April McGinnis, Empowerment Coach

Trust me, if you follow these basic tips, your resume will get seen.  And your resume has to get seen to get an interview.  And you have to get an interview to get the job! You may have amazing skills, and I am certain you do! However, if your resume sinks to the bottom of the heap because you don't do these 6 things , it doesn't matter how great your skills are! 1. Key Words : This is numero uno for today's job market. So many job seekers submit their resumes without considering the key words that employers (and their "bots") are looking for!! Study the job posting, the description, the skills the employer is seeking, and  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THESE WORDS IN YOUR RESUME!!!!  2.  Use the words the employer uses. Don't interpret or alter. Use the same language and exact words used in the job posting. I'm not kidding. Resumes are often scanned for these specific words. USE THEM!! 3. Highlight your ACCOMPLISHMENTS . Avoid listing the tasks y...

If you have an existing resume but you are not sure if it's "up to snuff" or you are not getting any calls or responses from your applications, I invite you to allow me to review your resume and provide a free critique and suggestions. If you send me a Word version of your current resume, I'll set up a Zoom meeting to review it with you. I will record the meeting and send you a copy so you can refer to it later. Send your resume to aprilmcginniscoaching@outlook.com.   If you do not have a resume but you need one, I have developed an online course where you can learn this vital skill at your own pace. The course includes two 1/2 hour personal Zoom meetings to do a resume review and to do a mock interview.  Register now

What does time management have to do with job searching. What if I told you - EVERYTHING!!!!! Looking for work is a full time job. Keeping a consistent schedule, planning your day and your week, and doing a time audit of how you spend your days are all vital! It is easy to fall into bad habits.  Too much screen time, no plan for the day, being distracted by things that are a lot more fun: these are just a few examples of how a lack of time management can result in unproductive time spent on things that are not important.  Tips: Plan your days. Make a schedule and include everything that is important: meals, self-care, breaks, and job search activities. Start your day at a time that most workers and employers are at work. Send e-mails, make calls, submit applications, do some networking or improve your resume or LinkedIn profile during business hours. Audit your time . Do this for 5-7 days. Record everything you do during your waking hours and how much time you spend on these ...

Remote work has certainly become the norm during the pandemic, and now that employers have seen that it actually works and have adjusted to having a remote workforce, it is likely to continue to be an option for many businesses. As a job seeker, if you are looking for a remote WFH job, either because you prefer to avoid all that people contact until Covid-19 is more comfortably under control or you work more productively at home, you have to navigate a whole new set of skills that many of us did not have pre-Covid. Time & task management: Are you able to stay focused and reach goals and deadlines while working at home? Can you show a potential employer how you have achieved that?  Do you use an Outlook calendar? Do you set up tasks on Outlook to remind you of what is important and when your deadlines are? Self-motivation & focus: Do you tend to procrastinate when you work at home? Do you alter your work schedule in such a way that you are not available during regular busine...

  If you click the link, it will take you to the course I developed to help you learn how to write a killer resume.  Yes, it is easier to have someone write your resume for you.  It's also more expensive , especially if you want a professional resume that will land interviews ! Using my method that you will learn in my online course, you can do this yourself , even if you've never written a resume before ! Why learn how to write your own resume? You need to be ready to quickly and easily identify your key skills and explain what you can do for an employer in a concise way in interviews You need to customize your resume for different applications for positions you desire You will need a cover letter for each application, and that letter also needs to be customized to address the needs and requirements of the employer  In previous posts, I have provided some advice on reading and replying to job postings.  It is VITAL that you understand what the employer is...

  Today we wear pink shirts to remind us that bullying is wrong. It reminds us to speak up and stand up. But we often think of bullying as a thing between children.  This is far from the truth.  Workplace harassment, systemic racism and homophobia, and sexual harassment exist everywhere. As a job seeker, do your research. Check out the places you apply to. Do they have a diverse workforce? What is the culture like? How might you be treated if you are black, gay, indigenous, female?  Interviews go both ways.  The employer is checking you out and seeing if there is a fit. Do the same - is this the right employer for you?  And remember to help stop bullying - step up, stand up, be nice - whether you wear a pink shirt or not

Job searching is a full time job!  However , even when we are working, we do not spend every waking moment of our lives at our jobs.  I saw a post on social media that suggested ways to improve yourself and thought that it not only provided some great things to do but also some excellent ways to network and improve your resume ! Stay up to date with current trends Perform interim work (consult, temporary job) Participate (groups, seminars) Take classes or a course Volunteer It's ok to let people you meet know that you are looking for work . It's even better if you've done the work and have your elevator pitch ready that will help them to help you! Your pitch should be a brief introduction to what you are looking for and what makes you worth something to an employer - but it can also help you let people know you are safe to refer to others!  With online options found on Meet Up or other platforms, there are still opportunities to meet people and participate.  There's ...