Are You Afraid of Success

Are You Afraid of Success LinkedIn for Job Seekers for $49.95 $25. Check out all the specials here. In yesterdays giveaway question I asked if you were not crushing int because you were afraid of success. Im not asking if you are afraid of FAILING, Im asking if you are afraid of SUCCEEDING. With success comes responsibility.  It might come in the form of money, or a title, or recognition, etc. Sometimes I look at stuff people do and wonder if they are intentionally doing wrong things because they are afraid of succeeding. Maybe the job seeker is afraid of getting the wrong job, even though they succeed at ending their job search so they do the wrong stuff. Maybe the business owner is afraid of getting that big sale, or growing their business to $x. Back in school it was uncool to get the best grades, so we didnt (I didnt, but not for that reason :p).  We were afraid of succeeding because it just wasnt the cool thing to do. But now, as an adult, as a professional, as a strong contributor to society, it IS okay to succeed. Are we still afraid of what success really means? If we are not, then why dont we change our actions so that we are positioned to succeed? One of my favorite sayings is right in front of me it was a gift from Heather Gardner when I spoke at her company: what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? When I start out on projects that perhaps should fail, I read that and forge on.  How about you? (if this makes any sense to you, read Janet Thaelers post Whatever Your Fear Tells You Do the Opposite (Seth Godin)) Are You Afraid of Success LinkedIn for Job Seekers for $49.95 $25. Check out all the specials here. In yesterdays giveaway question I asked if you were not crushing int because you were afraid of success. Im not asking if you are afraid of FAILING, Im asking if you are afraid of SUCCEEDING. With success comes responsibility.  It might come in the form of money, or a title, or recognition, etc. Sometimes I look at stuff people do and wonder if they are intentionally doing wrong things because they are afraid of succeeding. Maybe the job seeker is afraid of getting the wrong job, even though they succeed at ending their job search so they do the wrong stuff. Maybe the business owner is afraid of getting that big sale, or growing their business to $x. Back in school it was uncool to get the best grades, so we didnt (I didnt, but not for that reason :p).  We were afraid of succeeding because it just wasnt the cool thing to do. But now, as an adult, as a professional, as a strong contributor to society, it IS okay to succeed. Are we still afraid of what success really means? If we are not, then why dont we change our actions so that we are positioned to succeed? One of my favorite sayings is right in front of me it was a gift from Heather Gardner when I spoke at her company: what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? When I start out on projects that perhaps should fail, I read that and forge on.  How about you? (if this makes any sense to you, read Janet Thaelers post Whatever Your Fear Tells You Do the Opposite (Seth Godin)) Are You Afraid of Success LinkedIn for Job Seekers for $49.95 $25. Check out all the specials here. In yesterdays giveaway question I asked if you were not crushing int because you were afraid of success. Im not asking if you are afraid of FAILING, Im asking if you are afraid of SUCCEEDING. With success comes responsibility.  It might come in the form of money, or a title, or recognition, etc. Sometimes I look at stuff people do and wonder if they are intentionally doing wrong things because they are afraid of succeeding. Maybe the job seeker is afraid of getting the wrong job, even though they succeed at ending their job search so they do the wrong stuff. Maybe the business owner is afraid of getting that big sale, or growing their business to $x. Back in school it was uncool to get the best grades, so we didnt (I didnt, but not for that reason :p).  We were afraid of succeeding because it just wasnt the cool thing to do. But now, as an adult, as a professional, as a strong contributor to society, it IS okay to succeed. Are we still afraid of what success really means? If we are not, then why dont we change our actions so that we are positioned to succeed? One of my favorite sayings is right in front of me it was a gift from Heather Gardner when I spoke at her company: what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? When I start out on projects that perhaps should fail, I read that and forge on.  How about you? (if this makes any sense to you, read Janet Thaelers post Whatever Your Fear Tells You Do the Opposite (Seth Godin))

Why Family Caregivers Should Consider a Nursing Career

Why Family Caregivers Should Consider a Nursing Career Many family caregivers leave their jobs to care for a sick parent or child. By the time that they get back on the job hunt their skills can be outdated and it can be difficult to find work. Worse, since many caregivers today are part of the “sandwich generation”, and have both parents and children relying on them, they can’t take four years to change tracks and start over. Fortunately the growing demand for nurses in the U.S. provides a perfect avenue for present and former caregivers to find work. The U.S. needs Nurses Improvements in medicine over the last century have drastically reduced the number of premature deaths all over the world. As a result the population gets older and suffers from more age-related illnesses that aren’t easily curable, like heart-disease, diabetes, or cancer. Because of this the demand for nurses is expected to increase. By 2018, the United States will need to train at least 580,000 nurses to handle the rising number of patients. Caregivers Have the Right Skills Most new college students that decide to enter the field of nursing aren’t aware of the amount of physical effort that’s required to bathe, dress, or move a patient. It’s not uncommon for students to enter nursing school only to drop out when they discover how intense the actual work can be. Many family caregivers already know how to keep a disabled patient comfortable and come into the field with years of exposure to the practical realities of the job. That makes caregivers more desirable as nurses because they need less training and they won’t be as likely to leave the field, since they knew what they were getting themselves into. Certification is Quick and the Pay is Good Most caregivers don’t have time to go back to college to get a degree in a new field. Luckily a one year certification course or two year associate’s degree is enough to qualify someone to be an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse) respectively. Even better, the wages compare well to jobs that require four-year degrees, and it’s easy to find work in an economy that’s otherwise full of unemployed college graduates. It’s Reliable Nursing jobs aren’t going away anytime soon. The high demand for different types of nurses and other medical professionals means that people living in the sandwich generation can reliably get a job and make up for the relatively short time spent getting into the nursing field. This means that besides getting to work as quickly as possible, caregivers-turned-nurses have job security and more time to build their finances for retirement than other job-seekers of their generation.

4 Ways to Recruit Without Borders

4 Ways to Recruit Without Borders The skills gap is very real, and it’s increasingly driving recruiters to look outside their comfort zone for great people. A new report released by the OECD  helps contextualize this skills gap for American employers. For instance, consider 43 percent of new jobs require a bachelor’s degree, while only 32 percent of Americans over 25 years old possess one. According to another survey, this time by Bullhorn Reach, a lack of skilled candidates was the biggest challenge faced by recruiters and staffing professionals. Meanwhile, more than 47 percent of recruiters saw their companies expanding into new geographies in 2013, a jump from even the 44 percent reported one year ago It’s obvious now is the time to start expanding your recruiting horizons. You need to expand not just how you recruit great people, but where you find these talented candidates. The right talent for your open positions might not be located in your company’s backyard, and it’s time to let go of the idea out-of-town talent is inherently more risky than local candidates. Opening up your search to include candidates around the country or around the world means giving yourself a better chance at jumping the skills gap. The person with the perfect skill set for the job might not be located within driving distance, but by opening up the candidate pool, you increase the odds you’ll find the right talent. So how do you find and recruit the best people? Here are four tips for recruiting without borders: 1) Get Social On Social Media: Social media is a great way to open your organization up to a much larger candidate pool and yet still connect with those candidates personally. This is probably why 94 percent of recruiters are using social media in their recruiting process. On social media, you can see what your candidates are all about, including their passion for the industry and their level of professionalism. If a great-on-paper candidate has a social channel littered with obscenities, for instance, this might not be the right person for your company. To find great out-of-town talent, you should be using social media to follow your best candidates. This means getting active in talent communities, which are the places top talent gathers to give advice, share thought leadership, and discuss the issues of the day. Don’t dominate the conversation in a talent community and never be too pushy or promotional with your openings. Instead, follow the 80/20 rule of content sharing, making sure at least 80 percent of your contributions are relevant to what your talent pool is discussing. This way, you’re able to see which candidates are sharing interesting insights and top-notch ideas, even if they’re located across the globe. 2) Connect In The Video Interview: Once you’ve found a great far-away candidate, connecting in the interview process can seem like a huge hassle. Especially in the preliminary stages, you don’t want to fly out a candidate unless you’re fairly sure this person is a strong contender. There’s a misconception that recruiting far-flung talent is expensive, since the cost of travel can make these candidates look like large dollar signs instead of the right people for the job. So what’s the solution? The video interview is a great way to cut down on your traditional recruiting process, get more personal with candidates, and do away with costly travel expenses. Using a live video interview, you can connect with candidates in real-time the same way you would if they were on the other side of the desk (instead of the other side of the monitor). Best of all, these interviews are recorded, so you can share great candidates with your whole team. In the earlier stages of the hiring process, video interviews can actually help you get a more personal feel for candidates sooner. In a one-way video interview, candidates answer your written questions on video. This means instead of spending up to 30 minutes on a phone screen with a candidate you understand is all wrong for the job immediately, you can merely move on to the next one-way video screen. Video interviewing makes connecting with far-flung talent simple, and can save companies as much as 67 percent of the travel costs associated with interviewing. 3) Offer Great Perks: Finding and interviewing great talent is important, but convincing someone to make the move for your company is a bit more difficult. This is why many companies can be gun-shy to interview out-of-state (or out-of-country) talent. However, if you develop a great company culture with amazing perks, candidates will be more enthusiastic about the prospect of pulling up their roots. To do this, you must know what workers crave in a workplace. For instance, a study found 70 percent of workers want to work from home. Offering the perks for better work-life balance like telecommuting and on-site childcare can help sway a candidate to take a great opportunity away from home. 4) Help With The Particulars: Relocating isn’t easy, and it can become even more complicated if your dream candidate is coming from another country. Help ease the relocation process for your top talent by becoming a source of information and assistance. Know the rules for work visas inside and out if you plan to recruit outside your country code. Consider offering a relocation allowance to help the top talent your company needs with moving costs. And consider setting your new hire up with a mentor to not only help them through the company, but also to help acclimate to their new geographical surroundings. Jumping the skills gap and finding the best people sometimes means leaving your comfort zone. If you explore new geography for great talent, you might just find the perfect person for your open position. Thanks to new technology like social media and video interviews, you can connect with these candidates, no passport required! What do you think? Have you hired any far-flung candidates? Let us know in the comments! Author: Josh Tolan is the CEO of Spark Hire, a video powered hiring network that connects job seekers and employers through video resumes and online interviews. Connect with him and Spark Hire on  Facebook and Twitter.

Online Dating Opening Up More Doors for Interracial Relationships

Online Dating Opening Up More Doors for Interracial Relationships Simply put, interracial dating is the act of dating a person who isnt your race. It could involve a white man dating a black girl, a black girl dating an Asian man, an Indian man dating a white girl, and so on. Back in the days, interracial relationships or even marriages were shunned and outlawed in many countries.   Not only in Africa, but also in the United States of America. In 1967 however, the Supreme Court invalidated all laws that prohibited interracial relationships in the United States. Today, more societies across the globe are more accepting of the idea of dating between people of different races. Studies suggest that online dating sites and apps are significantly contributing to the recent spike in interracial dating, and even marriages. Its important to keep in mind that interracial relationships arent just a ‘black and white affair.  Most images we see on the media surrounding interracial relationships often cite white men with black women or vice versa. Interracial relationships involve all kinds of couplings from different races. Dating Sites Thanks to the rise of dating sites such as Tinder, OkCupid, InterracialDatingCentral, or Match.com, dating culture has experienced a significant shift over time. This is despite the fact that online dating has received its fair share of criticism through stories of scam artists and dates that have gone wrong. More and more people are experiencing the goodness of interracial love with each passing minute. According to the United States Census Bureau, interracial marriages continue to increase at a steady rate. Recent research has shown that the percentage of marriages involving interracial couples has risen from 7 to 10 percent over the last 15 years. Some delighted people boldly share stories of how theyve found their dream partners through mixed race dating and experienced their happily-ever-after. This is an excellent proof that online multi-racial dating does work out. Advantages of Interracial Relationships Learning Opportunity Dating someone from a different race and culture gives both partners an opportunity to experience a new culture.   This may involve different rituals, different foods, religion, or family structure. These new experiences may help you become more open-minded. Breaking Stereotypes Marrying someone of a different race from yours gives you and people around you the opportunity to break negative stereotypes about respective races. It also provides a good example to ignorant and hateful stereotypes, and hence creating awareness and reducing racial discrimination. No Dull Moments Interracial partners never run out of things to talk about. Both partners have so many wonderful and diverse things to share. There’s always a thousand ways you can have an incredible experience in an interracial relationship with the one you love. Genetics This is a major pro of interracial marriages. Two people from different races create children, and the results are unique and beautiful. In other words, the children inherit the best of each parent. The main benefit of interracial relationships is the fact that the two partners in the relationship get to be with the person they love. This is actually the only good reason to be in any relationship, not just interracial ones.

You get out of it what you put in Life as a graduate Prison Officer - Debut

You get out of it what you put in Life as a graduate Prison Officer - Debut The traditional 9-5 graduate job isn’t for everyone. You might be searching for leadership, for a challenge, or to have an impact on society as a whole. If so, the Leadership Development Programme at Unlocked Grads may be the kick-start to your career you’re looking for.   We’re not going to sugar-coat it:   working on the frontline in a prison is tough. However, it’s possibly one of the most rewarding jobs out there, as you get to make an immediate difference on the lives of prisoners, while tackling one of society’s biggest challenges (did you know that we spend £18 billion every year on reoffending in this country?!) To get to the heart of the issue, we spoke to three current graduates on the Unlocked programme to learn more.   Busting myths Some may say life as a prison officer simply involves opening, closing (and locking!) doors, but the role is a lot more nuanced than that. Prison Officers play a huge part in the rehabilitation process, which means donning a number of hats. As Guneet, who has been working at HMP Wormwood Scrubs explains: “It’s actually a really complex role and you’re doing the work of so many different professions teacher, social worker, first aider, and negotiator.” Deren, who has spent nearly a year on the landings at HMP Pentonville, elaborates: “I think people generally suspect that we’re power hungry and just want to have [that] over people. It’s actually the complete opposite.” Whilst you will have to learn a lot quickly in regards to leadership skills and standing your ground in difficult situations, its ultimately about understanding basic human emotions and being able to respond fast.” Jonny adds: “It can be really difficult to get prisoners to do things that they don’t want to do, but it feels so great when you finally start to get through to them and build a good rapport.” Some may also hear the word ‘prison’ and immediately want to stay clear. But there’s a lot more to these institutions than what you see on TV. Jonny, who is an officer at foreign national prison HMP Huntercombe, vouches for this first hand: “It’s the perception that they’re quite violent and horrible places but in reality, the guys you’re working with have just made one or two mistakes, and are just human beings.” The environment is also not always high pressure. There are opportunities to bond with both inmates and staff, and even a chance for downtime. This was one of the biggest surprises for Deren when she started: “You expect it to be tense constantly. Actually, most of the time (unless there’s an incident) you’re just chatting away with people.” Life as a Prison Officer Learning new ways to communicate on a more understanding level is one of the qualities that you develop as a Prison Officer; as Deren explains: “It’s having those social skills and being able to build a rapport with people who you would probably never come across in general life. Building good, positive working relationships and gaining trust with people who don’t necessarily have trust in the prison service, but also trust in people more generally.” This trust can then be applied directly if someone is willing to go that extra mile; Jonny revealed his experience on the induction unit, moving people from that unit into the general population of the rest of the jail. He said: “I was moving a guy into a wing into a cell with someone who didn’t speak the same language and it was getting to the point where he was getting in serious trouble with the wing staff so I went onto the wing, found another guy who I knew would be able to persuade him and was able to persuade him to stay on the wing. It’s about utilising the things that were already in front of me and thinking outside the box.” Guneet also helped one prisoner who was studying a business course. Previously a trouble-maker, he often refused to go back to his cell and generally made life quite difficult. However, when Guneet learnt of his entrepreneurial ambitions, she saw it as an opportunity to assist: “Because I had a background in consultancy I gave him some background on financial statements and businesses and how they run. Eventually we got to talking and I ensured he had specific books I’d learnt from myself and helped him with a business plan and his behaviour just completely changed.” Of course, not all experiences are always so positive, but no matter how tough the circumstances are, there’s always something to learn. Whether you’re having to deal with internal prison gangs or learn more about the social hierarchies behind bars, Jonny notes: “Being a prison officer is a really challenging and unpredictable job. You’ve got to build relationships with people who often have a wall up. But it’s also about figuring out the relationships and hierarchies between prisoners so you can anticipate when there might be trouble on the wing.” Opportunities for grads So what kind of qualities should you possess if you’re considering a role and want to stand out at Unlocked? Well, Guneet, Deren and Jonny all mentioned communication, emotional intelligence and consistency as being absolutely necessary in becoming a prison officer. Guneet also adds that a lot of the skills “transcend from what I’m doing inside the prison to outside the prison as well.” These include de-escalating a situation or paying attention to detail, both transferable assets you can use in any situation.   The organisation is looking for fresh faces who are able to demonstrate these values, as well as a hunger to develop their leadership skills. They’re looking for people of all educational backgrounds. If you’re willing to try something different and are prepared to put in the graft, then you could be a perfect fit for the programme.   For example, Jonny joined after completing his Masters in Biomedical Science. Once he realised that the lab wasn’t for him, he decided to make a career change and the passion from the staff convinced him to apply: “It’s not just a 9-5 it’s a lifestyle and you immerse yourself fully in it. What you put in you will get out of it.”   Deren supports this claim, stating how future graduates must be invested in the mission behind the role, as well as the skills you’ll learn in the company: “Do the job because you want to do the job, not just because of the degree, the salary etc.”   Whilst a role as a Prison Officer may not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to graduate jobs, the experiences you gain can be brought across and demonstrated in any future professional endeavours; from dealing with potentially difficult colleagues to communicating with people on new levels, to learning new ways to cope with trying situations. But above all, you’ll be making a definitive, positive impact on individuals and society more broadly something not all graduates can claim.

Should You Be A Freelancer

Should You Be A Freelancer Photo credit: tracilawson via Foter.com / CC BY Youve had that feeling.   Youre ready to chuck the corporate world and head off on your own business adventure.   Youre your own boss.   No one telling you what to do.   Making your own hours.   Setting your own priorities. But are you ready for that? How do you know? First off, it is really easy when youre upset, pissed off, and feel like your world is caving in around you, to think the grass is greener in the freelance life. But is it really? First you need to cool off.   Take a step back.   Give it 24-48 hours minimum to get your mind straight.   There is nothing more damaging to your career or life than making a bad decision because you were in a bad emotional state. Okay.   So you got through that and youre still thinking running your own business is where your life should be headed.   What next? How financially prepared are you? If you didnt have income for six to 12 months, could you survive?   Do you have the savings? How far can you scale back your fixed expenses to get you through the transition?   What is your rent or mortgage?   Could you downsize?   Do you have car loans or student loans you have to pay on each month?   Or credit card debt?   Better to pay that stuff down or off before backing yourself into a financial corner. Beyond your current spending, will your plan give you room to save?   If youre spending everything you earn youre likely to be setting yourself up for the equivalent of a job with double the stress and risk. Relationships are next. How are you supported?   Does your spouse, friends, family support you with this decision?   When the going gets tough are they going to be in your   corner, helping you through the difficult times?   Or are they going to say, I told you so. and undermine you every chance they get. Running your own business is hard enough as it is and entrepreneurship isnt always as glamorous as the snake oil salesmen selling get rich quick schemes would have you believe. Did I still not scare you off? Then check this out and see if you have what it takes. Is Freelancing For Me? After checking it out if you think it is the lifestyle you want but youre not fully prepared to make the jump yet, consider doing your new venture as a side hustle.   Especially if you can keep the up front costs at a minimum, you just might be able to get it rolling and then minimize the downside risk of a failure and better time the transition to full time freelancer. Want to get a second opinion?   Contact me to schedule a call to discuss it.

Best Resume Writing Services

Best Resume Writing ServicesThe best resume writing services can give you the best resume advice you will ever need. They can teach you the most important skills for a successful job search. Many people enter the workforce without having any idea of how to do their research or what is required to become a desirable candidate. They may be ill prepared to interact with employees of companies and they may have not read up on the various companies available.Military resume writing can help candidates to figure out exactly what the company expects from them before they start their job search. They can also help them prepare for job interviews and learn what to say and how to say it so that you do not seem unsure of yourself. Your experience in the military will be put in writing, and you will be able to use your military resume as a professional one. Military resumes can make you stand out from other applicants with their knowledge and commitment to their careers.Often times when an indiv idual has served in the military they have grown up with the knowledge of job opportunities in general. It is important to allow this factor into your resume. You should be able to incorporate your service in the military with any future jobs you may have and this can make you stand out from others applying for the same positions.Most employers will want to hire a person who knows how to use all areas of their expertise to build a professional career. In addition to your military experience, you can include your skill in sales, education, networking, organization, and other traits. It is important to keep your resume professional, but also warm and appealing to your prospective employer. This should be done through the addition of keywords that demonstrate your ability to connect with others and that you have a sense of humor.When applying for a job, you should know your career aspirations so that you will be able to achieve them. Your resume should show how you have applied these i deals to your life by highlighting what you have accomplished in your field. Many of the best resume writing services have a section that can include a section where your career goals are highlighted. This will help to inspire you and motivate you to set new goals for yourself.Special skills are also shown in many resumes. In many cases, the resume writer may be a military veteran who was trained to help with the skills that would be required for the job. This is another advantage of working with a resume writing service. Since they have extensive knowledge in the area of your particular job function, they can incorporate the skills you know best.Good copywriting skills are another key for success in your resume. People need to get a sense of what you want to convey to them with your resume. If they are unable to understand what your professional resume is saying, then they will be unlikely to believe it. The resume is a professional document that you should always ensure is unique. The best resume writing services are able to give you the best resume advice that you will ever need. Working with a professional company will make sure your resume is written in the exact manner required by the employers. You will be able to stand out in the job market because of your resume and how well you have prepared it.