Underqualified? Apply Anyway

interview

Several people fall into the trap of overthinking job descriptions. It can feel overwhelming for job seekers to read an extensive list of job duties. Try to remember that most hiring managers do not create the job description at most major corporations. They are typically written by human resources, who have never worked a day in the actual position. Job descriptions commonly use corporate lingo and can sound intimidating.

Think you’re underqualified. Apply anyway. Don’t avoid a job application based entirely on the description.

 Work history, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn will go a long way with any hiringUnderqualied, Apply anyway. You have n othing to lose. Heartland Resumes, Omaha, NE manager. We can help you communicate this through your resume, cover letter, and interview coaching so that you can manage the job’s primary responsibilities and learn the rest. Even if you think the company looks like an excellent fit but the job seems a little too complicated, you can still use the interview to get your foot in the door. You might even be surprised to learn that the job description and the daily job duties could differ entirely.

Underqualified? Watch the Self-Talk.

Don’t tell yourself that you’re not qualified for a job posting. It’s okay to apply for a job without fitting 100% of the job criteria as long as you are willing to learn and grow. No one progresses in their career by staying comfortable and without taking risks. Jobs that feel slightly out of reach are the ones that have the most potential to launch you to where you want to be in your career journey. That said, it’s still important to be realistic and ensure you meet the minimum requirements for the position. Don’t fear or doubt stop you from taking a chance on a job. You never know what good may come from it!

A professionally written resume from Heartland Resumes will catch the eye of the Hiring Manager and get you that interview. We can highlight your qualifications and help your resume stand out!

This article was originally posted in August of 2020 and has been recently updated. 

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5 Things Successful People Never Say

5 Things Successful People Never Say

Having a positive attitude is the key to success. Successful people think differently about the workplace, which shows in their words. Here are 5 Things Successful People Never Say.

Successful people never say, “It’s impossible.”

Something you will never hear successful people say is, “It’s impossible”. They understand that the answer to any problem is not always inherent, but there’s always a way to find a resolution.

“I don’t care.”5 Things Successful People Never Say

Another phrase you will never hear is, “I don’t care.” Successful people are passionate about what they do. Having passion and drive is what sets achievers apart. 

“I can’t do that.”

Successful people never say, “I can’t do that.” They are natural problem solvers and will take whatever is needed to learn and achieve the desired outcome. 

“This is not my fault.”

Never will you hear successful people say, “This is not my fault.” They always take ownership of mistakes and never point out where others have fallen short. This shows great character and capacity to learn and grow. 

“I don’t need any help.”

Successful people know that everyone needs help sometimes. They understand they cannot be successful without teamwork. Being willing to work with others is a real sign of a good leader. 

Everyone wants to be successful, and it’s challenging to do, even if you always say all the right things. Make an effort to avoid these five phrases and negative self-talk. There is a lot more to success than just choosing your words wisely. However, this is one easy-to-implement step that will prevent you from holding yourself back. 

Read more about how creating habits can also help you be successful here!

If you need assistance with getting ready for your next interview and want to communicate positively and successfully, contact Heartland Resumes for Interview Coaching!

This article was originally published in July 2020 and has been recently updated. 

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Is it Okay to Say No at Work?

too much work

Is it Okay to Say No at Work?

Many people hesitate to say no at work and feel that management wants a yes person. But, often, saying no will earn you respect and benefit your organization. However, saying yes can indeed cement your reputation and provide more responsibilities. Being able to say no, in the right way can help protect you from burnout and feeling overloaded. 

Here are three situations when it is okay to say no:Is it OK to say no at work, Heartland Resumes, Omaha, NE

  • The task falls outside your actual responsibilities. You should be mindful of your job expectations and be willing to turn down a task that does not fit your goals. It may distract you from performing your job. 
  • You are not qualified or the best person to complete the task. Typically this comes up when a coworker asks for your help. In some instances, another person in the office would be better suited for the task.
  • You routinely respond to emails and messages when off the clock or at home. Unfortunately, many employers expect this kind of 24/7 availability, but it is terrible for your mental health, social life, and family.

As humans, we are inclined to say yes. We want to say yes. Especially if a power dynamic is involved, we are even more prone to agree first and think about it later. Learning to evaluate whether you should say yes, and how to say no graciously is a vital skill in work and life in general. When necessary, don’t be afraid to say the word no at work. For information on career coaching, contact us at Heartland Resumes. We’d love to help you with interview coaching! 

 

This article was originally published in August 2020 and has been recently updated.

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Is Volunteer Work Important On A Resume?

Volunteer

You may be wondering if it’s acceptable to put volunteer work on your resume when you’re applying for jobs. It absolutely is! Including your Volunteer experience can be a great way to show your passion, skills, and community involvement. It can also help provide additional support for a resume that lacks valuable work experience. Woman doing volunteer work and adding it to her resume.

Volunteering is not only great for your community but also for your career. The skills you can acquire, the people you can meet, and the experience you can build up through a volunteering position can be invaluable in enhancing your resume and making your qualifications stand out to potential new employers.

Put your Volunteer Work on LinkedIn

Volunteering is so vital that LinkedIn, the number one career networking site, recently added a “Volunteer Experience & Causes” field on users’ profiles. In a survey conducted by LinkedIn, they found that almost half of hiring professionals evaluating potential candidates for jobs consider volunteer work as valuable as paid work experience. Employers enjoy seeing volunteer work that highlights skills you can use on the job. Volunteering can even serve as a stepping stone to a new field if you are also looking to change career paths.

Not sure where on your resume to add your volunteer experience or how or what to include? Our certified professional resume writers are here to help. Click to learn more.

This article was originally published in July 2020 and has been recently updated. 

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5 Habits To Be Successful

5 Sucessful Habits, Heartland Resumes, Omaha, NE

Success is in the eye of the beholder. Success is a personal definition. There is a list of successful habits that all thriving people follow. Success is not a destination; it is a journey. Each successful habit can help along the journey to success. 

Successful Habit #1 Be deliberate

Start every day with an intention and a purpose. Set meaningful goals to help you get to your desired outcome. If you find that something isn’t aligning with your purpose, move away from it, and be deliberate in your daily actions to move closer to your goals.

Successful Habit #2 Learn from mistakes

All successful people have experienced failure and made mistakes. A productive way to grow from this is by objectively looking back on your failures and gaining wisdom from them. Think about what you would do differently next time and how you can avoid future pitfalls.

#3 Develop a strategic routine5 Sucessful Habits, Heartland Resumes, Omaha, NE

There are 24 hours each day, we all get them, but some seem to accomplish so much in those 24 hours. They do this by having a routine and sticking to it. Each day begins with intent and planning your daily goals. If you are productive in the morning or evening, expect to get the essential things done when you are at your best. 

#4 Take calculated risks

All successful people take risks to help them achieve their goals. Learn to expect uncertainty and be confident enough to bet on yourself. Calculated risks will allow you to achieve real success.

#5 Believe in yourself

You should be your best coach, your best motivator, and your best supporter. Let go of all insecurities and doubts, and believe in yourself. Tell yourself you can do anything you put your mind to, and stop standing in your way.

Knowing a successful habit and not applying it is akin to not knowing it at all. Start with one, work on it for a month and start the next successful habit. With diligent persistence, you will find yourself on your way to changing habits and making progress. If you’re making a career change, make sure you apply these habits and that your resume is up-to-date. Reach out to Heartland Resumes for a professional resume that will garner the attention of the hiring manager!

 

This article was originally published in July 2020 and has been recently updated. 

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Resurrect Your Resume

Ressurect your resume before you need it. HEARTLAND RESUMES, OMAHA, NE 402-215-8283

As professional resume writers, we’re lucky to stay busy during many trying times, but this is not the case for millions.  When economic climates indicate that more and more people may be filing for unemployment, many wonder how they can stand out among a sea of job applicants. It’s time to resurrect your resume. 

The Future of Resumes

We all know that a resume has just 7 seconds to grab the employer’s attention. But in today’s chaotic world, that could be even less due to shorter attention spans. One trend we’re seeing is employers asking applicants to submit video resumes. HR professionals are still not interviewing people in person initially, but they still want to get a feel for someone’s character and mannerisms to see if they would be a good fit for their team. A video can work as a personal cover letter to show an employer why you are a good fit.

Be PreparedRessurect your resume before you need it. HEARTLAND RESUMES, OMAHA, NE 402-215-8283

If you are still working now, be prepared for tomorrow. Most people wait until they are forced into a job search situation to update their resume. If working from home, use the time you are saving commuting to the office to overhaul your resume or engage a professional resume writer’s service. As recent years have shown, we should all be prepared for anything.

Whether you are experiencing a layoff, furlough, or salary reduction or want to be prepared for what lies ahead, now is the time to adapt your resume. As professional resume writers, we help you identify the points in your career or employment gap that should be spotlighted in your resume. Remember, a potential employer doesn’t want to know your entire employment history, so it’s sometimes necessary to disassociate yourself from things you think were important in your career. It’s better to align your resume with the job posting or type you are searching for. 

Industry Lay-offs should trigger a Strategy.

A job search during a lean economic time or when an industry is experiencing many layoffs takes patience, perseverance, and a solid strategy. For more information on how we can help you, please contact us using the form.

This article has been recently updated.  

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How To Reduce Stress at Work

stressed at work

Workplace stress has become something we all deal with daily. Some people handle better than others, but others don’t. This chronic stress can fill our lives despite our best efforts to keep it confined to our workspace. So, how do we reduce stress at work?

Change your mindset

We all spend way too much time doing things that trigger stress than we do on something that relaxes us. Too much stress can expedite aging, weaken our immune systems, and leave us tired and depressed. The key is to recognize the signs and respond with healthier habits. An excellent way to start this is by asking yourself, what can I control? How to reduce stress at work? Reach out to Heartland Resumes for the best resume writing services in Omaha.

Reduce Stress at work and Learn to say “No.”

This is not an easy thing to do. It’s human to want to help and to take on more than we should, but learning to say no once in a while can relieve the stress you feel by taking on too much. Ask your manager and or team for support when you need it. It’s ok to allow others to carry the workload. After all, that is what a team does. 

Take care of yourself first

Many of us act like we are invincible, always trying to be perfect at everything we do, especially at work. The easiest way to avoid that is by taking time for yourself throughout the day. Make it a habit to take consistent breaks during your workday. Studies show that breaks help increase productivity. So go to the gym on your lunch or meditate. Ensure you are getting enough rest while you are away from the office. Taking care of yourself will help rejuvenate and prepare you for any potential stressors that come your way.

We can’t expect work to be 100% stress-free. However, we can work to counterbalance day-to-day stress by caring for ourselves and fulfilling our time with meaningful things.

Creating space for healthy habits, quality relationships, purpose-driven activities, and even meditation can make a world of difference.

We all deserve to live healthy, happy lives, and it’s never too late to start making manageable changes. If you are looking for a new position that requires a change to your resume. Contact Heartland Resumes for a new or updated professional resume! 

 

This article has been recently updated. 

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How To Address The Most Asked Question During An Interview: Are You a Team Player?

job interview

Interviewing? Get ready for this question- Are you a Team Player?

In almost every interview, you are asked, “Are you a team player?” The obvious answer is “yes,” to this question; however, interviewers will ask to order to determine if you are able to support a team and work well with others. Think about this question and prepare yourself to have an example of when you demonstrated this behavior.Are you a team player? That is one of the most asked questions in an interview. Find out how to pprepare for this question for your next interview or call Heartland Resumes for interview coaching help.

Questions to consider before your interview:

  • Are you helpful?
  • Do you enjoy collaborating with others and discussing new ideas with your co-workers?
  • Are you able to effectively communicate with people with different personalities or even complex personalities?
  • Do you know how to reconcile conflicts and motivate people?
  • Are you cautious in your communication method?

After answering these five questions, you will clearly understand how best to address the question “Are you a team player” in your next interview.  

Today, with a hybrid work environment, meaning work done in the office and from home, this question is still relevant. In fact, being a team player in the face of these more challenging work environments can be more difficult and important.

If you would like to discuss this question in more depth or for interview coaching, click here to see the services Heartland Resumes offers its customers. 

 

This article was originally published in May 2020 and has been recently updated. 

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Set Yourself Up for A Successful Career Change

Make a career change, and be successful in the process!

Like most people, you may have no idea what you want to do next in your career. You want to make a change, but it feels like such a huge undertaking that you’re stuck worrying about it instead of focusing on the next single thing you could do to move forward. Here’s what you can do to set yourself up for a successful career change. 

Want a Career Change? Plan for the future and stop avoiding the present.

Planning ahead is an excellent idea, and preparing for the worst is a smart move. And yet, plans can fall apart, and the worst thing you planned for is unlikely to happen. 

Challenges may come up that you could have never anticipated. However, unless they’re causing you a significant problem right now, they don’t deserve to be taking up so much of your attention.Make a career change, and be successful in the process!

Why would you spend your time worrying about a problem you haven’t got to yet?

Could it be because worrying about the far-off future is a convenient distraction from the somewhat uncomfortable here and now?

The questions that are always worthy of your time and effort

What’s the smallest thing I can do right now to make the most significant positive impact on my situation?

Please write it down, stick it on your mirror or fridge, and set it as your phone background. Keep it top of mind daily. It will help you decide what the next step in your career change is.

What’s the one thing that could be addressed right now and would allow you to move forward most excitingly or powerfully? What do you need to do to address it?

What’s the smallest thing you could do in the next hour, day, or week that would have the most significant practical impact on your shift?

Set intentional step-by-step actions to achieve your desired outcome. Doing this will help you deal with reality as it is now, rather than worrying about the ‘what if.’ 

 

This article was originally published in June 2020 and was recently updated. 

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How To Set Boundaries When Working From Home

Mom working from home

Many people are now working from home and enjoying a bit more flexibility within their day. However, in order to stay sharp and happy working from home, you’ll need to establish some home office rules and routines.

Don’t start working the minute you wake up.

It’s easy to roll out of bed and immediately log into work, but this could potentially be setting you up for a 10-hour day, causing you to burn out. Instead, go through a morning routine. Give yourself time to get ready for the day, work out, brew some coffee, or get some fresh air. Having a routine will allow you some much-needed “you” time before starting work. Mom working from home

Workspace is for work only.

One of the best things you can do when you are working from home is to give yourself a space where you do nothing but work. Being able to dedicate a work-only area will allow you to set boundaries for your day. Be sure to remind your family or roommates of your working hours to help minimize distractions. 

Leave your workspace.

Working from home is great, but it’s important to try to stay in your normal work routine. For instance, if you left the office for lunch, do it at home. Walk away from your workspace and enjoy lunch somewhere else in your home. Giving yourself breaks from your workspace throughout the day will get you moving and avoid sitting for 8 hours straight. 

Working from home can be a great way of gaining control of your schedule and life; it can also do the exact opposite by taking over your personal time and space. To embrace all the benefits that working from home has to offer, spend time creating boundaries that promote a healthy work-life balance. 

If you prefer a work-from-home situation and are ready for a new career or position, reach out to Heartland Resumes for a professional resume that reflects your objectives and skillsets.

 

This article was originally published in May 2020 and has been recently updated. 

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