How to Answer Interview Questions About Resume Gaps

How to Answer Interview Questions About Resume GapsHow to Answer Interview Questions About Resume GapsCareer progression often gets described as a ladder, which implies that workers take steady steps toward higher positions. In reality, however, journeys rarely follow such a tidy progression. For instance, people may remain on a rung while taking time off to raise children or settling in after moving to a new town. Thus, plenty of candidates present resume gaps the key is how you handle them.Show hiring managers that youre a great match for a job despite resume gaps (maybe even because of them) with these strategies for gracefully answering questions about the issue.Heres how to answer interview questions about resume gapsTell the truth.Resist all temptation to lie. Your credibility immediately gets destroyed if an employer distitelbilds fudged dates. Besides, trying to cover or worrying about being found out adds an unwanted layer of nervousness to your interview.Share the basics in your cover letter.If your resume raises questions as to employment history, consider offering an explanation in your cover letter instead of leaving the hiring manager to make his or her own assumptions. This forum provides the chance to compose a concise, effective answer that clues in employers before youre put on the spot at an interview. It also lets you highlight personal growth and how you kept your skills sharp during the time off.Practice talking about gaps.Since the subject of resume gaps is likely to arise in the interview, be ready. Prepare answers to questions such as What were you doing between jobs X and Y? or Why did you stop working for X years?Focus on the more professional elements of what you did at that time, suggests Lavie Margolin, author of Mastering the Job Interview. Pull out your relevant community work, volunteer experiences, and consulting elements as well. At the same time, there is no reason to be embarrassed about prioritizing your life as a parent, c aring for an elderly parent, or overcoming an unexpected illness. Just dont let that overtake the interview. Make it clear you would be able to focus on your next job, when given the opportunity.Stay confident.Positive, forward-thinking applicants get noticed. Instead of dwelling on resume gaps (or worse yet, apologizing for them), turn your attention to all the wonderful things you have to offer the company here and now. Perhaps you became a master at time management while raising three kids or spent the period after a layoff getting additional certification in your industry.Remember, employers care more about their own future than they do about your past.

What Are the Different Types of Consulting Jobs

What Are the Different Types of Consulting JobsWhat Are the Different Types of Consulting JobsBusinesses today rely on senior-level consultants to provide specialized expertise to key projects or business initiatives that can last weeks, months or even longer. At the same time, many experienced professionals are taking the consulting path because they seek diverse assignments, exposure to different industries, and a flexible schedule that provides them better work-life balance.Professionals also look to consulting as a way to accelerate their career development. As Tim Hird, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources, explained in a recent interview, many professionals want to move from project to project, and sometimes that means going from company to company. He also said an evolution of independent career consultants is now underway.According to Hird, a new labor model for finance is helping to drive that evolution. Businesses are relying more on a flexible labor force that includes full-time employees who are focused on critical initiatives interim and project-based professionals who help to support them, usually for a finite period and other specialized resources that can offer additional capabilities and perform high-value work on an as-needed basis.Findings for Robert Halfs Benchmarking Accounting and Finance Functions 2018 report, developed with Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF), provide evidence of this growing trend. The research suggests that flexible teams are becoming increasingly important to the everyday operations of accounting and finance functions at firms of all sizes throughout North America.An overview of financial consulting rolesEighty-three percent of top financial executives polled in a Robert Half Management Resources survey said they consider consulting an attractive career option. Professionals looking to make a gradual transition to retirement also often take the consulting path. However, consulting careers arent only for those who have C-level titles or are winding down their careers.There are many types of consulting jobs for accounting and finance professionals with in-demand experience, skills and knowledge to explore. Financial consultants are in demand in virtually every industry. Their expertise is especially critical in the following areasFinance and accountingFinance optimizationGovernance, risk and compliance (GRC)Operations managementTaxationBusiness process improvementBusiness systemsFinancial consulting roles in business range from senior internal auditor and financial project manager to corporate accounting specialist and business systems analyst. Consultants are also often brought in for these positionsAccounting managerAuditorControllerFinance and financial planning and analysis managementHuman resources (HR)/benefits/payrollInternal auditorIT auditorSenior accountantSenior financial analystBusiness analystHot skills and experience for consultantsAs businesses struggle to keep pace with technological change and to understand the associated risks and opportunities of digitalization, they also seek financial consultants who are proficient in the following areasData analyticsEnterprise resource planning (ERP) systemsCloud computing platformsInformation security toolsIntegrated financial reporting systemsSystems conversion projectsAccording to the Benchmarking report, companies undergoing digital transformation especially value experience with data analytics and ERP systems. They also look for professionals with strong communication skills. This is not surprising, as a solid array of nontechnical skills is essential for most accounting and finance jobs today, including consulting jobs.How consultants can support existing staffThe different types of consulting opportunities available to skilled professionals can also be viewed according to how a consultant will integrate with existing staff members. Options includeInterim management - Consultants are brought in to assist companies in transition by serving in key management roles, such as CFO or controller.Project management - These types of consultants have the expertise and experience to support projects with defined deliverables and timelines, such as the implementation of an ERP system or preparation for an initial public offering.Staff augmentation - When workloads spike, companies enlist the help of consultants to ease the strain on core staff without having to add to their full-time headcount.Many companies are also engaging consultants through managed business services arrangements. You can learn more about managed business services in this post.Considering a career in financial consulting?Check out the listings for consulting jobs on our website to find out what types of roles leading employers are looking to fill.SEARCH JOBSAlso, see this post for insight on what type of consulting salary you might expect for many types of senior-level roles.This post was originally published in 2017 and has been updated to reflect more current information.

Ways to Use Social Media to Find a Job

Ways to Use Social Media to Find a JobWays to Use Social Media to Find a JobUtilize your social media accounts to help you in your job search. Its always a good idea to utilize a variety of resources when it comes to searching for a job- you can never have too many options. Typically, you should be searching on job boards, checking in with your network for new opportunities, and searching out job listings on company websites. But did you know that you can also use social media to find a job? Social media websites are something that we typically use weekly for pleasure or connecting with friends and family. Now you can utilize these websites to aid in the job search as well.Work on your personal brand.You may have heard the term personal brand before. This is your professional image and what you stand for. Just like a company has a brand, so should you. You can easily do this by making sure all of your social media accounts are consistent in their content. Use the same name and same photo on your accounts. Let people know who you are, what you do, and where you are going. The main objective is to be professional and consistent. Ensure that all of your social media accounts are squeaky clean- you dont want a potential employer to landsee anything unprofessional on your accounts.Be engaged and active.If you have social media accounts, use them If you are on Twitter, follow the companies that are in your industry. If you are on Facebook, like the pages of relevant companies. If you are on LinkedIn, join industry groups. When you are connected deeply on social media you will always be aware of what is going on in the industry. You will be notified and up-to-date about new hires, open positions, product developments, and any news that the company feels is share-worthy. You can join the conversation on social media and become a known resource. Answer questions that anyone may have on the industry, link relative content, make introductions.Keep an eye on your LinkedI n insights graph.When you use LinkedIn, there is a graph that shows up when you click on how many people have viewed your profile in the last week. This is valuable information You can use this graph to see how many people are looking at your profile, sometimes who is looking at your profile, and how many actions you made in a given week. You use this information to figure out the perfect job search strategy. As you make changes to your profile you will see what is helping with profile engagement and what is hurting it. Track these changes and take them into account when you decide what to do next. Some tips come up with a plan for how often you should be logging on to LinkedIn and updating your profile.Search job listings on social media.Just like you use job boards and career websites to search for job listings, you can do the same on social media. You should be regularly updating your social media profiles- and so are companies. Most companies will post their open positions on so cial media. Sometimes you will even find listings on social media that you wont find anywhere else. If you are following and liking companies that are relevant to your industry, then you should be able to come across these postings quite easily. The mora companies you are following, the more likely you are to see these posts.Maintain your network.You should constantly be searching for people within your industry to connect with. You can attend social events that are catered toward the industry. You can also find people in everyday interactions that can be helpful to the job hunt. Add all of these people to your social media accounts and keep your communication with them active and current. While you may not need to use any of these connections any time soon (or ever) it never hurts to have people who are on your side. The more connections you have, the more likely it is that one of these connections can lead to a potential interview or job offer. It is much easier to get a foot in t he door of a company if you know someone there personally.

Mayers Move Telecommuting Ban

Mayers Move Telecommuting BanMayers Move Telecommuting BanIn a surprising move, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has mandated a telecommuting ban for all employees.As a female professional, I am pretty shocked by this turn of events. Mayer has been an icon for millions of working women who are constantly striving to strike the right balance between their responsibilities in the home and at the office. In fact, there have been numerous articles written about Mayers strategy to avoid employee burnout, such as letting employees like soccer mom Katie leave early on certain days to attend her kids soccer games, and then jump back online after the kids are in bed to continue the days work. By the looks of this decision, perhaps Mayer has changed her tune.The end to telecommuting? I doubt it.While this ban is sure to send some shockwaves through the employment industry, I dont believe well see many other companies following suit. Mayers decision says mora about the type of company (and culture) she is planning to rebuild, and less about the state of telecommuting and flexible work schedules as a whole. In supporting this ban, Mayer is sure to drive many of Yahoos current employees out the door and perhaps this is part of her master plan.As technology continues to advance, our world is becoming smaller and smaller. Between conferencing software and document-sharing services, the ability to work and perform well as a remote team member is easier than ever before. Assuming an employees productivity and work output isnt negatively impacted by a virtual office, offering a more flexible work schedule to a portion of the company is a great way to attract and retain talent, and improve morale.Telecommuting gives employees the opportunity to perform at their best and maintain a better work-life balance. With the economy still tight, employees are continually asked to produce more with fewer resources. Stress levels remain high. The ability to work from home or maintain a more fl exible work schedule is one way to counteract some of this added stress.Is telecommuting important to you?If its important, look for companies that boast their telecommuting and other flexible work options. You can often find ansicht companies on the top lists for single parents, working moms, or the best companies for work-life balance. If youre unsure what a company offers, carefully read through their employment pages online and look for employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor and Vault.When negotiating your compensation package, include these types of intangible benefits in your discussion, and get the final agreement in writing. Be specific with things such as the number of days youd like to work from home, or what a flexible work schedule entails.Should your current employer create a ban similar to the one enforced at Yahoo, review your employment contract carefully. If a telecommuting or flexible work option was included in your contract, contact an employment lawyer to know what courses of action are possible.If telecommuting is no longer on the table, speak with your manager or an HR representative to find out if other work flexibility options are still available. For instance, you may not be able to work from home every day, but you might be able to come in early and leave early on certain days to pick up your children from daycare or watch your childs soccer game.

The Hidden Truth on Free Resume Templets Exposed

The Hidden Truth on Free Resume Templets Exposed The Secret to Free Resume Templets Focus on Content When you quit worrying about formatting, you enable your mind to delight in a more creative practice. The upcoming free resume template is devised in the shape of a brochure. Employing a resume template is quite useful in making your professional profile. It has become an acceptable and smart practice for a number of reasons.If youd prefer a different search for your resume, take a look at our big library of other beautiful templates. There are a couple of dozen different resume templates readily available online, but a lot of them suck. All our resume templates are in Microsoft Word, that is the simplest program to use. Download the sample template at no cost. Lets look at a mixture of free Google Docs and Microsoft Word templates. Once you have decided on your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our totally free expert guidance about ways to craft the great modern resume. A traditional style resume template is also simple to customize. A basic resume is also simpler to read. Creative resume templates are able to help you build a document that shows your creativity whilst still keeping up the professionalism you have to be taken seriously to get past the gatekeepers. The freebie was made by Mats-Peter Forss. You find a great deal of choices for developing a clean, simple resume. The training programs and conferences you have attended are also important to be put in a fresher resume. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better likelihood of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. The reply is yes in the event that you need to. For instance, if you need to turn into an attorney, you might turn into a paralegal and attend law school at exactly the same time. Some meeting scheduler widgets it is possible to embed in your website sometimes takes a few se conds to load. There are a lot of free creative resume templates you may use, allowing you to focus your energy on everything else you have to do. The freebie was made by Alamin Mir. Conversely, locating a scheduling app that operates seamlessly in the background is heavenly. Free Resume Templets for Dummies The capability to edit your resume from any place in the world is a remarkable asset that it is possible to utilize to assist you land that upcoming great job. Request opportunities to learn more about the area and widen your horizon Set your eye on a particular award on the job and do it. Your eyes glaze over, and suddenly youre either daydreaming about a vacation or youre thinking about other work you ought to be doing. When you have built the resume choosing the correct template, it is the right time to apply and grab that dream job. Whether youve got years of experience below your belt or are newly joining the workforce your possibility of landing an interview is a l ot more likely when you have a killer resume. Two even columns for the rest of the page give you a lot of room to woo the company by means of your experience, skills, and education. Our clean, easy, easy-to-read format will cause you to stand out to hiring managers and simple to discover in applicant tracking systems. The style of resume you will use greatly is dependent on your professional work background and qualifications.

Whats Truly Going on with Zipjob Resume Writing Review

Whats Truly Going on with Zipjob Resume Writing Review The Secret to Zipjob Resume Writing Review Professional resume writers comprehend the importance of their work, so they are always accountable for the very best result. The writers arent highly professional and the resumes arent highly professional. Simply enumerating your abilities and experiences isnt enough. The majority of the resumes writing services dont offer you the chance of direct contact by making use of their writers. My writer reached out to me promptly to introduce herself and to look at some details about the sort of roles which I was seeking. Our work is targeted on providing result-oriented resumes that do not just attract hiring managers attention, but in addition make you receive the desirable position. The very first point towards writing a great resume should be dependent on the kind of job youre looking for. When youre looking for work, you want to obtain a professional resume so you will raise you r probability of getting hired. The Ultimate Zipjob Resume Writing Review Trick The writer is likely to make contact and start to work with you straight away Therell be some rephrased schablone of why youre so appropriate for each and every job. Resume writing services often provide a whole package strategy to resume writing. Interview tips is going to be the identical template for how, in all honesty, friendly, smiley, etc.. A Startling Fact about Zipjob Resume Writing Review Uncovered Theres no discount available even on your very first order, and you cannot contact the writers through instant messaging. On-line services should have decent customer service. You may have a look at the prices, the practice of ordering and completion, and the services the provider delivers. There are scores of resume writing services around the internet. If you presently have experience in writing resumes, that is going to be really beneficial. Top Resume cant be trusted. While the resum es are extremely detailed, they continue to be only 1-page long. Not all resumes are perfect for all sorts of jobs. New Questions About Zipjob Resume Writing Review By taking the opportunity to compose your resume and cover letter yourself, you are going to be in a position to swiftly and easily remember all the pertinent information an interviewer will ask. Resume writing is the most crucial step in presenting your abilities and receiving the job that you desire. An easy proofread is the last step. Comb through your CV to find out whether youre utilizing any, and remove them. Now its your responsibility to meet your professionally written resume. How to Choose Zipjob Resume Writing Review Now the actual work starts However polished your writing skills are, occasionally its far better to employ a professional who can frame your experiences in a manner that enables you to command the eye of the greatest companies in your industry. Needless to say, whenever youre looking for a resume writing service, dont neglect to obey your gut. Still, there are numerous different aspects to take into account when writing our ResumeWritingGroup review.