I Want To Empower You

I Want To Empower You A few years ago I had an epiphany.  While doing some exercises on mission and vision for JibberJobber, and for yourself, I narrowed down my own mission and purpose to that of empowering YOU. I created JibberJobber ten years ago because as a job seeker, I felt grossly unempowered. I wrote my book, Im on LinkedIn Now What???, because I felt unempowered and confused with LinkedIn. I worked hard to get 30 day passes to Pluralsight for my users, and reward you for learning, because knowledge can be empowering. Everything Ive done in the last 10 years have been because of things Ive seen where we, as job seekers (and I believe we are all job seekers, even if we are happily employed), can have more personal empowerment.  Where we just need a bit more knowledge, or a bit more tools. Soon, I will announce another movement to empower you.  This announcement will give you a bit more knowledge, and a bit more tools, but more, it will give you significant opportunity. We will give you the opportunity to earn money. We will give you the opportunity to fill a gap on your resume. We will give you the opportunity to develop your soft skills. We will give you the opportunity to network differently. This opportunity is not a handout. Instead, it is an opportunity that meets you where you are, and relies on you to work.  But I know you arent afraid of that. Weve been working on this for years, and have been designing and developing this for months. Stay tuned for a full announcement, hopefully this week! I Want To Empower You A few years ago I had an epiphany.  While doing some exercises on mission and vision for JibberJobber, and for yourself, I narrowed down my own mission and purpose to that of empowering YOU. I created JibberJobber ten years ago because as a job seeker, I felt grossly unempowered. I wrote my book, Im on LinkedIn Now What???, because I felt unempowered and confused with LinkedIn. I worked hard to get 30 day passes to Pluralsight for my users, and reward you for learning, because knowledge can be empowering. Everything Ive done in the last 10 years have been because of things Ive seen where we, as job seekers (and I believe we are all job seekers, even if we are happily employed), can have more personal empowerment.  Where we just need a bit more knowledge, or a bit more tools. Soon, I will announce another movement to empower you.  This announcement will give you a bit more knowledge, and a bit more tools, but more, it will give you significant opportunity. We will give you the opportunity to earn money. We will give you the opportunity to fill a gap on your resume. We will give you the opportunity to develop your soft skills. We will give you the opportunity to network differently. This opportunity is not a handout. Instead, it is an opportunity that meets you where you are, and relies on you to work.  But I know you arent afraid of that. Weve been working on this for years, and have been designing and developing this for months. Stay tuned for a full announcement, hopefully this week!

How to Write a Resume

How to Write a ResumeHow to write a resume is not an easy task, as there are many facets to writing a professional resume. A good resume is made up of sections that offer the most important information about the applicant, with specific information about their education and previous employment. Besides, it must include the hobbies and special interests of the candidate, so as to assist the employer in determining which section will be the most helpful to them.Knowing how to write a resume is a very crucial step towards landing a good job. The size of the resume or CV varies depending on the needs of the applicant, whether he/she is applying for a managerial or administrative position. There are many aspects to be considered while writing a resume that the applicant needs to understand and analyze before sending the resume.How to write a resume is not easy if you do not have a clearly defined objective. This objective must be related to the job requirements of the company, and the app licant should put effort in communicating this to the employer. The objective should state what the applicant's qualification is, along with any relevant experience. Therefore, one must be clear about his/her qualification before applying for a job, because the employer may not accept your application if he/she does not know the qualifications of the candidate.If an applicant wishes to add an extra section to his/her resume, then he/she should explain why this section is needed. A reason is needed to convince the employer that this section is required, and the applicant must provide proof that the information provided in this section is useful. This part of the resume can be done only after a thorough explanation of the topic. This part of the resume should be informative and it should describe the most important information about the candidate.How to write a resume is also included in the strategic plan of a job seeker. The strategic plan must be fully discussed and explained, so t hat the employer understands the applicant's abilities and capabilities. Once the strategic plan is understood by the employer, the applicant can begin the process of convincing the employer of his/her capabilities and qualities.The resume should be properly organized, and the applicant should be able to match his/her achievements with the job description, and the job description must match the achievements. The key of a well-organized resume is the fact that it can be quickly and easily searched by the employer. The section can be placed anywhere in the document, and it can be described in different ways, depending on the needs of the employer. The resume must be written in a way that it can be used as a reference by the employer, and the format must be consistent throughout the document.The applicant should be able to write a resume on his/her own if he/she has the skills to do so. The employer may ask the applicant to write a draft of the resume, and then it can be revised by the applicant, so as to make it more informative. However, the resume must be written only if the applicant possesses the skills to do so. If an applicant cannot write a resume, then he/she must contact a professional resume writer and ask for help.How to write a resume is important for all job seekers. If the applicant is unable to create a proper resume, then he/she can hire a professional resume writer to provide suggestions and opinions to him/her. The resume must be customized according to the requirements of the employer, and there should be no space left for personal preferences.

The 5 Qualities of a Toxic Worker

The 5 Qualities of a Toxic Worker Looking at your workforce, does everyone have a positive energy and get along well with each other? Or is there one particular individual who just makes life unnecessarily difficult and creates a negative atmosphere when they are around? If the latter is the case, it sounds like you may have a toxic employee on your hands. If the reason behind the behaviour is that the individual is unhappy in their job, then you may be able to resolve the issues; however if you fail to deal with the toxic worker, it could have negative consequences for the business. Whether they  spread office gossip, or are  constantly complaining about work, these behaviours can bring the team morale down. Here are a few of the most common qualities of a toxic employee, that you may want to keep an eye out for: 1) Theyre over-confident: A toxic worker tends to over-rate their own abilities and skills and believe they are better at their job than those around them. Their arrogance and know-it-all attitude can make it difficult to work with them in a team and can cause conflict to arise, due to a lack of cooperation. 2) Theyre self-centred: A toxic worker cares more about their own well-being and success than anyone elses and are likely to put them selves first whenever possible. They are unlikely to help others when they need assistance and will only go beyond their role if it is going to benefit them directly. Though this is sometimes an ego thing, sometimes the individual is just entirely oblivious to the impact they have on others. 3) Theyre always complaining: Toxic  workers are often negative in the workplace because they are unhappy in their job. For this reason its common for them to complain about work to just about anyone who will listen, whether the issues are  to do with their workload, their manager, customers/clients, or something else work related. Theyll often try to get others on board and plant the seed in their minds that there are problems in the workplace and bring the mood down in general. 4) They use unethical methods to get ahead: Toxic workers can play malicious games in order to get ahead. They will often go behind another employees back, or sabotage anothers success in order for personal gain or acknowledgement from management. Some examples of this could be by taking credit for somebody elses work, or flagging up other peoples mistakes, in order to make themselves look better. 5) They are dead-set on following the rules: Abiding by the workplace rules and regulations may sound like a positive quality for an employee to possess, however research has found that the more adamant an individual is that rules should be stuck to at all times, the more likely they are to be fired for breaking the rules. Ironic! [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Free Microsoft Training and Certification for Military Veterans and Families

Free Microsoft Training and Certification for Military Veterans and Families Today is Veterans Day.   Here are President Woodrow Wilson’s words in the resolution to honor veterans on November 11. Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed; and Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples. Today, our veterans are leaving the service to enter an economy that is flat; finding a good job is much harder for most of the men and women returning from war or transferring their families to another duty station.   As of June 2011, one million veterans were unemployed and the jobless rate for post-9/11 veterans was 13.3 percent. On November 10, 2011, Microsoft announced the Elevate America Veterans Initiative in partnership with the Department of Labor, which will provide additional support to veterans in their transition to the civilian workforce. Here in Northeast Florida, one of just four regions in the country to receive the grant, Microsoft will offer 2,000 technology training and certification packages to local U.S. military veterans and spouses over a two year period.   The technology training and certification will be available at intermediate and advanced levels and delivered through e-learning.  This partnership is an extension of the overall Microsoft Elevate America Veterans Initiative which makes a national investment of $12 million in cash, product and related support for U.S. veterans. WorkSource will be receiving 700 vouchers for Intermediate IT skills (IT skills for all jobs based on MS Office 2010 and Windows) and 300 Advanced IT skills vouchers.   Trainees can also receive a voucher for free certification testing.   The region will receive another 1,000 vouchers in November, 2012. The vouchers are good for up to 12 months from receipt.   Honorably discharged military veterans and their spouses can come into any WorkSource Career Center or Mobile Access Point to learn more about the training vouchers.   We’ll assess their current IT skills and give them information about the training, certifications and the technology and computing requirements for downloading the training at home.   If you know a veteran or military spouse who could benefit from this IT training, ask them to visit a WorkSource Career Center and ask for a veteran rep.   You can read more about the Microsoft Elevate America Veterans Initiative and other training here. WorkSource thanks all veterans for their service to our country, and is proud to count many veterans and military spouses among our staff members.   Our offices are closed today, November 11 to honor the many veterans who have served.

Writing Resume Skills - How to Improve Your Writing Skills

Writing Resume Skills - How to Improve Your Writing SkillsIs your resume writing skills on point? If you're not very good at this job, or if you are unable to write a resume that makes an employer sit up and take notice, you may want to hire a resume writing service. You can get an applicant tracking system that is loaded with thousands of unique resumes, and it can be as simple as adding the appropriate keywords to the end of your resume.Unfortunately, most people are not great at writing resumes, and getting it to look like a professional document that will move an employer is a challenge that requires lots of work. Don't get discouraged; this is a skill that you can train yourself to master. Use these tips to help improve your resume writing skills.Your writing skills will greatly improve if you can stay organized. Many resumes get started with their titles, but it's a good idea to start in the middle of your resume. Your name should start out and end up, at the top of your docume nt. Your objective statement should follow you, as well as your contact information, education information, experience information, and other pertinent details about you.The more time you spend reorganizing your resume, the more proficient you will become. Start by keeping it alphabetized, and then begin to add more organization to it as you go. Do a search online for 'organizing a resume' and find examples that will help you through the process.The format of your name is the first thing that needs to be changed. This can be accomplished by using proper spacing when typing your name. You want your name to be as short as possible but use correct spacing so that you don't accidentally misspell your name. Learn how to get it right!Your education is important, and you should take the time to explain that. A good way to do this is to include a list of your training in the body of your resume. It doesn't have to be written down. Be sure to include all of the training you've received, and include any certificates that you may have. In fact, it's recommended that you include your certification with your last name.Experience is critical for many reasons. First, it is often the determining factor for jobs that need experience. For example, a nurse may not require a lot of experience in order to be hired as a nursing assistant. However, if the position was a CNA or a personal trainer, they would require more experience before they could get the job. Keep in mind that the longer you've been employed, the more experience you'll require.Write the best resume you can, but don't make it too flashy. There are many different methods that you can use to customize your resume. Using professional resume templates, and writing your own can improve your resume writing skills, but these things take practice.

Top 6 Resume Clichés You Must Avoid

Top 6 Resume Clichés You Must Avoid Photo Credit -.workingcarers.org.auRecruiters and HR officers have to go through a lot of resumes in their bid to select the best candidate for a position.To be able to stand out from the crowd, your resume must be unique and captivating both in its content and presentation.In trying to be unique though, many job-seekers often fall into the temptation of using a number of terms that have become repetitive and meaningless in the minds of HR staff.evalAfter having seen the same thing a thousand times, they are more likely to simply roll their eyes than be captivated.Here are a few of the more common clichés that you definitely need to strip from your resume if you don’t want to join the horde of so-so applicants they mentally dispose of by the time they get to the third sentence.6 Resume Clichés to Avoid1. “Results-oriented”evalSaying that you are results-oriented does not mean anything. Everyone is expected to be oriented to getting the best results they can in the course of t heir job and stating it does not make you special in any way.Instead, you should be more specific about the results you got in different roles, such as:Implemented quality control measures that reduced returns by X%Implemented marketing strategies that increased sales by X%Saved $X in expenses by implementing X accounting measuresThe more specific you can be; the better. Just be careful to make sure that everything you say will be confirmed when they reach out to previous employers to ask about your work with them.The only thing that’s worse than a cliché statement in your resume is one the prospective employer discovers to be false.2. “Creative”Again, this means nothing unless you are applying to be a painter, and even then, it would resonate more with the recruiter if you were more specific. Instead of just throwing the word in there, explain the ideas you came up with that created benefits for the workplace.evalFor instance, if you thought-up new strategies or found new wa ys to implement old ones, leading to increases in productivity or reductions in cost, you should give a succinct outline of what you did.3. “People person”This is so open to interpretation that it simply does not strike any chords in the minds of recruiters anymore. Your prospective employer would prefer to know exactly what you mean.So, state how you are able to facilitate communication in a team. This could be by showing how you have been able to resolve conflicts diplomatically, prefer using face-to-face interaction, or how you can motivate fellow team members.4. “References available on request”While this is so commonplace that it has begun to seem normal, it is still best to avoid it. Some recruiters will simply get turned off immediately they see that and throw your resume to the side.evalThe term became popular because people wanted to be able to warn their referees to expect contact and be prepared to answer questions in relation to the application. While this is not a bad thing in itself, it’s likely to work better in a mid-career application than an entry-level one.The large number of such applications that recruiters have to deal with means they would appreciate not having to jump through more hoops than they have to in evaluating any single candidate.In addition, it gives the impression that the resume is a template application, rather than a unique one that was tailored for that specific position.Since you have gotten the permission of certain people to put their names down as your referees, then there’s no reason not to include them in your resume initially.Ideally, you should give them the details of any job you are applying for and a copy of the resume. That way, they will be better able to respond to any questions about your application.5. “Passionate”evalIf you have truly been passionate about a particular thing, then the recruiter should be able to see it clearly, without you needing to proclaim it. I mean; do you know anyone who would say they are not passionate about a job they are applying to?Instead of just saying you are passionate, use your experience to show how committed you are to a particular field.You could write a statement about how your continued participation in the industry in various roles If you don’t have experiences to connect like that, you could use your cover letter to show your passion, by letting them see how well you researched the company and its industry before applying.6. “Excellent oral and written communication skills”Recruiters can tell how well you communicate after only a short time looking at your resume and cover letter. It’s irrelevant whether you state it in there or not, because it’s not going to affect their evaluation of your communication ability.In fact, because it places you on a higher standard of expectation in their minds, it could even damage your chances. Errors that might have been overlooked might not be anymore, because they show that you’r e either lying or working with a false evaluation of your competence.And if you’re mistaken in that area, who’s to say where else you might be mistaken?The Danger of RedundancySeeing as there is a limited amount of information that you can fit into your resume, it makes sense to keep everything as succinct as possible.evalThe preceding list of what to avoid in a resume mostly covers meaningless phrases that do not do anything to convince the recruiter to hire you. When writing your resume, it is important that every single sentence in it adds up to your central message of why you are the ideal candidate for the position.The process of editing a resume to remove clichés takes a very analytical and experienced mind, so you might want to consider hiring the services of experts who have experience writing resumes for your field.With their help, you will definitely be able to present a resume that will you stand out in the mind of the recruiter.

How Are You Communicating

How Are You Communicating Communication is crucial.   A message is mostly interpreted by non-verbal cues, not the actual words we use.   However, for the last few years there has been a huge movement towards social networks and the  conversations are happening virtually (in writing).   Well, some would ask if they are really conversations or just narcissistic junk.   The point I am trying to make is that the traditional  definitions of communication are broadening. Thomas Stone, of Element K, speaker and authority on eLearning presented at the local chapter of American Society for Training and Development (ASTD).   He spoke about using technology as a supplement to traditional learning methods. The technology he spoke of included:   blogs, wikis, twitter, and social networks (these are the big ones right now). I believe Toms point is that formal learning alone is not as effective as formal learning combined with these technologies.   There is a greater rate of retention if the learning is blended. Job search is a learning process.   It has changed a lot since youve last had to look for a job.   How will you learn about these new changes?   As students of this new world of job search, you have probably attended workshops, watched webinars and read a book or two.   Where else can you go to add these technology components to your learning and retention?   Obviously, you read this blog, however, there are literally thousands more. BLOG SOURCES AllTop is a collection of blogs by topic.   Ive selected some of my favorites in my AllTop page careersherpa (follow the link) RiseSmart Career 100 ranks the top career related blogs. Blogrolls of favorite blogs is another way to find more blogs. Social Networks Secrets of the Job Hunt is a great example of a social network.   It is focused on job search information sharing. Locally, there are some usergroups on yahoo that are very helpful. Dont forget about Groups on LinkedIn.   Remember, you can belong to up to 50 groups.   Here are just a couple Twitterjobsearch.com About.com Job Search and Careers And  dont forget to select some professional groups that will enlighten you on industry and occupational trends. WIKIs I dont know of any yethelp me out here!   Are there wikis for job search education and discussion?   Certainly there must be. TWITTER There are some great tweeters out there!   To find lists of great content generators, you can view the new function lists of people you respect and value. Where to find your job on Twitter(by CareerRocketeer) (There are many more lists out there too, add your favorite lists of people to follow for job search advice in the comments) It is about sharing.   It is free.   It is a new way of communicating.

How to Tackle an Overwhelming Workload - Career Advice Blog for Millennials

How to Tackle an Overwhelming Workload - Career Advice Blog for Millennials An overwhelming workload is familiar to many professionals. For those seeking a promotion or to impress a new boss, turning down additional work can stymie progress on those fronts. Although taking on a bigger workload can certainly impress, it has numerous downsides. In a haste to complete all your work on time, the quality of such work may suffer. Alternatively, you may not have time to attend to certain work, potentially making you look unmotivated despite it just being done to time. Once you accept a significant workload, it’s not prudent to change your mind, a move that can make you appear hesitant and unmotivated to peers. To help avoid poor work and a damaged reputation, here are seven ways to wisely tackle an overwhelming workload: 1. Segment Your Schedule Breaking up your projects into mini-goals is easier and less daunting to accomplish, making completion of large projects more organized and realistic. Rather than manually crossing out tasks on a notepad, digital scheduling platforms make adding, removing and grouping items easy. For example, if youre representing your company at a conference, you can schedule that task in several segments. You can separate tasks based on those relevant to the travel required to get there â€" like booking transportation and hotel accommodations) â€" what you will be showcasing on the screen as a supplement to your speech â€" such as preparing a slideshow or document supplement â€" and prepping your spoken dialogue. Divvying your schedule up reduces the chances of oversight since you will be looking meticulously at each building block of a task. 2. Check Your Calendar Daily Especially when confronted with a large workload, its crucial to check your calendar daily to ensure youre up to date. If you anticipate missing a deadline, then its best to let those involved know immediately. A daily calendar will provide you with a timely barometer of how realistic it is to finish each task on time. Setting up your schedule is only a part of handling a bigger workload. Establishing a habit by checking that calendar is just as important, even if it requires you setting up a pop-up notification or alarm to do so. 3. Efficiently Manage Repetitive Tasks Most jobs require some tasks that are repetitive, including responding to the same questions on a daily basis or compiling similarly themed spreadsheets. You can help manage a large workload by identifying which tasks can be duplicated due to repetition, saving time and energy. For example, its useful to keep a sheet of similar email responses youve sent out in the past, answering common questions daily or weekly. Instead of typing up a new version of the same content, copy and paste whats previously written while modifying key words for personalization. Similarly, you can make duplicates of a spreadsheet template thats otherwise blank, to have formatting all prepared whenever you need to create a new sheet. 4. Prioritize What You Dread Most Long work days can lead to exhaustion, with that feeling of weariness increasing throughout the workday. As a result, its recommended for both productivity and mental well-being to tackle tasks you dread the most early on, while your energy is still high. For example, if theres a particular client thats difficult to deal with, approaching them early in the day while youre energetic can result in a more productive experience. Youll be less irate at potential mishaps, while also knowing you have the full day to amend anything that needs attending. Additionally, saving your most desired tasks for later in the day gives you something to work toward. Speaking with a client youre on excellent terms with, who you know wont bring any conflict, can be a great way to finish the day. If there are potential choppy waters on the horizon for a specific task, you can save time and energy by getting it out of the way early. 5. Share Your Schedule and Collaborate Keeping a schedule feels natural for most, though this schedule can serve little purpose if time use isnt efficient or if the schedule is inaccessible. Keeping your schedule on a cloud-based platform, like Google Calendar or iCal, prevents any worries regarding leaving your schedule somewhere. Another perk of cloud-based schedules is the ease of sharing them with collaborators. Sharing can be especially useful if a particular task is unlikely to get finished in time. In that case, you can share your schedule with your boss or coworkers, either for advice on which items to prioritize considering the limited timeframe or actual help from them. 6. Take an Occasional Break Taking a break upon accepting a large workload may seem counterproductive. In reality, taking a walking or lunch break at work has been found to reboot employees, making them more productive upon returning. Employees who took a break reported fewer headaches, lower back pain and eyestrains than those who did not take a break. If you’re bogged down in work and have reached a point of frustration, get out of your workspace and take a walk, grab a bite to eat or listen to some of your favorite music. Happy people are more productive, after all. 7. Gain an Understanding of Your Limits One of the perks of an overwhelming workload is that you will gain a better grasp of your limits for the future. If you’re already chronically exhausted at work, then accepting more tasks is a bad idea. Also, if you are aware of a workload amount in the past that led to poor results and poor sleep, theres no shame in turning the extra work down. You can also ask to distribute one of your present tasks elsewhere if you take on the new workload. Regardless, knowing your limits is a great way to avoid an overwhelming workload in the future. Have you used any other tips to better tackle an overwhelming workload? Be sure to subscribe for more helpful advice. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.