Vanya Wryter Consulting Services

Tag: job search

  • How Attention to Detail Increases Your Income

    How Attention to Detail Increases Your Income

    Repost

    Remember how satisfying it was to solve a mystery just by replaying the details in your mind? Where are your missing keys? Did your sweetheart lie to you? Where did you see that statistic that you could use in your report? Paying attention to details has many benefits.

    Being detail-oriented is a valuable workplace skill: Detectives analyze clues to solve a case. Medical professionals keep a close eye on details so patients get the correct dose of medication. Accountants check their numbers: a payment of $100,000 and a payment of $1,000,000 is just the difference of one zero, with very different results.

    From these examples, it’s clear that paying attention to detail is a vital skill to emphasize in resumes and skills assessments. Detail-oriented people have more workplace autonomy because employers can trust them to keep a business’s reputation.

    Attention to detail, or being detail-oriented, is valuable in the workplace. There are several ways to sharpen or improve your attention to detail skills.

    What does detail-oriented mean?

    If you are detail oriented, you are thorough, observant, and notice small details. For example, your coworker schedules a meeting for Monday, March 6th. You check the calendar and notice that March 6 is a Sunday, so you ask your coworker to update the meeting information.

    Precision is an important skill for any job, but small errors can have minor to major consequences depending on the job. 

    Book editors fix mistakes such as incorrect page references. Not catching this error can result in a minor inconvenience for the reader. An incorrectly typed line of computer code can result in the program not working for the user. A mistake on an invoice could mean an incorrect payment. Marking the left leg and not the right leg for surgery can have disastrous consequences.

    An employer trusts that a worker with close attention to detail will be accurate and careful, and not likely to make mistakes. That worker won’t need to be constantly monitored, and their work checked and rechecked. 

    Detailed-oriented people work effectively and accurately on each task. Their meticulousness will save the company embarrassment from careless errors that may harm its reputation or finances.

    Is attention to detail a skill?

    People list “attention to detail” as a skill on their resume or describe themselves as detail oriented during interviews. However, unlike other skills such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking, attention to detail is rarely tested as part of the interview process.

    Attention to detail, as mentioned already, affects a worker’s independence. A thorough and accurate worker is more likely to be given additional responsibility and more likely to be promoted. Employers trust that a detail oriented employee is careful to do each task correctly the first time. 

    Paying attention to detail also has social impacts at work. This skill improves customer and coworker relationships. A coworker who remembers the name of your kids, asks about the restaurant you decided to check out on Saturday, or wonders if your sprained ankle has improved is someone you’re more likely to remember and like.

    Similarly, the ability to remember small details improves customer relations and increases the likelihood of getting the customer’s business. Customers like to be remembered. It’s a great feeling, for example, to walk into a business and say you’ll get “the usual” and the staff knows exactly what you’re looking for.

    Does attention to detail increase your income?

    Those who are highly detail oriented are more likely to be in supervisory positions or have jobs with independence. These workers have shown that they are conscientious when doing their work. They can be trusted to check other people’s work and manage projects to complete them correctly and on time.

    Attention to detail can help you get a high-paying career, particularly for jobs in which accuracy and human lives are at stake. Here are some jobs in which attention to detail is extremely crucial:

    • Anesthesiologist assistants
    • Family medicine physicians
    • Proofreaders and copy markers
    • Prosthodontists
    • Urologists
    • Archivists
    • Camera operators, television, video and film
    • Computer programmers
    • Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
    • Cytogenetic technologists
    • Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
    • Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
    • Obstetricians and Gynecologists
    • Optometrists
    • Physician Assistants
    • Skincare Specialists 
    • Watch and clock repairers

    The income range for some of these detail oriented jobs ranges from $70,000 to $187,000 (averaged income for each career). If you thrive on the details, there are jobs in which your sharp focus is highly valued.

    How to pay attention to detail at work

    Like any skill, you can improve attention to detail over time, starting with short exercises and repeated habits.

    Fun exercises you can try at home to improve your attention to detail skills include: 

    • Listening to ocean sounds or jungle sounds and paying close attention to the range of sounds that you hear
    • Studying a pair of compare/contrast pictures and listing the particular differences between the two pictures
    • Looking at a diagram and deciding whether it is the top, side, or bottom view of an object
    • Studying a picture or series of images, numbers, or letters to memorize patterns
    • Complete crossword puzzles
    • Count using a specific pattern, such as multiples of five, or looking at a page of text and counting every second word without the aid of your finger on the page

    While at work, create habits that encourage you to become detail oriented:

    • Organize your desk and your emails. When you are organized, you can track deadlines and files better, and you’re less likely to forget to answer an email.
    • Write to-do lists. These lists will help you remember all the tasks you need to complete before their deadlines. You can also keep not-to-do lists, such as cutting down on TV time and spending more time on reading, exercise, or skills improvement. 
    • Create checklists. If you notice that you frequently make mistakes when writing emails, keep a checklist that you must complete before you send the email. For example, remind yourself to check the spelling of the recipient of your message and check a word you constantly misspell. You can also keep a checklist for procedures to make sure you complete all the steps before you hand off your part of a project.
    • Practice active listening. When you are the listener, don’t just stare into space until the speaker finishes. Nod or say, “um hm” or “yes” to show you are listening. Summarize or repeat what the speaker said to demonstrate that you heard the details.
    • Take notes. When you’re at a meeting, jot down important details about your tasks. During the meeting, take notes to keep you focused on details. After the meeting, these notes can become your checklist for what you must do.

    Key Takeaways

    Attention to detail is a valuable skill. People who are detail-oriented are trusted with more responsibilities on the job because they complete tasks accurately and thoroughly. A careless mistake can cost a company their reputation and a person their job. Careers in which attention to detail can mean life or death are lucrative. You can become more detail-oriented by creating habits at work that focus your attention on details. 

    How detail-oriented are you? The next time you enter a room, take a look around for a few minutes, then close your eyes and try to remember as many details about the room as you can!

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  • How to Increase Your Success When Applying for Jobs

    How to Increase Your Success When Applying for Jobs

    Applying for a job should be straightforward: see job ad, reply to job ad. From the employer’s point of view, it should also be a smooth process: review applications, decide if the candidates’ skills fit. However, in the past couple of weeks of reviewing applications, I’ve discovered that the process isn’t as effortless as expected.

    I certainly don’t know all the secrets a job candidate needs for a successful job application, but I have some insights that will benefit those who apply to organizations that don’t have an AI system for sifting through hundreds of resumes. We’ll start with a tip that eases the workload of the potential employer who reads through each application one at a time with human eyes.

    1 Indicate which job you’re applying to

    This first tip should be obvious: be clear about which job you’re applying to. Don’t assume the company is only hiring for the job you’re applying for. It can be very frustrating if the person opening your email has to guess which of five possible jobs you’re applying for.  

    Start with the job title in your email subject line. Then, in the first sentence, refer to your source for the job posting. Did you see the job online? Did you hear about the job from a mutual friend?  

    2 Don’t ask them to tell you more about the job

    The fastest way to give your potential employer a bad impression about you is to write, “I’m interested in (insert job post name here). Tell me more about the job.” This statement makes you appear lazy, as if you’re applying to multiple jobs at once and couldn’t be bothered to spend an extra five minutes to research the company.

    For example, a technical glitch caused the full job description to be hidden from immediate display in the email job posting. It was easy to tell who didn’t read the email carefully and wasn’t resourceful in finding more information. These people all replied with a simple, “tell me more about the job.”

    In another case, one person told a friend about the job posting but didn’t forward any of the details. The applicant’s first words were, “I’m interested in X job. Tell me more.” The applicants don’t realize how time consuming and exhausting it is to keep repeating details of the job to each applicant.  

    Show that you’ve done some research in the company. Ask a specific question about the job requirements. Make a comment about some information you found on the company website. To make an even better impression, try the next tip.

    3 Advertise yourself

    If the details about the job are sparse or you’re unable to find details about the job description, open your response by telling the potential employer a little bit about yourself. What skills or educational background do you have that qualify you for the job?

    If you have the complete job description, start your email with a description of how your skills are a good fit for the job. Ask if the company wants a resume (if that was not made clear in the job posting), or ask if they would like a link to your work portfolio. 

    If you don’t have access to a detailed job description, begin with a description about yourself and why you’re interested in the role. Just don’t say you’re interested in the job, and press send without telling the potential employer at least a little bit about yourself.  

    Perhaps you responded to the ad because you were waiting for your popcorn to pop before you could start your movie and you needed to kill some time. Even if you are only mildly curious about the job and don’t really care about the outcome of your application, putting a little more than two minutes of effort is worth it.

    Key Takeaways

    It takes minimal effort to make the hiring process easier for the potential employer. Tell them where you found out about the position, which position you’re applying for, and show some sign that you did your research about the job. No company wants to feel like they’re company 984 out of 1003 that you applied to that month. Finally, tell them about yourself so they will see that you are a fit and they will ask you for an interview.

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  • How to Empower Your Job Search with Facebook Groups

    How to Empower Your Job Search with Facebook Groups

    Facebook can be as powerful a tool for finding work as LinkedIn and Indeed, whether you’re searching for a job or looking for your next client. Facebook communities (or groups) are a source for job opportunities, career trends and advice, and professional support.

    Like searching for the ideal job, your search for the Facebook groups that are the right fit for your needs requires a time commitment and research. Here are some tips for finding career-related Facebook communities that offer the best benefits for your job search and career development.

    Tip 1: Search Keywords Related to Your Career

    The search for Facebook communities that fit your needs is proactive and reactive. Sometimes Facebook suggests groups you might be interested in based on your past searches and comments on Facebook pages.

    Another way to find communities is to type keywords related to your career and then search “communities”. Facebook will list several groups that it thinks are the best match. For example, if you are a self-employed copywriter, you could search “marketing,” “writing,” “freelance,” or “copywriter.”

    Specific keyword search terms may not provide you with as many search results, so broader terms such as “marketing” may give you more community listings. 

    After creating a list of possible groups, read the community description to see if it fits your needs. Is it a group for copywriters to provide advice to other copywriters? Is it a group that allows job postings or self promotion of what you do?

    How many members are in the group? How frequently do group members post in one week? Larger groups with active members and frequent posting generally have more value than groups with a handful of members and one post a month.

    Finally, check the group’s location. A group may have members from all over the world, or it may focus on a particular country or city. If you are searching for jobs in one location, a group for a specific city may be a better fit. If you’re interested in remote work, a group with members from around the world may be the group you’re looking for.

    Tip 2: Look for Career Advice, Job Postings, and Best Practices

    The best Facebook groups for career opportunities have three features.

    First, the group offers job opportunities that are vetted. The moderator(s) check that the job posting seems legitimate, with the salary (or salary range), name of the company, description of the role, and contact person listed. In some cases, a minimum wage (for the industry) is required for post approval to ensure the job meets wage standards.

    Second, the group members are supportive. Members ask for advice on various topics, such as dealing with a bad client or boss, checking that their work contract is legit, suggesting improvements to resumes, and other career-related questions. Supportive members offer their advice in a constructive, insightful, and non-judgemental way.

    Third, the group conversations are monitored by the community monitors. They check that people don’t spam other people’s posts (such as advertising a bitcoin opportunity when the poster asked for advice on a job situation), giving unwanted opinions on a poster’s situation, or DMing (PMing) a poster without permission. 

    Some Facebook groups with thousands of members have received positive opinions from members who have been happy hiring people from within the group (after getting their resume or portfolio). 

    Group members also refer each other after seeing posts and replies from other members over time. For example, if an accountant is repeatedly recommended in a group – that person is likely someone people should consider working with.

    Tip 3: Connect with People in the Same Industry

    Facebook communities allow members to get to know each other over time. This is possible with LinkedIn groups as well. 

    Local Facebook groups have in-person events where you can network with local business owners in the same group or industry. Nation-wide or international groups often have virtual events with the opportunity to network and listen to presentations on business topics.

    These events are a great way to find a future employer or client. Attending regular events builds relationships, and people become familiar with what services or products members offer. Over time, people may refer members to potential employers or customers. These referrals are as effective as references. 

    Tip 4: Update Your Profile for Your Job Search

    Think of your Facebook profile as a resume. When connecting with potential employers or clients on Facebook, you want to be presentable. Your profile photo can be a casual snapshot of you hugging your cat.

    However, you may want to draw a boundary between casual and too revealing. You may want to avoid publicly sharing some of your photos. What photos you would consider private depends on the job you are applying for and how much of your private life you want to share with professional connections. Use your discretion. Some people are very private and don’t like to share family photos with strangers.

    Others like to use their Facebook accounts to promote themselves and what they do. For example, they may post a photo of a convention or work event that they attended. Or they may post updates on upcoming events where they will be presenting or post a product their company is selling.

    If you’re going to be active in Facebook communities for professional connections, check what you’re sharing publicly. What you’re comfortable sharing depends on how public you want your life to be.

    Key Takeaways

    Facebook is a less formal way to connect with people for potential job search opportunities to find work, connect with people in the industry, and get advice from people already working. Many people have commented that they have found jobs and clients after connecting with members in Facebook groups. 

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  • Are Resumes Still Relevant in Today’s Job Market?

    Are Resumes Still Relevant in Today’s Job Market?

    (11 Tips for Resume Writing)

    It is crushing when we put in a great deal of time and effort in our resume, but we don’t get an interview or any acknowledgment it reached the intended recipient. We craft the resume, hoping that the potential employer will see the skills and value we will bring to the company.

    With all the effort you put in, you might be wondering if resumes are still relevant in today’s job market. The quick answer is yes, and we’ll give you ample reasons as we cover how to write a resume that gets you the desired job.

    Resume writing requires its own set of skills. Resume writing, like fashion, has trends that you need to be aware of if you want to be successful, whether you are actively looking for work or just curious about what’s out there.

    You can increase your chances that your resume will be selected by hiring a resume writer. According to a quick online search, you can expect to pay $100 to $1000 for the service. If you’re seeking a corporate or high-paying job, the expense could be worth it. But if you’re on a budget, you may want to update your resume based on some tips from this article.

    Here are 11 tips on how to write an effective resume and some resume trends to keep your eye on during your job search.

    Resume Trends: What’s In, What’s Out

    Resume writing has changed over time because of technology and other reasons, such as our views on what we consider discriminatory. 

    Only a few decades ago, when we still mailed our resumes, we could resort to gimmicks such as selecting a color and style of paper that made our resumes stand out. (Think of the remarkable pink resume in Legally Blond.) 

    Access to word processing programs and email have made it easier to design good-quality resumes that we can send to potential employers. In some countries, including your photo could get your resume thrown out for fear of discrimination based on your appearance. 

    Despite the changes in trends, resumes are here to stay and are a bare basics summary of your work experience and work-related training. Here are some tips to follow writing an up-to-date resume.

    Tip 1: Check the content of your resume is up to date for today’s trends

    • Use keywords that make the content searchable by resume AI
    • Only include the most recent ten years of experience, no more
    • Don’t say “References Available Upon Request”

    Tip 2: Follow the trends in the industry and country where you seek employment

    • For some jobs, personalized logos, colorful palettes, and eye-catching designs are the key to getting hired (such as marketing jobs and design jobs), while less colorful designs are preferred in other industries
    • Some countries expect personal information on a resume (such as gender, nationality, and a photo), while others require less personal information (such as general location, mobile number, and no photo)

    Tip 3: Follow general design trends

    • Lots of white space to keep the page easy on the eyes
    • Use action verbs to describe what you accomplished

    Resume trends will continue to evolve over time, so whenever you need to update your resume, first, do your research. 

    Resume Searchability and ATS 

    Technology has greatly influenced the structure of resumes. Some companies use an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to comb through the contents of your resume. In some cases, you could be qualified for the job, but your resume could be rejected before reaching human eyes.

    The type of file you use, the formatting, and the keywords all affect the readability of your resume with this AI system. For this reason, you could preserve your resume’s appearance using a PDF file, but you should also consider a format that makes it AI friendly. If possible, you may want to upload both a PDF and an ATS compatible resume. Some additional tips:

    Tip 1: Use standard text and formatting

    • Your text is easier to read if you use a Word or plain text file
    • Simple, round bullet points are easy to read
    • Standard headings such as Work History and Work Experience
    • Formatting such as tables, graphics, headers, and footers should be avoided. Putting your contact information in a header, for example, will make the information hard to read.

    Tip 2: Optimize your content using keywords

    • Job titles and hard skills that match the job description increase the chances that your resume will be selected
    • Refer to your skills several times throughout your resume. The ATS determines your total years of experience at a skill by how you mention it in your resume. For example, if you worked as a social media manager at a company for three years, then you have three years of social media experience.

    In addition to these tech-savvy considerations, the content of your resume affects your chances of getting hired.

    Resume Content that Showcases Your Skills

    Resume writing, like many things in life, goes through different trends. Over time, the objective of writing a resume has stayed the same: to summarize your work experience for a prospective employer. Employers want to find candidates with well-written resumes who are also effective on the job so employers get the best ROI.

    Following resume writing conventions can increase your chances of getting hired. Start by catering each resume to each job you apply for. Use the same keywords that appear in the job ad. List your key accomplishments for each job.

    A one-page resume will suffice if you are applying for an entry-level position or have five or fewer years of experience. If you have ten or more years of related work experience, a two-page resume listing your most recent ten years (or less) of experience is appropriate. 

    Avoid outdated content such as an Objective section at the top of your resume, listing your references, or writing “References Available Upon Request.” If your references are needed, someone will ask you for them.

    The opinion on cover letters is divided. Some recruiters and employers don’t read them. Others read them to get a better sense of the candidate. Some employees have gotten jobs without writing cover letters. The safest advice is to write a cover letter, just in case someone involved in the hiring process does decide to read it. 

    To summarize:

    Tip 1: Include the necessary content in your resume

    • Contact information
    • Professional experience
    • Skills and qualifications
    • Education
    • Content relevant to the job description

    Tip 2: Check trends on what to include in your resume content

    • Some sections are now outdated, such as Objectives
    • Highlighting your soft skills has become more commonplace after the pandemic
    • Focus on metrics and specific statistics when highlighting your accomplishments instead of describing your responsibilities
    • List your jobs in reverse chronological order

    Applying for a job involves more than writing a resume during this digital age. You must also review your online presence and do a quick check in the mirror, so to speak. How do you appear to people who look you up online?

    Social Media and Job Searching

    The internet changed the job search process. Previously, all the prospective employer knew about you was what you wrote on your resume, which you printed on paper and mailed in an envelope.

    Now, you save on postage, but your resume cannot exist only on paper. In addition to the resume you emailed, your prospective employer expects to find you online. They may ask for a link to your LinkedIn profile. 

    They will also search for any and all information about you. Does your LinkedIn profile include a portfolio of your work? Have you written any articles? Posted any videos? If you have a publicly accessible Facebook profile, what does it say about you? 

    The rare job ad may even request that you send a video of yourself as part of your application. 

    Having a social media presence is expected, especially for some jobs, such as marketing, social media, or graphic design.

    Focus on these tips when working on your online presence: 

    Tip 1: Have a professional profile on social media

    • Update your LinkedIn profile to match the content on your resume
    • Check that your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media accounts are not publically accessible or have publicly accessible content that will aid, not harm, your job search
    • Build a portfolio online with samples of your work, such as an article if you’re a writer, or a graphic design project if you’re a graphic designer

    Tip 2: Set up your professional profiles to make yourself searchable

    • LinkedIn has features to help recruiters find you, so use those settings
    • Use keywords in your current or past job titles
    • Create a portfolio with samples of your work 

    After you have checked your online presence, the next step is to increase your chances of being hired by building connections. The adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know, ” has real implications.

    Networking: It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who  

    Many people have commented in job hunting social media posts that they apply to hundreds of jobs without getting a single response. A single job posting on Indeed or LinkedIn can result in hundreds of applicants. 

    Even if you’re the best candidate and the best fit for an organization, it is difficult to stand out in a crowd. Especially with ATS, your resume may blend in with all the other applications like it has acquired camouflage. That’s disappointing. 

    It isn’t enough to just apply for jobs if you’re a serious job searcher. You need to build a network of connections. Even if you have a job, you benefit from connections. 

    Tip 1: Connect with others on social media

    • Create an updated, professional profile on LinkedIn
    • Connect with others in your industry and create relationships with them by getting to know what they do and how you can help each other

    Tip 2: Attend networking events

    • Attend online or in-person networking events with people in your industry. Follow up by staying in touch with them on social media
    • Take classes related to your job and create connections

    When you build connections with people in your industry, you increase your chances of getting hired if someone in your network has a job opening, or you apply for a job at a company where your connection works.

    Key Takeaways

    Resumes are still relevant in today’s job market, although resume formatting and content have changed. As technology evolves, the importance of a resume changes as well. A job application involves more than crafting a well-written resume. These days, a professional online presence and networking are equally important to your job search. It’s unknown what will happen to the resume in fifty years’ time. But for now, the resume is the most concise summary to get us in the door for most jobs.

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