How to Reinvent Your Career

Job advice for assistants

Today’s competitive job market is just a reminder that being on you’re A-game is always a good idea, especially if you are competing in the private service arena for jobs with high-net-worth employers. 

​There’s no room for complacency when competition for jobs is at an all-time high. If you’ve found yourself not getting as many interviews or job offers as you’d like, then consider the following:

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Is your resume specific about your abilities? ​

Your resume should not read like a job description; it should list accomplishments from your prior jobs – preferably with some statistics to back it up. That way if you're interviewing to be an estate manager for a billionaire, then you will give a great case about why you are the right candidate for the job. 

Focus on getting a realistic position

Instead of just blasting your resume to 200 jobs and hoping for the best, hone your target list and customize your resume to highlight skills that fit the employer’s needs. Less is more, so go for quality and not quantity. Do some research on the billionaire that you want to work for so that you can show him that you're right for the role. 

If you want to change careers

If you're changing careers, then be sure to demonstrate how your “transferable skills” can serve the employer’s needs. For example, if you're currently in hospitality and want to switch to private service, make like comparisons to how the job you want is similar when you're in the job interview. 

Spruce up your resume

If you’re using an outdated resume style, then it’s time you catch up with the 21st century. Kill the objective statement and use the top of the resume for a “Summary of Skills”. This allows employers to know in an instant if you have what they want. For example, if you're a personal assistant and are willing to run errands because that's what they listed in the job description, then be sure to put that in writing at the top of your resume. 

Optimize your resume

It’s statistically proven that you have less than 10 seconds to impress the recruiter before they delete your resume, so be sure the resume layout is clean and contains relevant information about the position you’re applying for.

​Don’t include a photo

Resumes are not the place for a photo, but you can’t put one on your LinkedIn profile. Since human resource departments are using resume scanning software these days, photos and text boxes can prevent the software from doing its job; thus deleting your submission.