Your resume isn’t meant to land you a job or to tell your life story. It’s a tool to get an employer interested in you and to get an interview. With that in mind, read on for the best tips on resume writing for students and teens.

What Goes in a Resume?

If you look at sample resumes, you’ll find a lot of variation in both the content and layout. Don’t feel that you have to exactly duplicate any particular resume outline; each one is different, and employers know to look for the key information they want and ignore idiosyncrasies. That said, don’t print your resume on colored paper or try to make it stand out visually; a resume should present just the facts in a clean, simple way.

The most important things to include on your resume are:

• Your full name and contact information (both phone and email)
• Your past/current education
• Previous (relevant) work experience, if any
• Skills and characteristics that will make you a great employee

Of course, there are other things you can add to flesh out a resume, such as hobbies, volunteer experience, and personal interests that give prospective employers an idea of who you are and why you’re a good candidate – but the focus, and the first few sections of the resume, is always your vital stats, education, and work experience.

What is a Cover Letter?

Cover letters are often considered optional today, and many employers don’t even take the time to read them. But in some cases, a well-written cover letter is a way to introduce yourself to a prospective employer, highlight your personal strengths, and explain why you want the job for which you’re applying.

It’s a good idea to look up sample resumes and cover letters online to get a feel for how they’re written and give you a head start.

What If I’ve Never Had a Job?

The first place most employers look is the job section of your resume, but don’t be discouraged if you lack work experience. There are other things you can include to demonstrate that you’re good employee material:

• Volunteering experience
• Academic awards
• Sports achievements
• Extracurricular activities that display leadership and teamwork skills

Think of your resume like an ad that shows off your best attributes, and why a prospective boss should want to hire you. What can you say about yourself in concrete terms that will convince a stranger to call you for an interview? Stick to real life examples and things you’ve done in the past, make your resume simple and straightforward, and you’ll be getting calls from prospective employers in no time.

What’s in store for job seekers who enlist the services of a temp agency? Read on to learn more about some of the key advantages of temp staffing agencies and the work opportunities they offer.

Expanded reach: When you’re hunting for jobs on your own, you’re limited to the listings you happen to see and the number of places you manage to contact or visit. A temp agency has the resources to dig much deeper, with insider access to unadvertised jobs you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.

Time savings: Skip the interminable columns of wanted ads, the countless emails and phone calls, and the long wait times for interviews—while expanding your opportunities.

Diverse job pool: Temp agencies are in constant contact with corporations and small businesses that need part-time and temp workers, so they are exposed to a continuous stream of jobs. Whether you’re looking for a secretarial position, a nursing post, light industrial work, waitressing, or unskilled labor, a temp agency can connect you with opportunities in your area of expertise.

Flexibility and versatility: Temp agencies are ideal for busy parents, full-time students, and anyone with other commitments that require a substantial amount of time.Whether you need to be home for the kids at certain hours of the day or schedule around coursework or another job, there are flexible positions that will make use of your skill set while accommodating your lifestyle. Because many temp jobs are extremely short-term, it’s easy to fill in with a few hours here or a week of work there, so you can get extra income and fulfillment without committing to a permanent job or sacrificing what’s important to you.

Opportunity to explore different career paths: Some people seem to have an innate certainty about the career path they want to follow. Others can spend years exploring possibilities before they find the right fit.A temp agency connects you with a variety of jobs, so you can explore different industries as you earn a living. Explore a wide spectrum of career possibilities and work environments before you make up your mind about a permanent commitment. Consider it job research!

Transition to permanent work: Best of all, temp agencies can land you part-time or temporary work that eventually leads toa full-time job. If you’re a good fit for the workplace and you have an interest in permanent employment, the company maydecide to offer you a long-term position.

If full-time work is your ultimate goal but you’re not yet sure what you’d like to do, consider taking on temp assignments as a trial of different job functions. One of them may end up being the perfect position for you – and in the meantime, you’ll get to explore a variety of roles as you learn more about the job market and your own capabilities.

It’s wise to take some time to plan ahead and prepare a strategy for your career search. Here are the five basic steps you should never overlook as you prepare to hand out resumes and search for a new job.

1. Reset Your Attitude

Nobody enjoys job hunting, but it’s something we all have to do at some point, and lamenting it won’t make it any easier. On the contrary, having a bad attitude about job hunting – or about work itself – can cripple your applications before they even get off the ground.

If you were a manager, would you call back the man who was surly and irritable as he dropped off his resume? What about the woman who bit her lip and made self-deprecating remarks throughout the interview? If you have confidence in yourself and project a respectful, happy persona to a prospective boss, you’re far more likely to land a job where you will receive the respect, responsibility, and pay you deserve.

2. Create a Targeted Resume

Your resume and cover letter are your first and most important contact with managers and human resources, so make them good! It’s not just the quality, clarity, and thoroughness of your resume that’s important, though. It also needs to be targeted to the specific industry and, sometimes, the specific job for which you’re applying.

Created targeted, focused resumes is a lot of work, but it pays off by giving each potential employer the impression that you are exactly what they are looking for and that you have the experience and skill set they need.

3. Know What You Need and What’s Negotiable

What was wrong with your last job that you’d like to see different in the next? Are you focused on achieving higher payfor your work, or better benefits? How much do you care about having your own office or workspace? Do you need the flexibility to work from home some of the time, or is that a bonus you’d like to have but would be willing to do without if the job offered other perks?

Always enter into job negotiations knowing your own bottom line, so you can confidently decide which offers you want to consider, and which aren’t worth your time.

4. Check Out Job Trends

Perhaps you have skills in a particular field that’s in demand, and you’re not interested in changing career tracks. But if you’re more flexible about your job prospects, it’s not a bad idea to consider current and rising career trends as you begin the application process.

5. Be Prepared

Finally, a successful job searcher is primed to do what it takes to land the right job. Do you know what employers are looking for when they ask behavioral interview questions?Have you familiarized yourself with the most common interview questions in your field, and have you practiced your responses to ensure a good impression? It’s worth researching these questions and rehearsing your answers.

Being prepared also means having classy, appropriate interview clothes ready at all times, and being ready to walk out the door if you get a call for a meeting on short notice. Prioritize your job search and be ready to put your best foot forward whenever the call comes, and you’ll land a rewarding job in no time.

1. Home Health Aides

The aging baby boomer population has created a huge increase in the demand for all kinds of medical and health services. From emergency rooms to alternative therapies, there are job openings in all areas of wellness and health care.

One of the most needed services is home care. As the number of home care jobs increases by 50% in the next few years, anyone trained to provide support, live-in care, or medical care services in patients’ homes will have no trouble finding work. These kinds of professionals train anywhere from one year (or less) to a full four-year bachelors degree, stepping into a career that will provide stable work into the foreseeable future.

2. Web Designers

Second only to health care, all kinds of jobs in computer technology are booming. Everyone from software programmers to IT designers are hot commodities today, and the trend will likely continue for years to come.

As individuals and companies transition into providing more of their products and services on the Internet, web designers are being called upon to create professional sites and help translate traditional marketing approaches into web-based strategies for the next generation. Web designers may choose to freelance or work for established companies.

3. Green Auditors

What’s a green auditor? Chances are you haven’t even heard of this job title, but as companies try to keep up with rising environmental trends and eco-friendly job titles increase, auditors are increasingly in demand. Green auditors go through training and usually receive a certification before freelancing their services to help small and large businesses “go green”. Some environmentally conscious companies may even hire green auditors on a permanent basis.

4. Physician Assistants

In keeping with the steep increase in medical jobs, physician assistants are among the many health care jobs that are experiencing rapid growth. Thousands of hospitals, health clinics, recovery centers, and doctors’ offices are hiring these capable medical professionals to help with patient intake, treatment, chronic care, record-keeping, administration, and much more.

Physician assistants can find work after a two-year certification or four-year degree, though pay scales may vary depending on the extent of training and experience.

5. Technical Support Services

Almost every home has a computer, while some have many. Desktops, laptops, and all the related accessories are great while they’re working – and extremely frustrating when they’re not. Technical support for home and office computer systems is one of the fastest-growing needs worldwide. With the right skills, it’s possible to find work for a top software or computer company or freelance under your own name. Whether you specialize in home computers, small businesses, or choose a corporate job in a firm with dozens of computers, there’s no shortage of work for those who have experience with troubleshooting the technology we rely on.

6. Athletic Trainers

Last but not least, athletic trainers are in high demand as thousands of people fight the battle of the bulge. From personal trainers to yoga instructors, athletic trainers are a hot commodity that will only be more indispensable in the next few years, as people hop on board the fitness craze and seek out guidance to get into shape. If you are interested in and knowledgeable aboutfitness and health, this can be a rewarding and lucrative career path.

What are the right things to say and do to make sure your boss knows you’re motivated and interested in climbing the workplace ladder?

1.    Tell your boss about your career goals: Lay the groundwork from day one by telling your boss in your initial job interview – or, later on, at your review meetings – that you’d be interested in a promotion, and where you see your career headed in the next five or ten years. By looking ahead, you’ll show that you’rea good planner and strategist, important characteristics of management.

2.    Ask for more responsibilities: If you do everything you’re asked but never go above and beyond your job duties, your boss may never know if you’re capable on taking on the additional responsibilities and challenges that come with a promotion. Demonstrate that you’re ready by asking for assignments outside of the scope of your current job description.

3.    Toot your own horn: You could be carrying out your own responsibilities perfectly, helping your co-workers, boosting office morale, and innovating improvements in workflow and efficiency – but if your boss doesn’t know you’re the one behind these achievements, you might never get the promotion you deserve. Keep your supervisor in the loop about what you’ve accomplished and what you’re working on.

4.    Be direct: Tell your boss you’re interested in available promotions. Whether it involves scheduling a one-on-one meeting or simply dropping hints over the water cooler or at the company Christmas party, make sure he or she knows you’d like to take on a higher role – especially if a position is open.

5.    Seek new skills: If your workplace offers continuing education classes, diversified training, or other education programs, take advantage of these opportunities for professional development. Being open to learning new skills is a key signal to your boss that you’re interested in tacklinga more advanced position – and that you’re willing to work for it.

6.    Create your own position: If you have the skills to fulfill a role that your workplace needs, but the position doesn’t actually exist yet, don’t just sigh and give up. Suggesting the position to your boss is a great way to show initiative and to create a job for which you and you alone are optimally suited. After all, what do you have to lose?

7.    Ask your boss to mentor you: If your workplace is conducive to this strategy, asking your boss to mentor you can be a smart way to learn the ropes from someone who’s been there – and to gain a powerful ally as you angle for advancement.

8.    Suggest your successor: Doing your job well is a good thing, but if you’re indispensible and no one else can do the job as capably, you’re less likely to be promoted. Think ahead by training your own successor to be ready to fill your shoes once you’ve been promoted – and tell your boss exactly who you think will be ready to take over your job.

By following these eight proven tips, you’ll be ready to move onward and upward with a great promotion in no time.

What Are Behavioral Questions?

Behavioral interviews focus on applicants’ past work experience in order to predict how they will handle future challenges and potential conflicts on the job. According to researchers, this type of question is 55% predictive of forthcoming behavior, while traditional interview questions actually draw on a different part of the brain than actual job skills and are only 10% effective in predicting work behavior.

What does all this mean? Instead of asking the same old clichéd questions, such as “What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?”, the interviewer will focus on specific challenges you’ve faced in previous work situations. Based on your response, they’ll get an impression of your character and your capabilities.

How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions

It’s much more difficult to prepare for behavioral questions, because they can be so specific and because a good interviewer will ask for a level of detail that makes it impossible to prepare or fabricate a story.

Further questions like “What were you thinking at that point?” and “Tell me more about that conversation” draw out very revealing details and make it difficult to lie or omit information. These kinds of questions effectively highlight problem solving and critical thinking skills, as well as your willingness to learn and ability to think and act on your feet.

So what’s the secret to success when it comes to behavioral interview questions? Honesty and a little bit of foresight work wonders in this situation. The best answer to any behavioral interview question is one that is clear, honest, and that demonstrates a difficult situation you handled to the best of your ability – and conveys the lessons learned that you can demonstrate today.

Preparing for Behavioral Questions

Preparation is essential for this kind of interview – but since you can’t possibly know the specific questions that are likely to be asked, the key is to consider potential answers for a variety of questions.

• As you get ready for your interview, think back to previous work situations in which you were challenged and managed to create success despite problems, or where your trouble-shooting skills helped others to succeed.
• If you can, research the hiring company as thoroughly as possible, while considering the skills and strengths they are likely to want in job candidates.
• Think about telling your job experiences as a story, complete with a situation or problem, the action you took, and the outcome or result of your action. This kind of narrative arc is easy to understand and makes a solid, coherent impression.

Behavioral Questions to Expect in Your Interview

Some of the most common behavioral interview questions include:

• Have you ever had an angry customer? How did you resolve the situation?
• Have you ever been in a work situation where the rules or guidelines weren’t clear? How did you feel about it? What did you do?
• Tell me about a project or workplace change that was initiated because of your ideas, or that you managed. What were the results?
• What impact did you have in your last job?
• Describe a major job change that made you uncomfortable, and how you handled it.
• What, in your opinion, are the major elements in building good work relationships? How do you employ them?

In behavioral interviews, as any other professional dialogue, preparation makes all the difference. Brush up on success stories and experiences from previous jobs and you’re sure to excel.

Truth: It’s best to shop around for insurance.
There are hundreds of insurance providers in your state, each competing against each other for your business. To prove my point, search “auto insurance” using either Google or Yahoo’s search engines. Not only are there a number of major insurance providers for teen and adult auto insurance (State Farm, Progressive, Allstate, Geico, ING, etc.), but also there are literally droves of smaller agencies and independent insurance agents. And what’s more is that, basically, everyone is selling the exact same product. There is no such thing as “cheapo” or “classy” auto insurance—what matters is how reputable the firm and/or agent is which you purchase the policy from. So shop around for the best price before you settle on a policy, because it’s possible to save hundreds of dollars simply by doing your homework.

Truth: It pays to consider what payment option you will choose.
Once you have settled on both an auto insurance provider and a suitable policy, it is important to consider how you will pay your premium. Most insurance providers offer flexible payment options; for example, you are given the choice to either pay your premium in monthly installment payments, quarterly payments or twice-annually payments. But, that flexibility comes at a price—the more you break down your premium, the more it costs. A small fee is attached to both monthly and quarterly payment plans, therefore it may be easier to pay, but it’s also more expensive in the long run.

Truth: Policy owners can receive discounts on their premiums.
That’s right folks! But this is not something that you will hear from your insurance agent or even from your insurance company. Just like with many other services consumers pay for, all it takes is a phone call or a fifteen-minute visit to the service provider’s office to request a small discount in fees. It doesn’t work every time, but when it does it means more money in your pocket. And all it takes is just a little time from your day. In fact, it’s a good idea to request a discount about every six months—after all, the worst thing that could happen is “no!”

Truth: With a little budgeting, it’s easy to save money on your premium.
“How?” you ask? Simple. By raising the amount of your deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket when you file a claim) you will lower the amount of your premium. But, there is a catch: It’s crucial that the deductible amount you set is an amount you can pay in a single, lump sum.

1. Know What Card Companies are Looking For

Some credit card offers claim to be pre-approved and easy for anyone to get, but that may or may not be true. Even pre-approved cards require you to go through an application process in which card companies check your credit history. If you don’t have any previous credit established, the card issuer will want to see proof of your income, usually for the past several years, before they will approve you for a line of credit.

Student cards are the exception, as those enrolled in college will usually find it much easier to get a card than other demographics (see point #2, below).

2. Choose Your Timing Wisely

If you’re about to graduate from college and you don’t need a credit card yet, but you know you will soon, don’t wait! Apply for a student card today to take advantage of your academic status and get your foot in the door. You can always update your personal information in a few months to let the card company know when you’re no longer a student.

Conversely, don’t apply for a card if you’ve recently lost your job. It’s smarter to wait until you have stable employment again, rather than risking a rejection that will show up on your credit score for future card companies to see.

3. Apply for One Card at a Time

It might seem prudent to apply for several cards all at once, to increase your chances of getting one. What you might not realize is that every time a card company checks your credit score, your rating takes a small hit. Multiple companies running credit checks simultaneously can actually do damage to your credit worthiness, so it’s best to wait and apply for one card at a time.

4. Pick the Right Credit Card for Your Purpose

There are thousands of credit cards available, each with its own unique offerings. From points cards that deliver bonuses to membership cards that reward you with free movies, early access to concert tickets, or upgraded flight options, you’ll want to choose the card that delivers the benefits you want – at a cost that seems reasonable to you (see point #6, below).

It’s usually wise to avoid credit cards issued by stores or business chains, like Exxon or Macy’s. Cards from the major credit bureaus like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted worldwide, typically offer lower interest rates, and are infinitely more practical.

5. Take an Active Interest in APR

Credit cards aren’t created equal, and one of the biggest variances is interest rate, or APR. Some cards offer rates as low as 14%, but rates of 18-21% are common, so make sure you know what you’ll be paying before you apply.

You may be planning to pay off your credit card balance every month; in that case, the APR won’t matter as much. If you’re not, though, a better interest rate can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars each year.

6. Avoid Extra Fees

Many cards charge monthly fees, especially those that give you points or additional benefits, but there are just as many that are totally free. Unless the bonuses you’re getting are worth what you’ll pay each month, choose a card without a fee.

7. Set the Limit Wisely

Credit card applications often ask about the credit limit you’d like to receive. Think carefully about this number, because too high a limit may mean that your application will be rejected, while a low limit may not give you the freedom to use your card as you’d like. When in doubt, consult a credit professional at your bank or the credit card company where you’re applying.

Follow these sensible tips and you’ll soon be on your way to securing your first credit card, a big step toward building financial stability and responsibility.

One of the most important things to consider if you are a member of the growing collection of those who wish to keep their full-time jobs and take on an online job is that flexibility is key. Because you won’t have the luxury of giving yourself fully to your budding career at home, being flexible about the amount of time you can dedicate yourself to it, as well as when you can put in the hours, will be crucial to the success of the endeavor. Knowing ahead of time that there may only be a few hours a day that you can work at home, or that there may be whole days that will not allow you to work, will be crucial in saving you from the frustrations of circumstances that simply cannot be changed.

It is always possible to plan ahead, as well. For example, after a month of working at home in your spare hours, you may find that you averaged about four hours a day for five days a week. Once you know what your schedule will generally be, you can begin to plan what days/hours you will always be able to work, and which days/hours are generally not optimal. With that information in place, it will then be simple to create a work schedule for your at-home job, making it more than possible to plan your weeks ahead of time. Once you have a routine in place, your schedule of juggling both a full-time job and a career on the side will become much more streamlined and manageable.

Along with flexibility and planning ahead, another important aspect of being successful in an at-home job is simply learning from mistakes. Because the responsibility of such endeavors are usually on the shoulders of one or two people, having the know-how to face problems when they arise, and not go to pieces in doing so, will prove to be just as beneficial as about any other important resource. Because there will not be others to rely on when things get hectic, when deadlines are coming fast, and when you’re not feeling your best, knowing how to face the complications of working from home solo before such problems arise will allow you to be at your best even when circumstances are poor.

Finally, don’t be scared to try this out. Thousands of people have found that they can both work at home and work full-time away from home, and be successful at both. It will take some long hours and hard work, but if you have the dedication and an open mind, the sky’s the limit!