We Dont Always Respect Our Own Strengths. We Should Change That. Marla Gottschalk

We Dont Always Respect Our Own Strengths. We Should Change That. Marla Gottschalk Photo by James Pond on Unsplash Strengths have endured as a focal point of career growth. Author Whitney Johnson, speaks of our unsung “super-powers” that can drive both career disruption and growth. Massive training organizations, have arisen and flourished, to discuss how we might find our strengths. We all seem to agree that strengths matter â€" and that their identification is vital. However, no amount of research, training or persuasion, can help us avoid the wasted energy and missed opportunities which occur because of one simple fact: As individuals, we may value strength identification, but respect for those same strengths does not always follow. The idea of strengths deeply resonates   â€" but adopting an application mindset does not always follow. We tend to treat strength alignment, as if it were a luxury item â€" when in fact it functions like water. A fundamental. A basic. A necessity. Respecting our strengths is integral to building Core Stability. Normalizing the notion of strength alignment, and exploring methods to bring alignment front and center should become a priority. (Few things could sustain us career-wise, with as much power.) Yet “noise” persists while seeking to apply that “strength signal. Weaving the notion of strength application into our conversations about work should become more natural, as there are opportunities that we often overlook. For example, when have you freely shared with a team member: “You know, you have an incredible ability to do this â€" lets ensure you have the opportunity to develop and apply this skill going forward.” Similarly, when is the last time you asked: “It has come to my attention that I have this specific strength. Any ideas about how I might apply it going forward?” What happens next? What should be done with that information? Attempt to change the plan going forward. Let that knowledge serve as a guiding force, helping you (and others) through our own career journey. A campaign â€" so to speak â€" to apply our strengths. Aligning strengths won’t happen without a nudge in the right direction. We must declare that we believe in their importance. It is up to us, to champion the mindset and lead that charge. Do you utilize a technique that helps others apply their strengths and incorporate them into their work lives? Share it here. Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

Learn How to Write a Resume - What Are the Important Features?

Learn How to Write a Resume - What Are the Important Features?How to write a resume should be very obvious, but you need to know some of the more important features of resume writing. This will help you in making your resume stand out above all others. Being able to write a resume can make or break you when you are trying to land a job.It is a good idea to learn how to write a resume. When you learn how to do this, you will have the knowledge you need to impress a potential employer. In fact, if you hire someone to do the resume for you, they will most likely be forced to teach you how to write a good one.There are many people who take the easy way out and just go ahead and write a resume from scratch. When you try to do this, you will quickly learn that there is no such thing as a perfectly written resume. You will also find that the format will not fit with any of the other things on your resume. Therefore, it is best to take advantage of the vast resources available to you and lea rn how to write a resume.One of the ways to learn how to write a resume is to look at some bad examples and use those examples to learn what not to do. You will find that there are some templates that have a lot of good features. Unfortunately, some of the features are hidden away and won't be visible to the reader. You should also realize that when you are trying to craft a resume using a template that you will find yourself reusing a lot of information.The great thing about looking at a good resume template is that you will be able to see all of the information and formatting you need without looking at anything else. That means you can use the template as a learning tool instead of losing valuable time reading over again the same text. If you learn how to write a resume by studying a template, you will have the knowledge you need to get a good result.Other ways to learn how to write a resume include reading a lot of academic papers and books. It is not unusual for professors to h elp students with this type of thing when they give seminars. It is also not uncommon for professors to give homework assignments that give the students the ability to practice their resume writing skills.When you practice how to write a resume, make sure you focus on every detail. Don't simply skim over the information and ignore the things that are not relevant to your application. Remember that you have to be able to demonstrate your specific skill set in order to get an interview.When you learn how to write a resume, you will find that it makes you a lot more appealing to a hiring manager. If you keep that in mind you will have a leg up on the competition. In addition, you will be able to get your application to be reviewed quickly so that you can get that interview.

Can You Get Free Resume Samples?

Can You Get Free Resume Samples?If you are looking for free resume samples then I can tell you that it is almost impossible to find them online. Because the job search has been so difficult due to the economy and tight unemployment there have been a lot of companies looking for trained individuals in a variety of fields. In order to fill positions, they need individuals with a lot of experience and those who are well groomed and can communicate clearly with a strong command of the English language.You see, the companies who are looking for new employees need people who can communicate clearly, so these companies are willing to pay top dollar for these valuable resume samples. The resume samples are also extremely valuable because employers really do not want to spend money on an employee who does not care about their future, job security or salary potential. In other words, they are looking for the person with the most to offer in terms of work ethics and personal traits.Most of the free resume samples available online are highly perishable. They are made to be placed on a resume but once the software is printed out, it can't be transferred to the actual computer that was used to submit the resume. And the resume is not put back on the file cabinet after it is printed out.What many people do is choose a free resume and use it in conjunction with their paid resume. This is the worst choice, because you will not be able to use it in a more formal setting. The companies that want to keep a close eye on your social media activities will not recognize your work experience, which is what they are trying to portray.I have written several articles that detail the exact methods to get these very reputable resume samples for free. These free resources are also very helpful, but you can receive the exact same thing for free. It just depends on the individual, if they prefer the paid services or the free resources.The resume samples can be found on a range of different for ums or on a site that is dedicated to them. If you go to the site, you will get all of the resume samples you need for free. You also can get plenty of tips on how to improve your resume so that it will be more effective.Some people would rather pay a small fee than have a bad experience and never be able to land a position. I understand where they are coming from because the economic climate has been difficult for everyone. That being said, there are other ways to land a position in the field of your choice if you are willing to go through the process of paying for services.I also wanted to point out that if you are looking for a free resume sample that is not as perishable as the one on the site mentioned above, you can also obtain them online. There are a few places where you can go to get this information. You just need to know where to look and what you are looking for.

Where the Jobs Are Exploring the Federal Landscape

Where the Jobs Are Exploring the Federal Landscape I just returned from the Career Directors International conference in Orlando and I got an earful about jobs in the federal government from Barbara Adams, President of CareerPro Global Inc. If youve never considered applying for positions in the government, here are some interesting stats that may lead you to reconsider.Obama will expand the number of civilians in the executive branch by 140,000 to reach a total of 2M. Thats the highest this number has been since Clinton took office in 1992.The federal government plans to fil 293,000 mission critical jobs over the next 5 years.More than 40% of the 1.5M federal employees will retire in the next 5 years; the federal government needs new blood!The Obama administration is expanding the FDIC, SEC, NIST, DOE, EPA, NSF, and DOT agencies.The federal government is the only national employer that will continue to fill jobs regardless of economic conditions.Benefits packages for federal government jobs are worth 43% of the base salary; this is a much more generous package than typically offered in the private sector.In addition to the increase in federal jobs, the Obama stimulus plan will result in the creation of 5M new green jobs.Most federal job vacancies can be found on USA Jobs and executive federal positions can be found at Senior Executive Service.

Salary negotiation Youve got the offer, do you accept, decline or negotiate - Hallie Crawford

Salary negotiation You’ve got the offer, do you accept, decline or negotiate After several interviews, you’re expecting a job offer but you don’t know the salary. Do you need to do anything to prepare for the offer? Yes, you do! First, research salaries for comparable jobs in your location so you’ll know what competitors pay. One resource is www.salary.com. Second, when you get the job offer, if the salary is lower than what you think the job is worth, state your gratitude for the job offer, and ask if the salary is negotiable.  If you are asked how much you were expecting, be ready to state a specific amount. If you provide a specific amount, state that your answer is based on the responsibilities of the job. Some companies have a classification system and each job within it already has a range with a minimum, midpoint, and maximum. You may be able to negotiate within the range. Other jobs that are not in a classification system may have more room for negotiation. If the employer will not negotiate the salary and you’re not sure you want to accept the job for the salary offered, you can ask if you could have some time to think about your final decision and ask by what date you need to provide it.  Notice that asking instead of telling is the best way to handle not only negotiations, but asking for time to think about the job offer as well. Next, choose whether or not you want the job. To help you make your decision, make a list of the pros and cons, talk about your concerns with family or friends, or ask your prospective employer for the names of employees either already working in the same department where you will work or employees who are already performing the same job you would perform and ask their level of job satisfaction.  Salary is not the only criteria to use to decide whether to accept or decline a job offer.  Other factors include benefits, commute time, stress levels, overtime required, and job satisfaction. If you need help with negotiation skills or decision-making, contact us. We can help you make decisions that affect your job satisfaction, and in turn, your quality of life. and Terry Wynne,  Ed.S., LPC, BCC Career Coaches P.S. How do you know if your resume is good?  Take this  Resume Quiz  to find out how to keep your resume out of the trash can.

When You Are Writing Your Resume - Write Your Points in First Person

When You Are Writing Your Resume - Write Your Points in First PersonWhen you are writing your resume, you have to write your points in first person. The first person format of writing is the most natural for the employer and it eliminates any confusion. The employer sees you as a real professional and not as a student who is trying to impress. It also gets the job done without delay.In fact, I was reading a story by Frederick Johnson where he talks about an employer who interviewed candidates and the questions they were asked on their resumes. The first question was the point. It stated what your focus was and that makes it different from all the other questions in the resume. The next question was the reasons why you are qualified for the position.The employer has the power in hiring or firing an employee. So the first paragraph of your resume should give them a better idea about you and why you are worthy of being hired. You can make this point by writing what you learned, how you gained the skills and the qualifications, and what you do now as a professional. Do not worry that this is going to be seen as a lot of technical information.You can start with 'Qualifications' but I prefer 'Oui.' When you write your objective in first person it automatically makes you more credible to your reader. This is because the reader feels that you have given great thought to what you have written. If you were wondering why you made these great points in first person, you can say that it is because you were thinking of your readers and you wanted to capture their attention.Now is the time to ask the question, 'What are my objectives as a professional' in a serious voiceand follow it up with an objective of 'As a professional'. The result will be that you will make your point in first person. The reader feels that you are serious and they will start to follow your progress.You can add points such as job experience, awards, volunteer work, volunteer experiences, training, lead ership positions, and references to your job history. This will make your points in first person more convincing and you will make your resume look professional. I always liked the last two points because these give the reader a feeling that you really know what you are talking about.I would recommend that you don't use your personal history and instead use your experiences. If you use your experiences then you can explain your strengths and weaknesses in a way that gives the reader a better understanding of your skills and qualifications.

The Real Reason Wal-Mart is Giving Workers a Raise

The Real Reason Wal-Mart is Giving Workers a Raise Wal-Mart WALMART INC. WMT -0.13% made big headlines when it announced pay boosts for its lowest-paid employees. Some investors may be appalled by this “altruistic” news, but don’t worry: it makes perfect business sense, and Wal-Mart’s smart to do it. The Bentonville, Ark.-based megaretailer has made waves by announcing that it’s raising its minimum salary; soon, its lowest paid employees will make $9 per hour and by next year, the level will go up to $10, well above the federally mandated minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Some people aren’t jazzed about Wal-Mart’s decision. The stock dropped on the news Thursday, and some analysts have issued downgrades. Those are short-sighted responses, though. Wal-Mart’s doing the smart thing by working on the most controversial element of its business, and the one that makes many consumers believe its low-priced merchandise just isn’t worth the cost to many Americans’ personal bottom lines. The move is going to cost Wal-Mart about a billion dollars, and Wal-Mart’s CEO Doug McMillon talked up the morale-boosting element of the strategy, as well as the idea of giving employees “opportunity” and a career path. People may feel cynical about his statements, but the spirit there is right on. Employees who are treated well are more engaged, and are more likely to provide a positive customer experience. Wal-Mart gets a lot more attention for worker strikes than for its customer service, and that’s a problem that’s long overdue for a fix. Take this job and shove it As it stands now, Wal-Mart’s rating on job reviews site Glassdoor.com is a dismal 2.8, with only 44% of reviewers willing to recommend working there to a friend. Compare that to Costco (3.9, 80% would recommend to a friend), Whole Foods (3.6, 73% would recommend to a friend), and Starbucks (3.7, 76% would recommend to a friend). We can throw McDonald’s in for good measure, since it often shares the hot seat with Wal-Mart â€" its rating is 3.0, with just 50% willing to recommend a job there to a pal. There’s been increasing attention to severe income equality and the fact that many people working for companies like Wal-Mart and McDonald’s MCDONALD'S CORP. MCD -0.58% are making poverty wages (and are reliant on public subsidization, which of course means we all lose). Those in the ivory towers may say the recession’s over, but there are still a lot of people out there who haven’t seen their wages rise much if at all as the economy supposedly “recovered.” On the other hand, companies like Costco COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION COST 0.37% , Whole Foods Market WFM 0% , and Starbucks STARBUCKS CORPORATION SBUX -0.77% , all treat their employees well â€" making them anomalies in the modern retail industry. (Starbucks, in fact, began rolling out a round of pay raises to baristas earlier this year.) They haven’t been subject to nearly the same amount of scathing scrutiny on the worker front as Wal-Mart has been. Even more pointedly, they have managed to do so while being highly profitable, successful companies, and they have done what well-run capitalistic companies should do: they built employee care into their business missions without waiting for a law forcing them to. Dollars and cents, not heart and soul There are plenty of pins we can poke into the happy bubble of Wal-Mart’s announcement, not least of which is the fact that we’re still not talking about a heck of a lot of money even with the new wage floors. Wal-Mart’s wages would still leave some subsisting along the poverty line. Many activists have been rallying for what they peg as a more reasonable $15 per hour “living wage.” Wal-Mart’s also not turning into a big softie. MarketWatch pointed out that the company’s press release not only included the news about the pay increase, but also a one-time $0.05 per share charge related to a “wage and litigation matter.” We all know that Wal-Mart’s been in the hot seat for years, but that is a good reminder that it’s facing dollars and cents risks on many fronts, including in court. And of course, the specter of the possibility of a federal minimum wage hike hangs over it all as well. The truth is, should the minimum wage increase, companies like Wal-Mart that have already started dealing with it will be in a far better competitive and even financial position than those who haven’t. They â€" and you, if you’re a shareholder â€" will have a whole lot of peace of mind as the laggards struggle to adjust their businesses. Positive reinforcement for positive business All in all, though, maybe even the most critical among us should probably give Wal-Mart some credit for being on the right track. Business can be a force for positive change, and Wal-Mart’s high-profile move might help catalyze a little more of a voluntary “race to the top” regarding many Americans’ wages instead of the race to the bottom behavior that has been all too common in too many pockets of our economy. And even the investors who are appalled at Wal-Mart’s doling out raises should think twice. Anyone who cares about capitalism and free markets should have always considered the idea that companies like Wal-Mart and McDonald’s actually weren’t doing any of us any favors by squeezing profits out of people and hardly budging over what the government demanded by law â€" resulting in a state in which so many citizens’ pay was so pathetically low that they have had to rely on public assistance. Wal-Mart’s no altruist â€" it’s doing what it has to do, and it certainly seems like it could do more. Given Wal-Mart’s massive scale, though, this move will hopefully nudge more corporate managements to see the risk of not moving on this front. Not to mention highlighting to corporate American the importance of investing in its own employees. That would be a win for all of us. Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions and subtitles off, selectedAudio TrackFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.PlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duratio n  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  Playback Rate1xFullscreen John Mackey, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Alyce Lomax owns shares of Costco Wholesale, Starbucks, and Whole Foods Market. The Motley Fool recommends Costco Wholesale, McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Whole Foods Market. The Motley Fool owns shares of Costco Wholesale, Starbucks, and Whole Foods Market. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Related Links Social Security: 5 Facts You Must Know Warren Buffett Tells You How to Turn $40 Into $10 Million Social Security: 3 Things to Know Before Taking Benefits Early