A strong resume is critical in any job search. Think of it as an opportunity to get your foot in the door and start conversations that may lead to a meaningful professional opportunity. But what makes a resume strong enough to standout from the rest of the pack? There are hundreds and thousands of suggestions that career experts recommend in hundreds of books that are solely about resume writing. Here are our top five tips:

Update Your Information: This might sound overly simple, but do you have the correct phone number, email address and living address on your resume? You would be surprised how many people forget to update this information on their resume after a move or a change and it could make a big difference. For example: You apply to jobs in Boston after moving there from Los Angeles, but a Boston-area human resources hiring manager skips over your “Los Angeles resume” because they are only looking at “Boston candidates”.

Use the Right Keywords/Titles: Today’s job market sees more job seekers applying for fewer open jobs and human resources departments/hiring managers do not have the time to look at every resume individually. Most likely, after posting an open job on a career website like Urban Interns, the person reviewing resumes will run a search through all the applications that applied. The search will narrow down the list of candidates by as much as 75 percent or more. So how does your resume make the cut? Keywords and position titles.

Lets say you run the social media applications at your company. Under responsibilities, should you list “social media” or “Twitter and Facebook”? The answer is both. The chances of your resume getting noticed will improve greatly if you list important keywords more then once or twice in the entire body of your resume. Another area to consider for an upgrade is your position titles. It might have made sense at your old job to be the “Production Manager, Team A” in the marketing department, but simply listing “Production Manager, Team A” doesn’t convey that you were in charge of 75 percent of the production of marketing collateral and might not make sense for people unfamiliar with the company. Instead, make your positions titles commonplace that directly and closely relates to the work you did. For example: “Marketing Manager, Production” or just “Marketing Manager”. Don’t worry about background checks; changing your titles slightly will pass the bar.

Don’t Shortchange Your Experience: Don’t feel the need to start cutting away from previous work experience and responsibilities just to fit your resume on one page. If you have the background to add a second page, do so. Your previous experience is critical to finding new jobs, so make sure it’s all there. Also, keeping your complete background lets you add more keywords, which greatly helps getting your resume noticed by search engines.

Proofread: Your resume has to be flawless and void of mistakes – grammatically and otherwise. As a rule of thumb, you cannot proofread your resume enough to make sure it’s 100 percent perfect. Maybe even visit a co-working space to get feedback from people in your industry.

Ask Someone to Review: After your resume is up-to-date and complete, ask a friend, co-worker or family member to look it over for you. A fresh set of eyes will add fresh perspective. This “somebody” can not only help you more effectively proofread your resume, but let you know if something is confusing or if your missing an important piece of data. Don’t be embarrassed and ask people who you trust to help you with the review.

If your resume is the key to a new job or career, you will want to make sure it’s polished before you start showing it off. Use these tips and advice to boost your job search now.

It might still feel like winter outside, but it’s the season to start preparing for summer internships. Businesses both large and small are starting to think about summer internships, and if you’re trying to land a highly-coveted position, now is the time to get started with your application process. But before you do, read our tips on how to navigate the world of summer internships:

What Type of Internship: The first question is whether your college or university requires you to complete an internship in a specific field. For example, if you are a public relations major in college, you may be required to complete a public relations internship in order to qualify for graduation. However, if you’re not bound to any strict requirements, there are dozens upon dozens of options out there once you identify what interests you. Make sure to include this info on your resume!

What Industry? While you may have to apply for more than one internship, it doesn’t mean that you have to apply for every public relations internship out there. Start by narrowing down your industry focus. Do you like fashion, social media or want to work for a non-profit? Find a few areas that interest you and begin your search there.

Talk to Your Advisor: Some, if not most, internships require that you receive college credit as a condition of employment. Even if you don’t need an advisor to register for the internship or to receive credit, speaking to one might still be a good idea. An advisor can tell you what to expect from an internship, how to apply and might have connections with companies you are interested in. It’s an important appointment to make, even for the most independent students.

Prepare Your Cover Letter and Resume: Before you can start applying for summer internships, you have to make sure your internship resume and cover letter are updated and are in working order. Did you remember to add that new club you joined in the fall? Does your cover letter look professional? Make the strongest first impression possible, and if you need help, there are hundreds of websites on the Internet that offer free samples and guides. College career centers also provide assistance.

Get References: A potential employer could very easily want to check your references, so keep the screening process moving by having them handy. Ask your college advisor, perhaps a previous professor or two or boss.

Where to Apply: If you know specific companies you want to work for this summer, try searching their website for career information. If you want to see which companies are advertising summer internship positions, try a job board like Urban Interns that has up-to-date job listings.

Learn and Have Fun: You are taking an internship to learn, so try to apply for positions where you will build tangible skills and credentials. But just because a summer internship is work does not mean you cannot have fun! Finding an internship that is both educational and fun—now that’s the position you really want to get!

Consider your resume as the lifeblood of your job search. It’s often the first impression that you make and it needs to be great. And unlike the job market of yesteryear, there’s more flexibility when it comes to resume writing. There’s no longer a one size fits all approach and rigid format that needs to be followed by all. Nonetheless, resume flexibility doesn’t mean sloppiness. You still need to make sure that when you make that first impression that what you’re putting forth is perfect.

One important tip to keep in mind- regardless of whether you’re looking for an internship, freelance position or full time employment: Be mindful of words and phrases that are overused and worn-out for they can make your resume look and feel out of date. Some examples:

Words/Phrases to Avoid:
Detail oriented
Good communicator
Independent
Knowledgeable
Motivated
Multitasker
Problem solver
Reliable
Resourceful
Results-oriented or goal-oriented
Seasoned professional
Team player

It’s hard to stand out from the crowd when you’re using words and phrases that have been used so often by so many people. Also, keep your resume clean and simple. Don’t clutter it with unnecessary adjectives. Instead, think of way to quickly, but clearly explain why you’re unique, why you’re a great hire, and why you should be contacted immediately. Don’t forget to highlight your work experience and knowledge of relevant subject matter.

Bottom line: With multiple candidates vying for every position, hiring managers weed through resumes quickly. Keep your resume clean, simple and relevant. For the best results on your job search, avoid unnecessary words and phrases to present yourself as the talented candidate you are.

Even now with businesses beginning to hire again, increasing the number of interns on staff is still a sexy business model because of the low cost and low overhead they bring with them. And while interns may require training that an experienced full-time staffer might not, hiring interns is still very beneficial for businesses (as is hiring a freelancer). Follow these tips to make sure your next intern hire is a great one.

Tip #1: Find an Intern Interested in What You Do

You, as the business owner, are obviously very passionate in what your business does. Make sure the intern you hire is interested in what you do too. If you run a hat store, you want someone with an interest in the fashion industry. Just because another perspective intern has a better resume, they might like sports and not fashion. Choose the intern who will immerse themselves in your business.

Tip #2: Background Education is Important

If you run a marketing or public relations firm, look at interns who are majoring in marketing, public relations, or communications in college. Often, you’ll receive resumes from people with all sorts of education backgrounds and some might be enticing. But someone who has an education in the direct field they are interning in will have an easier and quicker time adjusting to the workload you give them. They’ll also be able to understand your business better.

Tip #3: Set Clear Goals

This is a good tip when managing anyone on your team. Setting clear goals will keep you and your intern focused. Think of setting goals that are time related, results orientated, professional development driven or anything else that fits your business plan. Give them something tangible, like creating a YouTube strategy for your business.

Tip #4: Be Realistic with Your Expectations

Interns bring a lot to the table. They’re often energetic, social media savvy and eager to learn. However, you can’t expect them to be a seasoned professional with years of experience and the knowledge of the business world. With the proper training you can eventually expand an interns responsibilities, but be mindful of choosing the right starting place, as starting slow will ultimately benefit both you and your intern.

Tip #5: Set an End Date

There are several reasons someone would take an internship. Two of the most common are to: 1) Gain experience and 2) Try to get hired full-time by the company they are working for. And even though some companies hire interns after their internship is completed, for a variety of reasons, many do not. Whatever your ultimate intentions may be- set an end date before the internship even starts. This way, it’s clear to both you and your intern that the internship is for a finite period of time. If it continues longer or perhaps becomes full-time, great. But if not, there’s no need to have an awkward conversation when it’s time to part ways.

For more information about internships, visit: http://www.usajobs.gov/studentjobs/

Hiring a freelancer for the first time is a big step for your business.  You probably have a big project on deck, perhaps even something that’s mission critical, and you’re bringing someone on to get it DONE! Even more importantly you’re trusting that it will be done right.  So how do you find that perfect person to work with you and your team?

1. Shop Around – Even if you do strike gold with the first person you meet, keep looking around.  Trust us, you’ll be happy you did. Why?  Not only will you be that much more confident in your selection, but you never know when you’ll need some extra hands and want to pull back out the contact information of the runner-ups.

2.  Play with the Pros – Experienced freelancers are business owners, too.  They are responsible for managing projects with multiple people and trying to lure new clients.  An experienced freelancer should be familiar with independent contractor forms and should ask you to sign a contract with payment terms and conditions along with the scope of the project.  Pros also have credentials – whether it be an impressive portfolio or membership in professional associations, your freelancer should look quite nice on paper.  His experience might cost more, but in the end – it’s worth your time and effort to find a professional who means business.

3.  Reach Out to References – Professionals will also have previous clients that you can reach out to as references. When you’re working with an experienced freelancer, you’ll be paying for her expertise, but you’ll also be paying the credibility she has built up over time.  Get in touch with your freelancer’s past clients.  She’ll obviously recommend people who were pleased with her work, so ask more informative questions.  What the process was like from start to finish?  Are they’re things that they wish they had done differently?  Learn from other peoples past experiences.

4.  Simplify and Clarify – Before any contracts are signed, determine exactly what work needs to be completed, your budget for the project and your expectations in terms of communication and timelines.  The more precise your expectations, the more likely your freelancer will meet them.

Finding the right freelancer for the job may take a bit more time, but the effort and research won’t go to waste.

If you’re the boss of your company, you might find it difficult to walk the thin line of being both respected and well-liked. The good news is “boss” doesn’t have to be a dirty word. You just need to incorporate the traits of the best bosses into your management style, and you’ll be a successful boss that employees are willing to work hard for.

Here are the most common traits of the best bosses.

• Listens to employees—The best bosses realize that it’s their employees who are out on the front lines day in and day out. The employees are the ones dealing with the customers, hearing the complaints, and following all of the procedures you put in place. This means they have the best insight into what’s working and what isn’t. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you know it all. Your employees could have some really great ideas, and you’ll never know until you listen to them. Also, taking the time to listen to them lets them know you value them, helping to boost employee morale.
• Admits when he’s wrong—Like it or not, you’re going to make mistakes as a boss. We all do. The key is to learn from your mistakes and to not make them again. So, whenever a mistake is made, admit it. Don’t try to pass the blame onto one of your employees. That just makes you look weak, and it causes your employees to despise you.
• Doesn’t manage from a distance—How can you be a good boss if you’re never around? You can’t pretend to know what’s really going on if you aren’t actually there getting your hands dirty.
• Doesn’t micromanage—While you don’t want to manage from a distance, you also don’t want to micromanage. If you’re constantly hovering over the shoulders of your employees, they won’t have the confidence they need to get the job done right. Take a step back, and let your employees own their job. There’s a reason you hired them. Now, let them do their job.
• Is consistent—Inconsistency is the one thing that will drive employees crazy. If one day you’re telling them to do one thing and the next you’re asking them to do the opposite, they’ll think you’re a fool. Likewise, if you allow one employee a certain privilege but refuse the same privilege to another, your inconsistency will make it appear that you play favorites, opening up a nasty can of worms.
• Shows employees his appreciation—Employees need to be told they’re doing a good job at least occasionally. If they don’t feel you value their hard work, they won’t have any reason to bust their butt for you. Reward your employees by promoting those who do a good job, telling them “thanks” when you have a chance, throwing employee appreciation parties, and giving them time off when they need it.

Share your boss stories—good and bad—by leaving a comment.

Who is a good leader according to you?  What are the qualities that make a good leader stand out in the crowd and mesmerize you with finesse in everything he or she does?

Is it enough to have a dynamic personality and be able to stand out in the crowd or handle situations most efficiently? Is it enough to have good management skills and effective listening ability?

Experts say no!

They are of the opinion that while all these qualities are needed for a leader; it is the feeling of empathy towards colleagues and employees that makes a successful leader, and ultimately leads the company towards success.

Many of us hate our boss even if that person has the capacity to handle things most efficiently. There is a reason behind that. Simply handling the responsibilities efficiently does not make an effective leader. Leadership is a skill that very few people can claim to possess.

Let’s see what empathy actually means.  Empathy is the ability to understand other people’s feelings and their needs. A business where empathy is widespread is always successful.

There are companies that see empathy as a form of weakness.  This is evident in the example of Albert John Dunlap, who enjoyed the title of “Chainsaw Al,” that was given to him as he would not think twice before firing any number of employees. Although, he was initially thought to be the perfect CEO, eventually he was found guilty of fraud.  This shows that such people with a cold heart can also be selfish and short sighted.

Effective leaders are people who can take tough decisions when situations warrant, but they also have the heart to communicate with employees on a personal level and understand what is going on inside them. In a bad situation, it is the quality of empathy that distinguishes a good leader from a great leader.

Today, empathy has been recognized as a must-have attribute for a leader in order to be successful and also help an organization achieve its vision.

Can this quality be developed?

According to experts, empathy is built on three behaviors:

-         Understanding and accepting self limitations

-         Listening to others and learning about their personal lives and challenges

-         Looking at leadership as a noble ideal

To ensure an organization adopts widespread empathy, it is essential to leave the office and get outside.  Go to places where people are most likely to be themselves.  It is also important to be genuinely concerned and interested in people.  Pretences are not going to last long and will not serve the purpose.  Forget about who you are and what you do.  Start caring about others. Finally, ensure you bring evidences of the outside world into the office.

Here are a few pointers:

-         Listen to people: Pay attention not just to their words, but the hidden emotions behind what they are saying.  Do not interrupt people and make sure not to dismiss their concerns without listening to them first.

-         Focus on the body language: The body language of people often communicates more than their words.  It tells you what they are feeling or thinking, even if they are saying something different.

-         Be present: When you are in conversation with someone, don’t do anything else.  It is not right to check your mail or look at your watch or even attend a phone call.  Allow them to have their moment with you.

-         Smile from your heart: This has always been said to work wonders.  It makes people comfortable with you and gives them the ability to get rid of any apprehensions they may have.

Gone are the days when cold bloodedness was considered to be a quality desired in a CEO or a senior executive.  People have changed, their thinking has changed and they no longer want to have a boss who is a cane-whipping monster. They would rather have someone who understands them.

Experts opine that even if a person has all the excellent qualities of a smart executive, if there is lack of empathy, the journey towards success is going to be short lived. Put yourself in their shoes and see how success comes after you.

Are you an effective leader in the right sense of the word?

“I didn’t get into engineering because I don’t like math!” OR “I dropped out of engineering because of math!”  We have heard these remarks hundreds of times.

While parents and mentors guide students to go with what they are passionate about, people who enjoy math are likely to come out winners, going by the current trend.  Math is at the crux of who gets paid.  Math skills earn highest salaries, according to a recent survey.  It was revealed that the top-15 high earning degrees require math skills.

Everyone seems to be running away from math taking the easy way out, but in the end the few that work through their algebra, geometry, trigonometry, complex arithmetic, and differential and integral calculus are those that land the crème de la crème of jobs.

Let’s take a look at a list of the highest paying college degrees, based on a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.  This association tracks college graduates’ and jobs on offer.  This data is collected by surveying 200 college career centers.

The figures given below are starting salaries with a scope of going up far higher with a little experience.

1. Petroleum engineering       - $83,121
2. Chemical engineering        - $64,902
3. Mining engineering            - $64,404
4. Computer engineering        - $61,738
5. Computer science              - $61,407
6. Electrical engineering         - $60,125
7. Mechanical engineering      - $58,766
8. Industrial engineering        - $58,358
9. Systems engineering          - $57,438
10. Engineering technology      - $56,447
11. Actuarial science                – $56,320
12. Aeronautical engineering    – $56,311
13. Agricultural engineering     – $54,352
14. Biomedical engineering      – $54,158
15. Construction management – $53,199

According to this list, engineering majors snag 12 of the 15 top spots.  While in college, math majors may not be considered special in any way, their true value surfaces when out of college and looking for jobs.  They can land themselves top jobs with fat post-grad wallets.

Petroleum engineering is the highest-paying degree with the average starting pay being $83,121.  This is a great time to have a newly mined degree in petroleum engineering.  The reason for this is the growing scarcity of petroleum77.  Graduates with these degrees can get to work finding oil and gas reservoirs, or come up with ways to bring these resources to the surface of the Earth.  The industry needs brightest young minds to reach the deepest places for energy resources.

Other engineering majors that pay high include chemical engineers, mining engineering and computer engineers.  Such graduates are considered valuable assets, because there are so few of them, compared to students from other fields, for example, the liberal-arts.  Employers are willing to pay a premium for candidates with math skills as the demand and supply ratio does not match and everyone wants to hire the best from the few there are.

The survey also revealed that the engineering field makes up about 4% of all college graduates; similarly, it is 4% for computer science and 16% each for history and social science.

However, in the United States, the unfortunate scenario is that a large percentage of high school students continue to drop out of colleges or switch to non-engineering majors – because of math.

In comparison, there are so many social work, English, communications majors around, that they command much smaller paychecks, around $29000 to $35,000. This could be the reason students are getting smarter and choosing fields that pay well.  They are picking majors based on the earning power of a particular field.

This is not to say that each and every student with a technology degree may land a plum job but they certainly do have an advantage over students from other fields.  It is a tech driven world and the demand for engineers is growing, which is not so with other fields, especially so in the current economy where finding jobs is not easy.

Out of the 15 top earning degrees, only three are from the non-engineering fields. Even these fields have had good pays all through the past few years, but these fields need math skills too.

The job market pays based on supply and demand.  The less number of graduates there are, the higher the pay.  In the current day, just choosing a major to graduate in is proving to be a challenge in itself. While smartness lies in choosing a field that has high demand and less supply, you, as a student will certainly have to look into where your interest lies.  All the money in the world cannot compensate for the satisfaction and enjoyment you derive from doing what you love. But, don’t give up on math without trying.

In the current economic scenario, many of the questions that were typically asked during job interviews have become redundant.  One such question is, “where do you see yourself in five years time?”  Nobody knows their fate one year from today!

In such a situation, the way job interviews are looked at has changed and the preparation that is needed needs a different line of thinking.

Here are some popular recession-related job interview questions given by HR people, and the replies that the interviewing companies may like to hear.

Go on, check them out and get an edge over the rest:

Why are you looking for a job change in the current market scenario?

This question is asked to find out the main reason for the job change and will provide an insight to the company as to how stable the interviewee is going to be if hired.

It is important to be completely honest and state the reason and also provide some reasoning.

If required in the future, would you be willing to accept lower compensation or designation?

The reason for asking this question is to see how flexible and open the candidate is to any future changes within the organization.  This is an indication that there is such a possibility in the future.

It would help for the candidate to show willingness to comply under such circumstances or be totally upfront in letting them know their views.

Would you be willing to be flexible with your job in terms of role?

The interviewer asks this to understand the mindset of the candidate in terms of flexibility towards the concept of “job rotation” or even when it is required to absorb the person within a new department.

The expected reply would be to display willingness to accept roles that involve job rotation or honing a different skill, in compliance with the need of the hour.

Do you think your current job is secure during these times of recession?  And why?

The interviewer asks this to understand the standing of the candidate in their previous job. It will also reveal how confident the candidate is about their status in their current organization.

It is important for the candidate to talk confidently about the importance of their present role in their job and reason why they could be considered indispensable or important.

How did you manage your team members in today’s economic scenario, when you had to let go of some?

The interviewer, by asking such a question, looks to understand the candidate’s role in the team, exposure to handling such situations and how efficiently such situations are tackled by the candidate.

The candidate can talk about how these situations are taken care of sensitively and give examples of how they handled the process.  If the candidate was responsible for choosing the team members to be axed, they can talk about the reasons for choosing someone and how the news was told to them.

Is a slowdown and a recession the same?

This may not be one of the most popular questions, but it may very well crop up when the interviewer needs to assess the candidate’s awareness of the current situation to understand the knowledge of what’s happening and to see how focused they are.

Either the candidate knows what is going on in the world or not.  It helps to always keep abreast of things, irrespective of whether the post requires it or not.

What three important steps would you have taken if you had the power to avoid the current economic situation?

Something like this may be asked by the interviewer as it would reveal the candidate’s current knowledge regarding the economy nationally as well as globally, as well as gives a perspective of the candidate’s thinking and behavior.

How has the current situation affected your current company?

The interviewer wants to get an idea of not only knowledge of the current economic situation but also the candidate’s involvement and enthusiasm with the organization he or she works for.

Candidates should have complete knowledge of the current company they are in.

What is the executive’s role during this economy?

The interviewer aims at getting an understanding of the candidate’s role and contribution to the overall organizational growth.  This is considered to be an important question that will help the interviewer relate the candidate’s performance with reference to past achievements.

The candidate on his part should explain the challenges overcome and achievements in the previous company.

While a candidate can never really be completely prepared for an interview, it helps to understand that companies when hiring look for candidates who have an understanding and knowledge of what is happening in the world at the time and an in-depth knowledge of the organization they work for.  This is a sign of the involvement and enthusiasm with which the candidate will take up the new responsibilities.

Who doesn’t want to have the “best job in the world”? I would! I know you would too!

There is no reason why each one of us can’t make our jobs the best. You know what they say about loving what you do. You may have even experienced it at some point in your career – perhaps at the very beginning. Remember your first day at work…when you started off… full of enthusiasm, brimming with hope, determined to succeed?

Then…something happened and changed all that!

A negative attitude gave way to all those positive feelings. Boredom, fatigue, responsibilities, challenges are what you encounter now. The problem is that you lost your enthusiasm – which is the key to success. You chose mediocrity and that is what you are – a mediocre employee with no motivation to succeed, taking life as it comes. This leads to frustration and you are running around in circles.

I know this is true for many of us. But it does not have to be that way. This attitude change does not have to happen. Each one of us can make ours the best job in the world.

Skills, Interests and Learning

A job has to be something you enjoy doing. It is extremely important to take up a job that matches your interests and skills. You should be passionate about it. The second thing is to ensure you take control of your job and understand every aspect of not only your job, but also what is happening in your organization. Learn as much as possible. Do not get stuck in the “I do only what I have to” attitude. Take it upon yourself to strive and learn more to improve your knowledge on how things work in your company. This will stand you in good stead wherever you go. Knowledge is power!

With the passage of time, jobs can evolve and employees who are in tune with the needs of the organization are considered invaluable. If the need arises, you can even volunteer for tasks that you enjoy more and perhaps move out of roles that have become less enjoyable or boring. You have created plenty of options for yourself within your organization, thus making yourself almost indispensable.

Excel In What You Do

Best jobs do not exist ready-made; you will have to make yours the best. In order to have the best job in the world, it is important to excel in what you do. An employee needs to be proactive and be willing to take the initiative and challenges with enthusiasm and have the ability to think out-of-the-box.

Tips To Making Your Job The Best

• To be able to do this, you must first recognize your skills, interests and passions.

• Think back to the time when you used to feel good about yourself and your work, and make a note.

• Think of any past projects that you thoroughly enjoyed working on.

• Make a list of your most rewarding accomplishments, even if they were way back in the past.

• Talk to people who you have always respected and whose advice you consider valuable, people you have worked with, and people who have seen you work.

• If you are already in a job you love, you can make it rewarding by ensuring your goals meet those of the organizations’. Try and contribute more than is expected of you and keep learning.

Organizations also have a huge role in helping employees find a perfect job. This they can do by providing an atmosphere for learning and ensuring the workplace is enjoyable for an employee to work in. The work environment should be rewarding and the management appreciative of the employee’s performance. If you feel you are not in such an organization, then you may even have to shift jobs and find a job that values performance.

Finally, it really does not take much to have the “best job in the world.” It can be achieved with providing yourself the motivation to give your best. Give your 100% and be an integral part of the organization and its operations – and watch your enthusiasm return.