Resumental

1. Empathize: Learn what the issues are.

2. Define the problem: Which question are you going to answer?

3. Ideate: Generate possible solutions.

4. Prototype: Abandon perfection and either build your project or develop a plan.

5. Test and get feedback from others.

I just read the most interesting article on design thinking, which essentially means that you can train your brain to be more achievement-oriented by eliminating fear. The five steps include:

1. Empathize: Learn what the issues are.

2. Define the problem: Which question are you going to answer?

3. Ideate: Generate possible solutions.

4. Prototype: Abandon perfection and either build your project or develop a plan.

5. Test and get feedback from others.

This is relevant to everything--from weight loss, to starting a company to--you guess it: the job search! When you’ve found the thing really want to do, but find yourself not doing it, it’s important to explore the reasons why you’re stuck and then take baby steps toward achieving the goal. 

All successful companies hire marketing experts to create their ads. Why? Because while McDonald's may know fast food, Leo Burnett knows advertising. Think of yourself as the product and the resume your advertisement. You're the expert in your field; I'm the expert when it comes to marketing you.

A professional resume writer understands the strategies, layouts, and language necessary to capture the attention of a hiring manager. We know what employers are looking for and work closely with you to extract as much information possible so that you're marketed in the best light.

Resume-writing is a labor-intensive process that takes on average 10 hours consisting of analyzing your past work history, realizing your future career goals, extracting additional information, writing, and collaborative editing. Resume writing is so much more than formatting and checking grammar. It is pure strategy.

We deep-dive into your work history and extract important information from you that you wouldn't even consider including in your resume. Most people are too humble to boast about their accomplisments; others see their experience as just a job and don't take the time to reflect on their accomplishments. We pull this vital information out of you and make sure it's showcased in your resume.

Last week I was visiting friends in Boston and we headed to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum. Outside on the facade, there was a really great piece of work by Rachel Perry titled “What Do You Really Want?” And it got me thinking: how can a question be SO SIMPLE and so important at the same time?

How often do we ask ourselves what we really want? I’m guilty of not asking myself this question often enough and finding myself swept in the tides of life and time...just going with the flow and not always steering the ship. It can be hard to ask yourself what you really want, mostly because then you’re responsible for making sure you go after it. It can be scary! What if you go after it and don’t get it? What if you go after it and it’s not what you thought it would be? I definitely get a lot of anxiety-induced negative thoughts when I think about going after my goals.

But then I think about the positive outcomes: What if you go after what you want AND YOU GET IT. What if your stagnation is keeping you from achieving your full potential? What if going after your dream isn’t as hard as ignoring it? 

Obviously the first step is to realize what you want, and then developing an action plan to achieve your goal. Start with little steps and don’t try to do it all at once. If it’s a new career you’re dreaming about, a good first step would be revamping your resume.

I know those of you who are looking for a new job are probably frustrated that you're in your current position. This made me laugh today and I thought I'd share. 

Some of my clients express that they'd like me to "jazz up" the language in their resume (translation: use big fancy words and don't use the words regularly used to convey certain concepts). I'm strongly against the use of fancy words on resumes just for the sake of it or to show off with words my clients wouldn't be using in the first place!

Not only would that present a major disconnect between the actual person and the person on the page, but managers aren't hiring employees based on their thesaurus use--they're hiring you based on your skills. And they don't have time to sift through ten-dollar words to find those skills. It's important to convey your abilities and accomplishments as concisely (note: simply!) as possible.

xoJane.com is looking for a driven Online Managing Editor to join our high-performing New York digital team. The primary duties for this position include:   Responsibilities:

Oversee the daily operation of xoJane.com

Oversee payments to freelancers to keep expenditures in line with budget

Manage freelancer contracts and payments

Collaborate on the formulation of the site’s strategy. Research best practices, new technologies, ideas for improvements, etc.

 Work closely with the product team on site maintenance and upgrade plans

Create runlists and schedules for weekly/daily website updates

Post articles, images, blog posts and slide shows in the CMS (working regularly in Photoshop)

Monitor the performance of the site using Google Analytics, Chartbeat

Oversee newsletter production

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from a top university; preferably with a degree in Journalism

4+ years experience in online editorial with understanding in working with a CMS

2+ years experience managing budgets for freelance writers

Demonstrable skills in spreadsheets

Excellent news judgment and demonstrable editing skills

Ability to negotiate contracts and resolve legal requests

Technical fluency in Photoshop, HTML (HTML5 a plus)

Strategic thinker that can independently solve day to day issues

SEO and traffic building skills desired in addition to social media knowledge

Familiarity with e-newsletters

PART-TIME STUDIO COORDINATOR

Olivia Leigh Photographie, a boutique, high-end wedding photography studio in Fulton Market, is seeking a Chicago-based, part-time, studio coordinator to begin work as soon as possible.

Some typical duties:

Responding to inquiries and prospect questions

Managing current clients and answering questions they have during the photography process

Setting up appointments, shoots, meetings and pickups for clients and industry professionals

Sending invoices and payment reminders

Packaging and mailing prints and albums (4-6x a month)

Handling press requests, working with editors, and submitting photos to magazines, blogs, contests, etc.

Uploading client galleries to website and sending email release

Preparing and mailing discs for vendors after every wedding

Prepare images for studio blog and code for SEO (can train)

Maintain FB, pinterest and twitter accounts as appropriate

familiarity with basic photoshop (cropping, resizing, file saving) or InDesign is a plus

In addition to these general coordinator duties, which are the core of the position, the job can be highly tailored to an individual's skill set. Some additional tasks that the studio coordinator could work on if experience allowed include:

album design (graphic design/InDesign experience)

photo editing (lightroom and/or photoshop experience)

retouching (photoshop experience)

more extensive blogging (writing experience)

Candidate should be:

Very detail-oriented (cliche I know, but this is extremely vital!)

Excellent writing/email skills with a great tone 

Confident on the phone

Highly perceptive & proactive in anticipating and solving problems

Maturity is a huge plus

Location: Coordinator needs to live in Chicago. While almost all work can be done remotely, coordinator would need to come into my studio in Fulton Market 1-2 days a week for about 1-2 hours to handle packaging, mailings, and get files.

Time commitment: Position would most likely start with probably about 10 hours a week through mid-April and then increase to 15-20 hours in the summer/fall. How this time will be divided can be discussed.

Minimum commitment: Individual must be able to commit to the position through at least Thanksgiving (ideally staying on if we both felt it was beneficial!)

Let’s face it: You’ve worked hard to get in the door and have this job interview. What’s more, you’ve likely rehearsed your answers and know exactly what to say — from introductions to the meat of the interview. But the truth is that job interviews often succeed or fail in the last minutes … or even seconds. The closing of a job interview is critical to being remembered, and could well seal the deal and land that job for you. A strong interview closing is even MORE important when you’re dealing with an unskilled interviewer — one who might not know enough to flag you as a superior candidate. So follow these quick tips to make sure you put your stamp on the interview and do everything you can to close like a winner:

Be sure to recap your interest in the position.

You may be asked if there is anything you want to add or if there is anything else the interviewer should know. Make sure you have an answer prepared, just in case.

There are times when you can hit it off with the interviewer, but don’t become overly familiar. It’s an interview and you are being interviewed for a position, not to be a friend.

Ask what the next step in the hiring process will be. If you are using a recruiter, ask if they will be getting back to the recruiter or to you.

Ask if it is permissible to contact the interviewer for updates.

Thank them sincerely and make sure you get a business card.

Make sure to thank the assistant, receptionist or anyone else who greeted or helped you.

Even if you are not interested in a position, closing the interview professionally can help in the future. If you are interested, it’s a must.