Thursday, May 28, 2020

Top Resume Writing Services - How to Find a Service That Is Affordable and Better

Top Resume Writing Services - How to Find a Service That Is Affordable and BetterAs the job market has been in turmoil the past few years, many people are considering top resume writing services. With competition so fierce and employers fending off applicants, it is now more important than ever to have your best possible shot at landing a good job. However, when you go looking for top resume writing services, you might be surprised at how many agencies offer the same things, and at the same price. Why should you spend time and money on something that can't get you what you want?There are a lot of benefits to using top resume writing services. The best will guarantee to deliver a job application that is very competitive and creative. This means that you have a great chance at getting an interview and being hired. It also means that the applicant is more likely to do well in the interview than if they were working alone or on their own. Using a top professional service means that they know exactly what will get them an interview, and what won't.Your application is going to have to stand out from the competition. A top professional will be able to do this because they work with applicants all the time. By being familiar with how other companies choose their candidates, they will know exactly what makes one person stand out, and what others are missing.Some companies offer to provide you with a free resume template that you can use. However, this might not be enough to get you noticed in a competitive industry like technology.Top resume writing services use their contacts to find top candidates. They know what employers are looking for, and they can tailor your resume to match their needs. This means that it is never just a standard resume anymore but can be tailored to be exactly what a prospective employer is looking for.Even though top resume writing services are making the process easier, you still need to put your best foot forward. In order to stand out and g et noticed, you need to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. What information about yourself can you share that will make you stand out? A top professional will be able to work with you on this, helping you come up with ways to improve your skills, and cut back on those that could be improved.A top resume writing service can help you learn new skills as well. This way, if you are looking for a job, and you don't know anything about a certain area, you can learn a new skill and get yourself into the right position. This will make you more marketable to employers and increase your chances of getting hired.These are just a few of the reasons why you should consider top resume writing services. Do your research, check out the different options that are available to you, and then find the one that suits your personality. This way, you will get the most out of your time, effort, and money.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Is Motivation a Waste of Time

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Is Motivation a Waste of Time If youre a leader and trying tomotivate your team, youre wasting your time. Thats because people arealwaysmotivated, and your efforts to motivate them tobe more productiveor cooperative by offering incentives or rewards just becomes frustrating, demoralizing and stressful for them, contends Susan Fowler. Fowler, author of Why Motivating People Doesnt Work.and What Does, says that there is a naïve assumption that motivation is something a person has or does not have. That wrongheaded thinking is what pushes leaders into believing that they can somehow make up for the motivation they believe their team doesnt have. But research has consistently shown that trying to use bribes to motivate people doesnt work, she says. Instead, she says that leaders should be considering notifemployees are motivated, butwhythey are motivated. The real story of motivation is that people are learners who long to grow, enjoy their work, be productive, make positive contributions, and build lasting relationships, she writes in the book. This is not because of motivational forces outside themselves but because it is their human nature. Unfortunately, too many leaders dont believe that and instead try to play Santa for 364 days a year, offering goodies to team members such as a new title or cash reward that only de-motivate workers. The quick fix of such rewards is like junk food its easy and provides instant gratification but is unhealthy in the long run, Fowler says. People regard managers who drive for results as self-serving, she says. They consider support by these managers to be conditional: if you do as I say, then I will reward you in some way. All the carrots actually become a stick, and just add pressure. Further, such conditional support undermines the need for relatedness that people are looking for at work, where they are spending more and more time, she says. The rewards become meaningless and people start to feel guilty and stressed about them, she says. Fowler says the research onmotivationproves that in order to keep workers engaged, leaders must learn that motivation is a skill. Using what she calls the Optimal Motivation process, she helps leaders move away from external motivations and instead learn to listen and interact with team members to discover what will be meaningful and sustainable motivation for an individual. Discovering motivation Having outlook conversations between leaders and workers can help employees understand their own motivations, Fowler explains. In the book, she shares the technique and real-life outlook conversations. For example, she relates a case with Sonny, who in a workshop (see more here)

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Body Atlas Where You Feel Emotion, Literally

Body Atlas Where You Feel Emotion, Literally So.anger primarily occurs in your head, and happiness is felt all over your body? Thats what scientists in Finland have determined based on research involving over 700 subjects  from Sweden, Taiwan Finland. In addition to mapping where our emotions are felt, the researchers also concluded that these emotional signatures are not subject to cultural bias, but instead are tied to our biological systems. Interested? Read the full study here. So How Does This Affect My Job? Knowing  where in the body emotions are felt can help doctors better treat mood disorders like anxiety and depression. But at Careertopia, were more focused on how your emotions impact your career. The big question is, what do you do with your emotions? Which begs these more detailed questions: Are you able to recognize and understand your emotions their effect on others? Do you effectively control your disruptive impulses suspend judgement when necessary? Are you in touch with the motivators that drive you, beyond money or status? Do you understand the emotional responses of other people? If its not completely clear how these skills affect your career opportunities and they are impacting your future opportunities every day join us on February 26th for our webinar,  Emotional Intelligence Can Predict Success: Is Yours High or Low? The webinar will last an hour, provide actionable content, and is completely free. During the webinar we will be giving away a  FREE EQ Assessment coaching session  to one of the attendees.  And well offer a large discount for several other attendees. To learn more register for this free opportunity,  click here. So if youre serious about improving emotional intelligence, well see you on the webinar!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Work-Related Travel Bonus or Burden

Work-Related Travel Bonus or Burden Would you say yes to a terrific job opportunity that requires a lot of travel? To some people, thats the ultimate job â€" their dream come true. For people who are either starting out in their careers, or those who love to travel. For people who don’t have significant others or kids, who are relatively independent in their responsibilities and personal life duties. But the rest of us? Not so much. For example, if youre the primary caretaker of small children, this option won’t even cross your mind. It is totally out of the question. Or for those who dont enjoy travel in the first place, the thought of working around different time zones, eating unfamiliar food in different places and sleeping in a different bed might be enough to bring a major anxiety attack. There are definitely two sides to this lifestyle story. And, it pays to look at both before you go and get your heart set on something that you might regret later on. See the world, all expenses paid Travelling for work, yes, it sounds like a dream. You might be a food critic, or international photographer. You might very well be a highly sought after public speaker with international appeal. And you go to places for free where other people pay for it. Heaven! You look forward to catching up with friends who live in far away places. You get excited at the thought of meeting old colleagues or rubbing shoulders with people in the same industry. What could be better? A break from the real world Sometimes, travel gives you the perfect opportunity to take a break from a difficult situation. It simply allows you some time off and to be responsible for only yourself. If things are bad at home, if you are in the middle of a sticky situation and you need to clear your head, travelling for work can be the best form of escapism. You trade in whatever is making you miserable for a change of scenery and sometimes that is all you need to get a handle on things. Things seem much better when you return. And now for the flip side. Missing family and personal milestones For people who have close relations with their family and friends, this might not be the perfect lifestyle. Especially, when you need to go away often. A friend of mine is a high powered executive and travels a lot for business. Every time he is away, he misses his small boys a lot and always returns a bit deflated. He hates missing their birthdays and school related events. His wife is also not too happy. Since he only has to visit two main locations, they are now thinking about hiring someone to delegate some of the job duties on contractual basis. It is hard for them but this is what they want to do. Being away from his children is harder â€" confesses my friend regretfully. All work and no play Travelling for work is â€" well â€" work! You are not taking a holiday. Most of the time you don’t get any time to yourself and go sightseeing. When I was little, my Dad used to travel a bit in his early days of a new job. He got to see fair bit of the world, however, he was quick to tell us that he spent most of his days in meetings, travelling to and from places, in his hotel room or on the plane. He had been to China but he didn’t get to see the Great Wall. He had been to Malaysia but didn’t visit the King’s palace. Either he was too busy, or too tired. Yes, you do get to visit the city, but remember, it is not like being on a vacation. Physical concerns You are often eating out a lot, and healthy options can be difficult to find, or not very tempting. You might be surrounded by disease when travelling to a developing country. You could have limited opportunities for exercise and proper sleep. Jet lag can play havoc with your system. These are some issues to keep in mind when considering a career that involves a lot of travel. Go by what is most important to you. Is it being independent and seeing the world? Being part of the bigger picture? If you can handle the demands and pressures of travelling and have the maturity to deal all with the cons mentioned above, this could be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you want to pursue it for the wrong reasons, to impress others perhaps, for the prestige and to acquire some ‘drool factor’, this might not be enough. Consider carefully and make your choice. Good luck! About the Author:  Tess Pajaron is part of the team behind Open Colleges. She has traveled to many different countries and loves to discover new and exciting places. She can also be seen on her social media profile at Google+. Image courtesy of William Cho.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

5 Signs Youre Working Too Hard (And How to Fix It) - CareerMetis.com

5 Signs You’re Working Too Hard (And How to Fix It) We all have dreams, goals, and professional aspirations. It’s normal to want to advance our careers and get ahead. But sometimes the more ambitious we are, the more we neglect other important aspects of our lives.It’s one thing to put off scheduling a spa appointment because you’re too busy at the office. It’s quite another to put your health, relationships, and personal happiness on the back-burner.evalIf your mental and physical health is suffering, it’s essential that you make a change. So how do you know if you’re working too hard? Read on to learn about if you’re overworking yourself and what you can do to fix it.Problem #1: You Have No TimeevalDoes your typical day involve rolling out of bed, going to the office, and coming home, just to do it all over again the next day? You know you’re working too hard when work is the only thing you have time for.The Solution: Take a Good Look at Your ScheduleAnalyze your day to figure out how you’re structuring your time. Do you spend a lot of time on a few specific things?Is there a better way you can plan your day? Is there someone else in the office that can pitch in and help you?Practice saying “no”more often. Turn down meeting requests and projects that aren’t essential.Creating a strong to-do list can help you better structure your day. With a better to-do list, you should be able to restore the balance back to your life.If you find that balance, you’ll have more time to do the things you enjoy.Problem #2: You Can’t Stop Thinking About WorkevalWhen you’re completely wrapped up in your career, it can be hard to disconnect, even in your off hours. Many people find it difficult to unplug when they leave the office.But when all you think about are meetings and deadlines, it becomes impossible to focus on anything else. Your health, happiness, and relationships are bound to suffer.The Solution: Turn Off Your NotificationsTurn off your email notifications when you leave the office. Resist the urge to check your email before you go to bed.Don’t respond to messages at crazy hours of the night â€" unless it’s an absolute emergency. The constant chirping of notifications can cause lots of anxiety. If you can ignore them in the off hours, you might be able to finally relax.Problem #3: All You Can Talk About Is WorkevalDo your friends roll their eyes every time you open your mouth to vent about your boss? Does your spouse nod their head when you mention that annoying coworker who’s not pulling their weight?Everyone experiences stress, but if your career is consuming your life, you’ve got an issue.The Solution: Check YourselfBefore you launch into a conversation about how terrible your day was, ask yourself one question. Is this really how you want to spend precious moments with family and friends?The truth is, complaining might be doing you more harm than good.Do you talk about the problem over and over again but do nothing to fix it? Even your closest friends wil l find that annoying. Your loved ones want to help you with problems, but if you don’t make any changes they’re likely to lose interest. They may even tune you out altogether.The next time you feel the need to vent, change the course of the conversation. Ask your friends how their day was instead. Sometimes, hearing about other people’s lives can make you forget your own.Problem #4: You’re Forgetting ThingsForgetfulness is a result of feeling too much stress and pressure. If your career is consuming your life, you’re likely to forget little things throughout the day.Can’t find your car keys? Don’t remember what time that big meeting is starting? Forgetting details will only cause more problems and make you more stressed.The Solution: Write Everything DownMake daily to-do lists your new way to conquer your workload. Buy a plannerif you like writing things down, or download a productivity app on your phone.evalSet reminders for meetings and events on your phone. Do whate ver it takes so that you remember what’s important.Even if you don’t think you have trouble remembering things if you’re stressed you’re bound to forget something.evalProblem #5: You’re Neglecting Your Loved OnesNot spending any quality time with your friends, children, family, or spouse? This is a surefire way to know that you’re working too hard.If all you want to do when you get home from the office is curl up on the couch and watch TV, you’re missing out on quality time with the people that matter. When your friends or spouse tell you that you’re neglecting them, listen up. It’s likely they’ll notice before you do.The Solution: Make Time for Friends and FamilyIn some cases, this is easier said than done, but it’s crucial to maintain healthy relationships. Plan a happy hour or a coffee date with friends. Go to a movie or plan a dinner date with your significant other.evalSchedule some time to have brunch with your parents. Make plans and keep them, no matter how tired you are or how stressed out you may be.Don’t look at this as another chore you have to do. Look at it as a solution to your problem. Spending time with loved ones is a great way to relieve stress and take your mind off office matters.Start your days earlierso you can get everything done earlier in the day. If you find it impossible to carve out a few hours a week to do these things, it’s time to talk to your boss about your workload.It’s important to have goals and aspirations, but you can’t work yourself to death. Identify your issues, adjust your schedule, and make time for family and friends.If you can make time for the things and the people you love, you’ll live a happy, balanced life. When you’re happier at home, you’ll be more productive in the office.Working smarter, not harder, might help you land that promotion.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Leadership Is More Than A Skill

Leadership Is More Than A Skill Leadership is actually a complex and interconnected set of skills and attributes. So why is everyone dumbing it down?   I challenge any recruiter or employer  to define what they mean by leadership in a job posting. Please, tell me, what are the universal  actions demonstrated by all those with leadership skills?  Some leaders do not manage people, so would they have the same skills? And why would you look for  leadership skills for a non-leadership job?  Do you really think someone with proven leadership abilities wants a job that doesnt really require leadership? Im pretty sure people have written about this before, but let me put it in terms specifically related to job postings (and how most employers stink at writing job postings that are useful, realistic or meaningful). Leadership  In The News Look at studies or research talking about skills gap or skills in-demand and youre likely to find the word leadership in there somewhere. Either listed as a skill or as an attribute, leadership seems to pop up regularly. The Bloomberg Job Skills Report 2016: What Recruiters Want Bloomberg surveys recruiters searching  for MBA talent to figure out what attributes are most valued in managers and how the latest business school graduates compare. What skill appears in the less common, more desired aka sweet spot quadrant? But  let me ask thiswill all MBA candidates seek management roles? Not  everyone wants to be a manager. Should this mean instead, higher level roles in the organization instead of manager? Burning Glass: Human Factor Baseline Skills 2015 Burning Glass, a job market analytics company, provides a much better illustration of baseline skills.  Leadership falls under the bigger umbrella supervision, which makes more sense. Leadership is required of management level jobs across all occupations according to this study. Job Outlook 2016: Attributes Employers Want to See on New College Graduates Resumes NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) released this list  of things employers want to see on new graduate resumes. #1 is leadership. Figure 1: Attributes employers seek on a candidates resume Attribute % of respondents Leadership 80.1% Ability to work in a team 78.9% Communication skills (written) 70.2% Problem-solving skills 70.2% Communication skills (verbal) 68.9% Strong work ethic 68.9% Initiative 65.8% Analytical/quantitative skills 62.7% Flexibility/adaptability 60.9% Technical skills 59.6% Interpersonal skills (relates well to others) 58.4% Computer skills 55.3% Detail-oriented 52.8% Organizational ability 48.4% Friendly/outgoing personality 35.4% Strategic planning skills 26.7% Creativity 23.6% Tactfulness 20.5% Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker 18.6% Source: Job Outlook 2016, National Association of Colleges and Employers To list leadership as #1 is frustrating and unnerving to me. Employers want to see leadership on a new graduate resume, why? No entry-level job will need supervisory  skills. I challenge these employers to select a more precise attribute or to define what they are really looking for. This study by NACE is just one more example of why employers say they cant find the talent they are looking for. Lets get real and force companies to outline specific skills and precise behaviors they are looking for to fill jobs instead of creating lofty wish-lists and crying because they cant find the purple squirrel.

Friday, May 8, 2020

How to Make Yourself Indispensable at Work - Punched Clocks

How to Make Yourself Indispensable at Work - Punched Clocks Its common knowledge that every employer wants a hard worker, but not every employee realizes being a hard worker isnt the same as being indispensable. If you want greater job security, respect from your colleagues and opportunities to grow your career, the key is to know how to make yourself indispensable at work. In other words, you need to become the employee that â€" when layoffs roll around â€" your bosses fight for. The one who makes them say Oh, we cant lose her. Shes our go-to person for __________. Below are six ways to go from a hard worker to an indispensable employee. 1. Solve Problems Anyone can complain about a known problem, but not just anyone can identify the true source of a problem or go out of their way to solve that problem. An indispensable employee can. As soon as you start working for a company, youre likely to hear about an ongoing problem that no one has bothered to solve. If you want to get noticed in all the right ways, this is a perfect opportunity. Consider the problem, research possible solutions and present them to the office. When you propose such solutions, be ready to answer questions like these: How will this make the office run more smoothly? How does it work? What makes it better than other solutions? Why should we try it? Who will be in charge of it? Being prepared to answer these questions not only shows youve thought things through, but also turns you into something of an authority figure in the eyes of your colleagues. With well-earned authority comes respect, trust and indispensability. 2. Help Your Colleagues Hard workers do their work, and they do it well. Indispensable employees do their work and then some. They take the initiative to do more than what theyre given, to go out and find assignments and to help out other employees when they see opportunities to do so. Granted, you cant do all your colleagues work â€" and you shouldnt. However, taking on a little extra work to help a struggling or overburdened coworker accomplishes three things: It makes that colleague eternally grateful and an ally It shows your bosses that you work well with others and youre not afraid to go above and beyond It helps you become a more versatile worker, possibly learning new skills from the tasks youre helping your colleague with The bottom line is that helping others at work helps you, them and the entire office. As an added bonus, learning new skills by branching out of your comfort zone makes you even more employable should you ever choose to work elsewhere. 3. Propose Ideas Another important part of how to make yourself indispensable at work is to share your vision. Similar to solving problems, proposing ideas means getting proactive. Its a little bit more than just fixing a kink in workflow, though. Proposing an idea, in this sense, means identifying a way to improve your work environment, then making it happen. For instance, maybe you hear your bosses discussing the importance of public relations. You also notice that some of your colleagues seem less-than-thrilled with their repetitive routines. Then an idea strikes: You imagine solving both concerns with one solution â€" a fundraising event. After a pitch like this, one of two things can happen: The idea is applauded but not put into effect. The idea is accepted and built upon by the rest of the team. No matter which of these two results you meet, youve already made yourself more noteworthy in the office. Youve put yourself out there as a person with passion, drive and, in this example, a philanthropic spirit. If result No. 2 is the victor, theres a good chance youll be tasked with running the operation youve proposed. Boom â€" just like that, youre the go-to person for a new project. Really, youre the only person right for the job. 4. Learn From Everything You Do With any luck, proposing a good idea will lead to more responsibilities and a more unique position. The more specific your role, the better. After all, if youre the only person who knows how to do what it is you do, its going to be near impossible to replace you. As you continue to advance in your career, always maintain a healthy appetite for knowledge. No matter how big or small the task at hand may be, when you get a chance to learn a new skill, take it. Master it. Own it. Each time you do this, you accomplish quite a bit in one fell swoop. You Build confidence in yourself, which helps you to Project confidence at work. As a result, you Become more of an authority figure to your colleagues and Become a greater overall asset to the company. With the right attitude, this chain reaction is not at all unrealistic. All you need is a genuine thirst for knowledge and the desire to use what you learn. 5. Share Your Passion Hopefully youre already passionate about your work, though it can be difficult to maintain that same level of passion throughout your career. If you take opportunities to keep your work life interesting, that will be a big step in the right direction. Being passionate shows your fellow workers you care about your work and you like where youre at. It encourages others to be positive as well. Every manager wants a worker around who has that kind of effect. A worker like that â€" one who genuinely likes what they do and wants others to share that positivity â€" is a rare gem. If youre saying What passion? then it might be time to reevaluate your work life. Its not that youre necessarily at the wrong job, but you may need a reminder of what drives you. Regardless of how you feel about your work in this exact moment, its worth the long-term investment to takes steps toward maintaining a passionate outlook on your work. As a sustainable force of positive energy, youll be that beloved colleague who no one wants to lose. 6. Build Relationships at Work One of the greatest truths about how to make yourself indispensable at work is that you cant do it in isolation. You could be the hardest worker in the office, but without your colleagues respect and appreciation, that hard work will go largely unnoticed. So network. Dont just talk to your officemate â€" talk to everyone. Bounce around ideas with your boss. Use lunch to chat with colleagues from different departments. Take project ideas to any and all workers who you think could contribute. The more people know you â€" in a positive way, of course! â€" the more of impression you make on the office as a whole, and the less likely it is that youll ever be overlooked professionally.   How are you making an impression at work? Share your thoughts on how to make yourself indispensable at work in the comments! If youd like to stay up-to-date on more ways to grow your career, subscribe to the Punched Clocks newsletter. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.