Mechanics and Soft Skills

Mechanics and Soft Skills Yesterday I was at my mechanics shop to have him check a car my daughter was going to buy. We were on the shop floor waiting while him and his employee checked out the car, and I commented: Kevin, your shop is really clean! Its not something I noticed before, but it was in stark contrast to the dirty engines, oily rags, and even oily uniforms they were wearing. The floor was clean, the surfaces of work areas were clean, the tool benches were clean I was really impressed! He replied, Its soft skills!  You wouldnt believe how much having a clean shop makes a difference for customers! I thought that was interesting I didnt think about having a clean shop as soft skills, but it was outside of what I paid him for (fixing my car). Honestly, my number one objective with a mechanic is to get a car fixed at a reasonable price. I usually dont go into the shop and the cleanliness usually doesnt impact me. But when I was there, seeing the attention to detail he put into that non-critical part of his business, I could see what he meant. He also said, Youd be surprised at how little effort it takes to keep it clean like this.  Meaning, systems in place, such as clean up after each job, wipe down spills immediately, etc. I recently talked about bedside manner from a dentist and a tire guy (How Is Your Bedside Manner (as a job seeker)?), so apparently Im on a soft skills kick. Im convinced that we, as job seekers, need to take this very important concept into consideration and improve who we are, so we can see improved results in our job search! Mechanics and Soft Skills Yesterday I was at my mechanics shop to have him check a car my daughter was going to buy. We were on the shop floor waiting while him and his employee checked out the car, and I commented: Kevin, your shop is really clean! Its not something I noticed before, but it was in stark contrast to the dirty engines, oily rags, and even oily uniforms they were wearing. The floor was clean, the surfaces of work areas were clean, the tool benches were clean I was really impressed! He replied, Its soft skills!  You wouldnt believe how much having a clean shop makes a difference for customers! I thought that was interesting I didnt think about having a clean shop as soft skills, but it was outside of what I paid him for (fixing my car). Honestly, my number one objective with a mechanic is to get a car fixed at a reasonable price. I usually dont go into the shop and the cleanliness usually doesnt impact me. But when I was there, seeing the attention to detail he put into that non-critical part of his business, I could see what he meant. He also said, Youd be surprised at how little effort it takes to keep it clean like this.  Meaning, systems in place, such as clean up after each job, wipe down spills immediately, etc. I recently talked about bedside manner from a dentist and a tire guy (How Is Your Bedside Manner (as a job seeker)?), so apparently Im on a soft skills kick. Im convinced that we, as job seekers, need to take this very important concept into consideration and improve who we are, so we can see improved results in our job search!

Tips for Finding the Right Diamond Wedding Ring

Tips for Finding the Right Diamond Wedding Ring When someone is looking for a wedding ring, they might find this process to be a bit overwhelming. There are countless jewels to choose from and, along with the options for shape, it can be hard to narrow down the options. Some people might be scared of making the wrong choice. In order to make sure everyone is happy with their choice for a wedding ring, there are a few tips that everyone should keep in mind. Think About the Shape First When looking for an engagement ring, the first step is to think about the shape. Engagement rings come in almost any shape that someone can imagine; however, some shapes are more popular than others. The perfectly round shape is, by far, the most popular. When a diamond is perfectly round, this maximizes the brilliance and shine of the jewel, drawing attention to it. At the same time, there are other options available. Some people elect to go with an oval shape. An oval shape is good for people who might have longer fingers. Some of the other shapes that people might want to think about include the princess cut, the cushion cut, and the Asscher cut. Thinking about the shape first is going to help people narrow down their options right off the bat. Choose the Metal for the Band With a shape in mind, people can then go out and pick the metal. There are lots of metals that are used to make engagement rings. The main difference among the metals is the color. As long as the engagement ring is taken care of properly, the metal should hold up regardless of the choice. Some people like to go with classic gold color. In contrast, some people might like something closer to silver because this might match the clarity of the jewel a bit better. There are even bands that come in a super-light option and colors that might be closer to black. Select the metal for the band as the next step. Think About the Measurement With the metal band selected, the next step is to get measured. For those who are looking to buy a wedding ring as a surprise, this might be a bit hard to accomplish. It is important for people to get measured to make sure the wedding ring is going to fit. Having a ring that is too small might cause someone to have trouble getting it on their hand at all. At the same time, if the ring is too big, it is going to slide off and might get lost. This is why getting measured for the ring is so important. A professional can measure someone’s hand and make sure the ring is going to fit. It should stay on the hand easily but shouldn’t be too tight either. Think About the Wedding Band For those who are going to buy both an engagement ring and a wedding band, it is important to think about how the two are going to look together. Some people might only wear one ring while others might wear two. At the same time, those who are going to buy two need to make sure they match. Therefore, try to buy both rings from the same location. This will allow people to see what the two rings are going to look like side by side before the purchase is complete. Having a wedding band that doesn’t closely match the wedding ring might cause some consternation for the eyes. When in doubt, ask the professionals for help. They know how to get the two rings to match up. Ask to See the Certificate Wedding rings are expensive and scams can sometimes take place. Each jewel is going to come with a certificate that is going to prove its authenticity. Sadly, some people try to take advantage of customers. They might show the certificate for a different ring or jewel. Don’t gloss over the certificate. Look closely at the certificate and make sure it matches the ring that is being sold. While most jewelers are good and honest people, scams do happen and nobody wants one of the most expensive purchases of their life to be a mistake. To prevent this from happening, ask to see the certificate. Follow These Tips to Find the Right Wedding Ring In the end, it can be hard for someone to settle on a single choice. There are lots of great options to choose from and some people even say that the bride will be happy with almost anything. At the same time, this is a big day and people need to take their time when looking for a wedding ring. Follow these tips to narrow down the options and make the right choice.

What Got You Here Wont Get You There - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Got You Here Wont Get You There - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The Fact is … You have to keep learning. You need to continue adapting. Your Career Depends On It The modern definition of a career is changing. In the past you could work at the same job year-in and year-out. You could put in your 20, 30 or even 40 years of service. Then get the gold watch and retire. Knowing you did your best work. Today that definition has changed. In order to stand out in your career you need to adapt, learn and grow. The concept of a career has changed. Yes, most people will still work 20, 30 or even 40 years. However, it will be the rare person that can do that at the same company and even rarer in the same role. You need to stay current so that you can always do your best work. It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. ~ Charles Darwin What Got Your Here It’s not all bad. The mentality and modus operandi of workers and the job creators have changed. Just 20 or so years ago if you said you were in consulting or that you were independent there was a stigma attached. Today it’s almost fashionable to state loudly and proudly that you are a solopreneur. That you are a member of the Gig Economy. Note: There have always been indepdent contractors, consultants and solopreneurs. It has only recently become more widely accepted as a career choice. Won’t Get You There This is changing for the better. Your ability to do almost anything from anywhere is a modern reality. In the past you almost always needed to go to an office. Even if you weren’t working with a team or were working on creative and mentally intensive efforts … your “boss” expected to see you in the office. The good news is that the world is changing. Most would say for the better, but some are leaning back towards “office hours” as a way to stay connected. This trend will continue for a while. Eventually it will reach a balancing point such that you may need to physically check in periodically, but generally you will be paid for and recognized by the work you actually deliver. Unlearning is the New Learning In order to stand out in your career you will need to unlearn a lot of things you were taught along the way. Part of the act of unlearning involves new learning and perhaps relearning. The futurist Alvin Toffler may have said it best. The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. ~ Alvin Toffler The time you spend today to understand how you learn will pay big dividends to help you grow your career â€" this is true for employees and solopreneurs. What men want is not talent, it is purpose; in other words, not the power to achieve it, but will to labor. I believe that labor judiciously and continuously applied becomes genius. ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton Remember … What Got You Here Wont Get You There By keeping the idea in mind that you will need to continue learning and adapting you will be ahead of the curve. A lot of people (myself included at times) rest on the current success. There is nothing wrong with taking a break, but makes sure your break has a plan to get back to the task at hand. Growing your career, your brand, and your reputation. In fact, a great break for me always includes downtime to read, research, travel, and otherwise just catch up with things I don’t typically have (or make) time for on a regular basis. When you keep this in mind you will be able to keep moving forward and getting ahead. Even if, and especially when, it’s hard. Labor  on. Your career depends on it. Keep learning. Keep Unlearning. Repeat. What Got You Here Wont Get You There - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It’s probably not a surprise to you that you need to keep learning throughout your entire life. While the mode and pace of learning will change over time it is critical to know how to learn, unlearn and relearn. As I wrote about in this post Unlearning Your Way to Success there is a need to stay on your toes and reaching for that next learning opportunity. The fact is that  after your formal learning days have ended you get to pick and choose what you learn. Of course, there are some nuances to this based on your chosen field. But, with so many possibilities today if you aren’t passionate about something … get out. The point I’m trying to make here is that if you are passionate and committed to a chosen field you will need to create a path for continuous learning. Simply put … In order to get ahead, stay ahead and accelerate your career you need to make the time and spend the effort to develop your learning path. Charles Darwin had it right. He is credited with being the  creator of  the theory of evolution. But, what he actually said is more apropos to the concepts and implications  of lifelong learning. By making a commitment to oneself which is both personal and professional to commit to the efforts required for lifelong learning. It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. ~ Charles Darwin Work is Evolving The nature of work and the concept of working is changing. It is evolving. What Millennials have realized is that there are no more “jobs for life” and that the need to re-invent themselves is a requirement for career success. Those that will stand out the most in their careers will figure this out early and be able to adapt their From some research that Dion Hinchcliffe of Adjuvi recently published he has made an interesting analysis on the need for skills that are more personal, culturally aware  and that require more Emotional Intelligence (EQ). This was interesting in that for so many years the human element was almost beaten out of the job role. It seems that is changing and it’s about time. What his researched shows is that there are more human elements in the top traits technical and business executives look for when they are hiring and promoting. Technical Teams are looking for these following two traits (among others): Ability to innovate at scale Ability to disrupt self Executive leaders of organizations are looking for these two traits: Entrepreneurial inclination Understand the User Experience I took these to be much more focused on the personal aspects of a given role. This is part of the evolution of work. Where the human element has become important again. Where the job satisfaction of the person involved is at least as important as the need to complete the task itself. What men want is not talent, it is purpose; in other words, not the power to achieve it, but will to labor. I believe that labor judiciously and continuously applied becomes genius. ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton Millennials are at a critical juncture here and from what I’ve seen have been able to take advantage of their ability to quickly capture, process, analyze, synthesize and act on information. I believe Millennials have realized that what they have learned in the past may form a foundation for future skills, but I’ve also seen Millennials discard old information like yesterdays newspaper and move on to new ideas and concepts. Millennials have realized that they need to keep working and learning … and also unlearning … in order to adapt, survive and succeed. Which leads to the title of this article … what got you here won’t get you there. I believe Millennials have begun to embrace this idea and are setting themselves up for a whole new kind of workplace success. I’m looking forward to the next generation workplace and I suspect it will bring on a new level of productivity and job satisfaction. Partially because it will embrace the human elements, but also because there will be a more dynamic workforce. Millennials are at the forefront of this effort. And, I expect there impact will be felt for many years to come.

Direct Sellers Mobile Tips for Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Direct Sellers Mobile Tips for Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Millions rely on mobile devices to communicate and handle all of their computing needs. Customers can receive text promotions, and all a consumer has to do is show that text in exchange for a discount. In fact, in our local Office Depot, all I have to do is show a competitor’s ad on my smartphone and they honor the price of the advertisement if it’s lower than theirs.   Much business and many exchanges occur through mobile formats, and that trend will only grow.   Mobile exchanges just like any exchange, if done poorly, can steer someone away from our brand. 5 things to remember that leave a positive first impression for your brand: Personalized mobile experience â€" many are sending their customers, prospects or team members messages via mobile.   Yet, not everyone is at the same level of mobile interaction.   Before adding someone to your mobile blast list, be sure you have permission to do so. Nothing will take away from your brand faster than you sending a text message to someone who doesn’t normally text or who has a limited texting plan, thus every text you send to them is costing them money. SMS etiquette â€" some people are very private when it comes to their mobile phones. Not everyone is open to receiving texts, and sometimes reserve messaging like that to close family members who need to alert them about emergencies or personal events. Be sure to place your messaging and even promotional events on different platforms, and ask your audience to sign up and get free notifications when you have something new coming up. Short and sweet â€" text messages are supposed to be short and sweet. It gets annoying when you hear 3-4 beeps on your phone only to find out that someone has written a short book in their text message.    I’ve seen multi-part messages come in out of order leaving the receiver with the “job” to decipher in which order the texts are meant to be read.   Some see the volume of texts coming in and the just proceed in deleting your message. If you’re reaching out to someone through text message, consider making it short and sweet, something precise and to the point. Make use of the 160 characters that you are allowed. That’s the challenge, to come up with something creative and engaging in 160 characters. Check the links you’re sending to them â€" If you’re sending a link to something you want someone to see, make sure the site is mobile enabled and they’re not left with swiping for eternity to see a huge site on a little screen.   Just doing this type of research up front leaves a great impression! Refrain from text abbreviations â€" be careful about what you text, how you text, and the timing of your text.  Whatever you say or the tone that you use in your message will reflect on your brand. People might not understand you when you try to cheat your words by abbreviating so that the meaning that they receive is totally different from your intent. Mobile is another extension of our brand. It’s a great tool for direct sellers to keep in contact with customer s and team members by really sharing some very timely and helpful information.   Yet, like anything else it has to be done right. Have you seen other major mobile mistakes that others have made?   Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of buzz2bucks.com â€" a word of mouth marketing firm and Director of Client Communities of Momentum Factor-focused on the direct selling industry.   She helps create connection, credibility, community and cha-ching through mobile marketing and social commerce around your brand. She is co-founder of #brandchat a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding.

Writing Format For Resume

Writing Format For ResumeWhat is the writing format for resume? It is the writing style in which you put your resume together. The format is how you put words together and present them to the reader in a way that makes it easy for them to read, understand and recognize.There are many formats that you can choose from, and not all of them are easy to use or read. In fact, many people think that all resume formats are the same, and they become very confused when they look at a resume with formatting that doesn't match the message they want to convey. If you want to be successful at landing that dream job, you need to learn the writing format for resume that will work best for you.It's no surprise then that people who are interested in creating their own resume format gets a little frustrated when they try to figure out what to write in it. It's not enough to just go with a standard format; you need to put your own twist on it. You also need to give the reader a good reason to remember y ou; a hook so that when they are looking through your resume, they will want to see more about you and the message you're trying to deliver.Let's take a look at what is the writing format for resume format, and the process of choosing the right one for you. Most people are familiar with the standard resume format, which consists of four sections: your name, contact information, education, and the summary. The first section is your name, followed by your contact information such as a telephone number, email address, and home address. The second section is called your education and consists of information about your college or high school years.Some people don't consider this section part of the resume format for resume. They feel that education information should only be considered in the first part of your resume, but the truth is that if you didn't graduate from college, you don't have to list it. If you have a graduate degree, then you should include it in your writing format for resume.The summary is the last section of your resume and is what the reader will see before they are moved to the next section. This section should be brief and to the point, so that it can get your message across without any unnecessary fluff. It can also be used to include your contact information, but again, don't put all of your contact information in there if you don't have to.If you are unsure about what type of formatting to use, it's best to talk to someone at your company who is a specialist in this area. This person will be able to help you find the best formatting for your needs. This person will also be able to teach you how to format your resume for the best results.So, how do you find the best writing format for resume? The easiest way is to use a professional writing service, which can help you with the writing for the best result. Once you have learned this writing format for resume, you will be able to use it over again in different situations, and you will become more confident in how to present yourself and your resume in any situation.

New Types of Interview Questions and How to Handle Them

New Types of Interview Questions and How to Handle Them New Types of Interview Questions and How to Handle Them Lately, interviewers are starting to ask the following questions: Would you prefer working as an individual contributor or on a team? Would you prefer working on a small or large team From Stephanie, an accountant, she said that “it seemed to me that the interviewer wanted me to choose one or the other answer to these questions. Without knowing the exact reporting structure, how does one approach this question? What is the interviewer really looking for?” Always put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer! With this question, they are looking for your ability to deal with ambiguity and how well you understand the current dynamics of any organization. Your challenge is to develop a meaningful way to say “both” or “either.” Question #1: Would you prefer working as an individual contributor or on a team? Trust what you know: organizations are not as hierarchical or traditionally structured as they used to be. They are fluid, made up of “virtual teams” and blurred boundaries. A great answer would be, “My belief is that individual contributors are on a team in virtually any environment. Even though I might be working solely for one manager or on one project, I am still on a virtual team of experts from other departments.” If you can give a short example about the position they want to fill or a prior role you have had, do that. Question #2: Would you prefer working on a small or large team? This question can either be a “trap” or an opportunity. Which one do you want it to be? To make this and other similar either/or questions an opportunity to shine, pick a “theme” that is in common with both. It could be “teamwork,” “cross-group collaboration,” “great communication,” or one of many other choices. A great answer would be, “Mr. Simpson, whether my team would be a large or small one, it will be important that I am a great communicator and team player. Teams can start small then grow to be big; I am comfortable in any sized team.” Be prepared to give an example of your teamwork in case they head into “situational” or “behavioral” interviewing by asking you for an example. Study all of the most common interview questions with my Interview Guide here. Script yourself and go in fully prepared. What are your interview challenges? Write me here!

7 Plus Things You Dont Want on Your Resume - CareerAlley

7 Plus Things You Dont Want on Your Resume - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Suggested Reading:Resume Writing 2016: Up-to-date Resume Writing Guide Youve heard the saying You never get a second chance to make a first impression and your resume is a perfect example of this. Your resume is your first point of contact with hiring managers and recruiters. If you want the interview and ultimately the job, you will need to ensure that your resume is perfect. With that in mind, there are some things that you dont want to have on your resume. With all of the competition in todays job market, anything less that perfection is likely to get your resume tossed. A perfect resume is not always about what is (or should be) included. Sometimes perfection is about what to leave off your resume. Simple as this sounds, many job search candidates are not aware of items they should exclude. Following are some tips. Your Picture: As pretty or handsome as you may be, you should not include your picture on your resume unless you are a model or actor. You will not be evaluated based on your appearance, but rather your skill set and experience. A photo on your resume will most likely lead to your resume being tossed. References: Best to leave references off of your resume and not include anything (or just indicate References provided upon request). You may want to use different references depending on the job and company. You also may want to exclude certain references depending on the circumstances. Most important, is checking with references before you offer up their name, telephone number and email address to ensure they are okay with providing a reference. Even if theyve provided references in the past, there may reasons why they are not willing to give a reference now. Grammar and Spelling: Spell check dont always work as planned and grammar checkers even less so. If your resume has basic typographical errors it is highly unlikely that you will get an interview. Even if youve checked your resume several times, there is still a chance that you have some errors or have maybe phrased something that could be hard to understand. The best method for proofreading your resume is to have a friend or relative check it for errors. Compensation Information: The inevitable how much do you make? will come up during the interview process. Including your salary and bonus on your resume can compromise your bargaining power should you get offered the position. If, as an example, you are looking for a great opportunity and you would be okay with a similar salary, you could price yourself out of the job if the hiring manager does not think they can improve on your compensation. Additionally, you never know who will get their hands on your resume do you really want everyone knowing how much you make? Format: Your resume should stand on the content (your experience), not fancy graphics. Stick with one font, dont overuse bold and leave out underlines. That being said, your resume should look perfect. Spacing should be even, indents should be consistent and the overall format should not look sloppy. Dates: Do not include the year you graduated college or High School. And you should leave out the year you were born as well. This information is not pertinent to the job or your experience. While discrimination is illegal, dont include information on your resume that is not necessary. Other Stuff to Consider: Inappropriate email account names Your work email address Abbreviations Personal information (ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, martital status, etc.) Reason(s) for leaving prior jobs An Objective Hobbies Dont hand out your current work business card (unprofessional) Your GPA Irrelevant job experience Political affiliation Physical characteristics Skills or software that is a given (such as Microsoft Office) Buzz words (go-getter, strategic thinker, hard worker, etc.) Lies Career Tip of the Day: 5 Steps to a Great Resume We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to make a resume and cover letter that gets you hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search