How to Find a Career Mentor

How to Find a Career MentorHow to Find a Career MentorA career berater is someone who shares their knowledge and expertise with you in order to help you set goals, fix problems, and make good choices along your career path. I have been privileged to have career mentors who have helped me throughout my career. Career Mentors Teach About Business The first was my supervisor many years ago. He taught me just about everything I know about business and about communicating effectively with people. He also helped me move up the career ladder at our company, helped with my job search, and continued to provide advice when I moved on. Another person who mentored me was someone with vast experience writing about careers. When she and I first met, I had recently transitioned from philanthropisch Resources, and she shared her advice and wisdom. Over the years, she has also helped promote my expertise, my books, and my other work. I wouldnt be where I am today without the assistance of my care er mentors. A good career mentor, just like my mentors, voluntarily provides that career advice and assistance. The relationship youll have with your mentor will be ongoing- your mentor can guide you throughout the life of your career. Its a relationship that can last a very long time. A mentor can be indispensable both when youre starting out and when youre moving up the career ladder. How do you find a mentor? It can be easier than you think. Brian Kurth, founder, VocationVacations Career Mentorship Experiences, and author of Test-Drive Your Dream Job A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding and Creating the Work You Love, shares his tips and advice on finding a career mentor Who and How to Ask for Help Perhaps the most important step in pursuing a dream job is to find someone who already works in that field who can offer guidance and advice as you proceed. I know that sounds intimidating, but it doesnt have to be. Believe it or not, this is not as difficult as it might sound. In my ex perience, many people express fear at the prospect of asking a total stranger for help as a prospective mentor. Why would they want to help you, after all? The answer is easy People like helping other people. By asking a prospective mentor for help, youre letting them know you admire them for what they do and that their career is in demand. Its a good feeling, and many people are happy knowing their experiences and insights are valuable to others. Its not universal, of course, and not everyone will see it this way. You may run into a person you think might be a mentorship candidate who doesnt care what people think and isnt interested in helping you along your career path. But as you continue asking around, youll be surprised at just how receptive many people are. Of course, not all mentor candidates will be strangers. You may have a former boss, professor, family member, or friend who may be able to help you. Tips for Finding a Good Career Mentor Even with a few words of encour agement, the idea of searching for and finding a career mentor may seem scary, so here are a few tips to get you started If youre brand new or changing careers, it may be a good idea to research the field and find out about the top people who are in it.Learn what you can about their background, education, and even common interests.Create a list of people who seem like they might be good fits for you and your career goals.Start contacting the people on your list but go slowly with each one. Start with a polite and formal email to introduce yourself and see who responds.Be patient- your potential mentor candidates may be busy, and it could take a day or two for any of them to respond. Try to form a relationship with them and get to know their personalities even as you try to exhibit yours. Like so many other things, when you find the right mentor, youll know it. The guidance and advice from a good career mentor may be just what you need to guide you through your next set of career ste ps. Good luck, and who knows- maybe someday someone will be contacting you to be their mentor.

The 10 Best Job Search Tips of 2017

The 10 Best Job Search Tips of 2017The 10 Best Job Search Tips of 2017 If youre a smart, thoughtful candidate, youll always research what you can do to improve your odds of landing a job. The problem is, theres a plethora of advice out there. With so many articles, books, videos and even friends and family telling you what you need to do to score your dream job, how do you have time to sort through it all?Well, fear leid - weve distilled some of the best job search tips of 2017 down into one, easy-to-digest list for you. We combed through some of our top-performing pieces this year to get the most notable, valuable tidbits of advice so that you can find the job that fits your life in every way culture fit, salary, qualification, etc. Read through this list, and make sure to employ these tips in your next job hunt.If theres one way to sell yourself short during a salary negotiation, its by letting them know what you currently make. While the interview question, What d o you currently make? is already illegal in some places , there are many others in which it is not. But dont worry - if you come face-to-face with this question, you dont have to answer it directly.In 9 Things to Never Say in a Salary Negotiation , Josh Doody, author of Fearless Salary Negotiation recommends responding with something like the following Im not comfortable sharing my current salary. I would prefer to focus on the value I can add to this company rather than what Im paid at my current job. I dont have a specific number in mind for a desired salary, and you know better than I do what value my skill set and experience could bring to your company. I want this move to be a big step forward for me in terms of both responsibility and compensation.One of the biggest resume trends right now is including concrete metrics in the section that details your prior work experience. Recruiters and hiring managers love this because it provides context for and demonstrates the impac t of your previous accomplishments. Wondering what that might look like in practice? In Heres What the Perfect Resume Looks Like , we provided the following exampleHas the company youre applying to gone through three different VPs of Finance, or any other high-level executive position, in one year? You may want to think twice about whether or not its right for you.This can indicate a few things. One, leadership may be very fickle unable to land on the specific qualities they want in a candidate . Two, the company may have a bad internal culture which makes retention nearly impossible, no matter how talented the new hires may be. Three, top-level goals may be as fleeting as the talent, says Glassdoor Editorial Director Amy Elisa Jackson in 7 Types of Companies You Should Never Work For .The fix? Companies with high turnover wont deliver on their promises and may just be a waste of time - unless there are extenuating circumstances, you may want to direct your efforts elsewhere.J ust as its good to research a company before you apply to a job, its good to research the CEO as well, as Jackson demonstrates in 6 Types of CEOs You Should Never Work For .Having creative ideas and a strong vision for ones company are great qualities to have in a CEO. However, if theyre only capable of presenting a dream without possessing the determination, focus and grit to actually see it through, they may not be best suited for the top position at a company.If you are someone who appreciates clear guidance, structure, and an achievable plan, the dreamer CEO is not for you, Jackson says. The best dreamers (think Elon Musk and Bill Gates ) also have a dash of expertise and understand the weight of asking others to follow their crazy ideas.Its a simple concept, but one thats helped launch Cathy Engelbert to the top of the corporate ladder, as she shares in The Brilliant Career Advice from Deloittes CEO in One Sentence . When asked what her secret to success was, Engelbert sai d it was Building a team that brings you solutions instead of challenges, listening to and collaborating with them - that ultimately prioritizes your focus on issues where you can have the most impact, not just scratch items off the to do list To me, productivity is directly related to the personal relationships you are able to build.Moral of the story - if you want to keep climbing the ranks, it helps to have a solid group of colleagues who can vouch for you and open doors for you.The number one way to become the candidate that recruiters dream of? Informing yourself about the role and company so that by the time you show up to the interview, you already know that youre qualified for the position and a good fit for the culture. One of the best ways to demonstrate this is by doing your research beforehand. That way, you dont have to show up to the interview asking questions like, What exactly does the company / this department do?Finding the answer to this question is part of your research. Your questions need to show that youve put in the time and done some basic research about the company and role, says Harriet Green, General Manager, IBM Watson Internet of Things, Customer Engagement & Education in 11 Things to Never Say in an Interview, According to a Hiring Manager . Instead, consider asking what projects the department is currently engaged in or what challenges it faces, with a view to highlighting the value you can bring.Hardworking, synergy, wheelhouse these are all words that recruiters and hiring managers and tired of hearing. Not only have they been used so often to the point that theyre basically meaningless - they also dont really prove anything about you.You have a limited amount of time to catch a recruiter or hiring managers eye - use it wisely, cautions Jamie Hichens, Senior Talent Acquisition lebensgefhrte at Glassdoor in 21 Words To Never Include In Your Resume .Instead of bluntly listing qualities like hardworking on your resume, prov ide relevant anecdotes that demonstrate those values. For example, highlighting an additional project or responsibility you took on in addition to your expected tasks is a good way to show youre hardworking without coming out and saying it.The fact that recruiters cant see you during a phone interview is both a blessing and a curse - on the one hand, you dont have to worry about appearing nervous or getting caught taking a peek at an interview cheat sheet. On the other hand, it does open up the temptation to multitask.My number one pet peeve is people who decide to multitask while on the phone interview, says Dan Krupansky, Talent Acquisition Manager at PrimePay in the piece 12 Things to Never Do During A Phone Interview . I have heard candidates washing dishes, making lunch in the microwave, going for walks, letting their dog out and grocery shopping during the interview. I even had one person use the bathroom and flush the toilet while speaking with me.While you probably have the common sense to avoid activities like that, it can be easy to check your email or Facebook while a recruiter is speaking at length. If you know youll be tempted, stow your computer away.I get it tailoring your resume to the specific job and company you want is a pain. But if youre applying to your dream company, its well worth the effort.fruchtwein resumes are reviewed electronically before a human sees them, says career coach Jeanne Patt in 6 Resume Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs . Tailoring each submittal with keywords from the job posting is critical to pass the electronic screening.Look at each bullet point in your resume, and think about whether or not it communicates the skills, personality traits and values that the company youre applying to is looking for. If not, tweak it until it does.When people talk about why theyre seeking out a new position, they often delve into everything that was wrong with their former employer low pay, a bad boss, uninteresting and unchalle nging work, etc. But if you dive down into the rabbit hole of what didnt work, you can come off as negative and ungrateful - definitely not traits you want to highlight to a potential employer.Complaining about how you didnt get along in your last work environment is detrimental on two levels. First, it shows your lack of ability to cope with a challenging situation and move past it. Second, the last thing your interviewer wants is for you to be talking trash about their company or employees in the future, says Glassdoor contributor Lillian Childress in 11 Things To Never Say in a Job Interview .Instead, veer away from the negative and focus on the positive - rather than talking about why you want to leave your current company, talk about why you want to apply to the current company, perhaps because of their excellent company culture, career opportunities, etc. Not only will this make you look more positive - its flattering for the employer to hear.

Making That Great First Impression

Making That Great First ImpressionMaking That Great First ImpressionThe first step to nailing an vorstellungsgesprch is making a great first impression.When you go to an bewerberinterview, your first impression will have a lasting impact on whether you get the job or not. In many cases, your candidacy is decided long before the interview ends. That is why first impressions are incredibly important. You want to come off as confident, knowledgeable, polite, and eager. But you dont want to seem cocky, over-eager or nervous. It can be hard to make sure that your first impression is not only a lasting one, but a good one. This is why its always a good idea to study and prepare before the interview.Dress appropriately.The first thing you want to make sure of is that your clothing is on par. You should be dressing for the job you want- which should be the job you are interviewing for. If you are unsure of how to dress, business-wear is always the go-to answer. Wear nice pants, not jeans. Wear a button up shirt with a tie. If youre a woman, a pant suit or appropriate skirt would work nicely. Make sure that you are hygienic, your hair is brushed or combed, you dont have bad breath, your nails are clean, etc. These are all things that will be taken into consideration when it comes to a first impression.Be timely.You want to show up to your interview on time. However, on time does not mean the exact time the interview is supposed to start. This may seem like you are rushing or do not understand proper interview protocol. You want to arrive to your interview around fifteen minutes early. This way you can seem punctual and prepared for the interview, as well as give yourself a few minutes to sit down and relax. You also dont want to arrive to an interview too early. If you arrive too early, the company may feel like they have to cater to you or keep you occupied. In turn, this could lead to annoyance that will negatively affect your chances.Shake hands.You always want to acknowledge the interviewer in some way. The most common, as well as most appropriate, way to do this, is to shake hands. Offer a firm grasp, as well as exchange those first greetings. Ask the interviewer how his day is going, or introduce yourself. If the interviewer doesnt extend his hand first for a handshake, dont worry Just extend your arm anyway, and let him follow.Be prepared.There is no impression quite as bad as showing up frazzled and unprepared. Prove that you can put in time to do the research. Show up with a basic understanding of the company and what they do. Prepare questions that youd like answered. Not only does this make an amazing first impression, but it is also likely to help show your interest in the company and in the position.Be kind to everyone.When you are going to an interview, you are not just trying to impress the person conducting the interview. You should be on your very best behavior with all company employees. This could mean everyone from the parkin g attendant, secretary, security officers, or anyone else you may encounter. You never know who is watching, or who might report your behavior back to the hiring manager.Draw connections.A good way to start off on a good foot is to find common ground with the interviewer. This is a very simple version of small talk that will start the interview off on a positive note. When you are taken to the interviewers office, take a look around. Notice a degree on the wall? You could talk about how you or a family member attended that school, as well. Or a simple, Oh, I see you like the Yankees, too It doesnt have to be a major connection- just something small to put you both in the right frame of mind.Speak confidently.When you are talking during the interview, be very conscious of what you are saying. You want to avoid filler words as much as possible. Filler words are um, like, uh. If you are having trouble responding to something thats been asking of you, there are tactics you can utilize t o buy some time. Repeat the question to yourself, as if you are contemplating the answer. Ask for a glass of water. Ask a question of your own.Know the interviewer.A lot of times, pre-interview, you are told who will be conducting the interview. Use this knowledge to your advantage Coming in to the interview right off the bat and knowing your interviews name will win you points in the first impression stage. If the interviewer has articles published, read up on them. Something as simple as knowing how to pronounce the interviewers name could lead to them being impressed.

Robotic Security

Robotic Security Robotic Security Robotic SecurityA thief looks to one side, then the other, heftly maneuvers over a fence and darts to each window. He sees what hes looking for, and then? A security guard calls out, sirens flash and an alarm goes off. The thief freezes before realizing hes actually been busted - by a robot.Lakewood, CO-based startup Gamma 2 Robotics is behind RAMSEE, a five-foot, 200-pound security guard robotthat moves at top speeds of about 25 miles per hur with the help of a brushless motor.These robots can particularly help in dangerous situations, says Francis Govers III, chief robotics officer for the company. You dont want a human dealing with a fire or a thief with a gun if you can avoid it.At the top, RAMSEE has a swivel-head pan tilt unit on its head that has both a high-definition camera and an FLIR thermal camera. Its arranged so both cameras always point at the same target.With a self-driving mobile sensor platform, Gamma 2 robots can perform both auton omous patrols and human-guided activities. Image Gamma 2 RoboticsThe face allows two-way video conferencing and below that, 360-degree cameras run at near IR infrared, he says. You have infrared illuminators that the robot can see that people cant see. It also has LIDAR light detection and ranging for things like mapping, obstacle avoidance, and motion detection. And it uses sonars and infrared detectors to see small objects.Designers went through four sets of prototypes to get to this current model. They started with an existing robot platform and put in new computers and sensors and, in a next generation, switched to brushless motors away from a previous setup containing gear motors and pulley. For the third generation, we built a mockup of the inside of the robot with new chassis, new wheels, et cetera, says Govers.Inertial measurement units sense bounce and tilt and sensors can help it know stairs are coming, he adds.But the software is also a key component. The software is ROS and we have two internal processors that are both Linux based. One is ODROID-XU4. It has 8 CPUs. The other is Nvidia, which is our vision processor four regular cores and 130 GPUs. It was originally put it in because the thought was that it would be doing a lot of stereo vision but now its migrated into artificial intelligence and running our own program.Even though the robot can be put in harms way, he says the goal for the guard is to observe, report, and be a distraction. In the distraction role, it has very bright head lights, strobe lights like a police car, and that loud siren, he says. In the dark it would be quite intimidating and the synthesized voice doesnt sound robotic at all.Presently, they are working on improvements such as face recognition. The goal is to know who the workers are so they dont see them as intruders, he says. But the idea is to be able to tell if there are ex-workers who you want to make sure arent on the premises.Though a specific price point isnt bei ng shared at the moment, Govers says it will be under $100,000. Our hope is this can be a compliment to security plans already in place, he says. This robot has the ability to be a real friend to companies.Eric Butterman is an independent writer. For Further Discussion

The Low Down on Babysitter Resume Exposed

The Low Down on Babysitter Resume Exposed Based on the specific family youre working for, as a babysitter you may need to become involved in performing additional tasks. Being a real babysitter is more than simply watching kids. He or she is responsible for all aspects of the childs life while watching them. Also, he or she must be disciplined and must focus all their working time to give the needs of the children and help them finish the activities that they are required to do. Presenting the very best contact information at the peak of your babysitter resume allows interested clients to easily get in touch with you to schedule an interview. ersatzdarsteller check to ensure everything on the previous version on the work application is approximately you. Produce some type of organization method to earn your job search simpler. The work search may be considered a protracted process just simply think about the statistics below Hence you should record experience and specific skill that fit in just what the company wants. Likewise, jobs not directly associated with child care can nevertheless be mentioned should they help demonstrate skills or experience required for tasks set out in the job posting. As you try to find opportunities you will need to ensure that youre informed. You dont require an education. Whispered Babysitter Resume Secrets If you believe it might hurt your odds of landing an interview, dont hesitate to leave it off. The really last thing you want to do is usually get a job which you cant do. Youve got to spend more time with them and they learn several things from you, which means that your attitude needs to be good toward them. When you would like to locate an extremely good resume assistance, you can merely follow our lead. Re-read the babysitting job post to find out what a family is searching for and match whatever work experience youve dependent on the ad. A couple more years can help convey an awareness of responsibilit y. If you are able to do the work well then the families will continue asking for you. The Babysitter Resume Trap Scroll down to observe an expert babysitter resume sample. As you search for jobs as a babysitter, its easy to acquire in a rut. If youre looking for a babysitter resume, youll find here very professional resume samples. You will be considered a superb babysitter with good communication abilities. No matter your babysitting know-how includes, make sure to list it out in a very clear and concise way. Babysitters usually will work in the familys house and will be covered by the hour. Babysitting is the favourite selection of first job for the teenage girls in america. There are a number of locations the place youll be able to acquire good resume examples. Possessing several sources, including private families, that you may include in your cover letter and resume will allow prospective employers to glean a better knowledge of your general experience and performa nce. Resume examples without cost are available virtually anyplace. Resume examples at no cost can help you in a detailed course of on methods to compose your resume. Babysitter Resume Features Get some samples from the web to guarantee you dont miss on anything essential. An individual can use various templates, samples, and tips and generate a great resume. Resume themes are just ideal for folks that have a tendency own the art of producing impressive resumes. You may also see Resume Templates. Babysitters provide services to children while keeping a secure and healthful atmosphere. They should be highly organized and reliable people, who are capable of providing excellent care to children. They are in charge of taking care of another familys child or children. Working with young children is extremely critical as one never forgets whats learned when theyre young. You should demonstrate adequate understanding of how to conduct appropriate childcare mainly if youre askin g for a job which needs handling toddlers and infants. You feel nice and enjoy when youre with children. A kid is a parents most important possession and theyll want to know just what youre offering their kid. Looking for employment at this time is pretty challenging. Locate the job suitable to you and begin applying with your fresh and updated Babysitter resume and polish your odds of finding the job. If you believe you cannot manage the job, do not look at applying for it. Babysitter job isnt a cool job, its a really responsible job.

How Do I Video Interview For a Customer Service Position

How Do I Video Interview For a Customer Service PositionEvery candidate comes with their own set of unique interviewing challenges. Thats why were tackling how to video interview different types of job seekers with this how to series. Today well be talking about using video interviews to connect with the candidates who will be dealing with your companys customer base.Finding great employees to fill your customer tafelgeschirr positions is very important to building your company brand. These employees will work as your brand ambassadors when it comes to those using your product or service. So its important job seekers looking to fill these positions are able to deal effectively with customer concerns and complaints.Not every candidate will be right for a customer service position, and the video interview can be a great tool for helping you determine the superstars from the duds. Heres howAssess your candidates personalityA great reason to use the video interview to connect with custom er service candidates is because the video interview helps you assess personality earlier than in the traditional process. You can even encourage job seekers looking for customer service positions to send in a video resume where you can see their personality and communication skills right off the bat.Whether its a video resume or one-way virtual interviews, seeing a candidates personality before you take the time to speak with them in person is a good way to weed out applicants who would be all wrong for the job. If the candidate doesnt seem personable in a 60-second video resume, or while answering a few basic questions on film, its unlikely theyll be more personable in a higher stress situation.When it comes to employees who will be handling your customer service needs, youll want an employee who can roll with the punches without letting their nerves get in the way.Look for patienceWhen it comes to dealing with customer complaints or helping customers troubleshoot an issue, patien ce is key. You cant have an employee in this position who becomes snappy or testy. Remember, this employee will be a brand ambassador for your company, and the word of mouth generated by oben liegend customer service can really put your company on the map.In the video interview, its important to look for job seekers who have patience and enjoy interacting with people. You need to hire a people person, someone who is good at teaching and listening.When talking to a job seeker in a video interview, ask for concrete examples of how theyve helped others in the past. Look for teaching positions, successful group projects or even volunteer experience. Make sure your candidate enjoys working with others and has the patience to address all customer concerns in a positive manner.Find job seekers with superior communication skillsCommunication skills are essential in a customer service position. This is one place the video interview, especially one-way virtual interviews, can really help you separate the great candidates from the rest. Anyone can list superior communication skills on a traditional paper resume. The video interview, however, forces job seekers to back up their claims.Just like looking at personality, one-way virtual interviews or a great video resume can save you time during the hiring process. If your candidates communication skills just arent what they should be in the video resume, you can cut this job seeker loose without wasting any time in a live video interview.By making job seekers back up their claims, online video helps employers waste less time talking to the wrong person. Now they can focus their energy on only the top contenders.Finding the right person for a customer service position can be tricky. You need someone you would trust as a brand ambassador for the company and someone with a suitable personality for helping others. The video interview can be an essential tool for finding the right candidates to move your company forward.What are some ways you use the video interview to hire for customer service positions? Share in the comments