What it is like to attend Albright College

Albright College is a four year private school located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The 118 acre campus has a workout facility where students can break a sweat in between classes. Albright’s students come from 30 states and 26 countries.

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The Most Overused Words That Will Kill Your Resume

Words are the name of the game when it comes to resumes and you need to be strategic in your choice of them. So how do you know which words to choose and which ones to leave out? Here is a brief list of some of the most overused words on resumes. Avoid them when possible and choose some more creative alternatives.
Accomplished. Yes, we all know every job seeker is accomplished, otherwise you would be fired from every job you’ve ever had if you never accomplished anything. Instead try: Peak Performer.
Results-Driven. We all know that everyone’s professional resume starts out with Results-Driven (Insert your job title here). The only problem is in the job search game you don’t want to sound like everyone else. You want to stand out from the crowd. Instead try: Performance-Driven.
Successful. This is another overused phrase. We all want to communicate how successful we’ve been so a new employer will think highly of us, but let’s look at some alternative wording versus just coming out and saying hey there, I’m a success. Instead try: Best In Class, Award-Winning, or Top-Performer.
Skillful or Skilled. These are so boring. Seriously I hate to see resumes with these words on them. I cannot even tell you how incredibly dull these words are and I am sure you can come up with something way more creative for your resume. If you can’t think of anything try my recommendations or if you don’t like them use a thesaurus. Instead try: Talented, Sharp, or Resourceful.
Problem-Solver. Can I just say that this is a given… We are ALL problem solvers. If you are human, you are a problem solver it is just part of human nature. Does it really need to be said on your resume? I think not. Instead try: Troubleshooter, Forward-Thinking, or Visionary Leader.
And last but not least Dedicated and Dependable. Again I have to say boring, boring, boring. Spice up your resume with something creative. Instead try: High-Potential, Quality-Driven, and Dynamic.
I hope you will find these recommendations will suit you and your new resume well. As always if you need some general direction Great Resumes Fast offers resume editing, updating, and writing services. Other services offered include: cover letter writing, thank you letters, reference sheets, interview coaching and resume distribution services to over 97+ of the top job boards.
Jessica Holbrook is a former Executive Hiring Manager for Fortune 500 companies and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates powerful, customized, and targeted resumes that are guaranteed to get her clients interviews. For a free resume analysis visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or for a free phone consultation call 1.877.875.7706.
Article by Jessica Holbrook and courtesy of WorkBloom, an employment blog incorporating a comprehensive career resources section, including the largest database of professionally written resume and cover letter samples on the Web.

The Career and Get a Job Tip Series: Post #2 “The Interview”

I recently sent a note out to our recruiting organization asking them for their top tips for job seekers.
Seriously, how many people know how job search works these days? In this market, with modern day tools, etc. etc.
Reading through their tips is fascinating!
I’ll share the ones that struck a cord with me — followed by the Recruiting Management’s Team Top 5 Picks.
Today, I’ll share the tip that EMC Recruiter Mark Walsh provided on “The Interview.” I loved this tip because it works for people moving around inside a company as well as those on the outside. It should help you understand the “real deal” on the job, as well as avoid that terrible moment I’ve seen too many times when the candidate doesn’t seem to have questions to ask the interviewer.

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The rise and fall of the merit raise

Not long ago, most workers considered merit raises a pretty sure bet, counting on them coming around every year along with their annual performance review. In boom times, even sub-par performers usually got some kind of token raise, and top performers were well rewarded.
However, as the recession continues, we find this particular compensation model increasingly falling off — although pay-for-performance in general is still big.
The problems with merit raises? Well, they’re the cost that keeps on costing — year after year, the increase is built into an employee’s salary, and percentages only build from there. A one-time bonus can be a smarter way to recognize stellar performance. Another issue is that these types of raises are not always implemented fairly — and yet, attempts to smooth out percentages to make them more “fair” (people talk, after all) can alienate top performers.

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Global Accounting Standards Create Uncertainty

Survey Reveals Many CFOs Unsure How IFRS Will Impact Their Organizations
Although it is likely the United States will adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the coming years, more than half (55 percent) of U.S. financial executives interviewed recently said they are unsure how their companies might be affected by this transition.
The survey was developed by Robert Half Management Resources and was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 1,400 chief financial officers (CFOs) from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.
The movement toward IFRS, an international accounting framework, has resulted from increasing globalization and the related need for a single set of worldwide standards. While no final timeline has been set, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed a roadmap that would have initially allowed some companies to begin using IFRS by the end of 2009.

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What you shouldn’t (and should) worry about with Social Media

Article provided by Brand-Yourself.com
There’s a strange chilling effect with social media users these days. With so many people looking for work, no one wants to write or post anything that might hurt their chances at their next interview. Not posting pictures of your last sushi night out with your friends, where you did all those sake bombers and wound up in the street in your underwear pretending to be a bullfighter and swinging your pants at oncoming traffic… that’s definitely something no hiring manager wants to see.
What about something more innocent? Should you write about your political beliefs? Music you hate? Post pictures of your last hunting trip, or a vacation video taken of you in a bathing suit?

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And You’re Saying This to Me, Because???

As a career counselor, I hear all kinds of stories from persons who have lost their jobs. One of the things that I have heard time and again is: Can you believe they said that to me? Well, of course, I can because once upon a time I lost my job and was amazed at some of the things people said to me. Here’s a list of words/phrases that may make you cringe if you’ve recently lost your job as shown below in Group A. I’ve also included a few alternative communication ideas of what else you could say to a person who’s just lost their job as shown in Group B.
Group A: Avoid for now saying this to a person who has just lost their job
* You will be fine
* Things happen for a reason
* It will all work out
* Things will be fine
* Don’t worry about it

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7 Telephone Interview Tips

Article provided by Brand-Yourself.com
In some cases, telephone interviews are a way for employers to “pre-screen” possible job candidates before they are granted an in-person interview. In other cases, employers will conduct the full interview over the phone. Whether you are required to go through a pre-screening or have already been given the interview, you must be more prepared than you would be for an in-person interview, even if you are allowed to interview in your PJ’s. Below are some telephone interview tips to keep in mind so your next phone interview is a success.

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Highest Paying College Major is Engineering

Which new college graduates are faring best when it comes to salary in the current economy? According to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, engineers are pulling down the highest starting salaries.
NACE’s Summer 2009 Salary Survey report shows that engineering disciplines account for four of the five disciplines getting the highest starting salary offers. The average starting salary offers by engineering discipline are:

• Petroleum engineering = $83,121
• Chemical engineering = $64,902
• Mining engineering = $64,404
• Computer engineering = $61,738
• Computer science = $61,407

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Embrace Respect for Innovation and Business Success

KPMG is one of the Employers of Choice featured in my book Road to Respect: Path to Profit. I became interested in respect at KPMG after hearing Beth Wilson, Canadian managing partner, speak on diversity in business at the Vancouver Board of Trade in November 2006. I knew that Ms. Wilson and I were singing off the same song sheet when I heard her say that while there is, of course, a clear social reason for business to embrace diversity, there is also a clear business reason.
Two of the issues Ms. Wilson cited were for talent and the war for clients. The current recessionary climate offers an additional reason to embrace respect in the workplace – the need for innovation and creativity. The relationship between innovation, culture and profitability is examined in a new book by Kimberly Davis entitled The Firefly Effect: Build Teams That Capture Creativity and Catapult Results. Ms. Davis argues that innovation is a necessary cultural characteristic for companies seeking success in today’s challenging economic reality.
How does one build a culture of innovation? One critical factor, according to Ms. Davis, is a respectful environment. When employees feel safe and respected, creativity flourishes.
In a respectful workplace, employees are not afraid to speak up, or to engage in constructive conflict. On the other hand, disrespectful behaviours like harassment and bullying produce fear based cultures. Fear causes a cone of silence to descend upon employees and is the kiss of death for both innovation and profitability.
When employees are afraid to speak up, when they are afraid to give feedback and challenge the status quo, it is impossible for either creativity or innovation to flourish. As Bob Dylan sang so many years ago, the times they are a changing. We are in a new business reality, one that demands a new business model, based on respect, empowerment and collaboration. Those businesses that don’t adapt will, in the words of that famous song, sink like a stone.
Creating a respectful workplace culture will unleash a wealth of creativity and innovation within your employee group. It will attract the best and brightest to your business, and ensure superior ongoing performance and profitability. It is the ultimate win/win for business.
So…what’s keeping you from starting your journey on the Road to Respect?
Erica Pinsky, B.A., M.Sc, CHRP, is an engaging and inspirational speaker, author and consultant working with organizations to build respectful and inclusive workplace cultures that attract and retain quality employees. Creative, dynamic and results oriented, Erica is passionate about promoting workplace cultures where employees feel engaged, comfortable and focused on their jobs in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and destructive conflict. Erica’s new book, Road to Respect, Path to Profit gives companies a road map to success in today’s challenging business climate.