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Should You Include a QR Code on Your Resume?
Tweet Share on Facebook April 6, 2011 Comment (9)It’s easy to allow technology to overwhelm us. You used to be ahead of the crowd if you had a LinkedIn profile to supplement your resume. Now, you need to know how Twitter can propel your job search and how to make your Facebook profile suitable for employers. You should even consider having your own website if you want to you stand out of a crowd of jobseekers.
The latest in job search technology? The QR code, which stands for “quick response.” These codes, which you may have seen in magazines, websites, or ad campaigns, provide digitally encoded information a user can interpret by using an application downloaded to a smartphone. Anyone with the right application can scan and use the QR codes by taking a picture of it. The application interprets the embedded code and provides URLs, contact information, or other useful data.
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Keep Track of Accomplishments at Work
Tweet Share on Facebook April 5, 2011 Comment (6)We see it with job seekers all the time. They get laid off—perhaps for the first time ever—and begin to struggle mightily. They struggle to document the key accomplishments from their last job. It may the first time anyone has ever asked them to prove their worth, and they’ve got nothing.
You’d think remembering how you helped your last company would be easy. After all, you just left a few weeks ago, right?
But the truth is most employees don’t keep records of their own accomplishments along the way. And we certainly don’t monitor the specifics of the company’s successes (like increases in sales or cost savings achieved) the way we should, especially if we didn’t feel like a major contributor.
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How to Work When Your Personal Life is Falling Apart
Tweet Share on Facebook April 5, 2011 Comment (5)We often have to show up at the office even when there's a serious issue unfolding at home. Death, divorce, fights, and a myriad of other unfortunate life situations might stop your life in its tracks, but the harsh reality is that work must go on. To maintain your work-life balance and keep your job, here are several tactics employees can use to make a tough time a bit easier:
1. If you trust your supervisor, tell them what’s going on. Be aware of your company's Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy before you do this, as unpaid leave may not be a viable option for you. Bosses may be more understanding than they’re given credit for, and proper work-life balance is an asset to both you and the organization.
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When to Ask for a Raise
Tweet Share on Facebook April 4, 2011 Comment (3)Asking for a raise can be nerve-wracking. You might worry your boss will react badly or think your request is premature or presumptuous, or just that you’ll be turned down. And some people get so nervous about this that they never even get up the nerve to ask.
Despite these fears, it’s perfectly normal to ask for a raise when you’ve earned one. But one important key is to get the timing right—because timing can be the determining factor in whether your boss says yes or no.
Here are three examples of the wrong time to ask for a raise:
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More Ways to Use Facebook for Your Job Search
Tweet Share on Facebook April 1, 2011 Comment (3)Facebook can be the downfall of your job search if you’re not careful. From posting inappropriate pictures to badmouthing former employers, hazards lurk around many a corner. Even if you think you’re interacting only with your friends, always remain professional. Hiring managers may look at your profile to see if you would be a good fit for their position.
Earlier this week, blogger Lindsay Olson offered ideas on how to use the power of Facebook for your job hunt. Here are a few ways to take that even further:
Leverage your current network in your job search. People we friend on Facebook are typically individuals whom we know well: family members, peers, and former colleagues. Who better to help you in your job search than people you know well and already have established a relationship with?
