Everything You Need to Know About Writing a Resume

Everything You Need to Know About Writing a ResumeIf you are just starting your career, you may be wondering about all of the things you need to know about writing a resume. It can seem to be an overwhelming task, but if you have any idea about how resumes work and how they should be presented, it will be easy for you to get started. With a little practice, you should be able to find your dream job within a few days.The first thing you need to do is create a basic outline for the resume that includes everything you want to include. Make sure that the information you include is clear and concise. The resume can be written in different styles, but you want to make sure that each section of the resume fits neatly within the rest of the document. A well-written resume will help your chances of being selected for an interview.Once you have this basic format in mind, take some time to think about the information you want to include. Think about how your skills could help your potential emp loyer. If you are a great writer, there is no reason that you shouldn't have one in mind as you write your resume.Do not forget to include these important parts of your resume: education, work experience, and education level. These parts can help a recruiter or hiring manager to know what they are looking for in the position you are applying for. You will also want to include contact information such as your e-mail address and telephone number. If you have any special skills, you should also list them here as well.Before you start writing your resume, review your sample resume to see if it includes all of the information you need. That way, you will know exactly what to write. When you are done with your sample resume, reread it. You might want to make a few changes if needed. For example, if you are not sure about the part that lists your educational information, rewrite the resume to include it.Once you have a sample resume, copy and paste it onto a word processor. Review it sever al times. Then, take a few minutes to proofread it.Having these things in mind will help you achieve your dream job faster and easier. And having a resume that is very professional and professionally done will help you in getting the interview that you deserve. Keep these things in mind and you should be well on your way to success.

How Fast Can I Get a Small Business Credit Card

How Fast Can I Get a Small Business Credit Card Q: I just started a new business. How long do I have to wait before I can get a small business credit card? A: You don’t have to wait until your business has been established for a specific period of time before you apply for a small business credit card. Most card issuers will base their decision on your personal credit scores, along with financial information you provide on your application, so as long as you have good personal credit scores and meet other requirements (such as income) you should qualify. In fact, now may be the perfect time to get a small business credit card. Separating your business and personal finances from the outset offers a number of advantages. For one thing, you’ll find bookkeeping easier, helping you avoid tax-time headaches that can arise when you mingle accounts. Plus, if you have incorporated your business, keeping accounts separate will help protect the integrity of the corporate structure. And credit cards offered to small business owners often come with rich rewards and generous sign up bonuses. Using a business credit card provides another valuable benefit. It can help you weather bumps in cash flow while protecting your credit. Most business credit cards don’t report activity to owners’ personal credit reports unless they default. (This chart explains how the major issuers report business cards to personal credit.) That means if one month you need to charge a large amount to stock up on inventory, for example, your personal credit scores are immune from a high balance that can hurt your scores. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carefully watch what you spend on one of these cards, though. You’ll no doubt sign a personal guarantee when you apply, so if your business folds before you pay off the balance, you can’t just walk away from the debt. In addition, most issuers share account data with business credit reporting agencies, which means large balances or late payments can hurt your business credit scores. On the other hand, using one of these cards responsibly will help build strong business credit scores, which will serve you well down the road should you seek additional financing. If you recently left your job and you have no income to speak of, however, you may have a hard time qualifying. (Keep in mind, though, that issuers may allow you to include other income available to you, such as your spouse’s income.) Applying before you quit your day job often makes sense. Also, business credit cards are not covered by the CARD Act, the federal law that protects consumers from costly gotchas like interest rate hikes at any time and for any reason, or shifting due dates. But many card issuers have extended some or most of these protections to their small business cardholders as well. (You might want to read that cardholder agreement and save a copy to make sure you understand the terms. It is your loan contract, after all.) Overall, though, the pros of getting a small business card when you start your business will usually outweigh the cons. There’s no need to wait. Gerri Detweiler is Head of Market Education for Nav, which helps small business owners monitor and build strong personal and business credit, and create financially healthy companies. She is the coauthor of Finance Your Own Business with attorney Garrett Sutton. She’s been answering credit questions for more than twenty years. Email yours to her at creditquestions@Nav.com. Read next: MONEY’s Picks for the Best Credit Cards 2015-2016

How To Deal With Multiple Jobs At The Same Employer On Your Resume - Work It Daily

How To Deal With Multiple Jobs At The Same Employer On Your Resume - Work It Daily Resume writing comes with many questions like what to include, how much to include, and how far back to go when it comes to detailing work experience. It can get particularly complicated when you’ve worked with the same employer and held several positions with them. Related: How To Quantify Your Accomplishments On A Resume How do you layout all the information on the resume so that it’s succinct, yet tells a story that will impress the potential employer? Some employers may see your long-term employment as dedication, but to other employers, it may raise red flags on whether you can adjust to a new job and if you’ve made progress in your career by staying with one employer. To add to the complication, you also have to think about how to format the content on your resume so that it’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS)-friendly. Poor formatting means the ATS may skip over an entire section of information on your resume. For more on the ATS, read: “5 Tips To Improving Your Applicant Tracking System Ranking.” To help ease the resume writing process in situations where you have held several jobs with one employer, follow these tips: 1. Only list one period of employment with each employer. The ATS looks for a certain pattern of information to tell it where one section of your work experience begins and where it ends. It usually looks for dates on the resume to locate job titles and employers, so you should avoid listing more than one period of employment with each employer if you don’t want to confuse the ATS. There are several ways in which you can format your information: Company Name, List Your Job Titles (start with the most recent first) (Date of Employment) â€" It’ll read like XYZ Company, Office Manager / Executive Assistant / Administrative Assistant (2012 â€" Present). Make note to also put a space before and after each “/.” The ATS may not know to search for keywords in combination of a “/.” Company name, Present Job Title (Date of Employment) â€" It’ll read like XYZ Company, Office Manager (2012 â€" Present). Include information on other positions held under the heading along with the rest of the content you highlight for the work period. For example, Earlier positions include….then include highlights from the positions. There’s no need to break down the period of employment for each of the prior positions. 2. Highlight your promotions. When you’ve been with an employer long, potential employers fear you may have fallen too comfortable with them and your skills and progression for advancement has remained stagnant. To alleviate these negative perceptions, draw attention to any changes you’ve made in positions held. It can be a move you made to work in a different department or highlighting your successes and promotions on the job. For example, using a bullet point, indicate: Promoted within 9 months for exceptional client relations skills that resulted in the win of pharma client’s global marketing business. 3. Prioritize your information. When you have several jobs under one employer grouped together on the resume, it’s important to prioritize the information you have under it. While describing your roles and responsibilities and highlighting achievements and success, think about the order of importance and relevance. You want to lead with what’s most impressive to the potential employer first. Utilizing these tips, you’ll have a resume that demonstrates to potential employers that you’re a candidate with great potential â€" you’re not only dedicated, but you can also perform and achieve outstanding results. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts How To Customize Your Resume 3 Tips For Flaunting Your Value On Your Resume How To Make Dates On A Resume Work For You About the author Don Goodman’s firm was rated as the #1 Resume Writing Service in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Don is a triple-certified, nationally recognized Expert Resume Writer, Career Management Coach and Job Search Strategist who has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Check out his Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call him at 800.909.0109 for more information. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!