Why Job Seekers Need To Be Like Millers

Why Job Seekers Need To Be Like Millers 19 The importance of trying to create your own job opportunities. This is a guest post by Ed Han. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. There are many truths about job search Some truths are uniquely personal while others are of broad applicability. It’s one of the latter I want to discuss today: why you should consider changing your profession to miller. And I suspect that by the time you’re done reading, you’ll be have a lot more sympathy for the notion than when you first began reading. By way of explanation, I’d like to begin by talking about a friend. My friend Donna Svei, an executive career coach, recently posted a blog entry about the importance of using shorter sentence structuresâ€"no more than 25 words in any sentence. I was astounded to read the word limit: the only other time I ever encountered it was junior year of college. I could hear the professor’s words as he explained that New York Times headlines are 25 or fewer words. This invocation of the Times recalled to my mind the writing style of Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway was a journalist before he became a writer and his distinctive, terse narrative style was a reflection of years of honing his craft. But thinking back to my formal education also reminded me of my involvement with my college’s drama group. Through the group, I learned a fundamental truth about acting: the actor should be the world’s greatest expert on their character and hence should never be at a loss about the character’s motivation in any given scene or situation. A while back, I blogged about how job seekers must be the world’s greatest expert on finding their own motivations. The analogy was apt. All is grist for the mill As I reflected on the juxtaposition of these two events, I was struck by the expression “all is grist for the mill”. According to Wikipedia, the expression derives from the fact that historically, a miller would grind whatever others might bring. In exchange for this service, the miller would take a portion of the resulting flour or meal. Therefore, no matter what kind of grain was brought for grinding, the miller was able to realize some kind of benefit. And then it hit me: the realization that we really do create our own opportunities. More times than I like to admit, I periodically will kick myself because I realize that not 5 minutes earlier, there was an opportunity before me. However, because I wasn’t thinking about it, the opportunity passed, never to return. While I dislike a squandered opportunity as much as anyone in even the best of cases, the really difficult thing is that for a job seeker, those opportunities are less common than anyone would like. So job seekers need to be more cognizant and more open to recognizing opportunities. The solution is simple though: job seekers need to become millers. About the Author Ed Han is a wordsmith with a passion for networking and helping job seekers optimally leverage opportunities. A recent convert to Twitter, Ed is now as active on Twitter as on LinkedIn and writes a monthly column for the PSG of Mercer County newsletter geared towards job seekers, Staying Focused. He blogs at ed muses upon. This article is part of the 4th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest, which was made possible thanks in large part to our Gold Sponsor, Jason Alba of JibberJobber. If you want Ed Han to win, share this article with your friends.

What You Need To Know About Writing A Resume With Large Work Gaps?

What You Need To Know About Writing A Resume With Large Work Gaps?As one moves through the different phases of job seeking, the question will arise on how to write a resume that will reflect how a person has achieved success in the job market. This is true as there are a lot of employers who look at a well-written resume when hiring a new employee. This article is written for those who want to learn the basics about the writing a resume with large work gaps in between.In the first place, it is crucial that one writes down his or her current position and recent academic history before thinking of starting over on it. Once this information is done, the person should start brainstorming on how he or she can summarize it on a smaller size resume.The next step is to draft the resume. Here one should put together an outline of his or her achievements and activities that have resulted in that particular time. Some examples of work experiences that one may include in the resume would be prev ious positions held and work done on technical projects. One should think of his or her educational background and why that particular person may be a good candidate for the post.Next, it is important that the person develops the information on what would need to be covered on the small project. It is possible that the person will want to include his or her interest and hobbies, as well as professional affiliations, and educational credentials.After the summary is complete, the person can start listing the accomplishments and achievements of the person, including any volunteer activities. The resume should include a good description of the person's work as well as the areas in which he or she was able to demonstrate his or her abilities. The work details should include names of any letters that the person has received, and the dates on which they were received.Finally, the person can now look into how he or she wants to format the resume. There are a lot of online formats on how to format resumes, and the person may want to consider these. It is also possible that the person may want to hire an additional staff member to help him or her with the tasks on writing a resume with large work gaps.When the person is done writing the resume, he or she should now discuss it with an employer. The recruiter will analyze the information and then give the person a decision on whether to accept the job or not. The person will be required to present the resume to the company, and the recruiter can then evaluate it to see if the resume is what the company is looking for.Writing a resume with large work gaps is a skill that may take time to perfect. However, it is a skill that is necessary for all people to learn, as it shows that the person has the ability to successfully complete projects and work on projects during the period of the large gaps. Thus, the person will show the employer that he or she is reliable and dependable.

Going on an Interview Watch ABCs Shark Tank! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Going on an Interview Watch ABCs Shark Tank! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Want some good advice on how to gain an added measure of preparation for an upcoming job interview? Watch ABC’s Shark Tank! This “reality” TV show, which features a panel of five wealthy entrepreneurs (“sharks”) considering investment proposals presented by a group of would-be entrepreneurs,  can strongly and powerfully elevate your  awareness and genuine appreciation for  today’s true business environment. It will make unmistakably clear what is really important to the ultimate decision-makers in business today: Making money! That’s the driving force in any business today! Fail to grasp and thoroughly understand this fact and you are doomed to fail in today’s job market â€" whether you currently have a job or are looking for a new one. As I’ve said many times before, in many different forums, the chances that a job candidateâ€"any job candidate!â€"will be seriously considered for any open position in business today relates directly and immediately to how well (or how poorly) the candidate brands himself/herself as being able to accomplish one or the other (or both) of these goals: Make the company money Save the company money If you don’t quickly and immediately brand yourself as being able to accomplish either (or both) of these goals, in today’s extremely unforgiving job market, your candidacy will effectively be over before it even begins. Let’s take a look at how a typical segment of Shark Tank unfolds and see what you can learn from watching the show. Would-be entrepreneur (WBE) one (after presenting his idea to the panel) One of the “Sharks”: That is a GREAT idea! So how much do you want? WBE One: $30,000 for a 20% stake. “Shark”: What are your total sales? WBE One: $15,000. “Shark”: Over what period of time? WBE One: Three years. “Shark”: Wait a minute! $30,000 for a 20% stake means you are valuing your business at $150,000. Yet, sales are averaging just $5,000 a year?! I’m out! Obviously, WBE One doesn’t grasp the fact that, in business, it is one’s track record of past performance that is always used as a predictor of future success, not one’s potential. In this scenario, past performance does not assure the investor (“shark”) that he will get a solid ROI (return on investment). WBE two (after presenting her idea to the panel) Another “Shark”: So, what’s the market potential for your idea? WBE Two: 45 million people. “Shark”: Tell me about the marketing you have done. WBE Two: I haven’t done any marketing yet. “Shark”: So, you have this idea, but don’t have any idea what people think of your idea? Count me out! WBE Two doesn’t realize that when asking someone for money (whether it be from an investor or from a potential employer) fact-based marketing is critical. Without hard evidence that this idea will make money, the idea is just a fantasy and people aren’t betting on fantasies in this economy. WBE three (after presenting his idea to the panel) Another “Shark”: I like your attitude. I like your enthusiasm. Both are important for any successful businessperson. But these attributes are a necessity in business today, and thus, are a given. They don’t differentiate you from anyone else. My question is this: How is your business going to grow? WBE Three: By marketing the product and advertising? (As the famous author and motivational  speaker Zig Ziglar would say, this answer is a “wandering generality not a “meaningful specific.”) “Shark”: That isn’t answering the question. That is vague. Specifically, how are you going to market and advertise? WBE Three: I will sort out those details after I get the funding. “Shark”: There is a long and winding road between a great idea and a business. You haven’t laid out that road yet, as far as I’m concerned. I’m out. Unfortunately, WBE Three didn’t fare all that well, either, did he? In today’s job market, going into the final interview with a business plan often means the difference between getting the job and not getting it. I call this plan an “impact plan” and we work with all of our candidates in creating one. WBE four (after presenting his idea to the panel) Another “Shark”: I am a businesswoman. I invest money in order to make money. If I want to donate to a charity, I will do that separately. Based upon what you have told me, if I gave you money, I would, in essence, be donating to a charity, not investing in a business because you haven’t told me how you are going to create a business. Count me out on this one. Well, I’m sure that by this time you get the idea. Each of the would-be entrepreneurs, while they may in fact have had some good “business” ideas, and have come across as confident, articulate, enthusiastic, optimistic and professional, they also clearly demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that they weren’t adequately prepared to clearly  and unequivocally demonstrate how their concepts would “make money.” The “hope” was there, but not the evidence. We hear  and read  in the news media comments such as this: “Business is sitting on a trillion in cash. They need to use some of that money to hire people.” From an altruistic  point of view, that may indeed be true. But the brutal reality is this: Businesses are in business for just one reason and one reason only. To make money! And that certainly isn’t going to change in the current economic climate. So, when you interview, remember, you have just  one shot. Let me repeat that: When you interview, you have just one shot! So, the only question, really, is: Can you brand yourself as someone who can “make a company money” or “save a company money” (or both)? If you can’t, you won’t be hired. Candidates often tell me, “Skip, it is easy to show someone how you can ‘make them money’ if you are in sales. So how do you brand yourself as being able to ‘make a company money’ or ‘save a company money’ if you are not in sales?” First, let me say this. All too often even top salespeople fail to quantify their performance, thus they don’t get hired. Let me give you some specific examples, however, of how people interviewing for non-sales positions can powerfully demonstrate their economic value to a hiring manager. If you are, say, an engineer, what have you done to improve a design, improve productivity or improve quality? Weak answer: “I redesigned the production line for widget A.” Strong answer: “I redesigned the production line for widget A. In doing so, we increased throughput by 7% and decreased scrap 2%. The entire project cost $350,000 and the first year return was $500,000.” Or, let’s suppose that you are an accountant. What, specifically, have you done to “make a company money” or “save a company money?” Weak answer: “I was able to get all of the reports done on time.” Strong answer: “I was able to improve DSO from 45 days to 37 days by setting up a system for initiating contact with customers regarding their invoice five days before the due date.” (Note: DSO is “days sales outstanding.” It represents how quickly a company collects its outstanding receivables. By quickly turning sales into cash, a company has the chance to put the cash to use againâ€"ideally, to reinvest and make more sales!) This accountant is clearly and unequivocally illustrating how he or she can “make a company money!” In today’s challenging job market, let me assure you that hiring managers, like the “sharks” featured above, don’t want “generalities” or “good sounding” phrases from job candidates. They want specifics! Recall that one of the “sharks” asked one of the would-be entrepreneurs, “What are your total sales?” If I am a hiring manager, and I am going to be paying you (or the successful candidate) $30,000 in salary plus commission, you can bet your life I will want to know, “What are your sales?” I’ll also want to know something specific about your track record of proven performance? I do not just want to hear that you can sell. I want specific, concrete examples of sales successes! So before going on that interview, watch ABC’s Shark Tank. You will be glad you did! Author: Skip Freeman is the author of “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever! and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Specializing in the placement of sales, engineering, manufacturing and RD professionals, he has developed powerful techniques that help companies hire the best and help the best get hired.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why Its Not Complicated to Be More Productive At Work

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why It's Not Complicated to Be More Productive At Work The following Its Not Complicated ATT commercials may be fun and cute, but they also are full of advice on how to be more productive at work. In politics and in sports the phrase keep it simple is often repeated like a mantra as a way to win the contest. But in the workplace, it can be a different matter. Office politics, worldwide competition and fast-breaking technological advances can mean were always scrambling to keep up with the next cubicle. This mad dash often is based on running the race as fast as we can, and not on reaching the finish line. Instead of being more productive, we find ourselves running out of gas and risking our emotional and physical well-being, not to mention hurting our careers with our lack of clear focus. Is there a way to stop this spinning dervish? Absolutely. All it takes is some recognition that a problem exists and then taking steps to improve. Speed can kill your credibility In a world of 30-second soundbites, one-minute YouTube sensations and texts fired off in nanoseconds, it can be difficult not to be thought of badly if you just want to take some time to gather your thoughts before responding. But since your credibility can depend on what you say, dont respond if youre not sure of your facts. Can you let me get back to you with that information after Ive had a chance to check my facts? When must you absolutely have that information?you can ask. Often, people will back off their demand for immediacy once you slow down the conversation and ask for a specific deadline. Also, consider turning off your email notifications. This may be difficult at first, so try checking emails by setting your cellphone timer for 30 minutes and expanding that by 15 minutes every couple of days. Eventually, you will train yourself not to jump into action whenever an email arrives, and your colleagues will learn to accept that you dont respond immediately. You can also set an auto-respond to let family and friends know youll answer emails at a certain time each day. Whether its answering an email, a text or even a direct question, not rushing to fill the silence can feel uncomfortable in such a fast-paced world. But experts say that its much better to take a moment and think of an appropriate and competent reply before filling it with nonsensical comments. Like the fact that you think strapping a cheetah on your Grandmas back might be a good idea. Always seek clarification Have you ever been in a meeting and wish subtitles were available? Not because your colleague or boss was speaking a foreign language, but because what was coming out of their mouths made no sense? No one is a perfect communicator, so dont be shy about asking questions when youre confused about information being given. It doesnt make you look stupid but it sure will later when you get things wrong because you didnt take the time to clarify information. Never leave a meeting without a clear understanding of your action items, the deadline and who will be supervising your efforts. Summarize your understanding and make sure you get an agreement from team members and your boss. If you cant seem to coral people long enough to get a clear idea of what youre supposed to do, send an email with follow-up questions. Never make assumptions. You can greatly reduce your workload if you ensure(read more here)

Best Advice For Writing a Resume - New Trends in the Job Market

Best Advice For Writing a Resume - New Trends in the Job MarketThe best advice for writing a resume for job seekers in the current job market has changed. It is essential to know the old and new trends of the resume so that you can keep your portfolio full of excellent credentials.In the New Year, resumes that include professional experiences and education that are less than five years old may be viewed negatively. This is in part due to the fact that most graduates enter the job market during their sophomore year in college. Many have less experience than five years and will not have been working in a specific position long enough to warrant an interview. Professional degrees in accounting, engineering, or medicine are usually viewed with a lot of suspicion.Colleges and universities have reevaluated their standards for how they look at resumes. Universities that receive high rankings in the annual U.S. News and World Report, such as University of Pennsylvania, are taking action by s etting higher requirements for how a resume must look. While this might mean that a bachelor's degree from a less prestigious college such as Missouri State would need to be more impressive, it also means that your resume will get an additional look before it is released. Remember, not all the information on a resume can be changed when it is submitted.In addition to this new standard, many job seekers find that they should also add additional information to the resume they submit. For example, if you held a higher management position within a company, provide a paragraph about your accomplishments in this role. Employers are looking for someone who has been in leadership positions. It may take time to find the right job, but a new resume or hiring can often start by considering a change of leadership.Another thing that some employers may consider when reviewing resumes is how long the professional experience has been. Companies are looking for someone who can help them in their ind ustry in an immediate or long-term manner. If a person is a good fit for one position but not another, they may be asked to reevaluate.Your resume is not going to be completely different from the last one. It is how you present it that will be different. Of course, if you already have experience with a particular position, your resume might not need to mention it again. However, for those who have not had experience at a certain job yet, it is important to make sure that you provide the employer with good feedback on your experience.Even with the new standards, most companies do not give a second thought to the skills you have. The ability to write concisely and clearly is much more important than previous to a resume being considered. Some employees are able to quickly develop an ability to summarize, and you may not need to be that way. If you are unsure of how to format your resume, you can hire a professional resume writer to help you create a copy that will appear professional but is also well-written.One thing is for sure; employers are becoming more selective in the types of resumes they receive from job seekers. Therefore, it is up to you to make the most of your opportunity to impress your employer with your new resume. You should always remain positive about the fact that your resume will improve your chances of getting a new job.

Democracy in business - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Democracy in business - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Fast Company has a short piece about Traci Fenton, the founder CEO of World Dynamics. She works as a consultant to promote democracy in organizations, based on a belief that Never has there been a more important time to consider how organizational democracy can transform corporations AND produce the hard (and soft!) results stockholders, employees and customers are craving. I couldnt agree more. As a founder and former leader of a company that was run democratically, I can safely say that it is a great way to work. I can only hope that Traci is right, when she claims that Democracy is inevitable. The companies that get this will lead their industry and ultimately build a more democratic world. 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

Race And Diversity Interview Questions - How 2 Become

Race And Diversity Interview Questions - How 2 Become Race And Diversity Interview Questions Race And Diversity Interview Questions During the police officer competency-based  interview  many people fail on the questions that arise based on respect for race and  diversity   In this article I will provide you with a sample question and answer which will detail how to construct your response effectively.   Learn the core competencies relevant to the role If you fail to learn the core competencies that are relevant to the role of a police officer then you will more than likely fail. Your first step is to obtain a copy of these important attributes. Once you have a copy, you must read them, learn them and be able to provide evidence of where you match each and every one of them. Respect for race and  diversity  questions are far harder to respond to and the scoring for these carries more weight. Anybody can go to an interview and tell the panel that would be a good police officer, but actually backing this claim up with evidence is the key to success. The interview panel want to know that you have experience already in key areas, because if you already have experience in these areas, then you are far more likely to perform well in the role.   Sample competency based interview question   INTERVIEW QUESTION â€" Provide an example of where you have helped somebody from a different culture or background to your own. What did you do and what did you say?  Tips for constructing your response  â€" Read carefully the core competency that relates to respect for race and diversity before constructing your response. â€" Try to think of a situation where you have gone out of your way to help somebody. â€" Try to use keywords and phrases from the core competency in your response. â€" Consider structuring your response in the following manner: Step 1 Explain what the situation was and how you became involved. It is better to say that you volunteered to be involved rather than to say that you were asked to. Step 2 Now explain who else was involved and why they needed your help or assistance? Step 3 Now explain what you said or did and why. Also explain any factors you took into consideration when helping them. Step 4 Explain how the other person/people reacted to your help or assistance. Did they benefit from it? Step 5 Now explain what the end result was. Try to make the result positive following your actions. Sample response to the race and diversity competency based interview question 4 Provide an example of where you have helped somebody from a different culture or background to your own. What did you do and what did you say? “I was working at a restaurant and noticed a divide between the waiters and kitchen staff. Most of the kitchen staff were older than their waiter colleagues and had migrated from India. There was very little interaction between the kitchen and waiter staff colleagues and I was concerned that this barrier would not only make the kitchen staff feel isolated, but that it would also have a negative impact on the team env ironment. My initial considerations were to ensure that the kitchen staff felt comfortable and that they could also speak to me and the waiters if they needed help or assistance. After all, they had not been in the country for long and I wanted them to feel welcome and valued. I believe that communication between colleagues within a workplace is essential to achieve the best possible results and create a good working environment, regardless of individual differences. To overcome the challenges I introduced myself to all the kitchen staff members and I learnt their names. This ensured that they felt valued and that they also had a point of contact if they ever needed assistance or support. I also encouraged the other waiters to communicate with their kitchen colleagues. Following my actions communication improved and the workplace is now a more efficient and happier working environment.” This entry was posted in Interviews. Bookmark the permalink. Richard What Is It Like Working As Part Of A Cabin Crew TeamAdmiralty Interview Board Running Order