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.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Top Rated Resume Writing Techniques - Tips For Effective Resume Writing

Top Rated Resume Writing Techniques - Tips For Effective Resume WritingTop rated resume writing is important if you want to get a job and you want to make the most of your skills. A resume has the greatest influence over whether or not you get a job.A resume has been in existence for a long time. It may have started off as an instruction manual for an employee, but today it is a highly developed tool in the career selection process. People can use it to hire themselves for any kind of job. Even a person applying for a junior position for a government organization could use a resume as a marketing tool to place in front of potential employers.A resume plays a vital role in the career selection process. In fact, anyone applying for a job should always use one. Any job application could be compromised by a bad resume that does not stand out from the crowd and instead tries to look like everything else out there.If you are looking for a good job then finding a skilled career expert is a good start. This kind of person would be able to help you in your search for the perfect job. But if you just know what to write, then there are a few tips that you can use to help yourself with your top rated resume writing skills.When it comes to job openings in particular, the tip here is to take the time to decide what type of job you really want. Since there are many job openings coming up each day, you have to take some time to figure out what you want to do first before you even consider any other type of job opening.When it comes to information technology, for example, you will find that most career openings will have requirements for someone with a Bachelor's degree. This is something that everyone who is looking for a job knows very well.You should take time to write about these career opportunities down on paper. After that, look up the most efficient method of making use of the paper and pen that you have available to you. When this is done, you can get the most out of y our top rated resume writing.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Google Anti-Diversity Memo Woman Tech Veteran Responds

Google Anti-Diversity Memo Woman Tech Veteran Responds Over the weekend, a memo written by an anonymous Google employee â€" asserting that women fall behind at Google for biological reasons â€" went viral. A female tech industry veteran responds. Dear Google Guy Who Is Getting Scorched for Writing Things about Gender Diversity that People Like Me Kind of Hate, I say sometimes that I really miss having a smart opposition party. Liberals need thoughtful conservatives; the dipshits currently running conservativism have everybody flailing. So along you come, and you seem pretty thoughtful, so it doesn’t seem right for me to heap a bunch of my righteousness on to your Dudebro absurdity. No, no, no. That’s not fair. What you say is not absurd. You see, it’s easy to get kind of a hair trigger when my first-ever ship gift was, no lie, a teddy bear. It’s not your fault I got a stuffed animal with a bow on it as thanks for 15 months of 70-hour weeks. That is my history; it is not yours. You are trying, and it seems right to engage with you. Because YES, young man, (I’m guessing you’re a youngish, right-wing, men’s-rights type. That’s fine â€" takes all kinds and men should indeed have rights) â€" anyway, YES, whippersnapper, you’re right that a gender gap does not always imply sexism. There are many reasons, well researched, for that gap. I myself am gapped, and am 100% certain that some not all of that is due to choices I made knowingly. (I have agency! I am glad! I would make those same choices again, and need no protection from myself!) But I am choosing to take you at your word when you say you agree that sexism exists. (Some people think you are questioning that, but your sentences smell sincere to me.) While I don’t think you and I would much enjoy hanging out, and while I think you have some learning to do, what you have written is not baseless. And I have things to learn, too. I appreciate that you spoke as respectfully as you could. I think it’s truly shitty that you, honest questioner with whom I disagree on some stuff, can’t write your honest questions and thoughts about diversity without getting yelled at. It is not cool, some of the things people are saying. Shouting that they’ll quit if you aren’t fired seems pretty silly to me. Disagreement should not be a fireable offense. The fact that so many are calling for your head makes me pretty sad. The orthodoxies of diversity that I see all around me are almost always stated in absolute terms, to the extent that sincere curiosity and questions can get a person a really horrible label (sexist, racist, jerk). I also believe that, in the end, the way feminist orthodoxies get expressed (and I am a pretty orthodox feminist, don’t get me wrong) runs deeply counter to the effort of inclusion. People feel silenced, and so they close off. Instead of bringing questioners along, we shame and alienate them. Surely we on the left can see that this is not a productive approach. I am a Woman in Tech, and conversations like the one you tried to have are exactly the conversations I want. The ones in which we don’t spout orthodoxy, but instead create an atmosphere where people like you (because tech is chock full of you) and people like me (because you need to hear why I am often uncomfortable) can ask our questions safely. And when our opinions differ we can tell each other, calmly, why. And we can talk. I’m interested enough in this conversation that I invite anyone, man or woman, particularly in tech, to reach out to me if you’d like to have a no-questions-barred, insistently respectful, conversation on the topic of diversity in tech. Thanks for sharing, Li’l Dudebro. I’m curious whether you’re as open as you say you are. (I’m curious whether I am, too.) Margot Page has been working in the tech industry for more than 20 years. She is working on a book about her experience.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

3 Ways To Convey Quantifiable Information On A Resume - Work It Daily

3 Ways To Convey Quantifiable Information On A Resume - Work It Daily To make an immediate impact with your resume, try these methods: The words you choose to use and how you choose to present information on the resume can dramatically impact the results you get. As a job seeker, you have to remember that your goal with the resume is to make immediate impact by impressing hiring managers and recruiters with something you have that they want. One of the best ways to do that is to offer quantifiable information. Related: How To Quantify Your Accomplishments On A Resume Quantifiable information allows hiring managers and recruiters to measure the degree of knowledge and skills you have to offer. It is a way to inform them about what and how much you can bring to the table. To make an immediate impact with your resume, try these methods: 1. Provide context and scale to your information. When you think of quantifiable information the immediate thought is to go to results you’ve garnered, but on the resume there’s more that can be quantified. Don’t leave out the subject matter. You can talk about how many clients you managed, how many people on the team you had to oversee, or how many products you were involved in marketing across Europe. Putting a number against the subject matter can say a lot. For example, when you say: Managed the launch of products across Europe… it tells a bit of information. When you start to add in numbers like: Formed 6 new partnerships within a year to support the marketing of 5 new products across 10 markets in Europe, which resulted in an increased of revenue by 90%, it says a lot more. Some other words to help along the way include: doubled; tripled; and reduced by. 2. Use numbers and figures. When you talk about results on the resume, you need to find a way to make it stand out. You can put it in a bullet point or use bold typeface, but just as important is applying numbers and figures to the statement. When you add numbers and figures, it’s easier for the eyes looking over your resume to catch. For example, when you write: Reduced time lag by eighty percent..., it’s not as easy to take notice of it. When you show the actual numbers and figures like: Reduced time lag by 80%, it catches the eye much more quickly. The general rule here is to show it when you can, don’t spell it! 3. Toss out fluff words, talk about real achievement. Anyone can say they’re a go-getter, strategic thinker, results-driven…yada…yada. The point is to prove it on the resume. Work with words like: on time, under budget, improved, saved, and negotiated while also applying appropriate numbers and figures (as discussed in the previous bullet) to help you make the point. Today’s hiring managers and recruiters go through enough resumes each day to know when they have a candidate who’s a real winner and one that’s simply all talk on the resume. For tips on what achievements you can measure from your job to include to the resume, read: “How To Demonstrate To Employers That You’re The Best Talent.” When you put your experience in context and scale the subject matter, as well as apply numbers and figures with some of the suggested power words, your resume will comes across with impact and results hiring managers and recruiters can’t deny as impressive. Related Posts Should I Remove My Volunteer Work From My Resume? 5 Ways To Remove Digital Dirt 7 Phrases To Delete From Your LinkedIn Profile   About the author Don Goodman’s firm was rated as the #1 Resume Writing Service in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Don is a triple-certified, nationally recognized Expert Resume Writer, Career Management Coach and Job Search Strategist who has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Check out his Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call him at 800.909.0109 for more information. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!