5 Ways to Blow Your Music Career

5 Ways to Blow Your Music Career5 Ways to Blow Your Music CareerTrying to break into the music business or make a living as a musician requires hard work, dedication, patience and not a little bit of luck. In other words, its tough enough without shooting yourself in the foot by engaging in sure-fire career shorteners. If you want to build a sustainable music career - and yes, give up the day job - avoid these five music career killers. 01Chasing the Small PictureAnn Tornkvist / Staff/Getty ImagesAlthough the music industry is the one long, extended party you might see depicted in movies, as a musician or someone working in the industry, you will have more than ample opportunity to dabble in lifes little excesses.For some people, the availability of alcohol and drugs can become all-consuming, and it may even seem like fun at first. The end game is that you become unpredictable, unreliable, unprofessional and just downright difficult to deal with. Your band-mates may decide youre not worth risking their own reputations over, people may decide that youre not worth booking if youre going to show up late or not at all, your fans may decide that paying money to see you play an incoherent set is not worth it - and that is all before you even consider the risks to your own health and your personal relationships.Heres the fact You will absolutely always be able to find someone to tell you that your overindulgence is ok and to help you convince yourself that something about your behavior is what makes you interesting as a musician/inspires your creativity. These people are so easy to find, but make a point of surrounding yourself with people who really care about you enough to tell you the truth. If you dont think your music career can survive you not partying around the clock, then you arent cut out for this.

5 Changes to Make to Your Resume NOW - FlexJobs

5 Changes to Make to Your Resume NOW - FlexJobs5 Changes to Make to Your Resume NOW -30the ideal resume, youll get five different answers. But the important thing is to make your resume as close to perfect as possible. With that in mind, here are five changes to make to your resume right now to make it as effective as possible.5 Changes to Make to Your Resume NOW1) Replace long paragraphs with short bullet points. Recruiters read resumes in 15 to 30 seconds. Try reading yours in that short amount of time and see how far you get. By bulleting your job descriptions and shortening each sentence, you make it easier for recruiters to digest the maximum amount of information about you.2) Start every sentence with a verb. You want to make recruiters see you DOING the things on your resume, and in order to do that, you have to describe your ACTIONS. Start each bullet point with an action verb (present tense for present jobs, past tense for past jobs). For examplePrepare clients in selecting appropriate insurance coverage given situational needsTroubleshoot issues with existing client policies and assist clients in all respectsMentor new agents and provide advice and guidance using strong interpersonal skills3) Make your formatting consistent. Every section title (Experience, Education, Certifications, Summary of Qualifications, etc.) should be the saatkorn font size and style. Your spacing should be the same throughout.4) Add numbers throughout. The more things you can quantify, the more detailed picture youll create for recruiters. For exampleExecuted training program for 20+ new employees and continuing education for 100 existing employeesSuccessfully obtained 15 new client companies throughout New EnglandGrew companys Facebook page from 500 fans to 6,000 in six months5) Be descriptive with companies and job titles. If you worked for a company that isnt well-known whose name doesnt convey their line of business, add that detail onto your resume. And if your job titl e is confusing or vague, add some detail to that as well. Using parentheses works for both situations. For exampleClient Service Representative (customer service)Bennett McLain LLC (computer software)For more job search tips and tricks, check out5 Uncommon, Excellent Career Tips4 Simple Reasons Youre Not Getting HiredCustomized Resumes and Cover Letters are Better for Your Job Search3 Common Resume Mistakes that are Easy To FixJob Seeking Tips From Top Career Advisor Cheryl PalmerReaders, which of these changes to make to your resume are you going to incorporate into your job search?

5 Interview Alarm Bells That Signal a Job Scam - FlexJobs

5 Interview Alarm Bells That Signal a Job Scam - FlexJobs5 Interview Alarm Bells That Signal a Job Scam -2It pains us to have to still write about job scams, but the sad truth is that job scammers are simply not going away. The interview alarm bells are sounding. And the stats get worse for remote jobs- its estimated that for every real remote job, there are at least60 scams out there.So lets say that you apply for a job that seems legitimate and yourecalled in for an interview. How can you tell if youre possibly smack dab in the middle of a job scam? Well, there are certain interview alarm bells that should ring loud and clear ifyoure finding yourself wrapped up in ajob scam.Here are fiveinterview alarm bells that signal a job scam1. Your qualifications dont really matter.You apply for a job that seems perfect. Its a flexible job and youd be doing exactly what you love- and bonus, youre totally qualified for it But when it comes time for the job interview, your interviewer doesnt re ally ask you that many questions, or worse, it seems that your skill set and work experience dont really seem that important. This is never the case in a real job interview. Employers will put you through the paces, asking you thoroughly about your previous job experience and what makes you a fit for the organization. Mostlikely theyll ask to complete some form of performance test as well. If your interviewer isnt interested in what you bring to the table, you might be in the throes of a job scam.2. Youre offered the job almost immediately.Lets face it Job scammers dont want to conduct lengthy interviews. They just want to lure you in and capture their prey(i.e., innocent job seekers), and then onto the next. So if after 10 minutes of talking with a tauglichkeit employer, the person offers you the job on the spot, dont be flattered- run. Even for an entry-level position, its rare that you would be hired immediately, even if you do have a dazzling personality and a wide array of work experience. So think twice if youre offered a job right away- most companies will typically take a few weeks (maybe even a couple of months) to make their decision.3. The interview is done via instant messaging.Yes, youre a job seeker looking for a remote job. If the company youre looking to work for is based thousands of miles away from where you live, it definitely makes sense that you wouldnt be trekking in for an office interview. That said, job scammers tend to prefer quick ways to contact candidates and conduct job interviews. Their preferred method instant messaging. And again, you might not even raise an eyebrow (heck, you pretty much communicate through IM all day anyway), but job interviews arent usually done via IM. You will probably be asked to do a phone orSkype interview(or both), but its a serious interview alarm bell if your only contact with a potential employer is an IM or via email solely.4. Youre asked for personal information- and money.By far, this is one of t he biggest signals that you might be in a job scam. But if youve been through a round or two of job interviews with the same company, and are offered the position, it makes sense that when the HR person comes along to offer you the job that they would request some personal information. Thing is, if youre asked for your Social Security number, bank account number, or any other information that could put you at risk of identity theft, just stop for a moment and take stock of the entire interview process. Have you checked out whom youre interviewing with by doing a Google search or looking them up on LinkedIn? Have the methods been more traditional (i.e., in-person, phone, or Skype interviews)? Have you contacted the company directly to confirm that the position really exists? If youve done your due diligence, you can proceedwith caution. And as always, never, ever, ever accept a job where your employer asks you to put up money. That always has been (and always will be) one of the top signs of a job scam.5. Youre not told the company youre interviewing for.A recruiter reaches out to you on LinkedIn looking to fill a position with a top company in your field. Great Youre excited, naturally (and thankful that you took the time to fill in your LinkedIn profile). So when it comes time for the job interview, you excitedly ask what the company is that youre interviewing for- and your interviewer wont tell you. The reason The recruiter is afraid that youll contact the company directly and lose you. Makes sense, you think, but in all honesty, it doesnt happen like that. As a job seeker, you have every right to know the name of the employer, the name of the hiring manager at the company, when the company is looking to fill the position, and what the interviewers relationship is to the company. If the person refuses to provide that info, chances are you might be involved in a job scam. As if it isnt enough making sure your job applications are well-written, searching for j obs day in and day out, job seekers today have to worry about falling victim to a job scam, too. But it shouldnt deter you from looking for a flexible job, if you want one. Stay safe and use the tips above to help guide you through your job search. And above all else, listen to your gut- if it seems too good to be true, it probablyis. Learn more about avoiding job scams.Readers, have you fallen prey to a job scam during your search for a remote job? What happened? Let us know in the comments below