Sunday, May 31, 2020

The Rochester Job Search Presentations

The Rochester Job Search Presentations My cousins grew up in Greece, right outside of Rochester. I knew practically nothing about the place, except that it was cold for about 10 months out of the year (not sure how true that is). Last week I shared five presentations in the Rochester area.  I was amazed and impressed with how beautiful and fun this area is. There are strong initiatives to help Rochester get to work.  Its a vibrant area that was the home of Kodak and Xerox, and other companies.  Lake Ontario is there, and there are amazing, beautiful rivers and lots of forest and hill areas.  The waterfall in the city was awesome. My driver, Greg Taylor (Sir LinkedALot) gave me a two day tour of the city and surrounding areas, and introduced me to eating at Wegmans (wow!). Driving around with Greg was a treat since he grew up there, and knew a lot of the history of the town. I also met some really cool people. Whats left on the tour?  St. Louis on Tuesday, and Kansas City on Thursday.  And lots and lots of driving  It took three weeks to get to the D.C. area, and it will take less than a week to drive back to Utah. The Rochester Job Search Presentations My cousins grew up in Greece, right outside of Rochester. I knew practically nothing about the place, except that it was cold for about 10 months out of the year (not sure how true that is). Last week I shared five presentations in the Rochester area.  I was amazed and impressed with how beautiful and fun this area is. There are strong initiatives to help Rochester get to work.  Its a vibrant area that was the home of Kodak and Xerox, and other companies.  Lake Ontario is there, and there are amazing, beautiful rivers and lots of forest and hill areas.  The waterfall in the city was awesome. My driver, Greg Taylor (Sir LinkedALot) gave me a two day tour of the city and surrounding areas, and introduced me to eating at Wegmans (wow!). Driving around with Greg was a treat since he grew up there, and knew a lot of the history of the town. I also met some really cool people. Whats left on the tour?  St. Louis on Tuesday, and Kansas City on Thursday.  And lots and lots of driving  It took three weeks to get to the D.C. area, and it will take less than a week to drive back to Utah. The Rochester Job Search Presentations My cousins grew up in Greece, right outside of Rochester. I knew practically nothing about the place, except that it was cold for about 10 months out of the year (not sure how true that is). Last week I shared five presentations in the Rochester area.  I was amazed and impressed with how beautiful and fun this area is. There are strong initiatives to help Rochester get to work.  Its a vibrant area that was the home of Kodak and Xerox, and other companies.  Lake Ontario is there, and there are amazing, beautiful rivers and lots of forest and hill areas.  The waterfall in the city was awesome. My driver, Greg Taylor (Sir LinkedALot) gave me a two day tour of the city and surrounding areas, and introduced me to eating at Wegmans (wow!). Driving around with Greg was a treat since he grew up there, and knew a lot of the history of the town. I also met some really cool people. Whats left on the tour?  St. Louis on Tuesday, and Kansas City on Thursday.  And lots and lots of driving  It took three weeks to get to the D.C. area, and it will take less than a week to drive back to Utah.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Choosing the Best Font For a Resume

Choosing the Best Font For a ResumeHow to choose the best font for a resume can be a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be if you follow a few simple rules. Choosing the best font for a resume is a big deal and you should make sure that you get the best font possible for your resume.The first thing you should do is to determine what font you want to use on your resume. If you're just putting together a resume for someone else, go ahead and pick the best font for a resume for the most formal settings. If you're doing this yourself, you'll probably want something more informal. This should really depend on the kind of career you have.Typeface is a very important part of designing a resume. The font is what stands out. It's how you introduce yourself, your job experience, and what you're hoping to get out of a potential employer when they look at your resume.Most people like bold fonts for resumes because they stand out from the rest of the background. This is the same reason that d ark, eye-catching fonts make their way into titles.Don't rely on fancy fonts that aren't designed for this purpose. You will quickly become frustrated with the fonts that are more expensive and show up as something you know isn't a real font.If you've found an original font that you like, do not choose it for your resume. There is no need to take the time to go back and change fonts once it has been printed. What's more, the font you chose could be more expensive than other fonts that are on the market.Typefaces used in resumes are usually bold or italic fonts, although sometimes it's a good idea to use just one typeface for the body of the document. In this case, keep in mind that it would be nice to have a great font that is a little more of a graphic style so that it stands out. On the other hand, having a plain color on the page can be less dramatic.Choosing the best font for a resume is a decision that must be made by the person who is creating the resume. It's an important dec ision and you'll want to choose a font that is going to get attention.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

A Beginners Guide to Applying for a New Credit Card Online

A Beginners Guide to Applying for a New Credit Card Online Credit cards are useful if you have businesses or household to run. Large expenses can easily wipe out your savings account or liquid assets, and can happen without warning. With the aid of a credit card, you can pay for those unexpected expenses without exhausting your cash on hand. The following information is a useful guide for credit card users. It includes advice on basics such as fees, interest rates, and responsible credit card use. Credit Rating In order to apply for a credit card, one must have some level of credit rating. First-time card owners often receive offers in their email for cards with high interest rates and low credit limits because they do not yet have an established credit rating. Accepting these cards and using them sparingly can help build a good credit rating. Eventually, how you manage your account allows you to apply for other major credit cards with lower interest rates and higher credit limit. This takes time, diligence, and consistency when paying off charge card balances. Once you establish a good credit rating, the less beneficial card accounts should be paid off and closed. Another way to build up your credit rating is the use of store credit cards. Qualifying for retail charge accounts is easier; making small purchases and paying the balance on time helps build the credit rating needed to apply for major credit cards. Credit Card Fees Credit card users should be aware of the fees associated with each account. Fees vary greatly from company to company, so it is the user’s responsibility to research the fine print on fees. Some interest rates are low enough to counter any fees incurred, but one must be aware of all the terms and conditions. Avoid being taken advantage of by hidden fees. There are extra charges when using your card at an ATM machine, for being late on a payment, or for paying your bill beyond a certain time period. You can even incur fees for not using the card at all. Know how your online credit card works. Credit cards, when managed properly, can significantly increase your buying power whether used at home or for business. They can also become your downfall. Credit card debt mounts quickly because of how easy they are to use in almost any scenario. Dining out, buying books for school, paying for fuel, furnishing a home, you can even buy groceries with credit cards. Paying with a credit card is so convenient because there was no cash involved. This false sense of security can lead to reckless spending, leaving the buyer with more monthly payments than they can afford. Credit card companies compete for your business. It is important to know your options when choosing one. When applying online for a credit card, you must take the time to know the fees, rewards, and interest rates before you commit to a binding agreement with any lending service. Image 1 courtesy of stockimages  at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image 2 courtesy of sixninepixels  at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Diversity and Inclusion in Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Diversity and Inclusion in Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career There’s something just a little bit … off about the way we talk about diversity. We discuss it with longing, like it’s a rainbow or a unicorn â€" or something seen only in just the right conditions. Once we witness it, we silently pray it sticks around a while. The truth is, diversity doesn’t happen unless we want it to. That means it starts with a conscious decision. The diversity conversation is happening all around the country right now â€" even as we speak. Let’s raise a few more voices. Why Does Diversity Matter? This should be said as plainly as possible: Encouraging diversity is simply the right thing to do. Sure, ethical behavior is not always the most convenient or the most expedient way to do business in the modern world, but it does make us better people. The most interesting part of this conversation, though, is the fact that embracing diversity in the workplace is not just a “nice” idea â€" it also has all kinds of positive implications for the success of your business. Consider PWC’s recent 18th Annual Global CEO Survey, which found that of the leaders surveyed whose companies had implemented some kind of diversity or inclusiveness program, 85% of them reported improved profitability. That’s a big deal! They’re hardly alone in witnessing this phenomenon, too. The Center for Talent Innovation reported similar results â€" companies that actively embrace diversity enjoy a “competitive edge” and improved access to new markets. It would appear that diversity is a kind of secret sauce in the business world. It’s a little difficult to quantify, perhaps, but it’s observable. And why shouldn’t it be? In the year 2016, imagine yourself walking into a company’s atrium to find nothing but pasty white millennials walking around. Companies like these are becoming more and more conspicuous. Imagine visiting a similar company with a rich cultural tapestry â€" folks from all walks of life, sharing their expertise and experience and working toward a common goal. It should go without saying which of these two companies would leave the better first impression. Diversity is not just about skin pigmentation, either. It says something about that company’s culture and their worldliness. It’s true that a diverse company will continue to attract diversity â€" it’s a self-fulfilling prophesy. It has to start somewhere, however, and in this case, that somewhere is a deliberate decision by management to hire more inclusively. In a recent survey, 65% of large company executives had committed themselves to building a diverse workplace. Are you a part of this growing majority? What Can You Do About It? Phrases like “affirmative action” tend to ruffle feathers whenever they come up. After all, the best man or woman should get the job, right? Regardless of their other physical traits? Well â€" sure. The problem is, though, we don’t quite live in a world where affirmative action â€" or something like it â€" isn’t wholly unnecessary. There really is something to be said for deliberately hiring a variety of people with different cultures, worldviews and perspectives. As we learned above, this kind of cultural richness will only improve your company’s performance and bottom line. You never know where the next great idea will come from, so why not cast the widest net you possibly can? Of course, this is only half of the equation. The more important part of the business world’s job where diversity is concerned is to make sure the decision-making process is a little more diffuse than it tends to be. In other words, the era of cloistered management reining from boardrooms is on its way out. Some folks call this “ivory tower management,” and it’s been a big problem. Celebrating diversity properly is not just about herding people with different skin pigmentation into the same room â€" it’s about celebrating diversity of thought as well. Management should rely on the perspectives of employees on each rung of the company ladder. Crowd source big decisions. Ask individual teams within the company â€" these are diverse microcosms all their own â€" to come together to forge their own values and goals. Democratize the inner workings of the company. In practical terms, there are a few things the modern company can do to work more actively toward creating a more diverse workplace. One thing is to become involved with movements and organizations like HeForShe, which is a United Nations initiative that promotes gender equality all around the world. Pledging your support to a movement like this one would rightly be seen as a badge of honor. You can also lend your voice publicly to political battles, such as pay equity for women. There’s no reason this should be a contentious issue in the year 2016, and it’s likely that with just a little more organized support from business leaders, we can finally have closure on the gender-based wage gap. It Starts With a Decision As we’ve hopefully demonstrated here, diversity is not a thing that just happens. It must begin with decisions â€" baby steps made in the name of progress â€" and these decisions are made by people just like you.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Tips on Writing Engineering Resume

Tips on Writing Engineering ResumeStrong writing engineering resume is essential to securing that great job interview. To make the most of your time, money and effort, make sure you're aware of some tips on writing a good resume. Some of the key points include:* The final objective of any resume is to put it in front of the best possible candidate. Therefore, you have to do some research before going to apply for a job. You have to find out what position your potential employer is looking for in the first place. This is vital, because it will be easier for you to highlight your skills, accomplishments and specialties.* If you're looking for the best resume for an engineering job, remember that most of the jobs are short attention span and require that you will need to present yourself in a concise manner. It is important that you do this well so that you can leave a good impression. Your resume must be crisp and short but you must also show off your expertise and skills. Make sure yo ur resume is relevant to the position you're applying for.* After you've gotten the attention of your potential employer, the next step is to create a writing engineering resume. These resumes are not like the average resume as they require a specific amount of detail and attention to detail. You have to ensure that your resume is appealing and succinct. It's not the time to think about how you can make your resume look fancy or pretty.* It's hard to find the best tips on writing a good resume if you don't take the time to learn from it. Always remember that your skills and experiences are what you'll use to turn in a strong application. It's important that you clearly outline your job objectives, achievements and strengths.* If you're applying for ajob in engineering, it's important that you take the time to consider the resume that you're sending in. You should be able to see what the employer needs to read in order to start working with you. Make sure that you are properly presen ting yourself as well as presenting a resume that highlights your expertise.* Writing an engineering resume takes time and effort, so be prepared to invest some time and attention into this project. It's imperative that you get it right if you want to land that great engineering job.* Make sure that you take the time to send in the best resume. Try to understand what the hiring manager is looking for in the most general sense, because there may be some job functions that are much more specific than others. This will help you gain some insight on how to properly create a very professional writing engineering resume.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Martin Yates New Strategies for First-Time Job Seekers - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Martin Yates New Strategies for First-Time Job Seekers The eighth  in Martin Yates Knock Em Dead series, Secrets Strategies For First-Time Job Seekers focuses on job seekers entering the market for the first time. He begins the book with some little known facts about the world you face: You are at the beginning of what will likely be a fifty-year career. The statistics say you will probably change jobs (not always by choice) about every four years. You will probably have three or more distince careers over the span of your professional life. These realities of the new world of work may be news to seasoned professionals as well. His new approach walks readers through their first job search, providing a unique blueprint for smart career management strategies that will help them live the life they want. Once again, hes tapped into his Braintrust panel of career professionals â€" those he believes to be some of the smartest career management minds we have in the profession today. Im thrilled to be included among such esteemed colleagues as: Mark Babbitt, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Sultan Camp, Allison Cheston, Caroline Dowd-Higgins, Kate Duttro, Kevin Kermes, Sean Koppelman, Joyce Lain Kennedy, Roger Lear, Alexandra Levit, Kathryn Minshew, Hannah Morgan, Phyllis Mufson, Chris Perry, Amanda Pouchot, Lori Ruff, Josh Tolan, Tim Tyrell-Smith, Joshua Waldman, Denise Wilkerson, Leslie Zaikis Two years ago I contributed to Martins Knock ‘em Dead: Secrets Strategies for Success in an Uncertain World. Related post: Do New Grads Have a Personal Brand? 00 0

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Making Networking and Informational Interviews Part of your Job Search - CareerAlley

Making Networking and Informational Interviews Part of your Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Theres a 90% chance your next job will come through networking, even more so if relocation isnt part of your job searching plan. Nationally, 80% of all jobs are found in the hidden job market. You find the hidden job market through networking. The hidden job market is composed of the positions that open in organizations that are never advertised and are usually filled via word-of-mouth. If people do not know that you are out of work, available, and qualified for these positions, word-of-mouth jobs will never find you. Yes, it takes courage to tell people that you are out of work, and even more courage to reach out to others to meet them and learn from them. However, if you sit at home in front of a computer every day the hidden jobs will stay hidden. I always advise people to automate their Internet job search using a job aggregator like simplyhired.com or indeed.com and let the jobs flow to them each day via email. Create a customized profile with very specific keywords to limit the amount of positions that are found so that they are relevant to your specific talents and the kinds of positions youre looking for. Then, unsubscribe from any other websites that may be sending job alerts, because the aggregator will pick those positions up too. Streamlining the online job search leaves you the free time to seek out effective, in-person networking opportunities. Understand that networking is not easy at first, but it does get better as you learn the process. [easyazon_link asin=1499343647 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]Informational interviews[/easyazon_link]are meetings that you set up with people that you want to meet and learn from, lasting about twenty minutes to half an hour. They can help you as you are researching a company you might want to work for, or help you understand some of the skills you want to update or acquire as you continue your job search. To make the most of these interviews, think about questions like: How did you get involved in this career? What do you like best, and least about the work you do? What are some of the jobs youve had before this one? What can you tell me about the state of this industry now? What are some of the training and skills you learned to do this job? One of the most important questions you can ask in an effective informational interview is the final question you ask: Would you be able to refer me to any other people that I should be having this conversation with? If the answer is yes, and they provide the contacts, its been a great meeting. But remember, after the informational interview or any interview, youre not done networking: make sure you send a thank-you note within a few days of your meeting. Byline: Damian Birkel is a certified career counselor and the author of [easyazon_link asin=0814432913 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]The Job Search Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Get Back to Work After a Layoff[/easyazon_link](AMACOM, October 2013, $16.00) He is the founder of Professionals in Transition Support Group. This is a Guest post. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey

Friday, May 8, 2020

Career Survival Tips Taking Care of Mind, Body and Soul While in Career Transition - Hallie Crawford

Career Survival Tips Taking Care of Mind, Body and Soul While in Career Transition 1. Keep a career journal. Devote at least one night per week to writing down your thoughts about your transition, recording milestones in the process, and letting go of emotions by putting pen to paper. 2. Set boundaries. By setting and maintaining boundaries between your career goals, everyday responsibilities, and leisure pursuits, you will feel more in-control of your life, balanced and at peace with yourself and the process. 3. Exercise your body while you expand your mind. Taking time out to reduce your stress level by exercising while focusing on your goals, stumbling blocks or major decisions, will ease your body and mind and help you feel good both mentally and physically. 4. Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. The idea is to keep the Negative Nellies and other defeating influences at bay. If there are certain people who seem to react unfavorably when you discuss your plans and dreams, stop sharing with those people. Career Expert