Dick Bolles ATE on May 7 (Tuesday Morning) JOIN US!

Dick Bolles ATE on May 7 (Tuesday Morning) JOIN US! I just updated the video library to include the Ask The Expert calls weve done.  You can access the archives here. On Tuesday, May 7th at 9am MOUNTAIN TIME, Dick Bolles will join us for the Ask The Expert call. THE Dick Bolles.  The one who wrote (and continues to update) What Color Is Your Parachute. This is one of the legends of career management and job search. I was privileged to have lunch with Dick and his wife and it was delightful.  Fun conversation, great thinking.  One of the highlights of my career. Im excited to share this next conversation with you. What questions would you ask him, if you there there? Join us live on May 7th sign up here. Dick Bolles ATE on May 7 (Tuesday Morning) JOIN US! I just updated the video library to include the Ask The Expert calls weve done.  You can access the archives here. On Tuesday, May 7th at 9am MOUNTAIN TIME, Dick Bolles will join us for the Ask The Expert call. THE Dick Bolles.  The one who wrote (and continues to update) What Color Is Your Parachute. This is one of the legends of career management and job search. I was privileged to have lunch with Dick and his wife and it was delightful.  Fun conversation, great thinking.  One of the highlights of my career. Im excited to share this next conversation with you. What questions would you ask him, if you there there? Join us live on May 7th sign up here.

Should You Drug Test Your Employees

Should You Drug Test Your Employees One of the most complicated and contentious issues for HR professionals today is the question of drug testing employees for marijuana use. Because many states across the country have now legalized either medical marijuana use (33 states thus far) or even recreational use (10 states thus far), employers are unsure if this is still a consideration they need to take into account. Though all companies reserve the right to drug test employees, the consistency of drug testing in the workplace is changing, as some industries continue to regularly drug test where others have ceased the practice altogether. Drug testing has been a standard in the American workplace for decades now, beginning in the mid-1980s under the Reagan administration and the War on Drugs. Beginning in 1988, Drug-Free Workplace regulations were in place, which required all federal companies with large enough contracts to drug test all employees. Though this began in just the public sector, many privately-owned companies noticed the benefits of drug testing employees and began to implement the practice themselves. Even today, around 90% of Fortune 500 companies drug test their employees, and 62% of all employers across the country have instated mandatory drug testing programs. However, some high-profile companies have publicly declared an end to drug testing their employees. These companies include names such as Google, Whole Foods, Red Bull, Twitter, and NPR. Industries that do continue to regularly drug test are those where safety is a much more pressing concern. Transportation and construction employees are usually tasked with the operation of heavy machinery or vehicles, and anything affecting their judgment could be dangerous to themselves and the public. Members of the military are also rigorously drug tested for obvious reasons, as they are also operating heavy machinery and granted the use of deadly weapons. Even members who are not on active duty are often participating in strategic operations that deal with the safety of the nation, and they need to be thinking clearly. Other industries that continue to test for marijuana are medicine and athletics. Doctors and nurses obviously cannot be under the influence in order to perform their jobs, and athletes are tested to make sure they are not using any performance-enhancing drugs. All companies have the right to terminate employees for being under the influence at work, even in states where recreational use is legal or for employees that hold a medical marijuana card. However, laws are in place in certain states which protect employees or potential employees from retaliation against medical marijuana use. These states include Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. A recent study shows an interesting generational gap between Millennials and the older workforce on how they perceive marijuana use affecting the workplace. One out of four Millennials surveyed stated that they would decline a job offer if they knew that the company drug tested its employees. It’s important for hiring managers and recruiters to understand drug testing best practices today, as the perceptions and expectations of today’s employees and future prospects are dramatically shifting. In contrast, the study revealed that 46% of employees over the age of 30 stated that they would lose confidence in their coworkers’ ability to produce high-quality work if they found out they used marijuana outside of work. This was true even in states where recreational use has been legalized. This study has interesting implications for HR professionals and recruiters and how much they should reveal about potential positions, as well as how to best satisfy the needs of workers from different generations. Take a look at the graphic below to learn more about the study, or visit the original study, A Look at Drug Testing in The Workplace. About the author:  Heidi Thiel is a writer and content marketer. She has created content in a variety of industries including job recruitment and HR, cybersecurity, travel, and vegan living. You can take a look at some of Heidi’s current projects by visiting her company  Twitter.

Personal Brands Play Hurt - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Brands Play Hurt - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career On Saturday afternoon I visited a posh salon in Los Angeles. The place and the people were way cooler than I am but hey, a friend gave me a referral card worth $25 off a haircut there.   It was a lot like I imagine heaven must be. There were endless cappuccinos, people speaking French and an air that everyone is fabulous in that West Hollywood-Beverly Hills kind of way. In fact, Meryl Streep was being adored next to me, and she deserved it. She emanates a lightness of heart and liquid grace that previously I associated only with crème brule. Creamy goodness. And, because everyone in the salon was fabulous, someone recognized me from CNBC and told me how fabulous I am. I suspect they Google you before you come in to make sure that if there’s even a hint of celebrity in your body of work, you are celebrated for it. The woman stopped short of asking for my autograph and I stopped short of asking Ms. Streep for hers. My “fan” did press her contact information on me, actually onto my iPhone. I came away from the experience with my hair several shades lighter and much, much shorter. My bank account was clipped just under $500 (with the $25 off). C’mon, I had to buy the products, because everyone there was doing it, and they are fabulous. I was thinking for a moment that I was fabulous, too. Here’s where the story takes an ugly turn. Swinging my shiny new do, I drove to the new building we’ve renovated with just 20 hours to go before the soft opening and about 100 hours of work to do on it. There was paint on coving running around the perimeter of the space, sticky stuff on the bathroom floors, six thousand feet of recycled rubber flooring to vacuum and mop. At 6 PM, it was just the CEO who’s launching this business and me. All the workman, sub-contractors, even the cleaning people had called it quits before it was quitting time. That is if quitting time means the job is complete and the deadline met. In one last desperate SOS, I offered $50 to two workers scurrying away. I only did it because we needed two ladders to put up the sign, and without theirs, we had just one. Pushing through So at 3 AM on Sunday, I dragged myself home and finished the welcome packages, lined up everything to go, and wrote myself a checklist. At 5 AM I crawled into bed. My mind raced back through the day â€" did I have everything we needed for the opening just 5 hours away? And in that mental back tracking, I remembered the posh salon, Meryl Streep and the moment of fabulousness. I doubt Meryl went back to a building and scrubbed floors. Even the woman who played the part of my fan must have enjoyed a more elegant day. Almost everyone had, I felt sure. But, no matter where they dined or wined or went for amusement, I don’t know that anyone had a better day than I did.  There is something life affirming about digging deep when you are so tired it is impossible to go on, and go on. There is something outstanding about finding the one person, and hes your partner, who works alongside you and does all the heavy lifting (literally). Personal brands: don’t quit before quitting time. Stay and get it done. Then double-check your work. Don’t go to bed without making a checklist for the next day. In front of the door, line up all your files and briefcase. Locate your keys. Successful personal brands much like all star athletes: play tired, play hurt and play as if it’s the last game of the regular season with a championship tournament slot on the line. That’s how Meryl Streep does her craft and career. I just build companies and wash floors. Author: Nance Rosen is the author of Speak Up! Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name: nancerosen.

5 Reasons to Attend a Full-Time MBA Program - Classy Career Girl

5 Reasons to Attend a Full-Time MBA Program Universities offer a wide range of MBA courses to students now. Many students think they are taking advantage of a wonderful deal by going with part-time MBA programs, but they are missing out on so much. If you are having trouble deciding on a part-time or full-time program for an MBA, then the following five reasons may help you see the full-time program is the better option. 5 Reasons to Attend a Full-Time MBA Program 1. The Length of Time If you decide to pursue your MBA part-time, then you are committing yourself to an average of three years or more to complete the program and get into the job market. The full-time MBA program is much quicker to complete. In many schools, you can complete an MBA program in under two years. 2. Scholarship Opportunities Unlike people who pursue part-time MBAs, full-time MBA students have access to better scholarships, programs, financial aid, and graduate assistance. Specifically, financial aid opportunities are more generous, and they are widely more available if you decide to choose a full-time program. 3. Lasting Connections When you take a part-time MBA program, you are only going to get a couple of classes a semester in. You will not get to see your fellow classmates as much, and it will be difficult to form a bond with them. The full-time program allows you to work often and closely with a small group of students between a year and a half and two years. This is critical because you are connecting and networking. A lot of your fellow students will be business connections when school is finished. 4. More Associations, Mentoring Opportunities, and Career Exploration Opportunities It is understandable why people take part-time MBA programs. Its hard to juggle the duties of a  job and the responsibilities of an education. Unlike the part-time program, full-time students have the opportunity to get mentored by business professionals and their professors. Also, there is more access to professional programs, events and student activity meetings. In addition to those perks, there are other groups to learn more about the industry you are interested in, network and build additional relationships. These opportunities off a chance to explore business careers that are not available in a part-time MBA program. [RELATED: How To Prepare For an MBA While Working Full-Time] 5. More Time to Get Involved Outside of the Classroom Part-time MBA students  are unable to devote the time needed to excel in important activities. Full-time MBA students are developing leadership skills in various professional groups outside of the classroom like the MBA Association. Getting involved in as many organizations as possible is a great boon that full-time students  engage in at a much higher rate than part-time students. You need to be fully aware of what each kind of program can offer you. You need to investigate  your options fully and balance them out with your requirements to live each day. The part-time program may be more convenient, but the full-time program offers the best chance at a more lucrative future, and these are things you should factor into your decision making.

How Professional Resume Writers Can Help

How Professional Resume Writers Can HelpIt is not hard to understand why most people hire a professional resume writer to write their professional resume. When you have a resume that gives away your true skills and capabilities, it makes a lot of sense to outsource the job. However, it is not as easy as you may think to find the right professional resume writer for writing professional resumes.Your first step should be to check the credentials of the professional resume writer. Look for references from the writers of other resumes. You can also ask them to send you samples of resumes. You may even hire the freelance resume writer on your own.For those who are unemployed or have full-time jobs, this is a time when they should be investing in their resume. The resume writing service should not be your ticket to get back into the employment game. They should be providing a high quality service so that the person can get back to work. Therefore, there should be a quality standard set by the professional resume writer.You should find a good quality resume writing service that will help you make a resume that will put you at the top of the list for the jobs that you are applying for. It does not matter whether the skills you have are skilled in the IT industry or in the hospitality industry. If you have the skill sets, you should use them.There are many reasons that you should outsource the job of a professional resume writer to a professional resume writing service. This is because it will ensure that you will get the best results. You can also trust the professional resume writing service that you outsource to.You may be looking for a way to get back to a full-time income so that you can spend more time with your family. You can apply for government jobs that require qualifications in order to get the position. A resume writer can also help you to get jobs where you need experience or certificates to get the position. With the help of the professional resume writer , you can get a good job as well as get the money you need.To be able to find a good professional resume writer, it is important that you research them before hiring them. Look for testimonials and get a reputation for writing resumes that are impressive. The resume writer will be helping you to find jobs as well as help you to get the right jobs that you are looking for.In order to find a good professional resume writer, you can check out samples of resumes written by professional resume writers and determine if you are getting the best results possible. By hiring a professional resume writer, you will be getting the best possible job you are applying for and this will ensure that you get the money you need.

Ponderings on a Tuesday

Ponderings on a Tuesday Ive been surfing social media streams all morning looking for ideas and creative thoughts to share and have come up with very little, OK, nothing. But while I was searching, these thoughts came to mind and Ill share those instead. Collecting LinkedIn Connections I am not sure why people want to connect with me on LinkedIn. Most never provide a reason to connect. They send the generic connect on LinkedIn invite which makes me mad (and is one of my top 10 LinkedIn pet peeves). Sometimes the message says something like, I saw your post or read your work and would like to connect which really isnt much better. Honestly, it would serve them better to subscribe to my blog via this link: Subscribe to Career Sherpa: Guide for Lifetime Career Navigation by Email Lots of job seekers do use a meaningful invitation to connect with me but less than one percent ever communicate directly with me on LinkedIn. PS: I leave my contacts open for all to see in an effort to help facilitate introductions, but alas, this doesnt happen either. When it does happen, it generally is a fail. I facilitate a job seeker group on LinkedIn and belong to many others and mostly see people sharing the same tired posts without a comment or question for discussion. Sharing an article on how to be a better interviewee is not a discussion. Groups, IMO, are for having conversations and learning something from others. Yes, sure, you can share an article of interest, but make a point, take a stand, ask a question or for others opinions. Please consider why and how you use LinkedIn. And realize that everyone has different opinions and purposes for using it as well. There are many LinkedIn conundrums. It is more than your rolodex of connections. More connections are not necessarily better, unless you make them mutually beneficial. Give to get! What Is It You Would Defend? There is a lot wrong with our society and our country. Does anyone else feel this way? Are there issues you are willing to take a stand on or rights you wish to defend? Gun control, mental illness, education, unions, term limits? OK, these are my issues. I could go on for hours about the injustice, wrongs and misuse of these things. At one point, I was going to start a tree hugging stand in to protect the trees in our city district from being chopped down unnecessarily, but I chickened out. Taking a stand takes energy. But what happens when we are all too busy to take a stance or get involved in things that are important? What will we lose? You may say there isnt much I can do or what difference can I make and that, I think, is the problem. We have become passive and as a result, un-involved. Ive posted a question on Facebook today which asks you to vote (or add) the one skill you want to develop or work on this year! (Heres the link)   It will be interesting to see what priorities are important to you and hopefully this will provide me fodder for future posts!

How to Negotiate for a Higher Salary

How to Negotiate for a Higher Salary Thanks to Noel Griffith for his guest blog. A brief bio is below. Amy One of the most effective ways to get an increase in your salary is to negotiate an increase with the person responsible for signing off on it. This may be when you are first offered a position, or in your current job. Most people find it an uncomfortable topic to bring up, and a lot of people never muster up the courage to attempt to negotiate their salary. This is an opportunity missed however, and you have nothing to lose by asking. You’ll never know what the outcome might be if you never ask, will you? Preparation is Key The easy part is arranging some one-on-one time with your manager. This can be done by making an appointment, or in an annual performance review if you have one. The difficult part is going into the interview armed with information to validate your case. But this is the most important part, if you cannot put across a convincing argument you may not get what you want. Your goal is to negotiate the highest possible increase in salary, while being realistic and not losing control of the negotiation. To give yourself the best idea of what the position or role is worth, do some research online to find the average salary for the position you are in. You can also ask some questions of friends and colleagues if you feel they will respect the confidentiality of your situation. But knowing what is possible is not enough on its own. You need to believe you are worth the amount you are asking for, and can convince your manager that you offer that value to the organization. If you believe these points, you are on your way to selling yourself. Tips to Help with A Successful Negotiation Listen carefully. Remember that a negotiation is a two-way communication. It’s normal for you to feel like you have a lot to say, and you will probably be talking faster than normal if you are nervous. But listening may be the key to having a successful negotiation. You will get feedback to the points you raise, and you may be asked some questions on the spot. Answering these to the best of you ability will be a factor in the decision your manager makes. Be patient. Sometimes it is best to wait for your manager to make the first offer. This may not be done on the spot if he/she needs approval from a higher level. So don’t feel the need to rush the discussion, get all of your points across and give your manager the time to digest the information. Be flexible. You wont always get exactly what you wanted, in fact managers often feel like they achieve a small win if they talk you down slightly. This isn’t such a bad thing, if you’re still ending up in a better position than you started with you have made a small win too. Think outside of just monetary increases too, is there an option to buy some shares, receive more holiday days, or maybe earn a better commission rate? Never a bad time but few second chances There are not many instances when initiating a negotiation to increase your salary is a bad idea. But you may often only get one opportunity while you’re in the same job. So you need to maximize your chance of coming away from the negotiations happy. Covering all of the points above will help you be as prepared as you can be, and if you carry yourself confidently you stand a good chance. So if you are preparing to seize the opportunity and approach the topic of salary negotiation for yourself, I wish you the best of luck. Author Bio: Noel Griffith is a webmaster at www.CareersWiki.com and works as a recruitment consultant and career advisor. He focuses on helping people find their ideal career, and giving ongoing advice in regard to finding a progressive career path to match their skill set. With a strong belief in communication and networking, Noels goal is to help connect the right people and the right career.