5 Things to Take Off Your Resume Today

The job market is improving, but still highly competitive. You must work harder to demonstrate you’re worth a second look. According to Forbes, each job opening will generate 120 applicants and 80% of these will never land an interview. If you’re not getting invitations to interview, the likely culprit is your résumé. Try these five tips to focus on what you should take out of your résumé for better results:

Add a profile, delete the objective

The objective section is passé. If it doesn’t align with what the employer wants, you’ll be passed over. Your résumé should address employer needs – not yours. Replace the objective with a profile section that serves as a summary of what you offer. It’s your elevator pitch – a quick “why me.” Profiles are far more appealing than a statement of what you want from your career. Make it clear at a glance that you’re a contender to consider and not just eager to land any job.

Show what you accomplished, not what you did

Rethink how you present prior jobs. Writing “processed accounts receivables” is not gripping. “Implemented a new system to shorten the collections cycle by 10 days” is. Don’t show how you functioned, show what you achieved. Most job titles offer potential employers a general idea of your role. Customer service rep or sales associate are self-explanatory titles. No need to elaborate. Show how you performed above expectations and benefited the company to sell your value-add.

Eliminate 10-20% of your content

One essential writing tip is to edit out roughly 20% of what you wrote. This wisdom also applies to your résumé – it should be tight with no fluff. Revising your entries to show accomplishments should knock out excess verbiage. At mid-career on up, a two page resume is acceptable. For entry level to mid-level, your resume shouldn’t exceed one concisely written page. The shorter the resume, the more likely it will be fully read and that your skills will stand out.

Improve scrollability

Nothing is more of a turn off, aside from glaring typos, than eye-numbing huge blocks of text. Headers, bullets and less content greatly improve scrollability and allow the reader to see what’s impressive about you at a glance. Your profile is the overview and a quick scroll down should provide supporting information to back up your selling points. Aim for no more than five or six lines of text in any one spot. Revise, try it out on a your next application, then revise again until you optimize.

Omit the irrelevant

A résumé is not your life’s story. It is appropriate to edit your experience so long as you don’t take unethical liberties. Adding jobs you never had or skipping five years of work history is ill-advised but omitting skills the employer isn’t looking for is apt. A marketing internship or unrelated software skills won’t matter for a paralegal position. One step further is to tweak your résumé for each application. Be sure to save versions and note which you submitted to each job for continuity when interviewing.
source

Top 10 Technology Skills in Demand for 2017

For this year's breakdown of the most sought-after skill sets in the IT workforce, we're once again drawing data fromComputerWorld's annual hiring forecast. In addition, we'll analyze a range of trusted sources (see links at the end) and provide expert commentary to prognosticate about the hottest technology skills through 2016 and beyond.

For its latest forecast, ComputerWorld surveyed 182 IT managers and decision makers. With over one-third (37%) of respondents planning to grow their rosters in 2016 - up from 24% in last year's survey - the technology job market is certainly heating up. This spells good news for existing tech pros looking for a new career path, as well as job seekers new to the IT space. Of course, capitalizing on this growth is contingent on possessing the right expertise, so without further ado, here are the top ten IT skills in demand for 2016:

IT Architecture

42% of survey respondents will attempt to fill IT architecture positions this year. This comes as no shock as IT architecture is the hub around which modern technology infrastructures and deployments revolve. Holding a variety of job titles, IT architects are tasked with understanding and internalizing an organization's mission and business goals, then developing an IT footing to meet these needs. IT architects also manage software and technology lifecycles, steadily rotating out and retiring older, less effective solutions, while implementing the latest and greatest tech in an ongoing effort to preserve business alignment and maximize IT's return on investment (ROI).

IT architecture's debut in the top spot of 2016's top ten skills list reflects the increasing importance of a cohesive IT strategy as organizations race to adopt innovative technologies in hot and emerging areas like cloud computing,Internet of Things, and big data. The demand for IT architecture specialists also presents a great opportunity for IT pros who aspire to reach the top tier of their profession, but are inclined to stay more technical and distance themselves from a purely management role.
Hot IT Architecture Skills: Enterprise IT Architecture | Cloud Storage & Distribution | Business Intelligence | Computer Systems Analysis | Strong Business & Technical Acumen

Programming / Application Development

40% of IT managers plan to bring on new programmers in 2016. Scalable, secure and efficient software is vital for mission critical and line-of-business applications, so organizations will continue to seek out talented developers to build new apps that will spark a competitive advantage, as well as those who can support and upgrade existing computer systems to maximize their software investment.

Noteworthy tech domains with a growing demand for programmers include Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile application development, as well as four of the other IT skills areas covered in this year's list: Big Data, Business Intelligence, Cloud, and Web Development. When it comes to marketable programming and scripting languages in these domains, SQL, Java, and JavaScript top the list, confirmed by a recent Coding Dojo analysis of job postings on Indeed.com.
Hot Programming Skills: SQL | Java | JavaScript | C# | Python | Mobile Development | Assembly Language (for IoT) | Software Development Security

Project Management 

In IT, project management refers to the planning, organizing, and delegation of responsibilities for the completion of technology-related initiatives. As a crucial component of IT operations, it's no wonder that 39% of survey respondents plan to fill PM roles in 2016, placing it among the top five hottest tech skills for the tenth consecutive year! ComputerWorld analysts also tie growing demand for PMs to this year's 46% projected increase in IT spending, i.e., more spending = more projects = more IT project managers.

Hiring managers are actively seeking professionals with expertise in DevOps and Agile project management - two frameworks commonly associated with software development and integration projects. Also in high demand is experience in the negotiation of project essentials - such as priorities, scope, deliverables, and expectations - with various stakeholders. Soft skills like negotiation, time management, and leadership will further grow in importance as organizations continue to outsource essential IT elements to cloud-based service providers (which we'll discuss more in the Cloud/SaaS section below). All told, there's a plethora of job opportunities for skilled and certified IT project managers.

Hot PM Skills: Agile | DevOps | Waterfall | Scrum | Negotiation | Oral/Written Communication | Team Leadership | PMP Certification | Project+ Certification

Big Data

Call it Big Data, call it data science, call it what you want: analyzing and extracting valuable insights from the massive caches of information that organizations routinely collect and maintain has become a key goal for business and service providers. This explains why 36% of technology managers plan to hire big data pros in 2016, and why this skill shot up to fourth place in this year's forecast (up from #10 in 2015). Just to round out the picture, the same survey revealed that big data and analytics tops the list of information technologies being beta-tested or piloted in-house.

High on IT managers' wish lists in this area are professionals who can manage and package big data collections, analyze and interpret trends, and present their findings in an intuitive way to upper management, especially through user-friendly data visualizations.

Hot Big Data Skills: Big Data Visualizations | Statistical/Quantitative Analysis | Big Data Reporting & Presentation | Apache Hadoop | NoSQL Database Skills | Machine Learning

Business Intelligence / AnalyticsBusiness Intelligence 

(BI) differs from Big Data in that it goes beyond the numbers to include the tools and techniques business leaders use to take action based on the findings of data analyses. Now that we've clarified the lingo, let's talk marketable BI skills. More and more companies are using “self-service” business intelligence platforms to create BI reports and visualizations, thus streamlining the process and lessening the reliance on (and the expense of) additional staffers. Administration and development skills in these platforms are rapidly growing in demand. The hottest self-service BI platforms right now include Tableau, IBM Cognos, Oracle BI, SAS, and SAP.

Successful BI analysts also possess a wide range of soft skills - such as critical thinking, creative problem solving, effective communication and presentation - in order to formulate concise depictions of the data so upper management and other departments can attain and share their insights. 34% of survey respondents plan to hire BI/analytics professionals in 2016.

Hot BI Skills: Strong Technical and Business Acumen | Expertise in Self-Service BI Platforms like Tableau, SAP, Oracle BI, Microsoft BI, SAS, and IBM Cognos | Superior Soft Skills

Help Desk / Technical Support

A mainstay in just about every ranking of in-demand IT skills, 30% of survey respondents plan to hire help desk and tech support staffers in 2016. Filling IT support roles helps organizations maintain a roster that disseminates into all levels and specialties of IT as these workers get exposed to different technologies and disciplines and begin to discover the aptitudes and passion that will lead to the next step in their IT career path. With this in mind, it's important for managers to “look for potential as much as experience” when evaluating potential tech support candidates, says Eric Brosius, VP of Technology Services at HRHCare, a NY-based non-profit health care provider.

Beyond the nation's recent economic growth - which tends to have a direct positive impact on tech support hiring - key trends that are stimulating demand in this space include the proliferation of mobile initiatives like BYOD (bring-your-own-device), and the increased adoption of new operating systems such as Windows 10. Soft skills are also vital at the IT help desk as the best and brightest in this arena possess exceptional abilities in verbal and written communication, time management, and customer service.

Hot IT Support Skills: Windows Desktop Support | Mobile Device Management | Linux Administration | Customer Service | CompTIA A+ and Network+ Certs | Microsoft Certifications

Database Administration

Yet another data-centric skill in this year's list of top tech expertise, 25% of survey respondents plan to bring on new database administrators in 2016. When it comes to landing a job in this space, knowing the right platform(s), a.k.a. database management system or DBMS, is key. Widely used DBMSs you should know right now include Oracle 12c (note: Oracle's previous database version, 11g, is still popular and currently has a similar number of job postings as 12c, but if you have a choice you should learn 12c for a more future-proof skill set), Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Certifications are a great way to validate your database administration skills, and all five DBMSs mentioned above have globally-recognized credentials you can pursue and leverage in your job search. Beyond the platforms, currently marketable skills for DBAs include information security, cloud computing, and big data.

Hot DBA Skills: Administrative Skills and Certifications in Oracle 12c/11g, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, MySQL & PostgreSQL | Information Security | Cloud Computing | Big Data

Security / Compliance / Governance

Compliance and Governance join the evergreen top ten IT skill, Security, to rank eighth in this year's forecast. 25%of survey respondents reported plans to hire InfoSec specialists this year, while a whopping 50% plan to increase spending on cyber security technologies, and security ranked 2nd overall among respondents' most crucial ongoing IT projects. Robert Half's 2016 Salary Guide places the starting salary for security professionals in the six-figure range, increasing about 7% from 2015 and signifying one of the largest year-over-year salary bumps.

These numbers don't lie; information security and its related specialties will continue to be a priority across all industries as cyber threats continue to upsurge in scope, frequency and sophistication, and proliferating tech trends like cloud computing and Internet of Things create additional loopholes for malicious hackers to exploit.
Hot IT Security Skills: Cloud Security | Incident Response | Threat Intelligence | Wireless Network Security | Software Systems and Applications Security | Disaster Recovery

Cloud / SaaS

The proliferation of cloud-based business solutions is shaping the future of IT, so cultivating your skills in this area is a no-brainer. Market research firm, IDC, forecasts spending on public cloud services will double from nearly $70 billion in 2015 to a whopping $141 billion by 2019 - almost six times the growth rate of overall IT spending. Software as a Service (SaaS) - the software distribution model wherein third-party providers host on-demand applications that customers can access and manage via the Internet - is on pace to capture over two thirds of this cloud spend-a-thon. With such a fertile marketplace, it's no wonder 25% of respondents plan to hire IT pros with cloud computing skills in 2016.

Marketable cloud skills include cloud migration, cloud security, and cloud application development, as well as administrative and development chops in today's leading cloud management platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Salesforce. In addition to SaaS, two more white-hot cloud categories you should explore right now include Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS).

Hot Cloud Computing Skills: SaaS | Cloud Migration | Cloud Security | Cloud Software Engineering | AWS | Microsoft Azure | Salesforce | IaaS | PaaS | VMware Virtualization

Web Development

As the Web continues to permeate every facet of our waking lives (next stop - our dreams, people!), consumers' craving for enjoyable, innovative and user-friendly online experiences will flourish. The runaway train that is ecommerce will keep gaining steam. Last year, Amazon surpassed Walmart as the world's largest retailer, heralding a changing of the guard from brick-and-mortar to retail first.

Expertise in responsive web design will continue to be a top priority; being able to design and develop sites that adapt to numerous screen sizes is vital as emerging “smart” technology trends like IoT and wearables propagate the displays and interfaces in our daily lives. Hot programming and scripting languages web developers should know include essentials like HTML and CSS, as well as more niche in-demand languages like JavaScript, PHP, Python, and Ruby. Working knowledge in the database query language, SQL, will also strengthen your portfolio as many modern sites backend with databases. 24% of survey respondents plan to grow their web development rosters in 2016.
Hot Web Development Skills: Responsive Web Design | User Interface (UI) Design | HTML & CSS | JavaScript, Java, PHP, Python & Ruby | Structured Query Language (SQL) | Cloud Distribution

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MOCK CATS

START: When should we start taking Mock CAT?

This is akin to asking ‘when can I have my lunch?’ when you are already hungry with food before you, waiting to be eaten.

Take that first Mock now. A lot many students keep it for post preparation period, which unfortunately never comes. So take it now and get it out of your system as soon as you can. This video drives that point home while answering this ancient question.

 STRATEGY: What should be the strategy for mocks?

• Take Mock
• Review Mock
• Identify gaps
• Revisit Fundamentals. Create a check list with this and stick it in your study. Review the list whenever you take a mock.

Sounds very simple but it has more to it than what meets the eye. Watch the following video to get a clear cut strategy for taking Mocks.

DO’s AND DON’Ts: What are the do’s and don’ts while taking mocks?

Can I take Mocks from different providers?

Can I take multiple mocks in a day?

How much should I read into my latest mock’s percentile?

VOLATILE SCORES: What to do if scores are volatile?

The Mocks are just a reflection of what could be possible with the kind of preparation and mental alertness that you had during that period of taking THAT particular Mock CAT. Hence, it would be prudent to look at the Mocks as an opportunity to assess your preparation rather than a milestone because it really ain’t one. So, the scores are bound to be volatile initially, kindly don’t sweat over it. Watch the following video by Rajesh to know how to fix volatile scores.




‘All that is fine but what should I do if I tank the latest mock?’ – you may ask. Getting the ‘jitters-of-bombing’ an exam out of the system as soon as possible is half the distance covered in your path towards glory – is what we say.

Here is what you can do to get over the dejection and focus on surging ahead.

REVIEW: How to review a mock CAT?

Everyone tells you that the value in taking mock CATs lies in analyzing them, and not just in mechanically taking them. How exactly does one analyze a mock CAT? Here is a video that will guide you through the Mock reviewing process.

Which providers are good for mock CATs?

It is very important to choose a Mock CAT provider whose tests are very relevant to the CAT. What is all the more important is whether the provider focuses on providing detailed solutions and helps with the thought process. In other words, have a look at the 2IIM Mocks before you go looking elsewhere. We offer 12 Online Mocks and 8 Online Previous Year Question Papers with 50+ Sectional Tests all for a price that is worth every penny.

How many mocks should I take?

As many as you can but not to simply pile up your Mock counts. Take enough mocks when you are fresh. Take some when you are not so fresh. Prepare yourself for different scenarios. Experiment. And while you are at it always ensure to identify what you have learnt from them. The value you derive from each and every mock counts as much as the number of mocks you take or prolly a bit more even.

What is the optimal strategy while taking a mock CAT?

The 10 commandments to be followed while taking Mocks. The following video will lay down the frequently made mistakes, things to look out for and ideas to keep in mind while taking CAT.
How many questions should we attempt if we target xx percentile?

How many questions need to be attempted to get a 95th or 99th percentile in each section of CAT 2016 ?? The following video will give you a rough idea about what you should be aiming for.

Hope that answers all the questions pertaining to Mock CATs.

All the Best for your CAT Preparation.

Career in Marine Engineering

Ships, perhaps the most ancient mode of transport, have a charm which is unmatched even by the fastest aircraft of today. It is a marine engineer who manages the enormous propellant power and the intricate machinery of a ship, helping it cross an ocean within days.

Marine engineers are responsible for designing on-board systems such as:

• Steering or control systems
• Propulsion systems (gas turbine, diesel engine, or nuclear reactor)
• Mechanical and electrical systems

During the four years of training as a marine engineer, a student would be taught various aspects concerning the construction, running, operations and maintenance of ships. This being a life on sea, it would be mentally taxing other than just being physically straining. So, the student should be prepared to undergo such hardships for life. He should be willing to stay away from family for long durations during the initial years of his career. Having said this, it is an extremely well-paying job and offers great opportunities to travel round the globe, sometimes even with family.

For those who are not called away from the sea by family commitments, the top rung of the ladder is the post of chief engineer. A marine engineer may become chief engineer, but, never a captain, without a degree in nautical science. To become a captain, one has to do a three-year degree programme in nautical science after 10+2, then take an all-India entrance exam and subsequent exams conducted by the government of India. However, both the paths are parallel with respect to remuneration and career progression.

A marine engineer normally sails for 15-20 years. After the age of 40, people usually take up shore jobs, which may be in shipyards, maritime universities or in management of a shipping company.

How to get there

An aspirant should take up Physics, Chemistry and Maths (PCM) in 10+2 and then join one of the following universities in India and abroad:

Fees

For Indian universities, it is in the range of 2-2.5 lakhs per annum for male cadets and slightly less for female cadets. To study in universities abroad, students need to pay anywhere between $17,000 and $30,000 as tuition fees per annum.


Key skills/strengths required to become a marine engineer
On these long voyages, patience, good interpersonal skills and diplomacy are as important as hardcore engineering skills. Frustration is at its peak at times and sailors must make efforts to maintain peace on board.
Resolute ambition, since career progression depends on tough exams held regularly.
Physical fitness, as it may have an impact on the number of years one is allowed to sail.

Clock Work

On ship: Watch-keeping duty hours are in blocks of four hours round the clock.

On port: The junior engineer keeps watch and other engineers carry out repair and maintenance from 8 am to 5 pm. While the ship remains at the port, all engineers and crew members are allowed to visit local places of interest.

The salary of a marine engineer at the operational level (first rung after the six-month training) is $1,000 to $2,000 a month (average Rs 70,000 for a junior engineer), going up to $8,000 with promotions. A chief engineer gets around $10,000 (about Rs 5 lakh) a month.

These figures could change depending on the size, type of ship and flag of the ship.

Pros and Cons

Months and months of living surrounded by water means not many women choose this career or go far in it.

It is a difficult career option for men too because sailing takes a toll on the body. Also, it is difficult for married men to stay away from their families for long durations. However, there are compensations - substantial ones at that. First, there is the pay, which is very high even at the starting level and rises steadily as the promotions come. Then, there is the time off, which is four to six months in a year. Third, as a sailor, one gets to see the world.

Conclusion

Students interested in designing vessels that are used for navigation for a variety of purposes of the likes of defence, international trade, environmental research and resource extraction must go for marine engineering. With the recent studies predicting a steady growth in international trade and resource exploration, this industry is more or less set to keep on progressing.

source

5 Careers For People Who Love Travelling

Are you the kind consumed by wanderlust? If yes, and want a job which requires you to travel and pays you great bucks as well, you might just find your calling in the following options.

Cruise Crew:

If you want to travel overseas and are not much affected by sea sickness, then this job is a perfect fit for you. Common jobs on a cruise include cleaning staff, management, musicians, gym instructors, therapists. Some ships might also have facilities such day-care centres, scuba diving and off-beat option such as Zumba or water aerobics. So if you have got the talent or a degree in hospitality or management, combine it with your love to travel and give the cruise liners a shot.

Au Pair:

This option is gaining a lot of popularity lately. If you know a second language such as French or German or Spanish or any other language, this is your chance to explore the world. Au pairs are required all over the world. You might not earn big bucks but with patience and a learnt language, you can travel in a classic way.

Wedding Photographer:

If you snap and are able to capture a beautiful image, wedding photography is a very good option for you. Every couple wants a great photographer to capture their big day. With a lot of couples, going in for destination wedding lately, you get the chance to travel and document a beautiful wedding. Only things you require are a great DSLR and an eye for beautiful details.

Travel Writer

Travel writers are treated as celebs as the restaurants or hotels or tourist spots hope to get good reviews from the writer. You can work with a travel company by reviewing places for them or choose to freelance. If travelling and writing are two things you are passionate about, this job is waiting to offer you a great experience with loads of money.

Athletic Recruiter

An athletic recruiter is required to travel and find sports persons from all over the world. They are mostly hired by professional sports organisations and institutions. So, if you love sports and travel, this is your opportunity of earning great money and living your dream. You don’t need to be a professional sportsperson or an athlete to be a recruiter

source