Advice for Young Professionals 8 Hidden Ways to Get On-the-Job Training - Sterling Career Concepts

Advice for Young Professionals 8 Hidden Ways to Get On-the-Job Training Advice for Young Professionals: 8 Hidden Ways to Get On-the-Job Training This is the first of a two-part series offering career advice for new professionals. You’ve started your first job and things seem to be going well, but there’s been no mention of professional development and additional training. Or maybe your company does offer professional development, but it’s not quite cutting it for you. Whatever your situation, there are plenty of ways to take initiative and develop yourself as a professional while on the job. From sitting in on meetings to finding a peer coach, here are eight unusual ways to get on-the-job training: Volunteer for projects. Volunteering to work on projects shows your initiative and gives you a chance to gain new skills that you might not otherwise have. But don’t just jump at the first chance you get. Instead, sit down and brainstorm a list of some skills you’d like to develop and the types of projects that would help you accomplish that. Then, figure out how much time you realistically have to put towards volunteer projects. Once you have that information in hand, use that to guide your decisions on whether or not to sign up for the latest employee activity or to work the next trade show. Sit in on meetings. Meetings can sometimes be a time suck, but they can also be a great learning experience if you choose them wisely. Talk to your supervisor about opportunities to sit in on meetings, even if they’re not directly relevant to your job yet. You can always volunteer to take notes or run the slides so you’re actually being helpful rather than just sitting there (and you should always bring along a pen and notebook for your own notetaking purposes anyway). There may even be an opportunity for you to chime in and ask questions or offer your opinion. Just be sure to carefully read the room before jumping in so you don’t step on any toes. Seek out a mentor. Every professional should have a mentorâ€"ideally several. You should always have at least one mentor outside your employer, so they can give you objective advice and help you identify if it’s time to move on. However, it can also be really helpful to have a mentor inside your company. This person should be substantially more experienced than you and be able to offer advice on long-term career trajectories. They’ll be able to coach you on how to set yourself up for a promotion or how to make the department transfer you’ve been eyeing. When appropriate, they’ll also be able to keep you up-to-date on leadership-level decisions that might affect your job. Find a peer coach. A peer coach is a little bit different from a mentor. A peer coach should be only a couple of years older than youâ€"close enough in age that they remember what it’s like to be in your shoes, but far enough out that they have some wisdom to share. You peer coach can help answer all the little questions that can ease your early days on the job. What should you wear to this important client meeting? Who in HR should you talk to about scheduling PTO? Is the corporate award ceremony mandatory or not? Having someone to coach you through the small stuff can give you the confidence and energy you need to focus on the big projects. Make your lunches count. You can’t develop a mentor or peer coach relationship with everyone you meet, but that doesn’t mean that spending time with them isn’t valuable. Casual connections are also really important, so make a list of people that you’d like to get to know and start inviting them to lunch or coffee chats. These more informal meetings will give you a chance to pick people’s brains while getting some much-needed food or caffeine. Make sure you reach out to people at least a few days in advance, as finding mutual times can be tough. Pursue certificates. Hopefully, your HR department offers more formalized professional development opportunities. If it doesn’t, or you’re looking to supplement, see if there are any certificate or workshop programs you can attend. Many are available online, such as the Google Analytics certification program, and local professional organizations will offer training opportunities as well. If the certificate costs a lot, talk to your HR rep to see if the company can cover or partially cover the cost. Be prepared to articulate how it will make you better at your job and bring value to the company. Tour different departments. If you work at a large company, there are entire departments that you might not have any contact with (in fact, you might not even work with everyone in your own department). Even if you don’t have to interface with them directly, getting to know how other departments work can really improve your understanding of the business and help you do your job better. Shadow company leaders. Aspiring medical students shadow doctors in hospitals to learn what it’s really like, and this same logic applies to many professions. If you have a good relationship with your supervisor, you can ask to tag along to get a “day in the life” snapshot of their work. If you work at a small company, you might even be able to do this with someone in the C-suite, since most small companies have a flatter hierarchy with more transparency. Try to pick a day where there are lots of meetings or other activities going on so you’re not just sitting in an office all day. ________________________ Professional development doesn’t just fall into your lapâ€"it takes work! Being proactive about your career will set you up for success and show your company what a go-getter you are. If you’re a young professional, try one or all of these eight strategies to get on-the-job training as you get your work done. Stay tuned for networking tips for young professionals in our next post.  

Why It Is Important To Keep Executive Recruiters Happy

Why It Is Important To Keep Executive Recruiters Happy Executive recruiters are a very useful resource for employers in the hiring process. They can have a profound effect on whether or not you get hired. This means you need to keep them happy in order to ensure you get the job. Here are some very important things to keep in mind that will help you keep recruiters happy. Dont be dismissive. Even if youre happy in your current role, or just extremely busy, take a moment to speak to search consultants or to call them back. While you may not be interested in the position theyre seeking to fill, you may know someone who might be a good match. Search professionals appreciate getting references and practicing the law of reciprocity. Dont surprise them. More importantly, dont surprise their clients. If you have a blemish on your record, let them hear your version first, before they learn it secondhand. Dont embellish. Even at the highest levels of executive search, some candidates cant resist the urge to embellish their resumes. Sometimes they dont get caught. In nine cases out of 10, however, they do. Avoid the pitfall and be honest. Dont fail your own history test. Its surprising how many candidates cant recite their own professional histories in chronological order. Know exactly what you did and where and when you did it before meeting with a search consultant. And its a good tuneup for meeting with a prospective new employer. Dont neglect your homework. Some candidates will spend the first 10 minutes of an interview asking basic questions about the position and the company at issue, showing that they never bothered to read the search specification. Candidates who do independent research create a favorable impression and show their clear interest in the new opportunity. Dont forget your manners. When meeting with an executive-search consultant, remember that every word, gesture or inflection will be duly noted. Keep these in mind and you will be able to keep your recruiter happy and get the job.

Tips For Resume Writing For Queensland Government Jobs

Tips For Resume Writing For Queensland Government JobsIf you are looking for resume writing for Queensland government jobs, there are some tips that will help you. For starters, the first thing you want to do is to make sure that your resume is tailored to the job for which you are applying. The best resume writing for Queensland government jobs is one that is personalized and one that are perfect for the position.You also want to make sure that your resume gives an overall impression of you and it is not one that is made to pass muster on the part of your potential employer. You want to write something that will look professional and can stand up in any kind of situation.One of the ways that you can accomplish this is to find a resume writing service to work with you. These services offer editing and proofreading for a price. For more detailed resumes you can pay a bit more to have a professional writer to work on them for you.Another great way to get around your resume is to create it yourself. However, when doing this, you will need to go into the skills that you have and list them out. One example is if you have good communication skills, your resume should reflect this.Next, you will want to think about your career goals and what you are looking for in the next step. It is a good idea to list the job that you are looking for and how you will achieve this and where you will be working from. This will help you ensure that your resume reflects what you are really looking for in the future.Finally, if you are worried about your cover letter being too long and filling up too much space, you can always use a template to make it more professional and shorter. When choosing a template, it is a good idea to search for one that is easy to understand and will allow you to keep it as close to what you actually wrote as possible.Remember, it is important to provide all of the information about the job that you are applying for so that your resume can show up properly. It is always a good idea to save a copy of your resume for future reference. In fact, you may find that you have so many resumes that you have to decide which ones to keep or toss.

How to Be a Leader, According to General David Petraeus

How to Be a Leader, According to General David Petraeus Gen. David Petraeus is a retired four-star general and former director of the CIA. He is currently chairman of the KKR Global Institute. A great boss provides inspiration, encouragement, counsel, direction, example, energy, and all the other elements needed to help you ‘be all that you can be.’ A bad boss does the opposite. I have had many extraordinary bosses, but if I had to choose one, I’d have to select General John (Jack) R. Galvin. He was a true soldier, scholar, and statesmen who provided the elements that make a great boss. He was the kind of leader and individual I aspire to be. I worked for him personally, initially as his aide and then as a special assistant/speech writer in two subsequent assignments, the final one when he served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. He was very supportive for the rest of his life, providing encouragement, thoughts, and reflections during the toughest days of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan and then after I left government. Be Curious In addition to having demonstrated courage on the battlefield and also in the so-called “Battles of the Potomac,” he was a tremendous student of history and a true intellectual, one who always demonstrated boundless curiosity and a tremendous love of learning. I’d like to think I embodied those attributes to a degree even before I first worked for him, but he clearly strengthened my conviction about their importance and taught me how to exhibit them in difficult, complex situations. Engage, Engage, Engage General Galvin truly sought to support those who worked for him well after they departed, working hard to keep up with them, to assist when needed, and to continue to engage in stimulating exchanges. At a certain point, I realized that even when I was not working directly for him that I was still helping and interacting with him in a variety of ways. We ultimately had a lifelong correspondence, sending multiple-page letters to each other at least once a month. Be a Positive Force I learned enormous lessons from him about how to lead and also how to follow. After all, even as Supreme Allied Commander he had bosses. I learned as well about “affirmative â€" positive â€" leadership,” provision of energy and enthusiasm, the importance of getting the big ideas right, how to deal with adversity and setbacks, and the joy of reading and writing about subjects in which one has keen interest. Know What Really Matters He also taught me that service to one’s country in important endeavors and the privilege of soldiering with America’s sons and daughters in uniform, as well as intellectual stimulation, are worth far more than the loftiest of salaries. We both agreed strongly with Teddy Roosevelt’s observation that “life’s greatest gift is hard work worth doing.” â€" Edited from an interview with Chris Kornelis

Career Comics Funny Caption Contest #18 - Work It Daily

Career Comics Funny Caption Contest #18 - Work It Daily PLEASE NOTE: This contest is officially over. The comment section was print screened and the winner was notified by e-mail. Any additional votes will not be counted. Do you think you're funny? Prove it! In the comment section below, write out the funniest caption you can think of for the picture on the right. Whoever has the most votes by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, May 25 will win! How to Enter Look at the picture and think of a funny caption for it. Type your winning caption into the comment section below. Don't forget to use a valid e-mail address when entering your name on the comment platform so we can contact you if you win! Hit the 'Like' button on your comment. That's one vote. Hurray! Now, show your funny caption to all your friends and tell them to 'Like' your comment, too. Why You Should Play The winner will receive the following: FREE half-hour of personal career coaching with CAREEREALISM.com Founder, J.T. O'Donnell [Value = $75] FREE PDF copy of J.T.'s book [Value = $9.95] More friends [Priceless] Rule: No swearing or inappropriate humor. Basically, you can be funny but not really funny. Hint: Use your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to ask for votes. That way, all your friends will know how funny you are. Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee you will make more friends from your participation in this contest. Photo credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!

Internships Resume Objective Examples

Internships Resume Objective Examples Use this resume tip to score an internshipYour resume can go a long way in scoring you an internship. A strong, concise internship resume objective used to be required to help you stand out from a long list of internship candidates, butresume objectives have become obsolete over the years. Thecareer summary is mora common nowadaysand when youreapplying to internships, a good career summary is important to let hiring managers know exactly why youre the one they should pick.Employers receive large amounts of resumes for internships from college students and recent grads. Thats why its so important to ensure that your resume stands out and makes a statement. Writing your resume is tough enough, and historically,the resume objective was the first thing hiring managers read. A career summary is now doing the job,essentially providing the reader with their first impression of you. You may elend have a bunch of experience to fill a career summary, but you can still highlight what makes you awesome.Tips for writing your internship resume summaryBack in the day, the resume objective had to immediately grab the readers attention, so it wasstraight to the point and concise. A resume career summary must do the saatkorn thing in the same way,but it also needs to highlighta few reasons why youd be an invaluable asset to the company or organization. Rather than write an objective that details only with what you hope to gain from the internship, think of the resume summary as the place to sell your skills and any competencies that would benefit the hiring manager and existing employees. This short paragraph should also include the name of the organization to which you are applying and the department, if applicable.Sample summaries for internship resumesThe following internship resume summary examples are a good place to start, but be sure to tailor them to suit your own needs and the needs of the internship you hope to acquir eAs a finance graduate with an advanced knowledge of economics, I hope to obtain an internship with ABC Company, whichwill benefit from my excellent customer service skills.My strong problem-solving and analytical skills could be wellutilized at ABC Companys summer internship program. My part-time work experience and marketing studies will provide solid support to ABC Companys marketing department.A self-motivated, hardworking graduate student in computer science, I seekan internship lage atABC Companythat will allow me to explore career options in the IT sector. I have consulted in the computer center, tutored undergraduates, and completed advanced projects relevant to this internship position.My experience as assistant editor of the campus publication, in addition to my strong writing skills, ensures I will make a positive contribution to ABC Company.I look forward to learning froma leading marketing company that provides the opportunity to expand my knowledge as a communications major.A 4.0 GPA throughout my mechanical engineering studies attests to my hard work and enthusiasm for the engineering industry, and I hope to obtain an engineering internship that will utilize my analytical and design skills.An internship at ABC Health Care Facility would offer a fantastic opportunity for me to further my nutrition studies, which began when I was as a dietetic intern at XYZ Hospital.Resume writing adviceRemember Companies and institutionswantto know what you will bring to the table, not merely what you hope to gain from the internship experience. Do you need help making sure your resume is a solid demonstration of your strengths and capabilities?Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts atMonsters Resume Writing Service. Youll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review ofyour resumes appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiters first impression. The competition for internships is intense, so take every advantage to polish your candidacy before formally applying. Tags Internships Resume Internships Resume Objective

Life, Death and Resume Objective Statement Examples

Life, Death and Resume Objective stellungnahme Examples Following your interview you produce a detailed resume objective in a couple of paragraphs that directly addresses the requirements of the business and gives solutions based on what you learned. Personal statement samples exist to aid you with your application. Based on your degree of experience and the jobs youre applying for, what you decide to concentrate on in your resume summary might vary. Below are a few examples of a business resume objectives. Vital Pieces of Resume Objective Statement Examples The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. You require the interview to find the job and you need resumes and cover letters to have interviews. Building a resume can look like a big endeavor, but its something that will be very rewarding in the end when you receive the job. Clearly, someone with no prior experience, or trying to find a work switch, must rely on general traits and goals than any past experi ence. Life After Resume Objective Statement Examples You dont need an account merely to hunt for jobs. The work description for any specific position provides you with a clue as to whats important to the employer. Youve got to lay out your job duties in a sense thats simple for them to comprehend. When it has to do with writing a purpose of statement, its important to take into consideration the simple fact that if it appears so fabricated, the hiring manager wont think about calling you for a work interview. For that reason, its important to compose the objective in the ideal manner possible. The aim is to get noticed. So its always advisable that write your career statement at the peak of your resume. The objective statement is situated at the very top of the resume. What You Dont Know About Resume Objective Statement Examples In case the employer doesnt see something there that sparks their interest they may not keep reading. Its possible your present institution has a set of private statement samples which you may utilize to help with tricky problems such as style. A good resume objective is something thats very strong and strong. When you have the correct words forming the appropriate sentences the employers will call.