Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Announcing My New Book Collaboration Mom.B.A.!

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Announcing My New Book Collaboration Mom.B.A.! When I met Karyn Schoenbart in the summer of 2013, I never imagined that Id embark upon a partnership and friendship that would be one of the most defining of my life. Karyns the CEO of global market research firm The NPD Group, and today we publish the book weve been working on together for two years, Mom.B.A.: Essential Business Advice from One Generation to the Next. The book asks the reader to imagine life would be like if your mother was the CEO of a global company. She could provide the type advice that would propel a career and help them overcome the many stumbling blocks that keep people from fulfilling their full potential at work. Thats the idea behind Mom.B.A. Mom.B.A. is based on Karyns lessons to her daughter Danielle, now an established businesswoman in her own right. And in it, we include lessons on everything from effective first impressions and workplace politics to relationship development, skill building, and priority-setting. Alongside current employment research and trends, Karyn candidly shares funny anecdotes, triumphs, and missteps as she recalls her journey from an entry-level market research position to CEO. By the time you finish reading, youll feel like you know her as well as I do. Weve fortunately gotten a lot of support from senior leaders in the business community, and heres my personal favorite endorsement: Sometimes, matter-of-fact approaches to our biggest challenges are hiding in plain sight. Karyn Schoenbart blends the learnings of her life into a set of guidelines notable for their straight shooting, and credible because they ring with the truth of her own experience. Karyn s excellence as a business leader, as a mother, as a philanthropist, and as a friend are not separate achievements, but instead part of one storyline and approach that she has weaved together beautifully for us in this terrific book. --Oliver Libby, chair and co-founder, The Resolution Project. I thank you in advance for your support of my latest endeavor and hope you learn as much from Karyn as I have!

The Need For Professional Resume Writing Services in Austin

The Need For Professional Resume Writing Services in AustinIf you're looking for a Texas real estate firm, you'll want to get a good grasp on the services offered by professional resume writing services. You may be unsure of the best places to look, but don't worry about that at all. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the key details to consider when evaluating various options.In today's tight market, you'll be hard pressed to find people who are hiring - let alone ones that are ready to invest money in you. In fact, even if they were, they won't be prepared to pay you the going rate. If you need to add value to their work, then you'll have to do it yourself.Fortunately, there is an easy and free resume and cover letter service out there that can help you get the most bang for your buck. Even if you're just going to hand-write a few pieces of paper to prepare for your first interview, it won't be much of a stretch to use a resume writing service. After all, you already kno w you have a knack for writing and editing.Professional services provide everything you need. They'll get you ready for every situation, from a short call with the agent to a long interview with a buyer. They'll build your resume based on the information you provide, which allows them to move your resume along at a pace that's realistic for your skill level.When it comes to your skills, listings agents can use examples that you've used in the past. They can also use your own information and education to help craft your resume. In addition, you'll receive a handwritten summary to review and critique before sending it off. This allows your potential employer to make sure that you don't slip into your old habits when you're interviewing.This process does more than just save you time - it saves you the hassle of making multiple decisions. A professional can quickly figure out what information is required and direct you to the right sources. As long as you're consistent and continue to s how a genuine interest in the company you work for, you should be able to build a good relationship and secure a job interview.While it may seem like an extra expense to use one of these services, they're not necessarily. A well-written cover letter or resume has a lot of potential to help you land that dream job. Your presentation skills, the number of projects you've worked on, and your ability to sell yourself will all play into how well you land the job.While free services do exist, they're not nearly as efficient as professionals who will be working for the same company. In fact, a professional will be able to make sure that your resume looks and flows correctly. Ultimately, you'll be doing your part to keep your employer's reputation intact.

Five Keys to Better Memory

Five Keys to Better Memory Matthew Barrett, founder of Brain Trainers, is the speaker for our November 18 WorkSource Professional Network meeting.   Barrett has a Masters degree in Psychology and calls himself a “personal trainer for the brain.”   His lessons take cutting-edge cognitive neuroscience and turn the science into entertaining and accessible presentations for his audience.   We spent some time together recently talking about what “brain training” is and why it matters to jobseekers. We focused first on what Brain Training is, and how it can help.   Barrett says that there are five ways you can move information from your short-term “desktop” to your long-term “file cabinet.” Attach emotional Meaning to the information.   This is why we almost always remember “firsts” like kisses, but why we forget to pick up bread at the store. Organize the information.   Singing, setting to music and dancing or other rhythmic movement are ancient ways people have remembered important information.   It’s why we still use the same song to learn and recite the “A,B,C’s” 175 years   after Boston-based music publisher Charles Bradlee copyrighted it in 1835. Acronyms are part of the same process of remembering a series of concepts or names. Visualize something that helps you remember. (This is part of the “Ellie, Ellie, she’s so smelly” concept.) If you can imagine a picture or link that helps you connect a name, you will recall it more easily. “I met Mr. Robbins in the spring when the robins appeared.” “Mrs. Macintosh is the apple of her father’s eye.” Elaborate the concept to give yourself more ways to remember it.   Elaboration consists of converting the word or name into meaningful words that sound similar and then creating pictures to help you remember the object.   If the name of the online encyclopedia “Wikipedia” always eludes you, try this: “Wiki” reminds you of the term “Wiccans” or witches. Think of a group of Wiccans gathered around an encyclopedia and commit that image to memory.   The fifth method is Repetition.  Finding ways to repeat the name or fact will help move it from your “desktop” to storage.   Repetition acts as a holding pattern while links are found to retain the information permanently.   Repeating a name brings it back to the “desktop” for a while so you don’t lose it after that critical 12 â€" 20 second period that your brain can retain information in short-term memory. It’s no surprise that the five memory techniques form an acronym: MOVER.   Matthew Barrett believes in using what works. Next: Barriers to memory, and what to do about them.

Hey, look! I got a camera.

Hey, look! I got a camera. The farmer bought me a camera. Its a big deal for us because the farmer agreed to date me only if his photo would never show up on my blog. It means a lot to me that hes buying me a camera which, invariably, will mean more photos of him on the blog. But also, owning a camera allows me to make photos a big part of my blog; until now, I have only published photos here that other people took. I am excited to see where this leads, but first, I am excited to get better at taking photos  and creatively organizing them into photo books.   My first picture was the morning view from my favorite window in the house. The farmers first picture with the camera was of flowers that Lisa Carnochan sent me. Her blog, Amid Privilege, explores the costs and benefits of living in WASP culture , and the flowers are such a good representation of Lisas brand. Everyone who sees the flowers looks at the farmer and says, Oh, theyre beautiful, did you get them for Penelope for her birthday? And he says, No. He cant believe anyone would buy so many flowers at once when theyre just going to die. The morning the farmer gave me the camera, I took photos nonstop. When I put the camera down to make lunch, my son took pictures of himself. Then I took a picture of him. After that, he said, about fifty times, Take a picture of me doing this take a picture of me now! We do not have a video camera and we have never really used a camera regularly so my kids do not have that Generation Z sense that they are stars being photographed nonstop. As soon as my son got a whiff of that though, I said, I dont want to take your picture. Stop asking. (So, if youre wondering what its like to have a parent with Aspergers, I think you just got your answer.) The windchill that day was negative-thirty. But the farmer says you do farm chores no matter what. So the kids ran out to pick up the eggs (the yolks were frozen) and make sure the ducks had warm enough water because ducks need to dunk their heads once a day, so you cant allow the water to freeze. Then everyone came in for a cozy dinner, at 5pm. And bedtime at 7:30. No kidding. This is life on the farm.

Writing an Email to Go With Your Resume

Writing an Email to Go With Your ResumeWhy would you write an email to go with your resume? There are numerous reasons. Some reasons are good, some not so good.A good reason to write an email to go with your resume is to make your cover letter stand out and get noticed. This means that it has to be concise, to the point, and easy to read. Using the email for something else, is just not going to do the trick.Another reason to write an email to go with your resume is to try and have a positive impact on the person who is reviewing your resume. Having a happy note in the email can be just as effective as having it professionally done. Make sure that you offer up something positive that the person who reads your cover letter will love. Positive emails are more likely to be read and appreciated than negative ones.Email to go with your resume is also useful for sending a message to your employer, because it is not a 'telephone call.' It gives you a way to communicate in person, if you are currently employed or at the same company, and it is less awkward. That, of course, depends on what kind of workplace you are at. If you do not have face-to-face interaction with people, or you are not comfortable around them, then email is not going to be the best way to send a message.One last, but very important reason to write an email to go with your resume is that it is important to get the message across that you want or even need, to be working for a particular company. Many people do not realize that they need to be interviewed for a position before they are hired. However, if you send in a cover letter that is generic enough, and that contains not only your skills but also your experience, you may never get the opportunity to speak with someone at the company and see if the person has a job opening for you.A good way to create the right kind of message is to make sure that you write your email to go with your resume as a single document. That means that you must put your e ntire resume in one draft, because the system will look at your resume, and see if there is anything in it that is generic.All you have to do then is to include a separate section for your cover letter, and include what you have to say about yourself, your skills, and the company that you are applying for. This way, no matter how much you want to read and check the applicant tracking system to see if there is a job opening for you, you will not lose focus on the purpose of your email to go with your resume.As you can see, there are many good reasons to write an email to go with your resume. These reasons are not only applicable to jobs that require face-to-face interviews, but also to jobs that only have an online interview.

Benefits of Certifications for your IT Career

Benefits of Certifications for your IT Career Looking for a career in IT?You’re not alone. With a burgeoning skills gap and job market growth rates well above the national average, there has never been a better time to make your mark on the industry.That said, getting ahead in IT demands more than an interest in technology and a solid resume. The right certifications can help open career doors, increase your salary and provide a variety of career options moving forward.evalWant to go from entry level to management-grade? Start with the right IT training.Benefits of Technology CertificationsThe jury is out â€" are you better served with a four-year technology degree or jumping right into the certification classroom? Both offer benefits. For example, traditional programs provide generalized knowledge that increases your overall value and flexibility.Certifications, meanwhile, also provide significant advantages, such as:Purpose-Driven Knowledge â€" Hoping to land a particular job or solve a specific problem in your organization? The right IT certification gives you the skills needed to make the short list, or address unique issues.Limitless Opportunity â€" From generalized process certifications to data analytics, cloud computing and IT security, there are always new certifications in development to help improve your IT knowledge.Better Options â€" With the right certifications on your resume, you’re more valuable to your current organization and gain the skills to apply to other, more specialized positions.From Beginner to AdvancedNot sure what’s right for you? There are a wide variety of certifications available to meet your needs and skill levels, including:Beginners â€" Just starting out in IT? Consider the well-known CompTIA A+ certification, which teaches PC fundamentals or Microsoft Office Specialist Advanced â€" Ready to make the jump to executive track? You’ll need certifications such as Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) to get that corner office.IT careers are booming. Fr om entry level to expert, the right technology certifications make all the difference. IT Certification And Career Guide from TrainACE

The 4 Most Ridiculously Obvious Reasons You Are Not Employed Right Now - Part I of 2

The 4 Most Ridiculously Obvious Reasons You Are Not Employed Right Now - Part I of 2 The 4 Most Ridiculously Obvious Reasons You Are Not Employed Right Now Part I of 2 Part 1 of 2: In a recent LinkedIn Group discussion among Career Experts, we were all astonished that we feel compelled to repeat so many basics over and over again. “If only candidates followed half of our advice, they would be employed by now” said a well-known expert. Frankly, it feels as if the discipline of job search has taken a turn for the worse. It’s a new job search era, candidates. Not only are hiring managers using technology to screen, but there are fewer jobs and more applicants. The competition is fierce, hiring managers are feeling more pressure to hire the best, and those who are hunting to WIN a job are landing quicker. After 30+ years in sales and marketing positions in Fortune 500’s, I’ve interviewed, hired and coached thousands during their job search. Some common “crap” prevents a candidate’s success. Crap comes in two forms: mistakes and excuses and its everywhere. 4th Top Reason You Are Not Employed Right Now: Unwilling to describe and be passionate about what job you want. You’re not unable, but you are unwilling to pinpoint the type of position you are hunting for. What job do you want, candidates? What function (inside sales, outside sales, what kind of marketing, what kind of finance) What industries and why What city (and don’t say anywhere!) What level, based on your experience and their job description Here are some of the crap answers we hear to the most common question of “What Are You Looking For? Or, translation, “What are you passionate about doing?”: “I can do so many things, it’s hard to pick just one,” “I have a dual MBA emphasis in finance and marketing.” “What do you have and I’ll tell you if I’m interested.” “I want to be a general manager,” “I want to leverage my skills in collaboration and find a challenging role that lets me tackle challenging problems.” Or my favorite: “I’d like to create a position for a company, based on my unique skills.” Candidates, figure out what you want to do based on posted job descriptions, have a goal, write it out and share your next job goal with your network. Not your 10 year plan or your vision for greatness. Just the next step job goal. Also, a talented ex-Microsoft executive also asked candidates to share WHY you are passionate about that goal. Have a response to “why this industry, why this function, why this company?” when you are interviewing. 3rd Top Reason You are Not Employed Right Now: Not Making the Time Commitment Cut the crappy excuse of “I don’t have time.” Then your job search must not be that important to you, right? I’ve been there. A full-time-job, two kids under 3, want to get those work-outs in, errands to run, AND a job search. It takes so much time to research the companies, find the right connections who can help, write tailored cover letters, and track my applications so I follow up. Not to mention have meetings with people, make phone calls, then interview. Candidates, you use your calendar for your meetings, your parties, and you certainly used it in college to track your mid-term and final due dates. Why, then, for your job search, you’re using yellow sticky notes and squishing some search activities in during your free time? Make yourself job #1 and prioritize the work it takes to win a job. Come back to https://wwwDanaManciagli.com for the TOP TWO Most Ridiculously Obvious Reasons You Are Not Employed Right Now.

Careers for the super smart in 2010 -

Careers for the super smart in 2010 - Marty Nemko, career coach, author and radio host, offered an interesting resource for Mensa members and other super smart job seekers: a list of careers to consider for 2010.  Ã‚   Be sure to read all the details and resources that Marty shares about these careers at his post. He offers terrific advice and information about each selection to consider! This is his list: Researcher with expertise in two or more of these: physics, math, molecular biology, engineering, and/or computer science. Key specializations: †¢ energy †¢ genomics †¢ neurophysics †¢ diagnostic imaging †¢ pollution control Federal government manager (homeland security, energy, health carethe environment). Corporate executive specializing in global business development or managing global workforces. Finance specialist, especially with skills in raising funds globally. Terrorism expert Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist. Immigration expert. Optometrist. Genetic counselor. Health informatics specialist. Patient Advocate. Program Evaluator. Higher Education Administrator. Physical Therapist. Veterinarian. Media coach. Even the most brilliant job seekers can benefit from targeted, personalized advice! Dont forget that clear, concise, optimized job search materials AND a strong, well executed plan are key for job search success! I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?   If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans,  learn more about how I can help you! While youre at it, dont forget those social networks! Be sure to become a  fan of Keppie Careers on FacebookId be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since were on the subject of doing something newAre you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me  @keppie_careers. photo by Frank Bonilla