11 ways to pad out your résumé without lying

By Rachel Gillett

If you’re sitting in front of your computer, wracking your brain trying to come up with skills to add to your résumé, you’re not alone.

Few people think about their accomplishments and abilities in the same terms as a hiring manager. But, with the help of some career experts, you can easily — and honestly — pad out your résumé with key skills recruiters look for. Here’s how:

Consider some of the most common skills recruiters search for

“The most common skills people forget to showcase are the transferable skills that recruiters use general search terms to find — things that can be measured,” says J.T. O’Donnell, a career and workplace expert, founder of career advice site, CAREEREALISM.com, and author of “Careerealism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career.”

These include:

• Software you are proficient in (MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Office)
• Project Management
• Marketing
• Sales
• Customer Service
• Budgeting
• Recruiting
• Management

Specialize your skills 

The skills recruiters look for when they scan through résumés depend on the type of position they’re trying to fill, says Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based career coach.

For example, if you’re applying for a position that requires technical knowledge, include specific examples of technology or equipment you use, even if it could be reasonably assumed you must know these things, Friedman suggests.

Scan through a ton of job postings
“To ensure that you’re including relevant information on your résumé, carefully review job postings and highlight the parts that make you say, ‘Oh, I do that all the time!'” Friedman suggests. “When you’re writing your own resume, it can be hard to be objective, and you may forget about things that you’re so good at doing they come to you automatically.”

Research people with the jobs you want

Friedman and O’Donnell both suggest checking out the LinkedIn pages of people whose jobs you’d like. Check out their “Skills & Endorsements” section and identify which ones you could justify putting on your profile too.

Ask a friend

Similarly to looking at a stranger’s LinkedIn page, talk to friends who have jobs similar to the line of work you’re looking to get into. There’s no harm in asking to take a look at their résumés and scanning their skills section for anything you could reasonably add to your own.

The key is to use this as a jumping off point and personalize it — be sure you’re not simply cutting and pasting what they’ve written. You should be able to back these skills up with your own concrete examples.

Diversify your list of skills

“When evaluating a résumé, recruiters are looking for two big qualities: hustle and curiosity,” says Kate Swoboda, creator of the Courageous Coaching Training Program.

She says employers today are looking for résumés that demonstrate the person takes initiative and is motivated by curiosity.

“These days, coders are now expected to interact with clients, and the person in charge of crafting the company’s next great tweet might also be called upon to help with some aspects of visual design,” Swoboda explains. “Recruiters are looking for people who are curious enough and motivated enough to go beyond their technical job description because that adds more value for a company.”

Don’t be afraid to make it personal

“I’m very much in the camp of not hiding your personal life, skill set, and interests from a prospective employer,” says Michelle Ward, a creative career coach and co-author of “The Declaration of You!”

She suggests including skills you’ve learned from outside passions, whether that includes owning an Etsy shop or planning your best friend’s wedding.

“I think, more and more, companies want to see a well-rounded, inquisitive, personable candidate that is right for the job and would be someone interesting to have in the office,” she says. “Just make sure to relate that experience back to how it’d be value for the company/position you’re applying for.”

Consider what you’re proud of

Friedman suggests you make a list of the things you’re especially proud of accomplishing in your jobs and then think about what skills you used to accomplish these.

“If you reduced the amount of time it takes to complete a task, you may have strong skills revolving around process improvement or automation,” she says. “If you got back the business of a former client who left, you may have a talent for repairing damaged relationships.”

Don’t forget what others are proud of, too

Ward suggests asking yourself, “What do people thank me for? What do I get complimented on, repeatedly?”

Break these complements down into the skills you used to get them.

Quantify your skills

Before you add any skills to your list, O’Donnell suggests you ask yourself a number of questions like:

• How many projects have I led?
• How many people were on the team?
• How many customers were affected by my work?
• How many people did I train?
• How much money was involved?
• What kind of results/savings did I get?

“If you ask yourself enough of these, you find your way to validate and quantify your experience in a way a recruiter can understand,” she says.

Friedman agrees and says it’s always better to show rather than tell on your résumé.

“For example, if you’re in sales, you don’t just need to hit keywords like ‘business development’ or ‘consultative selling;’ you need to have quantifiable examples of your skill set in action: ‘Increased sales over previous year by 63%.'”

Talk it out

Talk about your experiences out loud with someone, preferably a professional or someone who has work experience, suggests Alyssa Gelbard, founder and president of Résumé Strategists.

“They hear things differently and can help you translate your internships, jobs, extracurricular, and educational experiences into important skills for a potential job.”

This was originally posted by Business Insider on August 31, 2016.

6 body language tricks that are hard to master but will pay off forever

By Jacquelyn Smith and Áine Cain

 

As Ursula the sea witch famously said, “Don’t underestimate the importance of body language.”

Some tricks, like remembering to smile and having a firm handshake, are pretty easy to implement in your everyday life.

However, there are other techniques that, while relatively commonsense, are somewhat trickier to tackle.

Still, they can make a huge difference.

Here are six body language hacks that can be tricky to master, but will definitely pay off forever once you do:

Maintaining good eye contact

It’s all in the eyes.

People with a shaky gaze often come across as anxious, distracted, or dishonest. And it can be tough to master the skill of maintaining eye contact, since it’s a very uncomfortable and unnatural thing for some people. But it’s a practice that can help you immensely in life.

Luckily, there are some simple techniques for maintaining better eye contact if you feel your stare isn’t cutting it.

In “How To Talk To Anyone,” author and communication expert Leil Lowndes advises that you should “pretend your eyes are glued to your conversation partner’s with sticky, warm taffy.”

Once you master this trick, you’ll immediately see an improvement in your face-to-face communications with others.

Keeping your hands visible

It’s hard to know what to do with your hands sometimes, especially if you’re a somewhat nervous person.

As a result, you might take to compulsively jamming them into your pockets or crossing your arms. Those are understandable moves, but they also project a somewhat negative image.

As Business Insider previously reported, it’s important to keep your hands visible, lest you look like you’re hiding something.

Invite people in and allow them to trust you by using more open body language. Avoid positions that make you appear defensive (even if that’s how you’re feeling).

Not fidgeting or swaying (but not being too stiff, either)

Some people are just a bit twitchy. Some people are almost unnaturally still. The problem is, others may mistake that for dishonesty or fear.

That might be common knowledge, but Dr. Lillian Glass, a behavioral analyst and body language expert who has worked with the FBI on unmasking signals of deception, previously told Business Insider that you should also watch out for people who are not moving at all.

“This may be a sign of the primitive neurological ‘fight,’ rather than the ‘flight,’ response, as the body positions and readies itself for possible confrontation,” Glass said. “When you speak and engage in normal conversation, it is natural to move your body around in subtle, relaxed, and, for the most part, unconscious movements. So if you observe a rigid, catatonic stance devoid of movement, it is often a huge warning sign that something is off.”

If you can strike a balance between swaying and stiffness, you’ll be able to make a better impression with others.

Sitting up straight

Your parents were right to constantly bark at you to adjust your terrible posture when you were a moody teen.

“If you lounge back in your chair, recruiters interpret it as a sign of your disinterest in the open position or that you’re not taking the interview seriously, neither of which will help you land the job,” Amanda Augustine, a career advice expert for TopResume, previously told Business Insider. “In addition, slumping over in the chair can indicate a lack of confidence.”

Instead, she suggests sitting as if there was a string tied from the top of your head to the ceiling. Sitting up straight is seen as a sign of intelligence, confidence, and credibility, she explains.

Anyone with bad posture can tell you that correcting your slouch is not always easy. But it’s definitely worth it in the long run.

Walking with purpose and energy

Not everyone walks with confidence. Some of us shuffle through life with a slumping, awkward gait.

And it can be tough to change the way we walk. But if you take some steps to improve it, you can help to ensure that people don’t make snap judgments about your confidence, attractiveness, and trustworthiness, according to Scientific American.

Mirroring the person you’re speaking to

Mirroring — or aligning your body to match the position of whoever you’re speaking to — can be a tough skill to master. But doing it shows admiration and agreement, says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.

It can be hard to do this subtly, without looking like you’re mimicking or mocking someone, but this is definitely a good trick to employ if you’re really trying to make a good impression.

This was originally posted by Business Insider on August 20, 2016

10 Experts Share the Best Career Advice They Ever Received

By Susannah Snider

Top-notch job advice can help you make smart decisions, advance your career and keep your spirits high when work gets tough.

We tapped seasoned career experts, including college career counselors, authors and CEOs, for the  best career advice they’ve ever received. Their edited responses are below.

Debra Lybyer, director of career and advising services, Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho

Treat everyone you meet as a potential employer, every task you complete as part of your interview and keep every door open. You’ll never know what is out there for you if you don’t allow every possible opportunity to come your way.

Jude Miller Burke, author of “The Millionaire Mystique: How Working Women Become Wealthy – And How You Can, Too!”

The best career advice I received was to be persistent and resilient and to not let detours or failures derail my career. Successful men and women frequently have failures and detours in their careers, but do not let those bumps dissuade them. In fact, for successful people, failures are seen as a part of success and detours are seen as opportunities to push your career further ahead.

Rob VanDorin, associate director of career services and employer relations, Central Michigan University

Do your research. You should know the ins and outs of every company that you apply to before you even submit an application or resume. If you don’t know them, then you don’t know how to make yourself fit.

Bob LaBombard, CEO of GradStaff

Don’t let your college major, previous jobs or money define your career choices. Focus on the skills you possess, the business ideas you are most passionate about and your ability to make positive things happen. This advice is based on input from a variety of people over the years that repeated a lot of the same themes, but I would attribute the most significant influence to my dad, who was a very strong believer in a liberal arts education and the importance of adding value or doing your very best at everything you do.

Keri Burns, director of career services, University of West Georgia

The best career advice I ever received was to ‘always leave a position or department better than you found it.’ Whenever I take on a new role, my goal is to make a positive impact and leave a legacy, either through process improvements, innovative programming, organizational structure or any area that might need attention. I always want my involvement in any position I have held to have made a difference.

Walter L. Tarver, III, director of the career center, Stockton University in New Jersey

The best piece of career advice I ever received was to take advantage of every single opportunity that an employer presents to you. Though you may be hired into one position with a specific set of responsibilities, do not be afraid to move outside of those areas of responsibility. Volunteer for special projects, volunteer to be on committees and always look for ways to expand your skill set. This will serve you well as you look to move forward and advance in your career.

Jan Jones, author of “The CEO’s Secret Weapon: How Great Leaders and Their Assistants Maximize Productivity and Effectiveness”

My dad told me, “Don’t worry about what people say about you. When you’re on top, they’re talking about you, when you’re down, they’re talking about you, so just go ahead and live your life.” His advice gave me confidence to be myself and fortified me throughout my career. I keep my own counsel and honor my values without feeling intimidated by anyone, regardless of their position.

Beth Ricca, director of the Cahill Career Development Center, Ramapo College of New Jersey

The best career advice I ever received was from my very first boss 30 years ago. She told me, “Show, don’t tell.” At your job, on your resume or even in your personal life, don’t waste time telling others what you can offer. Instead, do your job very well to show your skills. On your resume, don’t list that you have excellent communication skills. Instead, include specific examples that demonstrate your excellent communication. Let your work speak for itself.

Caren Merrick, founder and CEO of Pocket Mentor

Invest in your communication skills. My first manager after college offered to send me to a communications seminar. I leapt at the opportunity and gained so much out of it that I was soon on the fast track. Periodically throughout my career, I have continued to invest in improving my communication skills – including workshops, online courses and books. Poor communication breeds problems, and good communication often solves them.

Leah Goldson, coordinator of alumni career services, University of Central Florida

The best career advice I received was to find a mentor. I’ve had a few in my life, and they’ve been instrumental in my career growth and have assisted me with gaining employment and providing valuable advice to keep me motivated in tough times.

This piece appeared in the U.S. News & World Report.

BARRYSTAFF August Newsletter

THE NEW YOU (1)

BARRYSTAFF Launches New Communication
Effort on Social Media

Screenshot of Facebook page on mobile

ASPM is a busy place. Even though BarryStaff has an on-site supervisor stationed at the Vandalia plant every day, it’s difficult to maintain contact with everyone.

Consider that BarryStaff may have as many as 100 employees working at ASPM, making everything from small gears to washer and dryer tops. Employees work through the evening and in the wee hours of the morning.

A Facebook page was created so BarryStaff can stay intouch with these workers. The page – only for BarryStaff employees working atASPM –
is multi-functional. It is part suggestion box. Private messages sent to page administrators remain private. It’s also part message board because the page celebrates perfect attendance, new hires and promotions.

Within a week of its launch, the bulk of BarryStaff employees currently working at ASPM had “liked” the page. They were also messaging administrators on a regular basis.

“We want to meet our employees where they already are –on social media,” said President Doug Barry. “You’re either keeping up with technology or you’re not. We intend to find new ways to use it to our advantage.”

What’s more, employees are permitted to message BarryStaff page administrators to let them know if they won’t be at work. BarryStaff then relays that information to supervisors at ASPM in a matter of minutes.

“Sometimes employees are reluctant to have that conversationon the phone,” Barry said. “The last thing we want is for them to just not showup. This is an alternative that’s less confrontational.”

Employees must still give notice two hours prior to the start of the shift.

BARRYSTAFF Begins Work on New Patio

image1

The southern side of the BarryStaff office building will soon look much different.

Construction on a new patio between the building and lot will begin in the coming weeks. The concrete patio will be 33 feet long by 24 feetwide. A black aluminum fence will circle the perimeter and 14 new Juniper trees will be planted to ensure even greater privacy.

“This will be a space for our employees,” said BarryStaff founder and co-owner Pam Barry. “We’ve always been about a quality work experience.”

Numerous studies have drawn a line betweenhappy workers and higher levels of productivity. BarryStaff’s hope is that thepatio will provide a getaway without really getting away.

An outdoor grill will be used for cookouts. Tables will pepper the patio and a small fountain will provide additional serenity.

“These jobs can be demanding,” saidPresident Doug Barry. “Breaks are needed. Hopefully this area will recharge the batteries.”

Employee Spotlight: Buddy Myers of Walther EMC

IMG_0566

Buddy Myers has dedicated much of his life to manufacturing and construction. When he says he’s happy at Walther EMC in Franklin, you can bet he has his reasons.

“People recognize my abilities here,” he said. “I’ve been around a while. It means a lot when people respond to what you have to say.”

Myers has been employed by BarryStaff for six years. When asked to recall the time when he was placed with Walther, he remembers that the company called him“three or four times” to make sure all sides were on the same page before he started.

“They were wonderful,” he said. “Very down to earth about everything.”

At this point, there are very few machines the 51-year-old doesn’t know how to operate. Younger employees, he said, should know that while the machines don’t change from employer to employer, the process and protocol will.

“The products look the same,” he said. “But the way they get there is different.”

When Myers isn’t at Walther, he’s playing his guitar. He loves country, southern rock and Jerry Lee Lewis. When asked to look back on his time at Walther, he smiles.

“It’s been a pretty good run so far,” he said.

Check out this short video of workers at Walther EMC.

Client Spotlight: Steve Mock of
Safeguard

IMG_0259

Steve Mock, distributor at Safeguard in Centerville, will tell you his office once attempted the hiring process themselves. And then he’ll say it was cumbersome… to say the least.

“It didn’t work,” Mock said. “It was too time-consuming.”

He had worked with a staffing agency in the past. Speaking frankly, the previous experience left a sour taste in his mouth. A few years ago, however, Mock met a BarryStaff representative through his Business Network International group. He decided to partner with a staffing company once again.

Today Mock has 10 employees. He credits BarryStaff – the only staffing agency he’ll work with – with helping him find the right people.

“BarryStaff is just professional,” he said. “I know they are looking out for my best interests.”

Safeguard handles checks, forms and filing systems,full-color printing, promotional products, business apparel and web services for businesses across North America. After a strong second quarter, Mock is optimistic the company will finish out the year in a similar fashion.

“Steady as it goes,” he says with a smile.

Checkout this short video of life inside Safeguard.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to- (4)

Thanks to our new clients- (7)

Mass Hiring Event Announced

BARRYSTAFF Building

Mass Hiring Event Scheduled for Brookville Company

A premier Brookville employer is looking for new employees. At least a dozen jobs need to be filled by the end of the week.

BARRYSTAFF will be holding a mass hiring event on August 4 in an effort to seek out candidates. All jobs are based in manufacturing and pay between $12 and $15 an hour. Jobs include – but are not limited to – material handlers, production associates, extrusion operators and injection technicians.

Candidates will not be working on a temporary basis. These are permanent jobs with the company.

Interested candidates are encouraged to arrive at the BARRYSTAFF office between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday. A screening assessment, which could take roughly an hour, will be administered. It will test a candidate’s logic, reasoning and math skills.

What: Brookville Hiring Event

When: Thursday August 4

Time: 1pm

Where: BARRYSTAFF OFFICE at 230 Webster Street in Dayton, OH