Words of Distinction

Getting Your Resume Past the Robots (ATS)

Posted on May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 by Emily Wong

Photo credit: Patrick Daxenbichler from Getty Images

Let’s talk about ATS. If you’re not familiar with ATS, it stands for applicant tracking system, and it basically serves as the gatekeeper for your resume when you apply online.

If you’re like a lot of job seekers, you have questions about whether or not your resume is ATS-friendly.

If you’re like some, you may even break into a sweat at the mention of the term and the thought of those scary little bots, rubbing their tiny bot hands, and thinking up evil ways to prevent your precious resume from reaching the hands of a hiring manager.

3 questions that rise to the top of my clients’ lists of concerns when it comes to ATS:

How can I present my skills to ensure they get read?
Do columns, tables, and other formatting affect readability?
Is it OK to use text boxes, graphs, and images?

Well, my friend, I hope the following answers will put your mind at ease and help you with your resume-writing strategy.

Career Transition in 6 Steps

Posted on November 2, 2021November 14, 2021 by Emily Wong

Aah. November. Crisp and refreshing. I love autumn for just that reason. Even the San Francisco Bay Area has its pops of color and brisk air. November is also a great time to refresh from the inside—and maybe think about refreshing your career. This could be anything from learning a new skill so you can grow in place, to redirecting your path altogether.

If you’re considering a transition to a new role, read on.

A Gap in Your Career Doesn’t Have to Mean a Gap in Progress

Posted on July 12, 2021July 15, 2021 by Emily Wong

Let’s talk about career gaps without stirring up the usual associated anxiety. Your career opportunities don’t dry up just because you took time off from work. In fact, some important personal or professional growth may have taken root during those periods. If you plan to travel, study, volunteer, or take care of family, you may find you return to the office reinvigorated and with a newfound appreciation for work in the traditional sense.

The good news: according to a recent LinkedIn poll, the perception of employment gaps may be shifting.