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Best Interview Questions and Answers For Freshers

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Тop 15 interview questions and answers for freshers

Best Interview Questions and Answers For Freshers

It can be intimidating to attend your first job interview as a fresher. But being well-prepared might boost your chances of landing the job and help you make a terrific first impression. The top 15 interview questions and answers for freshers are provided below to assist you in understanding what hiring managers are looking for and how to properly react. These inquiries will touch on a variety of subjects, such as your education, professional background, and reasons why you are interested in the position you are applying for. You can portray yourself in the best light and leave a strong first impression on your future employer by going over these questions and answers. 

What are the top 15 interview queries and responses for new hires?

1. Why would you like to work for this organization?

Because of this company’s reputation, mission, and principles as well as the prospects for professional growth and development it provides, I am thrilled about the chance to work for it. I am very interested in the work that this organization undertakes, and I think that my qualifications and background are a good fit for the role. 

2. Could you please inform me about your prior employment?

I’ve held volunteer positions, internships, and part-time jobs in the past. I’ve developed experience in a variety of industries, including marketing, sales, and customer service. I’ve gained useful skills from these experiences, like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. 

3. Why ought we should employ you?

Because I am a quick learner, diligent, and have a strong desire to achieve, you should hire me. Along with being passionate about the business and the industry, I am a strong team player. I am convinced that I can contribute significantly to the team because my knowledge and expertise match the job requirements well. 

4. What are your advantages and disadvantages?

I work well under pressure, pay attention to detail, and have excellent communication skills, therefore they are some of my talents. Being a perfectionist makes me prone to being overly critical of myself when I fall short of my own standards. 

5. What long-term professional ambitions do you have?

My long-term professional objectives are to advance my knowledge and expertise in my sector, as well as to assume more responsibility and leadership roles within the organization. In the end, I want to establish myself as a subject-matter authority and contribute significantly to the business’s success. 

6. Can you describe a situation in which you had to find a solution?

In my former position, I had to deal with a client who was dissatisfied with the service or product they had received. I listened to their worries, felt sorry for them, and collaborated with my team to come up with a solution that pleased the client and the business. The consumer accepted our offer of a refund and a product replacement. 

7. How do you deal with pressure?

I manage my stress by remaining composed, setting priorities, and taking pauses when needed. I also take care to maintain organization and have excellent team communications. 

8. What is your approach to change?

I am flexible and open-minded while dealing with change. I can adapt to different circumstances, and I’m constantly eager to learn new things. I also make sure to keep up with current events and have effective communication with my team. 

9. How do you respond to reproach?

I respond to criticism by being composed and expert. I view it as a chance to grow and learn, and I’m always grateful for the person’s input. 

10. What are your knowledge of this business?

I am aware that this business is a pioneer in its field, renowned for its superior goods and services, and dedicated to innovation and sustainability. I am also aware of the company’s solid reputation for its culture and ideals, as well as the fact that it respects both its workers and its clients. 

11. What draws you to this job, and why?

This job appeals to me since it fits in well with my qualifications, background, and professional objectives. I’m thrilled about the chance to collaborate with a talented group of people and contribute significantly to the company’s success. 

12. Can you describe a situation when you had to collaborate with others?

In my former position, I collaborated with a team of six people to organize and carry out a charity event. I was in charge of organizing with several departments to make sure that everything about the event went off without a hitch. In addition to being patient and empathetic when problems emerge, I have learnt the value of clear communication, delegation, and trusting my team members to do their jobs. I improved my leadership and problem-solving abilities via this experience, and we were able to raise more money than we had hoped to for the event. 

13. How well do you multitask?

Prioritizing things and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps are how I manage multitasking. I build a to-do list and efficiently plan my time so that I may work on several things at once. I also take care to maintain organization and have excellent team communication to reduce duplication of effort. I can also transition between projects swiftly and effectively without sacrificing my concentration or the caliber of my work. To stay organized and make sure nothing gets missed, I also use tools like calendars, task management software, and reminder applications. 

14. How do you respond to a demanding circumstance?

A high-pressure scenario can be handled using a variety of techniques, including being composed and focused, setting priorities, assigning chores to others, and asking for assistance when necessary. It’s critical to maintain emotional control and prevent your judgment from being impacted by your feelings. It also helps to practice remaining composed under pressure in preparation and to have a plan in place for how to handle such circumstances. In addition, it’s crucial to look after your physical and mental health by exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep. 

15. What salary goals do you have?

It can be challenging to know how to talk about compensation if you are a recent graduate with little to no work experience. Here are some pointers to assist you: 

Find out what people in your position and neighborhood are paid. Look at the salaries listed for similar positions in the job postings. 

Regarding your lack of experience, be sincere. Explain that you are a new employee and that you are aware that your pay may be less than that of a more experienced employee.  

Be prepared to bargain. Talk about your wage expectations with others and be prepared to make concessions. 

Put a focus on your qualifications and skills. Emphasize your qualities and talents that make you a good fit for the position, and describe how you can benefit the business. 

Don’t be afraid to request benefits. You should be able to negotiate your wage package even if you are a recent graduate. 

It’s crucial to keep in mind that you might not be able to demand the same wage as someone with more experience if you’re just starting out. You might be able to negotiate a fair wage and benefits package, though, by highlighting your talents and qualifications and showing that you are open to compromise. 

Conclusion

These top 15 interview questions and responses for new hires might help you get ready for your job interview. Don’t forget to investigate the organization and the position you’re applying for, and come up with instances of how your qualifications, experience, and talents are relevant. Don’t forget to work on your body language, project confidence, and maintain a good outlook at all times. You’ll improve your chances of landing the job and leaving a fantastic first impression on your possible employer by coming prepared and presenting yourself in a professional manner. 

Top 10 Work From Home Benefits & Why They Matter

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Top 10 Work From Home Benefits & Why They Matter

Remote working is more popular than ever before. In fact, some estimates predict that 25% of all jobs in America will be completed remotely by the end of 2022, as higher earners switch office cubicles for home office environments. 

But you may not be convinced. Perhaps you, or your boss, still believe that remote workers are less productive than their office-bound counterparts or may feel as though the costs of working remotely outweigh the advantages. 

So, for those who are still a little hesitant, here are a few unexpected benefits of working from home. 

Reduced Car Costs

Cars are money pits. A survey by AAA found that, per year, car owners spend an average of $792 on maintenance fees alone. These fees are almost always unavoidable and often arise when commuting to and from work. As a remote worker, your reliance on cars is greatly reduced as your daily journey can be counted in paces, rather than miles. This will save you hefty car maintenance fees and means your car will last longer. 

Even if the warranty on your car is still active, you can expect to lose value with every journey you take due to the depreciation of the car as an asset. This reduces your car’s trade-in value, which is assessed based on factors like mileage, car condition, current demand, and extra features. As a remote worker, you’ll likely drive less than the average American, meaning your low mileage will be a great selling point. 

Of course, as a remote worker, it’s also possible to ditch the car altogether. This is more feasible for folks who live in cities or suburban areas, where services are close by and deliveries of essential items like groceries can be ordered online. But, even if you live out in the sticks, reduced mileage will bring down your car costs, save you hours every week, and allow you to spend more time at home with your family. 

Parenting Made Easier

If you’re a parent, remote working should be the holy grail of working conditions. Remote work allows you to be present when your child is getting ready for school and ensures that you’ll be there when they get home — meaning no more Matilda-like moments in the kitchen. 

Being present at home will also help you feel connected to your child. This is particularly important for younger children and teens, who might be going through scary or stressful changes in their lives. You can help alleviate their concerns by taking some time out of your workday to talk about stressful events like visiting the dentist and can respond to their stress by offering support and positive reinforcement. 

Of course, working from home while parenting a young child can be challenging — particularly in the summers, when your kids have time off school, but you still need to clock in for work responsibilities. The best solution is to lean on a partner or friend, but leave your office open in case your child needs you. Around holiday periods, you should tell your manager or boss that you may need to step away to help your child. 

Start a Side Hustle

Remote workers across the nation are rejoicing in their renewed work-life balance. But, for some folks, the time saved on commuting leaves them twiddling their thumbs and feeling a little bored. If you have a propensity for boredom when you have free time, then you might want to start a side hustle. 

The best side hustles involve your favorite activities. So, if you love knitting or stitching, then you could set up an Etsy account and start selling your wares online during the time you’d usually be stuck in traffic or on the train. Setting up your own business online is easier than you’d think, and there’s a genuine demand for homemade goods online. 

Starting a side hustle is easy, but keeping it separate from your work life can be challenging. You can ensure that your side hustle remains fun by following the best productivity strategies for remote workers. By keeping a routine, and staying disciplined about the hours you work, you can ensure that tracking orders for your homemade goods do not interfere with your day job. Consider blocking off chunks of your daily calendar for your side hustle, and make sure you don’t stay up too late working on fun projects or risk compromising your sleep schedule. 

Better Sleep

The modern worker’s sleep schedule is completely haywire. Even though sleep plays an integral role in our productivity and overall well-being, many American adults struggle to get enough shut-eye and leave themselves at risk from conditions like diabetes, depression, and dementia. 

As a remote worker, you’re in a much better position to get 8-10 hours of sleep compared to your office-bound counterparts. That’s because you save time on commuting, and don’t have to cram your life into the hours after your shift ends. So, while your office peers are driving or catching the train, you can be cooking dinner or taking an exercise class. Suddenly, the free time you’ve found from remote work allows you to get off to bed at a reasonable hour, rather than some time past midnight. 

As a remote worker, you also have an opportunity to improve your sleep hygiene. This can be as simple as taking a quick break from work to make the bed or clean your sheets. Even small acts like this are not possible for office workers, who may rush off to work without taking the time to keep their bedroom clean and hygienic. You can also spend the money you save by working remotely on things like guided meditations or dimmers which mimic sunsets and slowly emit less light as the night draws in. 

Tax Breaks and Home Improvements

Depending on your employment status, it may be possible to make significant home improvements that are tax-deductible. Of course, you need to check IRS guidelines regularly before making any major purchases, as home-working laws changed in 2018, meaning employees typically cannot claim home office expenses as deductible.

But, if you are self-employed, you may be able to pay for home office improvements and essential utilities/goods as deductible. The IRS makes it clear that you can only claim for these expenses if you use a portion of your home exclusively for running your business, and it is the “principal place of business”. You’ll still need to keep your receipts and have a clear record of transactions, but recouping costs is always worth it. 

If you are not self-employed, you cannot typically claim for home office expenses. That said, you can still ask your employer to contribute to improvements like desks, chairs, and monitors. This is because most employers — who save overhead costs by shutting down physical operations — have a home office fund to reward remote workers and improve their quality of life. So, if you feel like your current office setup is negatively impacting your focus or productivity, consider reaching out to your manager to find a better solution. 

Improved Mental Health

You might think that working remotely will leave you feeling isolated or disconnected from your peers. But, in reality, remote working can significantly improve your mental health. This is because, as a remote worker, you have greater autonomy about how your day looks and can make more mental-health-positive choices throughout the day like taking short breaks, or getting up for a snack or a drink when you need it. 

However, you might still struggle when you don’t see your peers every day. To combat this, you can look into hybrid working models, where you might work 2 days a week in the office, and 3 days from home. This gives you time to ease into the practice of remote work and helps you retain a sense of connection with your colleagues.  

Socializing is Easier

Do you ever wonder how characters in Sitcom shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show make time for dinner guests after a full workday? As an office worker, there’s simply no way to socialize after you’ve finished a full day of work — you still have to eat, wash, catch up with your family, and do your best to get to bed at a reasonable hour. 

However, as a remote worker, you can use the time you’ve saved on commuting to improve your social life and reconnect with people you like being around. You can easily log off a few minutes before friends come over in the evening, or you can sign up to local clubs that run activities that would previously have been unavailable to you due to work commitments. 

Conclusion

Remote working is on the rise — and for good reason. Remote work frees up time that would otherwise be spent behind the wheel or crammed into trains. By switching the cubicle for the home office, you can expect to see improvements in your sleep schedule, mental health, and social life. You may also find that you have time to self-advocate and start your side hustle. If the idea of going fully remote is intimidating, remember that you can always opt for a hybrid work schedule, which allows you to stay connected with your colleagues and gain the incredible freedom that comes with working from home. 

Photo by vadim kaipov on Unsplash

About the Author

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

9 Virtual Interview Mistakes You Need To Avoid

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9 Virtual Interview Mistakes You Need To Avoid

In the last couple of years the working world has changed drastically. Many companies are now doing the vast majority of their hiring virtually, interviewing candidates online over video calls. This offers a lot of benefits to both them and you, but there are some hurdles that you’ll have to clear if you want to make a good impression. 

If you’ve never done a virtual interview before, you’ll want to make sure that you get everything right. There are some common mistakes that people make, so if you’re unsure follow this guide to ensure you know about them first. That way, you can avoid them in your own interview. 

Types Of Virtual Interview

Before getting into the mistakes that people often make in virtual interviews, it’s important to know how these interviews work. There are two main ways that you can be interviewed online:

Live interview: This is where you meet up with the recruiters in a live video chat, to talk about the role and how you’re suited for it. 

Recorded interviews: These are where you’re sent a list of questions, and you record your answers to them. That way, the recruiters can watch them back when they’re ready. 

There are a lot of similarities between the two types of interviews, such as the types of questions you’ll be asked. In either case, you’ll want to do your best to make a good impression. 

Virtual Interview Mistakes To Avoid

Many people are new to virtual interviews, so it makes sense to feel nervous and be worried about what you’re doing. That’s why a lot of people make some of the same mistakes. If you’re aware of these mistakes though, you can do your best to avoid them. Here are some of the top mistakes that you want to know about before that interview:

1. Having A Bad Connection

There’s nothing more annoying than getting a buffering signal when you’re trying to watch a live stream or video online. If that’s something you get with your current internet signal, then you’re not going to be able to give the best impression in your interview. After all, how can they get to know you if the signal keeps dropping out? 

If you’re not sure how the signal will work when you’re on the call, try doing a test call with a friend first. They’ll be able to report back on whether you’re able to get a good signal where you are. If it’s not great, you’ll want to find somewhere, such as a friend or family member’s home, that can offer a good signal for the interview. 

2. Having Distractions Around You

Everyone who had to start working from home will tell you that home is a distracting place to try and work. There’s always something going on, whether the cat’s asking for attention, the kids are just coming home from school, or your spouse is in the kitchen rummaging for a snack. This isn’t great when you’re having a virtual interview. You won’t be giving them your full attention, which isn’t ideal. 

To avoid this happening to you, set aside a private space for your interview, ideally somewhere with a locked door. Put your phone on silent, and put a note on the door asking people not to disturb you as you’re working. If everyone knows what’s happening, they can be sure not to disturb you as the interview goes on.

3. Bad Camera Angle

As you’re interviewing over a video call, you’ll need to consider the angle that you have your camera at before you start the meeting. It’s not great if the picture is out of focus, or it’s not pointing directly at you. You especially don’t want to be dealing with it as you’re meant to be starting the interview. 

To avoid this, simply adjust your camera before the interview itself. Ensure that you’re in focus and that the camera is cropped correctly. Ideally, you’ll want your camera to be in line with the top of your head. That should be more than enough to keep you in focus during the conversation. 

4. Not Wearing The Right Clothes

There’s no way you’d go to an in-person interview wearing just about anything, would you? However, online, there are plenty of people who are wearing sweats, PJs, or other less than formal clothing to their virtual interviews. “It obviously gives a bad impression,” says Annalise Dawes, a career writer at UK Services Reviews and Studydemic. “It looks as though you aren’t taking the interview seriously, and that’s going to hurt your chances of getting the job.”

It can feel a little strange, dressing up just to sit in front of your computer. However, you want to make a good impression, just as you would in person. As such, you’ll want to wear clothes that are professionally appropriate for the interview.

As an additional note, on a virtual interview, it’s best to stick to block colors. Patterns and stripes often create optical illusions on camera, and that can be distracting. 

5. Getting Connected At The Last Minute

You wouldn’t show up to an in-person interview at the last minute. Typically, you’d plan ahead so you’d know where the interview would be, and you’d arrive a few minutes early so you’re ready and composed as the interview begins. Online though, there are people who don’t connect to the meeting until the last second. They may be trying to find somewhere with a good connection, trying to get roommates out of the room, or just aren’t punctual in getting there. 

Just as you would for an in-person interview, make sure you make your preparations ahead of time. Let everyone know you’ll be in an interview, set up your camera ahead of time, and be in your seat a few minutes before the meeting is ready to begin. Just being there and ready will make a good impression. 

6. Being In A Messy Room

Remember that the recruiter can see not only you but what’s behind you. This also contributes to the impression that you’ll be giving off. If you’re in a room with a lot going on on the wall behind you, or your laundry is sitting piled up on your bed, this gives the impression that you’re not serious about the role. It’s also very distracting for recruiters as they try and listen to you. 

Find a space where you can sit that is neat and tidy and doesn’t have a lot of distractions. The less going on behind you, the better. That way, you’re showing that you’re professional and the recruiter can focus on you and you alone. 

7. Not Having Good Lighting

Here’s something that you never normally have to worry about when you’re in a regular interview. You want the recruiter to be able to see you, as body language is so important to the interview. If you’re sitting in a dark room though, they won’t be able to see you at all. That’s obviously something you want to avoid. 

Get ready before the interview by checking the lighting in the space you’ll be using. Look to see if you’re clear on the camera and whether everything important can be seen. “The best way to light a room is by natural light,” says blogger Daniel Pierce, from Subjecto and Best Essay Services. “However, if you can’t get enough natural light, turn on ceiling and floor lamps, or even invest in a ring light.”

8. Eating And Drinking During The Interviewed

You wouldn’t think this is a problem at first glance, but it does show an air of unprofessionalism, which you want to avoid. When you’re at home, it’s easy to feel comfortable and have a drink or a snack as you’re talking to the recruiter. 

However, you still want to look professional, and just as you would in a regular interview, you don’t want to eat lunch until after you’ve completed the meeting. After all, you don’t want to spill food down yourself during the interview. 

9. Fidgeting And Not Paying Attention

This is related to the idea of being distracted, as mentioned earlier. In a regular in person interview, you wouldn’t stare off into space, or check your phone as the other person is talking. However, there are people who do this during virtual interviews. That’s obviously not going to look good when you’re meant to be paying attention. 

Before your meeting, remember to remove as many distractions as you can. Don’t check your phone or your emails, as it’s going to be obvious that you’re not listening. Make sure you maintain eye contact, and try not to fidget with your hair or clothes. 

Conclusion

There are lots of mistakes that interviewees make when they’re being interviewed for roles online. However, now you know what these mistakes are, you can make sure you’re not doing the same. Make sure you avoid these issues, and you’ll be able to make the best impression possible. 

For more career guides & resources visit GrabJobs!

About the Author

Madeline Miller is a careers blogger at Student Writing Services and Top Essay Writing Services, where she covers virtual interviews. She’s also a blogger at Resume Writing Service. 

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume: 8 Tips to Follow (with Examples!)

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ATS friendly resume

8 Tips for Crafting an ATS-Friendly Resume (with Examples)

Have you ever been ghosted after submitting a job application? Have you spent hours or days carefully crafting a resume, then submitted it for a position you thought was perfect for you, only to hear nothing?

If this has happened to you, it might not be because you’re a bad fit for the job. It might be that the company is using an applicant tracking system (or ATS) that filters out your application from the virtual stack.

If you’ve never heard of applicant tracking systems, keep reading. You’ll learn all about the importance of writing your resume for these systems and how to create an ATS-friendly resume. You’ll find some ATS resume templates, too.

What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

Applicant tracking systems are tools that hiring managers use to simplify the recruiting process. They use automation to screen applications and pick out the most qualified candidates.

Over 97 percent of Fortune 500 companies currently use applicant tracking systems, and many small and medium-sized businesses use them as well. When you consider the fact that the average corporate job ad receives over 250 responses, it makes sense that the company would use an ATS to help them sift through applications and get rid of those who don’t meet the necessary qualifications. 

How Does an ATS Work?

The best applicant tracking systems use the latest technology, like natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI).

These tools help screen and sort through candidates’ resumes. They can look for keyword matches and use various other algorithms to simplify the data analysis process.

Many applicant tracking systems also integrate with popular online job boards. This helps to streamline virtual job postings and further simplify the hiring process.

Why Is It Important to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume?

If you’re not already optimizing your resume for applicant tracking systems, now is the time to do so. Listed below are the top 3 reasons why this matters:

1. Don’t Fall Through the Cracks

Out of the roughly 250 people who apply for the average corporate position, only 4-6 get asked to come in for an interview, and only 1 candidate actually lands the job. Those don’t sound like great odds, do they?

The point of sharing this fact isn’t to make you feel bad or cause you to give up on your job search; it’s to convince you that you should do whatever you can to avoid falling through the cracks.

If your application doesn’t even make it through the ATS algorithm, you won’t get the chance to interview for the roles you apply to, let alone actually land one.

2. Stay Competitive

The job market is considered a “seekers’ market” right now. In other words, there are more job openings than there are applicants.

But this doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels and send out a haphazardly thrown-together resume. Lots of companies may be hiring, but there’s still plenty of competition out there.

If you want a chance at landing a position that’s a good fit for you, you need to know how to create an ATS-friendly resume that will get you past this automated gatekeeper.

If you don’t take the writing process seriously, you could miss out on your dream job. Most likely, you’ll lose the opportunity to someone else who was more conscientious about tailoring their resume to an ATS.

3. Get Hired Faster

Finally, if you are more careful about your resume writing process, you’ll be able to get hired faster.

If you’re tired of filling out applications, sending resumes, and anxiously refreshing your email inbox, you need to change the way you draft your resumes. By writing with applicant tracking systems in mind, you can “hack the algorithm” and increase your chances of landing a job.

6 Key Features of an ATS Resume

Not sure what an ATS-friendly resume looks like? This checklist outlines the 6 key features that the best ATS resumes include:

1. Clear Contact Information

Applicant tracking systems are designed to pick up on key details, including contact information. 

If your contact information is buried in your resume and isn’t easy to find, that could be enough to get your resume disqualified. After all, if the ATS can’t figure out how to get in touch with you, how is the company supposed to let you know they’d like you to come in for a job interview?

2. Appropriate Keywords

Keywords are, well, key to just about everything these days, from social media ads to blog posts. Your resume is no exception. If your resume doesn’t include certain keywords that are relevant to the position for which you’re applying, the ATS is going to filter it out and put it in the proverbial “no” pile. 

3. Simple Formatting

Complex formatting and fancy designs might look nice on your laptop screen, but they aren’t so great for applicant tracking systems. The ATS may have a hard time “reading” your resume if it’s formatted confusingly. As a result, it will get skipped over and you’ll be out of a job for a lot longer than if you keep your resume simple and streamlined.

4. Bullet Points and Headings

Part of simple, streamlined formatting is making use of things like bullet points and headings. Bullet points and headings help to organize your resume and make it clear to the reader (human or machine) what you’re talking about in each section of the document. 

5. Clear Hierarchy

A clear information hierarchy matters, too. If your resume isn’t well-organized, it’s more likely to get skipped over by the ATS. It’s also less likely to catch a hiring manager’s attention if they skim through it to decide whether or not they want to bring you in for an interview.

6. Appropriate File Type

Many applicant tracking systems are only compatible with certain file types. In general, .docx and .doc are the most appropriate types of files—not PDFs. Plain text files are good for applicant tracking systems, too, but they limit your formatting options.

How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume: 8 Tips to Help You

At this point, you’re probably ready to start writing your ATS-optimized resume! If you’re feeling a little intimidated by the idea of putting together an ATS-friendly CV or resume, here are 8 tips to help you.

1. Use the Right Keywords

As we mentioned above, you need to be careful with the keywords you include when drafting your resume. 

Applicant tracking systems are designed to scan documents and look for keywords the company has deemed most important. Resumes that contain the fewest keywords are filtered out, which could prevent you from making progress in your job hunt.

When you’re writing your resume, win the ATS over by using a variety of industry or role-specific terminology. If you’re not sure what words to include, go back and re-read the job posting. Then, echo the language used by the hiring manager.

Including the most appropriate keywords will help you get your resume to the top of the list. However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

Take care not to “keyword stuff” your resume. If it seems like you’re just plugging in key phrases for the sake of it and they aren’t used contextually, that’s a red flag to applicant tracking systems and hiring managers. If you overdo it, you’ll end up getting your resume tossed out.

2. Avoid Complex Formatting

The simpler your resume’s formatting is, the better.

Creatively designed resumes aren’t just hard for applicant tracking systems to read, they’re also harder for hiring managers to read. Even if a fancy resume manages to squeak through an ATS’s screening process, it may end up getting thrown out by a hiring manager who doesn’t have time to try and decipher it.  

Here are some tips that will help you simplify your resume’s formatting:

  • Do Use:
    • Bold type
    • Italics
    • Underlining (for headings and URLs)
    • Bullet points (circle and square-shaped are best)
  • Don’t Use:
    • Tables
    • Text boxes
    • Columns (ATSs are programmed to read left to right)
    • Unconventional section headings
    • Hyperlinks
    • Unconventional fonts (stick to fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, and Georgia)

3. Create a Hierarchy

A hierarchy makes it easier for the ATS and the humans who will eventually get their hands on your resume to read it and pick out key details. 

In general, the most important pieces of information should be located as close to the top of your resume as possible. For example, your name and contact information should always be at the top so the reader immediately knows who they’re reading about.

When plugging in your work experience or training certifications, be sure to start with the most recent ones and work backward. If you have a lot of work experience, consider creating two sections: one for relevant experience and one for other roles you held in the past. 

As for education, the ideal placement for this section varies depending on your unique situation. For example, if you’re a fresh graduate who doesn’t have a lot of work experience yet, placing your education above the experience section might be the right move. On the other hand, if you have years of relevant work experience, put that above the section related to your schooling.

4. Explain Roles and Job Experience in Detail

When you’re describing your previous jobs and the responsibilities that came with each one, use detail. The more detail you include when describing each position, the easier it is to incorporate keywords naturally into your resume.

If you’re not sure how to explain what you did in your last role, consider researching resumes from people who have applied for similar positions. Study the job ad, too. This shows you what kind of responsibilities you’ll need to fulfill if you get the position and can give you an idea of the best keywords to include.

While it’s important to include relevant detail, it’s also important to avoid being overly descriptive or wordy. If you overdo it, you may fall into keyword-stuffing territory. You may also make your resume too long or hard to read.

5. Choose the Right File Type

A lot of people assume that submitting resumes in PDF format is the most appropriate choice. In reality, though, .docx and .doc files are typically your best bet when writing for applicant tracking systems.

If you’re still not sure, double-check the job ad to see if a list of appropriate file types is included. This will help you avoid submitting a file that the ATS can’t read and therefore gets disqualified. 

6. Avoid Graphics

If you’re applying for a job in the United States, there’s no need to include a photo of yourself in your resume. Furthermore, you shouldn’t include any other types of graphics in the document.

In most cases, applicant tracking systems cannot pick up on charts, graphs, logos, or other images. As a result, all the hard work that went into creating those graphics will have been for nothing, and your resume may even get thrown out altogether.

To increase your chances of getting your resume read and considered, keep it simple. Limit yourself to text and basic formatting features like bullet points instead.

7. Keep Details Out of the Header and Footer

When writing your resume, do not include important information in the header or footer of your document. Better yet, don’t place any information in these areas at all.

Text placed in the header or footer often gets cut off by the ATS. To avoid parts of your resume getting overlooked, everything should be kept within the margins of the document body.

If you’ve included a crucial detail like your name or email address in the margins, your resume likely won’t even be considered by the ATS, and you’ll be disqualified from the job before you’ve even had a chance to prove yourself.

8. Don’t Try to Trick the System

At first, this tip might sound a bit funny. After all, haven’t you just read 7 tips explaining how to trick the applicant tracking system?

There’s a big difference between understanding how to work within the parameters of the system (which is what this guide’s all about) and actively trying to trick an ATS. You need to know how to write an ATS-friendly resume that doesn’t read as spammy or fake.

Here are some examples of how people have tried (and failed) to trick the ATS in the past:

  • Copying and pasting keywords in white font
  • Copying and pasting the job description in white
  • Keyword stuffing
  • Adding a “keywords” section

These kinds of tactics may have worked once upon a time, but applicant tracking systems have become more sophisticated in recent years. Plus, even if your resume got through an ATS with these hacks, it likely wouldn’t get past a hiring manager’s more watchful eye, so your craftiness still wouldn’t help you land the job. 

If you feel like you need more tips for creating the best resume that can be used for any job search, LiveCFA has already listed the best tips that can get you to land the jobs you want. 

ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

With these tips in mind, you’ll have a much easier time writing an ATS-friendly resume. There’s more, though. These templates can provide additional insight and make the writing process even simpler:

Template 1: Basic ATS Resume

Name and Job Title

Summary or Objective

[Include your objective here plus contact information to help the ATS pick it up more easily.]

Education or Experience

[Title of degree] [School name] [Graduation date]

  • [Relevant classes]
  • [Relevant projects]

or

[Job title] [Dates of employment]

[Name of employer] [City and state of employer]

  • [Detailed function of the role]

Skills, expertise, interests, or other

  • [Short phrase explaining skill]
  • [Short phrase explaining expertise]
  • [Short phrase introducing accomplishment]

Template 2: Recent College Grad Resume

Name and Job Title

Summary or Objective

[Include your objective here plus contact information to help the ATS pick it up more easily.]

Education

[Title of degree] [School name] [Graduation date (if applicable)]

[Relevant classes]

[Relevant projects]

Certificates

[Title] [Completion date]

Work/Internship Experience

[Job title] [Dates of employment]

[Name of employer] [City and state of employer]

  • [Detailed function of the role]

Template 3: Professional Resume

Name and Job Title

Summary or Objective

[Include your objective here plus contact information to help the ATS pick it up more easily.]

Work Experience

[Job title] [Dates of employment]

[Name of employer] [City and state of employer]

  • [Detailed function of the role]

Skills and Competencies

  • [Short phrase explaining skill]
  • [Short phrase explaining competency]

Courses and Training

[Course title][Completion date]

[Course provider]

Certificates

[Title] [Completion date]

Education

[Title of degree] [School name] [Graduation date]

[Relevant classes]

[Relevant projects]

Languages

[Language][Proficiency level]

Additionally, if none of the resume templates here suit your preferences, there are countless other resume samples available on the internet for you to explore.

Draft an ATS-Friendly Resume Today

Now that you know how to create an ATS-friendly resume, it’s time to get to work on yours. Follow the tips outlined above, and don’t be afraid to use the templates for extra guidance!

If you’re ready to start applying for jobs and submitting your ATS resume, check out the job listings on GrabJobs today. Our search platform makes it easier than ever for you to find the perfect position.

Photo by Van Tay Media on Unsplash

Basic Soft Skills to Build for Your Professional Career

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soft skills

Basic Soft Skills to Build for Your Professional Career

Putting yourself into a position to have an enriching career can be challenging. Often, there’s a lot of focus on taking targeted courses to engage with specific career paths. However, these are far from the be-all and end-all of basic professional development. Employers are going to look at more than your qualifications when deciding to offer job opportunities.

Having a solid set of basic professional skills alongside your educational achievements can show you to be a capable and adaptable contributor. Indeed, there is a range of key hard and soft skills that are valuable no matter what profession or industry you’re pursuing. You’ll find this unique balance of quantifiable technical abilities like digital literacy and personal attributes can make you a marketable candidate. Indeed, the universality of these skills can mean you will still function as a professional if you choose to shift your career focus. 

We’re going to home in on the basic soft skills you should be developing as you build your professional career. What traits are most valuable and how can you hone them? 

Top 7 Elemental Soft Skills to Shape Your Career

Collaboration

There are few professional careers in which you’ll be working entirely on your own. Even if you plan to freelance or operate remotely, you will still be a component contributor to a larger strategy. How you recognize your place in this chain and work with others is vital to the success of any project. This is why collaboration is one of the main soft skills employers value in candidates.

Collaborative ability isn’t just about being open to engaging in group projects. Rather, your basic collaborative soft skills should revolve around how you effectively function in any team scenario. You need to be able to provide your own contributions while also recognizing and appreciating those of your colleagues. Moreover, you need to be able to keep your ego in check and accept that your solutions may not be the best for the situation. In essence, it’s about understanding how to facilitate group success rather than being self-focused.

As such, it’s important to get as much experience in collaboration as possible. Get involved with professional, recreational, and volunteer group projects. Make mistakes and missteps and learn from more experienced collaborators. Importantly, keep track of the details of these experiences so you can effectively represent your skills in this area to employers.

Communication

Effective communicators are considered important by the majority of employers, no matter what sector you’re targeting. This is especially relevant if you have your sights set on leadership positions. But a strong set of communications skills will improve your efficacy at entry-level and throughout your progression.

This doesn’t mean to say you have to be a social butterfly. That isn’t in everyone’s wheelhouse, and it’s important to cultivate skills within the authentic boundaries of your personality. But you should focus on abilities such as: 

  • Active Listening
  • Body Language
  • Public Speaking
  • Verbal and Written Communication
  • Digital Etiquette

Emotional Intelligence

Intellect is something prized in most professions. But this isn’t just a measure of your technical or cognitive functions. Your emotional intelligence (EQ) is also increasingly considered a valuable basic soft skill among employees. This is particularly present in the private sector where workers with high EQ have been linked to positive company culture, productivity, and both employee and customer retention.   

In essence, EQ tends to come down to a couple of core attributes. How you manage your own emotions and the level of empathy you experience. The former attribute is essential in making certain you’re able to function productively when things get stressful or you find certain work or home experiences frustrating. The latter is key to forging strong colleague bonds, making genuine connections with customers, and operating in an ethical capacity.

This can feel like a difficult skillset to develop, as it is so closely linked to innate parts of your personality. But you can make improvements here in a practical way. Much of this comes down to performing self-assessments and observing your own behavior in your interactions with other people. Indeed, self-awareness is a key tool in effective EQ. You should also spend time examining your actions and the effect these have on other people’s emotional, psychological, and social experiences. Even just taking time to talk to people about how they feel in difficult situations can give you insights. This is not a quick process, but it’s worth taking the time to grow in this regard. 

Organization

Any business is the sum of multiple moving parts. Even within any role you take on, you are likely to be expected to perform various types of tasks. Many of these will have competing or conflicting priorities. To be productive and responsible in any role, you have to adopt strong organizational skills. 

This isn’t just a route to getting your tasks completed on time and to a high standard of quality. It supports ethical behavior by making certain your activities are transparent and traceable. You will also discover clear organizational protocols can have a positive impact on workplace safety. This is because good standards of organization can reduce confusion about how activities should be performed. This, in turn, mitigates the potential for dangerous errors to occur.

Organization is not everybody’s strong suit. Nevertheless, it’s worth implementing habits and methodologies to help you make improvements here. Commit to creating schedules for your tasks, even every day. Make lists of each activity to be completed, assess these by priority, and arrange them accordingly. Even the simple acts of regularly keeping your work and home spaces clean and uncluttered help to bolster your organizational skills.

Creativity

The ability to be creative is often overlooked by professionals who aren’t focused on artistic fields. But creativity is a basic soft skill a variety of industries and employers consider to be valuable. This is because the creative mindset allows you to think differently and navigate difficult scenarios. It’s one of the reasons it happens to be a highly transferable skill.

From a problem-solving perspective, creativity gives you more cognitive tools to work around the hurdles of a task. It stops you from being stuck in the ruts of cyclical behavior or relying on tired and ineffective approaches. You can also find your creativity can make you more effective and agile in other areas, such as communication and pitch meetings. Not to mention it is an essential component to boosting innovation.  

Developing your creative soft skills doesn’t require you to be an artistic person. Rather, it’s about feeding physical and psychological muscles to strengthen the creative mindset. Stay curious and keep learning, even about subjects not directly aren’t related to your main professional expertise. Take risks in your problem solving; you’re not always going to be right, but it provides chances to explore alternative options. From a practical level, get used to actively brainstorming and engaging in freeform ideation activities. 

Time Management

It would be nice if you had the freedom to complete tasks on your schedule. However, so much of professional life is dependent on performing within strict timeframes. Whether you’re a medical researcher submitting a report for review or a freelancer on a deadline, time is always of the essence. As such, time management is an essential soft skill in all professions.

The first step here is to appreciate why time can be a factor in any task you take on. Too often, when people aren’t great with time management it’s because they don’t have a full understanding of what the potential knock-on effects might be. While meeting a client 10 minutes late may not seem like the end of the world to you, this may make them late for another appointment, which can throw off someone else’s project. The consequences are rarely limited to you alone. 

There are factors you can work on to improve your time management. The first is to note your productivity patterns. Get to know how long it tends to take you to complete certain tasks so you can plan ahead better. Wherever possible, commit to starting tasks early rather than putting them off. It’s also important not to overload yourself. Limit what activities you say yes to on any given day so you can set realistic expectations. Even taking regular breaks can make for a more structured day to aid your time management.

Agility

In any given profession, there is the potential for the unexpected to occur. Employees who are rigid in their behavior and attitudes aren’t especially suited to manage and overcome the unexpected. This is why agility is a basic soft skill that can highlight you as a valuable candidate in any professional field.

This tends to come from exposure to the unknown. As such, you should seek out opportunities to embrace the unfamiliar. Step outside of your comfort zone into tasks you find difficult or are even scary to you. This can be helpful to cope with the discomfort of new situations and then shift your perspective to address them effectively. You should also adopt the habit of not relying on the first solution that presents itself to you. Consider alternative skills you can apply. 

Often, the most important element in developing your agility is the ability to reflect after an experience. Be open to examining your thoughts and actions in the circumstances you face. Ask what worked, what didn’t, and how you might respond better in the future. By internalizing these experiences you gain the potential to be more agile in other scenarios.

Conclusion

While technical skills may be essential for some roles, you’ll find there are basic soft skills in demand across all professions. Some of these are rooted in practical tasks; organization and collaboration are essential to day-to-day success. Others — such as emotional intelligence and creativity — are personality or cognitive traits you should hone. It can take time and dedication to cultivate these elements effectively. But you’ll find your efficacy and attractiveness as a professional will gain significantly.  

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About the Author

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Top 10 Tips for Life and Career Change

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career change

Top 10 Tips for Life and Career Change

Life isn’t easy – we are all generally doing the best in our lives with the resources that we have. Even though social media perpetuates the myth that everyone is living perfect lives, most of us know that this is simply not true. Dips and bumps along the way are part of our normal life journey and the challenges that arrive are healthy and often bring out the best in us. It is known that we live our best and happiest lives when we are embodying our true authentic selves and do not try to be like everyone else. To achieve this, it’s vital to recognize your uniqueness – there is nobody on the planet who has the same cultural, ethnic, educational, social, and life experience mix as you!

Understanding our uniqueness, controlling our egos, living in the present, and treating ourselves with self-compassion enable the self-reflection needed to make changes to the path we are currently on. These tools allow us to plan significant life changes, career changes and to take a divergent path.

Top 10 Tips for Life and Career Change

1. Our identities are not set in stone

Our future self which includes our future life and future work is up to us to determine. We can start planningand implementing small changes rightaway.

2. As change is constant, we mustprepare ourselves with tools and skills needed for the future.

Preparing ourselves for the future in which we will be living longer and engaging in jobs or careers that do not even exist yet.

3. Take small, calculated steps to make the change.

Career change doesn’t have to be a big dramatic shift. Small, calculated steps in new directions including experimenting in different areas are some of the best ways to start.

4. Change can be difficult – be prepared

Help and advice can be required to overcome some of the typical barriers introduced to us by our friends or family, social norms, and our finances.

5. Upgrade your social network

Talking to people that you already know and those you don’t know about your plans and projects can really help clarify what you want, where you want to get to, and how you will get there.

6. Know your reasons why

Make sure that you are changing for the right reasons. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

7. Is career change right for you?

Career change is not for everyone, the timing might not be right for you at the moment. However, if you are under 50 years old there is a significant chance that you will find yourself in a new or transitional career within the next 30 years.

8. Career change takes time

Career transition can take around 12-18 months. Take small steps consistently over time to build up your momentum.

9. Embrace the excitement and the uncertainty

Career and life change bring with it excitement and uncertainty. Learn to embrace the unknown and ensure that you make realistic goals.

10. Help somebody else

Find somebody who is also going through a change process and help them. It’s a fact that giving advice helps the advice-giver deal with the same issue. Giving advice to others helps you clarify what you want and what you need.

Why Should I Think About Career Change?

It could be argued that career change is a vital skill. As technology continues to evolve at such a rapid rate, our future will involve significant job automation, job change, and job creation. Many of us will need to learn new skills, techniques, and tools. Much of the work required in the future will be with careers and jobs that currently don’t exist right now, and the definition of the traditional work model will be very different from what it is now. As our life expectancy continues to increase, we will need to work for more years before we retire. Working from home is now normal and we are continually dependent on new technology in many different facets of our lives and careers. As technology brings about new opportunities, it also causes disruption to many sectors and has forced companies into restructuring. We are now increasingly working in an economy with more opportunities for freelance, gig, and portfolio careers. Changes due to COVID-19 and the variants of the virus combined with the push for sustainability have made a massive impact on the structures of work and the economy. If we don’t show the flexibility or understanding to be able to or think about work change, we may be hindering our future selves and our future lives. Professor Herminia Ibarra (London BusinessSchool), states that because we are living longer, the same work will no longer be challenging enough to keep us engaged so we may curiously and creatively want to try different types of work. We may have to reinvent ourselves several times over which is possible as our lives and our identities are not set in stone. Who we are today is different from who we were 1 year ago and who we will become in 1 year is also different from who we will become in 5 years’ time.

What is a Career and Meaningful Work?

A Career for many of us means financial rewards, passion, fulfillment, interest, social, identity, and much more. However, the emergence of the pandemic has created a space for many of us to ask ourselves some big questions and reminded us of our mortality. One of the simplest and most powerful questions to ask yourself is this – does the deal of giving up a set amount of time in return for a set amount of money still work for you now as it has done in the past? Over multiple lockdown periods, we have been less distracted with holidays and socializing which may have given us the time to self-reflect on work, life and meaning. A recent survey shows we seem to be shifting to want and to obtain more meaningful work. Meaningful work is very different for each of us and usually determined by our values and aspirations and elicited by guided self-reflection or introspection.

What is Career Change?

Career change or professional reinvention is generally not a quick simple shift, it’s more of a lengthy transition. There are elements of identity, security, psychological and social needs tied up within the context of our careers, which means that the transition can be both complex and challenging. The transition can be described as moving away from something that you are very familiar with but not actually leaving it and at the same time moving towards something else but not quite knowing what it is you are moving towards. It is a messy and non-linear process and it’s not something you can simply plan and then execute as it doesn’t usually follow a set plan. The best description of a career change is ‘an iterative process of experimenting and learning where small steps are taken towards an unspecified and moving target, which changes shape and size the closer you get towards it. Understandably, this process can take time. The career change process usually kicks off after we have been on the well-defined path of school-university-career, and we get to a stage where we want to take another path. As unique individuals, with unique backgrounds, we won’t necessarily be following in the footsteps of someone who has done the exact same career change before so we will need to create our own personalized new path that guides our own personal career change.

Initial Thoughts About Career Change:

Career coach, Kate Richardson, recommends that there must be an initial urgency or desire for change. The trigger could be a feeling of being pulled towards something or pushed away from something else. Once you know you want to change, overcoming the initial inertia is really challenging, and knowing where to start is difficult. A career change can be catalyzed by the feeling that you only have one life, so you should use it wisely and do something you that feel passionate or excited about with your life. This often means that sacrifices need to be made if your career change involves re-education and the possibility of a reduced income for a certain time period. You may need to look at your finances – can you put a price on your happiness and growth at work?

Barriers to Career Change:

Friends, family, and co-workers may tell you that you shouldn’t leave your current job and financial security and that change is too risky(note that many of them will also be jealous of your decision!). However, career change done well involves a slow transition using side jobs, small projects, small steps, and making a final change only when there is adequate income to cover financial needs. Questions to think about such as, how much money do you need to live with your current lifestyle? what things are non-essential (that you could forgo for a while)? Discussions need to be had around finance to see what is possible and re-evaluations of our priorities as we may realize that we could make small changes to our lifestyle to reduce our monthly expenses. Social norms and culture also play a part in how we feel about changing careers. For example, in the United States, it is seen as normal to change and re-invent oneself, however, in countries such as Japan and France and in some specific conservative cultures, it may be considered less socially acceptable to make significant career changes.

What Will Happen When You Decide to Transition Your Career?

Once you decide to make the transition and start thinking about other possibilities, you will have a list of possible future selves in your head that don’t exist yet until you start exploring your possibilities. You will then transition into a period of ‘fertile emptiness’, and you will feel that your life journey lacks clear direction – you will be in-between the old and ‘new’ you. You may lose some of your work-related identity and it may be hard also for the people around you who will try to help you to become more stable. However, it is vital that you continue to express your ideas and possible future-selves. The key thing here is not to quickly pick a career simply to get out of this uncomfortable phase, instead, use this phase to explore and understand what you want and what makes sense. This middle phase challenging, but with the right support and guidance and after experimenting with many options you will be able to make the transition that is right for you.

What Can Help with This Transition?

It can really help to first determine your personal values which will then inform what is important to you at work. If you struggle to determine your values, a technique of reflecting back on your life at key moments where you felt strong, proud, satisfied, embarrassed, or envious can help elicit your values. Knowing your strengths can also help with the transition. Your strengths are those things are that you are naturally drawn to that give you energy and allow you to perform at your best. To determine your strengths, self-reflection into our early lives as kids where we naturally used our strengths can be a good start. Guidance using online tools such as strength-finder’ to help elicit your values and strengths is useful.

How to Start Career Change Using 3 Practical Steps:

STEP 1 - USE SMALL PROJECTS TO TEST POSSIBLE FUTURE-SELVES

  • Do different things, take advantage of new projects within your company
  • Work with friends on other projects
  • Start a side project(s)
  • Take advisory work or start freelance work
  • Volunteering in organizations to get started on using new skills will help build momentum.
  • Take a short course in a new field
  • Give a class or presentation in your current or new field

STEP 2 - NETWORK

Free yourself from your usual everyday discussions by adding new connections, re-activate ties with people you know but don’t usually talk to and to people you have lost contact with. Coach Tony Robbins often says that you are the product of the 5 people you spend the most time with and a direct reflection of your peer group. Changing what you talk about and who you talk to, even when you think that it won’t lead to a possible new job or career, activates the thinking process and helps you clarify your thoughts within the transformation process.

STEP 3 – REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

Make sense of the experiences that you are going through by self-reflection and use this to feed a thought process that helps you understand what to do next. Our identity is often rooted in our work so careful self-reflection on what we are now doing helps the transition. If we are forced to reflect and importantly tell others about what we are going through it significantly clarifies our mind and helps us get to where we want to go.

What is the Best Age to Change Your Career?

The concept of the ‘100-year life’ is now being talked about as normal by Prof Andrew Scott(London School of Economics) and others. It doesn’t make sense to study when we are young and then get into a job for the rest of our lives. Multiple skillsets, as well as the ability to take a break and go in and out of careers, will set us up well for the future. As we live longer, the separate ideas of work, time, money, and life will change and become more fluid. Work-life balance describes what you want to do in your life vs what you do to earn the means to live your life. As we continue to live longer, work is increasingly becoming more complex and is more intertwined within our lives, our work will take a different and perhaps more significant place in our lives.

Career change is not for everyone, the timing might not be right for you at the moment. However, if you are under 50 years old there is a significant chance that you will find yourself in a new or transitional career within the next 30 years.

Tips from People Who Have Already Made a Career Change

  • Work is a huge part of your identity, especially if you have built up many years of expertise and networks in a certain area. A big change is very scary so small steps and experimentation in a direction to help determine what you want to do is the way forward.
  • When you are working on your new business or new venture you will feel lucky to be alive and in a flow, state where time will melt away. You should get that deep satisfaction and feel connected to your job.
  • During the pandemic, many of us have re-evaluated our choices, values, and relationships. This means we may have new opinions on money and life balance. A career change also requires a belief and overcoming fear– don’t let fear dictate what you want to do.
  • A sudden career change can be daunting and difficult especially if you have a family to support, so small steps can be a much easier and safer way forward.
  • Speak to new people in different industries outside of your usual network who are doing what you aspire to do.
  • Start experimenting on new things – a short online course, start working on a side project, put your hand up at work to lead a new project in an area that you wouldn’t usually work in.
  • People can sometimes rush into starting a new degree or course when thinking about a career change. This costs time and money and may not be the right way forward. Instead, start with a free online course (Coursera), listen to TED talks, use the LinkedIn learning platform before spending significant time and money on a lengthy course or degree.
  • You need to become resilient and understand that rejections will come. It’s difficult especially if you put your heart and soul into an application and then get knocked back. The more rejections you get, the closer you are to your goal. Persistence is key and doesn’t quit your day job straight away!
  • You will feel so much happier and have so much more energy once you have found your purpose. WhenSunday comes, you will feel excited about the week ahead!

About the Author

Claire Denut-Samuels is passionate about motivation and personal growth,  a positive and caring Executive Coach who helps leaders and teams think differently and take action.
She has 17 years of international experience in management and leadership, and a strong track record in engaging teams and customers to achieve their goals.

How Individuals Can Grow Professionally in the Medical Field

by
medical jobs

How Individuals Can Grow Professionally in the Medical Field

Recent healthcare statistics reveal that, “by 2030, America will have about 122,000 unfilled posts for physicians.” This is incredibly scary considering the health crisis we’re navigating right now. We need our healthcare workers. However, we must find better ways to support them to keep them. 

One way could be to create clear paths for professional growth in the industry. A medical discovery or incredible invention shouldn’t be the standard for advancing a medical career. Instead, there are much simpler ways to grow your career path in the healthcare industry. 

Various things can help individuals in healthcare and medicine advance their careers, including growing critical soft and technical skills for their particular position, doing volunteer work, and developing their professional network. 

Read on for more about these and other ways you can grow professionally in the medical field. 

Be a Leader

One of the best ways to grow professionally in the healthcare industry is to learn to be a leader. Leadership skills are key in career growth because they help you develop professional relationships, high levels of determination, skill, empathy, and genuine interest in serving others you’ll need to be successful. 

For instance, let’s say the next step in your professional career is becoming a nurse. In that case, growing the following leadership skills is essential if you want to make the most significant impact in your role and position yourself for continued growth: 

  • Written and verbal communication
  • Active listening 
  • Conflict resolution
  • Managing organizational change 
  • Mentoring
  • Empathy and awareness 

You can develop your leadership skills by taking the initiative on things like: 

  • Going on medical missions
  • Shadowing your superior
  • Mentoring new employees
  • Chairing committees
  • Setting up facility and industry events 
  • Volunteering with nonprofits
  • Taking on additional projects 
  • Joining your healthcare association

You can grow professionally in the medical field by exploring internal options for growth as well. 

Explore Internal Options for Growth

This is an obvious one, but be sure you’re actively pursuing any internal options for growth. For instance, are there any offerings for cross-training, upskilling, shadowing, or mentorship where you work? 

Refer to your facility’s internal job board often to find possibilities for growth where you’re already working. You could also ask your supervisor about upcoming openings or reach out to your coworkers about any future opportunities they’ve heard about. 

Furthermore, if there aren’t any official opportunities for growth internally, you can always ask your supervisor to take on additional responsibilities. Ask if there’s anything you can take off their plate and be eager to do so should the answer be yes. 

If internal opportunities or additional responsibilities in your current role aren’t available, don’t be afraid to research external opportunities for professional growth. 

Research External Opportunities for Professional Growth

Sometimes, you won’t be able to grow your career internally. You’ll have to be brave and seek external growth opportunities, like getting a new position at a new facility or picking up some hours in an emergency room. 

Tap into your professional network to research external growth opportunities. You can absolutely find healthcare job openings on job boards. Still, it’s better to leverage the tight-knit medical field family to land the right option for you with individuals you know and love. 

Learning how to make an excellent first impression can also aid your growth in the medical field. 

Learn to Make a Good First Impression

Learning to make a good first impression wherever you go can positively impact your career growth. A positive first impression matters whether you’re growing your network, working with patients, or collaborating with other medical professionals. Also, good first impressions can lead to lasting relationships that propel your career forward. 

Master your first impression by: 

  • Smiling
  • Reading the room
  • Being well-groomed
  • Being mindful of your nonverbal cues
  • Making sure your clothes are tidy and look good on you 
  • Bringing a thoughtful gift when appropriate 
  • Maintaining eye contact throughout conversations
  • Preparing conversation topics before attending events 

Another way to grow professionally is to expand your professional network. 

Grow Your Professional Network

Growing professionally can be a direct result of who you know. Developing a solid professional network can give you a leg up when searching for new opportunities, contacts, advice, and support. 

Social media is a goldmine for growing your professional network. in addition, you can grow your network and increase your opportunities for professional growth by attending conferences and events. 

You can find medical conferences and events to attend by asking around at the facility you work at and seeing what resources are shared there. You can also go online and search for upcoming conferences and events related to your position or specialty. 

You can also explore fundraising as a way to grow professionally in the medical field. 

Explore Fundraising

This is a route less taken, but learning the ins and outs of fundraising can propel your career in the medical field forward. 

Let’s say you’re hosting a fundraiser online to bring professional resources to your facility, like classes that teach valuable professional skills or putting on an in-person event to meet another funding need. It’s beneficial to your overall efforts to grow professionally because of the skills you acquire, like promotion, recruiting, and collaboration. 

See what you can find out about hosting a fundraiser for your facility. You can ask your supervisor to have a private conversation about immediate funding needs and your interest in hosting a fundraiser to meet them. 

If your facility already has some sort of fundraising team in place, ask if you can be a part of it or at least assist at the next fundraising event.   

Do Volunteer Work

Volunteering is one of the best things you can do for your professional growth. Not only is the work fulfilling, but you get the chance to work on the leadership skills above and the technical skills that make you a better medical professional. 

Start with underserved medical facilities and clinics. Reach out and ask if there are any opportunities for you to volunteer. Be sure that you’re committed to regularly volunteering so that you can develop strong relationships with the staff and continuously grow your soft and technical skills simultaneously. 

Expand Your Formal Education

Continuing your education is a great way to advance your healthcare career. There’s a long list of specializations and certifications to obtain in the medical field and outstanding schools to get them at.  

Sit down and explore how you can expand your formal education. Take a look at your financial situation first and see if advancing your education is doable, as traditional education in medicine can be pretty spendy. 

You should also see if you have time to commit to formal education. Many certifications and degree programs require a serious time commitment that may not allow you to work full-time, volunteer, and take on everything else in your life. So, it’s best to do your research and consider all that taking on a formal education commitment would affect. 

In addition to formal education, practice self-education. 

Practice Self-Education

If you aren’t financially prepared to expand your education traditionally or simply don’t want to go that route, self-education is still an option. Don’t go off doing unauthorized surgeries or medical experiments or anything. Instead, just become a lifelong learner interested in all things medical. 

You can practice self-education by: 

  • Doing your own research or personal project
  • Reading books by medical experts and influencers 
  • Tapping into social media 
  • Attending talks, conferences, and events on your own time 
  • Having discussions with colleagues about trends, experiences, and so forth 

Also, be sure to jump on all opportunities to grow professionally in the medical field.

Jump on All Opportunities

We all can think of at least one opportunity that we passed up but wish we didn’t. Don’t let that be the case in your quest to grow professionally in the medical field. Instead, take advantage of opportunities that are presented to you. 

It’s beneficial to learn how to fend off procrastination, set goals, and draft step-by-step plans to achieve those goals. 

First, you can do so by reading books, blogs, and other materials with best practices. Then, put all that you learn about the above into practice so that taking advantage of opportunities as soon as they come becomes second nature. 

Lastly, you can grow professionally in the medical field by prioritizing your holistic health. 

Prioritize Your Holistic Health

Actively pursuing professional growth in the medical field can be exhausting. If you aren’t careful, that exhaustion can lead to burnout and a lack of motivation that’s no good for your growth efforts or what you’re doing in your current role. 

You must prioritize your holistic health so that you can remain clear-headed, physically well, spiritually whole, and emotionally strong on your quest to grow in a challenging work environment.

Ensure your holistic health is a priority by: 

  • Knowing the signs of burnout 
  • Practicing self-care
  • Asking for time off when you need it 
  • Developing a healthy work-life balance 
  • Enlisting the help of a professional when needed 
  • Leaning into your support system 
  • Being honest with yourself 
  • Implementing exercise regularly and a solid nutrition plan 
  • Staying on a healthy sleep schedule
  • Growing authentic relationships with your superiors 
  • Using your health resources 

Ultimately, when you prioritize your holistic health, you’re able to stay engaged, motivated to grow, and at your best in one of the most demanding industries. 

Conclusion

We hope this guide for how individuals can grow professionally in the medical field is helpful in your effort. Implementing even just a few of the tips above can help you excel in your current role and fast-track your success in the healthcare industry.
Looking for a job? Check out Grabjobs for new job opportunities!

3 Ideal Work-from-home Jobs For Parents

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work from home jobs for parents

The pandemic forced many employers and businesses to challenge the general standards of an individual’s working lifestyle. One instance is breaking the norm of having to go to a physical office to actually get work done. The situation became a lot more challenging for parents during this time too. 

When the circumstances changed overnight, those with kids at home had to take some time to rethink about their work scope. Some had to think about feasibility as well as alternate income methods.

This may have caused some parents to consider looking through their current work scope. Others are thinking of taking up other job opportunities that may allow them more flexibility and subsequently, the space to work from home. 

 

As such, in this article, we will be looking at 3 jobs that are ideal for work from home parents.

Word of caution

What each company may be on the lookout for in their employees can vary from organisation-to-organisation and person-to-person. They may also change according to the job role you apply for within a company. 

As such, this written piece only aims to function as a guide. It should not be read as a comprehensive or exhaustive list of things to consider when submitting a job application!

The best way to succeed at any job application would be by conducting ample research individually. Browsing through this article could function as the first step you take into improving your existing job application 🙂 A little touch up can go a long way!

 

Without further ado, let’s get right into the article!

How to make a good first impression?

1. Customer Service Representative/Staff

The job scope of a customer service representative or staff usually entails similar responsibilities regardless of the industry a person is working in. Answering customers’ enquiries or contacting plausible clients/customers to push out a product is yet another common job responsibility of those who work within the customer service representative/staff. 

 

Covid-19 has affected the way individuals usually work. Now, remote working conditions and WFH basis have kicked in. As such, the job responsibilities of a customer service representative or staff can be easily transferred to a work-from-home arrangement. 

 

Most customer service representative job positions ask of or require their staff to hold a secondary school certification. Thus, making this career role accessible for many more individuals than a job scope that may call for a specific degree or alternative educational qualification.

 

 

For these reasons, this job is ideal for parents who are looking to find a work opportunity that will allow them to work from home. This job role will hence also allow parents to conduct a career while also keeping an eye on the kids at home.

2. Content Writer

The second type of job opportunity that is ideal for parents who are looking for a work from home arrangement is the role of a content writer. Speaking from experience, it is definitely a job that can allow you some flexibility in terms of career options. 

You will be able to work at your own time and pace, so long as you are able to meet the deadlines asked of you. The job scope does not require you to attend a physical office environment in order to actually get the work done either. 

In fact, if you have a laptop and a good wifi connection, things are quite easily doable from anywhere! Of course, employers are interested in content writers who have demonstrated experience in terms of written pieces. As such, collating your past or some relevant work materials can help you raise your chances of landing a job as a content writer. 

Making this job opportunity yet another viable option for work from home parents!

3. Web Developer

The third type of job opportunity that is a perfect match for parents who are looking at working from home is the role of a web developer. Similar to the job role of content writers, web page developers can also easily work from home, should they have the necessary softwares, tools and skills at their disposal. 

This is also yet another job role that can be explored, should parents be interested in pursuing this line of job scope. Individuals can sign up for free online classes to learn how to use certain softwares in order to succeed at this job role. That’d make this a possible job opportunity for many parents.

For instance, web developers are expected to know how to use softwares like JavaScript, DreamWeaver, coding and HTML. With these tools, web developers can craft up web-based applications and assist businesses with their sales and marketing efforts. 

As such, the job role of a web developer is also one of the 3 types of job opportunities that are ideal for work from home parents.

In summary...

And there you have it – a compiled list of the 3 types of job opportunities that are ideal for work from home parents. These positions allow one the flexibility and space to work within his/her own time. Thus, parents can join an organisation that offers these positions so as to help them lock in that dream job opportunity.  

With all that being said, we have to come to the end of this article! We hope this written piece has provided you with some insights as to how you can improve your job hunting process to match your current career needs. 

 

With this article, we hope we’ve managed to calm some of your nerves as you prepare to send in a job application to potential companies. After all, you’re a little more equipped with the power of knowledge after reading this article 😉 

 

We wish you the best of luck as you embark on the job hunting process. More power to you!

 

In the meantime, if you’re on the lookout for similar job opportunities within Singapore, read on! 😉

Looking for a job?

No matter the industry or the position, remember to visit GrabJobs to find a job opportunity in Singapore easily!

With its instant live chat feature with employers, job seekers can expect to not miss a single opportunity. Get timely updates about their applications. Plus, receive automated reminders when invited for an interview!

 

Through the platform, you’ll be able to filter through specific industries, part-time, freelance and full-time positions too. 

Apply for your desired work opportunity in just one click. Get interviewed on the spot via GrabJobs’s chatbot! Save yourself some precious time and lock in the job of your dreams right away! Visit GrabJobs here to find out more information! 🙂

 

Need some career resources?

GrabJobs also shares career resources in the form of articles for people at different stages of their work lives. Our resources share details on how freshers can start to look for jobs more effectively, the best job interview practises, how individuals can grow their career and so much more! 


These are just some of the topics we explore, namely. Feel free to visit GrabJobs here for more information and interesting reads! We hope you find our resources helpful and useful 🙂

How to create a good first impression when job-hunting

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how to create a good first impression when job hunting

First impressions are important in numerous settings and scenarios. They come attached with a determining quality that no matter how hard someone tries to ignore, still surfaces to be a part of the decision making process. Within the world of recruitment then, a good first impression plays a crucial role. 

 

Improving one’s first impression is a manageable process. Tweaking and implementing a couple of tricks here and there can pull up a favourable result from an employer or a hiring manager. 


In this article, we will be looking at some tips and tricks you can adopt to create a great first impression when on the lookout for a job. This should help you achieve stronger team collaboration, efficiency and productivity at the workplace.

Word of caution

The following mentioned tips and tricks are information that has been generally observed across numerous work sectors. There may be instances in which specific advice may not match or suit what is expected for a specific firm, industry or job role.

As such, this written piece aims to function as a guide and should not be read as a comprehensive or exhaustive list of advice when it comes to creating a great first impression as part of the recruitment process. The best way to find out what may work for your success would be by conducting ample research. 

Browsing through this article could function as the first step you take into exploring different ways to build a positively-influencing first impression. 

Without further ado, let’s get right into the article!

How to make a good first impression?

1. Practice punctuality

One of the easiest but most effective ways to create a great first impression when job hunting is by ensuring that you practice punctuality. As with most work-related commitments, practicing punctuality is one way to demonstrate that you respect everyone’s time. 

Imagine a scenario where one may end up being late to say, a job interview. This can cast a negative light on your profile, even before you appear at the office. Being late gives off the sense that you were unprepared as you weren’t able to account for the allocation of time to make your appearance in a tidy fashion. 

Set some extra time for commuting purposes. Travel to your workplace a day or two before your scheduled interview to familiarise yourself with the route. Should you find a shortcut, estimate the time it will take to get to the firm. Yet still, leave home early and try your best to arrive at your destination 10-15 minutes earlier so you can calm your nerves down too!

2. Dress to impress

When it comes to creating good impressions, dressing the part really does make a difference. Consider what you intend to wear for the job interview. It will be the first time an employer/hiring manager sees you and this contributes to the formation of a first impression. 

It’s also important to consider what the company culture may be like. Look through some of the company’s clicks on their social media platforms to get a better sense of their dress code and lay out your attire the night before. 

While you don’t necessarily need to go in with a complete suit, definitely avoid sloppy attires like baggy jeans and slippers. Look sharp and crisp. Iron out your attire the day before. Dressing the part is a great way to get people to pay attention to you.

3. Ask good questions

Say you’ve been shortlisted for an interview at the company of your choice, what else can you do to improve your first impression? Ask good questions!

Now, what do we mean by good questions? Avoid rhetorical questions, and definitely avoid asking questions that show you don’t know much about the firm – do your research beforehand!
 

Most people get so nervous meeting their potential new bosses that they forget to do their part. Asking good questions during your conversation demonstrates that you have been listening actively and are curious to find out more. 

After all, in most conversations, if you were honestly paying attention and listening carefully to what the other party was saying, it’s highly likely that you’d have some comments or questions to share.  

 

 

Ask questions that display genuine interest and concern in relation to the job position you would like to undertake. This is a good opportunity to learn more regarding what is expected of you at the firm, should you make the cut!

 

 

Asking good questions tends to give people a reason to remember you. And that’s one way to effectively create a positive first impression.

In summary...

In conclusion, creating a positive first impression when it comes to the recruitment process is an important aspect of marketing yourself the right way for a job opportunity. 

 

It affects your chances of securing a possible next round of interview, and ultimately, the possibility of securing that job opportunity. 

 

And there you have it – a compiled list of 3 simple tips you can adopt to help create a positive first impression when it comes to matters of recruitment.

 

With all that being said, we have to come to the end of this article! We hope this written piece has provided you with some insights as to how you can create a more pleasant first impression!

Looking for a job?

No matter the industry or the position, remember to visit GrabJobs to find a job opportunity in Singapore easily!

With its instant live chat feature with employers, job seekers can expect to not miss a single opportunity. Get timely updates about their applications. Plus, receive automated reminders when invited for an interview!

 

Through the platform, you’ll be able to filter through specific industries, part-time, freelance and full-time positions too. 

Apply for your desired work opportunity in just one click. Get interviewed on the spot via GrabJobs’s chatbot! Save yourself some precious time and lock in the job of your dreams right away! Visit GrabJobs here to find out more information! 🙂

 

Need some career resources?

GrabJobs also shares career resources in the form of articles for people at different stages of their work lives. Our resources share details on how freshers can start to look for jobs more effectively, the best job interview practises, how individuals can grow their career and so much more! 


These are just some of the topics we explore, namely. Feel free to visit GrabJobs here for more information and interesting reads! We hope you find our resources helpful and useful 🙂

Career Opportunities in the Video Game Industry

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Career Opportunities in the Video Game Industry

The global video game industry has seen a major rise in recent years. At the end of 2020, it was estimated that there were over 2 billion gamers around the globe, and that number is expected to keep growing. That may be partially due to the pandemic and more people staying at home. But, it’s also because video games are advancing all of the time and attracting new audiences. 

But, it’s not just the number of gamers that’s on the rise – it’s the career opportunities in the video game industry. As demand continues to increase, new opportunities are forming all the time. By 2025, it’s forecasted that the industry will be worth $268 billion. 

Whether you’re a gamer yourself, you’re interested in tech, or you want to be involved in the next “big thing” that happens in the gaming industry, there are plenty of career opportunities to choose from. Some might even surprise you. 

With that in mind, let’s look at a few of those opportunities, and how you can get involved in the video game industry. If you’re still not convinced it’s the career move for you, we’ll first dive into why a job in the gaming industry could change your life. 

Tap Into the Future

Video games are often on the cutting edge of technology. Because there’s so much competition, manufacturers are always looking for the right talent to push their tech over the edge. Because of that, the future of video games is an exciting one. It will include advancements in things like: 

  • Cloud-based gaming
  • Mobile gaming
  • Upgraded consoles
  • Diversity
  • Digital distribution

Are your wheels turning already? You might be able to tell from this short list that jobs within this industry don’t all involve directly working with graphic design or game construction (though that’s a subject we’ll be touching on in a moment!). 

The video game industry needs individuals with a variety of skills and experience to keep growing successfully. That includes those with business and marketing backgrounds, tech wizards, and everything in between. 

No matter what industry you’re currently in, chances are you could transfer some of your skills to the gaming world. If you’re unhappy with your current career, now is a perfect time to make a change and start a career you enjoy. Life is too short to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious every day because of a job, and if you haven’t found a job you enjoy by your 30s, it’s definitely time to start looking. If you’re not sure where to get started, we’ve got a few career opportunities that might spark your inspiration and motivation. 

Game Designer

Have you always had a vivid imagination? Are you able to come up with stories that have intricate details and exciting characters better than anyone else you know? If so, you might excel at being a game designer. 

Despite the job title, game designers don’t typically do any “designing” in terms of graphics or physical game creation. 

Rather, they’re the ones who come up with game concepts. You’ll develop everything from the plot points of the game to the characters that will be involved. Once you have the basics, you’ll work with a team of developers to flesh out the details and bring the game to life. 

Game designing is becoming more important than ever, and companies need great storytellers to help them stand out from competitors. It’s especially important for companies that specialize in RPGs. They’re becoming more popular, and users can be very specific when it comes to what they want from those games. 

Many players become incredibly invested and they pay close attention to detail. Creating a game idea from scratch that will keep players interested and engaged is considered a success. If you think you have the imagination and skills to do it, this could be the best career path for you. 

Artist

Maybe your creativity doesn’t show itself with words and verbal concepts, but with art. 

Video game art has changed dramatically over the years. Most people associate the artwork in games with the quality of the graphics and technology, but the two are separate things. Yes, the right technology is important when it comes to bringing game artwork to life and showcasing it properly. But, a game artist is responsible for all 2D and 3D artistic elements, including: 

  • Characters
  • Backgrounds/scenery
  • Props
  • Color choices

Most game artists have skills in different software technologies and know a variety of programming languages. But, your job isn’t to program the game itself. You’ll collaborate with programmers and developers to make sure your art looks as good on a television or computer screen as it does while you’re creating it. That’s why being able to work as part of a team and being a strong communicator are two additional skills that are necessary for this job. 

Programmer

So, what does a programmer do? 

You’ll work closely with the game designer and artist to not only bring concepts to life but to make games playable. Programmers and software developers essentially “build” the games from the ground up using different coding languages. Programmers will take ideas and turn them into coded instructions that different systems will be able to read. 

Understanding a variety of coding languages is important, especially in today’s competitive market where game manufacturers are trying to offer something different to their consumers. 

If you think about some of the most famous video games of all time, most of them have been widely hailed as successful because of the programmers’ work behind the scenes. Of course, gamers are also often quick to call out things like “glitches” and mistakes in coding and programming. So, if you think this is the career field for you, make sure you have an eye for detail. You may even want to consider yourself a bit of a perfectionist – and one with thick skin! 

Audio Engineer

The first thing most people tend to notice about a great game is the visual content. But, think about what your favorite games would be without the right sounds complementing everything. 

Gaming sounds include: 

  • Background music
  • Dialogue
  • Special effects
  • Ambient noises

Sound is a huge part of the gaming experience, especially since so many gamers are plugged into headsets. Imagine your favorite RPG without a killer musical score. Or, think about how weak your favorite shooter game would be without realistic weapon sounds and voice-overs. That’s the main goal of an audio engineer – to add a greater sense of realism to each game through sounds and music, so players can immerse themselves into different worlds.  

It’s an extremely technical job that requires great attention to detail. But, it also allows you to be very creative. If you think you have the technical chops and you’re passionate about music and sound, being an audio engineer for video games could be a great career path. 

Gameplay Tester

Because there are so many avid gamers in the world, it’s easy for almost anyone to step up and think they could be a professional gameplay tester. But, that isn’t usually the case. While being a game tester is a fun job, it requires more than just sitting back in a beanbag chair and playing casually with friends. 

Gameplay testers have a lot of responsibility. They are one of the last forms of “quality control” before a game hits the market. To gain a job as a tester, you’ll need to highlight a lot of your skills to a potential employer, including: 

  • Strong problem-solving abilities
  • The ability to work under pressure
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Knowledge of the gaming industry
  • Understanding of specific quality assurance processes

Your role as a gameplay tester will include extensively testing every aspect of the game itself. You’ll have to play the game in every way possible and explore every area to seek out things like glitches or bugs that could negatively impact user experience. 

Your goal should be to “break” the game throughout your playing experience. If you aren’t able to do that and everything runs smoothly, it will go to the next stage of development and release. If you can find a glitch or bug within the gameplay, the game will go back and be reworked before getting released. 

Being a gameplay tester also doesn’t mean you’ll be working alone all of the time. It’s always best for testers to form positive relationships with programmers and designers, so any changes that need to be made won’t be taken personally, and will only boost the quality of the game. 

Is a Career in the Video Game Industry Right for You?

As you can see, there are more roles in the gaming industry than most people realize. Each one is just as important as the others, and we didn’t even scratch the surface on the careers that market and sell the games. 

But, if you’re passionate about this industry and you’re looking for something that will allow you to express your creativity, you can find a successful career within the video game industry. Keep these career paths in mind and consider which skills you might already be able to apply to specific positions. You might be more equipped than you think, making it easier to find a job that you enjoy right away. 

About the Author

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.