Ask The Coach #2 Consulting or Multiple Positions at Same Company on a Resume (how to)

Ask The Coach #2 Consulting or Multiple Positions at Same Company on a Resume (how to) This question was something I came up against right when Diana emailed it to me heres the question, and the responses from coaches is below: I have a question about listing consulting positions on a resume.   My last 3 jobs were 1099 consulting positions.   I was thinking after watching the Extreme Resume Makeover â€" could having them currently listed as separate positions be causing me to lose out on jobs that I am MORE than qualified for?   Looks like I job hop? If so, should I list like: Consulting Work: ABC Global Services……….. LodgicSource……….. LPL Financial………….   Or should I list next to the job title: (Consultant) Note from Jason: This question can be expanded to talk about one company where you had multiple roles should you break those roles into separate resume (or LinkedIn) entries, or group them? Cheryl Lynch Simpson, Career, Job Search LinkedIn Coach Master Resume Writer, writes: If your 1099 consulting roles lasted less than 2-3 years, it will be advantageous to combine them into one listing on both your resume and LinkedIn profile to combat the job hopper perception. My suggestion would be to give your consulting business a name, claim (Type of) Consultant as your title, and describe your achievements with each consulting role in bullets. For example: As you can see in this example, the emphasis is on your  achievements  with each company rather than the  companies  themselves. Take this exact same approach on LI, as recruiters do not like to read multiple job listings with short tenure. Many professionals face the opposite problem, wherein they have worked for the same company for many years and question whether they should combine all their roles or list them separately. If your titles were incidental and you basically held the same position for a very long time punctuated by expanding responsibilities such that you essentially did the same thing for years and years, then it may be difficult to disentangle one position from another. In this case, conflating your titles may be more realistic. However, it will be important to clearly indicated your rise in the company by including all your titles in one listing and stressing the gradual elevation of your authority over time, as well as the continuing nature of key initiatives that continued across your different roles. If you held roles in different departments for the same company, then it will make more sense for you to list each position separately so you can stress the cross-functionality of your experience. Recruiters and hiring executives tend to value candidates with this kind of breadth. Because recruiters don’t like long LI profiles with many different job listings, it is nearly always advantageous to combine roles with the same company into a single experience entry. Make sure you clarify the dates and titles of each role, however, so recruiters can see your promotion history and the appropriate key words will be included. Denise Taylor, Career Coach, Chief Inspiration Officer, the 50 Plus Coach, responds: Your resume is a marketing document, you don’t need to include everything that you have done, but focus on what’s relevant for the job you are targeting. If some of the consultancy assignments were real ‘stand-out’ ones you could show them separately. They could stand out as they were longer, or there was a strong impact/result. For the rest, I’d group them into one position â€" choosing different ones to refer to depending on the target job. This will stop you appearing as a job hopper and show the breadth of your knowledge. Your evidence against this job can include how you are quick to get up to speed/ understand a new culture/influence as an outsider. Ron Auerbach, Job search author, expert, and educator, writes: In one way, this question is similar to a job seeker whos been working through an employment agency and has been sent out on various assignments. Because you worked for several companies, do you list those assignments separately? Or do you combine them into one? The fact is there is no rule. So it all comes down to a matter of opinion and judgment. And part of this decision is to look at the overall background and goal of the job seeker. And the structuring of the resume itself. But with consulting work, I would generally combine them into one listing on your resume. It cleans things up and still allows you to highlight the companies and/or kind of consulting you did. And in the case of gaps between the consulting jobs, having them all combined into one lets you show continuous employment. So on your application, youd separate them out. But on your resume, youd show continuous employment during the entire time. Lets suppose we combine them into a single job listing on the resume. The question now become whether to include the names of the companies for whom you consulted. Or leave the names out and just have the industries to which those companies belong. And yes, you could even include both if you wanted. For example, heres how it would look if you listed just the company names: The advantage of going this route is that you can highlight specific company names that would impress the reader. And fyi, you dont have to list all the companies for whom you did consulting, You can pick and choose which ones to list. Now lets assume you chose to list the consulting work by industry rather than company name. Here is how that would look: This approach is very helpful if you feel the company names wont be recognizable to the readers. Or if the companies you consulted for arent the size that would impress employers or recruiters. Its also useful where you want to stress the industries where you consulted. FYI, if your consulting was limited to a particular industry, you could replace my Multiple or Several with the industry. And then list the various companies within that industry where you consulted. If you were to list them separately, or use the combined method, are you still at risk of being seen as a job-hopper? The answer is still yes. So if thats a big issue to you, one way to handle it would be to leave those bullets out. And just list yourself as a consultant. So just the one line with no info below it. And in a different spot on your resume, thats where you can list the info that goes along with the consulting work.And yes, you could also remove that Multiple or Several in my examples to just have your Consultant title and dates. Here, youre playing into the assumption by readers that maybe you only consulted for a single client rather than a bunch. Now if you want to work for a consulting firm rather than for yourself, then job-hopping isnt an issue at all. In the world of consulting, its normal to work for one this time and somebody else next time. So job-hopping is the norm in this field. And happens with those who work for consulting companies and those who are independent contractors working for themselves. So job-hopping is the norm, totally accepted, and not an issue at all. But if you are seeking work in something else, then job-hopping might be an issue in that world. FYI, the ways I mentioned about how to list consulting and temp work also applies to those of you who may have had differing roles with the same company. Yes, you could decide to list them separately. And include some duties and accomplishments with each one. Or you could combine them into a single listing. And use bullet points to include the KEY accomplishments and duties from all your roles. You can also include a statement that you were promoted from X to Y. Heres an example to illustrate: If things get messy or you dont have enough space to get all the info you want across to readers, then you could split things into more than one listing. And decide which one(s) to list separately and which ones(s) to combine. So yes, you can mix and match with part combined and part listed independently. The bottom line is you have a lot of flexibility to structure thing in the way that works best for you. Lucie Yeomans, 6X Certified Career Services Professional and Job Search Strategist, writes: This is a complicated question with a variety of answers. Do you want to continue to work as a consultant or are you looking for full-time employment working for a company? Here are a few ideas for either situation. 1099 Transitioning to Full-time Employment Yes, you do want to avoid looking like a job hopper to the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or the first reader who gives your resume a 6- to 8-second initial glance. For those of my 1099 clients who wish to work for a company, we have had the most success when we list their 1099/consulting positions under their own company name. Give a brief explanation of the type of work you provide (be sure to include industry keywords in your description), followed by a more resume-style description of each of your 1099 jobs. Example: Continue as Consultant, looking for new 1099 jobs For those of my clients who wish to continue as a consultant and look for new 1099 gigs, we use a completely different approach. As you know, networking is key in finding your next 1099 job, but the document you leave behind or email ahead of time needs to reflect your brand. Your resume in this case should be more of a marketing document with testimonials, services, lists of jobs/clients (if not confidential) and your unique value/brand. You also want to the layout to be visually appealing, as well as easy to scan for important information. Sonia Cerezo, Certified Professional Career Coach, says: Dear Consultant, List all your experience under your consulting title and/or business. I suggest using this format. Be sure each of your bullet points has quantifiable information. You are in finance, so it is important to provide specifics on how your consulting benefits future clients or an employer. This provides you the stability of ongoing employment and it accurately portrays your experience. Also, be consistent across all marketing platforms, LinkedIn profile, online portfolio, and/or website, etc. However, if you had multiple roles with one company it is important to show progression and identify each one separately. It is important to put the dates with each position but the entire time you worked with the company under the company name. Here is an example. I hope this answered your question. Wishing you much success in your career! Rich Grant, Online career course instructor for Peak-Careers, writes: Yes, it’s a good idea to consolidate consulting roles on your resume. Besides helping to minimize the appearance of being a job hopper, it simplifies your resume and makes it easier to read. The other way to clarify it is by making a note within the line listings of the consulting projects, for example “six-month contract.” Then, a prospective employer won’t think you had a series of short-lived jobs. There are a few ways to group together consulting roles, including creating a separate section on your resume for “consulting experience,” listing consulting projects under one agency name, if that’s the case, or creating your own business name. It’s also a good idea to group jobs together if your company gets bought out and your old company name no longer exists. Rather than list it as two different employers on your resume, list the new company name on the first line, with the full date range you worked for both employers. Show the different positions you held, listed under the main company header, and for the jobs you had at the old company, put the old company name in parentheses after the job title. This will be particularly helpful if your old company got bought out after you were only there for six months! Gavan Ambrosini, Career Consultant and Executive Coach, writes: Employers will want to get an immediate blueprint of your valueand in situations like this, it is not uncommon to highlight your skills and expertise first, followed by your consultant title and brief naming of your  client list. We call this a functional resume.   It focuses more on your skill sets, trainings, and certifications and not so much on your work history. I suggest the following format: Start with your name and contact info, Professional summary: (2-3 lines qualifying you as a viable candidate) Highlights of Skills and Accomplishments/Trainings/Certs etc comprised of a targeted and bulleted list.   You may even want to break it up into mini sections with 4-6 in each.   If you can show quantifiable results in your  section this will also grab an employers attention (scope of project, ROI, etc) For tons of examples of functional resumes, google functional resume with your industry and look at images tab to get ideas on how you can present your work. Following this section list your Work History. You can even use your last name and consulting as your company name and then list the client name, city, and duration of each consultant gig on a separate line. No need to list out responsibilities for each role here as that can be highlighted in your selected skills accomplishment section that precedes this.   The idea is to communicate your strengths as a targeted and complete package to the employers needs, not as a hodge-podge of different short time gigs with various roles duties. As for being viewed as a job hopperIt is all how you present it.   Some may very well see it that wayhowever, if you are good at what you do, you can communicate how much you gave gained working on these special projects.   Being hired as a consultant carries a lot more weight than as just a  contractor so wear that difference proudly! You were a hired gun for a specific job because of your expertise in a particular area and that is something of value to note. Part B: List roles separately or as 1 grouping?   If you have only worked at 1 company for the past 20+ years and you want to highlight how you have moved up the company ladderuse the company name as a header and then follow with 1 title of each role you had, followed by the years in that role and a brief description of what you did beneath it.  2-3 brief action verb sentences to give context of your role followed by a couple of bullet points to highlight your achievements.   If you have more than 2 companies to list and the experience from company 3 and 4 is just as valuable as your last rolethen just list your most current role at said companyand you can make mention of how you moved up in your cover letter or briefly mention your promotions in your summary section or job description.   The bottom line is this: Every word should be of value to the employernot be used as an opportunity to justify or showcase your own self-worth. If responsibilities of your first job with the compan y dont serve your future employer in any waythen dont put it on there. Everything is prime real estate on a resumeso choose your words carefully and make them count! Craig Toadtman, Job Search Consultant, Career Adviser, Coach, Executive Search Consultant, says: Résumé format is important, but content is critical. That said, you raise an excellent question  that also applies to an individual holding several positions at one company. I suggest that you  combine the consulting projects under one heading, such as [Your Name] Consulting, and  indenting the individual projects with descriptions. For example: Descriptions should be concise and loaded with key words that are clearly demonstrating your  skills and experience which appeal to automated recruiter software looking for YOU! Gina Bartosiewicz,  Professional Resume Writing Consultant, says: When putting together your resume as a consultant, you want it clean, easy to read, and relevant! Remember, you are creating your personal brand here, and you want to keep it organized while marketing and highlighting your skills and accomplishments. Since your perspective clients or employers are looking for someone in particular, you want to be sure that you are including details about your projects, along with quantifiable  achievements for each project so that they know that you have what it takes. Your goal here is to grab the reader’s attention, and you certainly want to avoid bouncing around with dates. The best part about a consultant resume, is that they are easy to tailor for a specific position or client, and you can leave out anything that doesn’t relate directly to the position.   I realize that the act of creating a new resume for each job you apply for can be tiresome, but in the end, if it lands you that project or job, isn’t it worth it? For a Consultant resume, my focus is typically more on the functional side â€" showcasing and highlighting skills and achievements. I typically present consulting work by grouping all projects together. Many consider themselves a Consultant, so they list themselves as a  Freelance Consulting Firm, or just  Consultant  and then I combine all projects under that umbrella.   Grouping all consulting work into a single time block will better control the readers perception of any gaps or longevity, because even when you aren’t working on a project, you are still a consultant, and may be in between projects. An example would be: In a company where you have held several positions, I generally find this to be a different scenario, however.   Because roles vary from position to position, sometimes you really do need to create a separate section for each job title.   In some cases, however, when there isn’t much change or diversity within the roles, you can group the position titles together.   In general, it is always a good idea to have a second or third pair of eyes on your resume.   Does it flow well?   Does it grab the readers attention? Are you getting your point across and showcasing and highlighting your accomplishments in each role? Are you repeating yourself in order to fill space? Remember to strive for clean, easy to read and relevant! Perry Newman,  Certified Social Media Strategist, Certified Personnel Consultant, Resume Writer, and LinkedIn Transformation Specialist, writes: Since you are a 1099, theoretically, you own your own business and, I advise you to list it as such. If you worked  through a third-party source, you can say partnering with ABC Consulting. This method is not deceptive since 1099  employees work for themselves and your pay stubs and 1099n tax forms will verify this. Example: In the body for each assignment you can break down whom you reported to, the nature of the project with applicable metrics including on time and on-budget delivery. In the case of listing multiple roles in the same and or a merged /acquired company, there are two ways to go on a resume depending on how relevant the prior information is and whether you want to emphasize it or minimize it. You can also group these positions if you have been in a company a long time and/or moved from lower level to executive level roles. The key is always to highlight jobs that are relevant to the jobs you are applying for. As for LinkedIn, for the 1099, I advise listing it as a position under your business name and breaking down the assignments in the body. For long-term employees, I advise listing each role separately on LinkedIn for maximum key work optimization. John Sattler, Certified Personnel Consultant and Certified Professional Resume Writer, writes: A resume is about communicating your value as professional for the purpose of generating an interview for a job you desire. Keeping this in mind, what is the best way to communicate this scenario to serve our purpose? I  would not combine different positions held with the same company.  This is a  completely  different scenario than someone doing contracting gigs. This shows a pattern of progression, that the candidate is promotable, able to learn and adapt, able to handle additional responsibilities, and able to take on increased complexity and sophistication of work. I  would  combine positions under 1099 activity.  Many professionals do consulting work when theyre between full time (W-2) jobs. Its a way to stay sharp, engaged, and visible. Lets assume this person is an experienced Marketing Analyst: here is how I would present it on the resume: Alexia Scott, CPRW, says: You were actually self-employed during that time, so there was only one employer (you). Thats  why you received 1099sâ€"you were an independent contractor. This is the logical way to present  that time period, and this treatment sidesteps the obstacle of listing multiple consulting clients. Recently, I helped a lean performance improvement expert who did consulting work for C-level  executives. I combined his consulting work, showing it as one “employer,” with the heading “Independent Consultant.” A bulleted list briefly  described his most notable consulting achievements. Elva Bankins Baxter, Certified Master Coach, writes: When your last three jobs were all 1099 consulting positions and you are in a current job search seeking another position, I would suggest combining your consulting (1099) positions into one descriptive position and use beginning and ending dates for the entire three years. This avoids someone reading your resume to think you had three short stints or are a job-hopper. I’d suggest the following sample  format: When you have worked for a company and have held multiple positions with in the same company, List the company and your beginning and ending years.   Then list each position held and your achievements (no more than three) per position held.   For each position, the years should be listed.   This format should be used for recent and one previous position (within the past 10 years) positions only. For the second page positions and more than 10 years ago…group them and list the overall achievements: Heather Maietta, Career Coach, Facilitator, Trainer, Author, Speaker, says: The short answer I have is it depends. Considerations include: 1) how long the consulting gigs lasted 2) how prestigious the company 3) depth of other experience If the consulting gigs lasted less than six months or were insignificant in depth and scope, I might advise grouping them under a heading Consulting Work. If the each gig lasted for a significant length of time and/or were instrumental in depth and scope, I might advise to list separately with the position title consultant. I would advise similarly if the consulting work was performed at a reputable company, globally and/or within your industry. This would draw attention to the fact you were a consultant for a significant player, thus showcasing prestige. Since a resume is a document to grab attention and keep the reader interested in engaging with you further, length should always be a consideration. If your consulting work is in addition to years of relevant work experience, grouping may save space and present your experience in a more concise, visually appealing way. If you are newer to the workforce or to the field, showcasing your experience more in depth will give the reader a better sense of the experience you have gained that isnt highlighted anywhere else on your document. Regardless of how you format your document, you can include a one sentence header or bullet under your professional summary that captures your consulting experience and positions you as a thought leader in your industry. Something like Global Financial Services consultant at Fortune 100 Companies: ABC Global, LogicSource, LPL Financial or something similar. Wasnt that a great roundup from our coaches? Hopefully this helps you figure out how to create this part of your resume! Ask The Coach #2 Consulting or Multiple Positions at Same Company on a Resume (how to) This question was something I came up against right when Diana emailed it to me heres the question, and the responses from coaches is below: I have a question about listing consulting positions on a resume.   My last 3 jobs were 1099 consulting positions.   I was thinking after watching the Extreme Resume Makeover â€" could having them currently listed as separate positions be causing me to lose out on jobs that I am MORE than qualified for?   Looks like I job hop? If so, should I list like: Consulting Work: ABC Global Services……….. LodgicSource……….. LPL Financial………….   Or should I list next to the job title: (Consultant) Note from Jason: This question can be expanded to talk about one company where you had multiple roles should you break those roles into separate resume (or LinkedIn) entries, or group them? Cheryl Lynch Simpson, Career, Job Search LinkedIn Coach Master Resume Writer, writes: If your 1099 consulting roles lasted less than 2-3 years, it will be advantageous to combine them into one listing on both your resume and LinkedIn profile to combat the job hopper perception. My suggestion would be to give your consulting business a name, claim (Type of) Consultant as your title, and describe your achievements with each consulting role in bullets. For example: As you can see in this example, the emphasis is on your  achievements  with each company rather than the  companies  themselves. Take this exact same approach on LI, as recruiters do not like to read multiple job listings with short tenure. Many professionals face the opposite problem, wherein they have worked for the same company for many years and question whether they should combine all their roles or list them separately. If your titles were incidental and you basically held the same position for a very long time punctuated by expanding responsibilities such that you essentially did the same thing for years and years, then it may be difficult to disentangle one position from another. In this case, conflating your titles may be more realistic. However, it will be important to clearly indicated your rise in the company by including all your titles in one listing and stressing the gradual elevation of your authority over time, as well as the continuing nature of key initiatives that continued across your different roles. If you held roles in different departments for the same company, then it will make more sense for you to list each position separately so you can stress the cross-functionality of your experience. Recruiters and hiring executives tend to value candidates with this kind of breadth. Because recruiters don’t like long LI profiles with many different job listings, it is nearly always advantageous to combine roles with the same company into a single experience entry. Make sure you clarify the dates and titles of each role, however, so recruiters can see your promotion history and the appropriate key words will be included. Denise Taylor, Career Coach, Chief Inspiration Officer, the 50 Plus Coach, responds: Your resume is a marketing document, you don’t need to include everything that you have done, but focus on what’s relevant for the job you are targeting. If some of the consultancy assignments were real ‘stand-out’ ones you could show them separately. They could stand out as they were longer, or there was a strong impact/result. For the rest, I’d group them into one position â€" choosing different ones to refer to depending on the target job. This will stop you appearing as a job hopper and show the breadth of your knowledge. Your evidence against this job can include how you are quick to get up to speed/ understand a new culture/influence as an outsider. Ron Auerbach, Job search author, expert, and educator, writes: In one way, this question is similar to a job seeker whos been working through an employment agency and has been sent out on various assignments. Because you worked for several companies, do you list those assignments separately? Or do you combine them into one? The fact is there is no rule. So it all comes down to a matter of opinion and judgment. And part of this decision is to look at the overall background and goal of the job seeker. And the structuring of the resume itself. But with consulting work, I would generally combine them into one listing on your resume. It cleans things up and still allows you to highlight the companies and/or kind of consulting you did. And in the case of gaps between the consulting jobs, having them all combined into one lets you show continuous employment. So on your application, youd separate them out. But on your resume, youd show continuous employment during the entire time. Lets suppose we combine them into a single job listing on the resume. The question now become whether to include the names of the companies for whom you consulted. Or leave the names out and just have the industries to which those companies belong. And yes, you could even include both if you wanted. For example, heres how it would look if you listed just the company names: The advantage of going this route is that you can highlight specific company names that would impress the reader. And fyi, you dont have to list all the companies for whom you did consulting, You can pick and choose which ones to list. Now lets assume you chose to list the consulting work by industry rather than company name. Here is how that would look: This approach is very helpful if you feel the company names wont be recognizable to the readers. Or if the companies you consulted for arent the size that would impress employers or recruiters. Its also useful where you want to stress the industries where you consulted. FYI, if your consulting was limited to a particular industry, you could replace my Multiple or Several with the industry. And then list the various companies within that industry where you consulted. If you were to list them separately, or use the combined method, are you still at risk of being seen as a job-hopper? The answer is still yes. So if thats a big issue to you, one way to handle it would be to leave those bullets out. And just list yourself as a consultant. So just the one line with no info below it. And in a different spot on your resume, thats where you can list the info that goes along with the consulting work.And yes, you could also remove that Multiple or Several in my examples to just have your Consultant title and dates. Here, youre playing into the assumption by readers that maybe you only consulted for a single client rather than a bunch. Now if you want to work for a consulting firm rather than for yourself, then job-hopping isnt an issue at all. In the world of consulting, its normal to work for one this time and somebody else next time. So job-hopping is the norm in this field. And happens with those who work for consulting companies and those who are independent contractors working for themselves. So job-hopping is the norm, totally accepted, and not an issue at all. But if you are seeking work in something else, then job-hopping might be an issue in that world. FYI, the ways I mentioned about how to list consulting and temp work also applies to those of you who may have had differing roles with the same company. Yes, you could decide to list them separately. And include some duties and accomplishments with each one. Or you could combine them into a single listing. And use bullet points to include the KEY accomplishments and duties from all your roles. You can also include a statement that you were promoted from X to Y. Heres an example to illustrate: If things get messy or you dont have enough space to get all the info you want across to readers, then you could split things into more than one listing. And decide which one(s) to list separately and which ones(s) to combine. So yes, you can mix and match with part combined and part listed independently. The bottom line is you have a lot of flexibility to structure thing in the way that works best for you. Lucie Yeomans, 6X Certified Career Services Professional and Job Search Strategist, writes: This is a complicated question with a variety of answers. Do you want to continue to work as a consultant or are you looking for full-time employment working for a company? Here are a few ideas for either situation. 1099 Transitioning to Full-time Employment Yes, you do want to avoid looking like a job hopper to the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or the first reader who gives your resume a 6- to 8-second initial glance. For those of my 1099 clients who wish to work for a company, we have had the most success when we list their 1099/consulting positions under their own company name. Give a brief explanation of the type of work you provide (be sure to include industry keywords in your description), followed by a more resume-style description of each of your 1099 jobs. Example: Continue as Consultant, looking for new 1099 jobs For those of my clients who wish to continue as a consultant and look for new 1099 gigs, we use a completely different approach. As you know, networking is key in finding your next 1099 job, but the document you leave behind or email ahead of time needs to reflect your brand. Your resume in this case should be more of a marketing document with testimonials, services, lists of jobs/clients (if not confidential) and your unique value/brand. You also want to the layout to be visually appealing, as well as easy to scan for important information. Sonia Cerezo, Certified Professional Career Coach, says: Dear Consultant, List all your experience under your consulting title and/or business. I suggest using this format. Be sure each of your bullet points has quantifiable information. You are in finance, so it is important to provide specifics on how your consulting benefits future clients or an employer. This provides you the stability of ongoing employment and it accurately portrays your experience. Also, be consistent across all marketing platforms, LinkedIn profile, online portfolio, and/or website, etc. However, if you had multiple roles with one company it is important to show progression and identify each one separately. It is important to put the dates with each position but the entire time you worked with the company under the company name. Here is an example. I hope this answered your question. Wishing you much success in your career! Rich Grant, Online career course instructor for Peak-Careers, writes: Yes, it’s a good idea to consolidate consulting roles on your resume. Besides helping to minimize the appearance of being a job hopper, it simplifies your resume and makes it easier to read. The other way to clarify it is by making a note within the line listings of the consulting projects, for example “six-month contract.” Then, a prospective employer won’t think you had a series of short-lived jobs. There are a few ways to group together consulting roles, including creating a separate section on your resume for “consulting experience,” listing consulting projects under one agency name, if that’s the case, or creating your own business name. It’s also a good idea to group jobs together if your company gets bought out and your old company name no longer exists. Rather than list it as two different employers on your resume, list the new company name on the first line, with the full date range you worked for both employers. Show the different positions you held, listed under the main company header, and for the jobs you had at the old company, put the old company name in parentheses after the job title. This will be particularly helpful if your old company got bought out after you were only there for six months! Gavan Ambrosini, Career Consultant and Executive Coach, writes: Employers will want to get an immediate blueprint of your valueand in situations like this, it is not uncommon to highlight your skills and expertise first, followed by your consultant title and brief naming of your  client list. We call this a functional resume.   It focuses more on your skill sets, trainings, and certifications and not so much on your work history. I suggest the following format: Start with your name and contact info, Professional summary: (2-3 lines qualifying you as a viable candidate) Highlights of Skills and Accomplishments/Trainings/Certs etc comprised of a targeted and bulleted list.   You may even want to break it up into mini sections with 4-6 in each.   If you can show quantifiable results in your  section this will also grab an employers attention (scope of project, ROI, etc) For tons of examples of functional resumes, google functional resume with your industry and look at images tab to get ideas on how you can present your work. Following this section list your Work History. You can even use your last name and consulting as your company name and then list the client name, city, and duration of each consultant gig on a separate line. No need to list out responsibilities for each role here as that can be highlighted in your selected skills accomplishment section that precedes this.   The idea is to communicate your strengths as a targeted and complete package to the employers needs, not as a hodge-podge of different short time gigs with various roles duties. As for being viewed as a job hopperIt is all how you present it.   Some may very well see it that wayhowever, if you are good at what you do, you can communicate how much you gave gained working on these special projects.   Being hired as a consultant carries a lot more weight than as just a  contractor so wear that difference proudly! You were a hired gun for a specific job because of your expertise in a particular area and that is something of value to note. Part B: List roles separately or as 1 grouping?   If you have only worked at 1 company for the past 20+ years and you want to highlight how you have moved up the company ladderuse the company name as a header and then follow with 1 title of each role you had, followed by the years in that role and a brief description of what you did beneath it.  2-3 brief action verb sentences to give context of your role followed by a couple of bullet points to highlight your achievements.   If you have more than 2 companies to list and the experience from company 3 and 4 is just as valuable as your last rolethen just list your most current role at said companyand you can make mention of how you moved up in your cover letter or briefly mention your promotions in your summary section or job description.   The bottom line is this: Every word should be of value to the employernot be used as an opportunity to justify or showcase your own self-worth. If responsibilities of your first job with the compan y dont serve your future employer in any waythen dont put it on there. Everything is prime real estate on a resumeso choose your words carefully and make them count! Craig Toadtman, Job Search Consultant, Career Adviser, Coach, Executive Search Consultant, says: Résumé format is important, but content is critical. That said, you raise an excellent question  that also applies to an individual holding several positions at one company. I suggest that you  combine the consulting projects under one heading, such as [Your Name] Consulting, and  indenting the individual projects with descriptions. For example: Descriptions should be concise and loaded with key words that are clearly demonstrating your  skills and experience which appeal to automated recruiter software looking for YOU! Gina Bartosiewicz,  Professional Resume Writing Consultant, says: When putting together your resume as a consultant, you want it clean, easy to read, and relevant! Remember, you are creating your personal brand here, and you want to keep it organized while marketing and highlighting your skills and accomplishments. Since your perspective clients or employers are looking for someone in particular, you want to be sure that you are including details about your projects, along with quantifiable  achievements for each project so that they know that you have what it takes. Your goal here is to grab the reader’s attention, and you certainly want to avoid bouncing around with dates. The best part about a consultant resume, is that they are easy to tailor for a specific position or client, and you can leave out anything that doesn’t relate directly to the position.   I realize that the act of creating a new resume for each job you apply for can be tiresome, but in the end, if it lands you that project or job, isn’t it worth it? For a Consultant resume, my focus is typically more on the functional side â€" showcasing and highlighting skills and achievements. I typically present consulting work by grouping all projects together. Many consider themselves a Consultant, so they list themselves as a  Freelance Consulting Firm, or just  Consultant  and then I combine all projects under that umbrella.   Grouping all consulting work into a single time block will better control the readers perception of any gaps or longevity, because even when you aren’t working on a project, you are still a consultant, and may be in between projects. An example would be: In a company where you have held several positions, I generally find this to be a different scenario, however.   Because roles vary from position to position, sometimes you really do need to create a separate section for each job title.   In some cases, however, when there isn’t much change or diversity within the roles, you can group the position titles together.   In general, it is always a good idea to have a second or third pair of eyes on your resume.   Does it flow well?   Does it grab the readers attention? Are you getting your point across and showcasing and highlighting your accomplishments in each role? Are you repeating yourself in order to fill space? Remember to strive for clean, easy to read and relevant! Perry Newman,  Certified Social Media Strategist, Certified Personnel Consultant, Resume Writer, and LinkedIn Transformation Specialist, writes: Since you are a 1099, theoretically, you own your own business and, I advise you to list it as such. If you worked  through a third-party source, you can say partnering with ABC Consulting. This method is not deceptive since 1099  employees work for themselves and your pay stubs and 1099n tax forms will verify this. Example: In the body for each assignment you can break down whom you reported to, the nature of the project with applicable metrics including on time and on-budget delivery. In the case of listing multiple roles in the same and or a merged /acquired company, there are two ways to go on a resume depending on how relevant the prior information is and whether you want to emphasize it or minimize it. You can also group these positions if you have been in a company a long time and/or moved from lower level to executive level roles. The key is always to highlight jobs that are relevant to the jobs you are applying for. As for LinkedIn, for the 1099, I advise listing it as a position under your business name and breaking down the assignments in the body. For long-term employees, I advise listing each role separately on LinkedIn for maximum key work optimization. John Sattler, Certified Personnel Consultant and Certified Professional Resume Writer, writes: A resume is about communicating your value as professional for the purpose of generating an interview for a job you desire. Keeping this in mind, what is the best way to communicate this scenario to serve our purpose? I  would not combine different positions held with the same company.  This is a  completely  different scenario than someone doing contracting gigs. This shows a pattern of progression, that the candidate is promotable, able to learn and adapt, able to handle additional responsibilities, and able to take on increased complexity and sophistication of work. I  would  combine positions under 1099 activity.  Many professionals do consulting work when theyre between full time (W-2) jobs. Its a way to stay sharp, engaged, and visible. Lets assume this person is an experienced Marketing Analyst: here is how I would present it on the resume: Alexia Scott, CPRW, says: You were actually self-employed during that time, so there was only one employer (you). Thats  why you received 1099sâ€"you were an independent contractor. This is the logical way to present  that time period, and this treatment sidesteps the obstacle of listing multiple consulting clients. Recently, I helped a lean performance improvement expert who did consulting work for C-level  executives. I combined his consulting work, showing it as one “employer,” with the heading “Independent Consultant.” A bulleted list briefly  described his most notable consulting achievements. Elva Bankins Baxter, Certified Master Coach, writes: When your last three jobs were all 1099 consulting positions and you are in a current job search seeking another position, I would suggest combining your consulting (1099) positions into one descriptive position and use beginning and ending dates for the entire three years. This avoids someone reading your resume to think you had three short stints or are a job-hopper. I’d suggest the following sample  format: When you have worked for a company and have held multiple positions with in the same company, List the company and your beginning and ending years.   Then list each position held and your achievements (no more than three) per position held.   For each position, the years should be listed.   This format should be used for recent and one previous position (within the past 10 years) positions only. For the second page positions and more than 10 years ago…group them and list the overall achievements: Heather Maietta, Career Coach, Facilitator, Trainer, Author, Speaker, says: The short answer I have is it depends. Considerations include: 1) how long the consulting gigs lasted 2) how prestigious the company 3) depth of other experience If the consulting gigs lasted less than six months or were insignificant in depth and scope, I might advise grouping them under a heading Consulting Work. If the each gig lasted for a significant length of time and/or were instrumental in depth and scope, I might advise to list separately with the position title consultant. I would advise similarly if the consulting work was performed at a reputable company, globally and/or within your industry. This would draw attention to the fact you were a consultant for a significant player, thus showcasing prestige. Since a resume is a document to grab attention and keep the reader interested in engaging with you further, length should always be a consideration. If your consulting work is in addition to years of relevant work experience, grouping may save space and present your experience in a more concise, visually appealing way. If you are newer to the workforce or to the field, showcasing your experience more in depth will give the reader a better sense of the experience you have gained that isnt highlighted anywhere else on your document. Regardless of how you format your document, you can include a one sentence header or bullet under your professional summary that captures your consulting experience and positions you as a thought leader in your industry. Something like Global Financial Services consultant at Fortune 100 Companies: ABC Global, LogicSource, LPL Financial or something similar. Wasnt that a great roundup from our coaches? Hopefully this helps you figure out how to create this part of your resume!

My Advice To My Twenty-Something Self

My Advice To My Twenty-Something Self Pssst.   Yeah, you, my twenty-something self.  Listen up.  There are some things you really ought to know, and Im here to tell you.  Youre going to have some pretty awesome experiences.   But youre also going to waste a lot of time, that stuff your life is made of.  So Im going to give you some advice to make your life better than you can imagine.  Are you listening? Dont Hurry Stop fretting about getting through college as soon as you can possibly manage it.  Marriage?  Relax.  If youre mopping the floor, maybe its okay to hurry and get on to whats important.  But when it comes to the big stuff, take a deep breath and create and savor a peaceful journey. Heres the deal.  That college education is going to be just as available next year, and the year after that.  And that perfect mate?  With roughly seven billion people on the planet, theres a virtual ocean of possibilities.  But youre going to be young, youre going to be twenty-something (or thirty-something) only once.  The hours of your life are the most rare and precious commodity you will ever possess. Choose Passion Over Safety Remember those dreams and passions that were in your heart, and maybe still are?  Dont relegate them to some day.  Go after them now.   Your life is like a trip to Disneyland.  Theres a limited amount of time youll be able to spend enjoying all that it has to offer.  Do you want to play safe and stick to the kiddie rides?  Or do you want to take on all the adventures and thrills that are awaiting you? Embrace your passions and go for the gusto.  While the safe path will surely be safe, its only by the courage to venture beyond it that the biggest breakthroughs and achievements are realized.  Remember, if everyone played it safe, humanity would likely still be sitting in a cold cave and most of the world would be uninhabited.  Dont seize the day, seize your life. Embrace Curiosity And Follow It Be curious.  This is something that virtually all of us leave behind when we leave childhood.  But curiosity is a magic potion that should be part of your daily mental diet.  Curious about how it can be a magic potion?  Thats good.  Youre getting the hang of this. Curiosity is the juice that transforms judgement into a desire to understand.  A desire to see the world through someone elses eyes.  Its also the electric charge in all the simple words of discovery:  What if, how, why.  Nurturing your curiosity will change your life from peanut butter and jelly to a fabulous buffet. Let Go Of What Doesnt Work No one likes failure.  The problem is, we too easily define things as failures.  Or, because of the fear of failure, we hang on to what isnt working far too long.  We try against all reasonable hope to make it work when the faintest of sensibilities would have said let it go long ago. That relationship you know isnt working?  Hanging on to it is a disservice to both you and the other person.  Get on with life, find the connections that serve you, and the other person, in the most awesome ways.  Stuck in a job you hate because you fear loss of security and income more than you fear your own misery?  Similarly, when youre unhappy with your work, you cant possibly give your employer the results they deserve, let alone attain results that you really want. Work To Live, Dont Live To Work You live in a society where work is the center of life.  Not surprising, since youre spending over half your waking hours engaged in it.  Have you ever stopped to ask yourself Is this what youre here for?  Is this the pinnacle of human existence?  To work, and work, and work some more, until the years of youth, and ultimately all the years, are gone? News flash:  The universe didnt go to all the bother to arrange for your existence so you could work.  Bigger news flash:  You are here to LIVE.   Life is the be-all, end-all of your presence.  Stop wasting your life in the pursuit of work.  Rather, work as it is necessary and expedient to engage with all that has been provided as part of this miracle we call life. Listen To Your Intuitive Guide I saved the best for last.  Because this one is the grease that makes the gears of all the others turn smoothly and elegantly to create a world that most people never experience.   See, you already knew all that Ive been telling you.  Its those little echoes, those little suggestions that almost tickle when you hear them. But the intuitive guide is gentle, and at times seemingly a bit fickle.  She wont force you, or coerce you into doing anything.  Just a whisper. Silence your ego.  Quiet your mind.  Listen.  Psst.  See?  There it is now. Images: Aurora  Ian Barnfield   Whisper  Matthias Weinberger   Sage Advice  Randy Heinitz

Millennials Want to Work. They Just Dont Want to Settle

Millennials Want to Work. They Just Don’t Want to Settle Defining work as a “necessary evil” is not a new concept. Baby Boomers, Generation X, and generations before them worked to make a living, they didn’t all live to work. But once the most feared generation of allâ€"the millennialsâ€"began taking full-time careers, CEOS and those with more senior positions called them “lazy,” and perhaps some other four-letter-words, because they began to look at work differently. But it’s not because theyre lazy. It’s because they’re determined, and there’s three key reasons why: Finding the Perfect Fit According to a study conducted by Gallup, millennials are the most likely to leave their jobs, but not simply because they’re fed up with working. Six out of 10 would leave their jobs only if a better opportunity came along. Millennials are always on the prowl for something greater than themselves, greater than what they have. And that doesn’t always necessarily come with a higher paycheck. It comes with more flexibility and more freedom to travel, to spend time with loved ones, to build a future. With Great Struggle Comes Great Responsibility Millennials watched their parents hustle from 9:00-to-5:00 during the Great Recessions of the late 2000’s. If they got laid off, all of those years of hard work suddenly had little to show for.   Like the GI/Greatest Generation that grew up during the Great Depression, they know that all of their luxuries could be gone within an instant. Millennials were growing up when the Twin Towers fell, as we fought the War on Terror, and as mass shootings became more and more frequent. They’re currently living through the longest government shutdown in U.S. History. They know struggle just as well as we do, perhaps even more. A mean boss or tough client is nothing compared to what they’ve witnessedâ€"and they’ll work hard to keep what they have. Patience is a Virtue Millennials and Generation Z,  who will be joining the workforce over the next few years, grew up in an era where everything became available at the touch of a button. They’re the generations of instant gratificationâ€"a confidence boost becomes available at the click of a mouse or a double tap on a smart phone. They never needed patience because nothing ever required patience. This is why they take the first job offer that comes along, without thinking it through. It’s why 21 percent of millennials leave their careers within a year. Waiting months before landing a job or even a job interview is, to most, an unheard concept. This is when the older generations put negative stereotypes onto their millennials co-workers. But, employers, let me ask you this: how can you expect them to learn patience if older generations aren’t patient with them? Millennials: Full of Hidden Value The truth is, companies would fall apart in the 21st century without the valued insight of millennials. Would any of us know how to properly engage with customers on social media? Or would be still be cold calling potential clients in yellow pages? Instead of employers rolling their eyes at the way millennials look at the workforce, and their drive to never settle for what they’ve worked hard for;  they need to recognize these trends and adapt to them. If a valued millennial worker looks elsewhere for work, find ways to keep them in the fold. Let them change your organization, or let them help develop a new subsidiary or concept. Engagement, not standard-percentage raises, has more currency these days. So let them teach us a thing or two about the workplace, and we’ll teach them the values and lessons we instilled during our journeys as successful career men and women. We’ll all be better employees for it. If nothing else, we can at least teach them how to use a fax machine. This guest post was authored by Suzanne Skees SUZANNE SKEES serves as founder/board chair of the Skees Family Foundation, which supports innovative self-help programs in the U.S. and developing countries in education and job creation. Her latest book, MY JOB, Book 2, More People at Work Around the World, will be released in March, and is available for pre-sale on Amazon.

The Wedding Details You Should be Careful Not to Forget

The Wedding Details You Should be Careful Not to Forget For your wedding day to be a complete success, you’ll need to get pretty much everything right. Failing to do that will leave you short of some important things. Most people don’t forget to book a vicar or get their wedding rings. But can you say the same about the small wedding details? It’s so easy to forget about all those little things that can help your wedding day go a little more smoothly. You don’t want them problems to hold you back, so don’t let them. As long as you plan everything in advance and think logically, you should get there in the end. It’s all about staying calm and thinking things through clearly. What could go wrong? What would make the day work from a functional perspective? And what would make the day a bit more special? These are the kinds of questions you should ask yourself. Below you will find details of some of the most important details that will enhance your wedding day. So, make sure you don’t forget about them between now and then. A Guest Book This is one of those nice and simple things that can add something extra on the day of your wedding. A guest book is there for people to write things in. They could be messages or recollections. It can be a great thing to look back on and read when you come home from the honeymoon. And it will also be something that you look back at for years and decades to come. So, make sure that you don’t forget to purchase a guest book ahead of the big day. You could regret it later on if you do. Signs and Directions If you are hosting a large wedding, the layout on the day might be large and sprawling. You should make sure that it’s completely clear where people should go when they arrive. You might be hosting the ceremony on one part of the site before heading to another part of the reception. If there are proper signage and directions to be found, people won’t end up confused or get lost. It’s something that many people forget about. But by remembering it, you can make your big day a lot less stressful for the guests who are attending. Photo Source A Plan B What is your plan B in the event of things going wrong? You should always plan for this in some way. Of course, things rarely do go so badly wrong that you have to switch venue. But it’s always good to have a backup plan. It’s most important when the ceremony is being held outside. As we all know, the weather is unpredictable, so there are plenty of things that can go wrong. If it starts to rain heavily, you’ll need an outdoor alternative to head to as a compromise. It’s not an ideal situation to find yourself in, but it’s better than getting married in the pouring rain. The Lighting You will want the venues that you spend time in on your wedding day to be properly lit. When it comes to creating the right kind of atmosphere on the day, nothing will be more important than lighting. Of course, I can’t tell you what kind of lights to use because that’s up to you. It will depend on many factors, including the theme, design choices and venue of the wedding. But it’s certainly something that you will have to give some thought to if you want the day to go well and look great. If you skip over this, it’s something that you will regret when the day actually arrives. Photo Source Guests’ Comfort The comfort of your guests should be one of your number one priorities when it comes to planning the day. When people are coming along to celebrate your marriage, it’s only right that you treat them well. So, ensure that the venue is going to have the right heating or cooling arrangements in place. There is nothing worse than spending a hot day in a place with no air conditioning. The same applies to the seating arrangements. Make sure that you have enough chairs and tables. And make sure that they are suitable for everyone. CTC Event Furniture might be suitable for you. Ways to Keep the Kids Entertained There will probably be children attending the wedding, but how will you keep them entertained? It’s easy for kids to get bored at these kinds of events. And, unlike the adults, they don’t know how to hide their boredom. They could even start causing trouble, which is not something you want to happen. It’s much better if you think about this potential problem in advance of the wedding day. That way, you can put on some specific events or activities that will keep them interested during the day. It shouldn’t be too hard to achieve this if you put your mind to it and get creative. Photo Source Menu Cards The menu cards might be small, but they’re not insignificant. They should be sitting on every table at the venue of the wedding reception. Otherwise, how will everyone know what’s to eat? It doesn’t take too long to get these made. You just need to make sure that they contain all the right information. And then you can start to worry about how they look. Ideally, their design should be in keeping with the rest of the design choices you have made in the room. But what’s most important is that you don’t forget about them altogether because that could cause significant chaos on the day. The last thing you want is for your big day to be derailed just because you didn’t give thought to the details. It can be pretty hard to make sure that all the bases are covered. There are so many major things to take care of that it’s easy to pay less attention to the details. But if you give yourself the required time, you should be able to get everything right. Title Image Source

How to Write a Resume As a Line Cook

How to Write a Resume As a Line CookIf you've decided to make a career change and to become a chef or waiter, then you need to know what writing a resume as a line cook entails. This career change is not for the faint of heart. You will be in a position to talk to strangers in order to begin your career.So, why should you do writing a resume as a line cook? This is one of the most popular online job search strategies. You will have to appear professional and be prepared for the interview. If you plan on being a line cook at a restaurant, then you must know what exactly you're going to say when you get there.In order to answer this question, you will need to have a resume. The menu lines are something you will have to memorize, because you'll be asked a lot of questions. You may also be asked to sit down with your customers and explain to them exactly what you do. Most restaurants are looking for employees that can communicate well. Therefore, if you want to be in the running, then yo u must know how to talk.Another thing that you need to do is to be able to write a resume that looks professional. To do this, you will need to do the research and find out everything you can about this kind of work. It might not be too difficult to do this since most of the time, restaurant owners will be able to provide you with all of the information you need.There are also some steps that you should take when you begin writing a resume as a line cook. For instance, you will have to list all of your skills and qualifications, as well as any training that you may have had that may have been helpful to you. Then, you will need to put in the specifics on what you have already achieved and you will also need to mention your education.If there are any specific experiences that you have had that you think might be valuable to other people, then it is a good idea to list them down as well. The person that you hire will see these things, and you may also be asked to show them where you h ave worked and how long you've been working in the industry. You will need to be open and honest, as you are going to be discussing yourself.Lastly, you need to include any jobs you may have held which may have some type of college degree. Most companies who hire employees will want to make sure that they know that you have the right experience to work in their business. You can help with this by listing anything that you have done outside of the kitchen.If you want to change careers and begin working in the kitchen, then you need to make sure that you have everything you need in order to do so. You can get free resume help on the Internet, as well as talk to friends that have had their careers change in the past. If you do a bit of research and find the right way to do this, then you will find that writing a resume as a line cook is a breeze.

Biggest Failure of Job Applicants Not Mentioning Their Accomplishments - Pathfinder Careers

Biggest Failure of Job Applicants Not Mentioning Their Accomplishments - Pathfinder Careers Biggest Failure of Job Applicants: Not Mentioning Their Accomplishments In a recent survey, many professional résumé writers cited the failure to outline the quantification of job applicant accomplishments as the number one problem with the résumés that they see. Instead of providing a list of job duties, it is now necessary to show your value to prospective employers by providing specific examples of your top-line achievements. Think in terms of actions and then results of the successful projects that youve completed or been involved with in a team setting. Look at this way: Employers want to know what your value proposition is as a prospective employee. What is it that makes you stand out over all the other similarly qualified applicants? And more importantly, they use this information to asseess what you are going to do for them. It boils down to three simple things: Employers want to know if you made a company money, saved them money or saved them time. Or, if you are in the non-profit sector, that usually translates into have you increased program services, made more people aware, or broadened your fundraising base? The key is to always show the value in the work that youve done. You should always keep a list of your accomplishments- a running tab, so to speak. And for those positions that are retroactive, going over previous performance reviews are a good source to find out the top-line achievements that make you stand out from an employers standpoint. If you position yourself as someone who is capable of having a significant positive impact on a companys bottom line, youve just made yourself stand head and shoulders over the competition, which will likely get you noticed and into an interview.

Get to it - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Get to it - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Do what you can, with what you have, where you are Theodore Roosevelt So. The book is ending. Right around this time the typical business book would probably tell you to: Set ambitious goals Prioritize those goals Set milestones Go to it with determination and willpower This might work if youre building a bridge, but it does not work for making yourself and your organization happy. I suggest that you do indeed make a plan, but that you do the exact opposite of the typical plan. So Im not going to give you the whole if you want things to get better, you must do something about it yourself and it doesnt matter if youre the CEO or the security guard, YOU can make a change spiel. Either you already know this or I cant convince you that its true. And anyway, it doesnt matter if you believe it or not. I will say this: Try to do something. You dont need to believe in it. You dont need conviction, determination or amazing CEO super powers. Just try it. Do something to create a little more happiness at work and see what happens. It may work, it may not. Find out. I suggest you do this: Visualize your happiness at work Make a happy plan Follow up without pressure Share what you do This is described below. Visualize your happiness at work What approximately are you trying to achieve? What is your work life going to look like once you have achieved more happiness at work? Why is it better than what you have today? If you know why the future youre striving for is better than the present you have, youre much more motivated to do something about it. Heres a small exercise to look at that. First find a quiet place where you wont be interrupted for the next 10 minutes or so. Then Look at the questions below, answer them one by one and write down your answers as you go. Think of a future time, where youre happy at work. Take a moment to try to visualize it. Close your eyes if youd like. When you have a feel for it, continue with the questions below. What does your workplace look like now that its happy? Whats different? What has been added, what has been removed? What colours dominate? What feel does the physical workspace give you? What does your workplace sound like? What to peoples voices sound like? What sounds dominate the space? What does your workday feel like now that youre happy at work? How do you feel when you arrive in the morning? How do you feel around lunch time? How do you feel on the commute home? On weekends? What does a bad day feel like, when youre happy at work? What do you do about it? How do you handle it? What are your co-workers like? What do you say to each other? How do you say it? If a total stranger were to sit in on a staff meeting, what would he think? What would he say about you and your co-workers? How do your clients/customers react to all this happiness? How do they interact with you, now that youre happy at work? How do you treat them? How do you handle problems and conflicts? How do people react when things go badly? What kind of results do you get at work? How do you get them? How do you celebrate when things go well? Take your time. If a question doesnt make sense or doesnt speak to you, just skip it. Make a happy plan Lets plan. But lets not fall into the usual trap and: Set an ambitious goal Make a 20 step plan complete with Gantt charts and deadlines. Commit to absolutely, positively fulfill the plan no matter what Fall behind on the plan because, surprise, its difficult to take time out for your 20 action items when theres real work to be done Lose heart and drop the whole thing because, apparently it wasnt important enough or we would have done it Does that process sound familiar at all? I invite you to do this instead: Make a plan thats fun, rather than ambitious Choose so few actions that you dont need to prioritize and tasks so simple that you dont need to set milestones Do it with absolutely no pressure to succeed In short, go for the low-hanging fruit. Get some quick, easy wins. Then go on from there. Look at the table below and fill it out. Youll notice that it only has place for five action items, and thats all youre allowed to plan now. Just five actions, each of which must be: Fast something you can do now or in the next weeks time Easy something you absolutely, positively know you can do. If youre not quite sure if you can pull it off, think of something even simpler that you know you can do. Fun something youll enjoy doing And of course it must be something that will make you and/or others a little happier at work. If you dont want to write in your copy of the book you can download a document that you can use instead from my blog at www.positivesharing.com/happyatworkbook. As you make your plan, I have one major tip for you: Involve others. Sure its possible to go it alone, absolutely, but its much easier and much more fun to do it together with others. So invite your co-workers to be a part of the project. Be sure to invite people who are sympathetic to the idea of happiness at work, particularly people who are: Naturally happy Fun to be around Have energy to spare Get together. Kick some ideas around. Try the easiest and most fun ones. This is what the nurses at the H4 childrens ward did (see chapter X) and look how well it worked for them. Its even better if you can come up with an idea that is self-reproducing, ie. one that spreads itself throughout the workplace. For instance, you could send an email to five co-workers, praising their work, and end the email by asking them fo each send an email to five other co-workers, praising them. Or make a piece of paper with a list of Reasons why our department (or project team or workgroup or ) rocks. You write the first reason at the top, and pass it on to a co-worker who must do the same and pass it on. When everybody has contributed, hang the paper somewhere highly visible. In each of these cases, your initial effort is very small, but it involves a lot of people each of whom get to contribute. Call me lazy, but I loooooove this approach :o) Follow up without pressure Once a week (every monday morning is the perfect time for it), take a look at your happiness plan. Call it a rolling plan: When youve done one or two of the things on your list, add one or two new ones so you always have 5 things you want to do for your happiness at work but remember: It must all be fast, easy and fun! When you follow up, do NOT: Beat yourself up over not having had time to do any of the things on your list. Theres no rush. Create any pressure to make any of the items on your plan work. They work or they dont work. Either is fine. Take all the pressure out of it. You cant really pressure your self into being happy Share what you do If youve come up with something that works, dont keep it a secret. Share the great ideas, tips, tools and whatever else you come up with. Share it inside the company, or even better, share it with the world on my blog www.positivesharing.com/happyatworkbook. Look for a page called Share you experience where you can tell the whole world how youve tried to make others happy and whether or not it worked. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. 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