Temp Jobs and Your Resume

How To Handle Short Term Jobs On Your Resume by: Scott Brown
Based on today’s ever-changing and tight job market, it is not unusual to see short term jobs on a resume. Short term jobs might raise a red flag for employers. Short term jobs could be contract positions or permanent jobs.
Don’t Lie
The first rule of thumb when applying for a job is to never lie on your resume. If you put information on a document and submit it for consideration for employment, it better be valid information. There is nothing worse than being offered a job only to have that offer rescinded when your background is thoroughly checked.
Don’t Bad Mouth
The second rule of thumb when applying for a job is to never bad mouth a previous employer or company. Bad mouthing creates negative feelings in an interview or conversation and will almost always cost you the job offer. Keep your negative opinions to yourself.
Leave it off
With these rules in mind, let’s look at the various ways you can allay an employer’s fear about short term positions on your resume. One oft forgotten method of avoiding concerns over short term employment is to leave that job off of your resume. While not always the best solution, this is one possible way to avoid any concerns.
If asked about the gap in employment you can say that you worked a short-term contract job that did not contribute to your overall experience and you did not want to record it on your resume.
Short term contracts
Short term contracts are easily explained by either mentioning that you took the position to get experience in a certain area or by explaining that no matter what, you must always work and this was the only position available at the time. You can further qualify the second reason by saying that you are responsible for providing for your family and will do that no matter what. While not the greatest way to explain a short term contract, it does allow you to demonstrate to the prospective employer that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Short term permanent jobs
While these types of jobs are harder to explain away with a simple statement, there is almost always something you can come with about the job that would warrant you leaving. Things like software piracy, illegal activities and sexually abusive superiors are reasons that any employer will understand. However, do not use them lightly.
You can also use reasons like: after evaluating their business model, I was sure they would be out of business in six months, the corporate culture was one that did not coincide with my attitude of teamwork and mutual achievement, and my job responsibilities did not match what I was hired for and I did not sign up for a secretarial position.
All in all, you need to evaluate the position in question and find the most viable and least offensive reason why you left the company. Once you decide, use that excuse consistently in all of your correspondence with potential employers. You never know when one hiring manager might know another from a different company.
About The Author
Scott Brown is the author of the Job Search Handbook (www.JobSearchHandbook.com). As editor of the HireSites.com weekly newsletter on job searching, Scott has written many articles on the subject. He wrote the Job Search Handbook to provide job seekers with a complete yet easy to use guide to finding a job effectively. To download your own free copy of the Job Search Handbook, visit http://www.JobSearchHandbook.com.

Virtual Assistants

Virtual Assistants Importance of Skills Emphasis by: Rebecca Game
During a client interview, it is important to show that client what makes you different from other VA candidates. This is a competitive world and clients now search for the most qualified VA by weighing their skills and determining how the VA will benefit them. Skill emphasis during the interview is a must for landing a new client or business project. The majority of clients will search for VAs who stand out based on their experience, their expertise, and their ability to enhance the clients project. Budgets can be expanded and profits can be higher when skills are emphasized properly. There are three main kinds of skill emphasis needed: 1. Knowledge Based Skills 2. Transferable Skills 3. Personal Traits Knowledge-Based Skills Experience and education are examples of knowledge based skills. They will include your educational attainment, your additional VA training, any seminars you have attended, VA workshops, and any other practices that you have used to enhance your VA knowledge. Your knowledge based skills can include but are not limited to: Computer skills Communication skills Marketing skills Managerial skills Accounting skills Organizational skills Other knowledge based skills Transferable Skills These are the skills that you bring to the client that are beneficial to them in more than one way. What are you offering the client that they don't already have or that they can't find with another VA? These skills will also be emphasized by the particular project or job. Transferable skills are very important and should be highlighted during your interview with the potential client. Some examples of transferable skills would include: Problem solving Team leader potential Writing skills Client service oriented skills Time management skills Budgeting skills Etc. Personal Traits This emphasis is to help the client determine who you are. Tell them something of yourself. This doesn't have to be a bragging session. You will need to sell yourself in a modest way. Your communication to the client about who you are will set the tone for the rest of the client interview. Some ideas to emphasize this skill would be: Good judgement Well organized Analytical Goal oriented Flexible Creative Etc. Practice the following before conducting an interview with a possible new client: 1. Self Assessment- Don't emphasize traits or abilities that you don't possess. Be honest about your past performance and focus on the abilities that you do possess. Write them down for the interview. 2. The Interview- Get in front of the mirror. Have a list of questions that a new client might ask and practice answering those questions in a professional manner. Take notes beforehand to help you in communicating exactly what you want the client to realize about you and your determination to have them as a client. 3. Technical Skills- Practice highlighting your technical skills AND your problem solving skills. The client is there because they have a "problem" or project that they cannot manage on their own. This is where you become extremely valuable to them and their project. You should be able to land many new clients by just following the simple above advice!
About The Author
Rebecca Game is a 30 year entrepreneur and dedicated to helping women find and start a business of their own. Visit her online community for women at Digital-Women.com.
http://www.digital-women.com/