How A Stay-At-Home Parent or Caregiver Can Impress Prospective Employers

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020vet2workcom Leave a comment

The purpose of any résumé is to make it easy for employers to appreciate your unique value, experience, and qualifications. If you are a stay-at-home parent or caregiver who is ready to apply for full or part-time work outside the home, it may seem as though you have nothing to present to a prospective employer. But, contrary to what you might think, you accomplish many different tasks daily that exemplify a great employee to hiring managers.

A few of the many essential qualifications achieved while managing a household full-time include advanced accounting, time management, logistics, crisis management, scheduling, customer service, negotiating, caregiving, teaching, and can often incorporate blogging/social media expertise.

Below is a very abbreviated sample of how you can incorporate these skills into your résumé’s experience section.

Household Manager | Any City, Any State | Dates

Enthusiastically and responsibly oversee, motivate, and orchestrate the activities of a diverse household unit of (five), ensuring the best interests of the family.
Craft and communicate adaptable procedures and policies, budgets, and assign tasks to meet the family’s overall short-term and long-term objectives.
Plan and prepare household members’ daily agendas including meals, wardrobes, education/meetings, and transportation needs.
Practice preventative management by regularly inventorying and replenishing food, clothing, supplies, and equipment.
Ensure a safe and clean environment, rapidly respond to changes, and interview and hire outside contractors.
Perform internet research to advance learning and plan for family meals, meetings, trips, and events.

Sincerely hope this information is of help to you and wishing you the best of luck!

Picture Source: Adobe Stock Photos

Mastering the Lunch or Dinner Interview Etiquette

November 16, 2018November 16, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

There is nothing more daunting than sitting down at a restaurant table with a prospective employer and not knowing which fork, spoon, or glass to use. Additionally, how do you eat your food and still make a good first impression?

Lunch or dinner interviews are a routine part of the job or promotion opportunity process. Not knowing the basics of dining etiquette can often lead to disastrous results. Dining etiquette is one of the few things that never go out of style, and a potential employer often uses a dining interview as a prelude to a final job offer.

Below are a few tips to put you at ease and help you to create a positive impression when invited to dine for business.

Always wait until you have received a signal from the host or the staff to move to the table. (Be sure to turn off your phone before you move to the table).
Review the menu to find items that are easy to eat (cut 2-3 small pieces at a time). Easy to eat is always best when business dining because finger foods can be messy.
Do not order alcohol or smoke during a business lunch. Opt for tea or water if your host asks if you would like an alcoholic beverage.
Always wait for your host to begin eating before you start to eat. (If you are at a table of 3 to 10 served by waiters, do not eat until all at the table have received their meal).
When passing food and condiments always offer to the person on your left and then pass everything to the right. (Pass salt and pepper together, but do not season your food before you have tasted it). Say “no thank you” if you don’t like or want something.
Keep in mind that your priority is the business at hand and not the meal. Eat at a moderate speed but don’t leave others at the table waiting for you to finish.
Do not talk when you have food in your mouth and never chew with your mouth open or make loud noises when you eat. If eating soup, do not slurp from a spoon. Spoon the soup away from you when you take it out of the bowl and sip it from the side of the spoon. If your soup is too hot to eat, let it sit until it cools – don’t blow on it.
Don’t leave the table during the meal except in an emergency. If you must go to the bathroom or if you suddenly become sick, excuse yourself. Later you can apologize to your host by saying that you did not feel well.
If you must leave the table for any reason during the meal, place your napkin on your chair. Always rest used silverware on your plate (used tableware should never touch the table). Place your dirty napkin to the left of your plate when everyone has finished their meal, and you are ready to leave the table.
During the conversation (and when you are not eating) always keep your hands on your lap or resting on the table (with wrists on the edge of the table). If possible, have some general conversation topics ready to use during the conversation if necessary.
If a piece of your silverware falls onto the floor, tell the server and ask for a replacement.
Be sure to thank the host for the meal and provide a firm handshake before leaving.

A Jobseeker’s Tips for A Productive Job Search

October 21, 2018November 16, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

Most people have never been taught the “how to” in finding a job, although research shows that the average worker only spends four years in a job (even less for newly transitioning military-to-civilian workers) — and will have as many as twelve to fifteen jobs over the course of their career.

Because you only need one company to hire you, don’t focus your efforts on making dozens or hundreds of contacts with prospective employers, be selective!

Here are ten suggested tips to help you find your new job faster.

Set aside a distraction-free workspace for conducting your job search.
Start with the end in mind. Take the time to think about what kind of job you’re targeting. What job title, functional roles, company or industry are you interested in?
Once you have decided on your job target, take time to organize and outline a search strategy and then use your plan to create a weekly list of activities.
Stick to your search plan, but if an interview or networking opportunity comes up, rearrange your schedule to fit it in!
Devote sufficient time to your job search. If you are not currently working, commit yourself to a minimum of 40 hours per week devoted to your search campaign. If you are currently working, devote 15-20 hours per week at a minimum.
Recognize that your motivation is going to increase and decrease, depending on the success (or lack of success) you are having in reaching your job search goal. Reward yourself for effort, not for results.
Join a job club or check out services offered by your city, county, or state employment office. Contact your university alumni association.
Recruit one person to support, encourage, and motivate you in your job search. This can be a friend, another job seeker, or a career coach/counselor. (Choose someone who can be objective with you — and critical of your efforts — when they need to be.)
It is often easier to get a job if you have a job (even if the job isn’t related to the job you want). Consider taking a part-time job or class can help you fill in unemployment gaps.
If you are having difficulty finding a job in your area, consider relocation. If you live in an area with high unemployment — especially in your industry — consider whether moving to another city, state, or region would improve your chances of getting hired.

Photo Source: IStock

How to Write an Impressive Job Offer Acceptance Letter

October 21, 2018November 12, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

“Put it in writing, or it didn’t happen.” This advice from lawyers is relevant for job seekers — especially when accepting a new job. But, exactly what should you say in a letter of acceptance?

Letter of Acceptance

Writing a letter of acceptance is especially important if your job offer was made orally but you have not — or did not — receive confirmation of the offer in writing. An effective letter of acceptance should demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position and include clarification of four key pieces of information: job title, salary information, details of benefits being offered (if any), and start date.

You can also clarify the date that the employer extended the job offer, as well as any additional information the company needs from you — or that you need from the company — before starting the new job. Address the letter to the person who offered you the position.

Here are a couple of templates (and samples) you can use to formulate job acceptance letter.

Acceptance Letter Template #1:

(Date)

(Contact Name)
(Title)
(Company Name)
(Address)
(City, State Zip)

Dear [Contact Name]:

Thank you for the opportunity to accept a position as [Job Title] with [Company Name]. I am happy to accept your offer, with an anticipated starting date of [date].

I am pleased to accept the starting salary of [$$], and the additional benefits of [list them specifically].

Please let me know if you need anything from me in the meantime. You can reach me at [000] 000-0000 or via email at [email address].

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Acceptance Letter #1

June 1, 2019

Anthony Hays
Operations Manager
Merit Corporation
20 Windham Way
Spencer, IA 51500

Dear Mr. Hays:

Thank you for the opportunity to accept a position as Team Lead 1 with Merit. I am happy to accept your offer, with an anticipated starting date of June 15, 2019.

I am pleased to accept the starting salary of $34,400, and the additional benefits of health and dental insurance (after 90 days of employment), $1000 tuition reimbursement, life insurance (one-time annual salary), and seven days of paid vacation.

Please let me know if you need anything from me in the meantime. You can reach me at [515] 555-1226 or via email at janejobseeker@gmail.com.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Jane Jobseeker

Acceptance Letter Template #2:

(Date)

(Contact Name)
(Title)
(Company Name)
(Address)
(City, State Zip)

Dear [Contact Name]:

I am writing to confirm my acceptance of your offer of employment. I am thrilled to be joining [Company Name] as a [Job Title], effective [start date], with a starting salary of [$$$].

As we discussed, I will provide you with [documentation or other information] by [date you will provide the information]. I will look forward to receiving [information provided by the company] so that I can complete it before my start date.

I am looking forward to working with your team. I’m confident I can make a significant contribution to the company in this role.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Acceptance Letter #2:

June 1, 2019

Beverly Matricia
Agency Manager
Angel Ministries
4220 Boardwalk Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10301

Dear Ms. Matrica:

I am writing to confirm my acceptance of your offer of employment. I am thrilled to be joining Angel Ministries as a Director of Development, effective July 2, with a starting salary of $44,000.

As we discussed, I will provide you with my hiring paperwork by June 11. I will look forward to receiving the paperwork for the life insurance policy so that I can complete it before my start date.

I am looking forward to working with your team. I’m confident I can make a significant contribution to the organization in this role.

Sincerely,

Jane Jobseeker

Source & Thank You: Bridget Brooks Weide

Picture Source: IStock

Ten Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make on LinkedIn

October 17, 2018October 23, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

Don’t Dismiss LinkedIn as Something Only for People Who Are Looking for a New Job. The best time to build your LinkedIn profile, connect with people, and participate on LinkedIn is now — before you need it. If you find yourself suddenly unemployed and decide that now is the time to start using LinkedIn, you’re going to be playing catch up. Instead, take time to “dig your well before you’re thirsty,” as author Harvey Mackay says.
Don’t “Set it and Forget It.” Your LinkedIn profile is a forever evolving snapshot of you. Update it regularly with new connections, status, and activity (especially within LinkedIn Groups).
Don’t Ignore It. Check in on LinkedIn regularly (at least every other day if you are in active job search mode or once a week for a passive job search). It would help if you planned on adding a new status update each time you log in.
Don’t Be A Wallflower. LinkedIn is most effective when you actively engage with it. Seek out opportunities to connect with known thought leaders within your industry and join 3-5 related groups and then review and participate in conversations.
Don’t Be Selfish. You will get more out of LinkedIn if you focus on how you can help others, not how they can help you. The phrase “give to get” is very powerful on LinkedIn. You can earn the respect of your peers and people of influence if you “help enough other people get what they want,” in the words of Zig Ziglar.
Don’t Wait For Others To Find You. Use the LinkedIn search function to look for people you know and invite them to connect with you. You should aim to add 2-5 new connections each week if you are a passive job seeker, and 6-10 connections a week if you are actively searching for a new job.
Don’t Forget to Explore the People Your Connections Know. One of the most powerful functions of LinkedIn is the ability to connect you with people who are connections of the people you know. Follow LinkedIn’s guidelines on connecting with these folks (using InMail or requesting connections through your mutual friend), so that your account doesn’t get flagged as spam.
Don’t Indiscriminately Try to Connect With People. One of the strengths of LinkedIn is the connections you make, but it’s not a race to get to 500 connections. Have a reason for each of the people you connect with — either it’s someone you already know or a relative, or someone it would be a beneficial connection. If you don’t know someone, get to know them a bit before sending a personalized connection request. (You can do so by seeing who you have in common — or who they are connected to, checking out their LinkedIn Summary and work history, visiting their website or blog, and seeing what Groups they belong to).
Don’t Forget to Give Recommendations. Acknowledge and recognize the contributions of people you know by providing unsolicited, genuine Recommendations for them.
Don’t Restrict Your LinkedIn Networking to Online Only. Use LinkedIn to connect with people — but then request in-person get-togethers, when possible. Meet for coffee, or lunch, to catch up.

Revised on 10/15/18 by Claudia Stapleton

Original Author: Bridget Weide Brooks

Photo Source: Adobe Stock

Vet2Work Blog

Civilian & Transitioning Military Career Specialists

Tag Inspiration

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Source & Thank You: Bridget Brooks Weide

Picture Source: IStock

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: