Category: Professional portfolios

Discover How To Create a Resume That’ll Get You Hired in No Time!

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

Your resume is often the first impression that potential employers have of you. Therefore, it’s imperative your resume stands out and catches their attention quickly.

Here are some action steps for writing a compelling resume that grabs the attention of employers and their representatives.

These resumes we hear so much about in the job market space represents us in important ways, so it’s vital to keep them working for us, when they’re structured properly. Let dive into ways we can make it compelling to get you the right type of attention.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
Make sure your resume is tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. Review the job description and identify the key skills, knowledge base, and qualifications that the employer is looking for. Then, highlight your own relevant experience and accomplishments that demonstrate those skills and qualifications distinctively.

Keep it Concise
Employers receive many resumes, so it’s important to keep yours concise and easy to read. Stick to one to two pages if possible and use bullet points to highlight your achievements, accomplishments and responsibilities in for each job. Do you best not to be wordy.

Use Strong Action Verbs
Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities in each job. For example, instead of saying “responsible for,” use verbs like “managed,” “led,” or “created.” It shows you are a candidate of action, not just words.

Focus on Your Achievements
Don’t just list your job responsibilities, focus on your achievements and how you made a positive impact in each job. Use numbers and percentages to quantify your accomplishments, such as “increased sales by 20%” or “managed a team of 10 employees.” For example, you can communicate that you implemented a strategy that saved the company X number of dollars over the X timeframe.

Include Relevant Keywords
Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes, so it’s important to include relevant keywords from the job description in your resume. This will help ensure that your resume gets past the ATS and in front of a human reader. It is the main reason you should tailor your resume for each job. The job description factors in heavily on whether your resume gets pass the ATS system, so edit your resume accordingly.

Highlight Relevant Skills to the Job You Are Applying
In addition to your work experience, highlight your skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job. This can include hard skills like proficiency in a particular software or programming language, as well as soft skills like communication and leadership. Any specific knowledge base relevant to the job should also be included.

Proofread and Edit
Before submitting your resume, make sure to proofread it carefully for errors and typos. You may also want to have someone else review it for you. A clean, error-free resume will show employers that you have attention to detail and care about presenting yourself in the best possible light.

A compelling resume is a key component to getting noticed by employers. By tailoring your resume to the job description, using strong action verbs, highlighting your achievements, including relevant keywords, and proofreading carefully, you can create a resume that will make a strong first impression and help you stand out from other candidates.

If you are looking for more extensive help with your resume(s), go to Live Resume Revision Consultation here to schedule your live resume consultation.
If you have general questions about your career path, interviewing, salary negotiation and other job-related topics, you can to go here. You can leave your voicemail or email and you will receive a response from me within 24 hours.

Looking for resume services, interview coaching and career strategy consultations? Go here.

Ready to have MentorShelly help you structure your business SOPs? Go Here.

If you are looking for help in the overall job market, interview tips and more, purchase my new book here.

Have an interview coming up and need a little help? Check out my resource here.
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3 Ways to Explain Employment Gaps in a Job Interview

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

Be Honest and Transparent:

It is always best to be truthful and upfront about any gaps in your employment history. Explain the reason for the gap, such as a layoff or downsizing, and emphasize the steps you took to stay active and productive during that time. For example, you could mention that you used the opportunity to update your skills through online courses, attend networking events, or volunteer in a related field to gain new experience. This shows the interviewer that you are proactive and took the time to improve yourself, even during a difficult situation.

Highlight Relevant Skills and Accomplishments:

Make sure to emphasize any relevant skills or accomplishments you gained or developed during your time out of work. This could include certifications, self-study, or volunteer work. Be specific about what you learned and how it will benefit you in the new position. This will show the interviewer that you were not just sitting idle during the gap in employment, but were actively working on improving yourself.

Focus on Your Goals and Aspirations:

Focus the conversation on your future goals and aspirations, and how the current position fits into your overall career plan. Explain why you are passionate about this field and the specific role you are applying for. This helps to shift the focus away from the gap in your unemployment and towards your positive qualities as a candidate. It also shows the interviewer that you have a clear vision for your future and are committed to finding a role that aligns with your long-term career goals.

Sometimes employment gaps can make the positive difference in an interview if you know how to spin it and capitalize on it. If you need additional help with helping you navigate job interview, check out my resource here. It will help you not only navigate employment gaps, this resource will help you prepare for the next job interview like a boss! Grab that resource today.

Looking for other services such as interview coaching, LinkedIn profile optimization and career strategy consultations? Go here.

If you are looking for help in the overall job market, interview tips and more, purchase my new book here.

Have a job interview coming up but need additional help to be successful with it? Check out the Interview Audio Program here that can help you navigate your next job interview with EASE.

Connect with me here
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Career ReVamp 4.2 – The Corporate Employee (Wrap-Up)

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

In the final part of the Career ReVamp Series, the integral parts of making the career transition and all the tools needed to make it easier. We know that changing careers, even if it needs to be done by force, is a process…not a sprint! Each parts of the process must be implemented strategically to increase your chances of a successful transition.

1. Career Tools Needed for the ReVamp

2. Need help with completing the new resume for you? Go here or if you just need the new resume to be reviewed professionally, then go here.

3. Want me to complete the new revamped career portfolio? Go here.

4. Are you getting interviews in your new career and want help getting prepared for it? Go here.

5. Need to schedule a career strategy session to have a clear path to revamp your career? Go here.

In Part 1 titled, Know Where You Are Now gives you a place to start. You have to where you are now.

In Part 2 titled, Putting Your Plan Together, helps you assess and document your skills, knowledge base, qualification and your overall professional persona. You should also document how to showcase what you have to offer will benefit your new career venture.

In Part 3.1, titled Entrepreneurial Track, you can use your knowledge base to start a viable business. This episode of the series reviews some aspects of business start-up activities.

Part 3.2 titled The Career Track goes into more detail about how to approach your career change choices. It provides an overview of the what you need to do when you change your career.

In Part 4.1 titled The Business Owner Path provided detailed steps to functional entrepreneurship and the specific steps you will need establish your next successful business as your new career venture.

If you have general career questions, comment below or connect with me by going here to leave a voice or email message.

Career ReVamp 4.1 – The Business Owner Path

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

In this episode, I put the finishing touches on business ownership as part of your career revamp which can provide ultimate freedom in the marketplace. It should not be taken lightly due to the self development it will require of you.

It’s going to take some additional research and work to develop your entrepreneurial plan. To get help with putting this plan together, let’s work on it together when you go here.

Check out the book E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber by going here

If you’re looking for help to structuring systems and processes to help run your new or established business? Go here.

Check out the other episodes in the series below:
Part 1 Know Where You Are Now
Part 2 Putting the Plan Together
Part 3.1 The Entrepreneurial Track
Part 3.2 The Career Track
Part 4.2 The Corporate Employee (Wrap up)

Want to connect with me? Leave a comment below or go here to leave a voice or email message.

Career ReVamp – 3.2 The Career Track

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

In a series we’ve explored what you want to do with your career and if you’re willing to change then ways you can start going about changing of the a career of your choice. In part 1 & 2, I talked about how to figure out your next career if you’re looking for a change. Part 3.1 talks about going the entrepreneurial route. Now, I’m talking about your possible career track in part 3.2.

The series talks about how you will use all of the information that you’ve written down in part 1 and 2 took yet your career tools such as your resume, cover letters, letter of recommendation and other pieces in your professional portfolio. If you are not sure what I’m talking about, then you can check out the resource for getting a portfolio completed by going here.

Want to get all the career tips this series has to offer? Check out Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3.1.

Need some more personalized help with hour career revamp? Check out this here.

Have additional questions? Leave a voice mail or email me here.

2 Things to do…Before, During and After the Job Interviews

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

If you are applying for new jobs and getting interviews, then know you are doing something right. Your career tools are working for you. Your resumes and cover letters are getting past the applicant tracking system, also known as ATS into human hands. If your #resumes or #coverletters are not getting you interviews, I have a resources to review them to make sure they are doing their job to market you well and land you interviews. Go check out my resource here.

Ok, so your landing job interviews and the whole process makes you nervous right? I totally understand. I still get nervous when I have business meetings and do interviews, but I also have preparation, strategy and specific goals already established before attending any of those interviews. I want you to be armed and ready to handle those job interviews, like the professional that you are.

In this video, I go over two things you need to do BEFORE THE INTERVIEW…DURING THE INTERVIEW & AFTER THE INTERVIEW to increase your chances of getting the career opportunity/job you want.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW (Do these two (2) things)
1. Ask for all the interviewers full name and titles. You want to be prepared for a panel interview or one-person interview. Bring the appropriate amount of resumes based on the number of interviewers. Thinking about it more, bring some extra copies of your resumes, just in case.

2. Ask about the appropriate the dress code for the interview, if it is in-person. You want to be prepared for what the interviewer may be expect from you.

Looking for additional help with getting ready for your next interview, go here to access the interview audio series to help strategically prepare for your next interview.

DURING THE INTERVIEW (Do these two (2) things)
1. Ask the interviewer this question: What personality type are you looking for to fill this position?
It allows you to obtain information about what type of environment they are looking to create with the person in this position. Please take notes, so you can be prepared to respond positively. This question will also reveal the overall company culture and the mindset of the interviewer responding to it.

2. Ask this other multilayered questions: Did you recently create this position? If not, did you recently loose the employee filling this position due to retirement or termination? If so, what were some of the positive things the last person in the position did right? What were some of the areas that need development that you are hoping to correct with the next candidate?

AFTER THE INTERVIEW (Do these two (2) things)
1. Follow up with the interviewer/employer by writing them a thank you letter sent via email or snail mail. You may also want to send them a handwritten thank you card.

2. Ask about the timelines in them making their decision on the candidate choice. Follow-up with them again via email, if you do not receive a response from them within the timeline they specifically told you.

If you are looking for direct interview coaching where I get industry specific with you and provide proven strategies for you before, during and after the interview, go here.

Competition in the #Workplace…Good or Bad?

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

Don’t like the unhealthy competition you have to deal with at work & want to find better #careeropportunity? Get your career tools ready by going here.

Want to suggest a career or job related topic? Leave a comment or touch bases with me here.

Go Where You Are Celebrated….Not Tolerated

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

It’s always best to have your preparation tools ready for a storm instead of being caught in a storm without any tools. The same applies to your career path and the difficulties you may experience at times. In this economic climate, ALWAYS have your #careertools ready for use.

Looking for a complete #resume makeover or a full #resumecreation? Get it done here.

Want to get your resumes, cover letters & other portfolio contents reviewed? Go here.

Need help with getting through your next #jobinterviews like a boss? Go here.

Want to connect with me? Go here.

Don’t Use Controversial Marketing in Your Career

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

In the last few weeks, we have seen an interesting example of #controversialmarketing at work in the #AyeshaCurry situation. I personally didn’t find what she said so controversial or ridiculous, but apparently enough people had so much content to address her statement that it cause her to garner FREE press to announce a new cooking show she’s doing.

This type of #marketing may work for celebrities but not in the corporate professional space.

If you want to assure your #careertools are marketing you well, check out my resource here.

Wanting to connect?Please do so here

Social Media can Make or Break Your Career Opportunities…Be Vigilant!

Posted on by MentorShelly, the DREAM Career Coach

When it come to #socialmedia…. you’ve got to be careful what type of information you place on your profiles.

Take at look at all of your social media profiles right now and answer these questions:
1. Does your profile represent you positively or negatively?

2. What are you communicating about yourself in those profiles?

3. Will the info on your profile help or hurt your chances of landing the #careeropportunity of your choice?

How you answer those questions will determine how much adjustments is needed on your #socialmediaprofiles.

If you need to get your profile reviewed to make sure it’s working for you professionally, then go here.

Want to connect with me on general career questions? Go here.