Six Part Series - SES ECQ Leadership Competencies - ECQ 1 Leading Change

Six Part Series - SES ECQ Leadership Competencies - ECQ 1 Leading ChangeSix Part Series - SES ECQ Leadership Competencies - ECQ 1 Leading ChangeSix Part Series SES ECQ Leadership Competencies ECQ 1 Leading ChangeWith the recent publication of the Second Edition of The New SES Application (December 2015), I am starting a new series to explain the Senior Executive Service (SES) Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) statements. This series is focused on the leadership competencies required of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to be certified to obtain a SES position. Leading Change is part 1 of 6 in this series The SES ECQ Leadership Competencies. At the conclusion, you will have the tools you need to help you focus your stories on the leadership competencies includingtips for story development. By Diane Hudson, Co-Author, The New SES ApplicationECQ 1 Leading ChangeThe Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) statements are broken down into five categoriesLeading Change Leading People Results Driven Business Acumen Building CoalitionsEach ECQ category has leadership competencies that are required to be addressed within each ECQ essay. Each ECQ typically has two stories and the associated leadership competencies can be woven through both stories.Leading Change has six leadership competences that need to be clearly addressedCreativity and Innovation Develops new insights into situations questions conventionalapproaches encourages new ideas and innovations designs and implements new or cutting-edgeprograms/processes.External Awareness Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and grenzberschreitendpolicies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders views is aware of theorganizations impact on the external environment.Flexibility Is open to change and new information rapidly adapts to new information,changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.Resilience Deals effectively with pressure remains optimistic and persistent, even undera dversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.Strategic Thinking Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent withlong-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunitiesmanages risks.Vision Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others acts as a catalyst fororganizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.Leading Change needs to focus on organizational or performance management change, rather than process change. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ECQ scoring grid states This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change to meet organizational goals, both within and outside the organization. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Candidates need to emphasize the Strategic Thinking and Vision competencies of this ECQ. Rather than simply describing loosely connect ed activities and actions taken to implement a program or initiative, candidates must clearly describe how those actions were part of an intentional, strategic, and systematic effort to lead and implement a change effort.When developing actions for Leading Change, think about your vision for how the organization will operate after the change. Describe the challenges you encountered and how you remained flexible and resilient in your efforts to lead others to embrace the new change. Include information about the level of people you communicated with and your interactions with external stakeholders, your development of or application of policies, and how the work you accomplished has national / wide-ranging impact.In the results paragraph, describe the situation or condition of the before the change, and after the change. Comparisons work well when describing the change element of the story. And, be sure to tie the results to the challenge so that the story has a logical beginning, m iddle, and end.Ask yourself these questionsWhat will change from what to what?How did the results affect organizational performance?What other organizations were affected by the change?What was your role in leading the change?Remember, the executive leadership stories need to be written in first-person narrative and focused on your accomplishments rather than the accomplishments of others. Use I statements in the stories instead of We statements.If you need additional assistance, check out our newly updated book (December 2015),The New SES Application, or visit ourServicespage for a quote. Diane can also deliver hands-on training in ECQ writing at your agency. Writing the Traditional ECQs and the Five-Page Senior Executive Service ResumeRoughly 50% of SES executives will qualify to retire within the next three years. Uncle Sam will need strong and motivated executives to take the retirees distribution policy and lead the governments civilian workforce. These coveted high-level posi tions pay up to $179,000 per year. Begin your journey of entering into government leadership with this resourceful book.Learn All the Nuances of Writing a Leadership Application Package That Will Get You QualifiedWhy struggle on your own to write your Senior Executive Service application? Use a clear step-by-step method that was refined over 10 years in author Kathryn Troutmans 2-day SES workshops, and proven to work hundreds of times in the classroom.

How Burning Man teaches you how to be successful

How Burning Man teaches you how to be successfulHow Burning Man teaches you how to be successfulBurning Man is that time of year where 70,000 people head to Black Rock City, a self-made, temporary-city that is created in the Black Rock Desert (affectionately known as The Playa) in Nevada. The Burning Man foundation describes their yearly event as elend a festival, but a catalyst for creative culture and a network of dreamers and doers (though youd be hard-pressed to find many other descriptions without the festival reference.) Its incredibly popular with billionaires and successful executives.And bedrngnis only should you go, but you should also expense it for what it teaches you about how to be mora successful in life and work.Burning Man and radical self-relianceWhile the city is largely self-governed, co-founder Larry Harvey wrote10 guiding principles back in 2004, when Burning Man was already 18 years old Radical inclusion, gifting, de-commodification, radical self-reliance, radi cal self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, immediacy.Veteran Burners are quick to remind others that these are not commandments, but the principles give insight into the philosophies which make Burning Man so successful. In these days of delegation, we could do with a little more radical self-reliance in the office and not just on the playa.These days were surrounded by articles telling us to stop doing so much and delegating so little. Theres clearly value in delegation, and everyone from HBR to Tim Ferris has told us this much is true.But when Harvard University surveyed over 3,000 executives to better understand what differentiated leaders at innovative companies, they found that the companies that were most innovative had leaders who saw it as their direct responsibility to be a part of creative work?- ?They dont delegate it, they do it themselves.Here are the five discovery skills that innovative leaders dont delegate to others (and why you should expense your trip to Burning Man)AssociatingThink of ideas as new (and novel) combinations. The more we expose ourselves to, the more connections our brains can make. As famed management consultant Tom Peters said, Hang out with weird, and thou shalt become more weird Hang out with dull, and thou shalt become more dull.Questioning Entrepreneur and executive Gareth Kay argues that problem-solving is purely a reactive way to think about what many of us do. Instead, the job is actually looking for, and articulating, the best problem to solve. Innovative leaders are most likely to challenge assumptions, asking Why? Why not? and What if?ObservingTake a clue from anthropologists and spend a day talking to customers instead of having your research gruppe setup focus groups. Exceptional business ideas are realized by dissecting common phenomena.ExperimentingAll of the innovative leaders engaged in some form of active experimentation, whether it was intellectual explorati on, physical tinkering, or engagement in new surroundings. Leaders who lived internationally prior to becoming CEOs had roughly 7% higher market performance on average.NetworkingWhile executives are most likely to delegate conference attendance and other networking events, innovative entrepreneurs make concerted efforts to meet different kinds of people with radically different perspectives.How Burning Man teaches you how to be successfulBurning Man is that time of year where 70,000 people head to Black Rock City, a self-made, temporary-city that is created in the Black Rock Desert (affectionately known as The Playa) in Nevada. The Burning Man foundation describes their yearly event as not a festival, but a catalyst for creative culture and a network of dreamers and doers (though youd be hard-pressed to find many other descriptions without the festival reference.) Its incredibly popular with billionaires and successful executives.And not only should you go, but you should also expen se it for what it teaches you about how to be more successful in life and work.FollowLadders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard coveringHappiness,Productivity,Job Satisfaction,Neuroscience, andmoreBurning Man and radical self-relianceWhile the city is largely self-governed, co-founder Larry Harvey wrote10 guiding principles back in 2004, when Burning Man was already 18 years old Radical inclusion, gifting, de-commodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, immediacy.Veteran Burners are quick to remind others that these are not commandments, but the principles give insight into the philosophies which make Burning Man so successful. In these days of delegation, we could do with a little more radical self-reliance in the office and not just on the playa.These days were surrounded by articles telling us to stop doing so much and delegating so little. Theres clearly value in delegation , and everyone from HBR to Tim Ferris has told us this much is true.But when Harvard University surveyed over 3,000 executives to better understand what differentiated leaders at innovative companies, they found that the companies that were most innovative had leaders who saw it as their direct responsibility to be a part of creative work?- ?They dont delegate it, they do it themselves.Here are the five discovery skills that innovative leaders dont delegate to others (and why you should expense your trip to Burning Man)AssociatingThink of ideas as new (and novel) combinations. The more we expose ourselves to, the more connections our brains can make. As famed management consultant Tom Peters said, Hang out with weird, and thou shalt become more weird Hang out with dull, and thou shalt become more dull.Questioning Entrepreneur and executive Gareth Kay argues that problem-solving is purely a reactive way to think about what many of us do. Instead, the job is actually looking for, and articulating, the best problem to solve. Innovative leaders are most likely to challenge assumptions, asking Why? Why not? and What if?ObservingTake a clue from anthropologists and spend a day talking to customers instead of having your research team setup focus groups. Exceptional business ideas are realized by dissecting common phenomena.ExperimentingAll of the innovative leaders engaged in some form of active experimentation, whether it was intellectual exploration, physical tinkering, or engagement in new surroundings. Leaders who lived internationally prior to becoming CEOs had roughly 7% higher market performance on average.NetworkingWhile executives are most likely to delegate conference attendance and other networking events, innovative entrepreneurs make concerted efforts to meet different kinds of people with radically different perspectives.

AFSC 4V0X1 Optometry

AFSC 4V0X1 OptometryAFSC 4V0X1 OptometryPerforms and manages visual screening tests and assists in patient treatment. Processes eyewear prescriptions for military spectacles. Performs and manages optometry clinic activities. Manages and directs optometry service personnel, materiel, and equipment. Supervises technical and administrative activities of optometry services. May perform duties in ophthalmology. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup 323. Duties and Responsibilities Supervises optometry services. Assists the health care provider in the examination and treatment of patients by performing visual tests or procedures. Orders and dispenses military spectacles. Fits patients with spectacles and instructs patients on contact lens procedures. Assists aircrew members in aviator contact lens and night vision goggle program. Assists flight personnel in the occupational vision program. Records patient case history, conducts visual screening tests such as visual acuity, cover test, pupi llary testing, color vision, depth perception, visual field charting, and tonometry for analysis and interpretation. Instills approved ophthalmic drugs. Manages clinic resources. Determines requirements for supplies, equipment, and personnel. Develops and maintains a working environment to provide timely, economical, and operational support. Reviews budget and manages optometry activities. Performs periodic maintenance and calibration checks on clinic diagnostic equipment.Manages optometry administrative services. Coordinates technical and administrative activities of optometry services to ensure effective and efficient visual programs. Reviews reports and records for accuracy and compliance. Reports findings and services activities. Develops and evaluates training in the clinic environment and recommends changes. Establishes or recommends optometry standards, regulations, policies, or procedures to ensure quality patient care in a safe, efficient, and effective optometry environme nt.Performs ophthalmic functions. Prepares patients and performs as special surgical assistant in all types of ophthalmic surgery. Administers ophthalmic drops and ointments, applies ocular dressings, performs suture removal, and obtains eye cultures. Performs general ophthalmic procedures in preparing preoperative and postoperative patients. Takes ophthalmic photographs and prepares injectable ophthalmic anesthetics and antibiotics. Here are the specialty qualifications. Knowledge The following knowledge is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated 4V0X1/X1A. Ocular anatomy ophthalmic medications visual physiology, optics use and maintenance of ophthalmic instruments and testing equipment ophthalmic and medical regulations medical terminology optometric technology asepsis ocular referrals and emergency medical treatment patient transportation medical ethics medical administration and medical service organization and function. 4V0X1A. Surgical instruments and equipment, ophthal mic injectable medications, anesthetic solutions, and ocular disorders. Education For entry into this specialty, completion of high school courses in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics, biology, anatomy, or physiology is desirable. Training The following training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated 4V031. Completion of a basic optometry course.4V031A. Completion of the resident (Phase 1) Air Force surgical course. Experience The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated (Note See Explanation of Air Force Specialty Codes). 4V051/51A. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 4V031/31A. Also, experience in caring for and treating optometry patients and in operating and maintaining ophthalmic equipment such as lensometers, vision screening instruments, visual field measuring instruments, tonometers, and fitting optical and ophthalmic devices.4V071/71A. Qualification and in possession of AFSC 4V051/51A. Also, experience performing or supe rvising ophthalmic functions such as caring for and treating patients, operating ophthalmic testing equipment, and fitting optical and ophthalmic devices. 4V090. Qualification and in possession of AFSC 4V071/71A. Also, experience managing optometry or ophthalmology activities. Other The following are mandatory as indicated For entry, award, and retention of AFSCs 4V0X1/X1A Vision corrected to at least 20/30 in each eye.No detectable central scotoma in either eye. For entry into suffix A, prior qualification in and possession of AFSC 4V051/71. *Specialty Shredouts Suffix Portion of AFS to Which RelatedA Ophthalmology Strength Req G Physical Profile 333223 Citizenship No Required Appitude Score G-43 (Changed to G-55, effective 1 October 2004). Technical Training Course J3ALR4V031A 001Length (Days) 38Location S

Make a Modern Resume in 3 Steps

Make a Modern Resume in 3 StepsMake a Modern Resume in 3 Steps5Revamping your resume and staying up with the times is important. If it has been a while since youve updated your resume or if you are crafting one now for a new job search, there are three key steps you can take to create a modern resume to keep up with new job search processes.Consider the following dos and donts when it comes to designing a resume today.Here are three tips to create a modern resume for your job search1. Use keywords.The biggest thing that has changed about job searching in the brde several years is that more and more of it is now conducted online. According to 2015 research from Jobvite, nearly all (92 percent) of recruiters use social media to look for potential candidates.With that in mind, its important to craft your resume in such a way that the right decision-makers can find it. This means using relevant keywords so that your resume will stand out with recruiters and hiring managers in your indust ry.The right keywords are those that a recruiter might type into a search engine when trying to fill the position youre interested in. The job title, function, and skills are great places to start.For example, if youre applying for a position as an international sales manager with marketing ability, youd want to include sales management, international, and marketing as keywords near the top of your resume.2. Include data and metrics.With the job market becoming more and more competitive, you can separate yourself from the pack by including details about the quantity of impact youve had in various positions. That means using exact numbers, dollars, percentages, and statistics to reveal your success in reaching specific goals. Avoid using vague terms like doubled or cut costs unless youre including the actual figures. If your actions led to a financial benefit or impact for the company, be sure to mention that as well.When figuring out how to quantify your accomplishments, think in te rms ofrangefrequencyscaleFor example, if you dont know the exact number, stating a general range will allow you some leeway while still providing ballpark figures. Including numbers related to frequency can help reveal the volume you can handle, and focusing on scale can show how you can help to save corporate cash.3. Get specific.In the old world of job search, you might have been able to get away with crafting a single resume to apply for multiple positions. Not so anymore. With so many positions being filled online from resumes posted on job sites, youll need to tailor each resume (and cover letter for that matter) to include the appropriate keywords for each opportunity.Customizing your resume to each specific position by addressing how you can help with whats described in the job posting can also be impressive to hiring managers. Who would you rather hire- someone who has sent you a generic resume and form-like cover letter that doesnt address how she can help you with the exac t job duties youve posted? Or a true professional who has taken the time to show how his background and skill set are a perfect match for the position that you need to fill?If youre like most recruiters, youll choose the latter- so take the extra time and rework your resume as needed for each job to which you apply.They say that the only thing constant is change, and thats true for the modern job search as well. Stay up to date with the latest trends among recruiters and hiring managers by inserting the right keywords in your resume, including specific numbers and figures to quantify your value and impact, and customizing each resume and cover letter to a specific position. By keeping current, youll improve your chances of being offered the job you really want.Readers, what steps have you taken to create a modern resume for todays job searching? Share your tips with us below

The best way to say Thank you for your consideration

The best way to say Thank you for your considerationThe best way to say Thank you for your considerationSometimes the hardest things in life are the goodbyes.Cover lettersare no exception - saying thank you and goodbye in a job application or a cover letter can be tricky.Often, we hear the term thank you for your consideration used in applications and thank you letters to employers, but is it really the best (and only) way to complete the letter or application?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreYou may be thinking to yourself - saying the saatkorn phrase at the end of every thank you notlagee is so boring. How can I stand out?How to best say Thank you for your consideration?Avoid the generic phrases, and make your closing unique, in order to make a lasting impression.Use The Sandwich Method Thank them and highlight key points and then reiterate thethank you.Keep it short, simpl e, tasteful, and professional.Recruiters look for flawless job applications. How could they not?When a job posting has hundreds and sometimes even thousands of applicants, they have to get picky.When you are applying to very competitive positions, even the smallest of details matter.And a proper thank you note - one thats professional and tasteful - at the end of the application or cover letter is one detail that should not be overlooked.You may be askingCan I at least spice it up a little?The short and simple answer to that question is yes - you can make your closing unique and still keep it professional.So where to begin?Keep reading for a detailed look at Thank you for your consideration - What it means, and how to use it properly to land the job you want.What does Thank you for your consideration mean?Thank you for your consideration is a phrase often used at the closing of a job application, cover letter, letter of intent, or email to arecruiteror HR department.It is also t he primary phrase used for thank you notes after bewerbungsinterviews.Essentially, you are thanking the interviewers for taking the time to look over your application.Saying thank you for your consideration may seem like fluff added to the end of an email.And in some ways, it is.Obviously, you want the job, and you would be ever-grateful and happy for them to look over your materials and offer you the job.It is also a critical part of any thank you note after an interview.So why do you have to add this phrase or something with the same intent to the end of unterstellung communications?Because it is proper etiquette and employers expect to see a formal thank you at the end, acknowledging their efforts in the application process.So whats the best way of closing these types of communications with potential future employers?What is the best way of saying please look over my materials and I will be grateful forever or thank you so much for interviewing me, you wont regret it?Thank you fo r your time and considerationThere are two variants that are often used in closing an application or email Thank you for your consideration and thank you for your time and consideration.Both are acceptable, but wouldnt you agree that they are a little bit boring?Most likely, they also do not match yourwritingstyle, because we are no longer in the 1800s.These two phrases are also generic and overused.You dont want to be that generic applicant - you want to be the name-brand applicant, the one employers will pay extra for.Thank you for your consideration and understandingThank you for your consideration and understanding is much the same as the others. It is generic and long-winded, and it doesnt really saying much.When you are saying thank you to an employer, you want to emphasize what exactly you are thanking them for.Their consideration and understanding? Their time? Yes, but what else?Whether you spoke with the recruiter, the HR department, or had an interview, focus your thank y ou on what they did or said that you are particularly thankful for.Ready to learn the best way of saying thank you professionally?How to best say Thank you?Have you ever heard of the compliment sandwich? You probably know it as the go-to way to deliver criticism or bad news to someone.But did you know that the same method can be applied to delivering the best thank you to a potential employer?We call it the thank you sandwich.Heres what you need to do1. Thank them and highlight key points.Thank the person for their conversation or interview with you.Then highlight some key aspects that you took from the information they gave you, which shows employers that you were paying attention and care.2. Reiterate the thank you.Reaffirm why you would make an excellent candidate for the position and close with a reiteration of thanks and a call to action for next steps.Instead of writing a boring and completely generic thank you, as a closure to anycommunication, it is best to make it highly pe rsonalized, while still maintaining the professionalism that thank you for your consideration gives.By following thisguide, you are effectively sandwiching information about why you would be a good candidate with the thank you closing.You are being polite and following properjob searchetiquette, while also making your thank you highly individualized and more memorable.Ready to see how all this comes together? Check out this exampleThank you for your consideration using the Thank you sandwich methodExampleDear XYZ,(Add what you want to convey in the message first here).Thank you for taking the time to interview me today. I greatly appreciated being able to meet X, Y, and Z and speak about the position.Our discussion about your nonprofits mission to ensure a geldschrank place for every child stood out to me, and I believe my experience working with the Department of Social Services for the past 10 years would make me an excellent candidate to advance that mission. My workhistoryaffirm s my belief that every child needs a safe home, and it would be an honor to work with your nonprofit.If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you again for the opportunity, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.Sincerely,ApplicantSummaryUsing thank you for your consideration is not a bad way to say thank you, but it definitely can be spiced up to sound more fluid and individualized.When contacting employers, you want not only want to make sure that all of your communication is professional, but you also want it to be memorable.When they ask, who was this person we interviewed? after a day of interviews and all they get as a memory jogger is thank you for your consideration, you probably wont be the candidate they pull from the pile.Making your thank you more active by adding in details about the interview or the job application and linking it back to a crucial part about why you would fit in well with the company is a great way to stand ou t.Keep it is short and sweet - no employer wants to read a billion lines about why you are so awesome. But also make sure it conveys thanks in a professional way and maintains the job search etiquette that is expected, while not being overly dull.So there you have it.Thank you so much for reading this article. We know that you will do great with writing these thank-yous after reading our thank you for your consideration guide.If you have any further questions about the job search,Zippiahas all the resources you need to excel at the job search game.Thanks again for the opportunity to bring you these resources.Sincerely,Zippia.(Not bad for a thank you statement to readers, right?) Try your own and get that dream job.This article originally appeared on Zippia.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The Secret to New Resume Format

The Secret to New Resume Format New Resume Format the Ultimate Convenience Getting fired does not need to be the conclusion of earth. With some crucial info in the correct order, everyone can create one. Its essential that you have a structured approach from designing all of the way to working on site so that you can attain a harmonious scenery. There are plenty of strategies to stand out with a resume. Recruiters desire to see exclusive, distinct, and exclusive skills for every single job opening, and theyll definitely concentrate on the particular requirements. Resumes give potential employers a means to learn about applicants quickly and readily, and theyre your very first step toward new job opportunities. The keywords which you use in your resume will determine the method by which the employer finds your resume. Dont make employers must work hard to obtain what theyre searching for. In the majority of jobs, the employer will supply the training. He or she will provi de all the training you need. All About New Resume Format You may have to wear bifocal at the conclusion of the day. Mentioned following are some factors to bear in mind whilst preparing the ideal resume format. So when you havent made up your mind about which format you want to use, nows the moment. Select the right resume format for the specific job to which youre applying. Creative While its important to get a professional resume, sometimes just a little creativity and innovation is suitable. The capability of good managers to delegate various responsibilities to employees gives workers a feeling of worth, teamwork, drive, and the chance to learn new skills as each purpose is met. Create a concise advertising statement for every one of your abilities and accomplishments to make it even more influential and interesting. Its possible to showcase your work history, but in addition fill in more space by talking about your abilities and other knowledge youve got. Ask your self what message youre attempting to send the employer as you choose which style is ideal for you. The way to make a functional style resume By now you might be thinking about how to get going on developing a functional resume. Irrespective of which style you decide on, use action words to demonstrate you will take action at work. So, make certain you decide on the style that is most suitable for your very own individual needs. Otherwise, you should change your resume styling. As a consequence of the technologies used, its important to continue to keep your resume in a particular format which will be correctly read and interpreted by the systems. When you format your resume you need to be koranvers your leave enough margin space to permit for printing. On account of the technologies involved with parsing the resume, its important to keep the format of your resume very easy and somewhat plain. What New Resume Format Is - and What it Is Not Actually, theres no need to menti on being fired whatsoever in the cover letter because it will leave a great deal of questions in the hiring managers minds about why you were fired rather than focusing on why they would like to hire you. Great for everybody to promote their very best skills and receive a dream job. The very last thing that you want to do is receive a job that you cant do. Its cool that youre searching for a job to have some money, but you need some troubles with resume. Whenever possible, attempt to reveal quantifiable outcomes. Whenever you are asking for work, its mandatory that you submit a resume. Afterall, the purpose is to create a resume that could help allow you to find the career. Your objective should reflect the audiences need to swiftly understand how youll assist the organization achieve its targets. Advertisement Choosing the very best Resume template or CV Template is vital important if you intend to find the most suitable job. Resume Templates also be sure that you dont m iss out any helpful item of information about yourself which can be important for the provider. Each template offers structure, examples and tips so you dont need to departure from scratch when creating your resume. Employing a CV template can be a simple method of writing your CV. Well, it is, but only as long as you understand what youre doing. Conventional resumes usually consist of several phrases. Youre probably creative. Make sure your resume is cohesive. It is not too late to enhance your resume with this. Its fast and simple to use.

What to study in 2014

What to study in 2014 What to study in 2014Posted November 4, 2013, by Andrea Riddell How do you choose what to study? In an ideal world, we would all do what we love and wed do it well. But in reality, with changing economic currents and job saturation, its not just about doing what we love we also need to consider salary and job prospects. Once you finish uni, youll probably be eager to jump into the real world and find your first professional job ASAP. But there could be a range of hurdles that get in your way. If you stay aware of the obstacles when youre choosing, studying or graduating from a degree, youll be mora grounded and realistic about your future. Demand in the market The truth is, some degrees make you more employable than others. And, while you shouldnt just choose a degree because you think its going to set you up for life just like you shouldnt choose your HSC subjects based on the ATAR they could get you you do need to realise that finding a job at the end of yo ur study could be difficult. Not impossible, just difficult. The Australian Graduate Survey 2011 found that on average, 76.6 per cent of bachelor degree graduates who completed their degree in 2010 found full-time work within four months of graduating. The hot industries for graduate employment in 2011 were mining engineering (98.2 per cent), medicine (98 per cent) and pharmacy (97.3 per cent). So if you were planning to study, or are studying, a degree in one of these areas, you can probably bank on similar employment results in the next few years. At the other end of the scale, humanities and language graduates struggled to find full-time employment within the first four months, with rates sitting at 64.7 and 65 per cent respectively which can be a dampener for any arts students out there. Employment trends are determined by demand and economic conditions. In financial downturns, recruitment is often the first thing that businesses tighten. Dont be disheartened if it seems like y our job prospects seem to be going down the drain. As economic situations change, so too will your employment opportunities. Graduate Recruitment 2008-2012 Graph taken from the Graduate Outlook Survey 2012 The right university In Graduate Careers Australias annual Graduate Outlook Survey for 2012, 42.7 per cent of employers said that they prefer to employ graduates from particular universities or colleges. This welches more apparent in the communications, technology and utilities industries (62.7 per cent). On the other hand, the government, defence and health industries held no preferences when it came to particular tertiary educators. Dont sweat it if youre not going to a university with a prestigious reputation. Yes, Sydney University has a history steeped in status, and you can pretend youre actually attending Hogwarts. But its often the smaller universities that develop strong industry-specific course content and therefore develop a great reputation in particular sectors. MyUni versity, an Australian Government initiative, allows you to compare universities based on the total number of students, graduates in full-time employment and graduates in full-time study. Comparing the number of graduates in full-time employment will give you an idea of the employment rate for each university. However, you do need to keep in mind some of the other factors that play into these stats, such as the total number of students and any other variables that might affect the rate of employment. Higher paying grad jobs In 2012, the average graduate aged under 25 years old with a bachelor degree earned a full-time salary of $52,000 thats a nice $2000 rise from 2011. Males seemed to bring home more bacon in 2012, with a median salary of $55,000 a whopping $5000 more than females. However, this could be more indicative of the fields males tend to enter rather than a sign of a gender pay gap. The high-rolling fields with the highest median grad salary were engineering ($64,000), medicine ($60,000) and mathematics ($57,300). At the other end of the spectrum, visual and performing arts graduates fared the worst, with a median departureing salary of $40,000. You can see the rest of the list here. In many fields, youre required to start low but the earning potential balances this out. While accounting grads can expect a starting salary of $50,000, the average maximum salary reaches $159,383 (My Career, 2013). However, you may need to be patient as pay rises are set to slow down in 2014. Its not the end If youve read this article and now feel like youll never ever find a job and when you do youll earn a pittance anyway remember that a high salary doesnt equate to high job satisfaction. There are many other elements that create a fulfilling career, and often youll only discover these a few years into the game. Dont be disheartened if it takes you longer than four months to find your first full-time job. There are plenty of other options continue onto postgrad study, travel, take on part-time work. All of these will help you grow and develop your career in the end. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searcheshighest paying jobs in australiaskills you need for the futureonline freelance writing jobs australiamillennials in the workforce statisticstop 100 highest paying jobs in australia CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineAndrea RiddellRelated ArticlesBrowse moreWORKFORCE TRENDSMore jobs for energy apprenticesElectricity network Ausgrid, formerly EnergyAustralia, has taken on 154 new apprentices to work on their large infrastructure program, creating jobs and helping to fill the national skills shortage for qualified tradespeople.CAREER ADVICEMBAHow To Ask Your Employer to Pay For Your MBATheres no question, studying an MBA in Australia costs a lot. Before you give up on the idea, consider this. What about convincing work to pay? Wondering how you can get them over the line? Read how to get startedPop cultureQuiz What Celebrity Career Should You Really Have?Ever wondered about the career you would have had if life hadnt gotten in the way? Answer these 10 simple questions to find out which celebrity career you were destined for.