Sunday, May 31, 2020

What does money mean to you

What does money mean to you Ive had some money thoughts on my mind over the last few months and had to get them out. I remember a few years ago, when I was deep in my job search and starting to working on JibberJobber, but without any financial success and deep in worry about how/when the money would be enough to sustain my personal expenses, I had an experience. I was at my parents house, visiting for Christmas.  Right before our trip, our microwave had blown out. My good wife said it was no big deal, we could simply do without a microwave. I didnt think we could, and was on the lookout for a way to get a microwave. Understand, a replacement microwave was anywhere from a hundred bucks to a few hundred bucks. This amount of money doesnt seem like a big deal right now, especially for something as important as a microwave, but at the time, this was an insurmountable challenge. It was immensely stressful. My parents had an extra microwave, brand new, in their attic, and offered it to us. I remember the stress of trying to figure out how to get a box so we could get it on the plane Im embarrassed at how stressed I was when we were trying to find a good box (and get our kids and other luggage ready for a flight) but again, that microwave, with a value of probably $150 bucks, represented something much more than $150 bucks! Right now Im in a position where a $150 replacement is not a big deal.  (my fridge, on the other hand, which seems to be dying a slow death, is another story, as it will be about a $1,000 replacement). But then, $150 seemed to be more than I could emotionally/mentally handle. What is $150? Not much, now. But 5 years ago, it might have been $150,000 to me! Think about your financial problems today, right now. Are they insurmountable? For me, my perspective changed when I realized (later) that there was money out there that could be made it was just a matter of me finding out how to do it, and doing it. In a traditional job, I would have to budget based on my salary (we had been living paycheck to paycheck for too long), and plan accordingly. As someone empowered to make money on my own, I am not limited to the calendar. Another perspective-changing event happened when I read Atlas Shrugged. This is a a super-huge book that helped me rethink money, who can have it, why and how you can get it, and how to think about it. One of my favorite quotes on money was from Harrison Ford, in a magazine I cant remember, about his personal life.  When asked about money, or spending money, he said something like I dont think about money anymore. I havent thought about money for a long time. (sorry if misquoted) I read this quote when I was thinking about money 25 hours a day!  I couldnt stop thinking about money!  I wasnt thinking about boats and mansions and riches, I was thinking about paying this months bills! Thoughts of money had consumed me, because I didnt have any, and I was worried and scared. Life has changed, and in the last five years Ive changed the way I think about money. I remember my wife saying a few times that money is like  oxygen if you dont have it, you suddenly are consumed with thoughts about it!  If you have it, you usually dont think about it. How do you think about money?  Do you have an  abundance mentality? Do you have a  scarcity mentality? Do you believe you deserve to have at least the basic comforts (have bills get paid, etc.), and maybe even some of the finer things in life (like a vacation)? What does money mean to you? What does money mean to you Ive had some money thoughts on my mind over the last few months and had to get them out. I remember a few years ago, when I was deep in my job search and starting to working on JibberJobber, but without any financial success and deep in worry about how/when the money would be enough to sustain my personal expenses, I had an experience. I was at my parents house, visiting for Christmas.  Right before our trip, our microwave had blown out. My good wife said it was no big deal, we could simply do without a microwave. I didnt think we could, and was on the lookout for a way to get a microwave. Understand, a replacement microwave was anywhere from a hundred bucks to a few hundred bucks. This amount of money doesnt seem like a big deal right now, especially for something as important as a microwave, but at the time, this was an insurmountable challenge. It was immensely stressful. My parents had an extra microwave, brand new, in their attic, and offered it to us. I remember the stress of trying to figure out how to get a box so we could get it on the plane Im embarrassed at how stressed I was when we were trying to find a good box (and get our kids and other luggage ready for a flight) but again, that microwave, with a value of probably $150 bucks, represented something much more than $150 bucks! Right now Im in a position where a $150 replacement is not a big deal.  (my fridge, on the other hand, which seems to be dying a slow death, is another story, as it will be about a $1,000 replacement). But then, $150 seemed to be more than I could emotionally/mentally handle. What is $150? Not much, now. But 5 years ago, it might have been $150,000 to me! Think about your financial problems today, right now. Are they insurmountable? For me, my perspective changed when I realized (later) that there was money out there that could be made it was just a matter of me finding out how to do it, and doing it. In a traditional job, I would have to budget based on my salary (we had been living paycheck to paycheck for too long), and plan accordingly. As someone empowered to make money on my own, I am not limited to the calendar. Another perspective-changing event happened when I read Atlas Shrugged. This is a a super-huge book that helped me rethink money, who can have it, why and how you can get it, and how to think about it. One of my favorite quotes on money was from Harrison Ford, in a magazine I cant remember, about his personal life.  When asked about money, or spending money, he said something like I dont think about money anymore. I havent thought about money for a long time. (sorry if misquoted) I read this quote when I was thinking about money 25 hours a day!  I couldnt stop thinking about money!  I wasnt thinking about boats and mansions and riches, I was thinking about paying this months bills! Thoughts of money had consumed me, because I didnt have any, and I was worried and scared. Life has changed, and in the last five years Ive changed the way I think about money. I remember my wife saying a few times that money is like  oxygen if you dont have it, you suddenly are consumed with thoughts about it!  If you have it, you usually dont think about it. How do you think about money?  Do you have an  abundance mentality? Do you have a  scarcity mentality? Do you believe you deserve to have at least the basic comforts (have bills get paid, etc.), and maybe even some of the finer things in life (like a vacation)? What does money mean to you?

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Using a Resume Builder to Get an Interview

Using a Resume Builder to Get an InterviewIf you want to improve your chances of getting an interview, then your resume needs to be designed and built using a resume builder website. This is not a gimmick or a fake designed to make you believe that you can get an interview but it is a professionally made professional resume. Resume builders are designed by experts in this field and they have helped hundreds of people get interviews, so you can be sure that you will not have any problems.A resume builder website will give you the tools that you need to create a killer resume for your resume. It is important that you understand how to use this tool because it will help you eliminate many mistakes that others may make. A professional resume is not made through the use of filler words or plagiarism, so you need to understand what this tool does and how to use it to your advantage.When you are looking for a good resume builder website to use, you should first look online for the ones that are reputable. This will ensure that you are using a quality tool and it will ensure that you will get a high quality resume for your use. You should also read the testimonials and the ratings to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. You want to use a site that has many satisfied customers as a way to find a good site.Once you have found the site that you want to use, make sure that you are using a high quality software to help you. The use of a professionally designed website will help you learn more about this tool. When you learn about how to use this tool, you will be able to understand more about your resume and find more ways to use it to your advantage. Your resume will not only help you get an interview, but it will help you get a job.A resume builder website will help you avoid many of the mistakes that others make when they are designing their resumes. When you are designing your resume, you should keep in mind the information that you would like to have in it. In order to make your resume stand out, you should make sure that it fits into the particular industry that you are applying for.List the skills that you have and find the ones that are most important to the company that you are applying for. Having the appropriate skill set on your resume will help you get the interview. When you list the skills that you have on your resume, you will be able to get the interview that you are looking for.When you are looking for a resume builder website, you will find that there are many that are available. Make sure that you know what you are looking for and make sure that you are using the one that you need to get the job that you are looking for. Getting the interview that you want will not be possible if you are not using the resume builder.If you want to get the job that you want, then you should use a resume builder. These tools will help you use the tools that you need to get the job that you want. A professionally designed resume is the first step that you need to take in order to get an interview.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Top Tips on How to Deal with Stress in the Workplace

Top Tips on How to Deal with Stress in the Workplace We know, working life can be tough. In fact, work tends to be the most stressful part of the vast majority of people’s lives. Although it undoubtedly has its peaks â€" in a respect that we can achieve our professional goals, and likewise make money at the end of the day â€" sometimes, when you’re in the depths of that midweek slog, it can seem more difficult than ever to remain motivated. The problem with stress, is that it makes us unhappy, and can even make us unwell. This is why we have to do what we can in order to prevent it. If your working life is leaving you a little worse for wear, here’s some top tips on how you can deal effectively with stress in the workplace. Try Starting the Day as You Mean to Go on It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the property sector and work full time for a company such as House Buy Fast, or whether you’re currently working part time alongside your studies in retail â€" if you start the day off in the wrong way, you’re far more likely to feel stressed at work. Now, no one is saying you’re going to wake up to the sound of peaceful flute music, and every day is going to be a sunny success â€" but you should absolutely be trying your hardest to begin every day in a positive mindset. Something that a lot of people find they do, is if they’ve had a rough one the previous day, they’ll bring the stress into the new one too. Be mindful not to do this, and try your hardest to establish a morning routine that’s right for you. Some people will practice mindfulness, whereas others will go for a jog. It could even be the case that you make an effort to put your alarm on ten minutes early so you can sit up in bed, have your morning coffee and read the paper. It really doesn’t matter what your method is, so long as it puts you in the right mindset for the day ahead. Stay Clear of Workplace Tension As with any group of people, whether that be at school or in the workplace, there are always going to be conflicting personalities â€" which means that in turn, there is always going to be conflict. Although if you’re not directly involved, it can seem like harmless workplace antics â€" remember that the biggest of rows often begin in small disagreement, and in some cases mediation is even required. The entire point of this post, is to give you tips on how to deal with stress in the workplace â€" and really, what causes more stress than tension and conflict? Conflict is in fact, the polar opposite to peace, so if you can you should avoid it like the plague. We’re not saying that you should let people walk all over you â€" if someone starts a conflict with you personally, it should be dealt with in a professional and efficient manner by HR. All we are saying is that if you aren’t a part of it, don’t involve yourself â€" and stay away from the troublemakers. You’ll find life a lot more relaxing if you do so. Tidy Your Workspace Is your desk a bit of a tip? Then guess what, it’s no wonder your mind is following suit. If your own personal workspace is a mess, then you will automatically feel less organised, more chaotic, and you guessed it â€" you’re more susceptible to stress. Take the time to organise the space around you. This means you’ll not only know where everything is a lot more easily, but that you’ll also be in a cleaner and more healthy environment. If you can, whilst tidying, even give your desk a wipe with something antibacterial. Desks and countertops are the ideal breeding ground for germs, and if your body is fighting off something nasty, you immediately put yourself under more strain. Stay healthy. Take a Walk on Your Break Last of all, but certainly not least, try moving around on your break. When we’re sitting at a desk all day, it’s no surprise that tension builds up in our bodies. It’s not the natural human condition, so if you can, take a walk on your break. It’s even better if you can take a walk somewhere in the great outdoors. Breathing in fresh air and reconnecting with nature is one of the best natural stress relievers there is, so give it a go. You’ll come back feeling zen, and ready to work.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

How to Successfully Network When Youre In Between Companies - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Successfully Network When Youre In Between Companies - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I am an entrepreneur in between companies. How can I succinctly explain this in networking situations? The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC),  an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Explain a Positive Past, Optimistic Future In one sentence, explain a positive portrayal of your past experience. Transition to one sentence on what you look forward to doing in the future or what opportunities youre seeking. Its always important to keep it light and positive. Darrah Brustein, Network Under 40 / Finance Whiz Kids 2. Appear Goal-Oriented Even if you havent solidified your next move yet, prepare a few concrete business or personal development goals that you can rattle off when attending networking events. Basically, you want to sound like you know what youre doing. The last thing you want is to appear like you are simply drifting from one company to the next. Alexandra Levit, Inspiration at Work 3. Say Youre Looking for Your Next Venture The phrase looking for your next venture implies a previous venture and also implies an amount of choosiness (as opposed to desperation) while getting across the fact that you are not currently working on a project. Brennan White, Watchtower 4. Own It Rare are those with a clear career path or the entrepreneurs who have not seen deals fall through. Partnerships fail or simply decide to do something different. If you can articulate with intelligence what brought you to this transition point and where you are trying to go next, then maybe your conversation is about to get interesting. Henry Glucroft, Henrys / Airdrop 5. Give Your Elevator Pitch In any networking situation, you should present yourself in an assured, positive way. You knew how to give the elevator pitch for your last venture, so whats the pitch for where you are now? What did you learn from your last experience? What is your next goal? Thinking through these things ahead of time will help you network with confidence. Heather Lopes, EarlyShares 6. Be Real Every entrepreneur has been in your situation. Whether your past business is boring you or just went bust, networking is all about connecting for new opportunities. Be genuine about your past experience. Others will be grateful if you share something they can learn from or may offer feedback to help your situation. My best advice has been given to me when I needed it most. Robert De Los Santos, Sky High Party Rentals 7. Be Yourself and Listen Be yourself, and when in networking situations, make sure you listen and make eye contact. Feel out the person or group youre talking to. Find ways to present your past experiences when they fit into the conversation. Be positive. There is always something that people can relate to in most conversations. Listen and learn what that is, and you will be fine. Jason Grill, JGrill Media | Sock 101 8. Explain That Youve Structured Your Startup It is important to put the emphasis on your entrepreneurial spirit. Explain that you have already structured your startup and established a team that is running the business as if you are present with minimal supervision, and you are now ready for your next passion/challenge. Evrim Oralkan, Travertine Mart 9. Say Just That People understand that entrepreneurs sometimes switch projects. To say that youre an entrepreneur in between companies makes people think that youre still working just as hard as when you are at a company and inspires confidence that youll be an entrepreneur at a new company soon. When networking, remember that its more about the other person and how you make him feel than it is about you. Michael Seiman, CPXi 10. Be Proud Be proud of your situation. Embrace the lessons learned from each venture and articulate how it helped shape your current view or currently developing view. At the end of the day, it is about telling the evolution of you as a brand. Dont be short, hide it or shut down. Most people are afraid of starting and failing in business; you have a powerful story to tell. Ilya Bodner, The Shipyard Featured Photo

Sunday, May 17, 2020

5 Ways Your Employer Brand Impacts Recruiting

5 Ways Your Employer Brand Impacts Recruiting I recently had a conversation with a candidate that brought to mind the importance of employer brand when it comes to recruiting. As I usually do when I’m speaking with a candidate I asked him why he would entertain a new position. (Typically I deal with passive candidates so it is important to find their motivation). Of all the answers I receive to this question his really stuck out to me. He responded: “I was recently at a conference where one of your engineers delivered a presentation. I was so impressed by it that I knew your company would be one I would want to work with.” So because you went to a conference where one of my co-workers was presenting you are now open to taking my call? You can imagine my happiness when I heard this because this was a highly qualified candidate that my company would be lucky to employ. He could have easily shrugged away my attempt to reach out to him but he didn’t because he held my company (brand) in high regard. This is just one example of how your employer brand has an impact on recruiting, but there are a million more. As a result everyone in the company has a hand in building the employer brand. Whether it is that engineer at the conference or a disgruntled employee on Glassdoor; it’s easy to perpetuate the brand either positively or negatively. And I believe that starts internally. If employees enjoy where they work they are more likely to project those positive feelings into the world. Along with this and the company having a positive impact on their industry your employer brand will no doubt be viewed positively. Below I present 5 ways on how your employer brand can impact your recruiting efforts: 1) Attracting Candidates Along with situations like the one above, I also notice that my company receives a higher level of applications to our postings. As a recruiter who grew up on the agency side I know the downfall of relying on applications for quality candidates. However on the corporate side that is not the same case. Well qualified candidates see my employee name (brand) and are much more inclined to apply. 2) Call Backs In recruiting the hardest part isn’t finding the candidate, it’s getting the candidate to respond to your call. I can recall countless situations when I worked for a recruiting agency where I got someone on the phone and they immediately hung up on me or got disgruntled once I said where I was calling from. They would snap at me about a poor experience they had with another agency, or worse yet another person from my agency. I may have had the best job for them, but they’ll never know because of the preconceived notions they have of my brand. Like the situation I opened this article with, if your employer brand is a positive one it allows candidates to open up more freely. 3) Employee Referrals Employee referrals are key in recruiting. At the first agency I worked with they called it “good people know good people”.  And this is true. I have hired over 10 employee referrals in 2015 and all have worked out successfully and decreased recruiting times tremendously. Your employer brand includes how you treat your employees. When your employees are speaking highly about the company they work for in front of others it makes others intrigued to work for your company. Treat your employee’s poorly and your employer brand is viewed negatively. 4) Getting Those Passive Candidates The Holy Grail in recruiting seems to be passive candidates. Debate that topic if you want but you’ll get more people to agree than not. Like the situation above I was able to get this candidate who wasn’t looking to speak with me because of the way he viewed my company. Even when you aren’t actively looking you will still respond to job inquiries if they are good enough. Like me for example, if a recruiting agency sends me an email about a sales or recruiting job it goes right to the trash. However if Google or Apple come calling I will listen. I’m not looking to make a career change, but I am so impressed by their employer brands that I would at least take the call. And if you are a good recruiter you believe that all you need to do is get the candidate listening and you’ve got them. 5) Industry Longevity In our market places we probably all know those handful of companies that are just awful to work for. Whether it is their reviews on Glassdoor or the 5 people you know who worked there and all share the same poor experiences, we know those companies exist. If you become that company you will eventually start hiring from the bottom of the talent pool rather than getting those employees who will make a positive impact on the company. How long can companies like this exist? If you are constantly hiring the bottom of the talent pool it is only a matter of time until your company folds. Increasing your employer brand is all about how it benefits your company. Coming from a global, forward thinking telecommunications company I can tell you that we are always looking for the best and the brightest talent. The next person who is going to revolutionize our industry. While I realize this is not going to be the case for all hires, it can have a huge impact if you make even 1 â€" 2 of these hires per year. And that starts with how your brand is perceived in the market. Have a poor brand and you can forget about attracting the candidates who will make a positive impact.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

#40 - A Day in the Life of A Sports Agent Rico Davis

#40 - A Day in the Life of A Sports Agent â€" Rico Davis The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSRico Davisis an experiencedSports Agent who was approached as a young athlete by an agent and decided to create a career on the business end of Sports.evalStarting off as a runner, Rico gained experience and established himself within the industry and became a successful agent for players in the NFL and NBA.Episode Summaryeval1.Rico talks about how he started off in the sports business.2. He talks about what goes into his job on the day to day.3. Rico talks about the parts of the job that he loves and the families that are impacted when their sons get drafted.4. He also speaks up on some of the challenges that he and players face in the industry.5. Rico talks about how to get started as an agent.eval6. He also shares a few pieces of wisdom for would-be agents as well as the athletes in the business.Quotes“Once you build that reputation of people knowing who you are, then you start to get a little more connection, and it’s all about trust”“In this business and in any other business it’s all about trust”“To get started, you need experience. You want to work with someone who has already been in the business”“You have to figure out: What can I do to have the advantage?”eval“It’s about being active and doing your research”“It’s important for these kids to try to walk as straight a line as possible, because what they do today is going to affect them in the future”.“You have to have a tough skin in this business”.LinksTo learn more about Rico Davis visit his website Just Ask Rico. You canalso connect with him onTwitteror Facebook.Intro Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas (www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€" Siren KickbackEnding Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas (www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€" No Need to Rush

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Can You Tell Me Your Job Search Goal 9 Out of 10 Job Seekers Cant!

Can You Tell Me Your Job Search Goal 9 Out of 10 Job Seekers Can’t! Pamela Gordon sent her résumé to 9 different job postings and got no results. Some of the jobs were for administrative assistant, one was as a marketing coordinator, and another was for a project manager. In a few of the applications, she attached a standard cover letter, which restated her experiences from her résumé. As she got more and more anxious â€" and desperate â€" Pamela resorted to RAA: Random Acts of Application. What’s wrong with this picture? Solution: Before applying to any job, develop a clear â€" and written â€" job search goal. You will be amazed at how valuable this step is to: …write an effective application and cover letter. …find the right jobs to apply to for greater odds of success. …answer the interview question, “What are you looking for?” …interview with passion and commitment. …win a job! How to narrow down your Job Goal. 1. Do research about occupations, vocations, job functions, job titles, job responsibilities, etc. Visit the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for descriptions and information about hundreds of occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ https://www.bls.gov/audience/jobseekers.htm Go to job search websites such as Indeed.com, Monster.com, etc. (You can find more here.) Don’t apply to anything! Just shop. Don’t even worry about the city right now. Find 10 positions or job descriptions that you see yourself not only qualified for, but something that gets you excited. Spend hours reading the entire descriptions, including the skills they are looking for, the tasks you would be doing, and what other requirements they need. Print out those 10 positions or job descriptions. Are they all positions that help others (customer service), or that sell something, or that require a lot of analysis? Are they all in big corporations or small start-ups? Circle common keywords. Identify the functions, occupations, or vocations where you can see yourself spending your workday. You will be applying to join a team, even if you are working alone. Where do other people work who are doing what you want to do? If you are searching within your own company, find jobs on their career site and, ultimately, be able to narrow down to specific positions in specific divisions. When internal job seekers came to me for coaching within my own company and said they weren’t sure what they want to do next, I advised them to go and talk to other people about what they did. Ultimately, they should be able to identify positions and name individuals, such as, “I want a job like Mark Smith has.” 2. Read as many books on career selection as you can. Buy, beg, or borrow them! The web has a variety of resources as well. Joe, who didn’t know what he wanted to do next, told me, “It was a copy of What Color Is Your Parachute?by Richard Bolles that saved me. I poured through it and the workbook, completing all the exercises, and it worked.” My new book, Cut the Crap, Get a Job! A New Job Search Process for a New Era, teaches my revolutionary, step-by-step job search process. When you buy the book for less than $20, you also get the downloadable tools you need to launch your personal search (valued at over $49)! Whatever it takes, you need to be able to articulate a clear, concise and specific job search goal. Not just so you are grounded, but to share with your network and hiring managers. Need some advice? Got a specific challenge? Let me give you a hand; I’m ready to help! Dana

Friday, May 8, 2020

How To Write The Perfect Cover Letter

How To Write The Perfect Cover Letter When you are applying for a new job it takes more than just a good resume to get a potential employers attention. If you want to set about creating the right impression with your job application, then you also need to make sure that you have a good cover letter to accompany your resume. Putting together a cover letter is simple enough you simply have to use it as a way to introduce yourself to the company you are applying for and let them know why you are interested in the job. However if you really want your cover letter to be perfect then there are several tips you should bear in mind. First, you need to remember that first impressions count. You might be the best person for the job, but if you dont get this across in your cover letter then they won’t know! You need to make sure you tell them your exact reason for wanting the job and why they should give it to you. You should also always make sure that you personalize your cover letter. Don’t just assume that a template letter will work for everyone. Address the letter to the person you are applying to if you know their name, mention the name of the company, the job title you are applying for and unique mentions of the company in question. This will show them that you know about the company and that you are serious about working for them If this is something that you cant think you can get right yourself then it is essential that you get help with putting together the perfect set of cover letters for your needs.