Information

Last Updated: 11.12.2019
Contact: [email protected]

LiveCareer BRAND OBJECTIVE: Our brand LiveCareer focuses on getting the job. Please focus your writing on getting the job; don’t use phrases like “taking the next step in your career.”

The goal is to align Product, SEO, Content, and Customer Engagement on LiveCareer’s target audience, how we can win this group, and content and marketing strategy.

Category Pages are high-level content with a focus on producing high-quality and unique content for career categories for LiveCareer readers. All content should be approached “category-first”; no generic content.

 

Each page MUST be category-specific and UNIQUE. Please take as much time as needed to do the proper amount of research and craft the content in a unique way that makes the page clearly about your assigned category and no other.

Download the Category Brief Here (you can write the content directly in the brief): https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BKA-Category-Page-Assignment-Brief-Working-11.6.2019.docx

PLEASE KEEP ALL IMAGES IN THE BRIEF!

FOLLOW THE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS IN YOUR ASSIGNED BRIEF. Instructions on the brief trump everything else.

LiveCareer Brand Tone/Voice: 

  • Informal but professional language (as if you are talking to a young teacher, for example). Authoritative, Mentoring, and Authentic.
  • Expert but not condescending.
  • Authoritative and approachable.
  • Sense of ease, thoroughness, comprehensiveness
  • “Job seeker” is TWO words.

DOWNLOAD THIS BRAND GUIDELINES PDF TO REFERENCE AS YOU WRITE:

LiveCareer Brand Guidelines PDF

*We highly recommend keeping the Brand Guidelines open as you write the content and refer to it often to see if your wording matches the requested brand voice.*

Do’s and Don’ts

  • UPDATE 11/6/2019: There are NO key terms or keywords required unless otherwise specified.
  • BE CONCISE and to the point. There should be NO fluff wording in these. BE AS SUCCINCT AS POSSIBLE.
  • Avoid questions in the body content. For example, “So, how can you include this information?”
  • Please use AP Style and AP comma for LiveCareer. THIS IS NEW!! PLEASE FOLLOW AP STYLE (SEE BOLD STYLE GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS TAB). However, spell out the word “percent”; do NOT use the symbol %.
  • Use active voice. Reword passive phrasing to be active and succinct. Use this free grammar checker.
  • Voice MUST MATCH the brand voice.
  • Include your Table of Contents from the Brief. Headers in the content must match what’s listed in the Table of Contents (and vice versa).
  • Don’t use “OK.” Please spell out the word “okay.”
  • WRITE the word “percent.” (This is a BOLD guideline that contradicts AP style – spell it out.)
  • ALL CONTENT MUST BE AS CATEGORY-SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE. It cannot be general information that applies to any and every job, it must be very, very, VERY specific (use O*NET and Indeed and the other resources listed in the brief to research specifics for any job title).
  • Include links to appropriate sources as necessary. See the brief for approved sources and sources to avoid.
  • Follow the BOLD Style Guide Instructions (see tab) and the LiveCareer Brand Guidelines PDF (listed above).
  • NEW!! Do NOT include punctuation after bullet points (they should NOT end in a period).
  • NEW!! When introducing the Applicant Tracking System (Blade 6), follow it up with the parentheses (ATS). Then refer to it as ATS for all subsequent mentions. (This also goes against AP style but is a request from BOLD.)
    • EXAMPLE: “Known as applicant tracking systems (ATS), these programs scan resumes for preset keywords and then create a shortlist. LiveCareer’s Resume Builder helps you beat ATS by pinpointing the right skills for food service.”
  • NEW!! In the Dos and Don’ts section (Blade 5), please group all Dos together and all Don’ts together (don’t alternate them).

 

IMPORTANT TERMS TO UNDERSTAND:

  • Resume format refers to how a jobseeker organizes information in a resume. There are three main resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid
  • Resume file format refers to how your resume is saved, i.e. in a Word doc, as a PDF, or as simple text (.txt)
  • Resume samples and examples refer to pre-made resumes that LC users can study to get ideas for what to include in their own resume. Samples can be found here. Examples can be found here. 

 

Follow the detailed directions in the brief. If you have ANY questions or are unsure about some instructions, please email Britainy at [email protected]

STYLE GUIDE FOR BOLD (You can download these style guidelines here: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BOLD-style-guide_final-version.docx

GENERAL:

 Follow AP Stylebook.

  • AP’s preferred dictionary is Webster’s New World College Dictionary.
  • AP Stylebook and Webster’s dictionary available at apstylebook.com (must have subscription).
  • Use US-English spelling and punctuation (i.e., commas and periods inside quote marks).
  • Tone and style: friendly, personable, colloquial language.

 STYLE:

 Abbreviations and acronyms:

  • When introducing a new term, spell it out at full first use, and then use the abbreviation in following sentences (example: Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to conduct initial scans of resumes . . .). Exception: GPA for grade-point average.
  • In general, however, avoid alphabet soup when possible.
  • Do not use in headlines.

Ampersand: Use when it is part of a company’s formal name, otherwise it should not be used in place of and, except for some accepted abbreviations (example: B&B, R&B); do not use in headings.

Attribution:

  • Must attribute facts not gathered or confirmed on your own, whether the pickup is from a newspaper, website, broadcaster, blog, etc.
  • News from a government, agency, organization, company or other recognized group may be attributed to that entity on first reference in the story (example: the Department of Labor announced …). If using a follow-up attribution to that source, specify whether the information came from a specific spokesman, another named official or a news release; that is, include where you found the information).
  • Examples of citations:
  • Noam Scheiber, “Facebook Accused of Allowing Bias Against Women in Job Ads,” New York Times, Sept. 18, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/business/economy/facebook-job-ads.html
  • McDonald’s Corporation, 2014 Annual Report, March 2015, http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/investors/annual_reports.html.
  • Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (New York: William Morrow, 2005).

 

Bulleted and numbered lists: Introduce the list with a short phrase or sentence and use a colon (example: Our partners: or These are our partners: or Our partners are:)

Aim to use bullets (and not numbers) for lists in posts (as in this entry).
If you must use numbers for lists in posts, adhere to same rules for bulleted lists below.

  • Start each item with a capital letter.
  • UPDATE: Do NOT use punctuation at the end of a bullet list! Use periods, not semicolons, at the end of each line, whether it is a full sentence or a phrase. However, if you use one question mark or exclamation point at the end of one item in a bulleted list, then use the same structure for each item; that is, apply the same sentence type (statement, question, exclamation) for each bullet point.
  • Make the voice consistent for each item (preferably active, not passive; in this example, everything starts with a present tense verb).
  • Use the same verb tense for each item (example: if starting with “Do,” do not switch to “Being”; keep as “Be”).
  • Use just a phrase for each item, if desired, but use parallel construction for each item in a list.

 

The following are two examples of lists that do not have parallel construction (numbers, not bullets, are used in these examples for easier illustration only):

 No. 3 does not match the other items in the list:

  1. Make it very easy to find.
  2. Check that your URL works.
  3. When visitors find your online resume, they should know it.
  4. Elaborate on your strengths.

 

No. 2 is a complete sentence with the first few words bolded, but the rest of the list starts with short declarative statements that end with periods:

  1. DO open your resume with a short, clear, relevant summary. Your summary should state the most important reasons why you…
  2. DON’T let any accomplishment go unmentioned if you think it might be relevant…
  3. DO spellcheck your resume carefully. You may want to ask a friend or family member…

 

But: (see comma in the Punctuation section) The follow are some examples of when to use and not use a comma with but.

Don’t use when you mean:

  • with the exception of (nobody came to the interview but me).
  • unless (it never rains but it pours job offers).
  • that (they didn’t question but I had the right job skills).
  • only (if I had but known the job was three hours away).
  • merely or no more than (the opportunity is but a starting point).
  • just (I heard it but now I’m a finalist).
  • there is not some chance (we can’t be sure but that he’s right for the job).

 

Do use:

  • on the contrary (I am a senior executive, but everyone else is right out of school).
  • in spite of this (The boss seems like a villain, but he has some virtues).

Capitalization:

  • In general, avoid unnecessary capitalization; use with proper nouns (example: Mary, Labor Department), but lowercase when standing alone in subsequent references (example: the department, or in plural uses such as Main and State streets).
  • Resume builder, cover letter builder and other similar terms (part 1)
    • If used only as a noun, use lowercase (example: a resume builder can play a big part in bringing your resume across the finish line; perusing cover letter examples can help you get ideas on how to write your own). Use lowercase even if hyperlinking to a BOLD landing page.

 

  • Resume builder, cover letter builder and other similar terms (part 2)
    • If used as a pronoun, use initial capitalization (example: use our Resume Builder; check out our Cover Letter Builder; peruse our selection of Resume Templates). Hyperlink each time.
    • When hyperlinking any specific BOLD template, example or sample in the body of an article, use initial capitalization (example: Nursing Assistant Resume Template; Senior Technical Writer Cover Letter Template, Copy Editor Resume Sample, Administrative Assistant Resume Example).

 

Compound modifiers:

  • A compound modifier is a compound of two or more attributive words; that is, two or more words that collectively modify a noun.
  • When a compound modifier precedes a noun, use hyphens to link the words in the compound except the adverb very and all adverbs that end in -ly (example: a full-time job, a better-qualified woman, a know-it-all attitude, a very good time, an easily remembered rule).
  • Many combinations hyphenated before a noun are not hyphenated after a noun (example: She works full time; His attitude suggested that he knew it all).
  • However, when a modifier that would be hyphenated before a noun occurs instead after a form of the verb to be, the hyphen usually must be retained to avoid confusion (example: The man is well-known; The woman is quick-witted).

 

Contractions: Avoid excessive use; this doesn’t mean you can’t use them at all (example: can’t for cannot).

 

Core brands: (note capitalization, spelling, and hyphenation; see Network brands)

  • LiveCareer (www.livecareer.com).
  • My Perfect Resume (www.myperfectresume.com).
  • Resume-Now (www.resume-now.com).
  • MightyRecruiter (mightyrecruiter.com).
  • BOLD (bold.com) – spell out with all cap letters in all instances.

 

Headlines (main title of articles) and subheads (sections in an article)

  • Headlines: Capitalize all major words (example: Steps to Write a Better Resume).
  • First letter after a hyphen in a headline is not capitalized (example: Hands-on Resume Clinic).
  • Subheads: Capitalize only the first word and proper nouns (example: Steps to take after an interview at Google).
  • Do not use periods.

 

Hyperlinks: (see capitalization)
Embed the article link in the copy

  • Wrong: Read our article, “How to Write a Resume …” or Click here for more details ….
  • Right: As you learn how to write a resume

 

Months: When used with a specific date, abbreviate: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out when using alone or with a year alone (example: Jan. 1, 2020, but January 2020). Always spell out in full the shorter months.

 

More/than: Need both when making a comparison (example: Social media users tell three times more people about a negative customer service experience than those who don’t use social media).

 

Network brands: (note capitalization and spacing; see Core brands)

  • Hloom (hloom.com).
  • Resume Builder (resumebuilder.org).
  • Great Sample Resume (greatsampleresume.com).
  • JobHero (jobhero.com).
  • Damn Good Resume (damngood.com).
  • PrimoCV (primocv.com).
  • Free Resume Builder (freeresumebuilder.com).

 

Not only/but also: requires use of both

  • Must include the “also” (example below).
  • Do not use a comma.
  • Example: This not only allows you to listen better but also shows you’re interested in what they have to say.

 

Numbers: (see headlines)

  • In general, spell out one through nine (example: He had nine different resumes).
  • Exception: Use numerals in headlines (example: 4 Ways to Write a Better Resume); subheads can also start with numerals.
  • Apply standard guidelines in a series (example: They wanted to hire 10 managers and two supervisors).
  • Use figures for 10 or above and whenever preceding a unit of measure or referring to ages of people, animals, events or things (example: 4 miles).
  • Spell out at the start of a sentence (example: Forty years is a long time to work in one job); exceptions are years (example: 2020 will be a good year), and numeral and letter combinations (example: If appropriate, ask if 401(k) plans are offered).
  • Spell out with monetary units (example: 5 cents, $5 bill).
  • Spell out in indefinite and casual uses (example: thanks a million; one at a time; an eleventh-hour decision; dollar store).
  • Follow rules for ordinals (used to indicate order): spell out first through ninth (example: fourth interview; he was first in line), and use figures starting with 10th (example: 10th, 25th).

 

Percent: Spell out “percent.” Don’t use % sign (example: 3.7 percent interest); for a range, don’t repeat the word (example: 12 to 15 percent).

 

Regions: Capitalize when used as a general adjective (example: Midwestern retailer).

 

Since: (see because)

  • Since is acceptable in a causal sense when the first event in a sequence led logically to the second but was not its direct cause (example: They went to the game, since they had been given the tickets).

 

So: use comma in nonessential phrases or to avoid run-on sentences (examples: A recruiter will ask for an example of a time you felt pressured, so it’s a good idea to prepare in advance; So, how would you answer that question?).

 

Than/then: Than is a conjunction used to compare things; then is an adverb used to place events in time or things in order (example: He wrote a resume longer than the AP Stylebook, and then he printed it).

 

That/which: An essential phrase is a word or group of words critical to full understanding. A nonessential phrase provides information but no one would not be misled if the information were not there.

  • Use which for nonessential clauses and that for essential
  • Use commas to set off which clauses; no commas are used with that Examples:
  • Your interview outfit, which may be your favorite color, needs to be clean. (If the which phrase was removed, the meaning of the sentence would remain.)
  • The outfit that you wear to an interview needs to be clean.
  • Wrong: Use keywords which appear directly on the job description.
  • Right: Use keywords that appear directly on the job description.

 

Titles:

  • Books, movies, table of contents for longer articles, TV shows, video/computer games, etc.: Capitalize the principal words, including prepositions, verbs, and conjunctions of four or more letters.
  • Capitalize an article—the, a, an—or words of fewer than four letters if it is the first or last word in a title.
  • Put quotation marks around the names of all works (except holy books and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material, which includes almanacs, directories, dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc.). Examples:
    • “CBS Evening News”; “Gone With the Wind”; “The Matrix”; Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language
  • Most website and app names are capitalized without quote marks or italicization (example: Facebook, but “FarmVille”).

 

Job titles in articles:

  • Spell lowercase in the body of an article (example: A position in health care technology…).
  • Spell out full terms on first usage (example: Applying for the position of registered nurse (RN)…).
  • On second reference, the abbreviations can then be used (example: The resume for an RN…).
  • In general, use capitalization only with formal titles used directly before an individual’s name (example: Sam Smith, the president of XYZ Company, but President Sam Smith runs XYZ Company)

 

Sections of resumes in an article: When referring to sections of a resume, lowercase the section title (example: Here’s how to format the work history section of your resume)

Trademark: (see Company names in the Spelling section) brand, symbol, word used by a manufacturer and protected by law (example: AstroTurf, for a type of artificial grass); in general, use a generic equivalent unless the trademark name is essential to the story. If using a company’s formal name, consult the New York Stock Exchange or similar website for accuracy. If used, capitalize it (example: Google; even e-Bay is E-Bay if it starts a sentence or headline).

 

They/them/their:

  • In most cases, a plural pronoun should agree in number with the antecedent (example: The students love the advice their business teacher gave them).
  • They/them/their is acceptable in limited cases as a singular and/or gender-neutral pronoun, when alternative wording is awkward or clumsy; however, rewording is preferable.
  • Problems using they/them as singular sometimes arise with an indefinite pronoun (anyone, everyone, someone) or unspecified/unknown gender (a person, the winner). Examples of rewording:
  • The foundation gave grants to anyone who lost a job this year (instead of anyone who lost their job).
  • Officials said the winner could claim the prize Tuesday (instead of their or his or her prize).
  • When they is used in the singular, it takes a plural verb: Taylor said they need a new car to get to work. Be sure it’s clear from the context that only one person is involved, or rewrite.

 

Yes-no questions: Example: The interviewer may ask you a series of yes-no questions (not yes-or-no questions)

 


PUNCTUATION:

 

Apostrophe (possessives):

  • For consistency, use ’s if the word does not end in the letter s, even for words ending in ce, x, or z (example: Butz’s policies; Xerox’s profits).
  • Exception: add only an apostrophe for words that don’t end with an s but have an s sound and are followed by a word that begins with s (example: for appearance’ sake); otherwise use ’s (example: the appearance’s cost).
  • Singular nouns not ending in s: add ’s (example: the employer’s needs).
  • Singular nouns ending in s: add ’s (example: the boss’s office).
  • Singular proper names ending in s: add only an apostrophe (example: Achilles’ heel).
  • Nouns plural in form, singular in meaning: add only an apostrophe (example: measles’ effects).
  • Plural nouns not ending in s: add ’s (example: alumni’s contributions; women’s rights).
  • Plural nouns ending in s: add only an apostrophe (example: applicants’ nerves).
  • Possessive of a plural word in the formal name of a singular entity: add only an apostrophe (example: General Motors’ profits; United States’ wealth).
  • Joint possession: use possessive form after only the last word if ownership is joint (example: Fred and Sylvia’s online business).
  • Use a possessive form after both words if individually owned (example: Fred’s and Sylvia’s opinions about their online business differed).
  • Descriptive phrases: Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense (example: a writers guide). An ’s is required, however, when a term involves a plural word that does not end in s (example: a children’s hospital).
  • Quasi possessives: (example: a day’s pay, two weeks’ vacation, three days’ work, your money’s worth); frequently, however, a hyphenated form is clearer (example: a two-week vacation, a three-day job).

 

Colon:

  • Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence (example: He promised this: The company will make good all the losses).
  • If the first word after a colon is not a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence, don’t capitalize (example: There were three considerations: expense, time and feasibility).
  • Use for emphasis (example: He had only one skill: writing code).
  • Use at the end of a sentence or phrase to introduce lists, etc. (see bulleted lists).
  • Use for question-and-answer series:

Q: Did you apply for 100 jobs?

A: Indeed I did.

  • Use with quotations: to introduce a direct quotation of one sentence that is within a paragraph; to introduce long quotations within a paragraph; and to end all paragraphs that introduce a paragraph of quoted material.

 

Comma:

  • Do not use Oxford (serial) comma in a simple list (example: Employers value soft skills such as excellent communication skills, customer service skills and conflict resolution skills).
  • Use a comma before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases: The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude.
  • Do use before the concluding conjunction in a series if an integral element of the series already includes a conjunction (example: Have a good meal before an interview, such as orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast).
  • Use with an introductory phrase (example: When he learned about the job, he applied for it immediately). However, commas are not needed with short phrases if no ambiguity results (example: During the night he was worried about his interview).
  • Use with conjunctions such as and, but or for when it links two clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences; use a comma before the conjunction in most cases (example: She was glad she looked up, for her interviewer was approaching).

 

Ellipses:

  • Leave a single space on each side of a three-point ellipses.
  • If the words that precede an ellipsis constitute a grammatically complete sentence, place a period at the end of the last word before the ellipsis (example: She was sorry to learn she’d have to cancel her interview at her favorite company. … Nevertheless,).

 

Em-dash: (see hyphenation)

  • AP refers to these as dashes.
  • Use to signal abrupt change in thought or emphatic pause; however, avoid overuse when commas would suffice.
  • Use as one option to set off a series within a phrase (example: He listed the qualities — intelligence, humor, conservatism, independence — that he liked in an executive).
  • Use before an author’s or composer’s name at the end of a quotation: “Who steals my purse steals trash.” — Shakespeare
  • Leave a space on both sides.

 

En-dash: don’t use at all.

 

Exclamation point: Use for emphatic expressions but avoid overuse; use a comma after mild interjections and end mildly exclamatory sentences with a period.

 

Hyphenation: (see em-dash)

  • Follow Webster’s New World Dictionary if in doubt; there are also some exceptions in the APA Stylebook, but the following should cover most cases.
  • Use to avoid doubled vowels and tripled consonants (example: anti-intellectual, pre-empt, shell-like; some exceptions: cooperate and coordinate).
  • Use to join doubled prefixes (example: sub-subparagraph).
  • Use if what follows the hyphen is capitalized (example: pre-Columbian).
  • Use with compound modifiers (example: small-business owner).
  • Use in date ranges (example: 1-4).
  • Use in numbers when spelled out (example: twenty-one, fifty-five).
  • Many prefixes (anti, bi, co, non, pre, re, etc.) are not hyphenated. Pay attention to when a hyphen or lack of one leads to two distinct words (example: recreate re-create).
  • Don’t use extra spaces around a hyphen when used as a break in a sentence.

 

Parentheses: Avoid overuse. If a sentence must contain incidental material, then commas or dashes are frequently more effective. When parentheses are necessary:

  • Place a period outside a closing parenthesis if the material inside is not a sentence (such as this fragment).
  • (An independent parenthetical sentence such as this one takes a period before the closing parenthesis.)
  • When a phrase placed in parentheses (this one is an example) might normally qualify as a complete sentence but is dependent on the surrounding material, do not capitalize the first word or end with a period.
  • Insertions in a proper name: Use parentheses if a state name or similar information is inserted within a proper name: The Huntsville (Alabama) Times, but use commas if no proper name is involved: The Selma, Alabama, group saw the governor.

 

Quotation mark:

  • Use double quote marks around direct quotes; periods and commas always go within the quotation marks. Examples:
  • “I have no intention of staying in this job,” he says.
  • A business owner said the interview process is “too long for modern times.”
  • Dashes, semicolons, question marks and exclamation points go within the quotation marks when they apply to the quoted matter only. They go outside when they apply to the whole sentence. Examples:
  • The interviewer may ask you, “What did you like about your last job?”
  • Who wrote “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”?
  • The question mark replaces the comma that normally is used when supplying attribution for a quotation. Example:
  • “What can I expect at this interview?” she asked.
  • For quotes within quotes, alternate between double quotation marks (“or”) and single marks (‘or’). Example from AP Stylebook:
  • She said, “I quote from his letter, ‘I agree with Kipling that “the female of the species is more deadly than the male,” but the phenomenon is not an unchangeable law of nature,’ a remark he did not explain.” Or rewrite to avoid this contortion.
  • Use three marks together if two quoted elements end at the same time. Example:
  • She said, “He told me, ‘I interviewed well.’”

 

Semicolon:

  • Use to separate elements in a series when the items are long or when individual segments are already set off by commas; the semicolon is used before the final and (example: I interviewed in Buffalo, New York; Berkeley, California; and Charlottesville, Virginia, last summer).
  • Use to link independent clauses when a coordinating conjunction such as and, but or for is not present) (example: The resume was due last week; it arrived today).
  • If a coordinating conjunction is present, use a semicolon if extensive punctuation also is required in one or more of the individual clauses (example: He cleaned his suit, put gas in his car and set his alarm clock three hours early; but even with these precautions, he was late to his interview). Or break up several independent clauses into separate sentences.
  • Place semicolons outside quotation marks (example: I had not read the essay “Experience Matters Most”; in fact, I had never heard of it).


SPELLING:

 

Academic degrees: Use apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, a master’s, etc., but there is no possessive in Associate degree, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science. AP preferred form is to use full term (example: An applicant doesn’t need a doctorate [not a Ph.D.]).

Application: (see resume) The terms are not interchangeable. Application is a form an applicant fills out, either on paper or online.

Applicant: (see candidate, see finalist) These terms are not interchangeable. Applicant is someone initially applying for a job (there is no guarantee of even getting an interview).

a.m. (see p.m.) Lowercase, use periods (example: 10 a.m., but avoid redundancy, example: 10 a.m. this morning).

All together: Unity in time or place (example: The candidates will be all together in a room).

Altogether: Wholly; completely (example: The interview was altogether a success).

As: (see like)

  • Use as to introduce or connect clauses (example: Do you work too hard, as I do?; It happened just as I said it would happen).
  • Use as … as to show the equality or sameness of two things (example: as large as, as many as, as much as, etc.).

 

Because: (see since) Use because to denote a specific cause-effect relationship (example: He went because he was told).

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Agency of the Labor Department; use “bureau” (lowercase) on subsequent appearances.

 

Candidate (see applicant, see finalist): These terms are not interchangeable. Refers to someone who will be interviewed; person made it to the next stage of the process, but there is still no guarantee of being hired (example: Out of 100 applicants, 12 candidates made it to the interview process).

Co: (see Hyphenation in Punctuation section) Retain hyphen when forming nouns, adjectives, and verbs that indicate occupation or status (example: co-founder, co-worker, co-working, but coordinate, coexist, copay).

Company names: Don’t include comma before Inc. or Ltd. (example: Nexxt Inc.), even if it is included in the formal name; include the full name of company somewhere in the post.

Compared to: (see compare with) Use when creating an analogy between unlike things (example: She compared getting a second interview to winning the lottery).

Compared with: (see compared to) Use when comparing the similarities or differences of similar things (example: His interview lasted two hours compared with three hours for the next candidate).

Complement/ary: (see compliment/ary) Denotes completeness or the process of supplementing something (examples: The tie complements his suit; Learning to code can complement your other technical skills).

Compliment/ary: (see complement/ary) Denotes praise (example: He was flattered by the compliments on his tie).

Compose: (see comprise) The parts compose the whole (example: Many departments compose the company).

Comprise/consist of: (see compose) The whole comprises or consists of the parts (example: the interview panel comprises two managers and two supervisors; the interview panel consists of two managers and two supervisors).

Consistent/ly: (see constant/ly) These terms are not interchangeable. Means in agreement (example: deeds not consistent with his words) or unchanging position (example: consistent behavior).

Constant/ly: (see consistent/ly) These terms are not interchangeable. Means remaining the same or invariable; continual or persistent (example: constant interruptions).

Couldn’t care less: Not could care less, which means someone actually could care less (example: He couldn’t care less that he had to drive two hours to his dream job).

Council/councilor: (see counsel/counselor) Council is a body of people or organizations, often appointed or elected.

Counsel/counselor: (see council/councilor) Refers to guidance or a person who provides such guidance (example: He sought counsel from former bosses as he considered the job offer).

 

Double-check: Hyphenate.

Decision-maker/decision-making: (see policymaker) Hyphenate.

Dry run: Not hyphenated (example: Try a dry run of the trip to the interview location).

 

Either: Use it to mean one or the other, not both. (Wrong: There were managers on either side of the door. Right: There were managers on each side of the door; or There were managers on both sides of the door).

Email: Not hyphenated (but other e-terms are hyphenated, example: e-book, e-reader).

Employer: (see Future employer) These terms are not interchangeable. An employee already works for an employer (example: Ask your employer if there are any other jobs in your department).

 

Face-to-face: Hyphenate (example: face-to-face customer service).

Finalist: (see applicant, candidate) These terms are not interchangeable. Finalist refers to someone who has made it the final round of the interview process (example: two finalists remain out of 12 candidates).

Full time/full-time: Hyphenate only when used as a compound modifier (example: If you’re looking to work full time… ; If you already have a full-time job …).

Future employer: (see employer) These terms are not interchangeable. An applicant or candidate hopes to work for a future employer (example: Don’t ask a potential future employer about benefits before your second interview).

 

Hands-on (adj.): Hyphenate.

Heads-up (adj.): Hyphenate.

Health care: Spell as two words.

Home in on: (see hone) Means to guide or be guided (e.g., by radar) to a destination.

Hone: (see home in on) Means to sharpen (example: hone one’s skills through practice).

 

In: (see within) In expresses inclusion with relation to space, place, time, state, circumstances, manner, quality, substance, class, etc. (example: in the room).

ins and outs: Not hyphenated (example: Knowing the ins and outs of how to write a resume is crucial).

internet: Spell lowercase (example: internet service provider).

 

Job seeker: Spell as two words.

Job hunt: Spell as two words.

Job board: Spell as two words.

 

-like: Do not use with a hyphen unless the letter l would be tripled or the main element is a proper noun (example: businesslike, but Norwalk-like, shell-like).

like-: Use with a hyphen when used as a prefix meaning similar to (example: like-minded); don’t use a hyphen if word has its own meaning (example: likewise, likeness, likelihood).

Like: (see as) Use like as a preposition to compare nouns and noun phrases; it requires an object (example: Jim composes resumes like a pro writer).

 

Multi: (see Hyphenation in Punctuation section) In general, don’t hyphenate (example: multilevel; multiskilled, multitask).

 

Non: (see Hyphenation in Punctuation section) Needed with compounds with special meaning (example: non-GMO) or with a compound modifier (example: non-air-conditioned office). In general, don’t hyphenate (example: nonprofit, nonchalant).

 

Off: (examples: off-site, off-color, off-duty, but offbeat, off chance).

On: (examples: on-site, but online).

On: (see upon) (example: Put that on the shelf).

On-the-job (adj.): Hyphenate (example: on-the-job training).

OK: Two letters (not okay).

Over: (see Hyphenation in Punctuation section) In general, don’t hyphenate (example: overdress, overrate, override).

 

Part time/part-time: (see full time, full-time).

Policymaker/policymaking: (see decision-maker) Spell as one word.

Position: (see role) These terms are not interchangeable. A position is a post of employment; office; job (example: to apply for a teaching position. Wrong: This is a time to ask about the daily responsibilities of the role. Right: This is a time to ask about the daily responsibilities of the position).

p.m.: (see a.m.).

pre: (see Hyphenation in Punctuation section) In general, don’t hyphenate (example: prejudge, predispose, but pre-exist, pre-empt).

Problem-solving: Use hyphen.

 

Re: (see Hyphenation in Punctuation section).

Resume: (see application) These terms are not interchangeable. A resume is what a candidate creates and submits for a position.

Role: (see position) These terms are not interchangeable. A role is a function performed in a particular process (example: the role of the teacher in the educational process).

 

Seasons: Lowercase (example: spring, summer, winter, fall; but Winter Olympics).

Self: Hyphenate in compounds (example: self-acting, self-evident).

Side by side (adverb); side-by-side (adjective): Examples: They walked side by side; The stories received side-by-side display.

Skill set: spell as two words (and not as skillset)

So called (adverb, no hyphen), so-called (adjective, use hyphen): Do not use with quote marks Examples:

Right: The word job is so called because it requires hard work.

Right: Too much confidence is a so-called problem.

Wrong: Too much confidence is a so-called “problem.”

Startup: Spell as one word

 

Thank you/thank-you: Hyphenate when using as a modifier (example: After an interview, send a thank-you note).

Their/there/they’re: their is a plural possessive pronoun; there is an adverb indicting place; they’re is a contraction for they are (example: They’re going to take their car there for repair).

Toward: no s (not towards).

 

Under: (see Hyphenation in Punctuation section) (example: underdress).

U.S.: Use periods in abbreviation.

Upon: (see on) (example: upon the job’s completion).

Upsell: Spell as one word.

 

Versus/vs: Spell it out in full.


Waitstaff:
spell as one word

Web: Spell lowercase (example: web, website, webcast, webpage; but web address, web browser).

Well: Hyphenate to avoid any confusion, otherwise don’t (example: The candidate was well connected to the boss, but The well-connected candidate is the boss’s nephew). Webster’s Dictionary lists these adjectives as hyphenated: well-behaved, well-being, well-chosen, well-informed well-rounded, well-groomed, well-made, etc.

Wide-: Usually hyphenated (example: wide-angle, wide-awake, wide-open, but widespread).

  • wide: Not hyphenated (example: citywide, industrywide, nationwide).

Within: (see in) On the inside; internally; indoors; inside the body, mind, heart, etc.; inwardly; not beyond in distance, time, degree, range, scope, etc. (within a mile, within one’s experience); inside the limits of (within the law).

Who/whom: who is the subject of a sentence (example: Send your resume to the person who is in charge of the department). Whom is the object of a verb or preposition (example: I don’t know with whom I’ll be interviewing). Tip: If you can rewrite and replace “who” with “he” or “she,” use who (example: He is in charge of the department). If you can replace it with “him” or “her,” use whom (example: I don’t know if I’ll be interviewing with her).

Workforce: Spell as one word.

Work search/work-search: Spell as two words, unless used as a compound modifier (example: Use an organized work search to find a job; Use an organized work-search routine to find a job).

 


WRITING SUGGESTIONS:

 

The following examples are from BOLD articles. They are used only to highlight the suggestions in this section; underlining added to show the type of writing under discussion.

 

Write carefully and accurately, and don’t overwrite:

Example:

Original: Highlight your ability to recognize what tasks are able to be delegated and why it’s important to allocate them to the right people.

 

Allocate means to set apart for a specific purpose; this could be assign, delegate, or give, etc. Better: Highlight your ability to show you can delegate work to the right people.

 

Tips and suggestions:

  • Because the articles are meant to be helpful and actionable, they will inevitably contain guidance, tips, suggestions, and advice. Nevertheless, the articles should never make any kind of explicit or implied promises or guarantees. The effect of general guidance or advice will be situational.
  • Use indefinite terms like “might” or “could,” as opposed to “will.”

Example:

Original: Following this advice will get you an interview.

Better: Following this advice offers you a better chance at landing that interview.

Avoid overuse of metaphors, analogies, and jargon: It’s better to use clear, specific writing.

 

AP Q&A example:
 

Q: Would you hyphenate out of the box if it’s not a compound modifier? For example, It inspired her to do something out-of-the-box and to solve a problem.

A: What is out of the box? Does it mean she was inspired to do something original? Creative? Unusual? Out of the ordinary? Outrageous?

Avoid hyperbole, be specific, write with a professional tone: The following original sentences sound too much like promises or guarantees, and do not sound as professional as they could. Wording is best kept neutral in general.

 

Examples:

Original: Here is a great example of how an excellent answer to the delegation question would go.

Better: The following is a useful example if you are asked about your skills at delegating work.

 

Original: Apply them to your routine and you’re sure to get that awesome job you’ve been dreaming about in no time.

Better: Apply them to your routine to help you find the job you have always wanted.

Original: By using these secrets to write a killer resume that gets attention, you’ll increase the job opportunities that you receive.

Better: By using these secrets to write a solid resume that gets attention, you might find yourself with more interviews.

 

Original: If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably grown up hating the jobs that you have to do and you’ve never even thought about whether or not a job out there could possibly make you happy.

This is personal, and it makes assumptions about the audience. For BOLD articles, keep the language more neutral.

 

Neutral Qualifier Suggestions:

  • Could
  • Helpful
  • May
  • Might
  • Offer
  • Practical
  • Recommend
  • Suggest
  • Useful
  • Try

Final Paragraph Suggestions/Guidance

 

Ex. 1: Get some inspiration by looking at cover letter examples from a wide variety of fields. Or, try our Cover Letter Builder to create a cover letter that could transform your job search. LiveCareer also has an article dedicated entirely to how to write the first paragraph of your cover letter.  

 

Ex. 2: Use LiveCareer’s  Cover Letter Builder to create a message that can help take you where you want to go.

 

Ex. 3: For more on how to get in the door, visit LiveCareer. The site offers interview tips, a database of job search leads, and a sophisticated, easy-to-use Resume Builder and Cover Letter Builder that can help you make a great first impression.

 

Ex. 4: Create a seamless experience by keeping relevant information exactly where readers expect to see it. Use LiveCareer’s Resume Builder and Cover Letter Builder for some help.

 

Please make sure all BOLD work follows these guidelines! You can download these guidelines here: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BOLD-Content-Quality-Guidelines-BKA-.docx

BOLD CONTENT QUALITY GUIDELINES

Defining Our Standards for Quality

Quality can be a hard concept to define, so we’ve outlined what we’ll be looking for in each piece of content we create before publishing.

Be the Authority

We are authorities and experts within the resume space, and each piece of content we create needs to re-enforce this. Although we should always properly cite any sources in our content, wherever possible we’ll want to be the source, and back it up with data or research. Refrain from negative openings or writing. No duh and question statements.

  • Poor example: “According to experts, it’s important to include a cover letter to be considered for a position”
  • Fair example: “We recommend including a cover letter for any positions you seriously want to be considered for.”
  • Good example: “In 2018, we surveyed 200 recruiting managers, and 80% of them responded that they’re less likely to consider an applicant without a cover letter.”

 

Source Citation Guidelines

When we don’t have proprietary data (or it doesn’t make sense to be the expert) Including expert sources in our content can improve how trustworthy we seem, both to users and to bots.

  • Don’t quote competitors, including:
    • com
    • com
    • com
    • com
    • com
    • io
    • co
  • Cite credible industry thought leaders
    • Industry associations
    • Research groups
    • Federal and state government (workforce, unemployment reports)
  • Frequency
    When it comes to frequency of sourcing, there’s no hard and fast rule or limit, but our goal is to be an authority, adding our voice to the conversation while sourcing experts along the way. What we want to avoid is being a “hub” that links to other experts, regurgitating their opinions without adding our voice to the conversation.
  • User Journey
    Where possible, we want to avoid interrupting the flow of the user while on the page, so we will default to explaining the source material within our content, instead of requiring the user to click off-site.
  • Linking
    Our preferred approach is to add superscripts within the content, that anchor-link to a sources section at the bottom of the page, which lists sources in full. This helps to avoid interrupting the user flow. There may be instances where this doesn’t make sense, use your best judgement. Quote sources such as Forbes, New York Times, Wall Street Journal mentioning the title of the article and date published. Quote and like to research studies, white papers.

Write Content to be Read, not Ranked

During our research, we use keywords as a way to better understand the questions and needs of users, but when writing content, we want to focus exclusively on the user. No keywords, no word count, just an honest attempt at fully addressing a question or need. In the poor and fair examples below, notice how we force all of the keywords together or repeat them unnecessarily.

 

(Keyword Example: “Free Microsoft Template Downloads”)

  • Poor example: “We have Free Microsoft Template Downloads available for you to download and use in Microsoft Office.”
  • Fair example: “If you’re looking for free Microsoft Template Downloads, check out our library below.”
  • Good Example: “Here are a handful of free templates that we specifically designed to work within Microsoft Word. With these, you can easily edit and customize your resume.”

Add Value in Each Sentence

People don’t read how-to pages for entertainment. They need experts to provide knowledge and value that they don’t already have. So let’s avoid fluffy content that states the obvious, or speaks vaguely about a concept, and help educate and assist our readers with each sentence we write.

  • Poor example: “It’s important to have a strong opening summary in order to stand out to recruiters.”
  • Fair example: “Crafting a summary that focuses on action based statements instead of “I” statements can help recruiters see the value you bring to the table.”
  • Good Example: “In order to stand out to recruiters, remove any “I” statements (which can subconsciously come across as self-centered) and focus instead on action-based accomplishments (which can help recruiters envision you accomplishing similar tasks in the role).”

Provide Context and the “Why” Whenever Possible

One of the best ways to make content more thorough, authoritative, and helpful is to ask the question “why” 5 times (like a 5-year-old would). This will help you provide the reader with not only the high-level answer, but the context around why it’s the answer, or why it matters.

Poor example: “The functional resume focuses on skills relevant to the position which is handy.”

Fair example: “The functional resume is handy for people with a strong skill set, but an inconsistent work history.”

Good example: “The functional resume ensures that your skills are front and center when recruiters get your application. This emphasis can be helpful if you have an inconsistent work history but you feel confident that you’re qualified for the job.”

duct

Make Our Services Easily Accessible (but Not Overbearing)

We’re a business, in marketing, and we’re going to want to make money. But within our content, let’s aim to strike a balance between making it easy for people to take the next step in the journey, instead of making our CTAs the point of the page.

(Section Example: “How to Write a Resume”)

  • Poor Example: “Just use our perfect resume builder to get the job of your dreams in three easy steps!”
  • Fair Example: “Click here to use our resume builder, and save yourself some time!”
  • Good Example: “When you’re building out your skills section, make sure to focus on the exact phrasing that you see on the job description. If you use our resume builder, you can also get recommended skills based on your job title!”

Don’t Make Readers Think/Work Unnecessarily

We are in the business of making people’s lives easier through resume templates and builders. We want to mirror that effort in our content, by doing the leg-work whenever possible for users. The reader shouldn’t have to reference another document or do additional research in order to gain the full value of our content.

Poor example: “Use the type of language used in the retail sector on your resume to appeal to recruiters and hiring managers”

Fair example: “The retail sector uses language focused on customer service and sales skills, so make sure to include that language throughout your resume.”

Good example: “When applying to a job in the retail sector, you’ll want to use words that demonstrate customer service and sales capabilities. Here’s a list of the most common words seen across our database of resumes in the retail sector: cashiering, de-escalation, product knowledge, and selling”

Illustrate Complex Topics

We talk about some pretty complex stuff; careers, recruiting, ATS systems, and more. Whenever possible, let’s break down complex topics into examples, tables, visuals, and other forms of digestible content.

Technical details:

  • Content should always be unique, both in wording, as well as in purpose.
    • We don’t reword the same things ten times for ten different pages.
    • The best way to avoid this is to make the section specific to the main topic of the page. For example, a “How to Write a Resume” section would become “How to write a Doctor’s Resume” on the Doctor Resumes Templates page.

Table of Contents (TOC)

  1. Create a TOC when necessary – This is the guide for the reader. Only include the most valuable content. Remove sections that don’t belong in the TOC, such as “How It Works.”
  2. Does the TOC make sense – Does each TOC make sense to someone coming in to the page cold. Is the page ordered correctly in terms of the most valuable content at the top.
  3. TOC and H2s should match
  4. Make the TOCs creative/compelling – They must be clear, answer search intent and encourage the reader to click on it. There is a balance here  – sometimes plain and to the point is best. We also need to consistent on sections you will find on all pages such as FAQs headers, and other important standing sections

Finally, consider – Would the page pass the “send to a friend” test – Would you send the page to a friend or relative interested in the topic or would you send them to a competitor page? If the answer is the latter – edit the content accordingly.

 

 

 

Brand Brief – LiveCareer’s brand voice is highlighted in red. DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED LC BRAND GUIDELINES HERE: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LC-Brand-Guidelines-BKA.pdf

BOLD Mission

The mission of BOLD is to provide the world’s workforce with the guidance, resources, and

connections they need to achieve career fulfillment and financial wellbeing.

 

Value Proposition/Brand Objective

RN

MPR

LC

Resume-Now provides the best tools for job seekers to achieve career fulfillment and financial wellness.

My Perfect Resume is the best place for job seekers to make customized work documents.

LiveCareer is the top destination for job seekers to find the guidance, resources, and services they need for their career.

 

LiveCareer can get you the job you want.

 

Do

Resume Builder Positioning Statement

RN

MPR

LC

For job seekers who need a job, Resume-Now’s Resume Builder is the fastest way to create a job-winning resume.

 

 

For job seekers who need to customize their resume, My Perfect Resume’s Resume Builder is the easiest way to build perfect resumes that are targeted for specific jobs.

 

 

For job seekers who don’t have a lot of experience with writing resumes,  LiveCareer’s Resume Builder is the simplest online solution to help them create a job-ready resume.

 

LiveCareer offers the best, most up-to-date choices for a resume template. Our advice can help you

 

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder offers the best  selection of job-winning resume designs for a variety of industries.

 

 

Key Messages

Resume

 

RN

MPR

LC

Tagline

Instantly create job-winning resumes.

 

 

 

 

Build the perfect resume.

 

Easily make customized resumes for each job you apply for.

 

 

The easiest way to create job-ready resumes.

 

Anyone can make a job-ready resume.

Resume

Create a resume

 

Job-winning resumes

Build a resume

 

Customized resumes

Personalized resumes

Create a resume

 

Job-ready resumes

Templates

Recruiter-approved templates

 

Stand out with a scannable template, approved by recruiters.

Employer-tested templates

 

Employer-tested templates are designed to be easy to customize for every job.

Fool-proof templates

 

Fool-proof templates adapt to what you write so you make fewer mistakes.

TTC

Recommended skills and phrases written by industry experts

 

Use recommended skills and phrases written by industry experts to fill out each section of your resume.

Pre-written examples crafted by career experts

 

Build each section with pre-written examples crafted by career experts.

 

Job-specific bullet points

 

Resume Builder helps you write each section by suggesting job-specific bullet points

 

Tips/Advice

Tips

 

Our professional tips will help you understand exactly what employers are looking for.

Advice

 

We’ll be there for you every step of the way with expert advice. 

Guidance

 

Get simple guidance to create a resume that best highlights your skills and qualifications

CTAs

Create Resume

Build Resume

Create Resume

 

 

Job Search

 

RN

MPR

LC

Get the job 2x as fast with Resume-Now.

Get hired 33% faster with My Perfect Resume.

Find everything you need to get hired all in one place.

Search for jobs that match your experience.

 

Expert tools for every stage of your job search.

The better way to land a job.

 

 

 

Cover Letter

 

 

RN

MPR

LC

Cover Letter

TBD

 

 

TBD

 

TBD

Resignation Letter

Leave on the right note with a positive resignation letter

 

Every proven template has all the information you need to leave on the right note.

 

It’s easy to tailor your letter by filling in the blanks. You’ll be done in no time.

 

 

Leave gracefully and professionally with a polite resignation letter.

 

 

 

CTA

Create Cover Letter

 

Create Letter

Build Cover Letter

 

Build Letter

Create Cover Letter

 

Create Letter

 

Interview

 

RN

MPR

LC

(TBD)

Land the interview with My Perfect Resume.

LiveCareer can get you the interview you want.

 

 

Voice and Tone

Job seekers are looking to us for knowledge and expertise. Use active voice rather than passive. Use familiar and understandable words. Avoid technical jargon. Text should build trust and confidence.

 

RN

MPR

LC

Plainspoken language as if they are talking to a school counselor.

 

Concise and direct but not rude.

 

Helpful but not overbearing.

 

Casual language as if they are talking to a coworker.

 

Conversational but not sloppy.

 

Friendly but not long-winded.

Informal but professional language as if they are talking to a young teacher.

 

Expert but not condescending.

 

Authoritative and approachable.

Primarily second-person voice but use other voices when necessary.

Primarily first-person voice but use other voices when necessary.

Primarily second-person voice but use other voices when necessary.

Sense of immediacy

 

Key terms – immediate, instant, now, in minutes

Sense of perfection

 

Key terms – perfect, best-in-class, first class

Sense of ease, thoroughness, comprehensiveness

 

Key terms  – ease of use, simple, thorough, comprehensive, complete, step-by-step guidance, helpful

 

 

 

Some approved ources are listed below. Writers should also utilize other sources, especially sources with .edu in the URL. We encourage you to cite statistics as it relates to resumes/cover letters and hiring that you include in your content. You do not have to cite general resume tips (general tips should be avoided). Please also refer to recommended sources listed in your brief!

 

Please Avoid the Following: 
Please do not cite from our competitors, which include the following

a. ResumeGenius
b. Novoresume
c. JobScan
d. CareerOneStop
e. Zety
f. TheBalance
g. Resume.com
h. TheLadders

If you are unsure if your source is a competitor, just ask.

  • Resume format refers to how a jobseeker organizes information in a resume. There are three main resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid
  • Resume file format refers to how your resume is saved, i.e. in a Word doc, as a PDF, or as simple text (.txt)
  • Resume samples and examples refer to pre-made resumes that LC users can study to get ideas for what to include in their own resume. Samples can be found here. Examples can be found here. 
Saving:
  • Save as LC Category Page – Category
  • Example: LC Category Page – Retail

Download the original doc with BOLD’s edits here: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LC-Category-Page-Driving_HONedit.docx 

Blades

  1. Our Recommended Templates
  2. Trust Signals
  3. Create a Driving Resume in 5 Simple Steps
  4. Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Driving Resume
  5. 6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Driving Resume
  6. Beat the ATS With These Driving Resume Skills
  7. Driving Resumes for Every Professional Level
  8. Recommended Driving Cover Letter
  9. Trustpilot
  10. Stats and Facts About Driving Jobs

 

Page title:

Driving Resume Templates

 

Page subtitle:

Put your career in the fast lane with LiveCareer’s library of easy-to-use Driving resume templates and step-by-step guidance.

 

Blade 1:

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

 

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

Blade 2:

 

 

Blade 3:

 

Create a Driving Resume in 5 Simple Steps 

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 4:

Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Driving Resume

 

Take the guesswork out of the Driving resume-writing process with LiveCareer’s Resume Builder. It provides a host of helpful pre-written text that is crafted by professional resume writers. Modify our suggestions to suit your needs or simply use them as-is in your Driving resume.

 

Here are six examples of descriptive, action-oriented text that our Resume Builder might suggest for your Driving resume:

 

  • Drove 70-miles per day in service of over 200 customers per month in the greater Chicago area
  • Completed 88 percent of deliveries on time by identifying and utilizing the most efficient routes
  • Contacted customers directly to address delayed deliveries, reducing calls to customer support by approximately 30 percent
  • Inspected company vehicle and identified safety hazards and operational concerns before and after each shift
  • Performed routine maintenance and basic repairs on vehicles, minimizing mechanical issues and costs
  • Secured oversized loads using strap, brace and cable procedures, reducing the potential for damage by over 90 percent

 

Blade 5:

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Driving Resume

 

  1. Do choose the appropriate resume template. There’s a difference between delivering pizzas and delivering people. When choosing a resume template, select a design that fits the industry you’re pursuing. A position where you’ll chauffeur private clients throughout the city, for example, calls for a more formal style than a job delivering pies for an artisanal pizzeria.

 

  1. Do choose the resume format that highlights your strengths as a driver. If you have a lengthy driving career and a solid work history, a chronological resume is generally best for demonstrating your experience — and your evolution — as a driver. If you’re new to driving, a functional resume is likely the route to take. Use this format to emphasize certifications such as your types of licenses along with skills like navigation and food-handling that will appeal to recruiters.

 

  1. Do use data and metrics to demonstrate your achievements. Instead of writing that you transported passengers daily as an airport shuttle driver, specify that you transported an average 500 people a day. Rather than saying that you loaded and unloaded products using pallet jacks as a truck driver, include that you loaded and unloaded 240 crates of product daily. The more specific you can be, the clearer your accomplishments will be to hiring managers.

 

  1. Do mention any special training you’ve received. This includes certifications or vehicle licenses you hold, as well as special training, such as defensive driving courses.

 

  1. Don’t mention certifications and licenses that aren’t relevant to the job at hand. If you’re applying for a position driving a school bus, for example, you can omit the fact that you’re certified to operate a forklift.

 

  1. Don’t limit yourself to just your driving skills. In most cases, there’s more to a driving job than sitting behind the wheel. Many positions also incorporate other skills, such as customer service, warehouse management, equipment maintenance, geographical knowledge and math aptitude. When building your resume, examine the job description and customize your skills section accordingly.

 

  1. Don’t use the same resume for every job listing. Instead, tailor your resume to the job you want and highlight the experience and skills listed in the job ad. For example, customer service skills should be featured more prominently in a resume for a limo driving job than on a resume for a lift truck operator position. Scrutinize each job listing carefully to get a better understanding of what your potential employer is looking for and personalize your driving resume accordingly.

 

  1. Don’t forget to proofread. Mistakes in your resume signal to potential employers that you lack a skill that is crucial to driving: attention to detail. Demonstrate that you have the focus the road requires by proofreading your resume multiple times. Better still, enlist a friend or family member to read and evaluate it with a fresh set of eyes.

 

Blade 6:

Beat the ATS With These Driving Resume Skills

 

One of the biggest hurdles job seekers must overcome are applicant tracking systems (ATS). Employers use an ATS to screen our unqualified candidate for driving jobs by scanning resumes for industry-specific keywords and phrases. The software pre-screens resumes before any human being lays eyes on them, which means that if your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords and phrases, it may be kicked to the electronic curb without ever being read by a recruiter.

 

While small businesses are unlikely to use ATS as part of their driver hiring process, many larger fleets do. Therefore, incorporating relevant keywords is a must. LiveCareer’s resume templates make this easy by suggesting language to incorporate in your driving resume. Some of these ATS-friendly keywords might include:

 

  • Clean driving record
  • Passenger satisfaction
  • OSHA compliance
  • Airport operations
  • Commercial driving expertise
  • Materials transport
  • Vehicle inspections
  • Knowledge of state roads and highways
  • DOT regulations
  • Luxury car operation
  • Route planning
  • Road and vehicle safety and compliance

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 7:

Driving Resumes for Every Professional Level

 

Entry-level Driving Resume Template: Taxi Driver

 

 

If you’re a job seeker with limited driving experience, a functional resume format is an excellent pick because it emphasizes skills above experience.

 

By devoting the top half of your resume to the comprehensive qualities that make you the right person for the job — such as your pristine driving record, excellent cash handling skills and unsurpassed geographical smarts — and nudging your limited experience further down the page, it draws attention to your abilities and distracts from the fact you’re relatively new to the field.

 

CTA: Build my resume

 

Mid-career Driving Resume Template: Chauffeur

 

 

A combination resume, such as the one shown here, allows more experienced drivers to have their cake and eat it, too. As its name suggests, this resume format combines elements of both the functional resume, which focuses on skills, and the chronological resume, which details a driver’s work history.

 

In this case, the resume begins with a brief list of three primary qualifications before transitioning into the job seeker’s time-stamped experience. The end result is a thorough but concise overview of his evolution as a chauffeur.

 

CTA: Build my resume

 

Executive-level Driving Resume Template: Owner/Operator Truck Driver

 

 

Drivers with experience to spare are wise to opt for a chronological resume that lets them chart their career trajectory. By bringing company names, job titles and years of employment to the forefront, this resume format highlights the depth and breadth of the job seeker’s extensive experience on the road.

 

While skills are still very much included in this example, they take a backseat to a decade’s worth of truck driving accomplishments. Here, skills serve as a summary of the detailed work history documented above.

 

CTA: Build my resume

 

 

Blade 8:

Recommended Driving Cover Letter

 

 

CTA: Build My Cover Letter

 

Blade 9: TrustPilot

 

 

Blade 10:

Statistics and Facts About Driving Jobs

 

  1. Median Annual Pay (2018)

(Could be rendered as a chart or graph)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

  • Bus Drivers: $34,450
  • Delivery Truck Drivers: $30,500
  • Industrial, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: $43,680
  • Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs: $25,980

 

  1. Projected Job Growth from 2018–2028

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

  1. Typical Job Titles

Source: O*Net

  • Airport Shuttle Driver
  • Chauffeur
  • Checker/Loader
  • Delivery Driver
  • Forklift Technician
  • Lift Truck Operator
  • Limousine Driver
  • Line Haul Driver
  • Over-the-road (OTR) Driver
  • Production Truck Driver
  • Route Supervisor
  • Semitruck Driver
  • School Bus Driver
  • Taxicab Driver
  • Tractor Trailer Operator

 

  1. Education Level Required

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

  • Bus Drivers: High school diploma
  • Delivery Truck Drivers: High school diploma
  • Industrial, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: Postsecondary non-degree award
  • Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs: No formal educational credential required

 

  1. Average Driver Age by Gender

(Could be rendered as a chart or graph)

Source: DataUSA

 

  1. Gender Diversity

(Could be rendered as a chart or graph)

Source: DataUSA

 

  1. Average Salary Disparity by Gender

Source: DataUSA

 

  1. Annualized Turnover Rate as of 2017

Source: American Trucking Association

  • Large Fleets ($30 million or more in revenue): 88%
  • Small Fleets (less than $30 million in revenue): 80%

Download original doc with BOLD’s edits here: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LC-Category-Page-Food-Service_HONedit.docx

Blades

  1. Our Recommended Templates
  2. Trust Signals
  3. Create a Food Service Resume in 5 Simple Steps
  4. Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Food Service Resume
  5. 6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Food Service Resume
  6. Beat the ATS With These Food Service Resume Skills
  7. Food Service Resumes for Every Professional Level
  8. Recommended Food Service Cover Letter
  9. Trustpilot
  10. Stats and Facts About Food Service Jobs

 

Page title:

Food Service Resume Templates

 

Page subtitle:

Find out how our food service resume templates can help you create an exceptional document that will help you get the job you’ve always wanted.

 

Blade 1: (no copy)

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

 

Blade 2: (no copy)

 

 

Blade 3: (no copy)

 

Create a Food Service Resume in 5 Simple Steps

 

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 4:

Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Food Service Resume

Being able to articulate your skills and experience is critical in the food service industry. Cultivating this skill can turn even the most mundane tasks into extraordinary accomplishments.

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder makes writing a food service resume quick and easy by providing text suggestions for every section. Here are some examples of text the builder might recommend for the Work History section of your food service resume:

  • Memorized restaurant wine stock and appropriate entree pairings, driving daily wine sales.
  • Tended bar at special events up to five times a month and directed the team to provide exceptional service for social gatherings.
  • Maintained adequate levels of condiments and well-stocked drink stations to keep service flowing smoothly.
  • Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
  • Compiled 25 recipe ingredients and prepared them for cooking by washing, cutting and/or measuring food items.
  • Operated efficiently in a high-volume setting to prepare and serve more than 70 drinks per hour.

 

Blade 5:

8 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Food Service Resume

Do Choose an Appropriate Food Service Template. Some restaurants are fun and playful while others are more formal and reserved. Your resume templates should reflect the difference. Choose a design that mirrors your personality and the restaurant’s general vibe.

Do Use Active Voice for Descriptions. When job seekers use the active voice, it displays more confidence and shows that you got the job done. Consider the difference between saying you were responsible for memorizing 50 wine and entree pairings versus saying that you accurately memorized all 50.

Do Use Figures When Appropriate. Many people reserve figures for tech, accounting, and other STEM-field resumes. However, using figures can lend further credibility to your resume and experience. Quantify not just the work you did but the advantages this generated for the restaurant or bar. For example, “Upsold dessert items, increasing store sales by $800 per week.”

Do Get Creative: Some food service roles call for creativity and others do not, but the restaurant business overall does. Try to strike a balance between fun and formal by getting creative with descriptions. This can help your resume stand to a hiring manager who is likely reading anywhere from dozens to hundreds of applications.

Don’t Forget to Focus on Food Service: Even if you had a great corporate job in tech before moving into food service, it’s a good idea to keep your resume centered on your direct experience in the field. If you don’t yet have a lot of food service experience, then point out your transferable skills. For example, customer service skills gleaned as a receptionist will come in handy as a server or hostess.

Don’t Forget the Soft Skills: Focusing on your food service skills and qualifications is important. However, employers also appreciate soft skills, such as communication. This skill comes in handy when listening to customers to keep track of complex orders and multiple requests.

Don’t Get Too Wordy: Many people who work in food service are passionate about what they do. Still, it’s important not to get wordy with the descriptions. Focus on writing succinct descriptions of what you did, the effect it had on the establishment and customers, and any numbers you may have to support those results.

Don’t Exaggerate the Truth: An employer with experience in food service can spot an exaggeration or accomplishments that don’t look feasible. He or she may then call your previous employer to verify, could cause you embarrassment. Stick to the truth on your food service resume.

 

Blade 6:

Beat the ATS With These Food Service Resume Skills

When writing a food service resume, you need to consider how you will get past recruitment software. Known as applicant tracking systems (ATS), these programs scan resumes for preset keywords and then create a shortlist.

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder helps you beat ATS by pinpointing the right skills for food service. Depending on the position you have in mind, these may include any of the following:

  • Ability to work in a fast-paced bar or restaurant environment
  • Flexible schedule
  • Clear tables quickly and efficiently
  • Ability to neutralize conflict in a bar setting
  • Sanitize utensils after use
  • Memorize menus, specials, and wine pairings
  • Manage alcohol inventories
  • Ability to keep track of customers’ alcohol consumption
  • Record orders accurately
  • Set tables for up to a 12-course meal

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 7:

Food Service Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-level Food Service Resume Template: Food Service Worker

Food service workers with very little experience may still bring other assets to the table. Choosing a template that utilizes a functional format, like the one above, can help them flaunt this by focusing more on professional skills, education and general qualifications than on work experience.

This helps to show employers that while the person has not been working in the business for long, they have invested in in education in Culinary Arts and have acquired that basic skills needed to be successful in a restaurant or bar once hired.

CTA: Build my resume

Mid-career Food Service Resume Template: Head Bartender

As food service workers climb to mid-level positions, they gain invaluable work experience. Many may also complement this with a degree or certification in a related field. This may range from culinary arts to business or communications.

 

Combination resume formats, such as in the resume, above allow workers to give equal attention to experience, skills and education. This immediately emphasizes the array of assets the worker will bring to the table.

CTA: Build my resume

Executive-level Food Service Resume Template: Restaurant General Manager

After many years of experience, food service workers want to focus on their stellar work history over their skills. In a chronological resume format, like the one above, the skills section drops below the applicant’s work history and focuses on highlighting high-level skills that are valuable in food service. In the example above, these include staff scheduling, workflow planning, and regulatory compliance, all skills that would be used in a management-level role.  

CTA: Build my resume

 

Blade 8:

Recommended Food Service Cover Letter (no copy)

CTA: Build My Cover Letter

 

 

Blade 9: TrustPilot [no copy]

 

 

Blade 10: Statistics and Facts About Culinary Jobs

 

  1. Popular Job Titles

Source: Fit Small Business

  • Restaurant manager
  • Food service worker
  • Host/Hostess
  • Dishwasher
  • Bartender
  • Barista
  • Server
  1. Median Annual Pay by Job Title

(Could be rendered as a chart or graph)

 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

  1. Pay Structure

Source: The Chicago Tribune

While the federal minimum wage is $7.25, there is an exception for servers. Federal law allows employers to pay servers only $2.13 per hour. This is because employers expect servers to make up the rest of their pay through tips. Servers do so by capitalizing on the social norm of customers paying 20% of the cost of the food in tips. The U.S. government also bans servers from sharing these tips with other workers who do not interact regularly with customers. Because of this, other food service workers tend to have regular rates for their base pay. Some states do set higher minimum wages for the base pay.

  1. Best Places to Be a Server

Source: USA Today

Washington has the highest minimum wage in America. Servers must get paid at least $9.32 per hour. Washington is the best state to work as a server, taking into consideration a server’s income, availability of jobs, cost of living, and median household income. Vermont and Massachusetts also make good options.

  1. Education Statistics

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Most people in food service have a high school diploma or equivalent, even up to the managerial level. Employees tend to work their way up in food service by gaining experience and skills. However, some people do seek higher education through technical or vocational schools, culinary schools, community college, or four-year universities.

  1. College Students and Food Service

Source: CNBC and CBS News

CNBC reports that more college students are now working while attending school. Roughly 70% of students hold down a job while pursuing their degrees. College students often seek out service jobs, such as waiting tables or serving drinks, that require no degree and offer flexible hours. However, many end up staying in these food service positions even after completing their studies. Sometimes difficulties finding a job in their field of study causes this.

CBS News estimates that 14% of servers have a bachelor’s degree, while 16.5% of bartenders have earned the same.

  1. Room for Entrepreneurship

Source: ECPI University

Some students have remained in the food service business on purpose with the hope of gaining the experience they need to open their own restaurant. In fact, ECPI University estimates that even back in 2012, 40% of food service managers owned either their own food service franchise or restaurant.

  1. Miscellaneous Food Service Workers Facts

Source: Chron

  • Elementary and high school cafeterias employ about 4% of America’s food service workers.
  • The IRS estimates that 40% of tips go unreported, which implies that salaries for food service workers may be higher than it appears.
  • Tips make up about 70% of the salary for most servers, but about 10% for chefs and cooks.
  • Tips per hour range from $13 in San Francisco, Boston, and Miami to $7 in Detroit, Seattle, and Minneapolis.

 

(Download the doc with BOLD’s edits here: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LC-Category-Page-Administrative_HONedit.docx )

Blades

  1. Our Recommended Templates
  2. Trust Signals
  3. Create an Administrative Resume in 5 Simple Steps
  4. Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Administrative Resume
  5. 8 Dos and Don’ts for Writing an Administrative Resume
  6. Consider These Skills for Your Administrative Resume
  7. Administrative Resumes for Every Professional Level
  8. Recommended Administrative Cover Letter
  9. TrustPilot
  10. Statistics and Facts About Administrative Jobs

 

Page title:

 

Administrative Resume Templates

 

Page subtitle:

 

Get step-by-step guidance with LiveCareer’s administrative resume templates. Use our simple Resume Builder to create the perfect resume for getting the job you want in the administrative field.

 

Blade 1

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

CTA: Customize This Resume

CTA: Customize This Resume

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

Blade 2

 

 

Blade 3

 

Create an Administrative Resume in 5 Simple Steps

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 4

 

Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Administrative Resume

 

LiveCareer helps job seekers find the right way to word their resumes for jobs in the administrative field. Our Resume Builder provides industry-specific content and pre-written text created by certified resume writers. With our guidance, resume writing is faster and much easier than ever.

 

If goal is an administrative role, you need to use action words to show off your organizational, time management and customer service skills. Here are some examples our Resume Builder might recommend to job seekers who are writing an administrative resume:

 

  • Performed general office duties, including answering multi-line phones, routing telephone calls or messages to appropriate staff, and greeting visitors
  • Scanned files and eliminated outdated records
  • Created reports, correspondence and spreadsheets with Microsoft Office programs
  • Greeted arriving members professionally by first name
  • Managed travel itineraries and logistics for accommodations for 65+ employees
  • Established efficient workflow processes, monitored daily productivity and implemented modifications to improve overall effectiveness of personnel and activities

 

Blade 5

 

8 Dos and Don’ts for Writing an Administrative Resume

 

  1. Do point out your experience with computer software and technology. Administrative workers should be capable in most productivity software, such as Microsoft Word and Excel. They should also know scheduling software, such as Outlook or Google Calendar. Organizational tools or apps, such as Dropbox or Evernote, are also essentials in the administrative job seeker’s arsenal of skills.

 

  1. Do include details about problem solving. An administrative resume should provide examples of high-level problem solving. Managing office supply orders and inventory one way an administrative worker might solve problems. Other workers in this field demonstrate problem-solving skills by being a key contact in an office and answering questions from other employees.

 

  1. Do emphasize your interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills are important to recruiters for jobs in this field. Candidates can emphasize their interpersonal strengths by detailing duties related to greeting office visitors, scheduling meetings with staff members and delivering outstanding customer service.

 

  1. Do give information about your organizational abilities. Administrative assistants, data clerks, receptionists and many other job titles in this field rely on organization to succeed. Your resume should have plenty of details about your ability to organize, such as experience creating filing systems, making travel arrangements, organizing events or managing executive calendars.

 

  1. Don’t forget to customize the resume for the specific administrative position. Administrative jobs are available across all industries so it’s important to make your resume specific to the industry and company, not just to the job title. For example, working in real estate requires a specific skillset, including as scheduling showings, coordinating with agents and communicating with potential buyers and lenders. Admins in other fields will need to emphasize other skills.

 

  1. Don’t miss an opportunity to show off your attention to detail. Attention to detail in administrative jobs is a must. Don’t mess up by making careless errors on your resume. Even if you have an impressive work history, grammar and spelling errors make it evident that your attention to detail is lacking.

 

  1. Don’t sell yourself short on your accomplishments. Candidates for administrative jobs should tout their accomplishments to stand out in this competitive field. Show off your productivity skills by noting your lightning-fast typing speed and ability to man a multi-line phone system.  

 

  1. Don’t forget the enthusiasm. Because personality and friendliness matter in this field, feel free to show a little bit of yourself in your resume. Your professional summary at the top of your resume should convey your ambition and dedication to supporting staff members.

 

Blade 6

 

Consider These Skills for Your Administrative Resume

 

One challenge for job seekers in the administrative field is tackling the applicant tracking system. Because administrative jobs exist across industries, the ATS, which automatically reviews resumes for specific key words and phrases related to the role, is something candidates will likely encounter, especially at larger companies.

 

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder makes it easy for candidates to optimize their administrative resume for an ATS by suggesting with specific details recruiters seek. Here are examples of some of the skills the our builder might recommend to help and administrative resume pass an ATS:

 

  • Personable and friendly with staff and customers
  • Positive attitude
  • Customer-service skills
  • Self-starter who takes initiative
  • Understanding of digital filing systems
  • Expertise with Microsoft Office suite
  • Accurate and quick with data entry
  • Strong writing and correspondence skills
  • Skilled with updating business social media pages
  • Ability to manage an appointment calendar

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 7

 

Administrative Resumes for Every Professional Level

 

Entry-level Administrative Resume Template: Data-Entry Keyers

 

 

This entry-level data entry job seeker doesn’t have much professional experience, with some time as a retail cashier and a few months as an intern. For that reason, the candidate focuses more on her comprehensive skills and qualifications by using a functional resume template.

 

This job seeker puts desirable administrative skills at the forefront of her resume, such as organization, attention to detail and technical skills. She also shines with an effective summary statement that shows off her teamwork skills, positive attitude and conflict-resolution expertise.

 

CTA: Build my resume

 

Mid-career Administrative Resume Template: Executive Administrative Assistant

 

 

This job seeker, who is applying for an executive administrative assistant role, shows a candidate with several years of experience. She emphasizes both her valuable skills and experience by using a combination resume. The candidate’s work history shows a steady career progression from an administrative assistant to an executive administrative assistant at her most recent job.

 

This resume paints a [picture of a worker who is self-sufficient and has experience getting results when working with executives by giving a thorough overview of how the applicant has brought value to her past roles.

 

CTA: Build my resume

 

Executive-level Administrative Resume Template: Office Manager

 

 

In this resume, the key focus is on the applicant’s many years of experience. He demonstrates his leadership skills and ability to get results while managing a busy office. The candidate also lists his college degree in business administration, an important credentials for some upper-level admin roles. His work history details an increasing level of responsibility and a steady career trajectory.

 

This applicant shows off the importance of using quantifiable data, especially in fields dealing with payroll, managing employees and training them. By using these metrics on his resume, he demonstrates a readiness for his next challenge in an administrative role.

 

CTA: Build my resume

 

Blade 8

 

Recommended Administrative Cover Letter

 

CTA: Build My Cover Letter

 

Blade 9

 

TrustPilot

 

 

Blade 10

 

Statistics and Facts About Administrative Jobs

 

Popular Administrative Job Titles and Number of Workers

 

  • Administrative Assistant – 3,786,800
  • Office Clerk – 3,158,500
  • Accounting Clerk – 1,707,700
  • Information Clerk – 1,484,300
  • Receptionist – 1,101,500

 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

Popular Industries That Employ Administrative Staff and Number of Workers

*This could be rendered as a chart or graph

 

  • Hospitals – 911,596
  • Banks and Finance – 710,774
  • Insurance Companies – 692,642
  • Grocery Stores – 616,232
  • Retail Department and Discount Stores – 597,792

 

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

 

Highest and Lowest Pay by Industry for Administrative Workers

 

Highest

 

  • Software Publishing – $75,181
  • Pipeline Transportation – $70,185
  • Oil and Gas Extraction – $66,940

 

Lowest

 

  • Bowling Centers – $13,207
  • Beauty Salons – $13,373
  • Nail Salons – $15,466

 

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

 

Job Outlook by Job Title 2018-2028

 

  • Receptionist – 5% growth
  • Accounting Clerk – 4% decline
  • Administrative Assistant – 7% decline
  • Information Clerk – no change
  • Office Clerk – 4% decline

 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

Median Pay for Popular Job Titles

*This could be rendered as a chart or graph

 

  • Receptionist – $29,140
  • Accounting Clerk – $40,240
  • Administrative Assistant – $38,880
  • Information Clerk – $34,520
  • Office Clerk – $32,730

 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

Race and Ethnicity Data for Administrative Workers

 

  • White – 73.4%
  • Black – 14%
  • Asian – 4.54%
  • Other – 4.44%
  • Two or more races – 2.64%
  • American Indian – .0524%
  • Pacific Islander – .0232%

 

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

 

Gender Makeup of Administrative Jobs

 

 

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

 

College Degree Majors for Administrative Workers

 

 

Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Data

 

Download original doc with BOLD’s edits here: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LC-Category-Page-Retail_HONedit.docx

Blades

 

  1. Our Recommended Templates
  2. Trust Signals
  3. Create a Retail Resume in 5 Simple Steps
  4. Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Retail Resume
  5. 6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Retail Resume
  6. Beat the ATS With These Retail Resume Skills
  7. Retail Resumes for Every Professional Level
  8. Recommended Retail Cover Letter
  9. TrustPilot
  10. Stats and Facts about Retail Jobs

 

Page title:

 

Retail Resume Templates

 

Page subtitle:

 

Find helpful step-by-step guidance and retail resume templates that make it easy to create a job-winning resume in a few simple steps.

 

Blade 1: (no copy)

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

CTA: Customize This Resume

 

Blade 2: (no copy)

 

 

Blade 3: (no copy)

 

Create a Retail Resume in 5 Simple Steps

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 4:

Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Retail Resume

 

Our Resume Builder provides retail-specific text suggestions from our certified resume writers. These pre-written text options simplify the writing process, so you can craft a customized retail resume quickly and get the job you want.

 

The key is being able to show employers which skills and experience you’ll bring to your next retail role. Here are some examples of content our builder might suggest for a retail resume:

 

  • Assessed sales reports to identify and enhance sales performance
  • Assisted up to 100 customers per day in locating items in store
  • Increased sales 12% by offering advice on purchases
  • Stocked merchandise every day, clearly labeling items, and arranging according to size or color
  • Increased product appeal and customer experience by interacting directly with customers
  • Organized racks and shelves to maintain store’s visual appeal
  • Answered customer telephone calls to provide information about store policies
  • Processed POS transactions, including checks, cash and credit purchases
  • Opened and closed store 5 days per week

 

Blade 5:

 

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Retail Resume

 

As you write your retail resume, follow these expert writing tips:

 

  • DO draw attention to your customer service skills. Detail ways your outgoing and friendly nature make a good impression and help you succeed in resolving customers’ complaints.
  • DO indicate if you have a flexible schedule. Some retail jobs require nontraditional hours, such as weekend or overnight shifts. A potential employer may prioritize your application if you show that you are willing to work less-desirable shifts.
  • DO illustrate your achievements through data and metrics. Don’t just say that you increased revenue by suggesting relevant add-ons in your last role. Use real numbers to quantify your results. For example, mentioning that you were able to upsell customer purchases by an average of 15 percent will pack a punch.
  • DO list the languages you speak. Most employers require retail associates to speak fluent English, so it’s a good idea to point this out. If you are bilingual or multilingual, include this information on your resume, especially if you are applying to a store where customers likely speak other languages.

 

  • DON’T forget about your physical qualifications. Many retail jobs require extensive walking, lifting and bending. Make sure to include a complete list of these abilities on your resume, especially if the job description mentions them.
  • DON’T downplay any relevant experience. Even if your past experience wasn’t in retail, including examples of how you provided exceptional customer service in past roles is valuable. Experience processing customer transactions in a restaurant or efficiently packing bags at a local market shows you have transferable skills.
  • DON’T forget to include your relevant education. List the highest level of education you completed. If you have a relevant degree, like a BA in Merchandise Management, be sure to list it. If not, showcase your participation in retail-related activities such as fundraising, ticket sales and event preparation.
  • DON’T leave out your achievements. In your work experience section, make sure to point out accomplishments such as Employee of the Month awards, positive customer reviews and record-breaking sales statistics.

 

Blade 6:

 

Consider These Skills for Your Retail Resume

 

Many recruiters nowadays are using computer programs called applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan submitted resumes to weed out unqualified candidates. ATS software looks for certain phrases and keywords, typically outlined in the job ad, to determine if a candidate has the required qualifications.

 

When you’re applying for a retail position, chances are good that an ATS will read your resume before a human does, especially if you are applying for a job at a large retail store that’s part of a national or international brand. The key to getting your resume past an ATS is using the right language to describe your skills and work experience.

 

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder makes it easy by suggesting sought-after skills for the retail industry. Here are some suggestions the builder might make for a retail resume:

 

  • Upselling items to customers
  • Stocking and restocking shelves
  • Mental arithmetic for handling cash transactions
  • Arranging holiday and sales displays in stores
  • Salesmanship
  • POS operation
  • Accepting returns and processing refunds
  • Answering customer questions and recommending products
  • Product knowledge
  • Merchandising

 

CTA: Build My Resume

 

Blade 7:

 

Retail Resumes for Every Professional Level

 

Entry-level Retail Resume Template: Fitting Room Attendant

 

This resume for an entry-level retail position uses a functional resume format to draws attention away from her limited work experience and onto her relevant professional skills, including customer assistance, organization and attention to detail. She also uses the Professional Skills section to convey concrete examples of how she used each skill in action during previous jobs.

 

Another plus for this candidate is the inclusion of real-world metrics (e.g. 50 customers, 10 fitting rooms) to showcase her contributions to previous employers. To bolster her relatively short career history, she has included her work as a library volunteer since it was a customer-facing role.

 

CTA: Build my resume

 

Mid-career Retail Resume Template: Lead Cashier

 

In this mid-level resume, the candidate uses a combination resume format to focus hiring managers immediately on his skills, which include training, friendly, customer assistance, math skills and cash handling. In addition, his work history shows a clear progression in customer service positions, culminating in his current role as a lead cashier. This resume example also includes several impressive metrics, such as handling hundreds of dollars in cash, training several new cashiers, and interacting with nearly 100 customers every day.

 

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Executive-level Retail Resume Template: Retail Store Manager

 

 

This resume for an executive-level position showcases the candidate’s quick advancement through retail jobs by using a chronological resume format. Her impressive career history provides proof of the qualifications stated in the skills section, including team leadership, strategic selling, merchandising and problem-solving. The professional summary also focuses on essential qualities for a retail executive, including experience with inventory management, operations and promotional planning. The candidate clearly indicates her enthusiasm for high-end fashion, which could help her application stand out to hiring managers in luxury boutique establishments.

 

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Recommended Retail Cover Letter

 

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Statistics and Facts About Retail Jobs

 

A thorough understanding of the retail industry combined with our easy-to-use resume builder can help you get the job you want. Here are some key points to consider:

 

  1. Training

 

Most entry-level and mid-level retail sales positions don’t require college degrees because employers provide on-the-job training.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

  1. Education

 

If you want to become a sales manager who recruits, trains and supervises teams of retail employees, you may need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Some common degree subjects include economics, business law, accounting and marketing.

Source: BLS

 

  1. Median Annual Salary by Experience

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The median annual salary for retail sales employees is $24,200. However, there is a significant jump in pay for workers who move from an entry-level sales role to an oversight position. The average annual salary for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers is $49,978. Moving up from first-line supervisor to sales manager may come with an even larger salary increase; the median pay for sales managers is $124,220.

Source: O*Net, DataUSA, BLS

 

  1. Gender Diversity

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There are more female retail salespeople, with the position averaging 54% female workers to 46% male. However, men in retail sales make on average nearly double what women in these positions do.

 

Source: DataUSA

 

  1. Most Common Retail Industries

 

The most common industry for retail jobs is grocery stores, with a workforce of over 1.3 million in the U.S. Department and discount stores are the next most common industry, with over 1 million employees.

 

Source: DataUSA

 

  1. Retail Job Growth

 

While statistics indicate the overall number of available retail sales jobs will likely decrease by 2% over the next 10 years, projections show a 3.77% increase in opportunities for first-line supervisors of retail workers over the same time period.

Sources: BLS, DataUSA

 

  1. Changing Landscape

 

As brick-and-mortar stores attempt to compete with online shopping outlets, some companies are requiring their retail sales workers to take on additional responsibilities, such as supporting drive-up order delivery or home-based shopping.

Source: Associated Press

 

  1. Upward Mobility

 

While many workers report that retail sales positions can be stressful, they also offer a higher-than-average level of upward mobility, providing numerous opportunities for employees to advance to positions that offer more responsibility and increased pay.

Source: U.S. News and World Report

Download original doc with BOLD’s edits here: https://styleguide.bkacontent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LC-Category-Page-Teaching_HONedit.docx

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  1. Our Recommended Templates
  2. Trust Signals
  3. Create a Teaching Resume in 5 Simple Steps
  4. Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Teaching Resume
  5. 8 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Teaching Resume
  6. Consider These Skills for Your Teaching Resume
  7. Teaching Resumes for Every Professional Level
  8. Recommended Teaching Cover Letter
  9. TrustPilot
  10. Statistics and Facts About Teaching Jobs

 

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Teaching Resume Templates

 

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Writing the perfect resume can be a challenge if you want to get a great job in teaching. Check out these helpful tips and resources for resume templates and step-by-step guidance.

 

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Blade 3

 

Create a Teaching Resume in 5 Simple Steps

 

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Teaching Resume

 

The key to a well-written teaching resume is to include industry-specific details that tell a story about your teaching experience. Teaching resumes should convey knowledge of teaching standards, an understanding of child development and behavior, and experience with data-based decisions and academic testing.

 

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder is a tool that can help you write your teaching resume, fast. Our Resume Builder gives job seekers in the field of teaching suggestions for custom content written by our certified resume writers to help take the guess work out of writing a teaching resume.

 

Here are some examples of text our builder might recommend for your teaching resume:

 

  • Created daily lesson plans for courses, modifying throughout year to meet time constraints and specific interests of class.
  • Met with parents to discuss student behaviors and needs.
  • Observed and assessed student performance and charted progress.
  • Recorded three lessons on video and audio per week for online instruction.
  • Fostered reasoning and problem solving through active exploration games and activities.
  • Encouraged critical thinking to understand reasoning behind physics

formulas to over 100 students per semester.

 

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8 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Teaching Resume

 

  1. DO include information about your education. To qualify for most teaching jobs, candidates must have a degree in education from a certified university program. Include your academic credentials in your resume’s education section by listing your college degree and major.

 

  1. DO list any licenses and awards. Teachers should also list their state licensing information to demonstrate their readiness to lead in a classroom. Be sure to also list any special awards you’ve won during your career, such as educational grants, school staff awards, National Board Certification awards or anything else noteworthy.

 

  1. DO point out technology skills. Today’s educators need to be well versed in working with educational technology. Show off your ability to teach with technology, use computers in instruction and lead courses online.

 

  1. DO include details about your professional development. Teachers, professors and other education professionals should include relevant training and professional development in their resumes. Certifications and experience in different aspects of education help candidates stand out.

 

  1. DON’T forget to write about accomplishments. A stand-out resume differentiates itself with an individual’s accomplishments. Give the administrators information about your top achievements, such as improving test scores, reducing behavior referrals, planning field trips and creating amazing media-rich lesson plans for students.

 

  1. DON’T forget to add numbers. In the education field, data is increasingly important for measuring student progress. Use the data from your career to your advantage. Back up you achievements with metrics, such the number of points students’ scores improved, percentages of students showing academic excellence and any other quantifiable details.

 

  1. DON’T focus on career experiences unrelated to teaching. Part-time jobs, such as retail and restaurant work, aren’t usually relevant for a teaching position. If you don’t have a lot of teaching experience, point out experiences tutoring, supervising children or working collaboratively with others.  

 

  1. DON’T make careless mistakes. Attention to detail is important for teachers so be sure to do a thorough edit and complete revision of your resume before sending it off. Teachers are expected to be accurate, so proofread and have someone you trust read over your resume first.

 

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Consider These Skills for Your Teaching Resume

 

In the education field, the applicant tracking system, or ATS, continues to gain traction with recruiters from schools and districts country-wide. Industry experts predict the demand for ATS services from college and universities will go up at least 3 percent by 2021. This means that your teaching resume must be worded properly to make it through the ATS process.

 

Recruiters use an ATS to quickly scan resumes for details relevant to open education job positions. LiveCareer’s simple Resume Builder helps teaching candidates choose the right words and phrases for this industry to help them pass through the ATS hurdle.

 

Here are a few of the top recommended hard and soft skill keywords that the ATS might be programmed to scan teaching resumes for:

 

  • Patient and compassionate with students and coworkers
  • Organized and efficient with classroom administrative duties
  • Skilled collaborator with other teachers
  • Experience administering the MAP test
  • Ability to create online course content
  • Effective classroom management
  • Understanding of childhood development
  • Experience working with students with special needs
  • Knowledge of different learning styles
  • Trained in restorative justice practices

 

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Teaching Resumes for Every Professional Level

 

Entry-level Teaching Resume Template: Teaching Assistant

 

 

Entry-level teaching candidates face a challenge of presenting their skills with little to no work experience. Candidates with limited experience in a classroom setting should consider a functional resume format, like the example above. This resume format emphasizes education and transferable skills over direct teaching experience.

 

Even though the candidate has a short history of experience, she provides examples of her ability to manage a classroom, communicate and motivate students. She uses a combination of experiences as a teaching assistant, tutor and teaching intern to show her readiness.

 

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Mid-career Teaching Resume Template: Associate Professor

 

 

A candidate with several years of teaching experience, such as this associate professor, should consider using a combination resume format to point out his accomplishments and skills, while flaunting a growing work history. This job seeker puts his most impressive education skills at the top of the resume to capture the attention of recruiters. Then, he details his steady work history in education and includes plenty of information that is specific to teaching at the college level.

 

The candidate rounds out these strong points but using quantifiable information and outlining his degrees to help him paint a clear picture of his credentials to the recruiter. 

 

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Executive-level Teaching Resume Template: College Professor

 

 

For executive-level candidates, career trajectory is king. This candidate leads with an attention-grabbing summary statement that exudes confidence and ability and her strong work history to make an impression. By using a chronological format she demonstrates her breadth of experience as a college professor and how capable she is to land the open position.

 

She includes a list of relevant skills lower on the document, while also incorporating teaching skills within the descriptions of her work experience. Finally, her education section lists the necessary qualifications and degrees for a college professor.

 

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Blade 8

 

Recommended Teaching Cover Letter

 

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Blade 9

 

TrustPilot

 

 

Blade 10

 

Statistics and Facts About Teaching Jobs

 

Education Statistics

 

Private and public school teachers and college education statistics:

*This could be rendered as a chart or graph

 

  • Percentage of teachers with no degree – 2.4%
  • Percentage of teachers with a bachelor’s degree – 40.5%
  • Percentage of teachers with a master’s degree – 47.3%
  • Percentage of teachers with an advanced education specialist degree – 8.4%
  • Percentage of teachers with a doctorate – 1.3%

 

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

 

Job Outlook by Job Title 2018-2028

 

  • Preschool teachers – 7% growth
  • Elementary school teachers – 3% growth
  • Special education teachers – 3% growth
  • High school teachers – 4% growth
  • Adult education teachers – 5% decline
  • Postsecondary teachers – 11% growth
  • Teaching assistants – 4% growth

 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

Demographic Statistics About Public School Teachers

 

  • Gender of elementary school teachers – 89% female/11% male
  • Gender of secondary school teachers – 64% female/36% male
  • Race and ethnicity data
    • 80% White
    • 7% Black
    • 9% Hispanic
    • 2% Asian
    • 1% Two or more races

 

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

 

Public School Teachers and Years of Teaching Experience Distribution Statistics

 

  • Three years of experience or less – 10%
  • Between three and nine years of experience – 28%
  • Between 10 and 20 years of experience – 39%
  • More than 20 years of experience – 22%

 

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

 

Number of Postsecondary Full-Time Educators by Job Title

 

  • Professors – 182,924
  • Associate Professors – 157,820
  • Assistant Professors – 176,347
  • Instructors – 100,789
  • Lecturers – 42,150
  • Other Faculty – 155,730

 

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

 

Median Educator Pay by Job Title

*This could be rendered as a chart or graph

 

  • Preschool teachers – $29,780
  • Elementary school teachers – $57,980
  • Special education teachers – $59,780
  • High school teachers – $60,320
  • Adult education teachers – $53,630
  • Postsecondary teachers – $78,470
  • Teaching assistants – $26,970

 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

Teacher Pay by Location

 

 

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2018/05/09/where-u-s-teacher-pay-is-highest-lowest-infographic/#80eefdb2eab9

 

College Professor Pay Statistics

 

 

Source: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/04/11/aaups-annual-report-faculty-compensation-takes-salary-compression-and-more