Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Employee Experience is Not Just for Full-Timers

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Employee Experience is Not Just for Full-Timers In the last few years, much emphasis has been placed on designing a strong employee experience that encourages talent activation,engagement,performance, and retention. However, all more organizations move toward experience design, most focus almost exclusively on a full-time, uninterrupted employee experience. Most HR professionals recognize and support employee transitions such as maternity/paternity leave and FLMA or temporary leaves of absence. Some even encourage sabbaticals and phased retirement. However, the word transition must be used loosely here, because in most cases, the employee in question just reassigns her work, leaves, and then just shows up again several months later (or, in the case of phased retirement, changes her role without fanfare or much acknowledgement). If you really want your organization to derive value from these benefits, you must be strategic about designing an experience exclusively for every kind of transition situation or “career intermission.” Here are some questions to ask as you consider how to use each transition to strengthen your relationship with participating employees. Maternity/paternity leave:What projects is the employee looking to complete before this very personal event? At what place would she like to see her career when she departs? How can we keep her involved in a stress-free way while she’s off? What specific steps will we take to ensure she’s properly re-onboarded when she returns? FLMA/leaves of absence:How can we support him during this difficult time? What resources can we provide to help? How can we strengthen his commitment to the company when the crisis has passed? What specific steps will we take to ensure he’s properly re-onboarded when he returns? For more where this came from, check out the SilkRoad blog.

Why the Short Way of Writing Publications in Resume is Usually Preferred

Why the Short Way of Writing Publications in Resume is Usually PreferredThere are numerous reasons why the short way of writing publications in resume is usually the preferred method. Whether you are writing it for an interview or just to write a brief note to your contact, a short way of writing publications in resume can be a great way to go about things.The first and most important thing that you need to consider is how you want the message to come across. If it is going to be a lengthy note then you should not have to go through many or too many. However, if you are simply writing to have some good contact information, you should do a good job in keeping it brief and concise.Your writing should be easy to read and understand. If you have to spell out any important words then you should be clear about what they mean. If they are small and difficult to understand, the person reading the note is less likely to remember it later on. Remember, writing is not an exact science and what makes one great can look terrible to someone else.It is easy to go off on a tangent but it is much harder to end up on the wrong track. You need to stick to the topic that you want to cover. In this case, you will be discussing how you used to work in a particular field. If you spend too much time discussing the generalities of a specific field, the reader will find it hard to recall the information later on.Another reason that the short way of writing publications in resume is a popular way to go about things is because it is something that is often ignored. A lot of people just write down information in one big field and do not bother with the generalities of that field. They just hope that someone else will remember it someday.A magazine article is a form of written documentation. One thing that people forget when writing this type of documentation is to think about where it came from. What about your background was different than other people who were your contemporaries? That i s important information to include in the notes section of the resume.Biography is another example of writing materials that often get left out. Some people just use their first name and do not add their last name. When they get the chance to change it later on they do so, but there is no reason that the short way of writing publications in resume cannot include a biography.The reason why the short way of writing publications in resume is a popular way to go about things is because it is very simple. Everything is focused on the content and nothing else. If you have a few minutes each day to write it, why not make it a habit?

Ways to Get a Handle on Productivity Apps

Ways to Get a Handle on Productivity Apps When you first bought your Android phone, you were probably delighted with the number of apps you could download for both personal and business use. There are apps that can help you deposit a check right into your work account and an app that assists you in planning dinners based on what you have in your fridge. Then there are game apps, health apps, astronomy apps and much more. With so many choices when it comes to apps, you may have felt like you were visiting the app equivalent of an all-you-can-eat restaurant. Unfortunately, just as overeating can make you feel bloated and uncomfortably full, your smartphone may be showing similar signs of having too many apps by running really slowly and taking forever to load new programs. The expression “too much of a good thing” definitely applies to apps and phones. In order to get your phone up and running at peak levels again â€" as well as feel less overwhelmed by all of the stuff on your screen â€" it is time for some serious app detox. In order to do this as easily and effectively as possible, check out the following tips: Start with the Apps You Never Use Use the same approach to app removal as you do donating the old clothes in your closet â€" take an honest look at your dozens of apps and start deleting the ones you never use â€"  even some that are meant to help your business run smoother. If you never use that finance or invoicing app, it is taking up important real estate on your phone. In addition, any  app that claims to save RAM  on your phone should be deleted because they tend to use up battery life, and any sort of “cleaning app” that promises to make your phone perform better should also be given the boot â€" going into Settings and then Storage and Cached Data and tapping on Clear Cached Data will do the same thing. Next, Remove the Apps that Distract You From Work You may have a number of apps that you genuinely like and use often â€" and this can be a problem. As a business owner, the last thing you want or need is a game or website tempting you with every glance at your phone. Classic examples of distracting apps include  Facebook, Twitter and Instagram  â€" especially if they are set up to give you constant push alerts and notifications. Games like Candy Crush may also need to be deleted, especially if you find yourself trying to surreptitiously line up three candies in a row during a meeting. Other apps that deserve a rapid trip to delete land include shopping sites that encourage you to spend more money; getting rid of them will free up much-needed space on your phone as well as help save your hard-earned cash. Look Into Instant Apps The ability to temporarily download and use an app may be the coolest solution of all for app fans. Some of the top mobile platforms on the market today feature  super-fast Gigabit LTE speeds, which will allow you to load an Android Instant App, up to 20MG in size, in just over a second. Once it’s on your phone, you can use the app for whatever you need it for and then when you are done it will automatically go away. Talk about having your cake and eating it too â€"  in this case you can use the app and save your phone space at the same time. Doing a full digital detox can take time and patience, and there may be setbacks along the way. But by standing firm in your resolve to clear your  Android phone  from unneeded apps and giving the Android Instant App feature a try, you will emerge victorious, less reliant on apps and youll enjoy a feeling of peace.

Editorial Assistant Cover Letter Sample - Algrim.co

Editorial Assistant Cover Letter Sample - Algrim.co Editorial Assistant Cover Letter Template Download our cover letter template in Word format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template

How to Write a Sales Resume For a Sales Manager

How to Write a Sales Resume For a Sales ManagerWhen writing your resume, knowing how to write sales resume for a sales manager is very important. This article will teach you how to write sales resume that will help you land that job.The sales manager doesn't want a resume that's too generic or looks like it was pulled off the internet from another company. Sales managers don't want resumes that look like something that was put together by lazy college students, so you need to know how to write sales resume for a sales manager.The first thing you need to do when writing sales resume for a sales manager is you need to write down your skills and abilities that will be helpful to the company that you are applying to. A good way to come up with your selling abilities is to think about what you've done in the past.If you have sold anything, then you probably have some knowledge of selling and sales managers are looking for sales people. Write down all of the work you've done to get sales.N ext, you need to write down your skills and abilities that you think they will be most interested in. Try to think about something that you can do that they will love. If you are the type of person that loves to take pictures, then you might want to put this on your resume.The last part of your resume is where you give your potential employer a description of you as a person. You can fill this section with a short and to the point description of you. It is important that you highlight your strengths and your weaknesses.Last, you need to think about the skills you will need for your future employer. These skills can be anything from typingto using PowerPoint, but these are just a few examples.Writing sales resume for a sales manager doesn't have to be a struggle. With these tips, you should be able to put together a strong resume that will help you land the job that you are looking for.

Why I Fell In Love With Traveling Alone - Cubicle Chic

Why I Fell In Love With Traveling Alone - Cubicle Chic Why I Fell In Love With Traveling Alone Lifestyle, Travel November 4, 2016 0 CommentsThanks to a few business trips, in 2016 I’ve traveled alone more than I had done in my entire life previously. I’ve journeyed through Munich, Neuschwanstein, D.C., and Boston, all by myself.Before you want to cue Celine Dion’s All By Myself for me…. Hear me out.Initially, I traveled alone out of necessity â€" I was already there, instead of staying in the hotel all day, I might as well go out and explore. But over time I realized I actually LOVE travel solo which is a huge surprise because I am one of those people that could never shop alone or go to a restaurant alone (not the case anymore but more on that later.)Traveling solo, I realized, is incredibly liberating.    Coat:  HM Boots:  Public Desire Backpack:  ASOS Square Leather Backback   Coat:  HM Boots:  Public Desire Backpack:  ASOS Square Leather Backback   Coat:  HM Boots:  Public Desire Backpack:  ASOS Square Leather BackbackTraveling alone is amazing because it allows yo u to..1)           Do what YOU really want to doIf you want to explore a corner in the city, you make a turn. If you are intrigued by the décor of a coffee shop, you walk in. If you see a high tower on the top of a hill, and wonder what it’s like to be in it…. You climb it! There’s no people’s interest level to consider, you just gotta do you.For people that are always saying “but I don’t know what I really want in life” â€" take a trip solo, go to places by yourself, and listen to your gut telling you what you REALLY want to do, and hone in on your self-listening skills. It’s a very common but profound practice!2)           Have no distraction and be presentThis doesn’t mean you can’t text or email friends once in a while, or even yelp or google places to go. I think there’s a reverse, good kind of FOMO when you’re traveling alone because you’re afraid of missing out what’s right in front of you. Somehow when we are traveling with others, when we know t hey’re taking photos, or they can tell us about what we missed if we just got distracted for a minute… it’s still being “captured” and can be “replayed.”  When you travel alone, if you didn’t see it with your own eyes, you’ve missed it.Without any friends or family to talk to by your side, when you are at your destination, or a spontaneous visit to some unknown part of the place you’re visiting, you are there. It’s you and that lake, or you and that castle, or you and that view; there’s nothing in between. I call this the “I am here” moment… when you are fully aware and present of yourself being in a new environment, and fully appreciating the moment. It’s an amazing feeling. You should try it. 3)           Learn to be a mindful responsible travelerI for one am guilty of relying on friends and family for directions and ideas when I travel in a group.   I know someone will come up with the place to go to, directions to get there, and what to do when we get there. I tend to just go with the flow in a group.When traveling alone, this approach won’t take me anywhere. I have to proactively plan, look things up, and know where my destination is. I am also notorious for being a very forgetful person who loses her belonging everywhere she goes. Traveling alone forces me to develop ways to keep myself more responsible and mindful of my belongings because I can’t count on people reminding me that I left my sunglasses in the café, or I dropped my ferry ticket behind me when I stopped to take pictures, or that I left my camera on the bus I took. If these examples sound really specific, it’s because they all have happened to me. But strangely, it never happens when I am traveling alone. It’s because I am actively watching my belongings as move about.4)           Make new friends (if you’re lucky like me!)  My friend Kay and me, in MunichStriking up a conversation with a stranger may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the key he re is to be open. Be friendly, and smile a lot. If you do this, people will come up to you.When I was exploring Munich this year in May, I wandered into a Jimmy Choo on Maximillian Strasse, a super high end, Rodeo Drive kind of place. I was just randomly browsing the beautiful shoes, thinking maybe for my wedding I would wear one of these beauties. A friendly sales girl started asking me about what I was looking for, what I liked, etc. We went on to talk about my wedding, and eventually where I’m from. It had turned out that her parents are from Taiwan, and so am I… Next thing you know, we are looking at our schedule to get coffee the next day.Long story short, we became friends and toured around Munich the next day, and are still in touch today. She is moving to NYC later this year and might even come to California to visit me.Isn’t this just amazing?5)           Find confidence and a new youIf you find traveling alone scary, well, you’re not alone (haha). Typical thoughts are as such “what am I going to do with myself?” or “How do I know where I’m going to go?” or “What if I get really bored by myself?” or “Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”These are all legitimate concerns, and it takes intention and preparation ahead of time to deal with them. In this process, you will learn to have faith in yourself, know that you are in control of your destination as long as you are prepared and willing and that even if things go unplanned, you can troubleshoot or go with the flow if need be.  There is something that is not just liberating, but inspiring and growth-inducing about this very process. You learn to trust yourself in a way that you haven’t before, and that makes you confident.Traveling alone, by default, also gives you a lot of time to be with yourself. It sounds like an oxymoron, but the truth is in our busy lives, we rarely spend alone time with ourselves. When we are, we feel the urge to fill it with our computer, phone and apps, and TV. When was the last time you asked yourself the same questions you ask your friends and family, “How have you been?” or “Are you happy with your life?” or “What’s been on your mind lately, is there anything I can do to help?” A lot of these questions lead to discovery about where growth and improvement will come from in life, and are an incredibly critical skill to develop in life.So, have I convinced you a little bit? Let me know if you want to start planning a trip solo now, or you’ve done it before, and where did you go!All Photography By Justin Tsai Photography

Post-Job Interview Follow-Up Dynamite or Deplorable (Part 2 of 2)

Post-Job Interview Follow-Up Dynamite or Deplorable (Part 2 of 2) Post-Job Interview Follow-Up: Dynamite or Deplorable? (Part 2 of 2) From a veteran hiring manager’s perspective, I’ve found that the weakest part of most job search processes is the deplorable state of follow-up. You can go from the perfect candidate to the bottom of the list before you even know it! It’s so much more than thank you notes! (By the way, why aren’t you sending yours?) Thank you notes and follow-up communications are NOT optional; they are required. In Part 1, I showed how great follow-up can put you ahead of other candidates, defined what world-class follow-up looks like and provided sample outlines for thank you notes and a second follow-up note. In this segment, I’ll give you some more tricks to improve your post-job interview follow-up and ways to avoid common mistakes and excuses. Tricks: 1. Always appear gracious, positive, patient, and interested. Speak in a very respectful manner if youre leaving a voicemail message, acknowledging that “I know you are very busy, but I wanted to follow up on the email I sent you and that I’m still very interested in the position.” 2. When following up with an email, always attach the prior email you are referring to, keeping the context of the communication. If there was an attachment to the prior email, reattach it, as appropriate. Reattach your original application or cover letter and resume, if appropriate. 3. Match the communication medium the interviewer has been using, i.e. returning emails with emails, phone calls with phone calls. Job-Killer Mistakes: (Trust me, I’ve seen them all!) Mistake #1: Scathing follow-up emails from job seekers who think they are out of the running. Mistake #2: Rudeness or impatience. If the hiring manager gave you a specific date or timeframe, give them some room. Hiring processes take time and you dont want to seem overly anxious. Mistake #3: One-line emails: Can you call me back? Mistake #4: Group thank you notes (one e-mail to two or more people) imply you are lazy. Group notes are not â€" by their very nature â€" personal! Mistake #5: Careless copy and paste. Sending a personal thank you note addressed “Dear Sally” and with a closure that says, “Thank you, again, Bob.” Mistake #6: Misspellings, grammar, punctuation errors. This is another writing sample for the employer! Mistake #7: Gimmicks. Do not send flowers, a gift, nothing, nada. Mistake #8: Do NOT have a friend “swing by” the hiring manager’s office and ask, “How is Bob doing for your position hiring. Isn’t he great?” Excuses: (If you dont want to do something, one excuse is as good as another. ~Yiddish Proverb) Excuse #1: “I knocked the interview out of the park, so no need to send anything since I’ll get the job.” Well, aside from being too cocky, which could have hurt you during the interview, there is no excuse for not being polite. And what if you were good in the interview, but not great, and the next candidate did send a compelling note? Excuse #2: “I don’t have their email address.” Lesson learned. Ask for all email addresses while you are interviewing. However, if you forgot, contact the recruiter, HR manager, or anybody who might be able to give it to you. Simply say, “I would like to send them a thank you note,” so your intention is clear. Excuse #3: “Thank you notes seem so phony. I’m not the thank you note type.” First, they should be sincere. Sheer appreciation for their time and for considering you as a candidate should be reason enough to take 5 minutes to review your notes from that meeting and craft a thank you note. Second, if you are not the “thank you note type,” then learn to be one now! Excuse #4: “They told me I will not be the final choice for the position, so no need to thank them.” Wrong. You want to add your interviewers to your network and you may want to contact them again. In addition, what if that company has another position that opens up? Take the high road and always, always send a thank you note and stay in touch after that. In your thank you note, you may say, “If another position opens up within your organization, I am interested in being considered.” I want to help you stand out and win that job! Feel free to comment below with any additional challenges you face! Let me give you a hand; I’m ready to help! Dana