7 Ways to Improve Your Resume

1. Make it custom. Create a special resume for each different position to improve your resume.  List characteristics the employer is looking for. Be creative, but don’t lie. A detailed description of how to customize a resume will be soon.

     Ex: For a childcare position: Watched neighbors kids = performed private childcare

2. Read the past. Look at past reviews from previous employers and use the positive remarks on your improved resume. A second place to find the right words is to look at the responsibilities paper from prior job titles.

3. List everything. Write down all job duties including those that ‘technically’ were not your job to improve your resume. Include duties not done everyday.

     Ex: Train the new employee = trained new employees
     Ex: Looked at new employee progress = supervised employees

4. Use action verbs. Switch out ordinary words with professional words to improve your resume. Pick up a Thesaurus (a book of synonyms and antonyms) at the Dollar Tree, Walmart or thrift store. Another option when using a computer is to select the word and right-click, then hover over synonyms.

Ex: answered phones = operated multi-line switchboard.  Word List

5. Check spelling. Try the SpellCheck feature when using a word processing program, but look for autocorrect mistakes. Autocorrect is when the computer corrects a word that you want spelled in a different way.

    6.   Keep it fresh and short. Always have an updated resume; it only takes a few  minutes to add a new job. Most resumes should be only a page long.

7. Write different type of skills. Use job specific words and general skills. J
   ob specific examples: Knows web-based programs, experienced with computer   machinery. General skill examples: multi-tasking skills, quick learner, works efficiently.

Work and Help Others

The Indianapolis Star published an article today about how PNC bank is allowing their employees to volunteer in the community. I think this is a great opportunity and ties comfortably to an article I wrote about helping others.  Specifically, workers can take forty hours of paid leave throughout the year to serve at any preschool. For an added bonus, after the forty hours are accrued the then the corporation will donate a thousand dollars to that school in the volunteer’s name.

I think this is a step in the right direction and hopefully other companies take suit. Sadly, it will take the workforce to mention/arrange for their employers to start such a program. With persistence volunteers, working with their managerial staff can make a difference.


   Job Fair Listings for Indianapolis Page

Indianapolis Merchandising and Mystery Shopping Job Hustle

 Ccd Contact Barcode Scanner USB Light Rugged Design Black

USB Barcode Scanner

         Indianapolis is a large city with tons of opportunities for those interested in Merchandising and Mystery jobs. Imagine getting paid to walk around the grocery store in your neighborhood, and getting paid to do it. Or consider going to see a movie, and get paid to document how large the audience was. Sounds like a great gig, huh?

Did you know that Merchandising is the hidden job market? This industry works to keep consumers purchasing products from retailers. They record information on displays to entice more sales and report the data. People who are merchandising are the ones that when you ask for help in a store their response is “I don’t work for (name of the store)”.


Make the most out of Job you hate

        

DO NOT GET SCAMMED

There are tons of scams in this retailing industry. Here is an important pointer to avoid it.

Do not pay for a list of companies-

• The information is already out there for free. Look at reputable places like Pat Henry,  NARMS.com (National Association for Retail Market Services) or the very popular Volition.com forum that provides tons of information on both Merchandising and Mystery Shopping jobs.

Blog post- The Kardashian Work Plan For Real Folks

Merchandising Companies:   

Marketforce

Acosta Retail Service

ATA Retail Services

Mystery Shopping Companies
Goodwin & Associates
Trensource
Sights on Service Inc

What Skills Do I Need ?

People that are computer literate and have an internet connection are qualified to work in this field. The physical ability to stand on feet, stoop and bend are required. Basic counting and multiplication skills are also needed.

An example of merchandise positions:

•  Auditor – Records quantity of specific products
• 
  Product Demonstrator- Demonstrate and allow sampling of products
• 
  Installers- Set-up or re-arrange new displays
•  Seat counter – Counting of chairs in a theatrical release

      I Gotta Feeling                  Man In The Box         Your Decision         Runaway [Explicit]

7 Ways to Temp Your Way Free

Temporary Staffing Services.(Westchester County, New York)(Directory): An article from: Westchester County Business Journal

Use temporary work for creating your own seasonal  employment. Some people call it a hiatus, others unemployed. The difference is your perception. If you are like me, you enjoy your free time, but need to work sometimes. I am providing a small excerpt from this article about how I became my own seasonal worker.

7 Ways to Temp Your Way to a Relaxed Schedule  

1. Register for warehouse and office work. Covering both areas translates to more jobs for you.
2. Try to be flexible about work times. The more the merrier.
3. Work everywhere. Don’t limit yourself to only your side of town.
4. Try everybody. Go to more than one staffing agency.
5. Make them remember you. Try to have a memorable conversation.
6. No pop quiz for you. Expect the tests they give you, be ready.
7. Just say no. Be aware of drug testing.

Do you hate your job ?

Have You Considered Working For The Man ?- Government Job

Many disregard the thought of working for a state or federal government. Placing individual objections to the  side may be worth it to get a job with good benefits. Working for the 'man' is a job secret that is rarely discussed. The government includes federal, state (Indiana), city (Indianapolis) and county (Marion).
Listed below are reasons to consider being a government employee. Specific Indiana links are listed below.

Work For The Government Motivations

• Low Termination Rate – A ‘myth’ with government employment exposes how difficult it is to get fired. In some situations, this may be true, because as long as you show-up then you keep your job. The unwritten law is that many state and federal division are accustomed to complacency (laziness) among their workers.
• 
  Cost of Living Increase - In thriving financial eras, federal employees collect an extra amount to their pay noted as cost of living. This occurrence comes about after Congress has settled on the budget. (This may not happen during a recession.)

Job Security – Government workers are inundated with work that is never fulfilled. Even those that try to stay on top usually fall behind due to lack of staff or large workloads. For the potential employee, this stands for a safe career spot.

• Schooling Paid – Various state and federal employee programs compensate for college courses taken. Different departments may have detailed rules, but at least a fraction of tuition may become paid from the employer.

Federal Government Job examples

http://www.usajobs.gov/

District Court

U.S. Bankruptcy Court http://www.uscourts.gov/Careers.aspx

Immigration Office

Social Security Administration http://www.ssa.gov/careers/

Indiana Job Links

 Indiana State Employment

http://www.in.gov/spd/2334.htm

City of Indianapolis and Marion County Employment

http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/Controller/HR/Employment/Job/Pages/JobOpportunities.aspx

Marion County Health Department

http://www.hhcorp.org/hr.htm

State and Local Government Job examples

 Welfare Offices

Community Programs

State College and Universities

Public Defender

Child Support Office

Top 4 Ways To Cope With a Job You Hate

   Staying at a job you do not like can be hard. It takes a strong person to stay there when every part of your soul screams leave. A few pointers can help you make the most of this bad situation. Below is a small excerpt from a larger article I wrote.


 1. Do something - Look into transferring to a different department or position.


 2. A unique special something - Find an item or some peculiar whatever... and leave it at the job. store or park you can look at to rejuvenate during the week.


3. Get some class –  Take a few enrichment classes at work to learn a new skill or meet new people .


4. Switch-up environment - Find other people to hang out with; someone you think is interesting but haven’t made that friendly gesture yet.


 Do you want to know about mystery shopping ?

Indianapolis Seasonal Employment Secrets

I recently wrote an article about why to look for seasonal or holiday work. Do you think it is just for college kids? Everyone can benefit from openings at this festive time of year. Below is a list of 3 areas to find seasonal employment.

List of 3 Indianapolis Places to Find Work

·        Retail- Job prospects include cashiers, the sales floor and overnight stocking positions. Every store from Toys R Us and Target to Walmart and Dollar Tree need workers for the increase of shoppers.

·        Delivery/Logistics – The increase of packages sent and delivered equates to hiring more people to ensure the task is completed. The United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express (Fed Ex) and the U.S. Postal Service all hire seasonal workers during their peak season. Positions include clerks, package handlers, drivers and drivers’ assistants.

·        Work from Home- The under the radar at home job market employs holiday workers, as well. Customer Service Representatives at home work assignments at large companies like West At Home (http://www.westathome.com/) that employ for ShopNBC and Toys R Us. Another business that employs work from home workers for the holidays is Meijer stores (toll free number (800) 619-0111).

 Northwest Indianapolis Colts Gridiron Fleece Throw     

I hope this helps !