 |
|
|
|||||
Short-term jobs are common in todays employment landscape, so dont fret if you have a few brief stints on your résumé. Not only can such experiences at several organizations showcase the breadth of your experience, your ability to adapt to new corporate cultures is also a skill you can sell. But you do have to sell it it, and HR experts explain how to positively spin your employment scorecard and answer questions about your résumé that hiring managers may ask. Should you list all your short-term jobs on your résumé? Your résumé can be the first impression you make, so let it reflect an accurate history of your experience. Your résumé sets the tone for a transparent dialogue with potential employers, says Jaune Little, director of recruiting services at Insperity who is based in Houston. Honesty builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any successful professional relationship. From her vantage point as a recruiting executive, Little says todays career paths are less linear. Many professionals are taking on project-based or exploratory roles to build skills, broaden their exposure, or recalibrate their long-term goals, she continues. This kind of career agility reflects curiosity and self-awareness but knowing how to frame them in a conversation or cover letter can be make or break, she notes. How to upskill and highlight various job stints on your résumé Its best to be prepared to answer questions about your short employment stints. Here are a few ways you can frame a shorter stint to highlight your learnings and intentionality when asked for in a job interview: Why were you only at that company for five months? Be forthcoming, say the role wasnt a good fit. Little recommends answering with a response like: The role wasnt what I expected, but my experience there clarified what Im looking for. Show self-awareness, integrity, and a commitment to meaningful work by describing what didnt align for you, the steps you took to pivot, and more importantly, why, Little outlines. We are wondering what caused you to leave this job after only a few weeks? If the role was a contract opportunity, be sure to convey that, by having an answer ready. Little says this reply will leave the interviewer understanding more. Tell them that the The role was short-term by design. Its also valuable to add context around an intentionally short project-based or contract role, sharing that you are open to opportunities that help you to build different skills quickly, and where youre able to contribute in a focused manner for the benefit of your skill set, asserts Little. As long as you are prepared to offer context and an explanation as to why your tenure at these companies was brief, it can be framed as an edge. At the end of the day, HR professionals are looking for storytelling and context that makes sense, Little says. If your résumé reflects thoughtful decisions and real contributions, it can easily be framed as a competitive advantage. Just be ready to explain why you did itand how it made you better. Should you always include brief job stints on your résumé? If you were at a job a very short time and it didnt add anything to your skill set, in some cases omitting it from your résumé is acceptable. Theres a difference between being strategic and being misleading, says Joshua Smith, a senior vice president at Adecco in Dallas. If a role lasted a few weeks and had no impact on your trajectory, it might be reasonable to omit it. However, if that brief stint sharpened your skills, or improved your decision-making or your career path, youre better off including it with context, he clarifies. The key is to frame it well in your interview dialogue, he says. Keep in mind, a gap with no explanation, he says, tends to raise more red flags than a short stint with an honest story. If you leave it out, you must be prepared to address the gap, as smart interviewers will ask what you did during that time, Smith advises. Ultimately, can you spin that several shorts stints were helpful to your development? Smith says several roles over a short period of time do present your ability to be nimble and agile so you can turn perceived instability into a story of momentum. To do this, he suggests you might say: Each role gave me the chance to stretch different muscles, solve new problems, and build resilience. Or While some of these roles were brief, they were highly intentional. I sought out environments where I could quickly add value and accelerate my learning curve. Another component to consider regarding your whirlwind work history could be that your interviewer is curious about your professional path. As someone who partners closely with HR and hiring leaders across industries, I can tell you the first instinct is curiosity rather than judgment, says Smith. We care more about the why than the how. Use your cover letter If your résumé could spark questions, opt to use a cover letter to get in front of it. Smith says even a brief letter that addresses your circumstance could work to your advantage. He suggests framing your cover letter this way: My recent roles have each been targeted opportunities where I was brought in to support transformation, lead through change, or build something from scratch. Offering this statement simply will set the tone with maturity and ownership and will showcase your ability to be transparent, which is vital in the interview process, he says.
Category:
E-Commerce
Twelve years ago, I was interviewing with Suzanne “Suz” Gibbs Howard for a role at Ideo. Suz had been a partner at Ideo for about 20 years and had built her career as a human-centered consultant. I was a young, aspiring designer who didnt fully understand the enormity of the brands name. I just knew how to design learning experiences. I was 25 years old and had previously worked as a grassroots organizer, where I designed experiences to bring people together. After that, I found myself at an online university startup in San Francisco. As fate would have it, Suz had an idea to build a learning platform (which would later become Ideo U), and she needed a junior instructional designer. Yes! I blurted out when she asked if Id be up for a six-week experiment. But in the hours after the call, the fear started to creep in. Sure, I was at a fast-paced, fairly chaotic startup, but it was still a steady job. Id also just finished grad school with student loans. I also lived in a city where people paid $1,200 to live in a walk-in closet. I paced around my living room and called her back. Hey Mark, she said. Hi Suz, I said nervously, but still unaware that the question I was about to ask was ridiculous: If this doesnt work out . . . will you have my back? Suz said yes. But shed later tell me that her yes carried a weight for her. That night, she brought it up with her husband: Should I have said yes? I mean, I dont know if it will work out. And hes taking a risk. Great leaders have your back Suz never once went back on her word. She had my back from that day forward. She mentored meeven when I was probably being difficult. She invested in me, signed me up for sessions with a leadership coach, and connected me with mentor after mentor. Even years after I left Ideo to move to Berlin, shed go out of her way to see me and respond to all my notes within a day. She knew the gravity of saying shed have my back. She didnt take it lightly. And she surely didnt owe that promise to a 25-year-old kid. She wasand still isa giant in the field of design innovation. But thats her style of leadership: she walks alongside you. That experience taught me just how important it was for leaders to have their peoples backs. And that requires the following: 1. See the whole person Supporting your people begins with seeing the wholeness of those you lead. The Japanese term sei-katsu-shawhich describes seeing a person in the fullness of their lifestyle, dreams, and aspirationscaptures this beautifully. Everyone is uniqueget to know their specific flavor. What makes each person tick? What makes their heart sing? What motivates them? 2. Be the net When they take risks, let them know youre there to catch them. When they stumble, dont just criticize themyou also need to offer support, resources, or time to help them recover and learn. It shows them you believe in their potential, even in tough moments, especially in tough moments. What are their fears? How might you help design the conditions for them to lean into those with bravery? 3. Cocreate Yes, I know. Its such an overused word. But having someones back means inviting them into spaces where you can roll up your sleeves together, spaces that are about work and growth. Set goals together that align with the teams mission. Find out what their long-term career aspirations and North Stars are, and figure out how you might be able to help them stretch in a way that gets them closer to that goal. 4. Tell the truth with care Now, I get that this doesnt always scream Ive got your back. When youre young (and a little naive, like I was), it can feel like a critique. But the leaders who truly had my back showed me that my blind spots werent just flawsthey were part of what made me whole. For example, my ability to light up a room and unlock people could also suck a room dry if I was burned out or stressed. 5. Show up, dont just say so Dont just say the thing, do the thing. The most inspiring leaders dont wait for the perfect momentthey create it. They understand that words are hollow without the weight of action behind them. They know that action is where purpose meets the real worldand where real growth begins. Whats one small step that you can take to show up? Whats something you can do that they might remember forever? Suz changed my life. We both believed in the sanctity of those words: I have your back. Back then, I only understood them in the context of friendship. Now I know what they mean by leadership. And heres what Ive learned: its not just about giving. Theres something profoundly reciprocal about it all. The real gift is getting to witness someone else grow, thrive, and leave their mark on the world. Thats the beautythose relationships, built on mutual care, end up shaping you just as much as you shape them.
Category:
E-Commerce
Danish artist Andreas Refsgaard has been combining generative AI with handcrafted prototypes to create unique glimpses of whats aheada future that could one day make artists like him obsolete. What if instead of asking AI to generate a picture, you built a cardboard model of what you wanted it to depict? Thats exactly what Refsgaard has been exploring with his Future Mirror project, which invites students to use recycled materials to build prototypes of artifacts from the future. The Future Mirror web app then feeds these handmade objects into Stable Diffusion, producing unexpected visions of worlds we have yet to invent. I thought it was kind of magical to have kids build something very scrappy [with] toilet paper rolls and papier-mâché, Refsgaard says. Have them imagine wild stories, which they are good at, and then actually see that thing come to life. Since launching workshops with school classes in 2023, Refsgaard has seen kids create prototypes for sustainable buildings, autonomous food delivery vehicles, and teddy bears designed for all-ages space travel. One strength of this approach is that language has many barriers. When I have an idea, or I have something in mind, words can [often] not describe it, Refsgaard explains. Building a model with your own hands allows for more detail, which then influences the final AI-generated image. Thats really, really powerful, he says. A store for AI-generated books Refsgaard has spent about a decade experimenting with machine learning and AI as an artist, often exploring the blurry boundaries between artist and algorithm, authorship and agency. An early example was Booksby.ai, an online bookstore selling paperbacks written entirely by AI. Built in 2018, Booksby.ai came before todays powerful large language models. Instead, it used a much weaker text generator that could create realistic-sounding sentences but struggled with coherent plots. In terms of generative AI, this is medieval, Refsgaard says, noting that the books were barely legible. I don’t think anyone has read an entire book from start to finish, he says, adding, They werent very interesting books. Even so, the store sold about 300 copies, mostly through Amazon. Some books even received five-star reviewsone recommending a book because its knodung, a piece of gibberish generated by AI. Refsgaard enjoys these moments when AI stumbles, though he knows they are becoming more rare. Lets laugh about how bad it is right now, but also think about the future consequences. Because it will be good at some point, he says. That moment is coming quickly. Refsgaard says he wouldnt launch something like Booksby.ai today. Why would I put AI-generated books onto Amazon [now]? Its swamped by AI-generated books already. The fine line between art and a tech demo Another recent project brought reality a little too close to Refsgaards art. As part of a series of experiments with image-to-text models, he built an online meme generator called MemeCam. The web app lets users snap a photo of an everyday object, then uses AI to turn it into a meme. MemeCam was meant as a playful exploration but it quickly went viral. It became extremely popular, my biggest hit I guess, Refsgaard says, noting that his success came at a price. I lost quite a lot of money on it. Although hes not personally a big fan of MemeCams humor, calling it a bit middle of the road, Refsgaard still appreciates its impact. Its sort of like youre indie, and you make a record that gets airplay on big stations, he says. Youre okay with it. The project also made him reflect on what it means to create art in todays fast-evolving AI world. Sometimes even he isnt sure how to define his own work. Are they interesting art, or are they tech demos? When he started working with AI a decade ago, projects relied on basic tools and a lot of custom programming. Today, AI code generators handle much of that work, producing polished but sometimes less-interesting results. Im not going to make something new and unique in Midjourney, Refsgaard says. I dont care how beautiful an image can become. But Im interested in generating that image from cardboard. He adds that making AI art today is way easier technically, but its more tricky conceptually. When AI art replaces the AI artist Despite these shifts, Refsgaard still sees a place for artists like him, who approach AI playfully while also exploring its cracks and limitations. These experiments, he argues, help foster a more informed critique of AI. If you just reject it completely, then the criticism you have of it is typically not very nuanced. As for his own work, Refsgaard plans to keep exploring the shifting line between artist and algorithm as AI continues to evolve. I try to write myself out of my own art, he says, noting that hes also looking to experiment with agentic AI to see whether such agents can create entirely original workseven if that means replacing himself in the process. I try to write myself out of my own art, he says again. I dont mind not being the artist.
Category:
E-Commerce
Late-night Zillow scrolling just got a little easier on the eyes. The residential real estate platform announced that dark mode is now available on its iOS app. Just tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, then tap app settings, select the dark app theme, and voil, you can scroll through listings more comfortably in the dark. “Your midnight move starts here,” Zillow says. Dark mode has been one of Zillow’s most requested features, the company says, and before the update, the best fans of dark mode could do was use a browser extension that offered a three-month free trial. Dark mode is popular for reducing energy consumption (and saving battery life), and Zillow says it’s about more than just aesthetics because it reduces screen glare and eye strain in low-light settings. [Image: Zillow] The reason Zillow dark mode took so long to arrive is because the companys app has many content-rich screens, including interactive maps, listing photos, and financial tools. Designing a dark mode wasn’t as simple as applying a dark theme across the board, Zillow tells Fast Company. Extra attention had to be paid to elements like color-coded map pins that show different listing types and statuses such as rentals, for sale, new construction, or homes youve already viewed. Zillow has 227 million average monthly unique users. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zillow usage surged as Americans on lockdown dreamed of moving to a new place. Today, scrolling Zillow without any purchase intentionknown as Zillow doomscrolling (or Zillow therapy for some)is how many people use the app since mortgage rates remain high and home sales are softening. At least with dark mode, there’s one less reason bedtime Zillowing will keep you up at night.
Category:
E-Commerce
Fresh off her French Open win, and before she gets rolling on the green grass of Wimbledon, tennis star Coco Gauff is launching a new three-part content seriesalong with entrepreneur Emma Grede and UPSwhose aim is giving advice to small-business owners. Created by The Martin Agency, the campaign kicks off with an anime-inspired spot featuring the 20-year-old phenom announcing her collaboration with Grede. Gauff, who first signed on as a brand partner with UPS in 2023, says she was really excited to work with Grede, cofounder of Skims shapewear and the Good American clothing line. She’s such a powerhouse in her world of business, so it was awesome to help give the opportunity to small-business owners to work with her, Gauff tells Fast Company. The campaign follows Gauff and Grede as they meet with the owners of three different small-businessesAnima Iris, Petrova Chocolates, and Classy Casitafor one-on-one mentoring sessions with Grede. Highlights from these sessions will be part of the campaigns content, which will roll out throughout Gauffs tennis season. [EMBED] Tennis Star-preneur Gauff herself is a big business. Last year, she reportedly made $30.4 million, including $9.4 million in prize money and an estimated $21 million from brand partnerships, appearances, and bonuses. In April, she launched Coco Gauff Enterprises with William Morris Endeavor (WME). She says she was listening closely to Gredes advice to the UPS campaigns three entrepreneurs. Honestly, I was just listening to what she was telling everyone else and taking notes, Gauff says. I learned a lot about working in bigger organizations and marketing, which is what she’s really good at, especially with Skims. I have her contact [info] for the future, and definitely want to dive more in depth with her. Gauff works with a long list of brand partners covering a variety of product categories, including Rolex, Bose, Head, Barilla, Carols Daughter, and Naked Juice. Her first deal, at age 14, was with New Balance. The two most important criteria for how she picks a brand partner are whether she has a connection to the brand as a customer or in some other way, and that the commitments cant interfere with tennis. Because tennis doesnt have a traditional offseason like football or basketball, Gauff says it can be tough to balance her time. It’s about finding the fine line to make the most of what you’re doing and your opportunity, but also making sure it’s authentic to you, she says. Because there have been some people who maybe got too overwhelmed with all the commitments. Trying to find that balance of keeping your career first and not wasting opportunity is very hard. I’m still trying to navigate it. More immediately, Gauff is focused on navigating the WTA’s No. 1-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka and the other contenders at Wimbledon.
Category:
E-Commerce
Sites : [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] next »