9 Ways to Make LinkedIn Work for Your Job Search

9 Ways to Make LinkedIn Work for Your Job Search9 Ways to Make LinkedIn Work for Your Job Search9 Ways to Make LinkedIn Work for Your Job SearchDont let your LinkedIn account sit idle. Establish a presence that gets you noticed. LinkedIn has exploded in popularity since its inception in 2002 and its more important now than ever to use the medium to your full advantage. In fact, a study by Jobvite found that 87 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to find and evaluate candidates. The right LinkedIn profile can help take your job search to the next level. Below are some useful, practical tips for making your LinkedIn profile work for your job search.LinkedIn Tip 1 Turn your headline into something great.The headline is the section listed under your name in your profile. The default headline is your current position as a student or professional. You can make your headline stand out to recruiters by incorporating keywords that highlight your relevant professional skills. Avoid soft skills and focus on field-specific, concrete words that best encapsulate you as a professional. From there, choose aesthetically-pleasing spacers to divide the terms (i.e. , ?, ?, or ) so youre left with a LinkedIn headline that is visually pleasing, engaging, and practical.LinkedIn Tip 2 Customize your public profile link.LinkedIn offers you a default URL for your public profile, but its often long and pre-populated with random numbers and letters that, when included with other contact information on a resume, does not make for a pleasing aesthetic. I recommend customizing your URL to include your full name or a combination of your name and profession so it looks congruent with your other resume contact information. For example, something like linkedin.com/in/johnjames or linkedin.com/in/JohnJamesMBA.Related How to Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URLLinkedIn Tip 3 Use a clear and professional-looking headshot.This should be a given, but in looking at the profiles of my connections on Link edIn, I binnensee many pictures that are more appropriate for a social media network like facebook inc that only your close friends and family can access. Your photo should be a professional headshot or, if that isnt available, a clear photo from the shoulder up that allows you to be easily identified by employers who may want to peruse your profile post-interview. Click on the following link for more tips on how to choose an appropriate profile picture.LinkedIn Tip 4 Tell a consistent story.Make sure the information in your profile aligns with the information contained within your resume. This will help tell a consistent story when a hiring manager conducts a social media check. The timelines, employer names, job descriptions, core competencies, and the like should all serve to further emphasize the information contained within your resume, cover letter, and other application materials.Related How to Write a Powerful LinkedIn Profile SummaryLinkedIn Tip 5 Elaborate on your career s tory.Expand upon whats already in your resume and cover letter. Usually, applicants are advised to use a resume that is no longer than two pages and a one-page cover letter. LinkedIn allows you to expand upon the information in your resume, meaning you can offer more information to employers and market yourself at a higher level. For instance, you can highlight notable achievements in all of the following LinkedIn categories Projects, Publications, Certifications, Volunteering Opportunities, and Patents. Theres also an option to include Interests and Personal Details, but I caution you to remain professional even in listing these. You can be honest without over-sharing for example, indicate that you enjoy reading and yoga, but omit your love for binge-watching The Office.LinkedIn Tip 6 Become an active member of LinkedIn groups.Join groups and follow organizations that are relevant to you and what you do. Follow the pages of your alma mater to stay informed of happenings and network with fellow graduates. Also, link yourself to the pages of both current and former employers so that you show support for your current company, but also stay connected with places you contributed to in the past, as well as the individuals that shared in your experiences at those places. In addition, you can search for groups made up of other like-minded individuals with similar educational or professional backgrounds. There are groups for accountants, educators, writers, medical providers and many moreLinkedIn Tip 7 Demonstrate your thought leadership.Thats right, you can use the Post category to write articles on LinkedIn that are pertinent to your area(s) of expertise. This is a great avenue for folks that havent published elsewhere and want the experience. If you are a member of any groups and subscribe to daily or weekly group email updates (which I recommend), youll find that many of your fellow group members post articles pertinent to your field specifically, to job searchin g, and to other areas of interest. This is a great way to add onto your qualifications, as well as learn from others through reading what they publish.LinkedIn Tip 8 Network, network, network.Perhaps the essence of this social media platform is its ability to connect its users with other professionals. What sets LinkedIn apart from every other social media platform is its business nature. Use this to your advantage. Connect with old colleagues you may not feel comfortable friending on Facebook but had good working relations with and may want to use in the future as a point of reference or even as a professional reference in a job search. You should also use it to connect with current co-workers, former classmates from your graduating cohort, etc. To sum up, get out there and connectLinkedIn Tip 9 Search for jobs.This tool is a great resource for finding new roles. In fact, with your LinkedIn account, you can receive email alerts for new jobs posted on the network that match your gen eral search criteria or that are recommended to you from the Jobs You May Be Interested In feature. Click on the following link for more information on setting up LinkedIn Job Alerts.Click on the following link for more social media advice.Still need help? Let TopResume upgrade your LinkedIn profile. Recommended ReadingIts Time to Let Go of These LinkedIn MisconceptionsFree Job-Search Tools Every Job Seeker NeedsHow to Engage with Potential Employers Online

Applying for Presidency

Applying for PresidencyApplying for PresidencyApplying for PresidencyWhether youre vying for the presidency or applying for a regular job, you can learn a thing or two from these unofficial resumes TopResume created for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.With arguably the most important job in the United States currently up for grabs, theres no better time to dig into the personal branding of our presidential candidates. TopResume asked me to create unofficial executive resumes for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to show you, the people, the importance of selling yourself to employers in the job market.So print out a copy of your own executive resume and see how it stacks up with my resume tips below.Note Click on the links above or scroll to the bottom of this article to view each candidates resume.HeaderJust like in your resume, contact information is key. You want hiring managers to be able to find you, right? List out your city and s tate (no street address required), phone number and email address. If youre in a creative field or have a rabid social media following like The Donald feel free to list those URLs too. Ditch the photo (unless youre writing a CV) and focus on the meat.SummaryThe executive summary is the most critical real estate on your resume, so use this section wisely. Incorporate key terms that recruiters in your field care about and overcome any objections the hiring manager may have with your candidacy by calling attention to your most attractive selling points.For instance, if youre interested in making the jump from entrepreneur to a more structured job like Trump, youll need to highlight your most transferable skills and convince hiring managers that youre okay with taking directions from someone else after so many years of running your own (reality) show.Areas of ExpertiseMost resumes pass through an electronic screen known as an applicant tracking system, or ATS for short, that helps emp loyers determine if youre likely to be a good match for their open position. Adding industry-specific keywords to your resume helps keep the ATS software happy and allows your resume to sail safely through their screens. It doesnt matter how you list your areas of expertise or core competencies, so long as they make it into your resume.Also, dont forget to expand upon these keywords throughout your executive resume. A trained recruiter or hiring manager will look for your professional experience sections to back up what youre selling at the top of your resume.Signature Political AchievementsAs Donald Trump would say, this section is YUGE Rename it Signature Achievements or Highlighted Achievements for your own list of executive accomplishments and choose three to five to highlight. Building a section like this helps recruiters and hiring managers find your most important contributions without having to dig through your professional experience section. And after all, making easy work for recruiters and hiring managers is your goal. Lead with a bolded keyword or two and try to list plenty of quantifiable information (i.e. You spearheaded $45M revenue growth in a two-year period). Keep them punchy and concise for maximum impact.Professional ExperienceFor the average the job seeker, we recommend listing only the past 10-15 years of your experience, as this is considered your most relevant career information. If youd like to highlight experience that is older than this, you can do so with an early career section near the bottom of your resume. Sometimes this isnt necessarily an effective strategy at the executive level. Like the position of president (the average age of our past commanders-in-chief is 54), many executive roles are held by seasoned, senior-level professionals, so its okay to fill out a second page or list experience from the early 1990s. Its best to cut it off there, though.EducationWe used a simple structure here. Clinton and Trump have been out of school for a while, so no need to list coursework, a GPA, projects, or business competitions.RecognitionThis is a tricky one. If youve been in politics or business for more than 30 years, like each of our presidential candidates have, youre going to have a rather exhaustive list of awards. Seriously, while researching each candidate for this project, I found that Clinton and Trump have something like 1.5 billon awards between them (okay, maybe Im exaggerating, but you get the picture). The key is to not overwhelm executive recruiters with your achievements. Think strategically and leverage your most impressive and relevant accolades.Executive EngagementsAgain, your decades of executive experience will likely be peppered with mainboard and community affiliations. But theres no need to list your membership on a local youth tee-ball league (unless youre looking for new opportunities in tee-ball, of course). Choose the most prominent boards you have chaired and include a line of achiev ements for each. Keep it simple and always make sure to end the resume with this type of information. Its great interview fodder for employers and helps end your resume on a personal note.How does your executive resume stack up?Our TopResume executive resume writers are ready to position you for continued career success. Reach out today to get started with a free critique of your executive documentation. From there, we can work together on next steps, whether you need some fine-tuning or an across-the-board overhaul.

Interview Etiquette The Name Game

Interview Etiquette The Name Game Interview Etiquette The Name Game 1 “I recently had a job interview. It was going really well…until I got up to leave and called the hiring manager by the wrong name! What should I do? I really want this job but I’m afraid that I might have offended her and ruined my chances.” Between stress, nerves and never-ending interviews, it’s easy to see why you would have inadvertently called the person by the wrong name. Assuming you didn’t correct yourself at the moment, I would follow up with the person via email within a day of the interview. I would express how much I enjoyed meeting her and reinforce how you feel that you are a great candidate for the position. Ask if there is any other info that you can provide. But don’t apologize for saying the person’s name incorrectly during the interview chances are she may not even have noticed. Instead, be sure to write the person’s name in your email correctly and often. And to avoid any future slip-ups, make sure to repeat the persons name back to them when you are first introducing yourselves. Make it a point to weave the persons name naturally into your conversation. For example, you can say, Well, Mrs. Smith, I have worked as a graphic designer for seven years now. You can also keep a folder in front of you with the persons name written (indiscreetly, of course) in a corner that you can refer to during your conversation. That way, youll never forget a face or a name. Here’s to successful job searching! Sara Since 2007, has helped over 350,000 job seekers in their search for telecommuting, part-time, and flexible jobs. 97.5% of our members are satisfied with our services. What questions do you have about flexible work options? Leave a comment here or email jennifer at dot com. She will choose one question to pass on to Sara each week!

Forgiving is hard, but not forgiving hurts more  set yourself free

Forgiving is hard, but not forgiving hurts more â€"  set yourself free Forgiving is hard, but not forgiving hurts more â€"  set yourself free Let bygones be bygones. Forget and move on. Kiss and make up.Forgiving is easier said than done.Most people believe that forgiveness means condoning an event. But it’s not. Blame ties us to the past and makes our heart and mind smaller - both literally and metaphorically. Forgiving, on the other hand, means realizing that resentment and hatred add more pain.Science shows that forgiving is good for your health.Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. It’s not accepting, justifying or overlooking an event either. It’s choosing to let go of resentment or the need for revenge - we eliminate the suffering, not the wrongdoing. The offender might not deserve your pardon, but you deserve to be at peace.When you forgive, you set yourself free.Forgiving is hard, but it’s healthy“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” - Paul BoeseThere’s a causal relationship between forgiveness and your health, according to science.Unforgiveness causes us addition al harm. When we don’t forgive, we release all the chemicals of a stress response.You can’t change the past. There’s nothing you can do to remove the harm others might have caused you. However, not forgiving damages our mood - we see our lives through a lens of vengeance, hostility, resentment, anger, and sadness.Forgiveness was traditionally seen as a religious ideal; science has turned it into a skill that everyone can (and should) develop. From 1998 to 2005 the number of empirical studies on the topic have increased from 58 to 950. There’s been a lot of progress understanding the science behind forgiveness.Holding a serious grudge raises our blood pressure and increases our chances of a heart attack. Unforgiveness intensifies mental problems, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders.A fMRI study by Italian researcher, Dr. Pietro Pietrini, showed that anger and vengeance inhibited rational thinking. Conversely, the tasks involved in the process of forgiveness activate the areas of our brain linked to problem-solving, morality, empathy, and cognitive control of emotions.Forgiving is not easy - the need for taking revenge is hardwired in our system. In the past, that’s how we prevented other people from causing us harm. Revenge activates the same brain area than our desire for chocolate or sex - that’s why it tastes sweet.However, forgiveness is equally innate - reconciling after a fight is something most mammals do, not just humans. Reconciliation has an upside too. Research by the Stanford Forgiveness Project shows that forgiving elevates our mood and increases optimism.You can choose between instant gratification or long-term healthier living.Set yourself free“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” - Louis B. SmedesUnforgiveness is engrained on blame - we let a past event define our present.Blaming is a way of running away from the truth. By not forgiving, we focus on the p erpetrator instead of facing the event. We get stuck feeling a victim rather than accepting what happened and moving on.I’ve learned through time and experience that resentment gets us nowhere. I usually don’t hold a grudge on people - I don’t want to be a prisoner of someone else’s behavior.I understand if you feel skeptical.Researching for this article, I stumbled upon some powerful human stories. Some people went through the hardest experiences you can imagine. Yet, they were not only able to forgive but actually came in good terms with their wrongdoers.Eva Kor, an Auschwitz survivor who publicly forgave the perpetrators who killed her parents and two older sisters at the camp. Eva even traveled to Germany and embraced Oskar Gröning, one of Auschwitz officials.Phyllis Rodriguez’ son was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. Aicha el-Wafi’s son was convicted of a role in those attacks and is serving a life sentence. In hoping to find peace, these two moms have formed a powerful friendship born of unthinkable losses.Back in 1995, Azim Khamisa’s son was killed in a gang initiation ritual. The deadly encountered sent him and Plex Felix, the grandfather of the murderer, down paths of meditation to forgive and be forgiven. In time, they became friends.Unforgiveness is fueled by rumination - we keep rehashing sad experiences. We get stuck on delated emotions. Resentment, hatred, hostility, fear, and anger guides our lives.Blame turns us into a victim - we feel helpless. If people who went through tragedies, as described above, forgave their offenders, why can’t we?A meta-analysis of forgiveness research brings light to effectively moving on. It requires two key steps: Decisional Forgiveness: A behavioral intention statement to forgo revenge and avoidance (unless it is unsafe). It’s releasing the offender from the social debt incurred by his/her wrongdoing. Emotional Forgiveness: The replacement of negative emotions with positive ones. It leads to a reduction in the uncomfortable or negative feelings associated with unforgiveness - it might even develop positive regard toward the perpetrator. Forgiveness moves us from being a victim to being valuable.As Buddhist Sakyong Mipham says, “We can see that the person we are blaming needs help, and so we help him. Helping him reduces our desire to blame, and increases our desire to be of benefit.”Azim Khamisa and Plex Felix went beyond reconciliation. These two brave men tour the world teaching kids how to meditate - they are on a mission to prevent violence and hatred.To let go of resentment, we must stop seeing the other as our enemy.Forgiveness requires a methodTo forgive others, we require more than just the intention - we need a clear method to overcome blame and fixation to a past event.Dr. Frederic Luskin, the co-founder of the Stanford Forgiveness Project, runs a ‘Forgiveness Training’ to help people develop the core skills. The first step consists in tearing apart “your grievance story” - the expert believes that, when we blame someone, instead of holding them accountable, we get stuck in victimhood and in action.Another interesting challenge participants must deal with is to “find the impersonal in the hurt.” Realizing that many others have experienced a similar offense, helps depersonalize the event. It doesn’t remove the harm but trains our mind to not being attached to the incident.“Forgiveness is a trainable skill, just like learning to throw a baseball,” writes Luskin in his book Forgive for Good.Robert Enright, a psychologist from the University of Wisconsin, is a pioneer on the study of forgiveness. Together with his colleagues, he developed a four-part Process Model: Uncovering anger: Through self-awareness and understanding, we learn how the wrongdoing has compromised our lives, and reveal the suffering and harm it caused. Deciding to forgive: You make an explicit commitment to forgiving. This doesn’t your feelings are gone - it’s the first step toward moving on. Working on forgiveness: In this phase, we reframe our view of the offender. We focus on understanding their background and motivation. Once again, we are not condoning or justifying - we just want to understand the other person’s behavior and driver. The Deepening Phase: Discovery and release from the emotional prison. We start to find meaning in the suffering we experienced. We might feel the need to help others who went through similar experiences. We transcend our pain by turning it into something meaningful. Enright and his colleagues have observed positive results in drug rehabilitation participants, victims of domestic violence, and terminally ill cancer patients. Their approach decreased anger and resentment, providing a more positive outlook.Having a method makes forgiveness seem easier.Courage brings you peace“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” ? Abraham LincolnTime can help us heal, but forgiveness interventions work better, according to multiple studies.There are three necessary goals to achieve true forgiveness: empathizing with the offender, committing to forgiveness, and overcoming feelings of unforgiveness.Forgiving requires understanding.Empathizing with the offender is good for you. It helps you repair the relationship with the event - though that doesn’t mean rebuilding the bond with that person.Forgiving is an act of courage.Like any behavior change, it requires true commitment to succeed. The explicit decision to forgive someon e is a critical step to move toward overcoming negative feelings.Forgiveness sets you free from the past - you don’t just make peace with the offender, you are at peace.That’s how Azin Khamisa wraps up this moving TED talk: “Peace is possible. How do I know that? Because I’m at peace.”Gustavo Razzetti is a change instigator that helps organizations lead positive change. Author, Consultant, and Speaker on team building and cultural transformation.This article first appeared on Medium.

Promoting Work-Life Balance Improves Office Culture

Promoting Work-Life Balance Improves Office Culture Promoting Work-Life Balance Improves Office Culture Promoting work-life balance doesn’t just benefit employees - it helps your overall office culture. Did you know that working more can actually lead to decreased productivity? When your employees are stressed, their physical and mental well-being is more likely to be negatively affected. They work less efficiently, they call in sick more often and their work quality suffers. But the negative cycle doesn’t end there. Morale can slip, too, and pretty soon, they might start looking for better job opportunities. Integrating work-life balance into your office culture is one of the best ways to avert employee burnout, maintain productivity and retain your top people. Here are four tips for getting started: 1. Flexibility is key Achieving a culture of work-life balance means finding ways to help your team create a happy medium between professional and personal demands. Consider offering alternative work arrangements. Telecommuting, for instance, is a great solution if an employee has a tough commute or family commitments that conflict with his or her work schedule. Another solution is a condensed workweek, in which an employee works a longer daily schedule, but for fewer days (10 hours per day for four days a week, for example). This gives employees a longer stretch of downtime in which to unwind and recharge - making it more likely they'll return to work with more energy and enthusiasm. 2. Healthy employees are happy employees Nonmonetary incentives that encourage a positive lifestyle can be an excellent way to help employees find a work-life balance, which, in turn, bodes well for your retention rates. These perks don’t have to break the bank. You can offer wellness programs and discounted gym memberships, or get creative by adding napping rooms and free healthy snacks to the office.   3. Lead by example As manager, you set the tone. Set a good example by preserving equilibrium in your own life. Your attempts to encourage work-life balance won’t be taken seriously if your employees perceive you as a workaholic. Manage your own time carefully to avoid having to stay late or work at home, and when the office staff is gathering socially, be sure to join in. Celebrating the completion of projects as a team is one way to alleviate stress in the workplace and demonstrate a healthier corporate culture. Give bonus days off if you can, or organize group social activities during working hours to motivate and reward hard work.   4. Know when to get help   Learn how to anticipate busy times and recognize the warning signs of burnout among your staff, so you can call in for reinforcements. Using temporary staffing solutions can relieve pressure on your full-time team and is more cost-effective in the long run than pushing employees to work overtime. Interim staff can fill in gaps and take on seasonal work, while your regular employees continue to focus on the tasks for which they’re skilled and trained. This ensures that productivity doesn’t suffer and your workers don’t experience the harmful effects of overwork.

3 Tips To Beat the Post-Holiday Office Blues

3 Tips To Beat the Post-Holiday Office Blues 3 Tips To Beat the Post-Holiday Office Blues Where did the tinsel, champagne and revelry go? Now, in Chicago anyways, it’s just cold.   To make matters more challenging, with  Presidents’ Day over, many of us have no more professional holidays until Memorial Day. Let’s face it. This time of year can be hard. It’s difficult on the homefront, and it’s tough at work. Sometimes I feel less like I’m killing it and more like I’m just trying to survive. But I want to do better than that. This year I made it my New Year’s resolution to make peace with this season. It’s emotionally defeating to dread the first quarter of the year. I don’t want to exist this way. I intend to find value in this period of winter reflection. Here’s my plan to keep myself engaged and productive during this season: Identify the Skills that Challenging Times Hone Growth is always a bit painful. So maybe it’s a good thing that the year starts off difficult. It’s our conditioning for the new year 2016 isn’t just going to just hand us a victory. We need to prove ourselves first. We need to earn it. As I’ve thought this through I’ve recognized some skills that this season teaches; for me, it’s resilience, toughness and grit. These are hard skills to sharpen, but I need them just as much as any other professional tools. Identifying these valuable byproducts of my annual winter struggle makes my endeavors seem noble. I am not struggling aimlessly. There are lessons to be learned and skills to be garnered. So identify what you are learning from your experience. Struggle is a truly magnificent teacher. You are the narrator of your own story. Instead of describing how it wears you down, alter your narrative and recognize how it builds your character.   Integrate Exercise Into Your Work Day Exercise really does make you feel better. I love to exercise, but the hard part is getting started. Once I’m moving, though, I’m surprised I ever balked. As soon as I start warming up my stress level drops and I start feeling happy and energized. Exercise always helps. Don’t get fancy. Do what is easy and available to you. Sit on a yoga ball. Walk to the office or the train. Take the stairs. If your company has a wellness program see if there may be a lunchtime exercise class. This is a really important time for physical activity. It will make you feel vibrant and proud of yourself. Plus it’s really good for your immune system.             Be Social Recognize that this season sets the tone for the year. So don’t get stuck in your office or cubicle. Meet a former coworker for lunch. Enjoy a happy hour with your work friends. Grab coffee with a favorite colleague. Put yourself out there, because being social is energizing, and that is what you need right now. Winter doesn’t have to bring us down. We can do anything we choose to with this season. This year, I suggest we fully embrace it and the opportunities it presents for self-assessment and growth.

6 Steps to a Glamorous Resume Makeover

6 Steps to a Glamorous Resume Makeover 6 Steps to a Glamorous Resume Makeover Does this sound like you? You’re casually browsing different opportunities because your current position isn’t a great fit. Or, you’re occasionally browsing job boards, but youre not actively sending out application packages. Even if you’re not in full job-hunting mode, it sounds like youre almost  there and could use some resume help. Here are six steps for a complete resume makeover for when you’re ready to enter the job hunt in full force. 1. Remember that font and size matter A quick way to do a resume makeover is by fixing your resume fonts and sizes. One of our top resume tips: your resume should be easy to read. Your best bet is limiting your resume to two fonts, specifically  basic fonts like Times New Roman to make it easier for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to read. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are software used by recruiters and hiring managers to find the candidates whose resumes best fit the job.  Further, get rid of colors  and make sure that you’re not bolding or italicizing too many elements of your resume â€" this ultimately de-emphasizes everything in the document. 2. Give it a trim Even if you’re a seasoned professional, most recruiters will not turn to the second page of your resume â€" let alone your third and fourth. So, shorten your resume to one page. The easiest way to do this is by limiting descriptions to 3 to 4 bullet points  per job.  Another reason one-page resumes become two is  extra spacing. See if you have a format that takes up too much space by your titles or resume section headers. If you do, consider removing that space or choosing a different format. 3. Consider a formatting change …which brings us to our next point: resume format. If your format is too bulky or too old-fashioned, consider choosing a different format to begin your resume makeover. There’s no better way to breathe new life into your document than by changing up the format to make it easier to read. Here are some resume templates to get you started. Which of the three main resume formats fits your work history best? 4. Add measurable results Instead of listing the requirements of your previous positions, any resume makeover should include an addition of measurable results. Measurable results are just that: metrics like numbers and percentages that describe exactly how you succeeded in these positions. If you’re looking for advice on how to incorporate more measurable results into your resume, Jobscan checks to make sure you’ve included the recommended minimum of five measurable results on your resume. 5. Add keywords and hard skills to your resume The way ATS scans applicants? By matching desired characteristics to a candidate’s resume skills. Optimize your resume by adding keywords that match those in the job posting. Using a job posting and your current resume, Jobscan will suggest hard skills you can add to your resume. Once you’re ready to apply for jobs, the resume keywords you’ve included will already be more relevant to  a given position. Hard skills will win the hiring manager over much faster than soft skills. 6. Ditch the objective statement An objective statement says more about what you want, rather than what you can offer to the employer. If an employer only has six seconds to read about you, make those seconds count by including a summary statement instead. A summary statement demonstrates what you can do for the employer. In it, you talk about your most persuasive strengths, your skills, and your work history. Spending a few minutes a day rebuilding your resume can make you feel more prepared and confident when you begin job hunting. With the stress of resume writing off your plate, you’ll have more time to search for your ideal position.