On the minds of many individuals is whether or not they will see an increase in their salary in the next year. With a new year just around the corner and hope for the economy on the rise, the future looks brighter. So what about your future?
Does your résumé have the punch it needs to help you stand out? Is your cover letter well-written and convincing? Are you conveying professionalism in the e-mails you write to recruiters or hiring managers?
With unemployment still at record highs, the job market is intensely competitive. Simply having the job qualifications, education, and experience required is not enough to help you land the job in this market. Since each job now receives record numbers of applicants, competition is fierce. Just getting past the résumé pile and landing an interview can be quite an accomplishment.
So, to help you get past that first step in the process, you can give your résumé a little boost by using words that help employers see you have the extra skills they’re looking for. And, according to our recent poll that asked what the top soft skills employers want out of today’s worker, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and good communication skills are at the top of the list. So, here are 30 words you can use to show you’ve got what it takes for the demands of today’s world of work.
Words to Convey Work Ethic
1. Diligent
2. Consistent
3. Thoughtful
4. Accurate
5. Valuable
6. Thorough
7. Reliable
8. Results
9. Persistence
10. Improved
Words to Convey Positive Attitude
11. Solutions
12. Vision
13. Success
14. Encouraged
15. Innovative
16. Achieved
17. Motivated
18. Contributed
19. Collaborated
20. Outcome
Words to Convey Communication Skills
21. Spoke
22. Presented
23. Published
24. Negotiated
25. Inspired
26. Created
27. Shared
28. Conveyed
29. Timely
30. Concise
Use these words to revise how you describe job functions in your résumé and cover letter, or add details about yourself to other correspondence you write during the job search and interview process.
And, since employers want good communication skills in an employee, make sure to spell check and proof read every written document you use in your job search for proper grammar, tone, and form. Consider having a friend or trusted peer review these documents to make sure they’re professional, thoughtful, and convincing.
After all, you’re more than what you put on paper. But step one in the job process is to convince employers of that fact. Using the right words may be just the thing your job search needs.
Express Employment Professionals is busy helping people find jobs. Although the national unemployment rate has reached 9.7%, companies are beginning to look for employees through staffing agencies. Check out this great video from the local NBC affiliate in Wisconsin to see how the Express Employment Professionals Janesville office is leading the charge in helping people find work. If you’re looking for a job, check out the Express office in your area to find an employment opportunity that fits your needs and schedule.
The debate over age and the job search may still be raging, but our results are in, and according to our readers, mature workers are having the hardest time in this job market.
In fact, of the 950 votes cast in our poll, 70% of readers selected mature workers as those having a harder time getting work, while 30% selected new grads.
That doesn’t necessarily mean great news for college students who are already hot on the job hunt ahead of May graduation. The National Association of Colleges and Employers have projected employers will hire 22% fewer graduates than in 2008, and many job searchers are finding that it’s tough to land a full-time gig without on-the-job experience.
However, help and support for college students entering this rough market is available. For example, social networking career site LinkedIn recently announced a company wide initiative devoted entirely to equipping May 2009 graduates to enter the workforce. You can also read how college students can start preparing for the job search now.
There’s also help for mature workers. One great resource is the AARP’s support and guidelines for mature workers who are looking for work. Also, check out our blog post on combating age discrimination in the job search.
The age versus experience debate may never fully go away. But reality is, no matter what your age or experience level, it’s important to be dedicated to a cohesive, professional job search process if you’re looking for work. So, polish your approach today, and focus your time, attention, and efforts on landing those interviews!
Want to know what others are saying about age and the employment process? Check out the comments thread our poll generated. Have a question you’d like to share? Leave it on our Q&A page.
Related Tips & Advice
We welcome your comments, thoughts, suggestions, and questions, so please, comment away! The Express Employment Professionals Job Blog, Movin’ On Up, is a moderated site, which means that we approve all comments before they are posted. We want to make sure the conversation here is – like our name says – professional. So, please keep comments on topic and of interest to our readership.
Though we have a moderated site, it’s our goal to present a comprehensive and objective range of issues and opinions – including your comments. It’s okay to disagree with what we post, but in doing so, please be aware of the guidelines we will use when choosing whether or not to post all comments:
Express Employment Professionals reserves the right to not post any comments or questions that are deemed to be obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit, illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, invasive of someone else’s privacy, or objectionable in any way. Profanity, racial and ethnic slurs, and general rude behavior like disparaging personal remarks won’t be tolerated nor published.
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In today’s economy, it’s hard to predict what will come next. With the job market struggling and businesses slashing budgets, making decisions about your career – or your business – may seem nearly impossible.
Have more to say about the economy, job market, or business world? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Here at Express, our main purpose for the Movin’ On Up blog is to provide you with the tools to help you find a job and succeed in your career. We also offer tips on dealing with workplace issues and give insight on current workforce trends. We try to cover all kinds of topics from interview techniques to workplace gossip.
To help us better understand your needs, we would love to hear from you. Post your comments, questions, concerns or anything you would like to know about the job search process, workplace issues, or current trends in the job market. We’ll address your comments and help you with your needs.
So, let’s get the conversation started. We’re waiting to hear from you!