Home » Posts tagged '#blogboost' (Page 3)

Posts Tagged ‘#blogboost’

Unlocking Me

Lately, I’ve been listening to Brené Brown’s podcast, Unlocking Us–which I highly recommend. My favorite episode so far is the one on burnout. And then there was this other one about using play as an energy source. Oh, and the interview with Dolly Parton this week is so great.

Okay, so I don’t have a favorite because they are all my favorites.

Anyway, at the end of every show, she asks her guests the same 10 rapid-fire questions and the answers give a lot of insight into who they are as a person. So, I thought I’d give it a go.

  1. Vulnerability is…. not a weakness; it’s the path to the truth.
  2. When I’m called to be brave but the fear is real, I…push through. Quick story. I don’t like small boats. Actually, I’m terrified of them because I’m not a strong swimmer, and I’m deathly afraid of capsizing. This happened to friends of mine on a duck boat many years ago, so I don’t consider this an irrational fear. Anyway, while I was on vacation with my extended family in Costa Rica, everyone wanted to go on a boat trip. Normally, I would let Scott and the kids go, and I’d stay behind but, I didn’t want to be the party pooper. So, I got on the boat and traveled downriver past some scary looking alligators to see amazing wildlife that I never would have seen otherwise. It was a memorable experience but I was much happier when we were back on solid ground. So, when I’m called on to be brave and the fear is so real that I can feel it all over, I give it my all to push through.
  3. Something people get wrong about me…that I was popular in high school. I’ve had several people say this to me in my adult life and nothing could be further than the truth. I’m an extrovert, so maybe I give off that vibe, but back then, I was a bonafide nerd with a small group of solid friends and zero self-confidence. I was a very late bloomer. Thank God for college where I became much more comfortable in my own skin and felt ready to take on the world.
  4. Last show that I binged and loved … The West Wing. It was exactly the dose of hope I needed to get me through the last year or two… or four.
  5. Favorite movie … The Princess Bride – and I often quote it when I feel it is necessary and I am frustrated when people don’t understand the reference.
  6. A concert I’ll never forget … I’ve been to many, many concerts, so this is not an easy choice. I’ll go with Madonna’s Ray of Light tour. I love Madonna, but it was a terrible show. Like, awful. I was blinded by all the strobe lights and special effects. The whole concert was one big music video where she sang everything from her new album and none of the hits I grew up with. One silver lining – watching other people parade around the arena dressed up as the many looks Madonna has shown over the years. That was pretty awesome.
  7. Favorite meal … Rosh Hashanah dinner – juicy brisket, kugel, sweet and sour meatballs, Jewish apple cake…yum!
  8. What’s on my nightstand … Glasses – distance glasses, reading glasses, a glass of water, oh and my CPAP machine complete with a nasal mask. Sexy, right?!
  9. Snapshot of an ordinary moment of my life that brings me joy … any picture of me dancing with my dad. I’m not the best dancer, and I never know exactly where he is going to step next and where I’m supposed to put my feet. But, I always enjoy my time with him on the dance floor. And the photos, always capture those special moments.
  10. What are you deeply grateful for right now… Hand sanitizer.
    No, I’m kidding. I’m deeply grateful for my own resilience during a difficult year. I lost my job, then searched and found a new position. I can only describe that experience as a soul-searching, often gut-wrenching, roller coaster ride. I supported the people I love who struggled this year and got them through some tough moments. I managed our day to day life under this new normal while keeping my own anxiety in check. Yes, my resilience has definitely been a blessing this year.

5 Steps to Updating Your Resume

When was the last time you updated your resume? How about your LinkedIn profile? If you can’t remember, it might be time to revisit it. Nearly five years ago, I hired a career coach to help me figure out my next move. He helped me with my resume, cover letter, interview skills and networking strategy. I learned so much from him that I constantly call the experience life-changing. And while I am no expert in resume writing, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

Step 1: Update the basics
Did your phone number change? Is the email address you have listed the one that you check on a regular basis? Do you list your current address? Some experts say you only need to list your city and state but not your address. If you have any security concerns or wish to keep some information private, it’s perfectly okay to leave out your street.

Step 2: Revise your job description
If you only list your job duties and not your accomplishments, you are selling yourself short. Resumes in 2020 need to include not just what you are responsible for but what have you done to make a difference. Your accomplishments tell your story and the more metrics you add to your resume, the better it looks. For instance, my job description says I coordinate major fundraising initiatives, but my accomplishment is that I raised nearly $225K in the last end-of-year campaign making it the most successful in the history of the organization. Your accomplishments are what will get you noticed.

Step 3: Take out certain age-defining items
This is an easy thing to do, but not everyone does it. Get rid of your graduation dates. Future employers only need to know where you graduated from, what type of degree and course of study, and any awards you want to highlight. Another thing to consider is to only list your last three jobs on a resume because they are probably the most relevant to the type of position you want. This is something I haven’t done yet, but I’m seriously thinking about it.

Step 4: Make sure your LinkedIn profile matches your resume
I was recently promoted and added it to my LinkedIn profile, but not to my resume. What happened? The hiring manager wondered why it was online but not in print. It can be a red flag when job searching materials are inconsistent. You want to present yourself in the best way on paper and online. And if you don’t think they are checking out your LinkedIn profile, you would be mistaken.

Step 5: Proofread everything
Typos have no place on your resume. If human resources managers find a misspelled word, a missing word or the wrong punctuation, your resume will wind up in the circular file. You could be the perfect candidate for the position, but you won’t get far in the process if mistakes are found. Have someone with a good eye for spelling and grammar to review your resume. Read your resume (and cover letter) out loud to yourself. Run a spell check, but don’t depend on it completely because it always misses words that are spelled correctly but not necessarily the word you meant to use. Here’s a perfect example of this, I read the resume of a qualified young man for a public relations job, except he spelled it as pubic relations. 😉

Whether you are looking for a new job or have some free time on your hands, updating your resume to present your best self to employers will pay off in the long run.

 

 

Frustrated on the Fourth

Something feels different this July 4th holiday weekend.

Is it because I don’t feel comfortable going to a crowded pool on the busiest day of the season for fear of being exposed to the coronavirus?

Is it because I am so disappointed in our current leaders who have ignored the science and facts that are the foundation of what makes this country so great?

Is it because I am starting to see the true colors of some people who continue to support this racist president? People who can’t understand why it IS NOT okay to say “all lives matter” until everyone is given a level playing field, treated equally and afforded the same opportunities to succeed?

Is it because I know there are still children in cages at the border, women still fighting for the right to choose, and the LGBTQ community who have to overcome incredible obstacles for the pursuit of happiness?

Yes. Yes to all of the above.

But, I still have hope that we Americans will remember who we are and where we come from. I hope we can open our minds and hearts and step aside to give others a chance to contribute to this beautiful melting pot. I hope the next time I recite the Pledge of Allegiance, we will have come together as reasonable people and exchange ideas (even conflicting ones) to make “justice for all” a reality.

Yes, there are wonderful things to celebrate about this country. And I’ll have a beer and a burger and spend time with family and a few close friends today to celebrate our independence. I will also hope that the future is bright for all its citizens and those who want to be citizens someday.

History has its eyes on us.

1 2 3 4