Everyone’s dad considers themselves an expert in the workforce. But how much do their tips apply today? This Father’s Day we’re investigating these tips! Should you follow your Dad’s advice, or are those old-fashion tips better off in the past?
You’re about to learn exactly which of those old tips are actually helpful!
Dad’s Workforce Tips:
1. Thank you notes: An outdated gesture?
A lot of people think it’s old-fashioned to send a thank you note after an interview. Most people say thank you at the end of the interview and leave it at that. Sending a note by snail-mail can seem ridiculous since you’ll probably hear back about the job before the note even arrives. Plus, you might think that it’s annoying to send your interviewer another email to clutter up their inbox.
Surprise—thank you notes are actually a great idea! It’s an amazing way to show an employer that you value their time. I’ve heard countless stories about this being the reason someone got hired. You might not want to send a letter by snail mail… but a quick email proves that you’re thoughtful and interested in the position.
Besides, most employers love to hear that you appreciated their interview, and they’re happy to see that message in their inbox! If you want to go the extra mile, you can also drop a handwritten thank you note off at the office. This simple gesture will go a long way in helping you stand out from the crowd.
Here’s a template to help you get started:
Dear (Interviewer’s Name):
Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me on (Date). I really enjoyed learning more about (Position) and our discussion about (Insert more detail about what you spoke about, briefly).
I would love to use my (list of 2-4 skills and experiences you discussed in the interview) to benefit (Company).
Let me know if you need any further details from me, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
2. Keeping it professional
Older generations are known for keeping their work and home lives separate. That means always dressing professionally and leaving anything that’s going on at home at the office door. But how much is that relevant today?
This is still a great sentiment to keep in mind, although you can implement it less rigidly than your dad might have.
For example, people tend to view others who dress more formally as more professional and respectful. You also want to avoid saying things at work that might impact how your team perceives you. They don’t need to know every detail of your life, so keeping some distance is a good call.
This also applies to holiday parties where alcohol is served. Having a glass of wine is fine (as long as you have a safe way home). But getting drunk at a corporate event is never a good look.
So, wearing jeans on Casual Friday isn’t going to make or break your reputation. In fact, taking part in more casual business events is a great way to bond with your team. Just make sure to keep it classy.
3. But don’t follow Dad’s resume practices!
Dad still has some great ideas about work, but old-fashioned resumes are not the way to impress an employer. All the old rules about what a resume “should” be are long gone.
You don’t need to keep your resume under one page, and you also don’t need to list every job you’ve ever done! Making your resume personal, evocative, and interesting is much more important than making it “look right”.
You don’t need to keep your resume under one page, and you also don’t need to list every job you’ve ever done! Making your resume personal, evocative, and interesting is much more important than making it “look right”.
Here are some great resume ideas to help you take yours to the next level.
Resume Tips:
1. Unique resumes for each type of role
If you tend to work in several different fields, it makes sense to keep those experiences separate on your resume. If you have experience with three different retail jobs, but you also have had two engineering internships, they should be on separate resumes based on the job you’re applying to.
Similarly, if you work in marketing and are looking to move into a marketing management role, you want to tailor your resume to that. Don’t just hand in the exact same one you used for your previous role. Instead, look at the job description and alter your resume slightly to match what they’re looking for.
If they’re looking for someone with leadership experience, be sure to highlight that on your resume!
2. Be creative with your resume
Going off the last point, I’m sure you heard your Dad say that resumes always have to fit a certain template. They should all look basically the same. Well, that’s
a) boring, and
b) just not true
You don’t need to make your resume look like everyone else’s, especially if you’re in a creative field. You want to showcase your creativity, design skills, and passion for your field. One way to do that is with a stand-out resume!
It’s common for people who want to get a job at Facebook to make a resume that looks like a Facebook profile. If you work in graphic design, show that with a fancy resume! If you work in art, make your resume a work of art. It’s an amazing way to show employers your passion, creativity, and skill before they read a single word.
3. Use expressive language
It’s easy to fall into the trap of using boring language on your resume. You’re just copying what you see everyone else use, right? Well, standing out is what will get you hired.
Instead of talking about “duties” or “responsibilities” add a little passion and flair by talking about your accomplishments, achievements, and successes. This is way more impactful for a hiring manager than another boring list of duties!
So, Dad wasn’t all wrong! A lot of those old-fashioned tips are still useful in one way or another. The key is to be thoughtful about who your possible employer is and what they want to see from you. Then, figure out how you can reflect that at every stage of the hiring process. Sometimes, that’s by sending a formal thank you letter after an interview… and sometimes, it’s by making a colourful, artsy resume that your Dad hates.
Use these tips to stand out from the crowd and impress your future employer even more! Good luck out there!