Five Professional Habits to Leave In 2020
When we think of the New Year, many of us focus on our weight, our home décor and our fiscal goals. However, what about our professional goals? Our professional goals are often overlooked leaving us stuck in the monotony of our dreaded 9-5. Wanting to provide our audience with some tools they can use in 2021, Shapely teamed up with Jasmine Omorogbe of JasmineOmo.com. Jasmine is passionate about seeing others achieve their goals and with her support, her clients have landed their dream jobs, earned admission into top universities and have been able to use what they learned from Jasmine to help others do the same. With that said, here are Jasmine’s five professional habits to leave in 2020.
1. Stop Using fonts on your resume that are difficult to read
Sorry friend, Times New Roman is NOT the move. It’s antiquated and requires more visual focus to read. Since on average, recruiters take six to ten seconds to review your resume, you want them to get straight to your greatness without being slowed down by challenging fonts. Find what fonts you like best, but I recommend fonts that are “sans serif.”
2. Pasting the job description on your resume
Potential employers seek to understand what you have actually done and what impact you have had within the positions you have held. Sharing the job description that you were given when you were hired is a disservice to that end and will make them move on to the next candidate. Use the space on your resume to concisely share what you did, how you did it, and the impact it had. Using phrases like, “resulting in…” or “in order to” can help ensure that you are focused on both what you did and more importantly, why it mattered.
3. Using your resume as a “catch-all”
There is a difference between the employment history you share on a job application and your resume. Your resume is a highlight reel designed to grab the attention of employers and make them want to invite you for an interview. Depending on your industry and length of work experience, it typically does not need to exceed one to two pages. It should only include things from your work experience that are most relevant to the job you are applying to, everything else can reside in a cloud document called a “lifetime resume.” That specific document is where you can keep track of everything you have ever done and when needed you can thoughtfully select the experiences you wish to include as you build a resume that is tailored to the position you seek. Employers don’t have time to sift through anything else.
4. Waiting until you are ready to leave your current job to start looking for a new one
If you are just starting to take action on finding your next job when you are about to quit or are asked to leave your current position, you’re late. It’s critical to do things like set a time each month to add what you’ve recently done to your resume or make time to create or foster connections with individuals who can aid in your job search. You can always keep your eyes and ears open and continue to grow your network strategically, even if you love your current role. If you stay ready, you won’t have to get ready if and when the time comes.
5. Staying in your lane
The job landscape is evolving. It may be time to broaden your horizons as job titles exist now that were unheard-of even five years ago. Think about your transferable skills and what other types of positions, organizations, or locations you may be open to considering. Although it’s great to refine your skills, sometimes, staying in your lane can keep you stuck. Don’t be afraid to think big and imagine what life outside of your current position or organization could look like. Think about the steps you would need to get there – whom you would need to connect with, what skills you may need to add to your portfolio and then…get busy!
