Greater Milwaukee Jobs

2 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS • December 4, 2014 an email address where applicants can fill out an application or send their resumes. This is a necessary step, and applicants should follow the directions in the posting. But applicants who really want to get noticed can take the extra step of finding the contact information for the company's hiring manager and sending their resume directly to that person's email address. Include the title of the position you're applying for in the subject line of your email, and cut and paste your cover letter into the body of the email. In addition to sending your email to the compa- ny's hiring manager, consider CC'ing the person who might be your boss if you were to get the position. • Tighten things up. Your resume should reflect your work experience, but you want to focus primarily on the experience and skills that are relevant to the posi- tion. You can list past positions or internships you've had, but keep the synopsis of those positions brief if they bear little relevance to the position for which you're applying. The main focus of your resume should be the things you have done in the past that make you the best candidate for this job. This might change as you apply for various positions, but tailor each resume to each specif- ic position. • Make your resume down- load-friendly. Applying for posi- tions but getting little response despite your qualifications? Chances are your resume might not be download-friendly. Bullet points and boxes might look good to you, but if the hiring manager on the receiving end of your resume does not have the same version of the program you're using, that resume might look like a scrambled mess by the time the it's downloaded. In such instances your resume is almost certain to end up in the scrap heap, no matter how qualified you might be. When uploading your resume to a company Web site or email- ing it to a hiring manager, choose a format they can easily down- load. A PDF, for example, is a format that's easy to download and unlikely to scramble. • Beware of hyperlinks. Adding hyperlinks to a resume can be hit or miss. When it's a hit, a hiring manager can click on a link in your resume and be taken directly to samples of your work. However, if you're asked to submit your resume via an online application instead of sending it directly to a hiring manager's email address, then those same hyperlinks might be relegating your application to the trash bin before it's ever seen. That's because the database may be pro- grammed to associate any docu- ments with hyperlinks as spam, in which case the hiring manager will never see your application or resume. Hyperlinks can be useful and help you stand out, but only when they're employed under the right circumstances. • Include social media profiles. More and more companies want get noticed . . . from page 1 Students in high school have long been encouraged to enroll in secondary education to fur- ther their future career prospects. While a college degree is a prerequisite for many careers, it is not manda- tory for every job. In fact, there are many potentially lucrative lines of work that do not require a degree, and these careers often appeal to those young people who are discour- aged by the high cost of college or those who have grown tired of the classroom atmosphere. Many lines of work that do not require a college degree do require trade school certifica- tion. The good news is that trade school typically takes less time to complete than a more traditional four-year degree and such courses of study tend to be less expensive than college degrees. These factors may be why the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics says eight of the 10 fastest-growing occupations in 2014 do not require a bache- lor's degree. The following jobs are potentially lucrative but do not require a college degree. • Ship captain: A captain will navigate a vessel and manage the crew. Additionally, he or she will comply with interna- tional and local laws. Captains can expect an average salary of $87,000. • Web developer: Many web developers are self-taught, and many more supplement their natural skills by taking a few classes here and there. Web developers earn very good salaries, with a median salary of $75,000. • Tradesman: Plumbers, brick- layers, marble setters, and Lucrative careers that don't require a degree see GET NOTICED… page 6 see LUCRATIVE CAREERS … page 6 A publication of Conley Media Distributed by: Conley Distribution 262-513-2646 ©2004 by Conley Media, LLC Waukesha County Independent and Locally Owned GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS is published weekly by Conley Media – Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS assumes no liability for any error in copy or content. It is the advertiser's responsibility to be aware of the laws pertaining to employment advertising. Subscriptions are available for $34 (non-refundable) for a 6-month subscription. Call 262-306-5035 for information. Call Center Director: Cindy Shaske 262-306-5016 cshaske@conleynet.com Account Executive: Jeanne Bonlender 262-306-5035 jbonlender@conleynet.com Story Coordinator: Dwayne Butler 262-513-2626 dbutler@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262-513-2690 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS Volume 17 • Number 13 December 4, 2014 To place an ad: Call us at 262-306-5035 or fax us at 262-542-6082 deadline: Noon on Wednesdays Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at lizdeliverchange.com. Succeeding in a less-structured work environment By Liz Reyer Star Tribune (Minneapolis) & A Q Q. I've taken a job in a new department at my company, and it's been a hard transition. I'm a very structured person, and my new group doesn't have set processes or ways of doing things (which I think we need). How should I handle this? A. Acceptance and adjustment on both sides will help you make the transition. THE INNER GAME Just as individuals have tempera- ments, so do teams and organiza- tions. Regarding these as legitimate differences can help neutralize your reaction so that you're not in a "right vs. wrong" state of mind. Imagine, for example, what either option (structured vs. flexible) looks like in the extreme. Have fun with this, creating outrageous stereotypes to help you see how far apart, or close, you really are. Take some time for reflection, thinking about core values vs. pref- erences and habits. For example, consider this: If you decide to just go with the flow on a particular project, would you say it cuts close to your personal identity or makes you uncomfortable because it's dif- ferent? How are you getting on with the people? Even though they may have different work styles than you, it'll be easier to adjust if you're establishing mutual respect. (If they are not respectful of you and your style, that's another matter.) Then think about the reasons you were hired. It's very possible that your new boss was looking for a balance to the flexible approach that currently prevails in the department. If this isn't clear to you, have a chat about it so that you feel more grounded in your perspective. Finally, think about alternative possible outcomes.What would be your ideal with this team, what does it look like, how does work get done, how do people interact? What would be an unsustainable option, where you'd decide to pursue a different option? And how long do you want to dedicate to making this work? THE OUTER GAME As a first step, try creating struc- ture for yourself, knowing that it's likely to be disrupted.As a planner, you probably already build in plenty of contingencies – take that to the next level. When you can, engage the side of you that feels better when things are under con- trol so that need is met. It may make it easier to feel less in con- trol in other situations. Talk to your boss and then your teammates about style differences. If you haven't done so, an assess- ment such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator may help make it vivid to all of you, and also high- light the benefits of diversity. Challenge yourself to move out of your comfort zone. Force your- self to move forward with incom- plete information, take steps with- out a 100 percent clear outcome, or adapt to the less structured approach in some other way.You'll likely find that you grow as a result. And be patient. Adapting to a new work environment takes time. If you're just in your first weeks or months there, you may still just be getting used to things. Celebrate successes as they come, and practice dealing with ambigui- ty in the meantime. THE LAST WORD As you learn from others' styles, they'll benefit from yours, too.

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