Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom What Google Glass Means for Your Workday

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom What Google Glass Means for Your Workday First of all, does it mean anything? The initial buzz around Google Glass focused on consumer usage: taking photos, recording video, playing games, getting directions, etc. Over at PC Mag, however, Samara Lynn has made the leap. Here’s what Lynn has to say regarding how and why Google Glass will find its way into business: “We can’t ignore that the IT business landscape has changed. It’s no longer about IT telling a worker: “Here’s your work-assigned computer, here are the programs you are allowed to use, and have at it.” It’s now the worker asking IT: “These are technology devices I use in my daily life. How can I get my work done with them?” The consumerization of IT is one big reason why Google Glass will find its way into enterprises.” Here’s where you might see it sooner rather than later: Custom business app stores. As with smartphones, Google Glass will be all about the apps. An emerging trend is the apps store being tailored for business. Companies will custom-make business app stores for clients and present workers with new ways to get their jobs done. Employees will get involved too. Google Glass app development actually opens up a new area for intrapreneurship, or the process of innovation within the context of an established organization. For more ideas, check out the full post at Intuits Fast Track blog.

What Is A Long Island Resume Writing Service?

What Is A Long Island Resume Writing Service?Long Island resumes writing services should not be a surprise when you search the Internet. The Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties is some of the most profitable areas for these types of professionals. This is why it is no wonder that people are seeking them out. It is necessary to give your professional credibility, because you want to get the job, but it is equally important to make sure that you have all the right details at your fingertips as well.The first thing that you will want to do when you search for a Long Island resume writing service is to make sure that you understand what is required of you. For example, you should know how long you have been employed. You will also want to know the length of time that you have been working in your particular field. The most common requirements include: what skills have you learned and how have you learned from them? If you can't answer any of these questions, then it may be wise to u se a different writer.If you are not fully aware of your strengths and weaknesses, it is not likely that a Long Island resume writing service will know what to say about you. The best thing that you can do is be upfront with the information that you have provided. Long Island resumes writing services can make recommendations on what you should emphasize more, but that is only if you are willing to let them.Resume writing services will probably recommend certain skills and traits in you that you should not miss. There are certain skills that are very important, but other skills will be almost worthless if you do not have them. However, when you allow your resume to be written by an unknown writer, you risk being left behind. In fact, the best candidate for a Long Island resume writing service is someone who has already been employed.Now, you should know that not all writers are great employees. There are a lot of people who will try to sell you a product that you don't need. Even tho ugh they may have a good name, their resume writing skills are often lacking. They will try to get you to sign up for something that you don't need, or worse yet, they may make promises that they cannot keep.Even when you choose a writer, it will be good to go through the past clients of the company that you are considering. The services that they provide are usually not unique, so there are usually others that have done the same type of work that you are looking for. You may also want to look at some of the previous projects that they have done. This way, you can see which of the writers have had some success in the past.If you are really serious about getting a Long Island resume writing service, you should make sure that you make your decision on a quality service. You can do this by contacting past clients, as well as by doing research online. No matter how good of a writer they may be, it is still a good idea to get a proven, reliable service that has proven track records.This way, you can be assured that your career growth is a priority. You can rest assured that they will provide you with the right information that you need to succeed.

Why we should be grateful for Generation Y

Why we should be grateful for Generation Y Whats the point of baby boomers complaining about Generation Y at work? First of all, its a cliché, because people over 40 have been complaining about young people since forever. Even worse, its a losing battle. Generation Y is huge. Its one thing for boomers to verbally squash Generation X that was no problem. Gen X is tiny and the baby boom was huge. But in Generation Y, baby boomers have met their match. And in the demographic catfight of the century, Gen X aligns itself with Gen Y over baby boomers, which means that the workplace gripes boomers have about young people are going to be moot in a matter of years. Generation Which? So maybe the over-40 crowd should spend less time talking about trying to bridge the generation gap which is really a euphemism for get Gen Y to be more like us and more time celebrating the great things that Generation Y brings to the workplace. Gen Y isnt going anywhere, and its not like theyre about to conform to  baby boomer  demands. But before you continue reading, understand that the world doesnt actually adhere to demographer datelines: The generation you fit into is more a function of the choices you make than the year you were born. So if you want to know where you truly  fit along generational lines,  take this test. And if you want to know why baby boomers should  ease up on  Generation Y, consider the ways that these youngest workers are making  life better for everyone: 1. They wont do work thats meaningless. These kids grew up with parents scheduling every minute of their day. They were told TV is bad and reading is good, and are more educated than any generation in history. They just spent 18 years learning to be productive with their time, so theyre not going to settle for any photocopying/coffee stirring job. But thats good, because we all want meaning in our jobs, and we all want to understand how were contributing to the world at large. Why should anyone have to wait until retirement age to start demanding that? These days, the workplace can be restructured so that we all do a little coffee stirring in exchange for each of us getting to do some meaningful work. And if work can be in some way meaningful  for all of us, then the workplace in general will be a better place to spend our time. 2. They wont play the face-time game. Weve known forever that it isnt necessary to be in the office from 9 to 5 every day to get work done. But many of us have missed family events only to sit at a desk all day getting pretty much nothing done because of the stress of missing a family event. And there didnt used to be any option if you wanted a successful career, you made sure co-workers saw that you were putting in the hours. Generation Y wants to be judged  by the work they do, not the hours they put in. And what could be more fair than this? In fact, a good portion of the workforce has been requesting flextime for decades, but the requests have gone unheeded. We  have Gen Y to thank for  forcing the switch, because if Gen Yers cant leave the building whenever they want, theyll walk out the door and never come back. Face the truth:  Boomers werent willing to go that far, but  they sure are benefiting from it. Now they have more opportunities for flextime, too. 3. Theyre great team players. If youve climbed a corporate ladder your whole career, then its probably inconceivable to you that Gen Y doesnt care about your title. But its true they dont do rank. Chances are they saw their parents get laid off in the 80s, so they know how ephemeral that special rung you stand on is and they dont want to waste time trying to get there. Generation Y played on soccer teams where everyone participated and everyone was a winner, and they conducted playground politics like diplomats because their parents taught them that theres no hierarchy and bullies are to be taken down by everyone. And Gen Yers take these values to work they expect to be a part of a team. Gen Y believes that no matter how much experience an individual has, everyone plays and everyone wins. Maybe its annoying to you that you dont get to be team captain, or worse, the bully on the playground. But youve read the  Harvard Business Reviews decades of research on  how essential workplace teams are  and how  older people have little idea how to be good team players, so relax: Gen Y is doing the teamwork for you. In fact, theres no way to work with Gen Yers except on a team. They go to the prom as a team, so theyre certainly going to go to product reviews as a team. That makes us all lucky.  We dont need any McKinsey person coming to our company for $10 million a minute telling us how to promote teamwork. We can just follow Generation Y. 4. They have no patience for jerks. Generation Y changes jobs every two years, typically because the work isnt a good fit, or the learning curve isnt steep enough, or they dont like their co-workers. And Gen Yers will disengage  from a jerk before trying to get along with him or her, according to  a report  by  Stan Smith, national director of Next Generation Initiatives at consulting firm Deloitte. They have no desire to bother with somebody they dont like. This is really how we all should function. After all, according to  research by Stanford professor Bob Sutton, the cost of putting up with a jerk in a company is about $160,000. Moreover,  Harvard researcher Tiziana Casciaro found  that people hate working with high-performing jerks so much that they would rather work with someone incompetent whos nice. Nobody likes having to deal with jerks, but weve always believed it was asking too much to have a workplace full of decent people. Generation Y sets a new standard for this, and companies are having to dump jerks quickly or risk losing their ability to recruit and retain Gen Yers. Dont Fight the Future So lets get off our high horses and stop evaluating whether or not we like working with Generation Y. Its members have  incredible leverage in the workplace right now, and theyre not going anywhere. Its time to admit that the workplace is changing and that were lucky to have a group as optimistic and self-confident as Generation Y leading the way.

Practice interview questions for customer service jobs

Practice interview questions for customer service jobs Thats exactly how customer services work! I recently had an interview at a restaurant and spent all day preparing for it, so I thought I would share some of the things I have come across. Here are some basic questions you should expect to get asked at an interview for customer service jobs and should prepare an answer for before you go: What, in your opinion, is customer service? You should talk about being friendly and approachable, and doing everything you can to ensure the customer’s needs are met and they leave satisfied and wanting to come again. It also means having a full knowledge of whatever it is that you are selling, so that you can suggest to your customer what they may like, or if they have an idea already, be able to show them exactly what you have that meets the needs they mention. What would you do if a customer complained to you about their service? You would always apologise and find out exactly what the problem was. Offer to bring the customer a new meal (for example) or something complimentary. Mention that in training you would have made sure that you had inquired from your manager how the company deals with complaints, but if unsure, you would be sure to apologise, ensure the customer that this would not happen again and do anything in your power to resolve the situation as efficiently as possible. Would you reward a calm customer? photo credit: RW PhotoBug Why do you want to work here? You should say something along the lines of; ‘having visited a couple of times, I can see that this establishment is up to a very high standard. I personally am most comfortable working in such an environment because there are clear, set expectations and guidelines. I always like to have a job to do, whether it be to serve a customer or (for example) polish the cutlery. It seems very well run and the staff always seem to be doing something, but at the same time are extremely attentive. I would consider myself lucky to be able to work within such a well-run business.’ What do you know about the business? INTERVIEWERS WILL ALWAYS ASK YOU THIS SO PREPARE! Spend 15-20 minutes on the companys website until you find something particularly interesting. For my restaurant interview I mentioned that it seems that the company is very focused on serving only the best of British beef, and also that the cocktails on the menu were interesting and I would love to try and make them as I have always enjoyed making new cocktails. Preparation is key research before your interview for a customer service job. Describe a time when you have delivered excellent customer service. Give an actual example from your past, such as someone thanking you personally for what you had done or even mentioning your service to someone else. If possible, talk about a time that you delivered excellent customer service  when you were extremely busy and under a lot of pressure.  It’s easy to give great customer service when there’s only one customer there, but what about when you have a queue of people? Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and how do you deal with working under pressure? Are you cut out for the fast-paced environment photo credit: Wendy Longo photography For this I think it’s fair for you to admit that if you are thrown in at the deep end, then working under pressure can be a little daunting at first, but talk about your ability to learn new skills quickly. If you have no work experience, then talk about when you were at school/college/university and how you dealt with working under pressure in those situations. Explain that you realise it is a different environment but that you believe that the skills you have developed throughout your education have taught you not to panic when there is a deadline and you have a lot to do. [ALSO READ:  How To Job Search Like A Pro â€" With No Work Experience  ] How do you organise your workload? Talk about how you have dealt with big queues of customers or a time when you have had lots of demands coming at you at once. Talk about how you prioritise your workload to ensure all customers are satisfied. Also mention that you are aware that communication is key between employees when there is a lot of work to get through and you know that things will run smoother and more quickly if each team member communicates and cooperates with one another. How do you feel about working in a team? You love working in a team! Okay, you may not, but it is always important in a customer service working environment (or any working environment really) that you will mix well with new people, that you will cooperate with those around you to ensure a consistent level of customer service, and that there is a good atmosphere amongst team members. It is important for you to be approachable in case someone needs your help, and it is also important that you are not afraid to ask for help if you are unsure of anything. Again, if no work experience, bring up your social life. Talk about any sports teams or societies you are a member of and how teamwork comes into it, and also what qualities you offer being a member of that team. Are you comfortable working very late/early? Working very early would probably apply to cafes, gyms, newsagents, etc. Working late would probably be in restaurants, bars or 24-hour shops. It’s important to be honest here. If you rely on public transport, then check the opening/closing times of the place you have applied for and then check the latest bus/train times. If it is too far for you to get a taxi and you would be working earlier/later than public transport, and you have no access to a car, you really need to tell them. Don’t just agree to it in order to get the job, because what are you going to do when they ask you to work until 1am and you have no way of getting home at the end? It’s not reasonable to put yourself in a situation like that, but employers do like you to be flexible, so offer suggestions of working around it.  For example, agreeing that if it were only once a week or so you would happily get a taxi, but overall you would rather work until a little earlier so that you can get home safely. It probab ly won’t be an issue but make sure you are aware! There we go! Chances are you will only get asked a handful of these but it’s best to prepare as much as you can so that you’re not caught off guard! 9

Buying Resume For Writing Your Objective

Buying Resume For Writing Your ObjectiveWhen you're looking to buy resume for writing your objective, be sure to shop around. You can look at several different online job boards, by visiting the local Chamber of Commerce, and even through job listings that are posted by your company's human resources department. It doesn't hurt to inquire with a professional staffing firm or a recruiting agency that specializes in resumes and cover letters, especially if you have specific skills or a professional background that would be useful to the company. Many of these people can assist you in the search for the perfect one for your needs.There are many types of resumes that are available to hire from. Some of them include hard copy, which are documents that can be mailed directly to the employer. Others come as pre-written email, allowing you to send your information to a local or national database that is used to find jobs in your field. Some companies may also hire an outside agency to post t hem for them on their website.A good tip to remember when buying a resume is to take it down to a plain white stationery paper. Use a color printer's ink that will stand out from the rest of the page. If you're trying to sell yourself to the employer, use bold type in a bold font, with some unique highlighting. Try to include as much information about your educational and professional history as possible. Include dates of employment and any certifications that were received after the date of the letter.Additionally, try to write your objective using personal experience as your main point of view. If you know something that employers would find interesting about you, take advantage of that fact and use it in your objective.One thing that you might want to consider is including a cover letter to accompany your resume when you buy resume for writing your objective. While the letter is still valid and effective, it will workas additional evidence to back up your credentials.If you are l ooking to apply for an actual job posting that has been posted, always make sure that you double check the formatting of the posting. Make sure that all addresses are properly spelled and accurate. If you don't spot any errors in the wording, then it would be wise to think twice about submitting your resume.Also, make sure that you follow the instructions outlined on the cover letter. Never send the cover letter to a company before you contact them. In addition, make sure that you send the same letter to each company that you have applied to.Make sure that you never rush to complete your objective before contacting the target company. It is okay to ask for the details of the position; just don't feel pressured into rushing your response.

Engineers as Leaders Is This the Time to Embrace Future Engineers

Engineers as Leaders Is This the Time to Embrace Future Engineers Not too long ago, we discussed the things that make someone an impressive business leader. There are a few definite requirements that help separate good leaders from the impressive ones.With the market being as competitive as it is today, acquiring great leaders to help set the course of the company can be the defining factor for success.evalTraditionally, you want someone with strong business skills and a management background to lead. The growing trend, however, is recruiting engineers to be business leaders.Are future engineers the impressive leaders we’ve been looking for? There are several traits that clearly set them apart.Solution-Based ThinkingThe global market is growing at a fast pace and it is at its most competitive. There is no room for error and businesses are required to react to market changes and customer demands with immense precision. This is where critical thinking comes in handy.Critical thinking is a skill every engineer is trained to have. Top engineering pro grams from universities such as the University of California Riverside have classes that help shape the way future engineers solve problems.Students pursuing their online masters of engineering are not only taught to think methodically but also creatively.That mix between methodical thinking and creativity is what the business world needs, which is why masters of engineering online graduates are among the most sought-after candidates for mid- to top-level management positions.It is their ability to come up with unusual yet scientific solutions that are invaluable to businesses.Good Project ManagementevalIt is also worth noting that today’s engineers are great project managers. Modern engineers are not the geeky, introvert guy that stays in the laboratory all day. They are active, productive people who know how to get things done in an orderly fashion.Engineers are learning more about leadership and project management. They are trained to look at every problem as a project. In orde r to solve that problem, they implement steps that strike a balance between efficiency and accuracy.This type of leadership works really well in the business world. The methods and leadership style of future engineers don’t only work among engineers but are easy to follow and can be highly suitable for day-to-day business operations.This is one of the reasons why businesses now turn to engineers whenever they need to fill mid- to top-level management positions.The Era of EngineeringevalSo, is it time to embrace engineers as future leaders? The answer is a definite YES. While business and management skills are essential, future leaders need to think like engineers.We already have several startup CEOs and leaders of top companies taking advantage of their engineering background to become more effective. It is only a matter of time before more engineers are needed to lead parts of the business world.The education world is responding to this increasing demand too. Top universities are updating their engineering programs to meet the new market requirements.In as little as a year, traditional engineers can upgrade their skills and be ready for the future.

Leaving Your Job What Smart Jobseekers Need to Know -Part 3 of 5 Part Series - Sterling Career Concepts

Leaving Your Job What Smart Jobseekers Need to Know -Part 3 of 5 Part Series Leaving Your Job? What Smart Jobseekers Need to Know -Part 3 of 5 Part Series Gracefully leaving one job to begin another takes some diplomacy and tact. When it comes to telling your current boss you are leaving the company, there is rarely an “easy” way to do it. This is especially true if you have been with the company a significant amount of time, or if you have a strong relationship with your supervisor. If you’ve had discussions with your supervisor in previous performance evaluations about your desire to move up, but these opportunities don’t exist within the company, your departure may not be a surprise. If your company was recently sold or acquired â€" or if your department has had a lot of recent turnover â€" that fact that you are leaving may not be unexpected. But if you are a key player, your resignation may be surprising, and may even cause big problems for the company. The simplest guideline is to let your current supervisor know as soon as you have secured your new position (including getting the particulars of the new position in writing, if possible). Writing Your Resignation Letter Is a letter of resignation necessary? Many job seekers simply tell their boss verbally that they are leaving, but there are at least three advantages to actually writing a resignation letter: You can use it as a prop to help start the potentially nerve-wracking conversation about you leaving the company. You can simply hand it to your boss and say, “I’ve prepared this letter of resignation to let you know I’ve accepted another job.” A resignation letter can provide you with an outline to discuss the issues related to your departure from the company (timing, unused vacation or sick leave, etc.) It can help you leave the job on the right foot â€" without burning bridges, and leaving the door open for future opportunities, should they arise. Structure of a Letter of Resignation Letters of resignation should be positive in tone. This is not the appropriate time to air your grievances. Your resignation letter will likely become a part of your permanent file, so choose your words carefully. If at all possible, hand-deliver (don’t email) your letter of resignation In the future, the person verifying your employment with the company might not be someone you worked with previously. They may review your file, and what you write in your letter of resignation might be important. A strong recommendation can be important â€" and it’s appropriate to reiterate your contributions in the resignation letter so that information is in your file. Just don’t go overboard; this is about you leaving the company, not angling for a raise or a promotion. In your letter, be sure to thank your employer for the opportunities you had. You can also reiterate valued personal relationships in your resignation letter â€" acknowledging your work with your coworkers and supervisors. Be sure to also include: The date you are leaving (whenever possible, it’s professional to give at least two week’s notice). Include a forwarding address for mail and correspondence. Also include an email address where you can be reached. While a formal letter of resignation brings closure to you and to your boss in the current working relationship, if you’ve developed a strong, positive relationship while working together, he or she may be a great person to continue to network with in the future and keep as a resource for further career development. *** Making a positive job transition is essential to career success.   Check back for part four in this series that addresses these key strategies for job seekers.

Career Advice - 5 Ways to Keep Your Job - Hallie Crawford

Career Advice - 5 Ways to Keep Your Job Free Career Advice! Here are 5 ways to keep your job: 1) Invest in yourself Brush up on your skills, experience and education. Whats missing from your resume? What can make you more valuable to your employer? Identify a class to take, a work project to volunteer for. It is time and money well spent. 2) Make yourself indispensable Pitch in on extra projects, work overtime if needed. Ask your boss how you can help during these tough times. Let them know you are there, and are willing to do what it takes to help the company pull through. 3) Define your unique skill set What makes you stand out from your peers in your industry? What unique skill(s) do you possess that you can leverage during this time to demonstrate your value and worth to your employer? Identify it â€" communicate it â€" leverage it. 4) Be proactive â€" network now Expand your network now. Develop alliances within your industry for yourself and your company. Team up to generate new business or collaborate on projects. This network will also come in handy if you are laid off later on. Networking is still the best way to find a job. 5) To prepare for the worst case scenario a. Network everywhere: Professional associations, job hunting groups, social groups, even your church. Utilize discussion and networking forums online like www.linkedin.com. b. Create a backup plan: What can you do financially to cover yourself in case you do get laid off? Put extra cash into savings. Cut back on certain expenses. Find a way to make it happen. (Look for more on this in our next issue…) Finally, heres some positive news In the past month I have had: 1 client with 3 interviews in 1 week, 1 client land a new job within one month, 1 client juggling 2 job offers, and 1 client landing a potential dream job â€"The bottom line: It is possible to stay afloat in this tough economy. Learn how to keep your job â€" LIVE! On my free teleclass March 25th. Register and read more right here. Heres to having a career you love! Career Coach