With a shaky job market and more applicants than job openings, those looking for a job need all of the help they can get. So start with having the best resume you can have.
First of all, make sure that it is updated with your most current information and job experience. Include any new skills or training that you may have acquired while out of a job.
Also, pay attention to some of the terms and language that you use. Remember that there are a lot of resumes out there, and you want to stand out from the crowd. Check out this article about common phrases that should be banned from your resume, and eradicate any from yours.
Don't forget to check it and recheck it for typos and mistakes. Ask a friend or family member you trust and has an eye for detail to make sure it is clean of any errors. Your resume is your first impression. So make sure that it is the best it can be before sending it out to potential employers.
When you think of work/life balance, working mothers come to mind as those most in need of the benefits. But times have changed, and a new study shows that working dads are now seeking more flexibility to spend time at home.
I recently read an article that talks about how many men are starting to look for alternatives to the 40-hour workweek so that they can spend more time with their children.
The past recession found that men were more likely to lose their jobs than women. This trend could be a reason why more men are seeking the flexibility that work/life benefits offer.
The roles of men and women have been changing for decades. Now, the roles of men and women are changing once again as flexibility, work/life balance and spending more time with the kids becomes the next phase of the genders' role reversal.
The recession has really thrown employees for a loop. Attitudes that were once taken by workers about their career paths and employers, have been altered to feel more at ease about the security of their job.
I read an article about a recent survey that reveals employees are now more willing to stay with their current employers for as long as possible. The article calls it being a workplace "nester".
There is nothing wrong with staying at one employer for a long period of time, but it is important to make sure that you are not selling your career path, or earning potential, short because of fear of leaving your job.
By staying with the same employer for a longer period of time, let's say beyond 3-5 years, employees may run the risk of missing out on opportunities with companies that provide better benefits or opportunities for growth.
Without having a change of scenery, your work ethic may become complacent and the quality of your work could suffer.
If you do choose to become a "nester" make sure that there are opportunities to move up within the company, and that you have the option to learn new skills and grow your expertise.
Although this may not be the best market conditions to ask for a raise or bonus, talk to your manager about other, non-financial perks that reward high-quality production, not to mention your loyalty and effort to be a team player.
