Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom How to Troubleshoot a Lateral Move

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom How to Troubleshoot a Lateral Move I recently contributed to the wonderful site, DailyWorth.com. A reader there asked me this question: I’ve been working at my current job for a year, am actively taking on extra projects and have put myself forward for consideration for two separate research positions, only to not be considered for either. I have a Master’s degree relevant to the research and am at least as qualified as the men they’re hiring for these roles. My supervisor knows I would like to go into a research role but keeps holding me back, and I have to constantly remind her (and our HR department) that I am almost 30 (I look very young), have an advanced degree and several years of experience. How can I get taken seriously? Are going back to school and/or finding a new job my only options?â€" Amelia, IdahoHere was my answer: It sounds as if you are doing all of the right things to jostle your way into a new role that interests you. Unfortunately, for some reason there is a perception that you’re not a good fit for these jobs. You received a clue with the comment about your well-put-together appearance and terrific interpersonal skills. If you’re the best at your job, maybe your supervisor is concerned you’ll be hard, if not impossible, to replace. Bottom line: Your company has put you in a certain box and is now reluctant to let you out. I would combat all this by proactively incorporating research tasks into your current responsibilities so you can showcase concrete experience and results. Interview people who have the jobs you want and learn how their success is measured and the qualities that are necessary to hone. Build strong personal relationships within the research department so the next time a position opens up, you will naturally be considered. The idea, after all, is to be tapped before the HR department even gets involved.If you’ve done all of these things and you still feel blocked from the research position you desire, expand your horizons outside your current organization. Network prolifically in third-party research organizations and conferences and via individuals on LinkedIn. You may need to look elsewhere in order to fulfill your career dreams.Don’t worry about going back to school unless you can definitively determine that an advanced degree beyond a Master’s is essential for entry into this type of research job. Note the level of education held by individuals working in the roles you want. Focus on increasing your research-oriented skills and your knowledge of specific tasks rather than the degree itself.

2, 4, 6, 8 Who Do You Appreciate - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

2, 4, 6, 8 Who Do You Appreciate - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As the season of giving winds down, the next step for giving is that of sincere appreciation for others in both your personal and business life. Keep in mind that frequently, those we know will surprise us with a referral to the perfect business connection. Prior to mid-January, make a list of all those in your life and over the past year who have helped you in some way and brought you joy. It’s easy to overlook individuals so take your time to ensure a complete list by doing the following: 1. Review email over the past year.  Which people consistently reached out to you with encouraging messages, insight, or offers of help? 2. Review social media messages.  Who frequently re-tweeted, re-posted or commented on information you shared? These are the individuals who are unusually generous and deserve recognition. 3. Conduct a computer search for e-cards received plus collect all of the holiday cards sent to you. These individuals went out of their way to bring a smile to your face. 4. Gifts received.  Sending gifts require going the extra mile in terms of spending money on the gift itself as well as postage, and of time waiting in line at the post office to send. In addition to a note of appreciation, you might consider phone calls too. 5. Invitations to parties.  If you did attend parties over the past year or were a guest at a special event or invited out for a special meal, remember those inviting folks in return. 6. Collaborators.  Reflect back on all of the projects on which you worked this past year. Who in your networked helped to spread word to help boost popularity with your clientele? Quite possibly they may have helped you to remain in business. 7. Referrals and testimonials.  Now reflect on those who referred you to new clients and opportunities as well as those who provided glowing testimonials for your work. 8. Business partners.  Whoever helped you to advance your business whether in a formal relationship or on-going personal effort deserve your appreciation. Once your list is complete, and it may take several days, consider the most appropriate and time efficient manner in which to shower appreciation. For example, phone or Skype calls require more time. With whom would you like to personally connect? Traditional cards require monetary investment as well as time to address and send while e-cards are a fraction of the cost. Budget and time are critical factors for entrepreneurs to remain afloat. Review your long list of contacts. Once complete, categorize each for the method in which you will express your appreciation. In this manner, you will be able to efficiently and effectively achieve your goal. The best part will be, the appreciation received in return for having remembered the individuals. All of the above suggestions may be considered as part of your New Year business development plan. Connecting personally and striving to build solid relationships serves to build your personal brand and will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

Love Your Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Love Your Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Maybe you are fortunate enough to be making a living in the arena of your choosing. Pro golfers come to mind, as do most any other professional athletes. These people have gotten so good at their obsession that they get to earn money for doing it. Despite our weekend warrior talent, few of us will ever stand apart from our competitors enough to make it a career they way Danica Patrick, Peyton Manning, Vjah Singh, Laird Hamilton, Tony Hawk, and Antionio Silva have. Love your job means that regardless of your current title, function, or industry, you toil to always do whatever you do, differently and better than the rest. CEOs tell me this: “I want individuals who don’t let colleagues, relatives, friends, society, pessimists, guilt, fear, or ignorance stand between them and their goals.” “If you can’t figure out how to make it fun, it’s your problem.” “People talk about the golden pot at the end of the rainbow. But I want people who see that the whole rainbow is nice.” “One of my top employees said to me once, ‘I do my best, and in God I trust the rest. . . . I don’t have to climb the moon to feel accomplishment. I just stay enthused about the task at hand.’” Finding some unique, even idiosyncratic interest and turning it into a prosperous career can happenâ€"with work, luck, and timing in the meantime, make the most of what you have.  There are others who want your job right now! My new book from McGraw-Hill, The Leadership Mind Switch is available for pre purchase on Amazon.com.

Personal Development Secrets to Your Success

Personal Development Secrets to Your Success My mom  is my biggest blogging fan (ok, my dad and  mother-in-law are close runner ups).    Recently when I went back  to Minnesota to visit my parents,  my mom  gave me a stack of reading materials including old newspapers for inspiration for my blog.   Thanks mom!   One of the items that she gave me was the Investors Business Dailys 10 Secrets to Success.   I really love all these  secrets and wanted to share them with you.   The report says that when you combine all of these, you can turn your dreams into reality. How you think is everything: Always be positive.   Think success, not failure.   Beware of a negative environment. Decide upon your true dreams and goals.   Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them. Take action: Goals are nothing without action.   Dont be afraid to get started.   Just do it. Never stop learning.   Go back to school or read books.   Get training and acquire skills. Be persistent and work hard: Success is a marathon, not a sprint.   Never give up. Learn to analyze details: Get all the facts, all the input.   Learn from your mistakes. Focus your time and money: Dont let other people or things distract you. Dont be afraid to innovate; be different: Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity. Deal and communicate with people effectively: No person is an island.   Learn to understand and motivate others. Be honest and dependable; take responsibility:  Otherwise, Nos. 1-9 wont matter. How can you apply these  secrets to your life  and turn your dreams into reality?

Why Choose a Career in Web Design - CareerMetis.com

Why Choose a Career in Web Design Source- Pexels.comA career in web design is an undertaking for the bold and fearless.Regardless of the specific design media you’re trying to focus on, designing has always required a person’s ability to break conventions, courage in facing ever-changing aesthetic trends, and flexibility in handling complex design briefs.Web design, for example, is one of the hottest design fields today.evalAs the world goes after more digital experiences and connectivity, more businesses need talented web designers to join their marketing team.If you’re a bold and fearless designer, a career in web design just might be the right fit for you.But to help you make up your mind in taking this particular career path in design, here are few more prosthat will nudge you towards that decision. It pays the bills and moreWe all dream of having a job that we enjoy doing so much, it doesn’t feel like work anymore. But if you’re able to do this while paying off all the bills and still having some money left for shopping and hobbies, that’s like hitting the jackpot!If you’re passionate about web design, the good news is that in the US alone, web designers get to enjoy an average annual salary of $63,000. While it may seem a bit low for workers with families, this will do you good and make you live rather comfortably if you’re unmarried and are just starting out on your career.But as with all other career paths, you can earn more money as a web designer as you gather more experience and move up the career ladder.There are tons of employment opportunitiesAs industries move to more digital consumer experiences today, the need for web designers in marketing and advertising departments has become bigger than ever.evalToday, being successful in online marketing means having a clean, sleek, and UI/UX-effective website that consumers will actually want to visit.With this, a lot of businesses are investing on gathering talented web design teams to put up and maintain their websites. Moreover, the variety of industries you can enter is endless.Web design has basically become a requirement in most industries ranging from food and basic consumer goods manufacturing, to technology and communication. Even the more traditional industries like healthcare and medicine are shifting towards digital marketing design.The key is to choose an industry you’re familiar and comfortable with, then to make the most out of the experience with the right set of web design skills and tools. Learning never stopsevalWhen you have a career in design, education doesn’t really stop after you get your arts degree in college. The world of design constantly evolves with time.This is why designers â€" whether for the web or for any other medium â€" need to have a certain level of flexibility and openness when it comes to welcoming new conventions and adapting to them.While it may feel like the internet has been around for ages, it remains to be a fairly young and developing industry. It c an be an exciting time for designers as more features of web design unfold for marketers to discover.Hence, standards could change at any given time, and web design rules could also prove to be as volatile. With this, being a web designer means being constantly ready to learn and adapt to new things.When you’re used to following a specific set of defaults and conventions, it can be difficult to adjust when standards keep on changing. As a web designer, this is simply the reality you face every day, and really, it is more of a learning experience.You can literally earn from doing a hobbyMost designers frown upon comments about their careers being just a hobby instead of a profession. However, from a more positive angle, you can actually consider this more of an advantage. Doing your hobby and getting paid for it is a great thing.For one, it won’t feel like work at all! How great is it to do tasks and actually enjoy doing them instead of dragging yourself along, waiting for the ho urs to tick by until it’s time to go home?If you’re passionate about web design, the most important pro you should be focusing on right now is that you get to live the life so many professionals strive forâ€"to work every day and not get sick of it.How many times have you heard of workers getting so sick of their day jobs they actually feel physically drained from doing it?evalDesigning as both a hobby and a profession is not something to be ashamed of. If anything, it’s something to take pride in as you’re one of the few people who can truly say you love what you do.You get to be a multitasking geniusUnlike other jobs where you can focus on doing one thing every day, being a web designer allows you to wear several hats at a single time. For one, you’ll sketch and conceptualize your layouts â€" and you get to brainstorm with other teams for this, too.Also, you’ll negotiate with your clients regarding the feasibility of the features they intend to put on the website, all while digitally rendering your mock-ups in a design application.In some cases, you also get to be a presenter whenever your clients need you to pitch new ideas to the board. In this day and age, a professional who’s able to practice multiple skills is irreplaceable.Choosing the best career path nowadays may seem daunting considering the endless possibilities. However, in choosing a profession, it is important to note that instead of looking for the perfect one, you should be looking for the right one based on the skill-set you have and the things you’re passionate about.evalA career in web design may not be for everybody, but if you’re passionate about art, design, breaking conventions, and making a difference in the digital landscape, this could be the job for you.

[Video] How to identify your value proposition - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

[Video] How to identify your value proposition Would you like to know a couple of techniques which will exponentially boost your chances of landing highly sought after positions and give you more control, more choice and more confidence? While you cant change the number of jobs available and cant get rid of the growing number of competing job seekers, you CAN change how you approach the market. You can figure out what elements of the job hunting process you do have control over, and learn how to leverage them in your favour. I can promise you that you can land your dream job, even in a fiercely competitive market. And Im about to show you how Remember to identify your value proposition: 1. Write down 3-5 strengths. What qualities make you stand out? Just make sure these are not the same generic qualities that 99% of job seekers put on their resumes â€" stuff like ‘I am a good team player’ or ‘I can get on well with people’. Be specific. 2. How have these strengths helped you in past positions and in your current position? Think of specific examples here. 3. What are some of your recent accomplishments? List 3-5 of them and again, be specific. How can you quantify what you’ve done? How what you’ve done helped the organization you are working for? 4. Review the list of your strengths and your accomplishments. Ask yourself, what does this all say about me? 5. Create three strong adjectives that best describe you and your contribution to your company. If you dont know what makes you stand out from the crowd, it will be difficult to convince anyone else why they should hire you. And if you struggle with identifying what makes you stand out, then get clear before you go for an interview. Send me an email and let’s talk â€" I’d be happy to offer you a 15-minute complimentary consultation. Simply answer a few questions on http://www.talkwithmargaret.com and if you qualify, youll be contacted within 48 hours. In CONCLUSION You can decide how you want people to think about you. What do you want them to say about you when you leave the room? Use your three adjectives to focus your communication about your value proposition. Begin to use these descriptors in your conversations and meetings to build your personal brand across the organization. This is what you bring to the table. MY final TIP Keep a success diary. Write down what you accomplished daily, and at the end of each week, review your entries and ask yourself what does this say about me? This will keep you connected with your talent and keeps you focused on the unique qualities that you have to offer. Think about the results you create; how do you make a difference? I hope you’ve found it useful. I’d love to hear your comments, so please let me know your feedback below, share the video on your Facebook page, Tweet it etc

Should I Use a Resume Writing Service to Get My Resume to the Top of the List?

Should I Use a Resume Writing Service to Get My Resume to the Top of the List?Are you wondering if it is really worth the time and effort to use a resume writing service to get your resume to the top of the pile? Well, the answer to that question is really complicated and could depend on several different factors.First of all, as with any other form of writing, it depends entirely on the cover letter you write for the job application. Many people will choose to use a resume writer to help them create their cover letter, but it is important to remember that your cover letter, the first thing that potential employers see when they open up the job application page, is where you stand out the most. You may think that it is simply a matter of making sure you are explaining yourself well, but you may find yourself feeling like a total failure if you do not have the best cover letter that you can make.What type of job search you are doing is going to play a huge role in whether or not you w ant to hire a resume writer to do your cover letter for you. For example, if you are applying for a job at a manufacturing company in your local area, chances are you will want to focus more on writing an eye-catching cover letter that will sell the company on you. On the other hand, if you are applying for a position with a global company that may be located anywhere in the world, it will be much more important to focus on having the perfect resume to get you noticed.Another important thing to remember is that when you are using online services for resume writing, you may end up spending far more time on each resume than you would if you were to go about the job application process by hand. The downside of that is that it can take quite a bit longer to make your resume, and that's not necessarily a good thing.The truth is that it is far easier to write a resume online, and then once you get your resume completed, it is generally far easier to go through it and make the necessary co rrections. But it does take time, and when you think about how much time you may spend making a resume that is perfect, you can see why it is important to hire a professional writer.Ultimately, if you are seeking a career advancement opportunity, one of the things that you are looking for in a career development program is a personalized service that can take the work out of developing your resume and also create a powerful cover letter that is geared towards helping you land that position. This is true even if you are only looking for a job in an administrative role at a company in your local area.If you are looking for a career development program that will help you hone in on the skills that you need to succeed in this new career path, you need to take the time to carefully consider the services of a resume writing service. You can save yourself the time and hassle of designing your own cover letter, and that can help you land that perfect job today.