Tuesday, September 26, 2017


Working in a 9 to 5 job can cut down your free time and also reduce the daily meetings with your friends or college mates to a great extent. As you step into a world of profession and try to get acquainted with an entirely new routine, you will find yourself following a disciplined lifestyle instead of just lazying around. While the initial few months are a testing time of a career, grumbling over the limited holidays and workplace challenges faced will be obvious. Nevertheless, doing a job can transform you completely and make a better person. Eventually, a self-realization on how the career has made your life better will occur.
Unexpected Ways Career Can Make Your Life Better
Unexpected Ways Career Can Make Your Life Better 

1. You will adhere to a strict schedule :

As it will be mandatory to report to duty on time, and one cannot give out lame excuses for coming late or taking frequent sick leaves, following a proper routine and healthy diet will become the norm. Activities like boozing around on week days or catching up for late-night movies will become a thing of the past as you need to be present each day at the workplace. In addition to this, you will learn to go to bed early and even refrain from hitting the snooze button for some morning exercise. You will have a fixed schedule and also plan the day's schedule to avoid being distracted from  goals.

2. You will recognize your sense of purpose for life :

Since reporting to senior authority is given in a job, procrastinating things will be a passé as making an impression is important. Aligning job duties with career goals will not only motivate to work harder, but also help you push yourself to bring out the best. Similarly, unproductive and unhealthy activities after the work will also stop drastically as there will be focus on self-improvement. Once there is a clear idea on how to be potential, there will be a motto. As a result, instead of spending an evening discussing the latest flick, changing TV channels to watch an interesting news or checking on social media accounts, you will find out ways to invest in yourself and grow as an individual. You may listen to motivational speeches by the person you idolize, do certificate courses that are relevant for the job or take steps to improve performance in the office.

3. You will have a better understanding of yourself :

When a particular stage to reach in a career in identified, setting a benchmark , applying mind and energy to achieve it will become your aim. Hence, you will not give importance to petty issues and will learn to ignore things that do not have any significant value. Furthermore, you will be able to recognize what you admire and which things do not matter to you. In addition to this, you will cultivate close bonds with people who have similar thinking abilities and also learn from them as well as avoid toxic people who do not contribute to your development. Doing a job will help to understand the balance between success and failure and also develop ability to digest things when circumstances are not in favor.

4. You will become an inspiration for others :

When you strive to become better in a profession, you indirectly serve as a role model for others. The attitude you carry for completing a task can become an example for other team members and thus increase the productivity of the team. At the same time, you can act as a motivator to friends or peers unwilling to take a step to shape their future just because it seems too risky or requires giving up on things they are fond of. When a perfect work-life balance is achieved, you will be in a better position to explain the benefits of pursuing a career to others and also encourage them to carry out tasks that will surely make them happy. Also, when they finally decide to take the leap, you can play the role of a supporter and motivator when they face issues.

5. You will become more responsible :

Working in an organization can make you a responsible individual and also take out the clumsiness. It will instill a drive in you to excel and make more active to learn different facets about the profession. Apart from this, there will be an improvement in understanding the importance of meeting deadlines, developing quick thinking abilities, and overcoming any adverse situations in life. When following a career dream, you will become more organized and always have a 'to-do list'  before carrying out any task instead of randomly going about things.

When you are jobless or have no specific aim, the mind usually wanders in various directions as rightly said 'an empty mind is a devil's workshop'. Having a fixed goal and an aspiration to become successful in the career  can make you a better individual and even transform your life. To get a career in your chosen field, take a look at resume samples.

Thursday, September 21, 2017


Do you find yourself lost in the crowd of job seekers? Are you questioning yourself which job is better for you as you have no experience or required qualifications? Hunting for a job without any relevant experience or qualifications can become frustrating after a while when you get no positive outcome. At such times, instead of giving up, demonstrate your abilities to a prospective employer and convince the hiring manager to hire you.
How to Get a Job With No Experience or Qualifications
How to Get a Job With No Experience or Qualifications

Here are ways in which you can land yourself with a dream job that you have always aspired for :

Embrace the reality :

When you are applying for entry-level positions or are a complete novice in the field, it is a fact that the recruiters do not expect the candidates to put up experience in their resume. You can use this shortcoming as a motivating factor and show your willingness to learn. Hiring managers are often on a lookout for candidates who express curiosity, dedication and show commitment to do hard work and learn. To present these skills on your resume, refer resume samples.

Identify your potential skills :

Do not get discouraged after reading job description and just lose hope because you do not have the listed skills. Before applying to any job, inspect yourself and understand what are the things you do exceptionally well. Understand what you enjoy doing and what help do other people usually ask for. Are you having a problem-solving approach or can communicate your ideas well to the audience? In this way, you will recognize your true potential.

Make the link between your strengths and job relevant skills :

When you have identified the job that suits you the best, have a self-belief that you will excel at it. Perform analysis of the given job responsibilities and match it with your personal traits. Once you have an idea about why you fit the position, you will be in a better position to explain the same to the employer.

Know your worth :

Even if you do not have the relevant experience, understand what other background can be used to demonstrate your worth to the employer. It could be your graduate-level internship, a part-time job at a popular food chain restaurant or a short stint in theater during school-days. Experience does not come in traditional options always, there can be many more ways to it. However, to land a job, don't fake something just to make the cut.

Be willing to learn :

An individual who is starting new in a field has plenty of opportunities to learn. When you are a beginner, you get a chance to make something from scratch and excel in it. Always have a curious attitude and show willingness to learn new skills. This will definitely prove useful in the long term of your career. At the same time, confidently show that you are capable of doing the task while maintaining a modest attitude.

Become a volunteer :

The job hunt is a lengthy process and is bound to take time before you start your new gig. As you are not going to be hooked to the job application process the entire day, in the meantime, try some volunteering activities. You will not only learn something new, but also it will help you get some skills and add an extra section that will make you stand out in an interview process. Also, it will increase your contacts and the interactions with different people might help you have a foot in the door.

Grow your professional network :

If you think you have excellent skills that will help you excel a field, think of ways in which you can sell the same to others. Exceptional self-marketing proves you have the ability to bring about transformations and want to improve each day. Develop your own personal network and even connect with friends of your friends to avail the job opportunities at the right time.

Look beyond the specified requirements :

The vacancy advertisements often come with a phrase stating the required years of experience. However, most of the times, the entry-level jobs or openings do no have a hard requirement. It is mentioned just to filter out probable candidates and is usually used to describe the kind of candidate an organization is looking for. If you think that you have the required skills and can prove it to the employer, you should give it a try and persuade the recruiter for scheduling an interview.

Lying about yourself and fudging with the contents in resume is a terrible way to market yourself as an able candidate. Selling yourself to a prospective employer is an art, and you must have a realistic mindset when you are applying for a position. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter and understand what qualities will make him/her take interest in your profile.

Wednesday, September 06, 2017

'Work from home' or  'Telecommuting' is a preferred option as it provides flexibility and the comfort of being at home and work for the office. Working from home is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. as employers have started to shred the skepticism that was once prevalent, and have realized the mutual benefits that are accrued in exercising the option. According to a 2016 study by consultancy PWC, around 38% of workers in the United States can work from home at least one day a week. The number is a fourfold increase when compared with the statistics of 1995.
              According to two-third of the managers interviewed during the survey, granting employees the permission to work from home is at their discretion. So it can be inferred that even though it is an open option, it still requires convincing your manager or boss in a way that it serves in the best interest of both the parties.
Ways to Convince Your Boss to Start Letting You Work From Home
Convince Your Boss to Start Letting You Work From Home

1. Self Assessment :

Convincing your boss can be a difficult task. Before you pitch the idea, it is important that you weigh all the factors at play and come up with ideas that would make a solid argument. The first thing you must be contemplating upon is the 'type of work'. If it is a desk job and can be carried out using nominal means such as a computer and perhaps an internet connection, then it will be a lot easier for you to justify your situation, as working from home becomes an option that is feasible in your case. On the contrary, if the job mandates you to work in a team, in that case, you might have a hard time convincing your boss.

2. Give Reasons That Are Mutually Beneficial :

In the majority of the cases, the reasons that are cited for  'work from home' option are personal and serve only the employee's interests. If the reasons that you quote are travel flexibility, and spending more time with you kids and family, there is a chance that you might fail in convincing your boss and would also imply a lack of interest. Therefore, it is a point worth contemplating upon, and instead you should give reasons that are mutually beneficial. For example, according to a study, remote workers tend to be more productive as they work in a more familiar environment and are more engaged in their work. So it can yield productive results and also help you in keeping up your end of the bargain.

3. Address All The Concerns :

Your boss might have concerns of you losing touch with your colleagues thereby affecting the overall performance. Hence, it is important that you assert him while addressing these concerns. And also ensure him of your availability in important meetings and during emergency.

4. Ask For A Trial Period :

Demanding flexibility to work from home' over the entire week can raise a lot of questions as it can nudge other employees in following the suit. Therefore, try convincing your boss on working remotely only on a trial basis initially. Demanding a day or two for the same can be an option worth exploring and would be a reasonable to ask. On the other hand, it also provides you the opportunity to prove your mettle. If you perform at the expected level and demonstrate productivity, you might be given a green signal.

5. Demonstrate Results :

Once you have got the green signal from your boss make sure that you don't fail him and try giving your best. Make sure you answer all the calls and respond to e-mails and messages. By responding to such protocols you can ensure that you remain available as you were earlier, and show that there aren't any setbacks in working from a remote location. Further, enhancing your productivity is possible by setting up an environment in your home, which is conducive for working. Besides making changes in the physical environment try maintaining a working schedule that suits you, and make sure it doesn't cause inconvenience to your family.

Studies have regularly pointed out that working from home can be good for your health and productivity. A Stanford University research conducted on employees of a Chinese travel agency concluded that employees who worked from home showed a 13% surge in their performance, while performance of the people who stayed in the office remained the same. The employees working from home reported a greater work satisfaction and less 'work exhaustion'. So the research that was conducted is a testament of surge in productivity as well as job satisfaction amongst the employees. Given the multi-faceted gains that telecommuting offers, it is an option worth pursuing on the part of employees as well as the employers. 

Sunday, September 03, 2017


Professionals switching jobs is not a novel phenomenon. Given the opportunities that are available today, people are willing to hop jobs or wait until they land a job that offers them the right  opportunities and job satisfaction. However, the quest for an 'ideal job' may not be easy, and the person might end-up losing time thereby creating gaps in his/her work profile.
5 Things That Can Help to Overcome Gaps in Work History
 Overcome Gaps in Work History


Functional resume:

Graduates entering the workforce for the first time may find it difficult to land a job. The job search may take weeks or even months for entry-level jobs. In that case, the time that has elapsed during the search can be an impediment in your future endeavors as you would have a tough time mentioning it on a resume. Similarly, holding a number of different jobs during a short period of time can have a negative impression on the minds of the recruiters as you might be  labeled as a job-hopper, thereby ebbing your chances of fetching an interview. However, you can overcome all the shortcomings using a functional resume. Functional resumes typically rely on grouping skills into specific categories to demonstrate a candidate's qualifications and expertise for a particular job. They provide a skill-based focus on your profile, which can be used to conceal  the shortcomings that persist. This type of resume can also be helpful for people who were forced to quit their job in unavoidable circumstances such as death of a love one or treatment of an ill family member.

Mention years instead of months on your resume:

People who are in the process of moving from one job to the other are said to be fictionally unemployed. The period for unemployment can last for several months. While applying for a new job, providing details regarding your job history is critical. If the time period between quitting your previous job and applying for a new one exceeds over a several months or quarters, mentioning it on a resume will not serve in your best interest. It can raise a lot of questions in the mind of recruiters as you might appear lethargic and sedate in terms of your approach. You will certainly go through the ordeal of fending-off questions relative to it during  the interview. Therefore, it is advisable to mention the year in which you left your previous job without mentioning the month.

Mention extracurricular activities and skills that you acquired during that period:

Even an entry-level job these days requires professionals with additional skills. In that case, a college degree won't suffice, thus the candidates are required to have additional certifications and skills that justify their credence for the job profile. However, in order to re-skill themselves, they have to undergo training and skill development programs that involve classroom training. The people who are out of work and are mandated to undergo additional training for securing a job are said to be structurally unemployed. The time involved in the training can be several months and can extend to a year. Therefore, it is advisable to mention the same in the skills section of the resume as it can enhance your chances in the interview and mitigate the adverse effects of being structurally unemployed.  No matter what profession you are trying to pursue or already in, check resume samples and know how to highlight your skills.

Cover letter:

A cover letter is a document sent along with your resume. It is used as a tool to provide detailed information on why you are qualified for the job. However, it can be used as a bargaining chip by a candidate in case of gap in his/her employment. Providing a genuine reason in the cover letter along with a strong resume can be a good sales pitch.

Reference letter:

A reference letter and a strong recommendation from your previous employer can be a silver lining if you are applying for a job after a long interval of time. A strong recommendation endorsing your skills and work ethic can be a boon. Therefore, getting a reference letter can tilt the odds in your favor.

Having a gap in your work history can put you in jeopardy. However, recruiters these days are aware of the situations that lead to such circumstances. Therefore, in genuine cases they do provide a leeway. Thus deploying the aforementioned means can help you meet the ends.