Thursday, May 28, 2020

Two New Pluralsight Courses Added to the Tracker

Two New Pluralsight Courses Added to the Tracker The last two courses I did were just added to the Pluralsight Tracker in JibberJobber. These were the courses I did after over a two year break. The first How to Have Difficult Conversations, which I was inspired to do because of my work at BambooHR. This was a big theme at that company, and they talked about it a lot. The course is one hour, thirty six minutes. The second course is titled Boosting Innovation: How Leaders Can Create Innovative Teams, which is one hour, forty five minutes. This was a fun course to work on because I love the idea of innovation and creativity, and I love the idea of creating an environment where they are fostered and nurtured. Once you watch those, or any other Jason Alba course, go into the Tracker (Videos, Pluralsight Videos, then its under Step 3), and click the plus button to show you watched it. You can do this as many times as you watch a course, even if its the same course over and over. Two New Pluralsight Courses Added to the Tracker The last two courses I did were just added to the Pluralsight Tracker in JibberJobber. These were the courses I did after over a two year break. The first How to Have Difficult Conversations, which I was inspired to do because of my work at BambooHR. This was a big theme at that company, and they talked about it a lot. The course is one hour, thirty six minutes. The second course is titled Boosting Innovation: How Leaders Can Create Innovative Teams, which is one hour, forty five minutes. This was a fun course to work on because I love the idea of innovation and creativity, and I love the idea of creating an environment where they are fostered and nurtured. Once you watch those, or any other Jason Alba course, go into the Tracker (Videos, Pluralsight Videos, then its under Step 3), and click the plus button to show you watched it. You can do this as many times as you watch a course, even if its the same course over and over.

Monday, May 25, 2020

How Billing Managers Can Squeeze More Time Outta the Day

How Billing Managers Can Squeeze More Time Outta the Day Recruiting is a huge job in itself, and the job of a billing manager is even more so. Not only are there individual sales targets you have to hit, which likely warrant  full time dedication, but youre also largely responsible for the teams performance, as well as its wellbeing, development and morale. If only there were more hours in a day While we know the Law of Time would never give the green light to a 24/7 rebrand to 27/7 (although it does have a nice ring to it), there are ways to maximise the use of your time spent managing people, to claim some of your time back for yourself. Lead by example If you have sloppy work habits, members of your team will likely follow suit.  Youve got to lead by example and get the basics down, like: Keeping focussed: Take regular breaks throughout the day Switching off: Turn phone and emails off  before bed / allow yourself time to rejuvenate and get some distance Getting hard-to-do tasks done: Dont  put the hard tasks off tackle them head on, early in the say so you dont waste brain space thinking about them all day Eating properly: Stay healthy, take meal breaks and give yourself some breakfast Exercising: This will help you stay alert throughout the day and feel healthier in general Being disciplined: Dont let social media distract you set goals throughout the day and dont stop until their complete You can read more about productivity tips here:  5 Time-Wasters Killing Your Productivity Understand your team The next part of trying to squeeze more hours out of the day starts with understanding the individuals in your team. Some people like to get on with things themselves they thrive on making their own decisions and work very independently. These people can be easy to manage, not taking up much of your time. However, other people like to talk a lot throughout the day and be coached through tasks whether theyre inexperienced and need to learn from you, or whether thats just how they work best in collaboration with others. These people can take a bit more time out of your day, especially if they KEEP asking you questions, interrupting your flow all day. Theres probably a camp of people out there whod say managers simply have to learn how to multitask better, as its their job. To some extent thats true, however there ARE things you can do to make your life as a manger easier. Shorter meetings shorter email chains This article  outlines a somewhat extreme, but apparently effective approach to getting more time out of the day. This manager turns his internal emails off all day and requests people in his organisation to come speak with him if they need it. He also sets shorter meetings (15 minutes) so people have to get to the point quicker and less time is wasted sitting in meetings that arent going anywhere.  He also sets rules on the amount of back and forth email chains. If there are more than 3 replies in the chain, he says it warrants a short meeting in order to get to the point quickly, cutting out the pointless and slow response time. Indecisiveness In  this article, the author discusses how t deal with difficult employees. One of the hardest employee types to manage is the indecisive. People who take a long time to make decisions and go over the same ground several times, pulling everyone else in the team into the scenario for unnecessary support and confirmation. A great way to deal with this is setting  deadlines where an employee cannot change what was decided after it has passed. A skill gap or a will gap? Its also important to take time as a manger to understand where their team members weaknesses lie.  In this article, theres talk about there either being a gap in will or skill. If there is a skill gap causing the constant questions and dependancy, then it is relatively straightforward coaching and teaching that can take care of this. People need to be given the tools and mentoring opportunities to learn properly, which is a managers job. If, on the other hand, someone appears to lack the will to do things themselves and progress, this is a completely different matter and requires more serious attention. Make agreements In this article, theres talk about making agreements with the people who work for you, in order to hold people accountable for their own work and efforts. If you set out a list of agreed action points, employees will know exactly whats expected of them and how you like to work, which will allow them to constantly self-assess and action more things themselves, when possible. At the end of the day, managing is a tough gig. But by leading by example, clearly setting expectations and taking the time to understand your team members motivations and preferred working style, youll be better equipped to help them help themselves, so you can continue on with your own work, while knowing their best interests are being looked after.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

6 Steps to Follow When Preparing for a Job Interview

6 Steps to Follow When Preparing for a Job Interview For many people, a job interview is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences and the pressure is truly on to make a good first impression. How well prepared you are for your job interview can mean the difference between landing your dream job and going back to square one of your job search, so its important to put the time in ahead of the day to ensure you are fully prepared for any questions you may be asked.   Here are a few pointers you may want to follow when getting ready for a job interview. 1. Research the company Before you go to the interview, make sure that you find out as much about the company as you can. You can check out the company’s official website and their LinkedIn profile, as well as other social media channels. You could also ask your friends and families to see if they know someone who work there, who you could talk to ahead of the day. Knowing the company will not only prepare you to answer questions, but also ask questions at the interview. 2. Pay attention to the job description The job description usually contains a lot of useful information; therefore, it is important that you take some time to analyze the job description. When doing so  make a list of knowledge and skills that are required for  the job. You can then make a list of your qualifications and experience and compare your list to that of job requirements, matching your attributes  to what your potential employer is looking for. These are the skills you should then highlight in your interview as they make you stand out as a well suited candidate for the role.   3. Practice, practice, and practice One of the best ways to prepare for your interview is practice. Try to answer some common interview questions as if you are at the interview. This will give you a framework for your responses so that you won’t have to scramble to come up with an answer at the interview. It’ll be even better if you can rehearse with someone. 4. Get your outfit ready Get your interview outfit ready as early as possible. Make sure that it is appropriate for the occasion, and try it on to make sure that it fits. Don’t forget your hairstyle and accessories. They can be as  important as your clothes. 5. Know what to bring to the interview Don’t show up empty handed. Print out some extra copies of your resume, a list of your references in case the interviewer asks for it, as well as a list of questions that you have for the interviewer. 6. Know where you are going If you have never been to the area in which you are going to have the interview, it’s a good idea to go for a visit before the interview, so that you are familiar with your route and how long you need to give yourself to get there. If you’ll be driving, check on parking, as you don’t want to arrive and find out that there is no place to park your car! Image Credit: Shutterstock

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Bayswater The Ideal Tourists Neighborhood

Bayswater The Ideal Tourists Neighborhood Sometimes it’s the simplest of moments that really stick with you. When I’m on vacation, I make it a point to see all the touristy spots, but walking down neighborhoods and taking in the local atmosphere and culture can sometimes turn out to be more enjoyable. This is why I usually prefer finding accommodations in more quiet areas that are tucked away but are not far from the bustle of the main streets. However, this is a harder task than it actually seems. My next big trip, as I have already shared to you dear career girls, is London, and I am psyched. What I love about planning this trip is that there are many choices for neighborhoods that you can stay in, without being too far from the rest of the tourist attractions that I am planning to visit. One of these neighborhoods is Bayswater. My friend told me that this is the ideal place for me to go hotel hunting. It is a very cosmopolitan area with a diverse community that has beautiful streets lined with Victorian stucco terraces, flats, and hotels, one of which is the Shaftesbury Hyde Park International Hotel, which I’m looking into staying in. Another thing to love is that it is in great proximity from so many places of interest. It is right next to Hyde Park, which is one of the beautiful royal parks that London prides itself of, and many other spots that you definitely  will want to see like the Kensington Palace Gardens, Portobello Market, and many more. Apart from great accommodations, Bayswater also has many ethnic cuisines due to the many nationalities that live there. Prices are more reasonable than it is in the city centre which helps when you are on a vacationer’s budget. So when you are in London and looking for a place to stay, check out this part of town. If you’re looking for peace away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can’t go wrong with Bayswater.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Adjusting to city life when you come from a small town

Adjusting to city life when you come from a small town This post was written by an external contributor. Connor Gotto talks us through the highs and lows of city living. Moving to the city is a huge shock to the system. Whether you’re from a large town or a quiet village, you can be sure that city life is on a whole other level than what you’re used to. This is the fast lane, baby! From getting around to finding all the best spots, it takes time before a new city can feel like home. When I moved to London two years ago, I would never have imagined just how much of a change it would be. London is a far cry from the ‘golden mile’ of Blackpool that I had known all my life â€" the locals rush around faster, the tourists shuffle slower, and sometimes there’s a 20 minute wait for a table at Nandos (now that’s unforgivable!) I felt like Alice, blindly navigating my way through Wonderland, trying to find some sense in all of the commotion and some kind of order in the chaos. So, here are some ways to give yourself that head start and hit the ground running with city life. Up your speed The pace of the city is a far cry from anywhere else. Stop for a second on the street and you’ll be met with a chorus of sighs and tutting, as you’re barged past on all sides. In short, its not going to make you very popular Speed walking is the way forward and, once you get used to it, its not toomuch hard work. Granted, for the first few weeks I had to wait five minutes upon arrival to catch my breath, else I sounded like I had chronic emphysema. But after a bit of practice (and maybe a few hours in the gym to build your stamina), you’ll not only find it easier to get around, but that you’re doing it in half the time. Citymapper it Citymapper will soon overtake Snapchat and Tinder as your most used app, and it will literally save your life. The app gives you the quickest, cheapest and most efficient ways of getting around. With accurate walking routes and real-time public transport updates, you’ll constantly be kept up to date with the best way to get from A to B in a relatively stress free manner, as long as everything’s running smoothly (yes, I’m looking at you TFL). Plus, there’s always that sense of achievement when you beat the ETA Or maybe that’s just me Happy (24) hour Whenever I visit home, my friends all ask how I afford to live in London. The answer: Happy Hour! You’ll find that most bars in the city have a happy hour of some form or another and, often, they go on for much longer than an hour. During my first year of university, you could track my movements based upon which bars had deals on and when. For example, if I was gone between 4 and 6 in the afternoon, I was probably in Shoreditch with two glasses of cheap Pinot for £4. But of course when people ask, don’t tell them this! Simply answer, “Darling, it’s a struggle, but I manage cheers!” Don’t go (too) crazy Its easy to feel like a kid in a candy shop when you go from a town with a Sainsbury’s Local and a pokey New Look, to hundreds of bars, restaurants and department stores, all in walking distance of each other. But, take my advice don’t go too crazy! After about three months, I was close to maxing out my overdraft and surrounded by mountains of new clothes, empty takeout wrappers and god knows how many spur-of-the-moment purchases (I still have no clue why I bought half of them in the first place). Don’t do it. How do you know that you’ve gone too far? When your bedroom starts to look like Primark’s storeroom, there’s a problem! There’s No Such Thing As “No”! Yes, you’ve moved here to work. But that doesn’t mean its all work and no play After a month of city life you’ll notice two things â€" you spend a lot more and you sleep a lot less. And that’s the fun of it all! You’re not really doing it right unless you drink at least half a bottle of wine after a long day at work, and wake up slightly regretting the £3 fried chicken meal deal you got on the way home (though you’ll still probably finish off the leftovers for breakfast). And then, come 5pm, you’ll be ready to do it all over again! Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Stress and Sedentary Behavior Leads to Weight Gain at Work

Stress and Sedentary Behavior Leads to Weight Gain at Work According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, the stresses associated with full-time employment may be a contributing factor to weight gain among US employees. Of the 3,000 people surveyed, 57 percent of workers feel they are overweight. The survey also revealed: Extremely high-stressed workers were 49 percent more likely to be overweight than those under extremely low stress 63 percent of workers with wellness benefits/gym access do not use them Professional business services/IT workers most likely to gain weight at present jobs 42 percent of workers say they’ve gained weight in their present jobWhen asked what they felt contributed to their weight gain at their current job, 37 percent of workers said “eating because of stress,” and 43 percent said they are “too tired from work to exercise.” Fifty-six percent said “sitting at the desk most of the day” contributed to the weight gain at their present job.I recently had a conversation about on the job healthy eating and fi tness habits with Stephanie Mansour, a health and fitness expert and facilitator of corporate wellness programs for top firms like GE, owner of Step it Up With Steph, and featured trainer on Chicago-based weight loss reality show  Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.   She offered these tips for managing your waistline on the job.Don’t forgo breakfast and a mid morning snack in favor of a huge lunch where you are likely to be so hungry that you overeat. It’s best to eat 5 small meals each day to keep hunger pangs at bay and keep blood sugar levels stable.Schedule your exercise time in your calendar like you would any other important appointment.If you plan to go out after work with colleagues, schedule an exercise session first. Yoga can help you become more mindful in your eating and cardio exercise will help you burn some of those extra calories you may consume while you are out with colleagues.If you don’t have time to go to the gym during your workday, run up and down the s tairs a few times or do some stretches in your chair or at your desk.If you plan to exercise during your lunch hour but don’t want to return to the office drenched in sweat, wear a headband to absorb sweat or perform yoga or Pilates exercises that work the muscles without working up too much of a sweat.Make each decision separate from the last one. Just because you began the day eating badly doesn’t mean you have to finish the day that way.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Top Ten Resume Writing Services In India

Top Ten Resume Writing Services In IndiaWell, today, writing a resume is not that difficult as you may think. There are now companies all over the world that offer resume writing services, so you can write your resume and apply for a job without much stress.But if you cannot find an ideal service, you can always opt for the service of a financial and banking company's credit card company or of the business you are working for. In any case, there are many professional resume writing companies that would certainly help you out. But let's look at the top 10 resume writing services in India that specializes in designing and editing your resume.This is the company that you would have to give up on if you are after professional services. But there are other resume writing companies that are not willing to go beyond the calls of a client. If you are willing to go for the other services, here are the top ten resume writing services in India that you can be with.These companies are there, but most of the companies do not offer resume writing services. There are other resume writing companies, but these are the ones that offer the best possible services for a better quality of your resume. This is the company that should be given a shot. You can see their previous clients here.The best resume writing services in India that you should try are: Stampede Resume, Koval. These are the companies that know the services you need, the fees you want to pay, and they know how to handle your resume.If you are just writing a resume and have a limited budget, then go for a company that offers a low fee for a professional resume. Or if you need more resources and want to pay for things that you don'trequire, then go for a company that offers resources. If you get their services and also add the tools and resource, then it would be a much bigger deal.Though there are many sites on the internet, these are the right resume services that you should try. These are the ones that give you qua lity services, but the companies that are also known for their services are a bit expensive.These are the services that you should be looking for if you are serious about getting a job in India. These are the services that you should try and find if you are looking for career options in India.