Why Dates of Employment Can Make or Break a Quality Resume

Why Dates of Employment Can Make or Break a Quality ResumeIt may notlage seem that every piece of your resume is important, but on the contrary, everything you write will be scrutinized by some entity. In fact, even the dates you list on the resume matter when youre being considered for a job. Dont believe it? Take a look at some reasons why the dates on your resume could make it or break itGaps in Employment Could Cost You the JobYou may not know this, but many companies feel uncomfortable about hiring a person that they think cannot hold a job or isnt interested in working. This is why seeing large gaps between the end date of one job and the beginning date of another can result in a person not being considered for a position.So if you list that you started a job in 1995 and departed in 2001 instead of 2011, a manager could be completely turned off by what he perceives to be a large gap in employment history. Avoid making this type of mistake. And if the gap in employment is accura te, be prepared to explain what youve been doing between 2001 and now.Screening Software Often Gets Confused Heres something that many job applicants never consider sometimes a companys screening software actually gets confused when compiling information acquired from a resume.For instance, suppose you worked in two positions at the saatkorn company. If you dont list the dates you worked for both positions, the system may count the two jobs as one during screening. Also, if you write that you worked somewhere from winter 2008 present instead of 12/2008 present the system could combine the entry with a previous one, not recognizing it as a new job.As you know, there is no room for mistakes when writing resumeseven when you dont know that youre actually making them. So if youve already noticed that youve written your resumes in the above fashion, make a few quick changes. You may just see an improvement in the number of callbacks as a result.For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter GreatResume or visit our blog.

5 traits of a computer programmer

5 traits of a computer programmerIf you fancy a career in computer programming, then you should know that theres more to the job than being hooked to computers for life. Employers (or recruiters) are assessing job applicants based on their academic credentials, aptitude, and experience, but computer programmers are a special kind.Do you have what it takes to be a computer programmer? If you want to find out, then you must look at a list. Its quite a long one, and it might be an eye opener. Get reading for your mental notebookYoure a pro in problem-solving. Mathematics will be your first impression, but theres more than meets the eye. Software development can be equivalent to solving problems of all kinds. It may be easier to tolerate a problem, but theres a proactive way of dealing with the matter. And it can be a collaborative effort. There are cases when there are constraints, budget included. If you think you have it (or you like it), then you have a slight edge over the other can didates. This will lead to the next item.Youre the people type of person. Its not the same as an extrovert, who prefers to be surrounded with people. A programmer has to interact with his colleagues, and many (or most) of them arent working in his department. He must have the ability to explain technical terms, if not do the problem-solving in front of them. It can be very challenging because some employers arent computer savvy at all. This wont be a job for someone who is hidden away in the office. It doesnt mean that hes an introvert.You love strategy games. It has something to do with chess, even online games. What does this kind of stuff have to do with programming? Aptitude for one. One must be able to look at it in a fun way, if not enjoy the problem-solving process. It doesnt mean that the programmer is not taking his job seriously, but certain jobs can get tedious and a bit too stressful at some point. Thus its important to look ahead. The next one is related to this one.You also love creating things. It doesnt have to do with invention, even if a software developer will give anyone who is unfamiliar with computer programming THAT impression. Its simply having the natural curiosity for how computers work, and that includes software programs. Its also part of the job to make it better.You are motivated. Any job will require some degree of motivation, and in the case of programming, its the desire of finding a solution to a problem. The reward of seeing a problem solved or the satisfaction of his workmates will be good enough. After all, a programmer is a team player.Some people will point out the theories of computer science, as well as the passion for technology. Both are obvious ones. Besides, the list will give outsiders an idea that programming isnt as daunting as it seems. Its no different from other fields, where attitude will set the best candidates apart from the rest. What do you think? Read all news

Life Balance

To Recruit and Retain Top Talent, Focus on Work/Life Balance With a million jobs added since January, the American job market currently belongs to the buyers.Candidates have more options to choose from, which means your company must offer roles that appeal to both their financial and emotional needs if it wants to win over top talentFree lunches and401(k) matchingare no longer enough to attract the best talent. In fact, research indicatesthat, above all else, high-quality candidateswant to work for companies that both align with who they are and provide personally relevant development opportunities.If your organization wants to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market, here are some perks you should consider offering1. Rolling Stones Gather No Moss and Produce Better WorkNo matter how great your workplace may be, people want the freedom to work from wherever they want. Thanks to technological advances, people can do more than work from hom e they can work from any country in the world. We call these people digital nomads those who utilize telecommunications tech to work from virtually anywhere. With just a modem and a passport, these talented folks can landsee the world while maintaining a steady income.As the concept of digital nomadism becomes more popular, new products and services aimed at simplifying this practice are popping up.Nomad House, for instance, is a housing network that offers safe and comfortable co-living spaces that facilitate the remote work lifestyle. Similarly,YouRoamgives users the ability to place calls using WiFi or 3G, making it possible for nomadic workers to stay connected to their gruppes wherever they are without incurringmassive bills.2. A Little Bit of Freedom Goes a Long WayIf you would prefer your team members stay closer to home, it might be time to evaluate how you structure their hours. Thanks to 24/7 connectivity, the 9-5 workday has become a bit antiquated for many.Our organizat ion helps facilitate a better work/life balance by scheduling our workdays around core hours. These are set hours during which all team members must be on site to attend daily meetings, contribute to group projects, and participate in essential activities. Beyond these hours, however, team members are free to structure the rest of their workday as they see fit. This gives them a great deal of freedom to accommodate their personal needs and responsibilities outside of work.Our core-hours scheduling has become especially popular with the parents we employ, who find this professional independence incredibly beneficial. It has also proven to be an excellent recruiting tool that allows us to attract the best talent in our industry.3. Keep People Engaged by Keeping Things FreshNo matter how much your workers may love their jobs, the monotony of their day-to-day tasks can always eat away at their enthusiasm. To combat the tediousness of regular responsibilities, some organizations now enco urage their teams to switch things up every once in a while.For example, you could allowsomeone on your sales team to work with marketing for a week, or perhaps someone in HR would like to try their hand at operations.The benefits of such arrangements are threefold. First, they ensure that nobody gets bored. Boredom can lead to higher levels of turnover, which is damaging to productivity and a companys bottom line.Second, these arrangements allow you to capitalize on talents yourteam members dont get to exercise in their regular roles.Sometimes, an outsiders perspective can lead to suggestions that will enhance productivity.Finally, these arrangements afford each team member a better understanding of what other departments do. Ultimately, thisleads to a better understanding of how each part of the organization works together for geschftliches miteinander success.Mike Williams is CEO of RingPartner.