Considering a Career Move During the Pandemic? It can feel a little scary to consider a career move during the pandemic. Planning ahead for a career move during such times of uncertainty may feel a bit overwhelming. But, that doesn’t mean you should put your career aspirations on hold. In fact, these turbulent times may be just the right change to start fresh. Here are some key principles to keep you focused on your career goals, even during uncertain times. Develop new skills In order to reinvent your career, you will need to develop new and marketable skills. There are many options for online learnings, and courses you can take during the pandemic. Use the extra time you have now to learn new skills. It’s a good idea to pursue a variety of skills, and in the process you may uncover a new passion or interest. The more vast your skills and experience, the greater [...]

The #1 Soft Skill Employers are Looking for Right Now According to Udemy’s 2020 Workplace Learning Trends Report, a growth mindset is the number one soft skill employers look for right now. As we all know, this year has brought on many unique and unexpected challenges in the workplace. Employees need to be growth-minded and adaptable in order to survive this tumultuous time in the workforce. Soft skills like being adaptable to change, a desire to learn, and possessing a sincere interest in career development are invaluable skills right now. These all fall under the  soft skill of "having a growth mindset." Why is a growth mindset more important than ever in 2020? The future workforce needs to learn new skills and be adaptable to change to survive this pandemic. We are in unprecedented times which is completely mixing up the way we do business. Employees who cannot adapt to change, or lose their wits [...]

3 Reasons You Should Leave Your Resume to the Experts Just like any other service, you are going to get better results and save time and headaches by hiring a professional. Sure, you could try to fix that plumbing issue on your own, or attempt a DIY a home remodel, but unless it’s your skillset, you may end up disappointed with the results and waste precious time, energy, and resources. If you hire a professional, you will end up with a much more satisfactory finished product. In fact, if you hire us at Platinum Resumes, we are so confident in the results that we guarantee your satisfaction. 1. Job Searching is time consuming and stressful enough already. You have to pick out your outfits, get your suit or dress dry cleaned, get your hair styled, practice interview questions, search and apply for jobs, attend networking events, and so much more. This is all time consuming [...]

How to Explain Employment Gaps as a Result of COVID-19 Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 many great employees have encountered loss of employment. Some people maintain a false line of thought that it looks bad to be let go of a job, and that no one would believe that an employer would let go of an outstanding employee. However, that’s simply not true. During the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands have lost their jobs as a direct result of closure requirements, budget cuts, etc.  With the unemployment rate at ~8% in September 2020, it’s apparent that the caliber of employees were not taken into consideration when layoffs hit due to the global pandemic. This unemployment gap is not a blot on your resume, so don’t be discouraged. Here are some ways to help you explain an employment gap due to COVID-19. Be Honest First and foremost, it’s very important to be honest about your career gap right off [...]

Job-hunting amidst COVID-19 can be a bit tricky, as we all adapt to our "new normal," way of doing things. Here are some practical tips to help you navigate this unique experience of job hunting during a pandemic. Polish Your Resume A polished resume with a stand-out format will be sure to grab attention and get you the interviews you deserve. It's more important now than ever to have a well written and updated format to showcase your skills electronically. Since you may never actually meet the interviewer in person during COVID-19, your resume is your best tool to leave a good impression. Prepare for a Remote Interview The remote interviewing is new for most of us. But, if you do it well, you will be leaps ahead of your competition, since many people are uncomfortable with this kind of interview. When you are interviewing, be sure to look into the camera, this is equal [...]

What Does Your Resume Reflect About You? During a job search, first impressions are everything. Your resume is your first (and hopefully not only) chance to represent yourself to a potential employer. A well written resume should reflect your drive, your ambition, your experience, your accomplishments, your areas of expertise, your education, and your ambition. The last thing you want is your resume to be the equivalent of a cardboard, “Will Work for Food” sign. Whether you are an entry-level candidate, an executive, or anywhere in between–you need a well written resume to land a job. Our experienced and certified resume writers will make sure you’re accurately represented on your resume. We are here to make sure your resume conveys the value you have to offer—not just that you’re searching for employment. Think of your resume as your personal marketing too. It speaks volumes about you to recruiters and future employers. It is daunting to [...]

There is one thing that trainers can’t teach, managers can’t force, and only you can control—that’s your attitude! In the workplace, there are many circumstances and outcomes outside of your control. However, your reaction, and your ability to remain positive is one thing you have total control over. Here are 3 Ways to Foster Positivity in the Workplace: Speak kindly of others. We all know that golden rule, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all. The thoughts we think and the words we speak make a big difference in our view of things. Make sure to give others the benefit of the doubt, and speak kindly of them. Give people kudos for a job well done, and keep your narrative positive when you speak of others. Show appreciation and say “thank you” more often. Kindness is contagious, and others will follow suit.  Try to see the best in others instead [...]

It’s been said that work and personal life shouldn’t mix, but that can feel nearly impossible during times of personal crisis. It can feel very difficult to stay focused on work when problems in your personal life keep popping into your head or affecting your emotions. However, you have to perform your job functions or face serious consequences. Learning to march forward even when stress is overwhelming is key to career success. There’s no sure-fire way to push feelings aside at work; it just doesn’t work that way. But, here are some tips that may help you stay focused when it matters most. Give Yourself Grace & Time Give yourself some slack. Don’t add pressure and stress to your plate by feeling guilty or suppressing your emotions. If you feel a personal feeling cropping up during your workday, look at the clock and give yourself a 5 minute break to process the situation. Tell yourself [...]

It’s Labor Day weekend, which is a time for workers to relax and enjoy an extra day off work on Monday.  This is a time for us to remember that we have rights as laborers, and we deserve as well as need time off work. It’s so easy to become caught up in corporate America, and forget that we do not owe any employer our entire lives. We deserve a work-life balance as workers in this country. The holiday originated in the late 1800s when workers were expected to work long hours without days off work. Representative Lawrence McGann of Illinois, who sat on the Committee on Labor, argued for the holiday in a report submitted on May 15, 1894: The use of national holidays is to emphasize some great event or principle in the minds of the people by giving them a day of rest and recreation, a day of enjoyment, in commemoration of [...]

One of the most common interview question is, "Tell me about yourself." Open-ended questions like this often trip people up. They are designed to--it's a somewhat ambiguous question, and it's hard to understand what the interviewer is really asking. Don't find yourself ill-prepared in an interview. Use this question as an opportunity to outshine the rest. Plan to be asked the question. Brainstorm how to answer before your interview. Ask yourself the following questions: What is unique about my life that qualifies me for this position? Why am I interested in this role? Are my passions & interests in alignment with this position? How do my hobbies & community involvement relate to this role? Is there anything about my education or previous career experience that would help me excel in this position? Are the company's values and vision in alignment with my own? Keep in mind that this question can set the tone for the [...]