The secret to quitting your job with a great reference in hand

The secret to quitting your job with a great reference in handThe secret to quitting your job with a great reference in handI was so nervous the first time Iquit a job. I wasnt sure what to say orhow to handle the career transition.Luckily, I turned to my parents and Google. I prepared accordingly, told my manager, handed in my resignation letter, did all of the other necessary steps, and left knowing Id have a good reference if I needed one in the future. I even got an ice cream cake at my going away partyI was able to quit my job gracefully and keep the professional and personal relationships I built at the organization. Want to know how I did it? Here are a few things you need to know about quitting your job- with your reputation and a reference in hand.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more1. Dont accept just yetDont accept your new job until you talk to your manager. Saythank you for the job offer, but tell them youd like a day or two to let them know your final decision.There is a chance your current job will make a counter-offer because they want you to stay with the company. Of course, youll have to consider why you were looking in the first place and the pros and cons of both jobs, but its easier to do that when you havent already verbally or contractually committed to another offer.2. Tell your manager firstYour manager should be the first person to know that you are resigning from your position. You can tell menschlich Resources and your work friends afterward. Its better for the news to come from you.Email your manager to set up a time to speak. You dont have to tell them that you are setting up a meeting so you can resign. (Thats the work equivalent of a breakup text or breakup email.) You can be vague and say that youd like to speak with them and ask to put time on your managers calendar.Start the meeting by telling your manager that youve received a job offer. If you are interested in staying at your current position, wait to see how they react because they may immediately discuss a counter-offer. If you know that you definitely want to leave, or if they dont bring up a counter offer, let them know that you are meeting to announce your resignation.Remember to stay positive even if you didnt enjoy your job, and are so excited to be handing in your notice. Tell your manager that you had a great experience, learned a lot, and that this move is what is best for your career trajectory. Staying positive is one of the keys to leaving on a good note.3.Give two weeks notice (at least)Two Weeks Noticeisnt just a great romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant. Most jobs expect you to give at least that amount of timewhen you quit your job, meaning that you work for two weeks after formally resigning. Your manager may ask for you to give more than two weeks, or you may want to offer to stay longer to wrap up projects.Find out if your future employer is flexible with your start date. Youre more likely to be in good standing with your current company if you make the transition as seamless as possible- even if it means staying a week or two longer. This is especially important if you have a senior position or if youre working on client work that will be finished within a reasonable amount of time.4. Write a resignation letterAfter meeting with your manager,write a formal resignation letterfor Human Resources to keep on file. Be brief, straightforward, and positive. Date it, sign it, and notify them of your last date with the company.5. Help with the transitionDo as much as possible to help with the transition as you exit your role at the company. At one job, I made a detailed guidebook answering any possible question the new hire might have. I also stayed to help her transition into the role. My manager was impressed and I felt more comfortable with my departure.Write down details like important deadlin es, notes about clients, and other pertinent information. Additionally, organize all papers and electronic files so that they can be found easily (and no one calls your cell phone with questions).6.Finish as much work as possibleFinish as many projects as you can before you leave. You understand the work best, so there is a higher likelihood that the work will get done correctly and efficiently if youre the one doing it.Finish as many projects as you can before you leave. You understand the work best, so there is a higher likelihood that the work will get done correctly and efficiently if youre the one doing it.If you cant finish in time, or if its an ongoing project- add details, action items, and descriptions to your transition document.7. Tell your colleaguesLet your coworkers knowthat youre leaving. Make sure to tell a consistent and positive story- even if youre leaving because your anfhrer makes Miranda Priestly look like a piece of cake. Dont start the rumor mill because your reputation may suffer as a result.Let them know what youre doing next, connect on LinkedIn, and ask people you worked with closely for aLinkedIn recommendation.8. Write thank you notesWrite thank-you notesto your manager, mentors, people you managed, and people you worked with closely. In your letters mention what you learned from them, your appreciation for their work, how much you enjoyed working with them, and let them know how they can stay in touch in the future. Some companies will even allow you to write a company, office, or team-wide email.9. Be diplomatic in your next interviewMany Human Resource departments will ask you tocomplete an exit interview. The purpose of the exit interview is to solicit your feedback about your role and time at the company and to make note of your reason for leaving.Dont use this as a time to vent, because the details will be recorded. Simply answer diplomatically, positively, and explain that youre leaving because youve found a new opportunity that will be good for your career path and accomplishing your professional goals.Mention that you enjoyed your time at the company, learned a lot, and are excited about the next step.10. Stay positive when you leaveIt is a very small world and you dont know how people are connected or what could get back to your potential employer.Stay positive about the work environmentin-person and on social media when you leave. Oh, and dont raid the supply closet for notepads and ballpoint pens when you leaveOne of my life mottos is to never burn bridges. Who knows- you might want to work for the company or your former colleagues again. Youre also likely to need references as your career progresses.Follow these tips when you do quit to help you leave your job gracefully while maintaining the important relationships that will help you continue to grow your career.This article originally appeared on Career Contessa.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStr angers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

1 in 3 teenagers do this unhealthy thing in the middle of the night

1 in 3 teenagers do this unhealthy thing in the middle of the night1 in 3 teenagers do this unhealthy thing in the middle of the nightOne in three teenagers (36%) report waking up at least once per night and checking their phones, according to a new survey of 1,000 parents and their kids concerning from Common Sense Media.The survey was about parents, teens, screens, and sleep. And if you think taking your phone to bed with you is crazy, youre obviously not a teenager (or a Millennial).Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTeenage dreamsA majority (68%) of teenagers take their devices to bed with them, meaning they keep it within reach. A third of those actually sleep with the phones in the bed.While a third of teens are waking up once a night to check their phone, a quarter of their parents do the same thing. And 62% of parents sleep with their phones in reach.What are they doing in the nighttime hours when they wake up and check their phones? Both parents and teenagers reported mostly social-media or responding to a notification (turn those off). Some simply couldnt sleep.More than half of parents (52%) say they spent too much time on their phones. Thats up 23 percentage points since 2016, when Common Sense conducted a similar survey.However, teenagers arent worried. More of them think they spend just the right amount of time of their phone (47%, as compared with 29% in 2016).However, this chart is revealing.Still, everyone in the household reported feeling distracted. The majority of parents (54%) and kids (58%) say they are distracted by their mobile devices once a day or more. Parents feel that their kids are distracted (69%), and kids feel that their parents are distracted (44%).However, the majority of family members dont think their constant cell use is hurting their relationships. Parents (55%) and kids (72%) says that the use of their mobile devices ha s had no impact on their family relationships. Still, that leaves a third of parents who do think their childs cell-phone use has hurt their relationship (only 9% of kids think their relationship with a parent has been hurt because of mobile device use).Maybe families could start by banning phones at dinner and in bed?You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from kleine Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Why We Hate Performance Reviews and How to Improve Them

Why We Hate Performance Reviews and How to Improve ThemWhy We Hate Performance Reviews and How to Improve ThemLets face it no one likes the annual performance review.No one. Reviewers (managers) hate doing them, employees hate getting them, and human resources hate administering them. Each year there is at least one book and countless articles about why they should be banned or fixed. This has been going as long as we can remember, and it seems little improvement has been made. What is it about this annual corporate ritual that seems to cause such consternation and pain? And more importantly, can it be fixed? We hate to be a pessimist, but after studying the topic of performance reviews for more than 25 years, numerous attempts to reinvent or fix broken systems, being on the receiving end and giving end of hundreds of reviews andmaking every mistake that can be made, weve come to the conclusion that performance reviewswill alwaysbe a less than enjoyable experience for all involved. W hy? First, lets put the inevitable reasons employees, managers, and HR hate them on the table that just cant be fixed and accept them as givens. Then, lets talk about how we can, at last, make the processless painful.Why we hate performance reviews givens that we just need to suck it up and accept Human Nature People hate having their flaws pointed out and managers hate giving negative feedback. But wait, dont all of the studies say people want and love feedback? Sure they do, as long as itspositivefeedback. When we receive feedback that challenges our assumptions about ourselves, we automatically go into a protective fight or flight survival mode. We deny, get angry, get defensive, or withdraw. No artist likes getting a negative critical review, no restaurant owner likes getting a critical TripAdvisor review, and no employee likes hearingtheir flaws pointed out by their manager. And unless the manager is a sadist and enjoys inflicting pain, most managers really dont enjoy deliv ering bad news to their employees. In fact, most people, in general, dont enjoy giving negative feedback. Thats whyanonymous 360 assessment reviewsare so popular because they give people an opportunity to say what they really feel without having to be confronted or questioned. The Formality and Bureaucracy Typical performance reviews involve a prescribed process, forms, and a formal discussion. Its often elend the actual discussion that employees (and managers) find painful, its the stiffness and feeling like you are being forced to comply with something that youd rather not have to do. Its Extra Work Everyone is terminally busy these days, in fact, we always have been. We work hard and hope to see positive results. The annual review comes along and it feels like extra work that gets in the way of our real work. Managers, especially managers with a lot of direct reports, spend endless hours filling out forms, writing comments, reviewing records, conducting discussions (somet imes in multiple meetings), and submitting paperwork. Employees are often asked to do self-assessments and to be prepared to defend themselves, and HR ends up with an impossible mountain of paperwork that needs to be in compliance with all kinds of state and federal regulations. Okay, so if we can just accept that performance reviews can involve negative feedback, are a required part of working life, and will involve some extra work that isnt particularly fulfilling, do we have to hate them, or are there some ways we can make them less painful than a root canal? Absolutely Here are three simple ways to make performance reviews less painful Eliminate Surprises People hate negative feedback most the first time they hear it, or when its about something they were clueless about (blind spots). The way to minimize the pain of hearing about weaknesses for the first time during the annual performance review is to get into the habit of giving and asking for feedback on a regular basis. W hen feedback is given and received early, often, specifically, and in a balanced way, employees have time to process it and do something about it. Managers can create an environment that encourages the two-way exchange of informal feedback in a way thatbuilds trustand eliminates surprises. Better yet, create systems where employees can measure and monitor their own performance. For example, no manager has to point out to a sales rep that they are having a bad month. They already are painfully aware that they are not meeting their sales goals, and are scrambling to finds ways to improve. Thats when a sales manager can providevaluable coachingin order to help the sales rep get back on track. Get Better at Giving and Receiving Feedback The more skilled we are, the more comfortable we will get with it. See How to Get Candid Feedback and How to Give Feedback. Simplify the Process Why are performance reviews so darn complicated? Ive seen versions that include 14-page forms and a s eries of three meetings. Its usually because they are designed by well-intended HR departments (or consultants, or lawyers) that attempt to address every aspect of performance management in a single form and process. The solution? Its not fancy software systems that only automate (and sometimes further complicate) a bad process. I would recommenda singlepage or no more than two pages - for a performance review form. Ive seen this implemented and its been received very well by managers, employees, and HR. Implement these three relatively simple fixes and your annual performance review may still feel like a trip to the dentist, but more like teeth cleaning, instead of an excruciating root canal.

Succeed After a Layoff By Reinventing Yourself

Succeed After a Layoff By Reinventing YourselfSucceed After a Layoff By Reinventing YourselfWhen I welches laid off at age 58, I had one major factor on my side I didnt take my job loss personally. My former company, a large supply-chain-management software-development business, was like a rocket ship. In less than three years, the company grew from 2,000 to 6,000 employees. That rate of growth isnt always sustainable, and the company was severely wounded by the downturn in the economy. Still, I didnt expect that my job would end up on the chopping block. As director of global information services, the most senior information-services executive, I grew my team from 17 professionals to 170. So when the layoff came in 2001, I was shocked but not disheartened. I had weathered enough economic ups and downs to realize that many talented people lose jobs through no fault of their own. But I was also realistic about my post-layoff future My income was not going to be replaced any time soon. I knew I was in for a long job search, maybe a year or more. Out went the hair stylist, replaced by the barber. Ditto the pool and lawn services, whose duties I took over. An unrepentant new car buff, I had three beauties sitting in my garage. With regret, two of them went, too. That was the paring-down process. The building-up process began with a few home-office purchases a quality computer, scanner, fax and printer with no payments or interest for 12 months, of course. Then I turned to what I would need, both personally and professionally, to refocus and rebuild my life. Here are the lessons Ive learned. Share your feelings and seek stab und sttze.At the outset, I took two critical steps. The first was sharing my job loss with my family and friends, as well as my business associates. I craved the emotional support and I wanted to maximize my networking. The second step was to purposely ignore my feeling that I was an executive with a long and successful career who didnt nee d help making the transition to a new job. Reluctantly, I signed up with the outplacement firm that my employer hired. That was easily the single smartest thing I did. I joined a group of other displaced executives, who became invaluable for support and networking. I also had a range of research tools at my disposal. Most importantly, I was offered counseling, training and psychological testing to help me explore my desires and abilities in a new way. Explore your talents and reassess your aspirations. What emerged was an untapped talent for sales and a hunger to stay busy and connected. I continued to branch out, in some cases using my newfound sales ability. I delved into fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and volunteered at my church. I pursued new professional and personal contacts, with the dual goals of helping others and expanding my networking opportunities at the same time. I encountered obstacles. I had restricted my job search to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the information-technology industry, at least for the first year, and opportunities were limited. After a career that included long senior-management and vice-president stints working in IT for such organizations as the U.S. government, PepsiCo Inc. and Qualcomm Inc., my experience was deep but somewhat narrow. Expect the unexpected and learn to cope with setbacks.Something disturbing and eye-opening was happening among the people my outplacement group. Several had gone off to new jobs, filled with relief and anticipation. They looked forward once again to regular paychecks and, for some, the confirmation that they werent damaged goods after all, just people whod hit a rough patch. Only things didnt always work out that way. More than a few returned in just four or five months. They were, without exception, competent managers, but the economy had continued to slump, and many were laid off again, some for the second or third time. Seeing this made me reconsider my goals. I decid ed I would go into business for myself, using my decades of IT and general-business experience and my newly discovered interest in sales. I also drew on a newfound spirituality, supported and comforted by the belief that things happen for a reason. By then, nearly 18 months had passed, and I hadnt brought in a dime. Establish and pursue new goals.With new enthusiasm and a clear goal, I started two firms an IT-consulting company and a business providing promotional gifts for corporations. I was determined not to lock myself into one industry and sought security through diversity. The concept for the IT-consulting business was simple I would inventory a companys IT contracts, equipment and services and propose cost-saving measures. The sales pitch was a no-loss proposition for kompetenzprofil clients Our compensation would be a percentage of the savings we identified. I started the business with a former employee in 2002, and the business continues to grow, although more slowly th an I would like. The second business provides corporate gifts as well as retail products, from the standard to the exotic. For example, were developing specialty products made with alpaca wool. Two and a half years after I was laid off, my income has not returned to its earlier level and I still cut the grass, clean the pool and think twice about going out for an expensive dinner. But the businesses are starting to pay off, albeit slowly, and Ive re-evaluated whats truly important in my life my friends and family. Its not all about money. Change is an opportunity for growth.I cant say that being laid off was the best thing that ever happened to me. But change, even forced change, brings opportunity. Im so convinced of this that I took a third job, as a consultant with an outplacement firm. Counseling laid-off executives transition to their next opportunity helps pay the bills and is emotionally rewarding as well.Now at 60 years of age, Im a consultant and an entrepreneur. My lif e has become richer and more challenging in ways I could not have imagined. And if youre in the market for an alpaca scarf, an overhaul of your IT systems, or advice about bungee-jumping from a high-level executive job and landing on your feet, Im your guy. Mr. Fredella, based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, is an entrepreneur and a consultant for DBM, a human-resources-consulting firm.

8 Things to Bring to Every Job Interview

8 Things to Bring to Every Job Interview8 Things to Bring to Every Job Interview When youre preparing for a job interview , many things go through your mind. Most of them involve what you need to say and the questions youll need to answer. But dont forget - there are also a handful of physical items youll want to bring along. Wondering what to bring to an interview? Use this as your checklistOdds are, you wouldnt leave the house without it anyway, but make sure to bring your phone with you so you can enter the directions to your interview location, especially if youve never been there before. If you dont have a smartphone capable of GPS navigation, print out directions. The worst thing you can do is get lost, which will make you late, which will likely prevent you from moving forward in the interview process . On your phones notepad app, or on the directions youve printed out, write out the name and contact information of your interviewer(s). This way, if something does go wrong on your way to the interview, you can let them know. This will also help ensure that you dont forget your interviewers name - a major faux pas.Its not quite as common nowadays, but you never know if youll be asked for identification, so its worth bringing anyway. When in doubt, ask the person who set up your interview in advance - better safe than sorryAs a job landseeker, business cards are great for networking and interviewing. Your business card should include your name, job title, email, phone number and any other contact information you think is important. Give your card to your interviewer, or anyone else you talk to about the job. (If you need inspiration about what to include, I recently came across these cute ones from Moo)You may be used to taking notes on your laptop or phone, but in interviews, it definitely looks better if you havepaper and a pen handy to jot down notes like people to contact, addresses or anything else mentioned in the interview that you want to remember later. Beingprepared with your own supplies to capture important information that your interviewer provides you with is a surefire way to make you look proactive and thoughtful.Print out a few copies of the most updated version of your resume . You should also have extra copies in case you need to reference it during the interview - or if extra interviewers show up.Bring an updated list of your references . Your interviewer may or may not ask for these, but again, its best to be over-prepared. The list should have at least three professional references, along with how they know you and how to contact them.Depending on the kind of job youre after, it might be valuable to bring a portfolio of your past work . This can be a folder, binder or even a website shown on your tablet. Your portfolio should be organized in a way that makes it easy to reference during your interview. The contents of your portfolio will depend on your profession, but there should be qua lity examples of your work and accomplishments.At the end of every interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. Have a list of questions ready to go so youre prepared. These questions can be about the rest of the hiring process, company culture or anything else youre interested in, but remember You want to your questions to be specific and reflect the fact that youve done research, so your interviewer can see your true interest in the position.When thinking about what to bring an interview, a lot of things come to mind, but the eight above are the most essential. While they might seem simple, its important not to forget them - they really might make a difference on the day of your interview.

What You Need to Know About Camp Counselor Job Description for Resume

What You Need to Know About Camp Counselor Job Description for Resume The Characteristics of Camp Counselor Job Description for Resume At length, camp counselors carry a big duty of caring for children. Comparable to your superb camp counselor resume, its required to tailor your cover letter to the form of camp youre applying for. Your cabin campers are the absolute fruchtwein important assignment. There are many opportunities for camp counselors. If you hold additional certifications that are related to the camp counselor position, like the ones given below, remember to include them on your resume too. Use the experience part of your camp counselor resume to your benefit. The typical camp counselor wears many hats through the day. The 2nd aspiring counselor doesnt find out how to market themselves. Camp counselors have to be very passionate in what they do, in order to earn every kids summer camp experience distinctive and unforgettable. Camp directors mean to hire simply the best counselors to make sure the successful implementation of their summer programs. Remember, they are familiar with all camp counselor duties. Once youre already aware with the fundamentals of camp operations, it is going to be less difficult for you to make a camp counselor resume. What You Need to Do About Camp Counselor Job Description for Resume Before Its Too Late Its imperative to be certain yours convinces prospective employers that youre the perfect option for the job. Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that could assist you with your work search. Your resume should always fit your personal work history and the necessities of the job for which youre applying. You are able to use a couple of strong adjectives that fit your job. No matter your degree of work experience, your resume format is crucial to making your application stick out. There are certain sections you are going to want to contain in your contemporary resume, including education, work experience and an overview of your abilities. Extensive computer experience is essential. Make certain you get the information youre looking for. Fortunately, there are a number of strategies to expand on the experience youve got, however limited, to highlight the way that it makes you the best camp counselor candidate. For those who have experience working in other nations and want to coordinate our international camps, wed be interested in talking with you. A camp job isnt one of the customary job position an individual will apply for. It is a trying job which needs extraordinary skills in understanding camp pursuits and handling big groups of individuals. Being a real leader of a study group at school indicates that you have the ability to teach others skills and maybe you would be good as a tutor. To be a successful actor, you will require a particular amount of talent. Utilizing our functional resume format is a remarkable method to display your abilities and accompli shments up front. Must demonstrate flexibility and be in a position to assume several roles throughout the summertime and have the capacity to work as part of a team. There is going to be planned career workshops and job fairs dependent on the labor market requirements. If youve got less than ten decades of work history, include all your work history. Discover how to make the correct sale as opposed to just any sale. Kursmark says there isnt anything wrong with taking a bit from several samples to ensure it is simpler to construct your own resume. FORTY-FIVE, take a look at post no. Your work is to motivate them and to continue to keep things moving since you will have a schedule to keep but you need to do it without barking orders. Therefore, if youre searching for an enjoyable, seasonal job where its possible to stay active, get your resume in early. If you wish to work as a Camp Counselor, concentrate on the next. Children explore and acquire an assortment of skills fro m woodworking to cooking and learning how to sew. Acting is a difficult, taxing profession, which requires lots and a lot of hard work. Summer Camp Counselor Resume Objective is most likely the photos we found online from trustworthy resources. Weekends only also offered. Begin with the most recent one. To find out more on what it requires to be a Camp Counselor, have a look at our complete Camp Counselor Job Description. It helps to consult extra resources when thinking about a career as a Camp Counselor. Advantage Basketball Camp fundraisers have been quite profitable International Director Advantage Basketball is searching for a worldwide camp director.

Should I Get An MBA

Should I Get An master of business administration Should I Get An MBA?Posted September 26, 2016, by Jordan Huidekoper Studying a Master of Business Administration (MBA) has the potential to platzset you on the path towards attaining your dream job and fulfilling your career aspirations. Its a qualification that can add depth to your professional experience and is looked upon favourably by top employers 88 per cent of organisations surveyed in the 2016 Corporate Recruiters Survey planned to hire MBAs in 2016. An MBA is also a great way to improve business know-how, build practical skills, develop your management and leadership potential, and grow your professional network. But with so many postgraduate course options out there, how do you know whether getting an MBA is the right career move? If youre considering an MBA, ask yourself the following questions Do I need an MBA? Apart from an additional degree on your CV, an MBA qualification will prepare you for higher management roles by providing the knowledge and expertise to help you lead in any business setting. Completing an MBA is a demonstration of your commitment to learning and professional development, and a testament to your research skills and leadership potential. Furthermore, many employers prefer MBA graduates and acknowledge that the skills learnt in this degree are applicable and relevant to the workplace. So, if the skills learned in an MBA will boost your career opportunities and represent a good return on investment, its likely to be a wise move. Will an MBA get me the job I want? The great thing about studying an MBA is the flexibility the course offers. For example, at Kaplan Business School, you can either study a generalist MBA covering a range of business disciplines, or you can choose to specialise within a specific industry. This means that when you graduate, your qualification is tailored to your business interests and the perspective of your professional field. While an MBA cant gu arantee you every job, it can certainly give you an edge. Do I have time to complete an MBA? Balancing study with your current life and work commitments can be difficult. With advanced standing, you can power through your MBA and graduate within a year and a half. Or, you could choose to study on a per unit basis. If you are expecting to have a challenging few months in the office or are busy with your personal life, you can take a break before resuming your learning with a fresh mind. In many cases, students have up to six years to finish an MBA with 16 units and the end result is exactly the same. Additionally, if you choose to study angeschlossen, many of the postgraduate courses available are designed to fit into your lifestyle not the other way around. Youll also save on travel time to and from campus. When you study online, getting to your classroom is as simple as turning on your computer or mobile device. Will an online MBA give me the same qualifications as an on-campus d egree? An online MBA allows students to gain the same skills, knowledge and qualifications they would if completing the degree on campus. Usually, the same academics that develop the coursework for on-campus students develop the content for online study as well. Additional benefits for online students include the ability to work full time while they study the flexibility of short study blocks and freedom of location. Upon completion, both on-campus and online students receive the same degree on the same certificate from the same tertiary institution. Considering whether you should undertake a Masters degree is a tough decision and one that should not be taken lightly. A report conducted by Graduate Careers Australia titled Postgraduate Destinations 2014 revealed that 90 per cent of recent postgraduates were in employment soon after completing their degree. So taking on an MBA, which offers cross-disciplinary relevance and holds a strong reputation among employers, seems to be an i nvestment worth making in the current market. Think an MBA is the right career move for you? Check out whatcourses we have on offerMaster of Business Administration (Innovation and Leadership...Study modeOnlinePayment optionsUpfront paymentCourse guide+ FREE eBrochureEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMBA ResourcesGeneral manager resumeGeneral manager cover letterCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?absatzwirtschaft ManagerProject ManagerHuman Resources ManagerFinancial PlannerAdministration ManagerPopular Career Searchescheapest online mba australiatwo year degrees australiafee help courses australiaMBA CoursesMaster of Business Administration (MBA+)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineThe AIB MBAEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of Business AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of Business AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire Online Jordan HuidekoperJordan is a writer and photographer with a keen interest in personal growth an d development.Related ArticlesBrowse moreMBAPay/SalaryWill Doing An MBA Improve My Salary?Want to know the MBA definition? Find out in record time in this quick read article. Furthermore, uncover the way an MBA can help you accelerate your career and respective salary. Did we say salary increase? Yes, we did Keep reading to discover more.CAREER ADVICEMBAHow To Ask Your Employer to Pay For Your MBATheres no question, studying an MBA in Australia costs a lot. Before you give up on the idea, consider this. What about convincing work to pay? Wondering how you can get them over the line? Read how to get startedEntrepreneurshipFinanceIndustries That Require An MBAAn MBA is a powerful tool to have in your kit, but which industries value it most? See just how valuable an MBA qualification can be in fields like finance, law, HR and more.

Brave New Road

Brave New Road Brave New Road Brave New RoadAutonomous cars used to exist only in culture, elend in technology. You could find self-driving cars springing from the imagination of science fiction writers and filmmakers or in the musings of Silicon Valley visionaries. But they were tropes, not technologies. A self-driving car just wasnt the kind of thing one could expect to see on the road in a lifetime.No more. Vehicles that can drive themselves without a menschenfreundlich hand on the wheel or foot on the brake pedal are a technological reality today and soon will be cruising through yur neighborhood, if they arent already there.Indeed, according to one estimate, 10 million self-driving cars will be on the road by 2020.For many, this now-inevitable triumph of technology is neither needed nor wanted. People love their cars. They enjoy the freedom a vehicle gives them to commute to work, run personal errands, and escape on family vacations. Car culture is so embedded in ur societyand o ur emotionsthat one in four people name their car and many more talk to them on a daily basis. If you have the physical, mental, and financial strength to drive a car you love, then the driverless future seems like an unnecessary, even frightening, prospect.This delivery droid operated by Just Eat autonomously delivers takeout orders to hungry Londoners.As a futurist, I look at technological, economic, and cultural changes to understand what it will feel like to live a decade or more in the future. That sounds like an abstract and ethereal thing to do for a living, but the future is local and is built every day by the actions of people. Im trained to look for change where it happens firstat the margins, on the fringes, in places where the present state of technology isnt really working out for people the way it ought to. Those are the people and places that need change and see disruptive new technologies not as a burden, but as an opportunity.By thinking about what people on the fri nges could do with that opportunity, you can begin to map out some potentially surprising ways a new technology like self-driving cars could reshape our society.The engineering community is building this future, and is focused on making autonomous vehicles safe and efficient and attractive to use. That is incredibly important. But its also important not to lose track of the social implications of this new technologyand every new technologywhen it reaches the market and comes into wide use.If many people think they arent ready for autonomous vehicles, which have been foreseen for decades, wait until they grapple with the changes they didnt anticipate.REGAINING INDEPENDENT MOBILITYWhen I talk about people on the fringes, that makes it sound like leather-clad youths with spiky green hair. But Im thinking more of people with gray hair I believe the group that will experience the most unexpected impact from self-driving cars is the elderly.For one thing, the Baby Boom generation that is now aging into retirement is used to having things its own way. Their entire lives, popular culture and Madison Avenue have sold Boomers on the idea that they could have it all, and that they had a birthright to the freedom of the open road. Think American Graffiti, Jan and Dean, or Thelma and Louise. Even when the so-called Me Generation starts to lose its eyesight, it will insist on keeping that independence, no matter the cost.AARP, for one, recognizes the size of the potential market. About 36 million current older drivers still hold valid licenses. About 80 percent of them live in car-dependent suburbs or rural areas, not cities with public transit. And nearly 90 percent say they intend to age in place, wrote David Dudley in AARP Magazine in 2015. For those whose independent living is closely tied to their ability to drive safely, self-driving tech is a future that cant come soon enough.By 2030, the number of Americans over 65 is expected to reach 72 million.AARPs interest is i mportant for another reason The elderly vote, and if they want self-driving cars, lawmakers will quickly tackle some of the thorniest policy hurdlessuch as regulation, local traffic laws, and insurance.But an elderly-led adoption of autonomous vehicles will look different from what the technologys biggest backers have been touting. For one thing, the epicenter for the self-driving future would not be Silicon Valley with its tech millionaires and billionaires, or Las Vegas with autonomous tourist minibuses, or Pittsburgh, where Uber is now testing driverless taxis. Instead, the first place to incorporate autonomous vehicles into its mainstream may well be The Villages, a 70,000-resident retirement community in Florida.If so, that would change the type of vehicle to be rolled out. Instead of some sleek sedan, think of a self-driving meerbusen cartThe Villages already has around 100 miles of golf-cart trails, and for residents it is the preferred mode of transportation in the community . From an infrastructure standpoint, kitting out a retirement community with the sensors, lane markers, and other technology needed to have a meaningful fleet of autonomous vehicles is far simpler than doing the same for a city like Boston, with narrow and windy streets that follow precolonial deer trails. Whats more, since they arent intended for the open road, golf carts can be lighter and slower than street-legal cars, and that translates into a dramatically lower barrier to entryand reduced stakes in case of mishap.This delivery droid operated by Just Eat autonomously delivers takeout orders to hungry Londoners.However, the really interesting changes are what happens after people on the fringe adopt the new technology. An elderly population freed from (what is to them) the burden of driving would be given a new lease on independence. Forget about doctors appointments made on time or the absence of stress about faltering reflexes Think about the impact on social activity. Would n ew hobbies develop? Would volunteering or even paid work increase? Perhaps the over-65 platzset would find themselves attending night clubsor maybe afternoon clubs that would bring together a wider variety of retirees in a time in life when company and companionship matters the most.We wont know until the technology reaches them. But I suspect the impact of autonomous vehicles on the lives of elderly people will be profound.REIMAGINING THE SUPPLY CHAINVehicles carry more than peoplethe other passengers are the things in the international supply chain that can stretch from a factory in Vietnam or a farm in Chile to your front door. But increasingly, semitrailer trucks do more than simply carry goods from point A to point B.I learned that lesson while I was in the back of a minivan on the A6 bab racing from Stuttgart and Frankfurt. I didnt want to look at the speedometer as my driver, Anatoly, gunned and revved the minivan from lane to lane like something out of James Bond movie, so i nstead I focused on the seemingly endless stream of long-haul trucks that shared the road with us.In a rare moment of calm as we slowed down for some construction, I asked Anatoly why there were so many trucks on the highway.People dont warehouse anymore, Anatoly replied, taking his eyes o. the road to glance back at me. (Why do I ask my drivers so many questions?) Back a decade ago, all the big companies had warehouses where they stored goods. Then they would deliver them from storage when people placed an order. But today nobody does that. Everything is just-in-time delivery. Most of what is on this road is not peopleits things, its stuff. Stuff is going for a ride on the autobahn.He shook his head as we hit a bump. Its very hard on the roads and bridges.Highways are the new warehouses, but within the limits placed by human labor. After all, a giant warehouse can be staffed by a handful of workers, but each 40-foot container on the back of a tractor-trailer has a human driver.Or t o put it in the frame of a futurist, overland cargo is a fringe use of human-driven vehicles. And self-driving delivery is a disruption that could have all sorts of advantages.In an age of autonomous vehicles, smart cities and roads, intelligent logistics, and artificial intelligence, the human-imposed limit on the number of hours a day a shipment can stay on the road disappears. We can automate, iterate, and designate exactly where we want our stuff and how to get it there. Goods may never have to leave the roador sea lanes or air routesfrom the factory gate to the front porch.Autonomous transport of goods will allow us to completely reimagine the future of the global supply chain, Abe Ashkenazi, the CEO of APICS, a global supply chain trade association, told me recently. We think it could have as much impact as the PC revolution had on business. It wont be just about moving things from point A to point B. The whole system will change. In response, the vehicles will change, too.The necessity of putting a driver in the front with a view of the road has restricted the design of passenger cars and freight-carrying trucks. But autonomous delivery vehicles wont be subject to that constraint. A self-driving vehicle constructed to deliver a weeks groceries or an IKEA sofa wont have to look like the common delivery vanor each other, either.Theres evidence today for what our tomorrow might look like. Just Eat is a company in the United Kingdom that receives takeout orders via an app and sends the food to the customer using a delivery droid. Its essentially an autonomous vehicle, but it doesnt look or act anything like a car. The six-wheeled hauler is more like a large insulated picnic basket, with a hissing on-board air-conditioning unit. The machine is so unassuming that after a few days of rolling along the sidewalks of London, local residents stopped giving it a second thought.RECLAIMING THE INFRASTRUCTURELike the Just Eat droid, future autonomous cargo vehicles no t only will shed their human drivers, but even the form factor of being trucks. Acting as both transport and storage, they will be efficiently designed for the single-minded purpose of getting goods into the hands of consumers as directly as possible.But the roadssu.er the roads. It will be a brave new world for our roads, quite a dystopian future of wear and tear that was never imagined by the engineers who designed them half a century ago. The effect on our infrastructure as the rolling supply chain hammers the road hasnt even begun to be addressed.In another way, though, autonomous vehicles may also help extend the life of the built infrastructure.This truck didnt need a driver for its 120-mile beer delivery in October 2016Back in 2012, I was sitting on a Tempe, Ariz., bus bench with writer and futurist Bruce Sterling, who is best known for championing the cyberpunk movement of the 1980s and the ubiquitous device design trend that followedthat is, the world we are living in now. We had ducked out of the annual Emerge event at Arizona State University and were musing about autonomous cars and staring out across the desert spring landscape.I think the thing that Im really excited to see is what the cars will do at night, Sterling said in his scratchy Texas accent.I spend a lot of time staring out of bed and breakfast room windows at night, I replied. I travel constantly and I love watching cities at night.Sterlings flair for science fiction narrative got excited. You can imagine standing in your hotel room, watching all of the driverless cars moving themselves back into place for the next day. All of them empty. All of them getting ready for the next rush hour.Its like a front-row seat to the midnight ballet, I added, imagining the cars easing down the street, dodging each other with a dancers ease, in no hurry, but beautifully efficient.A midnight ballet may sound a bit strange, but if we dramatically shift the metaphor we use to think about our cars and roa ds, might we not begin to see new patterns and new ways to imagine these vehicles?Its not about cars at all, Shahar Waiser explained to me at a recent event. Waiser is the co-founder of GetTaxi, a ride-sharing service that allows customers to order a taxi via an app or website. What has set GetTaxi apart from its competition in the 70 cities where it operates across Israel, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States is how it works not only with travelers but businesses as well.We are changing how corporations think about moving people and goods, Waiser said. We are optimizing our system to have fewer cars on the road, but with increased utilization. We are trying to not only do business but also make the cities cleaner and less congested. Autonomous vehicles will only increase that.It wont just be cars deadheading home, as Sterling suggested. Delivery runs can be made at night. Self-driving cargo pods can take the most industrial and blighted routes, leaving the parkways and stateli est streets for cars with human passengers. And the roadsides themselves will be transformed, as preprogramed cars wont be swayed by flashing neon or large signs proclaiming deep, deep discounts.That sort of perspective shift has happened to other landscapes. Rivers and waterfronts were the industrial highways of previous centuries, but now we see them as pastoral. Perhaps, as we drive on them less, we will be more inclined to see our roads and city streets as works of architecture or public art.To the extent that self-driving cars will be perfect-driving cars, we may reclaim the streets for strolling on or playing hopscotch.The cultural effects of technological change are often the most surprising. Its not good or bad, it is just whats been happening as long as we have been humans.And so, the most interesting changes that will be brought by autonomous cars will be the cultural shifts. What will happen when we have an entire generation of children who have never known a time when ca rs did not drive themselves. What will their children think and their childrens children?Whole infrastructures that we take for granted today as critical will recede into the distance. Try explaining to a seven-year-old that at one point the entire worlds overland transportation was powered by horses. There will be a time when stop lights and road signs recede away like so many stables and barns.The future of autonomous cars will certainly change our lives in both dramatic and subtle ways, but the ways that will be most interesting are the things that are forgotten, the things that the next generation deem useless and frivolous. Its exactly the shedding of this baggage that will allow the next generation and their children to be unencumbered by the past.As I said at the beginning, its important for the engineering community to think through the scenarios of how new technology can affect the course of society. Engineers are the ones building this future, and the technology choices th ey make will determine the other choices the rest of us can make when using the technology. Its not enough to perfect the technology. Engineers have to be mindful of the way their technology impacts an all too imperfect world. MEBrian David Johnson is futurist in residence at the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University in Tempe and a futurist and fellow at the consultancy Frost Sullivan.

How to Write a Great Resume Even If You Have No Experience (Sample Included)

How to Write a Great Resume Even If You Have No Experience (Sample Included)How to Write a Great Resume Even If You Have No Experience (Sample Included)If youre a student or a fresh grad, its only natural you dont have much to show off on your resume. Having little to no experience yet doesnt mean you canbedrngnis get the job you want. You just need to know a couple of hacks how to present yourself.If youve already found yourself and know for sure what you want to do, youre half way through because a clear career goal is the most important aspect of an entry-level resume. When you know what job youre going for, you can clearly emphasize your skills and personal traits that relate to that job.It is also easier if youre applying for a job in the area you studied in college. Applying for a job thats far different than your college major might be a bit problematic without experience. Since you have no evidence youre skilled in the industry, you must find other ways to convince the employ er of your abilities.How to write an entry level resumeEven with little or no previous experience, you can grab the hiring managers attention. herbeies howTake advantage of your transferrable skillsWhen you have no experience, you basically cannot provide evidence you have certain skills. Thats why you should use the transferrable skills you gained in college or elsewhere and apply them to the job youre going for. You may have great organizational, communication, or leadership skills why not giving a concrete example of a time you demonstrated them? You can also mention how you think these would translate to the job you want.Write a catchy summaryWhen you identified your transferrable skills, your summary is the right place for showcasing them. Let the hiring manager know your skills and strong points make you a great candidate for the job. Use action verbs such as determined, focused, developed, achieved, etc. Express a deep interest in the job and emphasize your willingness to le arn new things.Make your resume more personalLet your personality shine through the paper. A personality of a candidate is a very important aspect the hiring managers take into account. From how you appear personally, they can tell what youd be like as an employee, how apt youd be for the job, how quick a learner you are, how diligent you are. Also, much can be guessed from your academic results.Add links to your resume Since your resume doesnt contain that much information, show the hiring manager more of yourself. Add links to your social media, LinkedIn profile, personal website, blog, or photography portfolio site. You can also hyperlink your email address so that contacting you is only one click away.Put emphasis on your extracurricular activitiesYou might be surprised but even what you did in your spare time during college and your hobbies tell a great deal about you to the hiring manager. It goes without saying, only list activities that in a way enriched you and made you ski lled at something worth mentioning.Also, you might have acquired most of of the skills you have by self-learning. This is also very favored with the recruiters If you learned how to code by yourself, if youve taken online courses and are now skilled in something that might help you in the job, or if youre jjust good at something you never studied in college, definitely mention it.Stand out from the crowdWhat youre missing out on experience, try to make an impression with the design of your resume. Dont be afraid to be creative. Obviously, suit your resume to the industry youre in. There are jobs that allow you to be more bold and creative and some that require more traditional resume. One way or another, if you send a generic, boring resume that looks like everyone elses, youll be just another ordinary fresh grad that doesnt know how to impress.Mention your volunteering and internshipsIf youve ever done an internship or volunteering, good for you Theres nothing hiring managers like to see more than a determined and enthusiastic person. Volunteering can teach you loads of valuable skills.You might be asking nowWhat if Ive never had internship, nor done any volunteering?Keep calm. You may have Be specific, Mention a time you professed leadership, team-spirit etc. If during your college years you focused only on your academic achievements, mention that. You have many possibilities on how to convince your future employer that youre competent enough to get the job or at least that theres potential in you they can use. Your academic or other achievements. Mention certificates.Be specific and tell them HOW you think your academic knowledge would benefit to the job. you can have skills that you learned by yourself.TIP Its better not to include any experience than including an experience thats irrelevant . Yeah, in college we all needed money so we did service jobs to pay for parties and other amusements. But your part-time job at Starbucksreally isnt relevant when you re now applying for a job in accounting.Heres a sample of what an entry level resume can look likeJane Vader has selected a simple, yet eye-catching resume template with clean layout and easily readable sans-serif font.She has included a link to her blog for the hiring manager to check her writing samples.In the summary at the top of her resume, she has determined a clear career goal and used action verbs to emphasize her commitment and interest in the job.She has listed her education info in a clear structured way. Normally, an entry-level resume should contain a more detailed education summary.Jane has listed only her strongest and the most relevant skills to the job shes applying for.She has volunteered for an NGO during the summer good for her Volunteering, no matter how irrelevant to the job, always looks good on a resume.Her hobbies reflect her career goals and reveal a bit about her personal traits from the four hobbies stated you can tell shes creative, energetic and open- minded person.She hasnt put References available upon request at the end.Want to have a resume just like Jane? Create a similar one with We hope you found our tips useful. Good luck in finding your dream jobShare Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

3 Signs Youre in a Dead-End Job

3 Signs Youre in a Dead-End Job3 Signs Youre in a Dead-End JobPicture yourself in five years. Are you sitting at the same desk, working for the same manager, doing the same work, and earning the same salary as you are right now?I didnt think so.Unless you already have your absolute dream job, youre probably working towards some sort of higher goal in your career- a mora senior stelle, additional responsibilities, or new skills. But to make sure you have the opportunity to reach those goals, its important to be aware of your qualifikation for growth- and to realize when youre in a job where that doesnt exist.Yes, unfortunately, even good jobs can be dead-end jobs- or positions with little to no room for advancement. So, to make sure youre on the right track to grow in your career, keep in mind these three surefire signs that your job is at a standstill.1. It Would Take a Big Event for You to Get PromotedFor a clear sign that your career might be stalled, look to your superiors and the ir tenure with the company. For example, say your boss has been in her position for five years, and her boss has been in his position for seven- and they both landseem very comfortable where they are. That means, in order for you to move up, something would have to entice one of those big wigs out of his or her position. And youve seen no indication that anyones planning on leaving anytime soon.While this isnt necessarily the mark of a dead-end job (you never know when someone could make a sudden exit from the company or a position), it can- and should- raise some concerns if youre hoping to move up the ladder sooner rather than later.Your Next StepsIf you work for a larger company thats open to horizontal shifts, you may be able to move into another division- one that has more opportunity for growth.If not, you still may not have to throw in the towel completely. Even if you cant move into your bosss position anytime soon, try asking for more responsibility (more on that later) or a title change. You may even be able to create a position for yourself by identifying some needs of the company and then tackling them- effectively working your way into a position that didnt even exist before.2. Even if an Opportunity Arose, You Wouldnt Want ItOK, so youre probably thinking, Why wouldnt I take a promotion that I was offered? But consider this Depending on your current level of satisfaction and your future careers goals, you may not actually want to move up the ladder in your own company.Say, for example, youre a manager at a great company and youre content with your job for now- but you cant imagine doing it for the rest of your life, and truth be told, youve always wanted to break into a different field. So, if you were offered a promotion to take on even more responsibility, more direct reports, and more high-maintenance clients as a senior manager, you wouldnt actually be that excited about it.Or, maybe youarent willing to commit to the extended hours or travel required of those roles, or yourenot passionate about the companys mission. Whatever your reason, if you have no desire to move up at your current company, consider it a red flag.Your Next StepsIts time to take a look at your career goals Why are you spending time in a career in which youre not excited about moving up to the next level? You may have solid reasons- finances, job security, or your current skill set- but unless youre willing to stay in that same position forever, you may want to look for a job that youll be excited to grow and progress in.So, consider some other options. Even if youre not ready to jump into the job hunt just yet, take some small steps Set up some informational interviews with contacts at other companies or in other roles, take a class in an area youre interested in, or browse through some career profiles online. You might be surprised at what you find- and it may just give you the spark you need to pursue something new.3. Your Work Hasnt EvolvedAs you gain more experience in your current position, you should be able to expect that youll be given more responsibility and increasingly challenging work. And as you successfully complete each new assignment and prove yourself time and time again, you should eventually start seeing opportunities to move up in a more official sense (i.e., promotions that include a shiny new title and a well-deserved raise).On the other hand, if youre still doing the exact same work today as you did two years ago when you first started with the company, thats a pretty straightforward sign that youre not going to be moving up very quickly- or at all. And without the chance to improve your skills and develop new ones, even if you did have the chance at a higher position, you may not have the marketable skills to fill it. In short Without new opportunities, your career is at a standstill.Your Next StepsDont ever be afraid to ask for more responsibility. For example, when you see a need for a better training program in your department, volunteer to develop it yourself- or if you notice that the companys social media presence is a little lacking, ask if you can take it on as a side project. By accepting new challenges and showing your managers that youre able to take on more than you do right now, youll prove how valuable you areAnd if your request is met with resistance and your work stays stagnant? Well, then it may be time to look for something with more potential for growth.Realizing that youre in a dead-end job can be scary- especially when you consider that your alternative is the not-so-enjoyable search for a new job. But staying put- for longer than youd like- isnt a great alternative. So if your job isnt progressing the way you want, take charge and go after your goals at full speed. Your future self (the one sitting in a corner office) will thank you.Photo of dead end sign courtesy of Shutterstock.