6 Ways to Get Back into the Swing of Things at Work After Your Summer Break

6 Ways to Get Back into the Swing of Things at Work After Your Summer Break September has come around super quickly and unfortunately that means Summer holiday season is coming to an end for most of us.  This means its time to swap that sun lounger for the ear-splitting alarm clock and busy commute. Now doesnt that sound appealing? Sorry I didnt mean to rub it in! A bout  of the post holiday blues can make getting back into work mode tough and concentration can often be running low after a harsh snap back to reality. Dont fret though,  youll soon get back into the swing of things; all you need is a fresh burst of motivation to get your career back on track after your break.   To give you a little productivity boost, here are some of our top tips for transitioning back into office life. 1) Set aside some catch up time When youve been away from the office for a certain amount of time, you may not know where to start when it comes to tackling your workload. Make sure that you have some time that you can spend refreshing your mind about what you need to focus on, catching up with emails and creating a plan about what you need to be focusing on. 2) Treat September like a new year Think of September as a fresh start back in your job. Your Summer break has left you feeling refreshed, so youre bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready to go. You can use this time to set yourself some new goals or targets that you want to achieve in the coming months, revise your existing strategy and make improvements. If  there are any projects that youve thought about getting involved in in the past, or something that you want to be doing more of, nows the time to  launch yourself in! 3) Give yourself something to be excited about Remember that feeling you got when it was the first week back at school and you had a super cool new school bag or pencil case you couldnt wait to show off? Well you can recreate this experience in adult life too. A new set of gel pens may not fill you with enthusiasm anymore, but a few new additions to your work wardrobe might! Alternatively you can treat yourself to your favourite lunch, so you have something to look forward to on your first day back. 4) Get some fresh air Ok so unless you live somewhere exotic, chances are the weathers not quite going to match up to that of your favourite holiday destination, but that doesnt mean a bit of fresh air wont do you some good. If you have a bit of free time on your lunch break, why not use it to go for a quick walk? Giving yourself a serotonin boost will help to elevate your mood and keep you energised throughout the day. 5) Snack on healthy food Its easy to slip into bad eating habits once the beach body pressure has passed, but by snacking on high sugar foods youre likely to experience an afternoon energy slump. Snacking on healthy foods such as nuts and berries can keeping you feeling energised and alert at work. If you cant fight the chocolate craving, dark chocolate is thought to  boost serotonin and endorphin levels, which are associated with greater concentration. 6) Catch up with colleagues Talking about what youve been up to over the Summer break may help to maintain the excitement of it all, so why not catch up with a colleague over a coffee or drink after work? Holding a team meet up can also help to boost morale in the workplace and refresh relationships. [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Create a Workshop on Resume Writing

Create a Workshop on Resume WritingDo you know how to create a workshop on resume writing? One of the most important skills resume need is exposure. This means that your resume must be used by employers in order for them to see what they are getting into. If it's not used then that employer will never make an offer, or won't hire you at all.Your professional resume service will be able to use your resume as a practice article. The article is there for people to copy and put together so that they can go about creating their own resume. It is also there to show employers how to write a resume for you.By the time you get to the end of your resume and see the numbers, you are probably done. But that's not the end of your resume. There is more to it than just the numbers. You need to create a great paragraph describing the skills you have in addition to the skill you want to display.With the help of a professional resume service, your skills will be outlined in detail. The writer will giv e you suggestions to hone those skills as well as include them as a skill on your resume.The same goes for your writing and article writing skills. The writer will be able to guide you in writing the best resume possible. Make sure that it is clear, well-written, and professional looking.The resume, letter will be addressed to the hiring manager as well as your prospective co-workers. This will provide you with the interview you have been waiting for. Make sure you write the letter correctly in order to get the best results.Flexibility is another essential skill that you need to develop. When writing your resume, make sure you think outside the box. Don't just list what you do not have as a skill. Show the employer what you can do for them and how you can help them.Taking the time to learn how to create a workshop on resume writing is the best thing you can do for yourself. The skills you need will come out in your resume. You can then turn it into a job that's worth paying for.

4 Tips To Ace Your Next Phone Interview - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

4 Tips To Ace Your Next Phone Interview - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Phone interviews are becoming more common as companies use that as a way to screen candidates without having to spend the time or money having a face-to-face meeting. Because of that, job candidates have to ace the phone interview if they want to get to the next level of the hiring process. The phone interview is the “growing standard for the initial round,” says Michael McGuiness, executive director of Jobipedia.org. “It’s a way to vet candidates before they decide to have them come in person.” While the phone interview can be nerve wracking, after all if you blow it your chances at that company are pretty slim, but it also offers up a unique opportunity to prepare and thus shine. “The most important thing you can do is research and prepare before you get on the phone,” says Marcia Nelson,  practice growth manager at accounting firm Anchin, Block Anchin. “Because you are on the phone you can have notes.” According to Nelson, by looking into the company beforehandm you can get a glimpse into its  company culture, any awards or achievements they’ve received, and then weave that into the interview.  Unlike during an in-person interview, with the phone interview you can look at you notes to make sure you are hitting all the key points. Showcasing energy, confidence is key One of the reasons why people are apprehensive about doing a phone interview is because they can’t make a connection with the interviewee, which can be more easily done in person. When you only have your voice, Pamela Skillings, co-founder of job coaching firm Skillful Communicationssays you have to make more of an effort to project confidence and energy. So how do you do that? According to Skilling stand up while you are talking, make a conscious effort to smile, and use positive language. How you dress can also make a difference. While it’s totally acceptable to do the interview in your pajamas, if getting ready and putting on a suit will get you in the right mood, then experts say to do it. “For people out of work for a while doing their hair and makeup (or putting on business attire) can give them a little bit of an edge,” says Nelson. Make sure you phone doesn’t drop   In this mobile era it’s unrealistic to expect people to conduct a phone interview on a landline, but if you have a mobile phone that gets spotty coverage in some areas, make sure you are not in one of those areas. You don’t want the call to drop mid-interview, nor do you want the person asking the questions to struggle to hear you. You also want to be in a distraction free zone. If you are just starting out and live with roommates, let them know in advance that you will be on an important call. If you have kids who tend to scream in the background every time you pick up the phone, get child care during that interview. Even if the interviewer can’t hear the background noise, if it distracts you it’s going to throw you off your game and you could end up blowing it. “You want to make sure you are in an environment where you can focus solely on the interview,” says McGuiness. Treat the phone interview like an in-person one What you say on the interview should be similar to what you would say in a face-to-face meeting, even if it seems more informal. That means holding off on asking about salary, vacation, flex time or any other perks. Instead, you should be showcasing your knowledge about the company what you can do for them. According to Nelson, it’s a real turn off for job interviewers if you make the initial phone interview all about what they can do for you. Nelson says it’s ok to ask at the end of the interview what the next step in the process is. “By taking action it shows you are interested and available,” says Nelson. “The last thing you want is to have this interview and it goes into a black hole and you never hear anything again.” Embrace silence; at least for a few seconds A big fear when it comes to the phone interview is the dreaded silence.   Many job candidates will try to fill every silence to avoid awkwardness, but according to Skillings this usually leads to rambling or even blurting out answers. It’s ok to take a few seconds to answer a question but just make sure you end your answer crisply. “Its natural to have some silences on a phone interview,” says Skillings. “A silence doesnt mean that your interviewer is unhappy with your answer or waiting for more information. Your interviewer is probably taking notes, thinking about her next question, quickly replying to an urgent email, or something similar.” Author Bio Donna Fuscaldo  writes for Glassdoor.com.

Should Working from Home Be Banned - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Should Working from Home Be Banned - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In the past 20 years a lot of companies have adopted a more open model about where employees can do their work. Some allow employees to work from home. Some allow employees to selectively work from home or otherwise remotely. Some actively encourage employees to work from home … or at least somewhere other than the office. It’s not too surprising that employees quite often like to Work From Home (WFH). I think more companies will adopt flexible models about where employees can get their work done. I also predict that a lot of companies with physical offices will start to change the way their offices are organized including creating open work spaces and literally tearing down the walls with the intention of making Work From Office (WFO) days more productive. Do you ever work from home? If yes, is this your choice? Or would you rather be working in an office environment? Well, if you plan on working for Yahoo … you better make sure you are close to one of their offices or prepare yourself for the commute or even for a move. Yahoo made a fairly dramatic statement last week They said that employees are going to need to be physically together. Citing that “Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home” … therefore employees are being told to get to their desks (at the Yahoo office) stat! Of course, companies can make any mandates they want. People can vote with their feet. If they don’t like the policies they can seek employment elsewhere. As expected the response on some of the Social Media channels was quick and somewhat vitriolic. For example, this post by Lisa Belkin on Why Marissa Mayer is Wrong. There were also quite a few comments on my Facebook page and David Armano’s Facebook page. What Should Potential Hires Do With This? If you are interviewing for a role you should make sure you do your homework. You should know what the company preferences are for WFH vs. WFO. You should be prepared to answer questions about your preferred working environment. You may be asked if you would be prepared to work remotely. You may be asked how do you maintain your productivity when working remotely. You may be asked how you like to stay in contact with colleagues. You need to make sure you have answers to these questions. There may be no wrong answer, but you should know or you should probe for details about how the company prefers to operate. Two things to consider when thinking about these questions Many Millennials expect they will have flexibility in where and how they do their job. Whether this is true will depend upon the role and the company. I offer these points not to throw them down as mandates. Rather I see them as soft comments that can be put into a conversation as you learn more about the company you are considering spending a lot of your time and effort. It’s not how old you are … it’s what you can do (this is advice from my father â€"when I was a new manager) It doesn’t matter where the work is done … just that it is done. Of course, the implication for the second point is that the work is done right, is on time and ideally it exceeds expectations. Coming back to the title of this post … Should Working from Home Be Banned? I don’t think most companies are actively considering this. Of course, with the recent exception from Yahoo. It could be something as simple as Yahoo pointed out in that they think productivity will be impacted. I have not seen the statistics to prove this out one way or the other. However, I do know that there are days when people need to be home â€" whether it’s for the cable guy or just to get things done. Is Yahoo considering allowing people to check out and completely turn off when they leave the office? I doubt it. I don’t mean to pick on Yahoo here. I saw a lot of comments where people were happy to see their decision to Ban WFH. Perhaps they are right. Perhaps the evidence of productivity will bear them out. I think there is a lot more to the Yahoo decision beyond just working from home. Yahoo needs to make a dramatic change. This is just a start. Sanity Check Can people Tele-Work? Of course! Its been happening for years. Can every job be called in? Of course NOT! Some jobs require physical presence and proximity. Assembly lines, many service roles (think Hotel and Restaurant Management and Police and other First Responders) However, even this is changing. Think fast food restaurants and the person taking your order … they may not even be in the same state or country. Some high tech roles are being done remotely too Remote X-Ray and MRI reviews Remote Surgery where the surgeon may be five feet away or 5000 miles away using remote telemetry. Robots controlled from a distance â€" think Nuclear Clean up or Bomb Detection and Disposal. Snapping Back to Today Will this WFH thing just be a fad? Not likely Will companies continue to seek work life balance with their employees (their talent)? Very likely. The War for Talent is REAL! Will Working from Home be banned on a broad scales basis? I don’t think so. If you have a different opinion please comment here. Contrarian View By implication are Stay at Home Moms (SAHM) and other WFM-by-choice people somehow less (intelligent, trustworthy, reliable, valued, skilled, responsible, fill-in-the-blank)? Of course, the answer is absolutely not. The Reality Technology has enabled workers to be Always On. Whether this is right or not is not the point here. Whether your colleagues, your customers, your partners and yes your boss expect you to be always on is what matters. Some people prefer to be always on. Some people feel they have to be always on. Some people know their customers and partners expect them to be always on. In the end, for the most part, its up to the individual to decide where they work and how they work. If they decide they dont like the company, the policies, the people or the technologies they can vote with their feet. I’m pretty sure that Working from Home and Working Remotely are here to stay. I do think that the way people Work From Offices will change. The smarter companies are building offices and work spaces for Tribal Work mentalities. Where the Tribe is the focus. Where the Tribe succeeds together. Sometimes people will work remotely, but when they do come together they are physically together. So, maybe there is something to what Yahoo is implementing. I just think most companies are going to do it in a less draconian fashion and in a mode that encourages and allows individual employees to contribute in the best way they can. Author: Jeff   is a veteran in the Enterprise Content Management industry. Over the past 20 years he has worked with customers and partners to design, develop and deploy solutions around the world. Jeff is currently the Director of Strategic Alliances at Winshuttle. He has worked for Microsoft, FileNet (IBM), K2, Captaris, Open Text, Kofax and Kodak. He speaks and blogs about ECM and the Intersection between Social, Mobile and Cloud Computing.

Resume Dictionary - Information For Job Seekers

Resume Dictionary - Information For Job SeekersA resume dictionary is an important part of the job application process. Your potential employer will be looking for a number of key things in your resume and they will also use the dictionary to determine if your resume will be appropriate for the position you are applying for.The dictionary describes the particular job duties and skills of each person. The resume must be concise, but with some detail about the job. A resume dictionary will be used to define the job, the duties, and provide an overview of your experience and education.The resume dictionary is a valuable tool when applying for a position that requires multiple positions within that position. The resume dictionary should include information about the duties and responsibilities as well as any additional qualifications or specific abilities you have that may help in your new position.It is very important to show that you are adaptable and able to handle change in a new job . The resume dictionary will outline your general qualifications and the details of the new position. It should be relevant to the job you are applying for and the position that you are being considered for. The resume dictionary can also give you a starting point for your career exploration or brainstorming.There are some companies that provide their own resume dictionary but it is important to also ask about the requirements and regulations for hiring in your state. This dictionary will give you all the facts you need to know about the job and what is expected from a candidate in that position.A resume dictionary is essential if you have been out of work for a considerable amount of time and looking for a job because you may not be recognized immediately. Having a resume dictionary available for reference can help you in that situation. Many people have found the answer to their problem in using a resume dictionary because it makes the difference between rejection and acceptance.I f you have had no luck in finding a job you are interested in then using a resume dictionary is a great option. If you don't feel comfortable with using one of the free websites that has them, then you can always hire a professional. You can find resume dictionaries that cost a small fee but the quality of the dictionary is hard to beat.A resume dictionary is something that can be obtained and used by many people. You can get information from a variety of sources and use the dictionary for just about any job search. Being prepared is one of the best ways to ensure that you get the job that you are seeking.

Ive Made It How to Find Your Ideal Job

“I’ve Made It” â€" How to Find Your Ideal Job 2 Flares 2 Flares The employment market may have improved considerably over recent years, but there’s still plenty of competition out there for jobs. This means that if you’re going to secure your ideal position, you’ll need to be tactical in your approach. Here are a few top tips that could help you to find and secure the right job for you. Resume/CV Once you’ve succeeded in identifying suitable roles, it’s imperative that you are able to provide a good quality, relevant CV.   Avoid some common mistakes, such as, the temptation to send the same version when you’re applying for different roles. Each position has its unique requirements and by spending a little time tailoring your CV, you will stand a better chance of being called for interview. When you’re customizing it, make sure you check the job advertisement carefully, paying particular attention to the essential skills and experience section. Your CV, and covering letter if you are sending one, should address each of the points mentioned. Also, it should be succinct and dynamic rather than protracted and dull and, before you send it, make sure you double and triple check it for typos and errors. Social media From specialist online employment forums, insight employment news and careers sections of both online and print newspapers, there are many job search resources available to you.   Another way to find potential employment opportunities is social media. Indeed, if you’re to stand the best possible chance of securing a role you want, it’s vital that you have an active presence on these websites, and stay abreast of the latest industry news. For example, Twitter can prove to be a superb resource. It is brimming with professional networking pages. To access these, you can use the search bar to look for terms that relate to the specific position you are seeking. For instance, you can type in words such as ‘hiring’ and ‘jobs’ along with terms that apply to your desired field and location. You can also place hashtags before these words to access a host of tweets from people and organizations who are on the lookout for new personnel. Meanwhile, posting your own tweets may have a beneficial effect, depending on your choice of career. It can help you to get in contact with likeminded individuals who are operating within your field. Facebook is an excellent place to go.   By ‘liking’ the pages of the companies you are interested in, you can get regular updates concerning their activity, and many firms now promote vacancies on this network. You should also ensure that your profile and security settings are appropriate. Bear in mind that employers increasingly research job candidates via social media. Make sure your profile reflects well on you, and include any relevant employment experience and qualifications. There is also now a ‘professional skills’ section that you can fill in. Another useful site is LinkedIn, it offers a handy means of networking and it also has a jobs board. Make sure you keep your profile up-to-date and try to get as many recommendations and endorsements as possible. It can also pay off to share articles or content with your network as this may increase your chances of being contacted by a recruiter. Don’t give up Even if you follow these tips, you may not find the role you’re after and have to endure rejection on a number of occasions. The important thing is not to become disheartened. Getting the right job takes perseverance and patience. As long as you keep your eyes and ears open, make full use of social media and other jobs forums and ensure your CV is spot on, you can maximize your chances of securing a suitable position. Image by Yeah I’m Kenny,  

How to Protect Your Career if a Tornado Hits

How to Protect Your Career if a Tornado Hits Last week a tornado ripped through parts of Queens, New York. New Yorkers arent exactly used to tornadoes and the event really took us by surprise. The storm passed through the neighborhood where I grew up and I still have many friends and family there. Several of them posted   pictures of the storms aftermath on Facebook to capture the devastation.One friend shared a picture of a weeping willow tree that had been broken in two by the storm. This was perhaps the most moving image from the storm. There are many majestic weeping willow trees in front of various apartment buildings in Queens. Many of these trees are well over a hundred years old and I have fond memories of climbing them as a kid. Its the type of tree that you assume can withstand anything and will be there forever.The damaged weeping willow tree reminded me of   the economic conditions of late 2008. Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch were a lot like that tree. They were old, established firms and for years they seemed in vincible. But they werent. Their demise was like a tornado and the devastation was palatable. Overnight people who thought their jobs were secure had no job to speak of.   And what happened at Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch had a ripple effect on the rest of the economy and many are still feeling that impact two years later.No job is ever really safe. Skies can be sunny one moment and pitch black the next. Being prepared for a change in the weather and a change at a company is important. Would you be prepared for a career tornado? Here are a few things to consider doing before the dark clouds set in.Update your resume. Even if you are happy in your current job and feel safe, it never hurts to have a current resume. With an up-to-date resume you will always be prepared should a new opportunity present itself. To get the process started, think introspectively about what you have accomplished since you last wrote your resume. Try to think of accomplishments in terms of how you did t hings smarter, faster, or more efficiently and how youve helped the organizations youve supported make money, save money, save time, eliminate redundancies, grow the business, or keep the business. For more resume tips, check out this free report at the bottom of our homepage, 15 Tips For Your Resume to Do List.Keep networking. People always ask me how long it will take them to find a new job. I generally tell them that the length of their search is frequently correlated to the quality of their network at the time they begin looking. People with strong networks always know people who are thinking about them for other opportunities. Even if you are comfortable in your current job, continue to find ways to be active in professional communities or volunteer your knowledge or time to help others. Building visibility and credibility now will help you weather the storm if the situation in your company changes suddenly down the road.Keep learning. Its easy to sit back and think you have al l the necessary skills and training to do your job. But if you had to change jobs, would the depth and breadth of your knowledge be strong enough to position you for other opportunities? Its wise to think ahead and figure out ways to stay on the leading-edge of your profession so you never become obsolete.Like the weather, there are many aspects of our careers that we cant control. But by concentrating on the things we can control we increase the chances of quickly getting out of the eye of the storm and moving on to a brighter place.