âDescribe what youâre most excited about at workâ is a unique interview question that many candidates arenât prepared for. While it might not seem hard to answer from afar, itâs deceptively tricky to deal with on the spot. This guide will teach you how to come up with an impressive response that makes the interviewer […]
The post Answers To Describe What You’re Most Excited About At Work appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Job search is exhausting! Instead of taking a break, try new approaches and strategies. And as we head into the summer months, many job seekers are thinking about taking a break. Instead of putting your job search on hold, dial it back. Decrease your job search activities to part-time status, limit the activities you find […]
The post Summary Sunday: Issue 526 appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Many organizations are continuing to tighten their financial belts. The IT budget is normally pretty substantial so itâs becoming more critical than ever to maximize those technology investments and return on investment (ROI) to position yourself for long-term success even in challenging economic conditions.
Technology needs to align with the business, so make sure you understand the business goals and needs. Talk with your business partners to understand their pain points, challenges, and opportunities. What are their strategies and priorities, and how can technology make an impact on achieving those goals? Itâs more effective when the organization doesnât operate in silos so if some groups do take those individual inputs, they should engage with business partners collectively (such as with finance, operations, and marketing) to incorporate their insights and perspectives so that you have a comprehensive understanding.
External sources can also provide valuable information. You can attend conferences and read trade magazines to stay informed about emerging technologies and industry trends. Leverage industry trends and benchmark studies such as Gartnerâs Magic Quadrant reports providing a comparison of different vendors to help align the vendorsâ strengths and challenges with your organizationâs needs.
There are many different strategies you can use to maximize your technology investments, drive operational efficiency, and specifically achieve cost savings.
One strategy is to start off by conducting a technology audit. (Note: It may be beneficial to consult with Internal Audit who can be a business partner with invaluable insights.) Create an inventory of the key areas including software (both on premises and in the cloud), hardware, network infrastructure, and security. Once you complete the inventory, review and assess these areas to gain an understanding of the environment. Then develop an action plan that identifies specific changes, timelines, and resources needed. Some considerations are:
1. Rationalize and consolidate systems. Identify areas that have redundant, underutilized, or outdated technologies. Eliminating underutilized software licenses or retiring unnecessary components can result in cost savings by reducing licensing and maintenance costs. For example, ensure that youâre not paying for Adobe cloud-based subscription licenses for terminated employees.
2. Evaluate new technology initiatives based on their potential impact on revenue generation, cost savings, operational efficiency, or risk mitigation. Workflow automation and robotic process automation (RPA) solutions can streamline processes or automate repetitive tasks, which will improve operational efficiency. Plus, when you automate these types of tasks, you minimize errors and reduce manual effort, which allows those resources to do more value-added tasks.
3. When reviewing different solutions, consider the cost expenditures (capital vs. operating), risks (including data security and privacy), as well as scalability. You want to ensure the technology can accommodate evolving business requirements, emerging technologies, and future growth.
You can prioritize any changes or new technology initiatives based on urgency and the potential impact on business goals and needs. When implementing those new initiatives, donât forget to capture the âlessons learned.â Evaluate the technology initiativesâ ROI and key performance indicators (KPIs). And, last but not least, continuously monitor and improve to ensure the technology aligns with and meets the ever-changing business needs.
For more information on maximizing your IT investment for long-term success, follow me on LinkedIn!
I love working with recent grads in their job search. After 12 years in school, they are experts at learningâwhich makes teaching them easier. They’re like sponges. They learn and do. They have no bad job search habits, so teaching them is fun because I get to see their reaction when they get positive results for the first time.
The difficult part? Job search for college grads stinks right now.
I already knew things were bad. I deal with it on a regular basis when helping new grads find jobs. In fact, I can read their minds. That’s because, after graduation, there are four things that make graduates really, really mad. My job is to help them get past the anger and get hired.
If you know a recent college grad, please pass these 11 job search commandments on to them. If you are a recent college grad, take notes. These commandments are laws to live by in the next six months as you embark on your next big challenge: landing a job.
No two graduates are the same. Each has different skills, abilities, needs, and wants. Just because your friend gets a new job doesn’t mean he or she is better than you. Keep the blinders on and focus on your job search, not theirs.
Jealousy is a useless emotion that derails a job search. Besides, your friend might be able to help you get a job. It’s in your best interest to be genuinely happy for them!
Don’t delay your job search. Employers see it as acting entitled and lazy. Get in gearâright now! Trust me, you aren’t going to find a job in the next two weeks. And job search isn’t a full-time gig.
Carve out time every day to work on your job search and you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the summer. Before the temperature cools down, turn your job search success up! It’s about working smarter, not harder.
Your resume isn’t going to get you the job. Networking is.
Don’t waste time trying to make your resume perfect. At this stage in your career, there just isn’t that much you can put on it to impress employers. The “wow” factor will come from you being smart, articulate, and engagingâwhich doesn’t come through on paper. You have to meet people to make that happen.
Networking is the most powerful way to get hired. Yet most recent grads assume because they’ve never worked they have no one to network with. Wrong!
People love helping recent grads. Learn to “informational interview” and set up as many as you can. The sooner you learn to network, the sooner you get hired.
Most recent college grads feel they’re overqualified for many of the entry-level jobs posted. However, most employers feel you’re not, and may even have unrealistic expectations for an entry-level position.
The hard reality is you don’t have the work experience for anything but entry-level jobs. The sooner you take an entry-level job and work at it for six months, the sooner you can start applying to the more exciting jobs that are currently out of your reach.
While the entry-level job you take will not be your dream job, that’s okay because you won’t be there very long. You’ll either excel in the job and get promoted or get experience and be able to apply for a better job.
“Every job is temporary,” is one of our mantras at Work It DAILY, which is why you always have to improve and work on your career every day. Whether you’re looking for your first job or a new one, you need to keep that mindset. It will pay off, we promise.
The number one complaint corporate America has about recent grads is their perceived lack of professionalism. Read up on attire, attitude, verbal communication style, and so on. The more prepared you are, the better the first impression you’ll make.
The number two complaint corporate America has about recent grads is their poor written communication skills. Spelling, grammar, and so on.
Be very careful when writing cover letters, emails, and any other written communication related to your job search. One typo can get you disqualified!
You’ll apply to dozens of jobs and have as many as 10 interviews before getting an offer. There is a learning curve to getting hired, and it happens with practice.
Expect to get passed over for jobs and learn to cope with the rejection. The sooner you can pick yourself up and get back to the job search, the sooner you’ll get another interview and eventually an offer.
For the last four years, social media has been used for your enjoyment. Now, it’s time to use it for the job search.
Clean up the Facebook page and Instagram account, get yourself set up on LinkedIn, and study how people are using Twitter and TikTok to meet hiring managers. Use social media to build an online presence that when searched by a recruiter (and trust us, they will look you up online), what they’ll find is a recent grad who’s clearly ready to enter the workforce.
A strong social media presence can literally land you a job interview. Engage in best practices for social media to advance your career.
Getting your first job will be thrilling. I mean over-the-top incredible. That being said, refrain from posting the good news all over the internet and making it your first topic of conversation with friends. Why? Go back to commandment number one.
Remember: you’ll be surrounded by people who haven’t gotten their first job and will be jealous. Be the bigger person and keep a low profile on the new gig. Of course, if asked, you can share the good news, but do your best to redirect the conversation after that.
Show how humble you are. You just never know at some future date that person could remember your gracious attitude and be willing to help you get your next job because of it. The friends you make now will be the colleagues you network with in the future. Treat them kindly and it will pay off in the long run.
Follow the commandments above and your job search will be less painful and more effective. And keep this list handy as a reminder you will make it through. You can do this!
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Job interviews are typically your first chance to present your whole self to a company, so you want to put your best foot forward. It’s time to impress your future employer with your experience and personality!
In addition to having great responses to the interviewer’s questions and dressing to the nines, you need to think about…
People want to hire people they like and think they could work with, for obvious reasons. So, your likability level is a huge factor in the job interview/hiring process.
Employers want to know you’ll fit in with their “tribe” of employees. They don’t want to throw off their company culture by hiring someone who’s not a good fit.
Take steps to build rapport with your interviewer and meet people within the company. You’ll stand out in the hiring process even before you go in for an interview if you’ve already connected with a few employees on LinkedIn.
When answering interview questions, it’s important to communicate your thoughts clearly and confidently. Otherwise, you risk sounding unprepared or unconfident.
During job interviews, be concise and convey confidence when you speak. This is especially important when answering behavioral interview questions.
Remember, though, you want to come across as self-assured and humble, not overconfident and cocky. The best way to do this is by following the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model. Learning how to answer interview questions with this framework will help you effectively communicate why you’re a great fit for the position, both in terms of experience and personality.
Communication isn’t limited to speech. You need to be aware of your body language too. If you’re fidgeting, swiveling in your chair, slouching, or not making eye contact with your interviewer, it can make you seem unconfident and even untrustworthy.
Doing a mock interview with a trusted colleague is a good way to practice your answers to interview questions and perfect your body language. Are you sitting up straight? Are you making enough eye contact?
Your mock interviewer can give you feedback on what to work on so your body language doesn’t send the wrong message on the big day.
So, be aware! Don’t waste this precious opportunity to impress a potential employer. Make sure you go into job interviews knowing what you’re doing!
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Automation will shape the way we work and thrive in the years to come. The technological landscape is constantly evolving, and keeping up with that evolution is necessary for professionals, executives, and businesses if they want to stay relevant and competitive. So, how will automation transform employment, skills, and job market trends? How will it impact different industries and jobs?
We recently asked our leading executives what they think automation means for the future of work in their respective industries.
Here are their responses…
Automation is already here and impacting businesses every day. As a brand marketer, automation has been a game changer from chatbots to ChatGPT. In 2023, global marketing automation spending will reach $25 billion. At this point, itâs in your best interest to embrace these transformative technologies. Hereâs why.
Customer Insights and Personalization:
Automation platforms such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, and Tableau enable brand marketers to gather and analyze vast customer data in real time. This wealth of insights into customer behavior, preferences, and trends enables marketers to create highly targeted and personalized messaging, content, offers, and marketing campaigns. By leveraging tools that harness this data, marketers can deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time. This allows for continuous optimization and agility in adapting to changing market dynamics, ultimately driving better results, including increased engagement, conversion rates, ROI, and improved customer experiences.
Streamlined Processes and Efficiency:
Automation can streamline many routine, repetitive, and time-consuming tasks. Marketers can focus their efforts on strategic planning and creative thinking by automating data analysis, content creation, scheduling, responding to inquiries, product recommendations, campaign management, and even chatbot interactions with customers. Automation tools like HubSpot and Marketo allow for greater productivity and the delivery of personalized brand experiences at scale.
Improved Content Creation and Delivery:
Automation helps optimize content creation. Tools like Canva and ChatGPT simplify content creation and distribution for brand marketers. Platforms like Canva provide easy-to-use templates, intelligent image selection, and automated scheduling capabilities. Platforms like ChatGPT use cutting-edge AI technology to produce high-quality content at scale, saving time and resources. A study by Gartner predicts that by 2024, AI-generated content will account for 30% of the total content produced by enterprises. Automation streamlines content creation processes, increases productivity, and allows agile responses to market trends and consumer demands.
Human-Centric Creativity:
Marketers can harness the power of automation to streamline repetitive tasks and dedicate more time to creative thinking and ideation. Tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Hootsuite offer a wealth of inspiration, creative resources, and collaboration features that ignite innovation. Marketers can craft unique and emotionally impactful brand experiences by combining creativity with automation-driven insights.
Automation has the power to revolutionize the future of work for brand marketers. Itâs important to ensure that automation enhances rather than replaces human creativity and empathy, creating an impactful and authentic brand experience.
Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.
As a tech seller, I have found in recent years that traditional corporate decision-makers have been fairly slow to understand, cost justify, or embrace digital transformation even when presented with a clear business case. This has limited automationâs threat to the human workforce.
However, as decision-making has started falling to younger executives facing greater pressures to increase productivity and profitability in an app-for-everything world, NOT investing to automate low-value activities when there is a fairly rapid payback has become increasingly difficult to refuse and justify.
Fast forward to 2023 as artificial intelligence and machine learning models are coming out of the shadows of expensive, engineer-intensive, heavy applications into readily available, open-source everyday tech. I believe automation represents both an opportunity and a challenge for the modern workforce, determined through a workerâs initiative to stay relevant by learning about and embracing new technology in their industry and role.
A few measures will help workers proactively position themselves to coexist with technology in the workplace:
Whether learning from trusted content on YouTube, a masterclass, a paid course with a community of peers, a respected business book, or college coursework, make learning and personal development a priority.
Lynn Holland is a business development executive with 18+ years of experience taking operational, IoT & retail technologies, products, & consumer engagement to market with a focus in petroleum & convenience retail.
Workplace automation uses systems to perform predictable and repetitive tasks without human input.
Does this mean people will lose their jobs? Will automation further shrink the workforce?
I use automation all the time at the NFL in working in finance operations. I create macros in my Excel spreadsheets to grab data in one cell to use it in another cell to tell a story. I further use macros in budgeting and forecast modeling.
On the football field, automation monitors the game for many purposes:
Michael Willis has 18+ years of experience working with accounting & sports organizations and has managed P&Ls of $10M – $125M+ with budgets of $3M-$50M+. He worked for the NFL for 22 1/2 years, mainly with the game officials working on the financial/accounting side of the business.
In an era defined by technological advancements, automation has emerged as a transformative force shaping the landscape of work. As industries embrace intelligent machines and algorithms, the future of work is undergoing a profound revolution. I would like to delve into some key pros and cons of automation to navigate this transformative shift.
Some key pros of automation:
Some key cons of automation:
The question for each one of us is how are we preparing for it.
Ana Smith helps people & organizations achieve their full talent potential by developing and co-creating people strategies and customized solutions, and turning them into impactful outcomes and collaborative relationships, using coaching as the “red thread.
What do you think automation means for the future of work? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily’s Executive Program.
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, effective knowledge sharing within organizations is crucial for success. Implementing strategies that facilitate communication, collaboration, and continuous learning can lead to improved performance and employee satisfaction. Here are four actionable tips to enhance knowledge sharing at every level of your organization. Get Easy-to-Use Software in Place To enhance knowledge […]
The post How to Improve Knowledge Sharing at Every Level of Your Organization: 4 Tips appeared first on Jobacle.com.
If you’ve never been on LinkedIn before, it can be a little overwhelming. That’s why we created a 5-step quick guide for getting started on LinkedIn.
Take a look at our 5-step quick guide below and find out how to optimize your LinkedIn profile for career success:
The first step is to make sure your actual resume is updated. Once you’ve done that, then you can transfer the data to your LinkedIn profile.
You always want the information on your resume and LinkedIn profile to be the same. Recruiters and hiring managers like consistency!
Your resume is doneâgreat! Now, it’s time to start adding information to your LinkedIn profile.
Before you add anything, though, make sure you change your privacy settings so your profile activity isn’t visible until you’re done filling out your profile. You don’t want your connections to see every single change you make to your profile!
Need help with this? Visit LinkedIn Help for more information.
Once you’ve adjusted your privacy settings, you can start adding content to your LinkedIn profile. In addition to adding the information from your resume, you can showcase visual accomplishments like PDFs, online articles, and images. Keep your personal brand in mind!
Warning: No information on your profile is suspect, but too much is overkill. Do your best to balance it out and include the must-haves.
After you’ve added your information to your LinkedIn profile, you must go through and optimize it so it’s easier for people (employers, recruiters, and connections) to find and read.
Recruiters and hiring managers conduct keyword searches based on skill sets. Your goal is to optimize your LinkedIn profile with specific keywords that relate to your skill sets so you show up in their results.
Once you’ve properly optimized your LinkedIn profile, you’ll start to get a lot more views from recruiters and hiring managers.
After optimizing your profile, you need to keep it fresh. The more you participate on LinkedIn, the more it rewards you. It puts you in searches, finds relevant people you can connect with, and so on. So, you should make sure that you’re an active user on a regular basis.
“The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it,” says J.T. O’Donnell, Work It DAILY’s founder and CEO.
Make an effort to update your information monthly. You should also be active on a daily basis by sharing articles, participating in groups, and keeping up with your connections. This is the surest way to build your personal brand and stand out to recruiters on the platform.
By following these five steps, you’ll be off to a great start on LinkedIn!
Need more help with your career?
Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
âWhat type of work environment do you prefer?â is a common job interview question that you need to be prepared for. Your answer will be an indication of how well youâll fit and perform, so interviewers will be paying close attention to what you say! This guide will teach you how to prepare a response […]
The post What Type Of Work Environment Do You Prefer? Answer Tips appeared first on Career Sherpa.
How often have you said, âIf I only had more time,” or âI wish there were more hours in the day”? We say that often implying that, if we had more time, we would get the rest we need or slow down to a more normal pace.
But chances are if we did have more hours in the day, we would immediately fill them up with more things to do instead of creating the space we need to take a much-needed break.
We don’t really need more time in the day. What we really need are strategies to better manage our time.
The concept of time management is not new: most of us have schedules, planners, and reminder notes aplenty. What’s lacking though is the prioritization, decisions, and boundaries needed to ensure the schedule works not just for your job, family, friends, and commitments, but for you as well.
Too many professionals put time for themselves last on the list. Here are three time management tips that will help you achieve a better work-life balance:
Effective time management begins with setting priorities. Start by making a list of all the tasks you have to do this week. Once you’ve got a completed list, go back to the top of your list and add your name. If your name or doing something for yourself was already on the list, give yourself a pat on the back and make sure it is at the top.
If you don’t start setting aside some time for yourself, it’s easy to keep working non-stop. And while you may get a lot done at first, eventually you’ll burn out and your work and personal life will suffer. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance should always be a part of your priority list.
Now that you have your list, you have some decisions to make. Unless you’ve done a really good job of filtering, you probably have a list that is way too long to be realistic.
Make the first decision to carve out time for yourself. It doesn’t have to be a big chunk of time to start with. Try setting aside 15-minute blocks of time for yourself. Use the time to walk, read, take a nap, or call a friend. Make a list of things you can do in 15 minutes. That way, you don’t spend your block of time trying to figure out what to do.
Other decisions: decide on the number of things that are number one priorities. Will you have two or four things that must get done? Choose what you can realistically handle. That does not mean you won’t get to other things; it just allows you to take some of the pressure off that comes with feeling like you have to do everything now.
Please note this is not procrastinating. You’re not putting it off out of avoidance or fear. You are wisely taking control of your clock and taking care of yourself.
Look for ways to set healthy limits in your relationships. This includes relationships at work and with friends. It also means setting limits and keeping promises to yourself. Most of us wouldn’t dream of breaking a promise we made to someone else, and if we did, we’d spend at least a week beating ourselves up about it. But we break promises to ourselves all the time, crossing the boundaries we’ve set for ourselves.
While it’s true no one gets more than 24 hours in a day, we still have power over how productive we are by managing our time.
Managing time is more than just the ability to lay out an organized schedule. True time management means setting priorities that communicate clearly what’s really important, making wise decisions that help set realistic goals, and setting firm boundaries that allow us to keep the promises we make to ourselves and others.
Need more help with your career?
Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
A diverse and inclusive workplace is one where all employees feel safe, respected, valued, appreciated, and empowered. In today’s world, an inclusive workplace is essential for business success because inclusion improves team performance, productivity, and innovation through connection and a sense of belonging. How can leaders create and foster inclusion in the workplace for better employee satisfaction and business success?
We recently asked our leading executives how they foster an inclusive workplace.
Here are their responses…
As a leader, creating and fostering an inclusive workplace is crucial for ensuring a diverse and harmonious work environment where every employee feels valued and respected and has equal opportunities to succeed. This is a framework that I have used to promote inclusivity in the organizations/teams that I’ve led, and had been part of:
Remember, creating an inclusive workplace is an ongoing process that requires continuous effort, education, and commitment from leadership. By following this framework and making diversity and inclusion a priority, you can foster an environment where all employees feel valued, empowered, and able to reach their full potential.
Ana Smith helps people & organizations achieve their full talent potential by developing and co-creating people strategies and customized solutions, and turning them into impactful outcomes and collaborative relationships, using coaching as the “red thread.”
“Who and what is most important to you as a leader? Why does an ‘inclusive workplace’ matter to you? How would you know if you had one? Where do you feel included (where do you not feel included), personally?”
These are the questions I would ask any leader who wishes to have a more inclusive workplace. Words are labels. We must dive under the label and describe what we want, what we don’t want, and what we would see and hear (maybe even FEEL) under each condition.
This reflective work is a prerequisite to implementing any programâespecially an inclusion program. The steps of a program are less important than the WHY and the motivation for undertaking the effort. For instance, a CEO who begrudgingly carries out an inclusion plan to appease her board of directors will have vastly different outcomes than a small-business owner who invites employees into his office on a routine basis and solicits feedback about their experience as an employee.
Leaders make the weather. What weather do you create at work for those around you?
Kirsten Yurich is a former CEO and current Vistage Chair. As a clinician, professor, author, and executive, she leverages this unique blend and creates learning environments for executives to become better leaders, spouses, and parents.
What does inclusion in the workplace mean?
Inclusion in the workplace means ensuring every employeeâfrom vast backgrounds and demographicsâfeels a sense of belonging and appreciation.
People of all different races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations can work together.
An inclusive workplace makes space for the people who make up the workforce to celebrate who they are without ridicule or judgment.
Working at the NFL, particularly in New York City, I have been exposed to a wide range of diversity in the workplace. There are many races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations in the office, and the NFL does a great job of embracing groups of all kinds.
The NFL embraces heritage months and recognizes food cultures in the cafeteria. The league allows time off for employees to celebrate religious holidays and events.
We have a long way to go when it comes to this topic. But we can:
Michael Willis has 18+ years of experience working with accounting & sports organizations and has managed P&Ls of $10M – $125M+ with budgets of $3M-$50M+. He worked for the NFL for 22 1/2 years, mainly with the game officials working on the financial/accounting side of the business.
In todayâs diverse and interconnected world, creating an inclusive workplace is the right thing to do and a strategic imperative for organizations. As a leader, you can shape the culture and dynamics of your immediate work environment. Promoting inclusivity can create a space where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered. Here are various things I do to foster an inclusive workplace within my marketing department:
Fostering an inclusive workplace within your department requires conscious effort and dedication. Remember, building an inclusive workplace is a continuous journey that requires ongoing commitment and active participation from all team members.
Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.
How do you foster inclusion in the workplace? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily’s Executive Program.
Owning and operating a small business all by yourself can be a dream come true, but if youâre unlucky, that dream can quickly turn into something of a nightmare. There may be a fire, your equipment might break, or a customer may sue you. All of these are possible, even if you operate a one-person […]
The post Top Must-Have Insurance Policies for Small Businesses appeared first on Jobacle.com.