All too often, job seekers will notice a job that they’re fully qualified to do, but their resumes may not reflect this. There could be gaps in employment, job titles that don’t match well with a different job description or lack of experience as a recent graduate. Using a functional resume, instead of a chronological resume, can be a useful way to get past the artificial intelligence resume barriers and into a busy hiring manager’s inbox. What Is A Functional Resume? The traditional resume starts from your current (relevant) job to your first job, breaking down job titles, time of employment and job descriptions. In chronological order, this allows a hiring manager to see how you may have moved up the ladder to where you are now. The problem with this resume is there may be stagnant moments or jobs that have nothing to do with what the employer is looking for. This is when a functional resume comes into play, especially if you’re pursuing a career change. You have the chance to be...

AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 was in Houston, TX, from Nov. 13 to 17 — and on Day 3, LinkedIn hosted an Executive Stage session titled “The Path Forward: Adapting Amidst Rapid Tech.” Career expert Drew McCaskill and technology leader Bef Ayenew led the panel to discuss artificial intelligence’s transformative impact on jobs, teams, and companies. With 1.1 billion members leveraging LinkedIn for career growth, knowledge sharing, skill development, and community building, many have already enhanced their profiles with AI skills . “We’ve seen 140x in times in LinkedIn members globally adding AI skills to their LinkedIn profiles. That’s 140x increase in people adding those skills,” McCaskill said. “70% of companies are reporting that they’re using AI already at work. If you think about it like this, 25% of the skills needed for the jobs that all of us do and have been doing for the past eight years have changed.” “So even if you’re not changing jobs, your jobs are changing on you,” he...

The concept of work / life balance has been a major sticking point in the social consciousness for years now, especially highlighted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and beyond. For some employees, going above and beyond seems to be the only way to feel valued at work, while others argue that they’re only willing to offer minimum performance for minimum payment . Young professionals and industry leaders alike have argued and debated the worth of hard work from boardrooms to chat rooms, and everywhere in between. Most recently, American tech mogul Marc Andreessen weighed in, introducing his argument for keeping the so-called “full self” out of the office. To understand the breadth of Andreessen’s comments, we’ll have to briefly unpack what it means to present your full self, dive into the collective opinion on American workplace values and study industry trends in both social and professional spaces. It’s unlikely that we’ll uncover one universal answer that resonates...

Upon hearing “Pink Friday,” most people’s minds immediately jump to the Queen of Rap herself , Nicki Minaj. The Trinidadian femcee released her debut album on Nov. 22, 2010, via Cash Money Records, Universal Motown Records and Young Money Entertainment. Even as a newcomer, she nabbed impressive collaborations from names like Eminem, Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West, ultimately selling 375K copies in her first week out. This placed Minaj behind Lauryn Hill with the second-highest sales debut ever for a female rapper, and the mother of one has only continued to prove her power since. Over a decade later, she returned with “Pink Friday 2,” this time recruiting J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Future, Monica, 50 Cent and other icons to join her on the tracklist. Minaj’s 2023 LP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making her the first female rapper with three albums to top the chart; she moved 228K album-equivalent albums at the time, 92,000 of which were pure sales. These statistics are all...

In the professional world, the way you end an email is just as important as the content you include, even though this crucial element of electronic communication is sometimes overlooked. A good sign-off leaves a positive impression, conveys the appropriate tone, and helps maintain a sense of professionalism. The right closing can set the tone for future interactions and even reflect your personality or position within a company. Here’s a guide to the best email sign-offs for professionals in various situations. What Professional Email Sign-Off Has The Highest Response Rate? If you’re sending emails internally, getting a response highly depends on who you’re emailing, what you’re emailing about, and what the other party’s usual email habits are. However, there is a little bit of science to back up that some professional email sign-offs get more traction than others. According to a survey conducted by Boomerang , using messages from mailing lists across 20 different online...

Choosing a career can feel like a monumental decision, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process less overwhelming and more fulfilling. It’s a journey of self-discovery, research, and planning that aligns your interests, skills, and values with professional opportunities. For those still in university, this can even impact your studies when it comes to choosing a major. About 25% of college students surveyed by BestColleges reported reconsidering their chosen field frequently. Choosing a career comes down to choosing what you want to do presumably for the rest of your life. It’s not unusual to feel a bit of pressure. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can narrow down your choices and learn how to choose a career. Reflect On Your Interests And Strengths Start by identifying what genuinely excites you. Consider activities or topics you enjoy in your personal life and at work or school. Are you drawn to creative tasks, analytical problem-solving, or helping...

Navigating the job application process and getting your career off the ground can be tricky, especially if you’re uncertain whether a position you’re interested in is still open. To make matters worse, the labor market is pretty tight right now, with unemployment remaining low at around 4.1% for the month of October. As for total job openings, they’ve actually declined slightly over the past year, down 1.9 million from last September and now sitting around 7.4 million total openings. In a tough market, any little things you can do to get an edge is worth considering. Asking about the status of a job shows initiative and keeps you informed about potential opportunities. Here’s how to inquire respectfully and professionally. Research First Before reaching out, check the company’s website and job posting platforms to confirm whether the position is still listed. Some organizations update their listings regularly, while others may leave old posts online. If the role has been removed or...

Since Donald Trump came out on top in the 2024 election, the news has been flooded with headlines about how the New York native plans to run the country during his second term. With another dramatic leadership shift from Democratic back to Republican, Americans are anticipating a lot of change to come. Despite the chaos that ensued during his first time in office, there seems to be one thing Trump had to offer that most everyone wants more of – stimulus checks. Per Fox 5 DC , there’s been a sudden increase in social media posts claiming American taxpayers in some states will receive $2,000 or more from the government. This isn’t the first time in 2024 these claims have circulated, and they only seem to be growing more popular in wake of Trump’s presidential campaign and victory. Internal Revenue Service Has No Apparent Stimulus Plans (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) As you might recall, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS offered three stimulus checks to support taxpayers and keep...

If you’ve been rejected or even ghosted by a job that seemed perfect for you, the question of whether you can reapply may cross your mind. The good news is that, in many cases, it’s absolutely okay to reapply for a job you were previously turned down for. Here’s what to consider if you’re thinking of giving it another shot. Understanding Why You Didn’t Get The Job Before reapplying, try to reflect on why you didn’t land the role the first time. Sometimes, it’s as simple as timing: the company may have had a strong internal candidate, or their hiring needs may have changed. In other cases, they might have been looking for someone with a slightly different skill set. If you’re unsure, review any feedback you received from the recruiter or hiring manager (if provided), as this can offer valuable insights into areas you may need to strengthen. Automatic Screening It’s entirely possible that the hiring team has processed your application through an applicant tracking system (ATS). ATS...

Becoming an investment banker is a sought-after career goal for those interested in finance, mergers, acquisitions, and high-stakes deal-making. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the financial sectors that include investment banking are going to grow by about 7% from 2022 to 2032, meaning it’s a field that will continue to hire on new talent as the 2020s roll onward. Investment bankers help companies, governments, and other entities raise capital, manage financial assets, and advise on major financial transactions. This field is known for offering lucrative pay and high levels of responsibility, making it competitive to enter. Here’s what investment bankers do, the steps to become one, the expected salary and a breakdown of the pros and cons. What Does An Investment Banker Do? Investment bankers are financial advisors who help their clients raise money through public or private markets, advise on mergers and acquisitions, and develop strategies to grow their...

Starting your day off meaningfully and productively can set you up for success. The “success” doesn’t need to have a traditional definition of achieving more sales or closing out more projects. Success is and always will be personal . Similarly, morning routines are specific to each person and determined by physical, mental and spiritual steps. Here’s the surprising truth about morning routines and what successful people do differently. The Truth About Morning Routines Establishing a morning routine may seem like a step out of your comfort zone, but it can provide organization and relief. It’s about prioritization of what steps would have the most impact on your day in a positive way. These steps can look different than those of folks around you, but ultimately it’s about what sets you up for success personally. This could look like preparing the night before or giving yourself enough time to slowly implement your morning routine rather than rushing into it. Celebs have spoken about...

The Covid-19 pandemic brought on a brief, but impactful job crisis. Following the height of the pandemic in 2021, more than 50 million people quit their jobs in what would become known as the Great Resignation . This mass quitting hit a fever pitch between November 2021 and April 2022, seeing almost 4.5 million people calling it quits every single month. That movement lost steam in 2023, though, and by the time the October 29th, 2024 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report rolled out, those numbers were around 3.1 million per month. If you’re thinking of breaking it to your boss that you want out, you’ll join their numbers. Quitting a job can be a pivotal moment in your career, and how you approach it can impact your professional reputation. Leaving respectfully ensures that you maintain valuable connections, demonstrate professionalism, and leave the door open for future opportunities. Don’t opt for the “ quiet quitting ” route. Instead, here’s how to exit a role...

Just starting your career? Many programs look similar at first, but they have important differences that can shape your future. Knowing which one is right for you can help you boost your skills and get a jumpstart in your dream job. In this article, we’ll break down internships versus externships, point out how they differ and give you some handy tips for picking the program that matches your career goals. Internships ogichobanov This program lets career newbies take on roles within a company to gain experience in that field, potentially as a future career. While the tasks given to interns are meant to train them, they may end up with less work or share tasks with others. More time in a specific role may be spent on getting feedback or reviewing how things are done. Interns may either report to a specific supervisor or help out different team members, depending on what the role requires. Sometimes, interns might end up doing administrative tasks that don’t directly relate to the...

Crafting a strong cover letter is essential when applying for an internship , as it’s often your first opportunity to make a good impression on potential employers. A well-written cover letter highlights your skills, enthusiasm, and fit for the role, setting you apart from other candidates. Here’s how to write a compelling cover letter for an internship that demonstrates your potential and passion. Are Cover Letters Still Relevant In 2024? Absolutely. Currently, cover letters still play an important role in the overall hiring process. Don’t think they’re just being swallowed up and ignored, either: 87% of hiring managers do read cover letters that find their inboxes. Even for an internship, your cover letter is a great chance to distinguish yourself from the other applicants, and possibly land a career-shaping opportunity. Start With A Professional Introduction Begin your cover letter by addressing the hiring manager by name if possible – check places like LinkedIn to see if you can...

There is no right or wrong pathway to fulfilling your dreams. With so many options, from traditional education to finding resources on apps like YouTube and TikTok, people have several ways they can tap into how they begin or pivot into the working path of their dreams. Within this ecosystem are also groups providing traditional education alternatives like accelerators and development programs that allow people from diverse backgrounds to have a leg up in industries. NPower exists within this ecosystem and is doing its part to ensure those who want access to tech have it. According to the company website, NPower’s mission is to “create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities.” However, there are nuanced hurdles that women experience, leading the company to launch Command Shift. The goal is to increase the number of women entering the tech industry by focusing on three key areas: attract and...