The 8 Verbs Leaders Need on Their Resume

The 8 Verbs Leaders Need on Their Resume It can be tougher than it looks to sum up yur leadership expertise in a resume. Whats the best way to describe your leadership style without sounding as though youre bragging? Are certain verbs more effective than others? Which words do human resources professionals want to see on resumes? How can these words, like our actions, speak louder on our behalf?I pooled a few HR pros to get their take on the eight best leadership verbs for any resume. Heres why including these verbs gets your resume noticed by all the right higher-ups in an organization.1. BuiltThis verb was an extremely popular choice with the HR professionals I spoke to, including certified resume writer Kelly Donovan. The verbs you choose for your resume must be strong, according to Donovan.They bring your experience to life, engage your reader, and convey the leadership traits you want to be known for, Donovan said.Built is one such verb that does it all. Using it allows applican ts to talk about they have created or grown. This may include anything from building a division, new stream of revenue or a new program within their department or company.2. ChampionedDoesnt looking at this verb already make you feel invincible? This is another one of Donovans favorite verbs to include on a resume.Donovan loves it because it shows that the applicant strongly advocated for an idea, project, or program within your organization. And, like a true superhero, they were able to find success in doing so.Being able to sell concepts within a matrixed organization is a critical skill today, Donovan said. Leaders need to be able to get buy-in from their teams and pair it with a successful outcome.3. CollaboratedDebra Boggs, executive resume writer and co-founder of DS Professional Coaching, recommends using the verb collaborate on candidate resumes. Why? Boggs says that it shows you can work well with others. Its also a stronger verb to use than the standard worked with or comm unicated with often spotted on resumes.4. GeneratedAdrienne Tom, certified executive resume master at Career Impressions, advocates for using compelling verbs like generated on resumes. Tom notes that results speak louder than simply listing off bulleted tasks or duties.Employers read resumes to decipher Whats In It For Me (WIIFM) if they hire a candidate. Tom explained. They need proof of results to support the decision. Candidates that have held leadership positions should use a verb like generated in their resume to sto off valued-enhanced statements centered on big business wins.5. LedThis simple verb can be incredibly effective in conveying leadership through resumes, according to Donovan. Using led better highlights someone with leadership qualities than verbs like managed or directed.Donovans only major rule of thumb to follow? Use this verb in small doses.Led is a good verb to use as long as you dont use it too frequently, like having consecutive bullets or sentences that st art with led.6. OwnedSteph Cartwright, certified professional resume writer and founder of Off The Clock Resumes, is a big fan of dropping in the verb owned in resumes. Cartwright recommends using it to replace less impactful phrases like responsible instead, as it better demonstrates action and impact.7. SpearheadedAccording to Donovan, spearheaded has the best impact when it is used sparingly. No more than once or twice in a resume is effective due to the verbs dramatic nature.This verb conveys a sense of you leading the charge on an initiative, Donovan said. Using the verb spearheaded is a great way to take ownership of the success on initiatives you deserve most of the credit for.8. TransformedUnanimously, Boggs, Donovan and Tom all agreed that there is one must-include verb to show off your leadership skills in any resume. That verb is TransformedBoggs recommends using this word over a verb like improved to show the impact you had on an organization.For Donovan, everything arou nd this verb is an excellent conversation starter.Transformed is a great way to talk about how you successfully led positive change within a department, division or team.Dont Forget NumbersThis article may be about the value that leadership verbs bring to resumes, but remember that verbs are only one part of the equation. Donovan says the other part is about results achieved in past leadership roles.Whenever possible, quantify the results with a number, Donovan said. Even if some results cant be measured with numbers, you can still make it impressive by highlighting what had to be overcome to achieve it, or the benefit of the outcome you achieved.

The Dos and Donts of Writing a Resume While Youre a College Student

The Dos and Donts of Writing a Resume While Youre a College Student Ruthless Writing a Resume While Youre a College Student Strategies Exploited Searching for a job for a college student can appear daunting. Working as youre still in college is an excellent experience builder. In the event the colleges youre applying to permit you to submit a resume, dont miss the opportunity. Yes there are lots of terrible college student resumes floating around In addition, dont be scared to receive work during the school year, especially if its even tangentially related to what you would like to do. If you are able to, have someone from your campus career office, or maybe an alumnus in the area that you want to know more about, look at your resume to make aya you have included as much pertinent information as possible. If youre a high schooler that has been accepted to a college already, you may also state your colleges name and the date you will start attending. Prepare for that very firs t conversation by thinking about how you can construct your resume even if youre in college. Things You Should Know About Writing a Resume While Youre a College Student Collegeisyour experience thus far, which means you are going to want to include class projects in which you displayed the skills necessary for work. While there can on occasion be a small amount of truth to that statement, it is a horrible way to check at college. If you dont have a lot of work experience, you may use an objective similar to the one above to demonstrate that you know the demands of a customer service manager. Youll acquire real-world knowledge in your favorite industry when strengthening the skills you presently have. Scannable resumes need specific page designs because computer scanners cant read certain products. Youre going to compose a college student resume. Finding a work often involves several steps, so make certain you take a look at the Internship and Career Centers website for idea s on the best way to have a strong application. Even if you wind up listing your jobs below the Job Experience section, you have to avoid mentioning tasks that dont have any relevance to the job which youre applying for.

Adapting The Hiring Process For Millennials

Adapting The Hiring Process For MillennialsJacobShriar from Officevibe on how to adapt your hiring process for millennialsClick To TweetIn the 12th episode of The Recruiting Reel, Jacob Shriar from Officevibe discusses how organizations must adapt their hiring process for millennials. Heres the transcriptJosh TolanMy name is Josh Tolan and Im the CEO of Spark Hire, the leading video interviewing platform used by thousands of organizations around the world.And this is The Recruiting Reel, a video series in which we discuss real recruiting challenges with prominent recruiting experts to provide you with actionable tips you can apply to your own recruiting.I am thrilled to introduce todays featured expert, Jacob Shriar, the Director of Content at Officevibe a provider of employee engagement software that helps people enjoy work.Jacob runs one of the fruchtwein successful blogs in the HR community over at Officevibe. It covers topics such as employee appreciation, company culture, produ ctivity, and more. Its one of my personal favorite blogs so I was geeked when Jacob wanted to come on The Recruiting Reel.Jacob is very in-tune with modern talent strategies and has produced a lot of content related to millennials so we asked him how organizations should be adapting their hiring process for millennials and this what he had to sayJacob Shriar Hi, Im Jacob Shriar, the Director of Content at Officevibe. And the reason why I think you have to adjust your hiring process for millennials is because theyre a different type of generation. They react differently than what most people react to in the hiring process.Millennials care much more about culture, engagement, work life balance, and autonomy. So, as a hiring manager, you really need to address those issues in all of your messaging. You need to be showing them in a very transparent wayHow do you adjust for those types of things?How do you offer those types of things?What millennials are looking for is to attach themselv es to a company they can actually care about and be passionate about. The key thing for you to do is to show that through your social media postings and the message you send across in your employer brand.The best piece of advice I can give you by far is be authentic and be transparent.Millennials have a very good way of figuring out whether or not youre transparent.Obviously you want to be active on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and things like that.Some recruiters are even doing cool things on other social media platforms like Snapchat and Periscope.Id also recommend looking into more niche websites depending on the type of profile youre looking for.So as an example, if youre looking for developers, you might want to check out websites like Stack Overflow and Github versus a traditional job board or LinkedIn because they might be spending more time there.Same for a marketing person. Maybe you want to go to a website like inbound.org or growthhackers.com.Wha ts important is when you go to these types of websites, you dont just post blindly Hey, were hiring. Come join our companyYou really want to build an authentic relationship with these people. So take your time to actively post in the community and respond to conversations. Dont post those types of aggressive hiring messages.Some of the key takeaways for recruiters to attract millennialsFind those niche websites and social media platforms that you can exploitDont be aggressive and blast out a hiring messageTake your time to build your employer brand through story-tellingBe transparent about what its like to work at your company through photos and videos and whatever you can to show candidates what their day-to-day might be like thereAgain, going back to those original concerns that millennials haveWhat is the work life balance like?How much autonomy will they have?What are the types of projects will they be working on?The two keywords here that you need to take away from this are aut henticity and transparency.I think with that youll really start to attract some all star millennial talent.Josh Tolan Jacob, you delivered again Awesome advice on how to recruit millennials. Im really glad you mentioned authentic storytelling.Millennials are driven by many things, but heres what I call the 3 Ps Purpose, Path, and Progress.When recruiting millennials, you need to convey their purpose within the organization and its vision. Why are they doing what theyre doing? Next, millennials want excitement. They want a career path. So what are the opportunities and how can they get there?Lastly, millennials have grown up in a super fast-paced world in which things are constantly changing. Theyre used to this and will be looking at the progression of your organization. Showcase how your organization has innovated, what new things it has implemented, and what the plans are moving forward.If you can deliver, through a variety of channels, an authentic story focused on the 3 Ps, your e on your way to attracting millennial talent.Thank you, thank you, thank you to Jacob Shriar for coming on the show today. Everyone should head over to officevibe.com to learn about some of the cool things theyre doing over there around employee engagement and of course, to check out the awesome content that Jacob is creating. Follow Jacob on Twitter JacobShriar and connect with him on LinkedIn.Thank you for watching The Recruiting Reel and stay tuned for more episodes. For additional HR and recruiting content, head over to hr.sparkhire.com and subscribe. Also, follow us on Twitter, sparkhire. And subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to know about the newest episodes of The Recruiting Reel.Thanks again for watching and happy recruiting

Customize this Outstanding Sample Military Resume 1

Customize this Outstanding Sample Military Resume 1Customize this Outstanding Sample Military Resume 1Sample Military ResumeCreate Resume SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONSA highly organized, take charge professional with more than twenty years of law enforcement and security experience. Strong problem solving and decision making skills with the ability to develop and implement effective action plans. Demonstrated experience in the coordination of criminal investigations. Commitment to detail in doing the job right the first time in completing all projects. Excellent communication and presentation skills. A team leader, providing motivation and training by example. Computer literate.AREAS OF STRENGTHINVESTIGATIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAININGProven project management experience in the collection, analysis, and presentation of criminal evidence in compliance with law enforcement protocols.Solid reporting skills in conducting thorough investigations and maintaining accurate r ecords.Hands-on experience in all aspects of maschine vehicle accident, narcotics, and criminal investigations.Strong instruction and training skills with individuals at all levels.Certifications received Narcotics Dangerous Drug Law Enforcement Certification National Crime Information FBI Certificate School of Handguns Certificate.Specialized training includes Drug Enforcement, Narcotic Law Enforcement, and Computer Information Systems International Intelligence Information Rating.Professional affiliations include Massachusetts Highway Association, Worcester and Essex County Highway Associations, Retired Massachusetts State Police Association, and Central Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.Professional Excellence SummaryHave experienced in modifying computer systems for enhancing the existing customer deal.Have outstanding data acquisition and analytical knowledge.Have practiced experience in system architecture and software designing along with the features of algorithm. Have various skills of operational and implementation strategies.Experienced with numbers of multipart factual time simulation as well as stimulation coordination with several of extended operational and implementation works.Have excellent data acquisition and analytical knowledge.Have extended experience in testing sub accumulations with various electronic gears for ensuring a standard product.LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCEWURTSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT Tetter, NH 1991 1994Deputy SheriffCoordinated all aspects of prisoner security and transportation from security facilities to courthouses, ensuring the safety of the community and the suspects. Additional responsibilities included serving civil process, evictions, and warrants within the jurisdiction.Recognized for excellence in job performance.MASSACHUSETTS STATE assekuranzbrief Boston, MA 1970 1990State TrooperConducted interrogations and pre-deposition interviews as part of ongoing criminal investigations. Served as an e xpert on narcotics, motor vehicle law enforcement, and accident investigations. Responsible for performing public records research, as well as coordinating interviews and reconnaissance for drug trafficking criminal investigations with other law enforcement departments. Trained and supervised new officers.As court officer, consistently sought out for clarification on points of law and procedures by district attorneys, defense attorneys, and judges.Career achievements in law enforcement include commendations from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of State Police, as well as numerous citations and awards for service.EDUCATIONPOLICE STANDARDS TRAINING COUNCIL Concord, NHLaw Enforcement ProgramNORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Framingham, MACriminal Justice courseworkMASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE ACADEMY Framingham, MALaw Enforcement ProgramMILITARYUNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVESAirman, Honorable DischargeCustomize Resume

Gaining Experience Through Postgraduate Internships

Gaining Experience Through Postgraduate InternshipsGaining Experience Through Postgraduate InternshipsAs you approach graduation, you will want to begin thinking about all of your options if you have bedrngnislage yet landed a job in your field. Some jobs require prior experience while other jobs do not require any previous experience at all. Oftentimes employers want to train new employees to their own way of doing things and they prefer that new hires dont have to be un-trained from what theyve learned on another internship or job. On the other hand, job applicants with prior internship or job experience are often preferred by employers not only because of their knowledge and skills in the field but also becausethey understand the field and know that its something they really want to pursue after college. The Effect of the Recession on Postgrad Success Since the beginning of the recession, you will hear countless stories from recent graduates on how they were forced to take any job available, even if it didnt relate at all to what they studied in college. This has been a very frustrating experience for many new graduates since they found themselves doing mundane work that didnt relate to their interests or future career goals. This has also had a profound effect on their financial outlook since once they were able to get a job in their field, they found themselves behind financially since they had to start with entry-level jobs and only getting their dream jobs three or more years out of college. Should I Look for Internships as Well as Full-Time Jobs? One of the questions that college students often ask is if its better to take just any job after college, or is it better to try to get more experience in the field perhaps by doing an internship. The answer is not the same for everyone.A lot depends on your current knowledge and skill level as well as the field you are looking to go into. Another consideration is the shape of your current financial res ources and how much money you will need to pay for your personal expenses. Location can be a consideration as well. Large corporations that are willing to take on new graduates for their internship programs may pay adequately to sustain you while other programs expect their interns to work for free which may not be a consideration at this point when you will need to begin paying your own expenses. If you are graduating this year and have not yet found a full-time job, internships may be the answer. Not only will an internship provide you with experience, often times a companys interns are the first ones considered for any future full-time job openings. Dont Forget About the Value of Networking Be koranvers you speak with everyone you know to let them know what your plans are.Close family and friends and even acquaintances may hear of internship or job openings that you might not find out about otherwise. Your colleges alumni are another good source for networking. Check with the Career Development Center at your college to see if they have alumni contacts that are willing to work with college students as they navigate the internship/job search process. Dont forget that networking is the 1 job search strategy available. Make Your Both Search Specific and Broad Be sure to make an appointment with the Career Development Center at your college to make sure that you are aware of all of the thousands of internships that are posted each year. Each internship listing will usually have a list of requirements and qualifications and often will state if they will take new graduates or not. Once you are sure that your resume and cover letter are ready to send out, be sure to take a proactive approach and apply for every internship that meets your qualifications. Also, be sure to check out Facebook and LinkedIn to see what opportunities are out there and to help employers to be better able to find you. Create an Internship of Your Own The third way of looking fo r internships is through prospecting. Prospecting means looking for employers that would hire individuals with your skills in locations that you are interested in working.Many organizations do not advertise their internships or may consider an intern even if they are not advertising or if they have not had an intern before. Internships Are Not Only for College Students Over the past few years, we have witnessed the rise in high school students that participate in internships. In addition to this population, many individuals interested in making a career transition are also looking at internships as a way to segue into a new career field where they have little to no experience thus far. Although it may be difficult to take on an internship where there is little to no pay, it may be even more frustrating remaining in your current job or taking one that doesnt require the skills of the field you are looking to go into. Sometimes internships are the necessary evil in order to get yo u where you ultimately want to go. Double-Check Your Resume and Cover Letter When applying for internships with a resume and cover letter, be sure to check the following prior to sending out your documents 5 Steps to Improve a Resume Organize your informationHighlight your qualificationsUse bullet points to display important informationInclude only relevant information and remove any clutterMake sure your resume is error-free 5 Steps to Improve a Cover Letter Address your cover letter to the right personCapture the readers attentionMake your cover letter stand outMake sure your cover letter is error-freeAsk for an interview at the end of your letter By following these 10 steps you will be well on your way to getting yourself noticed by employers in hopes of getting called for an interview.The sole purpose of a resume and cover letter is to land an interview, so the effort it takes to improve your documents is well worth the effort.

8 Tips for Women Negotiating Salary

8 Tips for Women Negotiating Salary8 Tips for Women Negotiating Salary8 Negotiation Tips for WomenFight for the salary you deserve.A new employment law in Massachusetts made it illegal for employers to ask a candidate about past salary history.This is great news for making strides in gender pay equality, which was one of the goals of the legislation it marked a significant step in the right direction. However, the law is only one piece of the puzzle. The negotiation-skills gap between men and women continues to be a part of the wage gap problem.So what causes this gap? Is it lack of confidence or lack of negotiation training? Why do women routinely leave money on the table? Is there anything they can do to negotiate mora effectively?Yes When it comes to negotiation, women can be highly effective, and they dont have to copy a male approach to accomplish that. Many negotiating tools actually come easier to women than to men. For example, women tend to smile more, and a smile during ne gotiations can convey the message that you are in control, relaxed, and confident. Women are also good at keeping the conversation from becoming adversarial, moving it forward effectively.Unfortunately, what holds women back is the social cost of negotiating or the negative social impact that negotiation is perceived to have on women. In other words, women read the environment and get a sense that self-advocating can create relationship penalties for them. The good news is that women can overcome this obstacle. By re-framing negotiating and learning a few key skills, you can be on your way to better pay and job opportunities Here are salary negotiations tips you need to get the most out of your conversation.1. Understand the cost of women NOT negotiatingNot negotiating can cost you as much as half a million dollars over your professional life, says Linda Babcock, a Carnegie Mellon University economics professor. According to her research on women and negotiation, only 12 percent of women negotiate salary compared to 52 percent of men.By not negotiating, women are essentially making less than they deserve because they didnt ask for more. Why get paid less than your worth?2. Focus on the benefit to the companyWomen are often better at negotiating for others than they are at representing their own interests. Instead of lamenting this trend, why not put it to work for you?Reframe the conversation as you representing the interests of the company. If you are unable to negotiate now, how can the employer expect you to advocate for the company, employees who will report up to you, and better solutions for the customers? If you enter the conversation with a mindset of working to find a mutual win, you have a better chance of emerging with better compensation and intact relationships. 3. Come in preparedThe research you do before you enter a salary negotiation can make a huge difference on the outcome. Use salary data from Salary.com, Payscale.com, and Glassdoor to set an accurate baseline when the time comes.In addition to researching industry norms online, you may consider talking to others in the field to better understand value drivers, challenges, and precedent. By doing this basic investigative work up front, you ground your argument in solid facts, not just a vague sense that you deserve or need better pay.4. Have reasonable expectationsNo, I do not mean that you should lower your expectations. Instead, combine your industry research with performance expectations and document your past achievements. When targets are clear and accomplishments are tracked, it is much easier to make the argument for a raise even if the company policy is cost of living adjustments only across the board.RelatedBuilding Your Case 7 Steps to Asking for That Raise5. Watch your toneHave you ever looked at a recording of yourself negotiating? Probably not. Invest an hour of your time into staging and taping a salary negotiation with a friend. All you need is a quie t space, a tripod, and your smartphone or camera The recording can teach you a lot about certain habits that may be costing you significant money.Here are a few specific things to watch for Many women end sentences in an upturned tone which makes them sound more like questions than affirmative statements. Another common mistake is overusing I think and maybe, which can make you come across as unsure. The good news is that simple changes in language can set you up for a win. If you observe yourself falling into ending your sentences like questions, work on turning them back into confident statements. Instead of using maybe, consider a more assertive lets try this going forward.6. Use silence as a strategic toolWhat is the longest amount of time you have ever been silent in a negotiation after asking a question or making a statement? If your answer is a minute or longer, you have a rare gift. Silence is uncomfortable for many of us. We dont like it when the other party goes quiet, and we tend to rush to fill the silence with our own voice. As a result, most people will talk themselves into a corner and say things that weaken their position. If you want to be a powerful negotiator, the best salary negotiation tip is that silence is your friend. If your employer goes silent, they are processing what you have just said. Allow that to happen and dont feel the need to fill the silence.7. ListenStereotypically, a good negotiator is someone who is loud and boisterous. In reality, you dont have to dominate the conversation to be an effective negotiator. Listening allows you to really hear what the other party wants, which puts you in a position to find a resolution that works for both sides.8. PracticeWhat holds many women back from negotiating important things like salary and promotions is the perception that they are not good at negotiating. The reality is that you dont have to be great at it you just have to start somewhere and get better. Like riding a bike and swim ming, negotiating is a learned skill, and it can get better with practice.Give yourself permission to start small. Try returning a purchase to the store despite a gelbkreuzgas receipt or an expired 30-day return window. Call your cable company for a reduction in your monthly bill. Ask for an upgrade on your next flight or rental car. If your basic skills need a tune-up, consider digging into additional resources There are dozens of books and podcasts on the subject, with many tailored specifically to women.Just remember Women can be great negotiators. Be sure to come in prepared, play to your strengths, and do your best to keep the conversation focused on finding the optimal solution. It is rare that negotiations result in both sides getting exactly what they want, but through a thoughtful conversation, you can certainly move closer to that marker.Click on the following link for more salary negotiation advice.Does your resume reflect why you deserve the higher salary? Find out with a free expert resume critique.Recommended Reading7 Powerful Ways You Can Improve Your Negotiation SkillsHow to Negotiate a Raise at Work Like Amy SchumerHow to Close the Wage Gap and Earn the Salary You DeserveRelated Articles

Job-Search Deductibles Evade Mistakes, Not Taxes

Job-Search Deductibles Evade Mistakes, Not TaxesJob-Search Deductibles Evade Mistakes, Not TaxesThere are plenty of rules in the tax code, and its easy to break one when filing job-search expenses. Keep these common errors in mind to stay on the right side of Uncle Sam.The U.S. tax code comprises more than 16,845 pages, according to the U.S. Government Printing Office. By comparison, War and Peace, Tolstoys hefty masterpiece, is a mere 1,400+ pages and the Bible a scant 1,200 or so. It is easy to binnensee where any layperson could make mistakes when considering what expenses from their job search qualify as tax deductions.Melissa Labant, a tax expert with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, has seen many in her career but said most of the mistakes related to the job search fall into three main categories - travel, personal appearance and relocation.Travel and mealsThe IRS has special rules about how much of the money we spend on meals is tax-deductible, whether the meals are job related or enjoyed on interview day.A lot of people think meals are 100 percent deductible, but thats not the case, she said.According to the IRS page for entertainment expenses you can deduct 50 percent of business-related meal and entertainment expenses, unless youre subject to the Department of Transportations hours of service limits - check the entry labeled Individuals subject to hours of service limits for an explanation of what those limits are. The 50 percent limit applies to employees or their employers, and to self-employed persons (including independent contractors) or their clients, depending on whether the expenses are reimbursed, according to the IRS.Meals you buy while traveling away from home, whether eating alone or with others, are reimbursable at that 50 percent rate. But dont mix business with pleasure and think you can deduct the whole package, Labant warned.People take trips to look for jobs, but its more a vacation, she said. If theyre vacat ioning three days and looking for work one day, thats not deductible, she said. The primary purpose has to be to seek a job, not personal recreation.As with all job-search expenses, to be considered tax deductible, the job being pursued must be in the same field as your current or most recent occupation.Personal appearanceManicures, haircuts, clothing. Nice suit. Must have cost you a little cashola, huh? But youre serious about your job search. Youll look good in the interview. Besides, you can always deduct it on your tax return, right?Wrong. Your interview duds are considered a personal expense and hence arent deductible, Labant said.The same goes for other personal-care expenses, such as haircuts and manicures, tax experts said.RelocationMoving expenses are in fact deductible, but the new job has to be at least 50 miles farther from your current home than your old job was, Labant said. For example, if your old job was 10 miles away from where you live, your new job has to be at l east 60 miles away. In other words, your commute has to grow by at least 50 miles.In addition, the moving-expenses deduction generally only pertains if youre moving to work full time.Quite a few types of moving expenses qualify, Labant said, including paying someone to pack and move your belongings. Some dont. For example, once you move, if you fly back to visit your old house for any reason, you cant deduct your travel. Nor can you deduct part of the purchase price of a new home or the loss you might take on selling your old home. Tax rules also exclude taking a deduction if you senfgas money on anything having to do with your old home, whether you lost a security deposit on a rental, you broke your lease or you lost money discontinuing membership in a country club.