How Tasty is Your Opportunity Pie

How Tasty is Your Opportunity Pie When I talk to candidates about Potential Opportunities (yeah, Bolded and Big as that’s how I see it when I say it), I always ask them to examine all the different aspects. Taking a new role isn’t about just one slice of pie it is about how they make the whole pie as a whole. Now, my local super market sells this giant cheesecake made of all different slices of cheesecake. In many ways, that is the kind of thing we are talking about here. Each one of these pieces are not just different sizes, they are different flavors all delicious, but some of them have a lot more chocolate fudge than others! All my percentages and what not are just my personal observations. In fact, I know they also reflect very heavily on what is important to me, personally, when I am evaluating an opportunity. However you slice your personal pie, I hope the examples listed here will help you when dealing with a candidate hung up on one slice or help you when examining your next opportunity. Please, my peers, I beg of you: Comment, comment, comment. I feel like there are things I am missing, and my values are, well, my values. Tell me about yours. With that said, let’s look at each slice, in order of size. 1) How much will I enjoy the work? 18%: A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do. Bob Dylan I think this sums up not only why this is the biggest slice, but why it really overshadows everything else. If you are not happy doing what you’re doing every day, the rest won’t really matter, will it? Yeah, as my wife Senda likes to say, “They call it work not super-duper happy fun time for a reason”. I always reply with, “Well, that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy your job!” 2) Culture 16%: You might be a landlord, you might even own banks, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody! Bob Dylan From the intern to the C Level, we all have bosses. Even CEOs report to a board or shareholders. Does the company culture reflect YOU as a person? Is this someplace you can be happy? It flows like water right back into number 1. The work and the place you’re doing it must give you satisfaction. Chris O’Donnell talks about the “Politics of the Possible”. Well, nothing will ever be perfect but is it close enough to what you need to enjoy going in 5+ days a week, to a place where you spend more hours than the time you spend with your family? 3) Where will it put me in 2 years? 15% Internal Growth Potential 15%: He who isn’t being born is busy dying. Bob Dylan What will I learn? Can I grow as a professional within my skill set during a 2 year period? Can I learn a new skill set? How will this opportunity make me more marketable? In fact, can I use what I learn to advance in the firm or will I have to call a recruiter? I gave these equal weight, but listed them on the same line, as they are so intertwined. You may learn skills that make you at your manager’s peer but she is 29, stable and the CEO’s niece. You may learn nothing but have a clearly defined path that goes AVP-VP-Director but virtue of coming in every day and not doing something that ends with the board of directors being indicted. You know me., I’d rather learn but your mileage my vary… 4) Salary 12%: They never did like Mamas homemade dress, Papas bankbook wasnt big enough. Bob Dylan This is the People’s Recruiter, so you know where I put money… I have no problem with making money, and my wife will tell you I have no problem with spending it, BUT it isn’t the most important factor in an opportunity. Is it a factor? Of course, silly. Being a left wing social anarchist (How’s that for a label?) doesn’t mean I have a problem with people being comfortable. But that is a whole other article on a different website, lol. A fair wage, commensurate with your skill set, ideally 3-6% higher than your last salary is what I suggest. Unless factors 1-3 say that a lateral move, or even taking less might be better in the Long Term. That’s why there are slices, not one big cake that says JOB. 5) Quality of Life AKA Home vs. Life 8%: It was just the other day, I was bringing home my pay, when I met an old friend I use to know. Bob Dylan If you are working so hard, and working so much, that your family has become someone you used to know, then, well, I am really sorry for you. TS Elliot talks about putting faces on to meet the faces that we meet. To be more pedantic, there is Relationship George and Independent George: You have to have a healthy balance. Will this new role allow it? 6) Benefits and Vacation 5%: It’s alright mama, I’m only bleeding! Bob Dylan As long as they have them, it’s all good. There are degrees, of course… but on the whole, each industry is pretty standard, AFAIK. If you have special needs, this might go up in importance of course but on the whole? Take ‘em as they come, they tend to be non-negotiable. 7) Bonus and Options 5%: Money doesn’t talk, it swears. Bob Dylan You should always be more concerned with your check, then the “Maybes”. What are bonuses and options except for Maybes? 8) Commute 3%: Ive been havin some hard travelin, I thought you knowed Woody Guthrie (but Dylan did sing it) Yeah, it sucks. But compared to the things above it, how important is it really? 9) Job Title 3%: But even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked â€" Bob Dylan I didn’t want to even put this on there…. But I know titles are important to people. IMNSHO, who cares what they call ya, as long as you are having fun. But, again, it’s my article and my perspective, so there! Conclusion: Bottom line, the final countdown, is that you cannot take an opportunity for just one slice of the pie you need to examine each piece and decide what its value is to you. Then, just to throw some craziness in to the mix, what if one slice is double chocolate fudge, with that chocolate lava filling that slowly leaks out on to the fresh raspberries next to the cake and the chocolate is fair trade Peruvian and…. Well, that throws it all out of whack. In that case… make your own pie chart! If you need somebody you can trust, trust yourself. (you guessed it Ed.) Bob Dylan

Resume Writing Copywriter

Resume Writing CopywriterIn this article I will give you some tips on how to get a better resume. If you are looking for some extra tips on how to sell yourself, then you have come to the right place.You are probably looking to get your resume noticed. Some people don't bother with the resume when they first apply for a job and this is a mistake. If you are applying for a job that is a full time position, it is best to get your resume noticed so that you can get the job.When it comes to writing a resume the first thing you need to do is list down all the papers you have completed and the work experience you have had. Write in full all of the things you have done for a company. If you have completed different tasks with another company to write them all down. This will show that you have more experience than someone who has only been at one job.The next thing you need to do is find a good cover letter. You want your cover letter to stand out from all the other cover letters in the pil e and the trick is to know what the competition is doing. You should never plagiarize from others work.When you are getting your resume written by a professional resume writer to make sure that the letter is unique. This means that the writer can make some slight alterations but the end result will be the same. Many people make their own letters but the professional writers will give you a copy of their work so that you can see what is coming up.Always use bullet points because this will help you put your best points into your letter. It will also make your letter easy to read.The next thing you need to do is to focus on the fact that your resume is your advertisement for yourself. You want to highlight your strengths so that you are seen as the best candidate for the job. You can do this by writing about the specific skills that you have and then connecting these skills to the position you are applying for.Lastly, when you are done with your resume write a cover letter that is as c ompelling as the writing itself. Make sure that it is very unique and showcases your strongest points and it is formatted correctly so that it can be printed. It should also be typed by a professional resume writer so that you don't waste any time trying to figure out how to do it yourself.

Time Management Dealing with Mobile Distractions

Time Management Dealing with Mobile Distractions After blogging about the four hour work week, I have been trying to increase my efficiency at work. One of the things that gets in my way of being efficient are the  many urgent distractions and fire drills I have to put out throughout the day.   Christina Inge is a Boston-based marketing consultant, speaker, and workshop leader, specializing in online marketing channels including search engine marketing, email, social media, and analytics.   She blogs on all things digital marketing at Measurable Marketing Strategy  and is here to help us battle all of those urgent social media distractions!   Thanks Christina!   How to Avoid  Mobile Distractions With mobile and social communications an increasing part of our lives, including our workdays, staying focused on the right tasks is a growing challenge. Non-work distractions are pretty easy to tune out, but it’s those updates and emails that bring yet another urgent task to your attention that really need to be managed. After all, you’re working on five urgent tasks right now, and to get more done, more efficiently, you need to do less putting out fires. Social media and mobile devices have succeeded in making so many mundane tasks seem like 10 alarm fires that need to be put out now. That 7 am tweet asking you to be at the 3 pm meeting? The Facebook message with an RFP? (And if you’re not getting RFPs via Facebook, you soon will be). [Related Post:  5 Social Media Mistakes That Will Get You Fired] All of these things gain an importance far out of proportion to their true urgency when they come in via new channels. It’s one of the basics of how the human brain works: novelty gets our attention more than something we’re habituated to, so social and mobile communication, being more novel than email, just grabs our attention away from information coming in on more traditional channels. The result is a nation of people trying to stay focused on big tasks while little tasks keep climbing in the digital window. Here are two strategies to help you avoid those mobile distractions so you can stay focused and get your work done.   Make a Schedule Set aside a specific time in the day to check your Twitter and Facebook. Make sure you go on when others in your group are most active so you don’t miss essential updates. But, don’t keep these networks open on your computer all day, even if you have business connections who communicate with you on these channels. Once a project that originated on Twitter is underway, give everyone your business cell and email, and move the conversation over there. Use good tools like Seesmic to manage all your accounts from an efficient dashboard. If you monitor your brand’s social media presence, consider asking for several people to take monitoring in shifts, rather than trying to do it 24-7. Turn Off Notifications The single most important thing you can do to minimize mobile distractions is to change your phone’s notification settings. Go into each app and make sure you don’t get intrusively notified every time you get a tweet, an email, or a post to your wall. Dial down the level of urgency on notifications you must receiveâ€"for instance, you need to get a notification every time you get an office email, but maybe your phone doesn’t have to light up, vibrate, and buzz. Those urgent noises make you feel obliged to answer every message, so keep the alerts low-key. For less urgent messages, like tweets, eliminate notifications completely. Turn off all notices when you’re concentrating on a major project, like your slides for your next presentation.   Close your email, turn off your phone, and get to work.  

CCG Podcast 25 Health and Nutrition Advice For Professional Women

CCG Podcast 25 Health and Nutrition Advice For Professional Women PODCAST: Click play above or right click here and save link as to download or subscribe on iTunes. Leave a quick review and rating  here on this link,  I would really appreciate it! SHOW TOPICS: Networking interview with Lisa Marie Rowell: Health and Nutrition Advice for Professional Women Tips to make sure that we eat healthy with a busy lifestyle Ideas for healthy snacks or lunches that we can eat at work Click here to read the video and the transcript

How To Start With A Good Start With A Resume Writing Workshop

How To Start With A Good Start With A Resume Writing WorkshopResume writing workshops in Dallas Texas are great places to have fun and gain practical experience on how to write a resume for a job. Job seekers are always looking for fresh and quality information about resume writing. The workshop offers guidance, tips and learning opportunities for anyone who attends.The professionals at these workshops have the skills, experience and training needed to help job seekers create and update their resumes in an effective manner. They teach you how to create and customize a professional looking resume that is not only professional in its presentation but also carries the right message to the employer. Job seekers learn the importance of starting out with a clean slate. A clean slate is usually a very positive factor in a person's career development.The first step in the process is that a person has to break the ice by meeting with a trained professional. This makes it easy for the applican t to introduce themselves and discuss the problems they are facing while trying to find employment. The workshop then makes suggestions for the applicant and the hiring personnel on how to address issues they might be facing while completing their job application.A resume is the first impression a potential employer receives about a job seeker. That is why it is so important to make the best possible resume possible. One of the things the professional at a workshop will do is provide advice on how to ensure the best possible resume.There are a lot of things, a potential employer is going to look at when reviewing a resume, such as the quality of work experience and education, the level of education, the skill level and the technical qualifications of the applicant. The professional at the workshop helps the applicants work out what is appropriate for them and then helps them with personal details such as education, previous employment and contact information. The professional at the workshop provides advice on how to select the right type of cover letter to use to submit with the resume.People are often looking for a fresh start in life after leaving the workplace. The workshop teaches job seekers how to take the right steps to achieve this goal. They provide job seekers with useful information on finding the right place to work, how to do proper networking and how to promote themselves effectively and honestly.Those who attend these workshops get to see firsthand how real life resumes are produced. The most important advice provided by these professionals is to prepare the resume in a systematic manner. The workshop also teaches job seekers the importance of sticking to a specific timeline and how to structure the resume properly.It is important for everyone to keep abreast of the changing trends in the business world and to keep a sharp eye on the changes that take place in the workplace and in the world of job hunting. This is why it is so important to atte nd workshops related to resume writing. Job seekers are always looking for new ways to add value to the resume and how to keep it current is always something that a workshop can help job seekers to know and understand.

Tips for Creating a Unique and Compelling Resume

Tips for Creating a Unique and Compelling Resume Recently I was invited to speak at AARPs Online Career Fair on Conveying Your Experience Passion Through Your Resume.   Everyone wants a resume that speaks to what makes them unique and showcases their talents.   You can watch the webinar here or read below for   highlights of the tips I sharedGet rid of distractions typos, age indicators, experience older than 10 yrs (unless that experience is relevant to the job youre going after).Highlight your genius and the results youve achieved because of it.   Your genius is the set of unique skills, abilities, talents, interests, experiences and values you bring to your work that no one else can offer in the same way.   To get to your genius on your resume:Ask yourself:-What on your resume excites you to talk about?   Examples could be the positive professional attributes about yourself that youre most proud.   For some this is integrity for others its relationship building and still for others is analytical thinking.   Make sure those pos itive qualities are listed/highlighted in your summary, core skills and under your work experiences.Highlight the kudos, the bottom-line results and the happy client outcomes that youve achieved. Its not bragging if its true.   Ask those youve worked for to write specific endorsements and recommendations about your stellar abilities (genius) the contributions youve made b/c of them.Embrace the fact that no one else has lived your life and therefore no one else can make the same contribution that you can with as much passion, enthusiasm and genius.   Highlight what you love to do. Your resume needs to focus on the activities and responsibilities you LOVE to do. Not just the ones you CAN do.Resumes get 10-15 seconds of a recruiters attention.   Put your resume in front of a colleague, a friend, a career coach. Give each 10-15 seconds to look at it and then ask what stood out for them.People respond to formatting, set up and content. You can bullet point info, create a summary and cor e skills section and even get a graphic designer to work on your resume.Other questions to ask yourself- What are you afraid youll get asked about? Gaps?   Then youll want to focus on what you learned during that time away from work that now benefits your career and perspective.   See your resume is an opportunity to tell your career story and its naturally a compelling one.   Highlight your best and the youll find the best opportunities will find you.If youre looking to update your resume or LinkedIn profile, contact me. Ill be able to be of service and also have a talented resume writers I can refer you to.   Contact me.For more on making your career story compelling, check out my blog post on writing an elevator pitch with the personal touch.

If You Want to Lead, Fake It! - Hire Imaging

If You Want to Lead, Fake It! - Hire Imaging 1. Reexamine and transform your job. I’m fascinated with social psychologist and Harvard professor, Amy Cuddy’s life story and message around faking it till you make it. Her extensive research presents the science behind our ability to change other people’s perceptions â€" and even our own body chemistry â€" simply by changing body positions and language. How does this play into leadership? Whether you’ve just been promoted into a new leadership position or are a long-time leader wrestling with an intensifying role, you have probably heard and read about being your authentic self, tapping your value and strengths to be a better leader. While I advocate authentic brand and maximizing strengths, I also recognize that while soul-searching is a common thread in leadership development, it’s capable of holding you back. Sometimes the best way to become a leader is to just act like one â€" even if you’re not feeling confident! There are experts and a plethora of research validating that personal change happens from the outside in, not the other way around! So, if we simply tell leaders to be themselves, we may be asking them to go against what is most helpful â€" stepping outside their comfort zones to reap fresh happenings. Introspection can also weigh you down in past likes and strengths. How will you know what else you might excel at and love? This happens when you build a new reality that you can reflect on once you have it. Some of my clients have told me they feel fake and insincere moving into new leadership; they were uncomfortable “exchanging” who they were in return for effectiveness. George, a software engineer â€" and newly-promoted leader, was hesitant to share his ideas with leaders or stakeholders without his technical expertise. “They don’t get it,” he said. Devon had trouble releasing familiar tasks from his prior role, because that’s what won him the promotion in the first place. What if you focused on a fresh, external perspective gained from the new and different, rather than on past behaviors? Here are three ways to become a better leader using this approach: 1. Reexamine and transform your job. Expand the strategic nature of your work. Acquire some new experiences outside your routine function, role, business area or organization. Sometimes folks don’t even recognize new opportunities until they embrace something new â€" a new committee, project, task force, program â€" anything that helps you grow and connect. 2. Broaden your network. Do new things and diversify your network. Many folks approach their networking from a standpoint of people who are from the same field, industry, company, etc. “Same” is the key word. How can you be visionary when your networks are not? As you try and do the new, with the new, so shall you be new, aka “leader”. 3. Be adventuresome with your view of self. Give yourself permission to step outside your comfort zone of who you are. It can help to think of leadership as experimental phases rather than a long-range commitment. It’s sometimes hard to commit to what you don’t know, versus what you think of as a “jump in and try it” opportunity. Experimentation can be freeing. For example, trying different communication and management styles allows you to figure out which style or approach works best. Great leaders are bridges that link their teams to external concepts and sources. They’re not just “centers” with their teams and their work. While both are important, “bridges” gain a multi-dimensional depth that helps them shape long-range vision, strategy, and action for the future. In developing your leadership skills, self-analysis and reflection can certainly be helpful â€" but only if you’ve also had some new experiences in the mix to contemplate.