Airborne RED HORSE (Combat Engineers)

Airborne RED HORSE (Combat Engineers)Airborne RED HORSE (Combat Engineers)Joint operations are not a new concept here. Its a way of life for many units on base. But for a new breed of ?Air Forcejoint operators, this weeks Joint Forced Entry Exercise was a chance to get off the ground literally. The Airmenare part of Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer units, better known as Red Horse. They are from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Langley AFB, Va. Their task is to quickly assess and repair runways. But unlike other Red Horse teams, these Airmen parachute into the fight with the Army. The airborne Red Horse teams objectives during the joint exercise are to participate in an airfield seizure with Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne teilen at Fort Bragg, N.C., and then clear and repair the airfield alongside Army engineers. Their work will prepare the way for C-17 Globemaster IIIs to land, bringing in support and supplies to operate th e air base. The exercise is a model of what the airborne Red Horse teams will be doing in the near future. These guys would be at the point of the spear, said Maj. Kevin Brown, chief of engineering for the Armys 82nd Airborne Division. When they parachute in, they dont have the luxury of having the security police or having other assets that are normally associated with a developed airfield. They are going out into the woods, into an undeveloped or remote airfield, and basically relying on their own survivability and field craft skills along with their technical engineering skills to get the runway going. Red Horse units activated in 1966 during the Vietnam War when Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara asked the Air Force to develop its own combat construction team. They are trainedto be a self-sustaining force in remote, bare-bones and possibly high-threat environments at any time, in any place and with any branch of the military. Their specialty is runway and ramp construction, ma intenance and repair. Thanks to the teams flexible nature, they can fill virtually all bae civil engineer roles. Previous tasks have included renovating living quarters at former Taliban bases in Afghanistan, building fire stations and hangars, rewiring air traffic control towers, building laundry facilities and even paving basketball courts. Red Horses flexibility and diversity have made them a natural choice for the new concept of airborne civil engineers. The airborne RED HORSE was stimulated by the vision of the Chief of Staff, Gen. John Jumper, based on his experiences in U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and three teams were established in 2002. Airborne RED HORSE teams are significantly different than the rest of traditional RED HORSE combat engineer squadrons in that members are airborne qualified and use much lighter specialized equipment. ARH team members also attend a 13-day Army Air Assault course to learn how to sling-load their equipment and rappel from helicopters. ARH teams take 21 traditional RED HORSE members and augment them with six firefighters, six explosive ordnance disposal technicians, two chemical and biological readiness experts, and security forces personnel, as needed. The men and women who make up an ARH team volunteer from within the traditional units and have to be physically qualified. While the program has been developing over the past few years, the Airmen have been training. They have attended the airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga., and have been learning the tactical skills needed for them to be ready to work alongside their Army counterparts. How many guys in the Air Force get to do this? asked Staff Sgt. Mark Gostomski, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron, one of the 33 Airmen participating in the exercise. The Air Force brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in airfield repair and airfield construction. We also have a wealth of tactical knowledge, so were basically melding the two into a joint collaboration of effort, Major Bro wn said. The idea is not to take over any of the jobs the Army already has within their units, but to augment those units with Air Force specialties. They are configured to do a rapid assessment and repair of a runway, said Capt. Brent Legreid, airborne Red Horse project manager. In addition to that, because theyve got plumbers, electricians, andothers, they can also do a good assessment of the facilities on the base or in the local area to determine if the infrastructure is there to support bigger follow-on forces. That is something that the Army doesnt have integrated into their airborne corps. Although the Airmensaid the differences between the Air Force and Army cultures can make working together a challenge, they also said the outcome is well worth it. Its a groundbreaking opportunity to see where the Air Force is going, said Staff Sgt. Thomas Cooper, 823rd Security Forces Squadron. Theyve been really receptive to us. Were stepping up to show what were capable of and to show th at we can make their load lighter.

How To Update Your LinkedIn Profile Without Alarming Your Boss

How To Update Your LinkedIn Profile Without Alarming Your BossHow To Update Your LinkedIn Profile Without Alarming Your Boss Updating your LinkedIn profile can be a major stress point if you feel like it could alarm your babo or cause tension at work, however the truth of the matter is that you should never feel guilty about updating your professional profile. Its common to feel like your babo might know or think that youre looking for a new job, but there are simple ways to get around that issue. Here are some tips to help you update your LinkedIn profile without alarming your boss or sending out the wrong message.The first thing to realize is that updating your LinkedIn profile or revamping your resume doesnt automatically mean youre unhappy in your current role. You might have recently taken on a big project that you want to acknowledge, or maybe its just been a while since youve freshened things up. Regardless of your reasoning, you have every right to update your professional documents and LinkedIn profile without feeling guilty or scared that a manager or boss might be unhappy.If your boss gets that upset over a LinkedIn update, (updating your LinkedIn can be considered professional development) you probably arent working for someone who wants to see you succeed. If anything, your manager or boss should be thrilled that you want to highlight all that youve accomplished while working for them. Your success can reflect well on them and their leadership techniques.If youre concerned that a manager or boss might feel like youre going behind their back, let them know that youre updating your profile. By coming out and telling them that youre planning on doing an update or revamp, theres no way for them to feel like you were being dishonest or trying to hide it. Swing by your bosss desk or shoot them an email saying something along the lines of I was looking at my LinkedIn profile, and I noticed that there are a lot of projects and responsi bilities that I havent included, so Im going to be adding some additional information in the next few days. I wanted to let you know because I dont want any updates or changes to catch you by surprise. This shows that youre open and respecting your boss by giving them a heads up for what they can expect.You can even add something in about how theyve made great opportunities available to you, and you want to reflect that on your LinkedIn profile.If you still feel like the update might send off red flags to your boss, put it into perspective for them. A great way to schlagwort it is, I always want our clients/candidates/partners to have the most updated information on their LinkedIn profiles so I can learn more about them, therefore I feel like I need to do the same in order to reflect that standard.Another great way to frame the LinkedIn update is this Ive been afforded so many great opportunities in this role, and I want others to see that and be aware of the great opportunities tha t this company provides.Both of these statements articulate that you want to hold yourself to the same standard that you hold others to, and that you want to highlight the benefits of working for the company. This highlights how it will benefit you as well as benefit you clients/candidates/partners, which will in turn benefit your boss/company.At the end of the day, you have control of the information you put out there, and you shouldnt feel guilty or scared about updating your LinkedIn profile. If your superior is that upset about it, you may want to look into a new role where your boss/manager wants to actually see you succeed. If you are trying to update your LinkedIn profile without alarming your boss, be transparent about it, and frame it in a way that will benefit everyone. At that point youve made a conscious effort to be respectful of your peers and authority figures, and if theyre still upset, thats on them.

7 Reasons You Wont Get Called Back after Interviews

7 Reasons You Wont Get Called Back after InterviewsNo Callbacks after Interviews?7 Reasons You Wont Get Called Back after InterviewsThe most common work complaint I hear is from frustrated job candidates who dont hear back from an employer after an interview. People tend to take this silence personally, but its rarely a reflection on your qualifications or how you handled the interview. Interviewers dont call candidates back for a myriad of reasons, most having little to do with you. Here are seven that come to mind1. BUDGET ISSUES. If you need money, you go to the ATM. But getting funds released at the corporate level is usually a more cumbersome process. There are often several departments involved, increasing the odds that a key player is out of the office. Budgets get put on hold, and the person who wants to hire you has little or no control over that.What can you do? During the interview, ask when the company (not the interviewer) wants the position filled by and if the money fo r the role has been allocated.2. NOT A PRIORITY. To you, getting a new job is everything Its the answer to your financial problems or a way to lift yourself out of a current work funk. But to the employer, youre just another worker filling their needs. On the importance scale, its safe to assume the employer is more important to you than you are to them. Thats the harsh reality, so dont torture yourself waiting for the phone to ring.What can you do? Keep looking for other opportunities, keep yourself busy, and keep working hard at your current gig if you have one3. schwimmbad REFERENCES AND RESEARCH. Sometimes the silence that follows a job interview IS your fault. If a company likes you, theyll often contact your references and do a little Google research. What you have posted on social networks can turn off an interviewer, even if you think its benign. I recently saw a guy beat out another candidate because he liked the same band as the boss. Thats lame, but thats real life. Also, you never know if a reference will do you in. For example, I was terribly disappointed recently to find out that two of my references were lackadaisical in returning phone calls to the employer. I was still offered the job, but forced to re-evaluate my professional references.What can you do? Always keep in regular contact with your professional references, not just when you need something. Give them a heads up that a call could be coming their way and that you would greatly appreciate their immediate attention.4. YOURE THE BACKUP. A good employer will always have a contingency plan. Sometimes, that plan is YOU. You might be the fallback candidate for a position in case the first candidate falls through. A company can never let you know this No one likes playing second fiddle, and sometimes, an employers silence can indicate youre the runner up. You would probably still take the job, but the new company wants you to think youre the one.What can you do? Its hard to know if youre the fallback. But after any interview, send a sincere thank-you note. After that, your follow-up must be strong but not overbearing. I recommend that you follow-up no more than four times over the course of six weeks in this order phone, email, email, phone.5. THEY FOUND ANOTHER CANDIDATE. Theres always someone better than you. Sorry, the truth hurts.What can you do? Accept it and mutter to yourself that everything happens for a reason.6. INTERNAL BATTLE. Sometimes the person interviewing you gives you every indication an offer is imminent and thenPOOFsilence. Perhaps the owners nephew is now interested in your job and workplace nepotism strikes again Or, theres the possibility an overzealous manager scheduled the interview before the job was approved by the powers that be.What can you do? Chalk it up to experience and move on.7. THEY LOST YOUR INFO. Its an unlikely scenario, but its possible that your file disappeared, your email address vanished, or the person who interviewed you suf fered from memory loss.What can you do? Sometimes following up with more than one person at the organization is the way to go.For anyone whos been interviewed and met with silence afterward, you know it stinks, whether you wanted the job or not. I commend and respect the employers who make it a point to contact every person they interviewed for every job. Bookmark this blog post if you dont hear back after your next interview, at least youll understand why.

Mindful presentation tips that close deals and build connections

Mindful presentation tips that close deals and build connectionsMindful presentation tips that close deals and build connectionsEvery day in your work you present information for the purpose of influencing decisions. A great presentation creates a connection, builds rapport, underscores trust and closes deals. A poor presentation divides, bores people, and worse yet closes the door on future opportunity. Use these tips to be a vital influencer.1. Whats the one big point?Answer this question before you craft your presentations What do I want them to do, think or change when they leave here? Everything centers on that.2. Set an intention to connect with their emotionsOpen with something they can relate to that one thing everyone wants, does, needs, wants to stop doing or wants to change. Get them nodding their heads and thinking, Yes, I can relate to that because Ive been there too. Know exactly how you want them to feel.3. Your catchphrase is kingLace one memorable theme throughout y our presentation. This will reinforce what behavior you want your audience to adopt when they leave. I often repeat the use of The Pause Caf in my presentations on High Stakes Conflict Resolution because if people can pause in a tense situation and breathe they will make clearer decisions.4. Be a storytellerThink of the difference between a movie and a PowerPoint presentation. Would you rather sit through a slide show on Italian-American culture in the 1940s or watch The Godfather? Both have a sense of history and values. You will remember the story far longer. Use emotion and compelling characters.5. Strike a power pose before you beginHarvard Business School research shows that holding your body in an upright shoulders-back high-power pose for as little as two minutes stimulates higher levels of testosterone (the hormone linked to power and dominance in the animal and human worlds) and lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone that can, over time, cause impaired immune function ing, hypertension, and memory loss). Therefore, the Power Pose leads to increased feelings of power and a greater tolerance for risk. Move over fear of speaking.6. Warm up your voiceWhile in the Power Pose,stretch your voice. Read a random chapter of a book or anything out loud. Randomly change your volume, pitch, pace and emotion. Have fun with this.7. Be present. Be powerful.This means deep breathe or meditate before you begin to bring your focus back on WHO YOU ARE leid what you have to say. Focus on how youve been moved by what you are sharing not how the audience will judge you. Speak with meaning. Pause when necessary. Allow yourself to be you in the presentation not what you think they want. They want you to be successful. For that you need to feel authentically powerful. In that state you will trust yourself. If you feel powerless you wont trust yourself and you wont connect. Be powerful because of who you are not what you have to say.8. Have a conversationYou are not there to tell or sell. They will connect better with you and trust you when you are interested in them. From that connection action follows. You might open with, If I were to ask you what one thing would make this presentation amazing what would that be? It draws them to your presentation and gives you their leading pain or gain. This also helps to ward off stage fright.9. Lighten the moodMake them smile. Their entire demeanor will open up. They will be mora receptive. But not everyone is a natural comedian. Thats ok. Some of the best laughs come from pointing out human behavior that doesnt make sense especially things we do ourselves that others most likely do too.Adopting these behaviors gives you focus to deliver mindfully, being present for yourself and to the reactions of your audience so you can notice if your one big point is sealing the deal.MaryLeeGannon, ACC, CAEis an executive coach and corporate CEO who helps busy leaders get off the treadmill to nowhere to be more effective, earn more, bemore calm and enjoyconnected relationships with the people who matter while it still matters.Watch her FREE Master Class training on Three Things to Transform Your Life and Career Right Now atwww.MaryLeeGannon.com.

Honors and Awards on Resume - the Conspiracy

Honors and Awards on Resume - the Conspiracy Therefore, you must consider the length of time you need your resume or CV to be. Listing awards on your resume may also signal to a hiring manager your work was praised and valued by other people. Awards are of course a terrific approach to be noticed, but this isnt something you ought to stress over. The honors and awards section isnt a necessity and should only be added in case you have enough specific honors or awards which are connected to you and the job you are at present seeking. It is possible to also mention any academic honors and awards in this part. Lets now look at some of the most often encountered awards to put on a resume. Have a peek at some suggestions. In addition, you will get tips and rightvs. Continue reading for tips on what kinds of awards to include and the way to list them on your resume. Have a look at the subsequent guide to figure out where awards should go on a resume and the way to include them so t hey can positively influence your candidacy. Finding out how to compose a legal resume honors and awards section is able to help you make a decision as to what information is suitable to use. The correct place to list your awards and honors is dependent on where youre in your career. To begin with, it is going to ask you just how many honors you would like to list. If you own a group of awards from an expert organization you belong to, then you are going to want to keep the expert lingo to a minimum. Keep the awards related to your job and industry. In the same way, in case you have won any sporting awards for team sports, it demonstrates that youve got strong teamwork abilities. When trying to determine which civic and community awards would be great awards to put on a resume, it can help to use awards which are a yearly recognition of some kind of excellence. New Step by Step Roadmap for Honors and Awards on Resume The accomplishments that you pick to improve your resume has to be relevant to the work vacancy youre applying to or relate in some way to the business or specific firm. Therefore understanding how to compose a resume is critical. This format is best employed for people that have had numerous jobs in a brief time. Use the most suitable writing system. You should tailor the education section of your resume to fulfill your circumstances, including whether you continue to be a student, how much work experience that you have, and what number of academic achievements youve got. For instance, if youre a student or you graduated a short while ago, you likely dont have as much expertise in your preferred career field. As soon as you have 2-3 decades of work experience, it is the right time to eliminate your GPA from your resume. If you arent a student and have more relevant work experience, you wont be trying hard to fill space and it might be more beneficial to concentrate on other regions of your resume. A good way to begin considering em ployers needs is to research your intended job. If youre a student or a recent graduate seeking to locate work, you might not have a good absprache of experience to list on your resume. Some people believe they can lie their way to acquiring a job, including lying on their resumes about awards and honors theyve received. If you still dont have a lot to work with, you can begin inquiring about opportunities locally that may lead to the type of experience you will need. Opt for an appropriate scholarship resume template, and youll have the ability to serve the committee what theyre searching for on a silver platter. Especially, in the event that you graduated with honors. Read on, and youre going to find out how to create the best scholarship resume in the pile. Usually, you will want to make an application for a college scholarship. Utilizing a resume template makes it possible for you to swiftly accomplish this. Electronic signatures wont be accepted. There are scores of ab solutely free templates on the internet that can provide you some concept of the way to include them on your resume.

The Upside to Cover Letter for Resume Template

The Upside to Cover Letter for Resume Template A deckblatt letter is targeted at a particular employer, which is the reason why it ought to be impeccable and perfectly-written. Yur cover letter should persuade the prospective employer that youre the ideal candidate for the position. It is a chance to express genuine interest in a company. The resume cover letter is intended to allow the employer to understand how they may benefit from what is presented in your resume. Details of Cover Letter for Resume Template Not only must you to take into consideration the contents, you also need to consider what structure and formatting will make it stand out. Once you are pleased with the format, enter all the appropriate content in the sections. Templates also show you exactly what elements you want to put in your letter, including introductions and body paragraphs. The template will comprise of all of the important segments and sections. Your cover letter should stick out from diff erent letters, explaining how your abilities and experience will cause you to be an asset to the prospective employer. Writing a cover letter for work in the education and teaching field is about the specifics. An interview to additional review your requirements and my skills would be mutually beneficial. A sample will be able to help you decide what things to put in your letter, and the way to format the letter. Be aware that in case you choose one of. Reading through our sample student and internship cover letters will provide you with a clearer idea of the way to compose your own. The letter needs to be concluded with a call for action where the contact particulars of the applicant needs to be included. Cover Letter for Resume Template Features Be sure to list your relevant abilities and any certifications you might have, including your cover letter for resume template Handlers card. You will also want to know how to compose a great resume. Contact Information The very first part of your cover letter should incorporate information on the way in which the employer can contact you. Choose the Resume Cover Letter option and pick the template you want. unterstellung dos and donts, in addition to the registered nurse cover letter example, are intended to offer you the information that you want to compose your very own strong cover letter. You can see the complete cover letter at the next link. To assist you craft the ideal cover letter, were supplying you with a few examples to assess. The entire cover letter are available here.

Freelance Engineering Theres a Site for That

Freelance Engineering Theres a Site for That Freelance Engineering Theres a Site for That Freelance Engineering? Theres a Site for ThatFreelancing as a mechanical engineer can be tough, especially in the construction field. Websites like freelancer.com and guru.com tend to be centered around the gig economy, leaving engineers in the cold. On top of that, more traditional industries like construction have been slow to adopt innovative hiring techniques.Ramzi Jreidini, a civil engineer and the CEO and founder of Handiss, has set out to change that. His website is designed to help freelance engineers and architects find clients and clients to find freelancers.Jreidini decided to start the site when he ran into his own difficulties going freelance. At one point I welches working for a company and wanted to open my own transportation company, he says. My opportunities for entrepreneurship were slim. I had to work at established companies. I welches always frustrated with that.For You The Rise of the Master of Engineering Management Degree You have to show proper value to companies. Its really, really important to make sure that they are capable of delivering to our clients. Ramzi Jreidini, CEO and founder of Handiss Assad Mawad, a civil engineer and project manager is one of the freelancers found on Handiss. Image HandissTo create those opportunities, Jreidini started Handiss, in Lebanon, where he had the most contacts and experience. The site is much more than a Craigslist for engineers. Currently, every freelancer that signs up undergoes a rigorous vetting process. This includes a review of their qualifications and samples of their work, as well as an in-person interview.You have to show proper value to companies, Jreidini says. Its really, really important to make sure that they are capable of delivering to our clients.But building and construction companies dont always want to select every employee individually. So Jreidini has an option for its f reelancers to form teams. Individuals can create a team of people they have already worked with or that they have found on the site. They can then offer their skills as a single unit to potential clients.With or without a team, the site makes it easy for clients and freelancers to connect.I signed up to Handiss immediately after seeing their advertisementit was the only platform where I could offer my engineering services directly to clients, says mechanical engineer Rayan Zakhour. People publish information about any engineering or architecture services they need, and engineers and architects quote for these jobs. They send their deliverables anywhere in the world, and receive the money, all through Handiss.Its at payment where the site takes its cut ten percent. But signing up for freelancers and clients is free, something Jreidini intends to maintain.Handiss has more than 1,000 freelancers from six countries. Though anyone in the world can sign up to work anywhere in the world, t he site services primarily the Middle East at the moment. But they will soon release a new platform with a greater focus on U.S. and European markets.Its a step by step process, Jreidini says. You cant just go in and expect things to happenyou have to build credibility, a client base, and demonstrate the quality of the people on the platform to get the trust of the industry.If all goes according to plan, the life of the freelance engineer could get easier and more lucrative. Its really going to change how we work, but its also going to be a big challenge. This industry is really resistant to change, Jreidini says.Whether or not Handiss can single handedly make that change is a question to be answered in the course of time.Weve been up for just a year and half year, he says. We are still at early stages. Mark Crawford is an independent writer. Read MoreMeasuring Motivation12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering CareerHow to vorstellungsgesprch on Camera for a New Job For Further Discussion

Four Student Members Take Top Honors at the Old Guard Competit...

Four Student Members Take Top Honors at the Old Guard Competit... Four Student Members Take Top Honors at the Old Guard Competit... Four Student Members Take Top Honors at the Old Guard Competition Finals(Left to right) The three top winners at the Old Guard Oral Competition Finals at IMECE 2015 Gorman Donnelly of Union College (third place), Pin-Yi Chen of National Taiwan University (second place), and Tyler Pharris of Baylor University (first place). Top undergraduate engineering students from around the world gathered in Houston on Saturday, Nov. 14, to compete in the Old Guard Oral Presentation Competition finals at the ASME 2015 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE). The four top presenters at this years event were Tyler M. Pharris of Baylor University, who took first place and won $2,000 for his presentation, Effects of Flow Separation on a Highly Loaded, Low pressure Gas Turbine Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers Pin-Yi Chen of National Taiwa n University, who placed second and received $1,500 for her presentation Latte Art by a Robot obere extremitt third-place winner Gorman Donnelly, who received a $1,000 prize for presenting The Design of an Optimized Patient-Specific Spinal Fusion Cage Using Additive Manufacturing and Matthew Lesniewski of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, who placed fourth and won $500 for Cost Reduction of the XL-110 Flex Strap Machine.The first rounds of ASMEs Old Guard Oral Presentation Competition are open to undergraduate engineers at regional ASME Student Professional Development Conferences (SPDCs) held around the world each year. Participating in the competition gives students the perspektive to present their public speaking and communication skills before audiences of professional peers. The competition emphasizes the value of an ability to deliver clear, concise and effective oral presentations, particularly pertaining to some sphere in which an engineer is or should be in volved. Baylor University student Tyler Pharris took the top prize at the finals with his presentation, Effects of Flow Separation on a Highly Loaded, Low pressure Gas Turbine Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers.The 2015 Old Guard Finals featured the winners from regional SPDCs held in Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Daytona Beach and Lubbock, as well as in Beirut (Lebanon), Cairo (Egypt), Gujarat (India), Istanbul (Turkey), Toluca (Mexico), and Topi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). The competitors presentations could last up to 15 minutes and were each followed by a five-minute QA session. All finalists presented in English and addressed a technical, economic or environmental aspect of engineering as it pertained to their work interest.In the end, the judges selected Tyler Pharris of Baylor University as this years champion. Last year when I competed in the SPDC, I practiced my presentation about 17 times, so I knew my slides like the back of my hand, said the understandab ly proud yet humble Pharris. This time, I practiced four or five times, but I ended up being able to feel very pumped about it. I thought I had a chance (to win in the finals), but every single person who was up there had a wonderful presentation and they were excellent speakers, so they were giving me a run for my money. Pin-Yi Chen of National Taiwan University during her presentation, Latte Art by a Robot Arm, which won her the second-place prize at the event. Pin-Yi Chen, the beaming runner-up from National Taiwan University, was thrilled with her Old Guard experience I think it is an amazing journey, she said, smiling broadly. I really thank ASME for providing this amazing opportunity. Because of ASME, I had the chance to come to the USA three times this year Im so thankful for this. Its a life-changing experience, and I have decided to study in graduate school here next year.Where will she attend? Chen, clearly pleased with her triumph and looking forward to taki ng the next step in her engineering journey, said, I dont know where yet, but I know Im going toJoshua Olesker, Public Information

Getting Your First Job Without a Resume Template

Getting Your First Job Without a Resume TemplateGetting Your First Job Without a Resume TemplateA common tactic when looking for your first job is to download a resume vorlage, spend 5 minutes filling it out, and be done. While this might tick-the-box on your job preparation to-do list quickly, its leid going to give you the best results. To get your first job, abandoning resume templates is the best decision you can make. Below, we explain how youre mora likely to get your first job without them.What templates cost you Standing out (in a good way) can be the difference between getting that first job and sitting at home feeling useless. Using a resume template can leave your resume looking generic and unoriginal. Think about the sheer volume of people that use resume templates (nearly 2 million people search for them on Google every month) and the likelihood that people use the same or similar one when applying to various positions.Resume templates can also hide your individuality. I nstead of starting with you and building a resume from there, a resume template starts with its format and inserts your details later. Youre forcing yourself into a mold and hoping it fits. Taken together, a sloppily filled out resume template makes a weak first impression. If an employer recognizes that you have used a resume template, they may perceive that as you lacking effort in your application. See why resume examples are better than resume templates when building your first resume. Taking advice from recruiters Recruiters are the people that hire new employees at most companies. Theyre constantly seeking innovative people who will add value to the business. We recently sat down with some recruiters and asked them for advice on how to make resumes stand out. They pointed out that resumes shouldBe specific Avoid cliches Be selfish (say who you are and what youre looking for)When using a resume template, it can be easy to fall into autopilot inputting information and not thinki ng too much about it. With autopilot comes the depersonalised approach we can use vague language, not give clear details on our projects and shy away from highlighting our true passions and achievements. Avoiding a resume template can help you focus intently on your accomplishments. Perhaps you might not have any traditional experience but you have spent time volunteering or helping out in your local community. With templates and with autopilot, youre encouraged to ignore this valuable experience.When applying for your first job, you want every opportunity to make your application stand-out. Since you cant do this by listing all of the previously places youve worked or the changes youve made in businesses, you need to utilise your personally crafted resume and some other skills to make yourself distinct. Building your resume from scratch with the help of an advanced builder allows you to demonstrate the qualities that are important to you. Take the advice from the recruiters themse lves be selfish, be specific and avoid cliches. Theres no greater cliche than the first resume template youll find in a quick Google search. But what about the real-world? Weve all been told that getting your first job is about applying to as many places as you can in rapid succession the mora youre out there, the more chances you have at being hired. It makes sense that we veer towards resume templates for this reason. The faster you can put your resume together, the faster you can get it out there, and the faster you can get a job. But this isnt always the case. Take Robert Coombs robot job application story as an example. Robert built a robot that would apply to as many positions as possible on his behalf adding small variations in the resume and cover letter. One would expect that because he sent out thousands of applications he was bound to get a job not exactly.Robert discovered that merely churning out as many resumes as possible did not make him more likely to get hired, in fact it didnt really work at all. After talking to recruiters he realized that networking and a more personal approach were far more effective than his approach.When applying for a position youre hoping to convince recruiters that you have the skills necessary to complete the job, the desire to work well within the firm and an understanding of the companys culture. But theres also something else recruiters need to see who you are and not merely what you can do. Take it from the various stories you can find in our Successful Resumes section. Recruiters favor people, not static information. Sometimes taking the time to build yourself an individualised resume from scratch and throwing out the rulebook is the best way to get the job that you want.Entry level jobs When applying for your first job, youre likely applying for an entry-level position. These are jobs that typically absprache in retail, the service industry, manual labour, etc.To take one example, in 2013, Walmart opened a n ew store in Washington D.C. with 600 available positions. They received 23,000 applications for those 600 positions. As you can see, there are far more people applying for these jobs than there are jobs available for that reason, you should give yourself an edge by standing out.Given that search results often vary based on your geographical location, its also likely that the people in the D.C. area that applied for those positions would have all gotten similar resume template results from checking the web. So not only can templates lead to a lack of individuality, but your location can also mean that the people around you using templates will all use the same one. Thus, moving away from resume templates can allow your application to be different from the hundreds and thousands that may come across the desk of recruiters at retail stores, restaurants and more giving you better chances at getting noticed. Getting the job Resume templates can restrict your creativity. This doesnt mean you should swear off looking for resume inspiration, however. While templates might not be your route to success, resume examples can be incredibly influential in putting you on the right track. With resume examples, you can see how others have approached getting their job and make it your own. See how Dean got his first job.