the process improved” or “I did this and the costs decreased”. Include Numbers: Include numbers in your resume such as I worked with a team of 10 people or I managed a budget of $500.000. In this way, recruiters can have a benchmark point. Be Easy to Contact: Be reachable and don’t forget to include your cell phone number, email address and mailing address at the top of your resume.

The Boss Is Always A She - Growing Women Bosses In Blogs

The Boss Is Always A She - Growing Women Bosses In Blogs There is a growing debate about women in senior management roles (or the lack of them in senior management roles). Its a valid debate and those who are involved in management are probably having an educated discussion about it (well, hope so!). As a blogger and reader of all things digital, I see a lot of sentences that when they mention a boss usually say Speak to your boss, he will blah blah blah or something along the lines of Speak to your boss, they will . blah blah blah Why does no one ever write Speak to your boss, she will. blah blah blah ? A boss shouldnt by default have to be a HE Men by default are not born bosses. Its not a right of man to be a boss. Ive got anything against them us (cos I am a man you know). If I have to look back at my short career so far, Ive had more female bosses than males. In the past 4 years, Ive had 3 female bosses. Ive never felt I need a male manager! who even thinks that way? Yet we have statistics like one-third of Americans  say they prefer a male boss. The gender of my boss has not made any difference to me or my career so far. So I dont think when I write I should by default assume a boss as a he. I hate writing they for boss Think about all the digital content youngsters are now consuming. And by writing they for a boss you are just being incorrect. It can never be written as a they its grammatically incorrect. Now, one will ask why dont I write he/she when I am speaking about a boss. And the truth is, because its time consuming and too tedious to keep in mind. Inadvertently I will slip at some point. So now what? Well, from now on, the boss in my articles will always be a She. It will help me be consistent and if I have to randomly pick a choice, Ive picked She for a boss. I write for students and graduates and feel in part it is our duty to help educate them that a male or a female boss doesnt matter. So many blogs are published which attribute boss to a he by default. So this is my small way of changing that, in my blog from now on the boss will always be a She. To my male bosses you are as good as female bosses. Dont feel insecure. Whilst you are on the same topic, here are 5 myths about why there arent women at top (Guardian). Also the number of women in top management is stagnant at 24% (Forbes) 19

Tips For Writing a Resume For An Internship

Tips For Writing a Resume For An InternshipIf you're looking for tips for writing a resume for an internship, then you're in luck. This is one area where many people fall short. You must be diligent about your work if you're going to get the best possible return on your time and effort.The most important piece of information that you need to include is the school where you're currently attending. Most companies will want to know where you're going to school, so this is an important first step. When it comes to your academic credentials, it's also good to talk about what you've done outside of the classroom.Many students go into the real world without any experience whatsoever. This means that they won't be able to take any classes while working as an intern. On the other hand, many students don't begin with a formal education, so this doesn't affect their application. You'll need to determine how many years you've been working in your field and if you think you'll need more than one internship before you'll qualify for a job.Look at your job application and note how long you were employed in the university. This gives them an idea of how long you've been around. Ideally, this length of employment should be less than two years. Employers appreciate the continuity of experience in a particular field, but it is sometimes the case that they may see your long absence as a sign of inconsistency.If you have experience in a previous job, it is always a good idea to bring it up. Employers appreciate that you are actively seeking employment, so they'll consider your past employment more favorably. If it was while you were working as an intern, however, it is best to not mention it.You should also let your internship speak for itself. You can discuss your overall experience with the company and how you learned about their business. You might also mention what you learned while on a placement.The final section of your resume should deal with how much experience you have wi th the company that you're applying for. It's important to give a full description of your time there, and don't forget to indicate the dates. Provide a summary of your last project, as well.When it comes to tips for writing a resume for an internship, these are the things you need to be looking for. The school and your previous employer should be given the same amount of attention as your resume. Take some time to write a resume that highlights your work experience.

5 Social Networks to Disrupt the Job Application Process

5 Social Networks to Disrupt the Job Application Process Photo Credit â€" ywforward.orgOnline job applications are yesterday’s tool. It’s like fax machines. We use them if there is no other way to send a message. Today’s modern job search is about standing out, and not complying with old processes where you appear as one of the crowd.To succeed, you have to disrupt the normal flow of internal job referrals, perform and get noticed showing social proof through your online presence, and offer value extending beyond a pay scale can measure.Today’s job search requires a little disruption, and following the job application process is hardly.evalAccording to CareerBuilder’s annual social media recruitment survey, more than 60% of employers use social networking profiles to screen applicants. Employers will continue to use social media to screen applicants and candidates for years to come.We can argue whether it’s legal or not despite recent laws passed in 20 states , but as long as a profile is public, so is the information a job see ker sets as “public.”Whether you participate in online socialization or not, it’s a double-edged sword in having one or not. Those who have employer friendly social profiles are leading or attracting hiring companies to take a look at their social profiles.So, why aren’t you?This is my my contention: Employers can’t train great personalities, but they can hire them. It is likely more employers are vetting possible hires than hiring because of a profile. In either case, it’s significantly important to create an employable brand online.An attractive employable brand will have a profile regardless of its brevity If your personal branding efforts matter, you’ll want to lead your inquiring network and potential employers to these five social networks:1. LinkedinIt is the most professional network on the planet although less than two-thirds of users participate more than twice a week. If you treat it like it is your website It is still the best networking tool a job seeker c an use without the fences of LinkedIn or Facebook. Employers can see your body of work throughout time to vet and decide if your value is the embodiment of their mission.3. SlideshareOwned by LinkedIn, you’re probably not using it. But you should be. There’s not a profession or career track a PowerPoint presentation isn’t useful. If your career trajectory is clear, Slideshare can put more eyes on your presentation to attract your peers, colleagues, and potential employers.Projects featured on your profile is most visible. Since your competition doesn’t use it, you will like to stand out and can do so even more by sharing it across other platforms.4. Instagram StoriesBy stealing Snapchat’s thunder, the one thing Instagram has is lots more employers who adopted the platform in its talent search strategy. The video feature previously existed, so adapting the short video â€" 24-hour lifespan was the perfect move for Instagram, and it’s present users.For job seekers, it’s a n opportunity to become comfortable in using video if you haven’t before.Since many employers are screening applicants via Skype, the practice you can do on “Stories” can be invaluable. Another reason is to practice shorter sound bites to demonstrate effective communication abilities. Just remember, you must do it in 15-second sound bites, and it only lives 24-hours.5. FacebookFacebook can be a powerful because of these three words: Facebook Graph Search. If you think like an employer, you can view your profile and your employability through a company’s lens . An active brand page can give you insight into its employees and company culture.Oh, and we can’t forget Facebook Live where you can show personality and competency, too. These don’t disappear at all so make it count.On the other hand, employers use Facebook to exclude than include you. Their mindset is necessary to adapt when you send updates, post pictures or allow others to post on your wall. Most people don’t consider his or her privacy settings, especially with their ad preferences. You want to manage and stay vigilant of everything appearing on your page. Again, look at it from an employers point of view.evalUsing social networks is similar to team sports. You need to consider an offensive and defensive strategy with the understanding of optimizing your profiles to be career attractive. Your patterns and activity work best for your career as an extension of your resume and job application. Anything less is a missed opportunity.

Executives Set the Pace for Job Search Trends

Executives Set the Pace for Job Search Trends The 2009 ExecuNet Executive Job Market Intelligence Report is out!   Understanding what is happening with these C-Level folks (CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CIO, etc) offers wisdom for us all. This summary is in its 18th year and provides an overview of what executives have seen in the past year and offers a glimpse of things to come. This year has been particularly challenging for everyone.   The first part of 2010 isnt looking much better.   With that said, there are some positives emerging from this economic recession. Executives have learned to be more resilient The summary states the tenure of executives is shortening and that many executives are learning to transfer their backgrounds to new industries.   The summary also states that executive should be open to relocation which would increase their options. Executives understand the data When considering an industry change, understanding where the growth opportunities are is vital!   So is understanding the reality of finding the next job. Executives are looking for satisfying jobs Executives are building life-long connections

How to find a job - stop competing and start excelling -

How to find a job - stop competing and start excelling - Everyone wants to know the job search rules. How long should my resume be? What should my cover letter say? When is the right time to follow up? How do I introduce myself in a networking setting? Do I list job seeker in my LinkedIn heading? Should I use Twitter? How often should I tweet? The list goes on and on. The short answer I tell all of my clients? Theres no one *right* way to approach a job search. Its not difficult to find many answers to the same question. Experts disagree about how to write resumes, respond to interview questions, what to put in LinkedIn profiles and how to use social media. Ask 5 people a question about job hunting and you may very well be bombarded with 10 opinions. This month, the Career Collective (a community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter) addresses the question of job search rules and outdated job search beliefs. What are the job search rules so we can know which ones to break? The short answer: While there are guidelines and best practices, there are no rules. What works for you is not right for your neighbor, and your colleague needs to follow a totally different path to success. This is frustrating for job seekers. One approach? EMBRACE the system instead of raging against it. Is it fair? No job seeking is not listed under fair in Webstersit is anything but! (Plus, how much harder would it be to land a job if   there was a rule book everyone followed?) The nature of selecting candidates is discriminatory: the organization has a set of criteria, combined with personal biases, personality considerations and individual impressions. Hiring someone with the right fit for the job is as nuanced as it gets. So, an oxymoron for you: If there are no rules, what rule do I suggest you break? I was inspired by my friend Laurie Ruettimanns recent post, On Competition. Id be hard pressed to find a job seeker who doesnt obsess about the fact that he or she is competing with the hundreds of other job seekers targeting the same positions. Its overwhelming to consider the statistics of job search; it can be paralyzing and depressing to think about all the other people out there trying for the same position. Consider this instead of competing with everyone else for a job, focus on demonstrating exactly what a perfect fit YOU are for the position. Laurie outlined her take on competition: I am unique and wholly differentiated from anyone else in the marketplace. I know that I dont have competition and neither do you. Time spent obsessing about your mistakes and worrying about your competition is time that is taken away from being your best and learning from your mistakes. Laurie explains: There is no competition when you believe in yourself and you act on your abilities. When you stop viewing success as a zero-sum game, people become partners instead of adversaries. Stop competing is not an easy rule to break; its too obvious to focus on how to beat out everyone else for the job. Some action steps: Focus on what you offer as it relates to the targeted positions. Think long and hard about why you are the best person for the job and do what you need to do to convince everyone else. Identify best practices that make sense for your job search and invest in them. Since you are the best candidate and well differentiated, dont spend all of your time obsessing about job search. Use that extra time to focus on how you can help colleagues and other job seekers. Think about what you can do to create a team of partners instead of   adversaries. You may be surprised by what happens when you shift your focus. If youre serious about differentiating and highlighting your strengths, I am launching a new service to help job seekers and entrepreneurs own their digital profiles. Dont have your own website? What are you waiting for? Learn how you can help control what people find when they Google your name. I encourage you to visit other members responses listed below. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective. Juice Up Your Job Search, @debrawheatman Its not your age, its old thinking, @GayleHoward Want a Job? Ignore these outdated job search beliefs @erinkennedycprw Job Search Then and Now, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes Break the Rules or Change the Game? @WalterAkana The New: From The Employers-Eye View, @ResumeService Job Search: Breakable Rules and Outdated Beliefs, @KatCareerGal Job Hunting Rules to Break (Or Why and How to Crowd Your Shadow), @chandlee @StartWire Shades of Gray, @DawnBugni 3 Rules That Are Worth Your Push-Back, @WorkWithIllness Your Photo on LinkedIn Breaking a Cardinal Job Search Rule? @KCCareerCoach How to find a job: stop competing and start excelling, @Keppie_Careers Be You-Nique: Resume Writing Rules to Break, @ValueIntoWords Modernizing Your Job Search, @LaurieBerenson Dont Get Caught With an Old School Resume, @barbarasafani How Breaking the Rules will Help You in Your Job Search, @expatcoachmegan Beat the Job-Search-Is-a-Numbers-Game Myth, @JobHuntOrg 25 habits to break if you want a job @careersherpa photo by alancleaver_2000