ResuMAYDAY Blog | Resume, Job Hunting and Career Tips

April 10, 2018 By Lauren Milligan

Deductions for 2017 Taxes, Specific to Job Seekers:

In 2018, tax day falls on April 17th (the 15th is Sunday and the 16th is Emancipation Day). That allows for 48 extra hours to figure out your taxes. Here are THREE important deductions that specifically help job seekers:

Did you look for a new job in 2017?

As long as you searched for the same type of job you last held, your job search expenses are deductible…even if you didn’t land a job in 2017. These expenses include:

Car transportation ($.535 per mile, and tolls and parking)
Food and lodging for out-of-town interviews
Taxis and other transportation fare
Professional fees such as industry association annual dues, networking group dues, and online subscription/membership fees (LinkedIn premium)
ResuMAYDAY’s services, such as resume writing and coaching, and the services of a career counselor
Costs of printing business cards, postage and other self-marketing fees

(Note: If you voluntarily changed your career industry or this is your FIRST job, these deductions DO NOT APPLY TO YOU.)
(2nd Note: The above job search deductions were eliminated in the new tax law. 2017 is the last year to claim them.)

Did you move more than 50 miles away for a job?

Deduct those expenses! Even if you moved for your first job or for a voluntary career transition, those fees can be deducted.

Back to School…

Rodney Dangerfield did it, and so can you. The Lifetime Learning Credit offsets higher education costs for courses relating to skills improvement. Eligible institutions include 4-year colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools. (The IRS links to a list, and advises you to check directly with the school.) The tuition credit maxes out at $2,000 a year with specific income limits. (Sadly, the IRS won’t give you extra deductions for mastering the Triple Lindy.)

This information was provided by ResuMAYDAY for informational purposes only. It does not replace professional tax advisement. To find out if these deductions and credits apply to you, see www.irs.gov and talk to your tax accountant.

February 26, 2018 By Lauren Milligan

3 Tips to Help You Get Paid What You’re Worth

When it comes to getting paid what you’re worth, it’s not just about your job skills. It’s about how well you negotiate at the table. Confidence aside, here are 3 concrete tips for helping you negotiate a salary that’s worthy of your skills.

Give Yourself a Raise if You Deserve It.

You’ve heard the old adage, “the first person who gives a number loses”, right? Well…wrong. The better negotiator always wins! If your negotiating skills aren’t on point, there’s no reason for you to start the numbers game. Remember that employers always negotiate down, so be prepared to initially ask for 10-20% higher than the salary you’re willing to accept. Do your homework so you know what that 10-20% equates to in dollars. If the company asks what your number is, first tell them you’re negotiable. However, don’t be surprised if they press for a number and when that happens, give your number. The negotiation has just started.

Always back your number(s) up with proof that you’re worth the money. Employers hire problem solvers; show concrete examples of how you can solve their problems.

Be Broadly and Deeply Informed About Salary Standards for Your Position and Responsibilities.

Research, research, research salary standards for similar experience and responsibilities in the same or similar industry. There are sites that even break this information down to the zip code. You need solid information to back up your salary expectations. When providing comparable data, using statistics and examples from their particular industry or something similar gives you more credibility.

If You (Genuinely!) Have Multiple Offers, Let Them Know.

One of the strongest negotiation positions is to have multiple offers on the table. This not only increases your perceived worth to the company, it can potentially open up more negotiating room. Do this with caution. If you give the impression you’re leaning towards the other offer, the company may tell you to accept it, and withdraw their offer. (That’s why you only want to mention the other offer at the negotiation stage – not before.)

When you’re discussing (briefly) the other offer, mention that the offer is for a similar position, so that it’s considered and apples-to-apples comparison. If there is no other offer, DON’T fabricate one!

Bonus Tip: When It Comes to Accepting a Position, Take Your Time, But Not Too Much.

When a company extends an offer, it’s fine to ask for a little time. Tell them you’d like 48 hours to thoroughly review through their offer and any information about the position, company and benefits that they’ve sent to you. If you ARE waiting for another offer, this gives you time to check in with that company and let them know that you’re considering the first offer. However, I don’t recommend more than 48 hours. Trust me, they already know who the backup candidate is, should you decline. If you ask for more than two business days, they could tell you that they have someone who is already waiting to hit the ground running. If you know before the 48 hours are up that you’d like to take this job, let them know right away. Don’t wait until the countdown ticks to zero.

The bottom line: The key to negotiating is to know your worth, and be confident in your ability to fight for it! For personal negotiations coaching, contact ResuMAYDAY at 630-901-3595.

January 12, 2018 By Lauren Milligan

How Much is Too Much Information on Your Resume?

Recruiters want to get to the point when scanning resumes. If yours is too long or too detailed, it could cost you the job. Get tips on what to include and what to cut from your resume to increase your chances of getting hired.

Personal Information

Your resume should include your name, address, and contact information. Phone and email are fine. Don’t include anything that’s not relevant to your ability to perform the job, such as whether you are married. Recruiters only need to know about the information that’s relevant to your ability to do the work, and nothing further.

Job Descriptions

Recruiters tend to scan resumes looking for only the most salient points. If your bullet points run onto multiple lines, you’re probably trying to pack in too much information.

Every job description should convey the most important points of information to pique interest, such as your role and accomplishments. If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be able to elaborate on the work you performed.

Multiple Page Resume

While you may be able to get away with a two-page resume, you cannot present a three-page resume unless you’re at a senior leadership level. If you pass along a resume that is too long, you will lose the recruiter’s attention.

Rambling or Repetitive Information

If your resume runs to over three pages, odds are you’re repeating yourself. Look for ways to condense your bullet points. If you’re using the same phrase in multiple job descriptions, cut back on mentions. Pare down responsibilities that appear across multiple jobs and focus on what’s unique about each experience.

Before you apply for your next position, review your resume looking for these mistakes. Fixing them will increase your chances of being invited to an interview.

December 1, 2017 By Lauren Milligan

Why It Pays to Keep the Job Search Going During the Holiday Season

Conventional wisdom might suggest to pause your job search during the holiday season. After all, bosses and employees are less focused on business and hiring during this time, right? Actually the contrary is true: December is a great time to reach out to employers…and it might actually give you a leg up over the competition! Learn why it pays to keep job hunting over the holidays:

Fewer Job Seekers

Since many job seekers take time off to celebrate the holidays (assuming employers aren’t looking), you’ll encounter less competition when applying for jobs. Employers continue interviewing through the end of the year, so it pays to send out applications. Even if an employer isn’t hiring, take the time to make an initial connection.

Be a Line-Jumper

For many companies, their fiscal calendar works around the traditional calendar. That means a company’s budgets resets on January 1. If you send your application in now, you’ll be ahead of those who will pick up their job search mid-January.

By applying over the holiday season, you jump to the head of the line with employers who want to onboard their new employees at the start of the year. By applying in December (or November!) you’re ready to start working when the job opens.

Employers Need to Hire Quickly

Employers report there is a shortage of applicants for open positions around the holidays. Companies that need to fill positions quickly are apt to move forward on qualified applicants who touched base at that time. And of course, employers like to hire at the end of the year to spend down the budget they have, in order to boost the budget next year.

Continuing your search – even ramping it up during the holidays can make all the difference to starting your new year as a new employee. You can do this!

October 18, 2017 By Lauren Milligan

Seasonal Jobs…or Seasonal to Permanent!

If you’re looking for extra cash for the holidays, a seasonal job is the obvious choice. Seasonal job opportunities pop up a few times a year, and one of those times is here now. Because winter is right around the corner, I thought I’d share a few jobs that are commonly (and currently, as of the day I wrote this) available:

Brick/Mortar Retail – clerks and cashiers, personal shoppers, Santa or his elves, customer service, delivery, receiving

Online Retail – telesales, customer service, delivery

Warehouse – inventory, shipping, receiving, assembling, delivery

Catering/Banquet halls – servers, sales, event photographer

Call Centers – outbound sales, inbound tech support and customer service

Ski/Winter Resorts – hospitality, sales, housekeeping

Kids’ Winter Camps – counselor, housekeeping, food service

Office – phone reps, mail/marketing fulfillment, sales

Side Gigs (usually freelance/self-employed) – House cleaning, personal gift shopper, holiday decoration installer, driver, tutor

Employers start interviewing for these positions in the fall, so there’s no time to lose. The search for a seasonal job is much different than finding permanent employment, in that employers generally hire their seasonal staff during or right after a first interview. Keep an eye out for job fairs at distribution centers, warehouses and office complexes in your area in October and November.

Sometimes, these seasonal jobs can turn into longer-term roles or even become permanent! If you want to try to make that happen, here are three ways to do that:

1) Stand out for the right reasons: Let your boss see you going the extra mile. Pick up that overlooked, crumpled litter that was meant for the trash can, instead of stepping over it like everyone else. Smile and greet every customer, and offer to help even if it isn’t your department. Help other employees when you have extra time. Approach your work with a positive, whatever-it-takes attitude.

2) Think about the company’s needs after the season is over: Think like a permanent employee, not someone who will be gone in a few weeks. Are there problems you can solve, or have you caught wind of long-term projects that might be well-suited to your skills? Offer your experience in ways that expand your usefulness to the company.

3) Let Your Intentions Be Known: A week or two into this new job (not on your first day!), talk to your boss. Let her know that you enjoy the company and the work, and that if a permanent role opens, you’d like to apply. Your boss isn’t a mind-reader, and she’s extra busy during holiday seasons. She may see you as a great short-term employee without even thinking about the long game. It’s your job to plant that seed.

If you need help ‘right-sizing’ your resume for a seasonal job, get in touch with the experts at ResuMAYDAY. Remember, these jobs go quickly so you don’t have a moment to lose!

Did you look for a new job in 2017?

Did you move more than 50 miles away for a job?

Back to School…

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