SUMMER CAREER GLAM-UP

The bright, hot days of summer are here in Las Vegas and with them come priorities above and beyond the daily professional grind. Getting that pool reservation, figuring out what to pack for your trip, and putting in a few extra sessions at the gym can seem all important in June and July. We’re half-way through the year though, dear readers, and it’s time to give your career a glam-up to make sure it looks as good as the rest of you.

The easiest and best place to start is with your resume. Your resume should be a living document that summarizes your experience, education, certifications, and achievements in real time. Reflect on the past year or more since its last update and list the new skills you’ve learned, courses or certifications you’ve completed, and especially any changes in position or title. Focus too on quantifying your achievements at work; instead of saying that you were responsible for staff and sales increases, for example, write instead that you supervised eight associates and your department saw sales increases of 20 year-over-year. As you’re adding your new information, proofread the entire resume and optimize your key words to align with current applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Once your resume is decked-out, review your online presence to ensure that you’re putting your best self-out there. Start with the bios used personally and professionally on the web. Bios should be relatively short—50 words or less— on most social media platforms; you can stretch these to 100 words for a blog or personal website and up to 500 words for LinkedIn or your organization’s staff page. Think of your biographies like elevator pitches in which you introduce yourself, highlight some professional characteristics, and try to connect with others. Do be sure to keep the information consistent and on-brand across all bios. Following the bios, the next priority is pumping up your LinkedIn profile. Clean up connection suggestions by connecting with those you’ve met personally, update information using your newly sharp resume, and post the newest, most professional photo that you’ve got.

Finally, and as we all know, looking great sometimes requires professional intervention. The same is true with your career. The summer is a perfect time to request some on-on-one time with your manager or director. Ask for an informal review or even a conversation to discuss your performance, goals, and progress in the past six months. Managers and Directors should appreciate this opportunity to provide feedback and make suggestions for your continued professional journey. Likewise, take advantage of networking or social opportunities to schedule information interviews. Your industry, no matter what it is, has superstars, and getting to know them can teach you about the field and help build your contact list.

By: Sean M. McCray Associate Director of Academic Affairs The International School of Hospitality

This summer, take time to take care of yourself … and your career. None of us would leave for a summer trip or a night out with friends without glamming up and making sure we feel our best. Use the long days and warm nights during the season to polish your professional presence, and to glam up your career opportunities just the same. MV

Looking for something really interesting to do in Las Vegas? Visit the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas where secrets are revealed and histories are told. Find out the history of the atom bombs and witness what employees were forbidden to speak of. This almost 10,000 square foot building hosts the pictures of history where, in the 1950’s, travelers would come to see the famous ‘mushroom clouds’. Here’s a fun fact: Did you know that out of the 928 nuclear tests that were announced, 828 of them were conducted underground? Come visit The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas and see why this historical part of our culture is so iconic that it put Vegas on the map for something other than gambling.

755 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 • www.NationalAtomicTestingMuseum.org

General Information and Admissions 702-409-7366

Hours 9:30am-3:30 pm. Guest must arrive prior to 2pm to allow themselves time to see everything. Closed on Wednesdays