The Blessing and Curse of Working from Home

The Blessing and Curse of Working from Home I’m inspired to write this blog based on a truly rare and unique phenomenon. For the past two out of three workdays, sleet, ice and freezing temperatures have befallen the city of Houston, Texas, forcing us to work from home. Now I know, this is nothing compared to what our friends in the northern states have to contend with. But when you take into consideration the fact that Houston drivers are completely unprepared to deal with icy road conditions, and the concept of snow tires and salted roads is completely foreign to us, it makes for a treacherous commute. (And before you make fun, just know that we find your intolerance of 95-degree summer days equally as amusing). It was nearly a year ago that I wrote a blog about Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and her decision to end Yahoo’s work-from-home privileges. I listed every standard advantage and disadvantage of working from home â€" primarily as viewed through the eyes of the average business owner or HR manager. But after sitting at home for the past two days and completing the same work I normally do in the office, I’m faced with new thoughts and feelings on the privilege, and burden, of working from home. I consider multi-tasking one of my strong points. I take pride in the fact that I can accomplish the same work on my couch while watching horrible daytime talk shows as I can sitting in an office cubicle. I live alone and have no distractions. My morning commute consists of walking from my bedroom to my living room, which saves me money on gas, and allows me to avoid dealing with other drivers on the road (which can be especially stressful, as mentioned in the first paragraph). For employees with small children, working from home can be a huge economic advantage, allowing them to save hundreds on daycare expenses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in four U.S. workers telecommutes at least occasionally. They also state that “an increasing num ­ber of jobs in the American economy could be performed at home if employers were willing to allow employees to do so.” The issue, however, is not whether the work can be completed remotely in an efficient manner, but rather employers wanting to retain the cohesiveness of their workforce. This is clearly what Marissa Mayer had in mind when she sent out the memo to Yahoo employees stating, “We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together. Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home.” In a recent article by David Amerland of Forbes.com, Mayer’s previous employer, Google, is cited as sharing her disapproval for the telecommuting trend. The company is known for offering employee perks unheard of at any other company. They even encourage employees to spend up to 20 percent of their time working on non-work-related projects â€" all in an effort to keep employees in the office. When interviewed, Google’s CFO Patrick Pichette admitted, “There is something magical about sharing meals. There is something magical about spending the time together, about noodling on ideas, about asking, ‘What do you think of this?’” After two full days of staring at the walls of my living room, I’ve made a determination: interaction breeds creativity. While there are some who can be creative with nothing more than a pen and paper, I believe the majority of our creativity is built upon others’ creativity. Even those in decidedly non-creative fields have moments of divine inspiration, and in an office with a friendly atmosphere and positive work culture, the first thing that employee will do is share with his or her coworkers. Recruiting, in my opinion, is an especially creative field. If a search is at a standstill, one recruiter’s creative thinking may give way to his or her whole team altering their searches and ultimately finding a new pool of passive candidates. The creative domino effect doesn’t occur when one works alone at home. The events of this past week have made me appreciate the conveniences of working from home. Honestly, I would like the opportunity to do so once or twice a month, or at least more often than the apocalyptic occurrence of an ice storm in Houston. But they have also given me an appreciation for the interaction with my coworkers, and the creativity it creates. I can only think of one or two blog posts I’ve written based on something I read on the internet. The majority of my posts have been inspired by my activities in the office, the activities of my coworkers, or stories of their past experiences. Technology has come a long way in recent years, but it’s still far from replacing that which is lost from lack of employee interaction. Until that changes, I’ll stand with Marissa Mayer.

Problem Solving Skills Resume

Problem Solving Skills ResumeA problem solving skills resume is an effective way to highlight your professional achievements and training received in the past. This type of resume can also be used as a tool for future career planning. With this skill, employers can easily determine the level of professional expertise you possess and how useful these skills are to the prospective employer.Problem solving skills are common to all professionals. They can be used to complement other skills such as those of a good writer or mechanic. It is important to note that the skills and abilities listed on your resume should be easy to spot by an employer. Since no one can explain the complexity of an automobile or the workings of a car, the job description must explain these skills.A problem solving skills resume is often used to highlight your professional success. A problem is the answer to a question that is frequently asked. Once an answer has been found, the next step is to create a plan or a solution. In essence, this requires knowing how to problem solve. This can be applied to anything from a single person to a team or organization.Skills or experience often follow on problem solving skills. Sometimes this can be found in a supplementary document or even within the main document. However, it is important to emphasize that the skills listed on your resume are only an estimate. What you say about yourself can become a 'presume' once you are hired. The statement can be used to help identify when hiring managers cannot figure out why you were hired in the first place.The content of your skills and experiences can be different for each organization or individual. One of the most important things to remember is that one person's experience is not necessarily another's expertise. Another way to use this is to find skills that are unique to your profession or that are skills that will help you do your job well. This can be beneficial in making a prospective employer aware of what they can expect from your organization.Problem solving skills are very important to everyone in the workplace. Many companies are quickly realizing that having a well-rounded worker is important to keep their business running smoothly. Keeping their employees happy and efficient is something which will save money and time. Effective problem solving skills can come from being able to think outside of the box and adapt to changes that are happening in the workplace.Problem solving skills are a great asset when it comes to performing duties in a fast-paced workplace. The ability to be able to absorb information and deal with problems quickly are all valuable skills. These are skills that can be useful to just about anyone in any industry.An example of a problem solving skills resume is one that highlights skills such as a great orator and a person who can multi-task. By making sure that these are highlighted, you are able to show that you have a set of skills that can be easily a dapted to any type of job. If this is done correctly, the statement can be a boost for your potential employer.

Understanding personal loans and avoiding bad deals

Understanding personal loans and avoiding bad deals In theory, personal loans are pretty simple and straightforward, but there are things that can surprise you and put you in a bad spot. It’s important to understand how personal loans work but also what kind of dangers they come with. This will help you avoid those dangers and only get into deals that you can be sure are safe and won’t make you regret them later on. With that said, let’s start off by taking a look at what a personal loan implies exactly. The basics of a personal loan While there might be some differences in the details between different lenders, a personal loan will generally consist of a fixed term and a fixed interest rate. This means that you have a precise due date, and you have until that date to pay back the amount of money that you have borrowed. Having a fixed interest rate means that you know from the beginning how much money you will need to pay in top of repaying the loan, and that amount won’t change as time goes by. Staying away from the webs of bad deals Personal loans can be very tricky if the lender desires them to be so. There are plenty of dangers to watch out for and navigating this web of potential bad deals can be really hard, especially for someone that isn’t a loan regular. Here are the most important things to watch out for. Origination fee An origination fee is something you will encounter with most loans. This type of fee is usually taken from your loan upfront, which means that you will not get the exact amount of money you asked for. In order to not get completely screwed by the origination fee, make sure to ask for just enough extra money to cover the fee. This way the fee will be deducted and you will end up with the amount you wanted in the first place. Insurance Insurance is generally not a bad thing but it usually is if it comes paired with a loan. When giving you a loan, the lender will most likely try to make you leave the building with an insurance deal as well. Beware tactics that might try to bring your family or close ones into the mix, with a sale pitch like “protect your family if something happens to you”. The insurance deals they propose at the end of a loan deal are usually really bad and you should avoid them. Just get the loan and run! Pre-computed interest This type of interest implies that the lender calculates how much interest you would owe them as it accumulates over time, and adds that to your balance upfront. This might sound tempting for some, since you know from the very start exactly how much money you will have to come up with to fully pay back the loan. However, the possibility of you fully paying back the loan earlier is huge. They reassure customers with a re-calculation of interest but in the end you still end up paying more than you should on interest, so if your lender tries to give you a pre-computed interest, you should pass.

To Move Forward Be Constructively Critical (of Yourself) Marla Gottschalk

To Move Forward â€" Be Constructively Critical (of Yourself) Marla Gottschalk Photo by Hudson Hintze on Unsplash We all like to think that we do things well â€" and a strong belief that we have the skills to succeed helps us in most workplace situations. However, there can be unwanted glare that can create a gap in self-knowledge. In fact, our own confidence can impede us from looking at our own behavior with a constructively critical eye. Succumbing to bias concerning our own workplace strengths is an easy road to travel. Moreover, the areas that we value the most (and derive the most satisfaction) â€" can be the most heavily protected. As a result, we are less likely to look for opportunities to examine our skills critically. In fact, research has shown that we tend to view our own skills more positively than our peers see us. So it is possible to be unaware that a problem may be on the horizon. Organizations that have enjoyed success, can blindly stop looking toward the future. People that have proven expertise, can also stop looking for avenues to grow. It is a looming weakness that we all should consider. It is important to realize that meeting our goals, does not ensure our continued competence. Only a keen eye and professional development, can help us stay in the groove. So Ill pose these questions: What skill (that you possess) do you personally value most at work? Do you consider yourself to be highly competent? Have you paused to critically examine your performance in this area recently? Can you identify a component of this skill set that could improve? How would you improve? What actions would you take? I challenge you to look at your own skills critically and find a strategy to stay skill healthy longer-term. What did you identify? Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist and workplace strategist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Talent Zoo, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

Using Resume Writing Budgets

Using Resume Writing BudgetsIn a tight job market, it is essential to make use of resume writing budgets. Resume writing budgets can be used to ensure that your resume is impressive, timely and competitive. The goal of every resume writer is to make a good impression on the prospective employer and to ensure that you stand out in the crowd.When it comes to designing a resume for a specific budget, it is important to consider who you are targeting. A good resume will look professional if it does not seem like it was written for an expensive product. Make sure that the information on your resume is relevant and meaningful, without sounding too unprofessional. This will help to keep the reader interested and focused on your resume, which is also a reflection of your character.A long-term strategy is best when creating resumes. You should plan on having a portfolio, which contains samples of your work. Use these samples to select only the most desirable resumes and eliminate any that wer e not appropriate for the price point you were planning to target. The perfect resume will not just appeal to one employer, but to all prospective employers at the price you are aiming for.You can use resume writing budgets to place your resume on a wider list. Whether you are looking for a full-time or part-time position, you can take advantage of your resume in various marketing and employment networks. These networks include: alumni associations, career fairs, trade shows, promotional events, network memberships, co-op programs, loan and scholarship offers, as well as other networking opportunities. Using your resume in these venues will provide you with a more widespread base and you will increase your chances of being hired.A well-written resume will get you in front of the first person that contacts you for an interview. Potential employers are more likely to view you as a potential hire if they feel you have a professional and properly prepared resume. Resume writing budgets can be utilized for high-paying jobs but are also useful for part-time jobs.One of the most popular resume writing budgets is the idea of hiring a freelancer to create your resume. The person or persons that you hire can use the resume to make a very good impression. You can also request a resume writer to review and edit your resume before submitting it.With a portfolio, you can check their previous work, contact them and get more information about their work. You can also find the resume writers by doing a search in online job databases and using certain keywords. You may find several freelance writers who specialize in different resumes, but some work more than others.Resume writing budgets can also be utilized in combination with media. One example is using video and screencasting techniques to promote your resume. Online media is also a great way to distribute your resume. You can also apply your resumes to newspapers, journals, magazines, radio and television shows to get the message out about your career.

What do Recruiters Want to see in Your Resume

What do Recruiters Want to see in Your Resume If you’re looking to land your next big career move, you’re going to need an impressive resume.But what exactly do recruiters and employers look for when reviewing resumes? What details are they interested in, and how do they want the information presented?If you want to wow recruiters with your resume, then try including some of the following features.Simple structureevalWith most recruiters having to review hundreds of resumes every week, it’s essential that your resume is easy to navigate and read.If your page structure makes it difficult for recruiters to skim your resume and pick out they information, they need; then you will struggle to land job interviews.Ensure that your resume is written in a simple font, with clearly divided sections and ensure that the text is broken up for ease-of-reading.Some good features to make your resume easy to read include:Bullet points â€" Readers hate big chunky paragraphs that are difficult to digest, so break up your role descriptions in to short sharp bullet points.Borders â€" Make the sections in your resume clear by cutting each one of with bold page bordersBold headings â€" Make sure that headings are bold and enlarged so that recruiters can easily jump to the information they need.Professional languageThe written language used throughout your resume should be professional, descriptive and grammatically perfect throughout.The language which you use in your resume gives recruiters an insight into your written communication skills and overall professionalism, so it’s important to get it right.Avoid using over simplistic language because it makes you appear vague and unprofessionalevalSo instead of writing a plain and non-descriptive sentence like this:“I was working for the boss and helping out with various tasks across the business”You can improve your writing and reword the exact same responsibilities like this:“Reporting directly to the manager, supporting a number of business critical admin functionsâ €evalThis sentence is much more descriptive and makes you sound like a professional.RelevanceOne of the most important factors that recruiters look for in a resume is relevance to the role they are recruiting for â€" however this is an area that is often overlooked by candidates.Proving your relevance to a recruiter is actually quite simple; you just need to show them that you have the skills and knowledge required to perform their vacancies.Start off by reviewing the job advert thoroughly and noting down the most sought after requirements for the role.Then ensure that your resume is highlighting those requirements so that they are instantly visible to recruiters upon opening your resume.If you are hiding any important requirements at the bottom of your resume, there is a big chance that they won’t get noticed.Impressive statsRecruiters love to see facts and figures in a resume because it gives them a real indication of the value you can bring to an employer.So try to include som e quantifiable and impressive achievements when writing your resume.The following figures are good examples of stats you can include, although they will vary greatly depending on your industry and profession.Generated 150 unit sales in 3 monthsResolved 95% of complaints in 24 hoursCut department spending by 15%ConclusionevalWhen writing your resume, it’s important to consider what recruiters want to see and how they want it presented. By including some of the factors above, you should be able to positively influence recruiters and land more job interviews.

Four Hiring Managers Secrets to Interview Preparation

Four Hiring Managers’ Secrets to Interview Preparation Four Hiring Managers Secrets to Interviews Congratulations! You secured a phone or face-to-face interview. Your odds of “winning” the job in this highly competitive environment just skyrocketed. Now, don’t blow it. There are books, blogs, videos, and more on how to ace that interview, including my own book, Cut the Crap, Get a Job! Right now, however, I want to share my top four secrets from the hiring manager’s side of the table. After interviewing thousands and hiring hundreds in big corporations and small start-ups, I want to help you come out on the top of the list after every interview. Ready? 1. Compare yourself to the Job Description that the hiring manager wrote. I recommend you do this work before you apply so you can write a fabulous cover letter, but let’s fast forward to the interview. Take out a piece of paper (or open a Word document on your computer). Draw 3 columns in a table and add the following content in short bulleted points. Column 1: Major requirements from the job descriptions. Column 2: Your skills for that requirement Column 3: Stories or examples of how you performed that task. Here’s why this preparation works: Column 1 is the list of items that the interviewer needs to measure you against. Column 2 is your answer to, “Have you done this before?” Column 3 is the answer to, “Tell me about a time when you…” This is called a situational or behavioral interview question and it is becoming more common. 2. Prepare your answers to the most commonly asked interview questions. I still find it shocking to watch candidates stumble on, “What are your strengths?” or “Why do you want this job?” Write down your short answers to the following before you go into an interview (an entire cheat sheet for these questions and many more are free with my book): What are your greatest strengths? What are your greatest weaknesses? Tell me about yourself. How do you handle stress and pressure? Describe a difficult work situation and how you overcame it. Why are you leaving your current job? OR Why did you leave your past position? 3. The Interview Law of 3s. For your preparation for #1 and #2 above AND for any other questions asked during the interview, use this major trick, which will help you and the interviewer. The Law of 3s: For every question, you are only allowed no more than 3 short, concise answers. Think and talk in bullet points. If the interviewer wants more information, they will ask you. This rule will prevent you from babbling on and on, which we do when we are nervous. For the interviewer, you will come across more confident, self-aware, and prepared. 4. Prepare great questions for them! The interviewer is not the only one with questions; you should have several carefully considered questions for him or her. See an earlier Business Journal article where I give some examples. Again, congratulations on you securing a phone or face-to-face interview! Block several hours of time to prepare, follow the above tips, and you will do a great job. Contact me if you have any questions or challenges related to your career or job search.

Are You Shopping For A Resume Service

Are You Shopping For A Resume Service Therea a lot of discussion in marketing about todays consumer and the ways we are different than shoppers in the past. And it is true that todays shopper is different, but the reason is not that people have changed so much. Our choices have changed, giving us online options that were undreamed of before the advent of the internet. Having a lot of options is good if you know what you want and are ruthless about filtering down to the perfect fit. It can be frustrating to come up with nothing that fits, though, right? If you are trying to find the perfect fit in a resume service, it gets even trickier because you may not be sure of what you need or want. One thing to filter out in your search would be any resume service that isnt professionally certified. You are looking for the equivalent of custom tailoring and the expertise of the tailor really makes a difference here. That perfect fit is the result of getting measured and fitted for exactly what you need. The A La Carte Services  offer a basic list of services that can be purchased separately. Reading about each thing on that list will give you an idea about what is available in any good resume service. If all you need is one thing on the list, this is where to get it. The service will still be professional and customized for a perfect fit and you will have the one thing you need. If you need the equivalent of an entire outfit, theres even an option of customized packages to save you a little money.