5 Tips to Bring Balance Back to Your Life - Your Career Intel

5 Tips to Bring Balance Back to Your Life - Your Career IntelIn a world where smartphones have become an extra appendage and answering after-hour work emails has become the new norm, finding work-life balance can feel like an impossibility. This is especially true for younger Millennials who are just starting their careers and typically have less power to set their day-to-day work schedules.Millennials crave greater balance for fruchtwein of this generation, its the number one factor when choosing a new job, according to a recent Deloitte study. As a fellow young professional, I also know that job search priorities dont always equate with on-the-job realities.Today, Im fortunate to work for a company where work-life balance is not only prioritized but also considered instrumental to an employees success. At previous companies, however, I wasnt so lucky I know first hard how hard it can be to balance the demands of work and personal life. These tips helped me find my balance early in my career1. Change your commuteI come into the office early and leave early, which allows me to avoid rush hour traffic. If I leave for work at 730am instead of 830am, my commute is 10 minutes instead of 30 minutes. A few minutes here and there adds up by the end of the week Ive saved over three hours for myself Thats time I can use to take a yoga class, buy groceries, or meet up with friends. As an added bonus, by arriving early I have a few minutes of quiet to tackle bigger projects before the inevitable onslaught of email interruptions begin. Of course, not everyone has the flexibility in their work schedule to do this, but if you can manage it I highly recommend it.2. Optimize your lunch breakAre you making the most of your lunch break? In our office, many people use their lunch break to go to exercise. You might think youre too busy to take an hour in the middle of your day to hit the gym, but I find that after a quick workout Im energized and focused. I actually get more done in the afternoon than I would if I had stayed at my desk. Even if you dont use the time to work out, simply taking a mental break from your work and disconnecting from email can really boost your productivity.3. Take time to planThe best way to free up time for your personal life is to finish your work as quickly and efficiently as possible. I set aside a few minutes each Sunday to evaluate my schedule and upcoming deadlines. I decide what my top priorities will be for the week ahead and what I need to work on when. This also helps prevent me from being distracted by tasks that seem urgent in the moment but arent actually critical in the long run. And I dont lose time between each task deciding what to do next. If you cant take time out Sunday, even taking a few moments at the beginning of each work day to plan really helps.4. Do your research.Company culture is one of the most important determinants for work-life balance. Most young professionals are understandably uncomfortable asking about work-life balance in a job interview for fear of appearing lazy or lacking work ethic. However, there are other ways to deduce a companys attitude without directly asking. Do they offer flexible work arrangements like work-from-home days? Do they have a generous vacation policy that employees actually use? These are positive signs. Even something like a casual dress code can indicate that a company is less formal and rigid about office hours. You can also ask any former employees you know or check online employee reviews.5. Dont be afraid to relocate.Making the move to a city with a lower cost of living and a higher priority on work-life balance can make a huge difference. Im based in Denver, a city many people choose because of the abundant outdoor opportunities as well as the cultural benefits that come with a major city. On the whole, companies here tend to give employees greater flexibility for setting their schedules. Switching jobs and cities is a major life chan ge, but you may find that doing so is ultimately the right personal and professional decision.Increasingly, employers across the country are recognizing the need to prioritize work-life balance in order to attract top millennial talent. Companies are also realizing that employees are more creative and productive when they have the time to pursue their passions outside the office. Dont be afraid to carve out some time for yourself and look for a company that shares these values.

Types of Resumes Most Likely to Get Tossed Aside

Types of Resumes Most Likely to Get Tossed Aside Job seekers often ask What types of resumes are most likely to get tossed aside?Functional resumes with no experienceUnorganized resumesResumes with errorsOverly personal resumesLooking for work can be difficult for all job seekers in any position, even despite your employment history. And yourresume format can make or break your chances. In fact, some havecompared the searchto a job in itself, since a person can spend hours pouring over career listings and applying to new positions.Most people are all too familiar with the job-search struggle. Applicants may create various types of resumes (yes, theres mora than one resume format), apply to positions, and interview only to hear the same sentence over and over fromeach hiring manager Weve decided to go in a different direction.If youre bedrngnis getting the interest you want from thehiring manager you want, despite your career experience,accomplishments,job titles and employment histo ry, it may be time to consider your resume and the types of resumes that frequently get tossed. We all want ourresumes to pop, but it can be hard to know where to start.Lets start with the basics well talk about the various types of resumes a person can writeChronological resumeA resume that lists experience from oldest to most recent.Reverse-Chronological resumeA resume that lists experience from most recent to oldest.Functional resumeA resume that lists skills and strengths over work experience.Targeted resumeA resume with information targeted at a specific position or company.Combination resumeA resume that combines elements of Functional, Targeted, Chronological, and Reverse-Chronological resumes.Regardless of the resume-style you choose, its possible you may be making a few key mistakes. Many resumes get tossed aside, and today were going to talk about some major reasons why.Functional resumes with no experienceYou may already be familiar with functional resumes, as theyre ofte n utilized by certain types of professionals and there are tons of resume samples like them. For those with eu-agrarpolitiks in work history or those looking to switch industries, these resumes highlight skills over experience.However, many professionals view functional resumes as awaste of time, especially if the skills overwhelm the experience. In other words, your work history/job titles/resume writing matters, regardless of the timeline or industry.Even if youre looking to change fields, include your experience in your resume writing and in each job description. You can always discuss your transition goals in a cover letter (your cover letter may also need some help), and you can gain advice bynetworking with people in your desired industry.Useyour skills, rather simply telling employers about them. Aeignung employer will respect it more.If you have agap in your work history, consider leveraging your network or transitioning back into the workplace through temp jobs and consulta tion positions. If the gap is substantial, consider what you did during the gap. Volunteer work, finishing a degree these are elements you can (and should) list on a resume you give to a potential employer. Above all, be honest about your experience, and remain focused on your goals while keeping your prospective employer and anyhiring managers in mind.Unorganized resumesAn unorganized resume can take a number of forms, and none of them make it a professional resume. Perhaps the structure is inefficient or some elements of the resume are excessive tohiring managers.There are tons of types of resume formats. But when organizing your resume (which will look like aprofessional resume after this), remember to keep the most important info near the top work experience and professional-looking contact information. By organizing your resume in terms of relevancecontact info, experience, and accomplishmentsyoure saving employers time.And the other stuff? Most of it can go. Are you applying for an acting or modeling gig? If not,no headshot is needed in thesetypes of resume formats. (If youve got a great headshot you want to use, LinkedIn is a perfect compromise that a prospective employer would respect.) If you have adequate work experience, you dont need an about section. Additionally, you can ditch the objective. Your job applicationisthe objective.As for education, certainly include any schooling and certifications you have, on top of each job description (its sometimes equally important). While educational milestones are important, they should still be toward the bottom (unless you went to a really amazing school). Education is an accomplishment, but your experience is everything.Resumes with errorsRegardless of resume formats, weve all seem resume samples with errors. And we all know errors can be hugely problematic in all types of resume formats for hiring managers. Whether its incorrect contact information or an embarrassing flub (like forgetting the L in public ), typos show employers you lack attention to detail. Take a moment to review your resume, and more importantly, let someone else review it, too.Not all errors are typos, however. An error can be an abstract mistake, such as lacking format. If your resume has eight different fonts and a rainbow color palette, for instance, youll probably want to revise. Resume formats should be clean, with uniform sizing and simple color schemes.When it comes to errors, omitting or falsifying details is perhaps the biggest error you can make. Stretching the truth may get your foot in the door, but probably not for long. The truth may be revealed through anynumber of ways a background check, bad references, or worst of all getting the job and being unprepared.Overly personal resumesWhen writing a resume, it can be tempting to preemptively add information you might be asked in an interview. After all, isnt it better to show initiative?While initiative is important, employers will view unnecessary inf ormation as a timesuck. You do not need to highlight references, list hobbies, or explain reasons for leaving a former job. These are all conversations thatif you move forward in the application process youll probably have in an interview. Instead of personalizing your resume, go the extra mile by organizing it in a clean and efficient way.There may be other personal details youre considering disclosing details that strongly impact your life. Perhapsyou live with a disabilityor havespent long hours working for a political organization. There is no hard and fast rule in these situations, but if you feel discrimination may negatively impact your chances, you can forego these details. On the other hand, perhaps youre waiting for a company that aligns with your beliefs and personality. Ultimately, the decision is yours to make.Resume-writing is daunting, to say the least. Not only are there many types of resumes, but there are a wide variety of formats and potential mistakes to make. And while there are plenty ofimperfectresumes, you might be encouraged to know there is no such thing as the perfect resume.When it comes to writing yours, remember all employers are different. So, even if one employer decides your resume isnt up to snuff, that doesnt mean another wont love it. That said, following a few simple steps can elevate your resume above the rest. Just remember to advertise your experience, show off your organization, check for errors, and keep it professional. The rest will fall into place.