Tips to Boost Your Interviewing Skills

Tips to Boost Your Interviewing SkillsTips to Boost Your Interviewing SkillsTips to Boost Your Interviewing SkillsInterviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances when you finally land that bewerbungsgesprch. Below you will find some helpful hints that will better prepare you to land your dream job.One of the biggest things you should prepare for is the company itself. The brother-in-law of one of our employees went on an interview with a pretty big pharmaceutical company but didnt research the company prior to his interview. During the interview, they asked him what he knew about the company. Not too much, was his response. I know your company makes different medications, he added. At that moment the interview was technically over. He basically shot himself in the foot by bedrngnis knowing the basics of the company he was interviewing with. We are not saying that you need to know everything about the company. That is unnecessary since you dont want to overstep your p lace as a candidate looking for a job. Instead, pay attention to the demeanor of the interviewer and their energy and enthusiasm.Be prepared to ask questions. At every interview, you will be asked, Do you have any questions? Do not say no Asking questions demonstrates your interest in what goes on in the company. This part of the interview gives you an opportunity to see if the company is a right fit for you. When youre being asked certain things during the interview, keep them in mind for when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions. You can go back and ask more clarifying questions based on their initial interview questions. Being able to ask follow-up questions of things that had been previously discussed also displays your communication skills. Being able to listen and letting the person know you understood what was said is a major part of the interview process.You can take yourself out of a job by talking too much during an interview. Be prepared, answer what is aske d of you, and ask questions. If youre not prepared, you can very easily start rambling on and talk yourself out of a position. Prepare for the interview by reading through the company web site and the job posting. Dress appropriately We are not saying to make sure your shirt is pressed. Were saying wear a suit One of our employees went on an interview with a very laid back company. Most of the people in the company were wearing shorts and flip flops, but that didnt stop him from wearing a suit to both of his interviews. It is important to look professional.The last thing we want to touch upon is not appearing desperate. Hiring managers dont want someone who seems desperate for a job. They want someone who is cool, calm, and confident in their ability. If you know you can do the job, then believe in yourself and the interviewer will also believe in you.

How to Break Into Copywriting

How to Break Into CopywritingHow to Break Into CopywritingYoure in the creative industry but youre not a writer. You write pretty well and enjoy it. Colleagues and friends say youre witty and clever. And youre looking for a career change. Now might be the time to explore making a move into copywriting.The need for quality written content is real. But how do you break into the world of copywriting if you dont have writer somewhere in your job title? Consider these ideasEducate yourselfStart by reading great writing on, well, copywriting. Some excellent books on the subject includeHey Whipple, Squeeze This The Classic Guide to Creating Great Ads by Luke SullivanThe Copywriters Handbook A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. BlyEverybody Writes Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann HandleyThe Internet is also rich with information on how to break into copywriting. Check out sites such as Copyblogger, The Copywriters Crucible and Copyhackers. Taking online copywriting courses is another great option. For example, HOW Design University offers a Copywriting for Designers course and Mediabistro has a range of copywriting classes.Raise your hand for copywriting assignmentsMake it known internally that youre interested in copywriting, and that your knowledge of the industry, creative campaign or target audience will be an asset. Most employers will appreciate the initiative.Write for a causeConsider taking on pro-bono work as a way to build your copywriting portfolio. According to Content Marketing Institute research, 61 percent of nonprofit marketers use content marketing. And 69 percent are creating more content than they did one year ago. Reach out to an organization whose work youre interested in and ask if you can assist them with their communications.Find a mentorLocating a mentor doesnt have to be complex or time-consuming. It could be as simple as asking for a one-time informational bewerberinterview with an establis hed copywriter whos on your staff or in your professional network. Explain that youre interested in copywriting and want to know more about that side of the business. If the meeting goes well, request the opportunity to help on the next project. Pay close attention to the advice and edits provided, and offer your appreciation for the feedback. Soon the copywriting team may be asking you for work.Read why copywriting is a hot profession today

how to rewrite your resume to focus on accomplishments, not just job duties

how to rewrite your resume to focus on accomplishments, not just job duties how to rewrite your resume to focus on accomplishments, not just job duties If youre like most people, your resume lists what you were responsible for at each job you held, but doesnt explain what you actually achieved there. Rewriting it to focus on accomplishments will make it way more effective (i.e., increased email subscribers by 20% in six months instead of managed email list), because that explains how you performed, not just what your job duties were.However, most people really strugglewith how to do this. And its especially tricky in jobs that dont lend themselves to numerically quantitative achievements.Heres an example taken from the comments section on a recent post about resumes. Commenter Eden askedWhat constitutes an achievement, in this context?I was the person the entire staff looked for to get on the phone or interact in person with any disgruntled client. I was also the person chosen most f requently by doctors to relay complex medical information to clients of all backgrounds.Skill in dealing with irate, irrational people is not something I was born with, so acquiring it was very much trial by fire. Im proud of it- I made treulich clients out of people with gripes- but dont want to sound like Im bragging.Another communications example I was the person all the doctors and our practice manager came to for writing or editing of client correspondence or exam notes, or to write newsletters, or web content. Writing and editing was very much not what my position title entailed.So are these achievements? Of course, I have references (boss, practice manager, clients) who would verify this, but to my ears these sound like hanging medals on myself that are hard to quantify.Theyre absolutely achievements. They speak to what you got done that someone else in your role might not have, and they speak to what kind of employee you are. The trick is just turning them into resume-friend ly bullet points.For instance* Built reputation for working successfully with previously unhappy clients* Became go-to staff member for relaying complicated medical information to patients of diverse backgrounds* Sought out by doctor and practice manager to write and edit client correspondence, exam notes, and web contentSee? Now the person reading your resume knows a hell of a lot more about what kind of worker you are than if you just listed job duties.mora advice herehow to list accomplishments on your resume when your job doesnt have easy measuresthe 1 question your resume should answer

Elizabeth Harrin - The Balance

Elizabeth Harrin - The BalanceElizabeth Harrin - The Balance

Interview Questions To Help Get To Know Candidate

Interview Questions To Help Get To Know CandidateInterview Questions To Help Get To Know CandidateInterview Questions To Help Get To Know Candidate FalconeConducting an bewerbungsgesprchhas turned into a strategic chess game of tricky questions and insightful answers. But it doesnt have to be that way.Knowing what einstellungsgesprch questions to askin a way that benefits your company and the candidate can actually be a lot more engaging, selfless, and comfortable.After all, as an einstellungsgesprcher and company representative, you have a gift to give someone whos currently in transition or otherwise looking to assume broader responsibilities in their career. Your recruiting knowledge, wisdom, and insights can go a long way to evaluate a candidates potential fit within your organization and to inspire individuals to grow and develop in their careers.As soon as you begin to see the gift that the interview process holds for both you and the candidate, youll realize that it poses an opportunity elend only to assess but to give back and thats the true ah-ha moment of conducting an interview.Interview Questions to Ask that Reveal MoreThe first important insight into getting to know the real person behind the interview faade lies in engaging candidates hearts as well as their minds. Youll know youll have gotten there once applicants begin making statements like, Well, I normally wouldnt say this during an interview, but . . .At that point, you can rest assured that youre communicating with the real person, not just the faade hiding behind the interview hype. And getting there quickly isnt as difficult as you might think, even when meeting someone for the first time. Its just a matter of valuing their needs as much as your own.Open your interview with a broad-based question like Walk me through your progression in your career, leading me up to your most recent position at XYZ Company.Next, focus on the individuals reason for leaving XYZ Company. Be sure to disting uish between involuntary moves (e.g., layoffs and terminations) and voluntary moves (where candidates leave on their own volition to explore broader opportunities).Segue this reason for leaving question into an open-ended career development query like this At this point in your career, what criteria are you using in selecting your next role or the next company where you want to work?With that anfangsbuchstabe response in hand, you can then ask the Big 4 job change and career progression questions as followsJanet, tell me the top two priorities youre focusing on at this point in your career. Are you hoping more for(a) greater responsibilities and growth(b) lateral exposure to specific areas in your field(c) more work-life balance, or (d) compensation and benefits.All four are important, but which one or two are more critical for you at this point in your career?This will generally get candidates talking about their own personal career values. No interview prep book in the world gener ally covers spontaneous interview questions like these Thats where you want to be in every interview on fresh pferderennbahn getting to know the real person.Interview Questions to Ask that Prompt DiscussionContinue this open-ended discussion by asking If you were to accept this position with us today, how would you explain that to a prospective employer five years from now? How would this job provide a link in your future career progression?Notice the selfless nature of this query. It requires that the individual fit together the pieces of their career development puzzle, right there in front of you.A logical counterpoint and segue might be for you to address out loud how you see the individuals selection criteria and career values applying to your company. Heres an example Janet, I really like your technical background. However, Im a bit concerned that as an overqualified candidate,you would accept a lateral title and supervise a smaller team than at your current/last company, so help me understand that . . .This line of questioning will open the door to the bonding relationship youre looking to develop. Candidates will walk away thinking, Wow, Ive never interviewed with a company that took such a strong interest in me and my own needs before.Straightforward, simple, and selfless its so much easier to conduct an interview when youre sharing ideas and focusing on the needs of both company and candidate.In essence, youll have shifted the employee development paradigm to the pre-employment stage.Rather than a mere game of wits, strategies, your revamped interview strategy will garner appreciation and loyalty. It will also help nurture your staff and generate lots of good will in your own career.Interview Questions To Help Get To Know CandidateInterview Questions To Help Get To Know Candidate FalconeConducting an interviewhas turned into a strategic chess game of tricky questions and insightful answers. But it doesnt have to be that way.Knowing what interview q uestions to askin a way that benefits your company and the candidate can actually be a lot more engaging, selfless, and comfortable.After all, as an interviewer and company representative, you have a gift to give someone whos currently in transition or otherwise looking to assume broader responsibilities in their career. Your recruiting knowledge, wisdom, and insights can go a long way to evaluate a candidates potential fit within your organization and to inspire individuals to grow and develop in their careers.As soon as you begin to see the gift that the interview process holds for both you and the candidate, youll realize that it poses an opportunity not only to assess but to give back and thats the true ah-ha moment of conducting an interview.Interview Questions to Ask that Reveal MoreThe first important insight into getting to know the real person behind the interview faade lies in engaging candidates hearts as well as their minds. Youll know youll have gotten there once appl icants begin making statements like, Well, I normally wouldnt say this during an interview, but . . .At that point, you can rest assured that youre communicating with the real person, not just the faade hiding behind the interview hype. And getting there quickly isnt as difficult as you might think, even when meeting someone for the first time. Its just a matter of valuing their needs as much as your own.Open your interview with a broad-based question like Walk me through your progression in your career, leading me up to your most recent position at XYZ Company.Next, focus on the individuals reason for leaving XYZ Company. Be sure to distinguish between involuntary moves (e.g., layoffs and terminations) and voluntary moves (where candidates leave on their own volition to explore broader opportunities).Segue this reason for leaving question into an open-ended career development query like this At this point in your career, what criteria are you using in selecting your next role or th e next company where you want to work?With that initial response in hand, you can then ask the Big 4 job change and career progression questions as followsJanet, tell me the top two priorities youre focusing on at this point in your career. Are you hoping more for(a) greater responsibilities and growth(b) lateral exposure to specific areas in your field(c) more work-life balance, or (d) compensation and benefits.All four are important, but which one or two are more critical for you at this point in your career?This will generally get candidates talking about their own personal career values. No interview prep book in the world generally covers spontaneous interview questions like these Thats where you want to be in every interview on fresh turf getting to know the real person.Interview Questions to Ask that Prompt DiscussionContinue this open-ended discussion by asking If you were to accept this position with us today, how would you explain that to a prospective employer five years from now? How would this job provide a link in your future career progression?Notice the selfless nature of this query. It requires that the individual fit together the pieces of their career development puzzle, right there in front of you.A logical counterpoint and segue might be for you to address out loud how you see the individuals selection criteria and career values applying to your company. Heres an example Janet, I really like your technical background. However, Im a bit concerned that as an overqualified candidate,you would accept a lateral title and supervise a smaller team than at your current/last company, so help me understand that . . .This line of questioning will open the door to the bonding relationship youre looking to develop. Candidates will walk away thinking, Wow, Ive never interviewed with a company that took such a strong interest in me and my own needs before.Straightforward, simple, and selfless its so much easier to conduct an interview when youre sharin g ideas and focusing on the needs of both company and candidate.In essence, youll have shifted the employee development paradigm to the pre-employment stage.Rather than a mere game of wits, strategies, your revamped interview strategy will garner appreciation and loyalty. It will also help nurture your staff and generate lots of good will in your own career.

Short Article Reveals the Undeniable Facts About Chronological Resume Example and How It Can Affect You

Short Article Reveals the Undeniable Facts About Chronological Resume Example and How It Can Affect You The Ugly Side of Chronological Resume Example A chronological resume often contains an eye-catching career summary at the very top. As the most significant portion of the chronological resume structure, the work history section will require the bulk of your time and attention. Since chronological resumes are an essential document, its vital to compose a nice and appropriate chronological resume that could assist the applicant to acquire the job theyve applied for. Its possible to add the address of your professional site, portfolio, or LinkedIn Account if youve got them. If you are searching for work in creative industries, wherever your portfolio matters more than your resume, go right ahead and utilize creative functional resumes. If you held more than 1 position for the very same employer, make sure you list each position separately so that your career growth is more notic eable. fruchtwein significantly, you include substantial achievements in that position that are related to the sort of job youre applying for. Its better to use a functional resume when you wish to change work and at the very same time the work role and domain too. There are a number of ways to target your resume to a particular job. A summary is the most appropriate for someone with significant experience, for someone whos changing careers and would like to demonstrate transferable abilities, or for someone with a varied background. If you would begin writing the resume directly, you can miss out any essential details that may force you to stick out from the crowd of applicants. Its more forward-looking and professional to spell out about how your prior job has supplied you with relevant working experience. Chronological resume format isnt good for candidates that are unemployed as of now. Your CV is the initial document youll use to attain your prospected employer. Resume is a document thats thought to be the very first step to a prosperous career. A chronological resume isnt difficult to read and can highlight career development. Building a functional resume can be fascinating whenever you have the most suitable guideline to follow. Still, though the combination template looks to highlight skills, the reason it is a combination resume is because it enables you to also heavily feature your precise work history. Each format has its benefits and disadvantages. Have a peek at a chronological resume example to have a clearer visual comprehension. Chronological resume as we saw has many benefits but that doesnt signify that its acceptable for all. A purely chronological approach may not always be the best method to place your credentials forward. If youve got professional experience, you need to consider a chronological resume format instead. These templates will allow you to compose a combination resume from scratch. If you discover that the chronological resume format is not functioning for you, it might be for any variety of reasons and you might be better suited to a combination resume layout to present your profile to prospective employers. Functional format is about highlighting your specific skills that match the skill set needed by the recruiter. Employers generally enjoy the chronological resume format since its straightforward to follow and provides the info theyre searching for in a straightforward layout. Resumes are available in all shapes and sizes clearly, but there are some essential types of resume and they each have their specific applications and uses. Resume examples can allow you to see what type of content you should have in your document. If you address the incorrect person in your cover letter, you might not receive a response. Resume templates often include example sections and data for you to receive a better comprehension of the way to finish your personalized resume. If youre seeking to c ustomize professional, pre-formatted resumes, have a look at our totally free downloadable templates. Consequently, formatting and composing good resumes are as essential as composing a superb letter of introduction to go for the application. The resume template isnt only easy, additionally it is readily available for free download.

4 Ways to Hire the Best Talent Like Steve Jobs - Spark Hire

4 Ways to Hire the Best Talent Like Steve Jobs - Spark HireIf you are a living, breathing human being then you definitely know who the former head of Apple was Steve Jobs. There are many different opinions on his business practices, but its clear to see that Jobs hired and had one of the best gruppes on his side. He wouldnt accept anything short of what he deemed as perfection and wouldnt let anything get in the way of his vision. You can say that his business practices were selfish or immoral, but they led him and his kollektiv to great success. Take a look at four ways to hire the best talent like Steve Jobs.CollaborateSteve Jobs has been quoted as saying, You need to have a collaborative hiring process. Collaboration is present in any office or company. The marketing department needs to collaborate with the content department in order to all be on the same page. By the same token, why wouldnt you hire your new talent collaboratively? Regardless of what department you are hiring fo r they will likely have to interact with employees from other departments. Plus, if the person that fills this position is going to be part of a team, then it only makes sense to have the team in on the decision.This is a great reason why Spark Hire is such a great aid to your hiring process. When you receive a candidates one-way interview responses you can share them with each member of your team and you can all collaborate. Furthermore, when you have a two-way interview, or a Live Interview on Spark Hire, you can record the interview with the candidate to play back for other team members at a later date. Often times, panel interviews are a mess, so online interviews offer a great solution.Hire Candidates that Are Future-MindedJobs was always thinking about the future, so it only makes sense that his team was future-minded as well. You will want to bring on employees that are constantly looking into the future and coming up with new ways to create something new or make something be tter. You can ask certain questions in the interview such as, What are the first five things you would do if you got this job? If they already come in with new ideas or suggestions on ways to make things better then they may be the hire for you.Commitment and a Love for the Product/CompanyIf you want a stellar employee that produces great results and takes your company to new levels, then they are going to have to be committed to the company. In the interview process, you need to make sure that this person has a strong desire to be immersed in your company and not just looking for a paycheck. You can do this by asking questions like why this particular position interested them, why they want to work for your company, etc. If your company is focused on certain values, then make sure this person is in line with those values or your overall company purpose.Get a Feel For Their CharacterIt is widely known that Jobs took his potential hires on a walk before he brought them onto the team. Theres nothing that states exactly what it is he discussed with them, but chances are he was looking to get a better feel for what makes this person tick and who they really are. In fact, Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook took a note from Jobs hiring process and takes his potential hires out on a hike before hiring them. Before you bring a candidate onto your team as an employee, perhaps spend some time with them outside of the sterile interview setting and get a better feel for their personality and what really drives them. If cultural fit is really important to you, then this hiring practice will produce better results.Its hard to agree with everything Steve Jobs did, but we can obviously take a few tips from his hiring practices. Often times we may focus more on the extreme details and qualifications of the candidate and not the actual person themselves. Keep this in mind the next time you need to hire a new employee.IMAGE Courtesy of Flickr by Todd Huffman

Creating a Professional Development Plan a Guide Based on Experience

Creating a Professional Development Plan a Guide Based on ExperienceCreating a Professional Development Plan a Guide Based on ExperienceCreating a professional development plan is about far more than just checking off a list of goals. Sure, its a good way to move your career forward, but its also about bringing you purpose and peace of mind. Today, with a year and a half of hindsight, Im bringing you my story and all of the hard-won lessons that came with it.Unemployed for the first time in 10 yearsI woke up and immediately felt a profound sense of confusion. It welches the first day that I was unemployed. It felt weird even thinking about that word in relation to myself.I started working full-time when I was in my first year of university and had spent precisely 10 years with no employment gap. This was the first time when I didnt have anything lined up after quitting my previous position.I felt like I had no direction. Which was strange, but at the same time amazing. It gave me s o much freedom I was looking forward to shopping around, checking what the job market has to offer, and figuring out my priorities.Today, I want to share some of the things I did and some of the things I shouldve done when planning my next career move. I hope this guide helps you, no matter if youre looking for the right next step, a big career change or something that finally makes you happy.Stage 1 Find your professional development and personal development directionsWhen I was planning my last career change, I already knew marketing was my field. But even in this case, I had the option to choose from many different directions. Did I still want to go in a company marketing gruppe? How about an agency? What about freelance?Just as the famous jam experiment suggests (full study for the science geeks), when presented with too many options choosing becomes that much harder.I needed a system.And any good system for professional development planning should look at your personal develo pment, as well. So the next exercises look at life and all its domains holistically.Direction planning by looking backHuman beings are bad predictors of the future. But then again, were good at remembering our past and this is also a great starting point. So you can start by looking at your past experiences and your current situation to get some patterns out.Health/Work/Play/Love DashboardAn idea stolen from a book is the dashboard presented in Designing Your Life. Its a cleaner version of the life domains and it shows clearly whats lacking in your life. Heres my example. You can find the vorlage on the books website.Its a very quick exercise if you do it the way its intended but if you put things into perspective, extend the period of looking forward from 2 weeks to 2 months or half a year, youd get a different challenge completely.Workview and LifeviewIf you need to dive deeper than creating the dashboard, you might venture into creating a full Workview and Lifeview. This is a mo re detailed account of how different areas of your life play together and whats their significance. Some questions you might want to answerWorkviewWhy work?Whats work for?What does work mean?How does it relate to the individual, others, society?What defined good or worthwhile work?What does money have to do with it?What do experience, growth, and fulfillment have to do with it?LifeviewWhy are we here?What is the meaning or purpose of life?What is the relationship between the individual and others?Where do family, country, and the rest of the world fit in?What is good, and what is evil?Is there a higher power, God, or something transcendent and if so, what impact does this have on your life?What is the role of joy, sorrow, justice, injustice, love, peace, and strife in life?Dont overcomplicate things each of behauptung two exercises should take about 30 minutes and result in a text of 250 words or less. Looking at the two, it should be easier to identify where the two views compleme nt each other, where they clash and if/how one of them drives the other.Write a Good Time JournalAnother way of understanding whats important is looking back. What are the activities youve done over the last day or the last week? Write them down and rank them based on three criteriaEngagement how interesting was the activity? How present you felt while doing it?Energy did it energize you or did it leave you in need of a break?Flow did you achieve that state of flow, where you dont feel time passing, as youre completely immersed in the activity?Heres an example. Although I feel engaged when drafting marketing copy, its a very draining activity for me and halfway through I feel like I need to rest and recharge. But when analyzing ad campaign performance, I can go on for hours and forget about lunch (or, ahem, bathroom breaks).If you look back at a couple of weeks worth of activities, youll get a clear sense of what works for you and what doesnt.Direction planning by looking forwardBy now, youve probably gotten a good idea about where you stand, so now its time to look at where you want to go. I first saw these exercises in Jenny Blakes book Pivot, which was an important part of my professional development journey.Your ideal dayTurns out extracting what you want in life is easier when going into specifics. Think about your ideal day. Say its 3 years from nowWhat do you think of first thing in the morning?Whats the purpose you get out of bed?How is your day structured?How does your workspace look? What do you do there?How much time do you spend with your close ones?What gives you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day?What energizes you and what drains your energy?You may want to go and answer each question or you might want to craft a full story heres Jenny Blakes Ideal Day Mad Lib template, just copy and fill inValues Mind MappingNow give that story a thorough read through and extract any common topics you see. Are you focused on family or is travel cr azy important for you?You can easily create a mind map of your values its a clean and visual way of setting your priorities. I am not a big fan of mind maps, however, this is a rare situation where I find them useful. Heres an example of my mind mapPlanning by Life DomainsSome people find mind mapping difficult, as they simply dont know where to start. Its true the process is messy and lacks structure. If you feel like going in with some help, you can plan through what Michael Hyatt calls the 10 Life Domains. The full list includesIntellectualEmotionalPhysicalSpiritualMaritalParentalSocialFinancialVocational (career-related and professional)Avocational (hobbies and interests)I personally find these overwhelming and I have combined a few together e.g. Emotional and Spiritual, Intellectual and Vocational. But its a nice comprehensive list that will point you towards all key areas of your life. So Id include as many categories as I need, but not moreStage 2 Inventory checking profe ssional skills and personal strengthsBy now youve taken the map, you spread it out and marked point A, your current position and point B, your desired state. But how do you get there? Do you have a car, a boat, or a helicopter? Time to check your inventory.Mapping your strengthsAfter having a clear picture in my head of what I wanted, I checked that against my strengths. This is important for 3 key reasonsReality check My dream future might be that of an astronaut, but at 30 and with no STEM background it will remain a dream. Aiming high is good. Aiming too high is simply a waste of time.Development planning Say youre 30% on the road to your ideal future. Knowing this gives you a sense of progress and a way to plan what you need to do to get to 60%, 80%, 90%.Work satisfaction Turns out when you get to use your key strengths at work, you feel more accomplished and engaged. So knowing what your strengths are and sculpting your work around them has long-term benefits.There are many sur veys that can help you get to know yourself better. A popular one is the Myers Briggs test, but I find it highly dependant on my mood and the time of taking it.Ive done StrengthFinder 2.0 2 times already. The information in it is much more stable and useful, especially when talking about work-related strengths.For a free alternative, you can check the VIA character strengths (based on Dr. Martin Seligmans work). It is geared towards personal as well as professional strengths.Once you find out your strengths, take a close look at the forward-looking exercises youve done. Do you get to use all your strengths in your ideal future? Do any tweaks and start planning how to get where you want to be.Listing your assetsNo development journey happens in a bubble. There probably are people you can rely on, connections you can leverage, learning opportunities to take. You can map those out by using Jenny Blakes Opportunity Grid, which has three categoriesWho are the people you can learn from or get inspired by?What are the skills you want to develop and the ones that will be most useful?What are the projects you can pursue in your development?Personal SWOT analysisAfter so much thinking and checking, youd have an overwhelming amount of information, so its time to summarize in the shape of a personal SWOT analysis. The concept is the same as the popular corporate/brand SWOT listing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats you need to be aware of. Heres how those apply to personal development.StrengthsWhat am I good at? What areas do I pick up easily?Any qualifications I can make use of?What are my morals and values?WeaknessesWhat do I still need to learn?What work areas drain my energy?What do I have to get better at?OpportunitiesWhat projects can I pick up?What contacts can I use?What new skills in my industry can I learn?ThreatsAre there key skills others in my industry have that I dont?What parts of my job am I not really proud of?How does technology affect my job?Having all of this information codified gives you a good starting point for actually making a plan.Stage 3 Roadmap developmentSo here we are, the meat of it. When I was doing my development plan, I didnt spend nearly enough time on the first two stages, so I wanted to give you a bunch of options here.Going forward, its time to look at different roads to take.Puzzle buildingThis is the actual approach I took when reviewing new opportunities. I had my current state, my point A, and my idea of a great future, point B. I didnt plan the whole process going to point B but treated my next step as a piece of a puzzle between the two. The criteria then got really simpleDoes that opportunity fit my strengths and does it build on what Im good at? So does the puzzle piece connect nicely with point A?Does it get me closer to my desired future? Does the puzzle piece go closer to the point B state or does it veer off in another direction?I had never considered so many options startups, big co mpanies, digital agencies, freelance work, part-time But I didnt feel overwhelmed anymore, as I could easily single out the viable opportunities from the noise.Alternative Odyssey PlanA much more structured approach that you can take is looking at the big picture even before going into opportunities evaluation. I found this interesting approach in Designing Your Life and wouldve really liked to test it out.The exercise goes, as followsLook at your Good Time Journal and pick one energizing, one engaging and one flow activity.Build a mind map for each creating branches of related activities in at least 3 degrees out.Look at the outer ring, pick 3 things and create a job description based on them.Then build a 5-year (or 3-year) plan of how this job might develop.Rank it based on the resources needed, your liking of the plan, your confidence in succeeding, the plans coherence. Jot down the key questions that the plan depends on.Heres a look at an Odyssey plan example. I created it for a fictional situation where Id like to invest time in empowering women through branding. Its super basic, but its just an illustration of what you can work on. Again, the template can be found on the books website.Getting ideas through coffeeOf course, those alternative plans are an equivalent to looking at a crystal ball itd be great if it works, but it really doesnt.To get back to reality, you might want to check with someone living the dream. Access to people currently in your dream job can be surprisingly easy with the availability of professional networks and online calls. So do your research, buy that person a coffee (real or virtual) and talk to them about their career and their day to day work. What youd want to get from these conversations is answers to two questionsIs this really what youre looking for? Does the reality match your dreams?If yes, what is the way to get there?It might feel awkward at first, but people like helping others and they certainly love talking about themselves. So you will get them sharing in no time.A great example of that strategy can be found on Fifty Coffees. A New Yorker set on a project to find her next adventure by talking to people She did just 14, though, before getting a job for Esther Perel, a famous relationship expert. Still, the interviews are quite interesting. They illustrate well what doors can open to you over coffee.Stage 4 abflug testingBy this point, youd probably have a clearer idea of what the right next step is. Hopefully, you wouldnt have had those coffees all at ones, as youd be too jittery and that will stop you from the next important step giving those cool ideas a go.In Pivot Jenny Blake calls this stage Pilot, and the authors of Designing Your Lifetalk about prototyping. In any case, think of it as a low effort way to dip your toe into the water. There are three benefits hereIt helps you get a clearer picture of what working in this new field full time would look likeIt gives you some initial exp erience, new contacts, and maybe even a reputation that you can then use to your advantageIt lowers the risk for you in financial and any other way.This stage can take a lot of different shapes, but the important thing is that it doesnt take you more than 10-20% of your time and effort so that you can do it parallel to a current job you have.Some ideas in that direction would be volunteer work, doing part-time projects for friends, even doing an internship with a company. Test, test, and test again. Once you find something that sticks, youd be at the perfect position of jumping on that opportunity.If you are actually planning to go into marketing, heres a dedicated post on planning a marketing career.How my career planning wentI first opened up Pivot on a three-hour flight headed to Madrid for a much needed long weekend with my partner. It was tough to not know what Ill be doing once back, but I was determined to use the upcoming months well to understand what I really want.My profe ssional development journey started on that plane to Madrid and ended a month and a half later. It took long hours of priority building, 20+ meetings with friends and work acquaintances, five or more actual job offers.I didnt go with the highest bidder for my marketing skills. I went with something more important. For the first time, I was choosing a company based on the team and the personal skills of the founders. And its something that I didnt really know I was looking for before doing some personal development planning.A year and a half later, Im the happiest Ive ever been at a company. I love and Im still confident this was the right choice.Hope you find the right choice, as well. Let me know how I can help along the way Vassilena Valchanova A marketing specialist with a passion for digital. Loves finding efficient ways for brands and communities to grow together. Also, a cat-lover, cappuccino addict, early riser and theatre enthusiast.Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email ad dress will not be published. Required fields are marked *CommentName * Email * Website Subscribe now for moreSee more great content and inspiring examples of resumes done right each month. Subscribe Youre subscribed Latest posts See all posts by Eric D. Halsey The Resumes of Chernobyl by Eric D. 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Child Travel Consent Form FAQ - United States

Child Travel Consent Form FAQ - United StatesChild Travel Consent Form FAQ - United StatesHow old is a minor?Generally, all persons under the age of 18 are considered minor children. However, in some states a person is not legally recognized as an adult until 21 years old. Border officials are vigilant when it comes to the documentation of children. Consequently, all persons who are not legally recognized as adults should be prepared to show they have consent to travel.What documents are needed if a child is traveling with one parent and both parents have legal custody?A notarized consent from the non-traveling parent will be required.What documents are needed if a child is traveling with one parent and the other parent has legal custody?A notarized consent from the non-traveling parent will be required.What documents are needed if a child is traveling with a parent who has sole legal custody?The parent should have a notarized true copy of a court order or equivalent proving custody. What documents are needed if the other parent on the childs birth certificate is deceased?You should carry the original (or a notarized true copy) of the death certificate.Where can I find the place of issue on my passport?The place of issue can be found on the photo page of the passport underneath the Authority heading.Do I need to get the other parents consent if I have sole custody?If the other parent has legal rights of access (e.g. visitation rights) it is advisable to obtain his or her consent. If it is not possible to obtain consent, or if the other parent has no legal rights, you should carry a notarized true copy of a court order or equivalent to prove that you have sole custody.What if my childs brde name is different than mine?You should be prepared to prove your relationship to the child by producing government issued certificates (e.g. certificates of birth, marriage, adoption or change of name).Will this travel consent suffice if my child is traveling overseas to a dif ferent country?Generally, a notarized travel consent from the non-consenting parent is all the documentation necessary to demonstrate that your child has consent to travel. However some foreign countries (for example, Brazil) have specific travel authorization forms for minors. If your child is traveling outside North America, you may wish to contact the consulate of the country where your child will be traveling to ensure that you have all the necessary documentation.

Production Specialist (25V) MOS

Production Specialist (25V) MOS Combat Documentation/Production Specialist (25V) MOS Combat Documentation/Production Specialists are primarily responsible for supervising, planning and operating electronic and film-based still, video and audio acquisition equipment in order to document combat and non-combat operations. Duties performed by soldiers in this MOS include: Operates and performs unit level maintenance on motion, still, and studio television cameras; electronic and film-based processing, editing, audio, and printing darkroom equipment; prepares captions for documentation images; operates and performs PMCS on assigned vehicles and power generators.Supervises and provides technical guidance to subordinate documentation/production team members, monitors, operates, and performs unit level maintenance on master control systems; aligns and adjusts video cameras; prepares video reports for review by commanders and planning staff; operates and performs unit level maintenance on still video transmission systems. Training Information and Basic Skills/Duties Job training for a combat documentation/production specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training and 12 weeks of Advanced Individual Training with on-the-job instruction. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and in the field. Some of the skills you’ll learn are: Motion picture equipment operationAudio recording and using sound equipmentScripting and special effects techniques ASVAB Score Required: 93 in aptitude area EL and 91 in aptitude area ST Security Clearance: None Strength Requirement: moderately heavy Physical Profile Requirement: 111221 Other Requirements Normal color vision requiredDepth perception: Normal binocular vision for fine close work as determined by the Armed Forces Vision Tester. Similar Civilian Occupations Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion PictureRadio OperatorsPhotographers