The #1 Most Overused and Useless Resume Word

The 1 Most Overused and Useless Resume WordOver the past 15 years Ive read thousands upon thousands of resumes and there is one word that pops up mora than any other word Ive seen that does absolutely NOTHING for your resume or job search. The word professional is one of the most overused and useless words a resume can contain. We are all professionals in the working world. No need to state on your resume that you are just like every other human. Individuality is the substance of successful resumes in todays job market. Unfortunately, I see titles like this on resumes every dayAdministrative ProfessionalCustomer Service ProfessionalAccounting ProfessionalHuman Resources ProfessionalInformation Technology ProfessionalSenior Executive Professional (Seriously? What does this even mean?)Senior Finance ProfessionalDedicated ProfessionalConsummate ProfessionalAnd the one I love to hate the most Accomplished ProfessionalYou can put any industry (or adjective) you want in front of the word p rofessional and people think it makes for a great addition to their resume. Truth is, there isnt a much more vague statement out there. It is so inadequate to include this statement as a job target, job title, header, branding statement, or within the first line of your career summaryif for no other reason than the fact that a hiring manager isnt going to log into LinkedIn or Monster and search the words Customer Service Professional, Accomplished Professional, or Consummate Professional to find you.When they do a keyword search theyre going to search by job title and for keywords relevant to the opportunity. Instead of using professional, use the job title or position youre seeking.For example, instead of Customer Service Professional with 15+ years of experience, just say Customer Service Manager with 15+ years of experience or Customer Service Representative with 15+ years of experience.Rather than Senior Executive Professional or Senior Finance Professional, say Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, or Chief Financial Officer.Using specific position titles has two positive effects. First, it increases your keyword optimization with pesky applicant-tracking software programs second, it clearly defines for the partie reviewing your resume who you are and the position youre seeking. The last thing you want to do is confuse the hiring manager about what type of role youre trying to obtain.

5 Ways to Maximize Your Way-Too-Long Daily Commute

5 Ways to Maximize Your Way-Too-Long Daily Commute When I was interviewing to work for Martha Stewart in Westport, CT while living in Brooklyn, NY, people constantly asked me whether I really wanted to do that long drive, which would take one to two hours each way.Yes, I did.I mean, I wasnt fired up to spend all that time on the but I was fired up to work for Martha. Martha To get a full-time job working for the big M was what I wanted mora than anything. Dream job. And I wasnt going to let a long commute get in the way. Nor was I going to move I loved my Brooklyn life.In order to have both things I wanted, a long commute was necessary. And so it was up to me to make it work. In order to get there in an hour (and sometimes less), Id have to leave before 6 a.m. at the latest. Id arrive at work by 7 a.m. and since there was a gym on site, I could work out, shower and be ready to go all before most people had their morning coffee. Plus, at least twice a week, Martha would come for a wo rkout too. If she was in a chatting mood, we could connect in a social, informal environment. One-on-ones with Martha Stewart? Yes, please.Afternoon commutes were for books on tape, so I became an avid reader as well. I put mileage on my car, but my VW Cabrio could take it Id just pop the convertible top and drive down some bucolic Connecticut roads. I car karaoke-d like the jupe star I felt like, and no one was there to critique my singing but the squirrels and the deer.I made it useful, energizing and fun. And Martha.Here are 5 tips for how to make your commute work for you1. Use Your Downtime However You ChooseToo few of us enjoy downtime these days. If youre on public transportation, take a nap. Play a game. Enjoy the solitude or be social. Read a book or watch a show. Or if youre driving, listen to podcasts or books on tape. Although the where is decided, what you do with your mind is 100 percent up to you. Invest this time wisely.2. Network / Connect with Other PeopleSo maybe everyone wont have a 11 with Martha Stewart, but who can you connect with on your commute? Who is on the train or bus? Could you make a new friend? Youre all heading to one job or another, so this could be a good time to network. And if youre not around other people, my guess is that youre near your phone phone a friend If you commute at an ungodly hour, connect with someone in a different time zone. Or find another ungodly-hour commuter and call that person. Do you have a mom, dad, sister, brother, aunties, uncles or besties who live far away? A socially connected person is a happier person, and more likely to succeed at work.3. Make the bus or train ride your email and social media time.Many time-management experts have found that email and social media, used too frequently throughout the day, can be a productivity black hole. Save your emails for your commute, do social media at the top and tail of your day, where its less guilt and more pleasure. If you limit emailing to these times, youll find that lots of issues have resolved themselves by the time you check in. Also, youll minimize the email distraction during the day and eliminate productivity switching costs by checking email too frequently. All of these lead to a more productive you, with a greater likelihood of career success.4. Let your commute be your hard out.If you have a bus or a train you need to make, let that be your gotta go (yes, I realize that this is easier if youre more senior, but stay with me). A hard out is the latest time that you can work. Its inflexible. It can be hard to set clear boundaries between work and home, but if your body needs to be on public transportation at a certain time, then thats a clear boundary. Suddenly those things that trickle into the commuting hours are forced to be resolved earlier (or from home). Clear boundary setting is key to success at work, and happiness in life.5. Chill Out.You know that theres all kinds of scientific proof for meditation. Whether its 10 minutes a day with the Headspace app or group meditation on the regular, it has a positive impact on your brain, which ultimately translates into a better career and a better you. If youve got hours a day where your body has a commitment but your mind is free, commit to using a portion of that time for meditation. If youre driving, of course Id prefer you dont shut your eyes, but you can practice meditation in your own way. Breathe, focus, clear your mind.More on commuting--Allison Task is a