Technology never ceases to amaze me. TiVo Inc, and Nero AG of
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Not knowing yourself in a job interview can be very detrimental. To be an effective interviewee, you must be able to naturally and clearly articulate what you do and how well you do it. Knowing what sets you apart from other candidates and being specific about past experiences that have led to your successes is important. There is no one better than you to tell your story so be sure to know your background without having to refer to your resume.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Identify your goals by writing them down. Developing a plan of action to reach your goals is important, and so is including deadlines for achievement. By writing things down, you are creating concrete evidence, and will be able to easily refer back to your notes. Don't forget to reward yourself for your successes, you deserve it!Friday, September 26, 2008
When giving a presentation it is important to captivate the audience, keep them involved. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple is known for being a phenomenal presenter. This video from BNet.com reviews some of the technique Steve Jobs uses while giving a presentation and they provide simple tips that you can incorporate into your next presentation.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
CNN.com reports that a new study found 22 % of U.S. Workers say that they check their e-mail often on Blackberrys, but even more than that while they are at home or on off-work hours. With the amount of ways technology allows us to be “plugged in” more and more people are finding it hard to break away from the work life, and transition to the home life. Companies are encouraging a more family centered atmosphere, but is technology helping in some areas, and hurting us in others?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
For those of you who are local, and would like to hear more on this topic we would love to have you join us for a discussion featuring eRichards’s very own Mark Richards, CEO, and Dr. James Kennedy , Sr. Solution Producer, as well as key speakers from Paetec Communication. The discussion will take place on Thursday, October 9, 2008 from 8-10am in
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
How does technology fit in to the Presidential Campaign? In a recent edition of Fast Company magazine, there is an article about the promotion of the brand called Obama. In particular the article focuses on the way he engages in open communication between people. This is demonstrated in his use of technology. Obama has widely used the internet to upload videos on YouTube, spread his platform, and raise money for his campaign. His website itself was created by one of the people involved with launching the very popular Facebook.com social networking site. Therefore, BarackObama.com features constant updates, videos, photos, widgets, and even allows users to comment and post on blogs evolving around platform issues. By using open source coding on the site Obama is helping technology change politics.
Monday, September 22, 2008
We have all had bad days, even if you like your job, there is a good chance that you have experienced a time when someone or something is wearing you down and you are just fully overwhelmed or preoccupied by other things happening in your life either inside or outside of the work realm. So if you, a colleague or someone else you work with is nearing the breakdown state try to consider how you would feel in his/her place, and try to offer some preventative measures.- Encourage open communication at work.
- Assess your workload, and prioritize.
- Take a break, get up and walk around just. Be sure to get away from your desk at least a few times a day.
- Offer help, and encouraging solutions when someone comes to you with an issue.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
It is generally believe that doing one good deed in secret without seeking praise or thanks is better than doing a good deed and bragging about it. I see the point...and those good deeds should be about benefiting the recipient, and that little by little the concept of paying it forward could come about. However, could doing a good deed and talking about it inspire others to act for the betterment of others?
Friday, September 19, 2008
Punctuality is a sign of respect. Being respectful of both your time, and the person you are meeting with. Showing up on time for either a sales call, or in person at a meeting is a simple task that can speak volumes for your character, and if you arrive early you are golden!Some etiquette to consider would be to arrive to the office five minutes early, arrive to appointments or meetings three to five minutes early, and to always leave the office a minimum of ten minutes after normal working hours when possible.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Do you take time for yourself? And if so, how do you spend it? The answers to these questions may vary, but by asking them I believe two things are accomplished. The first is that if you do take time for yourself that is good because you are taking time to put things on hold and reflect on all that is going on in your life and in the world. The second thing that comes out of the question of do you take time for yourself is that if the answer to the question was “no” then you may now realize that you need to set aside time for YOU. Make an “appointment” with yourself everyday to give yourself the quality time you need to fully devote yourself to a project or catch up on some reading.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Whether you are making business or social phone calls, they are a means for exchanging information. Business phone calls in particular are instrumental in making all types of decisions so making sure the phone calls you make are productive is crucial. Have all the materials necessary in front of you and write down questions in advance so you can reduce the amount of time spent on the phone. You might also want to set limits on certain phone calls or even start the conversation with an agenda so that you are sure to accomplish the issues you need to talk about.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Have you ever assessed when your most productive time is during the day? Is that time morning, noon, or night? Do you do your most challenging work during your most productive time? If you don’t, you really should try to adjust your schedule. Also, try to be sensitive to what works for others so you can optimize his/her time too!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Schools across the country are requiring students to learn a language other than English. Speaking a language other than English can be a great asset if you are participating in the job search because of the number of industries looking for bilingual applicants. Whether you are communicating with customers in person, on the phone, or online the benefits from the use of a second or third language are outstanding. Every additional customer you can speak to with his/her native language is improving customer satisfaction and thus bringing in revenue to your employer. Spanish is quite possibly the most popular non-English language spoken in the Sunday, September 14, 2008
Career Fairs are all about marketing yourself, therefore you must be prepared. In order to do that you must be mindful of the following tips.Be sure to research the employers you want to visit, learn about them what positions they are hoping to fill, and most importantly what type of candidates they are looking for. - Be positive.
- Bring multiple copies of your résumé; 20-25 is a good number.
- Do your research, know the companies so that you can converse with the representative.
- Make sure you pick up the interviewer’s business card. That way you can follow up with the company.
- Plan a few key questions for the representative, such as asking about news within the organization and how your skills could be best utilized within the company’s framework.
- Wear proper business attire, first impressions DO count!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Is there a difference between management and leadership? Some say yes, others disagree but what it comes down to is a big difference between managers and leaders and the ways they motivate people who work of follow them, and this sets the tone for the other aspects of their work. Many people are both, some people are one or the other. Some have management jobs but realize that you cannot buy hearts which means it is especially hard for them so they act as leaders too. Therefore, the question of whether managers are leaders or if they are two different fields is still the big question at hand.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Facebook.com is a nationwide social networking site directed at high school and college students who register with the site in order to reap the benefits of communicating and fostering friendships. The site allows students to post pictures, comment about other profiles, and search for friends also on the site. This is generally a good idea, but what does that mean for students applying for jobs? Should employers be able to access this information, and does the information they find have an impact on the candidate’s image, both good and/or bad? Feel free to post your comments; we’d love to hear from you!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
When you are looking for a job, make sure you are qualified for the position. Companies often receive hundreds of application from unsuitable candidates and it would be an enormous help if candidates would make sure that they match the criteria. Preparing yourself and matching your qualifications to the job requirements will pay off. Apply only for jobs that you have a realistic chance of getting and it will save your time and energy, and if you do feel that you would like to get in to a role that is vastly different from the one you have make sure that you are able to prove that your experience is relevant to the position you are apply for.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Whether it’s the first thing you drink in the morning, or reach for during a lull in the middle of the day or drink a cup with your dessert, coffee is something everyone is aware of. So next time you are enjoying a cup think about these fun facts. - Caffeine can be found in at least 60 different plants.
- Caffeine is the most popular drug in the world, and 90% of Americans consume it in some for everyday.
- Darkly roasted coffee has less caffeine than light roasted.
Monday, September 8, 2008
It certainly seems to be the case that all rules have loop holes or permit exceptions depending on the situation. In an article by CareerBuilder.com they offer some possible exceptions for some of the rigid rules of performing a job search. According to CareerBuilder.com it is sometimes acceptable to bend the rules, as long as it will set your apart from other applicants in a good way. The exceptions to the rules have to do with resume format, interviewing, the job application itself, selling yourself to employers, and how to shed a positive light on your entire job process. This could be a helpful article to read for those of you partaking in the job search, and you can access that article here. Sunday, September 7, 2008
What is management, and how do you become a good manager? Managing people is not easy but if you do it successfully it can be a very rewarding experience. Management is both an art and a science; the art is making people more effective at their work than they would have been without you. The science is how to go about doing that. Management is also a skill which can be honed through study and practice. Just remember the four pillars: plan, organize, direct, and monitor and employ different strategies to find out what works best for you.
Friday, September 5, 2008
As the weather starts getting colder, colds and flu symptoms will be coming out of the closet so now is the time to build up your immune system. White blood cells help defend your body against infectious disease. So by eating foods that increase the number of white blood cells such as garlic, shitake mushrooms, dark meat turkey and yogurts with live cultures you can help your immune system. Fruits and veggies do not increase the number of white blood cells your body produces but they make them stronger. Keep in mind that too much fat other than the kind found in fish oil will lower the strength of the immune system.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Are you being too casual when it comes to communicating about career opportunities with potential employers? An increasing number of applicants may be crossing the line from formal communication to casual communication. Communicating with possible employers has evolved because of the multitude of new technologies available such as cell phones, e-mails, and social networking sites. However, writing any type of correspondence that contains shorthand language and decorative symbols is a faux pas. The use of shorthand language is the result of being too casual, and not bringing professionalism to your potential position at a company. Be sure to write full sentences, using proper grammar and sell yourself. Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Finance and technology go hand in hand within companies today. CFOs in particular need expertise in many areas other than accounting and finance particularly in technology because companies are increasingly expecting CFOs to provide insight into the value of new systems and make recommendations on technology related investments. Being directly involved with not only strategy and operations is just half of the job, CFOs are also crucial in providing direction on pricing, cost cutting, and the restructuring of some business units. Other than technology more and more CFOs are using their knowledge of legal, sales, and marketing to help them do their jobs better.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Managers and supervisors are responsible for solving problems and making decisions everyday. Often times managers are under stress and deadlines for making important decisions, which can affect the decision making process. It is important for managers and supervisors to be able to think clearly when making decisions, especially those that affect many. With that in mind, be sure to clearly define the problem, look for potential causes for the problem, and identify alternative approaches to resolve the problem, select an approach and then implement the plan of action. Finally monitor the implementation of the plan and verify if the problem has been resolved or not. Monday, September 1, 2008
Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday and is observed on the first Monday in September. Labor Day originated in 1882 as a means to create a day off for working citizens. In 1894, Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday. Labor Day today is celebrated by most Americans as the end of summer, and beginning of a new school year. Labor Day is often filled with parades, cookouts and most importantly rest. Speeches and other political demonstrations are more low key than they were when Labor Day was first established but the sentiment remains the same that Labor Day preserves the strength of the trade and labor movements in America.
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