Career & Finance

They say when you know, you know, and that couldn’t be more true than when it comes to moving on from a job. As job-hopping becomes more popular, it’s likely you may find yourself in a position to quit a role at some point in the near future. Whether you’re ready for a new challenge or know in your heart that your current gig isn’t the right fit, choosing to walk away is often harder than it looks. Leaving gracefully is even more challenging, especially if there have been some speed bumps along the way (often in the form of a toxic environment, poor management, or a bad culture fit). Trust me, as tempting as it might seem, this isn’t the time to storm out and slam the door (or laptop, if you WFH!), however fun that might seem in the moment. Leaving a job you love can also be hard, especially if you’ve built strong relationships over the years. 
Keeping your work connections intact when quitting leaves the door open to working with the same colleagues down the road, or having them help you out with references or introductions when needed. Is it possible to leave a role with all of your bridges intact? Totally, as long as you follow some key rules to make the transition smooth for all parties involved. Here’s exactly how to quit a job without burning bridges:

1. Give two weeks’ notice whenever possible
Two weeks can feel like a lifetime once you’ve decided to leave, but this is a fairly standard rule for a reason. Two weeks is a solid amount of time for colleagues to process the news and begin to think about a replacement plan, and for you to tie up any loose ends before you head out the door. Two weeks isn’t always legally necessary (even if it’s in your contract), but it is a professional courtesy most people abide by. If you’ve been at the company a long time or hold a senior role, you may want to consider giving more notice (e.g., three weeks), but giving too much can feel like you’re lingering and make it a bit awkward for all involved. Consider how much notice other people with similar seniority have given at the company, along with what’s in your contract, to inform your decision.

2. Tell the most senior people on the team first
With big news like resigning from a role, the most senior people on your team should be the ones to hear it first, not your peers. This kind of news spreads like wildfire, so if you tell a colleague in the morning the entire department could know by noon. Start with telling your immediate boss, and discuss with them how best to share the news. If you’d like to tell people directly, ask your boss first—they might need some time to sort out plans since the team will want to know what’s going to happen in your absence, and will need to ensure HR is in the loop. Make sure you also communicate your resignation with a formal letter (sent via email) after you chat with your boss to ensure everything is properly documented. 

3. Consider what you share
While honesty is often the best policy in a lot of situations, your resignation might be one time to tread carefully. You don’t need to go into detail—and definitely not in your formal resignation letter—about what led to your decision, regardless of whether you enjoyed working for the company or not. Keep it high level and super professional for all conversations. If it’s appropriate, you can share any nitty-gritty details in an exit interview with HR. 
In the same vein, be mindful about sharing what your next opportunity is if you have one lined up. If you’re leaving to go to a competitor or somewhere else that could be considered a conflict of interest, telling this to your management could get you “walked out” and your two weeks would be over immediately. It sounds dramatic, but it happens to avoid any confidential company info being shared with a competitor. You don’t need to tell anyone why you’re leaving or where you’re going, so feel free to provide vague answers until you’re officially done.
   
4. Limit gossip with colleagues 
If you’re leaving a workplace because of a toxic environment (or even just for a cool new role!), try to keep behind-the-scenes gossip to a minimum with colleagues. Most jobs have at least some degree of annoying processes, less-than-ideal colleagues, or projects that went completely off the rails. Resist the urge to air out dirty laundry to all of your work friends because there’s a risk of the news getting back to people on your team and ruining your reputation with them. Save all the best details for a night with your non-work friends, and remember that it’s always best to take the high road when leaving. 
  
5. Provide a transition document 
Regardless of why you’re quitting, leaving a transition document to record all important info for the next person in your role is an important thing to do, especially if you’re managing people or big projects. Your transition document should include any login information, key details for ongoing relationships, updates for larger projects, and ideally a “tips and tricks” section, if you really want to go above and beyond. If it took you three months to finally crack how to request an IT software update in the internal system, consider leaving that guidance to help the next person. I received a transition document after joining a new team which included the best and worst coffee shops near my new office. Was this relevant for my job? No. Was this super appreciated? Yes, yes it was. Be this person.

6. Continue to show up
I once gave my two weeks’ notice knowing I had a trip to Italy to look forward to in my time between leaving my current role and starting my new one—the timing was *chef’s kiss*, but it made it so difficult not to mentally check out for those last two weeks. When you know you’re on the way out, it’s hard to keep bringing your best self to work, but it’s important that you do so you don’t upset anyone who will be at the company after you leave. Stay engaged in meetings, keep your projects moving along, and follow up with people as necessary. Everybody knows you’re heading out, but they’ll appreciate that you didn’t create extra work for them by continuing to do your job until the last day. 

7. Keep your post-work communications professional
Once you’ve closed your work laptop for the last time, it can be tempting to finally leave that honest company review or tell a second-by-second breakdown of any drama on social media. After all, they can’t fire you since you’ve already left, right? While that’s true, you’d be surprised how easy it is for people to put one-and-one together if you leave an “anonymous” review on a site or share details of your previous employment on your social media. 
If you do feel inclined to share your experience—good or bad—do it somewhere you can be truly anonymous (Glassdoor and Fishbowl are good options!), wait a while so the dust can settle on your departure, and leave out any identifying details. For example, if you’re the only one who’s left the Finance team recently, don’t mention that you worked for that team. And for the love of everything good, please step away from LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok. There’s almost never a graceful way to air things out on social media without making yourself look bad in the process. If you loved your time with the company it could be appropriate to post a note of gratitude (often on LinkedIn), but definitely not necessary.  

8. Enforce a clean break (and don’t feel guilty!)  
As anyone working in today’s world can attest, our jobs can often take up a large chunk of our lives whether we want them to or not (has anyone ever achieved that infamous work-life balance??). When that happens, there can be a certain feeling of guilt that comes with quitting, especially if you’ve worked with the company for a while, loved your job and teammates, or if the timing isn’t ideal. But remember that you don’t owe anything more than your stipulated notice. Try your best to not feel guilty about leaving, and ignore anyone who tries to make you feel like you’re letting people down. Instead, focus on where you’re moving to, or the fact that you’re prioritizing yourself if it wasn’t a great fit. Set boundaries and don’t allow your employer to contact you repeatedly after your employment is up (which does happen!)—strive for a nice clean break, which will help you move on to your next challenge and your old teammates settle into their new normal. 

Thinking of Quitting? Consider These 7 Things Before Making a Decision You Might Regret More

I thought my toxic habit of doom scrolling would disappear with quarantine. When it was no longer necessary for me to seek social stimulation through my screen—and I could connect with *real* humans in *real* life—I assumed my digital dependency would once again fall back into a healthy range. But this being the world that it is, political turmoil, Zendaya’s many red carpet slays, and The Bachelor hot takes all brought back The Endless Scroll™. But even with the appeal of these topics dangling in front of me, doom scrolling didn’t become relevant again until now—when an industry we once considered all but impenetrable was entirely upended.
I’m talking tech, of course. The tech sector has seen a recent wave of massive staffing cuts at high-profile companies, including Meta, LinkedIn, and Microsoft. But these giants aren’t the only organizations turning to layoffs in an effort to cut costs—workforce reductions are happening across industries.
If you’ve been impacted, know this: you’re not alone. And while the experience of being laid off can bring with it financial anxiety and emotional trauma, there are actionable steps you can take today to not only open up opportunities, but take care of yourself along the way.

A low-down on the labor market
In short, what’s happening in the labor market is a bit… confusing. And while some headlines might make you believe that a recession is imminent, there is still some promise of a strong labor market. Recently, The New York Times published an article analyzing industries who have seen the opposite. Amidst interest rate increases that analysts predicted would see higher unemployment rates, companies are reluctant to let go of workers. Why? Quoted in the article, Matt Notowidigdo, an economics professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, said that the economic impacts of 2020 could play a significant influence in employers’ decision making.
“‘When the economy came back very strongly in 2020, then a lot of firms were trying to hire again and they couldn’t […] That experience might still be sitting with people.’”
That is to say, take heart: there’s reason to be optimistic about the labor market’s resilience. However, in an effort to cut costs, many companies are turning to layoffs. And while the tech industry accounts for many of them, tech-adjacent and non-tech companies are laying off employees as well.
Beloved Millennial brand Everlane announced in early January that it would lay off 17 percent of its corporate workforce as well as cut staff in three of its 11 retail stores. A company we once assumed was impenetrable due to its pandemic- and remote work-fueled need, Zoom reported 1300 layoffs at the beginning of this month. Noom, Groupon, Spotify, and even influencer-favorite Ruggable have all been affected—and of course, countless more.
Record-high inflation rates, the possibility of a looming recession, and a tumultuous stock market all seem to be contributing to the companies’ decisions. For the sake of brevity, I won’t be diving into the complexities of why recent layoffs have disproportionately impacted tech workers. However, much of it dates back to how the industry was built and initially funded. The New York Times did an incredible deep-dive, building a comprehensive timeline and backstory on what’s taking place now.

What to do if you’ve been laid off
Many of us, early in our career journeys, are experiencing the impact of being laid off well before we could get comfortable as a young professional. (If you haven’t experienced it yet, the transition from college to work life is jarring!) After the initial shock wears off, you’re likely wondering: what do I do now? Below are resources, tips, and tangible advice to support you professionally and financially, and to help you take the best care of yourself right now.

What to do: professionally

Review your documents and benefits
1. Review your documents and benefits. When you’re laid off, you’ll receive an official letter from your employer. Review this and any initial contracts you signed when joining the company. Reviewing these documents gives you a full scope of your rights as an employee—including severance pay and benefits like unused PTO/sick time. Tip: Talk to other employees who have been impacted to understand what others are receiving and asking for. This can help you in negotiations (that’s right, negotiate!).

Request a letter of recommendation
This is a key next step to help you in your job search. Ask your supervisor and/or department lead if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. In their letter, they’ll speak to your work ethic, skills, and any major accomplishments you contributed to the organization. For more on asking for references and letters of recommendation, check out our guide.

Update your resume
Of course, you’ll want to include your most recent experience at this company. However, now could be the best time to give your resume a complete overhaul. (That’s right, the resume-building tips you learned in college might not cut it anymore.) For what really to include in each section of your resume, read this.

What to do: financially

File for unemployment
This is perhaps the obvious, but most daunting part of the financial process post-layoff. Filing online is going to be the (relatively) easiest approach. File an unemployment claim with your state—a simple google search of your state name and “unemployment” will get to the right page. If you’ve never filed before and aren’t sure where to start, usa.gov provides comprehensive resources tailored to your situation and state.

Get your health insurance squared away
If your employer provided your health insurance, you’ll need to research alternatives. If possible, discuss your options with the organization’s HR lead. Temporary insurance options include:

Make any necessary spending changes
Now is the time to review your budget. As you begin cutting your spending costs, first identify the obvious luxuries. Food delivery, any subscriptions you don’t use, clothing, meals and drinks out, etc. You’re likely experiencing a lot of financial shock, so don’t overwhelm yourself. Pare back to necessities and look for ways you can shift your lifestyle as a result. Opt for Netflix with your girlies in lieu of a GNO. Take up cooking as a hobby and challenge yourself to get creative with what you have. There are many ways that reducing your spending can create opportunities for change and growth in your life.

What to do: self-care

Create a space for your feelings
I’ll say it again: what just happened to you is a shocking—and for many people—traumatic experience. Layoffs take place through no fault of your own, and it can be overwhelming to take in the event itself and the many ways it’ll change your life in the short term. You’re allowed to feel those feelings. You’re allowed to cry in a safe space. You’re allowed to pour your heart out in your journal or take your time snuggling up on the couch in your pajamas.

Rest today, make a game plan tomorrow
Similar to the tip above, it’s important to give yourself the time and space to rest. With the emotions this experience has brought up, you’re likely feeling a lot of adrenaline and having a difficult time processing your emotions. The best advice? Pause. Now’s not the time to make any drastic decisions and you don’t have to take any significant steps in the immediate aftermath. For right now, work through what happened, lean into your emotions, and recognize that you’ve been through something extremely challenging. Tomorrow, you can start crafting your plan forward.

Seek out support
The upside of these sweeping layoffs? Many people know what you’re going through. If you feel comfortable talking to other employees who were affected, reach out. It can be supportive and reassuring to know that you’re not alone in your feelings. Similarly, give your parents a call or send a trusted friend a text. Actively receiving the love and support that’s all around us can help us heal.

Re-engage with something meaningful
You’ll likely have a lot more free time than you’ve had in the recent past. Take advantage of it! And no, I don’t mean start pouring everything you have into a side hustle. Reconnect with a hobby you haven’t picked up in years. Or, start making progress on your TBR list. Get in the habit of taking long walks to gain a new perspective on your city. There are endless ways to find meaning in our lives outside of what we do. Start getting in the practice of prioritizing these things today.

Take care of you
It can’t be emphasized enough. You are still and always deserving of self-care and love. Brainstorm a list of things you can do to show yourself that love each day. Maybe it’s making a nourishing meal, getting dressed even though you don’t feel like it, or taking a long bath. Whatever feels supportive to you, be sure to do it daily. Things may be difficult now, but trust me: as someone who’s been where you are, it does get easier. And simultaneously, you get stronger.

I Reinvented My Career After a Layoff—Here’s How More

It doesn’t matter how much you love what you do or how financially secure you feel, there will still be days when work or money stress you TF out. It’s inevitable. After all, life is filled with highs and lows. However, financial woes and career challenges can get under your skin in a way nothing else can, which is why we’ve created a list of 50 affirmations to tell yourself when you’re dealing with work or money stress. So, bookmark this page and turn to it as needed, pick your favorite phrase and repeat it to yourself daily, or write down a few that resonate with you. Whatever you decide, these work and money affirmations will help you release unnecessary stress.
1. I am open to new adventures, and I attract abundance.
2. I am worthy of financial success.
3. My job does not define me.
4. Pressure brings out the best in me.
5. I am capable of incredible things.
6. My mind is clear and I think with clarity.
7. I am proud of my accomplishments.
8. Today, I choose to embrace and trust the flow of money.
9. There are no limits to what I can and will achieve.
10. Everything I touch turns to gold.
11. I can take on any task that comes my way with grace and ease.
12. I am grateful for the money I have right now.
13. It’s OK to ask for help.
14. Money is not finite, and there’s enough to go around for everyone. 
15. I am talented enough to complete my work on time.
16. My past cannot prevent me from succeeding now or in the future.
17. There is no obstacle or challenge I cannot overcome.
18. I am worthy of respect and recognition.
19. I am grateful for the rewards and opportunities of my job.
20. I choose to focus on inner peace and productivity.
21. This feeling won’t last forever.
22. My boss is as human as I am.
23. My work speaks for itself.
24. I am debt-free because money is always flowing to me.
25. I will make more money.
26. I bring something to every table I sit at.
27. All the resources I need are within me.
28. Money is my friend, and I welcome it into my life.
29. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.
30. The more I focus on joy, the more money I will make.
31. Riches flow to me because I have a rich mindset.
32. I have what it takes to create and stick to a budget.
33. I can do anything, but I can’t do everything.
34. I am the master of my wealth.
35. I will tend to my stress, but right now, I choose peace.
36. There are no failures in life, only learning opportunities.
37. I am more than my current financial situation.
38. I am worth over a million dollars.
39. My “best” will look different everyday because I’m only human.
40. I am smart, valued, and loved.
41. Giving myself down time is essential for my productivity and work performance.
42. I won’t apologize for my goals.
43.  Everything’s going to be fine.
44. I am healthy and wealthy.
45. Focus on one thing at a time.
46. I have what it takes to become financially independent.
47. Money is simply a tool that comes and goes.
48. Fear can’t control me because it has no place in my life.
49. I am a divine human being who’s deserving of success.
50. I have conquered everything that I have ever faced, and I will conquer this, too.

50 Journal Prompts and Affirmations for Self-Love More

It can be exhausting to read article after article, listen to podcast after podcast, and watch TikTok after TikTok telling you that it’s time to live your dream life. It’s exhausting, because yes, of course we want to live our dream life. The question that is often overlooked is “how”? When it comes to your career, this question becomes even harder to answer. When you need to completely change courses to land your dream job, where do you even begin? 
Sometimes landing a job you don’t have experience for isn’t as hard as it may seem when you first decide to take a hard left turn in your career—you’ll just have to be a little bit creative in how you approach your job hunt. I’m not going to lie to you, this won’t be easy, but it is possible, and it all starts with defining your new personal brand. 
So, if you’re looking to switch things up and have no clue where to begin, consider this your personal guide. Here’s our four-step strategy for landing a job you have no experience for:

1. Figure Out Your Brand 
First thing’s first. Let’s tackle one of the scariest questions we’ll ever encounter throughout our lives: what is it that you want to do? As you look to shift from what you are currently doing to something new, I encourage you to shift your question from “what do I want to do?” to  “what do I want to do next?” Less scary, right? 
Focus on what is lighting you up NOW. What jobs look interesting based on what you learned at your current job NOW? What do you want to try NOW? You can always change this later. Remember: You can always try something new.
Once you’ve figured out what you want to do next, it’s time to get specific about how you want to portray yourself. It’s time to change your personal brand. 
When nailing down your brand, I always suggest focusing on one to three identifying words or phrases. For example “marketing director and writer” or “digital strategist” or “event planner & social media marketer”. It’s important to focus on what you want to brand yourself as and adjust as needed for the specific jobs you are going for. This brand should show up prominently in your resume, your LinkedIn, your social media bios, and any other portfolios or items that will be given to a future employer. 
If you feel lost on the quest to define your brand and who you are becoming in your career, research jobs in the field you’re looking at or interested in. What are the skill sets needed? What are specific jobs that seem prominent? 
Once you’ve identified your brand (again — this can change in time!), it’s time to build it.

2. Build Your Brand
The world is competitive, and while it’s certainly possible to secure a job in a new industry or expertise, it is not easy. Once you’ve identified what types of jobs there are out there for you, it’s time to build the experience and expertise around it — it’s time to build your brand!
This is the fun part. Knowing the brand you want to go after, get to work on creating your cohesive look and feel. Depending on the industry you are looking to break into, it’s time to ensure you have pieces in place so that when you go to apply for jobs or opportunities present themself — you are ready. Components of your brand to think about include:

Tagline or brand (this can be the 1-3 words to describe you, or a totally new tagline that encompasses your philosophy such as “passionate & authentic marketing”)
Color scheme (to apply to all of these components!)
Logo 
Website
Portfolio
Resume
Business cards (yes — I still love these!)
A solid LinkedIn profile
Social media profiles (Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, even TikTok depending on the industry you’re going into!)

This can seem overwhelming, but have no fear. There are many online tools that help you create a logo, and platforms for building websites that make it simple (you don’t have to be a developer to have an online presence!). The key here is to pick what seems important to the industry or job you’re going after, for example maybe you NEED a good resume and portfolio but social media isn’t as important, and perfect those aspects. You don’t need to have it all to start, just ensure what you do have is cohesive and tells a story of who you are and who you are becoming!

3. Build Your Portfolio
Now that you’ve secured the components of your brand, it’s time to actually build out the experiences needed to show that you can back up what you say you can do. 
To start, think about anything you’ve done in your life (and I mean anything) that could be applied to the new job you’re applying for. Maybe you handled managing money at a store in college and that could be applied to managing the budget for an event you want to plan. The opportunities are endless if you learn to connect the dots on your past experiences and tie them to your new ones. Review the LinkedIn profiles of those in your dream job, and check out the job descriptions or requirements where you are applying to get inspired. 
Once you’ve scoured through your own personal experiences, it’s time to cultivate and build the skill sets that you may be lacking if you’re going into something entirely new. Check out online courses or certificates that may be helpful for your next role or industry. Practice skills and read books and articles on your own time that will get you to where you want to go (bonus points if you start posting relevant articles and tips you learn on your social media profiles!). 

Focus on what is lighting you up NOW. What jobs look interesting based on what you learned at your current job NOW? What do you want to try NOW? You can always change this later. Remember: you can always try something new.

On top of taking the time to further your education, it is often necessary to create your own opportunities that will build the experience you need in order to secure a new job. Outside of your other obligations, start reaching out to small businesses or non-profit organizations that may need help in the area you’re trying to go! Maybe a local boutique needs a grand opening planned or a better social media presence, maybe a local dance studio needs someone to manage their books. I guarantee there is opportunity in your community to volunteer your time and cultivate your skill set. All of a sudden, you’re a “social media coordinator” for a retail boutique. All it requires is taking the time and having the courage to ask for what you want and need.
I call this, “start to actually make it, until you don’t have to fake it.” On top of building the brand and the skills, put yourself out there into the world and get real life experience that you can put onto your resume and your portfolio.
So, you may be asking, “well what if I don’t have any options or opportunities like this?”
There’s another thing you can do. You can actually create hypothetical scenarios and case studies to put onto your website or portfolio. Dream up the perfect marketing plan you’d be tasked with writing at your next job, or the event you’ll be planning at the next place you applied. Put together a case study of how you tackled the “project” and what the outcome was. This shows the employer that you took the time to prepare, you know how to take a project to completion, and gives a look at how you critically and creatively think or would tackle an applicable scenario.

4. Find a Mentor
Last but not least, find a mentor or someone you can go to that has worked in or is working in the industry you are going after. These individuals can offer you advice on your brand, help you with your resume, and connect you to individuals that may be able to help you get to where you’d like to go. Often, people LOVE to help others that may be at the beginning of their quest. So don’t be afraid to ask! 
The only option you have with going for something you want is to try. So don’t be afraid to ask for help, put yourself out there, and take the time to do the work it takes to back it up. Remember, the time will pass anyway, so may as well use it going toward your dreams.

What Your Resume Should Look Like, Based on the Job You Want To Land More

When you job search, you want to make it as easy as possible for companies to learn if you’re a good fit for the roles you’re applying for. The best way to catch the attention of hiring managers and recruiters is by having a resume that is easy to navigate and that highlights all of the key information you want potential employers to know. 
If you’re a bit stumped on what exactly needs to go in your resume sections, we’re here to simplify things for you. We’re going to walk you through what needs to be in each main section of your resume, so you don’t miss a thing and so employers don’t accidentally miss out on hiring you. 

In this article

Contact Information
We know how easy it is to drag your feet when it comes to big projects like creating a resume. Sometimes the best thing you can do is start with the easiest part—then let that momentum build. So, let’s start with your contact information. Most resume templates include all contact information in one easy-to-see section such as the top of a resume. In this section, you’ll want to include your name, email address, and if you have one, a link to your online portfolio or personal website. 

Objective Statement
Objective statements are optional on a resume, but if you have room on your resume, it can be a really helpful section to add. This doesn’t need to be more than a few sentences, so this is another easy section to check off your to-do list. You can start by writing a generic objective statement and then should customize this section of your resume for each job you’re applying for or each industry you’re targeting. In your objective statement, you’ll want to state why you want the position, how your qualifications make you perfectly suited for it, and how you will contribute to their company or team’s success. 
For example, if you’re applying for roles in social media marketing, you objective statement could say:
Objective: To secure a position as a social media manager where I can utilize my expertise in digital campaigns and strategic marketing initiatives to drive meaningful engagement from target audiences and increase brand awareness. My goal is to develop effective social media plans that are tailored towards specific goals and outcomes, leveraging data-driven insights to create content that resonates with user bases, increasing lead generation and ROI. With my broad technical knowledge of web tools and analytics platforms, combined with my well-honed communication skills, I am confident I can drive results across all online channels.

Job History
Now it’s time to slow down a bit. Filling out the job history portion of your resume is a lot of work, especially if you’re quite a few years into your career, but it’s important not to rush this section. Your job history is the most important section of your resume since it showcases your past experience and accomplishments. Make sure to list all relevant jobs in reverse chronological order with bullet points describing each role and its duties. 
When including information about current and past roles, you want to highlight your accomplishments using metrics rather than just sharing the tasks you were responsible for. This allows employers to gain an understanding of what you are capable of and how you contributed to a company’s success. 
For example, instead of writing “Responsible for scheduling Instagram posts”, a more effective way would be “Coordinated five Instagram posts per day which resulted in an average engagement level of 20%, surpassing the previous month’s engagement rate by 10%.” 
Some employers might only be interested in roles within the last ten to fifteen years, so don’t feel like you have to include everything from when you were first starting out in the workforce. For example, once you have a few full-time roles under your belt, you may not need to include college internships anymore. At the very least, you can eventually just list your older titles and companies and not include such lengthy descriptions with them. You want to make sure you have plenty of room to highlight the work you’ve done in more recent years, as well as the work that is most applicable to the jobs you’re applying for now. 
If applicable, you can include awards or recognitions that highlight your achievements as well as dates associated with any of the jobs listed in this section.

Education
In the education section of your resume, you will list any degrees you earned. You will include the name of the school and graduation dates (if applicable). If you earn a college degree, you don’t need to include your high school degree. If you had a truly impressive GPA (hello latin honors) and recently graduated, you can add your GPA to the education section, but the further along you are in your career, the less this will matter. If your GPA was average, there’s also no need to highlight that fact. 
If you took any online courses or pursued professional certifications that relate to the jobs you’re applying for, you can also add those to the education section as they can demonstrate additional skill sets or knowledge areas that can benefit the companies you’re applying to. 

Special Skills
The special skills section of your resume can be tricky to navigate since the skills each individual chooses to highlight are unique to them. This is a great section to customize for each job you’re applying for. Circle back to the job description and see what skills they are looking for that you can include in this section. Some great special skills to highlight include computer software proficiency, foreign language fluency, or special training received on certain equipment. 
For example, if the job requires knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, then you’ll want to list that as one of your skills—as long as you really know how to use that program. Think carefully about what skills you want to highlight, you don’t want to list too many or it will clutter your resume. Try to avoid adding the generic skills that everyone includes on their resume (whether they’re true or not). Including that you know how to use Microsoft Word feels like a bit of a no brainer in this day and age. 
Alongside hard skills (objective and quantifiable skills) such as being able to use certain computer programs, you’ll want to include soft skills on your resume. Soft skills are personal attributes and abilities that help a person interact effectively with others. Examples of soft skills include qualities like communication, problem-solving, self-motivation and adaptability. Soft skills are intangible—they can’t be seen or measured like hard skills such as typing speed or data entry proficiency, but they are just as important as hard skills.

One Last Word of Advice
When creating a resume, remember that brevity is key. Your goal should be to provide enough detail about yourself so employers get a good idea of who you are while also understanding why exactly they should hire you over someone else. Think of your resume as a highlight reel. If there’s additional information you want employers to know about you, this is where the cover letter or an online portfolio can really come in handy. 

9 Unspoken Resume Rules You Should Be Following More

No company, role, or industry is the same. There are so many different career paths we can all take, which makes that nine-to-five life a whole lot more exciting. It also means that there is no one type of career advice that works for everyone. Luckily, there are a lot of resources that help make figuring out this whole climbing the ladder thing easier—including resume templates. Long gone are the days of trying to design a decent-looking resume in Word from scratch one indentation at a time. However, with so many options available, how do you know which one is best for you?
When choosing a resume template, it’s important that you pick one that is appropriate for the industry, the type of companies you’re applying to, as well as the role at the company you’re applying to. That’s a lot to consider, so we’re breaking down what your resume should actually look like below:

In this article

Traditional Industries
If you’re applying for a role such as an accountant or lawyer in a traditional industry, it’s best to keep things pretty clean with your resume. You’ll want to go for a classic resume template that isn’t designed with any flashy colors or graphics. Simply highlight your work experience and qualifications in a concise and straightforward way.
It can be hard to design a simple and chic resume when you want to include a lot of information. To keep things streamlined, focus on the roles and skills that relate to the specific job you’re applying for (this means making some resume changes when applying for different types of jobs). 
When it comes to designing a resume for a traditional industry, you should avoid fancy fonts or colors, as you don’t want to ruffle any old-school feathers by mistake. It’s always a good idea to use bold headings and bullet points where necessary in order to break up text into easily digestible information bites that quickly communicate important facts about yourself without going into too much detail.

Creative Industries
For roles in creative industries, you can have a lot more fun with your resume design. This is especially true if the role you’re applying for requires strong graphic design, visual, or branding skills. If you’re applying for a creative role in a very traditional industry, you may want to tread lightly here. It can still be helpful to choose a template that shows a strong eye for design, but you may want to swap any bright colors out for more neutral choices like navy or forest green. 
For creative roles, you want to highlight your creative skills and your resume is a great place to showcase your strengths. Creative roles can also be quite competitive, so you need your resume to stand out in a sea of applications. Point being—don’t be afraid to think outside the box here. Go for a more unique template that will catch the reader’s eye with a bold color, modern font, or visual aids such as a chart or unique bullet points. 
You also need to find a template that suits your unique needs as a job searcher in a creative industry. If you’re applying for a creative role, you may have an online portfolio that showcases past examples of your work (this is very common for writers, designers, photographers, and branding experts). Look for a resume template that includes a spot to prominently highlight your website address.

Casual Industries
For more casual industries (hello startups), you have a bit more flexibility here. If you’re applying at a young company run by millennials, you’re much more likely to impress by having a less traditional resume. Professionals in informal industries such as retail or dining also won’t mind if your resume has a more unique design. If you aren’t applying for a design-centric role, there’s no need to get too fancy here. The goal is for your resume to be easy to read and to pop when hiring managers or recruiters sift through a bunch of resumes at once.  
To add some personality to a resume, but to still maintain a professional vibe, consider using light color tones on your resume rather than black-and-white text throughout—just don’t go overboard and stay away from anything neon. 

The Takeaway
There is no one right way to format a resume. That being said, you want to keep the specific job and industry in mind when tailoring your resume for each application. Think about who is likely on the receiving end of that resume. Are you applying for a social media marketing role under a marketing director known for launching innovative campaigns? Even in a traditional industry, you can probably send a more creative resume their way.
Customizing your resume is a great way to highlight the unique skills and experiences that you can apply to each job you’re interested in, but don’t forget you can also customize your resume design each time you apply for a job by quickly changing colors, fonts, and graphics.

9 Unspoken Resume Rules You Should Be Following More