How to Sharpen Your Saw In a Job Search #SevenHabits #StephenCovey

How to Sharpen Your Saw In a Job Search #SevenHabits #StephenCovey The seventh habit is sharpen your saw.  How do you do that as a job seeker? Your number one priority is (usually) to land your next job. Its a full-time job, its emotionally and mentally draining, and by the end of the day you are probably ready to drop.  How in the world can you sharpen your saw? Let me suggest that this is a great time to study and read.  Start with the job descriptions that you are looking at do you fully understand all of the phrases, words, and acronyms? If you do, could you write a paragraph or a page about each of them?  Could you even include some of your mini-stories. Know what you are doing? Polishing your professional skills, and preparing your messages that you might use in an interview or networking situation. Recently Ive been reevaluating my role in JibberJobber, and understanding my duties as a product manager. This has been for a long time, my dream job.  Im pretty much self-taught, since I never worked at a company that used the title product manager. But Ive been doing most or all of the PM tasks, including interfacing with my developers, customers, stake holders, designers, and planning roadmaps, go to market strategies, and figuring out what analytics and metrics make sense to monitor. As a product manager for JibberJobber my family (and team) completely depends on my ability to make enough right decisions, and lead my team to deliver the right solutions for our customers. The alternative is shutting down the business.  Im not interested in that. So, I am studying project manager topics. Even though I havent been formally trained as a product manager (I have a CIS degree, an MBA, was a developer, and a general manager for a software firm), Ive done all or most of the tasks that a product manager does. But am I doing them well? Thats what Im refining. Im taking time to learn my craft, and to get better at it. I need to get better for the sake of my team and my customers.  All of this will result in goodness for me and my family, as well as everyone involved with JibberJobber. When should you sharpen your saw?  Right now.  And moving forward, regularly. In my last job I spent all my time executing and performing, not studying and sharpening my own saw. When I hit the job market my saw was dull and virtually useless. I had to play catchup. During the four years that I was creating Pluralsight courses I let my JibberJobber saw get dull.  My team worked on it, but I didnt put as much time and effort into it as I should have. And now I find myself doing catch-up. Im resolved to not let this slip again. Continual education, either through reading, videos, or conversations with others, I will not let my skills get dull.  Even in a job search you owe it to yourself to spend a solid 30 minutes a day sharpening your saw. How to Sharpen Your Saw In a Job Search #SevenHabits #StephenCovey The seventh habit is sharpen your saw.  How do you do that as a job seeker? Your number one priority is (usually) to land your next job. Its a full-time job, its emotionally and mentally draining, and by the end of the day you are probably ready to drop.  How in the world can you sharpen your saw? Let me suggest that this is a great time to study and read.  Start with the job descriptions that you are looking at do you fully understand all of the phrases, words, and acronyms? If you do, could you write a paragraph or a page about each of them?  Could you even include some of your mini-stories. Know what you are doing? Polishing your professional skills, and preparing your messages that you might use in an interview or networking situation. Recently Ive been reevaluating my role in JibberJobber, and understanding my duties as a product manager. This has been for a long time, my dream job.  Im pretty much self-taught, since I never worked at a company that used the title product manager. But Ive been doing most or all of the PM tasks, including interfacing with my developers, customers, stake holders, designers, and planning roadmaps, go to market strategies, and figuring out what analytics and metrics make sense to monitor. As a product manager for JibberJobber my family (and team) completely depends on my ability to make enough right decisions, and lead my team to deliver the right solutions for our customers. The alternative is shutting down the business.  Im not interested in that. So, I am studying project manager topics. Even though I havent been formally trained as a product manager (I have a CIS degree, an MBA, was a developer, and a general manager for a software firm), Ive done all or most of the tasks that a product manager does. But am I doing them well? Thats what Im refining. Im taking time to learn my craft, and to get better at it. I need to get better for the sake of my team and my customers.  All of this will result in goodness for me and my family, as well as everyone involved with JibberJobber. When should you sharpen your saw?  Right now.  And moving forward, regularly. In my last job I spent all my time executing and performing, not studying and sharpening my own saw. When I hit the job market my saw was dull and virtually useless. I had to play catchup. During the four years that I was creating Pluralsight courses I let my JibberJobber saw get dull.  My team worked on it, but I didnt put as much time and effort into it as I should have. And now I find myself doing catch-up. Im resolved to not let this slip again. Continual education, either through reading, videos, or conversations with others, I will not let my skills get dull.  Even in a job search you owe it to yourself to spend a solid 30 minutes a day sharpening your saw.

Working in the UK Information for international students attending the Grad Fair 2017 University of Manchester Careers Blog

Working in the UK Information for international students attending the Grad Fair 2017 University of Manchester Careers Blog On the day Making a good impression Do not talk about visas with the employer at the fair. Consider how you approach an employer with your questions about the company. It is still important to be interested in the organisation and their opportunities and not just interested in finding any company that sponsors work visas. This will create a poor impression. Should you discuss sponsorship or visas with employers at the fair? We advise you  do not talk about visas, sponsorship or hiring of international graduates with recruiters at fairs or events. Usually the employer representatives at the fair are not visa or immigration experts and are not the right people to discuss visas with.   Do your research first! Know who sponsors and who doesnt before you go. Make a good first impression by asking relevant questions about the company values, innovations, projects, culture, progression opportunities, development and retention. Visas can be addressed later at interview or offer stage. Can I work in the UK? If you are looking to stay on and work in the UK after graduation, you can find out more about work visa regulations for the UK on the Careers Service website: www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/ukworkafterstudy/ These pages link you through to excellent sources of visa information as well as links to UKCISA and UK Government site â€" visa.gov.uk Any queries around your Tier 4 visa should be referred to the Student Immigration Team www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/why-manchester/student-support/immigration/ What about work visas? Employer sponsored visas (Tier 2 visas) are the most common way for UK employers to hire international graduates who need permission to work in the UK. To sponsor a visa, an employer must be on the Register of licensed sponsors: workers and the job must meet certain minimum requirements (such as a minimum salary and skill level for the role which is RQF Level 6).   You can also check if a firm is on the Sponsor Register at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers Minimum Salaries You can also check if the job you are interested in meets the minimum salary RQF Level 6 and skill levels for tier 2 sponsorship in the Codes of Practice: www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-j-codes-of-practice-for-skilled-work Other Options Tier 5 â€" Getting work experience If you are looking for a short period of work experience in the UK (up to12 months) there are also options with a Tier 5 visa under the “Youth Mobility programme” or the Government Authorised Exchanges. There are no minimum salaries for this route and you can work for any employer. If you find an employer willing to offer you an internship, you can pay a private organisation that sponsors Tier 5 visas to arrange the visa for you. www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/ukworkafterstudy/tier5/ Tier 1 â€" Starting your own business The University of Manchester is a sponsor for the Graduate Entrepreneur visa if you are looking to start your own business in the UK. Find out more at: www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/ukworkafterstudy/gradentrepreneur/ PhD students A 12 month visa extension scheme has been introduced for students completing a PhD in the UK. The scheme allows PhD students to extend their student visa for an additional 12 months allowing them extra time to find work with a Tier 2 employer or set up as an entrepreneur. More information can be found at: studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucial-guide/academic-life/immigration/des/ Working in the UK â€" Work visas for international students Webinar You can find more information on visa’s and your options ON THE University of Manchester Careers YouTube Channel in the International Student Playlist www.youtube.com/user/manchestercareers What rules apply for internships? Most undergraduate international students are able to work full-time during vacations on a student visa enabling them to take internships. Postgraduates are encouraged to confirm vacation periods with their School as your dissertation time in the summer is not classed as a vacation. For more information on working in the UK whilst on a student visa, see: careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/workduringstudy/ What about international jobs? Some firms are happy to direct you to vacancies across the globe. Others may provide you with a contact to approach/website to use. Some international firms also hold international recruitment events at their Head Offices in the UK â€" so do ask them. In addition to this consider the option of a J1 Visa to the USA if you are looking for some international experience before going home. You can apply for this visa in the UK and gain up to 12 months experience overseas. For more information see our Blog on J1 Visas manunicareersblog.com/2017/04/03/j1-visa-for-the-usa-for-work-experience-overseas/ Think about your motivation for getting experience outside of your home country? Have you considered working for an international company back home and then transferring to another office overseas after a couple of years? You would have more to offer an employer including experience, building your reputation in the company and a global network. Finally look at your chosen occupation for countries like Australia and New Zealand, is it on their Skilled Occupations list which you can find online. All International International-highlighted graduate experience graduate fair Graduate jobs international jobs job search strategy UK visas

Valentines special How to find your perfect (job) partner University of Manchester Careers Blog

Valentines special How to find your perfect (job) partner University of Manchester Careers Blog Whether you are looking for a job  for life or a more short term engagement, its important to choose carefully and plan your approach. Sometimes you can tell at a glance that a job is not for you, wrong hours, wrong location, or you just dont have the skills. However, some jobs grow on you. The more you get to know about them the more interesting they seem, you start to understand who they are and what they are looking for and realise that you could be a match! There may be times when you are not that choosy, as long as the job  fits some basic criteria its game on.   However, you still have to win them over, why should they look at you when there are so many other likely players! Understand your needs    What does the job you want look like? Understand their needs What does the employee they need look like?   How can you convince them you are that person? So how can you narrow your chances of finding your perfect match and get rid of all those time wasters! Try a dating agency   AKA let someone else help you.   Use a matching tool  Prospects planner Target jobs report do basically the same thing match you with job roles  that should match your likes and dislikes.   Its a great way to see what options could be  open to you and what the requirements are.   You may however not fancy all of them! Use a matchmaker.   If you are confused about the options or just cant make a choice talk to us, we can help you see your options more clearly. Try a recruitment agency   For some sectors, or if you have a specific skill,    or want a short-term contract agencies can be a good source of opportunities. Choose carefully to maximise your chances of success. A bit of speed dating Recruitment and information fairs     A great way to talk to lots of people about different opportunities.   You may find a match there and then or at least narrow down the options for a decision later. Events on campus Recruiters are practically falling over themselves to get a chance to meet you.   Make them feel loved and go along and see what they have to say. You could be the one they are looking for! Networking It doesnt have to be scary no power dressing and breakfast meetings required. It can simply be having a chat and being interested in people you meet. You can use social networks (carefully) its not a blunt tool it requires a little finesse. Kiss  a few frogs AKA get some work experience Between a bit of  volunteering, a part-time job, an internship  or vacation work experience you can learn a lot about what you like and dont like and how businesses and organisation work. You will start to build a picture of  who and what  you might be interested in. All Careers advice Graduate jobs I don't know what to do Undergraduate career planning careers employers job hunting networking work experience

Why You Need to Keep Your Profile, Brand and Resume Up to Date

Why You Need to Keep Your Profile, Brand and Resume Up to Date Webster’s defines blue-collar as “Requiring Physical Labor; relating to or having jobs that require physical work”. IMNSHO, this definition is as dead as Daniel Webster. In the year of 2014, it is one of the many things that need to be redefined in light of changing times. It may lead to a larger discussion of class definition, labor definition and that sort of thing, but I am going to keep it simple. In 2014, Blue Collar is not defined any longer by what work you do, but your relationship to management. It used to be that we often could define Blue Collar by education level. However, the steady rise of high school and college graduates has changed this: As the chart above shows, the rise in education has been exponential. The original labor movements of the Industrial Age arose, as the large volume of people able to fill “blue collar” jobs was essentially limitless. This gave the power into the hands of the corporate oligarchy who could get rid of you at will. They could fire you at any time, as there were plenty of more hands out there to do the unskilled/semi-skilled labor. The end of Jim Crow and the rise of women in the workforce gave even more power to the factory owners, as again, we added to the surplus of hands willing and able to do the work. Now, you’re saying, “Well Newman, I see what you’re saying but I work with my mind, not with my hands. I have a Master’s Degree. I am white collar, I am the capitalist, not the labor”. I am here to tell you that is what in World War II was called a blivet, meaning 10 pounds of bull sh*t in a 5 pound bag. You are nothing but a cog in a machine, as easily replaceable as the factory worker was in 1925. There is a limitless supply of people with the same Master’s Degree, who are younger, hungrier and willing to work cheaper. How many Baby Boomers do you know who were laid off during our latest recession? Do you think they’ll ever work again and if they do will it be at the same level and for the same salary? Ageism is one factor but the other factor is that these people are Blue Collar, and easily replaceable. From the highest level C level executive, to the most junior CPA, there are plenty of people willing to take these jobs, and do it cheaper. Equity within a firm, either options or actual stock helps to negate the blue collar effect to some degree. By having a vested interest in the company, you take more action, work harder and have a say in how the Capitalist Owner runs the firm. However, it only negates it to some degree. Again, how many solid workers, how many solid thinkers and doers were laid off in this recession? I know a lot of people reading this are going to say: F-you Newman! I am not blue collar, I own my own destiny, I have an MBA, I am no automaton pulling a lever 10 hours a day.” That’s right, your work isn’t the physical sort, but if you do not toe the company line, what do you think will happen? If the owner’s girlfriend doesn’t like you, what do you think will happen? I once trained a team of Junior Recruiters. I got a sweet override, I was the manager and I had some cool perks. Then, one day, the owner of the firm came and said: Jeff, you did an awesome job training these kids. You can keep the override, but the management is passing over to XXXX (Name changed to Xs). Yeah, the new manager was the boss’s daughter in law. The loyalty of the 1950s and 1960s in white collar jobs is dead, from both the owner and the employee sides. The average person has 7 jobs in their lifetime. I think that number will only rise as the years go by. Even in Japan that type of security is gone. We middle class stooges have been mystified by the Horatio Alger myth, that someday our hard work will be rewarded. As I have written about before its 98% hard work, and 2% luck to make it. The chances of becoming part of the 1% is just a lie they tell you to keep you toiling in the Machine, to keep you coming in day to day to further your acquisition of materiel goods and keep the systems we have in place. If you have made it this far, you’re probably saying why is this on Undercover Recruiter and not a guest post in the Guardian where Glenn Greenwald’s articles go? It is because I want a very clear background on what I am going to tell you is a MUST. 1) Update: You must update your resume once a month. You must keep your LinkedIn profile updated. You must keep in contact with your connections, with the recruiters and agencies you trust and tell them you are always interested in listening. Your loyalty to your company must run in proportion to the loyalty you are given. However, never forget that you are just as replaceable as that factory worker. For any reasons or even for no reason at all, you can be fired. So long, nice to know you, don’t let the door hit you on your way out of it! 2) The biggest must: The biggest MUST is to always be willing to listen. All recruiters are asking you to do is dance. It never hurts to dance. Okay, some of these looked painful but I stand by my statement.  Just because we are dancing does not mean you need to come up to my hotel room and consummate the relationship. If we don’t dance, though, how will you know if you want to see my etchings? Work is an engagement and engaged ain’t married. Conclusions: I am not asking all my peers to form a Union. I think the union era may have passed into the populist political movement era, but again, that is a whole other article. I am not even asking you to buy into my idea that you are a cog. I will ask you to think about things like right to work, or that in the US you can be fired if your boss doesn’t like the slacks you are wearing, or for even less. I want you to think about that when you are about to hang up the phone on that recruiter because you’re happy and safe. While you may be happy, well no one is safe except the owner and his relatives. And who is to say you couldn’t be happier too? If you don’t listen, if you don’t look, you will never ever know. So, keep all your papers and pedigrees up to date. Keep your eyes and ears open, learn about where your peers are, and see what else is out there. As Yogi Berra said, “No matter where you go, there you are” and that is spot on. However, the key is that you can always go. Most of all, do not be afraid to dance as who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky.

How to Write a Resume For a Domestic Staff Position

How to Write a Resume For a Domestic Staff PositionWriting a resume for a domestic staff position can be tricky. It is necessary to know the different factors that come into play when writing a resume. A written letter or resume can be of immense help in the interview stage and also in settling on one's place of employment. Below are some tips on how to write a resume for a domestic staff position.First of all, you need to make sure that the responsibilities of the job you are applying for are clearly defined in your resume. This is essential in determining whether you have fulfilled these responsibilities. In order to write a resume for a domestic staff position, you should also look into your work history. Look at your attendance records and if any background information on your career can be found. The details that you find on your resume will serve as an outline and also guide you on how to complete the resume.The length of your service is another major factor that you need to lo ok into. The length of service can be determined by the year you joined the company and how long you have been employed there. A written statement about your role in the company can be an answer for the length of service as well.The duration of your employment is a significant factor, for it is a matter of perspective. It is important to note that if you are unsure of how long you have been with the company, it is recommended that you state the number of years you have been there. If you are unsure of the number of years, then you should consider the years you have been with the company.On top of this, you should also state how long you have been staying at the local office. It is important to keep in mind that this will help you gauge your skills. If you feel that you are good at something, you can state this and if you are not sure, then you can discuss this with your employer.You should also mention professional references that you have worked with. Professional references are an important factor when writing a resume for a domestic staff position. You can ask your friends and other people you know for references to ensure that you hire a person with whom you can get along well.While discussing your career objectives, you should clearly state them. It is important to state your goal as clearly as possible in your resume. An applicant who has a clear statement in their resume about their career objectives can also obtain a higher degree of success in the interview stage.Knowing the basic elements that go into writing a resume for a domestic staff position will certainly help in getting you a better position. A resume can be a vital tool in ensuring that you get a job and with the right elements, it can help you land that job.