by Solange Lopes | Oct 3, 2017 | Career
If you’ve been working for some time, or even if you’ve just started your career, then you know that your career evolves with time. Whether you change jobs, remain at the same company, or start and grow your business, work evolves. If you already have a resume, then you also know that just as your career, it’s a living, breathing thing as well.
I remember stashing my resume for years while at the same job, and only digging it out when I started looking for another job. The result? Hours, sometimes days spent trying to remember what I did in prior or even current positions. I would end up vaguely editing it, and wondering if it even fit the professional I had evolved to be over time. Most of all, I kept wondering if it fit the career or job I really wanted to get.
The truth is, our resumes move with us, as we learn, grow and evolve over time. Failing to adjust our resumes as we evolve in our careers puts us at a disadvantage. To find the career you want, you also have to show up with the right tools. Hence the need to adjust your resume for the career you want.
Here are 7 things you can do to adjust your resume to the career you want:
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Start with Action!
One of the biggest turn-offs in resumes is the lack of action in them. Using passive language to describe what you’ve done doesn’t show that you’re strong candidate, for any position. Use action verbs at the start of every bullet point to define the various responsibilities you’ve held. Don’t forget to use varied language as well, to show the scope of your various accomplishments.
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Use the power of customization
Don’t just have a standard resume! Consider every opportunity you’re going after, and customize your resume accordingly. This may mean adjusting your job descriptions so they are relevant to the job you’re going after. Or moving some of your experiences higher up as they are more in alignment with the position you’re going after. Making these subtle, yet significant changes, can get you noticed by a potential employer.
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Update, update, update
One of my biggest past mistakes was to wait until interview time to update my resume. As a result, I would omit some of my proudest accomplishments, and get frustrated in the process as I wouldn’t remember all the things I had done since the last time I update my resume. Instead of waiting until the last minute, keep a record of all your work-related accomplishments. I have a career journal in which I document my significant career wins, so I can use them when it’s time to update my resume.
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List measurable results
Your resume is a great place to show off your career results, in a tangible and measurable way. This means not just listing a series of accomplishments, but actually make them quantifiable. Did you contribute to an award-winning team scoring an 80% growth? Did you increase your department or company’s revenue by 200%? List these quantifiable results to demonstrate how much value you’re able to bring to the position you’re going after.
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Believe in yourself
Last but not least, it doesn’t really matter if you have a strong resume but don’t have faith in yourself and your abilities. You have to be able to back up all the accomplishments, skills and talents listed on paper. Even if you don’t have as much experience or skills as you’d like, having the confidence to demonstrate your drive, passion and willingness to drive success in your career will go a long way.
What other tips would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 2, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Tweed Shift Dress – Photo credit: saksoff5th.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
This Karl Lagerfeld tweed tiered dress from Saks Off 5th is my new Fall crush. The frayed trim at the neckline and cuffs, as well as the tassel belt detail mix classic chic with modern edge. I also love the flattering split neckline on this elegant number. It’s available at Saks Off 5th and is on sale for 74.99.
In a similar style, I also like this Karl Lagerfeld Fringed Popover dress.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 30, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
- The Glassdoor Blog shares these 31 companies that are hiring like crazy in October;
- This week, The Corporate Sister discusses why we need to stop hiding as working women;
- Calling all working moms! Here are 15 of the best companies for working moms;
- Looking for a job? Everyone’s Blog Posts lists 6 top apps for jobseekers;
- Ellevate Network discusses choosing mentors for an inspired career journey;
- Business Insider shares how Trump’s new tax plan could change your take-home pay;
- The Undercover Recruiter explains what it means to work with working mothers;
- Want to reduce your heart risk? Forbes Woman advises to take on meditation;
- Corporette shares financial tips for women lawyers just starting in Big Law;
- Are you social media guru? Ellevate Network shares 5 social media tactics that can boost your career;
- If you’re a student, Recruiter shares these 9 high-paying jobs that may be perfect for you;
- Using Google Calendar? The Muse shares these 14 Google Calendar tips you won’t know how you lived without;
- Do you have a women-focused business? Ellevate Network shares marketing strategies to grow it;
- If you’re into cooking, Serious Eats shares the 22 essential cookbooks for every kitchen;
- Fall is here, and WhoWhatWear has the coolest pointy-toe boots for every budget.
Cheers!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 27, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Marisa Ottoman Dress – Photo credit: bodenusa.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
Who said the LRD is not the new LBD? Not me. This Marisa Ottoman Dress from Boden is the perfect go-to dress to throw on for a successful day at the office. I love the retro vintage look of the collar on this otherwise impossibly chic dress. The flattering shape will hug your figure all day long for a professional and gorgeous look. It’s also available in black, navy blue and deep forest green.
In a similar retro style, I also love this Sixties Jacquard Dress, also from Boden.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 27, 2017 | Career |
As women of color, we often happen to be the only ones in the room in our workplaces. Which makes us more noticeable, but interestingly enough, also more prone to hiding at work. As double minorities, being women and being of color, it’s easy to tell ourselves that we don’t belong or don’t fit in to professional environments mostly made of white males.
I know I did for a long time…As a Black woman and an immigrant, I would take a look around and be intimidated at being the only one, or one of the only ones in the room. It also didn’t help that as an introvert, I wasn’t always used to voicing my opinion. Yet, the fact of the matter is, when we’re outnumbered, we tend to shrink and diminish our valuable contributions. We tend to hide, conform and seek not to stand apart. If you add to this the false myth of the “angry black woman” and other falsities about what it means to be a woman of color, it’s no wonder that revealing ourselves at work is far from being easy.
I was talking to a fellow corporate sister a while ago, and the conversation happened to be around her leaving multiple positions because she wasn’t accepted as who she was. This is also the dilemma of many women of color in corporate and other professional environments: “Do I bring all of myself to work, or do I hide and only show the parts of myself which are acceptable enough not to damage my career?”
In an attempt to be careful not to be perceived as “too aggressive”, or not fitting in well enough, we may tend to conform to the status quo. As a result, we may tend to bury the wealth of experiences, insight and knowledge we’ve acquired over the years, just so that we may avoid the sting of opposition and judgment.
The thing is, we don’t just bring our diplomas and resume to our careers or businesses. Every time you step into a room, you bring ALL of you, from your mindset to your unique perceptions and competence. Trying to suppress any of it not only comes at the pricey cost of restricting your skills and talents. It also deprives the world of all you have to offer.
Let’s keep it real. As a woman of color, at work or in any other setting, you may be judged and perceived differently. This is what happens with anything or anyone different, at least at first. Yet, how can we change perceptions, judgments and opinions if we’re only showing part of who we are? How can we effect change, real change, if we don’t use all the tools we’ve been given to shift the conversation?
For instance, being an immigrant may also mean that you’re brining multiple languages, cultures and an uncanny ability to adapt to changing environments to the table. And can we talk about the invaluable informal networks we have in our churches and communities?
I understood it was time to stop hiding when I realized that I was only showing up partially at work. If we want to achieve the careers and lives of our dreams, we must dare to show up as who we are. This may also mean risk more judgment, yet not bringing our whole selves to the table is also not an option.
The power of authenticity is real. If you can muster the courage to be authentic, it will help you identify the places and people who are not for you. On the positive side, it will help you pinpoint those places and people where you not only fit in, but where you can reach your full potential without compromising who you are.
Every time I see a woman of color authentically pushing through and achieving the seemingly impossible in her career, it inspires me to push harder. It’s proof that showing up as
Do you agree that we must stop hiding as women of color at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 26, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Herringbone Peplum Jacket – Photo credit: anntaylor.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
‘Tis the season for elegant, streamlined jackets! This herringbone peplum jacket from Ann Taylor is perfect for the office or on week-ends, and adds a touch of sophistication to any outfit. The custom tailoring is ultra flattering, while the long button-open sleeves lend versatility to it.
In a similar style, I also like this double weave collarless blazer.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 26, 2017 | Career
“Your brand is what people say when you’re not in the room” – Jeff Bezos, CEO and founder of Amazon.
When we think of brands, we often think of big names like Pepsi, Coca Cola, or Amazon. We think of what distinguishes these big companies from their competitors, and makes us as consumers choose one over the others? In the same way, as professionals and job-seekers, there are elements of our personal branding that makes companies pick us over others?
Branding isn’t just for products or big-name organizations such as the Starbucks of this world. It’s the combination of tangible and intangible traits that make some products distinctive. It’s also the unique blend of characteristics defining who you are, what makes you unique, and what value you bring to the table of your career.
Recently, we’ve heard a lot about personal branding. What we seldom think about is how our own personal brands can help boost our career success. Most of us are not always proactive about building our career brand. However, when we don’t define our own career brands, others tend to do it for us.
If you’re not sure what your personal and career brand is, here are 7 questions you can start asking yourself to better understand what sets you apart and what value you add to any situation:
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What problems do you solve?
To understand the value you bring to the table, you must first realize what problems you solve. In other words, you must be a solution to distinguish yourself. Are you good at solving tech-related problems? Is your talent in writing outstanding reports? This is more than just understanding your strengths. It’s about pinpointing specific problems you can solve for your organization or business.
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What are you great at that others find difficult?
One definite way that you can set yourself apart is to harness a unique skill that others may not possess. If you’re the only one who knows how to code out of a pool of 100 applicants for a position for which coding knowledge is required, then you have an advantage. This advantage is part of your personal brand.
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How do you help people?
Building a strong personal and career brand is also about being a leader. One of the pre-requisites of effective leadership is service. Every time you’re able to help others in your team or organization, your value increases and your brand is strengthened.
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Why do you want to help people/solve problems?
Identifying your “why” is a crucial part of establishing your personal and career brand. The more definite your “why”, the stronger your brand. Are you striving in your career for a particular cause? What motivates you to excel and be your best? Understanding this and reminding yourself of this can go a long way towards building a strong career brand.
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What life experiences do you bring to the table?
You are not just your job! You also bring to the table a host of various experiences that make you WHO you are! It’s the uniqueness of your experiences that also help you distinguish yourself and set yourself apart. No two people have the same life experiences, and what you have gone through has taught you invaluable insight and knowledge.
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How do you make a difference in the world?
In order to establish a strong career brand, you must see yourself as making a difference in the world. Your contributions, service and experience are impacting your co-workers, team, organization and the world at large.
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What would you do all day long if you had the time and money?
One surefire way to build your career brand is to build it around the things you love doing and are talented at. Ask yourself the question and those activities you come up with constitute your competitive advantage and are a crucial part of your career brand.
What other questions would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
