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6 Tips To Make Your Resume Better Than The Rest

Recruiters look at dozens of resumes a day. If they see something they don't like, your resume could wind up in the âno" pile in just seconds.

Here are a few tips you should follow to make your resume better than the rest, standing out from all that competition!

1. Make Sure Your Resume Is Error-Free

We know that sounds like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised by the number of resumes that have a spacing issue, a punctuation error, or even a misspelling. The problem is that you have looked at your resume so many times, your brain knows what it is supposed to say, but in reality, it says something else.

Get several people to proofread your resume, and have them read it for different purposes. One person should read for grammar, for example, and another should read for punctuation and spelling. You cannot afford to send a resume to employers with mistakes. Any superficial error can severely hurt your chances of getting a call for that job.

2. Align Your Resume With The Description Of The Job You're Applying For

Hiring manager asks about a job applicant's resume in an interview

Too often people think that their resume is a "one-and-done" proposition. Not so! You should customize your resume for every job each time you apply.

Match up keywords from the job description with keywords in your resume. Make sure that your achievements and successes indicate that you are an excellent candidate for the job you're applying for. You need to tweak your resume for every single job posting. There are no exceptions.

3. Make Your Resume Sleek

Some people think the trick to a great resume is to stuff as many accomplishments into it as possible by using tiny font and stretching the margins to the limit. The result is a resume that is difficult to read and looks cluttered and clunky. Those resumes will wind up in the "no" pile because the hiring manager doesn't care enough to search the document for truly relevant information. They also don't have time to waste when there are dozens of other resumes to review.

Your resume should have a clean and contemporary look and feel. Use lots of white space and be as concise as possible. Also, use clean-looking fonts like Calibri or Arial.

4. Use Keywords Strategically

Check the job description carefully for each position you're applying for. Then, use keywords in your resume that match the keywords in the job description. Also, you may find it helpful to use free word cloud tools to identify the keywords that are used most frequently in the job description. Adding those keywords to your resume will make it easier for your resume to get past the ATS.

Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for individuals who are a good match for their job openings. Don't make them guess whether or not you have the required skills or experience. Your resume should get them curious to know more about your qualifications. At the end of the day, the goal of your resume is to get the employer to call you. It won't be the thing that gets you the job, but it will be what gets you an interview.

5. Describe Accomplishments, Not Responsibilities

Man on laptop looks for a job while writing his resume

Avoid using the word "responsible" in your resume. Instead, concentrate on specific and quantifiable accomplishments. For example, which sounds more impressive:

Responsible for manufacturing production with proven record of exceeding expectations.
Managed 5 different teams over the course of 10+ years resulting in $50 million in new sales along with a 30% reduction in waste.

If you said the second bullet point, you picked the right one. That's what hiring managers are looking for on a resume.

6. Use "Power" Words

Hiring managers discuss a job candidate's resume during an interview

Demonstrate that you are a person of action. Rather than being "responsible for" something, use words like "advised," "led," "launched," "executed," "generated," "planned," "produced," etc. These powerful resume words (and others like them) demonstrate your ability to perform on the job and your specific role in previous jobs. Strong action words validate your capabilities and specific duties you have performed.

Consider which is better:

Responsible for launch of a new product.
Initiated and led new product-launch that resulted in $20 million in revenue.

Don't forget that your resume represents who you are and what you can do when you can't be there in person to explain all of that to a recruiter or hiring manager. Your resume is just one of hundreds that fly into a company on any given day. You need to stand out from the crowd, and it is your responsibility to make that happen. By following the tips above, you'll be sure to create a resume that's better than the rest.

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6 Tips To Make Your Resume Better …

If you want to stand out from other job candidates, both your resume and LinkedIn profile need to have specific, tangible, quantifiable achievements.

We see so many resumes that are very "duty-oriented"âthe candidate lists what they've done but doesn't mention anything about what they've achieved.

Here are a few tips on how to write an achievement-based LinkedIn profile...

1. Highlight Your Main Skills In Your LinkedIn Summary ("About" Section)

Your resume and LinkedIn profile are your personal branding tools, and first impressions are important. Highlight your skills in your LinkedIn profile just as you would on your resume. People often say generic stuff like, "I worked in marketing," but that doesn't tell recruiters anything about what they've done.

What powerful words can you use to stand out? What specifically have you done that would be relevant to the jobs you're applying for? Think about these questions as you list your hard skills at the end of your "About" section.

2. Include Accomplishments & Quantify Your Results With Numbers

Recruiters want you to tell them why you're the right fit for the job, so don't be shy about emphasizing what your skills are and how they'd help the company.

Quantify your results as best you can. Use examples that include numbers. if you've saved time or moneyâby how much? List your accomplishments as bullet points. If something can't be quantified (like job responsibilities), it won't impress recruiters and employers. Therefore, don't waste space on your LinkedIn profile by including them.

3. Prove That You're A Self-Starter

What is it that you've initiated in your job? Did you start any new projects or come up with new ideas? Highlighting projects you've set out to achieve on your own is a great way to show that you're someone who takes initiative, without always being told what to do.

Of course, you should quantify as much information about these projects as possible. This will catch the eye of recruiters and act as a great conversation starter with your network.

Writing an achievement-based LinkedIn profile is a great way to highlight why you're a good fit for the job. You'll stand out to recruiters as a qualified job candidate, one who could achieve great things at the company.

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Why You Need Achievements On Your LinkedIn …

This may be controversial, but as a 20-year career coaching veteran, I think one of the biggest mistakes people are making post-pandemic is they are overly focused on trying to pursue career happiness when in reality you should be focused on building career resilience.

Career Happiness Is Elusive. Building Career Resilience Will Give You Career Satisfaction.

There are three reasons why career happiness is very difficult to achieve. First, career happiness is a state of mind. So if you're sitting here and wondering, "How can I just be happier in my career today?" you can't. Instead, certain things need to happen that are going to make you stronger and more resilient, feel more in control, and give you more satisfaction.

Career satisfaction will make you feel happy.

The second reason you should quit trying to pursue career happiness is that it constantly evolves. It's like a moving target. The moment that you start to feel happy, the situation will change, or your circumstances will change. So it's not a one-and-done sort of thing. Many people struggle with the concept of "happiness," and say something like, "I was happy here and now I'm not. I'll never be able to achieve this." That's not true at all. Happiness is a constantly moving state.

The third reason you don't want to focus on career happiness is that it's different for every person. I coach people every day who tell me they tried something that worked for someone else, but they didn't get the same results, and now they feel bad about itâabout themselves, their situation, etc. You can't compare someone else's success, someone else's perceived happiness, with your own ideas of success and happiness.

Career happiness just isn't the right thing to pursue for all three of these reasons.

So, what do you do instead? You focus on building up your career resilience. Why do you do that? Because the stronger you get, the more in control you will feel, and the more satisfied you will be with your careerâand that will make you feel happy.

How To Build Career Resilience

There are three things you need to build career resilience. First is the environment. You need to surround yourself with a community of people who are all focusing on career resilience as well. What happens is you end up learning from these people. In fact, they show you things you didn't know you needed to know. But also, candidly, you look around the room and you go, "These people aren't any better than me. I can do this." And that's going to give you motivation, which many people lack.

The second thing you're going to need is coaching. You're going to need people who have done this, who have hacks, who have tips, who have tricks, who are keeping up with the latest techniques, who can understand your particular situation and get you the advice you need. Think about all the people in your life you use when you can't get results on your own. They're essentially coaches. That's what you need right now to get you to the next level. If you think about it, coaching isn't a sign of weakness. It's the path to greatness, especially in things like sports. And this is no different. You're playing a sport here in your career.

The third thing that you're going to need is knowledge. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is the one thing nobody can take away from you. Employers can never take away your knowledge. That's your power. That's your value. That's your worth when it comes to work.

When you gain new insights, when you learn new things, it is going to make you much smarter. You're going to make more informed decisions, and you're going to take yourself from being an employee who feels like they don't have any power to an employee who realizes they're a business-of-one, and you want to be a partner with that employer. They're not any better than you. You want to partner up, and you want the mutual trust and respect that you deserve. But that only comes when you build up that resiliency.

I like to call people who build career resiliency "Workplace Renegades" because they get off the hamster treadmill, think for themselves, and learn how to take ownership of their carer using the right environment, the right community, the right education, the right courses and knowledge, and then the right coaching, the right support.

If you would like some help building resiliency in your career, become a Work It DAILY member today. Sign up for our 7-day FREE trial and see how easy it is to get the results you want and deserve.

Good luck, and go get 'em!

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3 Reasons To Quit Pursuing Career Happiness

If you needed to convince someone that Girl Scout Cookies are delicious or that rainbows are really beautiful, you'd have to first know what the cookies taste like and what rainbows look likeâright? The same applies when it's time for you to sell yourself in an interview to strangers.

In a job interview, you need to know where you've been, what you've accomplished, and where you're headed.

On the one hand, that might sound really simple. They are your experiences, so you would be the best one to know how far you've come. Yet how many times do we easily forget by Monday what we just did on Saturday and Sunday? How often do we make the same mistakes over and over because we failed to assess our experiences and extract the lessons learned so we don't repeat those mistakes?

These things happen often, only to leave us stumped and running in circles. The same thing can happen in a job interview if we don't take the time beforehand to really understand our past and know what we have to offer in the future.

Preparing for an interview is crucial to ensuring that you come across as a competent potential employee. You need to be able to recount your previous work experiences as if they were yesterday. You need to be able to tell a future employer what you're good at; they aren't going to know yet, so you need to be able to tell them. You need to be able to show them that you think about the future and have goals and aspirations you're working towards. All of this requires you, the applicant, the interviewee, to know yourself first.

Below are some simple steps every job seeker should take before each interview to ensure they present their best self in the most confident way:

1. Review Your Past

Where have you worked?
What positions did you hold?
How long were you in those positions?
What unique responsibilities, experiences, or opportunities were you given in these positions?
Ultimately, what did you learn from all of these?

2. Assess Your Present

Man presenting to his colleagues at during a work meeting

What is your current position?
What are your current responsibilities?
What are you doing now to improve yourself?
If you were laid off or took a voluntary hiatus, how are you utilizing that time to your advantage?

3. Envision Your Future

Woman shakes the hand of the hiring manger before a job interview

What are your goals?
Do you plan to pursue more education?
Would you ultimately like to achieve a leadership role in the new organization?
What ideas might you have to propel the industry forward?

4. Know Who You Are

Man on laptop checks his phone before a job interview

In addition to steps 1-3, know what you are good at and where you could stand to use improvement. Be confident (not cocky) when you tell the interviewers what your strengths and weaknesses are.

What current skills do you have that would easily crossover into a new role or industry? These are your transferable skills. Don't underestimate their value in your job interview.

5. Practice

Two colleagues smile after a mock interview

Practice telling your stories. Which words sound good when you say them? Which words don't? What key elements do you want the employer to know and which are irrelevant? Be able to tell a story, hit all the key points, and don't bore the interviewer(s) in the process.

Have a friend conduct a mock interview with you so you get practice in front of another person. One caveat: don't memorize anything. Just know what information you'd like to share and how you'd like to share it when the opportunity arises.

Remember, in the end, you are the one who needs or wants the job. As unique as you are, the employer can easily find another person who will perform the same tasks.

By knowing who you are, you will be more readily able to express to the interviewer what you as a unique individual have to offer and why they need to hire you. By embracing all of who you are before the interview, you will have the tools you need to settle into a place of confidence. When you exude this confidence and sense of knowing who you are, you'll present the image of an articulate, focused, and self-aware individual who employers will want to have on their team.

Now, who are you?

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5 Steps To Present Your Best Self …

When you're looking for a new job, your resume is your calling card. It's often the first time a potential employer gets to meet you. Obviously, you want to make a good first impression. This means you don't want a resume that leaves potential employers shaking their heads.

When most people think of mistakes, they think of misspelled words, poor formatting, and typos. These things are easy to avoid by proofreading your documents thoroughly. But there are other resume mistakes that you probably don't realize you're making. These mistakes can look pretty careless, but they are easy to fix if you spot them before it's too late.

Here are three of the biggest resume mistakes:

Inconsistencies

The first thing a recruiter is likely to do after receiving your resume is to check you out on LinkedIn. This is often when inconsistencies crop up because the information on your resume might not match the information on your LinkedIn profile. This is not to say that your resume and LinkedIn profile should be mirror images. But they should match when it comes to current and past employers, job titles, and dates of employment.

Unfortunately, when candidates prepare a resume they often "lump" all their work at an employer under their current (and likely most prestigious) title. This is bad for two reasons. First, it fails to show career advancement. Second, it makes employers wonder what other inaccuracies they may find.

Incomplete Contact Information

This may seem like a no-brainer, but some people are so focused on the meat of their resume that they forget to include their contact info. When you're looking for a job, it's important to make it easy for interested parties to contact you. Some recruiters prefer to contact candidates via email. Others would rather just call.

Of course, if they really want to contact you it's not impossible to find your phone number or email address. But why would you want to make a potential employer jump through hoops? Be respectful of the preferred communication styles of others by providing complete contact information. While you're at it, put your LinkedIn URL on your resume, too.

Irrelevant Information

Resumes that highlight outside activities that directly contradict a candidate's job aspirations are just a waste of valuable space! Think an accountant with a side business designing jewelry. Or resumes that include sports activities, like being on the soccer team, when the candidate graduated 15 years ago. While you're at it, unless you graduated in the last five years, there's no reason to include graduation dates or your GPA.

Besides being irrelevant, including a few lines about leading your college team to victory (unless you're a recent grad) takes up valuable space that could be used to focus on your skills and achievementsâthings employers actually care about!

Your resume needs to make a good first impression, one that will make a recruiter or hiring manager want to learn more and possibly contact you for an interview. Don't waste space with irrelevant information. Don't confuse them with inconsistencies or make them go into detective mode to find you. Begin your relationship with a potential employer as the candidate to beat.

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3 BIG Resume Mistakes (That Are Easy …

If you're a recent college graduate and you're unemployed, you might have an idea of what we're about to talk about.

You've spent four years of your life hitting the books, getting good grades, participating in relevant extra-curricular activities, and maybe even juggling a part-time job in between. You've worked really hard for your degree and you've been told time and time again that a degree is essential to finding employment in today's competitive job market.

So, why are you not getting hired?

First of all, you're not alone. Though the unemployment rate has slowly declined for bachelor's degree owners, it's still lagging. For that reason, the competition is fiercer than ever. This means you really have to re-evaluate your job search strategy.

Here are some reasons why you might not be getting hired as a recent college graduate:

Your Resume Isn't Job-Specific

While it's good to have a strong resume with all of your professional skill sets, your resume can become generic when all you do is send the same resume to every open position you find.

Take the time to rewrite your resume on multiple occasions and use specific keywords that are in the job description.

According to an article on the Job Center of Wisconsin website, gathering information specific to the job you are applying for and matching it with your experience on your resume is what makes a good resume. You have to "think like an employer," the article states, and "do not give unrelated or negative information."

You're Not Applying For Jobs That Are Specific To Your Skills

Stressed young professional/recent college grad on laptop tries to find a job while unemployed

You have every reason to apply for every job in sight. However, it doesn't do you any favors when you apply for every single job you see and send the same resume to each one.

Apply for the jobs you want and are qualified for. After all, it's what you studied for.

Try to make a list of potential places you'd like to work for (your interview bucket list) and target those companies any way you can. Use social media sites like LinkedIn to find people you can network with, and keep an eye out for any open positions. You have a better chance of getting hired at a job where your skills are relevant than at a job you're 100% unqualified for.

You Don't Take Your Social Media Profiles Seriously

Happy young woman looking at her social media profiles on her phone

According to an article on the Undercover Recruiter, a survey of 300 professionals by Reppler found that "hirers are using social networks to screen job applicants." This means you should clean up your Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok profiles to present a more positive, but more importantly, professional image of yourself.

It might be in your best interest not to post that picture of you doing a keg stand as your default, or post about how you hate looking for jobs because you'd rather be partying with your friends.

We understand how difficult it is for recent college grads and young professionals to find a job right now. By following these tips, you'll shorten your job search and get hired quicker than your peers.

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Young And Unemployed? 3 Reasons Why Youâre …

As a career coaching veteran for over 20 years, many professionals have sought my advice on how to ask about work-life balance in a job interview. It's a difficult question to ask without it being a red flag. Still, there's definitely a way you can find this information out in a job interview.

Asking about work-life balance in a job interview starts with using emotional intelligence to avoid being overly blunt. You also don't want this to be the first question you ask in a job interview.

When a hiring manager asks, "Do you have any questions for us?" at the end of a job interview, the very first question you ask says a lot about you.

I'll give you an example. I was hiring for my company at one point, and I had two candidates. The first candidate came in and when I said, "Do you have any questions for me?" she replied, "Yeah, what's it pay?" Meanwhile, the pay was posted in the job description. So that told me the only thing she cared about was the money.

The second candidate came in and when I said, "Do you have any questions for me?" she said, "Yes, can you tell me how this job will impact the success of the organization as a whole? How will I know that I'm doing a good job?" This was a very thoughtful question. I knew she wanted to understand how to create value so she could be successful. It was also a strategic question on her part. But I loved it.

Best Interview Questions To Ask To Learn About A Company's Work-Life Balance

When it's your turn to ask questions in a job interview, after you've asked a few strategic questions, you would transition to asking about the company's work-life balance. Here are some great examples of questions you could ask the hiring manager:

Can you tell me about your company's strategies for work-life balance?
Can you give me some examples of how the company ensures work-life balance?
Can you tell me the company's policies on working outside the normal hours? For example, will I be expected to work nights or weekends? Can you walk me through those expectations?

These are totally fair, positive questions to ask on the subject of work-life balance. By asking these questions, you're making the assumption that they support work-life balance and giving them the opportunity to elaborate.

Now, the hiring manager can say whatever they want. They could lie to you in this interview. So my advice is if you get a lot further along in the process and you're still wondering about work-life balance, ask to speak to a peer. This is especially true if you get the job offer and you haven't met any of your potential co-workers. You can say, "I'm really excited about this job and I want to accept on the spot. But I was hoping to talk to somebody who would be my peer and also just get a sense of the job from them." That way, you can talk to a potential co-worker and ask them:

Can you tell me about work-life balance here?
Do you find yourself having to work nights or weekends very often? If so, what are the circumstances?
What can I expect at this job?

That peer can be more forthcoming with you. And if they're not forthcoming, you can usually read people and tell if they're hiding something or not being honest.

So find the right spot to ask about work-life balance in the interview. Frame your questions in a way that isn't too negative. Most importantly, if you're still not getting the right vibe, ask to meet other people in the organization. Ask to meet your peers, and then ask them those same questions and pay attention to how they respond. This is how we start to look under the hood of a company to figure out what's going on.

Finally, there are websites you can go to that have anonymous reviews of companies and what it's like to work there. Make sure you visit those as well. Do your homework. Be careful. You don't want to be sucked into a bad job where it's not what you expected it to be. So make sure you research the company beforehand and ask about work-life balance in your job interviewâthe right way.

Good luck, and go get 'em!

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How To Ask About Work-Life Balance In …

You've been applying for jobs every day, but you feel stuck. Your job search isn't going anywhere. You submit job applications but never hear back from employers. Why aren't you getting interviews? What are you doing wrong? Is it your resume?

Chances are, your resume is to blame.

It's very easy for job seekers to make common mistakes on their resume, unknowingly making it harder for them to get their job application in front of the hiring manager. Can your resume get past the ATS? Will your resume stand out to hiring managers in those first few seconds?

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent your resume from getting tossed. Here are three reasons why your resume isn't working, and how to fix them:

1. You Don't Have Enough Keywords

Most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort through all of the resumes they receive for their job postings. One of the ways they determine which job candidates are qualified for a specific job is by looking at the keywords they've included on their resume.

How many keywords on your resume match the keywords in the job description? If you don't have enough of the right keywords on your resume, you'll get screened out of the hiring process by the ATS. This means your resume will get tossed without it ever crossing the hiring manager's desk.

If you're not getting contacted by employers, not having enough keywords (or the right keywords) on your resume could be the reason why.

The Solution: Include keywords from the job description on your resume. What skills, technologies, and experience are employers looking for? How many of these skills do you possess? Are you familiar with any of the technologies/software you'd be using on the job? Do you have the right kind of experience?

Once you identify what you need for the position you want to apply for, make sure you customize your resume for that specific job so you give yourself the best possible chance to get past the ATS and impress hiring managers. List relevant skills in the top fold of your resume (avoid keyword stuffing) and be sure to use the terms mentioned in the job description on your resume, if applicable.

2. You're Using An Outdated Resume Format

Woman on laptop realizes her resume isn't working

Another reason why your resume might not be working is because you're using an outdated resume format. Similar to the first reason, your resume format could be preventing the ATS from effectively reviewing the information on your resume. But if your resume does get past the ATS with an outdated format, hiring managers could still take a look at your resume, see that it's outdated and hard to read, and then decide to toss your resume because you didn't make it easy for them to get the information they need about you.

With an outdated resume format, you also run the risk of looking old and out of touch, which won't help your case if you're already worried about age discrimination.

If your resume isn't easy to read and it doesn't stand out to hiring managers in the first few seconds it's getting reviewed, you won't get contacted. Employers simply won't be able to determine whether you're qualified for the job or not because you didn't make it easy for them to find that information.

The Solution: To ensure your resume gets past the ATS and stands out to hiring managers, use an updated resume format. Pay attention to how you're formatting each section of your resume and make sure the formatting is consistent throughout the document. Focus on using bullet points in your "Work History" section, delete lengthy paragraphs, and don't force your resume onto one page. This will help you make sure there's enough white space on your resume so it's easier to read.

When in doubt, a simple, clean resume format is the best option.

3. You Aren't Quantifying Your Work Experience

Woman on laptop frustrated and thinks that her resume isn't working

Let's assume you had enough keywords on your resume that it got past the ATS. Let's also assume you used an updated resume format. Now that your resume is in the hiring manager's hands, and all the information on it is easy to read, how are you standing out from the competition? Does your work experience prove that you'd be a valuable employee? What is the service you provide as a business-of-one? What is your specialty? Do you get results? What have you accomplished?

If you're not quantifying your work experience on your resume, you're going to have a harder time impressing hiring managers. Quantifiable information allows hiring managers to measure the degree of knowledge and skills you have to offer. It's a way to inform them about what and how much you can bring to the table.

The Solution: Learn how to quantify your work experience on your resume. Think about what you've accomplished in your career. Look at the bullet points in the "Work History" section of your resume and try to include at least one number for each.

Including numbers on your resume not only shows hiring managers what you can do, but they also help your resume stand out since numbers break up text and grab peoples' attention. If you can't quantify something, it doesn't belong on your resume.

As a job seeker, nothing is more frustrating than spending hours applying for jobs only to never hear back from employers. If your resume isn't working, it's probably due to one (or more) of the reasons above. Follow our tips so you can avoid these resume mistakes and finally land the job you want!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Reasons Why Your Resume Isn’t Working

9 Nursing Skills Every Practitioner Needs To Be Successful

Nursing is one of the most demanding careers to go into, but it's also one of the most rewarding. It's also a career that's expected to see a lot of growth by 2032, which means more nursing jobs will be created to meet the increase in demand.

In addition to having solid health care skills, those who succeed in the nursing profession possess unique qualities of character and spirit.

These are nine personal attributes every nurse needs to provide the best possible patient care:

1. Compassion

A nurse must be drawn to caring for the sick and injured. This includes having empathy for the pain and suffering of patients, as well as a strong desire to make the hospital experience as positive as possible.

2. Communication

Since a nurse is often a patient's advocate as well as a link between family members and hospital staff, the ability to effectively speak and listen is critically important. Nurses in the research and education sectors also must be able to communicate and collaborate effectively.

3. Ethics

A nurse needs a solid framework of ethics that will guide personal and professional conduct. This framework should include a commitment to humanitarian service and concern for the dignity of all patients.

4. Critical Thinking

Nurses are faced with important choices on a daily basis and must be able to use critical thinking to aid in decision-making. Furthermore, nurses who are involved in policy-making need critical thinking in order to successfully improve health care for all members of society.

5. Attention To Detail

A nurse's actions on the job can have far-reaching consequences. Whether you're a family nurse practitioner or nurse midwife, even the smallest mistake may have tragic results. Therefore, strict attention to detail must be second nature for a nurse.

6. Confidence

Nurse/doctor/healthcare professional talks to a patient

Nurses must be confident they have the skills and knowledge to provide the best possible care. They must be able to work independently with little supervision, knowing they will get the job done. Self-doubt can be dangerous when a nurse is faced with a critical situation.

7. Adaptability

Flexibility and the ability to adapt are especially important for nurses. Like doctors, nurses are often required to work long hours. They must also deal with fluctuating schedules. As a result, the ability to cope with long days becomes paramount.

8. Stamina

Nurse transports a patient in a wheelchair

Nursing is a demanding profession that requires physical, mental, and emotional strength. An effective nurse needs a high energy level and a healthy lifestyle in order to succeed.

9. Commitment To Development

Healthcare is a dynamic field. In order to stay current, a successful nurse is dedicated to continuing education and participation in professional organizations.

A nurse must have key skills to be successful on the job. If you have the nine skills mentioned above, it may be time to give a nursing career some serious thought.

For more information on what a day on the job is like for a registered nurse, check out this career interview.

If you're considering changing your career to nursing, or are thinking about pursuing a job totally different from the one you have, here's how to get hired when changing careers.

And if you need help with your job search, become a Work It Daily member today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date and was written by Social Media Outreach Coordinator Erica Moss on behalf of Work It DAILY-Approved Partner, 2tor. An education technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as Georgetown University to deliver their online Masters in Nursing degree. Now you know if you have the essential nursing skills to be a practitioner.

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9 Nursing Skills Every Practitioner Needs To …

The thought of conducting a job search right now is probably very intimidating for most professionalsâand a little frightening. While there are many things that could be scaring you about your job search, you can't let those fears impact your career, especially when you can easily overcome them with the right tools, tips, and strategies.

If the phrase "looking for a job" strikes fear into your heart, don't worry. Here's how to overcome your job search fears this fall, just in time for Halloween!

Fear #1: Employers Won't Call You Back

You're putting so much time and effort into your job search, but what if employers never call you back? This is a common fear for many professionals, and for good reason.

A lot of job seekers do spend hours a day applying for jobs only to never hear back from employers. There are a few reasons why this might be happening: your resume didn't make it past the ATS, your cover letter didn't stand out to hiring managers, and/or you didn't adequately market your skills and experience to employers or demonstrate your value as a business-of-one.

How To Overcome This Fear:

Optimize your resume with keywords and by quantifying your work experience so it gets past the ATS.
Write a disruptive cover letter to stand out from the competition.
Network your way into the company so you can bypass the online application process altogether.

Fear #2: You'll Bomb The Job Interview

Woman is stressed as she waits for her job interview

This is a fear that probably keeps you up at night. You've finally found a job you like and landed an interview with the company. But what if you bomb the job interview? What if you ruin your chances of getting a job offer?

Confidence is key in a job interview, and you can't be confident without proper interview preparation.

How To Overcome This Fear:

Research the company you're applying to.
Practice, practice, practice.
Ask a trusted friend or colleague to conduct a mock interview.

Fear #3: You'll Accept The Wrong Job Offer

Job seeker on laptop dealing with job search fears

If you've been looking for a job for a while, you might feel desperate. This puts you in a vulnerable spot, but you should avoid settling for a job if you can.

On the flip side, you might have multiple job offers and need to decide which one is right for you. Do you feel empowered to make the right decision?

How To Overcome This Fear:

Create an interview bucket list to ensure you're applying to companies you actually want to work for.
Ask questions in your job interviews so you have enough information about the position.
Learn how to negotiate the salary you deserve.

By following the tips above, you'll successfully overcome any job search fears you may have, and you'll realize the job search isn't as scary as it seems!

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Overcome Your Job Search Fears …

This 1 Mistake Could Make Your Job Search Last 6+ Months

The most common mistake I see people make after a few weeks or a month of job search is they turn inward. What do I mean by that? Well, the job search already feels really stressful to people, so you muster up the energy, you take time out of your schedule to do something you're not really excited about, and you start putting yourself out there...only to get nothing back.

You apply for jobs. You don't hear back. You're not seeing the traction. So you turn inward. You go, "What's wrong with me? What am I doing wrong? How can I fix this?"

If you could fix this yourself, you wouldâand you know that.

There's this internal struggle that go on. There's a fear. There's a confusion. We turn inward. It is literally the worst thing you can do. And let me tell you why...

Turning Inward Will Make Your Job Search Longer

You're going to keep turning inward, and you're probably going to do that for another five months. I know this because the natural mark (we have studied this at Work It DAILY) where people finally break down and reach out for help is six months.

It'll probably take you six months of job search failure before you'll stop turning inward and having this internal struggle and say to yourself, "I need some help."

Now, the sad part about this is a lot of people swing completely in the other direction because, for those six months, you were doing it by yourself, so now you think the answer is to have it done for you. Therefore, you might overpay to have your resume or LinkedIn profile written, only for that to not work either.

You see, in order for you to really solve your problem, you're going to need to learn a few things to get the results you want in your job search, and they're going to need to be slightly customized for your situation. The better solution is to get some help from a career coach who will do it with you.

A career coach is going to teach you what you need to do in order to land that job. You don't learn these things in school, so you're going to want that help. And this is knowledge no one can ever take away from you. As you learn these things, it'll just make you a better job seeker. And every job is temporary, so you're probably going have to do this at least one or two more times in your life, so why not learn it now?

Stop turning inward. It's time to get some help so you don't waste six months of your life not getting the results you're looking for.

The number one thing people say to me when they join Work It DAILY is, "Why didn't I do this sooner?" So don't be one of those people, okay? Get some help. You don't have to go it alone.

Check out my affordable career coaching options here.

Good luck, and go get 'em!

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This 1 Mistake Could Make Your Job …

Whatâs the one piece of advice given over and over to interviewees? Prepare. Research the company, research the role, take time to analyze whatâs going to be required of you, and take time to assess your own abilities.

Thatâs the advice that Direct Line Group Careers gives to its applicants on their insurance jobs site. So, what do you do when you take this sound advice, but mid-way through a promising interview situation youâre thrown a question that you couldnât possibly have prepared for?

Tough interview questions are becoming more popular for interviewers to gauge how adept a candidate is at thinking on their feet. Without their prepared answers to fall back on, how an interviewee reacts to a question that seems utterly random can be revealing.

The good news? If youâre applying for a role that you have a lot of passion for, in an area where youâre naturally talented or well-practiced (without necessarily having direct working experience), these questions are a great way to show off your abilities. The bad news? Thereâs not much you can do to practice for a question thatâs deliberately obscure. But thatâs not to say itâs completely impossibleâafter all, the purpose of any interview is to see how good a fit you are for the role and the company.

So, however wacky the question is, the recruiter will probably be hoping for you to consider the context in which itâs being asked when it comes to your answer. That means if youâve researched the role youâre applying for and know what is going to be expected of you, chances are youâll have a good idea of the type of logic and thought process theyâre looking for when you make your reply.

Below are a few genuine curveball questions that have been asked in interview situations; while none of them have a necessarily right or wrong response, theyâll often fit into fields of purpose. One way to prepare for curveball interview questions is to get used to looking for what the intention is behind the weirdness!

Curveball Interview Questions

âName five uses of a stapler without staples."
âWhat do you think of garden gnomes?â

What theyâre really asking: Are you creative? Can you see the bigger picture, or are you focused on the detail? Are you happy to improvise, and are you a good communicator?

âGiven 20 light bulbs (which break at a certain height), and a building with 100 floors, how do you determine the height at which the bulb breaks?â
"Out of 25 horses, pick the fastest three horses. In each race, only five horses can run at the same time. What is the minimum number of races required?"

What theyâre really asking: Are you logical? Do you have a good knowledge of probability and equations? Can you figure out an effective method for solving problems and assess its viability?

âHow would you weigh an elephant?â
"If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?â

What theyâre really asking: How creative are you when it comes to problem-solving? Do you have an eye for important details? How do you improvise under pressure?

What Are All The Questions Really Asking?

Job candidate interviews for an open position

Theyâre all challenges: challenges to normal interview structure, challenges to your ability to think on your feet, and logical challenges that reveal your thought process. Most importantly, donât see a curveball question as an attempt to trip you up: see it as an opportunity to show that you relish a challenge.

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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