Friday, May 29, 2020

Podcast Im a leader, how do I communicate that to employers

Podcast Im a leader, how do I communicate that to employers Don Jones, one of my friends from Pluralsight, invited me to an interesting conversation he was going to have with a job seeker. This guy had plenty of leadership skills but wasnt quite sure how to best communicate that in his job search. Listen here: This conversation was only 39 minutes and I got a chance to talk through job search strategy and tactics. We talked about personal branding, of course, and a bunch of things that I think will help you in your job search. You can either play it in your browser, or on a podcast service, or just download it from Dons page, here: LISTEN: HOW DO YOU DEMONSTRATE A SKILL LIKE LEADERSHIP ON A JOB HUNT? Podcast Im a leader, how do I communicate that to employers Don Jones, one of my friends from Pluralsight, invited me to an interesting conversation he was going to have with a job seeker. This guy had plenty of leadership skills but wasnt quite sure how to best communicate that in his job search. Listen here: This conversation was only 39 minutes and I got a chance to talk through job search strategy and tactics. We talked about personal branding, of course, and a bunch of things that I think will help you in your job search. You can either play it in your browser, or on a podcast service, or just download it from Dons page, here: LISTEN: HOW DO YOU DEMONSTRATE A SKILL LIKE LEADERSHIP ON A JOB HUNT?

Monday, May 25, 2020

Most Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid

Most Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid You’ve probably heard lots of terrifying stories about home remodeling that went wrong at some point. Indeed, there are lots of things that can make you worry when you decide to renovate or remodel your home: materials do not arrive in time and you are not able to use your kitchen for months, the contractor does not consider your requirements or disappears with the deposit, the kitchen is left in a mess and you need several days to whip it into shape or hire a professional cleaning company and therefore spend extra money. Unfortunately, these are not isolated cases and many people face similar difficulties. Of course, it should not be that way, as there are lots of experienced and reliable contractors, ready to remodel your kitchen quickly, professionally and for a reasonable price. So, what should you do to avoid the mentioned above difficulties? Here are a few simple recommendations that will help you avoid the most common kitchen remodeling mistakes, hire a reliable and experienced contractor and therefore get the best kitchen remodelling experience. Be Ready for Difficulties Hardly any home remodelling will run absolutely smoothly, as you are not a not able to predict everything. You need to understand that avoiding difficulties is impossible and if you hit the panic button every time something goes wrong, you will go bugs even before your kitchen is remodelled. So, take it easy! Do not panic if your contractor discovers a leakage that has damaged the floor or joints under it. Instead of freaking out just ask your contractor about the most effective ways of eliminating this problem. In other words, you should always be ready for unexpected situations and unplanned expenses, as kitchen remodeling may always cause a few assistant reconstruction works. Do Not Expect Using Your Kitchen Until all Remodelling Works are completed. You will not have a fully-functional kitchen until all remodelling works are done. Thus, you must be ready to stay without a sink and/or running water for several days. Also, using your kitchen will be impossible until all the cabinets and countertops are fixed in their places. The best way to survive kitchen remodelling is to move to a more comfortable apartment for a day or two. Choose Kitchen Appliances First Before ordering and placing cabinets, it is recommended choosing kitchen appliances and provide your contractor with all the specs about them. In doing this, you will help your constructor arrange a perfect fit for the appliances in the new cabinets. Doing this is especially recommended if you are going to have a drop-in sink, built in oven, cook top, microwave, etc. Do Not Pay Total Value Until the Project is Finished Most remodelling companies will ask you to make an advanced payment. This is a common practice, as the contractor needs to purchase materials necessary for the kitchen remodelling. Reconstruction companies also take an upfront fee to cover their financial risk in case a customer decides to back out of the project. However, never forget about your own financial security and therefore do not pay the total value at once. Generally, the outstanding principal makes 10 percent. When it comes to home remodelling in SF and Bay Area, your first and the foremost task is to find a reliable constructor you can trust. With sfremodelingconstruction.com you can be sure of getting the best kitchen remodeling experience.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Three Tips to Clean Up Your Digital Dirt - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Three Tips to Clean Up Your Digital Dirt - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Don’t think your online activities can hurt you? Just ask former Congressman Anthony Weiner who is now a joke, not because of his name, or at least not because of his name alone, but also because he Tweeted pictures of his privates. Or rapper 50cent who complained on Twitter that his grandmother told him to take the trash out because apparently he’s too rich and famous to help his grandmother. The reality is that what you do online is a reflection of your character. Worse yet, what’s done online can’t easily be undone. In the pre-digital age, your personal antics didn’t impact your ability to get or keep a job. Employers judged you using your resume, interview and references. The Internet has changed that. Today, employers still use traditional methods to vet you, but they now also search the Internet to learn about your character. As a result, you may be qualified for the job, have a fantastic interview and stellar references, but may not get hired because of inflammatory comments, vulgar language or drinking pictures from your trip to Cancun. You can argue that it’s not fair, but it’s the reality of today’s job hunting world. You can avoid this scrutiny by staying offline all together or by always keeping your posts, comments and pictures tame. But what if you’ve already a history of online rants? The bad news is that the Internet is like an elephant, it never forgets. The good news is that you can clean up your online reputation and work to hide the bad stuff in low search engine rankings. 1. Search your name with and without quotes on Google or other top search engines. This will give you an idea of what employers will find when they search your name. If you have the same name as someone with a questionable character, consider including your middle name or using an alternative version of your given name. For example, instead of James Smith, use James Theodor Smith or Jim T. Smith. 2. Delete questionable posts, pictures and comments from your social networks, forums and blogs. This includes items that have profanity, hate, negative messages or concepts that might offend a prospective employer. If you can’t delete the material yourself, ask the site owner to remove it for you. A faster option, particularly if there is an abundance of negative material, is to delete your accounts and start over. 3. Post positive content to push bad content down in search engine results. You don’t have to be Pollyanna, but you should remember that anything you post online can be seen by a potential employer. Social media, blogs and forums can be a great way to network and strut your stuff, so consider posting content that shows your skills, experiences and other traits that make you employable. Don’t underestimate the power of social media to hurt your job prospects. While it doesn’t seem fair that your private life is used to evaluate your fitness as an employee, in today’s online world, it does. At the same time, social media can also be used to help your job prospects simply by posting items that reflect a conscientious, hardworking person. Author: Leslie Truex is a career design expert who has been helping people find or create work that fits their lifestyle goals since 1998 through her website Work-At-Home Success. She is the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible and Jobs Online: How To Find a Get Hired to a Work-At-Home Job. She speaks regularly on career-related topics including telecommuting and home business.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Online Jobs That Pay Better for College Students

Online Jobs That Pay Better for College Students Finding a job in college can be tricky.You may find a job that pays well, but the hours don’t fit with your class schedule and don’t allow any time for schoolwork.You may find a job with great hours, leaving you plenty of time to complete your schoolwork, but barely enough money to function.It can feel like a constant trade-off between time and money.But it doesn’t have to!Online jobs can be an excellent alternative for college students.The pay is often better than your run-of-the-mill part-time job and the hours are flexible enough to cover a busy school and activity schedule.Here are some great online jobs for college students that pay better than your average part-time job.Online TutorIf you are a good student who enjoys helping others learn, online tutoring is a great place to look for work.This is a great way to put your educational skills to use and make some money doing it.What’s the job: You tutor students from all over the world on subjects where you excel.Sessions v ary in length, depending on the student and the site.You assist with homework and classwork for students ranging from elementary to college.What skills do you need: You need a thorough understanding of the subject you are tutoring in.Good communication skills will also help you when working with your students.What do you make: The pay scale varies company to company, but the average range runs from $10/hour to $20/hour.What companies are hiring: Enroll, Chegg, StudentTutor.Virtual AssistantIf you are looking for a job doing administrative work, but want a flexible schedule, a virtual assistant is a position for you.It’s a great way to earn good money and a great way to make professional connections and build your network.What’s the job: You handle administrative tasks for clients, such as scheduling appointments, and managing emails and calls.Job tasks depend on who you are working for and the services they need.What skills do you need: You will need excellent communications and writing skills. Thorough knowledge of MS Office and Google Apps is preferred.Great soft skills are a definite plus for virtual assistants.What do you make: You can expect around $10-$15/hour, but earnings can scale with experience and skill as well.What companies are hiring: 24/7 Virtual Assistant, Fancy Hands, ZirtualFreelance WriterIf you are looking grow your skills and make money, look at Freelance writing.Freelance Writing is considered one of the best ways to make money online. It develops your skills and can lead to more professional opportunities down the road.For my fellow English majors, this is an excellent way to prepare for your future and kickstart your career.Plus, it’s super flexible and easy to do with a busy college schedule.What’s the job: There are several freelance writing options out there, depending on what style of writing you prefer.You can work in technical writing, digital marketing, journalism, or other fields.Subject matter depends on your client. Y ou can choose to write in your area of expertise or branch out.What skills do you need: Knowing your way around the English language and having a good understanding of grammar and writing is a necessity.It’s also good to know about editing and some possible publication styles.What do you make: Earning potential typically runs off of the length of your writing. An article of 500-1000 words can run anywhere from $25-$50.What companies are hiring: TextBroker, Upwork, About.com

Friday, May 15, 2020

4 Ways Waiting Jobs Can Actually Be Beneficial to You in the Future - CareerMetis.com

4 Ways Waiting Jobs Can Actually Be Beneficial to You in the Future Source : Pixabay.comIf you are yet to embark on your first serious career but are looking for some work you can do with relatively little training and experience, then waiting jobs have always been a popular choice. Whether you’re a student looking for a job you can do part-time alongside studying, someone looking for their first job in a new country, or a school leaver seeking out a vacancy that doesn’t require a lot of prior experience, waiting jobs can be an excellent thing to focus your job search on. Waiting jobs can be quite easy to find and When you work as a waiter or waitress, you tend to have more detailed interactions with every customer than you do in other customer facing roles like retail, and you quickly get to develop and show off your people skills! This is something employers look for in all kinds of roles you may want to go for later on, and even if the roles in question are about facing high value clients, your experience in keeping people happy as a waiter wi ll help you!2. Show a Willingness to Do a Demanding JobWorking as a waiter can mean long shifts spent on your feet, keeping track of lots of different guests, and working late nights and weekends. This can be no problem at all for young people, and the hours can actually be a plus when you are a student but having this experience on your CV will show future employers that you are not afraid of hard work, or of doing what is needed in terms of putting in the hours. Even a lot of professional jobs based in offices have an unspoken expectation that people will be willing to work beyond their contracted hours if required, and your waiting experience will show you have the stamina!3. Good PresentationAnother thing that working in hospitality will show prospective employers is that you are able to look appropriate and well-presented when you have to be in front of customers. Waiters have to look clean, and often wear a uniform, and they are ambassadors for the brand of the restaurant they work for. This will say more about your ability to routinely look your best when you are representing your brand to the public than what you turn up to an interview in!evalOften, when finding jobs through large agencies, such as waiter jobs at staffheroes.co.uk, staff services are used for business event and parties. If, like many people, you are looking for a job in business, this could be the perfect opportunity to prove your dedication to a job, whilst also building your all important business contacts.4. Show Your Motivation!A fourth thing that waiting experience demonstrates in most cases is that you are someone who responds well to motivation. This is because most waiters and waitresses earn tips on top of a basic wage, and these tend to be higher the better they perform in terms of keeping the people they serve happy and satisfied. If you have been able to do well in a job that earns tips by learning how to best please your customers, then this can show that you may perform well in something like a sales role, where you have a similar incentive in the form of commission.evalAs you can see, there are lots of things that waiting can do to make you a more appealing hire later on in your working life!

Monday, May 11, 2020

Why Most Job Postings are Useless

Why Most Job Postings are Useless I know there is a lot of career advice out there that suggests creating a cover letter that matches the job posting you are applying to as closely as possible. And while I agree with this in theory, the reality is that most job postings are useless and give very limited information about the position. Many are filled with fluff phrases stating that requirements include being a good communicator and a team player, and having a proven track record. Honestly, Ive seen these phrases used on senior management and C-level postings. I dont really need a job spec to figure out that these attributes are important components of the positionthese are givens for any position. But few postings offer any insights into the strategic and tactical skills necessary to perform the role successfully. Scot Herrick of Cube Rules has a great post on this called Four Job Description Ingredients Candidates Would Love so please read it to gain some insight on the key elements of a solid job posting.With so ma ny poorly written job specs, its no surprise that hiring managers arent getting targeted candidates for their open positions. Instead, there is a conga line of strong communicating team players who feel they meet the requirements of the   job. As a writer, my first reaction to seeing these poorly constructed postings is Whos writing these? Are the descriptions simply recycled or cut and paste jobs from other descriptions? Did anyone take the time to interview the hiring manager to assess the department needs? Was the hiring manager under a tight deadline to get a job description over to HR so they could quickly evaluate it and benchmark the salary? What is the cause of such shoddy workmanship?Job seekers need to establish a compelling personal brand in order to communicate their   value to an organization. And employers need a strong employment brand to communicate their value proposition to potential hires. Part of that value proposition should be creating job descriptions that cry stallize individual contributor roles and relate those roles back to the values of that company. Even if the position isnt being posted in a very public forum, the company still needs to be able to articulate the must haves of the role they are trying to fill.Having a poorly constructed job description is like having a poorly thought out business plan. You cant launch a successful business without some sort of a road map. And you cant source the best candidates for an open position if you cant describe specifically what you want them to achieve.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Administrative Assistant Job Description Resumes - How to Write One

Administrative Assistant Job Description Resumes - How to Write OneIf you are reading this article then you probably have a job to do, and one of the tasks you must do on your job is to write a resume that will help you land the administrative assistant job. The administrative assistant job description can be difficult for some people to understand and this is why many people want to find an easy way to land it.The first thing you must remember is that the administrative assistant job description can be long and very technical, but you will have a better chance of landing it if you understand what is on the list. By making an effort to understand the list of duties, you will make yourself more appealing to the company, which is what you need to do to land this job.So how do you make the list? What are the things on the list that you should know about? There are several things, which will help you land this job, so it is a good idea to make a list.To start with, the administrative ass istant job description will tell you that you must be able to handle information. This means that you should have a good working knowledge of computers and how to use them, but you will also need to know how to set up the computers for use in the office. This includes what you can and cannot do on the computer, and what programs and files you should not install or delete.You will also need to have basic computer skills. You need to know how to load the latest operating system onto the computer, and how to fix any problems that might occur while you are trying to get it set up. You should also be able to manage the network of computers that are connected to the network to include the internet connection as well.Being able to handle basic things, however, does not mean that you can do everything. You should also be able to multitask, which means that you can perform different tasks at the same time, without having to stop worrying about another job to do. Being able to multitask is ju st part of the job description.If you are able to do all of the tasks listed in the administrative assistant job description, then you will have no problem finding a job as an administrative assistant. All you need to do is to find a company that will pay you to do these jobs, so you can focus on being able to do the administrative duties.Your administrative assistant job description resume will tell you what you should have in your resume, but it is your goal to make sure that your resume has the right information to help you land the job. Take your time to make sure that the information is correct, and if you follow the directions correctly, you will be well on your way to getting the job you want.