Character reference template

Character reference template by Amber Rolfe Sometimes finding a new role really is a question of character… Character references are great ways for employers to check whether a candidate is a good fit for their organisation, by giving them valuable information about their personality and ethics. But if you’re asked to provide one, what exactly should it include?  We’ve already covered how to get a reference, but here are a few things you need to know about writing a character reference for someone, and a template to help you get started:  Character reference templateWhat is a character reference? A character reference (or personal reference) is a brief assessment of a person provided by someone who knows them outside of work.Instead of talking about your practical skills and abilities in the workplace (as an employer reference would), a character reference uses real-life examples to attest for your personality, behaviour, and general ethics.Who writes a character reference?  Character references can be provided by teachers, lecturers, group/club leaders, mentors, neighbours, or family friends.They should know the person well, be able to speak highly of them, and have up-to-date knowledge of their personality and abilities.However, a character reference shouldn’t be written by a close friend or immediate relative (such as a parent or sibling), as their opinions may be biased.Five personal attributes valued by employersHobbies and interests: Should I include them in my CV?When would I need to give a character reference? Character references are required in many situations, including:As part of a job application process (particularly if the applicant doesn’t have any work experience and/or the role requires a high level of trustworthiness)As part of a school, college, or university application processAs part of an application for a certificate or professional membershipYou could be asked to complete a character reference if anyone you’re close to is in the process of any of the above â€" and your views will help the employer or institution decide whether this person is a good fit.How to find a new jobPersonal statements for universityWhat should I include in a character reference? Firstly, if you’re asked to do a character reference, make sure you’re able to speak positively about the person in question.Here are a few things you should include:Your relationship with the candidateHow long you’ve known themInformation and examples of their personality and work ethicYour contact detailsIf youre looking for information on getting a reference from previous roles, heres how to get an employer referenceStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. How to start looking for work

Nominate Classy Career Girl Top Website For Your Career

Nominate Classy Career Girl Top Website For Your Career Hello! Just a quick note to ask you for your help. If you are a loyal Classy Career Girl fan or reader, could you please help me out?  If I have helped your career at all, please nominate ClassyCareerGirl.com for Forbes Best Websites For Your Career. There are 3 ways you can nominate ClassyCareerGirl.com. 1) Click here to leave a comment on the Forbes article with your nomination. 2) Send an email to  careerwebsites@forbes.com  with your nomination. 3) Tweet your nomination to: @JacquelynVSmith Nominations are due Friday, August 30th so today is the last day to vote! Thank you ahead of time and thank you for reading!!

Top 5 Tips to Help You Get Over a Bad Breakup - Classy Career Girl

Top 5 Tips to Help You Get Over a Bad Breakup It is not love that should be depicted as blind, but self-love Voltaire When it comes to career satisfaction, our life outside of the workplace can certainly affect our professional life. When a classy career girl’s personal life is on the rocks, it’s natural if the emotions impact daily life at the office. Believe me, I understand when it comes to a breakup. Life can be a roller-coaster following an end to any type of relationship. Sometimes it takes months, sometimes it takes years! So how do you get over a breakup? Self-compassion is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. In fact, you have the control to move the healing process along by not only practicing self-compassion, but also changing the way you think, being present, and having a hopeful outlook. When I go through a rough patch, I found the following 5 tips to be very helpful in the healing process. 1. Treat yourself Often times we forget we need to give to ourselves first for a while. This could be time to enjoy what you love doing or treating yourself to a modest splurge. Remind yourself you deserve to accept these gifts. This may require you need to give less, or to trust your intuition about impulses to say yes to everything. Perhaps you need to give in a different way or to different people. 2. Acceptance Give yourself permission to accept that there are some things you’re not meant to know. During times of difficulties, we may not know the “why” xyz happened as the ambiguity can allow us the opportunity to learn a lesson or change something about ourselves for the better. 3. Take it easy If you need to cry, cry it out. Let yourself feel your emotions. Let go of any labels you may attach to feeling vulnerable. Just feel what you are feeling with awareness. Be with the experience itself moment by moment. 4. Power of being present Trust in your deepest strength of allto be present. Once we shift our focus from the results to the process itself, all situations become opportunities. When we are present, we can welcome all things with an open mind. 5. Hope As you work through any situation, having a hopeful outlook on smaller issues, like the weather on a rainy day, allows you to pay more attention to handling the issues that really matter. For me, I’m not a particular fan of the winters. But I’m hopeful that most winters on the East Coast last only four months and my favorite season comes right after. Last but not least, we can always work together to get through these difficult times through Silver Lined Days personalized care packages. Enjoy a free strategy session to chat about your situation to gain a sense of peace and balance today!

Hire someone to rewrite your resume It worked for me

Hire someone to rewrite your resume It worked for me There came a point in my career when my company went bankrupt, the economy was in the dumps, and my network of friends and acquaintances was getting me nowhere. Like all job hunters, I had good days and bad days. On good days, I brewed coffee for that caffeinated, I-can-overcome-anything feeling. On bad days, I never got out of bed. Finally, after a string of bad days, I called the phone number in a small ad I had come across in a bunch of business publications. The number was for WSA Resumes. I told my contact at WSA that I needed a job. I told him I attribute my career success in part to the fact that I have always been able to write a very effective resume, but I have hit a wall. WSA sold me the executive pack, which was $1000 for someone to rewrite my resume in three days. (They have less expensive packages, but I was in a moment of panic.) I talked to someone for a couple of hours, and she rewrote the resume in a way that smacks of a piece of direct mail: headlines, bullets, italics, and bold lines. The resume did not look like one I had ever seen. My friends said it looked cheesy. They said, Dont send it. But I started to trust the writers at WSA because they noticed patterns and accomplishments in my career that I had not noticed. They phrased achievements in ways that I would not have thought of. They were able to frame my work life in a way that could open new fields to me. But most of all, I wanted to take a risk. I realized that I was getting nowhere and I needed to try something new and this was the only new thing I could think of. To my surprise, my executive package came with a cover letter. It began, If you can use my skills on your management team then Id like to talk to you. I cringed. I told WSA the letter is not my style. There are actually a few more things I told WSA. You know how when youre spending a lot of money you get uppity? Thats how I was. I argued about file formatting, I argued about hyphens and semi-colons. Im sure I argued about more, I just cant remember. Finally, I ran out of things to argue about, and, armed with my new resume, I started my job search again. I found no openings. So I called WSA, and I was hoping they would not remember me the person who argued about everything but they remembered. Yes, we can help, my contact said. They send out resumes cold. Which is, of course, in keeping with their direct mail perspective. So I signed up. It costs $1.50 a resume. My contact recommended sending out 8000 resumes. I wanted 500. He said direct mail is an odds game. I picked 500 companies. Then I changed my mind. Then I picked a new 500. Then I asked for some more lists. I was nervous. The cost worried me, but I took to heart the saying, you have to spend money to make money. Finally WSA printed all 500 cover letters, stuffed envelopes, and slapped on address labels. Everything was ready to go. Then I sent an email to WSA with the subject head: EMERGENCY. I told them that I have a lot of direct mail experience and they should send the letter out on Tuesday, not Friday. WSA dumped me. They tore up my letters and my check. They said I should find someone else to help me. So I took WSAs cover letter and the resume they wrote for me, and I spent a week finding email addresses for CEOs and I sent my resume myself cold to 500 CEOs. And guess what? I got fifteen responses and two job offers. So I recommend that you hire a company like WSA. You will get a standout resume, and you will see yourself differently, so you will summarize your career differently, and you have a new chance at landing a job. And this is the other thing: unless your network is coming up roses for you, job hunting is, really, an exercise in direct mail. Once I admitted that I was not above a direct mail campaign for myself, things started happening. I think WSA hates me, but luckily, I am not proud, so check out their web site: www.wsacorp.com. (Update: WSA no longer exists. But the woman who oversaw my resume overhaul is Elaine Basham, and shes still in the resume business today. Send her an email: elaine@theresumegroup.com.)

#110 - Career Expert Series - Clark Finnical CareerMetis.com

#110 - Career Expert Series - Clark Finnical â€" CareerMetis.com The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSForEpisode 110of The CareerMetis Podcast, we will be hearing from Clark FinnicalThis interview is part of the “Career Expert Series“.evalGUEST INTRODUCTION â€" CLARK FINNICALevalClark Finnical is the author of Job Hunting Secrets From Someone Who’s Been There.EPISODE SUMMARY1.Clark Finnical worked for the same company for 24 years, and although his job was eliminated 4 times, he continuously landed jobs in other divisions. He saw a regular rotation of employees in where he worked, and decided to learn as much as possible about finding work.2.Clark talks about how applicant tracking software works, the issues with them, and how companies use them. He also shares his insights on crafting a concise message to the hiring manager after being rejected immediately by the ATS.3.Clark weighs in on the qualification conversation and gives examples of things he’s seen within the job se eking space. He gives perspective as to why HR tells you to do certain things in order to pre-qualify you and reduce the number applications they receive.4.Clark also talks about being “overqualified”, and what purpose he feels it actually serves. He shares interview tips for navigated someone saying you’re overqualified, in order to make the employer feel more secure.5.Clark also talks about salary, and how recruiters can benefit from having you choose a lower salary, he also talks about finding average salary and using that to negotiate a better one.QUOTES“I was reading the 76 things HR and recruiters believe you must do to land work”“Once you’ve been rejected by the ATS, you have nothing to lose, and perhaps a lot to gain”“Everything a job seeker is told is everything that those people want you to do, not necessarily what is in your best interest”“Once the Internet started, HR was getting flooded by applications”“Every interview you go into makes you a b etter interviewer”LINKS RESOURCESevalClark Finnical can be reached via LinkedIn, Medium or Twitter.12 Lies Told to Job SeekersJob Hunting Secrets

Employment Testing and What it Means to You - CareerAlley

Employment Testing and What it Means to You - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. One topic that is not covered too often has to do with Pre-employment testing. Many employers require some type of pre-employment testing or screening prior to hiring. There is a wide range of testing that may take place. The level and quantity of screening depends partially on State and Country regulations. There are a few things you can do to make this a more productive process (these are covered in more detail later in the article): Study There are preparation tests you can take in advance if you would like to study and improve your chances of scoring well (these are covered below in How to Prepare). Research For many companies, their tests and methodologies are fairly well known. Do some research to see what you can find out about their testing. Also see if anyone in your network can help. State of Mind The power of positive thinking. Go in with a good attitude knowing that you will ace the tests. Typical Pre-Employment Tests: Personality Tests These are assessment tests and a generally a key part of the employment selection process. These tests are popular in Europe and are becoming increasingly more popular in the US, they are used in many countries. Passing these tests are key to getting a job offer and are typically designed to Drug Testing Most mid to large employers require some type of pre-employment drug and/or alcohol testing. Again, this is driven by State and government requirements depending on industry and location. Sometimes you are required to give a blood sample and sometimes a urine sample (or both) Job Knowledge or Skills Tests Employers may require that candidates take one or more skills assessment tests. These are designed to evaluate your knowledge of the industry or the position. Skills testing is generally used to assess your abilities. There are many types of skills and assessment tests, such as Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Financial Reasoning and many more. There are also specific tests for some technical industries such as Engineering and IT. You will need to score as high as possible in order to move on to the next round in the hiring process. All testing can be tough depending on how well you do on tests and how prepared you are. Understanding the underlying principles and content of pre-employment boosts the chances that you will score well. Being prepared also has a big positive impact on your outlook and this also increases the likelihood of doing well. How to Prepare: Research The Internet is a wonderful thing and if you do some research on the companies you are considering in your job search you are likely to find out information regarding their tests. Additionally, leverage your LinkedIn network to see if anyone you know works at your target companies or knows someone who works there. Insight into the specific tests will help you prepare. Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln Test Preparation Honest Abe said it best. The more time and effort you can spend preparing for your tests, the better the chance of passing. There are a wide variety of tests out there and it is almost impossible to cover them all. Following are some resources for the most common testing that you can use to help you prepare: Aptitude Testing: An aptitude test is used to determine a persons ability in a particular skill or field of knowledge. Numerical Reasoning Test Practice A Numerical Reasoning test is test to determine number-related skills and abilities. Experience Your Tests Content in Advance Verbal Reasoning Tests Verbal reasoning tests measure an individuals verbal reasoning skills and ability. They measure overall cognitive ability. Inductive Reasoning Test Inductive reasoning tests help to assess your ability in identifying a pattern or consistency among sets of objects or verbal data. Situational Judgement Test Preparation Situational judgment tests assess individuals abilities with realistic, hypothetical scenarios and ask the individual to identify the most appropriate response. Personality Testing -A personality test measures individuals character or psychological makeup. Learn How to Pass a Pre-Employment Personality Test Technical Test Prep: Law Firm Related Testing Law Firm related testing is used in development and selection for graduates, managers and leaders; and has shown to be highly predictive of future job success. Aptitude Tests for Engineering Aptitude tests help to access individuals work related perceptions, judgement and reasoning. Financial Reasoning Test Practice Financial Reasoning tests are designed to assess how effectively people analyze, interpret and use numerical information in a financial context. Knowledge is power and knowing what obstacles you might face is half the battle. Prepare, research and practice. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by

Use Freelance Grant Writing Services to Add Freelance Grant Writer to Resume

Use Freelance Grant Writing Services to Add Freelance Grant Writer to ResumeIf you've ever used the Internet, you've seen some free sources for writing grants and for grant writing jobs. You've probably seen online request letters that require no charge, but you've probably also seen the hiring fees. Are they worth it?There are many reasons why freelancer or freelance grant writers are an attractive option for people who need additional money or who would like to try their hand at non-traditional work. Some of the most common uses for these types of resources are to cover the gaps in the income of working parents and people trying to go back to school. They can also be used as a supplement to your income if you are working in a field you aren't particularly happy with.The fact is that there are many free online resources for searching grants and other types of financial assistance. However, there are also many areas that require a nominal fee to get access to these opportunities. Som e of the areas where fee-based programs are available include online free grant applications, online request letters, and job matching services.Using free applications to apply for financial assistance or for grant writing jobs may not be a good idea. It can lead to lost opportunities because these programs only accept submissions from private organizations, and the applications are open to anyone with internet access. These online services may not even list application slots that may be filled by people who aren't ready for this type of job. The systems are often put in place so that these services are able to sell advertising space.Another danger with free services is that some websites may not accurately reflect the funds being offered. Some sites may offer free grants but they do not offer any money, and it is very easy to make a mistake when reviewing these applications. The risks and costs involved with using free grant writing services should always be considered when using t hese services. Job matching services require applicants to submit online resumes along with their request letters. In many cases, the resumes will be examined by multiple potential employers and, if the resume stands out, they will contact the applicant and ask them to submit an application. The cost of this service is usually nominal, but in some cases, it can be expensive.Finding a number of opportunities to submit your resume to is free, but you can get paid to do it, which may be the best use of your money when looking for free writing and grant writing jobs. The best way to find the right writing and grant writing jobs to fit your specific needs is to submit your resume to a few companies at the same time. This way, you'll have a more even chance of being considered.Anytime you're looking for ways to add freelance grant writer to resume, you want to make sure you're using the right resource. Sometimes the best online resources will charge a fee, but the worst online resources w ill offer a free service with some pitfalls. Make sure you're researching all the options that you have before signing up for a free service.