It is a difficult time in our country as the economy swings back-and-forth like a pendulum. Unfortunately, many people have found themselves out of work, some for the first time in a very long time.

Whether it has been decades or years since you have updated your resume, use these tips to make sure you are putting your best foot forward during your job search.

Resume Length
Many people agonize over the length of a resume. The reality is, one page is best, however, it is not necessarily the best length for all job seekers. If you are loaded with experience, it is OK to go beyond a single-page resume if you must. But be certain that clarity is king! You will want to put the salient points front and center, with your true successes quantified.

Resume Privacy
Be sure to keep all personally identifiable information off your resume, especially if you plan to use it online. There is no need for an employer to see your home mailing address–this is an old style. If you feel that location gives you an advantage, use your town and state, but avoid the numeric address. Safeguarding your personal information in the Data Era is more important than ever.

Resume Dates
Whatever you do, be sure you have your dates of employment correct. Potential future employers might not contact your previous boss or even your references, but they will use automated programs to double-check the dates you have worked in many cases. You will want to make sure these are accurate, as anything that can be conceived as lying on your resume, will certainly take you out of the running.

Resume Actions
Administered; Accelerated; Transformed; Mobilized. These are just a few examples of the types of action verbs that human resources, and HR-based filtering programs, seem to love. Strong and compelling, this language takes a creative and forceful approach to show what you can accomplish. 

Resume Numbers
It is key to quantify your experience by supporting your words with numbers. If you reference people or money, be sure to assign a digit to it. For example: Maintained upkeep of a vehicle fleet should be replaced with “Maintained upkeep of 17 vehicles.” Even better, add in a numerical value for the worth of the vehicles, displaying the level of trust your previous organization had in you.

Keep in mind that resumes were designed to filter you out of a job, so you want to make sure you don’t give anyone a reason to put you in the “no” pile before even meeting you.

If a professional resume writer is not in your budget, you should still have a friend or family member give it a once over for grammar, spelling, and clarity.

Remember, the goal of the resume is to land an interview. Be sure not to give away the entire story of your career, but be sure to share enough facts that pique any potential employer’s interest.

Electric pallet jacks and forklifts both make lifting and moving objects more manageable, and while they each offer their own set of benefits, what are the actual differences–and which should you get certified to operate?

About Pallet Jacks

Think of the pallet jack as a simpler version of the forklift. Both allow operators to lift and move heavy items; however, forklifts are generally larger and heavier and have a broader use case.

Pallet jacks are mostly limited to loading, lifting, and moving stacked pallets within a warehouse. Compared to forklifts, the compact size of an electric pallet jack makes them conducive to moving materials around in smaller spaces. Plus, a pallet jack will not lift items as high off the ground as a forklift–usually, just high enough to transport. 

Also, a smooth warehouse surface makes pallet jack operation easier than if traversing over rough terrain.

Operating an Electic Pallet Jack

The pallet jack is steered by an operator who will stand on the vehicle’s footings or directly on the ground in the surrounding area (called a ‘walkie’). The forks are carefully placed under the stacked pallets, and a handle is used to lift the pallets off of the ground. With a maximum lift weight around 7,000 lbs., these simple-yet-mighty lifts can help clear a warehouse floor relatively quickly. 

Pallet Jack Growth

The advent of the electric pallet jack has been a game-changer for owners and operators. Gone are the diesel fuel fumes and messy fuel fill-up tactics. Instead, maintenance-free batteries and built-in chargers that plug directly into standard outlets have created prolific growth for electric pallet jacks. This has led to increased usage at companies across America and a new wave of available jobs. With an ability to swiftly navigate narrow aisles and tight corners, electric pallet jacks are a great choice for any indoor storage and distribution center. Plus, in many cases, they have a longer life expectancy than their gas-powered counterparts.

How Do I Learn to Operate an Electric Pallet Jack

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires specific training and eventual certification in order to operate or work with pallet jacks. The good news is that you can learn how to become a proficient operator in a single day.

Much like Tesla has taken the electric car market by storm, there is no doubt that gas-free vehicles are on the rise–in all applications–particularly in the freight and storage space.

The bottom line is that there has never been a better time to learn how to operate an electric pallet jacks safely; you will instantly expand the number of job opportunities you are qualified for.

There are approximately 1 Million Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklift) operating in US Companies today. According to the latest Census data there are 1.5 Million Forklift Operators operating Forklift equipment. Due to the increasing role the US is taking as the biggest Distribution Center in the world, the Warehouse, Logistics and Distribution industries are growing exponentially every year. Due to the large population of Forklift Operators working in the US, unfortunately Forklift accidents are occurring too often. There are some shared responsibilities between the employer and the employees when a Forklift Accident happens. The main reason for Forklift accidents is the lack of proper Forklift Training and lack of Forklift Certification given by the Company. There are still many companies allowing Forklift Operators drive the equipment without a Forklift License or a proper Forklift Training.

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