Ghost Jobs: A Deep Dive into the World of Fake Job Openings

Job Search
professional resumes services

 

WHAT ARE GHOST JOBS?
Ghost jobs are job postings that are not real, meaning they were posted with the intention of NOT filling an opening. In some cases, they may represent positions already filled long ago or openings that never were supposed to have been filled in the first place. This is frustrating for those candidates who invest so much time and effort applying for positions that are not current.

Ghost jobs manifest themselves in different ways:

Expired postings: Jobs that have already been filled or closed but still appear online due to poor posting management.
Placeholder Listings: Jobs posted to measure market interest or talent availability, as opposed to filling an immediate need. The company is feeling out potential candidates to see who might be applying.
Opening Ploys: Used to make it appear that a company is in growth mode and needs to bulk up its staff.
Compliance Listings: Some companies are required by law to post job openings, even when the outcome of such posting is largely an inside deal. They already have someone in mind… and they already work at the company.

WHY DO COMPANIES LIST FAKE JOB OPENINGS?

The motivations for ghost jobs are varied, and not all of them are malicious in nature.

Some key reasons as to why companies create such postings are:

1. Talent Pipeline Building
Companies often post jobs to build a pipeline of qualified candidates should something open. They might be able to move candidates quickly when a real need does arise. While this practice benefits the company in highly competitive industries or difficult-to-fill unfamiliar positions, it can be misleading to candidates who may actually believe the role is immediately available.

2. Testing The Market
Some employers post just to understand the talent pool in the market that possesses certain skills or experience. True for niche or technical roles primarily, this allows companies, through pool analysis, to make strategic compensation decisions, timelines of hire, or even decisions on expansions into new areas of business. They want to see who is out there.

3. Maintaining a Perception of Growth
In the case of startups or firms in question, posting numerous job openings may give an impression of success and growth to the investors, customers, or the best talent who would want to be part of a successful company. But the moment the truth comes out, trust will wear off.

4. Employment Law Compliance
For instance, some regions or industries require companies to post a job opening publicly, even when an internal candidate has already been identified. Technically, this is a real posting, but it is very misleading to external applicants.

5. Ineffective Recruitment Methods
Poor hiring processes are to blame in some ghost jobs. Recruiters or hiring managers forget to close the posting for roles already filled, allowing postings to stay up indefinitely.

EFFECTS OF GHOST JOBS ON APPLICANTS
The impact of ghost jobs on job seekers can be profound and demoralizing:

1. Wasting Time and Resources
The entire process of applying for a job is time-consuming and stressful. A candidate applying for a ghost job wastes time and resources that could be used on real opportunities.

2. Emotional and Mental Stress
What happens is that continuous applications without responses create feelings of rejection, frustration, and self-doubt; ghost jobs just compound this problem since we may never know if the job was valid in the first place.

3. Distrust in Companies
When applicants find out they have applied for ghost jobs, the company does not look good to them. This kind of distrust keeps talented people away from applying to the company at some point in their lives.

4. Distorted Job Market Figures
Ghost jobs give a false signal to job seekers about the demand for certain roles, which is why some of them invest time in upskilling in positions that may, in reality, not exist.

IMPACT ON COMPANIES

While ghost jobs might appear harmless or even strategic to companies, they usually boomerang in several ways.

1. Reputation Damage
Workers and candidates share experiences through Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and even sites like Reddit. The reputation of posting ghost jobs will affect the employer’s brand, making it difficult to attract top talent later on.

2. Lower Candidate Engagement
Candidates will be less likely to apply with companies that have a history of ghost postings, meaning it reduces the talent pool for actual openings and increases recruitment costs.

3. Resource Mismanagement
Application management of fake jobs burdens the company’s HR and recruitment teams. The time to review these irrelevant applications could be used to fill actual vacancies.

4. Legal and Ethical Risks
Ghost jobs in some jurisdictions may result in legal considerations, especially when postings mislead candidates or violate equal employment opportunities laws.

BROADER IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CAREER INDUSTRY

1. Data on Labor Market is Skewed.

Ghost jobs distort labor market statistics and make the actual demand for a job difficult to trace by policymakers, researchers, or economists. This misrepresentation leads to inappropriate labor policies or funding relating to workforce development programs.

2. Mistrust in Employment Platforms

The credence of such job boards or recruitment websites could be lost grudgingly in terms of both the job seekers and the employers if ghost jobs are on them, which may undermine the effectiveness of those services in linking potential job seekers with job opportunities.

3. Career Services Challenges

Career coaches and services depend on valid job market data as a basis for coaching their clients. Ghost jobs make this difficult since the picture is distorted on the number of jobs available. It makes it hard for us to offer accurate information since we really don’t know how many jobs are real and how many are fake.

4. Frustration of Recruiters

Working with such companies, some recruiters and staffing agencies may be inadvertently damaging their reputation. Candidates who feel lied to are less likely to engage with the agency in question again.

How to Mitigate the Effects of Ghost Jobs

For Job Seekers…

Research Companies:  Go through reviews and forums for patterns of ghost postings.
Network Strategically:  Connect with employees or recruiters at your target companies to confirm the validity of roles.
Set Realistic Expectations:  Not all job postings may be immediate opportunities.

For Companies…

Be transparent about your role:  State if it’s an immediate opening or if it is part of future hiring plans.
Audit Postings on a Regular Basis: Remove outdated or filled roles to maintain credibility.
Engage Applicants: Respond to applicants in a timely manner with feedback and updates.

Ghost jobs reflect the complexity and inefficiency of contemporary methods of recruitment. While these jobs might serve short-term objectives for companies, their effect is, above all, negative on job seekers, corporate reputations, and the career industry.

7 Changes to Improve Your Executive Resume Today

Executive Resumes

Your executive resume is one of the most critical vehicles for conveying your leadership qualities, achievements, and strategic vision. It may be tempting to treat it as a sort of laundry list, touting job titles and their tasks, but really, it’s about showing impact, leadership potential, and success.

Executive resume writers (like my team) follow a set of guidelines to create an executive resume that demands attention.

The following are seven simple things you can do to turn your resume into a powerful personal marketing tool:

1) Highlight Achievements in Relationship to Return on Investment – ROI

Why It Matters: You are the driver of growth and profitability as an executive. Quite often, one of the key measures of your success will be your ability to improve ROI. Start thinking of what you can add to that and show how you offer it. Backing it up with accomplishments will help prove that.

How to Implement: Instead of listing responsibilities, show added value to the companies you have led. Use hard metrics, such as percentages and dollar amounts, to demonstrate impact. People love numbers. Make sure you have them listed on your resume.

Example: Instead of saying, “Oversaw sales department”, say, “Grew sales revenue 45% over three years to drive an incremental $5M in revenue.”

Pro Tip: Be specific. What exactly was improved-cutting costs, increasing efficiencies, launching new products? Quantifying your achievements gives the recruiter an idea of what you bring to the table.

2) Exude Executive Presence

Why It Matters:  My friend, Gina Riley, explained it perfectly at the NRWA conference recently.
Executive presence isn’t about looking the part; it’s about actually developing into leader-permeated confidence, authority, and strategic thinking. It also helps eliminate doubt about the job seeker’s candidacy.

How to Implement: Include language that emphasizes your role in setting strategic direction, making high-stakes decisions, and leading initiatives. Don’t forget to add soft skills and how you impact others.

Example:  “Led the strategy vision and execution of a $50M company transformation while securing stakeholder buy-in across five departments.”

Pro Tip:  If applying for a more executive-level position, use words like “executive strategy”, “visionary leadership”, and “transformational change”. This should be reflected on your presence in your LinkedIn profile.

3) Demonstrate Team Leadership and Development

Why It Matters: Being able to build and lead successful teams is, for many roles, a key component of being an effective executive. How you lead is just as important as the results you showcase.

How to Deliver: Emphasize how you impact team performance- through the development of better leaders, improved engagement, or greater retention.

Example: “Led a team of 100+, across three regions, to realize a 30% increase in employee engagement and a 15% reduction in turnover within two years.”

Pro Tip: If you’ve ever mentored future leaders or built leadership programs, be sure to include that here. It shows that you’re all about talent development and making sure that the organizations within which you work are going to grow and thrive.

4) Add Board Experience

Why It Matters: Board experience indicates a high level of trust, capability in governance, and strategic acumen. There needs to be a mix of hard skills, soft skills, operational expertise, financial skills, and vision.

How to Execute: Mention formal board roles held in a corporate, non-profit, or advisory capacity. Include specific contributions such as policy development, financial oversight, or strategic guidance.

Example: “Board Member, XYZ Corporation-led governance reforms that reduced compliance risks 20% and accelerated decision-making 25%.”

Pro Tip: Even if you haven’t had formal board experience, highlight your interactions with boards or advisory roles you have played. That could show that you are ready for board-level responsibility.

5) Use Executive Keywords Strategically

Why It Matters:  Keywords are important to pass through ATS systems and to the eyes of a recruiter or hiring manager. Your resume will have a higher ranking with the use of proper keywords at the executive level.

How to Implement:  Research job descriptions for the roles to which you’re applying and incorporate high-impact terms such as “P&L responsibility,” “strategic planning,” “mergers and acquisitions,” “growth strategy,” and “stakeholder management.”

Example:  If the job posting asks for experience with “organizational change,” make sure that your experience includes the precise phrase, such as: “.led organizational change initiatives that resulted in a 35% efficiency increase.”

Pro Tip: Tailor your resume to each opportunity with keywords specific to that role. You can also check out the most-used terms in similar roles’ LinkedIn profiles for ideas.

6) Include a Potent Executive Summary

Why It Matters: Your executive summary sets the tone for the rest of the resume. It has to, in capsule form, provide an overview of career achievements, core competencies, and your leadership philosophy.

How to Do This:  Stick to 3-4 sentences; highlight your most valuable accomplishments and strategic skills. It should reflect your career goals and value you will bring into an organization.

Example:  “Transformational executive leader with 15+ years of experience driving growth in Fortune 500 companies. Proven track record of increasing profitability by up to 50% through innovative product development and operational efficiencies.”

Pro Tip:  Do not use generic phrases and try to keep the fluffy adjectives to a minimum. Make the summary personalized, at the same time that it is compelling and relevant to what the company is seeking.

7) Emphasize Cross-Functional Collaboration

Why it’s a must: It’s quite common for modern business leaders to work across multiple company teams: finance, marketing, human resources, operations—the list goes on and on. By highlighting cross-functional collaboration and functioning, you’re demonstrating adaptability and an all-round appreciation of the enterprise in question.

How to achieve it: While trying to work out how to describe your experience, reflect on where you have been able to help others get something done. This may involve projects such as the development and launch of a new product with marketing and R&D teams or working with finance on budget development.

Example: “Partnered with marketing, sales, and finance teams in the launch of a new product, delivering first-year sales of $10M and a 20% increase in market share.”

Pro Tip: Action verbs include, but are not limited to, the words “collaborated,” “partnered,” and “coordinated,” which drive home the point of your contribution to teamwork.

Wrapping It Up

Improving your executive resume does not have to be an overhaul of sorts. Minor modifications can work wonders:
– Quantify the achievements of the job
– Create commanding executive presence
– Use keywords appropriately

You will come across as sturdy leadership material. Take these seven steps today, and watch your resume get a complete makeover, propelling your career upward.

How To Avoid Ageism On Your Executive Resume

Resume Writing
How To Avoid Ageism On Your Executive Resume

 

Getting older is a part of life.

In some countries and cultures, aging is revered, and the wisdom gleaned from it is anticipated. Elders are looked upon as having answers to life’s questions and experiences that will benefit the next generation.

In the Western part of the world, not so much.

Ageism in the job market is something we all may encounter at some point in our careers.  Creating an executive resume that counteracts that bias and showcases your vast experience is critical to continuing to be seen as a leader despite your age.  

Let’s talk about that.

LOOKS MATTER

For starters, look at the format of your resume. Is it something that you created back in the 1990’s? An old resume format makes you look… outdated, not keeping up, ancient.

There are hundreds of websites with executive resume samples available to use.  We also have done-for-you executive resume templates that you can use to instantly create a modern, stylized resume (shameless plug).

People do judge by looks and if your resume looks old and stale, they may make assumptions that your experience is old and stale as well.

DUMPING GROUND

Have you been adding your job responsibilities to your resume as you went along, with a laundry list of bullet points copied and pasted from job descriptions for the last 30-40 years?

Keep what serves you now and get rid of what doesn’t. If it’s a skill you haven’t used in the last 10-15 years, it doesn’t need to be in your Core Competencies list.

Focus on what you want the reader to know about you now.

EARLY CAREER SUMMARY

If you worked for a well-known company 25 years ago whose name alone will add to your experience, add it to your Early Career Summary.

An Early Career Summary is a great way to leave your information on the resume without it being an actual job, taking up space and looking like a long list of jobs in between. You would add this at the end of your Professional Experience section.

Example:

“Early Career Summary

Began career with Dell Technologies tasked with accountability for new business development and customer relations for direct and channel sales into enterprise accounts. Managed 5 of the top 10 revenue-generating customers in Israel. Consistently exceeded performance targets by an average of 30% annually. Earned 85%+ win rate in a market space dominated by NetApp.”

This is a clever way to keep some of your early experience on the resume without cluttering it with job after job. It is also a great way to minimize ageism (and boredom) on a resume.

LEAD WITH ACCOMPLISHMENTS

When doing a deep dive into an executive resume, I am usually surprised by the accomplishments that are hiding in plain sight.

If you don’t differentiate your daily responsibilities from your accomplishments, you are setting your resume up for failure. If a recruiter doesn’t see your highlights and impact immediately, they may decide not to read any further, especially if they have hundreds to go through.

Separate your accomplishments with a bullet so they stand out and grab the reader.

Example:

  • Rebuilt the HR team from the ground up, recruiting diverse talent from within and outside healthcare to help reimagine the partnership/service delivery model, establish credibility/trust with stakeholders, and solidify its value. Aligned HR priorities and initiatives with Giant Health’s overarching business strategy.

Or this:

  • Curated a roster of premium manufacturers, cultivating a robust portfolio of solutions to take to market. Primed SG&T for long-term success and sustainability by building deep, strategic relationships with the manufacturers’ C-level executives, establishing credibility and longevity in a sector reputed for high churn/turnover.

Showcasing your most recent high-level accomplishments on the first page will keep the reader’s attention to the present.

How to Put a Positive Spin on Your Employment Gaps

TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATION

A common misconception is that the older people get, the less they understand technology

Stay ahead of this by staying up-to-date with the technology used in your field. When in doubt, ask a colleague or younger person to teach you. They are always willing to step in and assist.

Use your executive LinkedIn profile as a place to enhance your thought leadership. Comment, like, post, and engage weekly. Recruiters look at your “activity” section to see what you are talking about.
Make sure to stretch your voice there. Comment on the company page and add to the conversation. Seek recommendations and endorsements that highlight your skills, experience, and adaptability.

Today’s workplace is more relaxed and less formal than it was 20-30 years ago. Be sure to adapt your language and communication as well.

ADDRESS AGEISM HEAD-ON (When Appropriate):

Frame your experience as an asset. Discuss proactively with them during interviews how your experience can add value. Stress that you have the potential to mentor younger teams, lead through transitions, and provide strategic insights from long careers.

Describe a time you adapted. Highlight examples where you’ve successfully adapted to change, whether it’s in technology, market shifts, or organizational restructuring.

By taking these steps and embracing your wealth of experience, you’ll minimize the potential for ageism to impact your job search.

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Tired of trying to DIY your resume? Reach out. We’re happy to help!

Why Your Executive Resume Needs To Step Up Its Game This Year

Executive Resumes
Why Your Executive Resume Needs To Step Up It's Game This Year

It’s no secret the job market is a tough one for executives this year.

Strangely, in the U.S., our unemployment level is the lowest it’s been in decades, and there are more job openings (8.5 mm) than unemployed people (6.5 mm). The economy is doing well, and the risk of inflation is down. People are spending more, personal income has increased, and overall, our finances look favorable. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans are earning 22% more than before the pandemic.

You’d think we’d be high-fiving each other. So, why does it feel so much harder to get a job? 

Turnover is decreasing

For one thing, employees are quitting less. Unlike the atmosphere after the pandemic when employees could have their job pick of the litter and quit at will, today’s employees are putting roots down and their focus is more on longevity. Job turnover is decreasing, and the number of open roles is decreasing as well. This makes the competition extra fierce.

Employers are more selective

There is also a longer hold time on hiring. According to Josh Bersin Research, the average time it took to hire someone rose from 40 days in 2019 to 44.5 in 2023. With cost-cutting measures in place, companies are more selective about who they hire. This means candidates go through many rounds of interviews before they are brought on board. I talked to one client who was on interview number 21—with the same company.

So, what should an executive job seeker do to set themselves apart from every other executive candidate looking at the same job?

Elevate your job search plan

The old way you searched for a job just won’t cut it anymore. Telling a few colleagues and then walking into the corner office or, at the very least, a larger-than-last-time cubicle isn’t as easy as it may have been in years past.

Now, you should have a strategic job search mapped out and should include:

  • A list of 10-15 companies you are interested in
  • A list of 20+ employees who work at those companies
  • An updated LinkedIn profile to reach out to the above employees from
  • At the ready content and intros to send to said new contacts
  • Allotted time to warm up those relationships until you are at the point where asking about open positions doesn’t seem spammy.

Why Your Executive Resume Needs To Step Up It's Game This Year

Take a good, hard look at your resume

When was the last time you looked at your resume with a critical eye? It’s not enough to just keep adding your newest role to the resume. Does your resume weave your career story throughout its content? Does it help the reader know where you started and how you got to where you are now?

Consider your steady progress through the years. Do you have your wins clearly listed, or are they buried in a list of non-important bullets?

Branding matters

When you look at your resume, specifically at the top, does your brand show up? Does it say what you do, or does it say something like “Executive Profile”?

The best executive resumes clearly state what you want to do at the top of your resume. Don’t make employers search the resume for your focus—because they won’t.

Strong strategic leaders should start their resumes with a branded headline.

Consider the following:

Human Resources Officer

Or

CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER … CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER

Leadership Capability | Transformation & Change Management | Culture Development | Value Creation | Inclusion & Equity | Data Analytics & Insights | M&A/Integration | Executive & Leadership Coaching

Not only will the second one grab the reader’s attention, but it also explains what they specialize in, what they’ve done, and what they are capable of doing.

Identify your value and showcase it at the top. You are a thought leader. Show what your expertise is in.

Metrics and numbers for the win

As a strategic leader, your executive resume needs to be rich with metrics and results. Think of the projects you worked on, the sales you generated, the growth you gained, etc. –and always have numbers ready.

  • What project did you work on? What were the results?
  • How many people did you lead? What were their successes?
  • How did you and your team cut costs and/or save money?
  • How did you increase sales, even during turbulent times? (Think metrics AND the background story if there is one. Those are the most interesting)

Examples of resume metrics may include:

  • Raised gross profit by 4%, directing increased services demand across a broad range of verticals, with the healthcare, commerce, and residential markets each posting double-digit same-location YOY growth.
  • Expanded locations while maintaining a 94% location retention rate.
  • Drove $456 million in sales annually and built a pipeline of long-term recurring business with high-profile customers, enhancing company’s value such that it captured the attention of Johnson Technologies, which merged with Jones in a multibillion-dollar take-private transaction in May 2024.

However, many of our clients worry that their stories might not contain the metrics and numbers they need. If that is the case, we recommend leading with contributions that drove change within the company.

Examples of non-metric accomplishments may include:

  • Played an integral role alongside the CRO in transforming the enterprise risk management function into a highly valued strategic partner, embedding risk management into the organizational culture and positioning it at the forefront of TMX’s strategic planning and decision-making
  • Assisted in rebuilding ABC from the ground up; analyzed existing operations and risk frameworks/practices to gauge organizational perception and identify opportunities to elevate and enhance ABC’s value to the enterprise.
  • Improved the board’s capacity for effective risk management decision-making by establishing the board risk committee, governance, and reporting model. 

 

Why Your Executive Resume Needs To Step Up It's Game This Year

Stepping Up Your Executive Resume This Year

In order for a company or recruiter to see the ROI they will get when they hire you, they have to see what you can do for them. That starts on your resume. Most won’t take the time to dig into your story if it isn’t compelling. This is why your executive resume needs to step up its game this year. The more enticing your resume looks, the better chance you have to win over the reader. 

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Tired of trying to DIY your resume or LI profile? Reach out. We’re happy to help!

How to Put a Positive Spin on Your Employment Gaps

Job Search
How to Put a Positive Spin on Your Employment Gaps

Job gaps are a chapter of life that nearly all employed workers will experience at some time. For personal reasons, economic reasons, or other reasons, occasionally job gaps can be stigmatized by prospective hiring executives. In the proper light, however, you can turn those job gaps into effective, positive differentiators that prove your endurance, flexibility, and skills acquired. Here’s how to put a positive spin on your employment gaps into a powerful component of your professional story, complete with examples.

Embrace Your Employment Gaps

The primary and foremost step to making an employment gap work in your favor is to accept it.

Whether it be that you were at home raising a child, had taken a break to nurse a family member, were traveling, undertook other studies, or even utilized the time to address health concerns, an acceptance of these facts can actually make your resume more human and make you more relatable to potential employers.

Example: Sarah, a marketing professional, had, in fact, stayed at home for two years to care for aging parents.

Rather than try to disguise this break in her work history, she put it on her resume and explained skills she had gained as a care provider, like patience, time management, and empathy (all great “soft skills”).

These attributes translate into just about any career situation, and Sarah was using them to demonstrate her well-rounded abilities.

Emphasize Skill Development

Employment gaps can also be an opportunity to gain by way of experience, both personal and professional.

If you utilized that time to undertake some courses, learn a new skill, volunteer, or get involved in something that can contribute to your growth as an individual, mention those in your resume and cover letter.

Example: John, who worked as an information technology specialist, got laid off and experienced one year of unemployment.

During his unemployed year, John took online courses on cybersecurity, volunteered at a local non-profit by doing installations of secure networks for that non-profit, and attended seminars in his profession.

When he applied for new jobs, John was able to add to his resume his proactive measures to keep up with industry trends and his demonstration of lifelong learning.

Use Freelance and Independent Contract Work

Freelance and contract employment that is done in between jobs can demonstrate a lot of initiative and commitment on your part. 

You can also get diverse clients and projects which will be added to your resume as well as your professional portfolio. Highlighting this type of work can be a simple yet effective way to put a positive spin on your employment gaps. 

Example: Maria was a graphic designer who had freelanced for the past 18 months after she had moved to a new city.

She had been working with several small businesses in the city during that time, which allowed her to do website design and branding.

She also used these in her portfolio, which showcased her versatility and ability to meet the needs of several different clients.

It also showcased that she had worked actively in the past 18 months of her career, even if she was not in a traditional full-time job.

How to Put a Positive Spin on Your Employment Gaps

Emphasize Transferable Skills

Acknowledge that sometimes, the gaps in employment can translate into having diverse experiences in other areas or types of work.

Actually, demonstrate the skills you learned during your time off that may get transferred and be applied in the position you want to occupy at your disposal.

Example:  For instance, there was Alex, a former teacher who had taken three years out of the field to try to start a small business of his own.

Despite his business’s eventual failure, while it was in operation, Alex learned valuable life skills in project management, marketing, budgeting, and customer service.

When he returned to the field of education, Alex was able to use these skills as a foundation on which to show how they would work as a means to help augment his administrative and teaching skills.

Put A Positive Spin On The Gaps

When speaking of these gaps in interviews or in cover letters, frame the gaps positively. Talk instead of where you were able to travel during that time, not of the gap itself.

Example: Emily, a project manager, had been away for a year traveling and experiencing new and different cultures.

Rather than stating her travel experience, she stated how her year out helped her enhance her cultural learning , develop her problem-solving skills, and diversity in her capacity to work with all types of work teams.

Such a positive connotation said that her experience away from work was a learning experience and added to her professional value.

 

Network and Seek Recommendations

Networking can also work as a effective means of describing and justifying your employment gaps with a positive spin.

Ask for recommendations from those with whom you worked during the period of employment gap, which may include your freelance clients, volunteer coordinators, and even your course instructors.

Example: Raj, an engineer, took a leave of two years to complete his Master in Environmental Engineering.

In the interim, he volunteered with a few environmental organizations and managed to get a few projects completed.

He sought recommendations from his professors and volunteers’ coordinators, who could vouch for his hard work and skills.

Such recommendations helped cover up the gap in his work experience and added a good endorsement of his capability.

Demonstrate Resilience within the Gap

Sometimes, employment gaps can be due to trying times. Instead, make them a time of showcasing your strength and ability to thrive over hard times.

Most employers are looking for this characteristic since it lets them know that you can handle challenging times, can adjust, and respond even stronger.

Example:  Lisa, as a sales manager, had a debilitating health condition that left her with a large gap in employment.

She detailed, in her job applications what work she had undertaken to stay up-to-date with industry changes while she was unemployed.  She was then able to market her resilience, focus, and commitment to her career, taking what might be a detrimental gap and turning it into a tale of personal resilience and career determination.

 

Add the Context in Your CV

Having a small mention about the employment gaps in your resume itself can, in some way, provide some context for the prospective employers to work upon.

It can help in preventing some misunderstanding and in making you look as transparent with nothing to hide. Put it out there. Let them know there was a gap.

Example: Mark, a software engineer, had a layoff that led to a nine-month employment gap.

He wrote a brief note in his cover letter detailing the layoff and what he had been doing during the gap period, like making contributions to open-source projects and completing a cloud computing certification.

The honesty made the prospective employers visualize the gap and what he did to remain relevant in his field of career.

 

How to Put a Positive Spin on Your Employment Gaps

 

Reframe The Narrative

Reframing your story means shifting the emphasis from the gap to the growth and accomplishments during the gap period.

This can help you draft an engaging story concurrent with your career objective.

Example: Laura had a two-year break from a position as a financial analyst to start a family.

She did so by highlighting the financial planning and budgeting skills she acquired during this time and the online financial modeling courses she enrolled in during that time.

By highlighting the personal and professional development she was engaging in during this time, Laura was able to construct a positive and forward-looking narrative.

 

Get ready for Questions in the Interview

Being able to provide answers to questions relating to any gaps in your employment is very important.

Practice your responses to ensure they are concise, honest, and put a positive spin on the experience.

Example: Responding in an interview to being asked about the two-year hole in his resume, software engineer James spoke about how he had spent those two years indulging his love of travel, as well as freelancing on coding projects he was interested in.

He spoke of the varied range of projects that he was exposed to, the range of programming languages he had to learn, and how, as a result, he became a more rounded developer.

In plotting that information in a well-prepared response, he took what might have been a red flag and made it so that he was still keeping engaged as a professional.

 

Landing the Job

Gaps in employment need not dissuade you from your career.

On the other hand, you must derive the maximum benefit from the same

By recognizing the gap, concentrating on skill acquisition, using freelance to your advantage, carving out transferable skills, positioning the gap positively, building networks, demonstrating resilience, providing the context in the resume, recasting your story, and preparing for the interview questions, you will be in a position to make the employment gaps a very potent tool and be able to put a positive spin on your situation.

Not only do the strategies minimize the visibility of the gaps, they can also make the gap very attractive and beneficial to the overall professional development.

Once again, please remember that everybody has a unique career and the employment gaps are nothing but mere chapters in the professional story.

If properly handled, the gaps can be a good story to illustrate your adaptability, never-ending learning, and resilience in any situation, making you a very attractive option to the prospective employer.

Are you ready to elevate your career? Learn more about our professional resume packages here. 

Navigating Rejection: Tips for Handling Feedback in Your Job Search

Job Search
navigating rejection

The journey of job searching may be laced with times of hope and, on the other side of the coin, feel like waters that often swirl out of control. Navigating rejection is one of the most dreaded occurrences during this process. Whether it’s radio silence from a would-be employer or a blunt “no,” rejection is the brutal reality of looking for work. But it also might be some of the best growing and learning experiences. I know– I’ve learned from mine.

Here are some strategies for how to handle the feedback and rejection from your job search, turning those setbacks into stepping stones toward your goals for your career.

How to Make Sense of Rejection in the Job Market

First, it’s crucial to recognize that navigating rejection is not a reflection of your worth as a person or professional.
I was crushed the first time I was rejected from a job I really wanted. I let it get to me, it affected my job search for a solid week, and I let it control my feelings about myself.
The job market is influenced by numerous factors beyond your control, such as timing, the specific needs of a company, and the pool of applicants. Sometimes, rejection speaks less of your qualifications and more of the lack of fit. Maintaining such a perspective can assist you in not losing confidence and resilience in the face of rejection.

Embracing Feedback

Take the notion of feedback from the premise that when you receive the feedback, negative or positive, you receive it as a gift. Constructive criticism can provide invaluable insights into areas for improvement, whether it’s your resume, interview skills, or certain qualifications. If feedback is not automatically provided, don’t hesitate to ask for it politely. Use the information to refine your approach and make it a stronger candidacy for your next opportunities.

Building Resilience

Building resilience is like your emotional armor in the job search. It includes adopting a growth mindset where every experience is taken as an opportunity for learning and development. So, pat yourself on the back for every effort and all the progress you’ve made, not only the outcomes. Be compassionate with yourself and remember that persistence is what will finally make your efforts pay off toward your career goals. Be patient.

Fine-Tuning Your Approach

Use rejection as another chance to reassess and fine-tune the areas of your job search that may not be working. Look for patterns in the feedback; all the comments seem to be leading toward only a few themes. What are the skills or experiences that you could fill in more detail? Is there any gap in your resume that you want to fill? The intention of this self-analysis is that with the realization, it will be possible to make targeted improvements in your job search approach so that you emerge stronger as a candidate in the race. What do I really want to do? How can I stand out as the obvious choice?

Networking and Mentorship

Developing a supportive network of family, friends, and professionals helps in receiving emotional and practical advice. Look for mentors who can guide and review your application documents and provide insights into your target industry. In addition, networking could act as a source of new opportunities by way of relationships, perhaps for job leads more befitting.

Expansion

Sometimes, even a rejection can be a time to broaden your scope. Look at related fields and even opportunities where you could gain that advancement knowledge, and be open to the possibility of more education if it is in line with reaching your ultimate career goal. You can do this to make yourself more well-rounded and appealing to prospective employers. Thinking of getting that certification? Do it!

Staying Positive and Healthy

Maintaining a positive outlook is crucial, but it’s equally important to look after your mental and physical health while navigating rejection. Job searching can be stressful, so engage in activities that boost your well-being, such as exercise, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones. A healthy balance can keep you motivated and reduce the toll of rejection.
Back when my first rejection hit me, it was in the Fall. That is when I learned to can. During that job search and rejection time, I canned tomatoes, salsa, pickles, applesauce, pears, and so much more. It relaxed me AND it made me feel productive even though my job search wasn’t productive.

Persistence Pays Off

Remember the power of persistence. Every ‘no’ is bringing you closer to the ‘yes’ of destiny. Stay committed to your job search but be flexible in your approach. Be ready to learn, change, and jump at new opportunities. Navigating rejection isn’t always a straight path.

Learning from Success Stories

Find motivation from the success stories of people who have received rejections but later on have been hired in the company of their dreams. It may have helpful advice and motivation for moving forward. Knowing that even the very successful professionals have been rejected many times could make it normal and foster tenacity. ‘They’ve been through this, and look where they are now!’

Get Professional Help

If rejection is taking a toll on your confidence or even mental well-being, then consider seeking assistance from either career counselors (hello there!) or mental health professionals. They would provide techniques with which to deal with rejection, measures to make your job search better, and ways to handle stress.

Conclusion

While navigating rejections within your job search can surely be difficult, it is also an opportunity for growth and self-improvement. Practice embracing feedback, bouncing back, refining your strategy, and staying positively healthy in mind and body, and you’ll turn rejection into an incredible force for moving your career forward. Remember, every “no” is a step closer to the “yes” that will open the door to new professional adventures. Keep learning, adapting, and persisting—your perseverance will pay off.

5 Essential Soft Skills Employers Want You to Have

Cover LettersResume Writing

In today’s ever-changing work environment, soft skills play a pivotal role in determining professional success. Unlike hard skills, which are about a person’s skill set and ability to perform a certain type of task or activity, soft skills are interpersonal and broadly applicable in the workplace.

Here are five essential soft skills for professional success, along with examples of how to showcase them in your resume or cover letter.

1. Communication

Importance: Effective communication is crucial in any workplace setting. It involves clearly conveying ideas, listening actively, understanding others’ perspectives, and responding appropriately. Good communicators can inspire and influence people, fostering a positive and productive work environment. Think about the leaders you know who inspired you. What was one of their best qualities? I bet it was the ability to communicate with their team.

How to Use in Resume/Cover Letter: In your resume, include instances where your communication skills led to positive outcomes, such as resolving conflicts, delivering presentations that won significant accounts, or leading workshops that improved team performance.
In your cover letter, you might write, “I have honed my communication skills through various leadership roles, consistently ensuring clear and effective dissemination of objectives and fostering an atmosphere of open dialogue.”

2. Teamwork

Importance: Collaboration and the ability to work well with others are fundamental in most jobs. Employers look for individuals who can contribute to the team, share ideas, and support their colleagues to achieve common goals while not involving themselves in drama.

How to Use in Resume/Cover Letter: Highlight specific projects where your ability to work in a team was evident in achieving results. For instance, “Collaborated with a cross-functional team to increase project efficiency by 30%, demonstrating strong teamwork and problem-solving skills.” In a cover letter, mention how you believe in the power of teamwork to overcome complex challenges and bring innovative solutions to life.

3. Problem-Solving

Importance: The ability to identify problems, analyze underlying causes, and implement solutions is invaluable. Problem-solving skills show that you can navigate challenges creatively and effectively, a quality that is highly prized in any role. We like to use CAR stories (Challenge, Action, Results). What was the challenge you faced? What action did you take to change it? What were the results?

How to Use in Resume/Cover Letter: Provide examples of situations where you successfully solved a problem or made an improvement. For example, “Identified a bottleneck in the production process and implemented a new strategy that reduced delivery times by 20%.” Your cover letter could explain a scenario where your problem-solving skills led to a significant breakthrough in a project or task.

4. Adaptability

Importance: In a fast-paced work environment, change is constant. Being adaptable means you can handle unexpected situations with ease and remain flexible in your approach to challenges and new tasks. How can we forget the pandemic? Adaptability in a time of crisis wins every time.

How to Use in Resume/Cover Letter: Mention experiences where you had to quickly adapt to changes or learn new skills to meet the demands of your role. In your resume, this could be, “Adapted to a rapidly changing work environment by learning new software in a short period, which increased the team’s productivity by 15%.” In your cover letter, reflect on a time when your adaptability allowed you to successfully navigate a difficult situation.

5. Emotional Intelligence

Importance: Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others. It involves empathy, social skills, self-awareness, and self-regulation. High emotional intelligence can lead to better relationships at work, improved leadership skills, and a positive workplace culture.

How to Use in Resume/Cover Letter: Highlight roles or situations where your emotional intelligence made a difference. This could be through conflict resolution, mentoring colleagues, or leading a team through a stressful period. For example, “Leveraged my high emotional intelligence to mediate a conflict between team members, resulting in enhanced team harmony and productivity.” In your cover letter, discuss how your emotional intelligence has been a key factor in your professional development and success.

Conclusion

Soft skills are increasingly becoming the differentiators between good and great professionals. By effectively showcasing these skills in your resume and cover letter, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you not only have the technical skills required for the job but also the interpersonal capabilities that will make you a valuable addition to their team.
Remember, the key is to provide specific examples that highlight how these skills have contributed to your successes and how they can be beneficial in the role you’re applying for.

Mastering and Adapting Your Resume to Market Trends

Executive ResumesResume Writing

In the ever-evolving job market, adapting your resume to reflect current trends is crucial. A well-crafted resume does more than list your skills and experiences; it positions you as an ideal candidate in the eyes of potential employers (the goal). This post will guide you on how to master and adapt your resume to stay competitive.

 

Understanding Market Trends

The first step in adapting your resume is understanding current market trends. Trends can vary by industry, but common elements include the increased importance of digital skills, a focus on soft skills like communication and adaptability, and the need for evidence-based accomplishments. Staying informed about these trends ensures that your resume resonates with what employers are currently looking for.

Analyzing Job Descriptions

To tailor your resume effectively, analyze job descriptions in your field. Identify keywords and phrases frequently used and incorporate them into your resume. This not only helps in passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) but also shows that you’re in tune with the language and priorities of your industry.

Adapting Your Resume

1. Highlighting Relevant Skills

Update your resume to highlight skills that are in demand. For instance, if digital proficiency is trending in your field, ensure your resume reflects your competence in relevant software or platforms. Relevancy is one of my pet peeves. If you don’t have the skills relevant to the job, you may not be a good fit. If you do have the skills needed, don’t just list them, back them up by demonstrating how you’ve used them effectively in past roles.

2. Showcasing Achievements

Rather than just listing your duties at previous jobs, focus on your achievements. Use specific examples and quantify your successes wherever possible.
– Did you increase sales by 30%?
– Did you lead a project that resulted in significant cost savings?
– How did you help your team overcome a certain hurdle?
These specifics make your contributions tangible and memorable.

3. Modernizing the Format

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all resumes. Today’s resumes are more visual and concise. Use a clean, modern layout with bullet points for easy readability. Infographics and charts can be used sparingly to showcase key achievements. However, ensure that the design does not overpower the content.

4. Incorporating Soft Skills

Employers are increasingly valuing soft skills. Showcase your communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities through concrete examples. Kennedy suggests using scenarios from your work experience where you demonstrated these skills effectively.

5. Customizing for the Role

Don’t forget to customize your resume for each application. This doesn’t mean rewriting it entirely, but rather tweaking it to highlight the most relevant experiences and skills for each job. When in doubt, check out the job description. You’ll find lots of little gems in there (keywords, descriptors, etc.).

Overcoming Challenges

Adapting your resume can be challenging, especially when transitioning industries or re-entering the job market after a gap. In such cases, focus on transferable skills and continuous learning. Highlight any courses, certifications, or volunteer work that demonstrate your commitment to staying relevant in your field.

The Role of Networking

Networking can significantly impact your job search. Engage with professionals in your industry through platforms like LinkedIn. Often, a strong network can provide insights into market trends and even lead to job opportunities that are not advertised publicly.

Continuous Learning

In a fast-changing job market, continuous learning is key. Stay updated with the latest trends and skills in your industry. Online courses, webinars, and professional workshops can be excellent resources for this. Every extra bit of learning helps. Add them!

In Conclusion…

Mastering and adapting your resume is an ongoing process. It involves staying informed about market trends, highlighting your most relevant skills and achievements, and continuously learning and networking. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your resume will stand out in today’s competitive job market.