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3 Things You Need To Know About Remote Work

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As a 20-year career coaching veteran who used to be in staffing and recruiting industry, I know exactly what companies are thinking about right now. And you need to pay attention because a lot of the remote jobs you see aren't going to stay remote.

If you want to stay remote or if you want to get a remote job now, you need to know these three things...

1. Startups & Lifestyle Companies Will Likely Stay Remote


@j.t.odonnell 3 Things You Need To Know To Get Remote Work. #remotework #remote #work #remotejobs #remotejobs2022 #careermode #careertok #edutok #careerchange #jobsearch #jobsearchtips #careeradvice #careertips #jobs #careers '¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

The first thing you need to understand is that startups and lifestyle companies are the ones that will most likely keep jobs remote. Startup companies are trying to save money, so if they don't have to rent space and have all that overhead, it gives them more opportunity to spend money to build the business. So they're going to be more inclined to allow you to work remotely.

Lifestyle companies are ones where the executive team wants to work remotely, so if they want to work remotely, then they have to let their employees work remotely too. This is one of the reasons why remote work is here to stay.

2. You Can Usually Work Remotely As An Independent Contractor


Man on laptop works remotely

The second thing you should consider is being an IC (independent contractor) versus an FTE (full-time employee). It's much easier to be remote when you're in IC. That's because as an independent contractor, a company can't legally dictate where you work and the hours you work. So if a company hires you as an IC, you often can do the work wherever and whenever you want.

As a full-time employee, though, the company you work for can dictate where you work. Therefore, they could let you work remotely now, but then change their mind and bring you back in. So being an IC has advantages. However, if the company ever has to cut costs, ICs are the first ones to go because there aren't any ramifications. There's no impact on their unemployment insurance and other things like that. So you have to be careful because you're easier to fire.

3. If You Work On A Laptop, There's A Higher Chance You'll Get To Work From Home


Woman on laptop works remotely

The last thing I want you to think about is that the work that can mostly be done remotely is tech work or computer work'”something where you can take a laptop or a cell phone and do the majority of your work. And so staying in that kind of work can increase the chances that you can do it remotely from anywhere in the world.

However, one thing that's happening now is companies are figuring out they can pay people less money because they want to work remotely. So salaries are going down. And on top of that, they're saying, "Well, if I can hire people remotely, I can hire people in other countries. They'll take a third of what people here in the U.S. want." So competition is going to increase for these remote jobs, which means these salaries are going to decrease. So you've got to be prepared for that. You need to be thinking about these three things and the pros and cons of each one.

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6 Common Resume Mistakes You Must Avoid
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6 Common Resume Mistakes You Must Avoid

Although a resume is the first impression job seekers get to make, it’s amazing how many people continue to gloss over errors. In today’s job market, you need to make sure your resume is going to be read rather than quickly scanned and thrown away.

You want your resume to impress the future employer reading it. So, do you know what your resume really says about you? Here are some typical resume mistakes job seekers make and how they translate to employers:

Forgetting To Proofread Your Resume

Typos, misspelled words, and bad grammar mistakes can make a hiring manager think you’re careless or won’t pay attention to details on the job. Show you are serious about the job opportunity and capable of doing the job by choosing words carefully and catching any mistakes.

Including Too Much Information

Man reviews his resume for mistakes

Including too much information can make employers think you aren’t able to write clearly and concisely, which has become increasingly important in today’s high-tech world. Your resume might not be read if it’s too long, either. For an effective resume, focus on white space, bullet points, and quantifying your work experience.

Your Resume Is Poorly Organized

Woman reviews her resume for mistakes

A busy, cluttered resume may make employers think you are unorganized and scatterbrained, and that those characteristics could carry over to the job. Make sure your resume formatting is consistent throughout the document and use headings and bullet points to organize information on your resume.

You Send The Same Document For Every Job Opening

Hiring manager reads a resume with mistakes

This shows you don’t care enough about the job opportunity to send a tailored/customized resume. It might also tell employers you aren’t great at adapting. Always customize your resume for each position you apply to. That way, the potential employer will see the exact skills and experience you have that are relevant to the position and realize you’re a great, qualified candidate who could help them reach their goals.

You Use An Inappropriate Email Address

Man checks his resume for mistakes

This will very likely make hiring managers skip your resume altogether. It’s unprofessional. Create an email account with some variation of your name for job-seeking purposes.

You Include Incorrect Or False Information

Woman checks her resume for mistakes

This can make the employer think you haven’t updated your resume for the job opening—or worse, that you aren’t being honest. Lying on your resume is never a good idea. Instead, learn how to properly demonstrate your value as a business-of-one.

Need more resume tips? Here’s how to spruce up your resume in just a few minutes:

  • Change all responsibilities to accomplishments you had at the position. Most people who’ll read your resume don’t want to hear about the general tasks you did, but rather how you benefited the company while you were there.
  • Eliminate anything that doesn’t pertain to the job for which you are applying. You want to show the employer you know what they are looking for and YOU are it.
  • Read your resume out loud or have a friend look it over. You will catch anything that sounds awkward and your friend can probably give you some suggestions you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
  • Don’t bury important skills. If it’s important in your field to have extensive computer skills, write about that in your “Experience Summary” section (at the top) rather than burying it in a “Skills” section (at the bottom).

The lesson is to take your time to make your resume showcase the best “you.” Highlight those accomplishments. Update it when necessary. Make it concise, compelling, and error-free. Once you do this, you’ll be ready to apply for your dream job and find the career success you deserve.

If you’re feeling burned out in your career, it could be time for a change. Sign up for Work It Daily’s new FREE course “Break Through Your Burnout: How To Go From Crisis To Career Satisfaction.” It’s time to take back your happiness.


This article was originally published at an earlier date.


5 Biggest Job Application Mistakes
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5 Biggest Job Application Mistakes

We all make mistakes—that’s what makes us human. But when you’re looking for a new job, it’s important to minimize those job application mistakes because they may cost you the position.

Here are some of the biggest application mistakes candidates make (and how to avoid them):

1. Spelling/Grammatical Errors

These types of errors, although they seem small in nature, can be a major red flag to employers. It shows you lack attention to detail, and many hiring managers or recruiters will think you rushed through your application.

How to avoid this mistake: Take your time filling out job applications and have someone else look them over if possible. This includes having someone proofread your resume and cover letter. You can also read your resume, cover letter, and other job application materials aloud to catch anything you may miss while scanning through on the computer.

2. Not Following Directions

Man works on a job application

This is something everyone learns in grade school, but it’s amazing how many people STILL don’t read directions! Every application you fill out will be slightly different or require a different response—so it’s important to read through each step.

How to avoid this mistake: Pay attention and slow down during the job application process. If you’re feeling rushed, it’s probably because you’re applying to too many openings that you may not be qualified for (or genuinely interested in), so you may want to rethink your job search strategy.

3. Submitting A Resume You Haven’t Tailored To The Position

Man writes his resume for a job application

This is a big no-no. It shows you don’t really understand what the employer is looking for and are just hoping your resume fits some of the criteria. Not tailoring your resume also makes it harder for it to get past the ATS.

How to avoid this mistake: Carefully read through the job description, qualifications, and education requirements. On your resume, show the employer how you’re qualified through your previous experience, skills, and expertise. Quantify your work experience and accomplishments, and make sure your resume is optimized with keywords so it can actually get past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager.

4. Writing A Generic Cover Letter

Woman thinks about filling out a job application

Your cover letter should tell a compelling story and make the hiring manager interested in moving on to your resume. It should also address the hiring manager by name and describe exactly why you are the best candidate for the position. Not doing these things will communicate to the hiring manager that you’re not that interested in the position you’re applying for. You won’t stand out from the other candidates and will be less likely to land a job interview, even if your resume is tailored to the position.

How to avoid this mistake: Write a disruptive cover letter for each position you’re applying for. Although there may be similarities between positions, always customize your cover letter for each job opening. Focus on your connection story. Why do you want to work for this specific employer? What part(s) of this company are you passionate about? Why do you feel connected to their products or mission? Your disruptive cover letter should answer these questions.

5. Not Going Beyond The Job Description

Happy woman fills out a job application

It’s imperative that you research the company you’re applying to. You need to know what they do, how the company is structured, and their mission, values, and goals in order to determine how you fit in. Should you move on in the hiring process, these things will be vital to a successful interview—and you’ll be one step ahead. Failing to research the company before submitting your job application will result in an ineffective resume and cover letter. If you do manage to land a job interview without conducting research on the company, you’ll be scrambling trying to prepare for interview questions, and you might fumble your answers if you don’t do enough research.

How to avoid this mistake: Perform a simple Google search on the organization. Look through their company website and social media profiles. Also, read reviews of the organization and its products, and browse recent news articles that mention the company.

What are some other major job application mistakes you’ve made and/or witnessed?

If you need more help improving your job applications, check out Work It Daily’s FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp!

During this bootcamp, you will learn:

  • How to properly format and optimize your resume
  • How to optimize your LinkedIn profile
  • How both of these tools can help you stand out

Interested? Sign up today!


This article was originally published at an earlier date.

6 Reasons A Flexible Work Schedule Will Change Your Life
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6 Reasons A Flexible Work Schedule Will Change Your Life

Having a flexible work schedule is becoming one of the most sought-after job perks. According to a survey conducted by FlexJobs, 97% of respondents said a job with flexibility would have a positive impact on their overall quality of life.

Here are a few reasons why a flexible work schedule might change your life:

1. It Can Allow You To Do What You Love Outside Of Work

Woman on laptop works a flexible work schedule

Erik Freeman, a benefits advisor representing Aflac, strongly believes today’s employees work far more hours than those of past generations. However, he lives by a different credo. “I work to live, not live to work,” he explains. “With Aflac, I create my own schedule around my life goals, like raising a family and producing rock albums with my band.”

Luis Correa, who is also a benefits advisor representing Aflac, says that working as an independent agent allows him to thrive both at work and outside of work. “It has provided me with the flexibility and financial resources to create my own schedule in a way that allows me to pursue my passions and still be fully committed to servicing my clients,” he states.

2. It Can Give You The Opportunity To Focus On Your Health

Happy man on laptop working from home with a flexible work schedule

Freeman believes having time to focus on mental health, wellness, and hobbies is huge, and his opinion is shared by many others. According to the FlexJobs survey, 79% of respondents said a flexible work schedule would make them healthier, and 87% said it would lower their stress levels.

Freeman, who once worked long hours in retail for another company, says he often went home completely exhausted from helping so many people and meeting high expectations. As a result of stress, he ended up gaining weight, losing energy, and developing harmful personal habits to cope with the stress. “If companies really want healthy employees that create efficient results, they need to take a big look at how they’re helping their employees stay up with their life goals,” he says.

3. It Helps Free Up Time For Family And Friends

Working mom holds her baby while on a flexible work schedule

For Heather Siems, a district sales coordinator representing Aflac, having the flexibility to spend ample amounts of time with her family while still working full time was a huge selling point when she accepted the opportunity with Aflac. “I knew that I wanted the flexibility as I started a family, so I could go to dance practices and soccer games but still work full time,” she says.

Having a flexible schedule as well as the ability to work from home has allowed Siems to spend more time with her family and watch her children grow.

4. It Can Give You Time To Travel

Man on laptop with a flexible work schedule works from home

Do you wish you had more time to travel? You’re not alone. More than half (58%) of FlexJobs’ survey participants said they want a flexible work schedule for that reason.

For Shyla Syverson, an Aflac benefits advisor from Montana, being able to take vacations and trips on her own time is a huge bonus. “I started working as a benefits advisor with Aflac for a variety of reasons, and one of those was for the flexibility that being an entrepreneur can offer,” she says. “As a result of really hard work and taking care of my policyholders and clients, I have been able to travel more than I ever imagined possible. I can enjoy the great outdoors of Montana and also travel the world.”

5. It Can Make You A More Productive Employee

Woman takes a break while on a flexible work schedule

Working in an office atmosphere 40 hours a week may affect your productivity. Between interruptions from co-workers, a loud atmosphere, and other distractions, it can be hard to focus on your projects. Studies show that having a flexible work schedule can actually make you a more productive employee. Having the ability to work whenever and wherever you want can help you to complete your tasks more efficiently.

Syverson says she believes workplace productivity is enhanced by a healthy time-off policy. “When an employee knows they can take time off without there being backlash or feelings of guilt, they will want to work hard for the company,” she explains.

6. It Can Make You Appreciate Your Job More

Man works from home while on a flexible work schedule

A recent study conducted by Leadership IQ revealed that people who work from home are 87% more likely to “love” their job than people who do not.

Being able to spend time with your family, having the ability to travel, and being able to pursue your passions outside of work all contribute to a solid work-life balance. This makes sense because when you are happy outside of work and productive when you are working, you are generally more satisfied.

Do you want a flexible work schedule?

These are just a few of the benefits stemming from a flexible work schedule—there are many more. Aflac offers flexible, independent contractor (or agent) roles that can give you the power to do the things YOU want to do. If you are interested in pursuing a career that allows flexibility, check out opportunities with Aflac.

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This post is sponsored by Aflac. Aflac agents are independent agents and are not employees of Aflac. Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. This post was originally published at an earlier date.