What to Do If You Get Asked About Your Current Salary During a Job Interview

What to Do If You Get Asked About Your Current Salary During a Job InterviewWhat to Do If You Get Asked About Your Current Salary During a Job Interview When you set out for a new job, youre probably excited about learning things, meeting people, and expanding your expertise. But more money is a great perk, too, especially if you feel youve been undervalued at other jobs.So what happens if youre trying to earn what you deserve and a profil employer asks what youve earned in prior positions?There are a few places where its illegal to get asked about salary history . If youre lucky to live in those areas, you might not have anything to worry about. For those who dont live in lucky spots, you can do a few things to skirt the salary history issue.Employers ask about salary to gauge the market for your position . If youre interviewing for a position thats like what youve been doing in the past, a company might look at your compensation as a competitive rate. But not all jobs are created - or paid - equally and fairly.I never thought that asking questions about a candidates salary history was particularly useful in the first place, said Timothy Wiedman, a retired associate professor of management and menschenwrdig resources at Doane University . Candidates have had a long history of embellishing their backgrounds, so self-reported salary histories are not necessarily going to be reliable.Even if youre honest with a potential employer about your earnings, Wiedman said theres no way to verify that information with those employers.Theres no ethical nor practical way to verify self-reported salary histories since virtually no former employers would ever divulge that sort of information during reference checks, he said. Hiring managers who asked applicants to provide salary histories were simply fooling themselves if they thought they were getting much useful information.More cities and states are changing those salary history questions. At the time of publication, its illegal for employers to ask candidates about salary history or current wages, includingNot all laws are the same for each location. In Pittsburgh, for example, only city agencies cant ask about salary history. In California, neither public nor private companies can request past compensation information.If youre preparing for an upcoming interview and want to cover all your bases, make sure you know whats legal in your state. Its also good to know how to phrase answers that are firm and direct without coming off as disrespectful to your interviewer.1. Know your states salary history laws. If you live in an area where its illegal for a company to inquire about your past earnings, know that before going into an interview. Wiedman suggests responding with I believe theres a new law that puts that type of question out of bounds. But Ill be perfectly willing to discuss my salary requirements.2. Redirect the answer. If its legal to ask the question where you live, ge t back to the subject of salary requirements, not history. You can also try to chat more on the career opportunity and if the job is a good fit for both you and the employer. Instead of giving them your current actual salary , discuss the salary range youre seeking based on your experience, education, skills, and certifications, said Robin Schwartz, managing partner of MFG Jobs .3. Use your lack of history to your advantage. If youve recently finished college, its easier to showcase that a job could be your first out of school. This will prove that salary history has no point in your current negotiations.4. If you want to share, you can. Disclosing your exact salary is your prerogative, Schwartz said. In some cases, interviewers might discuss a specific range they are looking to pay. If its below what youre already making, it might benefit you to mention your current salary so the hiring manager is aware youre not willing to take a decrease in pay.What youve earned in other jobs sh ould not dictate what you should be earning in your next job. You might even consider job-hopping to boost your salary . Your past earnings are in your past, and you should be aware of how to handle yourself if questions of salary history come up.Know what your position earns. Check out Glassdoor and Salary.com to see what your job earns with your years of experience and where you live. What you earn in your state might be more or less in other places around the country.Use your knowledge and skills to your advantage. Prove to your possible future boss that youre valuable and worthy of more than what youve earned in the past. Talk about how youve overcome obstacles and challenges to showcase your worth.Dont be afraid to play the field. If youre out of work and looking for a job quick, having multiple job offers might seem far-fetched. But if youre applying at many places at once, you can negotiate a salary with one job by sharing your offer from another one. It could start a bidding war for you.Since some of the salary history bans are relatively new, you might not be in a place that enforces it yet. If thats the case, go over how best to answer the question depending on your job field and potential employer.You dont need to divulge that information unless you want to, and its OK if you do. Make sure sharing your past earnings doesnt hurt your future earnings.This article was originally published by Student Loan Hero . Reprinted with permission.

How to make allergies more bearable at work

How to make allergies more bearable at workHow to make allergies more bearable at workFor those of us afflicted with seasonal allergies, springtime elend only gifts us with rain showers and bright flowers but also with presents that we would rather return to sender. We may be walking around the office with itchy eyes, runny noses, and stuffy lungs that are distracting us from getting any work done.Unfortunately, too many of us are dealing with these symptoms at work.More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. Those of us who have it, know the drill identify the underlying trigger and then attack the reaction with medicine or prayer. But what can you do when you keep sniffling and wheezing at work despite your remedies?Enter mindfulness. Its a practice that will not magically cure your allergies, but it can make them more bearable.To be mindful of allergies, stop judging yourself for having themBeing mindful of your allergies begins with accepting your situation. N o, you never asked for this hellish hay fever, but now that you have it, you will not dwell on the unfairness of your illness. Thats whatRachael Kable, host of The Mindful Kind podcast, advises.If your eyes are itching or your nose is running, try to acknowledge that without labeling the experience good or bad, she says. If your breath is affected by an allergic reaction - if your nose is stuffed up or your breathing is shallow - just notice this, again without judgment.When you are mindful, you are teaching your body to stay in the present moment, even if that moment is unpleasant. How you think can change how you feel. Ruminating about your symptoms will just make you feel worse.As Kable puts it, Dont be afraid to be mindful of your allergies, however unpleasant they may seem at first. Exploring the sensations in your body is a powerful way of becoming more accepting of them.So next time pollen is clogging up your airways, pay attention to the sensation so that you can learn to break its hold over you.

Half of Americans consider themselves workaholics

Half of Americans consider themselves workaholicsHalf of Americans consider themselves workaholicsNearly half (48%) of Americans consider themselves to be workaholics, according to new research.It may also be that constant access to digital devices makes people feel like theyre working all the time 78% of Americans display work-obsessed tendencies, such as looking at their phone as soon as they get up in the morning, with 58% of those checking their work email. Another 58% checked their work email from bed (72% of Millennials did the same).The group of people who feel like workaholics the most is Millennials 25-34 years old, at 55%, while 37% of respondents age 55+ felt the same.The study of 2,000 working Americans welches conducted by OnePoll on behalf of The Vision Council.Self-professed workaholics said they were that way out of a passion for their job (34%), financial necessity (27%), or for both reasons (35%).Meanwhile, working Americans worried about work while they were on va cation, while they were not at work, and they also worried they prioritized their work over having a personal life. They spent an average of four hours working off the clock. They also didnt make their lives easier by taking care of personal tasks at work, feeling that they either werent allowed to or were uncomfortable doing so.Working Americans racked up an average of seven and a half hours of looking at screens from laptops to desktops to smartphones every day. 35% of Americans logged an impressive nine hours of screen time daily.Millennials were the most stressed out about work, at 61%, followed by 52% of ages 35-44, 49% of ages 45-54, and a scant 39% of ages 55 and older.While studies say healthy workaholics exist(if you love your work and are engaged), there are ways to curb workaholism if you want to. Start by taking breaks every hour (52 minutes of work to 17 minutes of break is one suggestion), avoid eating lunch at your desk, practice leaving work on time, and dont let y ourself get tethered to your phone and email in your off-hours. Also take a vacation

Why employee recognition isnt working

Why employee recognition isnt workingWhy employee recognition isnt workingAs I have traveled across the country, working with various businesses and organizations, Ive had the privilege to interact with numerous employees, teamberaterins, managers and HR professionals. When discussing their employee recognition programs, they report that their current programs arent working they are not having a positive impact on employees or workplace morale. And, in many cases, the ways that most employee recognition programs are implemented actually createnegativereactionsamong team members.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhy? Because, as generally implemented,recognition is very different from authentic appreciation.Here is what we foundRecognition is largely about behavior.Catch them doing what you want and recognize it, the recognition books say. The sole focus is on the employees behavi or and the managers behavior (observe and reinforce).This is an ok starting point, but doesnt really get to the heart of the matter.The primary emphasis of recognition is improving performance.The goal is for employees to do more (or better quality) work. Often, the focus is on what is good for the company or the manager (who looks good when the team performs well). Many employees see this and resent it.The relational direction of recognition is top down.Recognition comes from the administration, managers, and supervisors. It is occasionally communicated peer to peer, but rarely from worker to supervisor or manager.And, as Ive shared elsewhere,younger workers are less impacted by their supervisorthan they are their colleagues.Recognition is really an organizational function.And, as a result, recognition at its foundation feels impersonal and contrived, and is rarely experienced as a genuine expression of appreciation for the team member as a person.What Team Members Want Authentic AppreciationConversely, authentic appreciation has a very different feel and qualityAppreciation focuses on performance plus the character qualities of the team member and the persons intrinsic value.As a result, team members can be valued and receive appreciation both for doing tasks well, and even when they dont perform well.This is important because only the top 10-15% of employees are recognized for high level performance, which leaves your 50-60% of solid middle team members who never hear anything. Appreciation fills the gaps.Appreciation has dual objectives to improve performance but also to support and encourage the person.Team members often need a stimmt or action of encouragement, either when they are learning new roles and skills or when they arent performing at their best because of other issues going on in their lives.The goal of appreciation is what is good for the companyandwhat is good for the person.If a colleague communicates authentic appreciation, it is based in a foundational concern for the individual (which may mean helping the person find a position that is a better match for her than her current role).Appreciation requires more than behavior it requires heart attitude.This is really the difficult part of appreciation- it has to be genuine. You cant fake it.But you can learn how to appreciate others (even difficult colleagues) by getting to know them better and what they contribute to the organization.Appreciation can be communicated in any direction.One of the exciting lessons Ive learned is that colleagues want to know how to encourage and support one another. Appreciation can be expressed from anyone to anyone else in the organization it is not driven by the organizational chart.Appreciation is based in a person-to-person relationship.We dont believe that an organization (an entity) can trulyappreciatean employee or team member. That is why so many employees react to recognition programs- the recognition doesnt feel genuine at a per sonal level.Employee recognition programs work well when they are used for the purpose for which they were originally designed- to recognize and reward achieving performance goals. Recognition, however, doesnotwork well when organizations try to use large organizational programs to make employees feel valued individually. In fact, this often creates negative backlash within the organization (sarcasm and resentment).Authentic appreciation communicated personally in ways that are meaningful to the recipient is what helps team members feel truly valued. Use the correct tool for the right purpose and you will experience positive resultsFor more in-depth discussion and recommendations, see The Difference between Recognition and Appreciation in the new, updated5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplaceand Why Recognition Programs Dont Work inThe Vibrant Workplace.This article originally appeared on Appreciation at Work.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will mak e 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

A Deadly Mistake Uncovered on Attached Is My Resume and How to Avoid It

A Deadly Mistake Uncovered on Attached Is My Resume and How to Avoid It After youve written your extraordinary cover letter providing more info on your expertise and the way it is related to the job that youre applying for, its critical to format it correctly before sending it to any recruiters. Explain who you are, why youre emailing and why you wish to work for the organization. The format is really straightforward. Begin with the businesss website to get the anthroponym of the hiring manager. There are a number of different forms of email messages which may accompany this act. Lots of people want to learn the suitable method of mentioning email attachments. You are able to keep it short and easy, simply dont forgo formal language. Dont include as much information it looks sloppy. You merely put in the persons name and company and the application will respond with a large set of potential email addresses. There are an assortment of techniques and internet applications th at may give you solid guesses at a persons email address. The 30-Second Trick for Attached Is My Resume Youll find my contact information near the top of my enclosed resume. You desire a crisp signature that conveys just the perfect quantity of information. It isnt uncommon for the normal person to have spiritual attachments. Locate a contact within the business and begin emailing them immediately. The 5-Minute Rule for Attached Is My Resume Just look at my attached resume and youll see why. Even if the job is a part-time gig for fourteen days, its well worth it. Its pure, unadulterated feeling for someone who might be quite special to you. Youll get there in time. In any event, finding steady clients is likely to require you to put some difficult work in. Like looking for a job, even if youre reasonably competent and do everything right, so are thousands of others on the market. It might be hard to land your very first couple of jobs because plenty of jobs ask you to have a completed project in Upwork. An elektrokardiogramm technician will start by understanding some basic rhythms and whats deemed normal. You might not know the hiring manager, but you probably know somebody who does. It is essential for the agent to be hardworking and comprehension of the value of their job. An additional tip, always remember to create your whole job application relevant and specific to the job which youre attempting to land. Keep in contact with the hiring manager. If youre on the hiring manager, perfect. Writing expert Bryan Garner states no. Google Austin Iuliano and youll see my site among the very best hits. How you include a cover letter is dependent on just what the job posting instructions were. After all, its that impression that results in an interview. Theres a whole lot of advice online about ways to interview for work. Always comply with the directions when applying for employment and also search for a chance to incorporate a cover lette r when you apply via email or on the internet. The Ideal Strategy for Attached Is My Resume Another oddity with attached please find is its a command when it doesnt have to be. The aim of the resume is to have the reader to call you, not to tell your entire history. In case you decide you need or will need to incorporate a cover letter, you may either post the text directly in the email or attach it like a second file as well as your resume. It is possible to still attach your cover letter in another file, just make certain it matches the content of your cover email. What Does Attached Is My Resume Mean? During the duration of your professional life, you can wind up in the job of forwarding an emailed resume to a third party. There are fruchtwein likely hundreds of different examples of poor sentence construction, but you have the idea. A personal site provides you an enormous leg up from the remainder of the competition for the reason that it sets you apart. In order to g uard ourselves against spirit attachment, it is necessary to heal ourselves. The 30-Second Trick for Attached Is My Resume Observing any instruction given in the description will offer your resume the very best possibility of reaching the most suitable recipient. Each subsequent levy demands another purchase. For this reason, youve got to put a little extra effort to craft a compelling letter. Mention SOMETHING in regards to the job for which youre applying.

Why Mentoring Is the Key to Achieving Your Career Goals

Why Mentoring Is the Key to Achieving Your Career Goals Earlier in my career, I asked myself, What am I doing thatis getting in the way of me reaching my goal as a leader? I posed that question to a colleague I respected, who responded,Have you ever asked anyone for help? That simple question made a huge impact on me.Even if youve never been involved in a formal beratering program, youve had beraters along the way. A teacher, a colleague, a boss, a friend with a particular experience or skill set All of these people can act as mentors, guiding you along your journey to reach your goal.When you set out to achieve career success, finding a mentor is critical to your personal development. However, it can seem like a daunting task. Where do you start? What do you ask? Who qualifies for such a role?Heres the secret The whole process of mentoring is actually much easier than you think.The Importance of Mentoring on Both SidesMentoring impacted me, and not only from a career standpoint. Mentoring has led to different behavior in my personal life. The more you are mentored, the more you realize there is equal value in serving as a mentor yourself.Mentoring both for thementor and for the one who is mentored engages us on a human level. It addresses two separate but often intertwined human urges the drive to get better and the desire to help others.As we look up to others for guidance, we should also be looking below and sideways to provide guidance ourselves. It is not only good for the soul to do this, but there is also a practical side The people you mentor will eventually advance and become good industry contacts.8 Ways to Make the Most of MentoringHere are some things I have learned about mentoring some I learned while being mentored, and some I learned as a mentor1. Mentoring Can Be Both Formal and InformalThere are many fine, formal mentoring programs organized bycompanies and professional societies, but there are also informal opportunitiesthat can be of equal and perhaps even greater value.Maybe there is someonewho has a skill or capability you admire. Consider asking them if they have time for a meeting over coffee. Then, ask them about their career path what worked for them, what didnt, and whether they have recommendations they would make to someone who is developing in their own career.Im not aya if my informal mentors knew they were mentors to me, but I appreciated their time and wisdom, and I learned a lot by connecting informally, listening to their stories, and soliciting their advice.2. Be Clear on Your Mentoring GoalsKnow what youd like to learn from a mentor, whether its how to influence others, how to present new ideas or concepts, or something else entirely. Share your goals with your mentor so they know how to help youreach them. In most formal mentoring relationships, the goals you want to achieve should be clear so progress can be measured along the way.3. Learn From Negative ExamplesYo u can learn from anyone even people you didnt really like working for or alongside. In fact, these negative examples can teach you a lot about the professional and personal pitfalls to avoid in life. Seeing and experiencing things I didnt like made me think about the behaviors I didnt want to exhibit as a leader.4. Look for Opportunities to Be a Mentor YourselfMentoring doesnt always come by looking up in an organization. Dont look up all the time Look down and sideways, too.Opportunities to mentor others can come from being a resource to new employees joining the organization.We have all been in that situation, and most of us would have appreciated having a buddy to help us navigate a new company or role. Your helpfulness will be returned many times over.5. Confidentially Is KeyConfidentiality is an essential component of mentoring, andthat may mean that you will need to seek a mentor outside of your immediate chain of command. The mentor/mentee relationship should be a safe space , a circle of trust.There is another benefit to having a mentor outside your reporting chain, tooThey may be able to share what they know about you with other people in the organization. Its great to have advocates across the organizationwho can speak highly of you and your accomplishments.6. Trust Your AdvocatesAs indicated above, a mentor can talk on your behalf. As one mentor put it to me, its a matter of building your fan club. Bosses appreciate hearing positive feedback about you from others.7. Dont Be Afraid to Ask Someone to Be Your MentorEven if its someone at a senior level. Senior-level people are easier to reach for help than you might think. You may not find them available at your company, but they can be found informally in your social circles and community life.Every senior-level person with whom I have spoken has told me getting to where they are was never easy. Most have had their setbacks along the way, and they can share with you how they bounced backin the face of adversity.8. Be Open to ListeningAgain, mentors can be found anywhere. Once you have foundone, you have to listen to what they have to say.I could go on and on, but let me stop myself and end on this final noteA mentor can provide a fresh perspective they can point out new things you hadnt considered before.Being amentoror a mentee puts you in a position to teach and communicate, which makes you a better professional.So go ahead. Get mentored, and become one yourself. It will be a game-changer in your life.Cheryl Middleton Jones is chief people officer for CO-OP Financial Services.

7 Ways to Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking Systems

7 Ways to Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking ordnungsprinzips7 Ways to Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking SystemsWhat is an applicant tracking system and why is it so important to format your resume and get it past this robot after a job application?Here is the definition of an ATS to startApplicant Tracking System/pl?k?nttrk??s?st?m /nounTrickster robot designed to thwart job application efforts and deflect resumes into the recruitment black hole.Ok, I may have made that definition up. But if youve been a job seeker applying online to advertised positions with no luck, chances are an Applicant Tracking System is what youre coming up against.Unfortunately, in the modern job search world, the ATS has become a necessary evil helping recruiters narrow the influx of applications to only those that are relevant to the job. Here is an explanation on how to get around it.What Applicant Tracking Systems do to job seekersAn ATS scans your document and only highlights those who match a predefined list of keywords, so the recruiter can find applicants with very specific skills for a very specific job.How do I know my resume will be read first by an ATS?If you are required to make a login ID, upload your resume, or fill out an online application, you can assume your resume will go through initial screening by a robot.With approximately 60% of medium and 75% of large companies using ATS, which eliminates up to 98% of applicants at the initial screening, its important you understand how to optimize your formatting and content to increase the chances of it being read by a pair of human eyes.Resume formatting fundamentals1. When listing your employment experiences, lead with the company name, followed by your job title, then a description and bullet point your key achievements. The date should always appear to the right of the company name for optimum reading by the ATS.2. Dont put your contact details in headers or footers. The ATS doesnt like this. The information can disappear and you can become destined for application exile.3. Keep the typeface simple on your resume. Stick with Arial, Calibri or Cambria and use the saatkorn throughout (forget Times New Roman though. It is super outdated)4. The file naming convention should be your name and a keyword or two. For exampleBec OConnor.Civil Engineer.ResumeHeres how to pick up on clues in the content5. Mirror the job posting language in your resume. A good starting point is to copy and paste the job advertisement/description into a Word document.Highlight industry terms, buzzwords, skills, and jargon the hiring manager uses most frequently in the description.Pepper your summary, skills section and experience with the same, as long as its in the context of your true skills and experience as they apply to the role. Dont be telling porky pies6. Spell-check and spell-check again Reading your resume backward is a weird and wonderful way to pick up on errors you may otherwise miss.7. Tailor every sing le resume whether its going through an ATS or leidMy final piece of adviceWith all that said, my final piece of advice, which might render everything I just told you pointless, is thisDo not invest your time and energy into responding to advertised job postings onlineJob postings can be a useful research tool in your job hunt but if you rely on them as your sole strategy, you will be sorely disappointed.Why did you need to know all about the ATS?Knowledge is power. And if youre not getting any bites lately in your job search, I want you to know why and how to adapt.To truly take control of your search, youll need to define and narrow your target. What does your ideal role look like? What are your coveted companies?Once thats clear, you can tailor and create a powerful professional brand through your resume and LinkedIn, and redirect your time and energy into engaging your network.

Write an Irresistible First Resume in 5 Easy Steps

Write an Irresistible First Resume in 5 Easy StepsWrite an Irresistible First Resume in 5 Easy Steps Writing aresume is easy - writing a good first resume, however, is something else entirely, especially when its your first time putting one together. While anyone can pull up a Word document, slap on the names of the past few companies theyve worked at, and add a handful of bullet points about what they did while they were there, that aloneisnt enough to capture the attention of recruiters . With recruiters reviewing dozens of resumes at a time (often for only six seconds or fewer ) yours needs to clearly stand out from the pack.But having a resume that stands out isnt about fancy templates, or an eye-catching design . While those may be icing on the cake, what recruiters really care about is the substance how well you present the information they care about in a clear and compelling way. Few people know this better than J.T. ODonnell, Founder & CEO of career a dvice site Work It Daily , whos spent the better part of her career advising candidates on how to find and land their dream jobs. Shes pored over thousands of resumes throughout the years - and as a result, she knows what works and what doesnt.ODonnell gave ussome insight into the top resume trends and best practices of the moment. With these tips, yourresume can go from regrettable to unforgettable - a sure-fire way to start your career off on the right foot.Adding an objective statement to your resume is a recommendation given at career centers around the nation, but according to ODonnell, its largely a relic of the past. Recruiters dont want to hear what you want as your next job - instead, its much more about convincing them that youre the right fit. What we have job binnenseekers do is put two columns at the top of key skill sets whatever the skill sets are that you see these companies are hiring for, whether its marketing, or theyre looking for Microsoft Office, you just have two columns right at the front and center with your top six to eight skills, ODonnell recommends. Make sure to include any relevant degrees or certifications as well, she advises. A lot of recruiters are told to consider somebody with this degree, this certification, this skill set, so making me hund all over the resume for that is annoying . If I see that right at the top of the resume, youve just inspired me to want to keep reading, ODonnell says.After your skills summary, its time to detail your work history and experience. List each company youve worked for (you can also list your involvement with school organizations, like a team sport or campus newspaper) along with your title, the dates you worked there, and several bullet points that describe your key accomplishments and responsibilities. Wherever possible, you should attempt to quantify that experience , ODonnell says.Numbers make a huge difference. If you can quantify what you did in any way, you should. We know th at the human eye processes numbers faster than words and they help me as a recruiter give context to the size and scope of the work that you did, she explains.Dont be discouraged even if, as someone whos relatively new to the workforce, you dont have a lot of experience directly related to the position youre applying for. Quantifying your experience works just as well for a summer gig in foodservice or retail as it does at a high-profile internship .For example, if I worked in an ice cream parlor for the summer, I would say Served 50-100 customers per day and handled a cash register that totaled over $1,000 a day in sales. Those two numbers give me an immediate impression that you probably werent at a single ice cream stand by yourself, and its probably a big organization. Not to mention, it sounds a whole lot better than just saying something like, Scooped ice cream for customers belastungsummer.Facts and figures are a must-have, but its nice to balance those out with afew persona l detailsas well so recruiters can get a sense of your whole self. ODonnell suggests including this information in an additional experience section at the end of your resume.Additional experience is a catch-all section in the end where you talk about volunteer experience , awards youve won, or maybe there are special things youve accomplished - you do Iron Mans or marathons or some kind of thing like that, she says. You certainly dont want this information to be the primary focus of your resume - skills and experience should always be front and center, since theyre ultimately what recruiters care about the most - but leaving theextras out means you might miss an opportunity to showcase some of the qualities you want highlighted, demonstrate culture fit , and bond with recruiters (you never who might have the same hobbies and interests that you do).Once youve written the bulk of your resume, its time to refine it. Go through and check for spelling and grammar as well as formatti ng. One critical element is making sure that you have enough white space on your resume, ODonnell says.Your resume is going to have a lot of white space and it might look really basic, but it should because recruiters spend six seconds on it. The eye works in a Z-pattern, so remember that and dont think that you need to fill the page and pretend youre something that youre not , she explains. A few things to avoid, ODonnell adds, include full justification - its a big no-no, really hard to read. The other big thing is fancy fonts or curly tail fonts. Theyre very hard to read, and studies show that the human eye cant absorb them as fast as clean-line fonts. Beyond that, ODonnell says, fonts lower than 11 point have no place on your resume. 10 point or smaller is just too hard to read. And the last piece is margins. You should never have a margin smaller than .7 inches on either side if you held it away, youd go Oh look, its pretty, its organized, but it actually works against you wh en the recruiter is reading it up close.When trying to show why youd be the best fit for the job, its easy to get a little overzealous and list every minute detail you think might be relevant to a recruiter. But keeping your resume to a readable length is a must , or else many recruiters will simply gloss over it . You may have heard in the past that resumes should be kept to no more than one page, but ODonnell says theres a little more wiggle room now.The reality is that you can go to two pages as long as you create white space . When I see a one-pager but theyve got half-inch margins, nine-point font, and theyve tried to stuff everything on the page, its awful. So Id rather see you go to two pages as long as youve really created that white space since its easier for me to read, she explains. The exception to that is usually people in academia or science have a lot of papers and things that they have to cite and that can take up some bulk but aside from that no more than two.A g ood rule of thumb is keeping your resume long enough to convey all of the important details, but short enough to maintain a recruiters interest. If youre having trouble with length, avoid repetition and flowery language , and make sure that each word and sentence on the pageserves a clear purpose. After a round of revisions or two, you should be able to strike the perfect balance.

More Offices Embrace a Casual Dress Code

More Offices Embrace a Casual Dress CodeMore Offices Embrace a Casual Dress CodeDressing for success runs the gamut in todays workplaces, from pinstripe jackets and slacks to humble hoodies and jeans. Traditionally, finance and accounting has been mora buttoned up and high-heeled than other professions, but offices are welcoming a more casual dress code.CFOs were asked their opinions about workplace attire in a new Robert Half Finance Accounting survey, and they confirmed that dressing up for work is going out of style 61 percent said their employees abide by a somewhat casual dress code - khakis and polo shirts or sweaters, for example - and for 13 percent of them, jeans and T-shirts are the norm.As for the rest of the respondents, 4 percent said their offices are still very formal, as in suits and ties, and 21 percent describe the outfits as somewhat formal - dress slacks or a skirt with a button-down shirt. See the infographic, below.So what should you do about your wardrobe i f youre a job seeker preparing for an interview, or an employee traversing an accounting career path and making an inventory of your clothes closet?Its better to dress on the formal side for the interview, says Clint Ahlgrimm, who coaches candidates as a division director at Robert Half Finance Accounting. However, its important not to appear out of place. For example, if you interview with a tech startup, its probably best not to wear a full suit.And once youre hired, Ahgrimm suggests you model your dress code after the person who holds the job you want in the future.If youre a staff accountant, take notice of how the CFO dresses each day.Here are three more suggestions to guide your style and formality decisions in this era of increasingly casual dress codes in finance and accounting jobs.1. Study the corporate cultureEvery workplace has its own set of unwritten rules. Once youve been with a company for an extended period, youll find it easier to differentiate what business dress code the office culture will tolerate and what fellow employees and customers will find appropriate for dress. Until that time, err on the side of conservative when getting ready for work. Some colleagues may not be so strict when following the dress code policy, so try to mirror upper management with your wardrobe choices.2. Follow good etiquetteEven in this more relaxing atmosphere, you should keep in mind some of these potentially distracting etiquette breaches and faux pasDont show too much skin.Dont wear dirty/wrinkled clothing.Dont wear too clothes that are too big/small (and no shorts).Dont wear shoes in poor condition (and no flip flops).Dont go over the top with accessories (or hats).Dont wear graphic tees or neongas colors.3. Dress for your dayAre you meeting with others? If youre going to see vendors, external partners, customers, clients or coworkers, odds are youll want to dress up more than if youre not leaving your desk.Do you work at a cubicle? It depends on your co mpanys guidelines, of course, but if youre given the flexibility to dress for your days responsibilities, you can probably opt for a more casual attire if youre relatively isolated in your work environment.Are you interviewing for a job? Dress up.For men Even if the firm youre applying to appears to have a business casual dress code, its best to wear a suit to your job interview. Choose a dark color like black, navy or charcoal. It might seem counterintuitive to stick to more conservative colors and designs when youre trying to stand out, but youll make a much stronger impression if you keep things a bit more muted.A crisp white or light blue shirt and simple tie (aim for no more than two colors or an uncomplicated pattern) will give you a polished, professional look. Complete your look with an unadorned belt and matching shoes that are well-shined. For women The ideal interview attire is a well-tailored suit with a button-down blouse. There are many stylish silhouettes available to choose from, whether theyre pants, skirts or dresses. Choose a high-quality fabric in a low-key color - today is not the day to rock a dressy, pink Jackie O suit, even if it is Chanel. You can dress up your look with a necklace or earrings, but its advisable to keep accessories simple. Closed-toe shoes with a modest heel will pull everything together.While clothes and fashion might seem inconsequential, appropriate attire does carry weight in the workplace. If youre unclear of your companys guidelines or youre unclear about what outfit to wear for a specific situation, its smart to check with your manager, coworkers, human resources or recruiter. Subscribe to our newsletterWhen you subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter, youll get articles and resources to help you build a successful career in accounting and finance - all sent directly to your inbox. Click the button below to sign up todaySUBSCRIBE NOW