How to Include Internships on Your Resume - Your Career Intel

How to Include Internships on Your Resume - Your Career IntelA resume with internship experience can help boost your qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to your chosen field. But once you have a few years of relevant work experience under your belt, those summer internships are less important and might even distract from your current professional achievements.Deciding when and how to include internship experience on your resume can be tricky. unterstellung are a few rules of thumb our recruiters follow.When to keep internships on the resumeDo any of the following apply?You have limited professional work history (2 years or less).Youre pivoting careers and past work experience is not as relevant to your new path, but a former internship is applicable.You completed a prestigious, highly competitive internship, like a White House internship.If you answer yes to any of the above, keep the internship on your resume but carefully consider where you include it and how you showcas e your skills in action.Where to put internships on your resumeFor prestigious internships, simply referencing the organization may be enough. Rather than dedicating precious space to detailing duties you performed five years ago, consider listing the resume under Additional Experience. Youll benefit from the branding boost without distracting from your current professional accomplishments.Additional Experience White House Internship Summer 2013If you have limited work experience or youre pivoting careers, include your internship under your resumes main Professional Experience section.What to include When including an internship, hone in on the responsibilities and skills that are most relevant to your current field and demonstrate initiative and leadership potential. Sure, spending five hours a day researching industry trends may have felt mind numbing during your internship, but now youre a research machine who can quickly synthesize information and identify overlooked opportuniti es. Does your resume reflect this?Dont simply list tasks showcase your skills with strong action verbs.You were a research machine. Try Audited, analyzed, forecasted, identified, and tracked.You wrote or communicated. Try Authored, composed, documented, drafted, edited, and promoted.You managed a project or oversaw volunteers. Try Coordinated, executed, organized, designed, developed, and spearheaded.You improved a process or increased efficiency. Try accelerated, achieved, advanced, centralized, enhanced, streamlined, reorganized, and updated.Finally, quantify your accomplishments. Wrote social media posts doesnt tell someone very much about the volume and frequency of your work or the end result. Instead, try Drafted six daily social media updates to engage prospects on Twitter and LinkedIn, increasing click-through rates by 37% and boosting trial sign-ups by 45%.For more resume tips, be sure to check out the following blogResume Skills Section 4 Dos and DontsHow to List Education on Your Resume

Millennials Heres How To Bring Your Plant Obsession To The Office

Millennials Heres How To Bring Your Plant Obsession To The bro Certain trends never truly die they just alternate between being very popular and almost nonexistent. One of those trends currently on the up-and-up? Showing off your green thumb.The Washington Post recently highlighted how much millennials love plants plant ownership can extend from having one plant in your living room to hundreds of them throughout your apartment. But you dont have to limit your love of plants to just your home. As many independent plant nursery owners can tell you, you can easily bring your flora to work as well.If youre looking to spruce up your cubicle at work (no pun intended), here are a few plants you should consider bringing to the office.1. Christmas cactus(Sourceoffice environment (55F - 70F).2. Spider plant(SourceStudies have shown it to be an air-cleansing plant, meaning that it removes pollutants and particulate matter (like dust) from the air. Despite all its benefits, it remains a low-mai ntenance plant, so purchase a size-appropriate pot and just keep an eye out for any yellowing leaves.3. Air plant(Source4. Dracaena rikki(Source ASPCA, dracaena are toxic to dogs and cats.5. Philodendron(Source 6. African Violet(Source Instagram)These flowers make a beautiful addition to your desk. They must stay in indirect sunlight (a.k.a. bright, indoor office lighting) and warm temperatures. They require regular watering and re-potting, but the environments that theyll thrive in the most are similar to ones that youre comfortable in as well. You can easily judge if you need to do more for your African violet based on your personal level of comfort.7. Succulent(Source We couldnt make a list of office plants and not include succulents Theyre little, lower maintenance and look great for your Instagram. But be careful though they dont need a lot of water, succulents do need bright light and a specific potting mix. If youre not able to provide either, you may want to choose a differ ent plant on this list.

The Unexplained Puzzle Into Writing a Good Summary on Resume

The Unexplained Puzzle Into Writing a Good Summary on Resume Writing a resume can be plenty of work. After you own a list of your strengths and abilities, and youve identified the essential requirements of work, it is not hard to tailor your resume employing a high school resume template. Writing your very first high school resumecan look like a daunting take. The opportunity to polish your career summary is a bit later. The great news is, youre likely going to have more data than you demand. Youre going to compose a resume summary which gets far more interviews. A superb career summary is a significant portion of the career summary for the reason that it adds depth and clarity to your resume. Writing a Good Summary on Resume No Longer a Mystery The resume summary will function as their sales pitch. At length, a superb career summary focuses on your capacity to provide value to the corporation. The absolute most efficient summaries target one career objective. Ok, I Thi nk I Understand Writing a Good Summary on Resume, Now Tell Me About Writing a Good Summary on Resume As stated above, a career summary isnt a career objective. You dont require experience to get achievements. Its fast and simple to use. Because resumes have limited space, your career objective has to be concise. In truth, its far better leave your reader with a couple questions theyd love to ask you. The niveauvoll goal and purpose of summary writing is to supply only the highlights or the main specifics and data. For instance, you may require a resume summary or a resume objective, but you ought not incorporate both. If its possible to speak to a couple specifics in your summary section, you will increase the probability of catching the employers eye. The Little-Known Secrets to Writing a Good Summary on Resume Irrespective of whether youre searching for an entry level job or larger career advancement, you most likely already understand how important your resume can be in your search to discover the ideal job. On the flip side, functional resumes are typically used by fresh graduates or individuals who have less experience but want to grab the work vacancy. The 30-Second Trick for Writing a Good Summary on Resume A summary statement should include a couple of specific, work-related abilities, and some relevant soft skills. Writing a strong and compelling resume summary can dramatically increase your odds of being called in for in interview, so its vitally important you know how to make yours stand out from the crowd. In every easy statement or any formal dissertation, you always have the option to locate a summary. If you follow the advice above you are going to have an interesting, compelling resume summary that is likely to make the reader want to find out more about you even regardless of your lack of work experience

Want the Job Make a Connection with the Interviewer

Want the Job Make a Connection with the InterviewerMake a Connection with the InterviewerWant the Job Make a Connection with the InterviewerYou researched the company, sent your resume, and got called for the interview. As your interview with the hiring manager progresses, you become increasingly convinced that this is the right move. The job excites you. But at the same time, you know there are at least two other well qualified finalists. How can you become the first choice?It will likely come down to how well you connect with the hiring manager and other interviewers.As interviewing expert Michael Neece says The candidate who gets the offer is the one who makes the strongest emotional connection with the interviewers. I believe what he says, and not just because I work with him. Yes, the hiring manager should match an applicants skill set with the needs of the job, but its equally important to feel comfortable with the person who gets hired. It comes down to communication and build ing an easy rapport. If both sides can connect in the interview, the candidate has a good chance at landing the job.If I ever had any doubt about that, it was erased in an interview of my own in the mid-1990s that landed me the job. In the first interview, I sensed a strong connection with the hiring manager, even to the point where we talked about our favorite snack foods. Excited about the job afterwards, I wrote a thank-you note, and included a discount coupon for her favorite snack (I happened to have one in the house). Days later, my new boss referred to the coupon and said, Nice touchThe lesson here? Making a personal connection in the interview, especially with your would-be boss, can really help your cause.Here are three tips for finding personal connections throughout the interview processBefore the Interview Research. Do a web search on your interviewer(s). Try to find something you have in common, whether it relates to the job, the company, the industry, or something else (like snack food). For instance, if the hiring manager likes meerbusen, a reference to a golf term cant hurt. Lets say youre explaining how you handled a previous work challenge When my project partner was out sick for several days, I felt as if I was stuck in a sand trap. So, I just kept my head down and blasted out of it by devoting a lot more energy and time. When I looked up, I was on the green.During the Interview Pay Attention. Keep your ears and eyes tuned in to what the hiring manager says, and anything in his or her body language that indicates excitement. Pick up on it and make a note (written or mental). If the topic is something you feel knowledgeable about and comfortable in addressing, engage. But dont overdo it and dont fake it. Keep it sincere and within the context of the topic youre discussing in the interview.After the interview (Last Chance) Send a Thank-You Note. The hiring manager has an impression of you already. How can you enhance it? Use the thank-you note to cover any points you didnt address in the interview that you feel would boost your chances. Allude to something from the interview in which you felt a strong connection to the hiring manager to help you make your point. It may be a similar background, a mutual acquaintance, or some other common interest.It may even have to do with snack foods.

When Impatience Is Good for Your Career - The Muse

When Impatience Is Good for Yur Career - The MuseWhen Impatience Is Good for Your Career Throughout our lives, were told to be a little more patient. From our parents when we complained while waiting in line for a rollercoaster, from our friends when theyre taking forever to get dressed (seriously Sarah, you dont need to spend two hours getting dolled up for the movies), and even from our managers when we think were ready for a promotion or to take on new responsibilities.But how often are we really in the wrong? And how often is our impatience, well, acceptable?The thing is, like some bad qualities, impatience can be a good thing in the right setting. Its a driving force for some of the worlds most successful entrepreneurs, and one could argue nothing would get done if we never questioned how fast something should take.Here are three times your eagerness can be bad for your career, and three times its actually beneficialIts Hurting it If You Expect Big Results Right AwayYou know thi s, but the higher your expectations, the more disappointed youll ultimately be when they arent met. So, when were impatient that somethings taking too long to get off the ground, or our careers are moving too slow, we never fully appreciate the small strides we make along the way.Achieving some of your biggest goals will take time- and often, theyll take multiple tries and consist of many failures. Rather than twiddle your thumbs expecting everything good to happen right now, be patient that things will happen at the right moment, when youve put in the right amount of effort.Read More 4 Ridiculously Smart Reasons to Slow Down at WorkIts Helping it if You Know Things Should Happen SoonerThat said, some things go on longer than you know they should- maybe youve done this before in past jobs or know from experience that somethings off. Let your impatience question systems that are outdated, inefficient, or slow- even if you cant directly change them, you can often start productive conv ersations on ways to do things better.Related 3 Useful Phrases to Say Instead of My Old Company Did This BetterIts Hurting it If Youre Too Quick to ReactYou sent someone an email yesterday, and they havent gotten back to you yet, so you send them a follow-up email. Then another one two days later. Then you ping them on Slack to see if they got your message. In the day to day, being impatient in how you communicate will only lead people to ignore you or dislike working with you. No one likes a nag.Give people the respectable amount of time to do something, and trust theyll get it done (and when they dont meet your deadlines, then you can follow up).Read MoreHow to Get People to Take Your Deadlines Seriously (Without Being Rude)Its Helping it If Youre ProactiveHowever, if your impatience just means that youre eager to get involved and help out, thats OK.The people who spin their impatience into a positive thing do so by focusing on what they can do rather than what they need from othe rs. Otherwise, when you find yourself getting antsy over someone elses delay, ask yourself What systems can I create to encourage people to work faster? What pieces can I do without them? What can I get started now to make it easier for them to schliff later?Read More How to Stealthily Motivate Your Lazy Co-workers to Pull Their WeightIts Hurting it If You Want to Move Up Before Youre ReadyIf youre six months into your job, you probably wont get promoted. If youre 23, youre probably not qualified for a C-level position. If youre three weeks into a new role, you probably wont get to represent that next big account.These are unfortunately the realities of your career. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule (we all know a friend of a friend who got promoted after only three months), but for the most part, you shouldnt expect a raise or promotion or some other big career opportunity before youre truly ready for- and youve earned- it.Read More3 Questions to Ask Yourself if You Keep Getti ng Passed Over for PromotionsIts Helping it If You Find Ways to Challenge YourselfThat said, some of that impatience might just be a form of ambition. Maybe youre not qualified for a position bump, but youve mastered your job and are ready for more responsibility, so you talk to your boss about taking on new projects. Or, you zupflmmel up a side gig. Or, you decide to learn to code so you can fix your sites problems on your own.Impatience can be an amazing thing when its converted into drive. It forces you to think of new and different places to take your career, push yourself a bit further, and ultimately achieve your goals.Read More How to Know if Youre Being Ambitious- or Just Plain Old ImpatientImpatience gets a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. However, when you choose to turn it into something productive and motivating, it can have a huge, positive effect on your career.The key is knowing when its acceptable to push forward, and when its better to wait it out.

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the Media

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the MediaHow to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the MediaA friend of mine recently called and said she was about to draft a pitch promoting herself as a food expert to several broadcast outlets. She asked if I would take a look once she was done. Several days later, her email popped up. The subject? This feels so weird.You dont need to be a PR expert to know that its much easier to tout a product than it is to tout yourself. But if youre just getting your company, business, or blog up and running, you likely dont have the resources to recruit a full-time PR person or agency support. Which leaves the PRing (along with most other things) to you.As a PR professional who has happily pitched clients products and uncomfortably pitched my own brain, I can tell you It doesnt ever stop feeling weird. But it does get easier. If youre struggling with how to promote yourself, keep these tips in mind.1.Be ProfessionalPitching yourself will likely evoke a whole spectrum of emotions, but when it comes to the actual pitch, keep it business-appropriate. Most importantly Dont be overly casual (or no one will take you seriously), dont be too verbose (or no one will read your email), and dont be rude, arrogant, or obnoxiously self-promotional.This may sound obvious, but theres an important differentiation between pitching yourself and pitching a product When youre pitching yourself, the booking producer not only needs to like what you have to say. He also needs to like you.2.Back it UpIf youre new on the speaking circuit or just looking to book your first interview, youre going to need to really convince the booking producer or journalist that youve got the smarts theyre looking for. So beyond introducing yourself and your expertise, include relevant stats, articles, and anecdotes to support your narrative. Explain what differentiates your expertise from other people talking about a similar subject- maybe its the research youve recently conduct ed or the access you have to key influencers in the industry- as well as why your expertise is especially relevant to the outlet youre pitching.Each pitch differs, but heres a general framework to consider In 2 -3 sentences, introduce who you are, your expertise and what youre pitching (e.g., to be considered for future food segments on the Today Show). Add 2-5 bullet points about why your narrative is relevant, compelling, and timely. Add 1-2 sentences about why youre perfectly positioned to be talking about this subject to this specific outlet. Add a brief bio with your high-level accomplishments, your availability, and ways for people to reach you.3.Be ConfidentNo matter what your expertise, there are likely topics or themes within that industry that youre not as well-versed on as others. If youre a food expert, like my friend, you may not be as knowledgeable about French cuisine as you are about Italian. Maybe your vegetarian recipes are lacking. But heres the deal No one needs to know that but you.When pitching yourself as an expert, you need to convince whomever youre pitching that you are, actually, an expert. So tell your various and wide-ranging insecurities to shush, and put forward your smartest, most confident self.4.But Dont OversellRemember that confirming an interview is not the end game- successfully promoting your brand is. So while you want to come across as confident and knowledgeable, you dont want to B.S. your whole pitch. If you do, youre only going to end up hurting your reputation- and future opportunities- by sounding silly on-air or getting blacklisted by the booking department. Instead, give yourself a bit more time to get up to speed on your industry.5. Be PreparedOnce you send that pitch out, consider yourself on-call- especially when pitching yourself to broadcast outlets. One way to not make friends with the booking department? Pitch yourself as an expert on a story, like the government shutdown, and then not make yourself availa ble for interviews while the government is actually shut down.Also, make aya youre 110% comfortable and ready to speak to whatever information you include in your pitch. If there are stats you cite, make sure theyre legitimate. If youre offering up exclusive information to one outlet, dont talk to any other reporters about it. You want people to be impressed by what youre offering, and then more impressed once they meet you- not less so.Promoting yourself as an expert is a really effective way to raise your own profile and that of your brand. But theres no getting around it Its tricky, awkward, and, as my friend pointed out, totally weird. But dont let the icky feelings deter you You are uniquely positioned to share what you know. As long as you dont creep people out in the process, well be seeing you on the Today Show (or in the New York Times) soon enough.Photo of woman on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.

14 Tips For Anyone Thinking of Freelancing

14 Tips For Anyone Thinking of Freelancing14 Tips For Anyone Thinking of FreelancingIn 2008 I quit my job as research director at a technology company. I was burned out after four years of non-stop high-pressure work and didnt know what I was going to do next. I decided to take a month off and not look for a job. What emerged in the six years since then was a solid career as a freelance writer, a completed masters degree in writing and a life in which I have a lot more freedom than I ever envisioned as a full-time employee. But it wasnt easy, and I made a lot of mistakes.If youre considering working for yourself as a contractor or freelancer and working from home, here are some things you should consider based on what Ive learned.1. Be Clear on Why You Want to FreelanceMy original goal when I started freelancing was to write a book. The book turned into a graduate degree and a completed 230-page thesis. About a year after graduation my personal writing turned into drawing. Freelancin g is a great way to have the freedom you want to pursue other things, whether thats family, travel, a side project, or an artistic project. The more clear you are on what you want to do with your non-paid time, the easier it will be to focus on your paid work.2. Use your Network and LinkedInI wouldnt have been able to have a freelance career had I not put effort into building my network before I left the corporate world. When I was employed full-time I connected on LinkedIn with everyone I was connected to in real life, both inside and outside my job. If you work for a company of 150 people, thats at least 100 connections. After every event I attended I diligently went through the cards I had collected and made connections on LinkedIn. I also wrote a few recommendations and was recommended in turn.I wrote a summary on my LinkedIn page, used keywords and provided the saatkorn detail as on my resume under each of my positions. If youre in any business remotely related to technology, L inkedIn is your lifeline. Complete your profile, upload a photo, and use keywords. While some clients I already knew, others were friends of friends and some came through blind searches for a specific skill set.3. Schedule Work Time and Be FlexibleIm the sort of person who can be entertained by herself all day, whether thats making things, learning about new things, and yes, wasting time on the Internet. Many books on creativity will tell you to schedule your creative time. I found scheduling my work time to be a more effective strategy than scheduling my non-paid time. For someone like me who wants to be doing creative stuff 24/7, its better schedule my left-brain paid time so my right brain knows when it can come out to play. Ive made the mistake of leaving art supplies on my desk and losing an entire afternoon to a drawing.Every day is different. Based on my deadlines I wake up every day with a guesstimate of how many hours I will need to work. This allows me to gauge how much ti me I have to fit in other things, which could include making art, updating my website, working out, networking events or other appointments.For big projects I gather information over time and then spend one or two days working non-stop, clearing my schedule of other appointments ahead of time. I would rather work till midnight a few days a month and have whole afternoons to devote to things that I find fun. When you are not bound to the world of 9-5, you are free to find out how YOU like to work, however eccentric that may be. Its probably not 9-5.4. Show Current Work Samples on Your WebsiteIf LinkedIn is your ad, your website is your full brochure. Add samples or links and update your client list as soon as a project is completed. Ive seen many freelancer websites that dont show anything the person has done since 2010. Would you want to hire someone who doesnt look like theyve been working in the brde 4 years? On the other hand, dont be afraid to share samples of old work. One rece nt client hired me because they liked a report I wrote in 2009.5. Set Boundaries with Your FriendsYou may have friends and family members who want to hang out or call you to chat during the day, and its up to you to teach them how to contact you and not drop by without notice. If you let people push your boundaries on easy days, it will be hard to make them go away when youre on a tight deadline.I made a habit of scheduling lunches, knowing that I have to eat anyway and I get tired of making lunches at home.6. Pushing Back on Timing is OKYou are in charge of your schedule. Often clients want projects done immediately, and its your jobset boundaries. I managed two new projects plus ongoing work for Simply Hired during a cross-country move. Both new clients were willing to work with me knowing that there was one week in which I would be unavailable. Be honest about your deadlines on other projects. Just as doctors have other patients in their schedule, potential clients know that you have other clients. If they want your services, they will work within your availability.7. Know What You are WorthIf setting prices makes you uncomfortable, do some research. Talk to other freelancers and people who hire freelancers. I avoid giving quotes in writing. Discussing pricing in person or over the phone gives you the opportunity to negotiate. You will sense immediately if your price is too high. I prefer to bill by the project rather than the hour, since I dont like keeping track of hours. Find out what works in your industry.I dont believe in working for free or below market rate. Therefore, I have never worked for free or below market rate. Ive had plenty of people try to lowball me with hourly rates more appropriate for a new college graduate with little experience. In those cases, I politely point to my 20 years experience and graduate degree. Working for less than you are worth will only make you feel resentment toward the people you are working for.8. Job Ads Are an Important Source of InformationEven though I have not looked seriously for a full-time job since starting freelancing, I still read job ads. Why? To keep abreast of changes in my industry and to find out which companies are hiring and might need freelance help. In the six years since I left my belastung office job a whole newfield called content marketing has emerged. I read job descriptions on Simply Hired for positions of people that might end up hiring me, such as a director of content. It helps me get a sense of all the things they have on their plate and how I can add value as well as informing me of the latest buzzwords in the field.9. Get Regular ClientsFreelancing doesnt mean you have to leave the security of a regular paycheck. I wrote a report every quarter for one of my first clients. This covered my expenses for over a year. Now I have a regular client that covers most of my expenses. Regular clients provide consistency in your work and give you peace of mind from having to chase the next client win while you are working on a big project.10. Save Money for TaxesIn the first few years I made the mistake of treating my income as I would a paycheck that already had taxes taken out. You will dread the month of April if you do this. I recommend hiring an accountant and making quarterly tax payments if you can. You will need to learn about what you can and cant deduct, how to account for your home office space and how to account for your car and computer equipment. If you plan on hiring others, you may want to consider forming an LLC or other tax entity. I file as a sole proprietor.11. Let Technology Help YouThere are technology solutions to help you with just about every problem you can imagine scheduling, project management, expenses and invoicing. Some of them are free. If not, they will give you a free trial. Research the ones that address your problems and pick one.I use Mint to track my spending. It makes preparing taxes much simpler by allowing me to categorize tax deductible expenses, label checks and split transactions (e.g., buying both office supplies and personal items at Target) into tax deductible portions. I useHarvestfor time tracking and invoicing. I use Evernote to take notes on client phone calls, clip articles related to a project and keep track of my published work. One of my clients uses Wrike to manage projects for its freelance and in-house writers.12. Read ContractsAfter you submit a verbal or written proposal for a project, the client will send you a contract. You will submit a W-9 and most likely need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Most of the companies I have worked with have a standard contract that includes a non-compete agreement, with an Exhibit or Statement of Work on the last page with information about the project and the payment terms. Read everything, and dont be afraid to ask questions. There are sometimes mistakes, and its your right to ask for the payment terms you want. For work b ased on a project fee, I usually ask for 50 percent upfront and 50 percent upon completion. Ongoing clients may ask that you submit your monthly invoice by a certain date each month.13. Get a Contact in AccountingDuring the contracting process you will likely be given an email address to accounts payable like, APcompanyname.com. I recommend sending an email to that address after getting started with a new client and making a personal connection to the person in accounting who answers it. There are a many things that can get in the way of you getting your money on time, and about all of them have happened to me.During the contracting process, ask your client how they would like to be billed, how often they pay, and if they pay bills on time. I have a friend who works at a company for which vendors have shut off services due to non-payment of bills more than six months past due. Needless to say, it is hard for him to find contractors.14. Plan to Receive Money in 30 Days by MailWhile I have heard of immediate payment terms and received it at times, this rarely happens. It seems no company likes to pay their bills early, and most want Net 30 terms. My one dream client pays invoices by direct deposit in about 10 days. Mostly though, I am obsessed with the mailbox.ConclusionFreelancing is possible for me because of the expertise and network I built up while working in the corporate world. The freedom I have now is the direct result of having paid my dues by working hard for many years. Depending on what you want to do, freelancing at an early stage in your career may not be the best choice. What I thought I wanted to at age 25 is different from what I was doing at age 35, and different from what I am now doing. The possibilities evolve as your assignments evolve, whether thats at a full-time job or a unique freelance project.The joy in a freelance life is the ability to set your own hours, work on a variety of projects and have the free time pursue your other intere sts. If you approach it with the attitude that you are better able to provide value to clients by having the freedom to work the way you want, you can have a successful freelance business.