Career and Education Guide by The Examiner

APRIL 22, 2017

Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRESCHOOL A CHILDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FIRST FORMAL EDUCATION

MUSIC 101 WHY MUSIC EDUCATION MATTERS

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Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Career & Education Guide

Choosing the Right Preschool............................................................................Page 3

Spectrum Station..................................................................................................Page 3 Indicators of Kid’s Readiness for Kindergarten..............................................Page 4 STUDY SPOT: How to Create a Great Study Environment ��Page 5 MUSIC 101: Why Music Education Matters....................................................Page 6

Meyer Music.........................................................................................................Page 7 College Just Ahead: How to Help Kids Prepare for College Life ��Page 8 & 9 Things to Consider When Choosing a College..............................................Page 10 Trade School: Enrollment on the Rise.............................................................Page 11

American Family Insurance..............................................................................Page 11 Advise for Soon-To-Be Graduates....................................................................Page 12 Change Ahead: Deciding if a Career Change is Right for You ��Page 13

Independence College of Cosmetology..........................................................Page 13 How to Get Noticed in a Crowded Job Market...............................................Page 14 Catch The Eye: The Right Way to Update a Resume....................................Page 15

State Farm Insurance........................................................................................Page 16

Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017 Metro Creative # BS167231

• Are pre- and post-care services available? A school that has flexible hours may be appealing to some. This enables parents to drop off and pick up children according to their own work schedules or in coordination with school hours for other children in the family. • Visit the school and assess the environment. A school may look excellent on paper, but you will not get a feel for it until visiting the school during a school day. Take your child along and get his or her opinion. Parents may love a particular school, but if kids are uncomfortable, the school may prove ineffective. • Confirm the curriculum before enrolling. Schools may have different educational philosophies. These can run the gamut from the Montessori Method to the Waldorf Approach to the High/Scope Approach. Familiarize yourself with a school’s educational philosophy so you can be sure you are making the most informed decision possible. • Go with your gut. Sometimes choosing a preschool boils down to Kindergarten used to mark a child’s first foray into formal education a facility that just feels right. At this stage in a child’s education, schoolBut preschool has now taken up that mantle for many students. ing is about learning social skills and ome parents may recall rigors of the classroom. These academic consider as well. growing acclimated to the routines of their own preschool experi- preschools often teach math and reading. • Is proximity to your home import- the classroom. ences, mostly remembering Proponents of this type of learning say ant? Some parents prefer that their extended moments of play that children are sponges at early ages, children’s preschools be close to home, and more monitored fun and the more information they can be while others want a school closer to their inside the school. But as the world of presented with, the more they are likely office. If your commute to work is long, education has become more competitive, to retain it. Children who are able to sit then keep in mind that children will and students are required to meet cer- and focus for 20 to 30 minutes at a time spend more time at a preschool close to tain standards at even earlier grade levels and are very curious and ask a lot of ques- home, which can cost more and reduce than before, preschool has undergone its tions may make for the best candidates at the amount of time parents and their own transformation. academic-based preschools. Other chil- children spend together. Academic preschools have become a dren may be more comfortable attending • Should the school be faith-based? popular choice for parents hoping their play-based schools. Religious organizations frequently offer children can gain that extra edge. Rather While parents who hope to enroll their their own faith-based preschool prothan the play-based philosophy pre- students in preschool may have to choose grams. Parents will have to decide if they schools adhered to in the past, academic between a play- or academic-based want a faith-based curriculum for their preschools introduce students to the curriculum, there are other factors to young children.

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indergarten can be a pivotal time in a young child’s life.

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Although many kids attend preschool or receive guided learning at home, indergarten marks students’ first official foray into the classroom. This is an exciting time for kids and parents, and also one that may be fraught with nerves. That is especially true for parents who are not quite sure if their children are ready to begin their academic careers. While many school districts mandate that students must be at least five years old to begin kindergarten, age is not the only factor to consider when gauging kids’ readiness for school. Child-education experts note that there is no single factor that determines kids’ readiness for school, but rather there is a host of factors that, when taken together, can help parents determine if their youngster is ready for the rigors of the classroom. The following are some factors parents can consider as they try to determine if their children are ready to enroll in kindergarten. • Separation anxiety: Does your child handle separation well, or is he or she prone to meltdowns each time you leave for even a short period of time? School requires kids to spend several hours away from home and away from their parents, and parents might need to take steps to increase youngsters’ comfort levels away from home before school begins. • Follows instructions: Experts at BabyCenter.com advise that children who are able to listen to simple instructions and follow them will be more apt to thrive in classroom settings. They also will be more capable of keeping up with teachers and peers. • Self-sufficiency: Has your

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Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Career & Education Guide

Indicators of KIDS’ READINESS for Kindergarten

child exhibited signs that he or she can be self-reliant? This includes putting on his or her coat, dressing himself or herself and being able to use the bathroom on his or her own. If not, then you might need to work on the child’s self-sufficiency before school begins. • Cursory knowledge of letters/numbers: While children on the verge of entering kindergarten need not be experts in language and mathematics, kindergarten curricula has become more rigorous thanks to the implementation of new standards. As a result, children should be able to recognize some letters and numbers before starting school. They do not necessarily have to enter school knowing them all or being able to read fluently, but the more familiar they are with language and mathematics the more likely they are to have a successful year in kindergarten. • Coping strategies: Parenting experts affiliated with Care. com say that children on the verge of entering kindergarten should be able to control their emotions to a certain extent. While children may occasionally cry in the kindergarten classroom, it’s important that your child be able to cope with some of the ups and downs of classroom life without shedding tears. • Interest in learning: Another indicator of school readiness is a general interest in learning. Children who like hearing stories, enjoy participating in discussions and activities and are stimulated by information and interactions with others are probably ready to begin their academic careers. Kindergarten readiness can be determined by many factors. Age alone does not dictate a child’s readiness, as there are many additional potential indicators that can help parents determine if their youngsters are ready to begin school.

Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017

Metro Creative # BS167205

student’s academic performance is influenced by a host of factors, including the learning environment both inside the classroom and at home. While students may have only limited control over the environment in their classrooms, they and their parents can do much to create home study environments that are conducive to learning. • Create a “distraction-free” zone. Today’s students are inundated with distractions. Whereas students were once most distracted by radios, televisions and the great outdoors when studying at home, nowadays kids must also find time to focus on their studies with their tablets and smartphones just a stone’s throw away. When choosing a study area at home, parents can designate a “distraction-free” zone where no televisions, radios, tablets and smartphones are allowed. Children are increasingly dependent on their smartphones and tablets, and while such devices can sometimes prove useful to students, that benefit is often outweighed by the distraction they present. When kids study at night, be sure they turn off their smartphones and only use their tablets as study aids. • Emphasize organization. Various organization techniques can help kids be more efficient when studying. Encourage kids to separate their learning materials by subject, and keep a

How to Create a Great Study Environment at Home

While students may have only limited control over the environment in their classrooms, they and their parents can do much to create home study environments that are conducive to learning.

calendar or daily planner at home listing when their assignments are due and which days they will be tested. Encourage youngsters to keep their home study areas tidy as well, as unorganized areas can make it harder to focus or force kids to spend some of their study time cleaning up. • Establish quiet hours at home. Quiet hours at home while kids are studying can help them better absorb their coursework, and that may lead to improved performance in the classroom. While it’s important that a kids’ study areas remain distraction-free, it can also help if distractions outside those areas are minimized. Keep televisions and other potentially noisy distractions turned off while kids are studying. If you want to catch up on a favorite television show or watch a movie, do so on your tablet instead of the television, connecting earphones so kids are not overhearing anything while they’re trying to study. • Keep healthy snacks on hand. Hunger can be just as distracting as electronics or noisy housemates, so keep healthy snacks on hand. In lieu of unhealthy fare like potato chips or empty calories like pretzels, keep your home stocked with fruits and vegetables and protein-rich snacks like Greek yogurt. Such snacks will quell kids’ hunger pangs while also providing a boost of energy. A strong home study environment can help students do their best in the classroom.

ome the 2016-2017 school year, the music and arts budget in the Los Angeles Unified School District will reach its highest point in a dozen years. While that’s great news for students, it also illustrates the sad fact that arts and music programs have taken a considerable hit in recent decades, when arts education fell victim to budget cuts. The benefits of music education extend far beyond getting kids to tap their toes. The National Association for Music Education lists the following benefits among the many reasons to support music education in schools. • Music training helps develop language skills. Studies have shown that music training contributes to the physical development of the part of the left side of the brain associated with processing language. A 2005 study from researchers at Stanford University found that mastering a musical instrument may also improve reading skills, which can benefit students both inside and outside the classroom. • Music training can improve hand-eye coordination. Studies have linked long-term music training to improved hand-eye coordination. That is likely connected to the motor skills children develop when playing musical instruments. Without those instruments, those motor skills may not develop as strongly. • Music improves concentration. Even students who cannot play a musical instrument can still benefit academically from simply

Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Career & Education Guide

Why Musical Education Matters Metro Creative # BS167234

listening to music. In 2007, a research team from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention. Today’s students deal with numerous distractions, from smartphones to tablets to social media, but those who routinely listen to certain types of music might find it easier to block out those distractions and focus on their work. • Music can help students’ emotional development. A 2003 study commissioned by Chorus America found musicians are more likely than the average person to be involved in charity work as volunteers and donors. The NAfME also notes that music students may be more likely to exhibit empathy toward other cultures. • Music can improve self-esteem. In a study examining 117 fourth grade students attending public school in Montreal, a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin found that children who received piano lessons weekly for three years had higher self-esteem than children who were not given piano lessons during the same period. Neither group had participated in formal music instruction before the study, and students in both groups reported similar levels of self-esteem prior to participating in the study. Music education can enrich the lives of young students in a myriad of ways, potentially contributing to happier, more fulfilling lives.

7 Give Your Child the Boost they need by Enrolling them in Music! Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017

Kids Who Make Music

Make Better Grades in School Researchers have found that studying music can help students develop skills they will need for a wide variety of professions such as math, engineering and architecture. Music students also score dramatically higher on SAT college entrance tests than those who don’t study the arts. Do the smarter students study music, or does music make them smarter? Both. Music is essential to a well-rounded education.

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Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Career & Education Guide

any of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high school graduates will be leaving home for a college campus in the fall. Such a departure is often bittersweet for kids and parents alike. Young men and women typically look forward to the freedom and independence that college life can provide, but those same men and women know they will miss the familiarity of home as well. Parents, too, have mixed emotions when kids head to college, as their sadness over a child leaving home is met with the pride they feel that the child they raised is setting out to make their own way in the world. Few moments in life involve such significant change as the moment when a young

man or woman first arrives on a college campus. First-year college students often donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to expect once they arrive on campus, but there are steps parents can take to help their kids prepare for college life. * Teach kids how to schedule their time. One of the things many college kids find once they arrive on campus is that their life is suddenly much less structured and their amount of downtime has increased considerably. Unlike high school, which keeps many kids in class or involved in extracurricular activities from the early morning through the late afternoon, college affords students much more free time, which is theirs to use as they see fit. Some kids dive right into on-campus activities, while others struggle to use their free time to their advantage. Parents can teach time management skills such as how to establish a schedule so all of that free time does not go to waste. This schedule can be adjusted on a

JUST A weekly basis depending on coursework or extracurricular activities. Once kids learn to manage their time effectively, including using breaks between classes to review notes from a recent lecture or upcoming class, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re likely to get the most out of themselves academically and find they have more time to pursue extracurricular activities as well. * Discuss finances and establish a financial arrangement. Many college freshmen struggle to manage their money. Some might never have had a job during high school while others who

Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017

AHEAD did work only did so to earn spending money. But many college students need more than spending money once they reach campus. Rising tuition costs have made it difficult, if not impossible, for parents to bankroll their kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; everyday expenses. As a result, many college students find themselves forced to manage their own money for the first time in their lives. Parents can teach simple financial lessons, such as the benefits of buying groceries as opposed to dining out or ordering in each night. College is also where many young

men and women first sign up for a credit card. Parents can teach their kids the basics of managing credit, such as the benefit of paying off a balance before interest rates kick in and the negative ramifications of missing payments. Parents who can afford to provide financial support for their children enrolled in college should reach a financial agreement with their children before they are off to college. Make sure kids know your financial support does not mean they have unlimited access to your funds, and make it known that such support will not continue if kids arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t performing well in the classroom. * Encourage kids to contact any roommates before the school year begins. Part of the trepidation many kids have when leaving for college concerns how they may or may not develop a relationship with their new roommate. Many schools assign roommates months in advance of the school year, giving kids ample time

to make contact and make arrangements about whom is going to bring certain items, such as a television or coffee pot or even furniture if the room can fit any. Parents should encourage such contact so kids can get a feel of who they will be living with and lay the groundwork for a friendship before they even step foot on campus. The feeling of knowing someone on campus can greatly reduce the anxiety many kids feel when they arrive at school for their freshmen orientation. The day a student leaves for college is a significant day for parents and students alike. Parents can take a number of steps to make the transition to college easier for their college-bound son or daughter.

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THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A

COLLEGE

hen choosing a college, students often look for the best academic institutions. While it’s hard to argue with that approach, high school students facing the decision of where to spend the next four years of their lives should know that the right university is not necessarily the one with the best academic reputation. A host of factors come into play when finding the right match between student and university. Academics should always carry the most weight, but students should

consider a host of other factors before ultimately deciding where to continue their academic careers.  Cost In a perfect world students would not have to worry about financing their college educations. But that’s not a world in which today’s students live, so the cost of a college education is something nearly every college-bound student must consider before making his or her decision. According to the College Board, the average overall cost to attend in-state public college for the 2012-13 academic year for students who

April 22, Education Guide did not receive financialSaturday, aid was $22,261, a 2017 cost| Career of travel& before enrolling in a college nearly 4 percent increase from the previous or university that’s far from home. Mom school year. That sticker price includes the and Dad might not be able to afford to fly cost of living in a dorm, food, books, and their college students home several times the additional expenses college students per year for the holidays and other breaks in typically have. And the College Board notes the school year, and the burden of financing that, despite the cost increase, financial aid that travel can fall on students. If you are budgets stayed the same as the year before, not planning to work during the school year, meaning even those students who received then financing trips home may prove very financial aid paid more money. difficult. While cost should not dictate where  Environment high school students ultimately go to college, Both the academic and social envistudents should know that eventually ronments at a college or university merit student loans will have to be repaid with consideration when students are deciding interest, so those who do not want to bury where to continue their educations. Some themselves in student loan debt after gradstudents thrive in a competitive academic uation would be wise to choose a university environment, while others tend to fare better that’s more affordable or one that’s offering a in a more casual setting. Students should more attractive scholarship and grant pack- assess which environment is best for them age. Unlike student loans, scholarships and and choose a university that best suits them grants do not have to be repaid. as a student.  Distance from home A college or university’s social enviWhile many high school students may ronment is another factor for students to think a school far away from their folks is consider. Larger schools tend to rely heavily ideal, the reality of being far away from home on Greek life, while smaller schools may be is a struggle for many college students who more intimate and less exclusive. Students attend college outside of their home states. who hope to join a sorority or fraternity Homesickness is a very real thing for college might benefit from a school with a thriving students who are away from home and on Greek life, while those who want a more their own for the first time. intimate social environment might prefer a In addition to homesickness, colsmaller school where all of the students seem lege-bound students should consider the to know one another.

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Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017

TRADE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

s overseas production operations return to the United States, enrollment in trade schools continues to rise. Despite high levels of unemployment, domestic manufacturing companies are finding it difficult to fill positions, thanks in part to an attitudinal shift over the years wherein young people did not consider manufacturing a respectable or attractive trade. Such attitudes are starting to change, as indicated by the surging enrollment at trade schools. The Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, for example, is experiencing its highest enrollment in years, with students young and old looking to take advantage of the growing number of available manufacturing positions. Thanks to high demand, the school has even introduced a six-month certificate program for the first time in its history. Many manufacturers have bemoaned the lack of qualified machinists to fill positions, and those manufacturers are emphasizing that today’s machinists must be computer literate and be skilled in computer-aided design and engineering. That increased demand for skilled workers has driven up their wages. In fact, a 2012 study from Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce noted

that 63 percent of workers with associates 11 degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering or manufacturing earned more money than the average person with a bachelor’s degree in the humanities or social sciences. As trade schools continue to benefit from the return of manufacturing jobs, recent college graduates continue to find a job market that is less than welcoming. Analysis of government data for the Associated Press found that in early 2012 half of recent college graduates were either unemployed or underemployed (working in positions unrelated to their degree). Such a reality has been advantageous to trade schools, which have become an increasingly attractive option for the masses of unemployed men and women.

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Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Career & Education Guide

Advise for Soon-To-Be

raduation season, an oft-emotional time of great celebration and reflection, is on the horizon. Though soon-to-be graduates are about to have one set of challenges firmly behind them, other important life decisions and experiences are looming in the not-too-distant future. Although there’s no magic set of rules for post-graduation, the following advice can help recent gradates transition from the classroom to the ceremony and then life after school.GRAD • Attend the graduation ceremony. Graduating students may debate whether or not to attend their graduation ceremonies. Such ceremonies tend to be lengthy, and outdoor affairs can be hot and uncomfortable. However, graduation is a milestone

moment that you won’t get to enjoy again. Attending graduation allows you one last academic experience, and even if that may seem like too meaningful right now, you might regret skipping the ceremony down the road. • Enjoy graduation but buckle down once the dust settles. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the job market for new graduates is improving marginally. But the Institute for College Access and Success notes that many college graduates will be saddled with around $25,000 in debt upon earning their degrees. Many student loans have a six-month repayment grace period after graduation, so new grads who don’t already have a job lined up may want to use some of that grace period to travel, visit distant relatives or relax and recharge before their

“Your life is your story, and the adventure ahead of you is the journey to fulfill your own purpose and potential.” — Kerry Washington

first payment comes due. Use the time wisely, but be prepared to buckle down when the time comes to start repaying loans. • Join an alumni association. Regardless of the size of your school, chances are strong they have a local alumni association and several chapters across the country. Take advantage of these organizations to connect with fellow alumni, who can be invaluable sources of information and provide connections that may help you find a job in your field. • Read and learn new skills. If you have yet to land that first job, use some of your down time to reacquaint yourself with reading for pleasure instead of reading as part of an assignment. You also can use extra time to explore new skills, such as learning certain software or applications that may help you stand out in a competitive job market.

• Before you decide what you want to do, you may have to figure out what you don’t like. Another way to use free time is to volunteer or apply for internships in fields you may want to work in. These experiences can help you determine your career options and find a career you find both challenging and exciting. But such opportunities can also help you determine when a given line of work isn’t for you. Oftentimes, finding the right career path takes some trial and error. Don’t get too down if an opportunity doesn’t pan out. Instead, keep your head up and take advantage of the next opportunity that comes your way. Graduation is a time of mixed emotions. Graduates can not only use graduation season to make lasting memories with friends but also to take the first steps toward the next phase of their lives.

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Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017

hile losing weight and quitting smoking remain among the most popular New Year’s resolutions each year, many more people resolve to change careers at the dawn of a new year. Changing careers is a significant step, especially for men and women who are firmly established in their fields. A career change can be just as rewarding and life-changing as losing weight or quitting smoking, and there are some things professionals might want to consider before resolving to change careers in the new year.

Changing careers vs. switching jobs

Changing careers and switching jobs are not the same thing, and some people may want the former while others may only be in need of the latter. A full-fledged career change may require returning to school and a willingness to start from the bottom. A job change typically allows professionals to stay in their fields and move on to another position, whether it’s with their existing employer or with another company.

13 if at all? Spouses and children may feel better about the change knowing they were involved in the decision, and talking things through with family may help working professionals determine if changing careers is the best decision for them.

Long-term goals

Long-term goals are another thing to consider before making a career change. That’s especially true for mid- or late-career professionals who may already have made significant progress toward achieving their long-term goals. Discuss long-term goals with your spouse or significant other and how changing careers might affect those goals. Long-term goals can change, and while the ability to realize those goals might not weigh heavily in your decision regarding a career change, understanding how such a change might affect your retirement or other late-life plans can only help you make the most informed decision possible. Many people resolve to change careers at the dawn of a new year. But such a decision requires the careful consideration of a host of factors.

Career trajectory

The direction of a person’s career may also influence whether or not they want to make a career change. Established professionals mulling a career change should consider their willingness to start anew. Many mid-career professionals have worked for years to establish themselves in their fields and within their companies. Switching careers does not mean that experience and reputation is invaluable, but neither attribute may carry as much weight in a different line of work, and that can affect career trajectory and future earnings.

Effects on others

CHANGE AHEAD? Deciding if a Career Change is for You

Established professionals must also consider the effect that a career change may have on their families. Married mid-career professionals should discuss changing careers with their spouse, and even their children if the kids are old enough to understand. Discuss the pros and cons of changing careers and the impact that making such a change may have on your family’s daily life. Will the family have to move? Will the family lifestyle change dramatically,

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inding a new job is never an easy task. That task grew even more difficult over the last half decade, when a struggling economy forced many companies to lay off workers and institute hiring freezes. As a result, unemployment numbers rose, and many out-of-work men and women found themselves searching for ways to stand out among a crowded pool of applicants. Standing out in a crowded job market has always been tough, but many professionals find it even more difficult to get noticed now, when many companies request prospective employees apply for job postings via the Internet. That process can be frustrating, as even the most qualified applicants can easily get lost among the myriad of workers all applying for the same position. But as daunting as finding a new job may seem to those looking for work, there are ways to stand out among the masses. * Go the extra mile when sending your application. Many online job postings provide a link or an email address where applicants can fill out an application or send their resumes. This is a necessary step, and applicants should follow the directions in the posting. But applicants

Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Career & Education Guide

who really want to get noticed can take the extra step of finding the contact information for the company’s hiring manager and sending their resume directly to that person’s email address. Include the title of the position you’re applying for in the subject line of your email, and cut and paste your cover letter into the body of the email. In addition to sending your email to the company’s hiring manager, consider CC’ing the person who might be your boss if you were to get the position. * Tighten things up. Your resume should reflect your work experience, but you want to focus primarily on the experience and skills that are relevant to the position. You can list past positions or internships you’ve had, but keep the synopsis of those positions brief if they bear little relevance to the position for which you’re applying. The main focus of your resume should be the things you have done in the past that make you the best candidate for this job. This might change as you apply for various positions, but tailor each resume to each specific position. * Make your resume download-friendly. Applying for positions but getting little response despite your qualifications? Chances are your resume might not be down-

load-friendly. Bullet points and boxes might look good to you, but if the hiring manager on the receiving end of your resume does not have the same version of the program you’re using, that resume might look like a scrambled mess by the time the it’s downloaded. In such instances your resume is almost certain to end up in the scrap heap, no matter how qualified you might be. When uploading your resume to a company Web site or emailing it to a hiring manager, choose a format they can easily download. A PDF, for example, is a format that’s easy to download and unlikely to scramble. * Beware of hyperlinks. Adding hyperlinks to a resume can be hit or miss. When it’s a hit, a hiring manager can click on a link in your resume and be taken directly to samples of your work. However, if you’re asked to submit your resume via an online application instead of sending it directly to a hiring manager’s email address, then those same hyperlinks might be relegating your application to the trash bin before it’s ever seen. That’s because the database may be programmed to associate any documents with hyperlinks as spam, in which case the hiring manager will never see your application or resume. Hyperlinks can be useful and

help you stand out, but only when they’re employed under the right circumstances. * Include social media profiles. More and more companies want employees who are familiar with social media, which can work to an applicants’ advantage or prove detrimental. If you have been responsible regarding your use of social media, conducting yourself in a professional matter and even benefitting your existing employer, by all means share these profiles with potential employers. But if you have traditionally used social media purely as a social tool and not in a professional manner, then it bears little relevance to your job search and likely won’t help you stand out for the right reasons. Standing out in a crowded job is rarely easy. But savvy professionals can employ a few tricks of the trade to stand out as they search for their next jobs. Metro Creative Connection # CB13A576

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Career & Education Guide | Saturday, April 22, 2017

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he job market can be competitive, as new graduates flood the field each and every year. But graduation season is not the only time of year when the competition to find work gets heated. The start of the new year tends to be one of the busiest times of year for new hires. According to the employment resource Simply Hired, the first Monday after New Year’s Day tends to be the busiest day for job search activity. Companies are returning to full production after the holidays, and as a result there is a flurry of new activity. This means applicants can use the last quarter of the year to prepare for job searches they will institute once the calendar turns. Many job seekers may benefit from revamping their résumés before beginning their search. It’s not uncommon for recruiters to receive thousands of résumés for each job opening they post, and the sheer volume of applicants can make it difficult for job seekers to get their résumés seen. In such instances, job seekers must take steps to tip the odds in their favor. By following these guidelines, job seekers may have a better chance of getting their résumés into the right hands. • Put a professional purpose. Modern standards may suggest that listing a career “objective” is old fashioned. However, it is helpful to customize your résumé so that it is geared toward the position for which you are applying. A career objective may

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The Right Ways to Update a Résumé

reflect how you are a strong candidate for each specific job you apply for. Use some specifics that tie into to the particular job or company and you may catch the hiring manager’s attention in the process. • Embrace keywords. Many employers now use application tracking software to sift through the scores of résumés that are submitted for each opening they post. Keywords make it easy for employers to sort through

thousands of résumés. The right keywords will flag your résumé and increase your “relevancy score” in the main HR/ recruiting software programs available. Adapt your résumé for each application you submit. Use some of the words listed in the initial job posting and description. In addition, look at similar job postings and incorporate some keywords listed in those ads so that you have all the bases covered. • Trim the fat. Less is often more

regarding résumés. List all of the pertinent information, then go over the résumé again and again and cut out any irrelevant information to remove clutter. Only include information that is relevant to your career goals. • Highlight what you have done. Rather than listing every job responsibility and position in chronological order, use a résumé to highlight specific career accomplishments. This is a time to be your biggest fan and tell the world all of the great things you have accomplished. Remember to include evidence to back up the claims. According to a 2015 survey by CareerBuilder, employers say that résumés that include links to a candidate’s portfolio, website or blog garner more attention than résumés without such links. • Put your own voice in the résumé. Rather than using standard verbiage on your résumé, personalize what you want to say. Hiring managers want to hire a human, not a machine. When speaking about yourself, be sure to use strong action words that define your skills even further. HR professionals cite terms like “managed,” “achieved” and “improved” as examples of positive, assertive words. Updating a résumé with the goal of standing out among a crowded pool of applicants is a great way for job seekers to land a new job.

Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Career & Education Guide