Friday, May 29, 2020

Pauls Job Board Secrets

Pauls Job Board Secrets Ive blogged on Paul from the Twin Cities before in fact he is one of my favorite recruiters and has a great blog for job seekers and professionals. This particular post reminded me of one of my strategy classes in the MBA program where we learned about the competitive landscape that is you should know the ins-and-outs of your business, everything about vendors, suppliers, customers, etc. Your career management is your business! So here is a view into the recruiter world, a how-to that Paul wrote on whether job boards are valuable or not. One quick Jason-note Ive blogged a lot on networking to get that job, but I do not discount the power or value of job boards. This post from Paul shows you that they are indeed valuable, and not only in the traditional sense that we all used to think. In response to what do you use job boards for? Paul replies: I do not recruit people who post their resume online today. I leave that to my clients. So what, how, huh? Go check out this post it is a 4 minute read and may help you rethink how YOU use job boards! Pauls Job Board Secrets Ive blogged on Paul from the Twin Cities before in fact he is one of my favorite recruiters and has a great blog for job seekers and professionals. This particular post reminded me of one of my strategy classes in the MBA program where we learned about the competitive landscape that is you should know the ins-and-outs of your business, everything about vendors, suppliers, customers, etc. Your career management is your business! So here is a view into the recruiter world, a how-to that Paul wrote on whether job boards are valuable or not. One quick Jason-note Ive blogged a lot on networking to get that job, but I do not discount the power or value of job boards. This post from Paul shows you that they are indeed valuable, and not only in the traditional sense that we all used to think. In response to what do you use job boards for? Paul replies: I do not recruit people who post their resume online today. I leave that to my clients. So what, how, huh? Go check out this post it is a 4 minute read and may help you rethink how YOU use job boards! Pauls Job Board Secrets Ive blogged on Paul from the Twin Cities before in fact he is one of my favorite recruiters and has a great blog for job seekers and professionals. This particular post reminded me of one of my strategy classes in the MBA program where we learned about the competitive landscape that is you should know the ins-and-outs of your business, everything about vendors, suppliers, customers, etc. Your career management is your business! So here is a view into the recruiter world, a how-to that Paul wrote on whether job boards are valuable or not. One quick Jason-note Ive blogged a lot on networking to get that job, but I do not discount the power or value of job boards. This post from Paul shows you that they are indeed valuable, and not only in the traditional sense that we all used to think. In response to what do you use job boards for? Paul replies: I do not recruit people who post their resume online today. I leave that to my clients. So what, how, huh? Go check out this post it is a 4 minute read and may help you rethink how YOU use job boards!

Monday, May 25, 2020

What if the interviewer never calls you back

What if the interviewer never calls you back Every once in a while Ill publish job-hunt questions people ask me a lot. And its that time again. But today Im publishing a question that stumped me: Why dont interviewers get back to me after the interview? I go to the interview, I feel like we click, and the hiring manager or human resource representative never says another thing to me again. Ever. I sent this question to my well-placed, hot-shot human resource friend who works at a company that a slew of you want to work for but cannot be named in this blog, and this is what he told me about the issue: The primary reason candidates dont hear back after the interview is that most recruiters and/or interviewers dont shut the discussion down when they know its a non-fit. This is rooted in human nature and avoiding conflict. For example, two weeks ago I interviewed a terrible candidate. I spoke with him for a half-hour, and then told him, You know what? I have to be honest with you that Im going to pursue other candidates who appear more highly suited for this role. I want to be transparent about that because I know you may have other job opportunities you are considering, and I want to be up front that compared to other candidates Im considering, they appear to be more strongly suited for the role. Most people wont have that conversation in the moment, and instead say, Thanks for your time, I have some more people to interview, and then Ill get back to you with the decision on whether well be moving forward. This closing remark creates more work and clutter, and then the getting back to them never happens. By not being transparent, the interviewer feigns that there will be more evaluation, and I believe interviewers think that it makes the eventual turn-down more palatable. But in all honesty, it just creates inefficiency and friction in the system. Another way to look at this problem though, is that its simply poor execution, because the opportunity cost of letting people dangle doesnt have to be absorbed by the interviewer. Example: If you interview with me, what are the consequences for me treating you poorly? Not any really. You as the candidate dont want to burn a bridge lest [my company] should happen to call you in the future, so its not like you are going to take me to task. In the mix of hundreds of candidates in process, theres no clear measurement of what is really going on, unless you write a letter to my boss or blog about it (which few people take the time to do). So what can you conclude from this? The people who get back to you and tell you flat out no, or, better yet, are transparent enough to tell you no right there in the interview, are the people who are the best to work for. And thats not helpful, is it? I mean, they are rejecting you. So what are you going to do with that piece of knowledge? Heres an idea for candidates in the post-interview process. How about sending a thank you note, placing a followup call or two to show interest, and then if you dont hear anything, move on? And instead of spending time whining about how rude the interview process is, focus on turning the next interview into a job offer. If you get good at interviews, you dont have to worry about people who dont let you know about rejection because you wont get rejected.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Graphic Designer Job Description Salary, Duties, Skills - Algrim.co

Graphic Designer Job Description Salary, Duties, Skills - Algrim.co Graphic Designer Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs. Related Hiring Resources Graphic Designer Cover Letter Sample

Monday, May 18, 2020

Work is Hard, and Working Harder is Not the Answer

Work is Hard, and Working Harder is Not the Answer This is one of a series of posts on The End of Jobs: Money, Meaning and Freedom Without the 9-to-5. In The End of Jobs, Taylor Pearson says that even highly trained and credentialed workers are finding that it’s harder and harder to find quality jobs after graduation. “The glut of lawyers in the U.S. may be the most obvious example, but even in the traditional STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), which were long considered lock-ins for employment, people with related degrees are struggling harder to find jobs than they were a decade ago.” One reason for the dearth of opportunities, he argues, is that we’re training workers to do the wrong things and to do things the wrong way. He presents a framework for thinking about complexity in work called The Cynefin framework (pronounced Kih-neh-vihn), which was developed by Dave Snowden after studying the management structure at IBM. The Cynefin framework  organizes work and management into four domains: simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic. Simple work requires less thinking and less oversight; complex work requires higher reasoning, and by definition, higher training levels and credentials. Pearson says that historically, almost all work has fallen on a straight line continuum form simple to complex, and we’ve trained workers to function in those domains. “But in recent years that’s no longer the case,” he writes. “What this categorization ignores are the complex and chaotic domains.” Here’s how Pearson defines the four types of work: The Simple domain is the one where the relationship between cause and effect is obvious; anyone can apply a best practice to solve a simple problem. It’s something that can be easily documented, like the instructions for putting together an Ikea table or a set of Legos. The Complicated domain is where the relationship between cause and effect requires analysis and investigation. Operating in a complicated domain requires investigation and/ or the application of expert knowledge. It’s something that requires thinking and consideration, but getting it done can be handled by utilizing existing expertise. This is the domain you are equipped to deal with coming out of school. Complex is where the relationships between cause and effect are only clear in retrospect. It’s an emergent practice. This is the field that entrepreneurs frequently find themselves in. It’s not clear what to do next, because you exhausted the expertise you gained through education. The problem is solved, instead, by testing new solutions and seeing the reaction. Chaotic is the domain where there is no relationship between cause and effect. We must act in spite of the disorder, to develop ways to survive. In his book, The Hard Thing About Hard Things, venture capitalist and former CEO Ben Horowitz recounts taking his company public during the 2001 crash. In the midst of layoffs and sales falling off a cliff as the tech bubble crashed, he had to convince investors they should put more money into the company. There’s no guide book for that, no college course. When the Industrial Revolution occurred in the 19th century, factories need workers who had the skills to perform simple work well. Pearson writes, “Horace Mann, often credited as the father of the modern education system, started a school 150 years ago, called the Common School. The purpose of the Common School was to teach students how to follow directions effectively so they would be prepared for factory work.” School hasnt changed much since that time. We’re stilled trained to follow instructions, wait for direction, look for a single right answer, pick from several pre-written answers, trust expert opinions, learn and base your actions on history, and even watch the clock and respond to the bells signaling lunch and quitting time. We’re trained to be effective factory workers even today, when factory jobs are disappearing rapidly. The skills we’ve acquired through education and credentialing are not the skills we need to continually adapt to changing conditions, respond to rapid innovation and continuous feedback from the market, or build a better app. Steve Jobs’ mantra at Apple was “Think different.” Most of us graduate from school afraid to think different. In fact, different is scary and threatening, and it gets scarier as our work becomes more challenging and complex. Recognizing that there may not be a single, right answer can be liberating; chaos doesnt have to be negative. One mans terror, after all, is another mans roller coaster exhilaration. “Chaos was the law of nature; Order was the dream of man.” ?  Henry Adams

Thursday, May 14, 2020

6 Issue That Led to Uncomfortable Office Environments - CareerMetis.com

6 Issue That Led to Uncomfortable Office Environments In a perfect world, we would all get along with our co-workers and the office would be both productive and an enjoyable place.On average Americans spend34.4 hours a week at work, but nearly half of full-time workers work more than 50 hours on the job. That is a lot of time spent at the job, so it’s important owners create a stress-free office environment.evalUnfortunately, that isn’t always the case. The Rand Corp., Harvard Medical School, and the University of California conducted a study that surveyed 3,066 American workers and asked them questions about their workplace. The results of the study concluded that nearly 55% of participants feel their office is “unpleasant and potentially hazardous.”1 in 5 workersgo on to say they go to work and face a “hostile and threatening environment” that includes sexual harassment and even bullying.With such toxic work environments, it isn’t surprising to learn when people are expected to work in a toxic work environment they feel undervalued, unappreciated, and uncomfortable â€" all of which leads to a decline in productivity. Dissatisfaction at the workplace is such a problem that 51% of American workers say they feel disconnected from their jobs, and 16% of those individuals are tuned out completely from their jobs and are utterly miserable.The Effects of a Toxic WorkplaceWhen you subject yourself to continue to work in a hostile environment, you aren’t just losing your desire to work, you are putting your health at risk! When you work in a toxic environment, you are putting a lot of unnecessary strain on your physical and mental health. Sadly, many people chaulk this stress up as part of the job. When works complain about the negative energy in the workplace, they are often met with pushback from owners and upper management. Employees are often led to believe that a bad job is better for your health than being unemployed.That isn’t the case at all. Tarani Chandola, leading author of the International Journal of Epidemiology study and a professor of Medical Sociology at the University of Manchester, and co-author, Nan Zhang, surveyed 1,116 people between the ages of 35 and 75 residing in the United Kingdom. In the survey, they found that people who went from being unemployed to a job with a toxic environment had higher biological stress indicators than those who remained out of work.evalThese biological indicators show that people can develop diseases that affect the cardiovascular and immune system as well as their metabolism. When someone who works in a positive work environment, they have lower levels of these stress indicators, which means they’re happier, healthier, and more productive.What are the Main Causes of a Toxic Environment?There are many different reasons why a work environment could become toxic. The main causes for a negative work environment include:1. Your BossevalA workplace is only as good as the boss who supervises it. The most common reason a workplace is toxic is because there are some bosses who abuse their authority and will abuse their staff, or they don’t encourage a positive work environment.Some examples of the abuse that could occur can include:Belittling someone in front of other employeesBully employees by calling them degrading namesMake unwanted sexual advancesSingling out one or more employees for negative reasonsevalNot only can a boss abuse their power, they may not be supportive of your goals and your desire to further your career. Some additional signs of an abusive manager include taking credit for your work, placing the blame on you whenever something goes wrong, or they prevent you from getting a promotion that you’re qualified for, if they even make you aware of possible advancement opportunities at all.2. Bullies in the WorkplaceBullying isn’t just something children encounter, nor does it have to happen face to face. Many companies rely on email communication and instant messaging platforms like Slack.Th e use of these digital communication mediums can lead to employees feeling singled out, isolated, and even ridiculed by their co-workers and/or management.Cyberbullying is especially toxic to the workplace because it can be done anonymously and on any platform â€" it doesn’t just have to be work-related.For example, people can create fake social media accounts and harass a fellow co-worker. Or they can use text messaging to spread rumors about a person, without that person ever knowing.Bullying is a very big problem because when someone endures harassment, it could cause the individual to become severely depressed; or worse, as victims of cyberbullying are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide. 3. Workplace Domestic ViolenceDid you know that 2,000,000 American workersexperience victims of workplace violence each year? That number is even higher for occurences of domestic violence.Domestic violence is a nasty problem whose effects aren’t just felt inside the home. When so meone is in an abusive relationship, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience domestic violence, they endure emotional, mental, and physical abuse.Just imagine how difficult it is to work with someone who has visible bruises or flinches every time someone comes near them. You want to help, but you don’t know how. Even if you do offer some kind of support, the individual may refuse, may become withdrawn, evasive, or belligerent because they don’t know how to react. This can lead to lower company moral and productivity.evalSome signs that someone is in abusive relationship include:Signs of physical harm such as bruising, burns, broken bones, or cutsVisibly flinch when someone comes too closeSeem afraid or anxious when discussing their partnerFrequently checks in with their partner to report what they are doing/goingReceives frequent calls or visits from partner during the work dayAlways declines to hang out outside of work unless partner goesDoes not have access to money, credit car ds, or a vehicleObvious signs of personality change4. Lack of CommunicationLike anything else in your life, communication is an essential component behind a happy and healthy workplace. When there is a breakdown in the line of communication, it throws productivity out the window.Communication is so important that in a 2010 study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the University of Boston discovered the medical industry in the United States throws over $12 billiondown the drain as a result of the inefficiencies that are a direct result of poor communication.When a workplace has good communication, conflict can be avoided or worked out in a productive manner. Good communication can also help employees feel satisfied with their work and even avoid feeling burnt out.eval5. Poorly Implemented PoliciesYou can easily tell the difference between a business who does not implement or enforce their policies and procedures and one who does. When your boss enforces policies, everything seems to run like a fine-oiled machine. However, when your boss has a “don’t care” attitude, chaos ensues and people do whatever they want.evalTasks get neglected or only get completed by some employees. The lack of teamwork and enforcement can cause people to feel resentment toward management and their co-workers. The hardworking employees can adopt that “don’t care” attitude as a result and their work will begin to suffer.6. Cliques in the OfficeOffice drama is often a result of having office cliques who like to gossip and spread negative energy. They can make a mountain out of a molehill and ruin whatever kind enjoyment you may get from your job. These office cliques can be a big source of drama that can bring down the whole vibe of the workspace.Workers often believe that there will always be some kind of conflict or friction in the workplace. It makes sense because with so many different personalities coming together under one roof, people are bound to cl ash from time to time.Small conflicts are to be expected from time to time, but when those small disagreements blow up and full-on drama ensues, then you are not working in a healthy environment.

Monday, May 11, 2020

10 Things I Learned When I Broke My Foot

10 Things I Learned When I Broke My Foot So often, it’s in adversity that we learn and grow the most. That was certainly the case for me when I fractured a bone in my foot last week and ended up on crutches. The timing could not have been much worse. It was on the morning of a conference I had been looking forward to for months, and just 48 hours before my trip to China to attend a family ceremony, deliver several talks, and promote my book. Here’s how it happened It was early in the morning and I wanted to fit in a quick 12-minute burst of high intensity interval training (HIIT) before sitting all day at the conference. To save time, I didn’t bother putting on my sneakers. First bad move. I turned on the TV and flicked over to Good Morning America (since I live in England, it’s always interesting to see what fellow Americans are watching “back home”). I became engrossed in the story about the musician, Prince, who had died suddenly a week earlier. Second bad move. As I got to the running in place for a minute part of the circuit, I was so absorbed by the segment that I failed to notice I was edging closer and closer to the edge of the thick rug I was on. That’s when my foot came down just on the edge and I turned over the outside edge of my right foot. I heard a really loud crack as I fell to the ground. Disaster! How bad was it? Thanks to the great doctors and nurses at the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, I got a pretty quick diagnosis: a fractured 5th metatarsal. Apparently, this is quite common among soccer players. So I guess it’s me and David Beckham! By lunchtime, I was waiting for an Uber, fully equipped with crutches, a protective boot, and ibuprofen to cut down the swelling. What I learned As the saying goes, when you get lemons, learn to make lemonade. And all you can do is step back and reflect on key learnings. In fact, I learned at least 10 things from this experience. Here they are, and here’s how they can help you in your life too. 1. Be present The reason I got hurt was that I simply wasn’t paying attention. I was distracted. My mind was on something completely different than what I was doing physically. In this case, the person who got hurt was me. But when you don’t pay attention to your family, friends or colleagues, you’re hurting others. And the price you pay is higher. The thing is, most of the time, there won’t be a loud bone cracking sound to alert you to the damage you’ve done to your relationships. So it’s up to each of us to pay attention. So, stay “in the moment” and be present whether that’s focusing your attention on loved ones, doing something active, or simply enjoying the moment. 2. Be patient When it takes twice as long to do normal things, like walk upstairs or take a shower, you learn to be patient with yourself… or else you’ll go crazy! In fact, it will take 2-3 months for my foot to heal, during which time I won’t be able to go to the gym, which is my happy place. But time is a relative concept â€" those months are very short in the context of a lifetime, and it’s important to cut yourself some slack and, in my case, allow my bones to heal. And this patience extends to others as well. For example, those times when you’re delegating, and your team member doesn’t do things the same way or as fast as you would. I’m learning to reign myself in, breathe and accept that being patient in the near term will result in better outcomes longer term. 3. Slow down and let go Even in a world that moves at warp speed, it turns out that not everything must be done right now. And the corollary is that you can’t always make things happen. When I got to the airport, the wheel chair service kicked in and I was wheeled to the check in counter. The person behind the counter, Robert, had put one of my bags onto the conveyor belt, and was holding the other one while having a chat with me. I silently worried whether both suitcases would make it onto the plane in time. Should I say something, or would that piss him off and result in my luggage going to Chicago instead of China? Finally, I broke down and asked, “Shouldn’t you be putting that second suitcase on the belt?” Robert looked at me, raised his eyebrows and said, “Oh, I see. You’re sitting down there, and you’re still in control.” Of course, I was NOT in control. In fact, I was reliant on others to help me do some pretty basic things. It dawned on me that I was going to have to let go and trust other people to do their jobs. I started laughing, and thanked Robert for the lesson. As they wheeled me away, Robert said, “You’re going to have to go with the flow today, and go with the flight.”   Precisely true. And so it goes with much of life: go with the flow. It’s far more easeful to be more relaxed about everything. And things have a way of working out. 4. Plan ahead I’m used to running from one place to another, but now I even have to plan my trips across the room to maximize efficiency. Thanks to my wonderful assistant, Leanne, there were wheel chairs waiting and porters at the ready at each of the four cities during my travels. I’ve learned that things go more smoothly when someone has thought through the entire end-to-end experience: getting from the car to the airline counter to the plane to baggage claim to taxi to hotel and so forth. This is a fundamental premise of “design thinking” â€" putting the customer at the center and creating a great experience for them. Whether it’s your career or personal time, it pays to look ahead, have a plan and set yourself up for success. 5. Be kind I’ve learned that people â€" even complete strangers â€" are basically kind. So many have offered to help me with luggage, getting food at a buffet, carrying that cup of tea I can’t seem to do without. Their kindness has made me resolve to do more random acts of kindness and spread the wealth. When you let go of expectations and any sense of entitlement, you likely will be surprised at the kindness of people around you. 6. You don’t need all that stuff I’m the poster child of carrying everything with me. Like a turtle who carries its house on its back. But when I had to rely on others to carry my bag, every one of them remarked on how heavy it was. Then I noticed that I only used 10% of what was in the bag. Now, I’m down to just my phone, pen, and room key tucked in the top of the boot, and a small notebook under my arm. Hard to believe. Start asking yourself whether you really need all that stuff you’re carrying around. That applies to physical, emotional or mental baggage. Speaking from recent experience, I can attest that it feels great to finally leave the stuff behind. 7. Get your story down When you’re on crutches, people tend to ask what happened. I must have told the story 10 times during the coffee break alone. That’s when I realized it pays to have your story down pat. In fact, you’ll want a short, medium and long version of it depending on the situation. (By the way, almost no one wants to stick around for the long version…) The same is true for answering questions like, “what do you do?” or “how’s your business going?” It’s a great opportunity to convey your message and brand in a succinct and powerful way. So learn to tell your story. 8. It’s okay to accept help At first, my independent streak led me to turn down offers of assistance. I kept saying, “No thanks, I’m fine.” But then I’d be standing on the curb, on my crutches, with two suitcases and a handbag, without any clue as to how to get it all into the building. The reality is that none of us succeeds alone, whether in life, career or simply getting from one place to another. In fact, you can build some strong bonds when you accept help. People feel good about being helpful, so why deny them that opportunity? 9. It’s okay to ask for help The corollary is that it’s perfectly great to ask someone for help. They can always say no. Not everyone thinks of what they can do for others on a proactive basis, yet they are usually happy to help if asked. So ask! But ask without expectation, and without judging them if they say no. 10. Look for the silver lining While I was upset at missing the morning of the conference, being on crutches turned out to be a great icebreaker. People I didn’t know felt perfectly comfortable asking me, “what happened?!” It also made my presence memorable to everyone who attended. In the end, I met more people and had a higher profile than if I hadn’t hurt my foot. So, while I certainly wouldn’t choose to be on crutches, there was definitely a silver lining. I’m sure the same is true for most situations. You may have to look for that silver lining, but it’s well worth doing. Optimism is free, and it might just help you achieve your fondest wishes more easily. Less is more I hope you won’t need to have a setback like mine to remind yourself that it’s not necessary to go through life at a frantic pace. To insist on controlling what happens. To be weighed down by excess baggage of any variety. And I hope you will take time to be patient with yourself and kind to others. To know that there’s no shame in reaching out when you need help (and we all need help!). And to accept that help when it’s offered. Being forced to live life at a more reasonable pace, at least for the time being, means I’m less busy and being more mindful of what I’m doing. While I’m getting fewer things done, the good news is that I’m getting more of the important things done. In fact, less is more. And that’s a lesson worth learning. So, what takeaways have you had from setbacks you’ve had? Leave a comment and let me know.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Talk About Grant Writing On Resume

Talk About Grant Writing On ResumeGrant writing has been a popular method for people to get free money. People are usually able to use this for buying a home, debt consolidation or paying off credit card bills. Many people have been using grant money to pay off student loans for years. People are using this opportunity as an alternative to bank loans.One of the first things that a business owner must consider when looking for grant money is to figure out how much funding they have to offer. If there is little funding then chances are they will not be able to meet the needs of the business. When it comes to grants for small businesses, the money is usually given out by the government to nonprofit organizations that help businesses. This means that there are not any strings attached and businesses can get up to $2500 dollars in grant money. A grant writing business can also help to plan how to best use this funding to help with the business.The most important step in the process is to write a grant proposal. This is the document that explains how your business or organization will use the funding. When you apply for a grant writing business will help you to create a proposal that will best explain how you will use the funding.People will not like to see that you are applying for a grant because they may think that you are in it just for the money, or that you do not have anything better to do with your time. So keep this to the bare minimum. People do not like to see applications filled out without any information about what you are going to do with the funding. You will want to have it all on paper so that the funding agency will understand exactly what you intend to do with the money.The next step that you need to complete is a grant proposal. This should include a one page description of how you plan to use the grant funding and any updates to your plans after the grant money has been awarded. This is the foundation for the discussion that will take place duri ng the interview and there should be no reason why you would not have it completed before the interview.The resume is the last step to complete. The resume is the first thing that a potential employer sees, so you want to make sure that it is attractive and professional. The resume will include your educational background, skills, abilities and the type of business that you are involved with.Next you will want to list any affiliations that you have with other companies that will give your business's ability a boost. Make sure that this list includes a minimum of two to three business partners that can give your company more opportunities. It is also beneficial to list any grant writing connections that you may have.Remember that when you talk about grant writing on resume that it needs to be professional. People do not like it when someone is trying to convince them to do something they would not normally do.