Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Are You Properly Leveraging Your Retiring Boomers

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Are You Properly Leveraging Your Retiring Boomers Ive observed an interesting phenomenon. Condo sales in the town where my in laws live, West Palm Beach, were picking up. As someone who studies workforce trends, this is the opposite of what I expected to happen. The baby boomer generation, I thought, does not want to retire to Florida and play golf and mahjong all day. They want to stick around and keep contributing. It turns out I had only part of that right. Boomers want to keep contributing, but they are buying up the condos so they can do it from a pleasant and relaxing climate. And today, when I read Joe Scott’sBizJournalsarticle on boomer offboarding, I thought that perhaps we are finally starting to get it. Scott points out that the last employer in a boomer’s career invests significant dollars in training, salary, retirement savings matches, and in some cases, healthcare. Therefore, it really doesn’t make sense to hand them the gold watch and say goodbye. How about encouraging them to work “from the lake?” Retirees Are Talent for the Taking Most retiring boomers have every intention of starting encore careers from a diverse array of physical locations, so why not leverage our investment and their knowledge to prevent a skills gap and worker shortage in our organizations? Once they are respectfully offboarded from full-time employment, boomers can act as external contractors, using technology like videoconferencing andvirtual realityto work on individual projects, mentor employees, and advise senior leaders. As trusted resources that often have long histories with organizations, retired boomers are far less risky than brand newhires. This approach to boomer retirement sounds obvious, so it’s surprising how little it’s actually used. According to a 2013 Aberdeen report that was referenced in SilkRoad’sRhyme and Reason for Offboardingpaper, only 29 percent of organizations have an offboarding program in place, and only 10 percent of offboarding programs are focused on retirees. For more where this came from, check out the full post on the SilkRoad blog.

Learn How to Write a Resume Cover Letter

Learn How to Write a Resume Cover LetterResume cover letter templates are a convenient way to kick off the letter. Resume cover letters are a fundamental part of the job interview process. By writing a well-written letter, a candidate can easily land a job without having to put in any extra effort.One way to write a letter is to look at one that already exists. If you have a friend or a relative who works in a corporate office, this person might have written the letter for the head of a certain department. However, many of the employees work in cubicles, which is where the template came from.To write your own template, start by searching for templates on the internet. A template can be divided into sections: Subject, Body, and Headers. In these sections, you should identify the information you want to include in your letter.For example, if you are writing a letter to express your interest in a particular position, include personal information such as your name, address, and email add ress. Some resumes include this information on the cover letter itself. The important thing is to make sure that the information you put on the letter is meaningful. In addition, if you need to include a salary figure, make sure that it is not too low or too high.Some people like to add some facts about themselves, but be careful with this information. Some people like to speak about their hobbies and past jobs, but this may not be appropriate for the job description.When composing a resume cover letter, be sure to include only a few sentences on each page. These sentences should describe you as a person and do not exceed a few lines. Therefore, the letter should not look long.Include a little bit of information on the letter that is relevant to the position. Remember that employers prefer candidates who have at least a high school diploma. Write a brief paragraph about the school you attended and how you got the job.Generally, resume cover letter templates are available in Word for mat. You can download these templates for free from online sources such as Scribd.com.

Are You Building Your Brand With Integrity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Building Your Brand With Integrity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today was quite a day for hearing of and experiencing a variety of tactics that had me shaking my head in wonderment. I was wondering how these well known folks remain in business: 1. Took the money and ran without delivering services 2. Motivated less stellar performing clients with dead flowers 3. Hid monetary fees on the guise of an interview 4. Belittled a client who paid many thousands of dollars in front of the rest of the select few 5. Betrayed company policies after being elevated to multi-millionaire status with the help of the very same company! How long do you believe any of those outrageous behaviors named above will work in their favor? Your brand follows you I’m old enough to have witnessed those who for years seemed to get away with whatever they desired. Eventually their poor behavior caught up with them and did them in at the end. Each person is his or her own brand. Over time, the public will know what these people are truly about. The fame, glory and business will come to an end. Take a moment to consider everything you do for business. Is there anything you can tweak from approaches to meetings and concluding with the delivery of services? Are you always striving to build relationships and communicate honestly and fairly? Do you live up to your word and deliver in a timely manner on your promises? A great conversation open to begin on the right path is “You must be so busy, why did you agree to see me today?” Or if you are called to interview, ask, “You must receive so many resumes, what was it about mine that caught your attention?” In this manner you are beginning the conversation from their point of view and gets right to the heart of the matter. It is direct avoiding the perennial never getting to the end of the conversation such as the sale or the job. Equally important by beginning from the other person’s point of view first, you know how to position what you have to their interests. It serves to build the relationship and convert your prospect into a client. In fact every conversation thereon out should be from their point of view. Mid-way you shift by sharing your updates to what they just told you. Using this technique your revenue will increase dramatically. And after you make the sale, don’t disappear as so many do. Check in periodically â€" ask how often and they would like you to do so â€" and continue building the relationship. This will lead to repeat business, referrals and testimonials â€" the mark of a dynamic business. As far as being on a job goes, you need to continually sell to your manager. This will allow you to get requests granted and more likely be promoted if that is what you are after. Just as it is the little things that break up a marriage, so it goes for business. All of these details affect your business development and the perceived notion of you the leader. It will affect your job interviews and lasting employment too. Be of the mindset to move with integrity in all you do. Deliver the best customer service possible, and you will attract increased prospects, clients and sales. This is when you get to enjoy the Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC believes building relationships before the sale and continuing long after is the only way to sell and build a dynamic business. Elinor’s book, “Nice Girls DO Get The Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results,” in an International Best Seller. Her new book, HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself on Interviews, Career Press, based upon her own experience and years of community service proved profitable before it went into print.

11 Trade School Programs That Lead to High Paying Jobs -

11 Trade School Programs That Lead to High Paying Jobs - What if your own two hands could unlock a successful and high-paying job? Many people still think a traditional college education is the only key to a truly successful career. However, there are a number of trade school programs that offer valuable and practical skills you can start using right away. Wondering what trade school programs lead to high-paying jobs? Here are a few of our favorites! 1. Air Traffic Control Wondering who has the most stressful jobs? The answer: anyone responsible for the safety of thousands of lives. Thats what makes air traffic control both risky and rewarding. It only takes a few years of trade school training to learn this skill, but every day of those years is quite intense. Its worth it, though â€" these jobs typically pay more than $120,000! 2. Construction Management Our culture really clings to an if you build it, they will come mentality. And thats why there is a new building every time you turn the corner. And construction is a very complex field. Its easy for major projects to fall behind in schedule and/or go way over budget. Construction management training helps you take the reins on these projects. You save the industries and architects money and they pass it onto you in the form of a six-figure salary. 3. Elevator Industry Sometimes, the best jobs are the ones that come with true security. Take elevators, for example. They break down every day, and only true specialists know how to fix them You can go through a special training program from the National Elevator Industry Educational Program. Once completed, youll be able to repair and maintain elevators around the world. There is still an apprenticeship while you get licensed. However, you get paid the whole time, and can ultimately make nearly $80,000. 4. Computer Network Architect Another field with real job security is, of course, computer networking. And no one knows their way around that network as a computer network architect. Some architects have higher degrees, but you can enter into this field via trade school training. And with that training, you can design and interface with every level of computer networks. Furthermore, its not uncommon for this job to pay six figures. 5. CNC Manufacturing CNC Machining is another field that continues to grow. And no wonder â€" it involves manufacturing objects of any size for a variety of engineering and architectural needs. CNC technicians must understand materials and manufacturing as well as the computers and design programs used to create everything. That makes it very complex, but getting the training is worth it. These CNC specialists typically make over $75,000 each year! 6. Dental Support Staff We all know that dentists make a lot of money. But did you know that their support staff also makes a fair chunk of change? Dental hygienists can make over $70,000 a year, and dental assistants can use their on-the-job experience to climb the ranks. And getting training is easy when you take advantage of this unique community. 7. Applications Software Development The world runs on computer programs. Whatever problem you need to solve, theres an app for that. And somebody has to make those apps we love so much. And thats why Applications Software Development is such a robust field. Whether its creating all-new apps or modifying and maintaining existing ones, these developers make it happen. And with the right trade school training, you can make over $100,000 in this field. 8. HVAC Maintenance Ever think about the things we take for granted each day? Somewhere near the top of that list would be the air conditioner. The ability to control how hot and cold our homes are with the touch of a button is downright miraculous. But when the HVAC is having problems, that miracle becomes a nightmare! Thats why HVAC technicians are valued so much. When your air conditioning or heating is on the fritz, you can usually get a tech to fix everything in less than a day. These techs receive training through trade schools and certification programs. And they typically end up making over $60,000 a year! 9. Diagnostic Medical Sonography Doctors, like dentists, have very high-paying jobs. And like dentists, they are surrounded by highly-paid support staff. One example of this is diagnostic medical sonography. Technicians in this area are responsible for scanning our bodies and discovering what is wrong that is making us sick. Without that assessment, doctors could not do their jobs. Thats why, after getting the right training, these technicians can make nearly $70,000 per year. 10. Electronics Engineer You may not think that you can become an electronics engineer without a higher education degree. However, a surprising number of working engineers only have either trade school training or two years of formal education. In this field, you do a little bit of everything. You may be responsible for designing, maintaining, repairing, and modifying all kinds of machinery. Just about every business relies heavily on machinery. And if you are able to work with that machinery, you have job security for life! Those who become really established in this field can make over $100,000 per year. 11. Marine Engineering No matter how advanced we get with planes and self-driving cars, our society still relies on boats to transport people and goods. And as long as we need boats, we need marine engineers. As the name implies, you will be responsible for repairing and maintaining all kinds of boats under all kinds of weather conditions. And in return for this tough and risky job, youll benefit from solid job security and salary. After appropriate training and an apprenticeship, you could end up making over $90,000 in this field! High-Paying Trade School Programs: The Bottom Line Now you know about some of the highest-paid trade school programs around. But do you know where you can find even more info about how to get the job of your dreams? We specialize in helping people find jobs ranging from major careers to awesome side hustles. To see how we can help you land your next big gig, check out our job search articles today!

Tips For Writing a Resume

Tips For Writing a ResumeWriting a resume is one of the most important steps in applying for any job. A poorly written resume can be the first step in losing a job. There are some tips that can help you avoid making the same mistakes that others have made before you. This will make your resume more professional and will also ensure that you get a response from the employer that you are looking for.For the first thing you need to do is to spend some time writing your resume. Keep it professional but brief. Make sure that you mention your education and experience in your resume.Include your interests in your resume. If you have hobbies such as riding horses, playing golf or hiking, this is something that should be included in your resume. Don't forget to put hobbies and interests that are related to the job you are applying for as well.You want to make sure that you don't include personal information about yourself on your resume. Any contact information such as telephone numbers, emai l addresses of work locations is not necessary. It is important to keep your resume to only information that is pertinent to the position you are applying for.List all of your professional skills on your resume. Work experiences, qualifications, degrees, certifications and licenses are all important to employers. Include them as well as your hobbies and interests. It is a good idea to also list an abbreviated version of your skills.State your skills at different levels of experience. Make sure that you state your work experience on the top of your resume and then your education and experience on the side. You want to include all of the information that is relevant to the position that you are applying for.Highlight your achievements in your resume. You want to take a little time to write down what you did that was great. This will show your potential employer that you are a hard worker and a professional.Writing resume is just as important as writing an essay for a college or univer sity. This is the first impression that you are going to get from the employer. Make sure that you write a resume that is accurate and professional. This will give you the opportunity to get the job that you deserve.

Reading will Improve Your Productivity CareerMetis.com

Reading will Improve Your Productivity â€" CareerMetis.com Photo Credit â€" unsplash.comRecently I have become a frequent user of Public Transit â€" and though I am not surprised by the number of people who are glued to their smartphones- what really surprises me is the sheer number of commuters who only play games on their phones.Many years ago, when I was taking the transit, most people were either reading a novel or the newspaper. But looks like technology is changing all that. Maybe the games are easily accessible and they are simpler, so there are more gamers â€" I don’t know.I do not want to make this a rant on how people are reading less and less these days â€" I wanted to talk about how reading Let’s get to it. Here are some of the key benefits of reading non-fiction.1) Increased MotivationThere is a direct relationship between Workplace Productivity and Motivation. The more motivated you are about what you do for a living, the more you want to get to work and the more work you want to be done.I read lots of business sales book s; Most of these books provide specific examples of how someone overcame a complicated sales situation; or how a particular business owner/sales rep was able to break into a key account, and so on. When I am reading this, I actually feel motivated. It makes me want to apply those strategies to my business.In fact, it makes me excited to get to work and start applying some ideas. Let’s face it, Sales could become a grind and you can easily lose motivation â€" Reading helps me stay motivated. And when you are motivated to get to work and do your job, I don’t need to convince you that there will be more work done from you. Isn’t that an increase in productivity?2) New IdeasThe majority of North Americans read only one book a year. That is pretty sad, given the fact they spend about 30 hours a week watching TV, and most of that time in watching depressing news or reality TV How do they get the time? This is very important to them so they make time to read. Perhaps, that is the rea son â€" they started at the bottom and moved to the top. I am yet to read about a C-level executive, who mentions that he/she reached the top by watching TV.CALL TO ACTIONHere is what I suggest you should do if you want to become an avid reader Get a Kindle or a Library Card. If you are not a reader, this would be a logical first step. Visit a book store or library and just browse around. I am sure you will find something that you want to read. OR visit Amazon.com and browse the books- that should get you started.b) Depth:evalThe more you know about your field, the more motivated you are to thrive in that profession, the more effort you will put into it, and the more successful you will become. I work in Sales, so I read tons of books in Sales marketing â€" it keeps me sharp and motivated. I have once heard that reading 5 books in one particular topic establishes yourself as an expert in that field. Wow!!c) BreadthI encourage you to get exposed to multiple genres. We have a tendenc y to stick with one genre or one author. When you expose yourself to multiple authors, you gain different perspectives, you become more pragmatic (rather than narrow-minded). You are exposed to ideas you never thought of before. When I was younger I only used to read fiction (Sidney Sheldon was my favorite). I once stumbled across a book by Joe Girard on selling (and this changed my life). Since then I was fascinated by sales and I wanted to be in that profession. And I have no regrets about my career choice. If I hadn’t been exposed to the book author, I would have never found out what was an ideal career for me.I hope I have given you some motivation the rationale facts, to get off your couch and start reading (specifically non-fiction). I have given you examples of how reading has positively impacted my life. I am curious to hear your perspective. How has reading impacted your life and career? Share your thoughts.

Get my book, Happy Hour is 9 to 5, in Czech - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Get my book, Happy Hour is 9 to 5, in Czech - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I am very proud to announce that my first book, Happy Hour is 9 to 5, is now available in Czech. At the Happiness at Work Conference in Prague last week I got to sign a lot of them. You can buy the book in Czech right here. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

On Not Wanting To

On Not Wanting To Bloom Where You Are Planted by ParadaCreations Im here at the Coffee Shop on a Wednesday, and I should be happy. See, Wednesdays are reserved for me, my writing, a yoga class, and the afternoon in a coffee shop, which I appreciate and enjoy more than I should (I cant help it, I hate the word should but its totally appropriate here). I dont know if its the rainy/sleety weather here in NYC after a sneak peak of spring, or the ridiculously relaxed state my yoga class put me in, or the fact that I forgot my headphones and have to listen to That Guy make his business calls 3 feet from my facebut Im cranky. And tired. And I just dont wanna. So I complete my requirements of the day, which is really writing a guest post, tweaking an already-written article for another guest post, and responding to an interview for another blog. I look at the emails I can respond to, but it seems like an effort to even craft an answer. I open my book proposal and think of diving in, but its too tough to get my brain to work. I look to catch up on my blog reading, but my mind is going a bit haywire and I find myself skimming, not reading. Heres my conundrum. Do I sit here for another hour or so and write because Im supposed to? Because its Writing Day? Do I stay in the coffee shop because its a treat, even though it doesnt feel like one today? Do I give up and take a nap, because sleeping seems to be the only thing that appeals to me? Instead, I release the shoulds and the supposed tos and the plans, and ask myself what I want to do now. It inspires me to write yesterdays post, and follow it up with this one. Huh. Thats writing. Sneaky. Now, Im thinking of finishing this post and what I want to do next. Im thinking of packing up my stuff and heading home, and I smile. But what to do once Im there? I see myself going to the computer and responding to emails. Blech. I see myself sitting in my comfy chair and reading the paper. Better. I see myself setting the alarm for 15 minutes and shutting my eyes, playing some Ingrid Michaelson in the background and letting myself drift. Best. I know, then, that Ill open my eyes and feel refreshed. But if I dont? Then I will grab that paper, or call that friend, or work on my Right Brain Business Plan with its markers and its non-linear funness. I think of taking it easy, and how its still productive. I sometimes trick myself into thinking otherwise.