Posts filed under ‘Workplace’
Un-un-employed
The latest stats say that the unemployment rate went down last month. But what does that number really say? It does not account for people who aren’t collecting unemployment, those who have taken part-time jobs because they cannot find full-time professional work, or those that have pushed off entering the job market by staying in school.
Here’s a great little video from Mint.com that I found via Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck. I highly recommend reading this blog post which goes into some greater detail about the difference between being unemployed and underemployed and how the underemployed are not included in the peachy statistical analyses.
Benefits Beyond Salary
A recurring theme amongst the people I talk to that are fielding job offers (in this awful economy) is trying to understand what a good offer is.
Most people consider the salary offer as the job offer. But it is more than that. You need to consider the entire benefits package: insurance, retirement, commission and bonuses, potential for growth, and “intangible” benefits like the working environment, job location, etc.
I suggest reading this article from Talent Zoo about 5 Financial Secrets to Know When You Look for A Job by Ted Jenkin. He discusses many of these additional benefits and poses some questions for you to consider when you get the long awaited offer.
Identifying, qualifying and quantifying your achievements
The first thing I ask people to do when they want to update their resume, is to give me a description of their work history and achievements.
For most everyone, it’s pretty easy for them to tell me the dates and places where they have worked, past job titles and companies. But it’s that achievements part that is hard for them to come up with.
Use this list to figure out what you’ve accomplished. Once you have the list, try to weave accomplishments in with your job responsibilities and duties.
Actions: Did you…
- open new accounts?
- create an infrastructure for any function(s)?
- design and/or implement standard operating procedures?
- develop the professional capabilities of people who were then promoted to positions of greater accountability and/or who outperformed peers?
- add new products?
- develop or strengthen vendor partnerships?
- launch a new brand?
- develop a training program?
- initiate and/or manage a major project?
- renegotiate contracts?
- reengineer business processes?
- restructure organizations?
- write or redesign job descriptions?
- reach new audiences?
- grow subscribers or membership base?
- improve the accuracy of sales forecasts?
- start a new division?
- grow your referral base?
- begin sourcing or production in a new region or country?
- start outsourcing tasks?
- expand your presence to a new geographic territory?
- establish quality standards?
- start evaluating vendor performance?
- write an employee or vendor manual?
- design forms or templates?
- introduce and/or direct programs that resulted in achievement of certain industry standards?
- expand or consolidate your vendor base?
- accelerate product development?
- implement new technology-based solutions or lead technology integrations?
- win support from internal or external groups?
- create a reference library or archives of key information?
- improve inventory accuracy?
- decrease order-to-delivery lead times or speed-to-market times?
- design and/or institute order tracking or call tracking systems?
- start a safety program?
- automate a process previously performed manually?
- eliminate unnecessary or redundant processes?
- design a business continuity plan?
- get rid of unprofitable product lines or customer accounts?
- align services with customer requirements?
Results: As a result of these actions, did you…
- increase sales/profits?
- reduce costs?
- grow market share?
- increase service levels?
- achieve better quality or consistency?
- improve safety and/or reduce risk?
- boost productivity?
- lower employee turnover?
- improve company’s reputation?
- position the company for future growth?
This list is adapted from a WiseBread blog post.
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck
Young people are constantly challenged to fit in at work. Generational gaps exist between every age range.
I came across this article today: 6 ways to fit in when you’re the youngest person in the room.
Some other things that I think are important to remember when you’re the youngest person:
- It’s like playing poker. So play your cards right. In some situations, your youth will be to your advantage. In others, it’s best to lay low.
- Dress appropriately. That doesn’t mean dressing like you’re 80, but it does mean that you need to think of how your elders will perceive your wardrobe.
- Remember that things that may be socially acceptable to younger employees will not fly with older colleagues. For example: Facebook at work. Instant messaging. Walking around with your iPod on. [insert technology related age gap item here]
- Stay up-to-date (and do your research) since you’re young, you should know what’s going on now. But since they’re old, you need to be able to relate to ghosts of workplace past.
Resume Rehab by Colleen 