jobs – Page 5 – Careers with Michelle

How To Get Past The Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Posted on August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 by careerswithmichelle

I am sure many of you are aware of what an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is, since all job applications are required to be submitted online. Back then, job seekers had it way easier. They just had to rely on the newspaper and telephone, and they will be asked by the employer to come in for an interview. However, they have since, revolutionized the hiring process and the labor market in a blink of an eye.

Image via Jobscan
To find out more about how Applicant Tracking Systems have evolved, their article gives useful facts on their infographic.

An ATS is basically a robot that is programmed to pre-screen the applicant’s resume before the hiring team gets a chance to lay their eyes on them. Obviously, it is not as intelligent as humans are, since it is pre-programmed to do what it has to do.

The ATS is programmed to scan for specific keywords that the employer has entered into the system. Some resumes will only be selected to move on to the next step, based on the keywords that the employer has configured. Many employers use the ATS as a way to screen out candidates by asking knockout questions. This is a way to determine which candidates are able/willing or unable/unwilling to perform a job function. For instance, if an ATS is programmed to eliminate resumes that do not hold a Bachelor’s Degree, then those with an Associate’s Degree will definitely not be considered. Here are more examples of the types of knockout questions to look out for when applying on an online portal/job board.

The ATS has simplified the hiring process for employers, since 75% of recruiters and talent managers use some form of recruiting or applicant tracking software; according to Capterra.

On the other hand, causing it to be opposite for job seekers – the ATS makes their job search process more challenging and stressful as they have to pay close attention to every little detail. According to Mashable, nearly 80% described their job search as time-consuming and stressful, and many reported that they would be deterred from completing an application if they encountered tech hurdles (60%), couldn’t upload their resume (55%), couldn’t follow up on the application’s status (44%) or couldn’t complete the application on a mobile device (20%).

The nitty-gritty of getting past the ATS is to analyze and study the job description and keywords carefully as you tailor your resume to what they are looking for. Many job applicants tend to just submit their resume without tweaking their resume to the positions that they are applying for. Always make sure your resume matches the job description and that it has the exact keywords listed.

Note: The ATS is unable to distinguish the difference between the terms CPA and Certified Public Accountant, it is always more safe to list the whole word out instead of abbreviating or shortening it.

Note: Make sure your resume font and format is simple, organized and consistent. If a resume looks too fancy and abstract with colors, images, symbols and other unnecessary stuff, the ATS may count it as unqualified and will move on to the next resume. According to Forbes, studies have shown that up to 75% of qualified applicants are rejected by ATS programs because they can’t be read. You don’t want to be one of the 75%.

DO’s

Keep your font simple. Use Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial or any font that looks “appropriate” and “legible”. Make sure the size font is between 10-12. No bigger, no smaller.
Use simple bullet points like the one I am using at the moment or even a dash (-) works as well. Just make sure it isn’t a special kind of symbol because that can program the ATS to view your resume as “unqualified” and you don’t want to jeopardize a qualified resume just because of an unrecognizable symbol.
Consistent formatting. This is important to ensure that your resume will pass an ATS, so that it would not confuse the system.
- Margin Size: 1 inch
- Left Alignment is the way to go because that is the standard way of reading. Don’t center it or align it to the right. Definitely, do not include text boxes. I’ve seen some job seekers do that. This will just confuse the ATS. If we all read from left to right, that is how the ATS will be programmed to read it as well.
- Length: Keep it minimum at 1 page and maximum at 2 pages. Remember, make sure it has the included keywords and is visually appealing to the employer! You are not writing a Curriculum Vitae. Unless you are applying for a profession that you have had years of experience in and highlighting publications that are linked to the work you do, (i.e., college professor), there is no need to go past 2 pages with irrelevant experience. Know how to distinguish the difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae.
- Font: As mentioned in the first bullet point.
Your resume should aim towards the specific position. Like I have mentioned earlier, read and study the job descriptions. Always always always, keep a look out for specific keywords whether it is in the required qualifications or preferred qualifications that involves your education, competencies/skill sets, licenses, trainings and experience.
Do your research on the employer! Make sure you are always tweaking your resume based on their mission, goals and culture.
- How can you be of value to them? How does your experience, education, skill sets match the employer’s needs of the role?
Make sure your section headers are simple: “Objective”/”Professional Summary”, “Skills”, “Certifications/Licenses”, “Work History”/”Experience”, “Education”

DON’Ts

Unless you are a graphic designer, avoid including images, graphics, tables/charts, special fonts or unrecognizable symbols. The ATS is programmed to read simple and straightforward things.
As mentioned in the DO’s section, section headers are preferred to be simple rather than overdone. An ATS will not understand “Where I Attended School”. So leave it as “Education”.
Do not misuse keywords. Use them where you see fit.
So many job seekers that I have assisted often put on the bottom of their resume, “References Available Upon Request”. This consumes space and employers obviously know that if needed, they will contact you for it.
Select the right file type for your resume. To play it safe, upload your resume as a .doc, .docx or .pdf file. These are the most common and preferred formats. It just looks more appealing to employers as well.
- Please avoid using specialty formats such as .dot, .dotx, .rtf, .txt, .htm, .docm, .dotm, .xml, .mht because not only are employers unable to access the file, but many ATS can’t read them.
Categorize your section headers carefully.
- If the employer is seeking specific skills (pro tip: when they list the requirements/qualifications, pay attention to those on the top as those are what they looking for in a candidate the most) and you have that, you may want to shift your skills section to the top while leaving your experience and education to the bottom.
- If the employer is seeking 5+ years in talent management and you’ve been a talent lead or in the HR team for over a decade, you may want to put your experience first and highlight those relevant skills as you go along.
Never list your job duties using other terms other than action verbs!
When listing out your experience, make sure you do not include the word “I”. It should always be in third person as if you are the narrator of your resume.

Still need more career and resume advice on how to tackle the ATS and ensure that you land your dream job/career? Check out TopResume’s useful article and their informative infographic about ATS.

What To Do If Your Internship or Job Offer Was Rescinded Due to the Recession: VOLUNTEER

Posted on July 29, 2020July 30, 2020 by careerswithmichelle

COVID-19 has done collateral damage to our economy and markets, with the labor market being one of the many that has been heavily impacted. This leaves our job seekers feeling stranded and hopeless. If you are seeking an internship or if you are having a tough time throughout your job search because your offer has been rescinded due to the hiring freeze, I understand how strenuous this can be. However, volunteering would be your best bet at the moment to building your career. Yes, no one likes unpaid work however, being involved with your community can actually help you not only build your experience and skill sets, but it will also help build potential connections that could open doors for your future career.

Many students or recent graduates who have received an internship/job offer right before the global health crisis hit OR those who have even lost their jobs that they love and have been working with their employer for over a decade, is HARD. You are not alone. There are over 30 million others in the U.S. who are in the same boat as you. It is extremely detrimental and discouraging for those who have been out of the workforce for so long, and those who have social anxiety and depression because this can cause low self esteem issues during their job search.

Job searching is not easy because it is still a full-time job for the unemployed. Oftentimes, thoughts like these can cloud the mind – “I’m afraid of rejection”, “Most of these jobs don’t sit well with me”, “I don’t know where/how to begin”, “No one will hire me, I’m worthless”, “I don’t have the skills that they are looking for”, “I have employment gaps”. Do not become your own opponent. Do not let those negative thoughts consume you. It is okay to start from square one. It is okay if you feel like you are behind all of your friends who are working in big corporations. You are not behind. This is not a race because everyone’s careers have different outsets and paths. And of course, employment gaps are definitely understandable during this time, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT that this recession occurred.

So, with all of the free time that you have at the moment – why not consider volunteering? If you are looking for something productive to do, this is it. This is how you can keep yourself sane during unprecedented times like this, let alone your unemployment period.

Like I have mentioned earlier, volunteer work actually helps you gain access to a bigger network – which will open doors to your next job/career that may be waiting for you. For example, if you are an aspiring journalist – you may want to pitch yourself to an organization or business within the industry to write articles or press releases for free. Volunteering makes it easier for you during your future job search since every new connection you make at the organization can become one of your potential references.

Volunteering also helps you acquire skill sets, such as soft skills that will be transferable within the labor market. These soft skills include paying close attention to detail, excellent communication skills, good listening skills, time management, etc.

All in all, volunteering is not just a gap filler for your resume or LinkedIn – however it is a good way for employers to see in general. It is still “work” after all. Volunteers hold the soft skills that employers look for in an ideal candidate. It tells the employer that this candidate is someone who takes initiative and is driven by the work/passion that they deliver to the communities.

When we all think of volunteering, the purpose of doing so is for a good cause, right? Many job seekers tell me that they are embarrassed to include it in their resumes or LinkedIn profiles. There should be no reason to feel that way. It is something you should be proud of when highlighting your volunteer experience on your resume. Think of it as an accomplishment and showcase your leadership – that you have proven to take ownership by helping vulnerable communities and those in need, because chances are that you will outshine the other candidates; in addition to getting noticed by potential employers and recruiters.

While this economic recession and global health crisis will continue to impact our economies and markets, it is important that we collectively remain hopeful and build our self-confidence as we travel through this period of uncertainty together.

Virtual Interview Tips For Job Seekers and Interviewees

Posted on July 18, 2020July 23, 2020 by careerswithmichelle

Due to COVID-19, many individuals have been permanently/temporarily laid off and furloughed by their employers. I have seen and heard from a handful of individuals who have been raving about offering advice in enhancing their interview skills.

As many sectors and industries are starting to bustle and slowly pick back up on their hiring, many of us are all still on a stay at home order, this could be a great opportunity to practice and enhance our virtual interview skills on during our downtime.

Below, are outlined pointers and constructive suggestions on what many interviewees may be lacking on. Hopefully, these will provide actionable insights on their blind spots.

A strategy that interviewees can use to respond to the behavioral questions, are by using the STAR method (specific Situation, Task, Action, and Result of the situation you are describing) and break down examples into a 1, 2, 3 process – three strengths and accomplishments.
Interviewees would need to come up with an overview of experiences and look into the camera and the interviewer. Have specific examples of strengths at the workplace; don’t start talking about weaknesses. Make sure to highlight your contributions in handling difficult situations and be specific. Every answer should highlight your skills in some way and how you’ve used it in the work environment.
Think about common interview questions as starting points, and the interview might go in different directions based on the interviewee’s responses. This way, the interviewee can think about he/she wants to expand on. For instance, if you talk about your degree, you could explain how it ties in to your prospective job. If you discuss about empathizing with a customer making a complaint, the follow-up questions might be on how you handled the complaint.
Before considering submitting your application before wondering if you’d get selected to the interview, ALWAYS be sure to highlight achievements on the resume and make sure your resume have consistent formatting style.
- The resume needs to explain what motivated you to apply for the X position and why you feel that you are a good fit.
- The resume needs to highlight the achievements and recognition that you have received in your previous roles.
Provide more relevant examples when answering these interview questions. Emphasize motivations of the job application.
- Use storytelling skills to help the interviewer better understand your experience.
- When telling your story, do not repeat your resume. Talk beyond your resume! Show your background interest and indicate a turning point/motivation as to why you’re here.
It is crucial to give more context and nuances of your experiences and highlighting your skills. Some interviewees tend to answer questions by giving quick answers in a list format. This makes it hard for the interviewer to extract the interviewee’s skill sets from those kinds of responses.
- Your answers should not lack details. Being more abstract in your answers could help the interviewer to better understand you by preparing a story (with numbers, how you helped benefit the company, client testimonials, etc) that can be used to convince the interviewer.
- Brainstorm some good projects during school, your contribution, how/why the project was challenging and how you tackled it. It would be ideal if you can highlight these utilizing numbers.
You should tie the relevance of your studies/degrees together (those who are college graduates), answers should be focused on your experience (whether it was short or extensive), providing good specific answers and supportive examples, showing your independent work skills, freelance/self-employed work (if applicable) and teamwork skills.
- If you are a bilingual/trilingual/multilingual native speaker, you should emphasize that! Especially for those who have bilingual experience. This is very important to highlight since this is an asset to have for many employers.
Here is the part that most interviewees lack on. What you should do is to be more prepared for questions related to the role that you are applying for. You should be able to prove your knowledge and passion for the field/role in general. Be ready with 2-3 examples of how your previous projects/work will be able to help with that respective job/role related to your field of interest.
Interviewees sometimes answer their weakness questions too quickly however, be sure to expand on how you will work on that in your future interviews! How will you work to improve on that weakness and what you can learn from that weakness?
- For example, you may want to explain how you are developing your own skills outside of work or during your downtime (learning Microsoft suite, attending relevant webinars) in between jobs – this shows you’re taking initiative and that you care about personal growth.
- Interviewees should try to be more concise with responses to really get the point across. Explain your experience in chronological order to tell a better story of all the skills that have been developed. How will these developed skills help with future roles? Practice telling stories of situations at work that will prove the skills that you have. Have 2-3 examples/stories prepared, so you can answer behavioral questions. Approach questions with confidence – don’t let them know that you’re thinking about an answer or that a question is making you nervous.
Be ready to clarify any questions that may arise about your resume. Like, what does CMS stand for? It can stand for a lot of things. Customer Management Services, for instance. It is recommended that you should spell it out so that the interviewer does not have a hard time figuring it out.
- Generally speaking, you should avoid acronyms on resumes especially if you are applying through their website since chances are – you will have to go through an Applicant Tracking System because it is tailored to the job description’s needs so you want to include everything word for word.
Don’t be too insecure! You have the experience already! Now you should just practice more, and work on being more concise with your answers. Focus on the opportunity that you’re interviewing for, what you like about the company and the job description, instead of focusing on the loss.
Spend more time talking about yourself, than others in your team. Don’t give them too much credit. You are who the interviewer is more interested in learning about, not your team. They want to know what skills you can bring to the table.
While answering questions, interviewees should shorten the context that they give and focus on telling the story in a way that answers the question. You should keep in mind to always be as specific as possible when talking about what you’ve done/accomplished and touch on why it mattered or how you helped other people/the outcome of a project.
- You should bring up concrete examples that can address the question and keep highlighting the impact of your actions. Interviewees should specify about how they went about doing something (such as examples of steps they took to accomplish or overcome something and what they learned from that) or their rationale for convincing others to do the same.
Interviewees may start off with an excellent way of introducing themselves, however they can work on reordering and structuring their introductions to be more cohesive.
Highlight your skills and experiences that will be applicable to the role that you are looking for (need to brag a little, don’t be shy, don’t short sell)
Call out soft skills as a bonus, highlight “hard” skills relevant for the role first. For instance, if you are applying for finance/analyst roles, highlight the analytical skills and experiences first; instead of highlighting having empathy or being well-rounded first. If looking into compliance roles, highlight your auditing related experiences first.
As we all know, a good interviewee is a clear communicator and gives thoughtful answers. Be more confident – don’t say you think you’re not qualified for role because a lot of job seekers tend to accidentally blurt that out because of their loss of hope after receiving multiple rejections.
- Interviewees should show their self-motivation through various examples by emphasizing that more instead of keeping it implicit, so the interviewee can try to touch on these through the interviewer’s questions – in such a way where they can think about how their work experience in other fields carries over to their desired role.
For those who are applying for software development/engineer roles, a good interviewee expresses their interest clearly in different topics and by keeping up-to-date with new technologies.
- For this particular role, expect the interviews to be more technical rather than behavioral. Talk more and sustain a back-and-forth with the interviewer. (Ask questions, share thoughts aloud, etc). You should possess good ideas related and think through the problem well.
- In case you are asked to perform unit tests in the interview, it is better to be prepared because it is all about first impression. Practice verifying the code without relying on a compiler. Are you able to supply your own test cases? Can you run through your code with a test case and spot bugs without running the code?
It is recommended that interviewees should always ask follow up questions toward the end when an interviewer asks “Do you have any questions?” to show them your continued interest and your consideration for the job; this also helps the interviewee understand real intentions behind a question.
This is obvious, however to bring this up as a reminder – regardless of which spectrum you lie on, you should never bring up politics on interviews.

Is This The End of the World for the Fashion Industry? Or Is It A New Era? Will It Survive?

Posted on June 20, 2020April 19, 2021 by careerswithmichelle

While fashion retail stores are usually one season ahead of the game – in addition to collaborating closely with designers and manufacturers, they were supposed to be selling summer clothing (during the spring season) while placing orders for the Fall (during the summer season). But due to the current health and economic crisis, orders and new looks are being cancelled/returned since everyone is on a stay at home order. So what does this mean for the manufacturers and designers? Due to the uncertainties of the future outlook, does this mean that there will be fewer pieces being created for outdoor gear/street wear and more pieces on loungewear? How will fashion designers be able to manifest their creativity in the years to come? This is definitely not an easy pill to swallow.

Amid the Coronavirus chaos, this impact on the fashion industry spells disaster as many retail companies, design houses and garment factories struggle to stay afloat – due to the massive elimination of positions and filing for bankruptcy chapters. Neiman Marcus, J. Crew and JCPenney were a few of the many brands who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 2020. Aside from the hospitality industry proven to be one of the hardest hit, we can see that the fashion industry is also up in the air. According to the Washington Post, the article reported that “Macy’s announced it will furlough most of its 125,000 workers as sales evaporated with the shuttering of 775 stores. Kohl’s and Gap also announced furloughs of about 80,000 each.” In addition, CNBC reported that Best Buy has also furloughed about 51,000 hourly employees, affecting mainly their part-time employees while full-time employees will remain on their payroll.

Retail stores and their day-to-day operations are dying, while e-commerce is flourishing and thriving. Runway shows, trade shows and presentations have been canceled/suspended/rescheduled. The way that the fashion industry has been surviving lately – factories are mainly focused on producing face masks and generating hand sanitizers to assist the communities.

We have already reached the end of June and we are still in the midst of this global crisis, coupled with nationwide racial tensions so thick that you can feel it in the air. Due to the recent events and protests of the Black Lives Matter movement, it has severely affected the fashion retail industry across the nation as many stores were vandalized and remain closed due to looting. NYC stores in Soho and Herald-Square 34th Street as well as Queens Center Mall, has been boarded up with names listed of those who’s lives were lost and other phrases that relate to anti-racism of the Black and Brown community such as, “Say Their Name”, “Celebrate Your Freedom – Juneteenth”, “Let’s Legalize Humanity” and “One Love”.

Luxury fashion brands are also stepping back from this year’s New York Fashion Week shows (including those in London, Milan, Paris, Seoul, etc.) and some designers like Michael Kors are not planning to host any shows or presentations in 2021 either. The NYFW runway shows are always held biannually, one around February and one in September. I have attended many in the past and it was always a wonderful experience to see new creative designs/pieces for next fashion season as I have always enjoyed keeping up with current fashion trends. This postponement has been hard for me to process since I have always looked forward to attending their next biannual runway shows – and it has become a habit for me. No matter how busy my schedule would get, I somehow always managed to find a way to attend at least 1-2 shows during the given week.

I guess I will have to go back to Megan Hess’s NYFW illustrations and pretend that there will be NYFW this Fall season. She was the one who has inspired me to go into fashion illustrations during my free time when I was an undergraduate student. Below are some of my favorite NYFW drawings from her. Feel free to shop for her illustrations here!

The Met Gala, also known as the Super Bowl of Fashion which is also another big event that is held annually on the first Monday of May at one of NYC’s famous tourist attractions on the Upper East Side, the Metropolitan Museum of Art – has been postponed as well, disrupting the fashion calendar of many. Instead, it went virtual that evening on Vogue’s YouTube channel, walking down memory lane on last year’s Met Gala. For those of you who are not a fashion geek, this event is a way to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. This year has been a whole new ball game for the fashion community.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has partnered up with Vogue in March, to pioneer a “Common Thread” funding initiative. This allows designers to use their platforms and speak up on how this epidemic has affected their businesses, while they are also seeking for ways to implement effective strategies for fundraising.

The goal is to raise both awareness and needed funds for those in the American fashion community who have been impacted by COVID-19.
A Common Thread – CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund for COVID-19 Relief

So, are we entering a new era of fashion? While remote work has taken over the world, it is not surprising to see that London Fashion Week has been promptly preparing for the September 2020 show virtually. While layoffs, furloughs and economic hardship will continue to trail behind, the CDFA also took swift actions in partnering with National Retail Federation and the American Apparel & Footwear Association, to seek for financial assistance such as grants to keep employees on company payroll and temporary rent and tariff reliefs.

Fashion is definitely going to survive. However, certain positions will become obsolete especially for frontline retail leadership/managerial positions. Several friends and clients of mine who were all employed in long-term managerial positions have been recently let go from Coach, Forever21, H&M, Century 21 and other clothing brands due to this epidemic. Sales associates and cashiers, let’s be honest. With e-commerce on the rise, these positions are not going to be needed as we move towards online transactions. And going back to my last question in the first paragraph, I can see that designers are also facing a big obstacle right now. While many positions can be carried on remotely, it is almost impossible for designers. Proper fittings and patternmakers are the big blockers of a Zoom conference call. That is just not going to work.

How will fashion change in our post-pandemic world? Right now, I think that the most important thing rather than worrying about the impacts of cash flow going in and out of the business, is that industry leaders should be focused on coming up with ways to create sustainable solutions in repowering the supply chain. That is the way that the fashion industry can rescue itself.

A Career Snapshot of James G. Norman – Exploring The Corporate Finance World

Posted on June 14, 2020September 1, 2020 by careerswithmichelle

James G. Norman has always been passionate about financial literacy and is very well acquainted with the business world since his teenage years.

Throughout his early years at The High School of Economics and Finance, he has held prestigious internships at Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four accounting firms as well as Moody’s Corporation, which is a credit rating, research and risk analysis firm located at the World Trade Center – in the heart of the Financial District. He recently graduated from Susquehanna University on May of 2018, holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management. Right out of graduation, he was offered a full-time role as a Financial Institutions Group Analyst from Moody’s, which comprised of insurance and asset management.

James started his new role as a Risk Management & Analytics Associate on January 2020 and was recently promoted to a Risk Mitigation Manager at TheGuarantors, a Fintech company that offers innovative insurance risk/products and financial solutions for the real estate ecosystem in residential and commercial properties.
I can confidently say that anyone who has closely worked with James, is extremely grateful during a pivotal time in their career and any team would be privileged to have him as a leader. James has successfully scaled business and tackled challenging numbers during his time at TheGuarantors. While he is transitioning his responsibilities into his new role, I can assure that he is bound to build a great culture for his team from the ground up to succeed. James is the definition of a T-shaped business leader, leveraging his breadth of experience and inherent curiosity to tackle new challenges and surface actionable solutions that have long-lasting impact on the company.

He is in transition from finance to public service as he has always enjoyed working with the community and giving back. At just the age of 24, James has accomplished so many incredible things – let alone, achieving extraordinary success so early in his life.

James G. Norman, Susquehanna University ’18

When I think of James, this saying comes to my mind:

The idea of the young prodigy is by no means a modern phenomenon.

When it comes to James’ presence and reputation, I only have positive things to say about him, his leadership, his motivational speeches, his incredible relationship building, his keen intelligence and his business acumen in the professional world. He is a visionary, an inspiration, a role model and an original to many.

James as a keynote/alumni speaker at Working In Support of Education’s (W!se) 20th Anniversary Celebration held at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

James is a very goal oriented and gifted kind of individual who’s qualities outshine in a way that truly motivates his peers, classmates and colleagues to hit their own individual goals. From the way he presents himself in front of a group of Millennials and Generation Z’s, I can see the emotion that’s written on him as he speaks. He shows humor, empathy and compassion in the work that he does. James is a quick problem solver and would swiftly turn around any obstacle into a great learning experience, despite any challenges and blockers.

James and alumni giving back at the High School of Economics and Finance Seminar

Being the dedicated and well versed professional that James is, he truly believes that if you want to achieve something, that you will do it. He is eager and driven in giving back to his community and setting young students up for success by teaching them financial literacy, identifying their personal/professional goals, developing leadership skills and planning career moves and transitions. The one who always goes the extra mile and is airtight in his delivery. Many great things will come of the financial sector and the NYC community due to his excellent work ethic coupled with his go-getter attitude/mindset.

Finance is very dynamic field due to the expansion of the global economy, the proliferation of new financial instruments, and the fluctuations in laws and regulations.

Is finance a dream career that you are looking to pursue OR a career that you are looking to transition into? Are you mathematically gifted and love working with numbers? Do you possess strong analytical and quantitative skills? Then this may be the trajectory that you want to take.

Not only do companies seek for the hard skills, however soft skills are just as major. According to GoGig, many companies hire finance employees based on personality as well – such as those who hold common traits of resilience, curiosity, persistence, loyalty, integrity and professionalism, team spirit, empathy, and sense of humor.

Below, James outlines a more detailed career snapshot of his journey.

• Many folks are uncertain about their career path until they enter college and even after they graduate. How did you know that this trajectory was “the one” for you? In other words, what propelled you to go into the finance sector?

From a young age my godfather, Leslie Roberts, introduced me to the world of finance. I remember in the summertime I would visit him in New Jersey and some days we would just go to the library to learn the ins and outs of the stock market. That is what birthed my interest. No pun intended. That combined with knowing I loved business and helping individuals solidified my interest down the line. People hold their finances near and dear to them. So, if I can help improve that aspect of their life in any capacity, I am happy.

• You have an excellent proven track record as a business leader throughout high school, college and the clubs/organizations that you were a member of. Could you tell us more about how these experiences molded you personally and professionally?

I have always enjoyed using my skills to help people or improve processes. I actively take opportunities that will allow me to do this. Throughout my academic career I was afforded many. One of my favorites was being CEO of my Virtual Enterprise class during my senior year of high school. This was a class but took on the format of an actual business. We specialized in selling 401K plans to other “businesses” across other high schools. This experience allowed me to learn a great deal about myself as an emerging leader and professional. I learned how to work with many different personalities and unify them to accomplish one common goal. I also learned that when you are tasked with leading, you must take the good with the not so good. As a company we did well but we did have our bumps, however it brought out the best in us. This experience set me up for what was to come in college and my professional career. I also took on many other positions such as SGA Treasurer and my fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma’s, Treasurer in college. I was able the use my skills in financial management to create budgets and funding that would prove beneficial to all stakeholders of these respective organizations.

• You have held various roles throughout your career in the field of finance. Which one would you say is your favorite and why?

My favorite position in the field of finance to this date would have to be my internship of Summer ’16 at Moody’s in their Treasury department. I had an active hand in the cash management section of the team. Being trusted with some of those checks made me feel official because those amounts were crazy. My boss, Zeeshan, was a savant when it came to treasury. I learned so much from our 1 on 1s. Lastly, I was able to work closely with the Treasurer and CFO of the company. They knew me on a first name basis, and I sat in on many meetings with them leading. It was an overall cool experience that I will never forget.

• I know that you recently started a new role at TheGuarantors. What does your current role involve? What do you enjoy about it? Are there any challenges?

My role at The Guarantors is a Risk Mitigation Manager. I am responsible for making sure our loss ratio is as low as possible. Being that we are a real estate tech start-up that specializes in providing insurance products, we need to make sure that we limit the amount of loss we take on. I do this by making sure tenants are honoring their lease obligations as well as being in constant contact with landlords and property managers for when cases do arise. This is my main responsibility, however given the nature of start-ups, I wear many different hats around to the company. I enjoy being given free range and the trust to control my own projects and responsibilities. Knowing that my work is directly impacting the success of the company is something that makes me put my best foot forward. There a few challenges, however. The main one being that in a company structure like mine, it is learn as you go. There are sometimes where mistakes are made but it gives you the chance to remedy and learn from the situation. This just comes with the territory.

• What key skills are entailed to be successful as a Risk Management & Analytics Associate?

Some key skills that are vital in being a successful Risk Associate are great communication, attention to detail, empathy, and negotiation. You need to be able to get your point across clearly and concisely to stakeholders, no matter what the problem is. Attention to detail is important because we deal with a lot of numbers and documentation. One missed piece of information can be detrimental. When dealing with tenants, you must be empathetic of their personal financial situations. This will in turn show them that they are valued and will prove helpful in trying to accomplish a predetermined conclusion. My mother always told me “you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar.” Lastly, you must possess great negotiation skills. I constantly am trying to negotiate lease changing options with tenants or recover losses from them. Finding out how to best glean your desired outcome has proven to be a skill.

• Some of the job seekers and recent college graduates (with minimal to no experience) that I’ve coached, don’t know where to begin when it comes to networking. Do you have any useful tips to offer and potentially share a success story on how your experience in networking with professionals got you to where you are today?

It sounds cliché, but networking will honestly take you farther than any job application ever will. This means that building relationships across the industry whether small or large always has the potential to pay off. Remember that a relationship is not only what one can do for you, but what you can also bring to the table. For example, I attribute my success at Moody’s to networking. I knew from the get-go that I needed to form strong professional relationships with the people who had the power to bring me back. Establishing that I can do the work was half the battle. Networking and setting yourself apart from the rest are the other half.

• What advice would you give to those who are looking to advance in their finance career?

It is important to remember that like many other industries, Finance has hundreds of positions you can take on. I recommend doing lots of research and snagging as many internships as you can. This will give you firsthand experience and allow you to see what you like and do not like.

• What about those who are looking to switch their careers? (Let’s say someone who comes from Investment Banking or even another field outside of the financial sector and wants to go towards Accounting or Risk Management)

Let’s be honest, being young professionals, some of us do not know exactly what we want to do career-wise. This is totally fine. Everyone’s journey is different. There comes a time where you might want to switch careers. The best advice I can give when exploring a new route is take time to evaluate your strengths, characteristics, and interest. Once you have these mapped out, try, and find a career or job that will best compliment all of your listed attributes. Landing yourself somewhere where you can be yourself and apply your skills will produce your best work and will begin to give you a sense of belonging. Remember that it is a process. Most of us do not figure it out overnight. But, laying down the right framework for making your next move your best move will prove helpful in your journey.

If you feel inspired and motivated by James’ story, please feel free to reach out! He does not bite. He is always open to speaking with like-minded individuals and loves networking – a pro at it! Once you get to know James, you won’t regret it. He will be there in every step of your way to mentor/guide you on a both professional and personal level. Connect with James on LinkedIn.

How to Find a Job or Career If You Are Not a People Person

Posted on June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 by careerswithmichelle

There are individuals who are very sociable, super energetic and outgoing – the extroverts. They share their endless ideas aloud and want to be noticed by others. And there are the introverts, those individuals who don’t really like to talk or socialize with others. They prefer to be alone and do their individual things. They are more silent and reserved. They think out loud with their minds rather than they do with their voice.

I do have a few clients who were seeking job placement assistance from me and I oftentimes receive this message, “I’m looking for a job that’s not customer service related or engaging with people.”

Well, that is definitely okay, because not everyone is built to thrive as a people person. However, it could be a challenge for them during their job search since they will most likely not want to network with professionals – and we all know that this is the quickest way to landing a job.

Especially since the global health and economic crisis that’s still going on currently, you can look into Work-From-Home jobs that do not require you to be client facing.

In addition, I have compiled a list of jobs and careers that do not require folks to be client facing. (Please note that all salary and educational percentages are obtained from Career One Stop and Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Data Entry Clerks – Basically, this is a very simple and straightforward kind of job. Although it’s not client facing, data entry clerks need to possess basic digital literacy skills – which requires their knowledge in spreadsheets, proficiency in typing, organization/administrative skills and word processing.
This role consists of compiling data, information or other documentation to report to their colleagues and of course ensure accuracy by checking/verifying the data for any errors. The median annual salary varies however, it typically is around $38,000-$39,000 in the NY Metropolitan Area. Over 50% of the workers in this field have a HS diploma (which is a requirement) or with some kind of college degree.
♔ Click here to see how to build a resume focused on data entry clerk roles!

Actuary – This career requires not only a Bachelor’s degree, but they also need to pass a series of 2-3 exams in the U.S. to become a Certified Actuarial Analyst. That is their passport to landing a financial services career. The median annual salary in the NY Metropolitan Area is $130,100. Actuaries are keen in business (economics, finance, accounting), they are mathematicians (well grounded in algebra, calculus, statistics, probability) and possess strong computer skills since they need to be familiar with statistical analysis programs and many programming languages, as well as manipulating data. Now that you have an idea of their skills and competencies, actuaries combine mathematical reasoning and financial principles to help analyze financial costs of risk for their clients and businesses, and discover solutions to reduce that risk.
♔ Click here to see a guide for those looking to pursue a career in the actuarial field!
♔ Click here to see how to build a resume focused on actuarial science for students!
♔ Click here to see how to build an Analyst Actuarial focused resume!

Software Developer/Engineer – They manage the systems software and applications by analyzing, developing, designing, creating and implementing software solutions. The thing about this career is that even though they build these programs for people, they do not need to talk to people while they are performing their duties. What they are engaging with is technology – the network systems, devices and programming. Typically, software developers need a Bachelor’s degree from Computer Science, Software/Computer Engineering or a related field. The median annual salary is typically around $117,680 in the NY Metropolitan Area.
♔ Click here to see how to build a software developer/engineer focused resume!

Computer Programmer – Rather than engaging with people daily, a computer programmer will be engaging with coding languages instead. They are responsible for developing and writing computer programs/applications and assisting software developers to recoup specific data, documents and information as well designing software solutions. Computer programmers are familiar with coding, mathematics and engineering. They will need at least a Bachelor’s degree from Computer Science, Software/Computer Engineering or a related field. The median annual salary is typically around $92,100 in the NY Metropolitan Area.
♔ Click here to see how to build an entry-level computer programmer focused resume!
♔ Click here to see how to build an experienced computer programmer focused resume!

Janitor/Custodian/Cleaner – Obviously, this job does not require any kind of formal education and definitely not client facing needed since they are solely focused on making everything spotless, dust free and keeping everything in good condition. There are apprenticeships and certifications that they can take to pick up their skills, so that way they can prove to employers that they are competent and are able to do the job. This job is mainly based on experience and their ability to do the job, since it is labor intensive. Janitors, custodians and cleaners usually need to be able to stand for long hours since they clean everything – buildings, sweeping/mopping floors, windows, walls, doors, mowing grass, cleaning restrooms, removing snow, removing debris, etc. Depending on the employer, some might actually need to have a driver’s license since they might need to drive vehicles to other worksites. In addition, in many cases, they will need to know how to repair things, by putting on their maintenance hats. Over 60% of janitors/custodians/cleaners have a high school diploma or less. About 25% have a college degree, and those are probably students who need a job to pay off their student loans/tuition or to pay rent. The median annual salary is $34,030 in the NY Metropolitan area.
♔ Click here to see how to build an entry-level janitorial focused resume!
♔ Click here to see how to build a custodian focused resume!

Technical Writer – Instead of having to communicate with people, all technical writers need to do is to pivot their communication through written expression. They write about technical products. They create step-by-step guides, journal articles, instruction manuals and other electronic matters to make people’s lives easier. Almost 50% of folks in this field typically hold a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Corporate Communications or a relevant field specifically related to scientific writing, engineering, business, computer science, medicine. Over 30% of folks in this field hold a Master’s degree/Doctoral or other related professional degree. However, you can’t get away with just a degree. Experience is more relevant. To write about these inanimate objects, technical writers need to possess technical knowledge of how electronic equipment works, be good researchers and organized as they will need to stay up to date with new technologies and consistently compile technical information and other documentation. The median annual salary is $80,710 in the NY Metropolitan Area.
♔ Click here to see how to build a technical writer focused resume!

Interpreter – This is for those who are bilingual, trilingual and even multilingual! If you love communicating in different languages, if you love translating and if you are sensitive to cultural differences, this could be the career for you. Interpreters are responsible for translating oral or written material from one language to another. On average, over 30% of workers in this field possess a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Language. Interpreters and translators are very keen on the subject of the structure and subject matter of foreign language. Strong written, verbal and listening abilities are a must to do well in this role. They are also usually very knowledgeable on all aspects of the English language as it is very crucial in analyzing the rules of the framework/anatomy, grammar and pronunciation of each language. The median annual salary is $75,180 in the NY Metropolitan Area.
♔ Click here to see how to build an interpreter focused resume!

Image Reviewer – The good thing about this job is it can be remote and done on a freelance basis! If you love photography, editing and touching up photos and approving images according to the company’s guidelines, this could serve as a good gig for you! According to Real Ways to Earn Money Online, image reviewers are responsible for evaluating the images for overall quality, technical execution, commercial suitability and adherence to the company’s acceptance standards. A popular company to work for in this role would be Shutterstock. In order to qualify, typically 2 or more years of photography experience is highly recommended. Photography careers are very dynamic, but to be very specific, if you have experience as a stock agency contributor, photo editor, portrait photographer, photojournalist/news photographer, freelance photographer or a photo researcher, you should go for it. The median annual salary is $54,845 in the U.S.
♔ Click here to see how to build a photographer focused resume!

Film and Video Editors – If you have a creative mind for storytelling, altering motion pictures as well as synchronizing soundtracks with them, this is how they do it! Over 50% of those in this field hold a Bachelor’s degree in Film Studies. Film and video editors are very well versed with media production, electronic/broadcasting equipment and English language (to edit video & audio recordings). The median annual salary is $75,380 in the NY Metropolitan area.
♔ Click here to see one way on how to build a video editor focused resume!
♔ Click here to see another way on how to build a video editor focused resume!

Electricians – Instead of working with customers, electricians work with their hands. Electricians work on many electrical repair projects such as, installing street traffic lights, intercom systems repairing electrical wiring systems and control systems. They have to be knowledgeable in troubleshooting and figuring out what is causing the system/programs to not work – which says a lot about their judgment and critical thinking/decision making skills since they have to come up with quick ways to deliver a solution. Folks in this field are usually keen on tools that are associated with construction repair and mechanics – they must be familiar with the machines and tools that they are using to repair (whether it is a highway, road, street lights, etc.). Strong mathematical ability is a highly preferred skillset although not needed. A solid grasp of sums and geometry are helpful for calculating the areas/lengths for securing circuit breakers and wire installations. Algebra is also a big help for computing electrical loads and currents. About 70% of electricians hold a high school diploma/equivalent, or some kind of college degree (Associate’s & Bachelor’s). The median annual salary is $76,610 in the NY Metropolitan area.
♔ Click here to see one way on how to build an “eye-grabbing” electrician focused resume!
♔ Click here to see another way on how to build an electrician focused resume!

Head Chefs – If you are one of those who enjoy cooking and coming up with new recipes to showcase your creative cooking ideas, this may be the right fit for you. Plus, who doesn’t love food? Head chefs prepare ingredients and cook all kinds of meals and desserts. However, they do more than just those. They are responsible for monitoring other staff members to ensure that they are on the right track to provide customer satisfaction, and to swiftly handle any food-related issues. The median annual salary is $58,190 in the NY Metropolitan area. Over 30% of those in this field have a high school diploma or equivalent. No college degree is needed for this, however there are many vocational training schools below offered by Career One Stop that prepare others for this: