Sunday, May 31, 2020

PSA Dont hit on people on LinkedIn #CareerAdvice

PSA Dont hit on people on LinkedIn #CareerAdvice On Facebook one of my female friends posted a short note about getting hit on from people on LinkedIn. Id like to reiterate what many of us (guys and gals) already know: DONT DO IT. Thats it.  Just dont do it. If you are married, especially dont do it.  You might have marriage problems (which is none of our business), but all the other person knows is that you are a creep. If you are longing for a relationship, be aware that when you approach someone on LinkedIn (which many people regard as a professional network, not a social or friends/family network), that they might be there for business, not for advances. I have a lot of female friends who talk about this to their friends and family.  Many of them post about the creepiness factor on Facebook.  What that means is that your brand might be some version of creep to not just the person you made advances at, but to all of his/her friends and family.  Thats a yucky brand. Look, I know Im not the morality police, and I really cant tell you when and where to put on your hot moves.  Maybe it works for you.  But if you are interested in career management, and your personal brand, let me encourage you to be very careful how you approach (or, hit on) anyone, anywhere.  You cant be regarded as professional from 9 to 5, but then after that be the creepy guy (or gal).  That creepy brand will find its way into your day job. For anyone who has been a victim of online creepy advances, on LinkedIn or elsewhere, what am I missing? How should other victims respond? PSA Dont hit on people on LinkedIn #CareerAdvice On Facebook one of my female friends posted a short note about getting hit on from people on LinkedIn. Id like to reiterate what many of us (guys and gals) already know: DONT DO IT. Thats it.  Just dont do it. If you are married, especially dont do it.  You might have marriage problems (which is none of our business), but all the other person knows is that you are a creep. If you are longing for a relationship, be aware that when you approach someone on LinkedIn (which many people regard as a professional network, not a social or friends/family network), that they might be there for business, not for advances. I have a lot of female friends who talk about this to their friends and family.  Many of them post about the creepiness factor on Facebook.  What that means is that your brand might be some version of creep to not just the person you made advances at, but to all of his/her friends and family.  Thats a yucky brand. Look, I know Im not the morality police, and I really cant tell you when and where to put on your hot moves.  Maybe it works for you.  But if you are interested in career management, and your personal brand, let me encourage you to be very careful how you approach (or, hit on) anyone, anywhere.  You cant be regarded as professional from 9 to 5, but then after that be the creepy guy (or gal).  That creepy brand will find its way into your day job. For anyone who has been a victim of online creepy advances, on LinkedIn or elsewhere, what am I missing? How should other victims respond?

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Resume Writing Without a Template

Resume Writing Without a TemplateAre you looking for a way to write your resume without a template? You've come to the right place. As you look over the examples of great resumes, you'll find tips on how to start off right. Finding a way to write your resume is easier than you think.So what does it mean to write a resume? In simple terms, the words you use in your resume describe your work history. A resume should contain the following: education, experience, and skills. These are the elements that will help an employer understand exactly what the applicant is capable of.Your resume should not be lengthy, but you do want to convey to the reader that you are professional. So do not try to cram too much information into your resume. Your goal is to give the employer a sense of your education, your work history, and your skills.There are many ways to achieve quality resume writing without a template. One way is to hire a writing service. Writing services are businesses who specialize in getting clients' resumes written with a specific template. Many services offer a variety of templates. This allows you to write your resume quickly, easily, and at a price that is affordable to you.If you do not have the money to hire a professional resume writer, or if you have never worked on a resume before, you can do it yourself. Start by using the template that is available from the writing service. This is a good starting point, but it's also important to change and update the resume as needed. Write down all of the information that you're missing, and then look to see what information is more important to you.Next, gather all of your personal references, and compile them into one resume. These should be in chronological order. The chronological order of these references can make all the difference when your resume is reviewed. By putting your references first, you not only make it more difficult for someone to compare your resume to others, but you also make it more difficu lt for someone to decide if you're fit for the job.Finally, continue to edit your resume until it is complete. Once you've completed your resume, read it through several times. Find any errors that you may have missed. Then, either send it to a professional service or just get it back and start again.When you write your resume, do not fall into the trap of trying to simplify it to fit into a template. Learn how to write a resume without a template, and then choose the style that best suits you.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

How the Culture of Presenteeism Impacts Both Employees and Businesses

How the Culture of Presenteeism Impacts Both Employees and Businesses Presenteeism refers to the practice of being present at work but not being productive. The culture of presenteeism is widespread; however, it is more of an issue in some countries than others. For example, in the UK, presenteeism has hit record high levels. The number of employees coming into work while sick has more than tripled since 2010. The Culture of Presenteeism This rapid surge in presenteeism highlights that people in the UK feel under more pressure than ever to go into work â€" and stay at work for longer â€" even if they’re ill. People feel expected to work longer hours than they’re required to, and this has been linked to worries about job security. No one wants to be seen slacking while everyone else is putting the hours in. If there’s a culture of presenteeism, then it becomes incredibly difficult to break away from the mold and take time off when you need (and deserve) it. If you see an employee with an awful cold coming into work anyway and powering through the week, then you might feel expected to do the same. After all, you don’t want your line manager to think you’re lazy or apathetic about your career. The problem, though, is that if you’re going into work while ill â€"  be that a physical or mental health issue â€" you’ll put in the hours, but you may not actually get much work done. How the Culture of Presenteeism Impacts Employees The culture of presenteeism seriously impacts both the physical and mental health of employees. When you’re ill, you need to recuperate. You’re not doing yourself any favors if you’re sitting at your desk sniffling and desperately trying to focus on your tasks with a splitting headache. Plus, you may also pass on your nasty cold to a fellow employee. Presenteeism makes illnesses last longer than they need to. And truth be told; it’s just a miserable experience to work while ill. Rising rates of presenteeism are associated with increases in stress, anxiety, and depression. The fact that we still don’t place physical health on an equal footing with mental health means that people are much less likely to see the validity of taking time off due to poor mental health. Conditions such as anxiety and depression, much like the flu, can make it incredibly difficult to concentrate and be productive. Businesses suffer too It would be understandable â€" although still disturbing â€" if presenteeism affected employees but not businesses. If companies were benefiting from presenteeism, at least that could provide some rationale to the phenomenon. However, they’re not. It is estimated that presenteeism costs employers £15.1bn a year â€" and that’s just in terms of mental health issues. When you factor in the losses to productivity due to people coming into work with a cold, flu or other health condition, then the cost is obviously much greater. The culture of presenteeism is also associated with lower staff morale, more employee errors, and higher turnover rates, which is certainly not in any business’ interests. Changing the culture of presenteeism requires action from both employees and businesses. If you’re sick and you know that you really need to rest, then use your allotted sick days. You’re entitled to them. And they exist for a reason. Meanwhile, employers should take steps to discourage presenteeism. Communicating openly with employees is critical here. Employees should feel they can be trusted to take time off when they’re unwell. This expectation to suffer in silence at work is helping no one. It’s time for businesses to take a progressive approach and make employee well-being a top priority.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Advice for starting your own business

Advice for starting your own business Feeling stuck? Uninspired? As though your New Years resolutions have no spark? Maybe its time to start your own business. Its likely you intuitively know if youre actually an entrepreneur stuffed in a corporate cubicle. The entrepreneurship bug isnt something that hits in middle age. Its something thats inside you from day one a part of who you are. So dont be stifled by your age or lack of experience. Just make sure you have the right personality for success and the right attitude toward failure. Get a good idea Starting a business is very high-risk. Most entrepreneurs fail. So minimize your risk by honestly evaluating if your concept is valid and marketable. Remember, just because you like your idea doesnt mean theres a market full of buyers for it, so do your research. Tip: your moms opinion doesnt count because shes biased, so find a small business mentor and ask her. Assess your personality You also need the right personality to run your own business. You must like people and people must like you so you can get them to do what you want. You need to be able to make fast, confident decisions, and you need to be organized so that you can give clear direction to others. If your product launch flops, you are the one who has to tell everyone why the company is still on the road to success. If you cant rally the troops, you need a business partner. You also need boundless energy. When you own the company, you set the pace and the standards. Remember the day at the office last month when you were upset and tired from worrying about your personal life the night before, so you surfed the Internet all day? Relaxing, wasnt it? You cant do this when you own the company. Most small business owners work 80-hour weeks and wish they needed less sleep. I have these traits. And I started a business. I raised funds and hired employees, and, surprise, the company was successful and I eventually cashed out. But I paid a high price. I worked almost every waking minute. When cash flow was poor, I worried not only about my own paycheck, but about the paychecks of my employees. When cash flow was good, deal flow was heavy and my workload doubled even though I was already maxed out. While I was negotiating the sale of my shares, my hair started falling out. I didnt know this happened to women, but apparently it does, usually from intense stress. Fortunately, most small business owners are optimistic. And I am, too. I bought some Nioxin to make my hair grow back. And once I regained my former full mane, I started another business. It failed. And I lost a lot of the money I made from the first business. There were many reasons for the failure: Bad timing, bad economy, and maybe, in hindsight, bad idea. If you think you have the personality to succeed as a small business owner, make sure you have the right approach to failure as well. Minimize risk to your checkbook and your career I invested only the money I could afford to lose. I had no kids and no mortgage. I lost my loot from my first company, but I didnt lose my shirt: I kept enough to live on for a while longer. Think of starting a business as gambling: When you go to Vegas, never bet your plane fare home. Once my company closed, I enlisted a resume-writing service to help me frame my business flop as a career hop to the next level of management. Fail quickly and move on Most business leaders fail once or twice before hitting it big. Think of failure as a necessary career step and move through it quickly and assuredly recognize when things are going poorly, fail fast, learn, and get another idea. To those of you with the right personality, I say bring it on! You will be pleased that you turned tough economic times into an opportunity for fulfillment. And even if you fail, remember that statistics indicate you are most likely to succeed when you are doing something you love.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Get Smart About Supply Chain How to Cut Costs in Logistics - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Get Smart About Supply Chain How to Cut Costs in Logistics - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Your company’s supply chain covers everything from ordering and storing raw materials to managing your finished inventory to fulfilling orders and ensuring they get to the buying customer safe and sound. With so many different steps in the supply chain process, it can become overwhelming to manage. If you’re not properly overseeing your supply chain, costs can begin to inflate. Without clear systems, processes and budgets, you may easily find yourself spending way too much money on your supply chain and logistics. Cutting your supply chain costs may actually be easier than you think. If you feel like you’re overspending in your logistics department or you just want to save your business as much money as possible, here are a few smart cost-cutting ideas you should try. Create a Detailed Timeline Last-minute decisions can lead to mistakes, missed opportunities and high costs. If you don’t have a clear plan of when items should be produced, shipped and delivered to your customers, you’re likely to take on some unnecessary costs before the shipment is completed. Create a detailed timeline that follows each and every product from start to finish. Know how long your products will take to manufacture, when an item will need to be shipped to be delivered on time and what you can do to reduce those costs. If you take the time to consider the small changes you can make in your timeline, you can free up ample room in your budget. Use a Multitasking Supplier Your suppliers are a major part of your business’s success. But if you’re buying different items from suppliers all over town, you can run into additional costs. When there are too many areas you need to collect supplies from, your supply chain becomes longer, you have longer lead times and you will end up paying more. Work with suppliers who can provide you with multiple things you need. Companies with multiple capabilities can help you reduce time and can even save your company money. Multitasking suppliers can also reduce the chance of mistakes and eliminate additional supply transportation costs. Have a Backup Plan While you will want suppliers who can provide you with the majority of what you need to create your product, you don’t want to have all your supplies coming from one location. If your supplier does not have any competition, they may want to jack up their prices, knowing it could be more of a hassle for you to find a new supplier. Having multiple suppliers can also ensure your business runs smoothly if there is ever an issue between you and one party. If you have multiple suppliers, your production won’t stop if one goes out of business, you can’t come to an agreement or they raise their prices outside of your budget. Run a Lean Operation A company is lean when they do not have frivolous or unnecessary additions to their processes. For supply chain, a lean operation includes operating at full capacity, keeping little raw material sitting in inventory and properly forecasting future purchases and demand. While a lean operation is not always easy to run, it can save your company a decent amount of change. To start, look at where your company could be more efficient. Are you frequently sending out half-empty shipments? Are your facilities or storage units underutilized? Cut back on the things you don’t need and rearrange items or processes until you’re making the most of your space and assets. Only Use One Platform Instead of using multiple platforms to perform different tasks, keep all your information, needs and product details in one place. Be sure this platform is accessible to anyone who may need the information. Operating on just one platform can reduce mistakes, missing information or duplicate activities. When you have fewer platforms to flip between, there is a smaller chance of an order going missing, getting sent to the wrong location or being forgotten. If you have fewer mistakes, you’ll save time, money and headaches for your employees. Consistently Review Your Demand Needs No matter how long you’ve been in business, your demand will probably change from time to time. Certain seasons or years may be busier for you while other times may bring you fewer orders. If you’re operating on the same supply chain plan all year round or from year to year, you’re probably wasting a good chunk of money. You should be doing research on your demand consistently throughout the year. Make adjustments to your supply chain periodically throughout the year to reflect your research. Track your projections and your actual orders until you have a better idea of what your demand looks like. Consider Outsourcing While outsourcing your supply chain management would mean another expense for your business, it may actually help you become more efficient and make more money. For smaller businesses that may not have the funds to keep a full supply chain team in-house, outsourcing logistics can take the stress off your shoulders and give the work to a professional. Outsourcing your supply chain management can also reduce the number of mistakes your company experiences during the fulfillment or shipping process, saving you precious time and money. If you feel like supply chain is something you just don’t have time to master, consider outsourcing at least a part of it. If you’re not paying close attention to your supply chain, it can easily get out of control. The more mistakes you make, the more money you need to pay to keep your customers happy and ensure they’re getting the products they’ve purchased. Getting smart about your supply chain is one of the best ways to reduce costs and improve your efficiency. With these tips, there’s no reason you should still be struggling to streamline your supply chain process.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Becoming a Role Model Mentor to Your Other Female Co-workers - CareerMetis.com

Becoming a Role Model Mentor to Your Other Female Co-workers Source: Pexels.comAs a busy professional in today’s modern world, you understand that life isn’t always easy or simple. Being a woman in the workforce can be tricky, which is why it’s incredibly important that female co-workers have someone to look up to.A strong role model and mentor can make an incredible difference in the lives of the women around her, which is why it’s vital that you take the necessary steps to make sure you’re showcasing your best qualities and lifting up the women around you.You don’t have to have a lot of experience to be a strong mentor, nor do you need professional training.evalIn fact, you’ll be surprised at just how far a positive attitude and a strong dedication to learning and self-improvement can really go.Here’s what you need to know.1. Focus on the PositiveevalMake sure you focus on the positive as much as possible. When presented with obstacles or frustrating situations, it can be easy to dwell on the “what-if’s” of a situation, just as it can be easy to assume the worst will happen.Why not set a positive example for the women around you? Make an effort to consider potential outcomes, but place an emphasis on the benefits and perks of any given situation.For example, if you have to work late, instead of complaining that you’re going to be tired, focus on the fact that you can make additional income. Other women around you will notice and pick up on your attitude regarding your situation at work. This will help them to match your attitude.Remember thatpositive attitudesare great for your overall health. Being overly negative or feeling frequently stressed can actually make you more likely to become sick. It can also make you feel anxious, frustrated, and sad.While you don’t need to act “fake” in order to be positive, you should take a step back when you encounter a tricky situation and try to evaluate your options for reacting.2. Set Reasonable GoalsevalIt’s important to set goals you can consiste ntly work toward and reach. While there’s nothing wrong with setting lofty goals, these can often be unattainable and it can be frustrating when you don’t get what you want. Why not try setting reasonable goals on a regular basis?You can do this with the other women you work with. This can also help them to set their own goals, both in the workplace and in their personal lives. For example, if you work at a call center and you want to increase your productivity, set a specific goal.You could say, “I want to answer four phone calls per hour” or “I want to help 10% more customers this week.” These are specific goals that can help you feel better about yourself while improving your production at work.3. Avoid Trash-TalkingIt’s easy to become over-worked, over-stressed, and over-tired. Sometimes, when you’re emotionally and physically drained, trash-talking just sort of happens. Try to avoid this.evalTalking negatively about your boss, fellow co-workers, or even your cus tomers can be a recipe for disaster. It also sets a negative overtone for your place of work. If you need to vent, consider writing in a diary or journal so you can let out your feelings.You may also want to choose one person you don’t work with whom you can safely express your feelings to. When you’re at work, however, remember that trash-talking people, places, or situations can create a negative working environment.It can also encourage other co-workers to demonstrate the same poor attitude. Why not keep negativity to yourself as much as possible? This can help you to demonstrate strong leadership and empathy skills to the other women you work with.4. Reach OutPart of being a good role model and mentor is to know when to reach out to the women around you. If you see someone hurting or struggling, it’s important that you talk with them.Something as simple as sending an email to see how a meeting went or stopping by someone’s desk to ask about their day can make an incredib le difference.If you notice a particular co-worker who seems to be feeling down or frustrated, you could even invite them to lunch or coffee and offer your ear. you’ll be surprised at just how much this can improve your working relationship and can lead to great success for both of you at work.5. Pay AttentionevalWhile office drama can happen anywhere, make sure you pay attention to this type of problem in your office. If you notice a few coworkers who seem to be getting catty with one another, consider meeting with them to discuss the situation.You may also need to preemptively implement office strategies that will keep dramatic issues at bay.Remember that in order to create a positive working environment and to be a strong role model to the women around you, you’ll need to make sure you abide by these policies, too. Avoid getting involved in office drama regardless of how “juicy” it may be.evalWhile becoming a mentor isn’t an easy task, it can be incredibly rewarding. As you develop your leadership skills and grow in your position at the company you’re with, you’ll have more and more opportunities to exhibit strong leadership abilities and mentoring capabilities to the women you work with.It’s no secret that finding strong female role models can be tricky, which is why choosing to focus on becoming a great role model is an incredible endeavor.Remember to be patient with yourself. If you’ve never been a role model before or you’ve never worked on mentoring other females, you might find getting started a bit tricky. Keep in mind, however, that your efforts will be well worth the trouble.The other woman in your office will love having someone they can not only look up to, but that they can trust to guide them effectively and efficiently as you all work together.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

7 Ways To Find The Right Career - CareerAlley

7 Ways To Find The Right Career - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. When you start to think about what you might want to do for the rest of your life, it can be really daunting. You may often find that you just have no idea what you want to do or how you want to spend your life. And what makes it worse, when everyone else around you seems to have it all figured out, you can feel like a failure. And its tough to feel stuck. To not know what kind of career or even industry is going to be right for you. You may even start to think that you just arent suited to anything or smart enough or talented. But you are. You just need to slow down and try to work out what route is best for you. Think about careers that pay well. Because if you want a stable job that facilitates your lifestyle, then you will need to consider which careers have the most potential Tweet This At first, this can seem overwhelming. Because when youre stuck and you have no idea about what kind of career you want, trying to break it down can feel like its going to take forever, but t doesnt have to. In fact, it can be quite simple. And no, it doesnt involve just doing what your friends do or following a path that your parents have picked out for you. Even if you find yourself in a position where you do exactly that, you can use the below tips to get back on track. So lets take a look at seven ways you can find the right career. Photo by Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash 1. Do Your Research First of all, youre going to want to need to do some serious research. Because if you have absolutely no idea what you want to do or whats available to you, then you should start digging around. See what kinds of careers or industries are out there and what seems interesting to you. Because the perfect career for you is out there waiting for you, you just dont know it yet. 2. Look At The Demand The next thing that you might want to do, is to consider the market. If you want to make sure that you will be secure, and that you have a good shot at getting a job, then youll want to think abouthigh demand industries that you could work in. What kinds of roles are in demand? The answers to these questions will help you to decide potential careers. Photo by Kyle Sterk on Unsplash 3. See What Pays Well The next step is to think about the kinds of careers that pay well. Because if you want a stable job that facilitates your lifestyle, then there are some excellent careers like medicine or law. Research the fields that have the highest demand and are expected to grow. 4. Think About The Lifestyle Think about the kind of lifestyle that you want to have. Because we all spend a lot of time working, and the job you choose will be a huge part of your life. So you really need to think about how you want to spend your time. Maybe you want to be in a busy office or you want to travel? So you need to look into options like corporate careers or maybe you would considernearby traveling nurse jobs. Think about whatever will give you the lifestyle you want. Networking, whether social or professional, is bound to bring you results. Thus, if you are looking to enhance your chances of landing a job, ensure that you are trying to connect with a lot of influential people through online and offline platforms. As such, you will have to make a point of attending social and community events to get to meet and know new people. Also, try and raise your activity level in popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. However, if you are looking for professional networking exclusively, be sure to utilize LinkedIn as much as you can Tips to Enhance Your Chances of Landing Your Dream Job 5. Consider Your Strengths What are your strengths? What are you really good at? Are you creative? Analytical? Great with numbers? Good with people? Really consider what youre good at and see what careers could stem from that. 6. Follow Your Passions Now, not everyone will be in this position, but if you find yourself dreaming about doing something in particular, then why not go after it? You may be suppressing this dream or you may be afraid to go after it, but if you are passionate about something, you should make it work. Or at least try. Because otherwise, you may keep wishing that you pursue that career choice. 7. Network See And finally, leverage your network. Friends, family, teachers and former coworkers know you best and can help you think about careers that are best suited for you. When youre really unsure or stuck, trying to make a rash decision may not end well for you. Instead, put yourself out there. Go to events and conferences and network. Meet people. Ask them about their careers and how they go there. And slowly, you may find that you start to work out what you want to do because youve got a ton of advice and insight from a wide range of people. Plus, in the process, you may also find that you open up doors because youve been networking too! What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to identify and land your dream job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Friday, May 8, 2020

Women of the World Alexandra Franzen on Copywriting with Heart - When I Grow Up

Women of the World Alexandra Franzen on Copywriting with Heart - When I Grow Up Way back in January of 2010, Alexandra Franzen hired me.   She just gave what she thought was her dream job working in public radio four months notice (!), but had one problem: She knew she wanted to own a business, but didnt know the What or How of it. Could I help? I thought I could, despite still being a baby coach/business owner and still working at my day job. Its 7 years later, and Im just so in love with her writing and teaching business, her heart, and her integrity. Alexandra has built a business that is not only successful financially, but is purely reflective of her own values, personality, and priorities. The coach has now become the coachee, as I often look to her newsletters and posts to help  me with  my writing and the way that I conduct  my business. I cant wait to share her amazing wisdom, presence and smarts with you this month! At 4pm Eastern on Friday, March 31st, well be covering: How to face the blank page with compassion Letting your authenticity shine through in your writing How to sell without feeling like a used car salesperson Leading your copywriting with your heart Whatever you wanna know â€" there’ll be plenty of time for QA! Dont forget that when you register, you get: a recording of the session within an hour or so of us wrapping up, that comes with a worksheet with blogging homework directly from  Alexandra a link to access my prior Women of the World interviews with Kim Werker, Tanya Geisler, Jodi Womack, Susannah Conway and Holly Becker â€" and the worksheets that go with em Ready to become a copywriter with heart? Register below and await the transformation! By signing up for this webinar, you agree to get communication about this interview + also to be emailed with goodness from both myself and my guest. We’ll never sell your email or spam you, and you can unsubscribe at any time.