The 4 Steps to Being Job Ready

The 4 Steps to Being Job Ready One of the greatest challenges in your career is being job ready. With the changing landscape of recruitment, impacts of technology and a very volatile labour market, job readiness is something that can be the difference between job search outcomes and job search doldrums. Job readiness covers a lot of factors, for many individuals they see job readiness as knowing your resume and online profiles are up to date and being able to interview effectively. These however are only a small component of being job ready. Breaking it down further, job readiness to many recruiters and hiring managers is the difference between a mediocre candidate and a candidate ready to present for the job. Professionally, job readiness needs to include: 1) Understanding your job It really should be a given but it is alarming how many people actually do not have an understanding of the role they perform and why it is needed within various organisations. This means that they also do not understand what skills are required today or in the future to be able to continue to effectively perform your role. Job readiness here can be achieved by staying up to date with systems, knowing the technical and practical side of your role and understanding where this positions sits within organisations. 2) Understanding the labour market This is another key area that people need to be truly job ready. By understanding the labour market and labour market trends you will be able to understand the demands on your role in the industry and also what is required for the role in the future. This will assist in responding to questions such as “Where would you like to be in 3 years time” by understanding where your role needs to be in 3 years time. 3) Skills and development Being able to articulate your skills, your gaps and areas of development will also help in not only ensuring you are job ready but that you can demonstrate this. One thing that is really frustrating is that individuals are not able to demonstrate during an interview that they have the skills required to immediately transition in to a role, or talk to the gaps and how they will be able to address these gaps to still be able to meet the demands of the role. 4) Presentation and communication Fundamental to your success at the interview, being able to present in a way that reflects your understanding of the role, your level of professionalism and your personal etiquette assists in demonstrating you are job ready. Building from this, being able to communicate confidently, articulately and with clarity is also important for job readiness. Practice the interview skills and start to develop yourself from there. There is a great deal more to job readiness than the above but these are key issues that are now being seen as the forgotten needs. For all individuals, whilst you are employed you need to remain employable, whilst you are not employed you need to demonstrate employability and whilst you are planning future employment you need to develop new levels of employability. Lifelong learning, career development and personal leadership are imperative to your success; and taking ownership of your own career is key to achieving this. Image: Shutterstock

A Project Management Model for Handling Change

A Project Management Model for Handling Change Leading organizational change and pulling it off smoothly and successfully is a formidable challenge. Besides the problem of disruption to the status quo processes embedded in an organization’s culture, people are naturally resistant to change. Although many employees welcome change and the new opportunities it offers, others do not handle it well. Ancient parts of the human brain are wired to regard change as a possible source of risk and discomfort, and change is a leading cause of human stress. Therefore, some people seek to avoid change, even if that means continuing to struggle with outdated systems and tools. Strategic Change Management Successful change leaders anticipate resistance, identify potential roadblocks, and work to resolve employees’ issues with the proposed changes. These leaders look for an organized, methodical approach to creating change. Among the many theories regarding effective approaches to accomplishing change with minimum disruption and maximum efficiency, one that stands out is the 8-Step Change Model developed by Harvard professor Dr. John Kotter. Dr. Kotter is a thought leader on change management, and the 8-Step Model was first introduced in his 1995 book Leading Change. His model was formulated over decades spent observing executives overseeing major change programs in their enterprises. The 8-Step Model has been adopted by organizations around the world as the go-to strategy for effective change management. Lead Trouble-Free Change Via Project Management Processes An attractive aspect of Kotter’s model is its organization into discrete, sequential steps. Experienced project planners will immediately see that change is posed as having the characteristics of a project, and has been broken down into a series of interdependent tasks. This is a practical approach to accomplishing the work at hand, and it also provides clear organization and a “bite-sized chunk” feel that is reassuring to change resisters. Naturally, the same project and resource management software tools that are so useful in any project work can be used to plan and monitor change processes. Leaders can employ task breakdowns, planning boards, Gantt charting, calendar system integrations, and other typical project and team management utilities to carry out each step in Kotter’s model. The precision scheduling, monitoring, and analytic capabilities of project planning software empower leaders to minimize disruption to work processes and productivity. The final deliverable is a successfully completed change process. Change is not such a daunting proposition from both leaders’ and employees’ viewpoints when it is presented and carried out as simply another project.

How To Answer What Areas Need Improvement (Interview Question) - Career Sidekick

How To Answer What Areas Need Improvement (Interview Question) - Career Sidekick How To Answer What Areas Need Improvement? (Interview Question) Interview Questions and Answers / https://www.edenscott.com/blog Interviewers are asking this more and more:What do you need to improve? or What areas need improvement?Its similar to whats your greatest weakness? but a little more open-ended (which means you can really get into trouble if you dont know how to answer it).Fortunately, Im going to walk you through exactly how to answer questions about what you need to improve, and mistakes to avoid when giving your answer.Lets get startedHow To Answer Interview Questions About What You Need To ImproveHeres how to answer what areas need improvement? when employers ask in your interview.First dont give some cheesy answer like well, I work too hard sometimes, so I need to learn how to take breaks and not work so much.No hiring manager will be impressed with that. When hiring managers ask interview questions about areas of improvement, they want to really hear something legitimate that youd like to improve and feel you could improve upon.Also, dont name anything thats vita l to the job. For example, if this is a supervisor position, dont say you need to improve your communication skills or get better at delegating tasksThose are vital pieces of a supervisors role, and the hiring manager is going to have serious concerns about your ability to lead if you give that type of answer when they ask about your areas for improvement.Thats essential stuff for being a good supervisor and theyre less likely to hire you if you say youre lacking in those areas!So when you answer, what skills do you need to improve?, pick a real area youd like to get better at, but make sure its not something essential to the job.You can choose something youre already pretty good at, but still trying to improve even more. You can choose something that you learned a long time ago but havent used in recent jobs very much.You can name something not directly related to your work but something youre passionate about learning. For example, maybe youre an Accountant but someday youd like t o be a Team Leader, so youd like opportunities to improve your leadership. You could suggest that youd like to lead a meeting or project to begin, just to build out that skill-set over the long term.Lets look at some example answers and this will start to make more senseIll put that Accountant example above as the first example.Example Answers For What Do You Need To Improve?:Now that we looked at the big mistakes to avoid when sharing areas for improvement in the interview, and how you SHOULD answer, lets look at some word-for-word sample answers to make sure youre ready.Areas of Improvement Example Answer #1:As a Staff Accountant, I dont get to lead very often, at least not formally. In the long-run, Id love to start taking on more responsibilities as a leader. This could be leading meetings or projects, mentoring or training newer team members, and other tasks like that. I enjoy the hands-on accounting work and thats still what I want to be doing, which is why I applied for this position. However, I havent had much chance to lead yet in my career, so Id say thats an area for improvement or something I could get better at.In this example, youre naming something specific you could get better at, but making sure not to name something thats vital to the day-to-day work in this job. Youre also showing that youre ambitious and motivated to learn more in your career, which is always a good thing.Just make sure you always sound like youre interested in doing the day-to-day work, or core work, that the job involves. If not, you could cost yourself the job offer!Thats why Im saying, I enjoy the hands-on accounting work and thats still what I want to be doing, in the example answer above.Areas of Improvement Example Answer #2:Im working on improving my skills with some project management and organizational tools and technologies right now like ___ and ___. As I take on more and more management in my career, Ive realized if I become an expert in project management so ftware, it will make me and my team even more productive. So Im trying to go from good to great in these areas.In this example, youre naming something youre already pretty good at, but want to improve even more.Note that sometimes employers switch things up and ask a more direct interview question like, how can you improve your work performance?This example answer above works great for that question, too. So if they ever ask for something directly related to your core job, that you still need to improve, follow this formulaPick something youre already good at, but want to become an EXPERT in.Now lets look at one more example of how to answer, what areas need improvement?Areas for Improvement Example Answer #3:In my last job, I spoke with a lot of customers on the phone, and became quite good at it. However, a few other people on my team were responsible for most of the emailing when it came to customer service, so Im a bit rusty in this area. I think email communication is really v ital in customer service, because one or two wrong words can lead to the message being interpreted incorrectly. So Ive been working on reviewing and brushing up on some of the best methods for making sure customers are satisfied with email communications.This sample answer is an example of naming a real weakness or something you honestly feel needs improvement which is another perfectly fine way to answer this interview question.Weve now looked at three example answers, each taking a slightly different approach:Naming something that isnt vital to your day-to-day jobChoosing something that youre already very good at but still want to improveNaming an area for improvement thats a real weaknessNow before we wrap up this article, theres one final step you should put in ANY answer you giveTalk About HOW Youre Fixing These Areas of ImprovementWhatever skill or weakness you say youre trying to improve and whatever answer formula you follow above you should talk about what youre working on right now to improve in this area.I cant stress this enough. Theres such a big difference between saying you need to improve something in the future, and saying youre doing it already.The interviewer is going to be a lot more excited if you show youre taking initiative to improve your skill set right now even before you begin their job!You never want to sound like youre waiting for a company to hire you before you start addressing a weakness! Thats not going to get them excited about hiring you. In fact, thats a mistake thatll cost you many job offers.So to conclude, name a real area of improvement, but make sure it wont create doubt about your ability to do the job. Then, wrap up by talking about what actions youre taking to improve this weakness, and how you plan on addressing it.As a final recap, here are the ALL steps we covered in this articleHow To Answer “What Areas Need Improvement?” â€" Quick InstructionsChoose one specific area that you’re actively working on improvi ngIf you’re going to mention being weak in a certain area, make sure that you do not say anything that’s vital or crucial to the job you’re interviewing forRather than naming a weakness, consider naming something you’re already average or okay at, but wish to become much betterSound humble, “coachable,” and willing to learn new things and take on new challenges when answeringUse your answer to show employers that you’re self-motivated and actively looking for ways to improve your skills and value in your careerGive a genuine answer and never a generic answer like, “well, sometimes I work too hard, so I need to learn to take more breaks”Practice your answer at home! Nothing comes out the first time, so before you go on an interview, rehearse what you plan on saying when the interviewer asks, “what’s something you need to improve on?”UPDATE:Ifyou have interviews coming up and don’t want to leave anything to chance, I’ve created anew guide where you can copy my exactstep-by-step method for getting job offers. You canget more details here.

Networking Internally For Your Next Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Networking Internally For Your Next Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career For those of you job hunting within an organization, you may underestimate the role of networking internally. This important and essential activity is how you can build your personal brand within your current organization, and land a new career at the same time. You have the upper hand Networking internally is the fastest and easiest way for you to get a new job. As a hiring manager at a company with over 200,000 employees, I’m partial to internal candidates for many reasons. First and foremost, as an internal candidate, you’re already familiar with the company’s culture, environment and systems. The reality is that you already have the upper hand in the hiring process. LinkedIn is your friend Socialize your way to your next career step using the best social network for professionals, LinkedIn. With over 100 million professional members across the globe, it’s likely your company and the hiring manager of your ideal position, is on LinkedIn. Go ahead and send a request to connect, there’s a 50/50 chance they will accept it. The chances go up if you put in a few lines with your request such as: “Hello X, I’ve been with XYZ company for ___ years and I’m interested in learning more about your department. Do you have time to connect for 15 mins. next week?” Work your internal connections At least once each week, someone I meet will recommend an internal candidate for my team. I keep a list of these people so when I have a new opening I can send their names to my team’s recruiter. Are they highly qualified social media professionals? Possibly. Are they top talent? More than likely. When someone is willing to put their name behind another individual that says something about the candidate’s character, work ethic and professional capabilities. For me, it says it’s worth me time to at least interview that candidate. If you want to change careers internally, start working your internal network to ensure your personal brand extends far and wide within your entire organization. Author: Adriana Llames is the Division Vice President, Social Media Marketing for Sears Holdings and the acclaimed author of “Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”. Llames led a boutique career coaching services firm for over a decade and has been featured on ABC, CNNMoney, CBS News and Yahoo! For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

6 Low-Cost Schools to Kickstart Your Career CareerMetis.com

6 Low-Cost Schools to Kickstart Your Careerâ€" CareerMetis.com For some people, kickstarting a careergoes hand in hand with earning a degree at an expensive school and using your hard-earned paycheck to pay for the debt you racked up to go to those schools. However, while that may be the case for some folks, it’s not the case for everyone.In fact, there are plenty of low-cost schools out there you can attend that will let you kickstart your career and not have mounds of debt to pay off when you’re done.evalIf you need to find affordable education to make your dreams come true, then these six low-cost schools are a great option for you to consider.1) Saint James School of MedicineevalIf you have any interest in the medical field, Saint James School of Medicine is a great option to consider. This school is an accredited Caribbean school that allows you to learn all you need to know to jumpstart your career in medicine, whether that includes basic sciences or clinical sciences.In addition to being affordable and getting small classroom, hands-o n learning, you also get to enjoy school in the Caribbean, which means studying beachside and taking in some unique culture and learning experiences along the way. Be sure to check out Saint James School of Medicinefor more information if this sounds like something you want to pursue.2) Ashford UniversityIf you’re looking for an online college that’s affordable, then Ashford Universityis a great choice to consider. With more than 80 online degrees available, learners can gain the skills needed for a variety of career choices, such as accounting, education, and even healthcare.In addition to personalized online classrooms, students at Ashford University will also have access to tutoring, writing assistants, and a flexible schedule that makes it perfect for anyone3) Chadron State CollegeIf you’d still like to get the brick and mortar college experience without racking up a ton of debt, then you should consider Chadron State Collegein Nebraska. What makes this education affordabl e is that even if you don’t currently live in Nebraska, you’ll only pay $1 more per year than those who do live in state.In fact, the average room and board package is under $6,000 per year, which is way cheaper than what you’d find at most other schools.evalPlus, you’ll have access to 70 majors, class sizes that are typically less than 20 students, and even online learning programs to fit your schedule.4) Southern University at New OrleansThere’s a lot of history in New Orleans, and Southern University at New Orleansoffers your insight into this history while proving affordable tuition to kickstart your career.Founded in the 1950s as a predominantly African American college, this university delivers a full-fledged education to students for less than $18,000 per year. In addition to on-campus learning, you also have access to online education and you can choose from 25 different majors as well as earn your master’s degree.eval5) California State University-FullertonIt ma y seem like an oxymoron to folks hearing that a California school is one of the most affordable, but California State University-Fullertonmakes the list.evalLocated in Southern California, students can choose to attend one of nine campuses or enroll in the online learning program.And between undergraduate and graduate programs, there are more than 100 to choose from, including getting your doctorate in nursing.If you’re looking for a school in Southern California that will cost you less than $10,000 per year, then you should put California State University-Fullerton on your list.6) The University of AucklandFor those students who really want to gather experience and education outside of the United States, consider enrolling at the University of Auckland.Located in New Zealand, this university will cost you less than $20,000 per year to get an education, and you’ll be able to do so while enjoying new cultures and new experiences. For those students who are interested in science a nd arts, this is the school to consider, as it offers degrees in arts, archaeology, humanities, and more.When it comes to entrusting yourself to gain an education in a culture that is unlike yours, then the University of Auckland in New Zealand is a commendable choice.When it comes to kickstarting your career, you don’t need to rack up debt to make it happen.By attending any of the colleges and universities found on this list, you’ll find the ability to gain an education needed to create a career you’re proud of without any unnecessary debt associated with it.

Summary Sunday Stay Updated On Career Trends

Summary Sunday Stay Updated On Career Trends Career trends impact how you look for a new job. Are you up-to-date? The strategies you use to find jobs will change and so will the skills and knowledge you need. If you arent learning new things and keeping up with changes, youll have a difficult time competing for your next job. This weeks roundup features tips and strategies for job search, evaluating culture, tips for the older job seeker, interesting data on future jobs and growing/declining occupations. JOB SEARCH What to Do When Your Job Search Efforts Don’t Work by Mark A. Dyson | The Voice of Job Seekers Read the highlights and listen to Mark and I talk about why your job search isnt working and what you can do to turn it around! Marks podcast is one worth subscribing to if youre in a job search! How To Tell If This Company Suits Me by JT ODonnell | Glassdoor How To Create Your Own Job Coach Boaz | 40 Plus Career Guru Overcome the age bias and approach your job search this way! Its more empowering too! NETWORKING The Right (and Wrong) Way to Network by Dorie Clark | Harvard Business Review When you make networking transactional.   i.e., “networking with the goal of advancement” â€"  often makes participants feel so bad about themselves, they feel “dirty.” writes Dorie Clark. Instead, use these four guidelines to make it feel less dirty! CAREER Finding Inspiration at Work: How to Get Your Mojo Back by   Daphne Stanford | TalentCulture Do you know what inspires you at work? If you havent pondered this question in awhile or you are feeling blah about your job, then youll benefit from reading this! CAREER TRENDS Growth/Decline of US Occupations by 2030 Tweet by AvidCareerist | Data from McKinsey Growth/decline of US occupations by 2030. @McKinsey pic.twitter.com/V4JdzVbKGM â€" Donna Svei, Resumes (@AvidCareerist) December 12, 2017 5 Stats About the Future of Jobs Drawn From 2017 LinkedIn Data by Adam Rowe | TechCo This is an eye-opening summary of LinkedIns    2017 U.S. Emerging Jobs Report. How many of these jobs have you heard of?

Job Overview Guide

Job Overview GuideResume overview is a form of resume that shows all the relevant information of the applicant. This is very important as the employer will have to go through and read through all these information in order to be able to know the applicant in question. Thus, it is important to put emphasis on the important information like the name, age, education, employment history, skills and so on.The first step in preparing a resume overview is selecting the appropriate format of writing. In resume overview, you can include your personal and professional information as well as any additional information about yourself that would be beneficial for the employer. Since the resume overview form is a set document, it is recommended that you use a template to start with. There are many templates available on the internet which you can use to get an idea of how your summary will look like.There are several different formats which high school students are advised to create. While some pe ople may prefer to write a one page resume, there are other who would like to create a two or three page format. They can always start with a one page resume and add additional documents later as per their requirements.If you are a high school student, make sure you have all your important details covered. This includes the person's name, home address, phone number, contact number, profile picture, academic achievement, and so on.Employment History: An important part of resume overview is to note the employment history of the person. You can either put this in chronological order or the reverse way. It is important to mention the date of hiring, position he or she has held, location of employment, when job duties started, number of years he or she has been employed, reason for quitting, and so on.Cover Letter: For resume overview, you need to highlight your qualification in terms of abilities and qualities that would be useful to the employer. The cover letter should highlight your strengths and skills in terms of academic achievements, skills and so on. Some of the other sections include Education, Years of Education, Educational Qualifications, Attendance Records, Criminal Records, and so on.Summary of the Recruitment Process: For resume overview, you need to discuss in detail the entire recruitment process, starting from the time you were being sent the job advertisement to the date you found out about the job. You can write this as a short personal statement.When you are preparing to resume overview, you need to take time and read as much as you can. This will give you a better understanding of what you should include and what you should leave out. After completing the form, your summary will be ready for submission.