Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom SHRM Conference Recap Solving the Applied Technology Skills Gap

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom SHRM Conference Recap Solving the Applied Technology Skills Gap Recently, DeVry University’s Career Advisory Board presented a session on the applied technology skills gap at theSociety for Human Resource Management’sAnnual Conference in Chicago. As defined inDeVry University’s Career Advisory Board’s 2017 JPI survey, applied technology skills (ATS) are skills needed by employees to leverage the right technology to do their jobs. When an individual has ATS, they have the ability to integrate people, processes, data, and devices to effectively inform business strategy and plan for and react to unanticipated shifts in direction. TheJPI studyconfirmed that ATS are on hiring manager’s radars. Nearly 69% of JPI survey respondents agreed with this statement: “When I interview a prospective candidate, the presence of applied technology skills and experience is a competitive differentiator.” And, the desire for leaders to have these skills is even greater â€" 76 percent of managers who hire senior-level candidates agreed. Why are ATS so important? As a workforce author and consultant, I believe that it’s helpful for anyone working in business today to leverage technology to sharpen their skills in critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving, draw inferences from a variety of data sources, and understand overall digital infrastructure and how it can drive process efficiency and improvement. Bringing ATS On Board Training employees in these skills, however, can be a bit of a challenge. Also, technology is evolving more quickly than in the past, so skill acquisition can’t happen all at once and must be frequently revisited. Fortunately, in our recent JPI study, we found that most hiring manager respondents are continuously training and retraining on ATS through internal courses and trainings (78 percent), tuition reimbursement (35 percent) and external courses and trainings (31 percent). Only 25 percent said their organizations are taking no action to develop the ATS skillset. For the rest of the recap, head over to the DeVryWORKS site.

3 Wordplay Tricks For Winning Big Deals - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Wordplay Tricks For Winning Big Deals - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Your winning in business cannot depend on others taking a lot of time to understand you and what you mean. If you have had a cover letter and resume simply go into the email trash bin of an HR department, without your receiving even an acknowledgment of your existence, you know you haven’t mastered the language of getting attention, much less a positive response. Saying what you mean â€" and getting a positive response â€" is akin to winning at Scrabble or Words with Friends. You have to be strategic in your thinking. You have to play the game, being tactically superior to others. Words are what make the difference between your getting what you want or not. It’s not your good intentions that gets you a job or a new client. It’s not your sincerity. It’s not your big heart. It’s not your ability to work hard. You must frame your position, argument or proposition in a winning way, one that generates a specific, positive response. Here are three wordplay tricks that you might put to use. Take out as many pronouns as possible when you tell a story. Make it less about you, and more about the recipient of your effort. Big tip: don’t start with “I.” For example, DON’T SAY: I volunteer every Monday evening at the food pantry on Main Street, because I want to give back to people. I am especially drawn to families with kids, who are struggling to get on their feet. I worry they only have that one meal to look forward to, and I want to make a difference in their lives by bringing groceries and serving them dinner. DO SAY: One out of every six kids in America is “food insecure.” It’s hard to believe, but that many kids wake up not knowing if they’ll have a meal that day. So you’ll find me every Monday evening at the food pantry on Main Street, bringing groceries and serving dinner to families gathered there for perhaps their only meal of the day. Lead with what your recipient gets, rather than frame your offer about what you receive. For example, DON’T SAY: I want a compensation package of $117,000 annually as well as a modest moving allowance and a guaranteed expense account of $2500 per month for client entertainment. DO SAY: It’s great to have the opportunity to discuss compensation with you. I can meet all the job objectives as well as the quotas for production you have outlined and arrive ready to work on the day you prefer, for a salary of $117,000 annually as well as a modest moving allowance and a guaranteed expense account of $2500 per month for client entertainment. Kill your habit of saying: “like,” “you know,” and “I mean.” For example, DON’T SAY: At my last job, you know, I had a lot of responsibility. I mean, I worked overtime like three days a week for like months. DO SAY: At my last job, the amount of responsibility given to me required my working overtime three days a week on average for several months. Some people don’t like these types of wordplay “tricks” because they believe it’s not authentic to change your natural speaking pattern. However, consider that your aspirations may have outgrown the way you express yourself. It may be time to strategically approach communication. These three tactical changes may jumpstart your success. Do you have a worrisome speaking habit or are you looking to frame a delicate issue in the most diplomatic way? Tell me your concern and I will help. Email: Nance@NanceRosen.com. Subject: Speech

6 Easy Ways to Set Up an Online Business at Home

6 Easy Ways to Set Up an Online Business at Home Setting up a business follows several steps, whether your business is onsite or online. The only thing missing is a physical office if youre operating virtually. So when you want to start an online business at home and start it right the first time, here are the things you should follow: Identify a need and find the product that will fill it Do not make the common error newbies commit, which is to look first for a product before finding a market. The way to properly start your business is to begin with a market. Do research to find what a group of people (your target market) is searching for â€" a solution to address their problem. Check online forums for questions and see what solutions other people offer. From your search you can already discover potential competitors, what they are offering and what they are doing so that the demand can be addressed. Then you can find the product that will fill a particular demand, since you already found an existing market. Write a good and compelling copy that will sell the product Copywriting may not be your forte but you can always ask for help. You can also find some tools online that can help you come up with a compelling copy that will arouse the readers interest. It should illustrate the problem that the product you offer will solve. Include a description of the product and its guaranteed benefits. Build an urgency, make an offer to the reader/potential buyer and compel them to buy. Eventually, add testimonials from people who have found satisfaction from the product youre offering. Design and create an attractive and user-friendly website Once you have polished you copy, you are ready to create the website for your online business. It does not have to be fabulous. It is actually better to make it simple, but it should grab the attention of readers within 5 seconds after theyve seen your site. Your website is the front end of your store, so it should be customer friendly. Make it easy for customers to navigate the site. Be mindful of the essential design elements â€" clear and simple backgrounds, easy to read fonts, add good product images or graphics and make it easy for customers to buy. Do not make the buying and payment process complex. Include an opt-in feature so you can gather email addresses and contact information for your customer database. Learn how to make search engines bring lots of traffic to your website Since you are new, it is best to employ some marketing and advertising tools, like pay-per-click, which is one of the fastest ways to bring more traffic to a brand new website and earn as well. Choose ads that are relevant to your website and product as these quickly show up in search engines. Likewise you can test various keywords, which you can use to enhance your sites code. Make yourself an expert Information is what people seek from the Internet, so use it to your advantage and build a reputation as an industry expert. Provide information through articles, blogs or videos to potential and target customers. Use forums, social media sites and other friendly websites to distribute free information about things that are useful to different people. Choose the right broadband package As a final tip, now that you’re an online business owner you will need a fast broadband connection to help you get work done. This is critical especially if you’re running an e-commerce business and so must to stay on point at all times, or if you’re working with other online business owner clients. There are plenty of fast business broadband packages available, so choose the best one thats tailored to your needs, so you could pace yourself better and get more done. With these tips, youll be able to fine tune your online business plans and work on a fabulous front end that will wow potential customers. Image credits Main   laptop

How to Pack for 3 Different Fall Getaways

How to Pack for 3 Different Fall Getaways Fall can be the perfect time of year to take a vacation. Why? As the hot, summer days start to dwindle and school begins, the beaches and getaway locations become the perfect places to spend a long weekend. Fewer crowds, reduced prices, and temperatures that are neither too hot nor too cold all combine to make a perfect vacation. The trick, however, comes in getting the necessary gear ready for the time away. Depending on the location, a few sweaters, as well as a swimsuit, may just be warranted. Here’s a helpful look at what to pack for three very different fall getaways: Berkshire Mountains Nature lovers will revel in the beauty of western Massachusetts with a visit to the Berkshire Mountains. With plenty to do from fall festivals to white water rafting to hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail, this Eastern United States destination will give travelers an itinerary perfectly customizable to their own level of leisure. Those who love a good trip to the mountains may want to stock up on a few of these items: Sturdy shoes (hiking or walking) with considerable traction. A few extra blankets Light jackets An umbrella An outfit for going out For more ideas on what to do on this mountain getaway, take some advice from Fodor’s Travel. Dominican Republic While the temperatures are cooling down in the States, it’s still heating up in the Dominican Republic. Eighty degrees is the year-round average, a temperature hot enough for sunbathing, relaxing with toes buried deep in the sand, and learning a new sport like skimboarding. Many resorts offer discounts in the off-peak season, so it pays to visit after August. The only slight downside can be an upsurge in rainy days with the potential for a tropical storm or hurricane, so keep an eye on the weather forecast. If no weather issues can be viewed, an exciting trip is forthcoming. To prepare for any potential weather issues and to have a good time, pack these ten essential pieces in your bag for the Dominican Republic: An umbrella, rain coat or poncho Sunglasses Sunscreen A Spanish dictionary Insect repellant Medication and First Aid products Small USD bills for tips A money conversion card â€" this helps calculate the rate of exchange from U.S. dollar to peso. Having this handy can be beneficial in paying fair prices. Neoprene swimsuit for all the water activities Sweater or light jacket For more help on putting together your suitcase for the Dominican Republic, see what Debbie’s Dominican Travel recommends. San Francisco A trip to the beloved Golden Gate City is perfect for the traveler who wants to spend some time relaxing at the beach but also enjoy plenty to do in the city at the night. For history buffs, a trip to the infamous Alcatraz will be fascinating. For those who need a classic San Francisco tourist experience, Golden Gate Bridge and Park is worth exploring. Fall can be a great time to head out to sunny California, but prepare yourself for the unpredictable weather and pack plenty of layers. With the ocean nearby, a cool wind can leave the air a little chilly. Here are a few ideas for packing bags for a San Francisco getaway: Sweater and/or light jacket Pair of long pants Sunglasses Walking shoes A nice outfit for going out (with a cardigan, at least) Cute scarf Traveling in fall comes with many benefits: low rates, moderate temperatures and fewer crowds. These three great locations are worth considering if you’re planning a trip for the fall.

The Top 10 Federal Resume Writing Services

The Top 10 Federal Resume Writing ServicesFederal resume writing services are the best resource to help you write a great resume. A resume is the most important document that you'll ever create for yourself. Using the right one is just as important as the application itself.You want the right resume for the right job. Whether you're a college student with no employment experience or a young professional looking to secure a promotion, the content of your resume will determine the success of your application. So it's best to have a top-notch resume designed by a top-notch resume writer.Writing a resume isn't a simple task. Finding a good writer to write a resume can be time consuming, frustrating and cost-prohibitive, but don't fret. Federal resume writing services are able to provide you with the best resume possible.These federal resume writing services offer their service for a few reasons. They want to make sure you get the job. As such, they take the time to write you a resume tha t has high impact and delivers on what you need it to do. After all, if they don't deliver, you won't hire them.In addition, federal resume writing services work with your current company. They know the entire hiring process, and how it works so well that you want to work with them to help you create a new resume. You also want a service that knows that you need all the information you need. Remember, you've just applied for a job, which means the hiring manager has already read over your application and decided if he/she wants to hire you.Resumes are just one aspect of an application. This means they must be efficient. Thismeans they must be completed in a timely manner so that you can get your foot in the door.It's so easy to write resumes these days, that a vast majority of people are using these services instead of the traditional resume that requires the writer to sit down and write a resume. The most important thing is that they're able to deliver what you need, at the price y ou want. Even if your skill set isn't what it used to be, it doesn't mean you're out of luck.You have the ability to take control of your resume from start to finish, and you can do it in your own time. Don't let the cost keep you from hiring the best. Federal resume writing services are all around you, and there's no reason why you shouldn't utilize them.

Im Not Qualified!

Im Not Qualified! I had a dream last night. No, it wasnt a Martin Luther King speech quality dream. I dreamed that there was turmoil in the Republican nomination contest. Trump was not able to continue.  And he tapped me as his replacement (yes, I probably do spend too much time listening to talk radio and political goings on). Now I know a lot about what is happening in the U. S. and world politics.  But could I rattle off details of Middle East Policy?  Or deal with the Beltway craziness and insane media? You could say I was a little freaked out. So I said, I really cant do this.  Although Ive voted a lot in the past, it has been a few years and Im not registered to vote. I know that might be hard to believe given my political junkie status.  But being frustrated with the system that seems to always be choosing the best of two bad (or horrible) options (depending on your perspective), and having the normal business of lifes daily chaos, I never felt the urge to jump back in and let my vote be counted. Now maybe this time around might be different given some of the stakes at hand in the Supreme Court and Federal Judiciary that often plays a big part in where the political winds blow. But back to the  story and why it should matter to you. Im Inadequate? The core element is a sense of inadequacy deep in the heart of all of us.  Yes, we can put on a confident attitude and a happy smile.  But deep down we all share that, Am I worthy? or Can I really do it? question. It can show up in several ways. You see a job posting that you think is a little out of your league.  Do you go for it?  Or does your self-doubt talk you out of even applying? You have a good opportunity offered to you but it is across the country away from your hometown, friends and family.  Do you take the plunge?  Or second guess yourself and walk away preferring the secure world of the known? You have a big project coming up and the boss asks if you want in.  Do you put your fears behind you?  Or do you pass, leaving you feeling that deep pit of regret years later? We all have strengths and weaknesses.  That is the human condition. And yet lifes adventure has so much more color and vibrancy when you sometimes take that risk and go for it. Would you become President if they asked you? Maybe thats not your thing.  But what other opportunities are you passing up because youre second-guessing yourself? Do you have an opportunity youre considering now?  Heres some other posts that might help your decision. Do You Need a Personal Climate Change? The More We LearnThe Less We Know What Airplane Repo Can Teach You About Your Business

Monday Tip Thank the happy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Monday Tip Thank the happy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Your mission this monday has three steps. Step 1: make a list of three happy people at work. Three people (or two or four or five) who are: Generally happy and cheerful Spread a good mood around them by being happy Simply good to have around It can be a co-worker, your boss, someone from another department, the receptionist or even a customer or the FedEx guy. Step 2: Think about what it means to have these happy people around. What does it do for you and others? What do you enjoy about it? How do they improve the workplace and your working day? Step 3: Find a way to thank them. Be specific based on what you found in step 2 and let them know exactly what their positive attitude does for you and others. You see, naturally happy people are a huge boon to any organization, but often they dont know how much it means to others that they are so happy. So make sure to let them know! Also, its just too easy to always bitch about the negative people whore always in a bad mood and infect others with that. Instead, make a point of remembering how many nice people are also around you! The Chief Happiness Officers monday tips are simple, easy, fun things you can do to make yourself and others happy at work and get the work-week off to a great start. Something everyone can do in five minutes, tops. When you try it, write a comment here to tell me how it went. Previous monday tips. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related