Resume Trends You Should Know

Attaining Success Through An Alternative Route

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About a decade ago, I received a resume from a job candidate that was rolled into a scroll and slipped into the knot on a brand new sneaker. A card that came with the box read, "I just wanted to get my foot in the door." Did it work? As a matter of fact, yes. I was impressed by the applicant's ingenuity (although I wondered just how many pairs of sneakers she had bought for the sake of her job search). It was a risk, though as some recruiters would have been instantly turned off by her gimmick.

These days, alternative resumes go even further. Some job applicants send video resumes, audio resumes, Power Point slideshow presentations, or links to their personal websites. Others have posted resumes on professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. Before you jump on the alternative resume bandwagon, be sure to think carefully about your choice of alternative resume. Your choice should be uniquely appropriate to the industry or position you are applying for. Here are five types of alternative resumes that you might want to consider - and the situations in which you should, and should not, consider them:

A slideshow resume, such as a PowerPoint presentation. A PowerPoint slide show presentation is a good way to present visual information that can be contained in a still photo shot, while also providing the basics about you, your education, and your experience. It also shows that you know how to use PowerPoint! You can store a slideshow resume at a website such as Slideshare, SlideRocket, or Prezi. However, do not turn your resume into a PowerPoint presentation if you do not have any visual information to convey. A traditional resume already has short sections and bullet points so breaking it up into a slideshow will not add any additional information. All that will accomplish is requiring a human resources manager to take more time to look at it.

A video resume. You can make a video resume at websites such as BriteTab.com, OptimalResume.com, InterviewStudio.com, and ResumeBook.tv - or you can simply make your own. You can store a video resume at sites such as Vimeo or YouTube. It makes sense to provide a video resume if you are applying for a job where charisma is important, such as a job in sales, or a job where creativity is important, such as a job in marketing. Don't send out a video resume, however, unless the video and audio quality are stellar - or you may do more harm than good.

An audio resume. An audio resume is a good idea if you are applying for a job in which your phone skills are crucial, such as a call center job or a receptionist. It gives a recruiter a chance to hear and assess your voice and to determine how professional you sound. However, most recruiters tend to like to have a physical document to read through for easy access. If you provide an audio resume, be sure to send along a transcript as well.

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Top 10 Interview Tips for College Grads (video)

Great job interview pointers to keep in mind

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Do you have a job interview coming up soon? Have you made mistakes in interviews in the past? Whatever the scenario is, everyone needs tips on how to do well in a job interview - especially college graduates. Here you'll learn about researching the position and company, what to bring to the interview, correct communication, and more. Watch this video to find out the top 10 tips for job interviews! The interview process IS a make or break performance, be sure you make it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPXE4RqdqqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR6qrTyqLNk www.insuranceworks.ca

American Waiters and Cashiers Are Over-Educated

Does a higher education mean a higher income?

This post was written by Katherine Mangu-Ward and was reprinted with permission from http://reason.com

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More people are going to college than ever before, but those extra years of education aren't translating into the fancy-pants jobs that most people expect after snagging a sheepskin. Sixty percent of the increase in the number of college grads between 1992 and 2008 are doing low-skilled jobs that used to be done by people with high school diplomas or less. Ohio University economist Richard Vedder does the math:

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In 1992 the BLS reports that total college graduate employment was 28.9 million, of whom 5.1 million were in occupations which the BLS classified as “noncollege level jobs” while in 2008 the BLS data indicate that total college graduate employment was 49.35 million, with 17.4 million in occupations classified as requiring less than a bachelor’s degree.

An example or two from specific occupations is useful. In 1992 119,000 waiters and waitresses were college degree holders. By 2008, this number had more than doubled to 318,000. While the total number of waiters and waitresses grew by about 1 million during this period, 20% of all new jobs in this occupation were filled by college graduates. Take cashiers as well. While 132,000 cashiers possessed college degrees in 1992, by 2008, 365,000 cashiers were college graduates. As with waiters and waitresses, 20% of new cashiers since 1992 are college graduates. (The sources for all of these data are Table 1 of the Summer 1994 Occupational Outlook Quarterly and the Employment Projection Program “Occupations” tables on the BLS Web site)
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These numbers are big enough that we're not seeing a clsuter of arty comp lit major-novelist-waiters picking up some cash while living their dream in a garret. The stats show people who probably wouldn't have gone to college in another era, responded to incentives like cheap loans and went to college in the '90s or '00s, graduated at 22- or 23-years-old, and then got the same gigs they would have been qualified for at 18.


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Five Ways to Build Out your Resume with an Academic Upgrade

Boost your resume in a different way

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One of the disquieting issues that many recent graduates are encountering is the fact that today’s job market does not always readily open up to students with a baccalaureate, especially a new minted one. The value of experience has long been evident, but today employers have the option of selecting employees with both experience and education: applicants that are on the hunt after a previous job became the victim of economic turmoil, recession, and job relocation. A lot of mid-career professionals are finding that a partial answer to the employment challenge is an upgrade of academic credentials. Thousands of people have returned to school to earn a master’s degree in order to embellish the resume.

Some of these people are career changers who will still lack experience in the (new) workplace. Others are frustrated young professionals who are recent graduates and are finding the job market to be a real challenge. As a result, there are now many educational options for obtaining a master’s degree quickly and in many cases, in fields that are unrelated to graduate studies.

1. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a degree that was created to swell the ranks of teachers when the teacher shortage became an enduring problem. Licensed teachers who hold an active teaching license and a bachelor’s in education can earn this degree in a year’s time and accomplish two things: obtain a credential for teaching at the secondary school level in a specific subject, and gain a pay raise due to the advanced academic degree. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree unrelated to education and have no experience teaching can enroll in a MAT program and be teaching with a provisional license within a year. There are some excellent online MAT programs.

2. Masters in Management degree is the graduate business degree for someone who isn’t interested in all of the social and academic ritual that revolves around MBA programs. MBA graduates in many regions are finding the job market difficult despite what was once a golden college degree. The Masters in Management is a one year to eighteen month program that in many schools, offers areas of specialization such as human resources, international finance, emergency management, information systems, and so forth. An online Master of Management degree can provide a tag to your resume that qualifies you as management material in the future, regardless of the entry level opportunity.

3. Masters in Health Informatics is another option for students with an unrelated undergraduate degree, although some programs may want to see some work experience in IT. Obviously working knowledge of database software is going to be of value; exposure to information technology either as an undergraduate or in a job setting will probably be a requirement. But individuals who majored in a related field and are striking out looking for work in the tech sector should consider the healthcare monolith as a career opportunity instead. It’s a growing industry that is virtually impermeable to economic downturn. Graduate informatics programs accept students with a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Most programs are twelve to eighteen month commitments.

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For fashion grads, the future may be in in retail

Design jobs coming to a career fair near you?

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A survey by the National Association of College and Employers recently found retail to be the top sector offering jobs to recent graduates.

Kate Spade and Juicy Couture, both divisions of Liz Claiborne, are recruiting new staff members, and even more promising is the wealth of positions in fashion retail. A survey by the National Association of College and Employers recently found retail to be the top sector offering jobs to recent graduates with Macy’s, JCPenny and Target among those visiting college campuses as part of recruiting efforts. While retail might not be a dream job for someone looking to work in design, it is a good position to take to avoid resume gaps and gain experience and knowledge in another part of the fashion industry. {The Cut}

Of course, there is a catch that casts a dark cloud on this sunny news. Fashion retailers are not necessarily looking for fashion grads to fill their open positions, so new designers may face stiff competition.

Macy’s recruiters will visit 40 college campuses, according to Anne Voller, vice-president for executive recruitment and college relations, and they will look at students from all majors including business and even psychology.

“We look for leadership potential, smart students that are interested in retail, that have good critical-thinking skills, are involved in campus, have juggled their multiple priorities and have an ability to be flexible,” she said. {WWD}

With her advice in mind, recent design grads should pack their resumes with all extracurricular activities in which they have participated and consider playing up their success in multi-tasking or leading others.

Design grads should also bear in mind that they may be up against MBA graduates for positions in buying and planning, as Bloomingdale’s has said they will recruit MBA’s in these areas.

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For Recent Fashion Grads, the Future May Be in Retail from Signature9
Photo illustration by Ana Garcia

Weekly Poll: How long have you been looking for a job?

We all hear the unemployment rates of different cities, but rarely do we hear about how long people have been looking for work. So how long have you been on your job hunt? Vote below!

Recent grads coping with economic recession

College grads talk about their struggles

This post was written by Justine Goldsmith and was reprinted with permission from http://www.daily49er.com

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As students reach the end of 2010, with an unemployment rate that has skyrocketed to 10 percent, soon-to-be graduates can only hope to stay afloat in a job force that doesn't seem to have room for them.

Cal State Long Beach senior communications major Victoria Curreri is planning on graduating this spring and said she is more nervous than ever to enter the American work force after college.

"It's nerve-racking," she said. "It makes me worried that I'm going to have to move back home and depend on my parents."

The National Association of Colleges and Employers reported that, in 2009, employers expected to hire 22 percent fewer college graduates than they did in 2008, according to PRSA.org.

More than two-thirds of employers said the recent economic state has caused them to reassess their hiring plans regarding college students, with most intending to reduce the number hired overall, PRSA.org reported.

Ray McQueen, 22, graduated from Mt. San Antonio College in June with a general education associate arts degree. He has gotten a true taste of the recession after spending nearly six months looking for jobs.

"My biggest fear is not finding a job," McQueen said.

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Stephens College grads celebrate relationships

College grads take time to reflect

This post was written by Kris Hilgedick and was reprinted with permission from http://www.columbiatribune.com

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Pursuing an ambitious career might be important, but every speaker who stood behind the podium at Stephens College’s December commencement ceremony exhorted graduates to find ways to make family life and personal interests priorities as well.

About 45 joyous graduates — a mix of master’s and baccalaureate degree candidates — walked across the stage yesterday.

When Lainey Hughes, a 25-year-old native of Ireland and a digital filmmaking student, first arrived on campus, she expected to spend most of her evenings studying alone in her room. But when she arrived, people reached out to her, she said.

“I was blown away with how friendly and welcoming everyone was,” Hughes said.

Although she studied at Stephens only five semesters, it was enough time to be inducted into the school’s Mortar Board society, be on the student council, serve as a residential life advisor, earn a leadership award, and volunteer at film festivals.

“I minored in sleep deprivation, but it was totally worth it,” she said.

Hughes, who was selected to speak on behalf of her class, said the closeness of her Stephens’ friendships taught her it’s possible to build a new family, while holding tight to the one that raised her.

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Documentary Explores Lives of New Grads

A closer look at post-grad life

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soCANi Productions has produced a fantastic documentary entitled "Just Keep Swimming" that explores the lives of college graduates in the recession.

We at New Grad Life loved this video as it gives a clear view of what's really going on, beyond the daily news you see and hear. College grads get to voice their opinions and you can really feel what they are going through. Don't forget to comment below with your thoughts on the documentary.

*Note: video actually ends at 6:33 (there was a slight glitch while uploading)



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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Ql8-wGrAQ

Photo by cubanrefugee, available under a Creative Commons Generic license.

11 Reasons New Grads Should Pursue Nonprofit Careers

A career path many overlook

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All over the country, a couple million young people are graduating from college, including my little sister, Joelle! This weekend, she graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. I’m so proud of her, I can hardly stand it. It’s been an amazing celebration weekend with all of our family in town from Ohio, Georgia and Virginia. But after all the partying and congrats we did as a family, our first question to Joelle was, “So when are you gonna get a job?” She’s in the market looking for her first “real” job right now just like everyone else her age. Fortunately, her career field of nursing provides a very clear avenue for what to do next after school. After you graduate with a BSN, you take your certification test, then you go to work at a hospital or clinic. Even better is that in Washington, DC, the starting salary for nurses comes out to about $27 an hour. So new nurses have a pretty linear career path and a good chance that they will earn a good salary.

But what about those that don’t?

What about young people like me who came out of college with a degree in English and no idea what to do with it? Those new grads should definitely consider the nonprofit sector as a career choice for a number of reasons.

Nonprofit Doesn’t Mean “No Money”
Many young people get turned off from the idea of working in the nonprofit sector because they think the term “nonprofit” means that they won’t get paid. While most nonprofits aren’t ever going to be able to pay you six-figures, many positions command a very competitive salary, especially in large organizations. So if you’re that English major like me and you’re good at technical writing and you learn how to write a grant proposal, you could be on track to earn quite a bit more than you thought. Higher paying jobs in nonprofits include: fundraising, marketing & communications, finance and policy.

Nonprofits Are Still Hiring
There are many bright spots for young workers who wish to pursue a career in social change. The Bridgespan Group’s 2009 report, Finding Leaders for America’s Nonprofits showed that nonprofits were still hiring in this economic downturn. According to the Bridgespan Group:

"In the next 12 months, 28 percent of nonprofit organizations with revenues of $1 million and above plan to make one or more senior management hires, translating to 24,000 vacancies in 2009. Those projected vacancies are largely the result of retirement, since much of the existing leadership is comprised of boomers. Vacancies also stem from new roles being created due to an increase in organizational complexity based on growth in prior years."

According to Bridgespan, the need for new nonprofit leaders is especially strong in two areas: human services and arts organizations.

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10 Big Tips for Recent College Grads

Some insightful advice for graduates

A guest post by vince scordo from Scordo.com

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Graduating from college is a big adjustment for most students as s/he has to trade-in an insulated, academic, environment for the so-called "real world." The transition from student to working adult is critical, especially in regard to getting your personal finances off on the right foot. The foundation a recent grad lays in the 2-3 years after graduation often predicts how s/he will lead the rest of their economic life. If the recent grad is interested in a flashy new car, eating out, and living in an expensive city, for example, then s/he often delays saving money, paying off student debt, finding the right career, and being financially independent overall.

Here are some practical steps the recent grad can take to ensure that their personal finance life gets off on the right track (after all, you don't want to be worrying about credit card debt by the time you're 25, right?):

1. Begin paying off your student debt as soon as possible. It's tempting to pay the minimum amount each month (especially if you have a low rate), but debt (outside a home mortgage) is a bad thing, so focus first on paying off your student loans (do this at all costs, no one wants to be paying off student debt at the same time they see their first gray hair!).

2. Continue to live with your parents and do not get an apartment. If you're lucky enough to have parents who do not force you out (just because you're over 18) or charge you to live at home, then you've hit the lottery (just think: free food, heat, water, TV, Internet, etc.). Your parents can actually be cool to hang out with (just make sure to have plenty of wine in the house)

3. Do not buy a new car. As I've said before, a new car is a colossal waste of money (whether you are 22 or 60) given that most new vehicles depreciate an average of 45 percent in the first three years! Take the bus or mass transit or look for a bare bones used car that has basic safety feature like stability control, airbags, ABS, etc.

4. Pay for things in cash and if you don't have cash then don't buy it. This tip is really about controlling how you use your credit card. It's ok to have one and use it but be sure to pay off the full balance each month (this will actually help you build a good credit score so that when you go and buy a house you'll get a better mortgage rate and don't have to ask Aunt Peggy for the down payment).

5. Max out your 401K contribution immediately, especially if your company offers a match. There's plenty of data that states that the sooner you start saving the faster your money will compound. And remember that you're saying no to free money if your employer offers a company match!

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Resumes Objectives Are Not Necessary Says 59% of the New Grad Life Community

After 441 votes, 59% of the New Grad Life Community believes that resume objectives are not necessary. What's you take on this? Comment below!

Poll Results - "Are resume objectives necessary?"

Yes: 29%
No: 59%
Not sure: 12%