The Importance of Keeping a Career Journal Building Your Future Now

The Importance of Keeping a Career Journal Building Your Future Now Having an updated resume is essential especially if you are always looking for career opportunities. Another tool that you must have if you are career-focused is a career journal. Just as a career portfolio as discussed in an earlier post, a career journal is a notebook where you write down thoughts, ideas and accomplishments related to your job. You dont have to write a lot. The journal can be a useful tool when compiling information for future projects or updating your resume. The importance of keeping a career journal is the fact you can keep track of an array of things related to your job(s). You can jot down referrals from your managers or a breakdown of a certain project. Maybe you can quickly write down a great interaction with a client and state some reasons you closed the sale. You might be thinking: a career journal sounds like a good idea, but wheres the time? Once again, you dont have to be overly ambitious when keeping a journal. You dont have to write an entry everydayjust write down important happenings related to work. However, if you do feel that this is something that you can get into, the journal can be a helpful tool on your way to an amazing career. Be creative, have fun and be honest. Dont sweat punctuation, grammar or word-choice, this is a journal for you. Draw sketches, add outside materials and be as descriptive as you can. The career journal can also be a reference if human resources reaches out to you for any reason or your boss needs a refresher on an old project. Career journals can quickly become a helpful resource in many facets to your long term career plans or simply a reference to key dates related to your current job. When coupled with your career portfolio, the journal can truly give you a fresh and exciting perspective to your career path and goals. Try keeping one for a few weeks and comment below about your experience! Image: Studio 32

Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers in the Workplace

Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers in the Workplace As the world moves ahead, diversity in the workplace will continue to grow and evolve. Additionally, thanks to the advancement of technology, it is now becoming more common to deal with clients, customers and employees from all over the world. While this may be the new norm, the possible challenges of diversity cannot be ignored and should be recognized early on.   Language barriers may make it difficult to communicate effectively, or cultural differences may inhibit employees from being comfortable enough to open up, socialize, bond or even work comfortably and closely with one another. Jesmane Boggenpoel, author of  My Blood Divides and Unites,  uses the power of story to reconcile racial contradictions.    Boggenpoel provides these ways companies can deal with cultural and racial conflicts internally and overcome cultural barriers. Overcoming Cultural Barriers Promote appreciation of  cultural  differences   Gather a small group or taking a ‘corporate break-away or retreat to encourage team member to bond with one other, either by allowing everyone to share each other’s journey, identity, forgiveness, choice and lingering emotions. This is especially useful when the team is being formed or a new team member joins the team. Have an upfront discussion about team norms and company culture. This can include: Having a culture of empathy. As stated in My Blood Divides and Unites “that’s because empathy â€" listening to the other person with an open heart and connecting with the other person’s feelings even if you don’t agree â€" can put you in the other person’s shoes, and that can often be a catalyst for repairing and strengthening broken, even hostile, relationships….” This includes teaching understanding so we can relate to each other and find common ground. Encouraging team members to be inspirational leaders in a diverse and tolerant society. Discuss the traits of an inspirational leader. For example, instead of knee-jerk reactions and outbursts, an inspirational leader explores the roots of conflict, to ‘fears of lacking,’ and the negative effects of ones ‘desire to dominate.’ Educate the team on the value of diversity. Diversity helps with innovation and brings a diverse network to a business. It is essential that we realize that we have a subconscious bias in the ways we interact with others. Many people tend to interact with those who we have much in common with. In my book I discuss a number of studies that have looked at the benefits of diversity, including adding women to formerly all-male teams, and minorities to previously all-white teams. One such study one found that when women are added to previously all-male leadership teams in firms whose strategy is based on innovation, the firm’s performance improves. Any study shows that when people of different races, political affiliations, and other markers of difference are brought together, they tend to work harder to prepare better, listen to each other more carefully, and treat contributions from racial or opinion minorities as novel information. Try individual counseling. A corporate should set aside funds from its corporate social investment or human resources budget for staff to receive counseling from past racial incidences which have caused trauma and hinder effective race relations going forward. This can improve team member effectiveness. Having the team rally around a common cause. There is power in bringing people together around a common cause. Technology is helping to solve some of humanity’s most complex problems that affect lower-income people and address inequality. Teams can champion and get involved in such tech impact investing projects. This guest post was provided by Jesmane Boggenpoel. Debut author Jesmane Boggenpoel is an experienced business executive and former Head of Business Engagement for Africa at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. She has served on the boards of various South African and international organizations. She is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University’s JFK School of Government. Jesmane was honored as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.   She is a Harvard Mason fellow and a shareholder and founding board member of African Women Chartered Accountants Investment Holdings. Boggenpoel has extensive global experience having studied and worked on three continents, as well as travelling to over 65 countries. Reference: Dezsö, Cristian L. and Ross, David Gaddis, Does Female Representation in Top Management Improve Firm Performance? A Panel Data Investigation (March 9, 2011). Robert H. Smith School Research Paper No. RHS 06-104. Available at SSRN:  https://ssrn.com/abstract=1088182.

How to Reach Out to Old Networking Contacts

How to Reach Out to Old Networking Contacts A lot of us live busy lives and its easy to lose touch with networking contacts; however you never know when you may want to call upon them so its important to maintain these ties. So how can you go about getting back in touch with these individuals? When reaching out to an old contact you dont want them to think you have an agenda, so its important that you make them feel valued and show genuine interest in them. Here are a few pointers for rebuilding a professional relationship. 1) Show interest in the individual If you launch straight in and ask somebody for something  after not speaking to them for years, theyre likely to feel a bit put out. Your initial  focus should be on reestablishing your relationship with them. Ask them how they are, what theyre doing these days and listen to what they have to say. By arranging to catch up with them properly over lunch or coffee and showing genuine interest in them, they are probably more inclined to want to help you out when you ask. 2) Maintain a social media presence When you initially make a business contact its always a good idea to connect with them on social media, as it makes getting back in touch a bit easier when youve been visible in each others online networks. By posting frequent updates you can keep yourself on the radar of your business contacts, so they are familiar with who you are when you make contact. You can also bring yourself to an individuals attention by engaging on their social media updates. 3) Be professional If you have merely a professional relationship with the individual try not to act too pally when you make contact. Its good to be friendly, but going overboard make come across as false and they may become suspicious about what you are after. 4) Remind them how you know each other If its possible that they may not remember how the two of you met, provide them with a little reminder in your initial message. Rather than outright suggesting that they probably will have forgotten you, just give mention to how you met, for example a project you worked on, or event you attended to remind them of the details of your relationship. 5) Be specific about what you want When it requesting something of an old contact, dont beat around the bush. If you are specific about what you are asking they are then able to make an accurate judgement about whether they are able to help you out and you will come across as more genuine if youre honest and open about what youre after. 6) Always follow up If youve reconnected with someone and theyre wiling to fulfil your request, its important that you show them the courtesy of replying to any questions they may have and send them a follow up message to thank them for their help. Theyve proven themselves as a valuable contact, so you want to maintain the relationship in the future. [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Creating News and Share-worthy Press Releases for Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Creating News and Share-worthy Press Releases for Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When it comes to promoting a personal brand it can be a challenge to reach the level of viral attention of a public figure or celebrity. But there are strategies you can use that will actually attract a large audience. With good research in your target market and a well crafted press release your brand can get noticed. Garnering a response from your brands publicity can take your visibility to the next level. Your news and share-worthy information can attract more shares, especially with the right keywords in your headline and copy. A stand-out press release will show that your brand is worth checking out even by media outlets. How do you create a news strategy that attracts a larger following online? A well-crafted and high quality article is the first step to standing out. Following that is tapping into the right publishing resources who can help you reach the most people in your market. The brand that does not appear to be professional is more likely to be overlooked. It’s important to focus on your strengths, and clearly show your best work. How to Create a Winning Press Release for Your Brand There are several ways you can maximize your visibility success: Focus on the right readers The key to gaining traction is to know exactly who your brands target readers are. This information is based on your market research, and can vary depending on the topic or news story. Ask yourself who is most likely going to share your article and why they would be interested before creating your copy. Make a regular press release schedule Plan ahead of time to write your brands story with the right services and tools in place. Its important not to miss this important element in brand visibility, especially as your company will be seen by journalists and influencers, which drives more traffic to your website. Know the best days for publishing Many times a Tuesday or Thursday will gain the most attention online, especially when released at midnight. Keep in mind the news wires are very quiet on the weekends, and Mondays and Fridays are busy days for most journalists and businesses. Share your story Once your press release is out there you will want to share this on your various social media channels as well as alert your email subscribers. There is just a short time frame to do this, and so you will not want to delay sharing your news for the most visibility. A well-planned and focused news strategy for your personal brand can not only grow your online network, but also opens the door of opportunity for guest blogging, book deals, media coverage and collaboration with influencers in your niche.

6 Essential Things Required by An Online Freelancer - CareerMetis.com

6 Essential Things Required by An Online Freelancer Are you a freelancer and want to have a successful freelancing career?Freelancing is an unpredictable but profitable business for professionals who want to offer their skills to multiple employers online in any industry. This allows individuals to build their career by taking new and exciting assignments from a number of companies.But it is also very easy to lose your clients, damage your reputation or miss deadlines for projects by not having a solid business strategy and strong organizational skills in freelancing. That is why it is important that you have all the essential tools you have to begin a successful online freelancing career.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comevalYou can become an organized and sought after online freelancer by keeping in mind these six essential things to manage your clients and workload.2. Have a varied ClientListTo minimize your losses and to make sure that you get interesting assignments regularly have an extensive list of clients. Not all clients are fickle and unreliable, but it is good business acumen to work with multiple clients at the same time This is possible by adding a few links to your LinkedIn profile. Having a portfolio on LinkedIn is imperative because this is the site where business professionals get together to share ideas and talk about work.It is an excellent platform for companies and freelancers because companies can for look qualified freelancers and you, as a freelancer, can also look for job opportunities. It is vital to fill out your profile, giving details about your professional accomplishments. Your portfolio is your first impression that your potential client will have of you that is why it is important to make an impression that will last.You can also set up your personal website where you can showcase your work samples and resume. This will upgrade your professional image online and help you win new clients. Also, show your personal URLs on your business cards to promote your professional image.4. Have an active social media presenceIn today’s world, it is important to be active on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, etc. These sites will help you market yourself. You should project confidence and be proud of your abilities and accomplishments.5. Look for freelance work on different websitesevalTo become a successful freelancer, you should have access to different online websites where you can look for suitable jobs. There are various websites where you can apply for freelancing jobs and widen your client list.Always be sincere and honest with your clients. Admit your mistakes and be open to criticism.Project a flexible and humble personality to seem more approachable when applying for jobs using different websites.There are many freelancers available online but be sure that your clients are satisfied with your work and keep coming back to you. But make sure you are using right tools to manage your productivity and time when working on different sites.6. High speed InternetYou can’t hope to become a successful online freelancer unless you have good Internet speed. You need a stable Internet connection for receiving and sending data online.With a determined mindset, an organized plan of action, and a high quality router, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful online freelancer.Do not try to achieve everything at the same time but rather focus on building upon your portfolio and gradually become successful.

Advanced Video Chat Interview Techniques - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Advanced Video Chat Interview Techniques In a recent survey conducted by OfficeTeam in the US, six in every ten HR managers reported using two-way Internet based video chat to interview job candidates. The 500 HR managers who participated in the survey reported pressure to cut costs and interview greater number of applicants targets as the reasons for adopting video chat technology. If you are thinking of progressing your career, you are very likely to come across video chat job interview. Here are some advanced techniques to further expend on the two remote job interview tips already discussed on the blog. Ensure stable Internet speed â€" Video chat requires bandwidth which is why a stable and preferable broadband connection is essential for the smooth running of the interview. Choose a location where you are certain to benefit from stable speed. Download, Install and Configure Beforehand â€" If the interviewer has requested you to download and install particular software, do this well ahead of time. Depending on your Internet speed, the process of downloading, installing, configuring, and at times registering the app can take some time. Clearly ten minutes before the interview is meant to start isn’t the right time, but several hours, even a day before is more appropriate. Have a Backup Device â€" The most common job interview apps such as Skype, Facetime, GoToMeeting and others are cross platform and cross device. It gives you the possibility to install the app on two or more dissimilar devices and have a backup just in case your default device runs out of battery, crashed or gets chewed by the family dog.   A useful backup device alongside your PC tends to be a tablet or smartphone. Stage the Background â€" In interior design the process of temporarily de-cluttering the interior is called ‘staging’.   Before the interview is meant to start, take a long look at the background behind you and the area around you. Stage the environment so the area comes across fitting for the occasion. Master the Software â€" If you are unaware of the workings of the software, take 10min of your time to familiarise yourself with its workings. Head to YouTube and search for software name plus the word ‘tutorial’. Without fail you will come across handy tutorials, which will help elevate any concern you might have about using the software. Take a Mock Interview â€" A mock interview is traditionally designed to test your interviewing skills, but this time you can use this opportunity to test your connection, your device (speaker and microphone) and to help ensure that the software is working as it should. During the mock interview use the ‘picture-in-picture’ feature that most apps offer to see who you are likely coming across to the other party. During the Interview â€" It is important to establish eye contact as opposed to looking at your desk, the window or the screen. A useful tip is to position the video chat window next to the webcam. Now, when you look at the webcam, you are making eye contact with the interviewer, result! Troubleshooting Technology It is possible for the interview to cut short due to a technical problem. Instead of accepting the interruption, it can turn into an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are a problem-solver. If your device failed and you have prepared a backup, you can ask to resume using the backup device. If your Internet is slow or has disconnected, try rebooting your router or if that failed, use your mobile 3G or 4G as a temporary hotspot. If the interview cannot continue by means of video, perhaps due to a problem at the interviewer side, request to continue by phone. Better by phone than non at all. Thank you for reading. Good luck in your job search. Written for Margaret Buj of interview coach by The Carling Partnership. CPL (The Carling Partnership) is an international search and selection company in the brewing, distilling and wine industries.

How to Communicate Effectively With Your Supervisors During an Engineering Resume Writing Workshop

How to Communicate Effectively With Your Supervisors During an Engineering Resume Writing WorkshopIt is quite possible that your engineering resume writing workshop will not have a question on the topic of communication. A problem that has been tackled by many workshops is the communication skills between an engineer and his or her supervisor. While some people may be able to communicate effectively with their supervisors, others are not as good at it as they should be.You need to know that if you are not communicating well with your superiors, it will be difficult for you to reach the career goals that you want. Why is this? If you cannot communicate with your supervisor, how do you think that you will be able to communicate with others, so that you can use these skills to your advantage? With the use of communication skills in mind, you can now proceed to the idea of how you can effectively communicate with your supervisors.First of all, you need to understand that they may have a certain general feelings towards you, because they also are a person as well. If you will not agree with what they will say or do to you, your communication skills will not be effective. There is no way you can bring in some changes in your work style, because this would not be agreeable to your superiors.As a consequence, you will have to understand that you are not the only one who needs to understand this, and you will need to allow your supervisor to listen to you too. When you make it known that you need to improve your communication skills, it will help the situation.Another important idea to remember is that you need to be well organized. You will realize that you will be better organized than when you first started with your career, because you will know exactly what you need to do. If you will not have the slightest idea on what you will need to do, you may end up wasting a lot of time for nothing.Yet another important thing to note is that you need to ask your supervisor f or feedback. If he or she gives you some comments or ideas, you will be able to take this in and use them in your own career. This way, you will have an idea of what your supervisors think about your performance.It is also a good idea to send a thank you letter to your supervisors. You will realize that they will appreciate this gesture. In this way, you will be able to take your accomplishments and use them in your future career, making it easier for you to reach the career goals that you want.These are just some of the suggestions that you can take from these workshops. With the use of these ideas, you will be able to craft the proper communication techniques for your next career.