Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Are You Taking Advantage of Microfeedback

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Are You Taking Advantage of Microfeedback A few months ago, I attended an employee engagement workshop. The facilitator suggested that millennials require performance feedback more than once a year. “Maybe once a quarter,” she said. More like once a day!” I couldn’t resist calling out. I wasn’t kidding. For the 80 million millennials who now make up a majority of the workforce, no news is bad news. If they don’t hear from their managers frequently, they think they’re doing something wrong and quickly grow disillusioned. Nevertheless, an open door policy in which employees are invited to stop by a manager’s office for extended feedback sessions multiple times a day simply isn’t practical. So what’s the solution? The innovative concept of microfeedback originated in the consumer space and consisted ofcollecting a small amount of informationfrom customersat key momentsin their shopping experience. The goal was to gather relevant customer feedback for a more accurate assessmentof their satisfaction. Think about this, though. Why can’t the idea of microfeedback be extended to performance management? We certainly have the technology. Intra-company messaging systems like Yammer, Skype for business, and Slack are growing exponentially and with some groups (like millennials), are even more popular than email. Imagine that your direct report gives a status update in the departmental meeting for the first time. You think she did an exceptional job, but instead of noting it in her file to be reviewed in six months (or worse, forgetting about it completely), you send her a “thumbs up” emoticon via Slack. The action takes you less than 30 seconds, and yet your employee has a piece of encouraging feedback that will make her day. Check out the full article at the SilkRoad blog.

Classy Career Girl Got a Makeover!

Classy Career Girl Got a Makeover! Good morning!  You may have noticed that things are looking a little different on my blog today.  I transferred over to WordPress over the weekend and I am still putting on the finishing touches.  Hope you like the new look!  Thank you for your patience as I continue to iron out the kinks! Because I have been busy getting this blog ready for you, no links this week.  Instead, I found a fabulous motivational quote from a great book I am reading right now, Rework.   Momentum fuels motivation.  It keeps you going.  It drives you.  Without it, you cant go anywhere.  If you arent motivated by what youre working on, it wont be very good. The way you build momentum is by getting something done and then moving on to the next thing.  To keep your momentum and motivation up, get in the habit of accomplishing small victories along the way.  Even a tiny improvement can give you a good jolt of momentum. How are you going to keep up the momentum and motivation this week?

How To Get Interviewed on Popular Podcasts - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How To Get Interviewed on Popular Podcasts - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Though the format itself is still relatively young, podcasts have quickly become one of the most popular forms of entertainment.  Podcasts are popular in part because anyone can easily and inexpensively start a show that has the potential to reach anyone in the world. But not all podcasts are created equal. Popular ones can have millions of downloads a week, and others may not even have 10 in a month. Being a guest on one of those popular shows can be a game changer by introducing you and your business to a whole new audience. Its one of the greatest opportunities to brand yourself as an expert and authority to a whole new audience. If you want to get interviewed on popular podcasts, there are a few key steps you can take. 1. Go After Shows Very Specialized in Your Area of Expertise Podcasts tend to be very niche in nature, which means that each show tends to have its own unique focus. If you wanted to be interviewed about a business book that youve just written, for example, you wouldnt try to go on Fat-Burning Man which is a show devoted to paleo diet and primal workouts. Find shows that cover the topic area that you want to talk about to narrow your field down to shows that are likely to say yes when you ask to be a guest. 2. Contact the Host Even though podcasts are available from notable people like filmmaker Kevin Smith, actor Kevin Pollak and a wide variety of other notable cultural people, they still tend to be small affairs. WTF with Marc Maron, one of the most popular podcasts in the iTunes Store, is recorded out of the hosts garage. Find contact information for the host on the podcasts official website and write an email detailing why youd be a good fit for that show. Reach out over Twitter and other social media channels too. Ive been able to connect with Howard Stern, Perez Hilton, Richard Simmons and Joe Rogan simply by using Twitter. However, in the event that you do come across a show that has its own media team, you can also contact the shows publicist.  If you cant reach out to the host directly, a publicist will be the next best thing. Its a formal channel that you can use to ask to be a guest. 3. Connect With Someone Who Has Been on the Show Another great way to get interviewed on a popular podcast is to reach out to someone who has already been a guest. Podcasts tend to start out very small and intimate the first guests on a new show are usually friends or personal acquaintances of the host. As a result, if you can make contact with a previous guest via a social networking site like Facebook or Twitter, youve essentially created for yourself an in that you can use to make contact with the actual host of the show. 4. Become a Notable Guest on Smaller Shows If there is one particular show that you really want to be a guest on but just cant seem to make contact in the right way, one avenue that you can choose to pursue involves becoming a notable guest on similar shows. If youre writing a book, go on a variety of different shows on the topic of book reviews and book discussions. If you can be a high quality guest, give a great interview and make a really great impression, the chances are high that listeners will slowly start to spread the word about you. If your appearances are of a high enough quality, the chances are high that you wont actually have to worry about making contact with the show that youre after theyll find you. 5. Start Your Own Show If all else fails, one of the great things about podcasting is that you can just start your own show and see where that takes you. Start your own show on the topic that you want to discuss and slowly build up your own following. It will help to give you a bit of legitimacy, especially if youve never been on a podcast before. Once your show becomes popular enough or has a large enough following, youll have a much easier time interacting with and getting booked on other shows.

Making applications for investment banking Insight days and Spring weeks

Making applications for investment banking Insight days and Spring weeks With hundreds of applicants per place for Spring weeks, internships and entry level jobs, investment banking is perhaps the most competitive sector in the graduate labour market. In this first of two blogs, a University of Warwick undergraduate shares his experience of the application process. Most of the banks will come to campus and run networking and information events in the Autumn term and you should absolutely attend these. They always bring alumni which are usually very recent graduates with something in common with you and can be a goldmine of knowledge! The applications can go from being very generic to very niche and are very time-consuming, I remember spending 2/3 hours a day for a couple of weeks on this process. The first stage is usually CV, cover letter and then typically motivational questions on the on-line application. For your CV make sure it is one page, it is better for the reader when it is concise. Your cover letter is super important, I have heard from different recruiters that they don’t matter, all the way to they are a defining part. My attitude is: why risk it? The idea of a cover letter is you are telling the company a little more than your CV can, and it is a bit more personal. I usually structure it in a format such as, what I am applying for, why that company, why me and what skills I possess that make me suitable for the applied role. Make sure to check the company’s values when creating your cover letter, highlighting that you recognise those values can’t harm your application! The application form questions take a lot longer than one might expect. My advice for this is really to think about the question, try to tie in the company values and the skills for the job into your answer but be genuine! I am a big believer in if you try to fit yourself for the role, you will not enjoy it. I guess my key takeaway for this is to do your research. Marketline was an incredibly useful resource, providing company summaries and history, use this! Next usually comes the tests. Some companies will screen your application before this stage, some will send the tests straight away. The tests usually fall into 3 categories (although as of this year it is now 5): numerical, verbal, logic, situational and immersion/job simulation.  The numerical is exactly what it sounds like, a mixture of graph reading, basic arithmetic and some percentages. Doing a maths-based degree I found them easy but so can anybody with enough practice. There are a lot of practice tests  on-line so make the most of them.  The verbal reasoning is a bit like what we did in the early stages of English GCSE. You have to interpret sentences and phrases from a large body of text. This once again is just a matter of practice and not rushing. You are against the clock but try to take your time.  The logic tests are my personal favourite, your job is to spot patterns and sequences. Once again practice really is your best friend here.   Situational judgement tests are trying to work out if your personality is correct for the job. For these you need to consider what is an appropriate response to the situations, you can’t really practice these. Just make sure you read through the question and answers thoroughly before answering. Job simulation is brand new it seems this year, this involves all assessments simultaneously as you work with live situations. They are really well set-up and you just need to practice the individual elements. If you make it through this part, congratulations! The next stage is  usually a phone interview. This doesn’t need to be a cause for concern if you have done enough research and know a bit about the industry you will be absolutely fine. These interviews are usually testing basic knowledge and checking fit. If they could work with you for 80+ hours a week, that is usually a good sign! Typical questions are usually of the form: Why this company? Why Investment banking? Tell me about some recent news. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Tell me about a time you failed at something. My biggest piece of advice for these is using the STAR approach Situation, Task, Action and Result. Having used it, I think it is wonderful way to set out the answer well. But I think the conclusion is really important, what did you personally contribute and learn from this experience? To be continued

The Online Safety and Privacy Dilemma in Executive Job Search - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

The Online Safety and Privacy Dilemma in Executive Job Search

9 Ways To Set Up A Cozy Winter Garden

9 Ways To Set Up A Cozy Winter Garden Now that the summer is coming to an end and autumn has well and truly landed on its wake… we can start to look forward to all of the comforts of winter. The days are getting shorter, the air is becoming chilly and everywhere we look there’s tartan and pumpkin spice in the air. Although most of us usually want to hibernate inside for the winter, there are still many of us who enjoy being able to sit out in the garden on those crisp mornings and chilly evenings by the fire. Here are some of the ways you can start to change your garden setup to make it ideal for the winter. Create A Deck The first thing you can think about doing in the autumn to prepare your garden for the winter is to create some decking in the space which you can use to make a comfy seating area for you and your family on a chilly winter morning. You can take a look at lots of different decking styles at Decks Docks Lumber CO. and you will be able to pretty much find something to fit any type of garden and size space that you have. For a bit of fun, you can even paint your new decking a bold colour such as orange or yellow to create some life and warmth in your garden. Plant A Greenhouse One of the things we often think about during the autumn and winter is that the garden will go dormant and all of the lie will begin to die back. While this is definitely true for many plants and shrubs, there are still a few ways you can enjoy your gardening hobby in the colder months in a different way. If you love to grow your own vegetables and fruits, you can still enjoy fresh produce in the garden as long as you make a greenhouse which is warm enough to cope with it. If you can find a greenhouse, you will be able to grow all of your favourite vegetables such as lettuce, peppers and even pumpkins! Shield With Trees During the colder months of the year, as much as you want to get outside and sit in the garden on a sunny day, there is usually one thing that will stop you in your tracks: temperature. When the summer dies away the climate changes and this can make it hard for us to want to leave the comfort of our heated homes. However, you can make a huge difference to your garden by planting some trees or large shrubs around the perimeter of the space. This will shield you from the cold wind and it will make sitting outdoors much more comfortable. Add A Pergola If you want to be able to sit outside and get a dose of fresh air each day, you can have some fun installing a pergola in your yard this winter. Pergolas are a great addition to any garden because they can add a wonderful focal point for the space and you can decorate it throughout the year to fit each season. For having guests over, a pergola can be a great way to stay comfortable and it can also be a great place to escape from the rain. You will have a wonderful area in the garden to host parties, drink a glass of wine with your partner and eat alfresco! Winter Flowers Flowers are something we all associate with the spring and summer, and this is usually due to the fact that most plants prefer lots of sun and warm climates. However, the great thing to know if you love to see colour in your garden all year long is that there are plants which thrive off cooler climates. For example the most well known flower which blooms during the winter are snowdrops. Snowdrops are beautiful white flowers which bloom through December to February and give your garden a burst of life even in the dullest of days. You can also find other flowers for the winter such as heather, cyclamen and Japanese quince. Get Creative With Planters You will have likely seen many different fun crafts and DIYs online such as homemade candles, herb gardens and seating for the garden: and something else you can have fun doing is making some fun planters for the space. For example you can use items such as teapots, cups, tyres and even old welling on boots to make some fun and unique planters for your outdoor space. Take a look on Pinterest this weekend and have some fun looking at different crafts to do. It can be a way to spend the weekend with the kids and make your winter garden feel more like a home and more personal. Lighting Is Magical During the colder months we have a lot of different things going on in the world. The main change we see is the fact that the days are much shorter and this means that a lot of our time is spent in the dark. You don’t have to abandon the garden though during the autumn and winter, you can instead have some sun with the darkness and install lights into the space. There are many different types of light you can add into the garden, such as solar lights, battery operated fairy lights and things like security lamps and large features. You can play around with light in the garden and this will definitely make your garden more magical. Candles For Warmth Candles are the epitome of comfort and cosiness during the winter and we often light candle after candle in the house during the colder months to make the home as comfortable as we possibly can. However it isn’t only the garden which you can place candles in to make it feel cosy and warm. There are many different lanterns, candle holders and decorations to add to the garden which will hold tea lights and allow you to bring that warm glow to the space. You can even add a candle or two to your pergola if you have one and this can be the ideal thing to make your garden feel comfortable and warm. Soft Furnishings What better way to make the garden feel cosy and comfortable during the winter than to bring in some soft furnishings? You can buy lots of amazing waterproof cushions and seat covers for the garden and these can allow you to feel like you are sitting in a more luxurious place when you are outside of the house. Another thing you can add into the space is some blankets. You can bring blankets out into the garden and have them ready for chilly nights snuggling up with a hot cocoa and the people you love. It is the best way to enjoy your outdoor space when the weather is unforgiving.

Best Sites For Resume Writing Services

Best Sites For Resume Writing ServicesWith the advent of the Internet, it is now easier than ever to find the best sites for resume writing services. It can be a very intimidating process, especially if you are looking for only one or two professional writers to work on your resume. You will want to choose someone that has expertise in resume writing and who has been in this business for a while.The first thing you need to do is get a list of all the possible places you could possibly have your resume reviewed. This can include every resume writing service available as well as a large number of independent consultants. Try to find a combination of these options so that you are sure to be looking at all of them. Doing this will help you get a better idea of which people you would be most comfortable talking to.The other thing you want to consider is how many people will be reading your resume and what kind of experience they will likely have with resumes for a small business owner. Of course, many people will be asking how long the person has been in the business or what their background was before they started working for you. For these reasons, it is best to put an emphasis on experience in the business and education or professional affiliations.Once you have a list of possible candidates to review your resume, you need to ask them to look over it. However, they should not take more than an hour or two to complete the entire document. This is important so that you can get a sense of the level of expertise of the person doing the review. Additionally, you want to make sure they are able to offer you no-obligation quotes if there is a problem with the document.In order to be able to choose the best professional resume writer, you need to take some time to review their profile. Be sure that the person has experience in this field as well as bevery careful about anyone who works only with freelancers. This should be the opposite of the person you choose to create your resume.You will also want to choose the company that you use to create your resume. All of the best sites for resume writing services should have a positive rating with the Better Business Bureau. If they do not, move on to the next company. Additionally, make sure that the company you choose has experience in your field and that the professionals that they send to you are qualified.This is also a good idea to look at reviews from past clients, as well as reviews from current clients. Remember, the purpose of any resume is to get hired by a specific company, and you don't want to send a resume to the wrong company. Asking for samples of previous work can help you avoid wasting your time with a company that is not right for you.A perfect website for resume writing services is hard to find. However, you can find the best places for resume writing by using the information you have gathered and making sure that you thoroughly review each candidate that you find. Also, make sure tha t you get a quote from each company so that you can compare the quality of the work that they will provide for you.