The 27 Mistakes Jobseekers Make In Their Job Search

The 27 Mistakes Jobseekers Make In Their Job Search Are you making these mistakes in your job search? Chances are, you’re making at least one or two â€" if not more! Go through this checklist and mark which mistakes you’re currently making â€" and then follow the suggestions to learn how to stop making that mistake!Mistakes Checklist[ ] Looking for a Job. Wait, I shouldn’t look for a job? Don’t just look for a job â€" look for a career. A calling. What are you meant to do? How can you use your skills, education, and experience for maximum benefit? You may not see that position advertised in a job posting. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. What kinds of problems could you solve for a company? What kind of company needs those problems solved? Investigate how you could solve that problem for that kind of company.[ ] Not Targeting Your Job Search. What kinds of jobs are you interested in? What kind of company do you want to work for? If your answer is, “I don’t care, I just need a job,” your job search is less likely t o be successful than if you spend some time thinking about where you want to work, and what you want to do (and how to get there!).[ ] Not Making It Easy for an Employer to See How You’d Fit In. Generic résumés don’t attract employer attention. Instead, you need to show an employer how you can add value to their company. You need to customize your tool for the job. You wouldn’t use a hammer to tighten a screw, would you? You can’t use the same résumé to apply for vastly different jobs â€" for example, an elementary teaching position and a job as a sales assistant. Figure out what the key components of the job are, and then showcase how you can do those things in your résumé.[ ] Quitting Your Job Instead of Keeping It While You Find a Better One. Maybe your Mom gave you this advice: “Don’t quit your job until you have a new one.” Mom was onto something. It’s controversial, but hiring managers and recruiters confirm that it’s easier to find a job if you’re cu rrently employed. Jobseekers who have a job are more attractive candidates. Maybe it’s because unemployment can make you (seem) desperate. But study after study shows that currently employed candidates are hired more frequently than unemployed jobseekers … it’s especially tough if you have been out of work for quite some time.[ ] Confusing Activity With Action. Are you confusing “busywork” with progress? Are you spending a lot of time researching jobs online and applying for lots of positions? While it’s recommended that you spend at least an hour a day on your job search if you are currently employed (and two to three times that if you are currently unemployed), make sure you are tracking how much time you are spending, and what you are spending it on. Spend your time on high value tasks â€" like identifying and researching companies you’d like to work for, and trying to connect directly with hiring managers and recruiters, and having coffee with someone who works for the company you’re applying at â€" and not just simply spending time in front of your computer.[ ] Paying Attention to Other People’s Opinions. “You have to do this,” “Never do that,” “My cousin’s best friend got a job by standing out in front of the company wearing a sandwich board.” Everyone’s got an opinion about how to conduct a job search. Some of it is confusing, some of it is just plain wrong. Your friends and family can be wrong about how the job search works, and it might hurt your chances to get your dream job. Trust your résumé writer, and trust your instincts. Don’t believe everything you read online, and remember that one person’s opinion is just that â€" one person’s opinion.[ ] Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results. “I applied for six jobs and haven’t heard anything back.” Well, then something’s not working. Either stop applying for advertised positions, start following up on the applications youâ €™ve already put in, or figure out a different way to connect with your dream job. It’s been said that “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If what you’re doing isn’t working, do something different![ ] Not Paying Attention to What Worked For You Before in Your Job Search. This is the opposite of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This time, we want you to achieve the same result as before â€" a great job. So look at what worked for you the last time you landed the job you wanted. Were you networking at a professional association meeting? At your child’s basketball game and struck up a conversation with the person next to you? Or did you apply on a company’s website? Consider doing more of what worked for you last time and see if it works for you again.[ ] Applying Through Traditional Means. You see a job posted on Indeed.com for a job you’re really interested in. Do you click “Apply Now”? Not without first looking to see if the job is advertised on the company’s own website. Applying on the company’s website is generally preferred to applying through a job search portal, even if the application button takes you to the same form. (That way, it will list the source of the application as the company website, and not Indeed.com.) After you apply online, don’t stop there. See if you are already connected with someone at the company. Reach out to him or her and see if you can find the name of the hiring manager. Connect with the hiring manager directly by email or phone. Follow up by mailing a print copy of your résumé.[ ] Forgetting That People Hire People. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the technology in a job search. How to make your résumé ATS-friendly (meaning, helping it get through the Applicant Tracking System software that many large companies use). How to use LinkedIn in the job search. Don’t forget that ultimately , people hire people. Connecting to the right person at a company can make the difference between getting hired, and not even getting a response to your application.[ ] Getting Frustrated. The average length of time for a job search has steadily increased over the past few years. In a recent RiseSmart survey, 40 percent of hiring managers report conducting between 3-10 interviews before extending a job offer, and nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said their hiring process is three weeks or longer. So don’t be discouraged if it takes days … or weeks … to hear back after applying or interviewing.[ ] Putting All Your Eggs In One Basket. “But this is my dream job!” While that may be true, you will have a better chance of getting a better job if you don’t rely on a single opportunity. Wouldn’t it be great to have two or three job offers to choose from? That’s only going to happen if you diversify your job search. Apply for multiple positions â€" even a couple you th ink you wouldn’t necessarily accept. You never know â€" you might learn in the interview process that it really is your dream job â€" or the company might even create your dream job for you, once they know what you have to offer them.[ ] Not Spending Enough Time on Your Job Search. You’ve probably heard it said that looking for a job is a job in itself. That’s partially true. Yes, some people will hear about an opportunity from a friend and get hired (sometimes without even applying). But for the vast majority of jobseekers, you’ll have to invest time in getting your résumé prepared, applying for positions, following up, and more.[ ] Spending Too Much Time on Your Job Search. On the other hand, it is possible to spend too much time on your job search. It’s easy to get wrapped up in your job search and, the next thing you know, it’s 1 a.m. Remember, one of the best ways to find your next job is talking to people you know. So give yourself permission to “stop working† on your job search and hang out with your friends. (And maybe make some new friends while you’re at it!)[ ] Spending Too Much Time Online. It’s easy to think that a modern job search can be done entirely online. But it’s estimated that 75 percent of jobs are never advertised â€" so it’s likely that the job you want can’t be found while you’re sitting at your computer. Get out and talk to people you know! Meet new people![ ] Not Having a Support Network. A job search can be difficult. It can be stressful. It can be exhausting. You need a support network to help you through it. That can include not only friends and family, but also paid professionals who are there to guide, motivate, and encourage you. A résumé writer, career coach, or even a mental health therapist can be a valuable part of your support network.[ ] Not Engaging Professionals to Help. Speaking of résumé writers, career coaches, and therapists, one common mistake jobseekers make is trying to go it alo ne. If you wanted to climb Mount Everest, you’d hire a guide. When you’re climbing the job search mountain, engage a “career navigator” to help you along the way![ ] Not Asking Others For Help. When someone asks you for help in their job search, you willingly offer it (if you’re able), don’t you? So why is it that we’re so reluctant to ask others for their help when we need it? People like to help other people. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. But make sure you’re asking for the right kind of help. Ask specific questions: “Do you know anyone who works for Company XYZ?” “How did you get your job at Organization ABC?” “Would you mind helping me practice my interview answers?”[ ] Only Applying for Advertised Jobs. Research shows that up to three quarters of job openings are never advertised publicly. Many of these are filled through employee referrals and word of mouth. And sometimes, you can apply to a company for a job that doesn’t even exist yet. Yes, companies do create jobs. Sometimes they will meet a candidate and not have a current opening that would be a match. In that case, they will sometimes create a new position that takes advantage of the candidate’s knowledge and experience.[ ] Networking The Wrong Way. Second only to not using your network at all is using it incorrectly. Your network is comprised of all the people that you know and also all the people that they know. Don’t just think that because you don’t personally know anyone who works for Company ABC that you’re out of luck using your network. Ask the people you know who they know. But remember that networking requires relationship building and relationship management. If you haven’t talked to someone for five years, don’t let your first contact with them be, “Hey, can you help me get a job at your company?” Author Harvey Mackay has a great book on this: “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.”[ ] Unintentionally Broadcasting Your Job Search. If you’re currently employed, be careful with your job search. Don’t set up a LinkedIn profile and send out so many connection requests that you go from 0 to 500 connections in a week. Be thoughtful about your job search, and deliberate. Turn off the setting that sends notifications to others in LinkedIn, especially as you build your profile. Don’t apply to job postings that don’t specify the employer. (That perfect job you’re applying for might be your current position!) And be sure to let any recruiters you’re working with know that you’re conducting a confidential job search.[ ] Not Doing Your Homework. You wouldn’t buy a car without researching the brand, make, and model a bit first, would you? Then why would you go to an interview without first doing a Google search on the company, looking at their website, and studying what they do? It’s easier than ever these days to not only research the company, but also the person interviewing you and you may even be able to find out the salary range for your position at that company![ ] Not Asking What the Next Step Is. You’re finishing the interview. The interviewer asks if you have any questions. You don’t ask any. They shake your hand and you leave. You’ve missed a huge opportunity. Thank the interviewer for his or her time. Tell them you’re very interested in the position and then ask what the next step is! “Is there anything else you need from me at this point? What’s the next step? Can I follow up with you next week if I haven’t heard back from you? Would you prefer I call or send you an email?”[ ] Badmouthing Your Current Employer. Even if you’re unhappy in your current job, keep that to yourself. Don’t post negative status updates on social media and do not say anything about your current employer when interviewing for a new job. Stick to phrases like, “I am looking for a new challenge,” or “I’m looking to use my skills and experience in a new setting, and when I heard about this opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up.”[ ] Not Following All the Way Through. Sometimes you’ll apply for a job, get selected for an interview, and not get the offer. That’s going to happen. The question is: What can you learn from it? If you don’t follow through, you can’t use the experience to get closer to your dream job. So follow up! Don’t be afraid to reach out to the hiring manager and thank them for the opportunity to meet with them. Ask for their honest advice about what you could do better in future interviews. Ask about the person who got hired. What qualifications, skills, education, or experience did they have that you didn’t? Sometimes you won’t be able to get an answer to your questions â€" but imagine how helpful it would be if you did![ ] Being Unprepared For Your Job Search. You need tools to help you succeed in your job search. An updated, targeted résumé. A “complete” LinkedIn profile with at least 150 connections. Cover lett ers. Thank you letters. Answers to the top 20 interview questions you might be expected to answer. You wouldn’t go into battle unarmed; don’t go into a job search unprepared.[ ] Not Thanking People Who Have Helped You Along The Way. Once you’ve successfully landed your new job, don’t forget to go back and thank those people who helped you with your job search. That will help ensure they’re willing to help you the next time you’re looking to make a move.

Greek System Experience and Your Resume

Greek System Experience and Your Resume Many college students join the Greek systems on their campus for housing, a meal plan and a place to socialize. Some also realize that it is a great way to build a professional network before they have to start the job search process at the end of their college years. Even if you are long out of school and in what career development theorists call the maintenance stage of your career, you should still put your Greek affiliation on your resume. Fraternity and sorority  membership benefits go way beyond building a professional network. Your affiliation helps reach out to hiring managers who have either been a member themselves or who know the value of participation in the Greek system. This could be the tipping point in your favor for getting that first interview. The Greek bond of fraternity brothers or sorority sisters may be enough to get a hiring manager to want to help you. Greek system participation on your resume is a plus because it demonstrates that you know about teamwork. Many Greek organizations also participate in public service projects or what is known as philanthropic work. This shows your willingness to volunteer and give back to your community. Get involved with the alumni group associated with your Greek chapter. Look for all of the places your alumni group may have networks set-up-your alumni association,  Facebook or  even on  LinkedIn.   People often feel uncomfortable networking with friends and colleagues with whom they have not spoken in many years. However, these types of alumni groups are set up to make networking easy. They also give an opportunity to help the active student chapters on campus, giving you more public service points on your resume.

The Most Incredibly Ignored Solution for Coaching Resume

The Most Incredibly Ignored Solution for Coaching Resume Even though a coach can include her or his degrees within the Summary', most employers seeking new coaches wish to know statistics as a way to get a more powerful sense as to whether the candidate is the best kind for the job. Last, your education will prove you have the follow-through to lead a team during the difficult times. It's still true that you have to earn your way to the position. The best positions would most likely be in the sport you would like to coach, but list anything that's relevant. Why Almost Everything You've Learned About Coaching Resume Is Wrong Finding the perfect college football coaching position may be an intimidating task, but with an impressive resume, you will rise to the peak of the stack of applicants. There's no art to compose a basketball coach resume. As you compose a conventional sports coach resume, don't forget to include your contact information at the very top. A coach who's w ell-versed in basketball with complete understanding of all of the rules involved with the game and has hands-on expertise in training the team may use the basketball coach resume to forward their career. Want to Know More About Coaching Resume? Our coaching cv sample will help you construct your very own specific cheerleading CV. You may schedule more should you desire. Kaleidoscope Careers supplies a wide selection of services in career coaching which will help you reach your career objectives. Outplacement or career transition providers make very good business sense. In sports, you may not sugar coat success. The main reason why I am considering your position at York Middle School is that I am searching for new challenges, along with a better facility for assorted sports. When you're between jobs and realize it's challenging to land that next position without a tiny bit of assistance. To create the job easier for the individual who will read your resume, use bullet poin ts to emphasize important details. The Benefits of Coaching Resume The position may also entail simply interacting with clients as a way to offer general ideas and encouragement tailored to the distinctive situation of the customer. Based on your own circumstance you are going to want to select which type of a CV is the best suited. Your CV is your very first chance to advertise yourself, and in many cases, your only chance to make a very first impression. Then you may pick the appropriate CV easily for reference purposes. When it has to do with marketing athletic abilities and accomplishments, a resume must go against the standard format more popular with undergraduate students. The perfect way to approach a resume is to utilize it to be able to convey your top strengths. Your CV is easily the most essential part of your application package. Your CV is a crucial document, and with the most suitable strategy, it can be the real key to the career you desire. When you're i n a job that you dislike and know you've got to move. Demonstrate you know the job which you've applied for and justify why you have to see that job. You know you've got the abilities but your preceding interview might have gone better. Possessing excellent communication skills makes it simpler to manage different egos and prevent misunderstandings.

2 Reasons Were Afraid to Ask for Career Help - Work It Daily

2 Reasons We’re Afraid to Ask for Career Help - Work It Daily Recently, we launched a contest. The winner is guaranteed to get a new job in 2011. How is that possible? I’ll be working with them privately and non-stop until they get that job. It’s the ultimate career coaching experience. What a way to start the New Year. If you’ve ever checked out what it costs to have a career coach working for you like this then you know winning this will save you hundreds (even thousands, depending on how much help is needed) of $$$. Plus, my reputation’s on the line â€" so you know I’m going to do what it takes to see the winner succeed. Why then have so few people decided to enter? I think there are 2 reasons: We think the fact needing an expert to help us means we are weak or failing in some way â€" a.k.a. we feel ashamed asking for help. We’re too dang proud to admit we need help. If this is you, then yes, please don’t apply. Candidly, anyone who doesn’t understand the value of enlisting the help and support of an expert who is determined to get you a job deserves to have an extended job search and the mental frustration and anguish that goes with it. I mean, really folks? Would you: Pull out your own tooth? Operate on yourself? Represent yourself in court? FACT: Your career satisfaction impacts EVERY area of your life â€" it deserves some TLC! No matter how talented you are, or how hard you work to advance your career on your own, the truth still remains there are NEW rules to career success in America â€" and school didn’t teach you them. Smart people know when to get help to speed up the process of getting the results they want. Ask any successful entrepreneur and they’ll tell you, they rely on the experts to get them what they need so they can move forward â€" fast. A final thought to consider... According to a recent article in Harvard Business Review, we are experiencing a 23- year high in job dissatisfaction in America. So, when the economy improves, a good portion of the working population is going to start looking for work too. Translation: The job search market is actually going to get MORE competitive when the job market improves, not less, as so many people assume. So, I ask you, “How long are you going to wait before you realize getting help now could put you ahead of the competition?” Okay, enough said. I hope this inspired you to think about joining our contest. I am looking forward to helping one lucky winner get what they deserve in 2011. Plus, 4 runner-ups will get lifetime subscriptions to our exclusive Career HMO, CAREEREALISM Club. Which means, they’ll be getting new jobs too. Click here » to apply now! PS â€" For those of you who are in jobs right now and are afraid to apply for fear your boss finds out, you can use an alias when you post and share that with friends and family privately so they will go vote for you. The other option is to check out our Career HMO, at $9/month, it’s a very inexpensive way to get the help you need. Photo credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

How to write a college student resume (with examples)

How to write a college student resume (with examples)If youre in college, you have probably done a lot of thinking about what comes next. What youre studying, as well as the internships and knowledge youre picked up along the waythose are all a big part of that future. So how do you wrangle that information into a successful resume, when you dont yet have a ton of work experience? We can help googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Lets walk through three different resumes for different types of post-college jobs. First up is Keenan, who is hoping to land his first job as a absatzwirtschaft assistant.Download this resume in ms wordKeenan Jones1212 University Place, Apt. 3FMilwaukee, WI 67676(111) 222-3333Keenan.S.Jonesuniversityemail.eduTech-Savvy, Energetic College Student Seeking a Growth Role in absatzwirtschaftSUMMARYMotivated, high-achieving honors student with strong written and verbal communication skillsAdept at working as part of a crea tive team to accomplish goalsWell-versed in current social media platforms and trendsEDUCATIONWestern Wisconsin State UniversityBA, MarketingAnticipated graduation May 2018Cumulative GPA 3.87RELATED COURSEWORKGoing Viral 21st Century Marketing (Western Wisconsin State Marketing Department), Fall 2017Develop sample marketing campaigns as part of a teamDiscuss and evaluate best practices and real-world examples of social marketing strategiesPublicity Basics (Western Wisconsin State Marketing Department), Spring 2017Analyze historical and current trends in methods of publicityReview core concepts of public relationsDevelop marketing and publicity plans based on real-world examplesWriting for Social Media (Western Wisconsin State English Department), Fall 2016Review standard proofreading and copyeditingDevelop writing strategies to maximize messaging and brand awareness in various social media formatsMARKETING WORK EXPERIENCEHealthFirst Industries, Milwaukee, WISummer Marketing InternSu mmer 2017Provided administrative support to a 10-person Marketing teamParticipated in campaign and brainstorming meetingsMonitored HealthFirsts Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts and interacted with consumersKEY SKILLSSocial media platforms (including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp)Adobe Creative SuiteMicrosoft Office SuiteMeeting time-sensitive deadlinesWriting creative, cogent, targeted text for marketing purposesLeading team members to deliver projects in a timely mannerKeenans resume is very targeted and focused on his marketing-specific skills and experience. He makes his intent very cleara lage in marketingand builds the rest of his narrative around that fact. Hiring managers understand that someone coming right out of school is likely to have a ton of work experience, especially in the field. So to show the reader what he does have, Keenan emphasizes the practical skills he has (social media), as well as the skills hes picked up as both a student (the Related Coursework section) and an intern (the Marketing Work Experience section). Keenan doesnt need to include every marketing class hes taken as a student, but picks the ones wzu siche he gained a lot of practical, hands-on knowledge that may relate to an entry-level job in marketing.Next, lets look at Mireille, who is prepping a resume for a campus job ritterlich.Download this resume in ms wordMireille Hopkins1056 Barnes Street, Apt. 2Boston, MA 23232555-666-7777MHopkinsemaildomain.eduAward-winning financial whiz with expertise in auditing and reportingWORK EXPERIENCEFinance InternPrinceton Weitz LLCSeptember 2017 presentProcess month-end financial reports as part of the Auditing teamAssist with audits of external customersReconcile balance sheetsPost journal entriesPerform general office support (including meeting setup and taking/distributing meeting minutes)Program AssistantGrant College Accounting and Finance DepartmentSummer 2016 Summer 2017Answered phones and direct ed visitors to the colleges Finance and Accounting officesCollated course packets for professorsManaged summer orientation programs for incoming Finance and Accounting studentsVOLUNTEER EXPERIENCEMath TutorGrant College Academic Help CenterOctober 2014 presentAssist fellow students with math homework and skill developmentSimplify complex mathematical concepts for ease of learningSKILLS SUMMARYComplex financial auditingSOX befolgung expertise and compliance with legal guidelines and best practicesAccurate financial accountingDetailed and accurate reportingLearning and using software for reporting and complianceCreating presentationsMicrosoft Office expertiseEDUCATION EXTRACURRICULARSGrant College, Wellesley, MABA, Accounting/BA, ManagementExpected graduation December 2017Treasurer, Grant College Student GovernmentAugust 2016 May 2017Co-Captain, Grant Gophers womens basketball teamSeptember 2013 May 2017AWARDS HONORSDeans List, 8 consecutive semestersHonors Scholar program (antic ipated, pending completion of honors thesis and graduation)Chairmans Award in Finance and Accounting, 2016Mireille wants to use her campuss job fair to help line up her first job out of college. And to do that, she knows she needs to stand out from a crowd of other people (like her fellow classmates) to get attention from the financial firms attending the fair. Mireille has some work experience as an intern in her field, so she leads with that after an eye-catching headline (award-winning). She doesnt include odd jobs that she may have had in high school and college, but does include jobs that have a bearing on her current career goals (working as an intern, and working as part of her schools own Accounting and Finance department). Because the career fair is happening on campus, she doesnt really need to emphasize her schoolthe reader will already know that she goes to Grant College, and Mireilles resume instead emphasizes the points she wants them to remember most.Remember that at a job fair you only have a few minutes to present yourself to recruiters. So while you cant really tailor your resume to each potential job opening/company, you can make it as specific as possible to your industry and emphasize the personal points you want to hit. The best way to make your brief chat with recruiters memorable is to hand them your resume up front, then point out the highlights on the page as you mention them in your conversation.And belastung but not least, we have Karen, who is seeking a job as an administrative assistant as her first job out of school.Download this resume in ms wordKaren Thompson 35 Springfield Street, Apt. 7G Las Vegas, NV (777) 444-5555 KTThompsonemaildomain.eduOBJECTIVEHard-working, recent college graduate with office and internship experience looking for a position that leverages strong organizational and communication skills into a growth role.SKILLSProficient in Microsoft Office (particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)Maintaining calend ars and meeting schedulesOrganizing staff and public eventsSpeaking multiple languages (fluent in English and Spanish, partially fluent in French)Graphic designCreating presentationsDemonstrating a personable, enthusiastic attitudeEDUCATIONMarburg College, Sacramento, CAB.A., Comparative Literature, 20173.8 GPA (4.0 scale)Minored in History and Music TheorySpanish Club Secretary (3 years)Swim team member and student treasurer (2 years)EXPERIENCEThe Anderson Gallery San Francisco, CA Receptionist (part-time) 10/2016 presentAnswer phones and greet guests for one of San Franciscos top art galleriesProvide administrative support to the curators and an administrative staff of fourCoordinate curator/artist meetingsMaintain the order and cleanliness of public gallery areasOrder refreshments and supplies for openings and other public gallery eventsDeMarque Creative San Francisco, CA Administrative Intern6/2016 8/2016Provided administrative support for the six-person Graphic entwurf depa rtmentFacilitated meetings and coordinated follow-up materials for attendeesCoordinated meetings and calendarsScanned and digitized archival content for newly implemented digital filing systemAs a literature major (with additional work in history and music), Karen is not necessarily seeking a job thats related to her major. And thats totally okay Sometimes youve got to pay bills while you figure out your longer-term career goals. And to that end, Karen wants to take the good skills and experience she does haveparticularly as an intern and receptionistto show that she has the baseline skills to be a good admin. To do this, she uses a clear objective, and a highlight reel of the skills she wants to emphasize most. Her experience bullet points show the work she has done already in this field, even though she has only worked as an intern and part-time receptionist so far.If youre a college student or a recent grad crafting your first real-deal resume, the most important thing to remembe r is that you do have skills and experience, even if you havent worked full-time in the field. Take inventory of your classes, your internships, your volunteering, everything. Anything that shows leadership, include it. Anything that taught you more about the field you want to be in, include it. Anything that shows escalating responsibility, include it. Even hobbies can have a place in your resume, if theyre related to the job you want. Good luck

Thinking of Calling Out 6 Things Not to Say, According to Hiring Managers Whove Heard Them

Thinking of Calling Out 6 Things Not to Say, According to Hiring Managers Whove Heard Them Calling out of work is inevitably kind of awkward. You never want to seem unprofessional or as though youre totally lying to get out of having to adult for the day. But calling out is especially difficult to do if you have to call out for a seemingly ridiculous reason that you just know your manager is going to question.The truth is that managers have heard all of the grown-up versions of my dog ate my homework. Whether these are truths or made-up excuses, we asked them to share the fruchtwein cringeworthy Im calling out messages theyve ever received and heres what they had to offer.1. Mixed-up days.As a director of operations, I have heard every calling out excuse in the book and most of these far surpass the middle school the dog ate my homework line, says Dana Case, director of operations of 2. Broken bones.One morning I received a call from an employee that he had fallen down a steep flig ht of stairs on his way to the office and had broken his hand he explained he couldnt come into the office since he welches going to the emergency room for X-rays, says Jared Weitz, CEO and founder of United Capital Source Inc. Later that afternoon, I received a call from a competing geschftliches miteinander asking about this specific employee. Turns out, he had interviewed for a job there that morning and they were looking for a reference. The next day, when the employee wasnt in the hospital, we asked him to come in for a meeting. During the conversation, he was standing next to a chair and leaning on the broken hand the entire time without even realizing it. Needless to say, this employee no longer works for us.3. Calling out slick.I am a human resources officer, and the craziest calling out story I have is from a versicherungsschein department customer, says Sarah Torres-Ferrick. The officer called out before his shift saying that he was sick. There was leidhing out of the ord inary, until we received a complaint from an officer that had to work overtime due to the call out. The officer that called out sick posted on Facebook called out slick today. He was friends with his fellow police officers and they did not appreciate him calling out slick and making them work overtime.4. Backup help.A few weeks ago, we heard a knock at our office door at 7 a.m. and, to our surprise, it was a new employees boyfriend, says Trisha Lake, owner and CEO of TLC Cleaning LLC. He came in and sat down to explain our employee was not feeling well and was nervous to call in and get yelled at. He explained to us that he decided to come in, and we could yell at him. We kindly explained our policy on call-offs while also mentioning it is never appropriate for this to happen again. Very strange situation.5. Unknown holidays.We had an employee last year who called out my business partner and I for not giving everyone paid time off for Nevada Day, says Matthew Ross, the co-owner and COO of The Slumber Yard. I had never even heard of it before, but I guess its a holiday that commemorates the states admission to the Union. The employee was really upset we didnt give everybody the day off. She made a big announcement in front of everyone saying she couldnt believe how selfish my business partner and I were. It was very odd. After her outburst, I called a few friends who work for various companies in the Reno area, and they didnt have the day off either. It turns out pretty much no private companies in the state give their employees the day off, which made the whole situation even more bizarre.6. Bad hair days.Back when I was an exec in the hospitality industry, we had a mid-level manager in her late 30s call out because she was having a bad hair day, says Joni Holderman, founder of Thrive Resumes. It wasnt a hair color fiasco or a truly tragic haircut... her hair just wouldnt do what she wanted it to that day (which is the story of my life).--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report,Twitterherreportand Facebook.

5 Tips on How to Prepare for the Next Recession

5 Tips on How to Prepare for the Next Recession Many Americans still shudder when they think back to the last recession. All told, 8.7 million people lost their jobs, and it took years for many families to dig out from the financial destruction.Since the recession officially ended in 2009, a question has lingered in the backs of American workers minds Could it happen again?Yes, it can. Historical data shows that the US averages one recession every 6-7 years, which has led experts to predict that we are due for aelendher downturn any day now.Dont panic. Consider the last recession your boot camp for surviving tough economic times. Now that you know better, you can do better.To that end, weve compiled five tipsto help you prepare for the next recession. Follow them, and you may avoiddevastation this time around1. PayDown Your DebtsStep one in preparing for the next recession is to pay off any debt you have now. Tighten the reins on spending and throwall the money you can at credit card balances and other debt. If you have money left over at the end of the month, sock the rest into a savings account. Credit card debt is the devil during a recession. Visa and Mastercard are going to want their money whether you have a job or not.In addition to avoiding interest on credit card balances, paying down your debt now will mean that you have more money available to you down the road, which could come in handy if your hours are cut or you lose your job altogether. Consider taking out a debt consolidation loan, which could help you save hundreds of dollars a month in interest fees, depending on what you owe.If you dont have any debt, pat yourself on the back but dont celebrate with expensive purchases. Instead, sock away your extra cash for a rainy day. The more padding you have in your checking account, the better prepared youll be for the next recession.2. KnowWhat Youre Up AgainstSome fields are more recession-proof than others. Healthca re, government, and some areas of tech have historically been safe during recessions, while retail, food and beverage, and hospitality roles have proven to be more vulnerable.If you work in an at-risk industry, consider making a career change into a field that might be more resilient. Think about your transferable skills and how they could be applied to a new career. For example, a retail workers skills would likely translate well to a customer service role.3. Pursue a Side GigWith Lyft and Uber cars all over the roadways, and companies like Etsy and TaskRabbit going strong, the tech industry has created a bevy of earning opportunities for workers who are looking to supplement their incomes. While full-time workers would likely be giving up nights and weekends to pursue side jobs, diversifying your skills and not relying on one source of income makes great senseduring unstable financial times. Other ideas for side businesses might include babysitting, dog walking, or tutoring. Shoul d a recession hit, and should you lose your full-time job, the side gig could be something to immediately fall back on while you work toward securing full-time employment again.4. Focus on NetworkingThe most powerful way to prepare for the next recession is to make networking a habit rather than an afterthought. When people lose their jobs unexpectedly, they often scramble to connect with their networks to find work again.Savvy people dont wait until its an emergency to network.Consider what your next move might be now and create networking opportunities that support your goal. For example, if you hope to be promoted within your industry, study the LinkedIn profiles of people who hold the title youd like.Identifythe skills and training you might need to obtain in order to make an upward move.If you are contemplating a career change, try to connect with people who hold the types of jobs you might be interested in. Ask if theyd be willing to sit for an informational interview. These t ypes of interviews can be invaluable for making connections who can guide you in the best ways to parlay your transferable skills into a new career.5. Update Your Resume and Cover LetterLike networking, a new resume should never be an afterthought. Having an up-to-date resume on hand means you are ready to leap when a great opportunity arises. The type of job you are looking for will determine whether your resume needs a quick update or a major overhaul. Learning how to write a resume that is right for your next career move is critical to your continued professional success.Dont forget the titelbild letter. Research shows that 45 percent of job seekers skip writing a cover letter when applying for work. While some job seekers operate under the false assumption that recruiters dont read cover letters, that isnt true. Cover letters are often an important way for a recruiter or hiring manager to distinguish between two similarly qualified candidates. If you and another candidate have s imilar educational backgrounds and have held identical job titles during your careers, your well-written cover letter may be the tiebreaker.The specificssteps you take toprepare for the next recession willdepend on your circumstances. Regardless of your field, your financial situation, or your level of worry, taking steps now to safeguard yourself and your family will make even the most serious downturns feel less tumultuous.Catch this article plus tons of exclusive content in issue three of Recruiter.com Magazine.LiveCareer develops tools to help job seekers draft cover letters, prepare for interviews, and build targeted resumes via itsresume builderand an extensive collection ofresume templates.