Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Do You Know How to Measure Success

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Do You Know How to Measure Success How do you effectively measure the success of a project and then how do you communicate that success to stakeholders? In this interview with program manager Adam Kowal, from Intuit QuickBase, we asked him about ways to help you make sure you’re using and reporting on the “right” metrics. Alex: Adam, what should you do at theplanning stages of a projectto ensure that you are able to effectively measure success later? Adam: Ensure the team and leaders are aligned on what you are trying to achieve with the project. Think about why you are trying to affect change. If you don’t have alignment here, all is lost. Then, facilitate a session to brainstorm the quantitative or qualitative metrics that will be goodleading indicators of successand final indicators of success. Understand what your dials are and how you are going to turn them â€" so you can watch if turning the dial makes any difference. Limit the important success metrics to no more than three. If you have too many, you probably don’t really know how to measure success. Also, watch out for people trying to solve for the “number,” which could result in bad business decisions made to ensure hitting metrics. Alex:Do you have an example of this? Adam: Sure, how about measuring call centers on “time on phone” without realizing that reps are creating terrible customer experiences and not up-selling/cross-selling in an effort to get the customer off the phone faster. Alex:What metrics are most eye-catching to senior leaders and why? Adam:This is a three-part answer. 1) The most eye-catching metrics to senior leaders are ones that don’t add up! You must ensure you have good data and have tested your instrumentation process.2) In my experience, a good PM will align with senior leaders on what metrics are most important to their group and the business as a whole. Make sure you’re notwasting timecrunching numbers no one cares about. 3) Information that means something is eye-catching. Don’t put the onus on senior leaders to distill all your data into action. Do it for them and talk through your logic. For the rest of Adams interview, check out Intuits Fast Track blog.

CV Vs. Resume - Tips For Writing Them Better

CV Vs. Resume - Tips For Writing Them BetterWhy should you have to change your CV and resume every time a company wants to hire you? A resume is the one piece of paper you get from the company that contains all of the necessary information about you and your past employment history.Having a CV and resume available for all to see is a good thing, but there is a reason you will always need to make changes and updates on these two documents. The best way to do this is to have a nice, clean and professionally-designed resume or CV and a couple of well-written, well-chosen cover letters that can be sent off to the companies that are most likely to be hiring you. However, some people like the CV-to-Resume format, and they are not going to stop sending in their CV.It is much more convenient for employers to use this form of communication, because it is one way to update them on their list of available workers. Rather than going through many different companies, each one asking for more pers onal information, it is now very simple for the company to just go directly to the one that has already asked for your resume. Instead of constantly having to update your resume, you only have to send out one or two very short cover letters. This is especially helpful for first-time job seekers, who might not be sure how to go about updating their resumes.Although the CV and resume may seem like one-page pieces of paper, they still contain a lot of information that is required to be included on your resume. This is why it is always important to write a resume and CV properly. It is often recommended that you spend at least an hour or two on a resume that contains all of the information that the company requires you to include, and a few minutes or hours on a cover letter that makes a great impression to the employer.To get the most out of your CV and resume, make sure that you write the letter and cover letter well. Make sure that you catch the reader's attention, and always keep in mind what they are looking for when reading your resume.When you send your CV and resume to the company, make sure that it lists the possible job openings that you may have the skills to fill. This is very important, because it will help make sure that the employer has enough job openings that you could fill. It is also a good idea to use your latest school transcripts and/or high school transcripts as well, but this should be done after the jobs are listed.Remember that when writing a professional letter, you can use bullet points to give them a summary of your experience. This makes it easier for the employer to read and also makes it easy for them to find the information they need. Avoid using too many words, because if you use too many words it will look like you're trying to make yourself look smarter than you really are.There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a CV and resume that shows you have a lot of valuable information to offer to a potential employer. However, there is also nothing wrong with making them as professional and appealing as possible. A well-written resume and CV will show a potential employer that you have the knowledge to help him hire you, and this is what the interview is all about.

Best Resume Reference Page Template - Algrim.co

Best Resume Reference Page Template - Algrim.co At times a job application or Human Resource manager might ask you to list your references along with your resume. They might ask, “Can you please include a reference page?” So what is a reference page? How do you include one in your resume and what should it contain? We’re going to answer these questions in this quick and insightful guide to putting together your resume reference page. What Are References References are people in your life, usually in your previous working history, who can attest to your soft skills and hard skills. For example, if you were to say that you were very good with verbal communication skills in the workplace, your future employer might want to contact your references and check that they felt you were great at this skill as well. Who Should Go On Your Reference List Depending on the type of references, sometimes it should be professional references and personal references. For job applications, professional references are best. But if you don’t have any references you can include a professor, close friend, family member or someone else who might carry merit. What Should Go On The Resume Reference Page When you include this page as part of your resume, all you have to do is list the contact information to the person that you’re including as part of your list. For example, here is what you might want to include: Their full name Their title The company they worked at with you The companies milling address The persons phone number The persons email address Here is what it might end up looking like: Mr. George Simpleton General Manager GM Motors 123 Street Road, New York NY 12211 555-555-5555 georges@gm.com That’s ideally how a single reference should look. Try to include at least three professional references. Anything lower than three might look light in terms of your working experience. Ensure that these references line up to what your working history is on your resume, as well. What Should Go At The Top Of The Page When you include your resume reference list, be sure that you make it a separate page. Don’t try to include it as part of your previous working experience. Instead, create a new page and simply put your own contact information at the top of the page. It should end up looking something like this: Patrick David 123 Road Court, New York NY 12211 555-888-8445 patrick@david.com Reference List It’s as simple as that. Simply create a business heading and include your own information as well as a simple headline that says “Reference List”, then include your references as we did in the template above. Try to keep your font smaller, 11pt or 10pt, as large font for this reference page could make it appear as though you want your references to seem “longer” than they actually are. Keep your reference list legible and clear. This page is utilitarian in nature.

7 Habits of Highly Successful Women (PODCAST) - Classy Career Girl

7 Habits of Highly Successful Women (PODCAST) How do you get to the next level in your career? If you are struggling with whats next, you are going to love this episode where my guest walks you step by step through the 7 habits of highly successful women so you can live your calling and your life. Dr. Lizette Ojeda Psychology Expert Career Development Authority www.drlizette.com 7 Habits of Highly Successful Women Dr. Lizette Ojeda is an award-winning psychology expert and an authority on career development. As a tenured associate professor, she teaches career counseling, conducts research on career development, and mentors doctoral students. She has been nationally recognized for her work and has published in Journal of Career Development, The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology, and The Handbook of Career Counseling for Women. She is a licensed psychologist and has helped hundreds of people achieve their career life goals. As a multi-passionate career woman, she helps high-achieving women have their career cake and eat it, too. She believes career women should not have to choose between living their calling and living their life. Subscribe  on  your favorite platform below: iTunes Google Play Music Stitcher Radio TuneIn iHeartRadio Sound Cloud Some questions I asked: How can women figure out whats next in their career? What would you say women need to have in place in order to achieve the next level in their career? What is one thing women can do right now to reach their career goals? In This Episode, You Will Learn: The topics of impostor syndrome and the  7 habits of highly successful women sound like excellent topics I think my audience would enjoy. Episode Resources: lead magnet:  www.drlizette.com/clarity Facebook:  facebook.com/CoachLizette/ You may also like these episodes: How To Say No To Your Boss or Clients With Chrysta Bairre Marketing 101: The Fundamental Rule of Authentic Marketing

How to Create a CV

How to Create a CVHow to create a CV is quite simple - you have to decide what kind of image you want. A good CV will have all the basic information but if you are after the extra touch then you will need to be sure to include these additional things to get the most from your CV.The first thing that you should do when you are creating a CV is to decide what information you need to include. This will ensure that you are able to create the best CV possible. With this in mind you should consider your working experience, education and personal background.Your work experience should include any experience in which you worked under someone else and actually had to hand over the duties. For example, you could have been a forklift operator and worked for a while under a customer who was actually in charge of the operation. You should also include any important training or relevant experience. When it comes to your education your overall level of learning will depend on whether you studied a diploma or an associate degree.Your personal background should include things such as how long you have lived in the UK, where you live and your reason for coming to the UK. You should also have some idea of how long you have been in work and at what level. You should also include if you have lived abroad.Information about your education should include details of any qualifications that you have received over the years. If you attended further education, it should also be mentioned if you have completed a university degree or something similar.What the information on your CV is going to be based on will be the success of your application. If you are looking for a job that requires you to travel a lot and/or live abroad then you may have to take a longer time to be able to get your CV completed.The other reason that you will need to include these items is that they make a good impression on the human resource staff at your prospective employer. They will use your CV when they are try ing to find a suitable candidate for the role you are applying for. If you have been able to fill in all of the relevant information correctly then this will go a long way to helping your CV get the results that you want.It is important to remember that your CV is not just about the achievements of the job in which you are applying. You must have made an effort to show that you are a good candidate for the job that you are applying for, so including the additional information will go a long way to making your CV stand out.

How to Build Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Soul on the Altar of Ambition

How to Build Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Soul on the Altar of Ambition Ambition A drive to succeed. Knowing what you want and that nothing will stop you from attaining it. These are the hallmarks of the ambitious, high achiever. They are our future leaders, be it media, government, sports, or business.  They come to conquer. Both Respected and Rejected And in todays media they are both adored and despised. You see it every day on the celebrity-focused TV shows.  Money and fame puts people on pedestalsuntil they fall.  And like a great NASCAR race where everyone puts down their drinks to watch the restartsfor the crashes, so it is the same with those who acquire wealth and prestige.  People cant wait to see them fall.  Or tear them down to make it happen faster.  Its part of a jealousy culture that pits rich and famous against the ordinary person. Entrepreneurs Are Value Creators Achieving any level of success is not easy.  It takes hard work and dedication and a never-say-die attitude.  And that is the attitude that many entrepreneurs the doers in this world bring to the table. And that dedication, to do whatever it takes to succeed, is often created from a childhood frustrations or feelings of lack or being misunderstood.  A childhood where they didnt fit the mold.  Often failed by a school system designed to create good workers instead of successful outside-the-box thinkers destined for greatness.  And so they find themselves pursuing a different path.  One where society cant dictate how they should behave and what they can achieve. Ambition: Leading With Gratitude And that is the experience of Seth Buechley, author of the new semi-autobiographical business book,  Ambition: Leading with Gratitude. In the book Seth explores his journey from living in a commune in rural Oregon to joining his father in business building cell towers, selling the company, becoming a multimillionaire, and then having to deal with what to do next with no road map to guide him. You may find yourself on a similar path.  You may have achieved some degree of success and then wondered, Whats next? Or wished you could have the things that only more money could buy.  And if you were able to acquire them, you then found yourself still comparing yourself to those with more and ending up  with a perpetual feeling of lack.  So you keep driving towards that next adrenaline rush that fix you need to satisfy your yearnings. So on this Thanksgiving Day, before you turn the football game on and grab that beer.  Or before you start in on that bird, check out Seths book.  It is a quick read with some awesome insights into the world of entrepreneurship, the struggles within, and a roadmap that guides you to achievement through ambition and gratitude. Some of the lessons I learned from the book include Wisdom of Counselors One of the best ways that ambitious leaders can manage the downside of the expectation trap is to intentionally develop relationship with wise counselors who understand their gifts, passions, and capabilities.  To go even further, when those counselors can encourage you toward your calling and purpose, things get really good. Seek Out Wise Counsel Over the years Ive surrounded myself with both high achievers and deep thinkers.  This included a very close friend Timothy Adams.  He was a Kodak executive who always loved reading and learning and exploring the meaning of life and business.  Some of my greatest insights into my own purpose here on earth have come from our long conversations and email exchanges.  We often take opposing views and through that challenge, and and openness to learn something new, attain new perspectives and understandings we would not have received in our respective personal spaces. My father and mother also provided similar guidance over the years.  Whenever there was a need for guidance and support after a particularly challenging experience, our talks often provided the clarity I needed to move forward. Reach for your potential Impact Your World Leave A Legacy Other-Focused == Gratitude == Happiness By focusing outside yourself, and being other-focused, the stress and worry drift away.  And your achievement begins to have much more meaning as you develop your purpose. Having spent decades achieving and learning and using that knowledge to achieve more, I came to a point where I wanted to use that knowledge to help those going through similar challenges.  And like Seth, help others achieve their goals and dreams in a healthy environment. Whether that was developing positive, team-building, not team-breaking cultures that attracted top people rather than pushing them away.  Or using that passion and wisdom to inspire and guide other leaders and future leaders.  I found that being other focused made me more effective, gave my life a higher purpose.  And the gifts that God gave me are given the space to flourish. As you invest in your future, as you set off on your entrepreneurial or other achievement-based journey, recognize the opportunities and the responsibilities that are joined together.  Find the wisdom and knowledge that others who have gone before you have uncovered and shared.  And use that to achieve even greater things.  Using the gifts that are uniquely you. And so on this Thanksgiving, enjoy your family, friends, football ?? and your downtime to do some reflection.  Acknowledge and appreciate the abundance that surrounds you and immerse yourself in the gift of gratitude. As as you work on uncovering your purpose, here are some other posts you might check out. Do Millennials Know the Secret? Why You Need A Career Strategist Millionaire Mindset Part I What Does Your Brand Say About You?

Avoid Employment Inconsistencies That Can Scare Employers Away

Avoid Employment Inconsistencies That Can Scare Employers Away Avoid Inconsistencies That Can Scare Employers Away Job Search / LinkedIn Profiles / Resume Writing One of the fastest ways to scare recruiters and hiring managers away is with inconsistencies. If you’re actively looking, your resume may be the first time a potential employer meets you. If your resume catches their interest, the next step will be to view your LinkedIn profile. To avoid raising eyebrows, make sure they won’t find any surprises. Your LinkedIn profile and resume shouldn’t mirror each other word-for-word. But there shouldn’t be inconsistencies either. Job Titles Start by making sure the job titles on your resume and LinkedIn profile are the same. If you have an obscure or inaccurate job title, you may choose to include the actual job title and a more accurate title with it. For example, if your job title is Analyst II, but your position is more System Analyst, you use Analyst II (System Analyst). Always include the title given by your employer to ensure accuracy, this will be particularly important during any reference checks with HR. And make sure the title(s) are written the same on your resume and LinkedIn profile. Positions Make sure the positions are consistent as well. For example, if your LinkedIn profile lists three different positions at your current company your resume should as well. Many people make the mistake of clumping all their positions with an employer under their current and likely highest position. This is a bad idea for a few reasons. First, it does not show any career progression. Second, inconsistencies can raise questions. Finally, it’s not accurate and may come back to bite you when it’s time for a reference check. OK Variations Obviously, you should have a photo on your LinkedIn profile but not on your resume unless you are applying for a job in entertainment, etc. Despite being a business networking site, LinkedIn is still considered social media. A photo is one of the first things that every recruiter and potential employer is going to look for; they want to get a sense of who you are. When it comes to volunteer activities, it’s best to stick to those relevant to your career on your resume. However, your LinkedIn profile is the place to expand on what’s listed on your resume. Talking about coaching a local sports team or walking dogs at the shelter gives a little insight into who you are. LinkedIn profiles should be written in a less formal manner. While your resume should be written in the “implied” first person it’s OK to say, “I love working in healthcare . . .” on your LinkedIn profile. Go beyond talking about what you do and share the why you do what you do.   Relax a bit and let people know who you are.