4 Creative Additions To Your Resume

Everyone knows the standard things to include in a resume: Relevant work experience, skills, and education. But did you know there are some other additions you can add? Below are four of them, along with explanations of why they are important:

• Volunteer Work: This is especially relevant for nonprofit jobs. It shows that you have a passion for a cause and are willing to put in hard work to get the job done. Long-term volunteer work is the most impressive, but you can list short-term projects.
• Professional Hobbies: The word "professional" is key here. You shouldn't list "Dungeons and Dragons" in your resume, but you can mention activities that are relevant to the job for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for an IT position, you could list computer programming as a hobby.
• Experiences: Feel free to list experiences that have shaped your life, such as a study abroad. This is important as it gives the employer an idea of the kind of things you do with extended periods of free time. These types of experiences are ideal if you need to fill gaps in your employment.
• Interests:  This will show that you are an individual who is well-rounded and has a fresh prospective. Organizations want people who have a broad range of interests, not someone who is one-dimensional.

Have any other ideas of things you can include in a resume? Feel free to list them in our comments section.

Wanted: Vice President Of Strategic Development

Community Connections, Inc. in South Yarmouth, Mass. is seeking to hire a Vice President of Strategic Development to help the disabilities services nonprofit develop a new plan for business development. Interested in this position? Read on for more details.

It goes without saying that this is a pretty high-end position, requiring candidates to be proficient in multiple roles. In addition to the main goal of developing a new direction for the organization, VP of Strategic Development will also be responsible for maximizing current service provision while creating and maintaining business partnerships. Finally, the position will also work to improve services so that Community Connections becomes the provider of choice in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Make sure you meet the following qualifications before applying for this job:

• 10 years of upper level management experience and a Master’s degree (preferred).
• Proven track record of business strategy implementation.
•  Solid leadership and facilitation skills, with the ability to multi-task and carry projects through to successful completion.
• Strategic, visionary thinker with the ability to collaborate and “build bridges”; inspirational innovator in creating new ventures.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, go to our career center and apply today.

Why Enthusiasm Matters In The Job Search

Job seekers look for any advantage they can get during the job search. Whether it's highlighting a unique skill or taking advantage of great contacts, they need all they can help in this job market. What if I told you the best trick you can use is something everybody has?

You'd be surprised at how much of a difference enthusiasm can make in your search for a job, especially in the nonprofit sector. Having a clear passion for an organization's mission can be key in the eyes of the employer. There's a belief among some job seekers that showing enthusiasm will make them come off as desperate. This is an understandable concern, and it can be true if you go overboard (i.e., "this is the greatest job I have ever seen" or something along those lines).

So what are the best ways to show your excitement for the position without seeming fake? Here are some quick tips:

• Tell a story in your cover letter that illustrates how the nonprofit's mission has played a big part in your life.
• Explain how your skills would make a big difference in the organization's goals.
• Do extensive research about the history of the organization and display this knowledge in your interview. This shows that you were excited enough to do your homework.
• Choose your adjectives carefully when describing the position. Use words like motivated and passionate.

Featured Nonprofit Job: President Of The Foundation

Have you ever wanted to become the president of a major foundation? The Nonprofit Job Seeker has just the position for you if you have the drive and ambition to qualify for this important role.

The New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation is looking to hire a new President of the Foundation, a position that carries a great deal of responsibility. Duties include oversight of existing services and programs and the development of new and enlarged services to strengthen the ministires of local churches, districts, the New Mexico Annual Conference, and the general ministries of The United Methodist Church. The chosen candidate will also be in charge of planning the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the Foundation.

As you might expect, there are a number of requirements for this job. They include:

• Passion for and commitment to the mission of The United Methodist Church;
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage steady organizational growth;
• High-level budget, investment and financial management experience;
• Experience working with non-profit Boards of Directors and ability to partner with the Board;
• Personnel and supervisory experience;
• Knowledge about, membership in and commitment to the mission of The United Methodist Church and familiarity with the organization, polity, and structure of the denomination; and,
• Minimum educational degree at Bachelor level and preferred advanced degree in a field related to the mission of the Foundation.

If you meet all of these qualifications and are interested in applying for this job, we invite you to read the full job description on our website.

How To Enjoy Career Networking

Let's face it: Career networking is not exactly the funnest thing in the world. Putting yourself out there can be a very stressful thing, which makes many job seekers want to do all they can to avoid it. This is ultimately to their detriment, as networking is a vital part of the job search.

The first thing you need to do to reduce the pressure is to remember you go to networking events not only to receive help but also to give it. Too many job hunters go to these events thinking it's their one opportunity to make new contacts, which sets the stakes at an unreasonably high level. If you change your mindset so that you recognize you are there to contribute and get any help that is available, you will feel less stressed, which will ultimately boost your chances of making solid contacts.

On a similar note, you should not appear desperate when talking to attendees. People have different definitions of this, but one thing to look out for is making the main purpose of your conversations to get something. You should be getting to know the other attendees with talk about work flowing naturally from the conversation. People don't like to feel like they are only being talked to because the other person wants something.

Finally, act naturally. You definitely need to prepare before you attend events, but you don't want to come off as scripted. Being real is the key to getting the best responses from other attendees, as people have a tendency to want to help others who they think are being straightforward.

None of these tips are guaranteed to make you absolutely love career networking if you already don't enjoy it. But hopefully they will make you tolerate more than you did before.

How To Blow Them Away During Your Next Job Interview

Job interviews are all about first impressions. You have only one shot to impress hiring managers enough so that they will either hire you or call you in for a second interview. Fail to do that and you'll be on your way to filling out yet another application.

Employers are understandably picky about who they want to hire, so it's important that you stand out among the other candidates they see. Here some tips to make them say "wow" at the end of the interview:

• Make Your Resume Clear and Concise: You'd be surprised how many applicants send in cluttered resumes. It makes a world of difference to a hiring manager when they get applications that don't leave them confused.
• Dress to Impress: It doesn't matter what the atmosphere of the organization is: You should always come to the interview dressed professionally. That means no jeans or sneakers. I would avoid wearing colors that are too bright, as that can come off as a little over-the-top;.
• Be Punctual: Arrive at the office exactly when you are asked. Nothing makes a worse first impression than being late, but being too early can be a bad thing as well. It can make employers feel like they have to rush through what they are doing in order to attend to you.
• Come Prepared With Questions: Interviewers like candidates who show interest in their organization. Even if they aren't ground-breaking questions, it's worth asking.
• Say "Thanks:" Send a thank-you letter after the interview is over. Make sure to once again express your interest in the job in your note.

Don't Lie In Your Resume

There's sometimes a distinction made between lying and stretching the truth. This is never the case when it comes to your resume, however. Whether you are just embellishing a little bit or telling a real whopper, it's never appropriate to misrepresent yourself to an employer.

Aside from the obvious reason that it's just not right to lie about something you know is wrong, stretching the truth about your employment history can come back to haunt you. Telling an organization that you are capable of doing something you are not can lead to a quick exit from the job when it is discovered you can't do the work. This is not only bad for you short-term, but can also impact your ability to get jobs in the future.

It's not good to embellish about anything, but here are some of the worst items to lie about in your resume:

• Job Duration: It's better to address frequent turnover in employment rather than hide it by only listing the years you worked rather than the months. There are plenty of reasons that you might have had multiple jobs in a short period of time, and employers will appreciate your honesty.
• Skills: There's nothing more embarrassing than claiming you are an expert at something only to have your co-workers find out you are far from that. Word of this kind of lie can spread pretty quickly around the industry, making it hard for you to get jobs in the future.
• Education: If you didn't graduate for whatever reason, list the amount of credits you received and your class standing. Include a parenthetical note explaining why you didn't complete your degree.
• Residence: Don't use your friend's address in Florida if there is absolutely no way you can get there by the next day for interview. This is only appropriate if you are staying at this person's house for the weekend and in that case, you need to mention that in your application.