Boost Your Job Search with these 4 Lessons from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Sterling Career Concepts

Boost Your Job Search with these 4 Lessons from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Boost Your Job Search with these 4 Lessons from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu At first blush, conducting a job search and training in a martial art do not have much in common, but there are parallels between the two when you stop to think about it. Some readers may remember my earlier post about what job seekers could learn from Muay Thai kickboxing. Now, I’m asking you to hit the mats with me and consider how the process of training the ‘gentle art’ of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu relates to progressing through a job search: Photo Courtesy of Dan Eric Photography 1.  Remain calm. When sparring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, one of the first things you learn is that you must remain calm to be effective. If you’re calm, you think more clearly and make smarter decisions. The same goes for your job search. If you begin to get spooked from the pressure, you may start making decisions you otherwise wouldn’t have. Stay focused on your value to a potential employer, your worth in the marketplace, and your end goal. Find a healthy release for your stress (might I suggest martial arts) and then move on. Don’t let the stress build up inside of you. 2.  Look for opportunities. There’s much strategy involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which is often called a game of human chess. You have to look for your opportunity to transition, sweep, escape, or attack for a submission. Timing is everything. This applies to your job search as well. A smart strategy is to offer assistance in order to receive it back. Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to network, offer assistance, or make an introduction, and keep in mind that networking is exponential: it’s not necessarily who you know, but who your contacts know. Always be looking to expand your reach. 3.  Be efficient with your energy. When you spar in Jiu Jitsu, you quickly realize the benefits of using your energy wisely so you don’t gas out before the end of the round. If you explode out of the gate and put all your energy into the first minute or two, you may not have enough energy later when you need to complete a sweep or escape a position. Similarly, there’s times when abandoning a submission attempt is smarter than burning through your energy trying unsuccessfully to finish it. When conducting a job search, the same concept applies. Pace yourself and prioritize how and where to spend your time. If you dive in the first week or two and blast your resume out to every posting within your reach and email every contact in your directory, you’re not approaching the process very thoughtfully, and you’re likely to burn out quickly or become disappointed from the lack of results. Similarly, learn when to cut your losses and move on if you’re pursuing a job target with no luck. Conserve your energy and develop a plan of attack, with the goal of making it through ‘til the buzzer â€" which, in this case, is a job offer. 4.  There’ll be not-so-good days. You’ll have good days and bad days with almost everything, and that includes training Jiu Jitsu and conducting your job search. Have confidence that the good days will outnumber the bad days, but be prepared for the occasional frustration or two. Have a support system in place, including someone who can serve as your sounding board or reality check, and remember that the best way to combat a tough day is to simply get back on the horse. In Jiu Jitsu, that means getting right back on the mats to train again. In your job search, that means picking that phone up to make one more networking call, researching one more company on your target list, or setting up one more informational interview. Both activities boil down to a numbers game â€" time spent on the mats training and time logged in job search-related activity. Both require commitment and motivation and are rewarding at the end of the day. If you’re feeling stalled, nervous, or frustrated in the midst of a job search right now, contact me today to learn how I can help and if you also train Jiu Jitsu, drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you as well. Oss!

How NOT to ask for help with your job hunt -

How NOT to ask for help with your job hunt - Youve heard it over and overâ€"networking is key to helping you find a job. You may not know that asking everyone you see to help you land an opportunity could be one of your worst job-hunting mistakes. Why? Most people have no idea how to help you. Of course, they want to assist, but without your specific guidance, they dont always know how to proceed. Here are a few ways you should not ask for help, plus some better suggestions of what to do: 1. Via an email blast. Do not send an email to 100 of your closest friends explaining youve just been laid off and are open to considering jobs in the following 15 or 20 industries. Do this instead: Create a short list of places where youd like to work and the types of organizations that interest you. Send individual emails to people who might be willing to assist. Include a personal note in each one, and gear each email to inspire a reply. For example, I know you are so well connected at X company, I hope you will be able to suggest a senior-level manager in the Y area who might be willing to meet me to have a casual conversation. 2. Hello, nice to meet you, I am looking for a job. You know people who attend networking events with a metaphorical flashing letter J for job seeker on their chests. Do this instead: When you meet a new contact, tell that person about your expertise and do not ask for help. Treat each new interaction as an opportunity to provide resources to the people you meet without asking for anything in return. 3. Would you pass my resume along? How often have job seekers handed a paper resume to a friend or contact? Do this instead: If possible, find out how the company prefers to handle referrals. Many organizations prioritize applications via their current employees; others even give a finders fee or other bonus if they hire someone an employee recommends. Sometimes, you can learn about these incentives via a little sleuthing on the company website. Dont leave anything to chance. Make sure to follow up to be sure you get the referral you need, and ask for an introduction to the hiring manager, so you can follow up yourself. Read the whole post at U.S. News World Report photo by katypang

Work Searching - 3 Steps To Get Through The Application Process

Work Searching - 3 Steps To Get Through The Application ProcessWhy would a candidate leave the job of their choice after just two weeks on the job? How does one overcome this kind of head-down approach to job hunting? The following are some practical steps you can take to overcome job angst and enhancing your career prospects.Don't Be Quixotic - The toughest thing about doing a job search is not that you have to make a lot of contacts, but that you have to cut them short. So always keep in mind the fact that you are going through job applications and that you do not want to be the one person who decides to leave on your resume. If you are very confident about your skills and abilities, that's great. But if you find it difficult to make those contacts for fear of being cut short, then do not make the first move.Allocate Time - Since it takes a lot of time to accomplish job hunting, you should be willing to plan out your time for the search. Make sure that you start early. The Internet and online classifieds are an excellent resource to help you find your place in the work force.Applying for jobs can be intimidating, especially if you have applied for dozens of positions over the years. But be assured that you will succeed. If you feel that you are an untrustworthy candidate, you may choose to stay in the position for a few more months.Be confident in your resume - These days, the most common reason why a candidate leaves their job is because of a poor resume. Your resume has to not only highlight your skills and talents, but also be filled with skills, educational background, and employment history.After completing your resume, it's important to add some time entries in order to provide a clear picture of you to your prospective employer. For example, if you work from home, be sure to include that information in your resume as well.There are some steps you can take in order to make the job search a little less daunting. You may also want to consider doing a litt le extra research before making the first move. These tips should help in getting through the job hunt and making the job of your own.

Wyclef Jeans Biggest Money Mistake Giving Away His Money

Wyclef Jean's Biggest Money Mistake Giving Away His Money If anyone on Earth is familiar with the extremes of money â€" poverty and wealth â€" it is Wyclef Jean. The famed musician, who founded The Fugees, along with bandmates Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel, overcame humble origins in Haiti to become a global superstar. For the latest in Reuters’ “Life Lessons” series, we talked with Jean about what he has learned about money. Q: Who was your biggest influence growing up in Haiti? A: My papa and mama left for America when I was one, so I was actually raised by my grandmother for a few years. She was incredible and very wise. We were very poor, but she made sure we never felt it. We didn’t have anything like Disney World, so when the rains came, she let us go outside and run in puddles. That was our amusement park. Q: What was your first job? A: I used to get five cents for doing chores for people in my village. Sometimes I would milk cows, sometimes I would walk the cows from one area to another, sometimes I would go to the well to get water for my neighbors. I started working literally when I was six years old. Q: When you came to America at age 10, was it strange to move from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the wealthiest? A: It was definitely culture shock. I ended up at one of the worst housing projects in New York City, in Coney Island, but to me it seemed like everyone was rich. Remember, I was coming from Haiti, where my house was a hut, there was hardly any electricity, and for light, we used oil in a lamp. Q: Once you became a success in the music world, what did you learn about handling money? A: Your business manager is one of the most important people in your life. When you are young and making money for the first time, you want to buy everything, like fancy cars. Your business manager has to be the bad guy and tell you to wait. Q: Did money change the people around you? A: At first, you feel like you have to give everyone money, and you automatically become a bank for a certain number of people. That is the biggest mistake I ever made. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t give anyone a penny. Instead, I would say, ‘Bring me a business plan of something you want to invest in.’ I had to learn how to say ‘no’ when people ask for money. Q: How do you decide what philanthropic causes to support? A: The name ‘Fugees’ stands for ‘Refugees,’ so that is a cause that has always been close to my heart. So many friends and family made their way over the seas, from places like Haiti and Cuba, to start new lives in America. I have performed in support of refugees many times, whether for Tibet or for Africa or for Haiti. Q: You had some troubles running your own charity. What did you learn from that? A: The tricky part is that when you are using your name, no one cares who the charity’s CEO or president or accountants are. Any scrutiny that goes down, it goes down on the celebrity. We had some accounting problems, we fixed them, and at the end of the day, you have to move forward. What I learned is that the person you put in charge has to be accountable for every part of that foundation. Q: What money lessons have you passed along to your daughter? A: My wife and I actually have to tell her to save her money. She is always giving it away, for things like cancer benefits or shoe drives. It dates back to when she was four and I brought her to Haiti, to one of the most dangerous slums in the world, where she handed out Christmas gifts. For a dad, it is the best feeling in the world to see her give back. Q: Haitians love proverbs. What is your favorite one? A: One of the greatest is something my dad taught me. It basically translates to, ‘Don’t bow down to anyone until you go to their funeral and see them rise from the coffin.’ In other words, no matter who you are, you are equal to everybody. Whether it is a king or queen or president, look them right in the eye.

4 Things The Executive Resume Needs To Impress - Work It Daily

4 Things The Executive Resume Needs To Impress - Work It Daily Apply these tips to the C-level executive resume to ensure a professional and polished look: Moving to the senior ranks at a corporation doesn’t happen overnight. It takes certain characteristics, skills, and experience to reach the C-suite. On the resume, there are certain things you have to do to come off well-positioned for the C-level executive role. Related: Get Your Resume Critiqued For Free Today! Some of the things you have to demonstrate, whether your aim is to become the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, or Chief Scientific Officer at a company is general leadership skills, strategic thinking, relationship-building skills, and execution skills to drive business. Apply these tips to the C-level executive resume to ensure a professional and polished look: 1. Executive Summary The executive summary is where you need to hit hard on the point of your value proposition as it relates to the position you are applying to. Whether you choose to go with paragraph form or bullet point form, think of 4-5 points you can work with that will position you in a way to show you have the experience and skills to do the job, as well as proof that you’ve succeeded in doing it well in your past experience. This is the section that will help distinguish you as the better candidate over the many other applicants vying for the job. For more tips on writing an Executive Summary for the resume, read: “4 Things You Must Have In Your Resume Profile.” 2. Core Proficiencies As a C-level executive, core proficiencies is not about your expertise in Excel to make the most outstanding pie charts. The core proficiencies you need to highlight are usually also keywords the employer and the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) look for to find the most relevant applicant. They will directly relate to your role like Global Strategy, MA, Employee Development, etc. Apply information on your areas of expertise that are absolutely necessary to succeed in the role, then position this section under the Executive Summary. Now the top half of your resume will be loud and clear on how you define the ideal C-level executive the employer is looking for. 3. Results No matter the executive role, it’s expected that anyone at the C-level will work towards driving the business so that it brings results to help the company succeed and continue to grow. If you’re not demonstrating you can deliver results, you’re not going to get the job. As you detail your experience on the resume, highlight key accomplishments and show the results and numbers that go with it. It is important to show performance against goals so just stating the revenues increased 10% does not really describe your performance. If the goal as an 8% increase and you delivered 10% then it is better to say delivered 10% revenue growth representing 125% of goal. For the really standout results, put these in bold so the information is easy to see. 4. Career Highlights By the time you reach the executive level, you probably have a lot of career highlights to showcase. Narrow the focus to highlight only the accomplishments that align with the needs and requirements of the company. The executive resume tends to run a bit longer considering the more years of experience, so you want to include only the most relevant information to avoid it from coming off overstuffed. The challenge with the C-level executive resume is that there’s so much more information to work with that you really need to know how to pinpoint what’s most important to the employer. You may have 25+ years of experience, but the immediate focus has to be on the last 10-15 years or you may come off outdated. When you do so and apply the tips above, you’ll have a winning C-level executive resume. Related Posts Top 6 Tips For Resume Formatting How To Transform Your Resume From Vintage To Viral The Right Resume Format To Get You Noticed About the author Don Goodman’s firm was rated as the #1 Resume Writing Service in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Don is a triple-certified, nationally recognized Expert Resume Writer, Career Management Coach and Job Search Strategist who has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Check out his Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call him at 800.909.0109 for more information. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

Hey, Fellas, Its Official Women Under 30 Are Coming For Your Jobs

Hey, Fellas, Its Official Women Under 30 Are Coming For Your Jobs Millennials and unflattering stereotypes go hand in hand. Yet while myths about millennials tend to paint the generation as lazy and entitled, particularly when it comes to their attitudes in the workplace, new research suggests that this cohort might be better characterized as driven and enterprising. This years McKinsey and Lean In survey, which The Wall Street Journal reported on this week, reveals that young millennials in particular actually express higher levels of ambition than older women. The survey gathered responses from 70,000 men and women and found that 60 percent of younger millennial women (under age 30) said that they aspire to be a top executive, while just 37 percent of older women said the same. Young millennial men also reported higher levels of ambition than older men (69 percent vs. 50 percent.) Casey Miller, a recruiting manager, can attest to this attitude and behavior shift. She told The Jou rnal that this year, when she observed intern presentations at Enterprise Holdings Inc., she noticed that female interns tended to spearhead their groups, while men were mora passive. The male interns werent concerned or giving it another thought, she said. It was very natural. Miller noted that in previous years, male interns were the ones to dominate and serve as spokespeople within their groups. Lisa Walden, who directs research and communication at consulting firm BridgeWorks, suggests that womens growing drive might be attributed to the fact that the 2008 recession clouded their formative years. She told the The Journal that younger women have seen how tipped the scales are and are showing up a little more guarded, but more ready to fight for that equality on day one, whereas the early millennial women had to readjust. Miller has noticed a similar increase in assertiveness among young women she says that during the interview process, theyre more likely to question employers abo ut gender equality and maternity benefits. LeanIn and McKinseys survey also found that like the ambition gap, the perception gap seems to be narrowing. For instance, 29 percent of young men and 22 percent of young women believe that managers confront biased language and behavior immediately, whereas 38 percent of older women and 23 percent of older men a much wider gap say the same. These trends seem to translate to home life as well, where young millennial men are much more likely than older generations of men to more equally share domestic work with their female partners.

Characteristics of Professional Resume Writing Services in Virginia

Characteristics of Professional Resume Writing Services in Virginia Dropping off your resume for work in person creates a statement. Someone may know someone who might know somebody whos currently on the lookout for employment. Its possible to also speak with those who have jobs, as some folks may be searching for new opportunities while being employed. Some peoples first jobs are as cashiers, whether its at the neighborhood grocery shop or in a shop at the mall. At the conclusion of your internship, ask the supervisor regarding the next steps you must take to get hired full-time by the organization. Resume CEOs website is user friendly, clear with their offerings, and job hunters who require assistance with interview skills will be pleased to hear that Resume CEO can aid with that as well. My job is to offer the customer with candidates with a documented track record of succeeding. It may be difficult to pinpoint just how you qualify for a different job because your duties can fluctuate. Job seekers want to select their newsletter subscriptions carefully to prevent inbox overload. You also have to explain why want the job. An employer would like to find that you recognize the challenges in a cashier position and that youre prepared to learn them. Contacting employers who might be reasonably predicted to get openings in work youre qualified to do, though that employer might not have listed any particular job openings, counts as a single job search. Get the Scoop on Professional Resume Writing Services in Virginia Before Youre Too Late Just take a notebook to your interviews and also maintain a notebook close to the phone where you could jot down important info, like the names of those who are interviewing you and their titles. Its helpful to generate a list of all your high school and college experiences. Help on writing your resume can be discovered on the Monster Career-Advice site. Professional Resume Writing Services in Virginia - Overv iew Otherwise, you may use a work objective or focus statement. Each resume should be tailored to the specific position youre applying for. You could also identify future opportunities of which you want to take advantage to demonstrate the way your desire to raise and improve in the new position. Ensure that your resume is printed with the suitable margin measurements, also. When you contact me, Ill ask several questions to acquire better comprehension of what youre going to be using the resume for. If you wish to get high excellent research and thesis papers punctually and for a sensible price, you should probably attempt using EssaySupply.com. With our custom made essay offer, you can be guaranteed to find any essay help youre looking for. In addition, The Modern Resume doesnt have any sample resumes available, which some prospective customers might need to see. Writing a resume can be challenging. List any expert writing or editing youve done. You may be able to acqui re an editing job, which can provide you experience directing the stream of writing as you search for a teaching job. Writing targeted, employer-specific and beneficial cover letters is one proven approach to do it.