Like most people, you may have no idea what you want to do next in your career. You want to make a change, but it feels like such a huge undertaking that you're stuck worrying about it instead of focusing on the next single thing you could do to move forward. Here's what you can do to set yourself up for a successful career change.  Want a Career Change? Plan for the future and stop avoiding the present. Planning ahead is an excellent idea, and preparing for the worst is a smart move. And yet, plans can fall apart, and the worst thing you planned for is unlikely to happen.  Challenges may come up that you could have never anticipated. However, unless they're causing you a significant problem right now, they don't deserve to be taking up so much of your attention. Why would you spend your time worrying about a problem you haven't got [...]

While hiring has slowed, it hasn't stopped altogether. Many employers are still recruiting - they're conducting remote interviews. Here are six steps to nailing those remote interviews and landing the job you want. Your setup Sit down and turn your camera on; what can be seen?  Arrange your face in the middle of the screen. Check the position or height of your laptop to get the angle correct, so you're not looking down at the camera. Take a look around the room. Make sure there is no clutter, and organize the area.  Be aware of noise or distractions that might interrupt you, such as housemates in the kitchen or pets. Find a quiet space that allows you to focus. Try a test run With so many video conferencing platforms, it's easy to get confused. Whether it's Webex, Zoom, Skype, or Teams, practice with a friend to learn the platform used. There is nothing worse than [...]

In today's busy world, it takes time for recruiters to reach out to potential applicants. You could have applied for a job weeks ago or just yesterday, either way, you need to be prepared when they call. While on the phone with a recruiter, don't forget to ask these 6 questions while you're on the phone.  Even if it only lasts 5 minutes, the call is essential and more important than the job interview. Why? First impressions are unforgettable; this is your chance to show who you are. It's also a perfect time to ask any questions about the job so you can be prepared for the interview. Here are the 6 questions to ask the job recruiter 1. Do you work for the hiring company? There are two types of recruiters. It's essential to know the difference between each one. An internal recruiter works directly with the company that looking for someone to hire. [...]

Have you been spending hours, days, and months of job searching, and you keep coming up empty-handed? Have you been blaming the economy on the lack of job replies or feeling like everyone else is struggling too? Do you ask yourself why your job search is not working? We can help you improve your results with simple changes that will greatly impact your job search strategy.  If your job search is not working, here are the mistakes to avoid Job Applications Not all applications are created equal. Most online job boards send you down a rabbit hole, wasting your time and taking you away from your goal of finding a job.  Did you know that 80% of vacant positions are filled without advertising? Some companies are even required to post jobs, even if they fill them internally.  These jobs are filled by an employee or referral from the company's existing database of potential candidates or [...]

Resume with limited or no work experience First-time job seekers applying for jobs face a similar challenge: no work experience to prove they’re qualified. Most hiring managers or recruiters review work history as one of the best ways to predict future job performance. So what can you do when you don’t have work experience? Maybe you’re fresh out of school or trying to change careers – it might be a bit tricky, but with these tips, you can still create an impressive entry-level resume. Short and Sweet Resume Most resumes have two pages, but this could be silly when you don’t have the experience to fill the pages. Keep things short and easy to read on one page, so your best achievements and skills can stand out to hiring managers. Transferable skills List anything work-related that comes to mind. Emphasizing your transferable skills will help in two ways: Build your confidence in what you have [...]

Practical Tools for a Career Change (Successfully!) Changing Career Paths From a young age, we set our sites on careers that are frequently not practical as adults, leaving us to contemplate a different career path. Reasons for this change can be vastly different from one person to the next, but the idea of changing your career can be intimidating.  Before choosing to switch careers, it could be helpful to evaluate your current position. What are the things you found intriguing when you first took the job, and what are your main concerns today? This process could help determine if you need to explore more options in your current career or change paths entirely. Here are a few simple tools for changing careers Understanding your current job satisfaction. It’s important to know about your current job you like and dislike. While evaluating why you dislike your job, consider whether it involves the work itself, company culture, [...]

Should I submit a cover letter with my resume? There is a proper way to create a cover letter with a resume. If done properly, the answer is yes! The professional resume writers at Heartland Resumes, which serves Omaha, Lincoln, Des Moines, and Sioux Falls, can properly write a cover letter to send out with each of your resumes. A cover letter is vital in getting that interview and, eventually, that job you want. Let Heartland Resumes show you how valuable a cover letter can be. While a cover letter is only a few short paragraphs, it goes a long way to showing potential hiring managers who you are and what you can bring to the table. The choice of words and the layout will either make or break you when hiring managers are sorting through potential candidates. That is why you need the professional resume writers at Heartland Resumes to help guide you through this [...]