As we move into a new year, many people are thinking about their careers and how they can make 2018 their most successful and prosperous one yet. For some people, that means finding a new job and will need resume services to get their CV back up to snuff. For others, it’s just improving the one they have. As you start thinking about your career plans for the next year, take a look at some of these news stories getting attention right now.
Retirees Plan to Work, But Have Trouble Getting Hired
According to a new Transamerica study, more than half (56 percent) of retirees plan to work after they retire. The problem? It seems that most of them have trouble finding work. Currently, only about 20 percent of adults 65 and older are employed — and that includes part-time work.
The reasons for retirees heading back into the workforce range from a lack of retirement savings (and retirement planning that didn’t account for leisure pursuits) to a desire to avoid boredom. And while it seems like a part-time job is a good way to solve both problems, it appears they aren’t exactly easy to come by. Because of these challenges, the Motley Fool has developed a list of suggestions for those planning to work during retirement.
- Strengthen and maintain your business network while you are still working. That way you can reach out to your contacts come retirement to find more opportunities.
- Consider consulting in your field. Put your experience to use.
- Develop a side-hustle while you are still working. Writing, editing, web design work, or other side projects can be a good source of income when you retire — and if you start in advance, you won’t have to work so hard to drum up business.
Want to Annoy Your Co-Workers? Complain … A Lot
Everyone has had a co-worker (or two) who is just plain annoying. In fact, a new study from Olivet Nazarene College found that 73 percent of people have had between two to five annoying co-workers. And the biggest source of that annoyance? Nearly 50 percent of the survey respondents said that loudness and complaining is the most annoying co-worker habit. Other annoying habits mentioned in the study include gossip and bullying (32 percent), bathroom and eating habits (12 percent), email and meeting habits (6 percent) and personal hygiene (1 percent).
The good news, though, is that overall, most people aren’t exceptionally annoyed by their co-workers. And when the problems get too big to ignore, most professionals (78 percent) deal directly with the person in question. Except, of course, when they are the problem: Only 24 percent of the survey respondents admitted to being aware of their own annoying habits. Even if no one has said anything to you yet, if you exhibit any of those problem behaviors, you might be irritating your co-workers.
Study Reveals Many Resumes Contain Lies
One of the most common pieces of career advice is to never lie on your resume. According to a new report from background check provider HireRight reveals that not everyone is taking that advice though. As many as 85 percent of resumes contain some sort of embellishment or outright lie – and HR professionals and resume services are taking notice.
According to Fast Company, many HR departments are on the lookout for several red flags on resumes:
- Inflated roles. Some jobseekers are using titles of the roles they thought they deserved, or that sound more impressive, than their actual title. HR pros are looking for vague lists of skills that don’t really match the title listed — or the job description they are hiring for.
- Creative dates. Because job gaps have been problematic in the past, some jobseekers are being vague about their work history. It’s always better to be honest about your work history, and explain your gaps, then try to hide them.
- Lack of specific degrees. While some people will lie about where they went to school, it’s more common for people to list degrees that they never actually earned. For example, someone who was a few credits shy of graduation might list “Bachelor’s degree” instead of the specific degree, i.e., “Bachelor of Arts.”
Honesty is always the best policy on your resume. If you are having trouble crafting the perfect resume, resume services from Employment BOOST can help you.
If You Want to Quit Your Job, You Aren’t Alone
If your goals for 2018 include finding a new job, well, you aren’t the only one. A report from Mental Health America and the Faas Foundation revealed that 71 percent of U.S. workers want to leave their current company. Among the most common reasons for wanting to jump ship? Too much stress, a lack of recognition, and negative work environments.
The authors of the report note that employees aren’t always looking for more money when they leave a job. In fact, most employees want to be recognized and appreciated, even if it doesn’t come with a salary boost. However, if you are one of the estimated 12,000 people who will change jobs next year and need resume services, take note: the problems don’t always improve with a new job. That being said, if you look for a job with a company culture that matches your own values, has a robust reward and recognition program, and resources for managing stress, you’re likely to be happier.