Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Questions To Ask Before You Jump on the Tech Bandwagon

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Questions To Ask Before You Jump on the Tech Bandwagon Rapidly advancing technology offers a terrific opportunity to take your business to the next level and infuse your companys culture with an innovative spirit. Every year unveils new software and apps with the potential tosimplify processes, streamline workflow, improve communication and increase employee and partner productivity andefficiency. However, just because a solution is new and shiny, doesnt mean that its right for your organization and cultureâ€"at this point in time or ever. As a business owner, you dont want to introduce too many programs that dont integrate with existing systems, dont map explicitly to your strategic and operational goals or dont make sense cost-wise. You also dont want to jump on the tech bandwagon so many times that you overwhelm your employees and run into user adoption problems. Purchasing software for your business should include a comprehensive analysis of your needs, as assessed by your fellow leaders, partners and vendors. Establish a concrete objective, detail the projects or tasks the new solution will address and determine your end users. Then, talk with stakeholders to land on an execution plan, deciding whether youll go with a single department pilot, a phased approach or a full-scale, simultaneous rollout. Your final step involves asking any one of the following provider-related questionsbeforebuying software. 1. What functionality does the software provide? Study the profile of the employee who will use the software. View experiential demos to ensure the technology aligns with how you run your business and how your stakeholders prefer to engage. Make sure the software is scalable in caseyour company grows quickly, and that it has strong reporting and measurement capabilities to provide you with the data you need in a useful format. 2. What are the implementation specifics? Speak to your prospective vendor about whether your existing IT infrastructure can support the new solution. Does the new software run on compatible platforms, and if not, how difficult will it be to integrate systems with minimal downtime? For more recommendations, head over to the AMEX Business site.

Meet Fear Head On to Reach Your Peak - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Meet Fear Head On to Reach Your Peak - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Not everyone was born to take risk. But sometimes circumstance calls upon us to do so. When a once in a lifetime opportunity is presented, we have to say “Yes!” or the regret of not having done so will remain. Make  it a habit to accept and quietly go get help to boost confidence.  This becomes your power play. It is the lessons we learn along the way that shape and propel us forward Attitude Are you willing to embrace the attitude to try, fail, learn, and then try again? Not everything works out to perfection. Many times the opportunity will quickly sour. The willingness to learn from the lessons encountered translates into something gained. This type of thinking is what propels growth and future success. In the past, have you turned down opportunities that you wonder about today? Consider what you might do differently in the future. In the meantime, consider implementing these three actions from now on. They will put you on an improved course. Three Actions to Embrace:  Question Ask for the details of the offer. Understand how the idea developed, the work required upfront, and the benefits to be derived for all parties involved. Be certain to  ask why  you were selected. What did the asking party see in you and your talent to bestow the honor? This provides insight as to what others see in you. Ask all of the questions that come to mind including the anticipated outcome by  joining forces, in order for you to make a sound decision. Most of all, determine if the offer meets with your values and priorities. Accept Once you recognize a scary but outstanding offer, say, “Yes, count me in!” At your first opportunity, pay for the education needed in order to be prepared to deliver excellent results. The important factor is to always strive to deliver with excellence. Your reputation and personal brand become well-recognized as you take all of this into consideration. Learn Pressure will loom over you as you undertake learning new strategy and working with new people. Be willing to learn as much as you can from both the negative and positive experiences. Either outcome  will expand your knowledge and scope for the future. It all circles back to attitude.This practice,  over time, is what paves the road to success. As you look back, you will recognize that all of the learning and experiences combined will have erased the fear! Sales Tips: Look fear in the eye Say yes to incredible opportunity Rise to new occasions Study and implement as much as possible Continually review what is working best Get help as you need it Network with people of a seemingly higher capacity Learn from every experience and every person you meet Deliver your best Celebrate how far you have come Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale! http://www.smoothsale.net/blog/

#4 - You may need a makeover. There, I said it. Career Coach JobJenny

#4 - You may need a makeover. There, I said it. Career Coach JobJenny This is thefourth of a six-part series that will highlight 6 things you can do, right now, to make your job search much, much more effective. If you've been struggling with a marginal-at-best job search for a while, it's time. If you're just setting off on your job search path? It's time. (Below there are more. Here's #4.)When you are a job seeker, your appearance matters...plenty.Specifically, your appearance matters when you walk into the lobby of a company to interview, or through the hiring manager's office door.Do not shoot the messenger.Anddon't believe those who insist they don't make decisions based on appearance. Because they probably do, even if they don't realize it.You write paragraphs about yourself before you even open your mouth.So consider... what are your first paragraphs?If you've been landing interviews but, time and again, are not the selected candidate? It could be that your first paragraphs need work. And this work could involve your physical appearance.Annoying ? Sure. Unfair? Totally.Real? Yes.You have a choice. You can either be mad at the reality, or you can digest it, accept it andstrategize accordingly.Hint: the latter will likely land you a new job fasterWe are socialized to make split-second decisions about people based on initial perceptions.We value youth and vitality in our culture.When you look vibrant and healthy? People think you are vibrant and healthy. Capable. Current. Smart.Whether that's true isneither here nor there. It's what they think.When you look outdated, worn down, tired?People think that you're outdated, worn down, tired.And they worry about how/if you'll be able to perform in the job.You know you can do the job, don't you?(dammit!)Of course you can. And you'll maximize your chance of demonstrating this if you invest in your appearance.Update your hair. Update your wardrobe. If you're a woman, get some makeup tips. If you're a dude, manage the facial hair (good grief, especially if it's coming out your nose or ea rs...)If you need help, ask your most stylish friend to guide you along.You want to win this game? Play it accordingly.You ready to go full-on and land the job you truly want and deserve? Then stop flailing, and start planning. I can help you. On April 4, I will launch a new ebook,To Whom it May Concern: Or, How to Stop Sucking at Your Job Search.Consider it your job search BFF, all rolled into one tidy and affordable ebook. It'll walk you step-by-step through the process of calming down, crafting a game plan, and then executing a job search strategy that will actually work in today's crapola economy. If you're interested, be sure and sign up for the To Whom it May Concern mailing list. I'll be offering all of my subscriber peeps a hearty discount on the goods during a pre-launch, which will go down in just a couple of weeks. See you over there!

Want a China-focused Career Stay in the US. - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Want a China-focused Career Stay in the US. - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When I first traveled to China over a decade ago I knew that a career focused on Chinese business was my ideal path. After I graduated college, I was fortunate to receive a Fulbright Fellowship that took me to Taiwan followed by a top Mandarin training program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Over the years, conversations with friends and family shifted from “Why would you study Chinese?” to “Wow, you speak Chinese, you’ll get any job you want.” Unfortunately, like many recent graduates who study the language I faced a rude awakening when I found that companies didn’t care about how well I spoke Chinese when I entered the job market. They wanted employees with marketable skills like engineering, software design, and sales â€" if a candidate possessed these skills AND spoke Chinese, then they had some great opportunities. I spent the next few years acquiring these practical skills. I started by working with local Chinese internet entrepreneurs to help them understand best practices developed by their peers in Silicon Valley. Then, I took a job at a management consulting firm as an intermediary between a team of European consultants and a local team of Chinese managers working for government-owned companies. I eventually made my way down to Singapore where I helped establish the Asia Pacific headquarters of my current firm Frontier Strategy Group, where I shifted focus to work with American executives seeking to enter various markets in Asia. Ultimately, starting my career in Asia was the right decision, but if I were in the job market today I would advise young job seekers to take a different path. The market for Chinese-speaking Americans in China has become extremely competitive. There is a tremendous push for students to learn Chinese from organizations such as the 100K Strong Foundation. The natural outcome of these programs is an increased number of entry-level Chinese speakers who are all looking for the same types of job opportunities. And don’t forget about the hundreds of thousands of Chinese students who graduate from top-tier international academic institutions each year. These individuals not only speak English, but they also have a better understanding of Chinese culture than any China expert ever could. This does not mean American college graduates should give up on their dreams of pursuing a China-focused career. When China Goes West â€" specifically when Chinese firms enter the United States and other advanced economies there will be many opportunities for American graduates to work for a Chinese company and never even have to leave their home country. In fact, a growing number of Chinese companies are already operating in the U.S. today. Tencent, Haier, Goldwind, Sany, Wanxiang â€" these are companies that you may never have heard of operating in various states across the country. Chinese firms from diverse industries from energy to consumer electronics to entertainment are all setting up shop in the US. One of their key motivations for doing so is to gain access to top global talent â€" employees who understand the Chinese side, but also have a deep understanding of how to do business in the US. At the macro level, Chinese investment in the US has increased dramatically in recent years doubling from 2012 to 2013 to reach $14 billion last year. At the micro level, young Americans are already working for these firms in the US. Take the story of my friend James who studied with me in Beijing. After returning to the US James took a job in the internet industry to build a set of practical business development and marketing skills. A few years later, he went to work for one of China’s largest internet companies that ope ned a new American subsidiary in Silicon Valley. We are at the early stage of the phenomenon of Chinese companies expanding into the US. As a result, there are and will be tremendous employment opportunities for ambitious, internationally minded Americans who can bring a marketable skill to the table. Don’t let the countless hours you spent writing Chinese characters until your hand cramps up go to waste. The opportunity to apply a China-focused skillset in the US will be great for your career. In order to do so, you’ll need to understand what areas Chinese firms need the most. Reading my book China Goes West: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese Companies Going Global  (available on Amazon today) will help you do just that.

Do You Need a Professional Resume?

Do You Need a Professional Resume?It is really hard to come up with an original, one of a kind resume that is unique and stands out from the crowd. If you've ever looked for help on your own, you may have learned how difficult it can be to write something that is unique and professional. That's why it's good to consider a resume writing service Encinitas offers.There are many things that you can get for free, but these are just some of the many different benefits of hiring a service. First, they can review your resume in a way that gives them a good feel for what you are really capable of. After reviewing your resume, you'll know what mistakes you may have made and whether or not you can correct them. This will help you make sure that you have an impressive resume and not one that looks like every other resume that was submitted.Second, they will add an extra personal touch to your resume. You won't always get a one hundred percent professional looking resume when submitting it, but you'll get one that is easier to read and that is also well-written. With their help, you will get the best of both worlds. While you will be getting a professional-looking resume, you will also get a professional-looking resume that is written by someone who cares about what they are doing.Finally, you'll be able to find and choose a professional resume that is perfect for your specific job opening. Once you work with a resume writing service in Encinitas, you'll have access to resumes that are tailored for various positions throughout the company. This means that you can find a professional resume for any job opening.There are some steps that you can take to ensure that your resume is going to look professional. First, make sure that you submit your resume in Word format rather than PDF. Although PDF will look great when you have all of your information printed out and ready to go, you should be looking for a resume that has been created in Word.Secondly, consider going with a res ume writing service that charges by the hour. You can save money because you don't have to pay a large upfront fee and then worry about setting up and keeping appointments. Instead, you can pay once and then enjoy a professional resume created within a few weeks. Since you won't have to worry about keeping appointments, you can focus on more important aspects of your life.Lastly, think about creating your resume yourself. Although this may seem like a time consuming process, it can save you hundreds of dollars and hours of stress when it comes to writing your resume. You can easily do it yourself, but if you don't have a lot of experience in writing, you'll want to hire a professional.If you are in need of a professional resume, you can find them in the San Diego area through a resume writing service in Encinitas. The best thing that you can do is to write it yourself, but if you don't have a lot of experience, it's okay to hire someone to do it for you. By doing so, you will save y ourself time and money and you will be able to give yourself the best chance to land your dream job.

Maximize Your Productivity For Your Job Search (5 tips) - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Maximize Your Productivity For Your Job Search (5 tips) In this guest post, Patrick Hankinson shares some insights on maximizing productivity on your job search. Patrick is the founder of Hello Focus that is building tools to make the world more productive and less stressed using data science. Too often, looking for a new job is a case of “hurry up and wait.” You find a job suitable you are interested in, but the application period closes at the end of the day. Or you get a call from a hiring department who wants to conduct a first interview as you are racing to pick your daughter up from daycare on time. We all know the process of looking for a new job can seem like a job in itself! How do you manage to hold down a life when you’re trying to look for a new job? Sometimes, tweaking your day to maximize your productivity is all it takes to not only juggle, but excel, in both life and switching careers. Let’s take a look at how to tune up your productivity. Take notes. As you’re preparing to interview for a new job, take the time to start notating what is going to sell you to a company’s HR department. Chances are, when you’re brushing up your resume, you’re not going to remember every accolade, new program learned or the specific steps you took to reduce spending at your last company. A program or app like Evernote, Google Keep, Simplenote or other apps can help you capture those snippets of memories that you can use to enhance your resume or prepare you for those interview questions. Collect these thoughts throughout your day and review them as you’re updating your resume or preparing for an interview. While you’re collecting notes about yourself, keep a list of people who can support you in your search. Reach out to them and let them know that you’re in the process of changing careers. Not only is it good to keep your list of references refreshed, but by reconnecting with these peers, you might just find other doors opened to you in companies that haven’t even began to put together that initial job description. Make the most of your optimal time. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you find your most creative times are when you roll out of bed before your family wakes up, or do you need two cups of Joe before you can put a coherent thought together? The most productive people know exactly when they are functioning at their best, and know that they need to dial into those times. If you are trying to review your resume again, don’t try to slog through it when you’re exhausted and feeling negative. Wait until you are feeling you are on your game to take care of business. Polish that resume, respond to any job-related correspondence, and create your application cover letters during these times. You’ll find you can work through these tasks quickly and can get back to your regular tasks. Be okay with rejection. It’s rough to apply for a job and not even get a call back. Or to leave an interview just sure you’ve nailed it… only to have a “thanks, but no thanks” voicemail the next time you check or messages. Everybody has their stories of rejection Steve Jobs was actually fired from Apple: the company he created! He kept moving, focused his efforts on companies such as NeXT and Pixar and eventually returned as CEO of Apple. Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein was expelled from school and he was later rejected for admittance into Zurich Polytechnic School. Now, his very name is synonymous with “genius.” Walt Disney declared bankruptcy when an early business venture failed. Chicken Soup for the Soul masterminds Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were rejected more than 100 times. These are only a few examples of failures. But think about it: What would have happened if Steve Jobs decided not to pursue any other ventures after he was canned by Apple? What if Beatrix Potter gave up on her dream of having her beloved children’s books published? What would the world of the horror flick look like had Stephen King given up writing after Carrie was rejected time and again? It’s okay to be rejected, but it’s not okay to let that rejection rule you. Review your interview material and tweak that resume again. Keep ‘exercising’ your job search. It’s harder to motivate yourself to exercise when you’re tired or not feeling so hot. The same thing happens when you spend an extended amount of time looking for a new job and sometimes the task is going to seem so elusive you don’t want to look at one more job description. Fight the urge to procrastinate about opening that online job board. If you need to, bring in a friend or family member to keep holding you accountable and set a goal. Perhaps it will be to send out your resume to five companies in a week, or to follow up with three potential employees by March 8. Regardless, keep the momentum going! Get ready to succeed. It’s inevitable: that “you’re hired” call is going to come in. Don’t wait until that moment to start thinking about the transition. Do you have any loose ends with your current employer or your personal life that should be wrapped up before you start in a new job? A good employee is going to hit the ground running with a new career. Make sure you’re not the person who has to take an afternoon off during your first week on the job to go shopping for the washing machine that has been trying to die for two years. Making a career change can be a daunting, time-consuming task. Taking the time to prioritize your day and organize your approach may save wasted efforts and missteps along the way.

5 Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Job Search

5 Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Job Search Job seekers unwittingly make mistakes. You may not know you are sabotaging your job search so let me call out these 5 things and explain why they are so damaging to your job search. While you are probably familiar with the little and easily-fixable reasons job seekers mess up (being rude, dressing unprofessionally, not tweaking resumes); these are the bigger and more important things to watch out for. 1. Ignoring  Directions Employers provide directions on how to apply in their job descriptions, and often request information they would like you to submit. For example, when they ask for salary history, dont ignore this request. However, you dont have to divulge a number that would suggest youre too expensive or under market value. Address their request for salary history in your cover letter. Either include the number, or provide a good reason why you will not be providing this information at this time, followed by a statement that you would be happy to discuss your past salary during the interview. Employers also provide directions when they are arranging interviews and sending you follow-up messages. When you overlook or ignore their directions you are telling a potential employer that this is how you will perform on the job. You are presenting yourself as someone who feels the rules do not apply to them. Or, at the very least, you look like you dont pay attention to detail. Either way, youre sending the wrong message. 2. Bad-Mouthing Your Situation, Boss or Employer Everyone knows it has been a tough few years for finding jobs and that many employees have been downsized due to no fault of their own. But these arent excuses you want to use. Whether youre meeting with a former colleague, hiring manager, recruiter, or anyone else with the power to refer or hire you, you must be aware that they are evaluating you and always present yourself as someone who will tackle difficult problems. When asked why you left your last job, never blame others. Take ownership of what you can and state what youve done to remedy the situation in a concise, non-defensive answer. Your response to what you have been doing during your job search also indicates how motivated you are. Your answer should reference any volunteer work youve done or classes youve taken. Anything is better than nothing. When you complain about any of these things, you dont come across as a problem-solver, you look like a complainerâ€"no one likes someone who complains. 3. Showing Up Unprepared When you show up at an interview, be sure you have enough copies of your resume, that you have researched the company, and that you have prepared questions to ask. When asked why you want to work for that employer, your answer must include why you feel they would be a good company to work for and how you can help them. Interviewers are assessing this answer to see how hungry you are for the job. Their belief is that the candidates who really want the position have taken time to research the job and the company and know how they will fit in. And always have questions to ask. Nothing says not interested more than not asking questions. 4. Only Searching for Jobs Posted Online Many times, employers have already identified a candidate they want to hire by the time they have posted the job. When you only use job postings to find jobs, you may miss out on unadvertised opportunities, enter the competition too late, and then find yourself competing with hundreds of other qualified candidates. For better job search results, work with recruiters and talk to people who work inside companies who could hire you potentially. Savvy job seekers create a list of potential employers and begin looking for people they know inside these companies so they can learn about upcoming, unadvertised openings. 5. Ignoring the Power of Social Media You wont use Facebook for job search. Or you think Twitter is a waste of time. Or youre waiting for a company to hire you because you have a profile on LinkedIn. These choices portray a resistance to learning and trying new things. In case you forgot, when you start a new job, learning new things is a major component of your new role. Social recruiting is on the rise and more employers are turning to LinkedIn for faster and higher quality hires. Take time to learn how to use social media to identify company insiders, read news about target companies, and participate in discussions to keep you up to date on industry trends. It demonstrates you are committed to lifelong learning, not afraid of challenges and technology, and that you will be a valuable contributor. Originally appeared on US News World Reports On Careers blog! 5 Ways Youre Ruining Your Job Search