Resume & Cover Letters

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July 24, 2023

4 Reasons You Haven’t Landed a Job Yet (and How to Fix Them)

Are you a job seeker who is feeling frustrated about not getting job offers? If so, you’re not alone. Many job seekers struggle to get their foot in the door and land their dream job. The good news is, there are a few common reasons why you may not have had success yet, and there are strategies you can use to fix them.

1) Customize Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter is your first opportunity to impress a potential employer. If it’s not up to par, your chances of getting called in for an interview significantly decrease. If your cover letter sounds like a template that you copied and pasted, the hiring manager is likely to toss it aside. Instead, tailor your cover letter to the company and position you’re applying for. Show that you’ve done your research and understand the job duties and mission of the company.

A cover letter should be concise and to the point, highlighting your relevant skills and experience. Aim for a cover letter that is one page or less. Take the time to proofread your letter multiple times and have someone else review it as well. It’s important to present yourself as a detail-oriented candidate. And while it’s important to showcase your skills and experience, your cover letter should also address the needs and interests of the company. Highlight how your experience and abilities can benefit the organization and its goals.

2) Clean Up Your Resume

Your resume is essentially your ticket to securing a job interview. If you’re not getting any calls or email responses after sending out your applications, it may be time to take a closer look at your resume. One common mistake job seekers make is submitting a generic resume for all job applications. Your resume should highlight relevant experience and skills specific to the jobs you are applying for. This may mean that you spend some time customizing your resume to address the specific experience and skills requested in the job post. It may take some extra effort but will definitely increase your chances of being considered for the position.

However, don’t just list your responsibilities – provide quantifiable examples of how you added value to your previous roles. This could include increased sales, improved efficiency, or successful project outcomes. Showcasing your achievements gives hiring managers a clear understanding of the positive impact you can have on their organization. Ensure your resume is easy to read, with clear headings and bullet points.

3) Brush Up On Your Interview Skills

You might have a fantastic cover letter and an impressive resume, but if your interview skills are poor, it could be the reason why you haven’t landed a job yet. An interview is your chance to make a good impression on the hiring manager, show your enthusiasm for the role, and prove that you are the right candidate for the job. Going to an interview without researching the company and the role can be a deal breaker. It shows that you are not serious about the job, and you have not put in the effort to understand the company’s values, culture, and expectations.

Communication is key in any job, and it is essential during an interview. You should be able to articulate your thoughts clearly, listen attentively, and respond appropriately. If you struggle to communicate effectively during an interview, practice with a friend or family member beforehand, or consider taking a public speaking or communication class. An interview is also an opportunity to show your passion for the job and the company. If you appear disinterested or unenthusiastic, the interviewer will assume that you are not excited about the role. Show your enthusiasm by asking questions, sharing your ideas, and highlighting your skills and experience.

4) Giving Up Too Quickly

It’s important to keep in mind that the job search process can take time, and rejection is often a part of the process. It can be discouraging to not hear back from employers or to receive rejection after rejection, but it’s important to remember that every “no” brings you one step closer to a “yes.” Instead of giving up, job seekers should use each rejection as an opportunity to reflect on what they can do differently in their job search.

One common mistake that job seekers make is not following up with employers after an interview. Sending a thank you email or note can not only show your appreciation for their time, but it can also remind them of your interest in the position. Also, don’t just limit your job search to only one or two companies or job titles. Expanding your job search to other companies or job titles that align with your skills and experience can increase your chances of finding the right job.

It’s important to remember that the job search process is not easy, but persistence and patience are key. Don’t give up too quickly – keep applying, following up, and expanding your job search until you land your dream job.

If you have reviewed your information and practiced for interviews but still find yourself struggling, then we are here to help! Work with our HR experts to review all of your application materials and coach you through some common interview questions in our job seeker training.

Written by HMMCustomer Care

July 3, 2023

Get Hired: Mastering the Art of Writing a Virtual Assistant Cover Letter

If you’re looking for a job as a Virtual Assistant, the cover letter you write can make or break your application. Crafting an effective cover letter that conveys your experience and skills while demonstrating your enthusiasm and commitment to the position is essential in standing out from other candidates. Explore the key components of a successful Virtual Assistant cover letter and provide tips on how to make yours stand out below:

Outline Your Skills and Experience

As a mom looking to enter the virtual assistant job market, you already have an abundance of skills that will be highly valued by potential employers. Here are a few key skills and experiences you should highlight in your cover letter:

Time Management: As a mom, you’ve likely honed your ability to juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities. Employers will be impressed by your ability to efficiently manage your time and prioritize tasks.
Organizational Skills: Being organized is crucial for any virtual assistant role. Make sure to highlight your skills in maintaining schedules, tracking important dates, and managing digital files.
Communication: Clear and effective communication is essential when working remotely. Emphasize your excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as your experience in collaborating with others.
Technical Savvy: With technology at the forefront of the virtual assistant world, make sure to showcase your proficiency with various software programs and tools. Be specific in your cover letter about the types of software you’ve used in the past.
Flexibility: Employers need someone who is adaptable and willing to take on new tasks as needed. Share examples of how you’ve been able to pivot and adjust to new situations in the past.

By highlighting these skills and experiences in your cover letter, you’ll show potential employers that you have what it takes to succeed as a virtual assistant. Just remember, while you have lots of skills to share, keep it short so that hiring managers can easily read your cover letter quickly.

Use Keywords from the Job Posting

To truly stand out among other applicants, it’s important to use keywords from the job posting in your virtual assistant cover letter. This means analyzing the job description and taking note of the key skills and responsibilities listed. Including these keywords shows that you have carefully read the job posting and understand the requirements of the position. Additionally, many employers use automated systems to sort through resumes and cover letters, and using the right keywords can increase your chances of being seen by a hiring manager.

For example, if the job posting emphasizes proficiency in Microsoft Office, make sure to mention your experience with Excel and Word in your cover letter. If the job requires scheduling and organization skills, mention specific tools or software you’ve used in the past to manage tasks and appointments. However, don’t just throw in random keywords for the sake of it. Make sure they are relevant to your skills and experience, and use them in a natural, contextual way. Finding online cover letter templates can help show you how to do this.

Explain What You Can Do for the Company

Now that you’ve outlined your skills and experience and used relevant keywords from the job posting, it’s time to explain what you can do for the company. This is the heart of your cover letter – you need to convince the employer that you’re the perfect fit for the position.

Start by researching the company and understanding what they do. Then, explain how your skills and experience make you an ideal candidate to help them achieve their goals. For example, if the company is looking for a virtual assistant to help with social media management, you could say:

“I am confident that my skills in social media marketing, content creation, and scheduling would make me an asset to your team. With my experience working for a variety of clients in different industries, I am comfortable with creating engaging and effective content across multiple platforms. Additionally, I am skilled in using scheduling tools such as Hootsuite and Buffer to ensure that posts are published at optimal times for maximum reach. I am excited at the opportunity to help your company grow and reach new audiences through social media.”

Notice how this paragraph not only highlights the applicant’s skills and experience, but also connects them directly to the needs of the company. By explaining how they can help the company achieve its goals, the applicant is demonstrating their value as an employee and making a compelling case for why they should be hired. You can also take this a step further and include a tip or two on how you would change their current practices to make their company better.

Close with a Call to Action

After explaining what you can bring to the table and highlighting your skills and experience, it’s important to end your cover letter with a call to action. This shows the employer that you’re confident in your abilities and are excited about the possibility of working with them. A call to action is a statement that invites the reader to take a specific action. In this case, you want the employer to invite you for an interview or to contact you with any further questions they may have. Here are some examples of strong calls to action for a cover letter:

I look forward to hearing from you to discuss how my skills and experience can benefit your company. Thank you for your consideration.
If you’re interested in learning more about my qualifications, I’d love to speak with you in more detail. Please feel free to contact me at [insert your contact information].
Thank you for considering my application. I believe that I could be an asset to your team and would love the opportunity to discuss this further in an interview. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Remember, a call to action is a chance for you to leave a lasting impression on the employer. Be confident, courteous, and professional, and you’re sure to catch their attention.

Remember, the cover letter is your chance to make a great first impression and stand out from other applicants. So take the time to craft a well-written and personalized cover letter, and you may just land your dream virtual assistant position. Good luck!

If you need help writing a cover letter or would like a professional to review your current cover letter, check out our Cover Letter Services!

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May 22, 2023

What Skills to Highlight on Your Résumé

No matter where you are in your career, deciding which skills to list on a résumé can be tricky. After all, you have so many talents, which ones should be included in job applications? If you are looking to reenter the workforce after being a stay-at-home parent full-time, there are actually skills you used to raise your children that can go on your résumé. If you are looking to make a career change, then you most likely have a general idea of which skills to list, but this blog can be a good refresher for you!

The Basics

It is important to tailor your skill listed on your job application materials for each position you apply to. Of course, there are some core skills that are good to keep from application to application such as time management, being organized, and the ability to work independently. However, employers are also looking for extremely detailed talents that you might have. For example, if you have experience with Microsoft Excel, that should be listed. Depending on how you want to set up your résumé, you can either just list what you have experience in such as Microsoft Excel, WordPress, etc., or you can also include the number of years of experience you have. Keep in mind, employers want to be able to look at your job application and quickly determine what your skills are. If you already have lots of text on your résumé making it look crowded, stick with listing just the skills.

Reentering the Workforce

If you are reentering the workforce, you may feel lost as to what skills to put down in a job application. Sometimes, it can seem like you do not have talents to include, especially if you have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time. However, raising kids requires lots of wonderful skills that can easily be transferred to the workplace. Some talents include: time management, administering schedules, meeting deadlines, multitasking, management, and more! If there is room on your application, list some details about how you gained these skills. Include this in your cover letter too, where you have more room to elaborate on how you will use those talents in a job.

Career Changes

If you are making a career change — whether you are moving up the corporate ladder or trying something new — you can call on your past experience to list on your résumé. It helps to be very specific. For example, if you managed a team, list that as a skill and include the size of the team, length of time you managed them, and if it was an international team, it’s good to include that too! Keep in mind that you need to tailor your experience based on the job you are applying for, so on one application you might list team management of a team of ten, and on another application you might mention that team was international so you have experience managing different time zones.

Keywords

For more guidance, look at the job listing itself. What keywords does the company use? Do they mention someone who is organized, or do they ask if you have experience with project management software like Asana? Use the description to write your résumé! Use important phrases that you notice repeated in the description to highlight your own experience. Not only does this help companies fit your experience into what they are looking for, but it also shows that you have a good grasp of the job description — and that you spent time truly reading it!

If you need help figuring out what to list on your job application, chat with our advisors as part of our Job Seeker Advisor Services. An HR expert can guide you through creating the perfect résumé for your dream position.

Do you have more tips you want to share with us on what skills you choose to put on your job application? Let us know!

Written by Guest Blogger

November 5, 2022

How to Prepare Your Resume for a Remote Work Position

Guest Contributor: Corissa Peterson

Working remotely has become common and acceptable in the last few years. According to Forbes, 97% of people working from home don’t want to go back to work at the office, and an increasing number of companies offer either fully remote or hybrid positions.

But if you’re looking for a job that lets you work from home, you’ll need to prepare a resume tailored for a remote position. Hiring managers want to know that you can handle the challenges inherent to remote work, so it’s important to make sure your resume demonstrates your qualifications.

In this article, we’ll show you how to customize your resume for an out-of-office job:

Tailor your resume introduction

An effective resume introduction can determine whether a hiring manager looks closer at your resume or simply skims it. If your resume summary impresses them, they’re likely to give your resume a thorough look. If not, it will probably wind up in the “no” pile.

Your resume introduction is your first chance to catch a hiring manager’s attention in a positive way.

In this section of your resume, you need to make it clear that you can succeed in a remote position. Think about the job requirements and how your specific experiences and skills mesh with them.

Consider this example of a well-written resume introduction.

Award-winning graphic designer with six years of experience working remotely to create logos, product illustrations, ad graphics for print and digital assets, and web design. Work independently to develop graphics using Adobe Illustrator, Canva, and Affinity Designer, collaborating with others via Figma and Trello as needed

Remember that the hiring manager will see this short paragraph first, so you need to make every word count.

If you need help crafting a strong resume introduction, consider using an online resume builder. Resume builders can help you write an industry-specific resume summary that pairs your experiences with the job requirements.

Demonstrate your remote work skills

For a remote job, employers want to know you can work effectively outside of the office. To show them that you’re capable, you need to demonstrate your remote working skills.

Make sure to showcase both hard and soft skill sets that are relevant to remote work. Hard skills are specific skills you’ve acquired through hands-on experience or training, like use of specific software. Soft skills like time management are also incredibly important for success as a remote employee.

If you can demonstrate that you have both the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in a remote position, hiring managers will take your resume more seriously, and you’ll be more likely to get an interview.

Remote work hard skills

Employers will be more willing to consider you for a remote position if you already have the necessary hard skills. Often, this means familiarity with specific software, including project management tools and team collaboration platforms.

Showing employers that you have these skills demonstrates your added value, and lets them know that they won’t need to invest a lot of time training you in new tools.

Here are some examples of hard remote skills to include in your remote work resume:

Asana
Trello
Scoro
WorkZone
HubSpot
Zoho Projects

By including these hard remote skills, you can show the hiring manager that you’ll be ready to jump in and collaborate with their team and start making valuable contributions immediately.

Remote work soft skills

When it comes to hiring people for a remote position, it’s important for employers to know that they’re hiring someone they can trust. If you can show an employer that you’re responsible, trustworthy, and can get work done without their supervision, then you’ll increase your chances of landing the job.

Some soft skills that show employers you’re a capable remote worker include:

Self-Motivation: You need to have the skill of self-motivation to work towards your employer’s goals on your own. Show this on your resume by describing an accomplishment you pursued and completed on your own, like completing a programming course you took to develop your skills and elevate your professional performance.
Time Management: Do you manage your time well? Employers want to ensure they don’t have an employee who wastes time. Add this soft skill to your resume by relaying a time you managed a tight schedule calmly and successfully.
Communication: Good communication skills will ensure that you can effectively navigate the channel of communication with your boss and colleagues while you’re working remotely to make sure everyone is on the same page. To demonstrate your communication skills, include an example of how you solved a problem using strong communication.
Organization: If you work remotely, you must be able to keep everything organized, from your home office setup to your work projects and schedule. To show off your organizational skills, think of a time when you brought order or structure to a messy system. For example, perhaps you introduced an office management tool or streamlined an outdated process.

When people think of including skills on their resume, they usually think of a list under a “Skills” section. And while it’s fine to add your skills here, this section is better saved for industry-specific hard skills and maybe two or three relevant soft skills.

Finding ways to demonstrate your soft skills in your work experience section is a better way to include them on your resume, as this shows employers the context for your soft skills and how you’ve used them in the past to benefit your employers.

For instance, here’s an example of how to demonstrate leadership in your work experience section:

“Led a team of 10 software engineers in creation of a new app, communicating with all team members and across departments to ensure clarity of goals. Project was completed on schedule and under budget and the app received an average star rating of 4.9 and raised revenue by 5%.”

Highlight your remote work experience

Demonstrating your past remote experience significantly strengthens your application, because employers can see that you’re already an accomplished remote worker.

Here are some tips and examples to help you highlight your remote experience:

Make it explicit

When writing your resume, the most straightforward way to highlight your remote work experience is to explicitly mention it in your work experience section. There are a couple of ways to do this.

If you worked from home or out of a virtual office, write “Remote” instead of listing the location of a job under your title and company name.

Here’s an example:

Customer Service Representative

Jane’s Footwear, Jan 2020 – Present
Remote

Making this simple change will draw attention to your remote work and immediately let employers know that you’re experienced.

Describe your remote experience in your bullet points

For example:

Worked remotely to answer an average of 100 customer calls each day, providing information about products and services, helping customers with complaints, processing returns, and taking orders.

Consider making a dedicated remote work section

If you have two or more remote work experiences, consider listing them in a separate section titled “Remote Work Experience.” A section like this will draw attention to your extensive remote work experience, and show the employer that you have the capability to succeed at a remote job.

Here’s an example:

Remote Work Experience

Real Estate Acquisition Sales Specialist

Jayden & Lewis Realty

June 2019 – Present

Manage sales leads and discover prospective buyers
Place calls to possible sellers to understand their needs and concerns
Use CRM Daily to stay up-to-date and on task

Adding a distinct remote work section to your resume will ensure that hiring managers pick up on your experience and take that into consideration when vetting your application, giving you a better chance at winning an interview.

Quantify your remote work successes

You need to include specific facts and figures to quantify your accomplishments in a remote work setting. Hiring managers don’t just want to know that candidates have remote work experience, they want to know that the candidates were able to perform at or above expected levels.

Anyone can say generic things about their remote work experience, but when you use numbers to back up your experience, you create a well-defined picture of your abilities. Being exact and including details shows the employer that you can excel in a remote position.

Add your remote work experiences with precision, quantifying them with facts and numbers, like this:

Managed sales team remotely to improve company’s customer service, increasing customer satisfaction by 50%.
Created a new company website, collaborating with writers and designers, resulting in a 90% rise in website traffic compared to the previous website.

Adding numbers to your experience helps put your achievements in context for employers and makes your resume more compelling. By making sure to quantify your remote work experience, you demonstrate the tangible benefits you can bring to future employers.

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Corissa is a Career Advisor and Staff Writer at Resume Genius, where she loves equipping others with the tools they need to pursue their dreams. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Philosophy and a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies.

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October 24, 2022

How to Write a Cover Letter: The Ultimate Guide

If you’ve ever applied to a job online, then you’ve probably had to write a cover letter of some sort. But despite their commonality, many job seekers don’t know how to write one well. If you’re struggling with writing a cover letter that will impress employers and get you hired, we can help! Here are some tips on how to write a cover letter that can help you stand out from the crowd and get your foot in the door for your dream job.

Step 1: Identify the Roles

It’s no secret that having the right skills and experience are key factors for securing an interview. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to impress your future employer, so it’s important not only to customize your letter based on the type of position you’re applying for, but also consider what keywords you’ll need in order to connect with the hiring person. It’s also worth noting that this type of correspondence has evolved into more than just a paragraph explaining why you’re the best person for the job. Also, it helps to include the name of the position for which you are applying, and mentioning some of the bullet points in the original job description. For example, if the description lists that you need three years of experience as a virtual assistant, mention that you have X amount of years as a VA which is more/less as requested in the job description (if you say less, explain why you feel you deserve the position!).

Step 2: Answer these Questions

Who is the letter for?

1. 1. It is important to be clear about who you are addressing your letter to. This person should be listed in the top of your cover letter and throughout the body of your letter as well. If you are unsure about who your letter should be addressed, this should also be stated up front in order to give them an understanding of what you want from them or what you’re requesting of them. This can go hand-in-hand with explaining why they need to read the following contents of your cover letter as well.

What are my qualifications?

1. This question is asking for three things in particular that the employer wants a clear understanding on. First off, it asks if you have experience with the industry/company’s specific field. For example, if it is related to marketing then there are quite a few subsets within marketing that require specific experience such as web design. Secondly, it asks if you have any relevant degrees (like a web design or marketing degree). Lastly, the company wants to understand what you bring to the table through your experience such as tools you have at your disposal; sticking with the web design example, the company wants to know if you have all the tools you need already or if you will require them such as a company computer. In fact, some employers look for people that already have personal access to specific software. These questions require very specific answers so make sure they align closely with their expectations and needs.

Step 3: Highlight your Qualifications

By this point, you should have spent enough time talking about yourself so that the business owner or hiring manager knows your strengths and weaknesses. You should also have addressed why you are uniquely qualified for the job. This is where you discuss any qualifications that are related specifically to the job description in question. Make sure that any skills and experience mentioned fit into your objective, though.

Step 4 : Formatting Matters

When it comes time to write your cover letter, formatting is important. A great cover letter tells the story of you and your journey, in such a way that the employer can’t stop reading. No matter how strong your qualifications are, if they’re not presented well on paper they will be overlooked. Check out this example below for guidelines on how to properly format your cover letter and break into the industry of your dreams:

Mention the position and why you are interested.
Go into detail about your work history, but make it interesting; employers are getting tons of cover letters, so it’s important to make yours stand out.
Talk about the job requirements and how you meet them.
Give employers a couple of different ways to contact you.

Step 5 : Tailor Your Cover Letters

Cover letters are one of the most important parts of your job application. They should be tailored specifically for each job so make sure that you spend time personalizing it. If you’re applying for a job as a manager, talk about how your management experience makes you the perfect candidate. If you’re applying for an entry-level position, talk about how excited you are to get started and learn from the people who’ve been there before. Pick which experience to focus on based on what the job is!

What tips do you have for those who are writing cover letters? Let us know!

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September 5, 2022

Tips for Creating An Attention-Getting Job Seeker Profile to Help You Get Hired!

One of the most popular questions we get asked is: How do I create a great online profile / resume that stands out to employers? So, we’ve put together some examples of what to do (and what not to do). This is a great guide for those just getting started, but it’s also a great reference for those who have their résumés posted that are not hearing back from employers.

It’s important to note that employers cannot see your online profile / resume unless, (1) you’ve applied for their specific job or (2) you are a Platinum member which comes with a rotating profile on the home page.

Ok, so let’s start simple…

What Not To Do

Your profile is how employers learn more about you. They like to see a headshot so they can put a face to a name with your information. Most importantly, they like profiles that are detailed with LOTS of information.

The profile below is an example of what not to do. There is no picture, and there is no information. Employers use your profile first, and then they turn to your résumé. It’s also a good idea to update your profile on a regular basis. That way, employers know you’re serious about looking for work. Set a reminder to review and update your profile periodically such as quarterly or every six months.

Make sure to complete your profile! It’s totally okay to set up a test profile like the one below to see how things will look, but don’t forget to go back in and fix it later. This profile has a photo (that we’ve hidden), which is great, but nothing at all for employers to reference!

This next profile is another step in the right direction, but it needs more information. The profile has a photo, which is great, and a description, which is also great. But, this doesn’t speak to specific experience for an employer to reference.

What To Do

You’re probably noticing a trend at this point: provide a photo, write a description, and provide specific employment information. We reached out to some of our past top performing profiles for permission to share. Check them out below!

Hannah checked all three boxes: she has a photo that clearly shows her face, she has a description, and she has detailed information about her work history. Plus, she made it even easier for employers to check out companies she has worked with by providing their URLs

Hannah shares:

“I got my job with very quickly (within a week) after applying through HireMyMom! I believe the key was really that online resume and me emailing the company to stand out. I also mentioned their website and how much I loved what their business was about in that initial email. I believe anything to stand out like that is good…When I am looking for jobs my go to is ALWAYS HireMyMom.com. I also tell ALL my friends about it because I believe HireMyMom makes it so easy for moms to stand out in the online/remote workforce.”

Now, we understand that some people do not want to share their photo online, and that’s okay! We suggest providing further information to interest employers so they are blown away by your experience and skills, like Sara’s profile below; Sara also went the extra mile to provide how many years of experience she has for specific skills.

There you have it! A profile does act as a résumé, so you should fill it out accordingly, but it also gives you more space than a typical résumé so you can go into a little more detail.

If you have questions or need help with your own profile, reach out to the team at HireMyMom — we are more than happy to help! We have several opportunities to help you level up!

Written by Lesley Pyle

September 6, 2021

How to Ditch Office Life and Land a Great Work-from-Home Job

After more than a year of working from home due to COVID-19 mitigations, you know that the work-from-home lifestyle has many advantages. The short commute, increased family time, and flexibility during the day are things moms appreciate. And, as the virus continues to spread, putting school plans up into the air, you may have additional reasons to love your home office and want to stay in it.

But, many employers are busy planning return-to-the-office strategies. If the prospect of returning to the office has you looking for another option that lets you work from home all the time, read on. After decades of helping moms like you make the jump to work-from-home jobs, here are my top tips for making the leap.

Make a Plan

Start by considering what you want in your work-from-home job. Think about the things you enjoy about your current job and make a list of the tasks and responsibilities you wish to transfer to your new role. For example, do you excel at project management? Maybe you have an eye for detail and are a great proofreader, or perhaps you are a spreadsheet whiz or a design guru and want to use those skills in your next role. There’s no right or wrong answer, just the ones that make the most sense to you.

Next, catalog your skills and abilities. Think big picture here to identify the skills you have that can be transferred to another job. (Sometimes HR people call these transferable skills.) For example, if you set up webinars for your current company, identify the skills involved in that task–such as negotiating contracts, issuing invitations, managing conflicts, and carefully reviewing invoices. These capabilities comprise your set of transferable skills.

If you aren’t sure what you want to do or how your skills may translate to different types of jobs, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. HireMyMom offers resources to help.

Check out the Top 10 Work From Home Jobs for Moms to see what’s popular.

See these tips for finding at-home work without a lot of experience if you are thinking of changing career directions or are new to the workforce.
Build your skillset with these free training options.
Explore your entrepreneurial inclinations by learning how you can start your own Virtual Assistant Business.

Then, take the online Job Seeker 101 class offered by HireMyMom to learn more about the job search process.

If all this has you feeling overwhelmed, find inspiration from a recent success story.

Create a Job Search Strategy

Now that you are ready to search for an at-home job, it’s time to find the right partner in your journey. If you’ve spent any time on the big job boards, you know how tough it is to find good-quality leads there.

There is a better way.

When you join HireMyMom, you have exclusive access to a curated list of legitimate work-from-home jobs. Moms love us because they know all applications are going to real businesses looking for help. Employers love us because they know they can find high-quality, highly motivated candidates who want to work from home.

Yes, we do charge a small fee. But, that works to your advantage in five ways:

No commissions from job seekers. Once you find a job, all the money you earn is yours to keep. We don’t take a commission of your earnings. Often, free job sites are only free until you find a job. Then, they help themselves to 10% to 20% of your pay as long as you have the job.
The fee keeps the number of job seekers down, so it’s easier for you to stand out in the crowd. It also weeds out those who are not serious job seekers.
Businesses prefer to use HireMyMom because job seekers who have paid the fee are serious about finding work. And the volume of resumes that flow in is more manageable than the numbers that arrive when jobs are advertised on free job sites. One business owner cited she received over 900 applicants in 24 hours on one of the free job sites.
When you see a job post on HireMyMom, you can be assured it’s exclusive. We don’t pull jobs off the internet to fill our site. We only post positions that can’t be found elsewhere online.
You can feel confident when you apply for a job on the site because we aim to keep HireMyMom 100% scam-free. Our team reviews each job post to ensure that the company (or person) looking for help is legit. We have a list of red flags we look for, and don’t hesitate to say no if we aren’t confident.

Still have questions? Check out Why Does HireMyMom Charge Job Seekers.

Find That Job

Once you have your strategy in place, designate time and space to identify job leads and apply. It can take some time to apply for jobs, so be sure to set that time aside and treat your job search like a job. Otherwise, it’s easy to get frustrated that you aren’t making progress.

One of your first tasks will be to update your resume. Small business resumes are different and more personal than corporate resumes. In addition, cover letters are a big part of the process. So, invest the time to get a solid cover letter base that you can customize for each opportunity. You can learn more about both techniques in the Job Seeker 101 class.

Once you land an interview, start to practice and prepare. Ask a friend or family member to help you rehearse. Find a nice quiet place in your home and do a dry-run with the technology used during the interview.

As part of your prep, think about the questions you’ll ask. The right questions are an essential tool in finding out if the job is a good fit for your skills, interests, and lifestyle, so be prepared to ask the right ones.

As you practice your interview, prepare a strong close. A strong finish can distinguish you from the crowd. Set yourself up for success with these steps:

Thank the interviewer.
Express your level of interest honestly.
Summarize why you are a great candidate.
Ask about the next steps and timing.
Send a follow-up email within 48 hours of the interview.

Avoid Common Job Search Mistakes

When you apply for several jobs, it’s easy to make mistakes that can cost you an interview and an opportunity. It may seem counterintuitive, but being picky about the jobs you go after can help increase your success rate. Casting too wide a net can lead to rejections while sending you into a frenzy of activity, applying for jobs, and following up with employers only to be disappointed. Remember, you want to find the right job for you, not just any job. Before you apply:

Carefully read the job description. Consider whether you are qualified for the bulk of the work and whether the position genuinely interests you.
Tailor your resume for the specific job. Make the tweaks needed to fit the job description, but don’t do a total rewrite. Be sure to review your revised resume carefully.
Write a customized cover letter. Clearly express your interest and qualifications in the letter.

Finally, hang in there. Finding a job can be hard work. Don’t get discouraged. You’ll be working at your new home-based job in no time. When you find success, send me a note so we can celebrate together.

Written by Lesley Pyle

August 16, 2021

Feeling Discouraged? How to Hang Tough and Find Job Search Success

Looking for a new job is exciting and can be fun. But, it can also be stressful and challenging, especially if you don’t get an offer for a job that genuinely interests you or if you’ve submitted several resumes with no luck. When this happens, it’s easy to get discouraged and quit. But, roads with potholes can lead to lovely destinations if you keep traveling. Persistence is the key to success in a job search.

If you view the bumps in the road as opportunities to sharpen your job hunt skills, it’s easier to take the steps that can help you overcome the hurdles. Here are our best tips for working through the challenges and sticking out tough times during a job search.

Get Back to Basics

When you look for a job, your resume is an essential piece of the puzzle. And, let’s just put it out there–resumes are tough to create and difficult to polish. It feels awkward to sell yourself on one page. And, revising it multiple times can make you feel a little crazed. But, if you aren’t getting job nibbles, it’s time to give your resume some love. Here’s how:

Take a fresh look at your resume and make sure that it’s easy-to-read, simple, error-free, and professional.
Ask a trusted friend or a former coworker to review your resume for errors.
Share it with someone from a different industry and ask if she can identify the work and skills you are highlighting. This is an excellent way to see if jargon or shop speak has made it into your resume and might be confusing people.
Add a few flourishes to appeal to the small business owners who will review your resume.

Based on your assessment of your resume and the feedback from your reviewers, make a few changes. As you revise:

Describe your contribution to success at previous jobs. Focus on the work you did and how it supported the organization overall. Think of the first bullet as a summary bullet. Here’s a sample: Grew sales by overseeing the development and implementation of marketing communication plans that addressed customer hesitancy while managing a team of three direct reports.
After the summary bullet, provide concrete examples of your experience that quantify your professional accomplishments. For instance, including a bullet that says “coordinated 150 meetings in six months to facilitate sales” is more potent than “coordinated meetings.” If you are having trouble putting numbers to accomplishments, talking it over with a friend or former coworker can help you develop those ideas.
Aim to add one-to-two bullet points for each year on the job. So, you may want to create six or more bullets to describe your accomplishments at a position you held for six years.
Remove experiences that are more than ten years old or not relevant to the job you are seeking. For example, if you are looking for a job as a virtual assistant, it’s ok to drop the lifeguarding gig you had in high school. Your resume is a highlight reel of your capabilities, not a detailed accounting of every job you’ve ever held.

Tighten Up Your Approach

With your spruced-up resume in hand, it’s time to narrow your job search. It may seem counterintuitive, but being picky about the jobs you go after can help increase your success rate for getting an interview. Casting too wide a net can lead to rejections while sending you into a frenzy of activity, applying for jobs, and following up with employers only to be disappointed.

Remember, you want to find the right job for you, not just any job. Before you apply:

Carefully read the job description. Consider whether you are qualified for the bulk of the work and whether the position genuinely interests you.
Tailor your resume for the specific job. Make the tweaks needed to fit the job description, but don’t do a total rewrite. Be sure to review your revised resume carefully.
Write a customized cover letter. Clearly express your interest and qualifications in the letter.

Polish Your Interview Techniques

Your resume and cover letter open the door for an interview. The interview is your chance to seal the deal by putting your best foot forward and showcasing all the skills you bring to the table. You want to project a professional image and be prepared to ask and answer questions. Here are my best tips for success:

Get dressed as if you are going to an in-person meeting. Although your interview is likely to be conducted via Zoom, it’s still important to dress as if you are going to an in-office interview. Wear professional clothes and make sure you are camera-ready.
Find a professional place to conduct the interview. You want to show that you are ready to work from home and have a set up to do so. Look for the best place around your house to set up your laptop and do the interview. A table or desk works well. Avoid your couch or bedroom, as it’s easy to feel too comfortable in those locations. Once you find your location, conduct a practice Zoom call with a friend or family member to try out your setup. Spend a few minutes getting the camera angle and light just right so you look your best. On your practice Zoom, make sure your background is not distracting.
Practice answering interview questions directly and get right to the point. Employers often tell us that candidates struggle to answer questions with the right level of detail and tend to over answer questions. It’s easy to ramble a little when you are nervous and want to make a good impression. Practice answering likely questions with a friend or family member so that you can nail the questions during the interview.

Consider Training

Applying for jobs with small businesses is a different ballgame compared to looking for corporate gigs. It takes a different skill set. And, like acquiring any new skill, training can definitely help.

Enrolling in the Job Seeker 101 course offered by HireMyMom will arm you with the knowledge and skills to help you land your dream job.

Through a series of video modules, the series covers how to conduct an effective job search that lands more interviews. It also covers ways to dramatically enhance your cover letter, resume, and interviewing skills. Hands-on materials and additional resources help you apply the tips to your job search. By completing the course, you’ll gain the confidence you need to take the next step and land the job you’re seeking.

Don’t Get Discouraged

If you don’t get a job offer after a strong interview, try not to take it personally. Any number of factors can influence the decision. After you hear the news, send a follow-up note to the person you spoke with to thank them for considering you. Share that you are interested in future positions.

Hang in there!

Finding the right fit and the right circumstances can take a while. Stick with it. Hold your head high, and don’t take it personally. A job search can be difficult, but the result is worth the struggle.

Written by Guest Blogger

March 22, 2021

5 Job Search Tips to Get Hired During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Guest Contributor: McLean Mills

Winter is headed out! And unlike Game of Thrones, it’s not the night walkers that everyone’s afraid of – it’s the second coming of the coronavirus and how it’ll stiffen job opportunities in 2021. With many employers taking their workforce virtual during this pandemic, so too has much of the hiring process.

Many Employers have taken all of their hiring efforts virtual and the skills they value in employees have heavily shifted as well due to the pandemic. To really optimize your chances of finding a job this new year, you’ll need to adjust your game plan to account for this unique job search landscape. Here are 5 tips to keep in mind:

1. Prepare for the virtual interview marathon

Virtual interviews are the new normal. To truly optimize your hiring chances, it’s no longer good enough to simply have a laptop with a cam ready. With the likelihood of tons and tons of virtual interviews headed your way, you’re going to want to optimize your setup and use top of the line equipment. This means a quality webcam, clear microphone, and professional office background behind you.

Of course, getting the right equipment is just the first step, performing well during your virtual interview is where it gets tough. You’ll want to become an expert with all the popular video conferencing software employers typically used. Practice beforehand with a friend or family member so you’ll really have things under control. Also avoid typical pitfalls like:

Avoiding eye contact by mistakenly looking at your computer screen and not the webcam
Accidentally sharing your screen instead of activating your webcam
Bad camera angle and focus
Messy background and poor background lighting
Poor connectivity and buffering issues

Though usually not necessary, you’ll also want to be prepared to share your screen. Depending on the situation, you never know if it may be beneficial for you to give employers a live performance of some of the projects and things you’ve worked on recently. In fact, it’s this type of showmanship and additional effort that can allow you to distinguish yourself from other candidates during the virtual interviewing process.

2. Already recovered from COVID?

Afraid that talking about your experience with COVID-19 will scare away employers? Think again! In a recent survey conducted by Resume Writing Services, 154 hiring managers were surveyed to gain a better understanding of how they were adapting to the pandemic. In a question that asked if they’d be more or less inclined to hire job candidates who have already got and recovered from the coronavirus, 67% of them said they’d be more inclined to do so. Why is this the case? Likely, it’s because COVID-19 survivors are far less likely to get the infectious disease again.

3. Emphasize your telecommuting skills and remote experience

Don’t forget to update your resume and LinkedIn! With employers forced to go remote with their workforce, any experience you have with remote work is a plus. The top video conferencing software according to a survey by ResumeGo on job interviews found Zoom, Google Meets/Hangouts, and Skype to be the most used video conferencing software – so be sure to mention them on your resume if you have experience with them.

Document sharing tools like Google Docs and Dropbox, as well as remote soft skills like time management, strong written communication skills, and ability to adapt are all more valued than ever due to the pandemic. If you forgone mentioning these skills on your resume in the past, it’s worth to do so now.

4. Seek out growing industries and expand your horizons

Everything is less than ideal during a pandemic. Finding your dream job in your designated field might not be a realistic option at this time. To really optimize your hiring chances, it’s important to expand your horizons into other industries that are still doing just fine or even surging during this pandemic. Industries such as delivery services, Ecommerce, digital content services, home fitness, and obviously healthcare have been thriving as a result of COVID. Keep in mind that temporary jobs and freelance opportunities are also avenues to pursue.

5. Develop your skills

If you’re finding yourself with more time than usual due to the pandemic, it’s always a good career move to develop new skills that are relevant in your industry. Whether it’s getting an online certification or learning new hard skills that you can brag about on your resume, these are all ways of increasing your personal stock in the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers. If you’re worried of an extended work gap as a result of the pandemic, taking this time to do something productive for your career is also a way of showing employers that you’re serious with your work.

Don’t stress out over not finding a job

Finding a job in the midst of a pandemic is tough – that’s just the reality of it. If you’re finding yourself struggling to secure interviews, that’s to be expected and not a cause for concern. Carve out time in the day for breaks and maintain a positive mindset. Things are bound to look up eventually.

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McLean Mills is a career coach and blogger. He was also a career counselor for the University of Florida. When not on the work grind, you can catch him rereading Harry Potter for the billionth time.

Written by Guest Blogger

November 30, 2020

The 14 Best Resume Skills to Land a Remote Job

There has never been a better time to land a remote job. With so many companies shifting their workforce to a remote office, now is the perfect time to target the sought-after work-from-home job.

But what if you don’t have any work at home experience? Not to worry. Finding a remote job without experience has never been easier. Most companies just want to know that you have a solid home office and can be trusted to manage yourself from home.

Since your resume is the first thing most companies will see, it’s crucial that your resume portrays your ability to work remotely. That means adding the necessary skills that employers are looking for in a work-from-home employee. Below, we will highlight some of the most important resume skills for remote jobs.

Soft Skills

When it comes to proving you have what it takes to work remotely, soft skills go a long way. The soft skills that you mention on your resume can either highlight your ability to work remote or erase them entirely.

Some common soft skills to include on your resume for remote jobs:

Independent
Self-Motivated
Critical Thinking
Focused
Organized
Reliable
Flexible

These soft skills should be sprinkled throughout your resume. Unlike hard skills, soft skills are usually best explained with a story. If you are uncomfortable talking about yourself, it might be a good idea to hire a professional resume writer.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are also important for landing remote work. Each job will have slightly different requirements for hard skills so it’s important that you customize your resume for each job you apply to. If a job posting mentions that they are looking for someone who is familiar with Slack and Zoom, make sure to add those skills to your resume.

Some common hard skills to include on your resume for remote jobs:

Written Communication
Verbal Communication
Video Technology (Zoom, Skype, etc.)
Chat Technology (Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc.)
Project Management
Presentations
Microsoft Office

The above list of hard skills is not at all comprehensive. This list is designed to give you an idea of some common hard skills needed for remote jobs. Remember to customize these skills based on the job description.

Where to Add Skills on Your Resume

Soft skills and hard skills should be distributed throughout your resume. There are two key locations these skills should be added.

Add skills in your “summary” and “areas of expertise” sections.

Most resumes should have a professional summary and a section for key skills. These are perfect sections to customize slightly for each job, ensuring that you have all of the relevant key skills in your resume.

We’ve provided an example below showing how you can add remote skills organically into the summary and areas of expertise sections of your resume.

Add skills in your “professional experience” section.

Just about every resume will have a portion of the resume dedicated towards past jobs, internships, or projects. This section is commonly referred to as the professional experience section.

We’ve provided an example below showing how you can add remote skills organically into the professional experience section of your resume.

Wrapping Up

Landing a remote job is totally achievable. Set up your remote office, update your resume, and start applying.

Just remember:

Your resume should highlight your skills.
Make sure to include desirable skills for remote workers.
Customize your resume to include relevant skills from the job description.

You are going to land the perfect remote job in no time!

Author Bio: Mike Podesto is a former recruiter and current Founder & CEO of Find My Profession, a leading resume writing and career coaching company. Mike’s career advice has been featured on sites like Inc., Zety, Motherly, Fast Company, and more. His viral posts on employment have been seen by millions on LinkedIn. He’s even been featured in a variety of career-related podcasts such as the Hired podcast Talk Talent to Me, Strong Suit, and Authors Unite. Mike is passionate about helping job seekers find fulfillment in their careers by breaking down the tedious job search barriers.

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