Before you know it, you blurt out, “I onboarded 2 new clients for my fitness coaching business!” and suddenly, all eyes are on you—especially your boss’s. Oops.

In today’s gig-fueled economy, side hustles are more popular than ever. They’re a fantastic way to pad your wallet, pursue passions, or just get out from under the 9-to-5 grind for a few hours each week.

But this brings us to a modern workplace quandary: should you tell your boss about your side gig?

It’s a delicate dance between transparency and maintaining your professional image, and getting it right can feel as tricky as explaining TikTok to your grandparents.

Why You Might Want to Tell Your Boss

Diving into whether to share your side gig with your boss can feel like walking a tightrope. Let’s unpack the reasons why opening up might just be a step worth taking.

Transparency First

Yulia Saf was a full-time project manager when she first started her side hustle, a tourism blog called Miss Tourist. “Transparency was pivotal in maintaining professional relationships at my day job while I was developing my own venture,” Saf shares. “In many cases, an employer could immensely benefit from the diversified skill set an employee acquires balancing multiple roles.”

Remember, trust is a two-way street. Being upfront about your side hustle can build trust between you and your employer. It shows that you are honest and considerate of your workplace obligations – plus it can also prevent any misunderstandings about where your loyalties lie, especially if your side hustle activities ever impact your work schedule or performance. 

Seeking Support

You might be surprised to find that your boss could be your biggest cheerleader. “I think if you have a good culture, bosses can help influence and inspire your side hustles to grow and flourish” says Brittany Betts, a marketing manager at FloridaPanhandle.com who does freelance photography on the side. 

Disclosing your side hustle opens the door to potential support, whether it’s flexible hours to accommodate your other commitments or advice based on their own experiences. This conversation could lead to valuable mentorship and growth opportunities. “It shouldn’t have to be a secret, but also it can be completely up to you whether or not you choose to divulge that information” Betts adds.

Related: How to Stand Out at Work (According to 10 CEOs)

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Depending on your contract or the industry you’re in, you may be legally obligated to inform your employer about any external business activities.

This is often true in fields that handle sensitive information or have strict non-compete clauses.

Being open from the start can help you navigate these waters without jeopardizing your job or reputation. 

Reasons to Keep it Under Wraps

While openness has its perks, sometimes the spotlight can attract more drama than applause. Let’s explore why you might want to keep your side hustle a secret.

Conflict of Interest? Better Safe Than Sorry

If your after-hours project aligns too closely with the interests of your employer, it could raise eyebrows or even breach company policy.

Obviously, this introduces an ethical gray area, but if you know that disclosing your side hustle will cause more harm than good — and you cannot afford to lose your day job just yet — staying discreet can help you avoid any unintended professional clashes or questions about your loyalty.

If you do choose this route, it’s best to have a game plan in place for what to do if word gets out…before it happens. 

Just make sure that you are not breaking any laws by not disclosing. 

Related: What to Do When You Hate Your Job and Want to Quit

Focus on the Day Job

“My boss doesn’t know, and I don’t want him to know,” one anonymous side hustler told us. 

Employers value commitment, and showing that your primary focus remains on your main role is key to maintaining trust and job security.

And once the seed gets planted in your boss’s head that you might have obligations elsewhere, it’s hard to un-plant that seed – even if you are clearly maintaining your day job as your number one priority. This is one of the top reasons why it might be best to keep your side hustle to yourself.

Keeping the Peace at Work

Discussing your side hustle might unintentionally lead to workplace tension or envy.

By keeping these activities to yourself, you ensure that office dynamics remain undisturbed and that colleagues continue to view you through the lens of your professional accomplishments. This approach helps maintain a neutral and supportive work environment.

Related: How to Quit Your Job: 10 Tips for Leaving on Good Terms

How to Decide

When it comes to telling your boss about your side hustle, the decision isn’t always black and white. It requires a careful balance of personal judgment and professional awareness. Let’s walk through some key considerations that can help you make the right choice.

Check Your Contract

Before making any decisions, it’s essential to review your employment contract and any related policies. Look for specific clauses that might restrict or require disclosure of secondary employment. Understanding these details will help you gauge whether it’s even an option to keep your side hustle under wraps. Again, don’t violate your contract. That’s easy grounds for dismissal or even legal action.

Evaluate Your Boss’s Temperament

Knowing your boss’s attitudes towards entrepreneurship and side projects can be a critical factor in your decision. Consider their past reactions to similar situations and their overall management style. Are they supportive of personal development and entrepreneurial efforts, or do they prefer a strict focus on work-related activities? 

Consider Your Company’s Culture

The general culture of your workplace can also influence your decision. Is there a spirit of innovation and self-improvement, or does the company maintain a more traditional view on employment? Understanding this can help you predict how news of your side hustle might be received. 

How to Approach the Conversation

Deciding to share your side hustle with your boss is one thing, but discussing it effectively is another. Here’s how to approach this tricky conversation with tact and confidence.

Plan Your Pitch

If you choose to disclose your side hustle, think about how you can present it in a positive light. Emphasize how the skills you’re developing can benefit your primary job, perhaps by enhancing your creativity, time management, or technical skills. Prepare to explain clearly how you’ll ensure that your side hustle won’t interfere with your job responsibilities.

Timing is Everything

Choosing the right moment to discuss your side hustle can significantly affect the outcome of the conversation. Opt for a time when your boss is less stressed and more open to discussion—perhaps after a successful project completion or during a routine one-on-one meeting. 

Prepare for Reactions

Be ready for any type of response from your boss, whether it’s support, indifference, or concern. Plan your responses to possible questions or objections. Demonstrating that you have thought through potential impacts on your work shows responsibility and foresight, which will likely be appreciated by your employer.

Sharing Your Side Hustle — Yay or Nay?

Deciding whether to tell your boss about your side hustle is a personal decision that requires weighing various professional and personal factors.

Whether you choose transparency or discretion, the most important aspect is to ensure that your side hustle enhances rather than hinders your career growth.

Now, we’d love to hear from you! Have you ever shared your side hustle with your boss, or do you prefer to keep your entrepreneurial adventures on the down-low? Drop your stories or tips in the comments below. Who knows? Your experience might just be the guiding light someone else needs to make their decision.

Related: 

• How to Change Careers in 7 Easy Steps
• How to Write a Resignation Letter (with 3 Examples)
• 15 Best Employee Benefits to Look For When Job Hunting

The post Should I Tell My Boss About My Side Hustle? Here’s How to Decide appeared first on DollarSprout.

A nursing to marketing transplant, I had no formal education when it came to digital advertising, social media marketing, and influencership, the seemingly essential skills needed to drive traffic. But everywhere I looked to study these concepts, I found I wasn’t alone.

Even people with formal “marketing” degrees were scoffing (just look here, here, here to get an idea) at how poorly universities equip graduates with the hard skills they’ll need to help run a business. 

Facebook ads, webinar funnels, truly effective social media marketing, none of it is being taught in schools. Or if it is, its theory and principle versus actual implementation. After all, what university is going to lend you $500 — let alone $50,000 — in advertising spend to practice with. And yet, billion-dollar businesses rely on multi-million dollar per year ad spend to keep things afloat. 

The incongruency between formal education and needed business acumen creates an opportunity for self-taught, privately mentored, or enterprise-trained individuals to offer services that are truly essential to businesses — at their own price point. 

If you’re one of a select group of people on the planet that can effectively scale fix- and six-figure ad campaigns, create high-converting funnels, or consistently rank at the top of Google for important search terms, your skillset cannot easily be replaced. You easily become the most important person in the room. 

With that in mind, here are ten essential digital marketing skills — which aren’t effectively being taught in school — that are crucial to virtually every modern business with an online presence. 

1. Web analytics

Big data powers some of the largest companies in the world. Even mom-and-pop shops will benefit from a clear understanding of what customers are doing when they visit their web properties.

Google Analytics has long been the premier tool for tracking visitors, how long they stay, and the types of products and pages consumers are most interested in. This sort of quantitative data can be used to make pivotal decisions about future product or content offerings that consumers are interested in.

Elite marketers can take things a step further by supplementing inferences gained by analyzing quantitative data with powerful deductions gained by analyzing qualitative data: how users behave and/or feel about the pages they’re visiting.

From automated A/B testing and heat mapping to session recording and feedback widgets, advanced tracking tools like Google Tag Manager, Crazy Egg, and Hotjar can be used to help businesses gain an understanding of what consumers are doing once they actually reach a webpage.

• Tools worth learning: Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Hotjar, Crazy Egg, Kissmetrics
• Courses worth taking: Google Analytics Academy

2. Social media marketing

Organic social media marketing has changed tremendously over the past several years. Gone are the days of chronologically sorted timeline/news feed distribution (say goodbye to the easy traffic heyday of Google+, Facebook, and Pinterest), in are the days of engagement-based distribution. 

Brands have caught on — hence the tacky call-to-actions asking consumers to interact with posts — but their implementation is often rocky at best. It’s all well and dandy to understand the types of content that typically perform well on social, but intimately understanding specific social platforms is what will get businesses results.

As such, it’s common to see brands establish a presence on several different platforms where their audience lives, but their inbound marketing success often lives and dies with their ability to master a specific social media outlet ( and then leverage that success into growth of the brand on different platforms.) 

If social is your thing, start by learning the fundamentals of a comprehensive marketing strategy. HubSpot Academy offers one such course.

Denise Dorman, an award-winning inbound marketer and Top 1% subject matter expert on LinkedIn, suggests familiarizing yourself with the tools that will actually move the needle for clients. She recommends Hootsuite, HubSpot, and Talkwalker as social listening tools that will help guide marketers into creating actionable items that clients can move on.

After mastering the fundamentals, start by working to your strengths. If you excel at seeing the big picture, work to create a holistic strategy for reaching your (or brands) ideal client where they are.

If you prefer to niche down because you see potential on a single platform, become the go-to consultant for that media source. 1-on-1 coaching, account consulting, knowledge courses, and asset creation are but a few of the many services you can offer. 

• Tools worth learning: Buffer, Buzzsumo, Hootsuite, Mention, Hubspot, Talkwalker 
• Courses worth taking: HubSpot Academy, TikTok Marketing Masterclass, Advanced Social Media Marketing for Picking Up Clients 

3. CRO

Conversion rate optimization — CRO for short — isn’t exactly a new science. But, you won’t find digital CRO best practices in a textbook at your local university. Instead, you’ll find scattered literature in an array of entry-level marketing classes that talks in general terms about how improving conversion rates can impact a brand or business’s bottom line. And then they proceed to share very little about how to actually do it. 

And that’s where understanding today’s advanced tracking tools can make you an invaluable part of any marketing team. Simply put, there are a finite number of digital tools on Earth that help businesses make sense of conversion data, but many lack the personnel or understanding to put them into practice. 

Their usefulness cannot be understated. 

Example 1: A small, privately-owned clothing boutique with 4 full-time employees can’t understand why the online sales page for one of their popular dresses isn’t converting the way they thought it would. A CRO expert uses A/B testing software to control several variables on the sales page, including but not limited to: alternating creatives (dress images), subtle copywriting changes, check-out button location, and neuromarketing-oriented changes. After the suggested changes are implemented, the conversion rate jumps from 2.5% to 9.0% to previously warmed traffic, resulting in a 260% increase in revenue. 

Example 2: A CRO expert is consulted by a local plumbing company to see if changes to their services page would lead to increased customer acquisition. The expert quickly notices the services page lacks any sort of call-to-action (CTA) that might prompt a customer to take immediate action. An eye-catching CTA box is added above the fold (top of the page) that solicits potential customer information. Calls to the company’s dedicated service phone line increase 65% month over month, and a new database of recurring client information is created. 

Getting started is easy, as many certification courses require less than ten hours of training. With a relatively low barrier to entry, mastering CRO helps you stand out in a relatively unsaturated field. 

• Tools worth learning: Hotjar, Crazy Egg, LuckyOrange, Google Optimize, VWO Testing, Instapage
• Classes worth taking: Complete Conversion Rate Optimization Course, CRO Training

4. CRM

Customer relationship management systems (CRMs) help companies track every portion of the customer journey. A relatively young web industry, CRM experts help companies make sense of customer leads they’re acquiring, and what sort of journey they want the customer to go through as they become more acquainted with the brand. 

These systems can be incredibly simple, like a blogger that wants to capture reader emails and send them through an automated email sequence (that familiarizes them with the blogger’s story and builds trust).

Or they can be incredibly complex — a Fortune 500 company that needs to know which consumers are ready to convert on a particular funnel, and which customers need additional fostering to build a purchase relationship. 

In either instance, knowledge of CRM tools can help you track and organize every component of the customer journey. Need to know if a customer has lost a package or voiced a complaint? CRMs can log that. Need to know which customers are most likely to become repeat customers? CRMs generate those reports, too. From contact information and service issues to sales opportunities and full marketing campaign tracking, CRM systems are the premier way for businesses to get a clear picture of the entire customer journey. 

• Tools worth learning: Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot CRM
• Classes worth taking: HubSpot Academy, Salesforce Administrator, Zoho CRM Certified Consultant

5. SEO

Few marketing skills are as simultaneously loved as much they are hated; such is the case with search engine optimization (SEO). The number one source of free, targeted traffic on Earth, companies across the globe clamor to be at the of SERPs (search engine response pages) for queries important to their business. 

Want to be the premier plumber in Seattle? Have your website rank #1 for the search “best plumber in Seattle”. Want to sell math tutoring services in your local area? You guessed it: rank #1 for “best math tutor near me”. 

It sounds simple…it’s anything but. Besides the competition (it’s free customers), major search providers (Google, Bing, etc.) constantly change their guidance on what constitutes best-practice SEO, if they share guidance at all. For what it’s worth, it makes sense things are so convoluted. 

1. The algorithms they use to rank search results are proprietary. Closely guarded trade secrets, in a nutshell. 
2. They want to keep a level playing field, less they be accused of favoritism. Ethically speaking, these companies know their search algorithms impact nearly every business on Earth. Their end goal is to return search results that are most helpful to the user so that users continue to search on their platform. 

As such, their guidance is generally very simple: create web pages that match what users are looking for, provide unique value, and don’t try to game the system. The constant change in guidance — even if at times seemingly contradictory — is what builds the love/hate relationship marketers have with SEO. 

While SEO has been around for decades, and there are almost certainly classes taught on basic optimization principles in schools, few curriculums can keep up with the ever-changing guidance that is released on the topic. This is a huge deal because outdated practices/optimization techniques can be critically harmful to a business’s aspirations when it comes to ranking for certain terms. As such, most advanced SEOs are self-taught, have a mentor, or have worked in a marketing agency/enterprise setup to gain their skillset. 

Independently mastering the skill can help you claw in millions of dollars in “free” exposure for a business, or gain you desirable positioning to sell your own product or service.  

• Tools worth learning: Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, Deep Crawl
• Courses worth taking: Stupid Simple SEO, Semrush Academy, HubSpot Academy, SEO Starter Guide by Google

6. Email marketing

A personal weakness of mine, email marketing is an incredibly effective tool for interacting with followers, building trust, and pitching interested customers. In fact, email subscribers are often a company’s most robust source of revenue. Most simply, this is because these followers have already shown some form of interest. 

• An email address was acquired through a past purchase.
• An email address was acquired because of a value proposition. (The company offered something — often free — in return for a customer’s email address.)
• An email address was acquired out of a genuine desire to learn more about a product or service. 

In any of the three instances, the leap to conversion is small. These followers are ready or near ready to make a purchase. With a strong email game, marketers can start and foster the beginning of the customer relationship.

Even if the relationship solely exists to build trust and name recognition, with no immediate conversion in site, consumers are more likely to come back to that brand in the future if/when they’re in need of their product or service. If you’re a skilled copywriter, even if you’re background in writing emanates from a totally different area, the jump to email marketing may be a small one. 

• Tools worth learning: Constant Contact, Drip, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, Pardot
• Courses worth taking: Start Growing Your Own Email List Today, HubSpot Academy, ClickMinded  

7. SEM and digital advertising

Run a quick Google search for the query “Facebook Advertising College Class” — or Instagram, or TikTok, or Snapchat — and let me know when you find an organic result for a college that offers something of substance. I’ll wait. 

The patient searcher may find LSU’s $2,499 Facebook Digital Marketing Specialist Certificate buried on page 4 of the search results. But, again, we’re talking theory vs. implementation. Just look at the expected learning outcomes: 

Understand this, understand that. A surface-level primer of subject material. This isn’t to rag on LSU or any other university for that matter — they’re bold for helping introduce interested learners to the field. It just highlights the steep challenge higher education faces when A/B testing creative advertising material can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. 

Alas, $356 billion was spent on digital advertising in 2020._[1] The vast majority spent by a select few marketing specialists that have mastered reaching customers where they spend an inordinate amount of time: on search and social media platforms.  

Search engine marketing, often Google/YouTube/Bing Ads, or paid social acquisition (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok ads, etc.), helps businesses reach new customers as a part of a holistic marketing strategy. From targeting cold audiences (display ads) to re-targeting cart abandonments with discounts or one-time offers (OTOs), digital advertising is often the most controlled variable in a business’s expenses.

If the average lifetime value of a customer to a particular brand is $182, and you can get them in the door for $6.37 in ad spend, you’re going to have a job as long as you can count. 

• Tools worth learning: Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ad Manager, Zapier, AdEspresso
• Courses worth taking: Facebook Side Hustle, Google Ads Certification, Social Media Marketing Mastery

8. Advanced affiliate marketing

There’s a phrase commonly used amongst bloggers and email marketers that states “the money is in your list.” It’s a metaphor for the fact that, as previously mentioned, your email list is the often source of your most fervent and loyal [repeat] customers. 

And while it’s absolutely true, few things best the passive income (and scalability) that a well-constructed affiliate program boasts. (For those unaware, affiliate marketing is the act of selling another company’s product for a commission). 

Example 1: A popular teeth whitening company approaches a TikTok influencer about promoting their product. They pay a $15,000 sponsorship fee for a 30-second spot in one of the influencer’s upcoming videos. Beyond the initial sponsorship fee, the company offers a $15.00 commission for each viewer that visits an interest form and signs up giving their name and email address. The $15.00 CPA (cost-per-action) is an evergreen relationship that incentivizes the influencer to keep promoting the company if/where it’s relevant within their content. 

Example 2: A well-known credit card company needs an affiliate manager to set up and track affiliate relationships with over 1,000 finance content publishers. The affiliate manager uses one of several available affiliate network software’s to create the automated program, negotiate payouts with publishers, and create unique tracking attributes to better understand when certain publishers are meeting or exceeding desired KPIs. The credit card company receives real-time reporting from the affiliate manager via a robust reporting dashboard and selects a few high-quality publishers to run large-scale promotional campaigns with. 

In either example, an affiliate marketer uses their mastery-level understanding of commonly used affiliate software to create an advertiser-publisher relationship that mutually benefits each party. As a one-man show, you’ll be expected to know the intricacies of cookie tracking, server-based tracking, and all the nuanced complexities associated with ensuring that conversions across all devices and browsers occur when they’re supposed to. 

Influencers and publishers like to get paid for commissions and brands don’t like to deal with the fallout when things don’t track correctly. You have to be on your A-game here, but you’ll often get paid handsomely for it. 

• Tools worth learning: Impact, Tune, Everflow, Cake, Post Affiliate Pro, ClickBank, CJ Affiliate
• Courses worth taking: Start Your Affiliate Marketing Business, Authority Site System, Sub-Campaign Tracking Guide 

9. E-commerce store management 

Dropshipping, Amazon FBA, Shopify, Alibaba. It’s all word soup for what has become affectionately known as e-commerce to many forward-thinking entrepreneurs over the past 25 years. I’m not talking about your local Kohl’s taking their brick-and-mortar locations online (although that’s e-commerce, too), I’m talking about the small-box retailers competing against the well-established giants for space in the digital ecosystem. 

The once-small startup trying to sell razors (hello Dollar Shave Club). The local clothing boutique trying to get its new product line out there. The small-town art gallery trying to get traction. The David’s of the world, not the Goliaths. 

These companies often struggle to make it because their digital presence isn’t there to help make ends meet when their physical location underperforms. Even local bakeries can 10x their business with the right e-commerce systems in place. And for every dozen businesses that struggle, you see that one headline of a kid out there crushing it. 

While things have come a long way, and do-it-yourself digital storefront options abound, the truth is most small business owners don’t understand the difference between simply listing their stock, and using website architecture, CRO, SEO, and paid advertising to get the most of out their shop. 

While there’s a lot there to untangle, merely setting up an e-commerce shop, making it user-friendly and easy to navigate, and establishing a payment gateway is often too much for small business owners to handle. 

• Tools worth learning: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, JungleScout, ProProfs, Oberlo
• Courses worth taking: Shopify Partner Academy, WooCommerce 101, BigCommerce University, Ecom Success Academy [Premium]

10. Project management, freelance support, and outsourcing

There comes a point in time where business owners almost universally realize one thing: they can’t do it all. 

It’s hard to let go. It’s hard to not micromanage when you feel like you’re the only one who can and will do things correctly. But not letting certain aspects of your business go is almost certainly a nail in your coffin when it comes to growing and maintaining a business. 

Some business owners know this, and they’re actually ready to take the first step, but they don’t know where to start, or what to actually outsource. They get it wrong, waste money outsourcing the wrong thing, and now they’re out time, money, and their sanity.  That’s where a project management expert can help.

As the expert, you’ll get intimately familiar with a client’s business, organize it from top to bottom, and help them identify the correct areas to plug and play freelance/contract support if hiring FTEs isn’t on the table. 

You’ll start by having in-depth discussions about standard operating procedures, company goals, and opportunities for growth. You’ll systematize and organize projects within popular project management softwares (Asana, Trello, Basecamp and so many more), and you’ll get to work finding inefficiencies in the current workflow that you can effectively (and affordably) hire out to start alleviating pressure on business owners struggling to maintain operational control. 

For the detailed-oriented neat freak, it’s the perfect tech job. And it’s one companies will praise you for over and over again when things start operating smoother than Trea Turner’s recent slide into home.

• Tools worth learning: Asana, Trello, Basecamp, LiquidPlanner, Teamwork
• Courses worth taking: Simplilearn, BrainSensei

The post 10 Digital Marketing Skills They Don’t Teach You in School appeared first on DollarSprout.

Sometimes, a company offers you a higher salary than its competitors, but it comes at the cost of worse benefits. The bigger paycheck may not give you the best value once you factor in the higher healthcare costs or a lower 401(k) match.

The last time I was job hunting, I was lucky enough to secure three offers. The salaries were within $5,000 of each other, but they each offered different perks. I chose the organization with the best employee benefits package, and it ended up being the right move.

Employee Benefits to Look For When Job Hunting

Sometimes you can negotiate certain benefits, but others are governed by a plan document and can’t be changed for an individual employee. Here are the benefits to look at when comparing job offers.

1. Retirement

If your potential position offers a retirement account, you may think you’ve hit the jackpot. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

These plans, such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, offer benefits that vary from firm to firm. Some come with high fees that result in diminished returns while others offer low-fee programs with great investment options.

In my first position, I got a 3% contribution to my retirement plan regardless of whether I put money in. But a different job required me to set aside 6% of my salary to get a 4% match. Before you accept an offer, understand how any matching funds can be earned.

You should also understand the vesting process. Some companies require that you work there for a certain length of time before you’re 100% vested, while others have immediate vesting.

2. Paid time off

The names for this benefit vary. It may be called paid time off (PTO), vacation, sick time, or paid leave.

Whenever I switched workplaces, I always tried to negotiate more vacation time. I was often able to secure an additional week of PTO beyond what each employer offered, even though it went against the established policy. Firms may not be willing to budge from their official paid leave benefits, though.

3. Raises, bonuses, or overtime

Knowing your total compensation is vital. You have to understand how much you’ll be paid beyond your salary or hourly rate.

Ask if you’ll be eligible for overtime. For non-exempt workers, overtime pay is governed by law. Despite the fact I was an exempt employee, which is a term for employees not required to be paid overtime, my first position offered straight-time overtime for their salaried workers.

Bonuses and raises can play a big factor in your total take-home pay. Research pay potential on anonymous sites like Glassdoor. You should also ask the hiring manager about their usual bonus and pay increase practices.

An organization that offers a high initial salary but only gives raises for major promotions may not be the best choice. Another company that gives sizable annual raises to most employees may result in higher pay down the road.

Related: How to Ask for a Raise: The Advice No One Ever Gave You

4. Insurance

Employers may offer health, vision, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance. Other types of insurance, such as pet insurance, may be offered in rare cases.

When comparing insurance options, ask for the insurance plan documents. This gives you an idea of what the insurance pays for. Premiums, deductibles, providers, and coverage options can vary between plans.

Find out if the business subsidizes the cost of the policy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average civilian employer pays 67% of a family health insurance plan’s cost. This can provide massive savings.

While insurance isn’t negotiable, it’s necessary to understand what you’re being offered.

5. Work from home opportunity

The opportunity to work from home is a benefit more workplaces are offering. You may want the option to avoid the office to save on commuting time and costs. Some people perform better away from the distractions of the workplace.

Even human resources professionals see the benefits of remote work.

“If I were to convince an employer to allow me to work from home, and I did, I would definitely talk about the potential for increased productivity,” said Sandy Smith, Senior Certified Professional in HR and founder of the Elevate Community.

Related: Is Working From Home Bad for Your Mental Health?

6. Paid training

Paid training can be a big money saver if you hold a professional license that requires continuing education. It may be offered to help you learn skills or to maintain certifications relevant to your career.

As a Certified Public Accountant, I must complete 40 hours of continuing professional education each year to maintain my license. My public accounting firm jobs paid for my training, but I had to negotiate having my education costs covered when I moved to corporate accounting.

7. Tuition reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement can benefit employees and the companies providing you the option to pursue a bachelor’s or a graduate degree. Even so, tuition reimbursement doesn’t mean you can study anything.

“If you’re going to be pursuing another degree or program, understand what potential employers cover in their reimbursement programs,” said Jen Bohler, PHR, SHRM-CP and YouTuber at The Budget Bounce. “If yours isn’t currently included, try to negotiate it into your offer, and get it in writing.”

Be sure you understand any repayment or employment restrictions associated with the benefit. You may have to repay certain costs if you leave before your agreement specifies.

Related: Should You Get a Graduate Degree?

8. Student loan assistance

As the student loan crisis continues to grow, more employers are assisting with the repayment of student loan debt. You may have to meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for a workplace’s program, though.

Programs may offer monthly, yearly, or matching payments. Lifetime maximums on the total amount repaid or program time limits are standard.

9. Family planning benefits

Paid parental leave has become a hot topic in the United States. FMLA requires 12 weeks of unpaid leave in certain circumstances, but paid time off isn’t required.

“It’s nice to be able to expand your family without worrying about money,” Smith said. “More companies are providing up to 12 weeks of paid leave for men, women, and adoptive parents.”

Some progressive companies are even offering assistance with the costs of fertility treatment or adoptions.

10. Employee stock purchase plan

Some businesses provide workers an opportunity to own shares of the firm’s stock through an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). These can be a great way to invest at a discount if you believe in your organization’s future.

The programs have strict guidelines, but it’s one way to get extra compensation through the discounted stock price. There are tax consequences for investing.

I never participated in an ESPP. The industry I worked in wasn’t one I was fond of investing in. Plus, I didn’t want to worry about my investment and my career if the firm faced difficult financial times.

Unique Employee Benefits That Set Companies Apart

Old-fashioned employee benefits provide significant services, but innovative workplaces are moving toward offering newer perks to help make their employees’ lives better. The most important benefits to employees aren’t always traditional ones.

11. Tech benefits

If you must be responsive around the clock, you may be provided with the technology to do so. If not, the organization could give you a stipend to buy equipment.

It may be tempting to use the equipment for personal use to save money.

“If the company does give you a device such as a cell phone, laptop, or tablet, you’re likely subject to usage monitoring,” said Laura Gariepy, a human resources expert turned freelancing coach at Every Day by the Lake, LLC. “Use that equipment strictly for company business.”

12. Pet-friendly policies

If you have fur babies instead of children, pets are a huge part of your world. Employers are beginning to recognize this and may offer pet insurance or the ability to bring your pet to work.

13. Personal health benefits

Progressive firms have started offering health-related benefits other than insurance. My first workplace had a small gym in the building any employee could use.

Others may offer free or discounted services in the office on a regular schedule, such as bringing in a massage therapist once per month.

Related: 11 Good Work Habits for Becoming a Stand-Out Employee

14. Time off for volunteering

Organizations often like to give back to their communities. One way they can do this is by offering employees time off to volunteer locally. Your options may be limited to certain causes your employer supports, though.

If this perk is important to you, Bohler suggested asking if there is a designated volunteer program, if it includes company-sanctioned volunteering events, or how many hours you may get paid to volunteer per year.

15. Free meals

“When your employer provides free coffee, snacks, and meals, it can save you a pretty penny and the hassle of having to procure them on your own,” Gariepy said.

When certain workplaces offer this perk, it’s a genuine way to say thank you to employees. Other companies may use this to get you to put in more hours in the evenings. Consider the motivations behind the perk before assuming it is a benefit.

Related: How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary

Read the Specifics of Your Company’s Policies

Before you sign your offer letter, get the specifics of any employee benefit policies that are your top priorities. Ask any questions you have before you commit.

When reading the policies, look out for commitments or hidden downsides. You may be required to stay employed by the organization for three years after receiving tuition reimbursement.

If a critical employee benefit isn’t available or isn’t as strong as you’d like, try to negotiate with the employer. You may be able to secure an extra week of PTO or a 2% higher salary if a competing offer provides more robust benefits.

Remember, a job is more than the salary. The best employee perks can result in a much different compensation package when viewed as a whole with your pay.

The post 15 Best Employee Benefits to Look For When Job Hunting appeared first on DollarSprout.

When I first started writing my resume, I made some of these common resume mistakes. In particular, I didn’t do a good job of giving specific information about my job duties or customize my resume for each job posting I applied to. Had I corrected these errors, I may have ended up taking a much different career path.

When you’re competing for a job, you don’t want your resume to stand out for the wrong reasons. Here are some common resume mistakes to avoid.

1. Spelling and grammar mistakes.

Spelling and grammar mistakes are some of the harder errors to spot, but they’re important to catch before you turn in your resume.

“Many hiring managers, myself included, will throw out resumes with even a single spelling or grammatical mistake, especially if there are many job applicants,” said Becky Blake, a millennial money expert, career coach, and founder of TwentyFree.

Well-written resumes show you’re a strong communicator, but those with spelling or grammar errors warn employers you aren’t detail-oriented. And if the job is competitive, a manager may have no qualms about tossing a potential candidate because of a resume typo.

Typos on resumes make sense. When you’re staring at a document for hours, it’s easy to read what you meant to write rather than what’s on the page. Have friends or family proofread your resume because they’ll be more likely to catch typos.

If you don’t have anyone else to help, give yourself at least a 24-hour break before looking at your resume a final time. You should also read it aloud to see if it reads well and makes sense.

“Consider reading it from bottom to top to catch mistakes that you’d previously missed,” Blake said.

Related:  How to Make a Resume from Start to Finish

2. Including generic information.

Generic statements about your job experience don’t give hiring managers the full picture. Make your work history shine by including specifics.

Communicate the nature of the duties you oversaw. Rather than saying you managed several employees as a shift manager, include the number of people on your team, explain if you were responsible for hiring or firing decisions, and any other relevant details.

Give specific information about your accomplishments and use numbers whenever possible. Don’t just say you’re a President’s Award winner. Explain you earned the President’s Award because your $1,250,000 sales volume was among the top 5% of salespeople in your company.

The more quantifiable details you add that strengthen your case, the more you separate yourself from other resumes. Managers care about results, and numbers are the best way to communicate them.

3. Exaggerating your abilities or accomplishments.

Exaggerating may seem like a way to get noticed in a competitive job market. But there’s is a fine line between tweaking your resume to look good and deception.

This can have a disastrous effect if you do get hired. If you add skills you don’t actually have, such as saying you’re fluent in a computer language that you have only basic knowledge of, you’ll be in trouble when you receive the first assignment that requires you to use that language.

“You may find yourself in a position that you can’t handle because your employer thinks you’re more skilled than you are,” said Laura Gariepy, a human resources expert turned freelancing coach at Every Day by the Lake, LLC. “This can lead to high levels of stress and poor performance on the job, which could ultimately result in your getting fired.”

4. Leaving out extracurricular activities.

Early career job seekers don’t have a long employment history full of accomplishments to fill their resume. If that describes you, consider adding relevant extracurricular activities to make your resume stand out instead of leaving blank space.

These activities outside of work give hiring managers insight into your skills, hobbies, and interests. This doesn’t mean you should include everything you’ve ever done, like starting a monthly craft beer meet-up, but you should include activities that are pertinent to the job.

“Make sure that there’s a tie between the activity and the job you’re trying to get,” Gariepy said. “For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level sales job, you absolutely want to include the fundraising committee that you were on.”

You can drop these extracurricular activities from your resume once you have enough relevant job experience.

5. Making it too long or too short.

Balancing the length of your resume can be tough. Newer job seekers may feel they don’t have enough to fill up a page. Those with more experience may want to write a book detailing their accomplishments and responsibilities.

So how long should your resume be? One-page resumes are appropriate for jobs that aren’t high-paying or for people just entering the workforce, said Jennifer Grimson, a long-time resume advisor for executives and host of the Micro Empires podcast.

“If you are at an executive level or seeking six-figure income, you must have a two-page resume,” Grimson said. She advised against resumes longer than two pages. Adjust your resume length to your current career and the job you’re seeking.

Most people don’t read past the first third of the resume before deciding about the applicant. If your relevant experience isn’t from your most recent position, minimize the responsibilities listed so your most important jobs take up more visual space and are more easily identified.

6. Not tailoring it to the position.

Using the same resume for every position you apply for may save time, but it’s a recipe for disaster. Potential employers may notice if you didn’t put in the effort to your resume for the position.

“When you try to use something that speaks to everyone, you effectively speak to no one,” said Kamara Toffolo, a resume writer and job search strategist.

To avoid this, consider writing different resume templates for each type of job you plan to apply for.

Some companies use resume scanning software. This software may throw out your application if it doesn’t include certain words or phrases related to the position mentioned in the job listing.

Tailor the skills you highlight for each application by taking clues from the job posting and including them on your resume. If the job description requires knowledge of a specific CRM system and you’re a power user, list your experience in the appropriate part on your resume.

7. Trying to accomplish too much.

When you’re struggling to fit your experience on one or two pages, it can be tempting to fill up the entire page. But this can result in a resume that’s not very visually appealing.

“Recruiters and hiring managers look at your resume for less than 10 seconds,” Blake said. “Trying to squeeze as much information as possible onto an 8.5 x 11″ sheet of paper will only drown the important information in a sea of irrelevant text.”

You don’t need to include all of the responsibilities of every job you’ve held on your resume. Duties from an entry-level accounting position aren’t as important as your experience as an accounting manager when you’re applying for a CFO position.

Provide more details for the most relevant jobs you’ve held while minimizing details on less important positions. Focus on leaving white space so that your accomplishments can be found.

The best way to utilize the space is to break down your relevant points into bullets. Have each bullet start with a verb. Then, describe the specific outcomes you’ve accomplished, Blake said.

8. Not including a cover letter.

Even when a cover letter is optional, you should always try to include one. A cover letter gives the company more information about you and is one more way to stand out. Experts, including Toffolo, often recommend including one with all applications unless the job posting prohibits it.

“Cover letters tell parts of your story that your resume can’t or didn’t,” Toffolo said.

Use your cover letter to explain potential concerns an employer may have about your resume. Explain a skill or career gap or the unique abilities you offer. Tell the company why you want to work for them and why you’d be a good fit.

Related:  How to Write a Cover Letter

9. Not following the company’s instructions.

Always pay attention to the job posting’s instructions about how to apply. If you don’t follow the instructions, it shows a lack of attention to detail, Gariepy said.

Submit your resume and supporting documentation in the correct format. Address your application packet to the right person, include their correct title, and double-check their name spelling.

“You may otherwise be a perfect candidate for the position, but the hiring manager could drop you from consideration because they perceive you as careless or insubordinate,” Gariepy said. “Plus, if you send your resume to the wrong place or the wrong person, it may never get reviewed.”

10. Not addressing career gaps.

Work gaps are a part of life for many career-focused individuals. Whether you got laid off during the Great Recession or you took time off to raise your kids, gaps are obvious on resumes.

Some people prefer not to bring attention to resume gaps, thinking the manager won’t notice them. They may be embarrassed about them, especially if they reflect a long period of unemployment.

“It’s a mistake to leave career gaps unaddressed because you’re exposing yourself to interpretation and allowing the reader’s imagination to run wild,” Toffolo said.

Insert a single-line placeholder describing the reason for your career gap. According to Toffolo, hiring managers understand that gaps happen, but most want to know why they exist and if you did anything productive during that time.

Related:  Should You Get a Graduate Degree? Probably Not. Here’s Why

Your Resume Should Leave a Good First Impression

A successful resume leaves a good first impression. You may not get a second look or a call back for the job if you make one of these 10 resume mistakes to avoid. You want the person to remember your resume —  in a good way — so it doesn’t end up in the trash.

Hiring a resume professional is one way to help you polish your resume to the level hiring managers expect to see. If you prefer a different route, ask a friend to look for errors you may have overlooked. This gives you a final chance to avoid resume mistakes that result in an employer disregarding your application.

The post 10 Common Resume Mistakes That Make Employers Cringe appeared first on DollarSprout.

Bad habits are enjoyable in the short-term, but having good work habits leads to success, and success is big-F Fun. Hitting six figures was Fun. Realizing I had the power to negotiate because I was a stand-out employee was Fun. Running my own business, finishing and publishing my book, and being my own boss are Fun.

Hitting snooze, watching that extra hour of TV, and thinking of an excuse of why you couldn’t turn in your report today are not accomplishments that will make you, or your ten-year-old self, proud. They’ll keep you spinning your wheels, wondering why you can’t ahead.

Only good work habits, applied consistently over time, will get you where you dream of going.

Great Habits Won’t Go Unnoticed

With so many habits to choose from, how do you know which ones are the most important? These successful entrepreneurs, executives, and career coaches discuss their favorites and how you can apply them to your work life.

1. Know the “why” behind your work.

Career strategist Jasmine Escalera said she, like many people, used to cling to the idea that hard work equals success. However, applied like a blunt instrument, this belief led to overworking and burnout, damaging her quality of work.

“What I have recently learned is that your intention is really what leads to your success,” she said. “Knowing what you are working toward and, more importantly, why is pivotal to gaining the success you want in work and life.”

Get specific with yourself and write down your career goals, earning goals, and lifestyle goals so that you know exactly where you’re headed and why. It will impact your work ethic, helping you focus and stay on track even on the days you don’t feel like it.

2. Track your progress.

Business coach Amanda Abella echoed the need for a clear goal, but added that you need to track your progress towards your goals. If you don’t know how to track your progress, your goal probably isn’t clear enough. It needs metrics like numbers and dates.

“When I don’t do this, I fall off the wagon, and when I do this, I feel really on it,” she said.

Tracking your goals helps you not only stay focused, but it helps maintain motivation. “What happens when people don’t do this is they have a tendency to think they’re doing worse than they actually are, so then they lose momentum,” Abella said.

To track your goals, she advises to keep it simple. A journal or spreadsheet will do. Measure the most important metrics, like dollars in the bank or sales calls made.

Related: 15 Ways to Maximize Your Productivity and Earnings

3. Clarify your goals with your manager and stay focused.

Sometimes we think saying yes to everything is the way to get ahead, but career success coach Michelle Gomez said sometimes that can only keep you stuck.

“When we say yes to everything in a chase for validation,” she said, “we’re only going to overcommit.”

She advises picking three to five areas where you want to focus and grow in your job, and review them with your manager. If they ask you to take on a project that’s outside of those skills, don’t be afraid to push back.

“Otherwise you become the office workhorse,” she said.

If you’re not sure how to approach the conversation or what to say in these circumstances, she suggests the phrasing, “I feel like it would take away from my ability to give full capacity in my other tasks.”

4. Plan out your day.

One key work habit is to spend time each night before your workday to plan out your tasks and schedule, suggests Andrea Woroch, co-founder at One Take Media Coaching.

“If you wait until the day of, it’s easy to lose track and lose focus and not be as productive as possible,” she said. “Not only do I write out all the tasks I have to get done the night before, but I also block off time in my calendar for each task, even small things like sending invoices to clients or even personal items that can take up time, like calling my health insurance company.”

She advises to get the most important tasks done as early as possible in the day, so if there are any surprises, you’ve already handled the most essential goals. If you’re not sure which ones are most important, you can speak with your supervisor or list them by deadline, working on the ones with the soonest deadline first.

5. Create moments to recognize your accomplishments.

Sometimes we get in the habit of focusing on all that we have to do without looking back to congratulate ourselves on what we’ve done.

“Have a ‘Did do’ list in addition to a ‘To do’ list,” said Caroline Tien-Spalding, chief marketing officer at Aptology. “Not only does it give you a sense of what you’ve accomplished for that weekly report, it highlights any large deltas between what your priorities are and what ends up taking over.”

By looking back on what you’ve accomplished, it will help you realize how much progress you’ve made. This will motivate you to accomplish more before your year-end review, providing you with tangible evidence of all the value you’ve provided that year.

Related: How to Stand Out at Work (in the Best Way Possible)

6. Always be learning.

Did you think your education stopped at your high school or college graduation? It hasn’t. In fact, the most successful people are life-long students. With the world changing as rapidly as it does, a little studying should be part of your daily schedule. Your office should also be your school.

“The most important work habit that has helped me is to set aside time for learning,” said Sarah Li Cain, finance writer and host of Beyond The Dollar. “Circumstances, rules, regulations, jobs, etc. will change, so it’s important to find time to identify what piques your curiosity and can help you further your professional development.”

If you do 15 minutes a day of reading, listening to a podcast, practicing a skill, or even taking a class, you’ll have 65 more hours of education than you otherwise would, every year. You can take that education with you no matter where you go.

7. Protect your focus.

Every little ping, ding, and buzz costs you time, focus, and quality of work on your most important projects.

“Understanding how to stay focused is exactly what it takes to get things done and get ahead,” said Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable.

He suggests “slaying the messaging monster” by consciously removing distractions. Turn off notifications on non-essential apps, schedule time to check email (and refrain from checking it beforehand), and block tempting websites with programs such as Freedom.

You can even use your phone’s autoresponder, the one you usually use while driving, simply to focus.

8. Learn to follow through.

It can seem so easy in theory, but so many people have a hard time mastering the art of doing what they say they will.

“Whenever I’ve had to hire paid interns and freelancers (and even award scholarship funds), I’ve also seen firsthand how many just drop the ball. Emails unresponded to, projects left partially completed — literally leaving money on the line,” said Lauren Keys, who managed to semi-retire in her 20s and create a travel blog called Trip of a Lifestyle. “Showing up, as simple as it sounds, really is a huge part of the equation.”

Keep a journal with you at all times and write down any project, meeting, or task you commit to as well as anything you should follow up on. Then review the journal daily, checking off what’s done.

By following through, you’ll demonstrate you’re reliable and someone clients, managers, and coworkers can trust.

Related: 11 Skills Employers Look for That Most People Never Think About

9. Prioritize your to-do list.

Not all tasks are created equal. You’ll have to choose sometimes. But how do you know which ones to do first?

Robyn Ireland, career coach at Robyn’s Couch, provided a list of questions to ask about each task:

• Have I been given a clear deadline? If yes, when is it? If no, who do I need to follow up with to get clarity?
• Who is waiting for a response from me right now?
• Who will be impacted by me not doing this task during my workday?
• How will completing this task quickly improve my career aspirations?
• What on my list has a higher priority?
• If no deadline has been assigned for a task, what deadline will I give myself?

Use your answers to these questions to prioritize your to-do list. If you’re still struggling, talk with a coworker or manager to help you. You also want to make sure the time frame for your list is appropriate.

“I understand that not everyone likes the pressure of a deadline, that is why you need to be reasonable with yourself about getting things done,” she said. “You never want to be the person who breaks trust with the boss or clients by over-promising and under-delivering.”

Prioritizing tasks will help you feel less overwhelmed and it will help you focus and concentrate on the most important ones.

10. Always over-deliver.

Back when business strategist Rebecca Cafiero worked a corporate job, she knew her clients would get a survey. She told them that her goal was to give them stellar service, and she asked them to tell her if they ever felt they weren’t getting it.

“You have to ask to understand what the expectations are,” she said. “But also understand: an expectation is a bare minimum. You’re not going to get a raise for getting there on time. Look for areas where you can excel past that.”

According to Cafiero, the secret to providing amazing quality of work is not assuming you know what over-delivering means to your external customers, like clients, and internal customers, like your boss.

“You want to make sure you’re over-delivering in areas that actually matter,” she advised. “It’s a little like love languages for business.”

When you’re asking for expectations, clarify with your boss what areas are most important. Also, go to people who have had your position and moved up. Ask what they felt were the five most impactful actions they took that led to their success.

11. Create healthy work-life balance habits.

You can only bring your best self to work if you take time to care for yourself. So an important work habit is actually taking care of yourself, even in your off time.

“Scheduling personal time to care for myself and husband is always prioritized,” says Colleen Simo, a Director of Human Resources who also runs her own coaching practice. “I maintain a twice-daily 20-minute meditation practice and yoga a few times per week and if I didn’t put this first it would slip away. Maintaining my meditation practice makes everything easier.”

You may want to put a daily recurring 15- or 30-minute appointment with yourself on your calendar for mindfulness exercises to train your focus to take on the day.

Related: Is Working from Home Bad for Your Mental Health?

Good Work Habits Can Make or Break Your Career

This far into my career, my days are structured on the building blocks of good work habits. Learning them takes away some of the decision fatigue of deciding what to do every day. They make my schedule easier, my days less stressful, and my work more rewarding.

Leveling up with your work habits will feel like changing gears on a bike. You’ll climb larger hills faster, and arrive less out of breath.

The post 11 Good Work Habits for Becoming a Stand-Out Employee appeared first on DollarSprout.

Many emailed resumes came with a short note, if anything. More than one used smiley face emojis. And while they’re great for texting, using emojis in a cover letter comes across as unprofessional. 

Cover letters may be more often emailed rather than printed these days, but you still need to follow basic cover letter etiquette. Without it, you might find yourself struggling to get the job you want. 

What Is a Cover Letter and Is It Still Relevant?

“Should I include a cover letter in my application’ is the number question I get asked,” said career strategist Jasmine Escalera. “And my response back is filled with the facts. Almost half of applicants get rejected for not including this critical document.” 

A cover letter is a sales pitch for an internship or a job. It sells you to the company you want to hire you. Your resume provides proof of your claims. 

When writing your cover letter, you want to sell your excitement about working for the company and make them excited to meet you. 

Related: How to Make a Resume from Start to Finish 

10 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter That Employers Will Read

If you’re new to writing cover letters or need to brush up on your skills, here are ten tips from hiring managers, recruiters, and career coaches so you can get it right and land your dream job.

1. Know who (or what) might be reading your cover letter.

In the same way Google crawls the internet looking for keywords when you search for them, Applicant Tracking System Software, or ATS, looks for keywords in your resume or cover letter that match the job description. 

By using the same keywords the company uses, you improve your chances of your application passing on to a human reader.

That’s why Al Smith, aka “The Hired Guy,” suggests knowing your job title and paying attention to the keywords for that title, and making sure they appear throughout your resume and cover letter at least three times each. 

2. Start with an attention grabber. 

Be unique and avoid boring the reader. Try to be more creative than starting with “I am writing this cover letter to…” 

“Get personal. Your cover letter can be slightly more casual than your resume,” said Chelsey Opare-Addo of Not Your Mother’s Resume. “This is your chance to use personal pronouns, tell your story, and explain your passion.”

Keep it simple and get to the message quickly; taking too long to get to the point might make them skip over the rest of your application. Some options Chelsey suggests include starting with a compliment to the company, a statement of why you admire their mission, or recognition of their thought leadership in the industry. 

“The reader should know why you’re interested in working for that company,” she added. 

3. Write it as a problem solver for the company.

Read up on the company, or glean it from the job description, to see what kinds of challenges they’re facing. Then, use that information to customize your message in the cover letter. 

“Make sure to mention the company’s name, the challenges it’s currently facing, and how your unique blend of skills will help address them to make your introduction more personalized and attention-grabbing,” suggested Max Woolf of ResumeLab.

For example, if the company just started a new social media account on a particular platform, you can talk about your experience growing audiences with that platform.

Related: How to Stand Out at Work (in the Best Way Possible)

4. Use numbers, samples, and results to leave an impression.

Anyone can use adjectives to describe themselves. Instead, rely on facts. And rather than stating you’re a devoted or eager employee, show that you are. 

“When explaining yourself in the cover letter, use samples and several performance results,” said Noa Aziz, CEO of Zentern. 

Instead of saying you’re a great salesperson, Noa advises, use an example such as: 

“In my previous job at [Company], I was promoted within three months to project manager as a result of increasing sales by 20% and creating over 10 new partnerships.”

If you’re struggling with this part of your cover letter, ask a trusted coworker or friend to describe you or your accomplishments in your position. 

5. Keep it short and don’t repeat your resume. 

“The biggest mistake most candidates make is to make an excessively long cover letter,” said Yaniv Masjedi, CMO at Nextiva. 

You want to respect the hiring manager’s time by keeping your letter succinct and enjoyable. 

Describe the things that aren’t shown on the resume, such as challenges you faced, decisions you’ve made, or the results of your work. 

As Branka Vuleta, founder of legaljobsite.net puts it, “The cover letter should be short and exciting. It should show your enthusiasm and sincere appreciation of the company’s work. Writing a cover letter of up to 300 words is perfectly fine.”

If you’re struggling with keeping your cover letter short, have a friend look at, or consider hiring an editor who specializes in resumes and cover letters. You might even be able to use a service like Find My Profession.

6. Convey your passion for the role.

Employers want someone who really wants the job. 

“Make your cover letter stand out by showcasing your passion for the role with a personal story,” advises Samuel Johns from Resume Genius.

He says, for example, that someone applying to become a make-up artist might start their cover letter with a story such as: 

“Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved transforming my friends and family through the art of make-up. My proudest achievement was doing the make-up for my sister on her prom night — she was selected as prom queen that evening.”

It doesn’t have to be a story conveying a major accomplishment, but it should be one that demonstrates your proficiency and passion for the job. 

Related: 11 Skills Employers Looks for That Most People Never Think About

7. Use a professional email address.

Present yourself as professionally as possible. That includes using a good, professional email address. 

“Not ‘CrazyCatLady@xyz.com,’” said Deb Geller, author of Building Talent Pools: A Professional Development Model for Succession Planning, “and don’t use fancy paper or fonts.”

It may seem boring, but your resume needs to be easily copied and scanned, and you want to make that as easy on the hiring manager as possible. 

8. Make it specific to the job.

It’s tempting to write one cover letter and submit it with multiple applications, but the effort to personalize it will pay off. 

Find the company’s mission, vision, and values, and look for ways to work those into your cover letter. 

Jana Tulloch, Founder of Tulloch Consulting, said that her company looks for the effort potential candidates put into their cover letter. They look to see if it’s tailored to the job, uses keywords from the posting, and if it highlights how they match the requirements.

“It’s important for candidates to research not only the role they are applying for, but the company as well, and to speak to how their individual values and achievements align with the company’s values and goals,” Tulloch advises. 

Since your cover letter should answer the question, “Why should we pick you?” it needs to show that you are the best candidate for the position. This is hard to do if you use a canned or recycled cover letter.

Related: 10 Resume Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

9. Follow the instructions.

This is your first test: did you follow the instructions for the application? 

“Read them carefully,” said Jon Hill, CEO and Chairman of recruiting company The Energists. “This may sound glib, but, especially when you’re applying to a lot of different jobs, it can be easy to start glossing over the details in the applicant guidelines because they’re often quite similar.”

For each job, create a checklist from the paragraphs of information they give you, and check off each item as you include it. Remember to pay attention to the details they request and the format in which they request them. 

For instance, if they want you to provide your cover letter as a Word document, make sure you submit it as a Word document rather Pages or a Google document. 

10. Proofread it, and proofread it again.

Typos give the wrong impression. And thanks to spell check, grammar-checking software like Grammarly, and your grammar-savvy friends, you can create a typo-free cover letter. 

“If your letter is full of mistakes, you’re speaking volumes about your attention to detail,” said Timothy G. Wiedman, D.B.A., a retired Associate Professor of Management & Human Resources. He remembered that he once received a cover letter from an applicant who mentioned they graduated from a top tier “collage.” 

“I was not impressed,” he said.

To avoid gaffes like that, Wiedman advises having someone with solid writing skills proofread your cover letter. You can also have your cover letter read out loud by software. 

You might also consider learning the mail merge function in Word, which will help ensure the email address you’re using matches the correct manager’s names. 

Using all available resources will ensure you submit an error-free cover letter. 

Related: How to Write a Resignation Letter that Leaves a Good Impression

Sample Cover Letter Format

Matthew Warzel, President of MJW Careers, provided a template cover letter. You can use this exactly or as inspiration to create your own.

[DATE]

RE: [TITLE] Position

Salutation:

Dear [NAME OF HIRING MANAGER],

Opening Paragraph

Congratulations to you and the team at [NAME OF COMPANY] on [RECENT SUCCESS]. I can only imagine that given [NAME OF COMPANY]’s rate of growth, your sales team is in need of help to continue this expansion.

Body Paragraph

As I currently own and operate a powerhouse insurance office, I was able to secure142 sales in FY14 to earn #2 agency ranking for all of Houston and with only 4 of us. We had to keep our customers happy while continually pursuing new business at the same time. We grew sales to earn #1 ranking for dual/special need program sales by building high-performance teams and training agents on sales efficiencies, product benefits, and business development.

If you have a need for district sales management and a minute to chat, I’d love to learn more about [NAME OF COMPANY] and share a bit of my story with you.

Thank you for your valued time,

Writing a Good Cover Letter Can Set You Apart

Writing a good cover letter takes time. Each one is an investment, so you have to be smart about it. It’s better to take your time and apply to fewer jobs with a quality cover letter than blast your resume with a generic note to as many jobs as you can find. 

Every job application is a bet placed that you have what it takes to get the job. Show that you’re the best candidate by writing a stellar cover letter.

Related: Not Sure What to Bring to a Job Interview? Don’t Forget These 10 Things

The post How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets Noticed (with Example) appeared first on DollarSprout.

But you only have seconds to make an impression. Recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds scanning a resume, according to a study by Ladders Inc._[1]

That’s why it’s important to learn how to make a resume that will catch anyone’s eye.

How to Make a Resume for Your First (or Next) Job

When you write a resume, it should be tailored to the job but also reflect your own experience and strengths. Whether you need to make a resume for your first job or you’re on to the next, these experts weigh in on how to get it right.

1. Choose the right resume format or template.

Before you build a resume, you need to decide which type of template to use. These provide a basic structure for your resume, so you simply edit to include your own information. The right template showcases your strengths and downplays your weaknesses.

There are three main types:

• Chronological: This template is best for someone with a steady, advancing career path with plenty of experience that’s relevant to the position. Write your job history starting with the most recent role at the top, moving in reverse-chronological order.
• Functional: This type of template emphasizes skills over job experience, so it might start with a summary followed by a list of skills and examples of using those skills. If you have gaps in your job history or you tend to quickly move from one role to the next, this is a good template for you.
• Combination: This combines aspects of the chronological and functional template, and it’s best if you want to emphasize skills but also need to list your previous roles. Lead with your qualifications and skills, followed by a reverse-chronological employment history.

“Unless you are in a major career change, I always recommend a reverse-chronological or a combination resume,” says Cassie Hatcher, certified professional resume writer. Employers tend to prefer these because they’re easy to scan and show you have the job experience for the role.

But you might decide to use a functional resume if you’ve had very similar roles without a lot of differentiation, says Kim Sarmiento, certified professional resume writer. That can help keep the resume from becoming very repetitive.

Microsoft Word and Google Docs both offer free resume templates. You can also use DollarSprout’s free resume template. For more help and sleeker designs, MyPerfectResume’s Resume Builder walks you through the exact step-by-step process of creating a resume. You choose a template you like, follow their prompts to add your resume content, and download your completed resume.

They’ll offer helpful suggestions along the way with pre-written examples you can customize based on your work experience. When you’re ready to download your resume, you can choose 14-day access for less than $3 or a monthly subscription of $5.95.

2. Fill in your contact information.

Even if you nail the rest of the resume, it won’t mean much without a contact section. Prospective employers need this information so they can schedule interviews and ask follow-up questions.

List the following information near the top:

• Name (and credentials, if relevant)
• Professional email address
• Phone number
• Location
• LinkedIn profile link
• Portfolio link (if relevant)

Recruiters commonly visit your LinkedIn profile next if they’re interested in knowing more, says Myra T. Briggs, executive search consultant and practice leader at Nonprofit HR.

“From the applicant’s perspective, it’s also a good way to track the interest your resume is generating by reviewing the ‘who’s viewed my profile’ section in your account,” Briggs adds.

Just make sure your LinkedIn profile is error-free and as well-written as the resume.

3. Write your resume summary.

Job seekers used to write their “objective” near the top of a resume, but Sarmiento says trends have shifted toward using a “summary.”

“Think of it as your 30-second commercial on paper,” Briggs says.

This paragraph should communicate what you offer the employer, show that your skills align with the job requirements, and set you apart from other applicants. In a few sentences, you’ll establish your expertise, highlight one or two major accomplishments, and explain the value you offer using keywords from the job description, if possible.

Here are some resume examples of a summary:

If you have extensive experience, Hatcher offers this example:

“Strategic operations and program manager with 20+ years leading government and military operations. Agile leader with proven success evaluating programs. Managed a $700K annual budget. Possesses a comprehensive background in program management and operations derived from directing domestic and global operations. Top Secret Security Clearance until July 2023. Sustained $4.6M in assets, property, and equipment while leading up to 1,100+ personnel.”

If you’re new to the job market, you can use a summary like this:

“Recent college graduate with a BA in journalism and political science and eight months’ campaign internship experience. Seeking to leverage knowledge and work experience to fill your campaign communications role. A dedicated worker aiming to help you achieve company goals and quickly take on more responsibility.”

If you’re changing careers, try to follow this example:

“Experienced and accomplished sales manager with 10 years’ experience looking to leverage an extensive background in customer service and leadership to an entry-level human resources position.”

4. Add your work experience.

The work experience section is the most important part of your job application because it “defines you as a candidate,” says Kathy Robinson, founder of TurningPoint, a company that provides career counseling. “Hiring teams look here to vet that you have the chops to fill the role.”

For each job, you’ll include the job title, company name and location, dates employed, and work responsibilities. When phrasing those responsibilities, Robinson says you should:

• Use keywords and language from the job description to help show you have experience doing the work that the job demands.
• Avoid writing in first person. Write in the past tense for previous jobs and present tense for current jobs.
• Use numbers where possible (such as percentages and dollar amounts) to show how you increased sales, leads, or results.

Here are some examples of ways to demonstrate on your resume how you helped solve a relevant problem and by how much:

Good:

• “In response to economic circumstances and increased competition, reorganized sales operations to consolidate teams and deliver sales efficiency, resulting in combined growth of product and services pipeline expected to contribute multi-year revenue of $10M. Exceeded sales KPI by 10% for the quarter.” (from Kathy Robinson)
• “Executed the transition plan to relocate the North American corporate headquarters (from Boston to Houston), resulting in a $4M annual cost savings.” (from Kim Sarmiento)
• “Automated analysis and cleanup of 30 million general ledger line items through adoption of an AI tool, reducing labor hours 30%.” (from Kim Sarmiento)

Needs work:

• “Reached out to potential customers over the phone or email to maintain relationships and upsell products. Tracked and reported leads for three months.”
• “Reorganized and consolidated sales operations, which led to company-wide savings.”
• “Analyzed labor hours and made suggestions for consolidation, resulting in savings.”

If you need help coming up with relevant statistics, Hatcher says you can ask yourself:

• Did I increase sales? If so, by what percentage or amount?
• Did I generate new business, bring in new clients, or forge affiliations?
• Did I save the company money? If so, how much?
• Did I create or institute any new system or process? If so, what were the results?

“You can roll up multiple years if need be, or add things together, or even talk about expected revenue,” Robinson says. “You also always want to tie the number to a business problem that is relevant to the current economy and the company in question.”

If it’s your first full-time job or you’re fresh out of school, you can list other relevant experience such as volunteer work, part-time jobs, or leadership roles.

Related: 10 Resume Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

5. Tailor your resume to the job.

Before your resume reaches a recruiter’s eyes, it typically goes through an electronic applicant-tracking system (ATS) to rank resumes and weed out candidates who don’t fulfill the basic requirements.

You can get through this initial scan by looking for keywords and phrases in the job posting and weaving them throughout your resume and other parts of your job application like the cover letter. These descriptions “are basically cheat sheets that you have right in front of you — use them,” Briggs says.

First, read through the job posting to understand the employer’s needs and check out their website to get a feel for their brand and values. Then, look through listings for the same position at different companies. Pick out the most popular keywords and phrases. But because ATS machines also uncover keyword spamming, make sure you use the keywords naturally.

Here’s an example of how to use keywords from a job description in your resume:

6. List your education.

Typically, recruiters are more interested in your recent work achievements than your educational accomplishments. But the education section is important because it shows employers you meet the academic requirements for the role.

Make sure to include the university name, type of degree(s), major(s) and minor(s), and years attended. In addition, you should also:

• List your highest degree first and others in reverse-chronological order.
• If you’re a new graduate, list this first above work experience.
• Only list high school information if you don’t have a university degree.
• Mention GPA if you’re a new graduate and have a 3.5 or higher.
• If you’ve completed some college, list relevant completed credits.

Feel free to leave out the years attended, Sarmiento says. When working with clients, she only includes this detail if she needs to explain why the applicant has less than 10 years’ experience.

7. Include additional resume sections that fit the job.

You can write a good resume using the sections covered so far — they’re must-haves for any job application. But adding some additional information can round you out as the best candidate.

Skills

Job skills should be included throughout your resume, mainly in your summary and previous roles.

But you might need a special “skills” section if you couldn’t find a good place for one. This usually happens if you’re changing careers and your previous work experience doesn’t reflect skills you picked up outside of your jobs.

In this section, you can list hard skills needed for the job, such as your proficiency with industry software or a certification to run machinery, or soft skills that any employer will look for.

If possible, list your proficiency level for each skill (e.g., beginner, intermediate, expert).

Languages

This section on your resume includes the languages you speak and your proficiency.

You can define your mastery of the language as basic, conversational, proficient, or fluent. But you’ll also want to include your specific language skills, which include reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

If the job doesn’t have language requirements, you can list any level of proficiency, Sarmiento says. But if the employer does need you to use those skills at work, only include languages if you’re proficient or fluent.

Hobbies, interests, and extracurricular activities

This section can showcase skills that are relevant to the role, Sarmiento says. For instance, if you’re a computer salesperson and an avid motorcycle rider and you’re applying for a sales position at a motorcycle company, “you might want to list [motorcycle riding] as a hobby on your resume and go into some details in your cover letter,” she says.

If your hobbies don’t align with the position but you feel they’ll help you stand out as a candidate, you don’t have to list them on your resume. “LinkedIn is a great place to share your personality,” Hatcher says. “Are you a deep-sea diver, Eagle Scout, or avid gardener? Share it in your (LinkedIn) summary section.”

You can also save other interesting hobbies for the interview, Briggs suggests. “Surely a question about what interests you will come up during any conversations with recruiters.”

Volunteer work

In this section of your resume, list volunteer roles if they’re relevant to the job or the company’s mission. This section can be a good stand-in if you don’t have much work experience or you’re switching careers and you have volunteer experience in your new field.

“Volunteer work is most relevant when it ties to your community (or network) or what you want to do professionally,” Sarmiento says.

But you’ll need to prioritize. Resumes are typically one or two pages, so if you’ve run out of room, list your volunteer work on LinkedIn and leave it off your resume.

Certifications and awards

Here’s where you list relevant honors you earned along with certifications that show you’re proficient in a particular skill.

Listing certifications can be especially helpful if you’re changing careers or don’t have much experience in the field you’re applying to. For example, if you work in finance and you’re applying for an SEO-marketer position, then being Google Analytics-certified would give you some credibility.

Awards can help demonstrate soft skills such as problem-solving abilities, leadership, and teamwork. List these if they’re relevant to the position and can help you stand out.

Projects and publications

If you’ve worked on a big project, you were featured in a major publication, or you write as a side hustle, you can list these accomplishments in a special section.

These can show you have a passion in your field and help set you apart. If you’re applying to a newspaper job, for example, you can list a book you wrote. For any publication or project, list a URL if possible so the recruiter or hiring company can check it out. If you’re a graphic designer or other type of artist, portfolio websites can be a good way to showcase your skills, or you can list them on LinkedIn.

8. Proofread your resume before sending.

Before the interview, your resume might be the only connection you have with the employer. Make a strong impression by checking your resume several times before submitting to the hiring company.

“If you have typos or formatting errors, they are likely to assume that your attention to detail is sub-par, and that could hurt your standing with key stakeholders,” Robinson says.

In fact, 77% of employers immediately disqualify resumes for spelling and grammatical errors, according to a CareerBuilder survey.

Give yourself a few days to run these checks:

• Once you’ve written the resume, use editing tools such as Grammarly to catch errors.
• Print the resume and proofread it yourself. Check for formatting issues, too.
• Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to proofread the resume and give feedback.
• Prepare the resume as a PDF unless instructions say otherwise.

Put aside time for a final line-by-line check before sending it out, Robinson says. It should be as perfect as possible.

Keep Your Resume Simple and Relevant

As you write the resume, focus on what’s most important. It’s a balance between showing you can do the job, amplifying strengths that set you apart, and doing all of this in as little space as possible. Most resumes are one page, but you can stretch to two pages if you have extensive experience.

Keep the format simple, too. In the Ladders Inc. study, the best resumes had simple layouts, clearly-labeled sections, bold keywords, and bulleted lists.

“It’s your job to make sure your resume’s simple, succinct, and customized for each employer,” Robinson says, “so it’s easy for them to read, easy for them to know what you can do, and easy for them to pick up the phone and call you in for an interview.”

The post How to Make a Resume in 8 Simple Steps appeared first on DollarSprout.

The first day at a new job “sets the tone for what kind of worker you’ll be in the future,” says Darren Easton, Vice President and Creative Director at The Cyphers Agency. “If you immediately show that you have a good, positive attitude and get along with people, you’ll be someone who your coworkers not only want to work with but also support if and when you face challenges.”

People can form first impressions within seven seconds, according to Psychology Today._[1] These can turn into long-term perceptions that inform your success in your role and your career, making it important to get it right from the start.

7 Ways to Make a Good First Impression at Your New Job

Your new colleagues and supervisors will notice whether you exude confidence, emotional intelligence, and leadership qualities. These soft skills in the workplace are important because they can help you fit in and succeed in the new role.

Whether you work remotely or in an office, start showing these traits by taking the following steps:

1. Show up early.

Showing up early conveys you’re responsible, organized, and you value your job. But it’s important to time this right, depending on the type of job you have. Remote workers should log in to conference calls a minute or two early, and hourly employees should arrive just a few minutes early as well. Although you’re not getting paid for the extra time, timeliness can set a good tone on the first day at a new job.

If you’re a full-time in-house employee, then your manager may need time to prepare for your arrival — and you don’t want to come across as overeager. A good rule of thumb: Arrive 15 minutes early with in-person jobs, suggests Myra T. Briggs, Executive Search Consultant and Practice Leader at Nonprofit HR.

“That gives you time to sign in with security, figure out parking, or grab a cup of coffee. Then, announce yourself five minutes before your start time,” Briggs says.

And if you haven’t done the commute before, practice it once or twice ahead of your first day. Arriving late because you got lost or hit traffic can come across as disorganized.

Related: 11 Good Work Habits for Becoming a Stand-Out Employee

2. Dress for the job.

You don’t need to dress like the executives, but your attire does need to reflect that you take your work seriously. Ask about the dress code during the interview process, and show up in your best version of it on your first day.

“If the everyday culture is jeans and athletic shoes, for instance, opt for pristine jeans, casual shoes, and a business-casual top,” Briggs says.

Many organizations have a “dress for the day” policy, Briggs adds. That means you should dress appropriately for the obligations of each day but may dress casually if you don’t have any externally facing responsibilities.

And if you work remotely, your shirt might be the only piece of clothing that appears on video conference calls. It should look professional, though, and you should appear groomed with a clean background.

3. Learn the building layout or company structure.

You’ll probably get a tour of the building on your first day at a new job, but you likely won’t be expected to remember where everything is.

Knowing where you can find key rooms — offices, the bathroom, or the break room — can help you appear organized. Plus, you’ll save time by not getting lost. Your human resources manager might have a chart of the building and where everyone sits, but you can also make your own chart or simply take notes.

Remote employees should ask for a list of employee names, titles, and email addresses. Start figuring out who you should contact and for what purpose.

Every new job comes with a learning curve, so don’t be afraid to ask a coworker for help or directions or even who is responsible for what tasks. It can be a good way to strike up an initial conversation and form work friendships.

4. Bring new ideas to the table.

Innovation is a trait that most managers love to see. But you might appear egotistical if you show up on the first day at a new job with a list of changes. Instead, try this longer-term process of developing ideas, which can start on your first day:

• As you carry out the main tasks of your job, think about what can be improved.
• Write down notes about new processes, projects, and tools that can help your team.
• At an appropriate time — during catch-ups with your supervisor or in meetings, for example — bring up the solutions you’ve thought through.
• If another employee helped with the brainstorming, give them credit.
• If your schedule allows, help implement the changes.

Creating these new ideas can help you stand out at work and get ahead in your career.

5. Volunteer for tasks.

When you volunteer for tasks, you show initiative and a willingness to learn something new. You might offer to make a photocopy, email a client, or organize a meeting.

As a new hire, 90% of your attention should go toward learning your job, while the other 10% can go toward these small tasks, says Kathy Robinson, Founder of TurningPoint, a company that provides career counseling. You want to be sure you dedicate enough time to learning your role.

However, “you have to be careful not to become the dumping ground for grunt work that no one else wants to do,” Robinson says.

Try to strike a balance between being helpful and staying productive at work. Stay connected with your boss, whether it’s through regular catch-ups or occasional emails, to make sure what you’re agreeing to take on is actually doable.

6. Learn names.

According to a Psychology Today article, 85% of adults forget names. But learning names is critical, from the people you interact with most, like your managers and coworkers, to the building receptionist, maintenance staff, security, and so on.

“It’s a sign of respect,” Briggs says. “It’s always a challenge, but taking the time to do this shows you value your coworkers. It’s also very important to learn how to pronounce names, so don’t be afraid to ask.” By knowing people’s names, you’ll also be seen as an insider, which will help you fit in with the company and exert influence in your role.

During your first conversation with someone, repeat their name. Ask them to spell it if it’s complicated. Then, repeat the name when you say goodbye. You can also use what Psychology Today calls the “look, snap, connect” method:

• Look: Focus on the name.
• Snap: Create a mental image of the name and face.
• Connect: Connect the name and mental image so you can retrieve the information later.

If the person uses a nameplate in their office or on their desk, that can help, too.

7. Show respect to your boss and coworkers.

Respect is a key feature in any work environment. It promotes teamwork and professionalism and lets people know they’re valued. In fact, “more than anything, people want to feel heard and respected at work,” Robinson says.

You can show respect in many ways, starting with these small steps:

• Practice good body language. About 55% of communication is shared through body language. You can send a respectful message by making eye contact, standing tall with good posture, and not crossing your arms or rolling your eyes.
• Be a good listener. When another person is talking, don’t interrupt. Listen to what they’re saying, then add something valuable to the conversation.
• Do your work. You might fall behind on work if you arrive late, get lost in work gossip, or don’t manage your time well. Coworkers may have to pick up your slack, which can communicate that you’re inconsiderate.
• Be punctual. Arrive to work on time and make sure you complete your work by the deadline. Then take a few minutes here and there to form bonds with your coworkers.
• Practice clear communication. When you discuss work projects with your coworkers through email or in person, be straightforward so they know exactly what you need. Practice using diplomatic language to come across respectfully.
• Don’t dump your work problems on others. Issues arise at work all the time, but what’s important is how you solve them. Try to find solutions and remain level-headed before you bring the issue to someone else. Explain how you think they can help.

If you find that you’re struggling with respecting a coworker for whatever reason, talk to your manager or human resources. They might have some suggestions or be able to facilitate a meeting to work out the issues.

The First Day at a New Job Sets a Precedent for the Future

Robinson says good organization is the main ingredient behind forming a good impression and developing your long-term career. Organized people typically get their work done because they manage their time well, suss out problems (and potential solutions), and may have time to volunteer for extra tasks.

Eventually, you can even ask for a raise once you’ve proven yourself a good employee.

“The more you can deliver, the more likely you are to make a good impression,” Robinson says, “and, ultimately, get the career progression you want.”

The post How to Make a Good First Impression at a New Job appeared first on DollarSprout.

About half of adults have made a dramatic career change at some point in their lives, according to a survey conducted by Indeed.com._[1]

But jumping immediately to a new career could cost you time, money, and energy — for a new role that might not be a good fit. If you’re interested in changing careers, it’s best to set up a plan of action first.

Ways to Find a New Career

A lot of people know they hate their jobs, but they’re not sure why or how to improve their work-life. They also might expect a career change to happen overnight.

“A typical job search within the same career field can take months,” says Brie Reynolds, career development manager at FlexJobs. “But a career change to something very different may take much longer.”

The process starts with figuring out why you need a change and what risks are involved. Once you have a firm sense of what you need, find the right fit.

1. Take a career quiz.

Online career quizzes like the Princeton Review Career Quiz take you through a series of questions and measure your interests and personality. Every quiz is a little bit different, so you may get varying recommendations depending on which one you take. Take several. Career quizzes can serve as a starting point, directing you toward a particular industry, providing a list of jobs, and explaining why you’re a good fit.

Some even describe the training involved and starting salary to help you make a more informed decision about changing careers.

2. Update your skills and intentions on LinkedIn.

Recruiters often use LinkedIn to find job candidates, so having a well-crafted profile on this professional networking site can help you land an interview in your new field.

Danisha Martin, senior search consultant at Nonprofit HR, offers these tips for updating your LinkedIn profile:

• Ask for recommendations. Whether they come from colleagues, managers, or clients, these should emphasize your potential to transition careers. Ask them to highlight your transferable skills, coachability, and adaptability.
• Use keywords linked to your new career. Recruiters use keywords to search for candidates, so include them throughout your profile. Personalize it with your voice, especially the summary paragraph.
• Include volunteer work and part-time jobs. These are easy ways to gain experience in your new field, so list these opportunities in your profile and any skills you developed.

Once you’ve polished your profile, connect and network with others by joining groups, participating in discussions, and posting articles.

3. Volunteer or work part-time.

If you’re not ready to fully commit to a new career yet, test the waters with a temp agency or by volunteering, job shadowing, or working part-time.

It’s a good way to “do a controlled test before jumping in with both feet,” says Kathy Robinson, founder of TurningPoint, a company that provides career counseling.

Websites such as VolunteerMatch and FlexJobs can help you find these new opportunities. Use this time to learn everything you can about the industry, network, and invite people to exploratory interviews. Working side by side with someone is “where you have an opportunity to truly assess if what they do for work would be meaningful for you,” Martin says.

Related: FlexJobs Review: Pros, Cons, and When a Membership Is Worth It

4. Consider education and training requirements.

Gaps in your skillset may make it hard to crack into a new career. Get yourself up to speed by making a list of skills you already have, the skills you need, and any requirements of the new role.

“For some fields, short online training and certification courses are great,” Reynolds says. “For others, they may require a new degree. Talk to people in the new field through informational interviews to see what’s recommended.”

Also research any costs involved and whether you qualify for grants and scholarships that might help offset the expense of any courses, certifications, or training. “If there’s a positive from the COVID-19 situation, it’s the increase in available online training,” says Anna Huffman, human resources director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “Resource availability has increased, and costs in some areas have decreased.”

5. Research your interests.

Whether you love cooking, writing, or taking care of animals, there’s likely a way to turn your hobby into a job. “If people can turn their hobbies into their careers, they will never work a day in their life,” says Renee Frey, a recruiting expert, speaker, and author of “I Hate Mondays: A Guide to Landing a Job That Makes You Jump Out of Bed.”

The career quiz you used at the beginning of your research can match you with a new industry, while your interests, personality, and goals can help guide you to a specific role. If you’re matched with the medical field and you tend to stay calm under pressure and enjoy helping people, then a career in nursing may be a good fit.

Here are a few ways to let your interests guide your career research:

• Think back to your childhood dream job. Did you tell everyone you wanted to be a veterinarian, actor, or writer? Remembering these goals might help you figure out what you’re still passionate about.
• Take money out of the equation. If you didn’t have to earn an income, would you start a charity, volunteer with kids or animals, or travel? Think about ways to monetize these passions.
• Think about what you do really well. Maybe you’re a great chef, a skilled woodworker, or advanced yogi. How can you jump-start a career with these skills?

As you think through these questions, write them down in a notebook or Google document. Take some time to reflect on your answers as you consider which career might be the best fit for you.

6. Build relationships in your desired industry.

Networking and building relationships will be critical to success in your new career.

“The No. 1 way people find jobs is through who they know,” Frey says. “It’s easier to transition to a completely different career if people know you and can vouch for you.”

While in-person conferences and networking events are typically the best way to create relationships, there are ways to virtually network that are just as effective:

• Using LinkedIn, connect with successful people in your new career
• Do an informational interview via video chat
• Join virtual meet-ups
• Attend virtual conferences and webinars

Once you make connections and let people know you’re looking to change careers, colleagues in your new industry may be able to help you find a new role.

7. Hire a career counselor.

A career counselor can help you find good career options, set up a plan of action, and even introduce you to others in the new industry, but they may charge a fee for their services.

If you want to go the free route, find someone who’s successfully made a career change and schedule some time to talk with them. They can give you the low-down about what it takes to switch over.

You can also reach out to your college’s career services center or alumni network for assistance.

Once You’ve Chosen a New Career Path

Once you’ve nailed down your career choice, you’re ready to tackle your action plan.

1. Start building skills.

Now it’s time to develop the skills you researched at the beginning of your search. You might need to take a course, complete an online certification, or earn a degree. Ask your current supervisor for stretch assignments, challenging projects intentionally beyond your current skillset, to develop skills that might transfer to your new career.

You might also develop these skills during a part-time job, which “may actually give you experience that counts toward your new field,” Reynolds says.

2. Create a new resume.

It’s crucial to make your resume stand out so you land an interview and get the job you want.

“Hiring leaders and recruiters only look at the top quarter of the first page on your resume,” Frey says. “In seven seconds, they make a determination if they will read your resume or if you are going in the recycle bin.”

Need a little help creating a great resume? Sites like MyPerfectResume.com can help you write the perfect resume and cover letter to highlight the top skills employers look for. Tell MyPerfectResume how long you’ve been working, and they’ll recommend an appropriate resume template. From there, they’ll walk you through each section one at a time, from your personal information to education, work experience, and certifications.

They’ll also provide helpful, pre-written examples that you can tailor based on your work experience. Once you finish creating your resume, choose a 14-day access pass for $2.95 or a monthly subscription of $5.95. With either plan, you’ll have unlimited access to create, spell check, and download resumes and cover letters. If you aren’t satisfied with your experience for any reason, you have 14 days to request a refund.

Related: 10 Resume Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

3. Start your job search.

Leverage the contacts you made when networking, volunteering, and researching your new industry.

“Reach out to your network to find contacts who currently work in the new field,” Robinson says. “Ask for guidance and any connections they’re willing to share.” Their company may also have an opening that’s a perfect fit for you.

Start researching companies, learn about the culture, and consider whether you’d fit in. Martin suggests identifying your top 25 companies and looking for open roles. Write a cover letter tailored for each position, and start submitting applications with your letter and resume.

To keep track of your job search and to make yourself a better interviewee, Martin suggests keeping a spreadsheet of where you apply and adding notes about your interviews and any feedback you receive.

Related: How to Make a Good First Impression the First Day at a New Job

4. Schedule job interviews.

It’s exciting when your resume gets noticed and you get a call to schedule an interview. This meeting is where you can talk about your experience and show why you’re a good fit for the company and the role, even if you have no prior industry experience.

“Create a succinct story of why you’re changing careers that shows your enthusiasm and energy for your new field,” Reynolds suggests.

Here are some ways to prepare for a job interview in your new career:

• Research the mission and goals of the organization you’re applying to.
• Prepare relevant questions that show you understand the new industry.
• List your experience in the new industry, which can include volunteer work and part-time jobs.
• List transferable skills from previous roles that you can use in the new industry.

You should also prepare the items you’ll bring to the job interview. Afterward, consider sending a thank-you note, asking for feedback, and applying the advice in the future.

5. Negotiate your new salary and benefits.

You might feel like starting a job in a new career means taking a pay cut, but that’s not necessarily true. You can negotiate a good salary with some preparation.

Using websites like Glassdoor and Payscale, you can research the average salary of your new position. Use that information in conjunction with your previous experience to negotiate a fair salary.

Also think about what would make you happy at the new job. You might be willing to take a pay cut if the new role allows you to strike a work-life balance, offers more benefits, or provides training and opportunities for salary growth.

6. Put in your notice at work.

Most organizations want to keep top talent, so give your employer a chance to keep you on board, Huffman suggests. Your organization may be able to promote you to a new position, transfer you to a new department, or increase your responsibilities and pay.

But if your mind’s made up, then make sure you leave the job on good terms. Give at least two weeks’ notice, and tell your manager you’re resigning to pursue a personal passion.

“Don’t speak negatively about your experience,” Frey says. “Keep everything positive. You never know when your paths may cross again.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New

A career change can be a great way to fulfill a dream or break out of a rut. Use this list as a starting point to figuring out what career you want and how you’ll get there. A good plan can help you adjust your career path so it aligns with what you’re passionate about, Robinson says.

“It’s sort of like a custom-fit suit versus grabbing something off the rack and not ever really liking how you feel in it,” she says. “The thinking goes: The more you like what you do, the more reward you get.”

The post How to Change Careers in 7 Easy Steps appeared first on DollarSprout.

While those are all fair options, your best bet is to write a resignation letter. However, that’s often not as easy as it sounds. The chances for error or misinterpretation are high, and you run the risking of offending someone if you’re not careful.

One way to solve that problem is by sticking to a formula. Following precise criteria helps you provide a written record of intent to leave your company while doing so clearly, concisely, and professionally.

How to Write a Good Resignation Letter: 7 Key Elements

The recipe for a resignation letter is fairly simple. It doesn’t need to be wordy, overly complicated, or spiteful, but it does need to be prompt and sent at least two weeks before you plan to leave. You’ll also want to include these elements in your resignation letter:

1. Make it short.

To serve its purpose, a resignation letter doesn’t need to be long.

“A resignation letter serves as formal notice that you’re leaving your position at a company,” said Samuel Johns, HR specialist and hiring manager at ResumeGenius.com. “It doesn’t need to be particularly long or use flowery language.”

When writing yours, try for no more than a single page at the longest. In fact, half a page should suffice. If you have more to say, you can save it for your exit interview with HR or a formal meeting with your supervisor.

2. Keep it professional.

Your resignation letter becomes part of your HR file, and it should reflect well on you. This will help you in the future if you want to reapply to the company or if they’re called as a reference for a new position. 

“It is very important to remember the importance of keeping your resignation letter professional and in a positive tone no matter why you are leaving your job,” said Belinda Wee, Ph.D., an associate professor at Husson University’s School of Business and Management.

Related: 10 Tips to Quit Your Job in the Most Professional Way Possible

3. Put it on paper.

Don’t write an email for your resignation, and don’t give your resignation verbally without following it up in writing. 

Hilda Gan, president and chief people officer at People Bright Consulting, recalls an incident when an employee gave a verbal resignation. “I asked for a resignation letter. She was surprised why this is needed but complied,” said Hilda. “She goes to the bathroom, takes a paper towel, and returns with it saying, ‘I am resigning effective [date]’ and signs her first name. That is the worst resignation letter I ever received.”

When submitting your resignation, type the letter on actual paper, preferably with personalized letterhead. If you don’t have that, you can find a free template through design programs like Canva to create your own.

Make sure you keep a copy of the letter in your files as well. 

4. Detail your exit. 

Make sure your resignation letter outlines all the specifics of your departure, including a time frame for your last day.

The most important thing to include in your letter is your exact last date at work, even if you’ve already discussed it with management, said Isaac Hammelburger, the owner and founder of Search Pros, who handles human resources for his six employees. He added, “It should also clearly state that you’re quitting. You’d be surprised how many resignation letters I’ve read that never actually include the words ‘I am resigning’ or any variant of it.”

Putting the details in your letter ensures everyone is on the same page about your resignation and eliminates any questions or speculation.

Related: How to Make a Resume That Lands You an Interview

5. Give a reason. 

Your employer should know the reason you’re resigning, but take care not to make it too specific.

“You don’t want to get too specific about your reasons for leaving,” said Adam Sanders, director of Successful Release, an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged populations find financial and professional success. “The more reasons you give, the more likely it is that the reader will take offense and you end up burning bridges.”

Rather than providing every reason why you’re leaving your job, he recommends you focus on a couple of high-level opportunities that the new job provides instead. For example, “I’ve accepted a new position at X company that will allow me to have more time with my children and lead a larger team.”

Reframe your departure into a positive opportunity for you. Choose your words and your reason carefully, and have a friend or colleague read it over to make sure you didn’t miss anything that might come off the wrong way.

Related: What to Do When You Hate Your Job and Want to Quit

6. Demonstrate appreciation for your job. 

Even if you hate your job, it helps to find some positives and include those in your resignation letter.

“You want the overall tone of a resignation letter to be one of gratitude,” said Matt Erhard, a managing partner with the recruiting firm Summit Search Group. “Even if you’ve had issues with your current job or employer, you should focus on the things you appreciated about your time working there and thank them for the opportunity to gain skills and experience.”

Examples of things you can show appreciation for include any training, mentoring from experienced coworkers, scheduling flexibility, or even any hardware or software the company purchased for you.

7. Offer a plan. 

One thing your letter should definitely include, according to Nakisha D. Hicks, president of The ElevateHer, is an offer to assist with the transition of your duties. Your leaving will create a bit of chaos, and anything you can do to alleviate that will have you remembered fondly.

“This could be training a replacement, helping to find your replacement and/or creating a document that can be used for knowledge transfer,” said Nakisha. She adds that you should also include your contact information, just in case they need to get in touch with you later.

While you don’t have to do this, it does help to maintain a professional relationship with your former employer and might help you in the future.

Related: How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary

Resignation Letter Examples

You do not have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to resignation letters. There are plenty of templates you can use to write a polite, clear, and concise letter.

Making a career change

If you’re leaving your current position to change careers, you can use this template, provided by Matt Erhard, managing partner with the recruiting firm Summit Search Group:

Dear [supervisor’s name],

I’m writing to inform you of my intent to resign from my position as [your positions]. My final day of work will be [date].

My work with [company name] over the past five years has been both enjoyable and fulfilling. After careful thought, however, I have decided to take my career in a new direction and open a consulting business. I would not have been prepared to make this transition without the experience I’ve gained with this company, and I will forever be grateful for the mentorship and training I’ve received here. 

I would love to discuss ways I can help the department through this transition. To ensure a smooth transition, I look forward to training my replacement and am available to aid in the search if that would be beneficial for you.

Thanks again for the opportunity to work at [company name]. I have appreciated my time here and wish the entire staff the best of success. If you ever need to get in touch with me, you can email me at [your email address].

Best regards,
[your name]

New job or pursuing other opportunities

You can follow this template from Nakisha D. Hicks of The ElevateHer when writing a resignation letter for a new job:

Dear [supervisor’s name],
Please accept this letter as a written notice of my resignation from my position of [your position], as I have accepted the position of the [new position] at [new company]. My last day of employment with [current company] will be [date].

I greatly appreciated having the opportunity to be a part of the ABC family for the last seven years. The experience and connections that I have made over the years have been priceless, and I will miss this incredible place.

I will spend the next few weeks wrapping up various tasks including [insert specific ones] and getting [your replacement’s name] up to speed to successfully transition to her new role.
Please know that I will always be invested in the success of this organization and the team. Therefore, should you or others need my assistance after I depart, do not hesitate to call [your phone number] or email [your email address]).

I am extremely proud of this organization and will be forever grateful for the opportunity that was given to me.

Sincerely,

[your name]

Example of a bad resignation letter

Now that you know what a good resignation letter looks like, Samuel Johns from ResumeGenius.com offered an example of a bad one so you know exactly what not to do.

Dear [supervisor’s name],

Tomorrow will be my last day working as a [position name] at [company name].

I have realized that working for you has been a huge waste of my time. You clearly have no vision for the company, and my talents are wasted here.

I would wish you the best for the future; however, instead, I think the kind thing to do is warn you that your business is doomed for failure if you continue to lead it.

Thank you for opening my eyes — in the future, I will be able to recognize a failing business and incompetent CEO immediately.

Sincerely, 

[your name]

While this is a more obvious example of how not to write a resignation letter, there are a few more notable things to avoid, including:

• Criticism or negative comments
• Listing reasons you didn’t like your job
• Providing too much information about your career plans
• Spelling and grammatical errors

Related: 11 Skills Employers Look for That Most People Never Think About

Make Sure Your Resignation Letter Gets into the Right Hands

After going through the trouble of learning how to write a proper resignation letter, you want to make sure it gets to the right people. Our experts recommend you first notify your boss. Be sure to do so in writing rather than an email. You’ll also want to make sure your human resources department gets a copy of your letter, and hand copies directly to the appropriate parties in person.

If you work remotely, send the letter with a mailing service that will provide you with delivery confirmation so you know when it arrived.

Handling your resignation with dignity, respect, and professional courtesy will allow you to leave your job feeling like you can successfully close that chapter of your career.

The post How to Write a Resignation Letter (with 3 Examples) appeared first on DollarSprout.