Irresistible Keywords

When you apply for a job, it can feel like your résumé falls into a black hole. But it usually goes into a database.

How do you get plucked from obscurity? Keywords.

Career expert Jay Block has researched automated résumé software extensively. His strategies will significantly increase your chances of getting your résumé onto the desk of a hiring manager. Join Block, author of The Five Steps to Rapid Employment, for a free webinar:

Stuff Your Resume With Keywords to Highlight Your Experience
Wednesday, March 4, 8 pm EST

Arm yourself with the best insider info in 2015:

• 42 Résumé Dos and Don'ts from The Muse 
• 10 Cover Letter Tips to Make You Irresistible to Employers (hint: how to make your letter more like a one-night stand) 
• 8 Tips for Writing Standout Cover Letters from NerdWallet (think audience research) 

Beyond the cover letter: your online portfolio and/or website is an easy click for employers, showcasing your value proposition. Some words of wisdom from The Muse on creating your site.

Best,
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services 

Best Advice of 2014

Happy New Year!

Alumni Career Services is kicking off 2015 with a free webinar:

Proven Strategies to Build a Network That Works for You 
February 4, 8 pm EDT

Who has the time to build a network? Nobody! But today, more than ever, having a carefully cultivated professional network is the key to getting a job faster, with less effort, and without the added anxiety of potential loss of income. Join Mike Fishbein, author of How to Build an Awesome Professional Network, to learn how you can utilize social media strategies to not only build your network, but engage it.

Best Articles of 2014

One of our favorite sites, The Muse, rounded up their best tips from 2014; check out the slideshow (below) or read the article: 31 Most Loved, Shared, and Read Career Articles of 2014. And some creative tips to get your application noticed from Brazen.



Here's to a tremendous year for your career!
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services 

Step up--and step out!

In today’s lean organizations, everyone is expected to take on a leadership role of some kind.

To do that, you might need to step up and start fresh. Join Los Ellis, author of Keys to Life Business Success, to learn how to get noticed, expand your leadership skills, and gain the appreciation of those with whom you work.

Grab Your Keys and Drive Your Career
Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 8 pm EST

When you aren’t a manager or project manager, sometimes it’s tough to shine.

• The Muse offers “3 Ways to Prove You’re a Leader” no matter your position
• Fast Company offers this 3 effective ways to take on self-leadership 
• Lifehack’s list of “12 Rules for Self Leadership” has ideas you can implement at any level 

Happy Holidays!
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services 

How to wow your interviewers

It’s been hours.

You’ve met half a dozen people who’ve filed in and out of the conference room you’ve been camped in all day. You’ve answered their questions like a champ time after time and the final session is winding down.

“Do you have any questions for us?” your potential boss asks. Your mind is suddenly wiped clean. You blurt, “No, thank you.” The interview is over. And after all that hard mental work, you’ve left a limp last impression.

It’s a common career nightmare—and reality. Fortunately, John Kador, author of 301 Best Questions to ASK In Your Interview, is ready to wake you up with questions that will showcase your smarts, experience, and intuition. Join the free webinar:

Master the Art and Science of Interviewing
Wednesday, December 3, 8 pm EST

“What’s the most important thing I can accomplish in the first 60 days?” “Am I going to be a mentor or will I be mentored?” “Now that we’ve talked about my qualifications and the job, do you have any concerns about my being successful in this position?”

These are just a taste of the questions Kador wants you to add to your repertoire. He writes, “Asking questions like these is not for the faint of heart but, then again, neither is succeeding in today’s hyper-competitive job market.”

This The Muse article adds that telling interesting, well-paced stories is the best way to communicate your value and connect with the people across the table. Here are a few tips about preparing and delivering your stories for maximum impact.

Want more? Join the Ace That Interview! free tele-seminar on December 5 at Noon EST.

Best,
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services 

Supercharge your profile

LinkedIn is one of the largest employment ponds out there. Unfortunately, you’re far from the biggest fish.

Instead of constantly searching upstream, let LinkedIn do the work for you. Viveka Rosen, author of LinkedIn Marketing: An Hour a Day, is giving a free tele-seminar for Tufts alumni. She'll teach you how to most effectively use LinkedIn to up your page views, fast track your job search, and build your brand or business.

    Let LinkedIn Market Your Skills and Experience
    Wednesday, November 5
    8 pm EST

Get the basics. Listen to archived webinars or join upcoming tele-seminars:

• Seven Mistakes Job Seekers Make Online
• Getting Started with LinkedIn
• Advanced LinkedIn: Not Just for Job Seekers  

Get inspired. Check out this TED Talk by Simon Sinek on how great leaders and brands inspire action.



Best,
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services 

Think you need a personal website?

You might.

Many of the best career thinkers agree: you need to understand employers’ needs, know your own personal brand, and communicate your “value proposition” clearly. Sometimes putting together a personal website can make all the difference.

Check out these inspiring real-world examples in this article from by Erin Greenwald on The Muse. Sometimes employers will find you based on your virtual calling card. What a great change that would be! 

If you aren't too tech savvy, that's okay. There are plenty of easy-to-use templates out there.

Ready to take the creative plunge? Peruse the The Muse's 14 stunning ways to build your personal website this week.

Good luck!
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services

Cover letter face-lift

Until an HR rep or hiring manager has Googled you, your cover letter is the face—and personality—of your resume. Make sure it shines. Here are a few writing tips from The Muse to cut, freshen, and revive.

Buh-bye, cookie cutters
Beginning a cover letter with the title of the job for which you’re applying and your intent to apply is old news. Be original; be you—you only have this one page to sell yourself. Don’t bury the lead.

Not sure where to start? Here are 31 catchy cover letters that did the trick. 

When Spellcheck isn’t enough
Don’t you sometimes wish Microsoft would just tell you, “that sentence is too long,” or “stop using overly complicated GRE vocabulary”? Enter Hemingway, an app that’ll give your cover letter a readability score and help you downsize the fear of rejection.

The 101
If you’re new to the application process and don’t know where to start with your cover letter, here’s the gist in 60 seconds, thanks to TED Ed.



Want to share a cover letter success story? I would love hear from you. Send me an email at leslie.warner@tufts.edu. And in the meantime, have a fantastic rest of the summer!

Best,
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services