More Discussions Focused on Home-Based Businesses

An article in The Dallas Morning News –November 27, 2011, edition on page 1J, “Six Unusual Home-Based Businesses” provides the following examples of home-based businesses:

1.    Bottled art: Laura Bergman turns pieces of broken glass into homemade jewelry.  www.bottledupdesigns.com

2.    Shop fashionably:  Alexandra Suzanne Greenawalt, a freelance, personal stylist and fashion expert based in New York City takes clients out shopping or advising them ‘in their closet’.  www.alexandrastylist.com

3.    All about cats: Lynn Maria Thompson’s business, Old Maid Cat Lady, offers products for cats and people who love cats.  www.oldmaidcatlady.com

4.    Invisible writer: Judy Katz is an experienced ghostwriter. She has ghostwritten or edited over 22 books. www.ghostbooksters.com

5.    That’s the shot: Steven Holtzman and his father have been running West Coast Aerial Photography, Inc. from a home office since 2001.  www.photopilot.com/blog

The article states that the above list is just a sampling of hundreds of specialties that are Internet home-based business.  You can review more examples of home-based businesses including open jobs at (Rat Racer Rebellion).  www.ratracerebellion.com  

Please share with readers of this blog your experience with a home-based business and if you find this blog helpful. 

 Thanks.

Glyn

Make a Job of Your Avocation!

An article in The Dallas Morning News –November 20, 2011, edition on page 1J, “It’s Never Too Late to Follow Your Dream” by Lindsey Novak of Creators Syndicate suggests that it is never too late to purse your dream job.  The article quotes a reader who states that friends say that changing careers late in life is a big mistake, and with this economy people should be satisfied with the job they have.

The article got me thinking about avocations. When talking with my students or clients, I suggest that if they are bored with their present jobs and are not giving it their best efforts, they should consider spending time with their dream job, hobby, or consider starting a small business. Energy not being used can be redirected to challenging tasks that are very satisfying. Who know?  Maybe your performance on your current job will be improved!  

I am a retired computer person, but I continue to teach at the University of Phoenix and do volunteer work at SCORE and the North Dallas Shared Ministries.  Maybe this blog will eventually make me a millionaire!  Please share with readers of this blog your thinking about avocations.

Thanks.

Glyn

More Resume Writing Tips

A fellow job counselor of mine, Bob, at North Dallas Shared Ministries, www.ndsm.org, sent me the following tips about resume writing which were written by www.monster.com.  You can find addition resume writing tips my clicking on the red letter link words.

By Charles Purdy, Monster Senior Editor, Monster

Your resume needs an update -- that is, if your resume is like that of most people, it’s not as good as it could be. The problem is language: Most resumes are a thicket of deadwood words and phrases -- empty clichés, annoying jargon and recycled buzzwords. Recruiters, HR folks and hiring managers see these terms over and over again, and it makes them sad.

Wouldn’t you rather make them happy? It’s time to start raking out your resume, starting with these (and similar) terms.

1. “Salary negotiable”

Yes, they know. If you’re wasting a precious line of your resume on this term, it looks as though you’re padding -- that you’ve run out of things to talk about. If your salary is not negotiable, that would be somewhat unusual. (Still, don’t put that on your resume either.)

2. “References available by request”
See the preceding comment about unnecessary terms.

3. “Responsible for ______”

Reading this term, the recruiter can almost picture the C-average, uninspired employee mechanically fulfilling his job requirements -- no more, no less. Having been responsible for something isn’t something you did -- it’s something that happened to you. Turn phrases like “responsible for” into “managed,” “led” or other decisive, strong verbs.

4. “Experience working in ______”

Again, experience is something that happens to you -- not something you achieve. Describe your background in terms of achievements.

5. “Problem-solving skills”

You know who else has problem-solving skills? Monkeys. Dogs. On your resume, stick to skills that require a human.

6. “Detail-oriented”

So, you pay attention to details. Well, so does everyone else. Don’t you have something unique to tell the hiring manager? Plus, putting this on your resume will make that accidental typo in your cover letter or resume all the more comical.

7. “Hardworking”
Have you ever heard the term “show -- don’t tell”? This is where that might apply. Anyone can call himself a hard worker. It’s a lot more convincing if you describe situations in concrete detail in which your hard work benefited an employer.

8. “Team player”
See the preceding comment about showing instead of telling. There are very few jobs that don’t involve working with someone else. If you have relevant success stories about collaboration, put them on your resume. Talk about the kinds of teams you worked on, and how you succeeded.

9. “Proactive”
This is a completely deflated buzzword. Again, show rather than tell.

10. “Objective”
This term isn’t always verboten, but you should use it carefully. If your objective is to get the job you’ve applied for, there’s no need to spell that out on your resume with its own heading. A resume objective is usually better replaced by a career summary describing your background, achievements and what you have to offer an employer. An exception might be if you haven’t applied for a specific job and don’t have a lot of experience that speaks to the position you’d like to achieve.

Please let me know if this information is helpful as you develop or update your resume.

Thanks! 

Glyn

Finding Jobs Through-out the World

I received a complimentary email today about this blog from Serg, an employee of the Jooble Company.  Jooble.com is a web site that provides job listings for the United States and many other countries. More information about Jooble can be found by contacting:  Ladoburn Holdings LTDKimonos, 43AP.C. 3095, LimassolCyprus.

Listings of US based jobs can be found at www.jooble-us.com.

Please let me know if you find this site helpful.

Thanks! 

Glyn

Ideas to Improve Your Resume

An article in The Dallas Morning News –November 6, 2011, edition on page 1J, “7 Tips to Strengthen Your Resume” by Cliff Garinn lists ideas that strengthen resumes.
I think that an important point to remember is that a resume is not a job description.  A job description details the tasks and responsibilities for a particular position; a resume should identify an individual’s strengths and accomplishments while performing such tasks.

When possible, a resume should be tailored to specifically describe how an applicant meets the posted job requirements.  It is a good idea to use the terms used in the job posting in the resume.  Often resumes may be scanned and analyzed by computer software that selects the resumes to be read by a recruiter.  

Of course many job applications are Internet based requiring job seekers to fill-in blanks.  I encourage job seekers to have critical job information such as employment dates, skills, and personal references summarized on memo pad.

Do you think that resumes and cover letters are becoming less important since so many organizations are seeking applicants via their Internet sites?  

Thanks.

Glyn