🚩 Resume Red Flags 🚩

Your resume represents your career in two ways: what you have done in the past and what you hope to do in the future. In today’s competitive job market, the candidates have all the power since unemployment is so low. Your resume is what makes the first impression to potential employers, so you want it to be compelling and stand out among the crowd.

Although the job search and application process has changed thanks to technology, the necessity of a resume has remained unchanged. There are certain things that you should definitely include in your resume to be considered for the job. On the other hand, if you have any careless mistakes on your resume, an employer will likely toss it right into the “no” pile.

Our friends over at TopResume interviewed 379 former and current professionals involved in the hiring process (recruiters, hiring managers and human resources executives). They revealed 10 resume red flags that will derail your hiring chances before you even have the chance to interview.

Spelling and Grammatical Errors

This seems like a no brainer, but having any spelling and grammatical errors on your resume usually signifies a one-way ticket to getting rejected. This is particularly true when it comes to opportunities that go so far as to include being “detail oriented” in the job description.

Although these mistakes might be just that – a mistake – employers might view this as carelessness and disqualify you for the job. To ensure this isn’t the case, check out these proofreading tips for the next time you edit your resume.

Annoying Buzzwords and/or Obvious Keyword Stuffing

Thanks to the use of applicant tracking systems (ATS), employers don’t have to go through countless resumes before deciding who to interview for a job. While both a blessing and a curse for employers, there are ways for candidates to get around an ATS. One of the most popular tactics is the utilization of keywords.

Candidates should use keywords from the job description and include them in his or her resume before submitting the application. In doing so, the ATS will pick up on these words and will pass it along to the hiring manager. Job seekers need to be careful in doing this, however, as including too many keywords just for the sake of doing so will not only make your resume sound awkward, but also raise a red flag to the hiring manager.

Using keywords and buzzwords needs to be done in a natural manner. You should also avoid some of these most overused phrases if you want to improve your chances at landing an interview.

Being Too Generalized

Applying to jobs is easier than ever thanks to technology. However, often times due to this we as job seekers fall into the trap of being too lazy. This includes using a “spray and pray” method of applying to countless jobs and hoping for an interview anywhere. If you’ve used this method, chances are you created one generalized resume and sent it to each application. Hiring managers can pick up on these cookie cutter resumes pretty easily and often disqualify candidates who use one.

As a job seeker, you want to put forth the necessary time and effort to make your application a “can’t miss” for potential employers. This means you need to customize your resume for each job that you apply to. While it seems time consuming, it will all be worth it when you have an offer (or a few) to choose from in the end. This doesn’t mean you need to revamp your resume entirely for each job, but customizing each to the job to which you’re applying should be a given.

Managing Partner and Recruiter at ClarusApex, Stefan Lilienkamp said, “Lazy job applications for anything on the market without any tailoring is a complete deal breaker. End result, the candidate gets, in the best case, ignored, and worst case, blacklisted…”

As mentioned before, you should already be including keywords for the ATS to pick up on, so you can take it a step further and truly tailor it to each job.

Format/Design Is Too Elaborate

In something as competitive as the job market, job seekers will do some pretty wild things to stand out. While you want to catch the hiring manager’s eye, make sure it is for the right reason. There are stories of candidates sending hiring manger unique resumes in the form of an ingredient label, or what have you, a general rule of thumb when it comes to your resume is “less is more.”

If you have a solid background, your experience will speak for itself. Stick to a simple design where hiring managers can find what they are looking for with relative ease. If your resume is too elaborate, the ATS might not be able to find information either, and even if you have all the right keywords, etc., you might get rejected.

Wrap Up

For the rest of TopResume’s red flags, check out the full article here. Having a resume red flag is sure to derail even the most qualified candidate’s chances at getting hired. Before you apply for a new job, make sure that your resume is free of any of these red flags.

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Millennials and Their Influence on the Workplace

Since essentially the inception of the term “Millennials” (those born between 1981-1996) those who fall in that generation have been taken the blame for a lot of societal shifts. Housing market isn’t doing as well as it was? Blame Millennials. Certain business industries are suffering? Those darn Millennials. Eating too much avocado toast? You guessed it….Millennials. Back in 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation claimed that “Millennials are likely the most studied generation in history,” and the claim isn’t that far off. Although, they forgot to mention that the generation would also likely be the most scrutinized.

With nearly 80 million Millennials in the United States, this generation makes up the largest segment of the current labor force. It is safe to say that Millennials aren’t going anywhere, much to the chagrin of previous generations. However, according to a study from HR research firm ClearlyRated and freelancing website Upwork, this generation’s (and the one immediately after – Gen Z) influence is causing four major shifts in the workforce. They are as follows:

Reskilling

In these days with technological advancements making work easier, and sometimes even replacing jobs all together, if you don’t adapt you will fall behind and ultimately fail. According to the aforementioned study that surveyed over 1,000 hiring managers, over 96 percent said that they think reskilling is important for employees.

There is a generational difference when it comes to reskilling. Most Baby Boomers (those born 1946-1964) believe that their employer should be responsible for training the staff and facilitating the reskilling efforts. Millennials, on the other hand, are more prone to taking the task of reskilling upon themselves and proactively search for training.

Planning Ahead

The Millennial generation has fallen victim to being labeled as “job hoppers.” While 44 percent of Millennials say they will leave their current position within two years, according to Pepperdine University, but that is due to the fact that this generation is more likely to prioritize future workplace planning.

As trends change, such as remote working, Millennial managers are two times more likely than Baby Boomers to develop a “flexible talent strategy as well as investing in technology to support a remote workforce,” according to Karen Gilchrist. Which leads to the next shift ⤵️

Remote Working

Thanks to technology and the ability to remain constantly connected to the office, remote working has become an increasingly popular workplace perk. There are many benefits and downsides to working remotely, but Millennials are more likely to embrace this movement. Nearly ¾ of Millennial (and Gen Z) managers have team members who work remotely at least part of the time, compared to 58 percent of Baby Boomers. Additionally, Gilchrist says by 2028, 73 percent of all teams are expected to have remote workers.

Embracing Freelancers

When you need something for a certain project that your team is unfamiliar with, or doesn’t have time for, enlisting a freelancer is a good option. Millennials are more likely than previous generations to utilize this resource for multiple reasons, including, cost efficiency and productivity.

Baby Boomers on the other hand, may not see the value of enlisting the help of freelancers when they have employees who are capable of doing the work.

Wrap Up

Bob Dylan so eloquently stated, “The Times They Are A Changin’” way back in 1964, when ironically the last of the Baby Boomers were born. While this timeless song wasn’t exactly intended to highlight the workforce, its message rings true. As each generation slowly exits the labor market, the times change and we must figure out ways to keep up.

Although Millennials have taken the brunt of the blame of all that is wrong with society, this generation is influencing the workforce in ways like never before. There have been lots of jokes about these individuals wanting a more relaxed work environment, among other things, but even big companies with tried and true traditions, such as Goldman Sachs are adapting to appease the younger generations and remain competitive in the talent acquisition space.

One day maybe we will be able to look back on at Millennials and realize the monumental societal shifts their generation was responsible for instead of the amount of blame that they get.

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Three Qualities That Make a Great Leader

Leadership is a quality that people are constantly looking to improve. There is a lot of literature available on whether or not leadership is a trait that you’re born with or that you can develop into. One of the best ways to learn more about what works and what doesn’t in leadership is to take advice from those in leadership positions.

It is no secret that Microsoft is under the tutelage of some great leaders. CEO Satya Nadella has spent over two decades with the software and technology giant and learned some great leadership tactics along the way. He spoke to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona about what he has learned about his own leadership and three traits that he looks for in a leader. You can read the full article here.

Provide Clarity

Just as a captain navigates the rough seas, employees will look to their boss to navigate them through difficult times. One way to do this is by remaining transparent and providing clarity as to what is going on within the company.

According to Nadella, “You can’t call yourself a leader by coming into a situation that is by nature uncertain, ambiguous – and create confusion.” He added, “[to be a leader] you have to have clarity, where none exists.”

Generate Energy

Being able to generate energy for your team will provide a vibrant environment for employees to look forward to being in each day. Often times throughout the course of the year, the day to day grind can cause even the best workers to simply go through the motions and lack productivity.

As a leader, you have to motivate your employees if you want to keep them at your company. One way to do this is to create an energetic environment.

Drive Success

Contrary to popular belief, success usually doesn’t happen right away. In fact, many companies do not meet their expectations of success and end up folding before they ever have the chance. Just as there is no blueprint for success for everyone to follow, companies may experience failure in order to reach their pinnacle.

This is not a bad thing, but the defining moment will be how the leader (you) inspire your team to learn from the experience and come out stronger. In Steve Jobs’ commencement speech to the 2005 Stanford University graduating class, he said:

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

It is no secret that Jobs built Apple into the tech giant it is today, however, he had his fair share of obstacles as well.

Wrap Up

Leadership remains a hot topic in today’s professional world. Chances are we’ve all worked for a good leader, but also one that could’ve used some work in terms of his or her leadership skills and style. While it might not work for everyone, learning from successful leaders and being able to implement and apply their experience to your own role is a helpful tool to improve your leadership.

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How We Helped a Former Juco Football Player Find Life After Sports

At NexGoal, we take the placing of our athlete-candidates in their new careers very seriously – which is why our project coordinators spend so much time working with each candidate to put them in the best position to succeed. Once our candidates are placed, we like to take the time to share that candidate’s experience with all of you.

Recently, Brittany Brady had the opportunity to work with former Reedley College (California) football player Tim Demichillie, who was ready to take the next step in his sales career. Demichillie was connected with one of our valued clients who had an opportunity as a Sales Representative in the commercial roofing industry. He joins the growing list of former athletes we have helped place into new careers.

When asked about what he enjoyed most about his experience working with NexGoal and Project Coordinator Brittany Brady, Demichellie said, “NexGoal was very helpful with the whole process even after being hired. My experience was best in the business. Brittany was extremely helpful in preparing me for interviews and what to expect. Even after being offered the job, she takes time out of her day to see how the new career is going.”

We also asked Demichellie why he thinks other former athletes should come to NexGoal to find their next job. He said, “Others should come to NexGoal simply because they truly care about their customers; you will not feel like they are just another client. They [future candidates] will get the full service before and after you get the career you’re looking for.”

The NexGoal team would like to thank Tim for his kind words and we wish him continued success in his new role!

If you’re looking to take the next step in your career and need some help or guidance along the way, start by filling out our athlete-candidate application! We look forward to placing you in your “NexCareer”!

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How We Assisted a Former Hockey Player Land a New Role

At NexGoal, we take the placing of our athlete-candidates in their new careers very seriously – which is why our project coordinators spend so much time working with each candidate to put them in the best position to succeed. Once our candidates are placed, we like to take the time to share that candidate’s experience with all of you.

Recently, Brittany Brady had the pleasure of working with Trevor Hills a former college and professional hockey player. Hills was looking for a new career path after playing collegiately at SUNY Geneseo and professionally in Germany. He joins the growing list of former athletes we have helped place into new careers.

We asked Hills why he decided to work with NexGoal and he said:

“I chose to work with NexGoal because I knew it was a company looking to help former athletes. They understand that former athletes still have a competitive drive and have jobs available for you [athlete-candidates] to still compete in the work force each day. NexGoal allowed me to get my resume and foot in the door at a great company looking for former athletes. I’m excited to move away from sports and into the business world thanks to the help of NexGoal.”

Next, we asked what he enjoyed most about his experience with NexGoal and with his project coordinator, Brittany Brady. He said:

“NexGoal employees were always available to answer questions and concerns throughout the process. For my whole life I had known athletics and Brittany at NexGoal was always there to answer any important questions I had now that I was entering the business world. Thanks to NexGoal I was successfully able to find a career path where I am able to use my competitive side from sports in the real world.”

He continued, “I thought Brittany was great, she was always available to call and quick to email me back with any questions or concerns I ever had. She was also on top of getting in touch with the company I was interviewing with to get information from them about possible steps forward.”

Finally, we asked Hills why others should use NexGoal to help find their next career. He said:

“If you’re like me and have truly only really known athletics your entire life, working with NexGoal is a great way to help you take the right steps forward. They can help guide you to become a professional in the business world and set you up with some world class companies. I’m excited to get started and am very thankful for the help from the NexGoal team.”

The NexGoal team would like to thank Trevor for his kind words and we wish him the best of luck in his new career in the sales industry!

If you’re looking to take the next step in your career and need some help in the process, you can start by filling out our athlete-candidate application here! We look forward to placing you in your “NexCareer!”

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