Saturday, May 30, 2020

9 Tips to Preparing for a Job Interview Building Your Future Now

9 Tips to Preparing for a Job Interview Building Your Future Now Congratulations! You scored a job interview! Your perseverance, well written resume and experience have gotten you a job interview. Now the real fun part begins; its time you must truly bring your A-game. If the company chose you over other candiates thats a good sign. Now you can build on that momentum and prepare to show them why they should hire you. If you dont know where to start dont worry, here are 9 tips to help you prepare for your job interview: 1.Research the company Its a good idea to get a better, more well-rounded view of the company that is interviewing you. Check out their website, social media accounts, articles, and key employees on LinkedIn. Make notes and formulate questions that you may have for them after the initial interview is done. Companies are impressed with candidates who know about them and equally have intelligent questions to ask! 2.Print Multiple Resume Having an interview with multiple people isnt uncommon. Be sure to have at least 5 resumes handy to give out to additonal people interviewing you. Doing this makes you look prepared and professional. 3.Show up well groomed dressed This might be a given, but there are people who dont do this for whatever reason. Showing up to your interview well groomed and wearing decent clothing brings off an air of professionalism. Dont over do it thoughlike putting on too much perfume or over dress might turn off the interviewer. Keep it simple and professional. 4.Be there on Time Another given, yet some people still come late. This isnt an option at a job interview. You need to come on time ready for the interview. Try to show up half an hour before the interview assuring you wont be late. Also if you arent familiar with the area try coming a few days before to see where the interview location will be taking place. This might be overkill but in some cases can save you a lot of hassle the day of the interview. Additionally, the area might be filled with other businesses that might be hiringget business cards if you can! 5.Be Well Rested Going to bed a bit early and waking up early gives you a good opportunity to be well rested for the interview. Other benefits include: time to eat properly, to do other tasks, and review any notes you may have prepared. 6.Have Mock Interviews Mock interviews are a great way to get you ready for the real one. Ask family or friends to interview you and then discuss what you can improve on. Mock interviews get you loose. If you can get any family or friends who are also hiring managers can give you an edge. 7.Prepare Questions The interview is all about finding out if you are a good fit for a company. However, sometimes you have an opportunity to ask some questions to the hiring manager. Be sure to formulate some questions before the interviewones that you feel will help you learn more about them. Also ask if you can write down the answer to those questions if possible. You can review them after the interview. 8.Learn more about Job Interviews Google is your friend so use it! There are a lot of great resources on the net to get you ready for a job interview. You tube is another amazing visual tool to help you watch mock interviewschose videos that are produced by legitimate companies or organizations or professionals. Also ask people around you about their experience on what a good interview isas mentioned before, seeking tips from seasoned professionals who hire is perferred. 9.Bring a Portfolio Prepare a short portfolio of some of your accomplishments like certificates, past projects, and awards. This gives an interviewer a visual aid to your accomplishments. Even if it isnt requested ask if the interviewer if they would like to check it outyou never know, this might be something that separates you from the other candidates. Image: Sue Styles

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Why I love (and what we can learn) from Bitter is The New Black

Why I love (and what we can learn) from Bitter is The New Black I just finished reading Jen Lancasters first book, Bitter is The New Black, today.   Im not sure  WHY it  took me so long to start reading this masterpiece, but the good news is that  it didnt take me more than a few days to finish it.   I very rarely read books that are not business related, so this book was a really fun brain vacation for me.   Since I too am a sassy Chicago native, I found Jens jokes hilarious  about the pan handlers, anorexic and constantly hungover young PR girls, expensive salons, over-spending on rent,  maxing yourself out on Michigan Ave after a bad day, bringing her Prada bag to the unemployment office  and feeling entitled to a lifestyle that is so unrealistic for most.   The first half of the book made me want to just go out for a shopping spree and then for drinks in the Gold Coast with no shame.   This is what us Chicago business women live for, right? But then fancy Jen gets laid off from her VP  job that pays for her lifestyle (and sometimes enables her bad attitude to those who are beneath her).   After  TWO YEARS of searching for a new job, losing her apartment, and losing all rights to shopping,    her blog jennsylvania.com was born  which transitioned  Jen into a writing career.   What can we learn from Ms. Lancaster, ladies? The bubble will probably burst.   Beware of living like a celebrity just becasue you feel you deserve designer shoes, bags, and clothes.   Endless nights at Le Passage and Crimson Lounge are not designed for everyone. Credit cards get maxed out, people lose their jobs, and being cute does not help with getting out of eviction notices.  Do you really need that?   I am not saying this to be like your Mother, rather, I am saying it because this is the story of my life.   If I added up the money I spent on lattes, tans, highlights, impulse Forever 21 buys, and new books Id probably be a lot farther ahead.    Dont assume your company will take care of you forever.    It seems that Jen really believed she was  an indespensable  part of her company.   Rightfully so too, considering she was the top salesperson and won a huge commpetition within her company.   But obviously that was not enough.   Even after she left she assumed she would receive a huge severance package but didnt.   In shaky economic times, get real about your job security.   This may mean picking up a part-time job, networking,  or freelancing to give yourself extra security in case something unexpected happens.   Unfortunately we are living in an era where we should learn to prepare for the worst.  Savings are good.   Once Jen and her husband started packing to move to their  skeevy  West Side place from their glamorous pad in Bucktown,  Jen started packing and realized that if she had spent less on designer  CRAP she would be able to afford health insurance, her car, rent and groceries.   Reading this made me  quiver a little bit because I think weve all been guilty of overspending. The good news is that Jen came out on top.   Her 4th book, Pretty in Plaid, went on sale yesterday!   GO JEN! And thanks for teaching us young, selfish, x-sorority girls what NOT to do before we end up in a bind.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Importance of Effective Onboarding

The Importance of Effective Onboarding Many businesses will claim to have an onboarding process when bringing new employees into the fold, but how many of them can say how effective that process really is? In too many cases, onboarding is an exercise in paper pushing, but getting a new recruit set up on payroll isn’t quite the same as helping them integrate with a brand new team in an alien environment. With the right approach to onboarding, new members of the team will integrate faster, be happier and more productive, and they’re far more likely to stick around for longer. It’s an easy win for businesses, so why isn’t onboarding being taken more seriously? As any business will attest to, turnover is expensive. According to the Human Capitalist Institute, businesses that are wholly invested in their onboarding process are rewarded with higher levels of engagement, better employee focus and, you guessed it, drastically reduced turnover. However, coming up with an onboarding process isn’t a ‘one and done’ deal. It’s a living project that will require constant evolution to stay relevant and effective. This is most easily achieved when great ideas meet ground-breaking new technology, but that means little if an organization isn’t prepared to put its people first. A 2017 Gallup Poll found that only 1 in 10 employees agree that their employer does a good job of onboarding new candidates. Combine this with the notion that a whopping 20% of new hires are likely to leave in their first 45 days, and a sad picture starts to emerge. Onboarding and retention are inextricably linked. In fact, research by Gillespie Associates found that having an effective integrated onboarding process meant that employees were 60% more likely to remain with an organization for at least three years. In other words, if a business gets its onboarding strategy right, it’ll make huge savings on what can be an expensive hiring process. It isn’t  just about retention either. The Harvard Business Review tells us that it can take new starters up to 12 months to reach their full productivity level with little or no onboarding strategy in place. Should that really be a cost businesses continue to pay as we move into 2020? Of course not. So, what is ‘good onboarding’ and how can it be achieved? For some businesses, it might seem like an almost unattainable goal, but with the right ideas and the technology to realize them, it’s perfectly within reach. Not only can powerful new HR platforms streamline the administrative side of onboarding, but there are also now a plethora of tools available to help new starters integrate with their team and get their bearings. Setting up group ‘communities’ on networking platforms can help to connect employees with shared interests and goals from day one. Businesses can also go one step further and include social profiles to allow new starters to express themselves and get to know their colleagues on a more personal level. This level of accessible networking can really help a candidate hit the ground running when starting a new role, removing much of the anxiety associated with socializing and fitting in. It can also make managers and leaders more personable and recognizable, making meetings and introductions quicker and easier. Sure, admin is important, but clever onboarding does a lot more than crossing the I’s and dotting the ts. It can help a business establish its culture and set a productive, uplifting tone for the entire organization. Step by step, businesses can create an ever-evolving onboarding process that sees their employees click faster, work happier and make valuable contributions for years to come. After all, isn’t that why they were hired? About the author: Mark Williams is Senior Vice President of Product, at People First. Mark is dedicating to re-humanizing the workplace, feeding his passion to build enjoyable technology that actually helps people, inside and outside of work. Mark has spoken at many industry events on topics spanning artificial intelligence, robots, chatbots and the future of work, and he is always keen to connect with enlightened leaders to continue the future of work discussion.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Personal and Professional Brand Balance - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal and Professional Brand Balance - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In the words of the great comedian Mitch Hedburg You cannot make all of the people happy all the time, and last night all of those people were at my show. This is as true in life as it is on stage. Unless you are an independent contractor, consultant or community marketer, your personal brand is not your day job. Striking the balance between building your personal brand and fulfilling your professional responsibilities can be a daunting task. Your employer does not pay you to hang out on Facebook, build your Twitter network or speak at conferences as a blogger. From your employers perspective, your personal brand is of far secondary importance to your day job. And unless your personal brand pays the bills, these priorities will likely prove true to you as well. The Challenge So how can a responsible business professional find time to engage in personal branding activities? My Proposal By identifying personal and professional brand synergies, aligning your personal brand goals to your professional pursuits you can have your cake and eat it too. By identifying opportunities that serve both your personal and professional brand objectives, you can effectively multitask, utilizing the professional support and resources at your disposal while building your own brand. About 18 months ago a good friend and confidant recommended that I write down both my personal brand goals and professional responsibilities. When comparing these two lists, we were able to identify dozens of potential brand synergies that would prove mutually beneficial to both my day job and my personal brand. 18 months later, I have not only built my personal brand, but have driven new engagements and opportunities for my employer via my personal brand network. Never limit your personal brand possibilities because of a lack of time or availability. Seek out the synergies where they exist and plan for flexibility. Most importantly, remember that your personal brand is your responsibility alone, and not a priority to your employer or your co-workers. It is up to you to identify and activate these synergies. Take the time. Write it out. Plan ahead. Use every resource at your disposal. Brand baby brand. Author: Jon Burg is a Senior Emerging Channels Strategist with Digitas, a leading global interactive agency network. Jon blogs about the evolution of marketing, media and technology and the resultant impact on the human experience at Future Visions.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Learn How to Create a Sample Rn Resume

Learn How to Create a Sample Rn ResumeHow would you like to have a sample Rn resume which you can customize and then submit to employers? If you are an entrepreneur, then you must be interested in starting your own business and submitting a resume to a job site. Your resume should not only look professional, but it should also be correct and reflect your success as an employee.A Sample Rn resume that you can customize and add to contains the basic information you will need to give employers in your name. This includes education, certifications, licenses, awards, achievements, skills, and so on. You can also include what positions you have held and your most recent position.Don't overlook this important piece of information. Many companies look for any information they can find on past employees. With this sample resume, you can let them know that you are being truthful when your new employer asks about your career experience.A Sample Rn resume should be provided before you even start looking for a job. It is a good idea to get one to practice with before you actually get started. You don't want to write it just to get it out of the way. Make sure that you will be able to use it when needed and use it in the right way.Although your resume may seem similar to others that you see, you have to think outside the box. Some may be in English, while others might be in another language. It is your responsibility to ensure that you get one that reflects your personality and provides needed information to your prospective employer.The best way to get a Sample Rn resume is to take advantage of free templates available online. These can be printed out and used for a quick preview. When you get one, you can use it as is or add your own personal touch to make it as unique as possible.Another great way to get your own Sample Rn resume is to search the internet for sites that offer resume services. You can create your own resume and then download it directly to your computer. I f you go this route, you will save money and time by creating your own resume.A Sample Rn resume should not be the only form you are submitting. Keep in mind that many employers are looking for much more than a standard one. They will be looking for examples that show you are professional, and therefore, honest. They want to hire someone who shows potential and takes pride in his work, regardless of the position.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

A Day In The Life Of A Royal Marines Commando

A Day In The Life Of A Royal Marines Commando The Royal Marine Commandos are an elite group of trained soldiers. They perform global operations for the Royal Navy. A Commando is trained to be an expert in a number of different operations.The Royal Marine Commandos are recognised as an elite force within the military. They are on par with regiments such as the special boat and special air service. They are responsible for dealing with emergencies all over the globe. This includes bringing aid to victims of natural disaster, and maintaining peace relations between national organisations.Working for the Royal Marine Commandos is a demanding task. You will be expected to operate far out of your comfort zone. To show you what life in the Marines is really like, we’ve prepared an example day in the life of a royal marines commando. If you believe that you have what it takes to become a Commando, read on!A Day In The Life Of A Royal Marines CommandoBen is our resident Royal Marine Commando. He has been in the armed forces for seven y ears now. Below is his typical day. When  working as a Royal Marine, every single day is different to the last. Every day you will take new challenges and training exercises, and will always be kept occupied.Ben’s day runs from 8am till 5pm.8am:Ben’s typical day starts at 8am. His first assignment is to complete 2 hours of physical training. 1 hour of this assignment is spent in the gym, and the other is spent outside.The first hour in the gym consists of the following  physical exercises:30 sit ups.25 press ups.25 squat thrusts.30 minutes on the exercise bike, or swimming.The second hour, spent outside, consists of the following  physical exercises: A 6 mile run. This is particularly difficult, as the terrain consists of hills and thick mud. Ben does this as part of a large group. The Marines are required to perform many  physical activities during the run. This includes crawling through narrow spaces and climbing  large  hills.  Runners are expected to be back at the finish line by 10am.10am:At 10am, Ben takes a shower and has a  cigarette outside.  He then begins his first training period. During the day, Ben will takes three training exercises. These can differ on a daily basis.Today, Ben starts off with a map reading lesson. Map reading is extremely important for Royal Marine Commandos. When operating in difficult and unfamiliar terrains, the ability to properly read a map and identify your location can mean the difference between life and death.Royal Marine Commandos need to remember map terminology such as: Mag to Grid, get Rid. Grid to Mag, Add.12pm:At 12pm, Ben begins a cooking lesson. Cooking skills are essential in the Royal Marines, especially if you find yourself in isolated or adverse conditions. Cooking is a key survival skill.Ben learns how to skin an animal and then cook it on the fire, as well as how to filter water from natural resources.Food hygiene is particularly important. When out in the field, marines will be lacking the safety equipment used in everyday kitchens.  2pm:At 2pm, Ben goes to the mess hall for lunch.  Food is extremely valuable, ‘ You learn to appreciate what is given. You need to conserve your energy. This is good practice for when you are out in the field.’3pm:At 3pm, Ben takes a 2 hour language class. This finishes at 5pm. Marines are trained in several  languages. This is important when it comes to deployment in foreign countries. Royal Marine Commandos are representatives for Britain in other nations. The better they can interact with the global populous, the better it will reflect on the organisation as a whole.If you are interested in living the day in the life of a royal marines commando, sign up at the official royal navy website.     This entry was posted in Career Advice. Bookmark the permalink. Jordan Cooke The Complete Guide To GCSE Study LeaveThe Train Driver Numerical Visual Comparison Test (NVC)

Friday, May 8, 2020

Summary Sunday New Help For Your Job Search

Summary Sunday New Help For Your Job Search Theres lots of help for your job search, you just have to know where to look! This weekly collection of articles highlights new help for your job search, job interviews and for your career. From a new tool to identify keywords to identifying when its time to find a new job, there are tips, ideas and resources here to improve how you search for a new job. Theres also insight from a recruiter about the broken-ness of the recruiting process and what you can do about it. And for all the introverts reading this, theres research that shows you can network- just act like an extrovert! JOB SEARCH Awesome New Tool for Resume Keywords by Donna Svei | AvidCareerist Dissecting a job posting is one of the best ways to uncover the skills and keywords the employer is looking for. This new tool will save you time and this post will help you uncover more secrets in job postings! Read about all the ways you can use it (plus it is free)! Great discovery and explanation, Donna! (And of course, we all know about JobScan.co, but thats a slightly different tool.) Confessions Of A Former Corporate Recruiter by Dr. Dawn Graham | Forbes If youve ever felt frustrated by the unfairness of the recruiting and hiring process, then read this. It explains, from Talent Acquisitions viewpoint, why the system works the way it does. How to Evaluate Resume Employment Gaps by Roy Mauer | SHRM While this is written for HR and Talent Acquisition, it includes insightful research from ResumeGo. It talks about the existing bias against those with gaps in their work history. Please consider including an explanation for significant gaps in your employment and you could improve your odds of an interview by 60%. Image via SHRM INTERVIEWING LinkedIn’s New Interview Prep Feature: You Should Be Checking It Out by Wayne Breitbarth, Power Formula | YouTern This is an overview of LinkedIns newest feature! If you have a job interview in your future, you should check it out! The Email You Have to Send After Interviewing for an Internship by Brittany King | The Muse It doesnt matter that this focuses on internships. The advice is universal. Always send a thank you message! Heres what goes into one and theres even a sample! CAREER 7 Signs It Is Time for a Career Change by Virginia Franco | Job-Hunt.org Here are seven reasons to start looking for a new job. You owe it to yourself to feel productive and engaged in your job! Acting Like an Extrovert Has a Positive Effect On Happiness, Study Finds by Meghan Holohan | Today This is interesting research and as an introvert myself, it makes sense! Most introverts despise small talk and networkinghowever, introverts do value deep, meaningful conversations. Its not that extroverts are superior to introverts or always happier. The takeaway should be that social interaction is important to wellbeing.