The Power of Positive Thinking for Job Seekers

The Power of Positive Thinking for Job Seekers Last year I wrote The Job Seekers Secret Weapon: MENTALITY. Its a post that refutes a claim that the job seekers secret weapon is a mobile device In the post I share a time in my job search when I got a rejection to a job that I was sure I was going to get.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Read it here. The Power of Positive Thinking for Job Seekers Last year I wrote The Job Seekers Secret Weapon: MENTALITY. Its a post that refutes a claim that the job seekers secret weapon is a mobile device In the post I share a time in my job search when I got a rejection to a job that I was sure I was going to get.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Read it here. The Power of Positive Thinking for Job Seekers Last year I wrote The Job Seekers Secret Weapon: MENTALITY. Its a post that refutes a claim that the job seekers secret weapon is a mobile device In the post I share a time in my job search when I got a rejection to a job that I was sure I was going to get.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Read it here.

The 10 Scariest Job Seeker Mistakes

The 10 Scariest Job Seeker Mistakes Halloween is right around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you should let your job search turn you into a clumsy zombie. Though these tips may not help you when the undead invade, there are a number of basic survival skills you can use to get through your job search without losing your brains. Plenty of job seekers don’t realize that even seemingly small mistakes can have a huge impact on their success. In horror movies, the first person to realize there are killers on the loose is usually the one who lives, and staying ahead of other job seekers can help you from falling behind, too. Lack of research, neglecting to follow-up, grammatical errors in emails, or having an unenthusiastic attitude all of these things can leave you struggling to keep up in the scary world of unemployment. But you don’t have to lose your brains during your job search proper preparation can help you to avoid making common mistakes. This infographic from Careerleaf, an all-in-one job search platform that cuts the time to apply in half, outlines the 10 scariest job seeker mistakesand how to avoid them. Related: Tales from the Recruitment Crypt. Image: Shutterstock

Small Business Owner You are More Agile - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Small Business Owner You are More Agile - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As a small business owner or solopreneur, you are in constant war with your competition for the attention and loyalty of a (sometimes-small) consumer group. Larger companies may have the resources and capacity to roll out massive marketing campaigns, but it takes lots of creativity and hard work to make your brand’s voice heard. To wage war successfully, one has to come up with clear strategies and goals. The best leaders understand what their main goals are and work to develop the tactics that will get them to achieve the goals. They are also flexible to adapt to changing market needs, and will change goals if need be. Here are effective strategies to aid you out-think your competition, large or small. Take risks In order to grow and reach your goals, you have to be open to taking risks, like sharing and marketing content in ways that many in your particular field or industry won’t use. Take the example of Fiat, the car maker that used Charlie Sheenâ€"a popular sitcom actor who’s had his fair share of behavioral problems and was even fired from his own showâ€"to successfully endorse their product. Now, many companies would not want to be associated with such an actor who at the time had a dark shadow cast on him, but Fiat took the risk and it paid off. Not all risks will pay off, but you should be willing to move out of your comfort zone if you want to make an impact.[tweet this] Be unique Being unique extends to all aspects of your business, from marketing and communication to packaging and delivery. Email marketing is also an integral part of a strong marketing program, and you should take advantage of it, but do it in a way that sets you apart. If it’s packaging, come up with creative designs that set out your products from those of your competitors. You wouldn’t mistake Oreo’s cookies from any other at the supermarket counter because the packaging is unique and stands out, even from several feet away. Lower your production costs This applies to product-based companies that have to find a way to produce quality products without breaking the bank. Finding low-cost suppliers is what drove many U.S. manufacturing firms to outsource to Asia and other far-away lands. If you are willing to put in the effort to reduce your production costs, you will find a solution. Take on a challenge In many organizations and industries there are ideas and technologies that many people avoid because they are viewed as challenging or difficult. If you are willing to expend the energy and time required, take on these challenges and become the unquestionable leader in your specific area of expertise. Apple set the bar for touchscreen phones when every other technology player thought touchscreen technology was a pipedream. Find out what customers want It’s surprising that a lot of businesses don’t have a deeper understanding of what their customers want. Take the initiative and visit retail stores to find out how customers interact with various products. Listen to what they say about the products and services they use. Read online product reviews to gauge interest and the shortcomings of other businesses. Based on your research, you can point to the number of issues raised by customers and aim to fill the gap(s). By listening to exactly what the customers want, you can fulfill those specific needs. Hire Right The human resources that are key to your brand need to have an intimate understanding of what makes your brand unique. The people that “are your brand” have more of an impact of how your brand is expressed. Internal marketing is even more important than external marketing. Have a way to acclimate new team members to your brand culture and know how to identify if they don’t have a firm understanding of it. Through risk taking, a proper analysis of your customers, striving to be unique and taking on challenges, you will be able to outsmart your competition and rise above them.

Human Resources Career Paths - VocationVillage

Human Resources Career Paths - VocationVillage No matter what the job market looks like, human resources may be a good career choice for you. Almost every company, regardless of what they do, has an HR department. You won’t find that kind of variety of potential employers in many other fields. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts that the number of jobs in most HR positions will continue to rise faster than the average for all occupations well into the next decade.What Makes A Great HR Professional?Having excellent “people skills” is probably the most important requirement for successful HR professionals, but it certainly isn’t the only one. HR professionals must also possess strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask, think strategically and be a team player. These attributes are common across most professional career fields and help to explain why people from many different backgrounds gravitate toward HR jobs.Some skills, however, are more uniquely specific to hu man resources:Diplomacy: Most employees have the luxury of working for a single person, the boss. Not HR professionals. In human resources, it is important to balance the needs of both the management and the employees, as a group and as individuals.Ethics Fairness: In many ways, you are the moral compass of a company. In today’s business climate, executives are always being tempted to cut corners to improve the bottom line. It’s the responsibility of HR to knowledgeably present the other side of the argument when potential policy changes would cost more in human resources than they would save in financial resources. And it’s not always about dollars and cents. For instance, if a pattern of discrimination or harassment presents itself, it is up to HR to document the facts, speak out and put a stop to it.Confidentiality: HR professionals not only keep the company’s personnel records, they also are routinely privy to delicate personal matters and disputes. The utmost discretio n is absolutely essential at all times.Continuous Quality Improvement: Every manager strives for this, no matter what department he/she represents. However, it falls on HR in a more broad sense. HR is tasked with providing ongoing training and professional development opportunities for a company’s entire workforce.What Types Of Jobs Can I Get In HR?Think about what it takes to keep an employee happy, healthy and efficient throughout all the stages of his or her employment with a company. That produces a lot of different job opportunities! Here are the broad categories into which HR positions tend to fall:Recruiters Hiring Managers: These people canvas colleges, headhunters and even the competition for prospective new employees. They craft employment ad campaigns, job postings and decide where to place them. Then it’s time for interviews, testing, candidate selection, and deciding where to best place new recruits.Training Development Coordinators: If you have an education backg round, this may be the place for you. Developing procedure manuals and policy handbooks as well as designing, planning and executing many different types and levels of training fall into this area. Activities can range from a company-wide sexual harassment seminar to professional development for sales staff to a safety in-service for warehouse personnel.Compensation Benefits Specialists: Compensation specialists write job descriptions, establish pay scales (including deferred compensation like stock options and retirement plans) and incentive plans, set employee evaluation policy, and make sure all of the above is implemented fairly and appropriately. Benefits specialists handle the company’s fringe benefits, which can entail a lot more than health and life insurance these days. Not only do they help employees understand what’s offered, they also need to track cost effectiveness and make plan changes when necessary.Employee Labor Relations: This is where the aforementioned dip lomacy comes into play, but it isn’t just about handling disputes as they arise. Employee relations specialists must make sure the lines of communication are always open, designing employee-management relationships that are effective for both parties. Labor relations specialists handle collective bargaining, grievances and contract negotiations in union shops.Safety Security Experts: People working in this sub-specialty may have completely different backgrounds than other HR professionals, perhaps in science or law enforcement fields. They design health and safety protocol, do inspections, collect data and file reports for internal use or as required by government officials.Remember, as an HR professional, you aren’t limited to working for private companies. You may want to seek out third parties like employment agencies, government, and consulting firms.What Career Trajectory Can I Expect?There is ample opportunity for growth and advancement in human resources. Regardless of t he skills and formal education you come in with, there are many aspects of HR you simply cannot learn until you’re on the job. The experience you garner will help you decide on a specialization and plan your career path.Entry-level HR positions go by many different names. Look for something along the lines of HR analyst or associate. These should give you the chance to explore many of the fields listed above that comprise the human resources profession. You will perform assigned tasks as part of larger projects, under a manager’s close supervision.After 3-4 years in an entry-level position, you may have the opportunity to become an HR manager. This will require choosing a specialty area like hiring, training or benefits. Within that area you will be responsible for an entire program, like recruiting new hires or administering the company’s health insurance plan options.From there, if you decide to move on to upper management, your next move may be dictated by your company’s size and how its hierarchy is structured. An HR director may oversee the entire department or a large subdivision of it. Larger corporations may have HR Vice Presidents or even a C-level position which again can go by many names, including Chief HR Officer or Chief People Officer. Whatever title these top positions go by, they are responsible for the company’s overall human resources strategy.Human resources can be a promising career for people from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds because there are so many different prospective employers and diverse specialties within the field. In addition to being a “people person,” there are several other personal attributes you will want to cultivate to flourish in a sector that requires the utmost discretion, diplomacy and unwavering ethics. If you have the whole package, you can look forward to a long, lucrative career in HR where the rewards go far beyond annual incomes.. Erin Palmer works with Villanova University’s human resources masters degree online. Villanova also offers PHR certification courses. Erin can be reached on Twitter @Erin_E_Palmer.

Best Resume Writing Services - How to Select the Best Resume Writing Service

Best Resume Writing Services - How to Select the Best Resume Writing ServiceAre you considering seeking out the best resume writing services 2020? You've come to the right place. This article will take a look at some of the major differences between each and what you need to consider.Professional writers are trained professionals who are educated in writing and communication skills. If you're looking for any specific information in order to create your very own resume, they are the ones you want to turn to.You won't need to worry about plagiarism or misrepresentation. They're great people and they will help you in all areas of your business. They're the best bet to take for hiring employees and developing websites as well.There are different types of writing services. Your goal is to find out which one will be the best for you. Each service has their own strengths and weaknesses. But when you know what you're getting into, you're much more likely to make the right decision.So which w riter should you use? Your hiring company should be able to help you make that decision. What you need to look for is a way to make sure they are of high quality and have knowledge of all areas of resume writing.The companies will have their own in-house staff to handle all of the work. It will be up to them to know all of the skills and knowledge necessary to ensure their clients get the best service possible. It can sometimes take several months for the work to be completed so you need to be certain that they are worth your time.Then there are the independent services available online. For a small fee, you can access a number of writers for various lengths of time. These writers often specialize in just one area of resume writing.So how can you know that writers are the best to choose from? You can ask questions and find out for yourself. Get the answers you need before making any final decisions.

What Are Career Gates and Why Do They Matter

What Are Career Gates and Why Do They Matter Have you ever wondered why you didn’t get the call or the job or the promotion? And when you’ve succeeded, do you know what happened to get you to that particular opportunity? More than likely it’s because you either missed or passed through a series of what I call “Career Gates”. What Are “Career Gates” and Why Do They Matter? Career Gates are those points in your career where you have to demonstrate you’ve got what it takes to advance that “right mix” of competencies and attributes crucial to winning the support of key people in your career. These key rites of passage will look different at different points all along your career S-Curve and they determine whether you move forward, get stuck, or even derail. Ideally, you sail through the Gates by demonstrating you’ve got what it takes when it matters. That’s when your career can zoom ahead. However, it’s all too easy to miss Career Gates, in which case your career progress can slow or even plateau without your realizing it. Even when you’re eminently qualified and work harder than everyone else. The dotted lines represent plateauing / slower progression As an aside, it’s fine to plateau in your career if you do so intentionally, whether to take time out for family, personal or other priorities. But it’s really a shame to see achievers plateau when they don’t intend to. That’s where the S-Curve framework and Career Gates can be helpful in navigating your career. Recognize and Take Advantage Of Those Opportunities Some Career Gates are clearly signposted while others are subtle and easy to miss. They can occur at a point in time, like a test you need to pass, or over a longer period on an ongoing basis. Either way, they exist all along our career S-Curves. This means each of us has multiple opportunities to demonstrate that we’re ready to take on more â€" or not. That’s why it pays to be conscious of the every day opportunities and use them to your advantage. For example, I dreaded our daily morning meetings and hardly said a word, while my colleague Harry understood that these were his moments to demonstrate that he could be articulate in a meeting and act like a leader. He turned these and other situations into opportunities to show he was promotion ready. I, on the other hand, missed the point entirely. And yes, Harry got promoted ahead of me. Then there are the big opportunities that are flagged for you so you can’t miss them. For example, the big board meeting presentation or the speech at the client event. The good thing about these is that you know you’re “on stage” and can get prepared. And when you’re conscious of being in a “big moment”, you’re more likely to be able to rise to the occasion. Career Gates are in the Eye of the Beholder That is, you’ve got to demonstrate to other key people that you’ve got what it takes â€" and no, your mother doesn't count (unless she runs the family business you want to lead one day!). Sometimes, the other person isn’t even conscious that they’re evaluating you in that way. Often, they’re forming impressions of you in the normal course, and then when it’s time to “vote”, they find they have an opinion. In essence, we’re auditioning for our part every day without realizing it. How To Prepare For Your Career Gates To navigate your career successfully, it’s important to start recognizing when you’re facing those Career Gates â€" those times when you need to demonstrate your capabilities to the audience that matters for your advancement. Once you recognize them, you can start turning Career Gates into opportunities rather than obstacles. Otherwise, you’re leaving things to chance â€" and as they say, “hope is not a strategy”. Here are four steps for turning your Career Gates into opportunities: 1. Who’s My “Audience”? Identify the people who have a say â€" whether directly or indirectly â€" in your career advancement. Write their names down in two columns: (1) people who have direct control over your advancement, and (2) people who influence those on list 1. For most of us, the first list is your reporting line, and the second list will include colleagues, senior people in other departments or groups, and the people who work for you (never underestimate the internal grape vine!). 2. What Are They Looking For? For the people on the first list, write down what they care about and the specific abilities they need to see in you in order for them to believe you are worthy of support and, ideally, ready for advancement. What is that “right mix” of competencies and attributes you need to demonstrate at this juncture? If you’re not sure what should be on the list, you can observe and ask others who have succeeded before you, or even have the discussion with your boss. Your HR department will likely have a competency grid that provides this information as well. 3. When Do I Have A Natural Audience With My “Audience”? Identify the times when you are naturally with key people on your audience list. These can be masquerading as boring team meetings and monthly budget reviews. They can also be those times you happen to meet senior people in the hallway or in the cab on the way back from a client meeting. And if you don’t have any of these, perhaps you can create some of your own. For example, ask your boss if you can have a weekly 15-minute catch up so you can brief her on what’s going on and also learn what’s strategic for the group so you can contribute in a better way. 4. What Are My Next “Big Moments”? List out the next 2-3 big presentations or meetings where some of the people from your “Audience” list will be present. Then plan out how you want to make best use of that opportunity to “nail” your part and show you’ve got what it takes. When you begin to recognize and even anticipate Career Gates, you can put yourself in a strong position to turn them into golden opportunities to help you advance. So, what are your next opportunities to show that you’ve got what it takes to people who are key to your career advancement? Next week, we’ll talk about how you capitalize on these opportunities.

Dont Make These Mistakes With Your Kids Music Lessons

Dont Make These Mistakes With Your Kids Music Lessons Photo via Foter.com Ive talked about the benefits of music before.  It can be great for them and for you. Whats better than seeing your children build life skills and confidence while you enjoy the music around you.  Yes, I hear you saying that you dont want to hear the racket when theyre practicing as they go from horrible to just okay. But what is even worse is when they get frustrated and quit because you didnt set them up for a successful learning experience. Aside from helping them choose the kind of instrument they want to learn and purchasing that at a guitar or  violin shop  for them, you should also be there to support them without them feeling pressured. It is best for them to enjoy while they are learning. And when they do get good, you really do get to enjoy the experience of hearing them practice and perform as your home fills with beautiful music. So lets dive into what kids music lessons are about and how to get the best result Tips To Know Before Enrolling Kids In NYC Music Schools Signing kids up for music classes can be exciting. However, parents often struggle, thinking, When is the right time to put my kids into music lessons? or What instruments should they choose from? Different instruments have different age requirements. Even if there are restrictions on instrument choices, the love for enjoying music can happen at any age. Singing lessons can be taken at any age. Their teacher will work with your child to sharpen their voice and talents. Ultimately it is up to you and your child when is the best time to start.  Some kids begin when school programs or activities (like talent competitions) come available.  Other times it comes from seeing a particularly inspiring performance such as on American Idol or Americas Got Talent. So when really should my kid begin taking lessons? Most experts agree that when a child begins to show interest in singing, that it doesn’t hurt to sign them up for singing classes. They will work one-on-one with a coach who can teach them how to sing. These coaches are also experts at training the voice and exercising the various notes. Music may follow a child past the infant years and into the young child years. These are the early years when children are eager to learn anything and everything. The piano tends to be a great choice for parents and kids who are picking an instrument to learn. The keys can be wide and large, which make them easy for kids to press. The hand variations can also make playing it simple and fairly easy. As a baby, many moms will engage their child in some kind of movement class. These classes will feature a teacher and a slew of class members. There will be other babies, some toddlers and lots of eager parents in the mix. The class is designed to expose infants early to the sights and sounds of instruments. The teacher will play them and parents and babies will sing and dance. It can be an excellent bonding experience, and a great way to develop early musical skills. When a child wants to take drum lessons, they may need to be an older age. That is because playing the drums is hard work and can take a toll on the wrists and arms. Following the instructions of an instructor to learn the notes and rules to playing, will take an older child who can sit still and follow directions. Taking guitar lessons is also noted for older kids. While a young child may have an interest in banging around with the strings, most kids are ready to learn at an older age. Holding the guitar is hard on the arms and fingers for kids   and trying to put chords together and stretch the fingers can make it a bit frustrating. A child who is older may have the stamina and patience to follow through and learn. Taking music classes in NYC can begin as early as a baby. These lessons can continue and take a child right into their adult years. Learning various instruments is a great way to become more musically educated. When a child learns an instrument at a young age, it can influence them later on in life when they are older. Are you sitting on the fence about music lessons?  Did you miss out in your childhood years?  Maybe nows the time to kindle the interest for your kids.  Or maybe take up an instrument yourself. Youre never too young or too old to enjoy playing music.  And now could be the right time for you.