5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career Change

5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career Change5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career Change5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career ChangeChanging careers has always been an option for people who want to do something different. But today, in an economy that has impacted millions of people, some are finding they need to change careers, even if they would rather not.Whether your change is based on want or need, you have to take a good, hard look at your transferable skills and highlight the ones that can help land that job in the new field.Thats not as hard as it sounds. So, heres a simple five-step process you can use to match the skills you have with the ones an employer wants.(1)Take a sheet of paper (or open a new document on your computer) and list all the skills you have from your current and previous jobs.(2)Pick out the hard skills, those that were specific to your current and former jobs. For instance, if youve been an accountant, proficiency in accounts rece ivable and accounts payable software would be a hard skill. If youve worked in construction, operating a crane would be a hard skill.(3)Pick out the soft skills, mostly personal traits and abilities, that apply to just about any job and work environment. ExamplesCommunication. How well do you communicate verbally and in writing? Employers look for either or both in just about any job.Organizational skills. How well do you manage your time, workflow, and priorities?Project management. Can you manage and deliver projects on or ahead of deadline?Problem solving. Can you recognize when a process isnt working and can be improved? If so, can you find an innovative way to fix it?Computer skills. Just about everyone needs to know the basics (how to use emaille and common applications such as a word processing or spreadsheet program). The more proficient you are, the less time theyll need to train you.Foreign language skills. Many companies, especially those that do business globally, value workers who can speak second languages. Some jobs even require such skills.(4)Find postings for jobs that interest you, then determine which of the hard and soft skills theyre looking for line up with those on your list.(5)Prepare a resume and cover letter that highlight the hard and soft skills you possess from your past work, and how well they will transfer and bring value to your desired job. Leave out hard skills that arent relevant to the new field.In the end, the worst that could happen is that you wont be called for an interview. But smart employers recognize that an enthusiastic, likable candidate with transferable experience and a willingness to learn can be a better choice than someone with the right experience but the wrong personality.

7 Reasons Why You Need Personal Business Cards, and 7 Facts to Include on Them

7 Reasons Why You Need Personal Business Cards, and 7 Facts to Include on Them 7 Reasons Why You Need Personal Business Cards, and 7 Facts to Include on Them A funny story I tell my workshop attendees Once, I ordered 250 personal geschftlicher umgang cards from Vistaprint - only to find when I opened them that Id spelled my occupation wrong worksop facilitator.There went 250 geschftlicher umgang cards into the trash. Im ashamed to even type this, but Im making a point Spell-check your order before submitting it.That said, my point today is a bit bigger than that. The real message is You, as a job seeker, need your own personal geschftsleben cards.7 Reasons WhyYou Need Business CardsNetworking eventsPerhaps the most obvious reason why you need personal business cards is to make a good impression when networking. Most attendees of any given networking event will have them. Not havingyour own will separate you from the pack - in a bad way.Job fairs A great way to introduce yourself t o companies for which youd like to work is by going to job fairs. Impress company repsby attaching personal business cards to your resumes.Social gatheringsEven atcasualgatherings with friends and family, youll want to carry business cards.This will remind people that youre on the job search. That said, dont go from person to person shoving your cards in their hands. Only give out cards when it makes sense.You come across as professionalWhen you were employed, your company probably gave you business cards to help you represent it positively. Now, youre representing a company called Me, Inc.Theyre easier to hand out than resumesYou dont want to carry resumes everywhere you go. Plus, the people youre networking with will appreciate a business cards convenience over a full-size resume.They may create opportunitiesPeople dont remember everyone they meet at a networking event.Your personal business card serves as a good reminder - and it tells them how to get in touch with you if they w ant to talk more.Theyre a call to actionWhen someone has one of your personal business cards, theyre more likely to call you back. Similarly, when you have someones personal business card, youre more likely to follow upyourself. What to Include on Your Business CardsContact informationYour home address (optional), email address (make it professional), and telephone number (home or cell). No surprises here.Your social media accountsAlong with your LinkedIn profile URL, you can also list your Twitter handle, Facebook account, and website or blog, if appropriate.Major strengths This is one of the most important bits of information. A personal business card with only contact information is of little value. As a potential networker, Id need more information about you. Lets say youre in marketing.Your areas of strength might include social media, public relations, web content, and trade shows. Keep it short and sweet.A logo Im not a big fan myself, but if you have a professionally designe d logo that truly represents what you do, go for it. No cheap logos from Google or templates from personal business card providers.A photoAgain, not a big fan, unless youre inan occupation where such a thing is standard (e.g.,real estate, modeling, acting). IT or finance or medical tech? I think not.A branding anschauungThis may work well if it is short and descriptive enough to show value. Something like, I fix things that break is not descriptive enough. Many job seekers do this. However, Creating marketing literature that generate sales and increases visibility is a much clearer statement of someones value.Leave the back blankYou might be tempted to provide more information on the back, but this is valuable real estate for networkers whod like to take notes aboutyou. Make sure to carry a pen with youin case your newfound connection needs one.This post originally appeared on Things Career Related.Bob McIntosh, CPRW, is a career trainer who leads more than 15 job search workshops a t an urban career center.

Veterinarian CV Example 2018s Top Sample

Veterinarian CV Example 2018s Top SampleVeterinarian CV Example - 2018s Top SampleCreate This CV ObjectiveTo impart my knowledge in Veterinary medicine and provide quality healthcare to animals. My aim is to sustain animal life by administering immunization to guard them against diseases.Personal Information Brian Avelar322 Dogwood LaneTucson, AZ 85712(777)-884-4221b.avelarsampleresume.netDate of Birth May 6, 1979Place of Birth PACitizenship AmericanGender MaleProfile Summary Knowledgeable in toxicology and laboratory animal medicines Great skills in interpreting animal behavior PathologyEducationDoctor of Veterinary Medicine, 2009Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn BS in Biology, 2006Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn Employment HistoryPharmaceutical Veterinarian, 2007 PresentAstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington, DE Responsibilities Administered immunization to animals to protect them from diseases. Studied cause of animal diseases . Reviewed the list of raw materials to be used and mixed in the vaccine. Tested efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines to dying animals. Inspected the meat products given to animals as food. Developed vaccines for animals.City Veterinarian, 2006 2007Private PracticeResponsibilities Prescribed medicines for animals. Provided daily menu for sick animals. Immunized the cattle in MAG-V Farm. Educated the pet owners on proper animal bathing and feeding. Demonstrated to clients the administration of vaccine to their pets.ResearchJourney to Animal LifeTraining/CertificationCertificate in Animal PathologyAwardEnvironment-Friendly ResearchProfessional MembershipAmerican Animal Hospital AssociationAmerican Veterinary Medical AssociationSkillsGreat communication skillsStrong familiarity with animal diseasesAbility to tame uncooperative animals Customize CVVeterinarian Resume Questions1. Whats the best format for a CV PDF, Microsoft Word, or txt?Todays digital world demands that candidates kn ow how to format and upload their CV electronically, either through email or through a job posting website. In many cases, recruiters ask that candidates upload their file in Microsoft Word format. You can also choose to send your document as a PDF if you want to make sure nothing gets edited. Its rare for recruiters to ask for a txt file, but some job postings may require other formats like this one. In the veterinarian CV sample, you can see how a completed document looks on screen.2. What should you include about your accomplishments on your veterinarian CV?Your goal for your CV document is to show recruiters your value. One of the best ways to do this is to show off your accomplishments. In the veterinarian CV sample, the candidate describes achievements such as awards, certifications, and research. Another way to include accomplishments is to point them out in your experience section. Dont feel like you need to list every single job responsibility from your previous employer. F ocus on giving details that give evidence of results in veterinary medicine, such as increases in animal immunization, a high number of successful treatment cases, or evidence of excellent diagnostic ability.3. What should go in the experience section of your veterinarian CV?In the experience section of your CV, detail your work history. This part of your document should employ a chronological organization to make it easy to follow. Hiring managers typically want to see a progression in your career in the field of veterinary science, as shown in the veterinarian CV sample. You can include each positions title, your dates of employment, the name of the employer, and a brief bulleted list of your duties and accomplishments during your tenure. Instead of struggling with formatting this section, try using the resume builder tool to make writing this part quick and easy.4. How should you list education on a veterinarian CV?Candidates vying for jobs in veterinary science must demonstrate a high level of success in their academic career. If you want to be a top veterinarian candidate, you need to have many years of schooling to prepare for the job. fruchtwein job postings indicate the level of education needed for the position. List academic credentials on your education section, as shown in the veterinarian CV sample, starting with the highest degree. Include details such as the degree earned, the years of study, and the name of your school.5. How do you list references on a veterinarian CV?On the typical CV, such as the veterinarian CV sample, candidates dont usually include references. If the job posting requests them, you can generate a professional-looking list for your future employer. This list should be on a separate page and include the basic contact information for each person listed as a reference. Most reference pages provide either a phone number or an email address. Be sure that you have checked with each person you plan on using as a reference before p utting them on your CV.More CV SamplesVeterinarian CV