Happy Birthday JibberJobber! 6 Years Old!

Happy Birthday JibberJobber! 6 Years Old! Today we celebrate our six year birthday/anniversary. The last six years have been a roller-coaster ride it has been extremely fast, with highs and lows (although none of the lows were like the lows in my job search). When I realized the idea for this online job search organizer I got a second chance at a career.  I was depressed, my job search was going nowhere, I was losing hope, and didnt see any end in sight. Then, this idea came, I pursued it, and we launched JibberJobber.com on May 15, 2006.  It was going to be a side project while I pursued my hunt for my dream job. The hunt failed, though.  Heres a list of some things weve done in the last six years: Continued to focus on the product for the user for the last 6+ years.  Weve always had a long list of things to do and improve, and weve never let up on it.  Im asked if we continue to work on JibberJobber (do we keep it current?) and the answers is YES, absolutely!  I see no end in sight! Ive authored two books that have been published. I have a third that is ready for the editor, but Im hammering out the next one and am really excited about it. I just wish I would have done it 18 months ago. Ive spoken across the U.S., from Silicon Valley to Baltimore, from Orlando to Seattle, from small gatherings in Albuquerque to large gatherings in Boston. Ive spoken at universities for orientation and associations about career management.  Ive spoken on webinars, teleseminars, radio shows, and even been filmed for the news. Ive written almost every business day on this blog, and a regularly written on my LinkedIn blog and my Jason Alba blog. Ive created the third edition of the LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD, which has been a huge project, and an awesome training resource for people who want to learn how to use LinkedIn in a job search, as well as for their own business. Ive developed strong relationships with outplacement firms, university career centers and coaches and resume writers who use and recommend JibberJobber and my training materials regularly. And much, much more. Its been an awesome ride. I feel blessed to be able to do what I do. Thank YOU for helping me, for supporting this mission, and for telling friends and family and job club colleagues about JibberJobber. Heres to another awesome six years! Happy Birthday JibberJobber! 6 Years Old! Today we celebrate our six year birthday/anniversary. The last six years have been a roller-coaster ride it has been extremely fast, with highs and lows (although none of the lows were like the lows in my job search). When I realized the idea for this online job search organizer I got a second chance at a career.  I was depressed, my job search was going nowhere, I was losing hope, and didnt see any end in sight. Then, this idea came, I pursued it, and we launched JibberJobber.com on May 15, 2006.  It was going to be a side project while I pursued my hunt for my dream job. The hunt failed, though.  Heres a list of some things weve done in the last six years: Continued to focus on the product for the user for the last 6+ years.  Weve always had a long list of things to do and improve, and weve never let up on it.  Im asked if we continue to work on JibberJobber (do we keep it current?) and the answers is YES, absolutely!  I see no end in sight! Ive authored two books that have been published. I have a third that is ready for the editor, but Im hammering out the next one and am really excited about it. I just wish I would have done it 18 months ago. Ive spoken across the U.S., from Silicon Valley to Baltimore, from Orlando to Seattle, from small gatherings in Albuquerque to large gatherings in Boston. Ive spoken at universities for orientation and associations about career management.  Ive spoken on webinars, teleseminars, radio shows, and even been filmed for the news. Ive written almost every business day on this blog, and a regularly written on my LinkedIn blog and my Jason Alba blog. Ive created the third edition of the LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD, which has been a huge project, and an awesome training resource for people who want to learn how to use LinkedIn in a job search, as well as for their own business. Ive developed strong relationships with outplacement firms, university career centers and coaches and resume writers who use and recommend JibberJobber and my training materials regularly. And much, much more. Its been an awesome ride. I feel blessed to be able to do what I do. Thank YOU for helping me, for supporting this mission, and for telling friends and family and job club colleagues about JibberJobber. Heres to another awesome six years!

Key Ways for Moms to Balance Work and Family

Key Ways for Moms to Balance Work and Family There has never been a more popular time for moms to attempt to have it all but it can still be difficult to juggle a family life and a full time job. Read on to learn more about a few tips you can employ to have a better work and life balance. Bear in mind that it is possible to have a better work-life balance when you are conscious of the steps you take to make this a reality! Let Go of Any Guilty Feelings First of all, you need to let go of any of the guilt associated with holding a job. Dwelling on the fact that youre not with your child doesnt do anything positive for your child or you. Think instead about how the job youve taken outside the home is actually benefitting your family. It might allow you to provide for a better future for your children and it might also allow you to come home refreshed and excited about being a parent. Ella Dudayeva, Founder of a Real Estate Agency in Boca Raton, says “There was a time when I had to transition into a life as a business owner and the long nights definitely brought a measure of guilt. But overtime I saw that my hours at work were actually having a positive impact on my family, the key is to think about what would happen if you weren’t at work, that helps put everything into perspective.” Make Sure You Have Child Care On Hand Having quality child care is another thing you can do to achieve a positive work-life balance. When you know that your children are in good hands and being taken care of while youre working, it is easier to focus on your work and feel confident about their own future as well. Make sure you have fully vetted any possible candidates who will serve in your childcare capacity so that both you and your child are comfortable with the decision. Conduct interviews with anyone who you are considering for a childcare role. Doing this can narrow down your list and make you feel a lot better about leaving your children in the care of someone else during your busy work days. You want someone reliable, professional, and relatable. Plan Ahead Each Night One important way for women to reduce the feelings of being frazzled is to prepare for the day ahead by getting organized the night prior. This could involve packing the children and preparing them for school and laying out everybodys clothes. Having everyone shower as well reduces the chance of feeling stressed out in the morning and being late whether it is for you or your children. This is also a good opportunity to look over the to-do list for the following day and to divide and conquer with the schedule. Thinking about things the night before gives you a better chance to remember things that you might otherwise forget and makes you feel confident in terms of getting a better nights sleep. Following these tips can help you achieve a better work-life balance in your life and help you succeed both in the workplace and in the home. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can tackle the big task of balancing your work and family life. It’s not always easy, but striking the right balance can be extremely rewarding. See how you can implement these steps today! Image Source; Image Source; Image Source

5 Tips to Keep Your Stockings Full and Your Wallet Happy This Holiday Festive Season

5 Tips to Keep Your Stockings Full and Your Wallet Happy This Holiday Festive Season It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The festive season usually spells fun, family, food and more often than not, stress! The air outside is cold and the lights shine bright, all the better for you to read your endless shopping lists under. So this season, we thought we’d share our tips to help you save more and worry less about guessing Aunt Margaret’s pant size… ?? Gift Baskets: You’ve probably walked past five different boutiques with excessively extravagant gift baskets in their window already, and quickened your pace on seeing the price tag attached. But you can actually split that price five ways by buying one and taking it apart to create multiple smaller packages complete with extra tinsel and some leftover Halloween candy… Genius, I know… ‘Buy One, Get One’ Sales: These offers tend to sound better than they are with the product on sale being either t-shirt basics or other dead stock that you can’t, in good conscience, gift anyone but yourself. However, if you search smart and wide, you can find offers and discounts on all kinds of items.   For example, you can use    the code ‘CAREER10’   to get some designer sunglasses, like the ones here on  smartbuyglasses.com, because there is no such thing as too many sunnies!   Oh, and don’t miss out on their Christmas advent calendar ?? DIY gifts: You may not have an artistic bone in your body but no one has to know that. Just grab one of your mom’s old vases or coffee mugs and some oil paint and a bowl of water. Marbelled DIY accessories are not only trending but are so personal they’re guaranteed to earn you a sentimental ‘awwww’ from every receiver. Edibles: No, not that kind! Though walking in to any room, anytime, with an iced Christmas cake or golden Pumpkin Pie is sure to make you everyone’s favourite especially Aunt Margaret. Decorated cookies or cinnamon-dusted ginger bread is proof of thought and time invested. It’s also cheaper than glitzy bottles of sub-par prosecco. Pretend you missed the dinner party invite: Unfortunately, you are now ‘otherwise engaged.   Just make sure you mute Netflix when making the apologetic phone call. Happy holidays and you’re most welcome!

How To Conquer Competency-Based Interviews

How To Conquer Competency-Based Interviews Candidates applying for jobs are increasingly likely to be asked to attend a competency-based interview. Applicants shouldn’t let the name intimidate them; this is just an interview using questions designed to assess different ‘competencies’. Basing interviews on competencies adds standardisation and objectivity to the traditional interview process. First Understand What Competencies Are Employers increasingly judge job applicants against a list of competencies, called a competency framework.  Employers usually design competency frameworks which are tailored specifically for the role. These are based on the knowledge, skills and abilities indicative of successful job performance.  For example, in an investment banking role, a typical competency framework may include: critical thinking, problem solving, numerical reasoning, resilience, etc. Typically, organisations select between four and eight key competencies to form the competency framework, often with additional desirable, but not essential, competencies. These key competencies either address essential responsibilities of the role, or factors predicting job performance in that organisation. In most cases, key competencies can be identified by researching the responsibilities and function of the role. However, many key competencies may not be so transparent to applicants, as many organisations assess the candidate’s values, motivations and behaviours. Sometimes organisations include the competency framework within the job specification during the application, or even in the job advert. Understanding competencies is the key to good competency-based interview performance, and identifying the competency framework for the role can aid pre-interview preparation enormously.  [ALSO READ:What are Assessment Centres?] How Competency-Based Interviews Work Competencies-based interviews typically last 45 60 minutes and are highly-structured, with all candidates asked similar or identical questions. Often, these questions ask historical information regarding previous experiences in order to identify evidence of competence in a particular area. See below for example of competency-based questions and their related competency: Tell me when you had to manage or resolve a conflict between two or more co-workers (Competency: Interpersonal skills). When have you needed to solve a problem using abstract or lateral thinking? (Competency: Problem solving). When have you managed to convince conventionally-minded people into adopting new ideas? (Competency: Innovative Thinking). Delving into the candidate’s past experience allows interviewers to evaluate the relevance of their experience and test their ability to think on their feet. Similarly, interviewers may ask hypothetical questions regarding what the candidates would do in a relevant workplace situation. As with traditional interviews, competency-based interviews may be conducted in person, either with a single interviewer or by a panel, or may be done over the phone or internet. How to Conquer a Competency-Based Interview When answering competency-based interview questions, it is recommended that candidates adopt the tried-and-tested STAR method (situation, task, action, result). The STAR method describes a four-step approach to answering competency-based questions, described below: 1.              Situation: outline the scenario in which you found yourself, when this situation occurred and where it was occurring. 2.              Task: describe what needed to be achieved; what your goals where and the obstacles preventing you from achieving your goal. 3.              Action: describe what you actually did, what course of action was taken and why you took this course of action. 4.              Result: state the outcomes of your course of action, to what extent you reached your goals and what you learned from this experience. See more example competency-based interview questions. Other competency-based question strategies include the CAR (context, action, result) method and the SOARA (situation, objective, action, result, aftermath) method. These methods are similar and equally effective strategies to responding to competency-based questions. Whichever method is used, answers must be clear, concise and relevant to the question. Final Thoughts Even highly-structured interviews can be open to subjectivity. Therefore, first impressions, presentation, and politeness may affect selection decisions, despite not being one of the competencies being formally assessed. So, general interview advice still applies to competency-based interviews: research the role; make eye contact; consider your posture; smile; try to relax; be positive and polite. Keep in mind good practice interview techniques, stick to the STAR method, and you will stand the best chance of success.

6 Reasons Why Sharing Your Personal Stories With Your Colleagues is Great for You CareerMetis.com

6 Reasons Why Sharing Your Personal Stories With Your Colleagues is Great for You Original SourceSharing personal stories with your colleagues might, at first, seem like one of the most unprofessional things to do at your workplace. Besides, the work environment, for some, sounds like the last place you’d want to open up and share tales about your personal failures, challenges, difficulties, and past experiences.Fair enough. But, here’s the thing â€" the fraction of people currently doing this is higher than you imagine. And perhaps unsurprisingly, it applies to all types of workplaces.Psychologists at Rice University in Houston, Texas recently published a reportanalyzing 65 different studies on stigmatized identity. It reveals, among other things, that opening up about your personal details â€" like religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and past experiences â€" might understandably be difficult, but all in all, it essentially improves relationships with colleagues.evalIf you still think it feels odd, additional research studies on the matter suggest that telling stories is actually an intrinsically critical component of human life. Not just social relationships.It’s basically what you rely on to define your world. Storytelling is helpful in not only solving struggles and challenges but also developing relationships with people around you. So, of course, sharing personal stories is one thing you might not be able to avoid over the long haul.As a matter of fact, when you come to think of it, you’re naturally curious about your colleagues’ lives. You’d want to know what they are up to when they are not at work, what they like, what they hate, where they come from, etc. And that’s totally normal.That said, it’s worth noting that sharing personal stories isn’t always about you. Although you might not notice it at first, it progressively impacts your entire company. With time, you’ll get to grow closer to your colleagues, and subsequently, cultivate stronger ties in the workplace. That’s how you slowly develop a Huf flepuffcompany culture.But that’s not all. Here are 5 ways sharing personal stories will impact your company culture:1) Improves Communication SkillsevalRegardless of the type of work you do, your overall efficacy is substantially dependent on how you relate with your colleagues. Every single company relies on collaboration to seamlessly achieve its collective objectives. And that’s impossible without great communication.While there are many ways to improve workplace communication, sharing personal stories is exceptionally effective. Each story you tell goes beyond the typical workplace talk and helps you connect with your colleagues at a much deeper level.evalFrom the resultant strong bond you develop, you’ll notice that communication gets easier on a gradual basis. Ultimately, you’ll be able to speak freely with anyone, which in turn boosts your overall collaboration abilities.Such communication skills even make you more marketable as an individual. A 2018 survey of about 1,000 employersestablished that great communication skills top the most critical elements considered while hiring new employees. 2) Creates a Great First ImpressionThe first impression is the reason why everyone attempts to dress well for job interviews. How people perceive you when they first meet you forms a long-lasting opinion about your overall character and personality. In short, therefore, the first impression you create at your new workplace determines how your colleagues will treat you moving forward.If you’d like to appear as a trustworthy and open individual right off the bat, you need an approach that connects well with your colleagues. Sharing personal stories is a particularly clever way of going about it.evalWhen you’re first introduced to your colleagues, be imaginative and narrate personal details that demonstrate your best qualities. This will help you break the awkward atmosphere, and your new colleagues will find you to be an interesting workmate they can eas ily collaborate with. 3) Reinforces Your NetworkThe expansive network of acquaintancesyou progressively develop with time significantly contributes to your career success. Although it’s always a good idea to keep cultivating a relationship with everyone in your network, you can’t possibly bond with your work colleagues, former classmates, and friends all the time. Yet you need them to expand your network further, as well as grab any arising career opportunities.Sharing personal stories will help you seal that loophole. By letting your colleagues learn about issues they wouldn’t otherwise figure out, they’ll increasingly grow fond of you. Plus, they’ll get to understand your goals and what you seek in life.Consequently, you can bet they’ll always think of you even after you’ve left the company. And from that alone, you might land a few great opportunities courtesy of them.4) Creates a Better Feedback EnvironmentConstructive criticism is always a part of workplace collab oration. It helps you figure out your weaknesses, develop your job skills, as well as grow holistically.The thing with constructive criticism, however, is that it requires a genuine feedback framework. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to pinpoint the precise areas that might be holding you back.Sadly, creating such an environment within the workplace is not that simple. Most people tend to avoid criticizing their colleagues, fearing that conflicts could possibly arise and damage their relationships.The bond that comes from sharing personal stories is effective at solving this problem. When you continually open up to your colleagues, you’ll gradually eliminate any awkward social barriers in your relationship. As a result, they’ll perceive you as a genuinely honest and open individual.And with that comes trust and familiarity. So, eventually, you’ll give them the confidence to give you genuine feedback without feeling uncomfortable. And that translates to better collaboration, as well as consistent personal growth.eval5) Improves Your Workplace MoodevalWork isn’t always fun. It can be stressful and even cause feartoo, especially when you work in a fast-paced environment. Something as small as a snippy email or a tedious task could be enough to set you off.That’s why you might occasionally feel the urge to take some time off, and probably go for a vacation or something. But, since such wishes rarely materialize, the end result is usually a dull mood in the workplace.Now, admittedly, we don’t have control over some of the typical workplace challenges. But, we can manage how we handle it, especially when it comes to emotions.If you happen to find yourself in a bad mood at work, you can let off some steam by sharing personal stories with your colleagues. Even a quick small talk could considerably help you calm your nerves, lighten up your mood, and give you the peace of mind you need to focus on your job.6) Helps Solve Personal ProblemsWe all face challen ges in life. That’s pretty normal. And people have different ways of handling them. While some have the strength to manage multiple problems at once, others fall into depression fairly quickly. evalThat notwithstanding, one thing’s for sure. That the load gets lighter when you share. In other words, a problem shared is a problem halved.So, you might want to let your colleagues in when you’re going through a difficult time. You could be surprised by how much they empathize, and subsequently, commit to helping you out.Besides, it goes without saying, that the faster you solve a personal problem, the quicker you’ll regain your focus in the workplace. And of course, the better you’ll be able to collaborate with the rest.

Stop Complaining and DO something

Stop Complaining and DO something How long will it take you to admit you need help with your job search? If you are like many of the job seekers Ive met the answer is too long. In case you havent noticed, job search is very different today, and yet, it is very much the same. What Am I Going to Do About It? I want to provide you with answers and suggestions to the questions and roadblocks you face. I am taking some of my own advice here to stop complaining and do something to really help! Rather than hope I am addressing your concerns, I want to really answer your questions. So, I want to make Fridays blog post the day I address your questions! What Can You Do About It? I want you to make a list of your complaints. List every single one! There are no jobs. No one will hire me because I am too old/young. No one returns my calls. My resume falls into a black hole. I am not seeing jobs that are a good fit for me. I am not getting any feedback after interviews. Companies are rude. People arent helping me. Networking doesnt work for me. Now, send me your complaint in the form of a question. Whats your job search gripe?! Here are some examples of what I mean What do I do when the receptionist ignores me when I come in for an interview? How do I get Human Resources to return my calls and emails after Ive applied for a job? What is the best way to get someone to agree to meet with me? Now it is your turn! [contact-form-7 id=7695 title=Whats Your Job Search Gripe?!]

Tips to Employ a Professional Resume Writing Service

Tips to Employ a Professional Resume Writing ServiceYou may have heard about the best resume writing service Chicago Healthcare. But did you know that there are other ones which can be of great help to you?Resume service is essential if you want to get hired in a healthcare setting. These service providers can offer important information and assistance for you to compose a good resume that you can use when applying for jobs. You can also take advantage of services offered by other service providers. In addition, there are companies which will also be able to offer you with free service.However, there are some tips that you need to know in order to help you create a resume that is perfect for you. The goal of the best resume writing service Chicago Healthcare is to provide valuable and necessary assistance to clients so that they can apply for jobs successfully. Although all of these services are important, it would be great if you can customize your own resume.When creating your resu me, you need to keep in mind that it should also be professional and impressive. Professional means that you would be submitting a resume that other employers would find impressive and appropriate. Since you are an applicant for a job, you would need to prepare a resume that would be acceptable by many employers. Thus, the material used should be correct and up-to-date.If you want to make your resume stand out among others, it would be great if you include information that you are familiar with. Remember that employers consider a resume to be the first impression of an individual. Hence, you should include any information that you feel could help people get a better view of you.Try to list the skills that you possess in your resume. Include any experience that you had. On the other hand, if you are self-employed, you may include any work experiences or achievements that were related to your business. It would be great if you include your education and training if applicable.Try to l ist any past positions or experiences that you had for a specific company or any other organization. Additionally, mention any skills that you have learned from your current employment. This will definitely help you stand out among other applicants.Thus, it would be best if you consider hiring a professional resume writing service, such as the best resume writing service Chicago Healthcare. This service provider can provide you with helpful information and assist you in making the right decision in completing your resume.