How to Present Your Work History, Education, Awards and Personal Interests on Your Resume

This is the information common to all resume formats, and the most boring. No different format, font type or size etc. makes these sections of your resume, any more exciting. They are important, but be very careful of the wording used, how and what you emphasize.

Unless you have just finished school, and have no work history to speak about, start with the education section. Additional [online?] training courses, community education programs, etc. can be combined here, with the heading, “Education and Training,” or something similar.

List your education, starting with the most recent. Highlight the degree, and major, followed by the school, especially if it is well-known. Whether you include year of graduation is a personal preference, but realize it could provide a clue to your age. However, since schools have gone online, more and more adults, over 40, are earning degrees, so dates don’t necessarily mean anything.

If you are a current student, add the above, but this time include the expected date of graduation, or even some such phrase that indicates you only have 3 credits, or 2 classes to complete, before graduating.

Don’t include high school, unless you are 18 through 20, with no college whatsoever, but did well in high school, especially coursework related to your targeted job.

Only list GPA if you graduated recently, are still in school, it’s above 3.2. Include honors regardless of when you graduated. Examples may look like:

Bachelor of Arts in English, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwestern University, IL

Or

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
American InterContinental University-online
Currently attending, will graduate 1/2012
3.7/4/0 GPA

Obviously, there are as many ways to state these, as there are degrees to state!

List work experience starting with your present or most recent job. Company name, city, state, dates you worked there, title of job, and description of your role. This can be done in countless ways, so here are some examples:

Abc Company, Inc., Madison, WI · 2006 – 2009
King of the World
Managed and oversaw all store functions. Addressed customers’ needs…
Developed marketing strategies, which increased sales 20% over previous year.

Or

ABC Company, Inc. Madison, WI 6/2006 – 4/2007
King of the World
Managed and oversaw…

Or

2008 to 2010 King of the World, ABC Company, Madison, WI
Managed and oversaw…

There are limitless ways to do this, but the most important thing to remember is, be consistent. Make sure your type fonts, sizes, spaces, etc. are the same throughout.

Other categories, such as awards, memberships, certifications, etc. can be grouped together, under a “Miscellaneous” title, or, if you have numerous certifications, for instance, you can include them on a standalone basis. Just remember, anything miscellaneous, must be relevant to the job or profession you are seeking, and not that you enjoy playing baseball. Employers don’t care about that, and assume you have a life and interests outside of work.

Living In The Present While Becoming Successful

There are limitless ways in which we can do things. Two people may set out to achieve similar goals, and both achieve them, but one can take longer than the other. However, the one who achieved the goals faster, was constantly stressed and made people around him stressed and unhappy as well. On the other hand, the person who took longer was always at peace and made people around him happy. Which one was more successful? It could have also been that the one who made people happy also reached the goals faster. The difference is that one put more importance on the value of the present moment while the other put more value on the final outcome.

How do we reconcile achieving the desired outcome when it may appear to be impossible to be overly worried about other people’s interest if you are to achieve the desired results? This is a question that hopefully more people would ask themselves before embarking on achieving a goal.

Finding balance through the present moment

We are conditioned to think that our results solely depend on get things done without much consideration to the manner in which we do it. We place primary importance on the desired outcome and forget about the quality to each moment as we do the tasks that are necessary to reaching the goal.

Learning to place the greatest value on the quality of the present moment leads to balanced decisions and higher quality action. By placing your focus primarily on the present moment we recognize the value of “Being.” When we understand that “Being” in a state of already feeling successful produces high quality success, it is much easier to shift the focus. We begin to understand the power of living in harmony with our environment while we perform our work. Stress and worry disappear and clear thinking takes over. Production goes smoother and even quicker and things flow with ease. Nothing is forced.

Practice living in the now and know that by accessing the power of now, you can enjoy even more success than ever before.

Negotiation Secrets Resolve Conflicts

What skills do you employ when trying to resolve conflicts? The answer should be, the same skills you use when negotiating.

Conflict resolution is a subset of negotiation and thus, the better you are at negotiating, the better you’ll be at resolving conflicts. The information that follows gives insight into how you can enhance your negotiation and conflict resolution efforts.

1. Listening:

a. In any negotiation, when attempting to resolve conflicts, really understand the other person’s perspective and assess the basis for the conflict.

b. Consider the source of the other person’s motivation that stimulates his beliefs, thoughts, and desires for the outcome he’s striving to achieve. Seek to understand his perspective at an intellectual and emotional level. Ask open-ended questions (i.e. questions that require more than a yes or no response) to solicit insight as to why he holds such beliefs to be valid.

c. Ascertain who and/or what the source of his beliefs, thoughts, and desires are that’s generating the outcome he seeks. If you determine that there’s a vast conflict between the position you hold and his, cite sources from references that he believes to be credible, in an attempt to sway his viewpoint.

2. Patience:

a. Prior to responding with a rebuttal, be sure you understand the gist of the other person’s position. Let him talk. The more he talks, the greater the opportunity to glean additional insight and information about his mindset.

b. Watch rhetoric, yours and the other individual. Words have meanings and some words may convey thoughts that are different from the intent you meant. Be sure to use words that the other person understands and applies in the same manner as you intended for him to perceive.

c. If you are slow to respond to questions, you give the impression that you’re reflective. Answer a question too quickly and you could give the impression that you’re being flippant. Strike a balance between the two modes, based on the situation at hand.

3. Use of language:

a. Once you understand the other negotiator’s perspective, assess the viability of his beliefs, based on the verbiage he uses. Some words, such as, “I believe” versus “I know” or “I’m sure of”, conveys the degree to which he believes his thoughts to be accurate. In observing the manner in which he uses words, you’ll be able to peer into his beliefs and begin to determine the level of commitment he has for the outcome he seeks.

b. If you cannot oblige the outcome the other person seeks, explain in language that he can understand (use words he uses) why you can’t oblige him.

c. Avoid using inflammatory language. An ill word cast at an inappropriate time, will deflate the conversation and most likely, create a more negative environment.

4. Tone and pace of voice:

a. Align the tone and pace of your voice to the situation and strategy you’ve adopted. If the situation calls for a display of empathy, display it. If on the other hand, it’s more appropriate to allow the timbre of your voice to convey a more steadfast position, display that demeanor. Unless it’s part of your strategy, don’t be backed into a position you can’t, or don’t want to defend.

b. Keep in mind, a good thought/plan delivered with the appropriate demeanor can soften rejection, or enhance acceptance.

c. Try not to interrupt the other person when he’s speaking. Take note of how long he delivers his position and be aware of when he starts to repeat himself. Regardless of whether the other person starts to pontificate, don’t over talk him.

Just because you silence a man doesn’t mean you’ve converted him. In order to gain benefits from the resolution of a conflict, you must delve deep enough into the psychological mind of the other individual to emotionally and intellectually understand his perspective. You must know what holds sway with him; in order to do so, you have to experience his reality. Once you’re able to comprehend his perspective, you’ll be prepared to offer a solution to his situation. If the intersection between what you’re capable of delivering and what he needs intersects, success will lie at that junction… and everything will be right with the world. Remember, you’re always negotiating.

The Negotiation Tips Are…

• A conflict is nothing more than disparate positions. Never become mentally burdened as the result of a conflict. Understand the source of it before attempting to address it.

• In our everyday lives, we participate in conflict resolutions. If you take note and utilize some of the same tactics and strategies you employ in your negotiations, you’ll enhance your ability to resolve conflicts.

• Resolve in your mind that you’ll reduce tension in your personal and business life, by enhancing your communications with those you encounter. Become more adept at conflict resolution.