tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74462153847403357712024-03-05T18:05:37.911-08:00Blaine and Associates : Explore Your PossibilitiesBlaine and Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16204369281532467576noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-79035357368150561902018-02-08T14:37:00.004-08:002018-02-08T14:37:28.205-08:00How to Write a Resume to Beat an Automated Tracking System<h1 class="m_-3201448603061271849grande m_-3201448603061271849translate m_-3201448603061271849normalWeight" style="background-color: white; color: #3c4042; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
How to Write a Resume to Beat an Automated Tracking System</h1>
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by Phil Stott | January 24, 2018</div>
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The majority of applications for many jobs never get seen by a human. If you've ever submitted an application through a company's website, there's a strong chance that your resume was screened—and likely rejected—by an automated system. Here are some tips to help make sure that your resume makes it through in future, so that it can at least get its six seconds with a real live human.</div>
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<strong>Research Keywords</strong></div>
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Imagine that you were trying to find the job you're applying for in a Google search. What keywords would you include to ensure that that exact role, in that exact industry, came up? If you're not sure, do some research around the industry and make a list of any words that recur.</div>
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You should also make a point of reading the job description and company hiring pages a few times: the chances are that the qualities, characteristics and skills listed will be exactly the same as the company is looking for—and therefore screening your resume for.</div>
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This is one of the reasons that career experts recommend tailoring your resume for each job you apply for—if you're not changing out your keywords to match what the employer is looking for, you're selling yourself short and reducing the chances of the ATS coming up with a match when it scans your resume.</div>
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<strong>Use the keywords frequently (but not too frequently)</strong></div>
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Once you have your key terms, the next step is to make sure that they're used frequently enough that the algorithm will see them as relevant. Try to use your top keywords in your resume between 3 and 5 times—but do it naturally. Not only will the algorithm flag your resume if you overstuff it, but keep in mind that it needs to make sense to a human as well!</div>
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If you're wondering how to incorporate specific keywords, consider including a skills section on your resume: it's a great place to include things like programming languages and specific technologies that you might otherwise struggle to fit into your employment history.</div>
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<strong>Don't get fancy—and don't overthink it</strong></div>
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Stay away from creative layouts and fonts when submitting a resume into an automated system—design elements such as frames, boxes and unusual fonts can confuse the algorithm, and lead to your resume being rejected.</div>
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That advice stands for how you should think about automated tracking systems in general: while they're a technological solution to aid employers, they're far from being the most sophisticated algorithms out there. For the most part, they simply scan for matches against a set of criteria identified by the employer, and then weight them for relevance. So, while it's important to keep them in mind when writing your resume, you don't need to resort to tricks or keyword stuffing to try to beat them. Just follow the steps above and remember that, above all, the goal is to get it into the hands of someone who will make a decision that will be much more subjective.</div>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-20589654030912069562017-06-02T13:26:00.002-07:002017-06-02T13:26:15.492-07:00New Listing - Assistant to Client Relations Manager<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Assistant Client Relations Manager - El Segundo $55,000-$65,000 + bonus, benefits, and lots of upward mobility</div>
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We are seeking an Assistant Client Relations Manager to join our expanding and exciting team! This is an excellent opportunity for a recent college grad with an interest in regenerative medicine, biology, and cutting edge science.</div>
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<strong>Responsibilities:</strong></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Interface with Sales Reps, Medical and Hospital Purchasing, and Executive Teams</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Handle high level of client servicing, including follow-up calls, emails, memos, and in-person meetings</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Track inventory and sales trends using various data management systems</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Track monthly results and trends for business forecasting</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Resolve customer complaints, product issues, and offer incentives</li>
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Qualifications:</strong><br /><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">2 + years previous experience in sales or a high-end customer service environment</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">4 year college degree from an reputable college</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Knowledge of MS Office (Word & Excel) and data base programs (Access preferred)</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Excellent written and communication skills</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Strong attention to detail and a true multitasker</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Strong phone etiquette with poised and sophisticated grammar and vocabulary skills</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Outgoing personality with problem solving skills, able to answer customer questions and come up with solutions</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Anticipate inventory trends</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Work well with executives and sales teams</li>
</ul>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-52885064628356780542017-06-01T16:23:00.000-07:002017-06-01T16:23:01.445-07:00New Job Listing - Executive Assistant<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b><u>Executive Assistant - $70,000-$75,000</u></b></div>
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We are seeking an Executive Assistant in our downtown location to work for the new CEO of a large non-profit legal organization. You will serve as his "right-hand" front person dealing with every legal firm in the country. This is a high-energy, proactive, special project, client interfacing position. You have to be the EA who loves to get involved and has the sophistication, education and experience to handle this fantastic opportunity</div>
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<strong></strong><strong>Responsibilities:</strong></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Handle extensive scheduling, both professional and personal</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Arrange conference calls and meetings</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Arrange complex travel with multiple stops and long detailed itineraries </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Be the first "go to" person for clients, lawyers, executives, and internal staff</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Compose and type correspondence, emails, memos, and presentations</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Handle special events, including securing locations, catering, invitations, etc.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Maintain and order supplies</li>
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<strong>Qualifications:</strong></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">5+ years previous experience as an executive assistant in a similar role, legal experience a plus</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">4-year college degree from a reputable firm</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Strong organizational skills</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Ability to prioritize and multitask</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Strong attention to detail</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Excellent client servicing skills</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">MS Office advanced skills</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Professional office attire required</li>
</ul>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-88058282182647840192017-03-23T15:18:00.002-07:002017-03-23T15:18:46.433-07:0022 Behavioral Interview Questions Big 4 Firms AskGone are the days of having to field 101 technical questions in accounting interviews with the Big 4 (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC). Today, it's all about behavioral questions. And in the past couple of years, these questions have become a lot more complex. It used to be that you just had to know how to talk about your strengths, weaknesses, a time you failed, and a time you showed your leadership abilities. But now, in interviews, you need to talk about your regrets, communication style, and how you deal with difficult managers and difficult clients, among other topics. <br />
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And so, in order to help you prepare for a Big 4 interview, we've compiled some of the new behavioral questions that the Big 4 are now asking in entry-level interviews. All of these interview questions come straight from Big 4 insiders who took our latest Accounting Survey (the results of which we'll be using to compile our new Accounting Rankings, which we'll be releasing on Tax Day, April 17).<br />
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Remember, the most important part of answering a behavioral question is not to memorize an answer you find by Googling it, but rather by taking the time to think hard and long about what your honest, unique answer is, and then working on how to best communicate that answer to an interviewer. In any case, we hope these help!<br />
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1. Criticism Q: Please provide an example of constructive criticism that you've received and what you changed going forward as a result. <br />
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2. Communicating Q: Communicating is an important part of our business, so tell us about a time that you had to communicate with a person who was difficult to communicate with. <br />
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3. Conflicting Personality Q: Working in teams is a critical part of our job—you have to learn to interact well with a variety of personalities—so give me an example of when you were in a group project and had to interact with group member that had a conflicting personality. <br />
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4. Time Management Q: In your personal life and during your work experience and education, what time management skills have you developed that have allowed you to find an even balance? <br />
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5. Research Q: The ability to research is critical to our job, so give me an example when you had to research something, including the process you went through and the ultimate outcome. <br />
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6. Bad Grade Q: Tell me about a time that you received a bad grade on a school assignment and how you dealt with the situation. <br />
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7. Hostile Environment Q: Please describe situations where you had a difficult conversation or hostile environment—how did you deal with the situation and what did you learn from it? <br />
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8. Regret Q: Describe a significant regret and what you learned from it.<br />
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9. What You Do for Fun Q: What do you enjoy doing? Not enjoy doing? <br />
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10. Last Job Dislikes Q: What about your last job didn't you like? <br />
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11. Commitment Q: What does overall commitment look like to you? <br />
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12. Convictions Q: What convictions do you live by? <br />
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13. You in Three Words Q: How would you describe yourself in three words? <br />
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14. Difficult News Q: Tell me about a time that you had to communicate difficult news. <br />
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15. Disappointed in You Q: Tell me about a time you've been disappointed in your performance? What did you do in response?<br />
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16. College Major Q: Tell me about your process of considering different majors/career paths. <br />
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17. Communication Style Q: Describe a time at work or school when you had to modify your communication style or approach based on your audience. <br />
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18. What You're All About Q: Tell me something about yourself that is not on your resume that you believe defines you and what you are all about. <br />
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19. Disagreement Q: Have you ever had a disagreement with a co-worker and how did you resolve it? <br />
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20. Stood Up to Boss Q: Tell us about a time in which you stood up to/corrected a superior. <br />
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21. Coaching Q: Discuss ways you have coached or mentored others, or helped others to accomplish their goals. <br />
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22. Natural Role Q: What is your natural role in a group setting? When have you had to step out of that natural role?Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-5174320481274766492016-10-06T15:01:00.002-07:002016-10-06T15:02:05.168-07:00Acing the Interview<b><u>Acing the Interview Process</u></b><br />
by Abby Locke<br />
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How to effectively prepare for, manage and follow up an interview.<br />
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Congratulations; your hard work has paid off, and you have secured an interview. The interview is extremely critical given employers and recruiters use your presentation to make their final decision. Despite the growing discomfort in today’s job market, this remains true.<br />
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<b><u>Preparing for the Interview</u></b><br />
Enter an interview armed with a wealth of information on the company. When this is coupled with a solid understanding of how you can make a valuable contribution, you are automatically put at the front of the pack. Here are a few methods to ensure you stand out from the competition:<br />
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<li>Fully exhaust the Internet when researching the company’s reputation, financial status and recent developments. Reach out to your professional network for anyone who may have the inside scoop, and review annual reports and industry trade magazines to get all the facts.</li>
<li>Review your resume again and familiarize yourself with the key points that you want to get across during the interview. It is very beneficial to create your mini career success stories ahead of time – make sure that you choose examples that demonstrate how your qualifications are the right fit with the company’s needs.</li>
<li>Practice and rehearse your responses to standard interview questions like, “Tell me about yourself,” “Describe your top accomplishments” and “Why should we hire you?”</li>
<li>Conduct a dress rehearsal to make sure that your suit or business attire fits right; check your portfolio to make sure you have additional copies of your resume, and consider doing a road trip to the interview location ahead of time to assess commuting time.</li>
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<b><u>Managing the Interview Process</u></b><br />
Throughout your face-to-face interview process, you want to make sure that you are consistently promoting yourself as the solution. Clearly define your personal brand, unique value proposition and concise success stories in the Challenge-Action-Results format. Not sure where to start? Follow the steps below.<br />
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<li>Limit your responses to about 2—3 minutes, and practice your presentation with a trusted colleague in order to minimize your level of nervous talk or rambling.</li>
<li>Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions, statements and comments to get a deeper understanding of the company and whether its corporate environment is the right fit for you. Remember it needs to be a two-way match.</li>
<li>Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat a question for clarity, and take your time giving the correct response.</li>
<li>Make sure that you ask specific questions about the company and the position requirements before forming an opinion. Lean towards enhancing your career, not simply getting a job. Questions that you should consider include: “Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?” “How would you describe the work environment?” ”What are the growth or promotional opportunities?” and “Tell me about your experience with the company.”</li>
<li>Always ask the interviewer about the next steps – you should always walk away from an interview with clear expectations.</li>
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<b><u>After the Interview</u></b><br />
It seems like a simple, common-sense gesture, but so many job seekers overlook a thank-you note or e-mail sent within 48 hours of the interview. (Only five percent of executive job candidates actually say thanks.) A highly effective thank-you note should mention highlights of the interview conversation and reiterate your interest in the position. Here are some pointers:<br />
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<li>Do more than say “thank you;” use the follow-up letter to address any questions that you feel you didn’t answer well during the interview. If you may have neglected mentioning any critical additional information in the interview, use the card to relay your strengths..</li>
<li>Evaluate your own interview performance. Consider questions like ”What were your feelings going into the interview?” ”Were you uncomfortable during the process?” ”Was this interview easier or harder compared to your last one?” and ”What would you do differently in the next interview?”</li>
<li>Keep your job search going and accept other job interviews along the way. You should never cease your job search activities until you have been offered a position and you have accepted. No matter how well the interview went, never take that as a sign to slow down your overall job search efforts.</li>
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<i>Abby Locke is an executive career marketing strategist who partners with senior-level professionals and C-level executives to achieve personal success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career communications and innovative personal marketing/job search services.</i>Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-10282810935203913092016-05-26T11:56:00.001-07:002016-05-26T11:57:29.529-07:007 Lessons About Finding the Work You Were Meant To Do<b>(by Kate Torgovnick May)</b><br />
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You don’t “find your calling,” you fight for it — and other lessons from people who found their passion (sometimes late in life).<br />
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Whether it was during a career aptitude test or in a heart-to-heart chat after getting laid off, chances are someone has talked to you about how to “find your calling.” It’s one of those phrases people toss about. But StoryCorps founder Dave Isay takes issue with it … specifically, the verb.<br />
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“Finding your calling — it’s not passive,” he says. “When people have found their calling, they’ve made tough decisions and sacrifices in order to do the work they were meant to do.”<br />
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In other words, you don’t just “find” your calling — you have to fight for it. And it’s worth the fight. “People who’ve found their calling have a fire about them,” says Isay, the winner of the 2015 TED Prize. “They’re the people who are dying to get up in the morning and go do their work.”<br />
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Over a decade of listening to StoryCorps interviews, Isay noticed that people often share the story of how they discovered their calling — and now, he’s collected dozens of great stories on the subject into a new book, Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work. Below, he shares 7 takeaways from the hard-won fight to find the work you love.<br />
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1. Your calling is at the intersection of a Venn diagram of three things: doing something you’re good at, feeling appreciated, and believing your work is making people’s lives better. “When those three things line up, it’s like lightning,” Isay says. He doesn’t suggest that a person has to be a surgeon saving lives to feel like they have a calling; think of the diner waitress who talks to customers and makes them feel loved. How do you find this overlap? “You have to shut out all the chatter of what your friends are telling you to do, what your parents are telling you to do, what society is telling you to do,” Isay says, “and just go to that quiet place inside you that knows the truth.”<br />
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2. Your calling often comes out of difficult experiences. What lurks in that quiet place will be a defining experience — quite possibly a painful one. Isay points to an interview in Callings with 24-year-old teacher Ayodeji Ogunniyi. “He was studying to be a doctor when his father was murdered. He realized that what he was really meant to do was be a teacher,” says Isay. “He says that every time he walks into a classroom, his father is walking in with him.” This theme of people turning their hardest experiences into a new path runs throughout the book. “Having an experience that really shakes you and reminds you of your mortality can be a very clarifying event in people’s lives. Oftentimes, it leads to changes,” he says. “We spend a lot of time working, so it can really change your priorities in terms of work life.”<br />
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3. Calling often takes courage and ruffles feathers. Elsewhere in Callings, we hear about Wendell Scott, who became the first African-American NASCAR driver in 1952, and kept on driving despite threats against his life. From scientist Dorothy Warburton who dealt with extreme sexism as she conducted research to break the stigma around miscarriage. From Burnell Cotlon, who opened the first grocery store in the Lower 9th Ward after Hurricane Katrina because he wasn’t about to let his old neighborhood’s spirit fade. Calling, says Isay, very often starts with taking a stand against a status quo that simply isn’t acceptable, and then dedicating your work to changing it: “It’s work ignited by hope, love, or defiance — and stoked by purpose and persistence.”<br />
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4. Other people often nudge you toward calling. Sharon Long had worked odd jobs most of her life. As Isay tells it, “Her daughter was going to college, and as the bursar was helping them with financial aid forms, she said quietly to herself, ‘I wish I could’ve gone to college.’ The bursar responded, ‘It’s not too late.’” Sharon enrolled in an art program, and on her advisor’s suggestion, took forensic anthropology as her science. “The advisor suggested it for no other reason than he thought it was the easiest science course for the science requirement,” says Isay. “But the minute she sat in that class, it was boom — this is what she was meant to do.” Isay tells this story to illustrate how calling, while very personal, is also relational. “People bump you this way and that way,” he says, often without realizing it. “When people find their callings, they want to honor those people who helped them get there.”<br />
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5. What comes after identifying your calling is what really matters. The old ‘finding your calling’ phraseology makes it sound like a calling is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — you find it, and the story’s over. But Isay stresses that your calling is an ongoing process. “Understanding what your calling is — that’s very different than the blood, sweat and tears of actually doing it,” he says. Pursuing a calling may require going back to school or apprenticing; it may require starting a business. Often, notes Isay, it leads a person into a line of work that’s in service of others. “This book is basically a love letter to nurses, teachers, social workers — the people who don’t often get celebrated for the work they do,” he says.<br />
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6. Age is irrelevant. Isay found his calling when he was 21 and interviewed a man who’d been part of the Stonewall riots. “The minute I hit record, I knew that being a journalist and interviewing people was what I was going to do for the rest of my life,” he says. “I feel very lucky that lightning struck when I was very young.” But collecting stories for the book reminded him that a calling can be discovered at any age. The book includes an interview with someone who knew they wanted to be an NBA referee at age 15, and another who worked as an accountant for 30 years before discovering his passion for slicing lox. “Doing the work you’re meant to do is one of the most satisfying, remarkable experiences that a person can have,” says Isay, “so never give up.”<br />
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7. Calling often doesn’t come with a big paycheck. Another trend Isay sees in stories of people who find their calling: they often involve leaving a high-paying job for one that’s lower-paying but more satisfying. “The message we send to young people is that you want to do as little work as you can to make as much money as you can — that’s the dream,” says Isay. “But the wisdom in the StoryCorps archive is that there’s another, much more rewarding dream of taking risks and working very hard to live with integrity.” In the end, that’s the lesson he took away from writing this book. “There are no millionaires, no billionaires, no celebrities, nobody with a big Twitter following,” he says. “Just stories can teach us a lot about lives fully lived.”Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-41784652739307837012016-05-05T14:07:00.003-07:002016-05-05T14:07:56.024-07:00Wise Habits of Supremely Happy People<h1 style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Wise Habits of Supremely Happy People</h1>
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We’re always chasing something—be it a promotion, a new car, or a significant other. This leads to the belief that, “When (blank) happens, I’ll finally be happy.”</div>
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While these major events do make us happy at first, research shows this happiness doesn’t last. A study from Northwestern University measured the happiness levels of regular people against those who had won large lottery prizes the year prior. The researchers were surprised to discover that the happiness ratings of both groups were practically <em style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">identical</em>.<img class="CToWUd a6T" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgsChKcHaGg55XrxxN-f6fJ05LCz5YASz5yrACXJbqRJTC6sF9dG5asMfbMIwqRtF6xvtNETHoHciCvDaI_UEXObddDzd92k_W8RB3vDPHhX5U73IBjyPOX5C-65XQVOToBQNpbjk0DKAj3YYDonShVEbzlty7zQHF8vpS9XKQNM7GkcZ-LU6Pe6I31wZ98jTEL1l6ywUKgQDf7ZHKVsdMJgAxowmR1ly__1QrpO5qBE3wYCWR9EvEdz2-c=s0-d-e1-ft" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 30px auto; max-width: 100%; min-height: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0" width="640" /></div>
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The mistaken notion that major life events dictate your happiness and sadness is so prevalent that psychologists have a name for it: <em style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">impact</em> <em style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">bias</em>. The reality is, event-based happiness is fleeting.</div>
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Happiness is synthetic—you either create it, or you don’t. Happiness that lasts is earned through your habits. Supremely happy people have honed habits that maintain their happiness day in, day out. Try out their habits, and see what they do for you:</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They slow down to appreciate life’s little pleasures.</strong></h3>
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By nature, we fall into routines. In some ways, this is a good thing. It saves precious brainpower and creates comfort. However, sometimes you get so caught up in your routine that you fail to appreciate the little things in life. Happy people know how important it is to savor the taste of their meal, revel in the amazing conversation they just had, or even just step outside to take a deep breath of fresh air.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They exercise.</strong></h3>
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Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. Happy people schedule regular exercise and follow through on it because they know it pays huge dividends for their mood.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They spend money on other people.</strong></h3>
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Research shows that spending money on other people makes you much happier than spending it on yourself. This is especially true of small things that demonstrate effort, such as going out of your way to buy your friend a book that you know they will like.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They surround themselves with the right people</strong>.</h3>
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Happiness spreads through people. Surrounding yourself with happy people builds confidence, stimulates creativity, and it’s flat-out fun. Hanging around negative people has the opposite effect. They want people to join their pity party so that they can feel better about themselves. Think of it this way: If a person were smoking, would you sit there all afternoon inhaling the second-hand smoke? You’d distance yourself, and you should do the same with negative people.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They stay positive.</strong></h3>
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Bad things happen to everyone, including happy people. Instead of complaining about how things could have been or should have been, happy people reflect on everything they’re grateful for. Then they find the best solution available to the problem, tackle it, and move on. Nothing fuels unhappiness quite like pessimism. The problem with a pessimistic attitude, apart from the damage it does to your mood, is that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: if you expect bad things, you’re more likely to experience negative events. Pessimistic thoughts are hard to shake off until you recognize how illogical they are. Force yourself to look at the facts, and you’ll see that things are not nearly as bad as they seem.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They get enough sleep.</strong></h3>
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I’ve beaten this one to death over the years and can’t say enough about the importance of sleep to improving your mood, focus, and self-control. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges, removing toxic proteins that accumulate during the day as byproducts of normal neuronal activity. This ensures that you wake up alert and clear-headed. Your energy, attention, and memory are all reduced when you don’t get enough quality sleep. Sleep deprivation also raises stress hormone levels on its own, even without a stressor present. Happy people make sleep a priority, because it makes them feel great and they know how lousy they feel when they’re sleep deprived.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They have deep conversations.</strong></h3>
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Happy people know that happiness and substance go hand-in-hand. They avoid gossip, small talk, and judging others. Instead they focus on meaningful interactions. They engage with other people on a deeper level, because they know that doing so feels good, builds an emotional connection, and is an interesting way to learn.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They help others.</strong></h3>
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Taking the time to help people not only makes them happy, but it also makes you happy. Helping other people gives you a surge of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, all of which create good feelings. In a Harvard study, employees who helped others were 10 times more likely to be focused at work and 40% more likely to get a promotion. The same study showed that people who consistently provided social support were the most likely to be happy during times of high stress. As long as you make certain that you aren’t overcommitting yourself, helping others is sure to have a positive influence on your mood.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They make an effort to be happy.</strong></h3>
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No one wakes up feeling happy every day and supremely happy people are no exception. They just work at it harder than everyone else. They know how easy it is to get sucked into a routine where you don’t monitor your emotions or actively try to be happy and positive. Happy people constantly evaluate their moods and make decisions with their happiness in mind.</div>
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<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They do things in-person.</strong></h3>
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Happy people only let technology do their talking when absolutely necessary. The human brain is wired for in-person interaction, so happy people will jump at the chance to drive across town to see a friend or meet face-to-face because it makes them feel good.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They have a growth mindset.</strong></h3>
<div style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: #232629; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
People’s core attitudes fall into one of two categories: a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. With a fixed mindset, you believe you are who you are and you cannot change. This creates problems when you’re challenged, because anything that appears to be more than you can handle is bound to make you feel hopeless and overwhelmed. People with a growth mindset believe that they can improve with effort. This makes them happier because they are better at handling difficulties. They also outperform those with a fixed mindset because they embrace challenges, treating them as opportunities to learn something new.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bringing It All Together</strong></h3>
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Happiness can be tough to maintain, but investing in the right habits pays off. Adopting even a few of the habits from this list will make a big difference in your mood.</div>
<div style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: #232629; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What other habits make you happy? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.</em></div>
<h3 style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85098); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</strong></h3>
<div style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: #232629; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Travis Bradberry</strong> is the award-winning co-author of the #1 bestselling book, <em style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.talentsmart.com/products/emotional-intelligence-2.0/&source=gmail&ust=1462556066135000&usg=AFQjCNGGEz273E7uUzwUZoG7Z_Kht-zmMg" href="http://www.talentsmart.com/products/emotional-intelligence-2.0/" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: #8c68cb; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Emotional Intelligence 2.0</a>,</em> and the cofounder of <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.talentsmart.com/&source=gmail&ust=1462556066135000&usg=AFQjCNGzoGRhqsBWkDKvEyukq3Yub0TZTQ" href="http://www.talentsmart.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: #8c68cb; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">TalentSmart</a>, the world's leading provider of <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.talentsmart.com/products/&source=gmail&ust=1462556066135000&usg=AFQjCNGK3pOPcqoGfTCJbRqvoW8RT9Um8g" href="http://www.talentsmart.com/products/" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: #8c68cb; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">emotional intelligence tests</a> and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.talentsmart.com/services/train-the-trainer-certification.php&source=gmail&ust=1462556066135000&usg=AFQjCNH2maZnH0Wlzdj1Ex1pUN3zGJUHLQ" href="http://www.talentsmart.com/services/train-the-trainer-certification.php" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; color: #8c68cb; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">training</a>, serving more than 75% of Fortune 500 companies. His bestselling books have been translated into 25 languages and are available in more than 150 countries. Dr. Bradberry has written for, or been covered by, <em style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Newsweek, TIME, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post</em>, and <em style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Harvard Business Review.</em></div>
</div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-4569042130658592222016-03-28T07:00:00.000-07:002016-03-28T07:00:06.056-07:00<b>4 Simple Phrases That Instantly Earn People's Trust</b><br />
<b>Your team is more likely to thrive if you can make them feel that you are trustworthy.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
By Sysan Steinbrecher<br />
CEO, Steinbrecher and Associates<br />
@SteinbrecherInc<br />
\<br />
Project Aristotle is a recent Google study that was undertaken to understand why certain teams in their workplace thrived while others seemed to struggle. After studying hundreds of Google's teams and analyzing years of data, the researchers behind Project Aristotle discovered that "psychological safety" is the secret to building and maintaining successful teams.<br />
<br />
Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, describes psychological safety in her definitive 1999 study as "a team climate characterized by interpersonal trust and mutual respect in which people are comfortable being themselves."<br />
<br />
The Google study solidifies what we already know: that people need a sense of security to do well at work. Honesty, transparency, and an overall atmosphere of mutual respect are imperative when building a psychological safety net for your team.<br />
<br />
But first, you must earn -- and keep -- their trust.<br />
<br />
Building trust will allow you to develop meaningful relationships and cultivate an unspoken mutual understanding; your team can count on you to do what you say and say what you mean. In turn, they will do the same for you. This sense of security, precipitated by you, means that your employees' self-esteem is upheld. A safe haven of trust allows them to speak freely and think more creatively, without feeling rejected or embarrassed.<br />
<br />
You have the ability to make a significant impact if you engender the trust of your employees. Make it a priority to inject some positivity into each workday. Be aware that your words have the power to sway the opinions and actions of others. If you treat your team members with respect and understanding, interpersonal trust and a sense of security will follow.<br />
<br />
Here are some phrases that will instill trust and confidence within your team.<br />
<br />
<b>1. "What can I do to help?"</b><br />
<br />
When you are truly committed to helping others, it creates a ripple effect. Your team will have more passion to work with you and for you if they believe you have their back. Simply saying, "I know that this project is important to you. How can I help?" can move mountains. Be sure to follow through on your promise to assist.<br />
<br />
<b>2. "I trust your decision."</b><br />
<br />
If your employees feel you trust them to do the right thing, it will boost morale and productivity. Remember, to be trusted, first you must trust.<br />
<br />
<b>3. "What can I do differently?"</b><br />
<br />
Serve those you're leading, not the other way around. Let people know that their opinions count. Part of your job as a leader is to remove the barriers to success by observing what might be standing in the way of your employees achieving their goals. Determine how you can facilitate their progress without eliminating accountability.<br />
<br />
<b>4. "What do you think is our best course of action?"</b><br />
<br />
Ask questions versus handing out orders. Considerable insight can be gleaned by asking for someone's opinion. This approach will win the hearts of your team members, as you'll be viewed as a leader who values the perspectives of others and cares enough to ask for feedback.<br />
<br />
Have faith in the process. Trust the people you lead. Say "thank you" more often, admit when you are wrong, and be open to new ideas. When you strive to develop more meaningful relationships with your associates, you'll experience a deeper and more fruitful form of success -- one that cannot be measured by profit.<br />
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-56393376264296376092016-03-24T14:33:00.000-07:002016-03-24T14:33:03.530-07:00<b>Corporate Legal Secretary - $75K-$85K</b><br />
<br />
Corporate Legal Secretary with large firm experience needed for a truly nice group attorneys. Your personality will land you this position. We want a proactive, vibrate, fun person that will complete our division. You will work for three attorneys in total - one located in another country, and two self-sufficient Corporate attorneys.<br />
<br />
Requirements include:<br />
- At least 5 years working for a large law firm in their Corporate division - we welcome many more years of experience if you have it<br />
- Typing speed of 75 WPM<br />
- MS Office Suite - with MSW, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, iManage and InTapp<br />
- Drafting, editing, redlining, and proofreading legal documents<br />
- Preparation of closing binders<br />
- Time sheets and expense reports<br />
<br />
We offer full benefits, a beautiful work environment, great people, and great salary.<br />
Skills testing and a background check will be conducted.<br />
If you do not have solid and current "big" firm experience, you will not be eligible for this position.<br />
Please submit your resume and salary history for immediate consideration.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Temporary Administrative, Convention & Catering Staff - $11.00 - $20.00 hourly</b><br />
<br />
We are having a shortage of talented temporaries to fill long and short term assignments. The majority of our positions are in West Los Angeles (from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles). We need typing of at least 55 wpm, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Most of our positions require business attire, great client servicing skills, proper grammar, organizational skills and the ability to change hats at any moment.<br />
<br />
We are also in need on staff for conventions and special events. if you are looking for part time of flexible hours, this is an ideal position for you. You must have great client servicing skills, love dealing with the public in large crowds, able to stand for long periods of time and can work weekends and nights as needed.<br />
<br />
We also are gearing up for a summer of lots of catering positions. We are in need of experienced servers and bartenders. The pay is excellent, the atmosphere is ocean breezes and beautiful surroundings. We do need at least 1 year of experience in the food/hospitality industry.<br />
<br />
Temping is a great way to find your next full-time position, make some extra money or just keep busy and learn about new industries and meet new people. This is a great way to build your resume back up if you have gaps in it.<br />
<br />
Call us today and work tomorrow.Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-28584053181155570182016-02-18T14:50:00.001-08:002016-02-18T14:50:09.206-08:00NEW JOB LISTING: Assistant Controller - $62K-$65KManufacturing company in the inland empire seeks assistant controller with 5+ years experience in Manufacturing Accounting and Cost Accounting. Duties include: full cycle and year-end close, inventory control, product costing, sales and commission reports, and other bookkeeping tasks. Sage ERP and Accounting degree mandatory, as well as strong expertise in Excel running multiple reports. Must have manufacturing background. CPA a plus.Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-20536762879033596082016-01-07T13:33:00.002-08:002016-01-07T13:33:53.678-08:00Possible Good Overtime News<div style="background-color: white; border: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The US Department of Labor will propose extending overtime pay to nearly 5 million workers, President Obama announced yesterday. The proposal guarantees overtime pay to most salaried workers earning less than an estimated $50,440 next year. The current salary threshold — which guarantees overtime for most salaried workers who fall below it — is $23,660, or $455 per week, and only 8% of full-time salaried workers fall below it, according to the White House.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“While this will add costs for many employers, the possibility that employers may reduce the hours of salaried workers to avoid the 40-hour threshold, may lead to greater demand for temporary workers,” said Fiona Coombe, Staffing Industry Analysts’ director of legal and regulatory research.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes the proposal.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Making more employees eligible for overtime by severely restricting the exemptions will not guarantee more income, but instead will negatively impact small businesses and drastically limit employment opportunities,” said Randy Johnson, the chamber’s senior VP of labor, immigration, and employee benefits, in a <a href="https://www.uschamber.com/press-release/us-chamber-statement-obama-administration-s-overtime-proposal" style="border: none; color: #1155cc; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">statement</a>. “Additionally, many reclassified employees will lose benefits, flexibility, status, and opportunities for advancement. This change is another example of the administration being completely divorced from reality and adding more burdens to employers and expecting them to just absorb the impact.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/30/fact-sheet-middle-class-economics-rewarding-hard-work-restoring-overtime" style="border: none; color: #1155cc; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">release</a> from the White House office of the press secretary, the Department of Labor’s proposal would:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Raise the threshold under which most salaried workers are guaranteed overtime to equal the 40th percentile of weekly earnings for full-time salaried workers. As proposed, this would raise the salary threshold from $455 a week ($23,660 a year) — below the poverty threshold for a family of four — to a projected level of $970 a week ($50,440 a year) in 2016.</span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; list-style-position: initial; margin: 1em 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: none; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Extend overtime pay and the minimum wage to nearly 5 million workers within the first year of its implementation, of which 56% are women and 53% have at least a college degree. </span></li>
<li style="border: none; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Provide greater clarity for millions more workers so they — and their employers — can determine more easily if they should be receiving overtime pay.</span></li>
<li style="border: none; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Prevent future erosion of overtime and ensure greater predictability by automatically updating the salary threshold based on inflation or wage growth over time.</span></li>
</ul>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-4870843316393598342015-11-10T16:09:00.002-08:002015-11-10T16:09:18.584-08:00Interviews: The Subtle MistakesPutting feet up on furniture, answering the cell phone and wearing jeans and trainers: They’re some of the more obvious things everyone knows not to do when interviewing for a job at an investment bank.<br />
<br />
But what about some of the subtler mistakes that could make the difference between you landing on the shortlist or not? We asked some of our senior interviewers from different business units to offer some insights. Here are the top 10 main mistakes they see.<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Not doing the research<br />
<br />
“It’s the single biggest and most common mistake made: Going into a job interview without having researched what the job involves, or what the division does. If you’re going for an Investment Banking position, know what deals the firm has done recently and be prepared to speak about their highlights.”<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Not wanting the job<br />
<br />
“Don’t tell us you’re applying for a particular job just so you can get a foot in the door for a different role. It’s OK to have a long-term career goal of working with external clients, for example, but you need to explain why you are interested in starting out in a non-client-facing position you might be interviewing for, how it fits your skill-set and helps your longer-term career objective.”<br />
<br />
<br />
3. Padding the Resume<br />
<br />
“Don’t put things on your CV that you can’t live up to. Everything on there is fair game, so you need to be able to elaborate on every line. If you say you are fluent in a certain language, then we’ll expect you can prove it.”<br />
<br />
<br />
4. Not sending a thank-you email<br />
<br />
“You should always send a thank you note after an interview, but don’t literally just say ‘thank you.’ The note should be short and to the point, but not that short! Use the follow-up email as an opportunity to solidify your pitch. Say that you learned a lot and you’re excited about the position. It shows you have sincere interest in the job.”<br />
<br />
<br />
5. Not asking any questions<br />
<br />
“There is no excuse not to have any questions to ask the interviewer. We will always ask whether you have any questions. Even if we’ve answered everything you want to know, improvise and work off something that was mentioned in the interview and say that you’d like us to elaborate more on a particular aspect of the position.”<br />
<br />
<br />
6. Pigeon-holing yourself<br />
<br />
“Sometimes someone will try to over-impress by showing their knowledge in a particular industry. If it’s a general position you’re going for, it could end up making you look as if you are not interested in anything else.”<br />
<br />
<br />
7. Being too casual<br />
<br />
“A lot of students build a rapport with our recruiters and interviewers and then in the interview over-step the mark and do something that’s just too casual. Be very polished—this includes dress code—you’re not meeting with a friend. We’re assessing how you would hold yourself in front of clients and other employees.”<br />
<br />
<br />
8. Fumbling the obvious questions<br />
<br />
“There are questions that are standard, like ‘tell me about yourself,’ ‘why our Firm’, ‘why this position?’ Have an answer in your head for these. It doesn’t look good if you can’t tell us about yourself. You really need to have an answer that explains why you differentiate our firm from the other banks and therefore why you have chosen to interview with us.”<br />
<br />
<br />
9. Pretending to know something when you don’t<br />
<br />
“You’ll end up digging a hole for yourself. You’re better off just asking the interviewer to elaborate, or even say you don’t know the answer but would like the opportunity to get back to them. Coming back in the thank you letter with an answer is completely acceptable.”<br />
<br />
<br />
10. Not being yourself<br />
<br />
“It’s important that you come across as authentic. Answer questions in your own words, rather than regurgitating a textbook response. It’s a nuanced point because you don’t want to be overly friendly… just be your ‘professional self.’ It’s OK to make small-talk to break the ice and build a rapport with the interviewer—just don’t go overboard and be too casual.”Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-50127995682756182562015-10-01T12:37:00.001-07:002015-10-01T12:37:58.832-07:00<h1 class="grande smallHeaderBreak translate" style="color: #363636; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
Newsflash: Your Cover Letter Doesn't Matter</h1>
<div class="smallHeaderBreak" style="color: #363636; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
by <a href="http://www.vault.com/contributors-network/phil-stott/" id="ContentPlaceHolderDefault_SectionContent_AuthorLink" style="border: 0px; color: #0066cc; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Phil Stott</a> | September 28, 2015</div>
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Is crafting the perfect cover letter worth the time and effort you put into it? Not according to research conducted by <a href="http://www.addisongroup.com/news/your-cover-letter-and-volunteer-experience-dont-matter-to-hiring-managers-s/" style="border: 0px; color: #0066cc; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">the Addison Group</a>, which surveyed hiring managers about the factors that are most important to them when assessing candidates. According to that research, just 18% rank cover letters—or their equally antiquated cousin the thank you note—as important parts in assessing potential candidates.</div>
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That's great news for those of us with an instinctive dislike of self-promotion, and for whom the concept of a mandated piece of "proper" job search etiquette such as the thank you note seems downright phony.</div>
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So what truly matters in your job search? Your skills and your experience, which 51% and 54% of managers respectively identified as the most important factors on a resume.</div>
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But make sure that you're putting down <em>work</em> experience: hiring managers place much more emphasis on that than the school you attended or the volunteer work you've been doing. Those can help, but nothing is going to get you the job like, well, proof that you can do the job.</div>
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Before we cut to the infographic from the group, here are a couple of other interesting tidbits to consider:</div>
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<li style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; position: relative;">77% of hiring managers identify the reputation of your previous employer as important.</li>
<li style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; position: relative;">Only 40% of hiring managers place any degree of significance on your GPA.</li>
<li style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; position: relative;">But 55% think that typos are the worst mistake you can make on a resume.</li>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-86485513321744868142014-11-03T07:00:00.000-08:002014-11-03T07:00:01.593-08:00Interview Skills: What's your greatest weakness?<div style="background-color: white; color: #272727; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
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<a href="http://info.theladders.com/your-job-search/how-to-discuss-your-biggest-weakness-in-interview" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">How to answer, “What’s your greatest weakness?” during a job interview</a></h2>
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Posted by <a href="http://info.theladders.com/your-job-search/author/amanda-augustine" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">Amanda Augustine</a></div>
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<strong><em>This dreaded, seemingly trick question will no longer be difficult to answer in job interviews.</em></strong></div>
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Most job candidates are familiar with the “What’s your biggest weakness?” interview question, but few feel equipped to answer the it with confidence.</div>
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The next time you’re asked the stress-inducing question in an interview, use these tips to provide a powerful response. [<a href="http://ctt.ec/70BU4" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">TWEET</a>]</div>
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<strong>Avoid faux weaknesses.</strong></h4>
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Recruiters and employers don’t want to hear that you’re a perfectionist or any of those other faux weaknesses that can be turned into strengths. They actually want to know about an area you’ve struggled with, and most importantly, what you’ve done to overcome that limitation. Steer clear of the “positive” weaknesses and stick to sharing something that’s genuine.</div>
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<strong>Choose something work-related.</strong></h4>
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This is not the time to discuss your fear of commitment or that you get awful road rage during rush hour. Focus on an area that’s relevant to your professional life. For example, perhaps you struggled with multi-tasking earlier in your career but have become a master at it in recent years.</div>
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<strong>Don’t mention essential skills.</strong></h4>
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Remember, the goal is to share a shortcoming that you’ve already taken steps to improve. This demonstrates to the hiring manager that you’re not only self-aware, but you’re dedicated to self-improvement. If your greatest weakness is a critical requirement for the job and you’re still struggling in this area, then you may want to reconsider whether it’s the right role for you.</div>
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<strong>Use the STAR method to explain.</strong></h4>
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The <a href="http://info.theladders.com/interview-prep-elevator-pitch-STAR" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank"><strong>STAR</strong> method</a> is typically used to respond to <a href="http://info.theladders.com/your-job-search/good-behavior-for-behavioral-job-interview" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">behavioral interview</a> questions; however, it can also be a great way to explain how you’ve overcome a weakness in a succinct, thoughtful manner. Here’s what to do:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.9em; padding: 0px;">Think of a <strong>Situation</strong> or <strong>Task</strong> that you’ve struggled with in the past. This could be anything from having difficulty remaining cool under pressure, being afraid of public speaking, or getting too caught up in the little details of a project and missing deadlines.</li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.9em; padding: 0px;">Identify what <strong>Actions</strong> you’ve taken to improve your skill-set or overcome this shortcoming at the office. For instance, if you’ve been too efficient for your own good in the past and ended up cutting corners, you can explain what measures you’ve taken to ensure you produce a high-quality, error-free product now.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.9em; padding: 0px;">Discuss the <strong>Results</strong> of your actions. Are you no longer struggling with this skill at the office? Have your customer scores or employee assessments improved? Are you performing better at your organization? Prove you’re an accomplished professional by explaining the final success.</li>
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Use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate to prospective employers your commitment to excellence and professional development. Remember, it’s not always about the strengths you possess, but the results you can achieve when the odds are against you.</div>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-63473632741994803622014-10-30T11:15:00.001-07:002014-10-30T11:15:29.167-07:00New Job Listing!<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>Accounting Supervisor - Woodland Hills, CA</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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<b>$55 - 70,000</b></div>
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Growing food and beverage distributor is looking for the perfect Accounting Supervisor to fit in with their entrepreneurial culture. </div>
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<li>Maintaining books and records, recording or supervising all transactions based on vendor invoices, customer sales, checks processed, hours worked</li>
<li>Preparing monthly financial statements</li>
<li>Preparation and filing of various tax reporting returns such as sales tax and property tax</li>
<li>Payroll processing and preparation of quarterly and annual payroll reporting</li>
<li>Supervising accounting staff</li>
<li>Supervision of customer invoicing</li>
<li>Supervision of payables and receivables management</li>
<li>Supervision of the reconciliation of bank statements</li>
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<li>Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance</li>
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<li>Accountability for consistently positive results<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></li>
<li>Strong references from relevant positions</li>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-68937074628057215882014-10-02T15:40:00.001-07:002014-10-02T15:40:18.823-07:00How Successful People Stay Calm<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.222222328186px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: firebrick;"><strong>How Successful People Stay Calm</strong><br />by Dr. Travis Bradberry</span></div>
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The ability to manage your emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to your performance. TalentSmart has conducted research with more than a million people, and we’ve found that 90% of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control. These successful people earn an average of $28,000 more annually than their low EQ peers, get promoted more often, and receive higher marks on performance evaluations. The link between EQ and earnings is so direct that every point increase in EQ adds $1,300 to an annual salary.<br /><br />If you follow our newsletter, you’ve read some startling research summaries that explore the havoc stress can wreak on one’s physical and mental health (such as the Yale study, which found that prolonged stress causes degeneration in the area of the brain responsible for self-control). The tricky thing about stress (and the anxiety that comes with it) is that it’s an absolutely necessary emotion. Our brains are wired such that it’s difficult to take action until we feel at least some level of this emotional state. In fact, performance peaks under the heightened activation that comes with moderate levels of stress. As long as the stress isn’t prolonged, it’s harmless.<br /><br /><img align="none" class="CToWUd ax5KHb" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhHfpFmUePOINilS-FpGk-22PkOQssyuv3fSbU39w_4_EazZqEPP63I0drmdHE1jcocJb4jI20f-jA8lDNEhnxAsyHsO7MOPyKk4bteokAj4PhiatdP9vNHacEjsxGLPtpM9-Gekz-4TktdJBsueU61Y1NFfPl1UYRt8s5GfgLF575O46uQrmqihaJQZSLA_rqnb45iCGAdR4-x97Atmmjzvy9MOXDkbQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 4px 3px 3px 0px; min-height: 242px; outline: 0px; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" /><div class="BPVBnc" dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; opacity: 0.01; position: absolute;">
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<br /><br />Research from the University of California, Berkeley, reveals an upside to experiencing moderate levels of stress. But it also reinforces how important it is to keep stress under control. The study, led by post-doctoral fellow Elizabeth Kirby, found that the onset of stress entices the brain into growing new cells responsible for improved memory. However, this effect is only seen when stress is intermittent. As soon as the stress continues beyond a few moments into a prolonged state, it suppresses the brain’s ability to develop new cells.<br /><br />“I think intermittent stressful events are probably what keeps the brain more alert, and you perform better when you are alert,” Kirby says. For animals, intermittent stress is the bulk of what they experience, in the form of physical threats in their immediate environment. Long ago, this was also the case for humans. As the human brain evolved and increased in complexity, we’ve developed the ability to worry and perseverate on events, which creates frequent experiences of prolonged stress.<br /><br />Besides increasing your risk of heart disease, depression, and obesity, stress decreases your cognitive performance. Fortunately, though, unless a lion is chasing you, the bulk of your stress is subjective and under your control. Top performers have well-honed coping strategies that they employ under stressful circumstances. This lowers their stress levels regardless of what’s happening in their environment, ensuring that the stress they experience is intermittent and not prolonged.<br /><br />While I’ve run across numerous effective strategies that successful people employ when faced with stress, what follows are ten of the best. Some of these strategies may seem obvious, but the real challenge lies in recognizing when you need to use them and having the wherewithal to actually do so in spite of your stress.<br /><br /><strong>They Appreciate What They Have</strong> - Taking time to contemplate what you’re grateful for isn’t merely the “right” thing to do. It also improves your mood, because it reduces the stress hormone cortisol by 23%. Research conducted at the University of California, Davis found that people who worked daily to cultivate an attitude of gratitude experienced improved mood, energy, and physical well-being. It’s likely that lower levels of cortisol played a major role in this.<br /><br /><strong>They Avoid Asking “What If?”</strong> - “What if?” statements throw fuel on the fire of stress and worry. Things can go in a million different directions, and the more time you spend worrying about the possibilities, the less time you’ll spend focusing on taking action that will calm you down and keep your stress under control. Calm people know that asking “what if? will only take them to a place they don’t want—or need—to go.<br /><br /><strong>They Stay Positive</strong> - Positive thoughts help make stress intermittent by focusing your brain’s attention onto something that is completely stress-free. You have to give your wandering brain a little help by consciously selecting something positive to think about. Any positive thought will do to refocus your attention. When things are going well, and your mood is good, this is relatively easy. When things are going poorly, and your mind is flooded with negative thoughts, this can be a challenge. In these moments, think about your day and identify one positive thing that happened, no matter how small. If you can't think of something from the current day, reflect on the previous day or even the previous week. Or perhaps you’re looking forward to an exciting event that you can focus your attention on. The point here is that you must have something positive that you're ready to shift your attention to when your thoughts turn negative.<br /><br /><strong>They Disconnect </strong>- Given the importance of keeping stress intermittent, it’s easy to see how taking regular time off the grid can help keep your stress under control. When you make yourself available to your work 24/7, you expose yourself to a constant barrage of stressors. Forcing yourself offline and even—gulp!—turning off your phone gives your body a break from a constant source of stress. Studies have shown that something as simple as an email break can lower stress levels.<br /><br />Technology enables constant communication and the expectation that you should be available 24/7. It is extremely difficult to enjoy a stress-free moment outside of work when an email that will change your train of thought and get you thinking (read: stressing) about work can drop onto your phone at any moment. If detaching yourself from work-related communication on weekday evenings is too big a challenge, then how about the weekend? Choose blocks of time where you cut the cord and go offline. You’ll be amazed at how refreshing these breaks are and how they reduce stress by putting a mental recharge into your weekly schedule. If you’re worried about the negative repercussions of taking this step, first try doing it at times when you’re unlikely to be contacted—maybe <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1183855553" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> morning. As you grow more comfortable with it, and as your coworkers begin to accept the time you spend offline, gradually expand the amount of time you spend away from technology.<br /><br /><strong>They Limit Their Caffeine Intake</strong> - Drinking caffeine triggers the release of adrenaline. Adrenaline is the source of the “fight-or-flight” response, a survival mechanism that forces you to stand up and fight or run for the hills when faced with a threat. The fight-or-flight mechanism sidesteps rational thinking in favor of a faster response. This is great when a bear is chasing you, but not so great when you’re responding to a curt email. When caffeine puts your brain and body into this hyperaroused state of stress, your emotions overrun your behavior. The stress that caffeine creates is far from intermittent, as its long half-life ensures that it takes its sweet time working its way out of your body.<br /><br /><strong>They Sleep</strong> - I’ve beaten this one to death over the years and can’t say enough about the importance of sleep to increasing your emotional intelligence and managing your stress levels. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges, shuffling through the day’s memories and storing or discarding them (which causes dreams), so that you wake up alert and clear-headed. Your self-control, attention, and memory are all reduced when you don’t get enough—or the right kind—of sleep. Sleep deprivation raises stress hormone levels on its own, even without a stressor present. Stressful projects often make you feel as if you have no time to sleep, but taking the time to get a decent night’s sleep is often the one thing keeping you from getting things under control.<br /><br /><strong>They Squash Negative Self-Talk</strong> - A big step in managing stress involves stopping negative self-talk in its tracks. The more you ruminate on negative thoughts, the more power you give them. Most of our negative thoughts are just that—thoughts, not facts. When you find yourself believing the negative and pessimistic things, your inner voice says, “It's time to stop and write them down.” Literally stop what you're doing and write down what you're thinking. Once you've taken a moment to slow down the negative momentum of your thoughts, you will be more rational and clear-headed in evaluating their veracity. You can bet that your statements aren’t true any time you use words like “never,” “worst,” “ever,” etc. If your statements still look like facts once they’re on paper, take them to a friend or colleague you trust and see if he or she agrees with you. Then the truth will surely come out. When it feels like something always or never happens, this is just your brain’s natural threat tendency inflating the perceived frequency or severity of an event. Identifying and labeling your thoughts as thoughts by separating them from the facts will help you escape the cycle of negativity and move toward a positive new outlook.<br /><br /><strong>They Reframe Their Perspective</strong> - Stress and worry are fueled by our own skewed perception of events. It’s easy to think that unrealistic deadlines, unforgiving bosses, and out-of-control traffic are the reasons we’re so stressed all the time. You can’t control your circumstances, but you can control how you respond to them. So before you spend too much time dwelling on something, take a minute to put the situation in perspective. If you aren’t sure when you need to do this, try looking for clues that your anxiety may not be proportional to the stressor. If you’re thinking in broad, sweeping statements such as “Everything is going wrong” or “Nothing will work out,” then you need to reframe the situation. A great way to correct this unproductive thought pattern is to list the specific things that actually are going wrong or not working out. Most likely you will come up with just some things—not everything—and the scope of these stressors will look much more limited than it initially appeared.<br /><br /><strong>They Breathe</strong> - The easiest way to make stress intermittent lies in something that you have to do everyday anyway: breathing. The practice of being in the moment with your breathing will begin to train your brain to focus solely on the task at hand and get the stress monkey off your back. When you’re feeling stressed, take a couple of minutes to focus on your breathing. Close the door, put away all other distractions, and just sit in a chair and breathe. The goal is to spend the entire time focused only on your breathing, which will prevent your mind from wandering. Think about how it feels to breathe in and out. This sounds simple, but it’s hard to do for more than a minute or two. It’s all right if you get sidetracked by another thought; this is sure to happen at the beginning, and you just need to bring your focus back to your breathing. If staying focused on your breathing proves to be a real struggle, try counting each breath in and out until you get to 20, and then start again from 1. Don’t worry if you lose count; you can always just start over.<br /><br />This task may seem too easy or even a little silly, but you’ll be surprised by how calm you feel afterward and how much easier it is to let go of distracting thoughts that otherwise seem to have lodged permanently inside your brain.<br /><br /><strong>They Use Their Support System</strong> - It’s tempting, yet entirely ineffective, to attempt tackling everything by yourself. To be calm and productive, you need to recognize your weaknesses and ask for help when you need it. This means tapping into your support system when a situation is challenging enough for you to feel overwhelmed. Everyone has someone at work and/or outside work who is on their team, rooting for them, and ready to help them get the best from a difficult situation. Identify these individuals in your life and make an effort to seek their insight and assistance when you need it. Something as simple as talking about your worries will provide an outlet for your anxiety and stress and supply you with a new perspective on the situation. Most of the time, other people can see a solution that you can’t because they are not as emotionally invested in the situation. Asking for help will mitigate your stress and strengthen your relationships with those you rely upon.</div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-90385364578658893032014-10-02T08:00:00.000-07:002014-10-02T08:00:00.667-07:00Tattoos and Job Interviews<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #003307; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; margin: 3px 0px;">
Survey: Tattoos Hurt Your Chances of Getting a Job</h1>
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Find Out How Tattoos/Piercings Can Limit Your Career</h2>
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<u></u>By <a href="http://salary.com/author/aaron-gouveia" rel="author" style="color: #4ea346;" target="_blank">Aaron Gouveia</a>, Salary.com contributing writer.<u></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Ink Can Be a Career Stain</span></h2>
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Maybe it’s a tribal arm band, the orchids on your lower back playing peek-a-boo with your coworkers, or -- gulp -- you’re wearing it on your face a la Mike Tyson. But even if it’s that cute little leprechaun on your ankle, our latest survey results show visible tattoos at work could have a negative effect on your pot of gold.</div>
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A recent study from the Pew Research Center found nearly 40% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo, and body piercings are also a growing means of self-expression among people in this age group. In a perfect world we would all be judged solely on the merit of our work. But if the 2,675 people we surveyed are any indication, there is a lot more going on when it comes to performance evaluations, raises, promotions, and making character assumptions about people based on their appearance.</div>
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But who has the tattoos, what do people find objectionable about them, and to what extent? The results might surprise you.</div>
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Tattoos, Piercings & Credibility</h2>
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Of the nearly 2,700 people we surveyed, 12% reported having a visible tattoo that can be seen by managers and coworkers during the workday. Only 3% reported having a visible body piercing (other than an earring).</div>
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The biggest takeaways from our survey include a whopping 76% of respondents feel tattoos and piercings hurt an applicant’s chances of being hired during a job interview. And more than one-third – 39% of those surveyed – believe employees with tattoos and piercings reflect poorly on their employers. Furthermore, 42% feel visible tattoos are always inappropriate at work, with 55% reporting the same thing about body piercings.</div>
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Fortunately, only 4% of those with tattoos and piercings report having faced actual discrimination because of their ink and body art.</div>
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Age Plays a Factor</h2>
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Overall, 42% of those surveyed feel any and all visible tattoos are inappropriate at work. That number climbs to 55% for body piercings. And as you might guess, age plays a huge role in how tattoos and piercings are perceived at work.</div>
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The younger generation was most likely to have tattoos, as people age 26-32 edged out the 18-25 demographic by a 22% to 21% margin. That number drops steadily with age, bottoming out at less than 1% for people age 60 and older. For body piercings, the 18-25 age group topped the charts at 11%, compared to a combined 3% of people older than 40. Although respondents in each age group seemed to recognize tattoos and piercings hurt an applicant’s job search chances, there was a very clear difference of opinion regarding the appropriateness of tattoos in the workplace.</div>
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In a nutshell, the older you are the less tolerant you become regarding tattoos. Not surprisingly, people 18-25 were the most accepting of tattoos in the office with only 22% claiming they are inappropriate. That percentage jumps in each age group, maxing out at 63% of people age 60 and older finding tattoos objectionable at work.</div>
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Education & Tattoos</h2>
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Basically, the more educated you are the less likely you are to have or condone tattoos or piercings.</div>
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Twenty percent of people with tattoos are high school graduates. That number drops slightly to 19% for those with associates degrees, but falls to 10% for recipients of bachelor’s degrees. People with advanced degrees are even less likely to have tattoos, as 8% of those with master’s and just 3% of PhD recipients have ink.</div>
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Those with high school diplomas were also the least likely to find tattoos inappropriate at 38%, compared to 55% of respondents with a PhD. However, when it comes to body piercings, there was no significant statistical difference between education levels as an average of 56% found them objectionable.</div>
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Gender, Marital Status & Location</h2>
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According to our survey, you’re more likely to have tattoos and piercings if you’re a woman who is single or divorced.</div>
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The number of women with tattoos more than doubled men by a 15% to 7% margin. Also, 5% of women have body piercings compared to a mere 1% of men. Interestingly, single and divorced people were far more likely to have ink and piercings as only 9% of married people have tattoos, compared to 16% of respondents who are married and divorced.</div>
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And if you’re wondering what part of the country has the most people with tattoos; that would be the Mountain region (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico) with 16%. The area of the US least likely to have people with tattoos is the West South Central (Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana) with 8%.</div>
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As for which parts of the country think tattoos are inappropriate, here’s the breakdown:</div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Mountain (ID, MT, WY, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM): 35%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">West North Central (MO, ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA): 36%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Pacific (AK, WA, OR, CA, HI): 36%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">New England (ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT): 36%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Outside the US: 38%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Mid-Atlantic (NY, PA, NJ): 38%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">East South Central (KY, TN, MS, AL): 41%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">East North Central (WI, MI, IL, IN, OH): 46%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">South Atlantic (DE, MD, VA, WV, NC, SC, GA, FL): 48%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">West South Central (OK, TX, AR, LA): 55%</li>
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Tattoos by Industry</h2>
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Wondering which industry is most likely to include tattooed workers? That would be the people working in agriculture and ranching. Twenty-two percent of respondents who said they work in agriculture and ranching reported having tattoos. But in an ironic twist, 67% of those workers found tattoos inappropriate in the workplace -- by far the highest percentage of any industry surveyed.</div>
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Workers in the hospitality, tourism and recreation industry were second with 20% of workers tattooed, followed by 16% of people in the arts, media and entertainment industry. Government workers are least likely to be tattooed with only 8% of respondents stating they’re inked. Here's the full breakdown of tattooed workers by industry:</div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Agriculture/ranching: 22%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation: 20%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Arts, Media, Entertainment: 16%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Retail: 14%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Finance & Banking: 13%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Healthcare: 13%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Professional Services: 13%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Other: 13%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Education, Child Development, Family Services: 12%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Manufacturing: 9%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Energy & Utilities: 9%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Engineering, Design & Construction: 9%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Information Technology: 9%</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Government: 8%</li>
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Corporate Attitudes Play a Part</h2>
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Most people interviewing for new jobs worry about base pay, bonus potential and benefits. But nearly one-quarter of survey respondents said they take a company’s stance about things like tattoos and piercings into account when making their decision.</div>
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Twenty-three percent of all those surveyed said they specifically examine a company’s permissiveness regarding tattoos and piercings when deciding whether or not to accept the job offer. Workers age 60 and older are the age group most influenced by corporate attitudes towards body art, with 31 percent reporting they are affected by company policy regarding tattoos.</div>
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Think of the Children...</h2>
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Just because adults have tattoos, doesn’t necessarily mean they think that’s a good idea for future generations.</div>
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Nearly half – 49% of all respondents – said they don’t want their children (or future hypothetical children for survey-takers who plan to have kids) to have tattoos or piercings. That could be because of of surveys such as one by CareerBuilder.com, which found that 37% of HR managers cite tattoos as the third most likely physical attribute that limits career potential.</div>
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People age 26-32 are the least likely to object to tattoos and piercings for their kids, with only 26% against it. That’s compared to the 31% of people age 18-25 who are against tattoos for their progeny. Not surprisingly, 70% of people age 60 and older don’t want body art for their kids, which tops the list.</div>
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Use Common Sense</h2>
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Getting tattoos and/or piercings is a personal decision, but you should take future earnings into account when making it. Whether it’s a career-ender or no big deal at all will vary from person to person, and the easiest way to figure it out is a hefty dose of common sense.</div>
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Meredith Haberfeld, an executive career coach who appeared in a <a href="http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/workplace-culture/tattoos-workplace-still-taboo" style="color: #4ea346;" target="_blank">2012 NPR article</a> about tattoos at work, said there are many sectors in which tattoos are absolutely fine, and even encouraged. The key is feeling out the culture of your workplace ahead of time and adjusting accordingly.</div>
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"Each employer is going to vary from conservative to liberal when it comes to tolerance for their body art, so a good rule is to keep it covered in your interviews and even during your first few weeks in your job until you get a sense for the culture of the workplace," Haberfeld said.</div>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-61093101844997770812014-09-29T08:00:00.000-07:002014-09-29T08:00:00.918-07:00Best Practices For Your Job Search<div style="background-color: white; color: #272727; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.9em;">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Follow these best practices to ensure your job application bypasses the job-search black hole.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></em></strong></div>
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<img align="left" alt="TheLadders Scout Job Applications" border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgKbONP8qmafzseWu9bNcaHxoQqpJZp_GuOJnJ_GaZppxzlcXMQPjw4VrUwq8ts8-8WqNWiJAhatldYkQDa-A8meexSCuzBEiz0lvRQySdNfegIsnCzlhIVaYtq3qJm6cCcGzLmvEoBPmyUOw0R9UYz9R6YXTOseTg8tQkAxW_OuccdP8VpbTQ_a4CD8z1kgfRmXIdDouA5jXtbS02tRFFI9WS2NNs6n3eAsH5FaadwXsfj_8azOWrgxProlnQ_c_w=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: none; float: left; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none;" width="385" /></div>
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There’s nothing worse than submitting an application and never hearing back. Below are ten tips to help you avoid that job-search black hole.</div>
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<strong>Make Sure You’re a Match</strong></div>
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Read the responsibilities and requirements sections of the job description carefully – what skill sets, education level and years of experience do they require? While the employer likely doesn’t expect you to have every single desired skill, they will expect you to meet all the core “must-have” requirements. Only apply to jobs where you possess these must-haves.</div>
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<strong>Apply Within 72 Hours</strong></div>
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A recent <a href="http://blog.theladders.com/ceo/you-have-only-72-hours-to-land-your-dream-job/" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">study</a> by TheLadders found that your chances of getting a call back plummet 72 hours after the job is published online, even if you were considered a good fit for the job. If you find a job that you’re truly interested in and a fit for, buckle down and get that application out as soon as possible!</div>
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<strong>Tailor Your Application</strong></div>
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Before your resume is reviewed by a recruiter or hiring manager, it first has to get past an electronic gatekeeper called <a href="http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/resume-technology-resume-format-" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">Applicant Tracking Software</a> (called ATS for short). Before you submit your application, review the job description for key terms and requirements and make sure they are incorporated into your resume (assuming you possess those skills).</div>
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<strong>Customize Your Cover Letter</strong></div>
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A good <a href="http://info.theladders.com/blog/bid/153556/Perfecting-your-cover-letter-to-a-T" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">cover letter</a> fits on one page and is broken down into three main sections: an introductory paragraph that explains why you’re interested in the job, a middle section that explains your qualifications and a closing paragraph that ends with a call to action. I recommend using a <a href="http://info.theladders.com/blog/bid/153556/Perfecting-your-cover-letter-to-a-T" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">t-format</a> for your cover letter to quickly show the reader how you meet the core requirements for the role. If the application doesn’t allow you to use columns, try bullets instead.</div>
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<strong>Remember, It’s Not About You</strong></div>
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When you’re a job seeker, your mission is to show organizations how <em>you</em> can provide value to<em>them</em>. A hiring manager doesn’t care that you’re applying for your dream job with your dream company. Rather, they want to know <em>why</em> you’re interested in and passionate about working there. Focus on the skills and passions that are required to do the job.</div>
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<strong>Cross Your T’s and Dot Your I’s</strong></div>
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If <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/09/01/social-profiles-job/" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">54 percent</a> of recruiters have reacted negatively to spelling and grammatical errors found in candidates’ <a href="http://info.theladders.com/blog/bid/181047/Social-Media-Dos-Don-ts-for-the-Recent-Grad" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">tweets</a> and Facebook posts, imagine how they’ll react to mistakes in your application! Beyond proper etiquette, poor punctuation and capitalization can confuse the ATS software and scramble your application in the system. Chances are, the recruiter will ditch your application rather than taking the time to manually re-enter the information properly.</div>
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<strong>Work the System to Your Advantage</strong></div>
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You’re <a href="http://careersherpa.net/insights-to-help-you-create-a-better-job-search-strategy/" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">ten times</a> more likely to get a call back if your application includes an employee referral. If you’re being referred by an employee, make sure the ATS knows it; the software is smart enough to care. Choose to upload your resume instead of cutting and pasting it if this option exists in the application process. This feature often parses information and saves it in the optimal format, ensuring the cleanest presentation.</div>
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<strong>Use a Professional Subject Line and Email Address</strong></div>
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If you’re emailing an application, use effective subject lines that reference the position you’re applying for, rather than “hello” or “intro”. Use an email address that incorporates the name you use professionally on your resume and cover letter. Cutesy, offensive, flirtatious or sexual addresses send hiring managers the wrong message.</div>
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<strong>Be Prepared for the Call</strong></div>
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Record a professional voicemail message for the number listed on your resume. If your resume is strong enough to convince the recruiter or hiring manager to reach for the telephone, be sure the greeting on the other end of the line represents you in the best light – this includes recorded messages and whoever might answer the phone in your place.</div>
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<strong>Read the Fine Print for Follow-ups</strong></div>
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Read the job description carefully. If an application deadline is listed, then follow up one week after that date. If you can’t find a deadline, send your <a href="http://info.theladders.com/blog/bid/157976/How-to-Follow-Up-on-Job-Applications-Without-Stalking" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">follow-up</a> note one week after your initial application. Remember, if the job listing states “no calls,” <span style="text-decoration: underline;">do not</span> call to follow up. The employer will assume you can’t follow directions.</div>
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<strong><em>Amanda Augustine</em></strong><em> is the Job Search Expert for </em><a href="http://www.theladders.com/" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank"><em>TheLadders</em></a><em>. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question </em><a href="http://theladders.per.fm/ask-amanda-home/?__hstc=43866298.fb32e73edc7295a94d535f56b784d3bd.1411602070610.1411602070610.1411602070610.1&__hssc=43866298.3.1411602070611&__hsfp=739037151" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank" title="here "><em>here</em></a><em> for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow her at</em><em><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@JobSearchAmanda" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank">@JobSearchAmanda</a></em><em> on Twitter and “</em><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Augustine/356044707810593/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #5986cb; outline: none;" target="_blank" title="Like"><em>Like</em></a><em>” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.</em></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-52345116866121002162014-09-25T13:12:00.001-07:002014-09-25T13:12:29.876-07:00Job Listings!!!<div style="color: #323536; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ENTRY LEVEL ENTERTAINMENT ACCOUNTING POSITIONS AVAILABLE $30 - $40,000 + BONUS, BENEFITS, AND O/T</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS';">We are working with one of the fastest growing </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entertainment Business Management f</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">irms in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Los Angeles</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">. We are looking for someone with 6 months of experience with a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">n</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;"> accounting firm</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or a good internship in the financial/accounting industries</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS';">You need a 4-year degree in accounting</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, finance or economics,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;"> from a reputable school, solid MS Office skills, Data</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">faction</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;"> is a plus. We represent clients in entertainment</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, music, sports, and corporate sectors</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">. We look for forward thinking people who think outside the box, leaders and game changers. We like "different."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS';">Pleas</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e submit your resume for consideration today. We have positions available immediately - ideal for recent college grads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ENTRY LEVEL HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANT $35 - $45,000</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">Entry Level Human Resources Assistant needed for </span>entertainment management company <span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">located </span>in Century City.<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;"> We are looking for a recent college grad with a degree in HR or a strong interest in making Human Resources your career. We are considering candidates with internships, p/t positions during school, and up to 1-3 years current administrative experience.</span></div>
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We would like a 4-year college degree from an upstanding school, work experience whether in a p/t job or internships, 1 - 2 years work experience is ideal, MSW, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook needed.</div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">You will learn all about Human Resources in a</span>n a "mentorship"<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;"> environment. You will learn about recruiting, best practices in the field, software specific to the industry, benefits oversight and administration, policies, procedures, reviews, EDD, workplace safety, background checking, etc. You will learn from the best and can go to the moon from here.</span></div>
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We are very particular about this position - we want someone eager, someone smart, someone exceptional.</div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">We are looking in the $35 - $</span>45<span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">,000 depending on experience. We do offer the best benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), profit sharing, bonuses, and some other perks not typical.</span></div>
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Please submit a cover letter with salary history and your resume. A background check will be conducted so make sure your dates are accurate.</div>
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<b>FUND ACCOUNTANT - PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM $60 - 80,000 + BONUSES, BENEFITS, 401(K), LOTS OF PERKS</b></div>
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The candidate will be responsible for all aspects of day-to-day accounting for multiple Capital Market and Private Equity Funds. Major responsibilities include, addressing client requests, preparing valuations, statement of cash flows and IRR returns, reviewing management fee calculations, reviewing financial statements, and planning and executing capital calls and distributions. The candidate will serve as a liaison between Accounting team, Portfolio teams, Custodians, Administrators, Auditors, and Third-party vendors.<br /><br /><strong>Responsibilities</strong><br />§ Prepare valuations, statements of cash flows and IRR returns for all Funds<br />§ Review financial statements<br />§ Plan and execute capital calls and distributions (prepare and review of letters and schedules, tracking, confirmations)<br />§ Weekly update for the Portfolio team on cash balances<br />§ Manage audit and tax engagements / addressing audit and tax requests<br />§ Address client requests<br />§ Clear items from the asset reconciliation<br />§ Address requests from the Portfolio team<br />§ Processprivate transaction closes (funding of new investments)<br />§ Commence portfolio accounting for new Funds<br />§ Collect underlying K-1s and provide to Tax auditors<br />§ Update back-office team on investment activity<br />§ Manage and serviceaccount credit facilities<br />§ Prepare portfolio review materials<br />§ Work on special projects<br />§ Assist with coverage of other funds and projects as needed<br />§ Liaise between the back-office, custodian, and portfolio groups<br /><br /><em>Requirements</em></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Minimum of 3-5+ years of related experience in asset management/ fund accounting</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Bachelor’s degree in accounting</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Strong MS Office skills</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Detail-oriented with the ability to synthesize multiple sources of information</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Strong analysis and decision-making skills</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Strong ability to prioritize, organize, and manage time</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Ability to manage multiple projects and work well under pressure</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Independent, self-starter with strong organizational skills</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px;">Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of employees and management</li>
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<strong><span style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS;">TEMPORARY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS needed IMMEDIATELY</span> $12 - 20.00/HOURLY</strong></div>
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We are having a shortage of talented temporaries to fill long and short term assignments. The majority of our positions are in West Los Angeles (from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles). We need typing of at least 55 wpm, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Most of our positions require business attire, great client servicing skills, proper grammar, organizational skills and the ability to change hats at any moment.</div>
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Temping is a great way to find your next full-time position, make some extra money or just keep busy and learn about new industries and meet new people. The recession may not be over but there is plenty of work available now. This is a great way to build your resume back up if you have gaps in it.</div>
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Call us today and work tomorrow.</div>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-66027980674800531202014-05-08T14:28:00.002-07:002014-05-08T14:28:52.666-07:006 Key Rituals of Successful People<h2>
<b><u>6 Key Rituals of Successful People</u></b></h2>
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by MarcandAngel.com<br />
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We ultimately become what we repeatedly do.<br />
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Over the years Marc and I have studied the lives of numerous successful people. We’ve read their books, watched their interviews, interviewed them ourselves, worked with them, and researched them extensively. We’ve truly learned a lot from their stories. But above all, we’ve learned that most of these people were not born into success. They simply did, and continue to do, things that help them realize their full potential. In other words, they follow a set of prolific rituals.<br />
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1. Do the work… practice, practice, practice your craft! Sure you can be good with a little effort. You can be really good with a little more effort. But you can’t be great, at anything, unless you put in an incredible amount of focused effort for a set amount of time every day. It’s as simple as that. Scratch the surface of any successful person with incredible skills and you’ll find someone who has put thousands of hours of effort into developing those skills. There are no shortcuts in life. There are no overnight successes. Almost everyone has heard about the 10,000 hours principle, which states that it takes roughly 10,000 hours to completely master a complex skill, yet despite sound evidence, so few follow it… except extremely successful people of course.<br />
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Whatever you decide to do, do it well. Do it so well that when others see you do it, they enjoy it so much that they want to come back and see you do it again… and they also want to bring their friends along so they can show them how incredible you are at doing what you do.<br />
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2. Build trust by standing behind every one of your promises. If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT! If you say you’re going to be somewhere, BE THERE! If you say you feel something, MEAN IT! If you can’t, won’t, and don’t, then DON’T LIE. It’s always better to tell people the truth up front. Don’t play games with people’s heads and hearts. Don’t tell half-truths and expect people to trust you when the full truth comes out; half-truths are no better than lies.<br />
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Regardless of the business you’re in – selling products to consumers, or selling hours for dollars – the only question you have to ask yourself is: “Do they trust me enough to believe what I’m promising to deliver?” Without this trust, you have zero, zilch, nada. If your target market knows you and they’re still not buying what you’re offering, they simply don’t trust you as much as you would hope. Earn their trust, and the rest of the puzzle pieces will be easy to arrange. (Read The Impact Equation.)<br />
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3. Focus more on less. Having too many choices interferes with decision-making. Here in the 21st century, where information moves at the speed of light and opportunities for innovation seem endless, we have an abundant array of choices when it comes to designing our lives and careers. But sadly, an abundance of choice often leads to indecision, confusion, and inaction.<br />
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Several business and marketing studies have shown that the more product choices a consumer is faced with, the less products they typically buy. After all, narrowing down the best product from a pool of three choices is certainly a lot easier than narrowing down the best product from a pool of three hundred. If the purchasing decision is tough to make, most people will just give up.<br />
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So if you’re selling a product line, keep it simple. And if you’re trying to make a decision about something in your life, don’t waste all your time evaluating every last detail of every possible option. Choose something you think will work and give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, choose something else and keep pressing forward. Focus more on less, and do your very best.<br />
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4. Only use quality tools. While we’re on the topic of focusing more on less, make sure the only tools you’re using are the only ones you truly need. There’s no point in keeping low quality tools around. For instance, trying to cut through a thick piece of fresh lumber with an old, dull handsaw would be a pretty foolish endeavor. You would have to work extremely hard to make the even the slightest impact. This very same principle applies to everything in life.<br />
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Don’t let inefficiency defeat you. If the tools in your toolbox don’t fit the requirements of the job, find someone who has the right tools and barter with them, hire them, invite them into the process of what you’re trying to achieve. Possessing the right tools (and skills) can easily shrink a mountainous task into a miniscule molehill. With a good idea, determination, and the right tools, almost anything is possible.<br />
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5. Spend quality time with quality people. You are the average of the people you spend the most time with. And that’s why it’s not always where you are in life, but who you have by your side that matters most. Some people drain you and others provide soul food. So be sure to get in the company of those who feed your spirit, and give the gift of your absence to those who do not appreciate your presence. There’s no need to rush into a relationship you are unsure of, or socialize with those who hold you back.<br />
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Spend more time with nice people who are smart, driven and open-minded about personal growth and opportunity. Use websites like meetup.com to search for local community groups of people with similar passions and goals. These people are out there. The bottom line is that relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, people who care about you and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the energy and hope out of you. (Marc and I discuss this in detail in the “Relationships” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)<br />
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6. Study, rehearse, and get super comfortable with the art of selling. About a year ago Marc and I interviewed ten extremely successful business owners and CEOs for a side-project we were working on. We asked them to name the one skill they felt contributed the most to their success. Every one of them, in there own words, said: the ability to sell themselves, their ideas, and what they had to offer.<br />
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Keep in mind “selling” in its truest sense isn’t an act of manipulating, pressuring, or being deceitful. Selling is explaining the logic and benefits of a decision or point of view. Selling is convincing other people to work directly with YOU. Selling is overcoming concerns and roadblocks, and calming other people’s unwarranted fears. Selling is one of the principal foundations of both business and personal success. It’s about knowing how to negotiate, how to deal with a “no” when you receive one, how to maintain confidence and self-esteem in the face of rejection, and how to communicate openly, honestly, and effectively with a wide range of people so that you can build long-term relationships that garner long-term trust.<br />
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When you truly believe in your idea, or your business, or yourself, then you don’t need to have an enormous ego or an overly extroverted personality. You don’t need to “sell” in the traditional sense. You just need to communicate your point of view clearly, cordially, and confidently.<br />
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The floor is yours… So there you have it, six rituals we’ve seen repeated over and over in the lives of some of the most successful people we’ve studied and interacted with over the years.Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-25298658578190989622014-01-23T15:09:00.000-08:002014-01-23T15:09:06.626-08:00Most Common Resume Mistakes<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.003000259399414px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; zoom: 1;">
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The 8 Most Common Resume Mistakes</h1>
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These Resume Blunders Should be Avoided No Matter Where You're Applying</h2>
<u></u>By <a href="http://www.salary.com/author/alesia-benedict" rel="author" style="color: #4ea346;" target="_blank">Alesia Benedict</a>, Salary.com contributing writer.<u></u><u></u><u></u><div style="border-bottom-color: rgb(78, 163, 70); border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(78, 163, 70); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; clear: both; margin: 4px 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; zoom: 1;">
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Avoid the Following Resume Goofs at All Costs</h2>
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Companies don't hire resumes, they hire people. But your resume is often what gets you in the door, so if you can't get the interview it's nearly impossible to win someone over.</div>
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The strength of each resume is dependent on many factors, including the type of job to which you're applying. Hiring managers at Google will probably appreciate a well-crafted online video resume, whereas if your goal is to land a job as a CPA you might want to stick with something a little more traditional. But there are some things that are mistakes no matter what.</div>
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Here are eight resume blunders you NEVER want to make...</div>
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8. The 1-Page Resume</h2>
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One page resumes are long gone unless you are a new graduate without much experience.</div>
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Having said that, we still see plenty of one page resumes for more senior job seekers come in for critiques -- and it does surprise me! When a job seeker tries to limit the content of the resume to fit into one page, he/she is cutting vital information to adhere to a "rule" that is not valid for most resumes. Many resumes (including mid-level) are two pages in length and three pages are acceptable for some senior level candidates.</div>
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7. Including Personal Information</h2>
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The fact that you are an avid skeeball player, or that you collect old world coins has no relevance to whether or not you are qualified for the position. So why include information on hobbies, sports, or interests?</div>
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If it comes up in conversation during the interview, fine. If not -- skip it entirely.</div>
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6. Using a Functional Format</h2>
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Using the functional format (also called a skills resume) is probably the most deadly error you can commit in terms of the resume’s effectiveness.</div>
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Recruiters and employers literally detest the functional format. It does not give them the information they need in the format they want. Additionally, it generally indicates the job seeker is trying to hide something since the functional format is used to cover up problems such as date gaps, job hopping, or lack of experience.</div>
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Just the mere appearance of the functional format is a huge turnoff to decision-makers.</div>
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5. Too Much Information</h2>
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Job seekers often forget for whom they are writing.</div>
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The recruiter or hiring manager is going to be skim-reading the resume and will be looking for the main points. The job seeker, on the other hand, feels it's necessary to put every bit of information possible in the resume, right down to including that Eagle Scout designation from 1984.</div>
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Having too much information, or irrelevant information, is a common resume error that often ends with said resume in the trash bin.</div>
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4. Not Enough Information</h2>
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The opposite of TMI is TLI -- too little information.</div>
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Being too general in the resume is just as bad as being too wordy. Usually too little information takes the form of no details on achievements. Most people can get their job duties or role descriptions down, but falter when it's time to detail their successes in some sort of quantitative or qualitative way. As a result, the content is thin or bland and doesn't inspire the reader to make contact with the job seeker.</div>
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3. Using Fluff Phrases</h2>
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The profile or summary is often the most difficult section of the resume to create. As a result, job seekers fall back on soft-skill phrases or fluff phrases such as "good communicator" or "hard-working." These sound good but they tell the reader nothing. These are subjective traits that are opinion-based.</div>
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You may think you are a good communicator but your peers might say otherwise. These traits will be judged in the interview so don't load the resume down with these. Remember, 99.9 percent of all the other candidates will also be claiming these skills. Have you ever heard of anyone putting "bad communicator" or "lazy with sloppy attention to detail" on the resume?</div>
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2. Mechanical Mistakes</h2>
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Misspellings are the most common mechanical mistake.</div>
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People rely on spell-check too much. Spell-check might be able to save you from spelling mistakes, but it cannot tell the difference when it comes to meaning. For instance, if you write "manger" instead of "manager." spell-check won't flag it. Other mechanical problems include verb tense shift and capitalization. It seems like when in doubt, job seekers will capitalize something just "to be on the safe side" but that just creates an error.</div>
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1. Email Errors</h2>
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One of the most common (and costly) goofs we see is an incorrect email address.</div>
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Since most job search efforts are centered around email communications, having an email address that is wrong or difficult to interpret can be a major pothole in the road to success. Double-check your email address to make sure it is correct. Don't use your work email address on your resume, and try to avoid having an email that has the number 1 in it as it can be difficult to tell if it's a letter or a numeral. Avoid goofy or cutesy email monikers such as "vanhalenlvr83" or similar. Email systems that use automated spam authenticators are loathed by recruiters and line managers alike, so stay away from them during your job search. <span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Remember, <b>you can set up an email address that you use JUST for job search.</b></span></div>
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Recommended Reading</h2>
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Thank you for reading. As an added bonus, the Salary.com editorial staff has compiled a recommended reading list on this topic. Enjoy:</div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735204349/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=salary-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0735204349" style="color: #4ea346;" target="_blank">How to Say It on Your Resume:</a> A Top Recruiting Director's Guide to Writing the Perfect Resume for Every Job</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1598694596/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=salary-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1598694596" style="color: #4ea346;" target="_blank">The Resume Handbook:</a> How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letter for Every Situation</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158008091X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=salary-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=158008091X" style="color: #4ea346;" target="_blank">The Overnight Resume:</a> The Fastest Way to Your Next Job</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440509816/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=salary-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1440509816" style="color: #4ea346;" target="_blank">The Resume & Cover Letter Phrasebook:</a> What to Write to Get the Job That's Right</li>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-75963545412417785562013-12-10T16:12:00.001-08:002013-12-10T16:12:05.007-08:008 Things Really Successful People Do<h1 style="background-color: white; font-family: FaktConPro-SemiBold, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38.5px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 10px 0px;">
8 Things Really Successful People Do<a href="" style="border: 0px !important; color: #00709a; display: inline-block !important; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 20px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-align: center;"><span style="background-image: url(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjCuLuqwyvKpHS2a2l32uTd6d9ivqZGWYPNSjf8ne4CagLkIpPE4HtJ3hJkSs1pRAH9u6IupaaKGfybGyzlsj9k9VN7Fdbhkmx2M71x5zhYEpCBnweJ6IRADnkMoaCBPaOlA-tgkD8PkqkeWuVRZcP0fYKcyyvJwZx5xj6zo-N6NAymS72MqcrXcA=s0-d-e1-ft) !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 20px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 20px !important;">in</span></a></h1>
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<img alt="Simon Sinek" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoGhrxecXc6ErzbpYDHHYpOGfN39bETfP9G8W4Tr-mc9m_kNkjqYSD6__9ZLUowRTFpvILan_Np6zmMbUoZIEL35dYbrcI4xSKxytMpghKtH5EIurqCa_Nlt6S83CSj45DTJucSyXM7RSpTu_B59gji7y-2jdMK10XqnTOTAQo0nJhD3qEt8SrKdjz34Abay-2BEvsK-S7O5pUkg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="400" /><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VdO7LuoBzM" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">TEDxMaastricht</a></span></div>
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Most people claim to want success. But not everyone is willing to do the hard work and the <a href="http://bit.ly/QGSFUr" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">smart work</a> to get there. Often opportunities present themselves and because people are distracted, they miss them or give up on them before things fully develop.<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
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Truly successful people don't leave much to chance. They are disciplined and focused. They constantly seek new methods to <a href="http://bit.ly/SOrGEc" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">achieve more</a>, in bigger and faster ways. Listed below are eight different practices that will help you concentrate your efforts on rising above the tide.</div>
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<strong>1. </strong><strong>Make Materialism Irrelevant</strong></div>
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Fancy cars and houses are all well and good, but many foolishly focus on the byproducts of success, rather than concentrating on building sustainable success in the first place. Establish a bare minimum for your material needs, and then you can enjoy the benefits of success, debt- and stress-free.</div>
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<strong>2. Enhance Knowledge</strong></div>
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Success comes faster to those who are open, active learners. The higher up the success ladder you climb, the more complex the systems and opportunities that are presented to you. Absorb all the information you can and if you sense a gap you can't fill, connect with people who have the knowledge you need.</div>
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<strong>3. Manage Relationship Expectations</strong></div>
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People in your life require time. Successful individuals attract folks, and so they have to carefully regulate the time they can spend with others. It's hard to limit the time you share and still make people feel important. Make choices about the people who matter to you and determine how you each can get value from your interactions. Then make sure they understand your limitations so they don't take it personally when you can't be present.</div>
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<strong>4. Practice Emotional Self-Awareness</strong></div>
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Not all successful people are calm <a href="http://bit.ly/PEM8qC" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">and nice</a>. In fact, many can be volatile. But most are very aware of their tempers and idiosyncrasies. They know how to use their emotions to get what they want from life and work hard to make sure feelings don't become a detriment. Know yourself and learn how to let your emotions work for you in positive ways.</div>
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<strong>5. Commit to a Physical Ideal</strong><strong> </strong></div>
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Everyone has a vision of their own perfect body. They don't have to be fashion models or athletes to be happy. But physical health is a consideration in their life and it's a big distraction when it gets out of whack. Determine the body you believe is worth working for and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Body-Uncommon-Incredible-Superhuman/dp/030746363X/?tag=roarin09-20" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">set a game plan </a>to achieve and maintain it.</div>
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<strong>6. Gain Clarity About Spirituality</strong></div>
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There are many highly successful people like <a href="http://www.celebatheists.com/wiki/Main_Page" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Richard Branson and Warren Buffett</a> who don't consider religion to be important or relevant. But they have a clear point of view as to the role spirituality plays in their life. <a href="http://bit.ly/KDPrayer" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Find your own way</a> to be at one with the universe and be clear and deliberate in how you practice.</div>
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<strong>7. Adhere to a Code of Ethics </strong></div>
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<em>Really</em> successful people<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ethics-101-Every-Leader-Needs/dp/0446578096/?tag=roarin09-20" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> live by rules</a>. Those may not be the rules of others, but consistency is important for them to maintain power and stability. Their individual view of how the world works is the basis for how they believe people should be treated and they will defend it until their dying day. Determine your ethical lines and broadcast them loud and clear so people around you know where you stand.</div>
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<strong>8. Focus on Time Efficiency</strong></div>
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Prioritization is a key component of success. You can't reach your pinnacle if you are wasting time on distractions. Integration of activities frees up time for greater achievement. Spend your time on activities that are fun, enlightening and productive and soon you'll have <a href="http://bit.ly/KDTime" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">gained hours</a> to reap the benefits of success.</div>
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Ultimately, <em>really </em>successful people live their lives by design instead of default, so if you want to be one of them, dedicate time and effort to determining the plan for your <a href="http://bit.ly/QHmTWf" style="color: #196d8d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">preferred future</a> and execute that plan in a focused and consistent manner.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Read more:</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/8-things-really-successful-people-do.html?nav=pop#ixzz2n10HX7wy" style="color: #003399; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.inc.com/<wbr></wbr>kevin-daum/8-things-really-<wbr></wbr>successful-people-do.html?nav=<wbr></wbr>pop#ixzz2n10HX7wy</a></div>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-88220669461943924942013-10-25T07:00:00.000-07:002013-10-25T07:00:01.120-07:00Cover Letters 101<h1 style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.2em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em;">
Covering Letters – your questions answered</h1>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.03125px;"></span></span><span style="color: #666666; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 20.03125px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY <span style="color: #007abd;">IRENE KRECHOWIECKA</span></span></span><br />
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<b>Should you or shouldn't you? And what the heck do you write anyway? Get to grips with all these questions and more.</b></div>
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<b>Do I always need to send a letter with an application form or should it just go with a CV?</b><br /><br />It’s polite to send a letter accompanying whatever sort of application you make. If you’ve completed a detailed application form that included a lengthy personal statement this need only be a short note. Don’t repeat information from your form but use this as an opportunity to highlight key attributes or areas of experience. You may want to include details not previously mentioned such as when you’d be available, what prompted you to apply for the job or where you saw it advertised.</div>
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When your letter is accompanying a CV it needs to be more detailed and take the place of the ‘What qualities will you bring to this job’ section of an application form.</div>
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<b>How long should it be?</b><br /><br />That depends on how much you’ve got to say! A few lines are enough when it accompanies an application form, you may need up to two pages if it’s the partner to a one-page CV. If possible keep it to one side, but don’t sell yourself short by worrying over whether two sides is too much. If what you have to say is interesting and relevant, employers will read it. If you’re obviously rambling, they won’t.</div>
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<b>Should it be friendly or formal?</b><br /><br />The best letters convey your enthusiasm for the job. If your tone is too formal this may be hard to do, but a chatty tone can be a mistake too. Your application or CV should have a formal feel to it, but your letter should allow your personality to show. Consider the nature of the job you’re applying for. If it’s in financial services, a straightforward formal style will be expected. If it’s for a travel rep with an 18-30s tour operator, they’ll be looking for something a bit more lively. Your layout should be as for a formal business letter. Unless you know the person well, do not use their first name. If you don’t know their name, ring up and ask. ‘Dear Ms Jones’ looks so much better than ‘Dear Sir/Madam.’</div>
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<b>How should I start?</b><br /><br />Get to the point quickly and avoid waffling. Your first paragraph should mention the job you’re applying for and explain why you are right for it. Then develop the points you have made in the opening sentences more fully in the following paragraphs.</div>
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<b>What’s a good way to sign off</b><br /><br />Your final sentence should be positive and confident, showing that you expect a response and giving details of how you can be contacted, or when you intend to contact them. If it’s a speculative application, a follow-up phone call is a good idea.</div>
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Office Manager for a rapidly expanding political/social branding/pr/marketing firm in downtown Los Angeles.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$60 - 75,000</span></strong></div>
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<strong>We are looking for a jack-of-all-trades Office Manager to run the day-to-day operations of our company. You will be responsible for the following areas:</strong></div>
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<li style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"> Screening and hiring new personnel, working with staffing agencies, running recruiting ads and assessing resumes, checking references and administering skills and personality test</li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 15px;">Supervise the training of all new staff - contract, temporary, intern, and full-time staff</li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 15px;">Conduct the new employee orientation </li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 15px;">Administration of employee benefits, including medical, dental, COBRA, worker's comp, 401(K) enrollments</li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 15px;">Handle all vendors and suppliers, including landlord, parking garage, priniting, computers, furniture, janitorial, phones, office supplies, contractors, etc.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 15px;">Maintain company client and administrative files, which inlcudes document storage, contracts, agreements, leases, warranties, etc.</li>
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<strong>We are looking for someone out of a similar environment (PR, Branding or Marketing), 5+ years office management expereince with hiring, training, and supervising support staff, a 4-year college degree, excellent references, and solid skills on MSW, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. We will test on these as well as grammar, spelling and proofreading. A background check will be conducted. </strong></div>
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<strong>We have some of the most intersting clients in the business. We are growing at a nice steady pace and see 2014 - 2015 as our biggest growth years ever. We have an excellent reputation and take great pride in the staff we do select and hire. This is a position that will grow and learn. </strong></div>
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<strong>If you meet the above requirements, please submit your resume and salary history today. We would like to have this position filled in the next two weeks.</strong></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-80759852664167997832013-10-24T12:32:00.002-07:002013-10-24T12:32:10.908-07:00New Job Listing - District Sales Manager<b>District Manager/Beverage Co. - $80 - $90,000 - </b>San Francisco, CA<br />
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Develop and effectively implement all aspects of the company goals. Constantly seeking new and innovative methods for increasing sales and enhancing the corporate image. Show a high degree of personal sales performance and the ability to manage a “profit center”.<br />
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<li>People Development</li>
<li>District Manager is responsible for personnel development through recruiting selection and training based on the fundamentals of “MANAGEMENT BY EXCELLENCE”.</li>
<li>Keep at least three active candidates per market for all direct reports in hiring process at all times.</li>
<li>Physically meet with at least one recruited candidate a quarter.</li>
<li>Implement and manage field-training programs.</li>
<li>Conduct quarterly reviews of “direct reports”.</li>
<li>Planning / Administrative Responsibilities</li>
<li>Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in technology – Excel, SAP, Word for customer analysis.</li>
<li>District manager is responsible for administering all company policies and procedures within his district.</li>
<li>District manager works closely with the Regional manager in the Company’s annual budgeting and planning process.</li>
<li>Communicate itinerary and activity reports on schedule.</li>
<li>Follow up on all promotions and price changes.</li>
<li>Monitor all inspection reports for due dates.</li>
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<b><u>Customer Relations</u></b><br />
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<li>Represents the Company in a professional manner.</li>
<li>Regular visitation of key customers to build loyalty utilizing key account book.</li>
<li>Follow up on all problem calls as necessary.</li>
<li>Establishes a relationship with key customers so that the customer is satisfied with the company’s products and services.</li>
<li>Implement an aggressive customer protection plan.</li>
<li>Develop a personal relationship with decision makers in key accounts.</li>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446215384740335771.post-45035672384902058962013-10-03T14:30:00.002-07:002013-10-03T14:30:38.487-07:00How They Hire<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Influencers on How They Hire by Richard Branson, Virgin Airlines</span></strong></div>
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There is nothing more important for a business than hiring the right team. If you get the perfect mix of people working for your company, you have a far greater chance of success. However, the best person for the job doesn’t always walk right through your door.</div>
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The first thing to look for when searching for a great employee is somebody with a personality that fits with your company culture. Most skills can be learned, but it is difficult to train people on their personality. If you can find people who are fun, friendly, caring and love helping others, you are on to a winner.</div>
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<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/channels/how_I_hire?trk=prod-inf-hih-0924-inpostpromo" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"></a>Personality is the key. It is not something that always comes out in interview – people can be shy. But you have to trust your judgement. If you have got a slightly introverted person with a great personality, use your experience to pull it out of them. It is easier with an extrovert, but be wary of people becoming overexcited in the pressure of interviews.</div>
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You can learn most jobs extremely quickly once you are thrown in the deep end. Within three months you can usually know the ins and outs of a role. If you are satisfied with the personality, then look at experience and expertise. Find people with transferable skills – you need team players who can pitch in and try their hand at all sorts of different jobs. While specialists are sometimes necessary, versatility should not be underestimated.</div>
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Some managers get hung up on qualifications. I only look at them after everything else. If somebody has five degrees and more A grades than you can fit on one side of paper, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the right person for the job. Great grades count for nothing if they aren’t partnered with broad-ranging experience and a winning personality.</div>
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That doesn’t mean you can’t take risks when building your team. Don’t be afraid of hiring mavericks. Somebody who thinks a little differently can help to see problems as opportunities and inspire creative energy within a group. Some of the best people we’ve ever hired didn’t seem to fit in at first, but proved to be indispensable over time.</div>
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If you hire the wrong person at the top of a company, they can destroy it in no time at all. Promoting from within is generally a good idea as the employee who is promoted will be inspired by the new role, already know the business inside out, and have the trust and respect of their team.</div>
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Equally, bringing in fresh blood can reinvigorate a company. Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia recently brought in CEOs from outside - John Borghetti at Virgin Australia and Craig Kreeger at Virgin Atlantic. They have brought a lot of fresh ideas into the company, as well as experience of what the competition is doing well and what they are doing badly.</div>
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When companies go through growth spurts, they often hire in bulk and company culture can suffer. While it may seem a desperate rush to get somebody through the door to help carry the load, it is worth being patient to find the right person, rather than hurrying and unbalancing your team. I heard a great line by Funding Circle CEO Samir Desai at the IoD Conference in London (quoting Apple's Dan Jacobs) about making sure you hire (and fire) the right people: “It’s better to have a hole in your team than an asshole in your team!”</div>
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Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.com0