The Best Career Advice From Successful People Who Made It to the Top

The Best Career Advice From Successful People Who Made It to the Top Article by Bruce HarphamTo build a successful career, you have todraw on several important disciplines. These time-honored practices, proven to work in every industry, are vital to the achievement of success. Whether you need inspiration to start a new practice or somemotivation to get back on your career track, you canuse these four leaders experiences to bolster your own.1. Self-Knowledge Is the FoundationWithout self-knowledge, the pursuit of success is frustrating. In the ancient world, philosophers encouraged their followers to reflect. Todays leaders use their self-understanding to define and reach success.- At several points, my mentors have served as a mirror for me and helped me to understand myself better, says Kim Ulmer, rtlich president of Royal Bank of Canada. Ulmers responsibilities include managing more than 170 branches and 3,000 staffers.- Dave Kasabian, chief market ing officer at Tagetik, a management software company, says, My philosophy of growth is to look inside myself What do I enjoy? What are my skills and passions? Based on that knowledge, I make decisions on how to develop.-Assessment tools provide helpful insights into understanding our strengths. For exampleauthor and entrepreneur Michael Hyatt, referred to the bookStrengthsFinder 2.0, a personal development favorite, when heexited a corporate career to start a new chapter as an entrepreneur. His strengths, according to the model, included a focus on achievement and the future.Self-knowledge requires reflecting on your experiences, good and bad. Think about last week and take note of when you felt the greatest satisfaction. You might take greater satisfaction from solving thorny business problems, or you might relish the challenge of guiding a new graduate through their first few months at work.2. Curiosity Is PowerfulAn open and curious mind is vital to making the most of learning o pportunities. Curiosity means looking for opportunities to learn and to apply new ideas outside of the classroom. Engagement and focus areincrediblypowerfulin leadership roles because your actions and words will quietly influence many around you.- I usually take one or two courses per year at a business school to keep my skills sharp, says Rich Crawford, CEO of Global Integrated Services.- I have a thirst for knowledge and regularly go out to meet with business owners to understand their situation, Ulmer says. Recently, I found David Zingers 10 Principles of Engagementand have found that to be a helpful resource. It has encouraged reflecting on my work several times per day to see if I am truly engaged.- One of the most valuable books Ive read in my career is Peter Druckers The Effective Executive, says Ben Sawa, director of marketing at GEI Consultants Inc., one of the largest engineering firms in the U.S.- Entertainment executive Brian Grazer producer of Apollo 13, The Da Vinci C ode, and J. Edgar attributes much of his professional success to curiosity and learning from those around him, all of which he describes in his book, A Curious Mind The Secret to a Bigger Life.3. Mentors Provide New Perspectives and Better QuestionsSuccessful leaders consistently reach out to mentors throughout the course of their careers. The conversations might start with business, but the lessons are often applicable to a range of concerns and issues.- I have had several mentors over my career, including family mentors and those in the business community, Ulmer says. Mentors have helped me to adopt a broader perspective and ask questions such as, Have you taken the time to understand the situation before acting?- Every meaningful mistakeI have ever made has involved poor communication. Thats a lesson I learned from a CFO who mentored me. That was an important insight, Sawa says. I also think it is valuable to seek mentors who are different from you because they can provide a fres h perspective.- My mentors have helped me to get outside of the day-to-day flow of work to ask bigger questions, Kasabian says. In 1994, I was given a powerful commandfrom a mentor Draw where you want to be in five years. That exercise helped me to think about my career and the direction of my life much more deeply. I ended up making a move to another state, among other decisions, as a result. It was a powerful experience.- Im a huge believer in mentors, Crawford says. At present, Im working with two mentors, and Im learning much from both of them. I learn about industry best practices from one and work life matters from another. YPO Young Presidents Organization had an excellent mentorship program that I found valuable.4. Keep the Right Company to Achieve Your GoalsThe company you keep has a major impact on your success and self-concept. Jim Rohns observation that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with rings true for many leaders.- My participation in Y oung Presidents Organization has been tremendously valuable. It is rare to find so many other executives and CEOs who are facing similar challenges, Crawford explains. In addition to informal networking, Crawford has benefited from YPOs mentorship program and specialized educational programs that serve the needs of executives.- It is important to choose thoughtfully when it comes to joining organizations, Ulmer says. Im currently involved with Junior Achievement because they operate on a national level and work on major problems. Im also involved with the Manitoba Business Council.Where do you find peers to challenge you and help you grow?A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.Bruce Harpham is a career expert who contributes to Profit Guide, SUCCESS.com, and a variety of business publications. He runs the ProjectManagementHacks.com website where readers gain practical insights to grow their careers. He lives in Toronto, Canada.

How to Find an Internship in You Area

How to Find an Internship in You AreaHow to Find an Internship in You AreaOften students seek internships in locations that do not offer many internship opportunities for college students. These students often become discouraged when they are unable to find prospective employers offering internships that can help them gain the relevant experience required when seeking actual jobs after graduation. There are many reasons why there may be a lack of internships in a particular location. Often it is related to living in a small town that offers little in the way of large corporate offices, cultural opportunities, or specific areas of interest such as scientific research, publishing houses, or even a chance to work in a gallery, museum or theater. Prospecting for Internships There are three ways for finding internships as follows Networking While networking is considered to be the 1 strategy for finding a job, many students are also able to find internships by contacting family, frien ds, previous employers, faculty or members of their colleges alumni network. Finding internships through networking gives students access to internship opportunities that they would never find online.Online Databases There are many databases for finding internships online. Be sure to check out top sites for finding internships or summer jobs. Prospecting Although prospecting for an internship may seem a bit foreign, some of the best internships have been found this way. Say you are reading about a company or organization in one of your classes and, given your career field of interest, you believe it would be a great fit for the type of experience you are looking to get. The next step would be to check out the companies website and click on the careers tab to see if they list any internships as well. If the company does not list any internships, you can then make a choice to prospect for potential internships that are either unlisted or one that you work with the employer to create y ourself. You may also come across companies or organizations of interest by reading the news and then by following a similar strategy to the one above. You may try calling the company, expressing your interest, and saying that you didnt see any actual internships posted online but you were wondering if they ever offer summer jobs or internships to college students and, if so, that you would be interested in sending in your resume. As a last resort, you can try emailing the company about potential opportunities, realizing that emails may go unanswered due to the high volume that is received each day. Should I relocate? There are a number of careers where relocation is often necessary to gain experience in a particular career of interest. For example, students interested in film, acting, or screenwriting would find themselves with a wealth of opportunities in the Los Angeles area while those students looking for internships in government or law would be best off in a large city wi th the Washington DC area providing the best chance for finding an internship. Summer Housing Options While many students cannot consider relocating to find an internship, many others can make it happen. For those students who have family or friends in other cities, they can try tapping into this resources to see if theres a chance that they may be able to move in for a couple of months over the summer. Another option is to find several roommates from your high school or college who may also be looking for housing in a particular city. There are also a number of housing options across the country that students can look into to find summer housing. There are a number of additional temporary housing options also available that you can find by searching the internet.

The 4 Fastest Ways to Pick Up New Skills in Your Current Role - The Muse

The 4 Fastest Ways to Pick Up New Skills in Your Current Role - The MuseThe 4 Fastest Ways to Pick Up New Skills in Your Current Role Whether youre looking to land a new gig, angling for that big promotion, or wanting to be better at your current job, theres no better way to rev up your resume than by adding new skills. From coding to communication, from SQL to spreadsheets, learning something new can give you a leg up on the competition.Start by establishing your goals. If you want to move into a different department, identify the skills youll need in bestellung to contribute to that kollektiv. If youre interested in climbing the ladder, work with your manager to figure out what you need to know in order move to the next step.And once youve settled on what you want to learn? Here are some of the fastest ways to add those tools to your current toolbox.Meet a MentorOne of the best ways to spielblttchen up a new skill is by learning from an expert, and one of your senior colleagues or someone in your network may be a perfect fit. Reach out to a few people with a polite email asking for 30 or so minutes of their time. Explain that youd love to learn from them and outline a few goals you have. Remember to come with a clear plan of action and be mindful of their time. Then, continue to build the relationships over time? and see if you can turn one of them into a more formal mentorship or learning arrangement.And dont forget that your mentor can be a key player in your network. He or she can likely make valuable introductions or pen recommendations that can help you take the next step in your career.Shadow Another TeamIf youre looking to learn a skill thats outside of your current role or department, spending time with another team is key. If, say, youre in marketing, but youd really like to transition into product management, why not make an effort to shadow the product team? If your boss is cool with it, reach out to a product manager and ask if you can be a fly on the wall during their next sprint. Once theyre ready to begin work on a new product or feature, be a silent participant in their planning meetings, and listen in to their daily or weekly status updates. (Just remember youre still responsible for your day to day work on your current team, too)Shadowing another team will give you critical insight into how that team works, who does what, and what additional skills youll need to pick up in order to contribute. Then you can make a plan for how youll learn those skills in the coming months or year. Then again, you might find out that product development isnt the career for you. You may be surprised by how much you can learn just by listening.Take a CourseOnce youve settled on one or two key skills youd like to add to your arsenal, why not follow the tried-and-true route and take a course? Some companies offer in-house courses, so check with your organization to see what they may have. But there are also a ton of options online via resour ces like General Assembly, MediaBistro, Code Academy, Coursera, and Udemy. Costs and time commitments vary, but theres so much out there that youre sure to find a course that fits your needs- and your schedule. Forbes has an exhaustive list of online course providers here.General Assembly, MediaBistro, and others also offer in-person courses, which can be a great way to meet like-minded professionals and grow your network. And dont forget about the universities and community colleges near you. They may offer courses in the subjects youre looking for, too.Read UpOne of the oldest methods of learning might just be the perfect solution for todays most hectic schedules. Thats because reading eliminates all the dependencies that come with other ways of learning. You dont have to accommodate anyone elses schedule or be anywhere at a certain time. You can pick up a book or read an article online whenever your calendar allows. Plus, you can learn at your own pace, even if thats just a few p ages per day.If youre setting out to learn something completely new, build yourself a reading list. Start with titles that provide high-level overviews of a given subject, and pick up books that let you get more granular as you progress. As hard as it might be, resist the temptation to start with a deep-in-the-weeds book. You might find yourself in over your head, and that may lead to frustration and stagnation. Treat it like college- master the 101 info before you tackle the hard stuff.Your best bet? Combine all four of these approaches. When taken together, mentorship, shadowing, instructional courses, and self-directed learning can help you add new weapons to your arsenal fast. It may take time and effort, but when you land that big promotion, youll be glad you put in the work.

5 pieces of post-grad career advice that are totally bogus

5 pieces of post-grad career advice that are totally bogus5 pieces of post-grad career advice that are totally bogusTheres no doubt recent college grads receive plenty of career advice after they toss their caps in the air and head out to the real world. But while people mean well with the guidance they dish to people just starting out, that doesnt necessarily mean its the best advice out there.Five professionals weigh in on some of the treasured words of wisdom they heard as grads that they found to be totally bogus when they got into the workforce.1. Stop focusing on outside interestsWhen she graduated from college, Harper Yi, an associate marketing manager at Remezcla, welches told to stop pursuing unusual interests like cartoons and toys in favor of more practical specialties, a piece of advice she ultimately didnt follow.While its important to gain skills that are critical to your field (and softer skills that will work across fields and in non-work life), there is nothing wrong with deeply and passionately pursuing your interests, she said.Not only do her other interests make her a stronger candidate, she explains, but they also help her stay mentally sane, too.2. Use the ordnungsprinzip already in placeWhen she first got to Washington, D.C., American Security Project Chief of Staff Maggie Feldman-Piltch was told to acknowledge how things were done in the current system and focus on moving up the ladder the correct and established way.Luckily, a mentor gave her a different piece of advice that she ended up taking You can do things the Washington way, I am going to do things the Elle Woods way.She quickly found that creating her own path was far more rewarding.3. You need to have a job lined up before graduation - or elseDuring her senior year of college, Digiday Marketing Assistant Danielle Sorensen was scrolling through LinkedIn when she saw a post telling seniors that they had to have a job lined up before graduation day or they were doing something wr ong, an idea she found silly.I was told to start applying for jobs all yearwhen really I should have been focusing on building connections and relationships all year and then really focusing on specific job opportunities within 1.5 months of graduation, she said. This idea that I was racing against my peers to have a job by the graduation day finish line was unnecessary stress added.Besides, many industries dont even consider applicants unless theyre able to start immediately a college senior applying to a job three months out would already be at a disadvantage.4. You have no right to be picky about your first jobCollege seniors and recent grads with limited work experience are often told they should just take what they can get, but LaunchPoint Resume Founder Lauren Hamer has found that this line of thinking does more harm than good.Youve paid a lot of money for a degree youre (hopefully) passionate about and are knowledgeable in some sort of specialty, she said. Figure out what tha t is and apply for those jobs. Theres nothing worse than feeling trapped in a job you hate. It will affect every other aspect of your life.5. Stick any job out for at least a yearYouve probably heard this advice before regardless of what you end up doing after graduation, you need to stay there for at least a year, or else youll seem like a job hopper (cue the scary music).But blogger Kris Stoff says that can be bad advice for one important reason Why be miserable if its not a good fit?Obviously, you dont want to quit every job thats not great after a couple of days, but if there are other things you want to be doing, why wait an arbitrary 12 months to leave?Listening to the advice of people whove been where you are is always a good thing, but understand that you can always take it with a grain of salt.

How to Use Metaphors Correctly and Avoid Cliches

How to Use Metaphors Correctly and Avoid ClichesHow to Use Metaphors Correctly and Avoid ClichesWhen used correctly, metaphors are effective fiction writing tools. They are one way to vary language and liven up prose. Also, like shorthand, they can convey a picture or a meaning instantly, with few words. Of course, like most literary devices, metaphors bomb when used incorrectly, confusing the reader or drawing attention to the writers lack of skill. The two most common traps to be aware of when using metaphors are the clich and the mixed metaphor. Clichs Expressions like the calm before the storm, Mother Nature, or hes a rat, have been used so often that theyre now considered clichs. Unless theyre important to the tone of your work, its usually better to avoid clichs. If you cant come up with the more original language, its often better to forego the metaphor and opt for straightforward description. Mixed Metaphors Another common problem with regard to metaphors is the tende ncy to mix them or overwork them, usually from careless thinking or over thinking. The result brings together two prestiges that simply dont make sense together. In Examples of Metaphors, I give the example Our keyboard will teach your minds eye to play by ear. Here, the speaker has mixed two metaphors, leading to nonsense. A minds eye cant play anything, and certainly not by ear. In Rules for Writers, Diana Hacker gives the example, Crossing Utahs salt flats in his new Corvette, my father flew under a full head of steam. She explains that flew suggests an airplane while full head of steam suggests a train. A little thought and a small edit results in a clearer, more satisfying sentence Crossing Utahs salt flats in his new Corvette, my father flew at jet speed. The book English Made Simple provides a particularly muddled example. Notice your own reaction as you attempt to read this paragraph The age of the atom has transfigured man, but the transfiguration has been from spirituality to materialism, exactly the reverse of the counsel of the ancient prophets. Today, man surges forward in his march of mind, but his soul is mired in an abyss of false yearnings. In splitting the atom, man has split his own being and lost the unity of his molecular whole. Its hard to get through, isnt it? As the authors explain The writer begins with an interesting image - transfiguration - but shortly afterward loses it in an unrelated figure about a march of mind. Furthermore, he gets his metaphors tangled when he gets a soul mired in an abyss. Finally, he returns to the atom, but the original image of transfiguration has now entirely disappeared, and the reader wallows in the murky depths of molecular whole. Notice how much easier it is to focus on this selection The atomic age has halted mans spiritual development. Intellectually, he has surged forward, but his ideals and his values have stood still. If mans moral being regresses, atom splitting may prove an illusory advance. If youre ever in doubt as to whether or not youve pulled a metaphor off, its better to nix it altogether. Used improperly, youll wind up looking foolish and distract your reader. Remember, your overarching goal is to communicate. Sometimes this means putting aside your ego in favor of plain speaking.

Your Companys Image

Your Companys ImageYour Companys ImageHaving the right image will give your company increased value in the eyes of your customers. Every experience your customer has with any aspect of your geschftlicher umgang will affect your image. The design of the logo, the name of your company and even the way you answer the phone will shape the way customers view your business. The name of your business should be succinct and make a lasting impression. Any sort of slogan or description of your business should be brief and appealing to your target audience. Get professional business cards that give people a number of ways to get in touch with you (phone number, fax number, e-mail, beeper, and web address). Give your employees titles that reward them with feelings of importance theyll be more invested in the company and will project an enthusiastic image. Participate in community service programs to project a sense of caring. Even though your business may be small, there are ways to create an im age that is literally larger than life. Shine a spotlight on any partnerships or joint ventures your business has with identifiable companies in the marketplace. If you are working with people in different locations, show that you have a presence in different regions, thus making your company appear more substantial. Produce a Web site for your company that explains your business and offers your customers the option of purchasing your product or service online - media and technology have the ability to transmute a small-time operation into a something much larger in the eyes of the viewer. Print hats, coffee cups, and T-shirts to give to both employees and customers. Although your business may be small, a larger-than-life image can help it grow to the next level. What do you want the image of your business to be? What image will your target market most readily identify with? What will be the reason consumers choose your product or service over others in the marketplace? How can you project and improve the image of your business?

All About Resumee

All About Resumee What is Really Going on with Resumee Our elegant selection of free resume schablones are the perfect pick for people with lots of work experience already under your belt. Picking the correct font can look to be an impossible undertaking, especially because there are dozens and dozens of choices out there. Feel free to bring a good look at our newest styles given below. Follow the URL to locate a multitude of resume examples in a selection of fashions. Again, you wish to make certain that your resume is readable. Before we go any further, I would like to stop you at this time. Just dont forget, its about short and sweet. Well, it is, but only as long as you understand what youre doing. Resumee - Is it a Scam? When applying for employment in a big company that you may find they use specialized software to help weed out candidates. Make certain its tailored to not merely the position, but the provider too. Constructing a resume is an intimidating task shoul d you do it alone. If you are in doubt, its worth your time to get hold of the agency and ask which would be most suitable for the position. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that will allow you to get your fantasy job. Add some private branding to your resume. When youre asking for a job which relies on the strengths of the person, you require a resume template which you can inject a little more personality into to make it pop. First off, we must determine what type of job seeker youre. Whether or not you take advantage of a CV or resume, you must thoroughly edit your document. Resume objectives can be a little controversial. Lets start with a fast overview of resumes, as they are more familiar to the majority of American writers than CVs. The functional resume is utilized to concentrate on skills that are particular to the kind of position being sought. Create a master resume that will do the job for an assortment of positions. While all re sumes should offer information on your work and education experience, and your abilities and accomplishments, there are various ways to present this info. Its also an excellent format for highlighting well-developed abilities and talents which are connected to a particular position. Details of Resumee These templates are designed to be clean-cut and right to the point. Our creative templates let you stick out from the crowd. Elegant and contemporary template to stick out from the crowd. Take a look at our selection of contemporary templates and get started creating an effective resume immediately. The mixture of our templates and your eintrag is likely to make your resume fly to the peak of any pile. Fortunately, weve completed the research that will help you strike the perfect chord with your resume. But first, we must figure out what kind of resume format you will need. When you format your resume you need to be certain your leave enough margin space to permit for printing . The Basic Facts of Resumee Possessing a strong resume will permit you find quite a few great jobs. In a CV, by way of example, if youre asking for work in education, you may want to place your teaching experience at the very top of your CV. 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the substantial cost saving in comparison to traditional hiring methods. Zetys resume templates are made with the assistance of recruiters and stick to the best practices in HR. Job seekers deserve to locate decent content quickly. Its vital that you dont simply apply unterstellung resumes verbatim. Resumes might be organized in various ways. They can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment. Just make sure, whichever format you pick, which youre targeting it for the job that youre applying to. But some formatting in these types of documents may not operate in the USAJOBS resume builder. Organizing your resume is at least as crucial as form atting it. Have a peek at these examples to choose which format is right for you. Our easy resume builder service does not demand advanced technical understanding, which means that you can concentrate on spending time sifting through your great achievements as you decide what things to include, instead of on attempting to work out the way to use our new program. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously offer you an advantage. However much or what type of work experience youve got, theres a resume format that is likely to make your qualifications shine. To save a whole lot of heartache down the road, be certain you use our resume builder to create a document that could be easily transferred to different job applications. Its possible to use our resume building software to create your own from scratch. With more than 20 templates which have been custom built for our resume builder site, youre bound to discover the ideal match. This website uses cookies to make s ure you acquire the very best experience on our site.