Top 12 Tech Jobs That Can Boost Your Career

Top 12 Tech Jobs That Can Boost Your Career Youve begun working in IT, but you want to fast track your career. How can you do it? This infographic by  K Alliance  lists the 12 top IT jobs that will fast track your career. Takeaways: Computer Systems Analyst Software Developer Mechanical Engineer Cloud Architect Web Developer IT Consultant Mobile Application Developer Network Engineer IT Program/Project Manager Computer Forensic Database Administrator Health Information Technician Read descriptions and more in the below infographic: RELATED:  Where To Find UK  Tech  and Start Up  Jobs

Chocolates For Life And Advice On Writing

Chocolates For Life And Advice On Writing If someone promised me endless boxes of chocolate for life to give advice on how to become a published writer in only four short words, I would say this: Read. Write. Edit. Repeat. Honestly, that’s my advice in a tiny tidbit. Read all the time and analyze what you’ve read. Write all the time and analyze what you’ve written. Edit your work so tightly that every single word has a legitimate reason for being there. Repeat the whole thing. Endlessly. Chug chocolate. Do not chug wine or you might end up lying on your  laptop making up silly rhymes and songs. Want more writing advice? Read what these wise women writers have to say… Weina Dai Randel Dig a hole at home and write, just write, do nothing else. Dont tell your friends or family that youre writing a novel either, because if you do, theyll ask you how your writing is going each time they see you, and that can be defeating, because writing a book takes a long time, and publishing a book takes even  longer. Amy E. Reichert Read, write, revise. Repeat. Always keep learning how to be a better writer. Reading and revision are two of the best ways to do so. Nicole Baart Develop thick skin! No one writes perfectly the first timeâ€"or any time, for that matter. Writing for publication is a team effort. Enlist the help of early readers, editors, and friends who will be honest and help you make your writing the very best it can be. The better you get at accepting critique, the better your work will become. Remember that the people offering advice are readers: your audience. Their wisdom and insight will sharpen your words, help you develop real, believable characters, tighten your plot, and elevate your writing to new levels Kerstin March First and foremost, write the novel that you would love to read and trust in your unique ability to tell a story. Once you are finished with a polished manuscript (even though very few authors ever feel  truly  finished), define what success means to you. There are many roads to publication, from self-publishing and indie presses to ebooks and working with traditional publishers. Once you set your goal, be resourceful and professional in pursuing the opportunities and connecting with the people who can help you reach it. Sonja Yoerg Be humble. Be open. No matter how much you believe you know about writing and publishing, there is always more to learn, especially in this fast-changing environment. Self-confidence is crucial, but this business has a way of bringing the over-confident to his/her knees. Be humble. Listen. Eileen Goudge Join or form a writers’ group when you’re just starting out. Best thing I ever did. Amy   Nathan I tell aspiring authors better out than in. Sometimes lamenting how to write it or what will or wont happen after its written holds up the process. Plus, I always tell them that getting a story OUT makes room for a new story. Brandi Megan Granett, Ph.D Keep writing new things.   Dont say, if an agent doesnt want this novel, Im giving up.   Each novel you write and each story you put on paper teaches you something new, makes you a stronger writer, and fills your creative spirit.   Dont let the business side of things get in the way of the heart side of things. Lisa Barr My advice to newbie authors: First, and most importantly, it really does take a village to make your dream happen. Writing can be the best solo experience or lonely as hell. Find a writers group that is in your community, and I guarantee that theyre there. Im a journalist as well and I never just trust my own eyes before turning in anything be it an article or a manuscript. It is important that you have your group or trusty sources lined up to read your work. Find those who will give you raw honesty and not just Yesman-ship. Write what you LOVE to read it makes your writing and passion for your topic that much stronger and without a doubt, much more believable. And of course, aside from the necessary writing accoutrement good vino and great coffee are writer musts to deal with the triumphs and the rejections. Ellen Urbani Ignore all the advice. If you’re inclined to write every day, write every day. If you’re inclined to write only when you feel like it, write then and harvest vegetables or walk your dog or love your spouse or read a book in the other spaces. No one else can tell you how to live your  life or express your passions, so stop giving them  them  egress and  opportunity to try. Heed the burning in your own gut, and tend your own flames. Sally Koslow Join a formal writing group not just for the feedback, but for the deadlines, which are essential. Read extensively, but only read books you consider to be “good,” and start to take note of why certain authors appeal to you. Authentic characters? Quickly moving plot? Sharp dialogue? Original description? When you write something, let it sit for a few days, then print out in a different type face and try to reread/rewrite with fresh eyes. Susan Gloss Learn to separate criticism of your work from criticism of you. Kaira Rouda I tell aspiring writers who are not yet published to never give up and to consider all of their options. If you have a polished, finished, edited manuscript but have hit a wall with traditional publishers, maybe you should consider another path. I’ve been small press and self-published as well as traditionally published yep, I’ve done them all and each path provides its own rewards. If you’re tired of waiting for your dream agent, or your dream publishing deal, maybe it’s time to take your writing career into your own hands? I have a free download on my website, Real You for Authors, that explains my philosophy. (http://www.kairarouda.com/real-you-for-authors/) It’s up to you to make your dreams come true. I know that isn’t typical advice but it’s my path. Sandra Block Dont give up! The road to publication is all about perseverance. You just have to wait for the right person to fall in love with your book. Katie Rose Guest Pryal Do everything you can to establish yourself as a professional. Create a professional-looking email address. Claim a professional URL and put up a professional-looking website (even if it’s nothing fancy). Pitch some shorter pieces to publications to develop your professional writing credentials. In short, believe that you are a professional writer, act like you are a professional writer, and you will (voila!) be a professional writer. It’s like magic.

How To Build A Solid Startup Team - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How To Build A Solid Startup Team - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Ive built at least 8 teams throughout my start-up career.  The teams have ranged from  unpaid college interns, to  friends from college, to contractors from elance. Ive learned something new each step of the way as Ive hired and fired professionals.  These are the top lessons that Ive learned while building teams. 1. Money cannot be the #1 goal In 2010, I built a team where our goal from the outset was to make a lot of money.  We didnt care about changing the world or doing something that we loved. And we hit our goal.  6 months into our company we had closed 2 big client deals and built an online store that generated over $5k in revenue a month for us. But unfortunately, because my team members were focused on making money now as oppose to growth for the future, they chose to withdraw money to their personal accounts instead of reinvesting the money back into the company.  If we had chosen to reinvest the money, there is no doubt in my mind that we could have seen a 10X return on our initial investment.  Instead, we decided to part ways and sell the company prematurely because our team was unaligned from the very beginning. 2. Skills must compliment At my current start-up, the core team consists of a CEO, CPO (chief product officer), and a CMO (chief marketing officer).  The team compliments each other very well because the CEO raises funding, the CPO builds the product, and I sell the product. Ive seen teams consisting of 3 MBA graduates fail because they lack complimentary skill-sets.  Sure they were all very well educated and smart business people, but they ultimately failed because not one could code or design. When building a team, make sure that you have members whose skills compliment each other.  For an internet company, the ideal team is a business person, designer, and developer. My latest project is an online boutique.  When I built my team, I found a developer, designer, and online marketer.  Because each member compliments each other perfectly, there is no overlap in work and they are each able to excel in their area of expertise. 3. Must have industry expertise My first start-up was straight out of college.  Our goal was to build a virtual world that makes this world more productive the anti-Second Life.  We had a team consisting of 2 business guys and 6 engineers.  We were ready to take over the world! Unfortunately, none of us had virtual world experience.  None of our engineers had ever built something so complex, and our 2 business people (me included) had no gaming experience. From this experience, I learned that you always need to have someone on the team with experience in the industry.  It gives you credibility when raising funding and gives you the head start in the start-up race instead of starting from zero.  When building your next company, make sure your team consists of people with experience in the industry youre going after. 4. You dont always need to hire the best I know, this is the opposite of what everyone says. In start-ups, its very important to get the best in the world for your founding team.  However, when it comes to your first employees, I found its most important to find people that can follow orders and execute. There is a thing as having too many cooks in the kitchen. A lead chef needs a right-hand man that can follow the recipes to perfection and get the job done.  In start-ups, the founding team needs people who are the best at execution and can get the job done. When my team and I were selling the first version of our product, I hired someone to walk door-to-door with me and sell to local merchants. At that moment, I didnt need the best salesman in the world, I needed a guy who would not take no for an answer and keep selling to local merchants no matter how long it took for them to close. A start-up that executes wins. The team is the most important part of the start-up.  With a solid, complimentary team that executes, anything is possible. Author: Jun Loayza  is the Co-Founder of  RewardMe, a digital rewards program for restaurants and retailers. In his entrepreneurial experience, Jun has sold 2 internet companies and lead social media technology campaigns for Sephora, Whole Foods Market, Levi’s, LG, and Activision. On the side, Jun helps his girlfriend run an online boutique.

What We Can Learn About Leadership From Comcasts Nightmare Customer Service Call Marla Gottschalk

What We Can Learn About Leadership From Comcasts Nightmare Customer Service Call Marla Gottschalk Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash Wow. Dont get me started. My son has just spent the last 4 weeks trying to force Comcast to keep their promises to him. As a recent college grad, money really matters â€" and they really couldnt care less. Getting his business was the only goal. Keeping him as a customer going forward â€" well that seems to be a message entirely lost on them. If he had another viable choice for high-speed internet (hes a gamer), he we would take it. Immediately. He cannot stand them. To tell you the truth I thought my familys collective experiences with Comcast were simply random. (We recently discovered that we were being charged for a years worth of a router we did not have on premise.) However, after doing a bit of digging, Im now convinced there may be serious problems lurking there. This week, Comcasts darker side was fully exposed in a viral call center exchange that really is more than unbelievable â€" its ominous. Comcast, is now one of the two most hated companies in the country. As a leader, I would be very, very concerned. We can learn from their uproarious blunder. In particular, quite a lot about leadership. Here we go: Dont close your doors. Ultimately, this rarely occurs within an organization where positive leadership has a strong, visible presence. This isnt one incident, there is a pattern here. Yes, you may be an industry monolith. But that doesnt absolve you of the responsibility to be front and center â€" driving home key messages that will sustain your business long-term. Dont lock yourselves in an office â€" light years away from your customers. Talk is cheap, but your actions really speak. I dont think the mission of Comcast is Irritate Customers Beyond Belief. However, the behavior of the company is certainly communicating that message to us. Communicate the mission/vision within your organization completely. If not well understood, everyone will have their own ideas. Leaving something so critical to chance is very, very unwise. Listen, listen, listen. Then listen again. Do you recall when customers would be required to wait all day to have someone hook up their service? Comcast adjusted this policy (and even offered $20 if they didnt hold up their end of the bargain). Talk to your customers often. Are service plans confusing? Is your pricing structure likened to hieroglyphics? Do you fail to reward long-term customers for their patronage? Be aware. Your people are a reflection of your brand. How did that call center representative come to believe that he should never, ever allow a customer leave of their own free will? Im sorry, your employees often reflect leaderships take on customers. He thought that was OK. It wasnt. Your company is at risk. When leadership fails to communicate the very core of a service organizations creed (which would include exhibiting basic respect toward customers), it shows something vital. That, at the end of the day, you may not really care. That undoubtedly spells trouble for your business when viable competition shows upand of course, it undoubtedly will. What advice can you offer Comcast? Sound off here. Dr. Marla Gottschalk is a Workplace Psychologist, speaker and coach You can also find her on Twitter and Linkedin.

Tips For Writing In Hiring Effort In Resume

Tips For Writing In Hiring Effort In ResumeWriting enthusiasm in resume is very important. If you are unable to make that line, then this will indicate that you are lacking professionalism and is not worth hiring. This is not what you are looking for when you are doing your job. The writing enthusiasm will make a statement about you and what you can do for your employer.You may think that you know how to write a certain type of resume. When you start to do it, you will be shocked that you never knew that. In this job, you have to adapt to the format of the employer and to how they are looking for a certain resume. If you can get this knowledge, then you will be able to survive as an employee.You need to learn the forms that are needed for a resume. It would be advisable that you know these forms if you want to impress your boss. Writing enthusiasm in resume will show that you will be a good candidate for the position.If you know how to write enthusiasm in resume, then you can prepare all the forms required for it. You can use bullet points to present information on the form. Some formats required are; preferred work history, training, present company or jobs experience and other things. You can also include the qualifications that you have on the form. Just remember that it should be neat and clean.You can also focus on the necessary information that you can show. When you do this, the easier it will be for you to present them. Be focused on the information that you have and include them on the forms. Use shorter sentences on the lines of skills and abilities to make it less complicated. Try to include these for it will surely help you in getting the attention of the employer.By making a good impression on the employer, you will be given a chance to do good things for him. Being enthusiastic in resume will give you the confidence that you can do well. You should always remember that the only thing that matters is the skills that you have. There is no need to st ress over the things that you can't do well.Your performance is the most important part of getting hired. You can impress your employer by being sincere and credible. Writing enthusiasm in resume is a way of showing your sincerity to the employer. It will allow you to stand out of others who are doing the same things.These are some tips that you can use in order to impress your employer in your resume. Always be sincere and give your best effort to make the employer interested in you. If you have the interest, you can do the job well. This is how you will be given the chance to do your job.

Make Your Business Productive by Avoiding Mistakes in Background Checks - CareerAlley

Make Your Business Productive by Avoiding Mistakes in Background Checks - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. These days, employment screening has become an addition to the HR function. You may have noticed that eighty percent of the corporate companies now carry out the criminal background checks on all new appointees and most of the companies are increasing their attempts to incorporate education verification, employment history, credit history check, and other employment background testing activities. This employment-screening method is becoming a part of the corporate world; therefore, it is now being incorporated to the e-recruiting software so that HR professionals can conduct the screenings within a flash. This kind of incorporation can save time and reduce the chance of mistakes and frauds. Why employment screening is essential Technology has made the employment background screening an accessible tool and made this process popular; but employers still make error in employment checks practices and processes. If your HR professional cannot realize the employment screening process errors, this can result in violence and other forms of criminal behavior in your organization. Therefore, it is essential to learn few techniques so that you cannot make error in employment screening. Ways to avoid common mistakes in employment checks Neglecting ideal background check strategy You know almost every company carries out some sort of background check employment. However, it does not mean that the HR professionals are conducting the checks systematically or using the information in a proper manner. If you can have a standard written policy for every job profile, then it can assure that the similar kinds of employment screenings are carried out based on the data utilized in all industries, company, state and federal regulations. It can also help you prevent any occurrence of bias. Incapable of verifying education and employment Sometimes, many organizations make an error by securing an apparently good candidate and accepting rsum at face value. Approximately, one-third of all rsums comprise a few falsifications in terms of education, employment history and experience. You need to know that degree mills have turned into a $200 million business and continued to get bigger. Even in jobs where education and experience are not required for success, a meaningful misrepresentation can trigger problems of character in a possible recruitment. Depending on the manual internal procedure Most of the time a candidates background data is hand operated into various forms or systems, therefore; it leads to a greater human error. On the other hand, taking advantage of this system, corrupt applicants may provide different information on their employment application, rsum and background screening form, depending on the reality that the HR professionals will not notice the inconsistency among the pile of papers. Since the background process is integrated into many companies e-recruiting software, companies can overcome these issues. With the e-recruiting software, you can assess the background screening of the candidate with ease. Since the background employment screening gets technology based wholly, it is essential to remember that efficient background check needs human involvement and perception from screening providers end. Be cautious of the fully automated structures that offer instant screenings. Find solutions that can compile the best of human investigation and automation because this can get you the maximum return on your investment. If you avoid these errors, you can standardize policies, reduce the legal proceeding and guarantee a productive, fair workforce. Author bio Grace Smith is a career consultant and a freelance writer. She has been writing on physical security and background checks for employment for many years. You can take her help for making better hiring decisions. She suggests her readers to follow www.nowcheckingu.com for better employment verification service. You can follow her on Google+. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook

Did you know about this important LinkedIn Privacy change - CareerEnlightenment.com

Important Update!Since LinkedIn made this change, many people have complained and it has been removed. Now, that opt-out box simply takes a cookie off your computer so that ads cant follow you around.It all changed and Linkedin said that they  will not  use your profile picture for ads as before but would see a message that 3 users follow this company and you would have to click the ad to see which users it would be.From this -To this -