Volunteering-How it helps you with a job July 26, 2012

Have you listed your charity endeavors on your résumé?  If not, you probably should.  A recent LinkedIn survey found that one in five employers hired someone primarily because of her volunteer service outside the office.  “If you’re unemployed, this work shows you’ve been productive,” says John Challenger, the CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement firm.  “And if you’re already employed, it supplements the experiences you’ve gained at your job.”  Here’s how to put your good work to good use.

DO: List specific skill-building volunteer activities on your resume’.  Substantive work, like managing the budget of a sizable charity or recruiting and training a team, is attractive to employers because those experiences are applicable to business situations, says Suzanne Lucas, a 10-year human-resources veteran based in Basel, Switzerland.  But only include accomplishments that can be put into quantifiable terms or work that demonstrates your leadership qualities.  (Avoid listing charitable work for which all you did was set up chairs or do some other minor service.)

DON’T:  Include work with organizations that might be considered polarizing.

Listing overtly political or religious groups could turn off a hiring manager who has different beliefs.  (Picking one candidate over another because of such factors is illegal in many cases, but it still happens.)

DO: Let the volunteer work on your resume’ speak for itself.  That is to say, don’t bring it up in the interview.  Why?  The employers who find the service to be relevant will ask you about it.  But some won’t feel that way about any unpaid work.  In such cases, it’s best to stay quiet.

DON’T:  Emphasize volunteering that’s directly related to being a parent.  Researchers have found that women who cite volunteering related to motherhood on a resume’–for example, PTA work–are less likely to be called back for interviews than are those who list a neighborhood group.  So list such experience only if it’s highly related to the job that you’re seeking.

This information provided by Laura Vanderkam.

Thought these were some useful tips for those who are seeing employment.

Have a great day,

Tammy

This One is for the Mother’s……Mother’s Day that is May 7, 2012

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and as a mother myself it is a great honor to remember how thankful I am to be a mom.  There are some mom’s out there who work hard, not just at a job, but at home-cooking, cleaning, taking care of the children.  Some may have that dream their husbands would just help once in a while.

I was reading Working Mother magazine and on the very last page I saw a little blurb titled: “the last word- What I want (to give up) for Mother’s Day…”  The five suggestions listed below were interesting and could work.  I hope you enjoy reading as much as I.

1.  I want our husbands/significant others to celebrate Mother’s Day 2012 by permanently taking equal responsibility for the house being acceptably clean and organized.  It’s not just our house; it’s also their house.  We working moms are ready to give up 50 percent of the housework and 50 percent of the “messy house guilt” to our partners.  Please take this gift!

2.  I want our companies to celebrate Mother’s Day by offering us the tough assignments that come with the big money.  We working moms work like crazy at our jobs, and we now want to give up doing the work without the money and promotion because someone believes we don’t/won’t/can’t want them.  Give us the chance to say yes or  no.

3.  I want our bosses and peers to stop doubting us because we leave at 5:15 to pick up our kids from day care three days a week.  Working mothers go online at 9 p.m. to complete tasks, we sacrifice school plays when that’s the right choice; and we are the most focused, efficient employees you’ll ever meet.  Please give up “face time” as a measure of our commitment.

4.  I want our schools to celebrate Mother’s Day by acknowledging that most of their “customers” are working parents who desperately want to be involved in their children’s schools.  We’ll gladly give up our evening time if you’ll schedule meetings and activities when we can be there!

5.  I want my children to celebrate Mother’s Day by making macaroni necklaces for me.  I won’t give up on that!  Actually, since my children are 25 and 22, I’ll settle for two nice Hallmark cards.

This “last word” provided by Carol Evans, President of Working Mother Media.