Communicate with your superiors as an equal. Boot polishing is out of favor. Maintain your dignity with them, and drop any defensiveness or arrogance. Be your best self.

In fact, if you have a tendency to be a job snob, help out somewhere where people have very little in way of status or money. A little simple humility can keep you centered, more likeable, and promotable. Job snobs don't stay employed very long either. Think ABOUT THAT!

>>>>>>>>TECHNICAL EXPERTISE<<<<<<<<<<<

This is an important category for an information technology professional to itemize their expertise in hardware, software, operating systems, protocols, programming languages, website development, etc.

>>>>>LICENSES & CERTICATIONS<<<<<<<<

This is mandatory for many positions requiring state licensure. For example, a teacher (teaching certificate), nurse (registered nurse), hairstylist (state licensed cosmetologist). Some occupations offer certifications that demonstrate a level of proficiency, but is not state mandated to work in that capacity. This is true in case of information technology, for example,it helps to maintain certain certifications to advance professionally and demand higher pay.

>>>>>>>>EDUCATION<<<<<<<<<<<

As with licenses and certifications, many occupations require a degree. Some certifications and licenses are not offered without appropriate academic training. Again, these include teaching, nursing, and cosmetology. These occupations require a certain level of training defined by hours or semesters, such as student teaching, clinical training, and hands-on classroom training. If you have experience and are not transitioning, list your education at bottom. If you are just starting out or are transitioning, include your relevant education at top. The main idea is to place your strongest selling points first. If you are in a higher education such as school principal, list your education at top because that is your field.

>>>>>>PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS <<<<<<<

List only current organizations that you are affiliated with. If you were with an organzation for a very long time and it would help to include it, then list it with years of membership. If you are involved in doing things for organization, include “active” in your “membership” title. For example, Active Member, ABC Organization, 1998 – Present. If you are actively involved in many unrelated organizations, use your discretion when deciding to include it. You do not need to list experience when listing your affiliations. Just your position, i.e. Chairperson, The Organization, XXXX. You do not need to list locations. The exception with verbiage is if you are a college student or just graduated. You would then want to include how involved you were in fundraisers and special projects. That will show your character and leadership potential. Once you have gained experience, be sure to remove verbiage so you don’t look “green.” By then you should have more impressive information to include.

>>>>>>>>COMPUTER SKILLS<<<<<<<<<<<

If you are in information technology, use a Technical Expertise category. If not, list your software without proficiency level. You do not need to list email, faxing, and calculators. Those are expected.

>>REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST<<<<

This category is not necessary. You should bring copies of your references to interview to leave with hiring manager if you feel you are still interest in company after interview. The only time it is a good idea to include this cliche category is if you are just starting out in your career. If you are very seasoned and have lots of letter of recommendation, you can always indicate that you have a "Portfolio of Letters of Recommendation and Exceptional Professional References"