Life Balance and Growth Can Mix

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Entrepreneurs How Work/Life Balance and Growth Can Mix Those who believe starting a business means fewer hours will probably find themselvesmistaken. In reality, small-business ownersmay besome of the hardest working people in the world, regardless of industry or sector. It can be especially difficult to sustain effective work-life balance when yourbusinessisgrowing and it feels as if there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Additionally, when the pace of business has picked up substantially, youand your employees may be feeling the pinch. Since a culture of good work-life balance can be established and encouraged from the top, I asked three small-business owners how they achieve work-life balance during growth periods and also how they model and promote healthy habits for their employees. Here are the insights William Bauer, managing director of Royce Leather Gifts in New Jersey, Rob Biederman, co-founder of Hourly Nerdin Boston, and Mike Mannon, president at WD Communications in Philadelphia, shared with us. During times when your business is growing like gangbusters and it seems you’ll never get everything accomplished, is work-life balance still a priority for you? Rob Biederman: Work-life balance is always difficult to maintain in hyper-growth mode. However, through long-term planning, I aim to maintain an average balance over the course of a year, even if there are certain weeks and months when work takes over a relatively unhealthy amount of time. I’ve tried to align my formal work breaks with periods of customer slownessâ€"typically, August and late December holidaysâ€"to maximize selling time as a percent of my working year, and to be most impactful in those interactions. William Bauer:Work-life balance always has to take priority. The more my employees and I feel as though our lives are out of balance, the more likely we willpay a physical and emotional priceâ€"and so will our business. Mike Mannon:In times of intense growth, work-life balance is a priority, but home life definitely takes a hit. I feel like Im better than I was at 30, or 40. When Im at home, I want to make sure that I look my kids in the eyes as theyre going off to school, try to give them a big hug and an I love you. Same for my wife! It helps me breathe better when I have to duck back in to start the cycle of calls and meetings and decisions. How do you model good work-life balance for your employeesâ€"meaning, how do you show them that as an owner, it’s possible to do a good job and still pay attention to other priorities? Bauer: Especially as mybusiness is growing, I find myselfimmersed in the day-to-day needs of the companyâ€"from finding and hiring talent to marketing the opportunities. It’s hard to break away even for an hour, much less for a vacation. However, I take all of my allotted three weeks of vacation time, and I encourage my employees to do the same. After a vacation, wecome back to work feeling refreshed and more productive. Mannon:I’ve personally stopped cell phone use at family meal times.Also, I take one week of vacation a year to a location with no cell service.The Blue Ridge Mountains are my respite. Biederman: The employees will only have work-life balance as healthy as the executives demonstrate. Consequently, it’s important for executives to spend some of their working time “secretly”â€"e.g., at home and not signed in to office communication software. This way, owners can get in all of their required working hours but without setting an “always on” example for the junior staff who will look to them for guidance. If you observed that an employee was working himself or herself to burnout, what would you do? Mannon: I have observed it, and its tough. Were in an industry where, because of the travel and client demands, there are times during the year when theres very little down time. During those times, I ease off on the additional project work and try to be as supportive as possible. If we can bring in another consultant to give someone a break, we do it. Ive learned the hard way that the bit of profit you lose is worth it. Bauer: I tell my employees who seem to be burned out to embrace the off button.Every phone, computer, etc., has an off button. Its there to be used.When you unplug and step back, you will start to experience one of life’s greatest treasures: perspective. You will think about problems you are wrestling with greater clarity. You allow yourself the freedom to be more analytical and less emotional when you step away and think versus just diving in and responding in the moment. Biederman: We strongly encourage longtime employees to take vacationsâ€"true ones, where they really unplug totally. Many of the diehards will try to avoid these rules. But, typically with some coaching, junior folks will understand that investing in a quick break one to two weeks a year can make them materially more effective during the remaining 50 weeks. For the rest of the interview, head over to the AMEX Open Forum.

Buy Resume For Writing Monster

Buy Resume For Writing MonsterAsking friends and family for resume help is a great way to get resume tips from those who have been there before. However, often times these people will not know where to buy resume for writing monster.People will generally agree that a lot of the time they don't know where to buy resume monster. This is very unfortunate since sometimes you need to be able to purchase this item to write an effective resume. This is usually the case if you are working with a lot of different people or you are in the process of getting your resume written by someone else.It is a good idea to save up as much money as possible on the best resume writing software you can find. If you really want to get the most out of your resume writing you want to make sure you get a top of the line product. This will be able to teach you the skills you need to write a very professional resume that will help you land the job of your dreams.The idea of a resume writing monster is one of the most powerful tools that you can have. The truth is that you really can write a monster resume that stands out in a crowd. You will be amazed at how many employers take note of the best resume writing techniques that you will learn.The first thing that you want to do is be sure that you know exactly what you want to write about. You will want to remember this because it will help you craft a truly impressive resume for writing monster. It is so important that you come up with your very own words when you write your resume that you will be amazed at the level of support that you receive from your employer once they see it.The second thing that you will want to do is build some samples that will give you an idea of what kind of resume writing monster you will want to create. Do not attempt to cram everything into one resume. Your resume will be tailored for the right type of person and not the other way around.The last thing that you will want to do is be sure that you go out and fin d the best possible resume writing monster for you. Remember that you are trying to get a high ranking job and the last thing you want to do is waste money on an inferior product. Once you have found the right product you will find that you can afford to take advantage of a great resume writing program that can help you write killer resumes.Resume writing is one of the most important skills that you can develop so make sure that you take advantage of the information available. You can find this type of information on the internet or from your friends and family. Take advantage of all of the resources that you can and make sure that you get the best possible resume for writing monster for your job search.

Skys the Limit Securing Your Dream Job

Skys the Limit Securing Your Dream Job Everyone has their idea of a dream job yet many of us think these jobs are beyond our reach. Some are disheartened by the sheer graft it takes to obtain the perfect job or by the amount of dedication and study needed to become qualified. The woman of today, however, has much more opportunities than the previous generation when it comes to finding a job that they actually want to do. Limits are there to be surpassed, and if you have your heart set on a certain job don’t let the words “I can’t” stand in your way: there’s no such thing as ‘can’t’. Top jobs for women There are plenty of lists out there providing polls of the best jobs for women but of course everyone has their interpretation of a ‘best job’. Typical jobs on these lists include counsellors, high-level managers, psychologists, lawyers and doctors. Many or nearly all of these desirable jobs also come with the pay levels to match. What of the jobs not on these lists but which many would love to work in, though, such as a dance teacher, fashion designer or even an architect. All are within reach if you’re prepared to put in the hard work and dedication. Following your vocation A lot of people are naturally drawn to a certain type of career, feeling simply that it’s their calling. This doesn’t make it any easier to come by that dream job, but it should help when it comes to finding the willpower during the training stages. A dance teacher for example will have gone through a course such as a Diploma in Dance Instruction or a Diploma in Dance Education. In the UK, for instance, this can take around three years of intensive study to complete at approved dance centers, but if you have the dedication the time will fly by. After all, you’ll be doing something that you love. Ignoring the negatives People who follow their dreams all have one thing in common: they were all laughed at by others and they didn’t care. Many people out there will relay you the negative aspects of pursuing your dream job. It’s your choice not theirs. Ignore the pedants, the pessimists and the party poopers, and spend your energy on pursuing the career of your choice. If you’re still unsure, speak to people who already work in your intended field. They’re better equipped to give your realistic advice that someone who’s never made it. Starting on your career path immediately Sooner is always better than later when you’re in hot pursuit of your career. There’s no point wasting valuable time. Training for dance teachers for example, is open to anyone over the age of 17. The longer you leave it to go after your vocation, the easier it will be to end up in a job you took temporarily to make ends meet but, five years on, still haven’t resigned from. Setting out on your career path as soon as possible gives you more time and more choices further down the road. There are plenty of terrific jobs out there. If you know what you want to do, the battle is half won. Hard work will usually be the route to the job you really want whether you’re searching for job satisfaction, a high salary, a creative vocation or a combination of all three. Image by mkismkismk. Patricia Ashenberg is a life coach and motivational speaker and has spoken at various corporate events.

The Hidden Costs of Not Hiring an Executive Recruiter

The Hidden Costs of Not Hiring an Executive Recruiter The hiring process is a daunting undertaking when it comes to filling any position within a company, but filling executive level positions compounds this stress tenfold. This is because finding candidates for high-level vacancies at your company ought to be treated with a special urgency. Executives at an organization must reflect the culture and the purpose of the business in a way that lower level positions do not call for. So when you treat your executive search the same way you treat finding candidates for non-executive positions within your company, you risk costing your company an immeasurable amount of resources. It is imperative to make the executive hiring process both as informative and as concise as possible, but this is a tall order for most leaders who also must concern themselves with running the day to day business of running their company. Executive Recruiters This is where an executive recruiter comes in. If you’re not using the services of a professional and established executive recruitment company, you could be costing yourself and your company more than just time. So how do you know when it is time to hire the services of a professional recruitment firm? “Maybe you have just opened your organization, and you want to hire highly-qualified candidates,” says Tom Chaparro, Executive Vice President of the Newport Group, an executive recruiter in San Diego. “You may not have access to the candidate that is ideal if you don’t have the time, relationships or knowledge in the field.” If this sounds like a problem your organization might be facing in their executive search, you could be risking any of the following by not investing in an executive recruitment firm from the get go. Time Wasted As cliché as it is, time is money. Businessesâ€"and new businesses especiallyâ€"need to work as efficiently as possible when it comes to their time. There are a ton of hidden tasks involved in finding and then vetting potential candidates before you even consider them seriously for vacancies, and all of this time adds up. When it comes to filling executive positions, these aren’t menial tasks that can just be handed off easily to an assistant. But first time leaders may be no better prepared to tackle the process and may unwittingly waste time by not knowing what to look out for in potential candidates. Executive recruitment firms often perform many services beyond just finding potential candidates. Over time, these extra steps add up, so hiring these agencies may save you time you did not even know you’d have been wasting. Smaller Candidate Pool Advertising executive positions via the usual avenues will likely only attract the same pool of candidates you would have reached had you been looking to fill a lower level vacancy. With higher level positions, companies cannot afford to experiment with candidates via trial and error. Reputable executive recruiters have networks of prospects and qualified applicants that they have carefully cultivated through years of hard work. Executive search agencies can afford to dedicate all of their time to finding the right fit for your company, because it is their entirety of their business to do so. Can you or the leadership of your company afford to dedicate all of their time to cultivating and then also culling a large field of candidates? Too Much Subjectivity You and your organization’s leadership likely have a lot of ideas concerning the type of person they feel will best fit the role you’re looking to fill. This is great and a vital part of the hiring process. The trouble arises when you have limited resources to expend and are looking for any way to cut corners. It becomes tempting to shape your viable candidate pool around your presuppositions of what a good candidate would look like. This is natural, but this implicit bias can seriously limit your available options when you’re looking to move forward in the hiring process. This is where the objective lens of an outside executive recruitment firm comes in handy. An executive recruiter will often make it a point to immerse themselves in your organization’s culture. This way, they can get a good grasp of what sort of candidate willâ€"and won’tbe a good fit for your high-level vacancy. But even with this intimate understanding of your organization, they can impart a new perspective you may never have considered. Filling a high-level executive position at your company can be an overwhelming task. It is uniquely difficult in ways that filling lower vacancies aren’t. For some companies, hiring the services of a professional executive recruitment firm may be the right choice to meet these difficulties in the most cost effective and efficient manner.

How to Write a Customer Service Resume Sample

How to Write a Customer Service Resume SampleCustomer service resume sample is one of the best ways to grab your potential employers attention in the crowd. You can effectively showcase your business skills and create a more positive impression with this particular resume format.A customer service resume is basically a breakdown of your skills that are beneficial to the customers. For example, your customer service skills might involve greeting customers and ensuring their satisfaction with products and services. This may include personalized messages, problems solved and details on why customers should purchase from you in the future.It is essential that you carefully draft up your customer service resume for maximum exposure. A well-written format can immediately catch the attention of your potential employer and can easily convince them to give you a call for an interview. A well-written resume can go a long way in proving your abilities to your potential employer.The importance o f the customer is to your company's reputation that you would want to protect at all costs. Your resume can easily highlight how much the business is successful with the customers and can provide your employer with a glimpse of what you can offer to the customer. The primary goal of your resume must be to impress the employer and convince them to make you an offer. For that reason, it is imperative that you get a good quality resume template for your potential employer.Your customer service resume sample should be comprised of a number of sections. First of all, you should include a section that is dedicated to your work history. Include the dates you started your job and how long you have been working for the company. You should also mention any awards or achievements that are relevant to your field of work.Your customer service resume sample can then focus on your skills that you possess in the various departments of the company. If you have any type of certification that relates to your customer service skills, include that in your resume as well.It is not a bad idea to include a few bullet points in your customer service resume sample. In this way, you can quickly explain your knowledge of the customer service industry as well as any certifications you have. The more concise your resume is, the more attention you will get from your potential employer.You can easily tailor your customer service resume sample according to the employer's requirements. Some of the common topics that might be discussed are information about the time and place of the interview, the reason for the interview, how your skills match with the company's needs, as well as the time it will take to attend the interview. Always be clear, concise and to the point when discussing your skills to avoid getting your employer fired.

Looking for a grad job with fast progression This could be the role for you

Looking for a grad job with fast progression This could be the role for you Listen, we all know how grad programmes work. Typically you rotate around several areas of a business, learning about various roles before coming to the end and either landing a permanent position at the company, or taking the skills you’ve learnt and applying them elsewhere But what if there was a graduate role that was different? Onyx has the answer; their Junior Trader Training Programme offers new hires the chance to accelerate their career and rise through the ranks of the company, taking on new responsibilities and gaining experience like nobody’s business. Through vigorous training, supervision from senior traders and ongoing reviews new trainees will see their career soar. To find out more about this exciting opportunity, we decided to sit down with Lijia, a Senior Trader at Onyx. Originally starting out on the Junior Trader Training Programme himself, Lijia has applied an entrepreneurial spirit at the company and quickly progressed into the role he’s in now. So whether you’re curious about what a role in trading is like or you’re just looking for tips on job progression here are some things to take note of: What’s an average day of working at Onyx like? Typically I’ll start the day using our trade strategies to make profit in the global market, which covers Asia, Europe and the US. The day is busy at certain points depending on when each market is working. I’m also responsible for training the junior traders, giving lectures, hiring new graduates and seeking experienced candidates. In addition, I work on redesigning and optimising our assessment centre processes. The firm also has a strong and intellectual gaming culture. We incorporate board games, poker and trading games into our work. Whilst it does make the work more fun, you also have to make educated guesses, outsmart others and think on your feet! So there are transferable skills that you can get from working this way. Can you give us an overview of your experience of the Junior Trader Training Programme? I joined Onyx in 2016, and at the time the training programme was around two months long. The first month was mainly classroom based; I attended lectures every day and undertook tests to prove my problem-solving skills, my concentration, abilities with numbers and presentation skills. I then work-shadowed another trader to learn how the system worked, learning trade input, trade entry and also how to troubleshoot if there’s anything going wrong. I also got a feel of how the market worked, learning all the technical knowledge of the job which set the foundation for what I would do later on. So I definitely think that the Junior Trading Programme is incredibly comprehensive and practical, combining theoretical knowledge with tangible skills. What opportunities did you get which helped towards career progression? When I first started, I was assisting the traders to make decisions and also facilitate their trading process. Even then I was given a lot of tasks and decisions to make for the team. I was monitoring our position, so if something went wrong which could have been a disaster it was all on me. The responsibility was huge! As I progressed into the trader role, I was covering the leftover markets there are so many markets that are still wide open. I would say that this is the most exciting challenge. We don’t restrict people with how far they can go and how fast they can achieve their goals, but it is a lot about your performance that’s what determines your progression. What are the benefits of working for a small but mighty company? Lots of people go for the brand name and prestige. Whilst Onyx may be small, we’re very big in what we do. We’re the number one liquidity provider of Light Ends oil derivatives globally, we’re at the forefront of innovation in this space and we’re one of the leaders in the area we work in. I used to be an intern at a multinational bank, and whilst it had the brand awareness and was very structured in terms of training and organisation, I found it to be inefficient and have a lot of bureaucracy. Whereas in smaller companies like Onyx we encourage entrepreneurial thinking, which means you have the chance to be a self-starter and push for much faster progression. If you’re an entrepreneur with an interest in finance or trading, then Onyx is the best place for you. We don’t have any kind of restrictions on the business we do. Once you prove yourself, you can set up your own desk, take a share of your own profit and work on your own. This is also not limited to just the trading space, we’re extremely flexible as a firm. What advice do you have for any grads looking to progress in their roles? Be extremely open; don’t restrict or limit yourself to certain industries or roles. Be curious about new things. For example, when I landed my first job I didn’t stop researching what else was out there, as I knew that there were other exciting opportunities besides the world of banking. Through that, I learnt more about the trading industry and had a much more informed decision when choosing to join Onyx. Have a plan, always be ready for change and be extremely nimble. You can find out more about the Junior Trader Training Programme at Onyx here.

Engulfed in your career or job search Unplug. (Guest post from Grace Boyle)

Engulfed in your career or job search Unplug. (Guest post from Grace Boyle) 27 Flares 27 Flares Grace Boyle, a 20-something adventurista. She lives in Boulder, CO and is the Publisher Services Manager for the tech startup, Lijit. Her personal blog, Small Hands, Big Ideas covers her life in a startup, career, relationships and daily inspirations. She is passionate about food and travel, both of which she writes about on her food blog: Grace(Full)Plate. She loves blogging, traveling, wine, laughter, snowboarding and artisan cheeses. Catch her on Twitter at: @gracekboyle. Corn On the Job is one of the best Generation Y job and career resource blogs that I know. Rich covers it all: creative hiring tactics, interview tips, career advice and his own spin on the industry. What I want to talk about is the non-action of all the above: It’s that time we must take for ourselves, to step away from the job (or job search) to replenish. Take it from me. I’m on “go” all the time. I was just sick for 5 straight days, mostly bedridden and unable to go into work, complete projects, couldn’t answer email, etc. It was awful. Besides catching the flu in the winter, I didn’t slow down or step back so I essentially worked myself into the ground. Not healthy. We need to unplug, to be able to keep plugging. {Photo Credit} I believe this is what a lot of career blogs forget to mention…that we cannot go all the time. That we are so connected, all the time, everywhere, that how do we connect to ourselves or take time for ourselves? Job searching and applying can be exhausting and taking a mental afternoon, or hour can help us leap back “in” stronger than ever, with even more creativity. I propose once a week creative space and unplugging. Whether it’s for one hour, one evening, or even one full weekend day do something to recharge and disconnect. (Note: If you can muster more, go for it! It will vary per person). Value In This “Creative Pause” Scott Belsky, Founder of Behance, writes about the “creative pause,” as highly valuable: “There has been much discussion about the value of the “creative pause” â€" a state described as “the shift from being fully engaged in a creative activity to being passively engaged, or the shift to being disengaged altogether.”  This phenomenon is the seed of the break-through “a-ha!” moments that people so frequently report having in the shower. In these moments, you are completely isolated, and your mind is able to wander and churn big questions without interruption.” It’s hard to garner fresh ideas and inspiration, when you’re in the thick of it. Sometimes through taking time away, reading a book, on a nice run or even in the shower you may have your best ideas. Inc. Magazine agrees with unplugging. Loren Frank, a professor from University of California, San Francisco who created a study around unplugging says: Almost certainly, downtime lets the brain go over experiences its had, solidify them and turn them into permanent long-term memories. And by downtime, he doesnt mean watching TV, texting or surfing the Internet. When you overstimulate the brain, Frank says, you prevent this learning process. I unplug on vacations, by regularly practicing yoga, cooking, taking time to be outdoors (devoid of cell phone) and by spending quality time with friends and family â€" just us. So how will you unplug this week? Will you consider folding this into your schedule whether you work a busy job or are on the job hunt? Or do you already?

Quantify Accomplishments on Your Resume to Stand Out in a Crowd -

Quantify Accomplishments on Your Resume to Stand Out in a Crowd - So, you are convinced that accomplishments are important for your resume? Good! The next key step is to quantify your accomplishments. The point of your resume is to entice the reader to want to know more about you. Demonstrating how you stand out in a crowd by quantifying your accomplishments is a great way to generate interest. When you start to quantify, think about the following categories: Money (especially as you saved or earned it) Time (more efficient, less wasted) Amounts (sales, customers, etc.) Situations (fast-paced, difficult economic environment, etc.) What do you think is more interesting or persuasive? Before: Conducted patient interviews and managed data collection for survey. After: Demonstrated analytical skills and cultural sensitivity as leader of team conducting, coding and verifying 1000 patient interviews using SAS in deadline-driven environment. Before: Met all sales quotas. After: Only salesperson to meet 100% of quotas in down-trending economic environment. Won top award for sales closed (2008). By contextualizing what you have to offer, you help the reader gain a clear picture of your value. If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you! Not sure how to implement good resume advice? Need some help to give your job hunt a boost? Visit Keppie Careers online for information about our services, including resume writing, interview preparation and job hunt coaching: photo by Paul likes pics