An Executive On How To Start A Job Search

An Executive On How To Start A Job Search Yesterday I had the pleasure of breaking bread with some very cool people. One of them, Luis, was in a job search when I met him about 18 months ago. He made such an impression on me (and my dad, who was with me then, and who was with us yesterday for lunch) that Ive wanted to keep in touch. Luis has landed a VP role at a very cool company, an industry leader in his space. I asked him what he would do if he went back to his office and got the inevitable, dreaded pink slip. I asked him to respond based on what he knew, and what he recently went through (his last job search was not quick). I loved his response and wanted to share it with you: What are the 4 things I would do in order to search for my next opportunity? Before I answer your question, let me tell you I am a person that likes efficiency in everything and that greatly influences the picks that follow. Let me also take care of the logistics because every situation is unique and describe a hypothetical scenario where there are no personal circumstances that need to be addressed such as ones originating from a non-friendly departure. Emotional stability is important to obtain good focus and make good, sound, strategic decisions, which will greatly influence your success and length of job search. Number ONE for me is to evaluate my financial situation. Not knowing how long the search will take is a fact not to be taken lightly. Analyzing every expense and categorizing as necessary or not can dictate the urgency of the search. Number TWO is to find out about every networking group close to you. Statistics advertised by professionals in this field tell you “Networking” is the best source for finding your next job. I will also include in this item becoming a member of these groups and participating in their events, projects and meetings so you can “spread the word” and pitch your 30 second commercial often. Number THREE is to network with as many “C” level executives (CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CIOs, etc) and listen to this “ASKING” them for leads, connections and introductions to decision makers at your “Target” companies. This includes phone calls, lunches, coffee breaks, informational interviews, emails, letters, thank you notes, sporting events, at clubs, churches, PTO meetings, grocery store trips, dry cleaning stores, and every other normal activity that places you in contact with people. Number FOUR is to help as many people as possible, hopefully with activities that show off your expertise. If you are an IT guy, build PowerPoint presentations that give tutorials or teach people how to solve everyday challenges people around you have. This will keep you sharp and current in your field as well as creating good will that could potentially come back to you in the way of a lead for the next interview and possibly a job. Here is an opportunity to appoint yourself as the expert in your field. Again, every situation is different and unique, so the order may change for the next person (especially if they are new to job search), and I would recommend doing a self evaluation to find out strengths and concentrate on the search in areas more likely to get results. It was really cool to get this perspective from a job search alumnus. Luis was laid off from a 20-year career at a great, stable company, and has since landed a VP role. He also volunteers each Monday at a job ministry (in Katy, Texas), and is extremely networked. Proof? As we were walking out of the restaurant he stopped to say hi to a table full of his friends I love to see people well-networked enough that they see friends almost everywhere they go! Thanks for the tips Luis! An Executive On How To Start A Job Search Yesterday I had the pleasure of breaking bread with some very cool people. One of them, Luis, was in a job search when I met him about 18 months ago. He made such an impression on me (and my dad, who was with me then, and who was with us yesterday for lunch) that Ive wanted to keep in touch. Luis has landed a VP role at a very cool company, an industry leader in his space. I asked him what he would do if he went back to his office and got the inevitable, dreaded pink slip. I asked him to respond based on what he knew, and what he recently went through (his last job search was not quick). I loved his response and wanted to share it with you: What are the 4 things I would do in order to search for my next opportunity? Before I answer your question, let me tell you I am a person that likes efficiency in everything and that greatly influences the picks that follow. Let me also take care of the logistics because every situation is unique and describe a hypothetical scenario where there are no personal circumstances that need to be addressed such as ones originating from a non-friendly departure. Emotional stability is important to obtain good focus and make good, sound, strategic decisions, which will greatly influence your success and length of job search. Number ONE for me is to evaluate my financial situation. Not knowing how long the search will take is a fact not to be taken lightly. Analyzing every expense and categorizing as necessary or not can dictate the urgency of the search. Number TWO is to find out about every networking group close to you. Statistics advertised by professionals in this field tell you “Networking” is the best source for finding your next job. I will also include in this item becoming a member of these groups and participating in their events, projects and meetings so you can “spread the word” and pitch your 30 second commercial often. Number THREE is to network with as many “C” level executives (CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CIOs, etc) and listen to this “ASKING” them for leads, connections and introductions to decision makers at your “Target” companies. This includes phone calls, lunches, coffee breaks, informational interviews, emails, letters, thank you notes, sporting events, at clubs, churches, PTO meetings, grocery store trips, dry cleaning stores, and every other normal activity that places you in contact with people. Number FOUR is to help as many people as possible, hopefully with activities that show off your expertise. If you are an IT guy, build PowerPoint presentations that give tutorials or teach people how to solve everyday challenges people around you have. This will keep you sharp and current in your field as well as creating good will that could potentially come back to you in the way of a lead for the next interview and possibly a job. Here is an opportunity to appoint yourself as the expert in your field. Again, every situation is different and unique, so the order may change for the next person (especially if they are new to job search), and I would recommend doing a self evaluation to find out strengths and concentrate on the search in areas more likely to get results. It was really cool to get this perspective from a job search alumnus. Luis was laid off from a 20-year career at a great, stable company, and has since landed a VP role. He also volunteers each Monday at a job ministry (in Katy, Texas), and is extremely networked. Proof? As we were walking out of the restaurant he stopped to say hi to a table full of his friends I love to see people well-networked enough that they see friends almost everywhere they go! Thanks for the tips Luis!

Can a Resume Writing Business Make the Process of Writing a Resume Easy?

Can a Resume Writing Business Make the Process of Writing a Resume Easy?Have you been looking for information on how much can a resume writing business make using automated software? The truth is that it makes everything easier and there are many things that can be automated, including creating a resume and cover letter.If you have been getting nervous about an upcoming job interview then you need to get some facts on how this all works. There are plenty of people that get nervous about these interviews because they do not know what to expect or what the interviewers are thinking.That is why you don't fret, there is a solution for you. There are many companies that offer this service to people and if you know what to look for you can get the right one.Resume writing is a time consuming job that requires knowledge of the field and certain skills that will help in the creation of a great resume. That is why people get nervous because they do not know what to expect. A good resume writi ng company can help them get through the process and create the resume they need.There are many types of resumes and all of them are designed to fit the employers needs. They also want to make sure that the resume looks professional and that it portrays the qualifications they are looking for. This means that there is no room for mistakes that could affect the future career of the applicant.The resume they are going to use is very important because it represents the entirety of the entire job interview. It includes information on what the applicant does, what education they have, what jobs they have held, what certifications they have, if any, and if they have experience that would be useful for the job they are applying for.Many people think that they just need to sit down and write their resume, but that is not true. There are many ways that these companies help people get through the interview process. That is why they are able to provide so much better results than the average p erson that does it themselves.In order to make sure that you are able to achieve these things then you need to find the right resume writing company. You will need to look at the testimonials that are listed and see what their success rate is. The faster that you are able to find the right one the sooner you will be able to move forward with your career.

Buying Your First Home IS Really Possible!

Buying Your First Home IS Really Possible! Todays guest post is by Eileen McAuslan, a friend of mine who is a Realtor here in Chicago. Eileen takes her career way beyond just showing properties. She explains the math, money, and market trends behind making that huge and scary home purchase, which is part of why I think she is fabulous! In this post, Eileen gives hopes to those of us who would like to buy our first home. By, Eileen McAuslan In addition to your resolution to get fit eat healthier, if you dont own your own home, why not add save for a down payment to your list of resolutions? Once you hear what I have to say, it might be a resolution that you actually keep! A smart, sexy, savvy career girl should also know that there are many benefits to buying a home this year: The IRS is offering up to a $7500 refundable tax credit for first time home buyers. You repay this as an interest-free loan over the course of 15 years and dont have to repay it if you dont sell the home for a profit! This is only good for home purchases through July 2009, though, so time is ticking! Click here for more info on this program. If you qualify for an FHA loan, you only need a 3.5% down payment and interest rates are STILL LOW. In many areas, median home prices are hovering around 2002 prices. 2002! Thats like zapping back in time to buy your home! Prices have fallen but the supply is still out there! Youll have plenty of places to look at and you can take your pick of the litter! Now, I know, the big question on your mind is how much is it going to cost me monthly when I own a home? Isnt it cheaper to rent? Here is my answer based on the Lakeview area of Chicago the area I am most familiar with but also a more expensive area than most non-metropolitan areas. Here, you can buy a 1 bedroom condo for $200,000 or less. Lets say you get a 30 year fixed FHA loan at 6% on a $175,000 condo (you get a slightly higher interest rate for a FHA loan which allows for a lower down payment). You put down 3.5% or $6,125. The monthly mortgage payment on your new condo including PMI will be roughly $1000. Now, for the extras: The monthly assessments are $150 and cover exterior maintenance, water/waste, lawn care, and common insurance. Property taxes will be about $2500 this year. Condo insurance will be about $300 a year. All of this will cost you under $1500/month! For someone outside of Chicago, that might sound pricey, but keep in mind that 1BR condos easily rent for $1500 or more in this area. And dont forget, when you are paying down a mortgage, you are building equity which you are definitely NOT doing when you rent. This is just the beginning of all of the information there is to know about buying a home attend my home buyer info session or contact me for more! Tues Jan 27 at 6pm 1840 N Clark St. in Chicago RSVP to the info session or contact me anytime at [emailprotected] Happy Househunting! Eileen McAuslan is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Chicago and the author of the blog www.chiBLOGoillinois.blogspot.com. Check out her property listings at www.homehuntchicago.com.

Infographic Ways to Pay for a Degree!

Infographic Ways to Pay for a Degree! With the going rate for a degree and living expense set to increase to more than £30,000 per university course, its no surprise that students find themselves searching for new and creative ways of funding a degree. Postgrad.com came up with this infographic, looking at some creative ways, albeit with a bit of laugh. Infographic powered by Postgrad Solutions 303

Online Professional Resume Writing Services Kolkata

Online Professional Resume Writing Services KolkataAre you looking for Online Professional Resume Writing Services Kolkata? Today there are many online companies that offer their services to the people who are looking for professional resume writing. These services are designed to make your job easier. You should try and select a company that can provide you with the most professional services and one that also offer you reasonable rates.There are lots of companies that offer their services to make professional resume writing and help you in writing your resume's. All these companies have their own set of pros and cons. So, before going in for hiring the company you must do some detailed research. Select a company that is affordable as well as the best. This will save you from any kind of doubt.You should know the basics of the services provided by the online company that you have selected. A good company should be able to offer you quality services without much effort on your part. The resume writing services that you hire should be able to tackle the most difficult situations.If you do not know what exactly to write on your professional resume then you can ask the professional resume writing services to advice you. They will help you in coming up with a professional and better resume. Before you hire an online company you must keep the following things in mind. A well-written resume is considered as the main element in the selection of a good company.It is not that all the companies out there offer the same services. There are companies that can give you services at cheaper rates than others. You can hire the cheapest among them as well as the best one.The importance of quality service cannot be underestimated. You should also consider the past records of the company. While hiring the company you should not focus only on the cost of the services. You should also find out whether the company has been in the business for a long time or whether they are just sta rting.If the company is not established in the business world then the experience that it has can make a huge difference. The way the company is handling the job also counts a lot. If the company has not handled the job properly before then you should leave it behind. If the company is offering you the best service then the previous history can be discounted.There are many factors that you should take into consideration before you hire an online company. Make sure that you hire a company that will be able to handle your job.

5 resources anybody can use to improve their writing skills

5 resources anybody can use to improve their writing skills This post was written by an external contributor. Here, Emma Yeomans lists a whole bunch of useful and fun resources to improve your writing skills. There are few jobs which don’t require written communication. Unless you dream of being a dog-whisperer, conjuror or interpretive dance artist, you’re almost certainly going to be writing reports, cover letters, copy or even just a killer CV. But whatever it is you’re writing, that blank page is intimidating. Here are five great resources to turn you into a better writer and impress whoever is reading it, whether that’s an employer, your blog audience or even just your mum. Diagnose your writing’s problems with Steve Padilla When Steve Padilla, writing coach at the Los Angeles Times, gave a workshop entitled Writing Diagnostics, he had no idea that 10 years later the lone recording of it would still be in demand. Now a writing podcast called Typecast has reproduced his workshop in full. Padilla is a journalist, and so are his audience, but it doesn’t really matter what they do. Diagnosing your writing’s problems is one of the best skills you can develop regardless of your industry or age. So next time someone tells you that your cover letter “needs to be snappier” or “just doesn’t work”, head here. Tweak your grammar with The Yuniversity There’s only one thing worse than hitting send on an important email and spotting a typo: sending what you think is a perfect email, when actually an error is glaringly obvious to your recipient. And while spellcheckers and grammar tools are helpful, there are things they frequently miss â€" the dangling modifier is an infamous example. If you have no idea what that example is, or why it was preceded by an em-dash rather than a semi-colon, then have no fear. The team behind The Yuniversity have been putting together simple, gif-filled guides to get you past your fear of fewer and less, so your writing can be up there with the professionals. Cut out ambiguity with George Orwell One of the first pieces of advice I ever received was that there is no such thing as writer’s block; there’s only a lack of research. Without research, you’re finding words for a meaning you don’t yet know. I felt like that when I wrote my first cover letter. Not quite knowing what should go in it, I was groping for words to express an idea I hadn’t thought out. In this famous 1946 essay, George Orwell tackled that vagueness head on. Who better to learn from than one of Britain’s greatest wordsmiths? Widen your vocabulary with Visuwords Anyone who has trawled through a thesaurus in a last-ditch attempt to pep up an essay will know the tedium. There are only so many word-lists you can stare at before it all loses its meaning and you want to chuck it all away. What if I told you that your thesaurus could be animated? That the words could dance about in front of you, along with their synonyms and definitions? Visuwords is mesmerizingly interactive, and arranges your words into clouds of similar ideas. It’s so engaging that this writer once nearly missed a deadline because she was enjoying it too much. Break writing down into steps at the Poynter Institute Can’t get started? Want to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) but just don’t know how? You’re not alone. Writing is often talked about as if it’s a gift or ability, and that the writer will just know how to write when the time comes. But that’s no help for those of us who have to write, whether we want to or not, or for those times when writing just doesn’t work. Try this model, which breaks down the process into seven steps. One step doesn’t sound so hard now, does it? Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Kimpton Seafire Resort Review - Cubicle Chic

Babymoon in the Cayman Islands // Kimpton Seafire Resort Review - Cubicle Chic Babymoon in the Cayman Islands // Kimpton Seafire Resort Review Pregnancy, Travel July 13, 2018 17 Comments  Since finding out about our pregnancy in February, we’ve been contemplating when and where to take our babymoon vacation. On the first day of July, we found out that the husband’s work schedule is going to have some changes in the upcoming months. This means the 4th of July weekend was looking like the prime time to take our babymoon vacation. After some intense research, we decided to take our babymoon in the Cayman Islands. So, within 2 days, we booked the plane tickets and hotel stay, and made it happen!Why We Chose The Cayman Islands for our BabymoonMy idea of a perfectly relaxing vacation, which is everything a babymoon should be, involves 1) nothing on the agenda 2) clear blue water white sands 3) short enough flights (pregnancy-related swelling is not fun). Pretty simple, right?? I thought it was. But ZIKA has to be wreaking havoc almost everywhere in and around the Americas that offer the kind of beach destinations we are int erested in. So, I found this website that lists out 10 Zika-free beach destinations  to visit in 2018  and went from there. We narrowed things down to Bermuda and the Cayman Islands and ultimately picked the Cayman Islands because it’s a shorter flight from San Diego. Here’s why we picked the  Cayman Islands for the babymoon, in summary:Short enough flights from San Diego, CA. We flew to Houston for 2.5 hours, and then from there flew to Grand Cayman for another 2.5 hours.The Cayman Islands has been declared Zika-free safe to travel to by the CDC in 2017.In the summer, the beach water in the Cayman Islands is consistently in the 80’s.The Grand Cayman is a relatively small place. From the airport to the Kimpton Seafire resort was a 15 minutes Taxi ride (that cost $32 USD), and most of the restaurants/other major hotels are located off of the Seven Mile Beach which in reality is about 6.5 miles. It doesn’t take much time to see things in and around the resort.Why We Chose the Kimpton Seafire Resort  I’ll be quite honest, it was through the blogs where I came across the    Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. Especially the VeganMos and Bonv0yage Bitches. We were looking for a hotel that 1) has the right aesthetics 2) is relatively new or recently renovated 3) has their own private beach. Ritz Carlton, which many travelers tend to compare the Seafire Resort to, was simply too expensive. So we picked the Kimpton Seafire knowing that 1) it was built and opened in 2016, 2) it’s located at the northernmost end of the Seven Mile Beach and away from the hustle-bustle of the cruise tourists, and 3) it’s super photogenic. Just look at their Instagram account.How Kimpton Seafire Resort Truly Wowed Us  With nothing on our agenda for this babymoon except relaxing and enjoying ourselves, Kimpton Seafire turned out to fit the bill more than 100%. We were given a room on the 10th floor, and apparently, the Seafire Resort building is the tallest building in all of Grand Cayman, so we had the view of the entire stretch of the Seven Mile Beach.   The resort staff and the service they provided was impeccable. For example, when we arrived in the Taxi, bellman Paul greeted us with our first names as we stepped out. We were truly impressed that they customized their service to this level. Another example was regarding asking for extra water for our room. I phoned them ahead of time to let them know I am 22 weeks pregnant and with the heat in the Caribbeans, need to hydrate very often. When we checked in to our room, there were   8 bottles of water already in the room. Two days into our stay, we called and asked for more water, and this time what showed up was a whole case of it â€" 24 bottles, LOL. Needless to say, we didn’t need to ask for more water for the remainder of the trip. View of the Seafire Resort property and private beach from the 10th floor What more can a pregnant lady ask for other than plenty of water to drink in a hotel stay? Upon arriving in the room, we were greeted by these delicious macaroons and fruits to replenish our hungry traveling bodies. Very comfy and spacious bed. The background lights up with ambient light if you choose the “relax” mode. Looking at the room from the outside. Beautiful and spacious bathroom space. Our biggest surprise was how big the balcony was! This is the other corner of the balcony. Obviously taken on a different day, hence the changed outfit [show_shopthepost_widget id=”3205736?]Activities During Our Kimpton Seafire Resort StayWith nothing on our agenda, here’s how we enjoyed the 4 days and 3 nights stay at Kimpton Seafire Resort, on our babymoon in the Cayman Islands: we took advantage of every corner of this beautiful resort!1st (half) day //  Took a breather and  checked out the facilities and the beach. We arrived at around 4:30 PM that day, and Seafire Resort’s main restaurant, Ave, doesn’t open until 6 PM. So, we kept busy by touring the resort and t he beach, and came back to Ave and enjoyed a meal of Mediterranean style seafood goodness. 2nd day //  This day was dedicated to beach activities. We slept in, got to breakfast (in Ave as well but this time it was their breakfast buffet) at around 10:30 AM, and got all the food we wanted by 11 because that was when they stopped serving food. We made the mistake of starting the day a bit late because by the time we got to the beach it was somewhat crowded (still much better than other hotel’s beach) and super hot already. Nevertheless, we frolicked by the beach, swam, snorkeled, and chilled by the beachside on lounge chairs and hammocks.Outfit:  Forever 21 Duster Kimono in MediumOutfit:  Forever 21 Duster Kimono in Medium; Target “A New Day” Sandals in size 9; also available in royal blueOutfit: ASOS maternity swimsuit size 8Outfit: Forever 21 Duster Kimono in Medium3rd day: Spa lounge day // I had the opportunity to enjoy a prenatal massage at the Seafire Resort on the morn ing of the third day. So we woke up around 9 AM, got ready for the spa (meaning I didn’t have to do anything to get ready) and showed up at the spa at 9:45 AM. I am a regular resort spa partaker but I haven’t done prenatal massages before. So to my surprise, the message bed they had for me had a little cushion on it, molded in the shape of a belly and 2 breasts. I could lay on the massage bed face down and not have to worry about squeezing the little one! How considerate is that! For lunch, we ate at Coccoloba, their beachside restaurant. It was great food and the variety that we get a lot in San Diego. It was refreshingly delicious!4th (half) day: Chilled by the pool/beach pack up // Time always flies by when you are having a great time. We couldn’t really believe it was already the 4th day. We woke up super early at around 7 AM to get down to the beach by 8:15 AM. As expected, there weren’t as many people. We chilled by the pool again and took in the gorgeous view of t he Caribbean ocean one last time. And then we packed up and got ready to get back to San Diego, feeling completely refueled and recharged!Outfit: ASOS Maternity Sundress in Medium; Dune rose gold sandals size 8Outfit: ASOS Maternity Sundress in Medium [show_shopthepost_widget id=”3205736?]  Disclaimer: A sincere Thank You to Seafire Resort for gifting me the prenatal massage session. It was truly wonderful and one of the best massages I’ve had.

Leaving Your Job Gracefully - Hallie Crawford

Leaving Your Job Gracefully Lets say youve decided its time to move on. It is more than just having a bad day at work; youve given it time, but the situation isnt improving. You and your boss dont see eye to eye, the culture of your organization grates against your values or the company is going downhill. Whatever the reason, even if youve gotten to a point where you are angry and extremely frustrated, you know you need to exit professionally so as not to burn a bridge. Take heart that although you dont want to look like a job hopper and have a spotty resume, currently the typical worker stays in their position for an average of 4.2 years according to the U.S. Department of Labor â€" not very long. So even if you do enjoy your job, you will probably face the issue of how to exit gracefully several times in your career. There are many ways you can make your last days at your job go as smoothly as possible. In Hallie’s US news article, you will find four tips to help you leave your job gracefully.