Sunday, May 31, 2020

Utilizing Networking Events in Your Job Search (Pt. 2) Building Your Future Now

Utilizing Networking Events in Your Job Search (Pt. 2) Building Your Future Now Your job search can be both exciting and stressful. It can be exciting because you are on the hunt for a new adventurea new chapter in your career. And of course it can be stressful because there are so many unknowns. However, attending a lot of networking events can ease your mind. You will be surrounding yourself with professionals with a goal to advance your career by helping others. Networking events are an exceptional way to get out there and showcase yourself. You have to do some research on your part. Comb Facebook and the internet to track down events. Connect with those you are putting those events on and gather as much information you can about the events and networking groups. Also find out what job fairs are happening around your areathese events are amazing ways to connect and engage with potential employers. But the best part of job fairs is positioning them like they are pure networking events. You can certainly bring your resume, but a good tactic is trying to connect with as many company representatives as you can! Collect business cards, gather information, add other professionals to your LinkedIn, and expand your networking in one morning! That is an essential way to build your network and a chance to continue your path to a career opportunity! Image: Free Photos

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Help Writing an Objective For My Resume

Help Writing an Objective For My ResumeIf you're struggling to write an objective for your resume then this article is going to give you some pointers to help you out. It's a pretty standard question, and in many cases it can be pretty frustrating to answer the same thing over again. Hopefully, by the time you've finished reading this you will have a better idea of what to say to help you write the most convincing objective possible.First off, what exactly is an objective? An objective is simply a statement that explains the function of the company you are applying for. This statement can be either a summary or the body of the document. In the best case scenario, an objective should be short and simple, something you can easily type and read over again without thinking about.It's also important that the objective doesn't get too wordy as this can get into self-promotion or anything else that is very self-indulgent. A simple objective that relates to the position you are applying for is sufficient. So if you're applying for a sales manager position, you should aim for something like: 'Sales Manager position required strong analytical skills and a self-starter'.Ideally you'll want to be a strong communicator, and while this isn't the case in every situation, it is something that you should strive for. When you first begin to write an objective for your resume you may be tempted to be as boring as possible in order to keep it short and sweet.Remember, you're not just trying to impress your potential employer; you are also trying to impress them with your intelligence and ability to write. If you have to do excessive editing before you can get your objective on paper, you'll be defeating the purpose. It's always better to aim to be concise, and the longer the better!Writing an objective for your resume is a huge part of what will make you stand out in any job interview, and it's only going to make a good initial impression. When people are interviewed, they are oft en put under pressure to sell themselves short. You don't want to be the last one standing, so try to get your work done early, before anyone has a chance to bring up this point.One final thing to remember, and this is of course not a tip, but it may help to keep your objective short and sweet. Because there are so many other parts of your resume that can get really long and verbose, a few sentences like these will suffice: 'Provided analysis of potential sales and marketing scenarios to enhance sales force effectiveness and professional growth of client-facing sales representatives' is sufficient. A simple and concise statement of intent can go a long way to helping you build a good first impression.By now you should know a few tips to help you out with writing an objective for my resume. Writing the most persuasive information possible should be your number one goal, and by following these simple guidelines you should be able to ace your interview. Good luck!

Sunday, May 24, 2020

What Can the Grimm Brothers Fairytales Teach Us About Business

What Can the Grimm Brothers Fairytales Teach Us About Business We all grew up reading fairy tales, hearing bedtime stories and even watching movies from the Grimm Brothers. We learned about cautionary tales, great adventures, true love, friendship…and even some business lessons. Think back to stories like “The Shoemaker and the Elves,” “Rapunzel” and even “Cinderella.” There were clear examples of poor leadership, lack of succession planning, terrible staffing and much more! Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at a few examples. A Lack of Focus on the Job Can Have Serious Consequences â€" Little Red Riding Hood Everyone knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the young girl who is tasked with delivering a basket of goods to her grandmother’s house. On her way, she is distracted by a wolf who engages her in conversation. Before she knows it, the wolf convinces her to deviate from her original plan, nearly resulting in the death of both her and her grandmother. While disaster was averted by the presence of a brave woodsman, Red Riding Hood never accomplished her intended goal, and the outcome may have been different had she kept her eyes on the prize. Moral: Always keep your focus on the task at hand. Don’t allow distractions to sway you from your ultimate goal. Be Cautious of Whom You Do Business With â€" Rumpelstiltskin In order to save her life, a miller’s daughter is forced to enter into a verbal contract with an impish man who agrees to help her fulfill a contract she made with the king. She agrees to give the man her first-born child if he is able to weave straw into gold. She later reneges on her part of the agreement and in the end, Rumpelstiltskin dies. In this particular story, both the miller’s daughter and Rumpelstiltskin are to blame. Neither party conducted a background screening on the other. Had they each gained insight into the other’s previous business dealings, it may have saved them from making further harmful decisions. Moral: Consider a background check before entering into a business transaction with anyone. It could just save you from making bad business deals that you’ll later regret. Consider Your Employees’ Happiness and Needs â€" The Shoemaker and the Elves A small business owner is struggling with sales and decides to close his shop when a team of elves comes to the rescue. The elves sneak in to the shop and complete the unfinished work left by the owner. The grateful shopkeeper thanks his little helpers by providing them with new clothes, shoes and hats. The shoemaker’s business begins to thrive in the following days, even once the elves depart. Creating a positive work environment is important not only for employee morale, but also your business. Happy employees tend to focus on their work rather than finding new work. Moral: Treat your employees well and they will work hard to help make your business a success. A Person’s Age Does Not Determine Their Abilities â€" Hansel and Gretel Poor Hansel and Gretel overhear their father and stepmother conspiring to abandon them in the woods. While the parents assume the children won’t remember their way home, Hansel shows resourcefulness by leaving a trail of breadcrumbs showing the way, but his plan is foiled by hungry birds. While lost in the woods, Hansel and Gretel are kidnapped by a cannibalistic witch who imprisons them. Once again, Hansel and Gretel use their problem-solving skills to trick the witch into climbing into the oven where they trap her, thus saving their own lives, as well as those of future children. Had the witch given the children more credit, she may have survived and continued to lure children into her gingerbread house of horrors. Moral: It’s not wise to underestimate a person based on their age. Remember, you can learn something from everyone around you. Overly Demanding Bosses Can Drive Your Best Talent Away â€" Cinderella Sweeping, mopping, dusting, cleaning, cooking, serving, sewing and tending to the farm animals â€" these are just a few of the duties that are assigned to Cinderella by her horrendous stepmother. Additionally, her two evil stepsisters berate Cinderella on a daily basis. It’s no wonder that she seeks happiness elsewhere. Her stepmother’s misguided micromanagement leaves Cinderella feeling the need to escape her stressful life, even if only for an evening. Had Cinderella’s stepmother treated her fairly and provided her with a friendly work environment and some decision-making freedom, she may not have felt the need to escape. Moral: Trust your employees to do their job without hanging over their shoulder to ensure work gets done. By showing them respect and trust, they will be more likely to work not to lose it. Fairy tales were a fun way of learning about life when we were kids; however, it doesn’t have to end there. They not only allow us to keep in touch with our inner child, but also to learn new lessons in our adult lives.   Author: Kara Singh is the Social Media Manager for Insperity Recruiting Services. She has over nine years of experience in recruiting and seven years of experience in sourcing and social media. You can connect with her on Twitter  and  LinkedIn.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

LinkedIn is Not the Ultimate Recruiting Site, Twitter is

LinkedIn is Not the Ultimate Recruiting Site, Twitter is Twitter serves myriad purposes for millions of people. It’s provided space for brand campaigns, event  organizations, personal rants, and every other attention-seeking tactic imaginable since 2006. Though  many people use it for professional connections, some view it unprofessional at times â€" certainly not as  â€œrespectable” as LinkedIn for branding. So what makes Twitter such a uniquely useful resource for job seekers (and posters)? What Twitter has that LinkedIn doesn’t: The most obvious advantage Twitter holds over LinkedIn is its massive number of constantly active  users. Although LinkedIn is currently the top social network favored by recruiters, most of its users are  passive candidates, 60% of whom don’t log in more than once a day. (The only two job offers I’ve  ever gotten on LinkedIn came from headhunters outside my desired career field, while I was already  happily employed.) Active tweeters, by contrast, are much more likely to be “always on,” ready to catch  the latest news. If LinkedIn is a library, Twitter is Grand Central Station at rush hour. This makes it easier  for tweeters to get lost in the shuffle, but it also means they have a huge potential audience. Because so many more people are likely to tweet frequently (and without a brain-to-fingers filter) than  to update their LinkedIn statuses, Twitter is a better place for building a brand voice. With the famous  140-character limit, you get very good at expressing your viewpoint concisely, making your account  easier to differentiate from others. Recruiters want to know what kind of personality theyre dealing  with when they consider someone for a position. LinkedIn may tell them what you can do, but Twitter  will tell them who you are.  (Note: this only works if you tweet like you talk in real life. If your online persona is spicy and fearless,  but you have trouble meeting people’s eyes in face-to-face conversation, the dishonesty of your Twitter  voice will only hurt you in your job search.) Not only do your tweets accomplish this; your bio is another important resource. Bios are one of the  first things people check when they consider following someone new, so there’s no excuse not to make  yours awesome. People tend to be more creative with their Twitter bios than they are with their “career  objective” lines on LinkedIn. Which one do you think tells recruiters more of what they want to know? It’s easier to follow people who interest you on Twitter than it is on LinkedIn, because each social  network has its own unspoken protocol. Part of Twitter is the understanding that random follows and  unfollows just come with the territory. Sending a “connect” request on LinkedIn is a slightly more loaded  act if you don’t already know the person (or have a mutual connection). The recipient of your invitation  may wonder what you want from him if he’s never even heard of you before. Plus, Twitter doesn’t notify  people when you view their profiles, like LinkedIn does, so that minor awkward factor is gone. How you can optimize your profile to get a job: Now that you’re convinced of Twitter’s usefulness and are ready to put your best foot forward, we have  some incredible tips for you. All of your social media presence should contribute to making your name Google-friendly. Thus,  try to get your real name (or part of it) as your @ handle. If that’s taken, set aside some  brainstorming time to come up with something professional that makes sense with your name.  The name of your personal blog or startup are good options. The display name should also be  your full real name. As mentioned above, write a killer bio that includes hashtags and @ mentions that are relevant  to what you do. Include some industry-specific keywords as well, to make it easier for those  seeking candidates to find you. Use this hashtag-and-keyword principle also when you’re sending tweets specifically to find  jobs. (Keep these tweets rare, though; you want to test the waters, not sound like some kind of  job-board spambot.) Follows aren’t just for people â€" theyre for hashtags too. Keep track of the conversations  occurring under general job-search hashtags, as well as those specific to your field, to get a  better feel for whom you should talk to and where you should post. Seriously, keep your account clean. Squeaky clean. Whatever you wouldn’t say in an interview  shouldn’t be in your digital paper trail (except maybe for cautionary purposes). If you MUST  sound off about topics that might alienate future employers, establish a separate account with  no ties to your professional one and encourage all of your controversial friends to follow you  there. Don’t just be a bullhorn for yourself; interact. Retweet posts and articles from industry  champions that inspire you. Beyond that, just talk with people. Everyone else wants to be  noticed as badly as you do. By acknowledging someone else, you say, “I see you and I think what  you just said is pretty cool.” That makes both of you feel important, even if you can’t do  anything for each other at the moment. In conclusion, take a look at how some of the best use their Twitters. Francisco Rosales of Socialmouths  advises handing out follows and article backlinks generously in order to get noticed. Social exec Simon  Caine found that utilizing the local search and following employees of the companies he wanted to work  for got him some great connections. Charlie Loyd, a digital cartographer, went for the gold and tweeted  his satellite image work directly at the companies that could use it. Whatever your Twitter strategy ends up being, the main thing is not to be shy. Don’t see Twitter as a  vacuum, either; all of your major social-network profiles should cooperate to frame you as one  irresistible future employee. What’s your Twitter strategy? Are you a master of the network’s pithy communiqué, or will you be  sticking primarily with LinkedIn for all your business needs? Tell us below what’s worked for you, and  why! Author: Katherine Halek is a  Content Strategist at  Signazon.com, a leading online  printer that works with  thousands of small  businesses around the country.  Katherine enjoys writing about entrepreneurship,  marketing, and career advice.  Connect with her on  Google+.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Relevant Facts About Resume Writing

Relevant Facts About Resume WritingThe process of resume writing indeed needs to be well executed, to be effective. But it is also a fact that many people, especially those who are job hunting, tend to skip over resume writing. Why? This is an unfortunate situation where a person's resume is not even read by the employer, let alone being fully processed by the hiring office.Resume writing truly deserves to be on top of a person's priorities, because even though it may seem like a lengthy and tedious process, it is very crucial and vital. Why? If an applicant has a bad resume, this will generally discourage many potential employers from even taking a look at his or her application, which could prevent him or her from getting hired.The fact that many people only bother about resume writing when they have a job waiting for them, might be the real key. What would happen if they lose their job? They would most likely not continue working and resort back to resume writing again. This is un fortunate, as there are more resources available than ever before.Now that we know why resume writing is necessary, the next step is to figure out what type of resume we should be using. There are several choices. First is the traditional resume, which is simply the one in which all of the information is placed together in chronological order. It would be best to use a white board with this kind of resume, but you can try to write the information yourself.The next choice is the functional resume, which is designed in such a way that it can be formatted into a number of different formats. These include Microsoft Word documents, Power Point presentations, even PDF files. There are also different lengths to choose, from just a few pages to several hundred pages.Another kind of resume is the executive resume, which is designed to meet a specific requirement. Here, the information needed is more focused on the past experiences of the person, rather than anything else. This is actually th e best type of resume to write, because many employers look for people who have worked for them in the past.The final choice is the candidate resume, which focuses on the candidate's ability to perform and to get along with others, as an able-bodied person. Unlike the functional resume, this type of resume does not need to be organized, but simply needs to highlight the fact that the candidate is the right candidate for the job. It is best to use a blank document in order to work on it that way.Each of these three forms of resumes is suitable for different situations and should be used depending on how well or badly a person needs a job. For example, a functional resume may be useful if a person needs to have a job in the near future, while an executive resume will work well if he or she already has a job that is still an open position. A candidate resume may be needed if he or she is currently looking for a job, but his or her resume should still focus on his/her personality and ab ilities.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Tips For Successful Resume Writing

Tips For Successful Resume WritingIf you have had a hard time writing a resume, or if you are just not sure how to go about doing it, you might want to consider looking at the options in Los Angeles. There are several resumes writing services that can help you get your dream job in this wonderful area. You just need to know where to look.A resume is what most employers use to screen potential employees. Therefore, you want to make sure that you present yourself in the best possible light. This means that you should be as professional and impressive as possible. This will help your chances of getting hired.Once you have your resume ready, you might want to take some time to look through it. Make sure that you don't just copy and paste it. This can seem like the easiest thing to do, but it can also be the most obvious mistake. Your resume should have your own unique touch, and you can do this by using interesting words.Keep in mind that there are many different things that a person sho uld include on their resume. Some of them might be written in the information section, but some can be included in other sections. For example, if you want to work as a sales representative, then you can put this in the sales section.However, if you really want to stand out from the crowd, you can put this in the skills and experience section of your resume. These sections will look more professional. They will also give employers an idea of the kind of work you have done in the past. This is important because they will also be able to see how much experience you have.Resumes are important to employers when they are looking for someone to hire. In order to help make your resume a success, you will want to follow these tips when writing it. First, you should research the areas of the city that you are applying for. This will make it easier for you to think of things that would make it more appealing to employers.Another tip is to choose jobs that you feel would match your personality . This will help you become more organized when it comes to writing your resume. It will also make you look more competent and trustworthy to your employer. This is important because if you don't have a professional appearance, they will probably be turned off and be less likely to hire you.You will be surprised at how much of an impact your resume can have on your career in Los Angeles. Your resume is the first thing employers will see, so you need to make sure that you put as much time and effort into making it as you can. You will be surprised at how good you will feel when you get the job you want. Just remember that it doesn't matter where you live; you can find some great help in this city.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Pixar gets it - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Pixar gets it - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog The Holllywwod way of organizing a movie is by using only contract labour. The vast majority of movie people, from grips and gaffers to high-paid actors, are in essence self-employed and are hired for one movie at a time. Pixar goes against this trend, by focusing on people: Contracts allow you to be irresponsible as a company. You dont need to worry about keeping people happy and fulfilled. What we have created here an incredible workspace, opportunities to learn and grow, and, most of all, great co-workers is better than any contract. Weve made the leap from an idea-centered business to a people-centered business. Instead of developing ideas, we develop people. Instead of investing in ideas, we invest in people. Were trying to create a culture of learning, filled with lifelong learners. Its no trick for talented people to be interesting, but its a gift to be interested. We want an organization filled with interested people. Says Randy S. Nelson, the dean of Pixar University. Among the advatages cited are: * People learn to work more efficiently together through long-term collaborations * People can better support each other through difficult creative processes * A culture of learning * People have more fun Also check out the amazing offices at Pixar. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Friday, May 8, 2020

How to get a job when youre unemployed -

How to get a job when youre unemployed - Ironically, it’s easier to find a job when you already have a job. Unemployed job seekers are subject to a “damaged goods” bias; some employers assume a great candidate would already have a job. A new study, which will be presented at next month’s Academy of Management’s annual meeting, suggests there is evidence that human resource professionals and the general public have a tendency to show a bias against unemployed job seekers. Researcher Geoffrey Ho, a doctoral candidate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a researcher for the study said the bias began “virtually from the outset of unemployment,” not only after a long period of joblessness. If you’re unemployed and looking for a job, you probably are not surprised. What can you do to help avoid being discriminated against just because you are unemployed? Have a well-rehearsed story describing your situation. Be able to confidently explain the situation at your company in a way that showcases your situation in the best possible light. Use a succinct response to explain why you are out of a job and do not delve into details. For example, if you were laid off: “When I joined X company, their goals and my skills were aligned, but their plans evolved in a different direction, which compelled them to eliminate my (position/department), even though we were on target to make our goals.” If you were fired, try to frame your situation in the most favorable light, for example, “When I interviewed for my last job, we agreed on specific plans and approaches, but a new supervisor joined who had different ideas about how to move forward. I was no longer a match, so I agreed to move on.” Tell a positive, matter-of-fact story without getting into your emotions. Do not lie, complain, or badmouth your past employer or organization and do not appear bitter or angry; it will come back to bite you. Maintain your skills. From the minute you are unemployed, keep in touch with your network and find ways to use your skills so prospective employers don’t think you are eating bon bons on the couch. Attend industry meetings and volunteer to handle projects relevant to your field. Use your skills and list that work and your accomplishments on your resume. If you cannot volunteer for a professional organization, seek out a non-profit group or even a company where you might want to work, identify a problem you can solve for them, and offer to take on a pro-bono project for a set time. When you take these steps, you can keep your resume and online profiles and updated with current activity so it’s not so obvious you’re unemployed. Even if you’ve been out of work for a while, you may be surprised by how helpful it can be to get started on a project or two to update your resume; it’s not too late. Network effectively. Instead of asking everyone you meet if they know of a job, have a short, targeted pitch to introduce yourself and your skills. Request meetings to learn more about people or companies that interest you, and make it clear you don’t expect a job as a result: you’re doing research, which will expand your contacts and the number of people who may be willing to refer you for a position. When you know how to ask for help when youre job searching, you have a much better chance of getting what you want. Use social media. If you can engage online and demonstrate your expertise by posting links to news and sharing your own commentary, you will keep yourself top-of-mind with those who could hire or refer you to positions. Update your LinkedIn status for a brief (one- or two-week) period to indicate you are “seeking an opportunity in _______” or “available for a new position as _______,” but once you’ve let your network know you are looking, don’t be “the person without a job.” Secure a project, list it on your LinkedIn profile, and share updates about your work on all of the social media channels. Additionally, you can learn what is going on at conferences, even if you cannot attend, by watching social media updates â€" for example, many conferences have people “live tweeting” what the speakers are discussing. You can keep up with all of this from the comfort of your home, and even participate, even if traveling and signing up to attend in person is too expensive. Another great reason to use social media? Employers are looking there to find candidates. A Jobvite study says, “Social recruiting has become an essential HR practice, with 92% of U.S. companies using social networks and media to find talent in 2012, up from 78% five years ago.” Put yourself on social media where employers are looking, and even if you are not employed, you are more likely to gain their attention. (Read more about how important social networking is to get a job.) It’s not easy looking for a job when you don’t have a job, but take advantage of your free time to research organizations and jobs, to network, and connect to a new opportunity that may be an even better fit than your last job. You can help overcome the bias against the unemployed by revving up your network, getting active online, and finding volunteer gigs where you can show what you know. photo by emilyvalenza