LGBT Veteran Mental Health

🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸 #MyLifeMatters 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸

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#RealEstate Service Conducts Internal Survey, Finds Safe Neighborhoods a Top Priority Among #LGBTQ 🏘🏳️‍🌈 http://ow.ly/IYIa30pyjsH https://www.instagram.com/p/B2hW83bBunG/?igshid=1q8vzkobd0r1a

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CHICAGO, IL -- 1) Tweak Your Target: For example, say you've been searching for "VP of Marketing" roles for a while without any luck. Depending on the company, a "Chief Marketing Officer" position might demand the same skills as a VP-level position. Instead of relying on the job title to determine the scope and function of the role, read the whole listing to discover what's actually being asked for. 2) Stop Waiting Around for Openings to Be Listed: While finding unadvertised openings is a slower process, it's also a better approach to finding work you'll love. Applying online matches you with positions that are ready-made and available to a sea of competitors. But aligning yourself with roles that aren't posted allows you to stand out from a considerably smaller candidate pool. You also have the advantage of creating unique opportunities that meet the company's needs - and speak to your exact skill set and interests. 3) Shake New Hands: Whether you're gunning for unlisted openings, or feeling like you've tapped out your network, shaking new hands is essential to moving your stale job hunt forward. Yes, I'm encouraging you to do some cold networking here. To get a sense of a company's general structure, start with its team page, and then head on over to LinkedIn. Look at the profiles of those you'd potentially work with or report to. Either would be a great place to start reaching out and building relationships. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM Abridged: The Muse

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LOS ANGELES, CA -- These days, to land a job over the competition, you have to work smarter. The hard part is to get your resume read by the right people at the right time. Good jobs aren't on the market very long. To succeed your resume has to be available to the employer the moment they decide to fill a position. One easy way to be found by employers who are looking to hire someone with your skills, is to post your resume on all the top job sites and niche job boards. This is a proven, documented method of successful job searching. While it may take a fair amount of time to find and fill out the forms of all these sites, you will definitely multiply your chances of landing a job. If you want all the benefits without all the work, you can let a service like Resume Rabbit do it for you. You fill out one simple form and they'll instantly post your resume on up to 92 top job sites like Job.com, CareerBuilder, Careercast, Dice & more. Then you'll be seen by over 1.5 million employers & recruiters daily. It takes ONLY 5 minutes and saves 60 hours of research and data entry. Instantly post your resume on all the top job sites, to find a job faster. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM The Career News

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ENGLISHTOWN, NJ -- If you're asked to include your salary history with your resume, you could ignore the request, but, that means you could risk not getting an interview. There's nothing employers like less than candidates who don't follow directions. An alternative would be to include a salary range rather than a specific amount. If you do include your salary history, be honest. It's easy for potential employers to verify your salary with previous employers. However, you can also say that your salary requirements are flexible. That may help keep you in the running for the position and will give you some flexibility when negotiating compensation later on. What's the best way to provide your salary history? You can list your salary history in your cover letter without itemizing. For example, you could say, "I am currently earning in the mid-fifties." That gives you some flexibility when it comes to discussing compensation if you get a job offer. If you're concerned that your salary is high enough to knock you out of contention for the position, what you might want to do instead is to include a salary range rather than a specific amount. For example, you could say "My salary range is from $40,000 - $50,000." Or, your salary history can be listed on a separate salary history page and enclosed with your resume and cover letter. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM Abridged: The Gilbert Gazette

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NEW YORK, NY -- 1) Focus on your unique abilities. We all have something we are really good at, and this is what you need to focus on during an interview. Whether it's your strong analytical skills, ability to win clients, or experience in running marketing campaigns, focus on what you bring to the job and always back up your answers with examples. 2) Provide specific and tangible examples. Most people have mediocre resume that doesn't show recruiters why they are a strong candidate. Avoid that by providing specific tangible examples of what you've achieved in the previous/current job that would be relevant to the job you're applying for. 3) Use evidence and concrete examples to back up your statements. Numbers are also great for demonstrating your skills and expertise. Did you increase revenue, saved time, or money? How did you improve processes or procedures? How many clients did you deal with/win every month? 4) Demonstrate your soft skills. People hire people they like. During a job interview, you would want to demonstrate that you have good communication skills, know how to deal with people, have integrity, and so on. 5) Forget about the competition. To make competition irrelevant when job searching, simply stop worrying about other candidates. You don't need additional stress when looking for a job - focus on what you can bring to the company instead. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM Abridged: Work It Daily

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LOS ANGELES, CA - Currently 88% of U.S. recruiters now tap into LinkedIn to find qualified job candidates, according to a recent report conducted by the site. In short, LinkedIn has become the first, and top, platform that recruiters and HR pros access to do job searches and build their candidate pool. Is your profile being found? If the content within your profile is a simple copy-and-paste from your resume, you could be damaging your chances of landing that dream job. The Career News recommends having your profile overhauled by "LinkedIn Builder", the professional writing service with a rapidly growing list of happy clients. The company will turn your LinkedIn content from passive to powerful in 72 short hours. Here's how: Precise, targeted headline; Conversational summary section with a perfectly social tone; Optimized job descriptions crafted to ensure maximum visibility; 100% profile completeness; Fast, email delivery with easy upload instructions; Downloadable DIY Guide loaded with best practices, LinkedIn insights and how-to tips. LinkedIn Builder's writers specialize in structuring your online professional profile to effectively chronicle your career, achievements and key skills. Their writers possess the knowledge and cross-industry expertise to link your career aspirations with a smashing online presence. Opportunity is waiting. To get noticed and land more interviews, get help with your LinkedIn profile today. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM The Career News

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Know when to send a cover letter. You should only use a cover letter if you know the name of the person doing the hiring - it's not Sir or Madame - or if you know the job requirements well. They're also good if you've been personally referred. Since companies are mostly hiring through internal referrals, that's probably the case - though it's not good for the economy or innovation. Don't be boring. How do you ensure your reader's eyes don't glaze over? Use the cover letter to show your employer-crush why your experience is right for the job description. Do not, do not, do not let it look like a template. Also, be confident in your writing. This doesn't mean that you spill over with humblebrags; it does mean that you sign off with a "I look forward to hearing from you" rather than "I hope to hear from you." You're qualified, so act like it. Fitting in is part of being qualified. You need to show you're party to their cohort - even if it means taking a chainsaw to an owl. When companies say "finding cultural alignment," they're really talking about whether or not you have the same personality type. Consciously or not, firms replicate themselves. Getting angry at this fact is like getting angry at the weather. And more than anything else, write something they would want to read. Don't overwrite. And study your Elements of Style. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM Abridged: Fast Company

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LOS ANGELES, CA -- A perfectly-written cover letter can be more important to your job search than your resume! What most people don't realize is that a cover letter is really a sales letter. It's your personal advertisement, your first impression, your grand introduction. Additionally a brilliantly worded cover letter is the easiest way to assure your resume is the one, amongst a stack of resumes, that actually gets read. The best part is, practically no one understands this fact. So having a great cover letter is almost like having an unfair advantage. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of your competition simply "throws" together any old cover letter just so they have something to attach to their average resume. As a result, most cover letters do nothing to land the job interview. In fact, hiring managers often make a decision to interview from a well written cover letter alone -- before even reading a resume. Wouldn't you love to have a cover letter written with the flair of an advertising executive? If so, we recommend a simple program that helps you quickly and easily crank out a killer cover letter that is guaranteed-to keep your phone ringing. With a click-of-a-button, fill in the blanks and in just 3.5 minutes out pops a brilliantly worded and perfectly crafted cover letter - 100% customized for you. Why not get your phone ringing with job interviews and employment offers - without writing one word, just go to The Amazing Cover Letter Creator. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM The Career News

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MIAMI, FL -- First Impression: Before meeting with someone, determine what you want to find out or accomplish. Make a good first impression. Within 10 seconds we form a detailed and persistent impression of anyone we meet. Researchers conclude that the impression we make when speaking to others comes largely from these three categories: What we say - 15%; Tone of voice - 35%; Visual cues - 50%. Networking is not Selling: Networking is not selling. Selling is selling. The most effective networkers work toward identifying opportunities to help others meet needs or solve problems, often through referrals rather than a sale. These win-win relationships create an environment where the other person actually looks forward to follow-up contacts, usually because they benefit from the conversation. The reciprocal relationship will yield ample sales opportunities. The Work in networking: The word work is part of networking. It is not easy work because it challenges you to reach outside your comfort zone. Besides meeting in person, use other effective methods of communication, such as letters, email, notes, clippings, card, and other positive interactions. Any honest effort can yield positive results. Networks need to be nurtured through constant communications. Let your network be your secret weapon when it comes to your career. It's never too late to begin building a vast network of beneficial relationships. October 03, 2016 at 10:00AM Abridged: CareerPoint

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When Ben Franklin said, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” he hadn’t conducted his experiments with electricity yet. If he had, he might’ve started pondering technologies that make it easier to work into the wee hours of the morning, and reassessed.

Image Credit: Vladimir Kudinov/Unsplash

Our culture reveres early risers, but if you’re a super-productive night owl, trying to force yourself to fit that mold might be a waste of time. There’s some evidence that being a morning person or a night person may be genetically coded, and even if it’s acquired from a lifetime of habits, who cares? If you’re better at getting stuff done at night, plan to get stuff done at night.

Of course, most of us don’t have that much autonomy when it comes to our work schedules. Explain to your boss why you need to work 3 p.m. to midnight when everyone else is working 9 to 5, and you might find yourself on the unemployment line.

But, when you’re contemplating a new job or even a new career, you can set goals accordingly. FlexJobs, a job search site specializing in telecommuting, part-time, and other flexible jobs, recently searched their database for positions that cater to workers who prefer a later schedule.

These are a few of the occupations that might suit you:

Copy Editor: Thanks to the 24-hour news cycle, copy editors are needed at all hours, which is good news for those members of the grammar police who are also night owls. These roles can be located on-site or structured as full-time telecommuting positions, depending on the employer.

Quality Assurance Supervisor: People with this job report high levels of job satisfaction in PayScale’s survey, and are also likely to have medical benefits. FlexJobs’ listing is a second-shift position in the medical/pharmaceuticals industry.

Telemetry Technician: Healthcare is 24/7, which is why telemetry technicians who prefer to work at night might be in luck. An associate degree is typically required for these jobs, and some hospitals may prefer a bachelor’s.

Night School Instructor/Adjunct Professor: Continuing education often means going to school at night, and someone has to teach those later classes. If you have a master’s degree or PhD, relevant experience, and want to work in the evening, this gig might be for you.

Paramedic: Medical emergencies don’t care about 9-to-5 schedules, which means that paramedics who prefer the night shift can generally find work.

To see more jobs and specific listings, check out FlexJobs’ post.

Tell Us What You Think

Does your job fit your morning vs. evening work preferences, or have you had to adjust? We want to hear from you. Tell us your thoughts on Twitter or leave a comment.

The post 5 Jobs for Night Owls appeared first on Career News.

October 03, 2016 at 03:43PM

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Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

On October 6th, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC) is hosting the largest LGBT professional networking event of the year - LGBT Mega-Mixer 2016.

This event traditionally yields at least 500 attendees so bring plenty of business cards! $10 for LAGLCC Members & Early Bird Non-Member Price until September 8 $ 15 LAGLCC Non-Member Pre-Paid from September 9 until October 5 at midnight

$20 for all members and non-members alike at the door

Purchase tickets at http://ift.tt/2dEBQHn

Our list of community collaborators:

APLA Health Christopher Street West Desert Business Association DTLA Mixer Equality California FSIX LA Gay & Lesbian Ivy League Network IvyQ JQ International Lambda Legal LGBT Center OC Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Pink Banana Media PREPA StartOut SURGE

If you would like your organization to be included as a promotional or fiscal partner of this event, please contact LAGLCC Executive Director Marquita Thomas at [email protected].

Los Angeles, CA 90048 - USA

Thursday, October 6 at 6:00 PM

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http://ift.tt/2dlNs6N

October 03, 2016 at 01:02PM

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In the litany of small-talk complaints, the fact that the holidays start earlier every year is right up there with the weather and traffic. But, there’s one holiday that most agree can’t start early enough: Halloween.

No family obligations, no travel requirements, no real rules other than having fun — Halloween offers the chance to stop pretending to be an adult for a while, plus an excuse to wear a costume, if that’s your thing, and eat lots of candy. It’s also a good reminder that life isn’t supposed to be serious all the time, even if you’re a serious person.

It turns out that fun isn’t always frivolous; having a good time at work, for example, can boost productivity, and research shows that happy employees are more productive. If you want to get stuff done, in other words, it’s in your best interest to find ways to enjoy your job.

Halloween is the perfect time to embrace the fun side of work and use it to your advantage.

Gamify your to-do list.

If you’d rather be playing an online RPG than compiling reports, now you can (sort of) do both. Habitica is a game that lets you turn “all your tasks (habits, dailies, and to-dos) into little monsters you have to conquer.” You can improve your avatar by developing better habits and compete with friends (or your boss).

Need more? Lifehacker has a roundup of gamification apps focusing on everything from productivity to fitness.

Mentally “dress up” as your greatest inspiration.

People pick Halloween costumes for all sorts of reasons, but regardless of why you choose a specific getup, there’s something to be said for pretending to be someone else for a while. If you’re having trouble motivating at work, maybe it’s time to try your day as one of your heroes.

OK, sure, if you wander into a random Thursday meeting doing your Batman voice, you’re probably going to wind up having an emergency meeting with HR instead of saving Gotham City.

Instead, focus on the (legal, constructive) habits of the people who inspire you, and emulate them.

For example, if you idolize a writer or an artist, you might try copying some of their habits. Ernest Hemingway wrote standing up. Jonathan Franzen wrote The Corrections while wearing earplugs. Rainbow Rowell writes all her books at Starbucks. (And so on.)

It’s less about the habit itself, and more about trying something new. A fresh perspective might do you good.

Use the Strategy of Treats.

Many productivity-focused people are wary of anything that looks like an indulgence, as if that little bit extra will pull them off track and derail their progress. But as The Happiness Project author Gretchen Rubin explains, allowing ourselves healthy treats can help us feel energized.

“Studies show that people who got a little treat, in the form of receiving a surprise gift or watching a funny video, gained in self-control,” Rubin writes at PsychCentral. “It’s a Secret of Adulthood: If I give more to myself, I can ask more from myself. Self-regard isn’t selfish.”

What does a healthy treat look like? That depends on what’s important to you. For Rubin, it’s clearing clutter. For you, it might be an extra few minutes walking outside or talking to a friend. The point is that not all indulgences are bad for you. The right kind will be fuel in the tank that keeps you going.

Tell Us What You Think

What’s your trick for getting motivated? We want to hear from you. Leave a comment or join the conversation on Twitter.

GIFs via Giphy; Featured Photo via Hide Obara/Unsplash

The post #MondayMotivation: 3 Halloween-Inspired Tricks to Boost Productivity appeared first on Career News.

October 03, 2016 at 12:50PM

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We know that interviewing for a job you really want or need can be a stressful experience, especially if it's your very first job interview. Because our professional services were built by recruiters, we also know the most important ways to prepare for an interview and present yourself to a hiring manager. Below are some basic tips from the career consultants at October 02, 2016 at 02:51PM

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We all know that our employers can read our work email and monitor our internet use at the office, but is there a line? One company suggests that monitoring your every move, conversation, and emotion at work could help increase your productivity and even help you get a raise — well, that is if you are identified as top “emotional athlete” based on your biometrics.

Image Credit: BAMCorp/Flickr

If this sounds like something straight out of Minority Report to you, then you’re absolutely right — but it could also be your very near future. Here’s the scoop on the “Big Brother” technology that could be coming to an office near you.

The Lanyard That Listens

Humanyze is an employee analytics company based out of Boston that has created a lanyard badge that monitors and records your every move and word around the office.

“Each [badge] has two microphones doing real-time voice analysis, and each comes with sensors that follow where you are in the office, with motion detectors to record how much you move,” reports The Washington Post. Before you start thinking that no one’s thinking about your privacy, Humanyze assures you that your bathroom time is off limits for monitoring. What a relief, right?

If it makes you feel any better, Ben Waber, chief executive of Humanyze, assures users of the device that conversations aren’t recorded word for word, so your superiors and employer won’t necessarily know what (or whom) you’re talking about with your coworkers. Instead the device records how you say it (i.e. your emotion/tone). Most importantly, it’s not the employer that decides who wears the device and who doesn’t, that’s strictly up to each individual employee to decide.

People Analytics, Yea or Nay?

Are you still on the fence about this “people analytics” technology? Let’s take a look at a Bloomberg report that explains how said technology played out in the real world.

With the permission from executives of an unnamed global investment bank in New York, MIT finance professor Andrew Lo setup monitors in a conference room to evaluate how 57 stock and bond traders (who willingly participated in the study) reacted to market volatility during a simulation of a “typical” day of trading. The participants wore wristwatches that housed sensors that measured pulse and perspiration and “were given a $3 million risk limit and told to make money in markets including oil, gold, stocks, currencies, and Treasuries,” according to Bloomberg. The findings were quite interesting.

Lo found that “there’s a sweet spot for emotional engagement: too much, and you’re overly aggressive or fearful; too little, and you aren’t involved enough to care.” Top traders who fared well, the “emotional athletes,” seemed to deal with volatility quite well.

“Their bodies swiftly respond to stressful situations and relax when calm returns, leaving them primed for the next challenge,” says Lo. The traders who didn’t do so well seemed to let their mistakes get the better of them and they weren’t able to shake the emotions, even after the situation had subsided.

In the case of the trading example above, it seems that understanding the emotional state of a trader throughout the day is actually beneficial, not only for the trader’s well-being, but for business as well. For instance, the sensor wristwatches worn by the participants in Lo’s study actually warned traders when their emotions were getting to unstable levels so that they could step away from their desks and cool off. Likewise, the wristwatches “could also be used to screen hires to find those whose physiology is best suited to risk-taking.” When you put it that way, monitoring your biometrics and keeping your emotions in check at work may not be such a bad thing — for productivity’s sake, y’know?

Tell Us What You Think

Would you agree to wear a sensor badge at work? Share your answer with our community on Twitter and let us know your reasoning. You can also leave your comment below. We’d love to hear what you have to say about this new, controversial technology/reality.

The post How Much Privacy Should You Expect at Work, If Any? appeared first on Career News.

October 03, 2016 at 10:34AM

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The resume strategy you used 10 years ago is not the same strategy used today. In fact, the resume you wrote even just a year or two ago likely needs to be tuned-up beyond just adding in a new role and/or additional achievements and responsibilities. This is especially important for those re-entering the workforce or considering a career change.

Here are 4 main examples of how the resume is changing. Take note. Updating your resume could make the difference between “We’d like for you to come in for an interview” and “Unfortunately, you are ot what we are looking for.”

1. Old Strategy: Including an objective. New Strategy: While the drumbeat that ‘objectives are outdated’ has been beating for several years now, it has gotten even stronger recently.

Instead of an objective, create a resume headline indicating the opportunity you are targeting and/or include a ‘brand’ statement suggesting why your offering of value is stronger than the other candidate’s.

[Related: If Needed, What To Put In Your Resume’s “Objective Section”?]

2. Old Strategy: Focusing your writing energy on creating a keyword-dense resume. New Strategy: While it is important to speak the language of your target reader, it is not necessary to calculate number of keywords and get entangled ensuring every iteration of the word, “accountant” is used; e.g., accountant, accounting, account management, account supervision, etc.

Instead, take the time to specifically identify your target audience and role. From there, ensure you know the requirements–as best as possible–the hiring manager seeks to fulfill in that position. This includes hard skills and soft skills and cultural traits. Locate sample positions and perform keyword searches on those samples to determine which words bubble up.

[Related: Search for Roles Like Your’s Hiring Now]

Make note of those words and keep them in mind when writing your resume, but don’t force specific words into your resume for fear of your resume being passed over by an electronic sorter or a human being doing the vetting. The more focused your resume, the more likely the right vocabulary will be woven in that will appeal to human and electronic resume reviewers.



3. Old Strategy: A resume is just the facts; anything else is left for the interview conversation. New Strategy: Modern resumes are stories rich in context and detail, where you are the main character. Your colleagues, peers, those who report to you and those to whom you report all are part of the cast of characters.

Building rich mini-stories that weave in strategies, actions and results that you spearheaded or were instrumental in achieving, alongside the rest of your cast, creates momentum. Capturing the reader’s attention this way – and through stories specially crafted to resonate with their needs – deepens the relationship with your potential hiring manager.

4. Old Strategy: Follow up the uploaded or emailed resume with a hard copy. New Strategy: You may need a printed resume (or several copies) during the interview process; however the initial focus of applying online and/or submitting your resume to a potential hiring manager or recruiter rarely requires a hard copy. The focus now is on digital presentation, online. This actually is liberating for most careerists. In addition to the ease of connectivity, digital resumes are easy for recipients to scroll through on their mobile device or desktop computer.

APPLY NOW! Resume Ready? Submit Your Application To These Companies Hiring Now!

October 03, 2016 at 09:45AM Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, MRW

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You may not be able change your manager. You can, however, change how you interact with your manager. Here’s a thought: next time you think you’re at the mercy of your boss’ seemingly erratic behavior, shift your perspective. You have the power to decide how you’re going to react and interact.

Here are 3 common management styles. Use these to understand your boss and, most importantly, in order to understand how you can adapt and deliver.

Demanding

Working for a demanding manager is a rite of passage in the working world. (Maybe that’s why happy hour was invented?) Here are three steps to handling a manager who seems to ask for more than you want to give.

Three words: cool, calm, and collected. When someone is insisting a project to be done on a timeline that seems impossible, try your very best not to get overwhelmed and flustered. Maintaining composure will not only help you work more effectively, but it will show your manager you’re capable of working well under pressure.

Take things one-step-at-a-time. Break down one big task or assignment into manageable “bites.” This will help you approach you prioritize and evaluate what needs to be completed first and fastest.

Create boundaries. Even if you’re in a Devil Wears Prada scenario, you still have the right to create some space for yourself. Be proactive about avoiding burn-out.

[Related: How to Talk to Your Manager About Your Work-Life Balance]

Analytics-driven

Results, success, and a job well-done are all wrapped up in the numbers. But constantly being reminded of numbers goals can get stressful. Therefore, here’s how to manage your analytics-driven manager.

Specifically, ask your boss to define the key performance indicators, or success metrics, that you would be measured by. Know these, and always be prepared to provide the most updated information on them.

Be prepared to recount numbers in every meeting. Have your spreadsheets open and ready. Never be caught off guard when your manager turns to you and asks you for a very specific piece of information.

If you are less driven by numbers, it’s a-okay to remind your manager of the other ways you and your team have achieved success. You can absolutely bring a more well-rounded perspective if you feel it’s lacking.

[Related: TaskRabbit CPO John Vars: “To Be Successful in Product, You Must”]

Coaching

Some bosses also value their role as a coach and mentor. If you have a manager/mentor, consider yourself lucky. Here are three ways to maximize this opportunity.

Ask for feedback. Create a schedule for receiving consistent feedback, whether this is a quarterly meeting dedicated to reviewing performance or five minutes at the end of every weekly check-in.

Ask questions. Use your manager as a resource to gain as much knowledge as possible. Instead of inquiring about the day-to-day responsibilities of your job, get specific with your manager. Ask about how to navigate the nuances of a career, how to tackle the ups and downs, how to climb the ladder in your particular company, and how to meet unexpected challenges.

Use this as an opportunity to build your network. A boss invested in your success is probably someone you’ll return to later down the line to serve for a reference, or even just as a resource. Work to create a solid foundation of respect and appreciation, as this will serve both of you in the long run.

NOW: Need a New Boss? Search Companies Hiring In Your Area Now!

October 03, 2016 at 09:06AM Caroline Gray

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“Instead of wowing employers, I spend most of my time defending weaknesses on my resume. What gives?”

As a young jobseeker in my twenties, I’d purposefully go out of my way not to dress up for interviews and networking events. Business casual dress code? Who cares, I’ll wear sneakers and a t-shirt. After all, if they didn’t see the value I was bringing to the table, why bother dressing up?

You can probably guess what happened: I lost out on amazing opportunities. Call it superficial, but most people made a snap decision based on what I wore and dismissed me out of hand.

The same principle goes for your resume. Unless you “dress for success” through providing a bulletproof document, it’s either going to be ignored or picked apart during the interview. Even worse, you’ll constantly feel insecure about your worth- and that rarely leads to successful outcomes.

[Related: Game-Changing Skills To Include On Your Resume (Hint: Not Microsoft Office!)]

Here are 3 major resume confidence-killers, and how to address them:

1. Excessive honesty

Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. A resume is not a legal document. It’s a marketing document that advocates on your behalf, and serves as a shield against the arrows that will be launched against you during the hiring process. You don’t get extra points by including information that makes you look weak, or raises a potential red flag.

Frequent offenders include:

-Explaining why you were let go at a job. Nope, nope, nope! Don’t waste a word on this in your resume. Instead, prepare an answer for the interview that makes it seem like moving on was the best move in light of your career goals. Mentioning it within the resume automatically turns it into a bigger issue than it needs to be.

-Low-level job titles. Let’s say the official title of your current job is Senior Marketing Manager, but for the past year you’ve been filling the shoes of a Marketing Director, handling all of the responsibilities, racking up accomplishments at this level, etc. Instead of stubbornly keeping the Senior Marketing Manager title, why not change it to Interim Marketing Director instead? You’ll instantly come across at this higher level, and can “sell” employers more easily. The only caveat is making sure that any references at your company can support this assertion. If so, change away!

[Related: Ask a Resume Writer: How Do I Make My Resume More Competitive?]

-Not including education because you didn’t graduate (or haven’t graduated yet). Your education and training is valuable, regardless of whether you graduated or not! If you studied for your MBA but never graduated, you can list it as follows: Master of Business Administration Coursework, XYZ University (End Year). If you’re currently in the process of completing it, you can list it as: Master of Business Administration, XYZ University (Expected Graduation Month/Year).

-Trying too hard to share the credit for successes. What sounds better: “Contributed to 30% uptick in top-line revenue through new lead generation and prospecting strategy, combined with dedicated sales staff training in tandem with Director of Sales, Director or Marketing, and key managers.” Or simply: “Delivered 30% top-line revenue growth through new lead generation and prospecting strategy, combined with dedicated sales staff training” Employers understand that big things happen in collaboration with others. Don’t waste space on your resume reiterating this.

-Spending equal amounts of time on each job. Only emphasize those jobs that are DIRECTLY RELEVANT to the type of position you want. If you’re seeking a Head of Strategic Innovation position, then positions which highlight your abilities in this area should form the bulk of the resume. Non-relevant positions can be condensed, or lumped together in a bulleted “Other Experience” section.

2. Low-level responsibilities

The more time you spend listing responsibilities, especially those which are taken for granted at your level, the less confident you’ll seem. Employers don’t want to hire someone who can simply fulfill basic requirements. They want to know: How did you move the ball forward? How did you win against the odds? How did you add value when others couldn’t?

[Related: 4 Shocking Job Skills That Will Help You Stand Out]

Start positions with a “Scope Statement” which offers an overview of how you improved things. Here’s an example:

Excelled as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 clients, transforming competitive edge and delivering multimillion-dollar wins across Product Development, Supply Chain and Procurement optimization, and creating Collaborative Ecosystems.

Everything after the “Scope Statement” should be bulleted accomplishments which prove it. The more metrics you can provide here, the better.

3. Lack of “X-factor”

Don’t get so caught up in tailoring your resume to fit a job posting that you forget to communicate what makes you special! Yes, you should probably have most of the “must have” qualifications mentioned in a job posting to be competitive. But once that’s established, it’s all about winning people over through your unique perspective and value-added skills. If you’re an amazing coach/mentor, or write an influential industry blog, or regularly volunteer your time to help out in the community, highlight them within the resume! It’s this x-factor that can mean the difference between “Thanks for coming in” and “When can you start?”

  Anish Majumdar, CEO of ResumeOrbit.com is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, LinkedIn expert, and interview coach.

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October 03, 2016 at 08:49AM Anish Majumdar