The Problem With Job Interviews

The Problem With Job Interviews Check out this article by TechCrunchs Jon Evans: The Terrible Technical Interview The the tech interview is terrible? ALL JOB SEARCH INTERVIEWS ARE TERRIBLE. I remember going to an interview, after a two day training for job seekers, and thinking did the interviewer prepare in any way for this interview?  It was horrible. It was embarrassing (for the interviewer).  It was a waste of time. I remember the interviewer reading questions from a printout (thanks Google, five minutes before our interview!), and not really listening to the answers.  No eye contact, just reading the next question, then the next question. An interview is not a checklist task to just get through the questions it should be an engaging time to figure out if the person can do the job and will fit nicely into the culture of the company/team.  But somehow we havent figured this out very well. We let things discrimination and stereotyping get in the way of the job search interview.  Sometimes how a person looks, or what they where, or how charming their smile is, will trump how anyone responds.  Ive seen this in real life. Jon proposes that the format of a programmers interview is scrapped, and they are tested with real situations to solve kind of like puzzles, from the work environment.  I read Jons proposal and think wow, that sounds intense.!  But heres the line that really caught me: Now, this  does  require one huge prerequisite: every candidate must have a side project that they wrote, all by themselves, to serve as their calling card. A side project their calling card.  In the creative world this might be considered your portfolio. Whatever you call it, I totally agree with Jon.  What can you point to that you have done/accomplished/figured out? This becomes part of your personal brand messaging.  Swap spots at the interview table for a minute and image that you have 10 final resumes in front of you and they all look kind of the same.  They all have similar education, similar years of experience, similar titles at similarly impressive companies they all look great, but none really stand out. Except one. The one who has had a side project, and talks about it.  Perhaps there is a website or blog where you can learn more about this person or their side project.  Where the other 9 resumes are just names on resumes, with nothing else to distinguish them, this persons resume stands out because you read a few blog posts, and saw pictures, and got caught up in the stories.  You read about their project and realized that they have skills and experience that didnt quite come across in the resume. You learned about their portfolio because they had one. Jon has a lot of great points, but this one stuck out the most. Whats in your portfolio?  What are your side projects that you can point to? The Problem With Job Interviews Check out this article by TechCrunchs Jon Evans: The Terrible Technical Interview The the tech interview is terrible? ALL JOB SEARCH INTERVIEWS ARE TERRIBLE. I remember going to an interview, after a two day training for job seekers, and thinking did the interviewer prepare in any way for this interview?  It was horrible. It was embarrassing (for the interviewer).  It was a waste of time. I remember the interviewer reading questions from a printout (thanks Google, five minutes before our interview!), and not really listening to the answers.  No eye contact, just reading the next question, then the next question. An interview is not a checklist task to just get through the questions it should be an engaging time to figure out if the person can do the job and will fit nicely into the culture of the company/team.  But somehow we havent figured this out very well. We let things discrimination and stereotyping get in the way of the job search interview.  Sometimes how a person looks, or what they where, or how charming their smile is, will trump how anyone responds.  Ive seen this in real life. Jon proposes that the format of a programmers interview is scrapped, and they are tested with real situations to solve kind of like puzzles, from the work environment.  I read Jons proposal and think wow, that sounds intense.!  But heres the line that really caught me: Now, this  does  require one huge prerequisite: every candidate must have a side project that they wrote, all by themselves, to serve as their calling card. A side project their calling card.  In the creative world this might be considered your portfolio. Whatever you call it, I totally agree with Jon.  What can you point to that you have done/accomplished/figured out? This becomes part of your personal brand messaging.  Swap spots at the interview table for a minute and image that you have 10 final resumes in front of you and they all look kind of the same.  They all have similar education, similar years of experience, similar titles at similarly impressive companies they all look great, but none really stand out. Except one. The one who has had a side project, and talks about it.  Perhaps there is a website or blog where you can learn more about this person or their side project.  Where the other 9 resumes are just names on resumes, with nothing else to distinguish them, this persons resume stands out because you read a few blog posts, and saw pictures, and got caught up in the stories.  You read about their project and realized that they have skills and experience that didnt quite come across in the resume. You learned about their portfolio because they had one. Jon has a lot of great points, but this one stuck out the most. Whats in your portfolio?  What are your side projects that you can point to?

The Best Way to Write a Resume in the First Person

The Best Way to Write a Resume in the First PersonWhen a new job seeker applies for a job, the first thing that they do is read through their resume and make notes about it. The first step in writing a resume is to understand how the language works. Writing a resume in the first person makes sense when writing a document that is for hire.First person jobs are those which take place outside of the document. Job candidates would not be interviewed in a first person document. It is usually for internal documentation such as checks and other identification documentation. This helps to keep the resume professional and the candidate feels more comfortable using the first person.When job applicants read their resumes and the marketability points are gone, it is time to make them more professional. One of the ways to do this is to change how the resume is written in the first person. It is good to have this in mind when writing a resume for a job where the purpose is to help you get a job. I t should only help you get a job.Job applicants should use this when they write the information for their resumes. When they ask for resumes or cover letters from their potential employers, they will know the formal nature of the document and what will be expected of them in it. To some job applicants, this is a turnoff. They feel they will be a jerk or they are being denied an opportunity because of their lack of professionalism.Their resume will be completely different than a resume for a job that does not require the first person to be used. It will be professional but not necessarily very professional. Employers know when they see a resume that is written in the first person that a particular candidate has no skill in that area. That is why the resume can easily be passed over.The best approach is to write a resume in a third person format. There are some places on the internet that do this and it is just one of the ways to write a resume effectively. There are also several e-bo oks and manuals that allow you to learn how to write a resume in this format.Focus on keeping the content professional and do not go overboard. It can help you get more job offers and in the end, more money. This is the best way to make your resume stand out above the rest.The resume that looks professional is the one that is created with a professional mindset. It is the way to make it so your resume will stand out. So, you should always focus on this when writing a resume for a job that will not require the first person format.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Workout

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Workout Are you seeing little to no results from your workout routine? You should make your workout sessions more productive if you want to see a positive change in your body. To start making progress in your daily routine, you have to tweak your workout program as much as possible. You can also boost your motivation with the following hacks: Strengthen your body with cardio For many people, cardio and weight training are separate events that happen at different times. However, you need to mix your daily strength exercises with cardio if you want to achieve faster results. Consider alternating your strength exercises with a 30-second sprint interval of cardio. Doing so will boost your growth hormones and metabolism, leading to faster changes. Train like an athlete Although having huge biceps is great for attracting a spouse, they will not contribute to your overall health. Instead of training like most bodybuilders, you should consider training like an athlete. Make sure that you include sprints and plyometrics in your daily training plan if you want to add variety and intensity to your workouts while increasing your overall fitness. Do compound exercises You need to try compound or multi-joint exercises, which engage many muscle groups simultaneously. Instead of doing isolated exercises that target specific muscle groups, you should switch to deadlifts and squats, because they increase your metabolic rate while burning calories. These exercises are great for people who prefer to have lean muscle. Bring a friend If you want to improve your results, you should have a partner who can hold you accountable. Moreover, a friend will make your gym experience more enjoyable, and you can challenge each other. A partner also provides encouragement during your routine to help you get the most out of your workout. If you miss a single day of exercises, your partner should hold you accountable by ensuring that you make up for it. Go heavy If you want to shed fat and build strength faster, you should consider lifting heavier weights, which ensures fewer repetitions. However, you should not start with the heaviest weight; start with a heavy but manageable weight and perform 15 reps.   As you get used to it, keep adding weight and reduce the number of reps that you are doing. Remember to work in an extra rep before you give up. Write it down You need to keep a record of the reps, sets, and exercises that you are doing during your workouts. Keeping track of your progress and goals will tell you how much you have accomplished and show you where you need to improve. With your records handy, it is quite possible to structure your workouts in a way that eliminates your weaknesses and plays to your strengths. Do not train, compete The reason why you are not seeing any results could be that you are looking at the workout sessions as a pastime activity. Instead, you should turn your sessions into competitions with a workout partner or yourself. Can you play any games? Consider joining a sports league that will allow you to compete with others. Moreover, you can come up with your own challenges in the gym then try to complete them as fast as possible. Wear the right workout gear Even if you work out by dancing, you need to wear the right clothes. Workout gear should fit perfectly instead of being too tight or loose. Are you a dancer? According to the owner of Just for Kix girls dance clothes; your clothes should not be too restrictive as this could affect your ability to move. Main image credit.

The Fastest Way to Get Promoted - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Fastest Way to Get Promoted - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Before you can get promoted you will need to do a few things. First and foremost … you need a plan. Part of that plan should include defining, describing and delineating what you do. This post is focused on one of the most important things you will need to get promoted.  Specifically …  your transition plan. Knowing what you do and how you do it is important.  Knowing how you will hand off your role to your successor is equally important. A plan that can be used to transition someone new into your old role so that you can get started on your new role. This is what I call the  One Folder Transition Plan or the OFTP. Note: This same principle applies if you are self-employed or even in a small startup. You need to plan to grow the business. Promotions may come in the form of hiring (or partnering with) new people. Do you have an OFTP? I first heard about this from a friend that was a helicopter pilot in Gulf War I. She had a single folder with all of her information that she left at the base. Not to be too morbid, but there was a chance that she might not come back. She wanted to make sure the next person to fill her role was ready to step right in. In a more traditional role an  OFTP  can serve to smooth the  process of  transferring to another team. It can make it easier for the inbound person to ramp up. It can also  provide peace of mind to the outgoing person … knowing that the new person can start smoothly. Your Plan Defines Where You Spend Time As you write your plan take the time to think it through.  Define the critical elements to be successful. Describe the people, processes and technologies you use to successfully execute your  role.  You can use three simple steps to insure you get the essence of your role and commitments. Distill Digest Disambiguate Repeat these steps as often as needed. Once you have the core elements of your role defined then you can move onto the transition plan. Which will be all that much easier because you have defined what you do and how you do it. These become the core elements of your OFTP. Documenting your role defines how you manage your time. Your documented plan becomes your plan of action. Anything NOT in your plan of action is, by default, not part of your plan and should not take up any of your time. As Danielle Morrill wrote about here … where she talks about I Don’t Do That Job Anymore What if you have everything you need right now? Even if you are happy in your current role its nice to have a document that you wrote that describes what you do. That defines what you value (at least at work). And describes what you have committed to in order to successfully fill your role. Possibly MOST important … it also defines what you CAN say NO to. The point is:  Have a plan. Even if you don’t need to use it right away. Do you have a One Folder Transition Plan?   Author: Jeff   is a veteran in the Enterprise Content Management industry. Over the past 20 years he has worked with customers and partners to design, develop and deploy solutions around the world. Jeff is currently the Director of Strategic Alliances at Winshuttle. He has worked for Microsoft, FileNet (IBM), K2, Captaris, Open Text, Kofax and Kodak. He speaks and blogs about ECM and the Intersection between Social, Mobile and Cloud Computing.

Information About Military Citizen Resume Writing Services

Information About Military Citizen Resume Writing ServicesIf you are about to enter the military career arena, it is important that you get the necessary information regarding the application procedures and criteria for employment. Military civilian resume writing services to help you get all this information in a more professional way. Here are some tips for military civilian resume writing services.First of all, as a service provider for military civilian resume writing services, you should consider several points before agreeing to work with someone. You need to know your ideal candidate's specialty and be able to effectively describe his work and responsibilities in an effective manner. Being vague and indistinct can be detrimental to your career. Additionally, you should be able to get a clear picture of the candidate's skills and work ethics.After evaluating all the aspects, you need to get back to your client and find out if he really needs your services. If you have a few cli ents already, you can put aside your list of possible candidates. But there are people who may need your services and you need to make sure that you can meet their needs. Sometimes, the top priority will be finding the best candidate in a field that you specialize in. The best candidates are those who are in the process of training and are not yet employed.To make sure that your military civilian resume writing services are up to the task, you should also provide references for any clients who are in search of such a service. You can refer to these references to the company in charge of their search. In most cases, the company will be able to provide them with referrals. You can then use the information in your resume.When you provide a client with a copy of your military civilian resume writing services, you should indicate the type of document that you will be providing them. There are many choices available in the industry today. Be sure to mention the need for a strong applicati on in the document that you give them. Remember that potential employers might want to interview these individuals. As such, the whole objective of the document should be to impress them.You should also give them information on the current employment status of the candidate that you are assisting. You should also mention the skills that he has developed through his training, and the experiences that he has had throughout his career. If possible, you can provide the number of credits that he has graduated in each academic field.Before sending your client's resume to the potential employer, you should check his credentials first. Once you have verified that they are legit, you can now start sending them their resumes. Always ask them to read the details on the document you are sending them so that they can prepare an updated version. If you want to, you can also make a few changes to the resume in order to give it a fresh look.Armed with this information, you should now be able to gai n the knowledge you need to be able to become a successful military civilian resume writing services provider. Armed with this knowledge, you will now be able to help more people with their application procedures and criteria for employment.

Envision a Successful Career in Product Design

Envision a Successful Career in Product Design Have you ever considered entering the exciting field of product design?Product designers use their ingenuity and talents to help devise new products for the marketplace and also enhance existing designs.A skilled product designer contributes value to the lives of other people. Whether the designer works on a simple problem or a very complex one, the results ultimately benefit society by making daily life better, happier or more convenient.evalIn fact, sometimes the very best product designs improve widely used everyday products. If you enjoy creative work, you may find this career irresistible!Product Design: A Brief Job DescriptionevalPhoto Credit -Pixabay.comToday, this emerging career appeals to people who love to improve the experience of many different types of products. Product designers transform the features of numerous items, from mobile phones and automobiles to industrial equipment and heavy machinery.A successful product designer draws upon familiarity with existing techn ology to implement creative solutions.This area of work encompasses four broad types of activities:Conceiving new designs;Crafting models;Producing prototypes;Testing products and new improvements.For instance, in close association with qualified engineers and model-makers, a designer may help develop written proposals for the creation of new or improved products. This work typically requires conducting an extensive market research, since the designer must operate within realistic budget parameters to generate cost-effective goods for commercial markets.A Product Designer’s Work DayPhoto Credit â€" Pixabay.comDuring a typical day, a product designer needs to rely on several tools. These frequently include sketches, drawings, three-dimensional models, and computer-enhanced plans.A product designer who seeks to improve upon an existing proprietary product needs to obtain legal permission from the product owners in order to make specified improvements.evalMany companies and startups hire product designers to help them develop new, creative designs for existing products and brands.Frequent Job ResponsibilitiesA successful product designer may spend time juggling a variety of daily commitments. This career frequently transpires in an office or a design studio, but may also require visits to workshops and factory production facilities.The multiple tasks that are undertaken by a busy product designer sometimes include:Meeting with clients;Working collaboratively with others as part of a design team;Drafting new concepts with the assistance of computer assisted drafting programs;Preparing samples;Helping to build prototypes;Conducting research into product materials;Assisting with product market testing campaigns, and more!Necessary Qualifications And SkillsThe backgrounds of successful product designers within specific industries sometimes vary widely. Extensive experience working within a particular niche, an advanced degree in an applicable field, or accredited c ollege-level academic degrees in industrial designing or engineering usually form the prerequisites for steady employment. However, breaking into this lucrative occupation may prove difficult.evalStudents who pursue formal degrees in the design field must often complete initial coursework in basic art and design principles as freshmen.Helpful courses to consider taking include:Principles of design;Sketching and drawing;CAD drafting;Industrial materials and processes;Production methodology;Design history and design movements;Engineering principles, engineering, and 3-D design modeling.Due to the competitive nature of this occupation, product designers must take steps to remain current in their field by reading, contributing to blogs, and following contemporary design trends.A skilled product designer must absolutely possess the ability to construct or contribute to prototype development. It often helps to network with other professionals in order to enhance your business contacts and opportunities.evalCareer AdvancementMany manufacturing companies and professional design firms hire product designers as employees. Frequently product designers with successful track records decide to work independently as inventors or consultants. Some even establish their own design studios.Building a great portfolioand networking assist many independent product designers. Some practical ways to obtain greater career recognition include:Attending training workshops and industry conferences;Participating in trade fairs;Creating product exhibitions;Accepting unpaid work in exchange for favorable publicity.Employers may require product designers to attend in-service training or continuing educational classes in order to maintain currency within specific fields.Your Product Design CareerA career as a product designer may offer great personal satisfaction, as well as lucrative income. By gaining a solid educational foundation and then pursuing your career objectives consistently, youâ €™ll stand the best chance of succeeding. Many full-time designers focus on niche areas and work to expand their expertise within specialized markets.

Busy week - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Busy week - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Ive got a busy schedule this week so expect sporadic blogging at most for the next few days :o) Wednesday Im facilitating two sessions at Samtalerne, a conference about conversations and how they apply to the business world. Thursday and friday is of course time for Reboot8. I will present a session called Lets take back politics thursday june 1 at 17:45. If youre coming to Reboot, please join me for a talk about how we can create true democracy using simple, already proven technologies and processes. 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

Career Corner How to Make the Most of Your Career Networking Opportunities Part I - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner How to Make the Most of Your Career Networking Opportunities Part I Are you just out of college, or have you been working for a little while but havent quite found your career niche yet? If so, then youre probably no stranger to the Career Fairs or other networking events that everyone always seems to be talking up. Are they worth it? Should you keep at it? What should you do at these events to help make a stronger impression? Here are some tips to make the most of these events: 1) Get clear on what youre looking for. What kind of job or opportunity do you want? Keep it short and sweet so you can communicate it easily. Practice that as your elevator speech for meeting new potential employers or future colleagues. 2) Tell everyone youre looking. This includes friends, family, fellow students â€" even professors. You never know who might know someone in the field youre interested in. Keep your resume updated and your business card handy if you have one, so that when an opportunity arises you can easily pass this information along. Stay tuned on Thursday for 3 more tips on how to make the most of your career networking opportunities. Heres to finding a career you love,