Monday, December 30, 2019

The Job Search Tool Thats Killing Age 50+ Jobseekers

The Job Search Tool Thats Killing Age 50+ JobseekersThe Job Search Tool Thats Killing Age 50+ JobseekersHi, Jewel. Im receiving job alerts in my email that Ive set up through the job boards. Theyre supposed to send me job postings that match my resume and skills, but they rarely match. Should I tweak my resume further to try to get closer matches to the roles I actually want?Job alerts can look so easy Upload your resume, enter a few skills, indicate your location, then sit back and voil new jobs show up in your inbox every day Then, its all the better when you just need to click the apply button in the alert in your email, and the employer electronically receives all your information. So easy that anyone can do it.Yep. So easy that everyone does it.When youre near, at, or over age 50, re-evaluate your reliance on job alerts. Theyre truly killing your chances. All youre doing is putting yourself smack dab in the middle of nearly 100% of your competition. You cant stand out that way. If a real human being actually sees your information (well, lets face facts, no real human being will ever see you using this method, but lets just say for sake of this paragraph), all the decision maker is going to do is the quick math, realize your approximate age, and move on to someone else in the pile of 999 resumes that came in that same day for that same position that everyone got emailed to themselves.Job alerts are more trouble than theyre worth. Each subject line entices you with new possibilities, but then each opening smacks you with the reality that these possibilities are either not for your skill set, way beneath your experience level, or definitely not paying what you need. There is no such concept as the job boards sending out alerts every day for VP and CxO jobs paying $300K+ right there in your ZIP code.Theres the emotional toll. Job search can already be an emotional roller coaster, and the alerts dont help. Theres the email clutter. Add up the time you spend rev iewing, discarding, and being overall irritated with job board alerts, then think about what else you can and should be devoting that same time to?Match The Right Thing In The 1st PlaceDont change your resume in response to job alert mismatches that just amounts to you trying to match a machine. Instead, concentrate on making a better match with an actual human. And as a bonus, well use the job board alerts as a jumping off point.List every company youre interested in from the alerts, regardless of whether or not the recommended jobs actually match. If you want to be a real ninja, make a 2nd list of companies that are like the companies in your 1st list. For example, if the job alerts sent you openings at Salesforce.com, research and find out what some other Software as a Service companies are, such as Amazon Web Services, ADP, and DocuSign. The whole industry is pointing upward, therefore, other companies are hiring as well it doesnt matter that they may or may not be advertising r ight now.Match Up With A Human BeingIf LinkedIn isnt already your best friend, then you need a new best friend. There is exactly zero reason to not be able to identify the proper people to reach out to using LinkedIn advanced search. abflug by entering the name of the company and then recruiter or human resources or talent acquisition. If the company is national, enter your location as well.If theres an advertised job opening that interests you, apply for it through the normal channels. Then, at the same time, speak directly to the relevant person / people about a) your exact skills that are core to your job b) specifically why youre interested in that parteeicular organization and c) whether theyre open to a short phone call this week.If theres no advertised opening, dont let this stop you. The hallmark of whether a company is hiring is not their advertising. The hallmark of hiring is organizational growth. If the company or the industry is on the up and up, you need to make your a pproach towards a real human being. Reach out using a variation of the message above. You just may surprise yourself by breaking into that big mysterious thing everyone likes to call the hidden job market.Wash, Rinse, and RepeatFollow this method 100% of the time. Applying using the job boards gives you a 1-2% chance of landing an interview. However, making direct company contact with a real human being, increases your chances of success to 40-70%. This approach is part of The 5-Day Job Search, which tells you exactly what to do step by step to increase responses from real decision makers who are hiring today. Download yours now so you can instantly connect with the real human being guiding the hiring process.The Job Search Tool Thats Killing Age 50+ JobseekersHi, Jewel. Im receiving job alerts in my email that Ive set up through the job boards. Theyre supposed to send me job postings that match my resume and skills, but they rarely match. Should I tweak my resume further to try to get closer matches to the roles I actually want?Job alerts can look so easy Upload your resume, enter a few skills, indicate your location, then sit back and voil new jobs show up in your inbox every day Then, its all the better when you just need to click the apply button in the alert in your email, and the employer electronically receives all your information. So easy that anyone can do it.Yep. So easy that everyone does it.When youre near, at, or over age 50, re-evaluate your reliance on job alerts. Theyre truly killing your chances. All youre doing is putting yourself smack dab in the middle of nearly 100% of your competition. You cant stand out that way. If a real human being actually sees your information (well, lets face facts, no real human being will ever see you using this method, but lets just say for sake of this paragraph), all the decision maker is going to do is the quick math, realize your approximate age, and move on to someone else in the pile of 999 resumes that c ame in that same day for that same position that everyone got emailed to themselves.Job alerts are more trouble than theyre worth. Each subject line entices you with new possibilities, but then each opening smacks you with the reality that these possibilities are either not for your skill set, way beneath your experience level, or definitely not paying what you need. There is no such concept as the job boards sending out alerts every day for VP and CxO jobs paying $300K+ right there in your ZIP code.Theres the emotional toll. Job search can already be an emotional roller coaster, and the alerts dont help. Theres the email clutter. Add up the time you spend reviewing, discarding, and being overall irritated with job board alerts, then think about what else you can and should be devoting that same time to?Match The Right Thing In The 1st PlaceDont change your resume in response to job alert mismatches that just amounts to you trying to match a machine. Instead, concentrate on making a better match with an actual human. And as a bonus, well use the job board alerts as a jumping off point.List every company youre interested in from the alerts, regardless of whether or not the recommended jobs actually match. If you want to be a real ninja, make a 2nd list of companies that are like the companies in your 1st list. For example, if the job alerts sent you openings at Salesforce.com, research and find out what some other Software as a Service companies are, such as Amazon Web Services, ADP, and DocuSign. The whole industry is pointing upward, therefore, other companies are hiring as well it doesnt matter that they may or may not be advertising right now.Match Up With A Human BeingIf LinkedIn isnt already your best friend, then you need a new best friend. There is exactly zero reason to not be able to identify the proper people to reach out to using LinkedIn advanced search. abflug by entering the name of the company and then recruiter or human resources or talent acqu isition. If the company is national, enter your location as well.If theres an advertised job opening that interests you, apply for it through the normal channels. Then, at the same time, speak directly to the relevant person / people about a) your exact skills that are core to your job b) specifically why youre interested in that particular organization and c) whether theyre open to a short phone call this week.If theres no advertised opening, dont let this stop you. The hallmark of whether a company is hiring is not their advertising. The hallmark of hiring is organizational growth. If the company or the industry is on the up and up, you need to make your approach towards a real human being. Reach out using a variation of the message above. You just may surprise yourself by breaking into that big mysterious thing everyone likes to call the hidden job market.Wash, Rinse, and RepeatFollow this method 100% of the time. Applying using the job boards gives you a 1-2% chance of landing a n interview. However, making direct company contact with a real human being, increases your chances of success to 40-70%. This approach is part of The 5-Day Job Search, which tells you exactly what to do step by step to increase responses from real decision makers who are hiring today. Download yours now so you can instantly connect with the real human being guiding the hiring process.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Networking for Millennials How to Make It Useful

Networking for Millennials How to Make It UsefulNetworking for Millennials How to Make It UsefulBuilding strong relationships with others is one of the best things people can do for their careers. But finding and maintaining connections takes time, so directing efforts to where they will be most profitable makes sense. The below tips will help make networking for millennials a cinchImprove the quality of your professional network with these strategiesLook for natural icebreakers.People often fail to network simply because they feel uncomfortable. Ease some of the anxiety by looking for opportunities where interaction occurs naturally. Get to know others through performing volunteer work or serving on a professional committee. Attend an alumni gathering, take an enrichment class, or train with people for a fun-run. A common goal or interest can spark conversation, which can lead to learning more about one another.Improve your skills.Practice builds confidence. Develop your elevator pi tch to the point that it rolls off the tongue. Think about potential opening statements before heading to an event to avoid becoming tongue-tied. Patti DeNucci, author of The Intentional Networker Attracting Powerful Relationships, Referrals Results in Business, recommends mastering the basics of a great handshake, one that projects friendliness and confidence but isnt bone-crushing. She also suggests working on listening skills and conversational skills by devoting time to books, blogs, workshops, and presentations on the subject of networking.Broaden your horizons.While fellow millennials and people in your industry are bound to be a significant parte of your network, pushing beyond your comfort zone can have a huge payoff.Make and build contacts with people who arent just like you- different backgrounds, different interests, different ages, DeNucci says. Generational intelligence and network diversity are key to gaining rich and varied perspectives and in building a truly strong network. Try being with people who are 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years ahead on the career path. Talk to and get to know people doing a wide range of jobs and having a wide range of experiences. Its how you know where you want to be.Stay connected.Getting someones contact info is an invitation, not a relationship. Genuine connections- the ones that are most likely to produce positive results- need time to solidify. (The first time a new acquaintance hears back from you shouldnt be when youre desperately seeking a job.) Follow up regularly (though not obsessively) to remain top of mind, and put a premium on building bonds rather than asking for favors.Harness the power of the Internet.Millennials have a networking secret weapon that previous generations never would have imagined. Social media and other types of online communities tear down geographical boundaries and enable all sorts of connections. Experts typically recommend paying special attention to LinkedIn because of its professi onal focus, so be sure your profile is inviting and up to date.Reciprocate.Lastly, remember that relationships are a two-way street, so look for opportunities to help members of your network. Pass along an article you think a specific person would enjoy, offer a heads-up about a job opening at your company, or introduce an acquaintance to someone you believe hed find fascinating. Demonstrate genuine interest in helping your connections reach their goals, and chances are they will be more than willing to assist you in meeting yoursReaders, what other useful tips do you have to offer related to networking for millennials? What have you found to be most successful? Share with us belowStart Your Job Search. Sign Up for Today

Friday, December 20, 2019

5 ways to invest in your career

5 ways to invest in your career5 ways to invest in your careerIt may seem counterintuitive to spend money on your job when your job is meant tomakeyou money, but the reality is thatsometimes its worth spending a little bit of extra cash to invest in a career.Any money that you put into sharpening your professional skills or making you look more professional should come back to you in spades when your boss (both current and future) sees all the effort youve put in.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreHere are some of the best ways to smartly invest in your careerProfessional coursesSure there are plenty of ways to hone your skills while on the job, but that can take time, especially if youre teaching yourself. If you instead decide to take some classes, you might be able to garner those saatkorn skills- taught to you by a professional- in a shorter period of time. As an added bonus, t heres always the chance that your current employer will be willing to pay for, or at least chip in for,classes that further your job skills.Professional clothesEven if you work remotely or as a freelancer,dressing for your role is a big part of success. You might be surprised how throwing on a pencil skirt and blousemakes you instantly feel more professional, as opposed to working in yoga pants from your bed. You dont need to spend a ton here to make a difference, either. A couple of staples- like some white shirts, a couple of skirts, and a few pairs of pants- should do it.Setting up your home officeEspecially if you work remotely- but even if you only occasionally need to work from home- it helps toupdate your office with at least the basics. A good computer (assuming your company doesnt provide one), a printer, and a scanner are probably a must, but some additional things like anergonomic chair, some plants, and good lighting will go a long way as well.A professional portfolio re viewThese days its about way more than your resume- your anthroponym is probably out there in more ways than one, from Facebook and Twitter toyour own professional website. Sincefirst impressions are so important, it doesnt hurt to have a social media expert help you out by looking over your existing profiles to catch any glaring things that you might want to change. If youre in a career where branding is important, these people can help ensure that your objectives are clear across all of your channels as well. While were at it, it might not hurt to have a professional help you set up your website (especially if that type of thing really isnt your schtick) and glance over your resume.Leadership coursesBesides any courses that might help you further your specific professional skills (like copy editing, for example, or writing code), you might alsoconsider signing up for a class that teaches leadership skills. Its pretty much a given that in any type of career,leadership skills are a must, and an employer that sees youve taken the initiative to improve your own is sure to be impressed.Taking the time to up your professional game doesnt have to cost a ton- especially if you spread the suggestions out over a given period- butinvesting in your job in strategic wayscould actually be one of the smartest things you do to advance your career.This article first appeared on Flexjobs.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Monday, December 16, 2019

Writing down the things you need to do tomorrow settles your brain

Writing down the things you need to do tomorrow settles your brainWriting down the things you need to do tomorrow settles your brainWriting things down sounds trivial.Youve heard it before. Its nothing new.But it worksFollow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe Zeigarnik Effect says we tend to hang on to things in our mind, especially if we dont finish what we start.This makes it difficult to single task on purpose without mental distractions.Calm your stressful brain to concentrate better.If you write things down, you free up your mind from worrying about what you forgot or what you need to remember.If you can commit this simple technique into a habit, it will change the way you think and get things done.Writing things down changes everything, especially if your work depends on finding new ideas and approaches to solving problems.Ideas come and go at the most random of times.But if you pay close attention to behauptung random ideas and embrace the writing habit, you wont miss a single breakthrough.Writing things down is a powerful way to record anything and everything that has your attention.David Allen, the author of the best-selling bookGetting Things Donesaysour minds are for having ideas, not storing them.Writing things down can help our brains prioritize which we should focus on.Writing your goals, priorities, and intentions has powerful psychological benefits as well. When theyre in writing, theyre out in the physical world - not just cropped up in your head. You can now evaluate them, decide which ones resonate, and accomplish them,saysAlex Phillips.The brain benefits ofwritingResearchshows that writing down the things you need to take care of tomorrow can settle your brain and help you relax.When your brain isnt busy remembering everything, your brain canprocess anything better.When you write, your brain is fully engaged and you think much more clearly. You force yourself to organize your thoughts which leads to deeper processing.This process can help refine and organize your ideas in a meaningful way.And most importantly writing stops your brain from stressing about what needs to be sorted in a few hours or tomorrow.Daniel J. Levitin, a neuroscientist and author ofThe Organized Mindexplains, when youre concerned about something and your grey matter is afraid you may forget, it engages a cluster of brain regions referred to as the rehearsal loop. And you keep worrying and worrying. Writing your thoughts down and making a plan for tomorrow switches this off.Writing things down prepares your mind for more important thinking.When you have too many things on your mind, your thinking cannot be efficient. Writing things down clears out all clutter in your brain, so you can concentrate much better.Jesse Dayof Evernote writes, collecting, developing, and revisiting information expands your creative potential because you can draw from the s um total of your life, not just the fleeting thoughts of the moment.It pays to think on paper. When you write something down, you free up the task of having to remember it.Many studieshave shown that note-taking helps us distill information better and remember it better than we would if wed just heard or read it.Do periodic braindumpsA brain dump is an act of getting all of your thoughts out of your head so you are able to focus on one idea at a time.Its basically a time to organise everything on your mind your worries, questions, needs, wants, important and urgent tasks, and everything on your mind.Those things get stuck in your mind over time, distracting you regularly from the things you need to do.The point of a brain dump is to capture the full picture of everything you need and want to do.Barnet Bain, producer of the Oscar-winning filmWhat Dreams May Comeand author ofThe Book of Doing and Being Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work, says a brain dump is a fertile st arting point for any creative project.A brain dump is one of many ways to declutter your mind, and it can be done in a matter of minutes.Its a powerful tool that can make you feel in control of your life.If you tend to keep all your thoughts and ideas in your head, your brain will keep bringing them up over and over, making you feel overwhelmed.You dont want that, especially if you want mental clarity to focus on your most important things every day.Remove scattered notions from your mind and get them all down, then organize and follow up with ease.Take a mental load off-its relaxing.Get ready for tomorrowtodayWhats your shut down ritual?Spend your last 20 minutes of your workday to reflect, process, write down and prioritize for the next day.End your day on purpose, and begin the next one ready to get started without wasting time.Write down how you want to spend your morning.If you do this, you will wake up and know exactly what you need to do to make your day a success.You will be come more effective and more productive because youre ready and everything is within your reach.Conversely, if youre not ready for the next day, imagine what can go wrong.Dont waste your morning thinking about what to do.Cal Newport recommends a shutdown ritual in which you take the time to close out the days business and prepare for tomorrow.Closing thoughtsTake a moment and list downeverythingyou have in your mind.Go ahead and embrace the writing habit.Dont waste your brains ability on trying to remember everything.Writing doesnt have to be difficult. It can be a quick note, a thought, a list of things to do at particular times of the day, week, or month.This article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an inter view, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

4 Reasons Being the Underdog Could Be Your Biggest Advantage at Work

4 Reasons Being the Underdog Could Be Your Biggest Advantage at Work4 Reasons Being the Underdog Could Be Your Biggest Advantage at WorkAs the World Cup kicked off this month in Brazil, the U.S. team is facing what seems like an impossible task To reach the second round of play, they must play up to par with two traditional soccer powerhouses, second-ranked Germany and fourth-ranked Portugal, along with Ghana, a scrappy team thats beaten them in two previous World Cup tournaments.But as sports fans know well, the underdog can quickly become top dog. Long-time soccer fans probably remember the 1990 World Cup, when Cameroon upset Argentina. The reigning champion was expecting an easy match and instead met a tough, determined squad that went on to win its first-round group and eventually became the first African side ever to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.If youre an underdog in your workplace, you might worry that your manager or coworkers will overlook your talents or take your fh igkeit too lightly, the way Argentina underestimated Cameroons grit and skill. But like Cameroon proved, underdogs can be some of the strongest players in any group. Turn your underdog status into an advantage at the office by following these four tips1. Showcase your strong work ethic. If youre an underdog, youve likely gone through considerable struggle to get where you are now. For that reason, youre resilient, and you have an inner drive that pushes you to excel at whatever you do. Put that enthusiasm on display when youre given tough tasks, whether that means putting in extra time, quickly picking up new job skills or turning a project around on a tight deadline.2. Put your creativity and resourcefulness front and center. Underdogs are often more willing to try an unconventional strategy or take smart risks because they feel they dont have much to lose. When challenges arise at work, your creativity could come in handy. Dont be afraid to propose innovative solutions to your man ager and colleagues.3. Use your awareness of social nuances to gain an edge. As an underdog, you may have started your career as an outsider working hard to fit in. That means youve developed strong observational and collaboration skills. You can assess a situation quickly and figure out how to work best with a diverse group of people. Put those abilities to work when your company is looking to win over new customers, youre asked to take part in a project that requires strong teamwork or youre simply welcoming a new employee to the group.4. Demonstrate gratitude. Because youre an underdog, youre less likely to take things for granted. You remember what its like to have few resources and little support. You tend to notice when people help you at work, so be aya to show your appreciation. Even a simple thank-you can go a long way toward building good chemistry with coworkers.Many favored World Cup teams have learned the hard way not to count the underdog out. If youre an underdog, mak e sure youre not undervalued in the workplace. Use your hard-earned skills and perspective to help your company meet - and exceed - its goals.For more on building and motivating a winning team, download a free copy of our newest resource guide, Creating and Managing the Dream Team.RELATED POST4 Ways to Motivate Your Team To Meet a Group of Death-Type Challenge

Friday, December 6, 2019

What You Do Not Know About Teacher Resume Examples May Shock You

What You Do Not Know About Teacher Resume Examples May Shock You What You Should Do to Find Out About Teacher Resume Examples Before Youre Left Behind What you opt to include reflects what you think is vital. If you havent heard from them for a couple weeks, do anotlageher follow-up. You shouldnt overlook the significance of resumes. Life After Teacher Resume Examples Most jobseekers struggle with finding the proper words and the ideal format that will bring in employers, particularly in the education field. The medical industry can be quite competitive. Infographic resumes appear nice, but you also have to be concerned about applicant tracking system computer software. Accounting and finance managers may want to see your technical understanding. Using Teacher Resume Examples Naturally, youre likely to include things like the fundamental certifications which every teacher must get, but you might have advanced certificates too. Teachers need in order to address various p roblems, often beneath a tight deadline. Greatest teacher resume examples contain recommendations from prior work in the shape of characteristics or contacts of former bosses connected to the document. Most teachers should list all their certifications, or whenever they anticipate receiving them. Your orders will be done exactly as you desire. Distinct kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with lots of the very same skills. There are a number of reasons why you ought to prefer our services. Our technicians will kindly answer every one of your questions. Obviously, each job will call for unique abilities and experiences, so make certain you read the work description carefully and concentrate on the skills listed by the employer. Transportation jobs involve plenty of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can manage that. What You Should Do to Find Out About Teacher Resume Examples Before Youre Left Behind Another benefit of our website is the quickness. Its hard to acquire work in the very first spot. As you start trying to find jobs as a teacher, take some opportunity to rate your targets and techniques. A part-time job might be an extra job in addition to a persons regular work. In the event that you understand exactly how to know whether the chance arises, in the occasion that youre conscious of how to plant the seeds utilizing the decision makers, if youre prone to make the most of an opportunity at which you might fail, then no, you dont need exclusive teaching. Each bullet point ought to be relevant to the job which youre applying for. In order to acquire the best chances of landing your teacher job, you should make sure youre making the best resume that youre able to. If youre considering applying to be a teacher, then the very first step you will need is a resume to assist you. Educators, like teachers, must be correctly equipped with the right formal wisdom and classroom administration. Teache rs must, clearly, understand the material they teach. Teachers are predicted to earn a difference, therefore its very important to prove that on your resume. Music teachers need to be flexible and prepared to try unique methods with individual students. Be certain that you have all the vital certifications to supply the ideal education for your students. A resume isnt a Curriculum Vitae, its a document that has the most. Teaching jobs usually need specific degrees and certifications, so be certain to highlight your education. New Questions About Teacher Resume Examples Include an Education resume section to the surface of your document. Incorporating the right information is critical to obtain the upper hand over your competition. Writing a strong application is a difficult procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Should you need an example to take a look at, make certain you have a look at the sample teacher resume at the close of the short article The Teacher Res ume Examples Game You might feel nervous during the interview, but you ought not portray that. If your work search is broad, you might require numerous versions of your resume.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

4 Ways Video Interviews Help Startups Scale their Workforce - Spark Hire

4 Ways Video Interviews Help Startups Scale their Workforce - Spark HireStartups today are taking off like flights to New York from Ohare. There are handfuls of new ones popping up every day. Thankfully for us they are somewhat fueling the juice for our lackluster job market. Without them, the unemployment level we see today might be even higher. Skeptics say, but startups only employ 10 to 15 employees. Yes, startups hire a small employee kusine, but you have to think about how many startups are floating around the job market today. There are millions of them all over the country and new ones popping up all the time. With so many new companies sprouting up all over the place theres a lot of hiring going on.Since startups are usually very tech savvy- lets be real here most startups are sparked online- you figure the old way of hiring just wont cut it for them. They move at a faster pace, they have less time and theyre working with a small amount of money. Thats why video interviewing is a huge benefit for startup companies all across the globe. Lets take a look at 4 ways video interviews help startups build their workforce.CheaperIf you know anything about startups you know that they are great at making something out of almost bedrngnishing. A lot of startups today are headed by young, savvy business buffs working with a small amount of money. Thats not the case with all startups, obviously, but making the best out of what they have is something startups are great at. So, if you figure these startups dont have a hr of money to begin with, they certainly arent going to want to spend their money on hiring when they can do it for cheap online.Hiring itself isnt the expensive parte. Its the time that it takes out of a valuable work day, or 45. On average, it takes about 45 days to hire the right candidate. Startups cant afford to lose that much time. After all, time is money and no one understands that more than a startup company. When you use video interviews, you save money on travel and you have more time to invest in the things that matter. You can connect with as many candidates as you would like in one day by utilizing live online video interviews and then have the candidates that really shine come in for an interview. You save time and in turn, money. What startup company doesnt want to hear those words?FasterSince you now know that it takes 45 days on average to hire the right candidate, you also know that startups just dont have that kind of time to invest in hiring their employees. When you work for a startup youre likely moving at a light speed pace everyday, and you just dont have the luxury of hiring the traditional way. You may, in fact, hire the traditional way but at the expense of your productivity levels. Most new companies cant take that risk. Thats why video interviews, like the ones featured on Spark Hire, are great for startup companies.When you are looking to hire a new employee, you dont just simply sift through resume s, pick the best ones and have them all come in for an in-person interview. You can, but it would likely be a huge waste of your time. That is why most companies employ phone screens to weed out the candidates they know wouldnt work. Unfortunately, one phone screen takes on average 30 minutes to complete. When you have a group of 30 candidates that may be perfect for the job, thats a lot of time invested on the phone for candidates that might not even work out. With one way video interviews, employers can ask all of their possible candidates the questions they want answered and can review their answers when they have the time. In fact, you can review 10 one way video interviews in the time it takes to complete one phone interview. If that doesnt save you time then you must have time to killMore OptionsBe honest, when you sift through resumes do you automatically discount the candidates that live more than an hour away. Sometimes even an hour is too long. If you were a job seeker, wo uld you weed out companies that were an hour away? You figure, this company is so far away and it would be a huge waste of my time, gas and money to travel all the way out there to interview and have it not work out in the end. This is the case for a lot of hiring managers and candidates alike. Traveling is a huge cost, especially today, and its not worth it to invest the time and money if youre not even sure it will be what you want. Well, when you interview online with video interviews, this whole its too far away issue is solved easily.Since you can take part in a video interview, you can browse and screen candidates that are farther out of your geographical bubble. Since neither of you have to invest a ton of time and money into the interview, the options are much more abundant. You now have a much larger talent pool to skim through. If you do happen to find that perfect candidate and they seem great in your video interview, then having them come in for an in-person interview is never a waste of your time- or theirs. Start utilizing video interviews and give yourself more candidate options.Build Your Company BrandIf you want to be a successful startup, then you have to get your name out there. With limited funds to advertise, that can be a really difficult task. With the technology on Spark Hire though, you can easily create a company video and start building your company brand. If you are hiring online and utilizing video interviews, then you are going to want to have a video of your own, right? With a company profile on Spark Hire, you can create a video that shows candidates and customers what your company is all about. You can then share that video with thousands or millions of people.Its fast, cheap and puts your company name out there. What better way to build your company brand than this? Then when you build a customer base or fan base, you can invest the big bucks in advertising. Until then though, creating a company video is a great way to start b uilding your own personal brand.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

If you dont get your priorities straight, your life will fall apart

If you dont get your priorities straight, your life will fall apartIf you dont get your priorities straight, your life will fall apartI have a friend who, in all outward appearances, is doing extremely well in his life.Hes making millions of dollars. His fame and reputation are spreading far and wide. He is brilliant and seems to know all of the answers.But then, I just found out last night that hes been going through a major divorce.He has a few kids whom he loves, but who he hasnt been around very much to play with.There is a common leidion that you can have it all. Its a very seductive idea. But its not true.The fundamental core of the word decision means to literally cut-off alternative options. When you choose one thing, you simultaneously close the door on many others.This is why making decisions is so hard.A true decision involves risk, opportunity cost, uncertainty, and commitment.True decisions involve couragebecause it takes courage to commit to something beyond your own mo mentary feelings. It takes courage to commit to a future filled with unknowns.Thomas Monson once said, Choose your love, and love your choice.Ive seen over and over in the past year how easy it is for people to walk away from their marriages. The honeymoon phase has long since passed. Their relationship has gotten slightly apathetic. They arent investing in the relationship like they once did.The grass begins looking much greener ALL OVER THE PLACE.The thrill of a new and exciting relationship (or project) starts to fill the mind.Why is a new relationship so attractive? Because its all future.The longer youre in a relationship, the mora past there is in that relationship, and thus, the mora likely you are to fall into patterns.Unless you are continually creating a future that is bigger than your past, your past will be repeated in the futureand that is how things can get boring pretty quickly.When you first start something out, its incredibly easy to be flexible. Youre willing to do practically anything for the relationship. You want it really bad.But after time passes, do you still approach the relationship that way?Or, since you have it now, have you stopped prioritizing your relationship?Its extremely easy to fall into this trap.Its easy to fall into patterns where you stop truly investing in a bigger future.Life gets busy.Youve got to pay the bills and do all the stuff. It can be exhausting.But life was busy before and somehow, you found all sorts of creative energy to invest the relationship.What if its not about the busyness of life, if were really being honest?What if youve just gotten too busy with other things?What if your mind is just somewhere else?What if youve gotten lazy?What if, now that you have what you want, you want something else?Its easy to drift.Only when the relationship comes to an abrupt end, like in my friends situation, does it become painfully obvious about what had slowly been happening over a number of years.If you dont pay attent ion to your life on a daily basis, it will absolutely drift in directions you may not like.You have to be completely clear on your core priorities.If youre not completely clear on what matters to you, then you dont have direction in your life. You dont have values. Your life will be a ship in the ocean without a sail or compassjust following the wind.It is not a priority if youre not investing in it.It is not a priority if youre not thinking about it.Its not a priority if youre not pouring time into it.Its not a priority if you dont love it deeply.Its not a priority if you dont have a vision for it.What are your priorities?What evidence is there that what you just thought about actually is a priority?How much have you invested in those priorities in the past 12 weeks?Of all things, relationships are some of the easiest to take for granted over time.If your key relationships arent something youre approaching with a beginners mindsetas you did when you were first trying to establish t he relationshipthen the relationship is probably not a priority to you.That may be weird to hear.It is highly likely that your romantic relationshipno matter how much you say and think you love this personis not actually a priority to you.If the relationship is not a priority, then that relationship has drifted into an apathetic patternand apathetic and boring patterns dont have a lot of life. If your relationship doesnt have life, then it will likely end.One, or both, of you, will begin looking for life and future and possibility somewhere else.You cant have many prioritiesJim Collins said in Good to Great, If you have more than three priorities, you have none.That may be a little extremebut it also brings up a good point. If you are focused on many different things, then you arent really focused at all.Focus requires zeroing in. It means making a decision.If youre focused on several different things in your life, in which direction are you actually going?If youre focused on severa l different things in your life, is it possible you actually have misled yourself? What if youre not really going where you think you are? What if youre actually drifting, and you havent fully committed.It takes courage to be committed and to make decisions.But without courage and commitment, you can never develop confidence.What are your priorities?Are you clear on them?Are you investing in them?Are you willing to give up a lot of other things to ensure that your true priorities are where your mind and heart are?If not, then you probably dont have priorities. And without priorities, you dont have a clear future that youre creating.Ready to upgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. If you follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.

Friday, November 22, 2019

heres the right way to format your resume

heres the right way to format your resume heres the right way to format your resume The hardest part of writing an effective resume is figuring out the content how to talk about your achievements in ways that tie to what an employer is looking for. But people also do an awful lot of agonizing about the smaller details of a resume things like format, length and even font choices.Lets put those worries to rest. Here are answers to the fruchtwein commonly asked questions about how to format a resume.Is there a basic resume format that works for most people?In general, your resume should have the following sections in the following orderName and contact infoWork history, listed in reverse chronological order (for each job, list your title, the employers name, the dates you worked there and a bulleted list of achievements)EducationSome people also include a short profile or summary section before their work history. This is optional, but has increased in popularity in recent years. The idea is to provide an overall framing for your candidacy.Some people also find it useful to include sections for volunteer work or special skills. Again, this is optional, but in some cases it may strengthen your candidacy.Does it ever make sense to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one?Functional resumes which are focused on one long list of skills and accomplishments rather than connecting them to a chronological work listing are widely disliked by employers, since they make it difficult to understand what the candidates work progression has been. Hiring managers also tend to assume that candidates using this format are trying to hide weak experience or significant work gaps. Since using this format is likely to start you out on the wrong foot with hiring managers, stick to the chronological format over the functional.What belongs in the education section?Generally your education section will be just a line or two. You should list any degrees youve attained sin ce high school, and the college or university that granted them. You generally dont need to go into detail about your coursework just the degrees themselves are sufficient.You might also list certificates or other forms of continuing education here, but be choosy about what you list. Anything listed in this section should be substantial, so you shouldnt include, say, a list of 15 day-long seminars you attended or every conference in which youve participated.Should you talk about your work experience using bullet points or paragraphs?When youre describing your work experience, always use bullet points. Hiring managers are skimming your resume, and big blocks of text are harder to absorb quickly than bullet points are. Plus, many hiring managers eyes will glaze over if your resume appears to be one long block of text. Save that for your cover letter.What about length? Is it okayfor resumes to be more than two pages?The old one-page resume rule is dead, but that doesnt mean you can th row out all the rules about length Your resume still should not be more than two pages. If youre a recent graduate, stick to one page.If that feels painful to you, keep in mind that the longer your resume is, the less likely hiring managers are to see the parts you most want them to see. Most hiring managers spend just a few seconds scanning resumes initially if your resume is several pages long, how many highlights will they really spot? Plus, a long resume can make you come across as unable to tell what information is important and whats less important.Should you stick to a plain, basic layout or can a creative resume design score you points? In most cases, you should stick to a plain, basic layout. The most important thing about your resume design is that it should be easy to scan and well-organized. Few hiring managers want to see unusual colors or innovative templates. The traditional resume layout may feel boring, but hiring managers know how to quickly find the information th ey want on it, and thats to your advantage.Does font choice matter?Hiring managers wont care about what font you use as long as you choose one thats easy on the eyes. Your resume is not the place for a flowery cursive font or anything thats going to make it difficult to skim quickly. Sample different fonts and pick one that you like and thats easy to read. Georgia, Calibri, Arial and even old-school Times New Roman are all fine. (Really, a good litmus test for your resume font is that no one should be thinking about it. You want your content to stand out, not your font selection skills.)And dont forget that font size matters Dont choose a font size smaller than 11 anything else can be hard for some people to read.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Beauty of Movement

The Beauty of Movement The Beauty of Movement The Beauty of MovementSure, theres plenty of art that requires a bit of engineering. Think of the pyramids, large-scale Jeff Koons, and movies. They all depend on someone that understands materials, movement, and energy. But when two the disciplines merely intersect, the engineering plays servant to the art. Rarely do they unite as one. The work of David C. Roy is that rarity. In his moving, mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic works, the engineering is the art and the mechanisms serve the beauty of mechanisms. For Roy, the problem of how to make something work beautifully, and how to make something beautiful are the same. Theyre all problems to solve, he says. Theres a lot of physical engineering, but the aesthetic problems are also fascinating. They use the same part of my brain. That brain once seemed destined for traditional engineering or the sciences. Roys father was an engineer who worked on early jet engines, and David followed in his foots teps, earning an engineering scholarship to Boston University. He switched to chemistry for a while and eventually received a degree in physics. But during his college years he was exposed to the world of art thanks to an evolving relationship with an art studentwho would become his wife. (The father-in-law was a mechanical engineer too). After a very brief stint as a programmer, Roy began to devote himself to wooden toys and things that moved. It was solving problems, and there were a whole lot of problems. I didnt know anything, he says. Building toys taught him woodworking and some mechanical basics. In his mind, though, he wanted to build dynamic pieces that didnt rely on air currentsa la Calderor require the hassle of having a chord dangle down from the sculptures.Designing the motion. Image David C. Roy I just wanted to make things move, he says. I reinvented the escapement. As I got control, it was How do I do this and make it interesting, how do I make interesting patterns a nd create different motions with a controlled release of energy? Roy didnt borrow much from clock innards to improve his escapement design because in his works the mechanism served a different ultimate purpose.In a clock you want very predictable, short periods of time. I wanted to create random, or unpredictable motion. Roy named his first sculpture Albert. It stood six feet tall, ran for 20 minutes, and sold for 125 dollars. The belastung figure was, perhaps, the most important. It meant that Roy could conceivably pursue his vision of kinetic wood full time. As his aesthetics grew more sophisticated, so did his engineering skills, always with the twin goals of creating the longest possible zustrom times and the most pleasing patterns. After mastering the escapement, bearings brought the next big leap to Roys sculptures. It was a huge change in what I could domuch more motion, much smoother, longer running times. But their use required new knowledge. They had to be seated, confined in a wooden space, and Roy had to throw himself into bearing research to determine which kind best suited his needs.Using Strata Design 3D to visualize a sculpture. Image David C. Roy The addition of constant force springs further lengthened run times and freed Roy from a dependency on pulleys and weights. They also changed the focus of his work from the beauty of the mechanism to the beauty of movement. But other tools along the way have been just as important, from a production viewpoint. The electric screwdriver was a godsend when it came out, says Roy. So was the computer. Where Roy had once done it all by hand, from drawing board to saw to sandpaper, he now relies on Bezier curves, Strata Design 3D, and a CNC machine. And run times for his ever-more stunning sculptures fall between 20 and 40 hours. Roys sculptures have supported him for 40 years now and put his kids through college. And they dont stay in the shop long. But he never considered hiring anyone to increase producti on. I like doing a whole lot of things and I like not having to boss other people around, he says. What fascinates me is taking problems and solving them on my own. Those days-long run times come thanks to the precision and experience Roys had with every part of every sculpture hes ever made. When I am doing a drawing I have a sense of what the limits are, how far I can push itthats been acquired over the years, because Ive been burned by trying to push it too far this way or that way. The failures that feed into your general knowledge are a hard thing to pass on. Failures, though, are a little less common for Roy than they once were. But the motivation behind each work has been a constant It needs to work, need to work well, but it needs to look good and be interesting, bring a smile, or make someone wonder why its happening . . . or just sit and watch it the way you watch a fire. Michael Abrams is an independent writer. For Further Discussion In a clock you want very predictable short periods of time. I wanted to create random, or unpredictable motion.David C. Roy, Artist