19 Best Tips For Making A Fabulous Resume

While resumes should be tailored to the industry you're in, the one below offers a helpful guide for entry- and mid-level professionals with three to five years of relevant work experience.

 

A winning resume makes the difference between a potential employer wanting to meet you versus them hiring some other job candidate.

 

Here are 19 points that makes your resume best: 

1. Must includes a URL to the jobseeker's professional online profile.

If you don't include URLs to your professional online profiles, hiring managers will look you up regardless. Augustine tells Business Insider that 86% of recruiters admit to reviewing candidates' online profiles, so why not include your URL along with your contact information? This will prevent recruiters from having to guess or mistaking you for someone else.

2. Uses consistent branding.

"If you have a common name, consider including your middle initial on your resume and online professional profiles to differentiate yourself from the competition," says Augustine. For example, decide if you're Mike Johnson, Michael Johnson, or Mike E. Johnson. Then use this name consistently, be it on LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

3. Includes a single phone number and email address.

"Choose one phone number for your resume where you control the voicemail message and who picks up the phone," she advises. The same rule applies to an email address.

4. It does not include an objective statement.

There's no point in including a generic objective about a "professional looking for opportunities that will allow me to leverage my skills," says Augustine. It's not helpful and distracting. Ditch it.

5. It must includes an executive summary.

Replace your fluffy statement with an executive summary, which should be like a "30-second elevator pitch" where you explain who you are and what you're looking for. "In approximately three to five sentences, explain what you're great at, most interested in, and how you can provide value to a prospective employer," Augustine says.

6. Must uses reverse chronological order.

This is the most helpful for recruiters because they're able to see what you've been doing in recent years immediately, says Augustine. "The only time you shouldn't do this is if you're trying to transition to another career altogether, but then again, in this situation, you'll probably be relying more on networks," than your resume, she says.

7. Uses keywords like "forecasting" and "strategic planning."

Many companies use some kind of screening process to identify the right candidates. You should include the keywords mentioned in the job posting throughout your resume.

"Identify the common keywords, terminology, and key phrases that routinely pop up in the job descriptions of your target role and incorporate them into your resume (assuming you have those skills)," advises Augustine. "This will help you make it past the initial screenings and on to the recruiter or hiring manager."

8. Must provides company descriptions.

It's helpful for recruiters to know the size of the company you used to work for, advises Augustine.

"Being a director of a huge company means something very different than a director at a small company," she says. You can go to the company's "About Us" section and rewrite one or two lines of the description. This should be included right underneath the name of the company.

9. Does not list achievements in dense blocks of text.

Recruiters receive so many resumes to scan through at a time, so make it as easy as possible for them to understand why you're perfect for the job. Dense blocks of text are too difficult to read, says Augustine.

10. Achievements are listed in three bullet points per job.

Under each job or experience you've had, explain how you contributed to or supported your team's projects and initiatives. "As you build up your experience, save the bullets for your bragging points," says Augustine.

11. Quantifies achievements.

"Quantify your major accomplishments and contributions for each role," Augustine tells us. This can include the money you saved or brought in for your employer, deals closed, and projects delivered on time or under budget. Do not use any more than three to five bullet points.

12. Accomplishments are formatted as result-and-then-cause.

A good rule is to use the "result BY action" sentence structure whenever possible. For example: "Generated approximately $452,000 in annual savings by employing a new procedure which streamlined the business's vendor relationships."

13. White space draws the reader's eyes to important points.

Recruiters do not spend a lot of time scanning resumes, so avoid dense blocks of text. "The key is to format the information in a way that makes it easy to scan and recognize your job goals and relevant qualifications," Augustine tells us.

14. Never use crazy fonts or colors.

"Stick to black and white color," says Augustine. As for font, it's best to stick with the basics, such as Arial, Tahoma, or Calibri.

15. Must not include pronouns.

Augustine says you should never write your resume in third person because everyone knows you're the one writing it (unless you go through a professional resume writing service).

Instead, you should write it in first person, and do not include pronouns. "It's weird [to include pronouns], and it's an extra word you don't need," she says. "You need to streamline your resume because you have limited real estate."

16. No to images.

"Avoid adding any embedded tables, pictures, or other images in your resume, as this can confuse the applicant-tracking software and jumble your resume in the system," says Augustine.

17. Do not use headers or footers.

It may look neat and concise to display your contact information in the header, but for "the same reason with embedded tables and charts, it often gets scrambled in an applicant tracking system," says Augustine.

18. Education is listed at the bottom.

Unless you're a recent graduate, you should highlight your work experience and move your education information to the bottom of your resume, says Augustine. Never include anything about your high-school years.

19. It doesn't say "references upon request."

Every recruiter knows you're going to provide references if they request it so there's no reason for you to include this line. Again, remember that space on your resume is crucial so don't waste it on a meaningless line, Augustine tells us.

2 Secrets to Having Super-Productive Mornings

I am not a morning person. And I assume with confidence that many of you also despise rolling out of bed and getting right to work.
No fear. Behavior science expert and entrepreenur James Clear has some tips to help you jumpstart your mornings.

1. Manage your energy, not your time.

This is a big one. We often organize our days around tasks that need to be completed and the times we think they need to be completed by. However, we should be thinking instead about what tasks we accomplish best at what times during the day.
"Time is relatively useless if you don't have the energy to complete the tasks," Clear says.

2. Eliminate distractions.

Smartphones represent one of the biggest distractions for people in the mornings, Clear says. People wake up to an alarm on their phone, then pick it up and start checking the news and responding to emails. "Right away, from the very beginning, their mind is filled with all of the other urgencies of the day," Clear says. "They start to respond to someone else's agenda rather than their own."
Clear says he puts his phone in a separate room before bed, so that he is physically separated from those distractions. He also tries to avoid checking his phone and answering email until noon or 1 p.m.
Now, waiting that long to check email for many entrepreneurs and other professionals might be impossible (I know it is for me). But the idea of separating yourself from distractions before bed and right when you wake up is worth consideration.

10 Skills You Need To Get $100000 Engineering Job At Google

Google is among the most sought after employers in the world. Engineers are the rock stars at Google — and they're paid like one.

Interns start at $70,000 to $90,000 salaries, while software engineers pull in $118,000 and senior software engineers make an average of $152,985. But one does not simply walk into the Googleplex.

The company receives upwards of 2.5 million job applications a year, but only hires about 4,000 people.

For would-be Googlers, the Google in Education team has released a list of skills that they want to see in potential engineers.

"Having a solid foundation in computer science is important in being a successful software engineer," the company says. "This guide is a suggested path for university students to develop their technical skills academically and non-academically through self-paced, hands-on learning."

Here are the skills Google wants its tech talent to master, complete with online resources to get you started...

1. Learn To Code

Learn to code in at least one object-oriented programming language, like C++, Java, or Python. Consult MIT or Udacity.

2. Test Your Code

It’s not just important to know how to code. You should also be able to test code, because Google wants you to be able to 'catch bugs, create tests, and break your software.'

3. Have Some Background In Abstract Math

It is important to have some background in abstract math, like logical reasoning and discrete math, which lots of computer science draws on.

4. Get To Know Operating Systems

Get to know operating systems, for they'll be where you do much of your work.

5. Become Familiar With Artificial Intelligence

Become familiar with artificial intelligence. Google loves robots.

6. Understand Algorithms And Data Structures

Google wants you to learn about fundamental data types like stacks, queues and bags as well as grasp sorting algorithms like quicksort, mergesort and heapsort.

7. Learn Cryptography

Learn cryptography. Remember, cybersecurity is crucial.

8. Learn How To Build Compilers

Stanford says that when you do that, 'you will learn how a program written in a high-level language designed for humans is systematically translated into a program written in low-level assembly more suited to machines.'

9. Learn Other Programming Languages

Add Java Script, CSS, Ruby and HTML to your skillset. W3school and CodeAcademy are there to help.

10. Learn Parallel Programming

Also, learn parallel programming because being able to carry out tons of computations at the same time is powerful.

Successful People Vs Unsuccessful People

Business executives! Is it time to turn into business analysts?

You might be a business executive working in marketing, sales or operations team of your organisation. Up-skilling yourself with knowledge of using analytics technologies might just give your career path a face lift. Here is why:
Case I:  I am a business head responsible for sales and bottom-line profits of a major retailer.
Business needs:

• I want to analyse the past buying patterns of my customers
• Based on this I want to predict the kind of stock which is in demand at a particular point, and also, forecast the mix of products which gets picked up by different age groups.

This will help me sell intelligently to different kinds of consumers and give them a great shopping experience.
How can I quickly churn out such business critical data based on historic and real time data without depending on my tech team for data analysis?
This is a typical challenge a lot of enterprises are facing today.
Inspite of the availability of the analytics and business intelligence technologies there is a lack of professionals who can read available data using analytics, in the context of business needs and changing consumer preferences.
Rare combination of business acumen and knowledge of data analytics in demand
Kapil Tyagi, co-founder & chief product officer, Edureka highlights the industry sentiments shared that today, business decisions are moving away from gut feel or simple dipstick survey to well thought out decisions backed by data.
“Indian industries are increasingly demanding business analysts, typically management graduates, who know how to use analytics tools to track patterns emerging from historic as well as real time data generated by enterprise apps such as CRM, social media feeds etc. Such experts are needed to bring out insights which can be translated into quick business decisions. But the challenge is that this is a rare combination to find,” said Kapil.
He further shared that in the past few months Edureka has experienced an increase in demand for their analytics and data visualisation course among management graduates as well as among mid level business executives.
Understanding the emerging industry needs for such business analytics professionals, academic institutions such as IIM and MICA have also started offering courses in business analytics.
So, if you are a professional working in a business function – such as sales, marketing, operations – where analytics might take the business to the next level of profitability, this is just the right time to specialise in analytics.
Analytics courses for executives and management graduates

• Edureka offers business analytics course in R programming language

This entails classes on how to use R programming language for predictive analytics, association rule mining to perform prediction on the buyer’s next purchase, data visualisation to plot, etc.
“R programming is slightly more difficult than Excel and the professionals learn how to apply statistical equations, model the data-set, cull out the required information and also forecast possibilities,” said Kapil.

• MICA offers an online Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Market Research and Data Analytics (PGCPMRDA)

It is aimed at entry to mid level professionals who want to apply SAS and SPSS data analytical tools on market research data to come out with strategic business decisions.

• IIM Bangalore offers a Certificate Programme on Business Analytics and Intelligence

This program offers hands-on experience with software such as Microsoft Excel, Evolver, LINDO, Qlikview, SAS Enterprise Miner, SPSS, R, @RISK and other proprietary software to analyse using statistical and data mining techniques.

IIM B’s data centre and analytics lab also offers various short term workshops for working professionals who want to specialise in analytics technologies.

Finalyearstudentsproject - R&D Workflow

6 ways to nail the job interview

When Doug Mitchell took over as CEO of direct-sales company Argenta Field Solutions in 2011, he noticed something surprising. He noticed that most Gen-Y candidates, though tech savvy and digitally plugged-in, didn't seem to have a clue about how to dress for, prepare for or conduct themselves in an interview, making his job and the job of his hiring managers difficult.

One of my responsibilities is interviewing, while the final decision is made by our chief administrator or by the head of sales, I perform interviews as well as put a final stamp of approval on our hires. What I noticed was, especially with the latest crop of millennial candidates, they're completely unprepared. They don't understand how to dress, how to speak, how to comport themselves in a face-to-face interview," he says. "Millennials might be 'digital natives,' but they could use some pointers on good, old-fashioned face-to-face interaction at times," says Mitchell.

Six Tips to Nail an In-Person Interview

Whether you're a millennial looking to land your first job or you're a senior executive taking the next step in their career, there are some things you need to focus on to make a great first impression. "I focus on six general principles. While some might seem like common sense, they're always important to remember," says Mitchell,
Dress for the Role You Want
 Dress for the job you want, not to job you have - or the job you're applying for. You want to aim for the job that's one level above the one you've applied to; that shows the interviewer, subconsciously, that you're looking toward a future with the company, advises Mitchell.
"Yes, we're a direct sales company. We have fairly casual uniforms for our salespeople, but if someone walks through the door in a suit and tie, or a nice blouse, pantsuit or skirt and heels, that shows me they've taken the extra effort to make themselves look professional. Even before they open their mouth, I can see they could potentially be in management someday, "says Mitchell.

Leave Slang and Dialect at the Door

The way you talk with your friends should be the exact opposite of how you're talking to potential hiring managers. Keep it professional, formal and polite. "You'd think this wouldn't need to be said, but it does, because it has happened more than once. I've had people come in who pass the 'dress code' test, but the second they throw me a 'Yo, dawg,' it's over!, "Mitchell says.
Speaking with correct grammar goes a long way toward reinforcing the professional impression you've made by looking the part.

Bring Printed Copies of Your Resume

Yes, you've e-mailed your resume to the company. Your online profiles are updated and your LinkedIn profile is impeccable but even in this digital age, according to Mitchell, always bring at least two printed copies of your resume to the interview. "Don't even try to use the 'my printer's out of ink' or 'my printer died,' excuse. Trust me, I've heard that one a million times, "Mitchell says.

 In fact, in one instance Mitchell recalls, a candidate followed up that excuse by still producing printed copies of her resume - she'd emailed the file to FedEx/Kinko's and had it printed. "That helped her in two ways. First, she showed perseverance - she encountered an obstacle to a successful interview and figured out a way to overcome it, and second, she was able to use that story to show those qualities of persistence and out-of-the-box thinking in the interview, "Mitchell says.

Become an Expert on the Company

Whether the job you're applying for is your "dream job" or another rung on the ladder of your career, make sure to educate yourself about the ins-and-outs of the company. "You need to be genuinely interested in who we are, what we do and why, because that's going to come across to me in an interview," says Mitchell.
Public companies can be researched via Google or other Internet searches, or through LinkedIn, Glassdoor and other sites. For more on researching prospective employers please read, Top 8 Sites for Researching Your Next Employer.
In the interview itself, Mitchell says don't shy away from small talk, especially when it comes to the company, or if you've uncovered common interests shared with your interviewer. "Don't be afraid of small talk, but make sure you're not taking it overboard, "says Mitchell.
Using publically available information, you can usually find a common interest, even if it's just the fact that you're both huge fans of the company. "If you know everything there is to know about the company, what their goals are, who the competition is, what obstacles they've faced and overcome, that gives you a great basis for an ongoing conversation about how you can fit in," says Mitchell.

Never Badmouth Your Previous Employers

The best employees are never negative. If you are asked why you left your previous position or were let go, sure, be honest, but don't place blame or speak negatively about your previous, role, boss or organization. "Insightful employers are going to interpret any negativity to mean that you are the problem - especially if you cite the same reason for your last few employers," says Mitchell.

Ask About the Next Steps

The interview went well. You feel great, and you just know that you nailed it but don't get cocky. "Even if you feel you really nailed the interview and are a great potential fit for the job, don't assume it's a sure thing. You can ask a question like, 'What are the next steps? When can I expect to hear from you? If I were to get this position, what would happen then?'" says Mitchell.
This point of the interview is also a great time to reiterate what you know about the company and how you feel you'd be a perfect cultural and technical fit. By talking about the company, you can subtly show the interviewer how, by landing this role, you can get them an edge and help them beat their competition.

Final Thoughts

"Some of these tips may seem like 'common sense' to us older folks but from where I sit -- from the interviews I've done -- it can't hurt for Gen Y to take a few pointers from their older, wiser and more experienced peers, especially when it comes to interviewing," says Mitchell.