My Network Fell Apart!!!

My Network Fell Apart!!! Yesterday I started the day meeting with some great friends and bloggers for breakfast at 7am (thats 6am my time). Then it was meetings and presentations all day long, and we finally rolled into our driveway at 9:30. There was an armadillo in the backyard so of course I had to chase it around in my nice clothes and new shoes and a little bit of rain but I didnt catch it. What a way to end a Texas winter day! This morning I had an outstanding presentation in downtown Houston, and now Im headed to Austin for a very fun dinner with some very cool bloggers. Im looking forward to it but going to take some Motrin right now ?? I do have something on-topic today, and its interesting because I heard it one of my meetings yesterday and the meeting this morning. The question/issue that came up was essentially: I have a network of working professionals. When they lose their jobs, then my network falls apart and is not valuable! Wow! Where have I been this last year to not have heard this before?? Here are my thoughts: the value of each person in your network is not dependent on their job status one guy got laid off with his entire division (35 people) so he thought that his 35 contacts there werent going to be able to help him I said now you know 35 people that should be out meeting prospective employers, meeting new people, etc. What a powerful group of people that can help eachother, make introductions and share leads! networking is not a short-term thing its long-term. What the give/take in the networking relationship changes as people and positions change (right now you may help me get a job, but tomorrow you may be my vendor/customer) thoughts? My Network Fell Apart!!! Yesterday I started the day meeting with some great friends and bloggers for breakfast at 7am (thats 6am my time). Then it was meetings and presentations all day long, and we finally rolled into our driveway at 9:30. There was an armadillo in the backyard so of course I had to chase it around in my nice clothes and new shoes and a little bit of rain but I didnt catch it. What a way to end a Texas winter day! This morning I had an outstanding presentation in downtown Houston, and now Im headed to Austin for a very fun dinner with some very cool bloggers. Im looking forward to it but going to take some Motrin right now ?? I do have something on-topic today, and its interesting because I heard it one of my meetings yesterday and the meeting this morning. The question/issue that came up was essentially: I have a network of working professionals. When they lose their jobs, then my network falls apart and is not valuable! Wow! Where have I been this last year to not have heard this before?? Here are my thoughts: the value of each person in your network is not dependent on their job status one guy got laid off with his entire division (35 people) so he thought that his 35 contacts there werent going to be able to help him I said now you know 35 people that should be out meeting prospective employers, meeting new people, etc. What a powerful group of people that can help eachother, make introductions and share leads! networking is not a short-term thing its long-term. What the give/take in the networking relationship changes as people and positions change (right now you may help me get a job, but tomorrow you may be my vendor/customer) thoughts?

Why You Will Fail to Have a Great Career

Why You Will Fail to Have a Great Career When I heard these words a week ago my eyes sparkled and something in my brain went, Yep, youre clicking that. What I saw next has stuck with me since. So Im here today to share what I saw and why you too will fail to have a great career. An Economists View On Careers What I saw that day was a video on TED from economist Larry Smith.   And he laid it out straight,   Im an economist, I do dismal. He went on to make it clear who his audience was, Im not talking to those who want good jobs, or okay jobs. Im talking about those who truly want GREAT jobs. Oh, people who want good jobs will fail as well, he went on to say.   Because good jobs are disappearing.   There are great jobs and great careers and there are high workload, high stress, blood sucking, soul destroying kinds of jobsand nothing really in between. So people looking for good jobs are going to fail. So if were doomed from at least having a good careerwhats stopping us from having a great career. No matter how many times we are told to find your dream, your passion, we dont find it. Pursuing your passions has become one of the biggest cliches of the universe, yet we ignore it and make excuses. Our first excuse, Great careers for most people are a matter of luck. Ill do the right things, study the right courses, and if Im lucky Ill have a great career.   If not, at least Ill have a good career.   But, Larry Smith already told us good careers arent possible so that wont work. Excuse number two, Yes, some people pursue passions but theyre geniuses. We tell ourselves, Im no Steve Jobs.   I dont have the brains to carry out my passion.   We tell ourselves were competent, but in 2012 competence doesnt get you great jobs. Excuse number three, I would do itbut Im not weird. We see successful people as walking a fine line between madness and genius.   They are a little crazy, mean, odd, quirky, strange, and different.   But youyoure normal.   So you cant possibly be the next Mark Zuckerberg or Oprah Winfrey. Excuse number four, Mommy and Daddy taught me that if I work really hard Ill have a great career. Oh sure, the world will give you plenty of opportunities to work REALLY hard, but does that honestly give you a great career? Excuse number five, I have an interest. Men, would you approach the women of your dreams, bow down on one knee and then exclaim at the top of your lungs, Marry meyoure interesting?   Why are you studying the major you picked, was it because you had a passion for that subjector did it just interest you? Some of you will find your passionbut you still wont do it. Yes, some of you will find what you love and are passionate about, but will drop it for your next excuse. I want to value human relationships over a great career Youve just made yourself a hero no matter what happens. Youve given yourself the ultimate excuse for not having a great career. If you fail now, at least you were a good person. And youll pass on the same things to your children Your kid one day will come up to you and say, Dad, Mom I want to be a magician. And youll tell them, Its riskyIt doesnt make much moneyYoure good at math, you should try that. And hell look at you with his puppy eyes and plea, But its my dream! To which you will have to tell him, Look kid I had a dream too once but What do you say? I had a dream too once but I was afraid to pursue it. Or. Look kid I had a dream too oncebut then you were born. Do you really want to look at your spouseyour family and see jailors? Larry asks. Dont you wish you could say, I had a dream too son, go for it just like I did. But you wont be able to say that because you didnt. And so the sins of the parents are visited on the children. Why will you seek refuge in human relationships as your excuse not to find and pursue your passion? You know why. Because youre afraid to pursue it to look ridiculous to try to fail. Great friend.   Great spouse.   Great parent.   Is that not a packagenot who you arecan you be one without the other? Smith asks. But youre afraid, and thats why you will not have a great career Unless.unless. Watch the TED Talk image courtesy of Alex E. Poimos and mrpunto

Invaluable Experience Doing Internships While Youre Still A Student

Invaluable Experience Doing Internships While Youre Still A Student As a college student you are very busy with homework, projects and tests, so doing an internship may be the last thing on your mind. An internship requires dedication and time that many students don’t have. It is true that an internship requires a lot of commitment, but the benefits that you will receive from it will make it worth it. Here are six benefits of doing an internship while you are still a student. It Helps You Gain Experience One of the most important benefits you will receive from doing an internship is experience. There is only so much you can learn from books, so it is vital that you get hands-on experience in the field you want to work in through an internship. During an internship, you will have the opportunity to learn things that you might have not been able to learn in the classroom. It Helps You Make Connections Connections are everything these days. The right connection can land you that job you have always dreamed about having. Taking an internship is one of the best ways to make connections with people who can help you when you graduate. For example, if you do a good job at your internship, your boss might offer you a position in the company when you graduate or recommend you to someone else who is looking to fill a position. It Looks Great on a Resume There is a lot of competition out there, so you have to make your resume stand out from all the rest. Even if you go to the best college in the world, your resume might get passed by if you don’t have any experience. Doing an internship with a reputable company can get your resume noticed by companies and should at least land you an interview. It Will Help You Find Out If You Are Interested In Your Field of Study Doing an internship is a great way to find out if you are truly interested in your field of study. If you complete an internship and find out that you really do not like what you are studying anymore, you have the option of changing your major. It is better than graduating with a degree that you will never use. It Can Help You Earn Extra Money While many internships are unpaid, it is possible to find one that does pay. Instead of working a job in retail or the food industry, you can actually get paid while learning more about the field you are studying. As you can see, internships offer many benefits. No matter what you are studying, completing an internship can put you a step above the rest.

Assessment Centre Groupwork Evidencing Competencies

Assessment Centre Groupwork Evidencing Competencies The following is a guest post by Lucy Hawkins. It also appears on her blog here. Last week I was lucky enough to sit in a mock assessment centre. (Kindly delivered by the recruitment team at Rolls Royce). During the group exercises, it was great to see some hard and fast examples of competencies in action, noted by the observers.   I’ve found these examples useful to cite for those anxious about group exercises.   This kind of behaviour is hard to fake or force; the information below is unlikely to change how an applicant naturally performs.   Hopefully though, it’s useful in building confidence and understanding what is often one of the most daunting bits of an assessment. Competency: Decision making Exemplar actions seen to be used: Showing energy and drive towards decision making Positive and appropriate attitude to decision making Decision making without tension or nerves visible Making decisions with sensitivity to others Competency: Judgement Exemplar actions seen to be used: Considering implications of a decision Able to act even without having the full picture Use of instinct and intuition Considering the customer/client Showing dedication to a positive outcome Competency: Receives and encourages new ideas Exemplar actions seen to be used: Facilitating brainstorming Showing patience in hearing others Showing an alertness to possibilities Bringing in creative ideas from others Recognising the need to influence others Using diplomacy and tact Being flexible, optimistic and open to new suggestions Competency: Effective communication Exemplar actions seen to be used: Engaged in a two-way dialogue â€" not solely initiating or responding Changing and adapting style of communication to different audiences Commanding attention when informing Seeking information from others ___________________________________________________________________________

Forget Being a Vet Other Careers that Involve Pet Care

Forget Being a Vet Other Careers that Involve Pet Care Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comAs a child, we all wanted to be veterinarians at one point. But at five years old, we had no idea being a vet was more than just carrying dogs around, taking them on walks, feeding them and giving them baths.We disregard and underestimate the amount of time allotted to studying animals and their behavior. By the time we reach college, taking care of pets might have faded into a hobby. Now that we understand the gist of having a career, there are other vocations that involve handling pets aside from being a veterinarian.They’re not necessarily at the top of the wage list, but these animal enthusiasts and caretakers are paid pretty generously.1. Pet Sitter/Day CareevalThis is an alternative for people who want to take care of dogs, but can’t really do it permanently in their own homes. As long as you’re able, this job can be done by individuals aged 10 and up â€" younger, even. Especially if they’re experienced and long-time pet owners.Owners usually hire pet sitters when they’re going out of town or will be out of the house for business. Full-time pet sitters can earn up to $35,000 per year.2. Dog WalkerMore of a job for part-timers, this errand doesn’t take up much time and can be done as a hobby. Not only do you get some exercise in, you also get paid for it. Depending on how big the dog is and the owner’s instructions, this will take just about an hour to half a day at most.3. Dog TrainerThese people are usually hired when an upcoming dog show or contest is looming. Being a pet trainer requires no formal education, as long as you’re comfortable with pets and vice versa.Dog trainers are also responsible for teaching animals basic commands, obedience, good pet manners and aiding the disabled. More professional trainers are the ones in charge of training the dogs used to aid the visually impaired or disabled.4. Veterinary DentistNot much of a fur person This profession usually requires having a bachelor’s degree in ei ther animal science or biology.In Bindi Irwin’s case, the Australian Zoo she grew up in was already ran by her parents. At 18 and a devoted wildlife supporter, she follows after her late father Steve Irwin’s footsteps. Riding elephants, playing with pythons and caring for a pet rat are just “normal” happenings for her. If she can do it, so can you.7. Panda Nanny Getting hired as a panda nanny is considered the happiest job in the world, in the field of animal care.Presently there are only about 2,500 pandas left in the wild and they are slowly going extinct due to limited and restricted bamboo supplies and loss of habitat. Panda nannies were being hired to help raise awareness and interest in pandas. Does being a panda nanny include dressing up as one, too? We wouldn’t mind.8. Laboratory Animal CaretakerevalThis job is suitable for animal enthusiasts who prefer handling the more scientific and biological aspect of pet care. Instead of being out in the field, you’ll be te sting specimens and working inside a lab. If it weren’t for these professionals, you wouldn’t even know what’s really happening to your pet’s immune system. Those symptoms present are already sign of a failing immune system or form of cancer. Your dog’s health goes way further than the just their fur.9. Animal Cruelty Investigator/Animal RescueLet’s just say that Lt. Judy Hopps from Zootopia would be proud to have someone on her side who supports anima safety and rights.Still not sure if you should hop on the pet care train? The more genuine and enthusiastic you are with your pet, the greater your chances of making it far in the sphere of pet care.Others may think devoting your life to animal care will not sustain you and won’t pay much. Either way, just think of it as giving back to nature and Mother Earth.

The Best Ways to Find Salary Information

The Best Ways to Find Salary Information Remember in the olden days (10 years ago) you would see the salary listed in the job posting in the newspaper ad.   No more, or at least seldom, do you see the employer state what they are offering for the job.   That leaves the job seeker wondering:   is this job really the level I am looking for, should I even bother applying and what is the going rate for this type of work in the market. Here are  3 ways to research salary information.   It is best to use them all and take an average or at least compare. 1.   Research Online (salary calculators): This is  usually the only  thing people do and can be quite dangerous.    Sites like Salary.com,  Payscale,    Glassdoor.com,    indeed.com/salaries ,  Careerbliss  are ok to start with but  can  sometimes  be inflated and most employers dont consider them 100% accurate. There are other sites to check too. Your states Department of Labor website has salary info. Another resource with nice narrative about the occupation responsibilities and requirements is published in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (managed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics).   This has salary info at the bottom of each occupation. 2.   Talk to Recruiters Employment agencies deal with placing people in temporary, contract and/or permanent jobs.   They have an idea of what the going rate is (and it certainly can vary by company).   Pick their brains/ask for their advice on the going rates around town. 3. Ask People Doing the Job I dont really mean asking a total stranger How much do you make? Not only is that rude, it usually will not get you anywhere or anything.   I mean network with people you know and who are in your profession or industry and ask the question what are you seeing the going rate is for my kind of work today?   More often than not, you will get some sort of answer. Get This Info Early You will be asked to complete on-line applications that ask for your salary requirements.   You will be asked in phone interviews for your salary requirements.   You need to know so you dont price yourself out of the market or under value your talent. This is tricky. The Value of Your Skills is Determined by The basic principle of supply and demand means that when there is a greater supply, it will drive prices down.   Today, that is something you should be aware of.   Just because you made $190 billion in your last job, doesnt mean that is what you are worth.   Consider these questions: How many other people can do what you do? Are they also looking for work? How many openings for the exact job you are interested in do you see listed online? In the world of economics, supply and demand matter. At the end of the day, you are only worth what your future employer is willing to pay. And the job may require less or more than what you did in your past job. No two jobs are exactly the same, even if the job titles are.

Administrative Resume Sample - A Necessary Prerequisite For Job Applicants

Administrative Resume Sample - A Necessary Prerequisite For Job ApplicantsAdministrative resume sample is often a prerequisite for prospective job applicants. It is a pre-written document that can be downloaded from the internet and used to assess your own skills and achievements to find your level of potential. Before using this kind of resume, be sure to first evaluate its effectiveness.This administrative resume sample generally has sections. The first one includes the name of the person being interviewed for the job. If you are applying for an entry-level position, then it would have an entry-level section. In this section, it will be checked on your performance to date.This section also provides you with information on the areas where you are skilled and the skills needed to do the job. It will be checked on whether or not the skills needed are in demand or not. For example, if your skills are not required for a managerial position, then your resume would contain information suc h as specialized training.In the next section, the person's education and academic achievement are included. These would be what determine your course of study, the years that you have been studying, the grade obtained and the credit hours you have.The third section will also include information that will help the employer understand your training and credentials as well as any additional education you may have taken. In addition, it would also give you a little bit of your personality as well as your likes and dislikes.An administrative resume sample is just like a resume in the sense that it helps you get a head start when it comes to making yourself well-known to the prospective employer. This would give you a leg up in the interview process and make you stand out among the thousands of applicants.It can be tedious to fill out a resume and there is no reason to procrastinate with this type of resume. If you use the information presented in the sample resume, it would help your ch ances of getting the job much higher than applying from scratch.You can also take advantage of the administrative resume sample to create your own unique resume. The information contained in the sample could be adapted to suit your needs. You can also customize it to suit your particular career goals.