Surefire Ways To Make Your CV Stand Out

Your heart is pounding and your sweat is drenching. Within your hands are your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and other supporting documents. You are about to answer some interview questions. An interview that can either make or break your career.

One of questions that you prepared for was: “What makes you stand out among your peers?” It is a query that underlies your attributes and characteristics. It sets you apart from the rest. This question can also be answered by a well put together CV. Highlighting your distinct characteristics can help the interviewer determine whether you are the ideal candidate for the job.

On that note, here are 5 ways to ensure that your CV stands out from your peers.

#1: PLAY WITH COLORS

Colors play a huge part in creating impressions. Red can ignite excitement while green can induce calmness. You have to understand the association between a color and your brand. This way, you can choose a palette that will best describe your brand.

Stick to darker blue hues to convey loyalty, honesty, and responsibility. Use red to convey passion, aggression, and emotion. Lastly, you may use turquoise to convey prestige and high ideals.

Do a quick search on Color Psychology to determine the colors that you can use on your CV. Use these colors to highlight the headers or as a background.

#2: LIMIT YOUR BULLETS

I, for one, tend to skip on some lengthy bullet points. As an interview, I look for at least four bullet points for each section. I do not need to know the entire story on how you became a professional! Choose your bullet points wisely.

Be specific whenever possible. You cannot put a bullet point stating that you have “improved the sales considerably”. Instead, you must use quantitative measurements (e.g., improved sales by 20% in the last quarter).

#3: CHOOSE YOUR SKILLS

When it comes to CVs, one skill seems to pop up more often. This skills is none other than communication. You see, almost all the jobs require you to have excellent communication skills. Hence, there is no need to claim it. Show off your excellent communication skills through the interview.

If you are still insisting that putting communication skills in your CV is a must, you have to give examples. Say that you have spoken in workshops or company team buildings. You may also narrate your contributions on website or on print.

#4: EMPHASIZE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Your accomplishments can set you apart from the rest. Use powerful verbs when doing so. Begin with enticing keywords such as improved, resolved, initiated, and increased. These go beyond simply stating your duties and responsibilities.

Remember to describe your previous employment experiences by highlighting how you solve the problems. This way, you stress that you added value to the company.

#5: HIGHLIGHT YOUR AWARDS

Aside from accomplishments, awards are tangible form of recognition. Include a category for awards or honors that you received throughout the years. Demonstrating that others value your contributions can greatly influence the interviewers decision.

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Quality recommendations are another form of recognition. Thus, you have to select people who know your skills and accomplishments the best.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Newbie’s Survival Guide To Working From Home

There are two types of perspectives that one can have about freelancers. Some people perceive working from home as a coveted dream. They are attracted with the idea of having to work in their pajamas, of avoid the long commute, and of being able to interact with their family without sacrificing income. In contrast, there are other people who view this setup as an impossible environment to be in. It is understandable! Working from home comes with varying degrees of challenges.

However, you must not lose hope. You can successfully transition from a traditional office to a flexible environment with the right strategies. That being said, here are just some tips that you may employ to transition with ease.

CREATE A DAILY SCHEDULE

Much like a traditional workplace, you must follow a daily schedule to stay on track. Set your working hours and avoid personal phone calls or emails that can distract you from your professional time.

Let us face it! It is easy to get swayed by your children or neighbors to work any time of the day. While starting at 10 am sounds exciting, you must manage your time wisely to keep your sanity in tact. Not everyone is hardwired to be well-organized and self-sufficient. So, be honest with yourself before you take this huge leap.

ASSIGN A WORKING NEST

It goes without saying that you must set aside a specific place exclusively for work. Whether it is as tiny as a storage room or as wide as your master bedroom, assigning a working nest will help your mind shift from its restful state to its stimulated state. You need to condition your mind to work despite being in your comfort zone.

More so, you may use your home office as a means to apply for formal records. You see, some institutions require you to assign a special place of business or a place to meet clients.

RETREAT WHEN NEEDED

As mechanic as day to day seems, we are no robots! Burnout can hit you at any moment. This is why you must plan your holidays. Whether you want to book a food trip in Bangkok or a Yoga retreat in Bali, you deserve to unwind.

Say you do not have the budget to travel overseas. Opt to schedule activities that will allow self-improvement instead. You may be interested in painting, pottery, or petting animals. Something that interests you can open avenues of pleasure in the future. Take it as a means to reduce the stress of being a freelancer.

SET A LINE

Last but the not the least, you must set a line between your “work-work” and your “housework”. It can be tempting to clean a dirty sink or to do the laundry, but you must do these chores outside your work hours. If you cannot fight the urge to do housework; you may use your break time. Blurring the line between work and housework can often lead to avoiding the tasks that need to be done.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

It can be scary to take the leap of faith. However, that fear will only make you stronger! What do we say to fear? Not today!

Sources: 1 & 2

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Positive And Negative Sides Of Working From Home

Gone are the days when employees are boxed out of their cubicles! Modern technology and contemporary changes paved way for more freedom at work. Nowadays, we can choose to work from our own sweet home.

CONS

1. Working from home is not for everyone. It takes a strong sense of self-discipline to conquer the tasks at hand. Discipline is important to start work and to focus during work. Be honest with yourself! Are you capable of practicing your self-discipline?

2. Working from home entails no outside pressure. If you are motivated by your boss who oversees you all the time then, this may not be for you. Some people find it hard to stay on task without the pressure from another co-worker or a supervisor.

3. Working from home diminishes social interaction. It is no secret that freelancers are vulnerable to being lonely due to their remote location. Loneliness can be dangerous to your mental and physical health. Rethink whether you will thrive in an isolated environment.

4. Working from home puts a gray area between your work and personal life. It is hard to tell whether you are overworked or not due to your environment. There can be an imbalance in your work and personal life, which is unhealthy for you.

5. Working from home lessens vicarious learning. Due to the minimal interactions with other people, learning from a team of like-minded individuals is minimized. There will be no idea sharing or brainstorming face-to-face. There will be no work lunches too.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

PROS

1. There is no commute when you work from home! Employees will be able to save time and money. These factors often lead to boosting overall morale.

2. There is more productivity, if you are working in a comfortable environment. Some employees are willing to work harder in order to continue having the freedom of working from home.

3. There will be few sick day leaves. This time, employees will be less exposed to the infection brought by the commute or the workplace. People will be able to get work done from home.

4. There is less overhead costs when you switch to working from home. A small business will be able to thrive when they eliminate the costs of rent, office supplies, office snacks, and so on.

5. There will be less chances of experiencing burnout. When employees are working on their own terms, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed by their work experience and the tasks at hand.

When taking the leap of faith, you have to weigh both the potential positive and negative sides of your decision. Good luck!

Source: APOLLO

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How To Generate Income Through Facebook

Whether you are addicted to Facebook or not, you can generate income or at least increase your network through this platform. Facebook enables you to connect to potential clients and helps you to develop close relationships. However, you must remember that Facebook is only a part of the strategy.

You still need to market through face to face interactions or through phone conversations. Clients need to feel a personal touch to your products or services. Nonetheless, here are some ways to generate income through the infamous Facebook.

Firstly, you must use Facebook Messenger to stimulate conversations with potential clients. Messenger is like email, but better. It is a way to quickly talk to your clients while attaching documents and stickers. You may highlight your promotions or send a group code to your clients. If you have not spoken to a “friend” in a while, you must renew the relationship first. You do not want him or her to feel like you are only reaching out for business.

Secondly, you must sustain the friendly conversations. Keep the conversation going by thanking your clients for their responses. Provide pictures, videos, and additional information on your products or services. If you do not hear back from them, you may send a “wave” a week after. Ask if they want to know the next step for successful purchase. Be patient.

Thirdly, you must create an enticing Facebook page. Fill your business profile with attractive pictures, genuine reviews, and witty captions. Edit your cover image, profile image, and about section properly. Exude your brand’s personality through the images. While, the about section shall dictate your credibility.

Lastly, you must put your profile on public. Your goal is to let your friends know what you do or what you offer. Let them feel that you can help them. For instance, you may write a similar post if you are a real estate agent.

“Hello there! I love helping people find their dream home. If you know anyone that needs assistance in real estate, please message me.”

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Keep things short and simple. Interested clients will surely message soon after!

Source: inc

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How To Keep Your 9-5 Job While Starting An Online Business

Your path to frugality has two options: you can either cut down your expenses or expand your income. Without a doubt, doing these two options simultaneously can increase your chances of achieving your long-term financial goals.

Establishing an online business is a great way to earn that extra money!

UTILIZE YOUR EXPERTISE

Whether you are an experienced real estate agent or a financial consultant, you can utilize your expertise by becoming an online consultant. The beauty of this is that it does not have to consume much of your time. Help individuals or companies to grow and work more efficiently. Consultancy is taking the world by storm because people would rather pay someone to help them than make their own costly mistakes.

SELL DIGITAL COURSES

It is amazing how you can create and sell your own courses with just a few clicks of a button. Digital courses map out the future and many budding entrepreneurs turn to it for reference.

Do you have to be a master in your field to become a digital instructor? No! All you need to do is to share your knowledge on a particular field and be two steps ahead of your audience. Digital courses can be built through websites such as Teachable and Kajabi. Go ahead! Try navigating through these websites now.

BECOME A GRAMMAR NAZI

I, myself, am caught in a cycle of writing and proofreading. Sometimes, I catch myself editing the past articles that I have written. Proofreading is a task best left to professionals. Writers, business owners, and alike will benefit from editors or proofreaders.

Offer your editing services by advertising it on Gumtree or Craigslist. You can also post on social media while targeting the undergraduate and graduate students.

SEW YOUR WAY UP

If you have a knack for sewing or tailoring, you may offer your services online. You see, some people pay for as much as S$30 for a simple stitching problem. You can offer a friendlier rate that will compete with the existing market.

More so, you may build an online business that sells your sewed products such as sweaters or scarves. Go one step further by offering tailoring classes at a cost.

BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Social media managers are trending at the moment. There is plenty of money to be circulated using Facebook, Google, and Instagram ads. Thus, businesses need someone to facilitate their online presence. Even with your smartphone, you can complete this job during your downtime.

Image Credits : pixabay.com

You can either take online training courses to pick up the skill or learn it through free YouTube videos. With your determination and commitment, you will be able to pick up the social media management skill.

Sources: 1 & 2

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