The Fine Line Between Job Hunting and Networking

The Fine Line Between Job Hunting and NetworkingThe Fine Line Between Job Hunting and NetworkingWhere do you draw the line between networking to share best practices and fishing for a better offer from a competitor?When is it networking, and when is it cheating?If youre employed and not looking for a job, the most likely way to get a job offer from a competitor is by networking with peers at other companies and leaders in your industry.Its done at conferences, formal meetings and casual lunches and gatherings. fruchtwein employers consider it good career development and a way for employees to stay connected to the latest processes in the industry. But where do you draw the line between networking to share best practices and fishing for a better offer from a competitor?The line probably rests on your intentions, said Clark Christensen, a senior-level executive in Coca-Cola Financial Management. Clark is a dedicated networker who advanced from consulting, auditing and accounting roles at Deloitte to Coca-Cola, Miller Zell, Global Link Logistics and PS Energy Group before landing back at Coca-Cola.You have to stay connected and keep your name out there and let people know what youre about, he said. But, if youre truly networking to stay connected, youre not out there asking for jobs, Clark said.Instead, youre asking peers what problems theyre facing and doing what you can to help, offering your expertise as a speaker or perhaps acting as a go-between to link contacts for their mutual benefit.Not only do you end up being owed a lot of favors, you find out a lot more about the business environment in which you operate than you would relying only on contacts within your own company, he said.Clark belongs to several industry organizations and attends regular meetings to stay current and keep his name in circulation among peers. He also tries to have lunch with a new contact two to three times per week.It also helps you and your company when it comes time to hire, he s aid. That same network is likely a good source of candidates and beats sifting through a stack of resumes, he said.But dont waste the companys time or your familys, Christiansen warned. You can burn up a lot of time doing this at the expense of your family and employer A vigilant reading of the tea leaves at home and work is your guide to striking the right balance.

Procrastinators share how procrastination works for them

Procrastinators share how procrastination works for themProcrastinators share how procrastination works for themOne of the most viral TedTalks of all time was led by Tim Urban, who explored the mind of a master procrastinator. He proudly admits hes guilty of waiting until the very last minute to finish a project, write notlagees or even prepare for that very speech he was given. Though these types of folks are often given a bad rep (especially when theyre part of a group project), Urban argues that some professionals have the ability to use this habit to their advantage.After all, not everyone functions the same way while at the office. While some power through tasks and cant stand the sight of a notification on their iPhones home screen - others purposefully delay so they get a rush of urgency. Here, self-proclaimed procrastinators explain how they ultimately always get the job done.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, J ob Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAsk for deadlinesIf you want founder of the Tampon Tribe, Jennifer Eden, to do something for you, its in your best interest to ask for a deadline. And frankly, its in her best interest, too, since she says she works fantastically under pressure. However, the moment something has no specific date or requirement, her mind starts to wander and eventually will focus on a task thats more enjoyable. Ill find an urgent errand, or podcast or lunch date and then end up working late to get things done. I have some very strict rules for myself to avoid this occurring, she shares. If you know youre the type of partie who cant self-motivate without a timeframe, ask your manager or client for one. Or even suggest a deadline when you first start working on a project. This will allow everyone to stay on task - and keep you from playing hooky.Focus on your strengthsIf hes honest with himself, Frank Mancuso, the SVP of Business Development for GlobalFit has bee n a procrastinator his entire life. However, like Urban, hes figured out how to hone the routine and use it to his advantage in both his personal and professional life. This mindset shift is essential for procrastinators who may feel a tad guilty or inferior in their habits. Instead, he encourages those who delay to really dig deep and analyze their work.As you will find, you probably have been working and thinking, just not in the same way your colleagues do. Most would say that I lack concentration or the ability to organize my day or my thoughts I spent so much of the past 24 hours, thinking, planning and rehearsing in my head. Procrastinators are not ill-prepared or wasting time, but can master the art of procrastination like a chef creating a new menu based on the ingredients readily available, he shares.Time block your daysEven if you cant be held to the same structure as others as a procrastinator, you can set yourself up for success by time blocking your days, according to E den. She begins every single day by looking at her priority list and creating a time block within the day for every task. She tends to be a bit old school with an appointment book, but it helps her to write down her schedule so shell stick to it. If she starts to lose track, shell check in with her calendar and get back to the task of the hour. You can set aside 30 minutes here, an hour there, but however you slice it, structure will do wonders for your procrastinating self.Find energy in the last-minuteOne of the biggest reasons some leaders are guilty of last-minute habits is due to the surge of creativity and emergency that comes with a deadline. Though some people are overanxious and stressed by the possibility of missing an important deliverable, procrastinators actually use those antsy feelings to their advantage. When faced with a weekly report to the COO, creating a proposal or presenting to clients I tend to procrastinate in order to be spontaneous. I consider myself the pr epared procrastinator. Unlike most typical procrastinators who are often consumed with perfectionism or who are simply afraid, I am energized by a looming deadline or a presentation, and procrastinating stirs my creativity and allows me to be present in the moment, he explains.Give yourself a rewardAbhi Lokesh, the CEO and co-founder of Fracture tends to put off beginning big, hair projects until the very last moment. Because he knows its going to be daunting, slow and even messy, its easier to put it off than to dig in and get started. He tends to fill his days with other types of busy work - emails, research, you name it - to feel productive when he really is just delaying the inevitable. As a way to structure his attention span, Lokesh uses rewards. It doesnt even have to be something big or incredible, but something that will inspire him to move forward. Its usually something small - like a cookie, or a slightly longer lunch break, he shares. I talk to myself about how much m ore relaxing itll be to do the fun stuff after I tackle the big hairy project than if I were to do to the fun stuff first, before the big hairy project. By utilizing basic principles of delayed gratification, I convince myself of the benefits of tackling the big hairy project first and then enjoying the fruits of my labor with a little reward.Change your email habitsIf youre a procrastinator you probably love checking your email. notlage only because it makes you feel like youre contributing, but its a great, constant distractor from what you should be working on. Its something Lokesh is guilty of, and even admits hell open and read an email and forget to respond. If I do that often enough, Ill usually end up with an inbox full of emails that Ive read but havent done anything with, which is worse than not having read them in the first place, he explains.Over the past few months, hes forced himself into getting in the habit of taking action on an email the first time he opens it. Im basically not allowed to move onto anything else until I either delete, answer, or otherwise take productive action on that email, he continues. This makes my email checking routine far slower, but much more productive.

Design Your Resume Using the DevOps Engineer Resume Template for Word

Design Your Resume Using the DevOps Engineer Resume Template for WordDesign Your Resume Using the DevOps Engineer Resume Template for WordIntroduction Everyone has likely experienced the disappointment of not even earning an interview for a coveted job. Now you can change the narrative of your job search with a well Experienced application developer who also assists in the staging and deployment of new programs Previous experience in frontline operations helps in understanding and explaining business applications of new software tools Understand current program functionality testing and measurement techniquesPerfect Your Skills SectionCorporate recruiters want to ensure that you possess the requisiteur skills to perform the job that you are applying for. That is why the skills section immediately follows the summary statement in the DevOps engineer resume template for Word. Here, you will detail all the technical knowledge and expertise that you possess. Be careful, however, to not u se terminology that is too technical as those screening applications are likely human resources personnel with limited operational expertise. Do not hesitate to include soft skills in this section as well, provided that they apply to the job you are seeking. Plus, you should mirror the language detailing your skills to that seen in the job listing to be more recognizable by application tracking systems. Common skills possessed by DevOps professionals include the following Understanding of open source systems Familiarity with coding and scripting languages Experience in app testing and deploymentPolish Your Work History SectionDetailing your skills and experience is good, but prospective employers also want to see how you have put those skills into action in the past. The weg to do this comes in your work experience section. Here, you will detail the various roles and responsibilities that came with a couple of previous jobs that you have worked that are related to the position you a re currently seeking. Note in the DevOps engineer resume template for Word that past professional accomplishments are included in this section as well. When describing your previous job responsibilities, be sure to use action words. If you were tasked with leading a group of employees on a project, rather than write, have led employees in the past, structure the phrase to read, led team of five employees. Use detailed metrics when possible to provide a sense of context. If you are detailing the duties of a job you currently hold, write your action verbs in the present tense. Listed below are a couple of examples on how you should detail your work history Network Manager Cornerstone Capital, Portland, OR 3/ 2013 to Present Oversee all functions related to corporate internal network Manage a team of eight network technicians Direct all efforts to restore network connectivity and run recovery during downtime Maintain consistent 98 percent network connectivity ratingApp Developer C loud geschftliches miteinander Solutions, Portland, OR 1/2009 3/2013 Developed business apps and programs for contracted clients Managed the rollout app beta versions Coordinated with client representatives to implement program improvements during testing stage Trained client staff on the use of new apps and toolsRefine Your Education SectionAs certain positions often require a degree or professional certification (a DevOps engineer being one of them), you will also want to list your educational background. An employer can develop a good idea of the fundamental knowledge that you possess based off whatever degrees you may hold. List the highest degree that you achieved first, and avoid listing any schools from which you did not matriculate. Do not go as far back as your high school education. You will notice that the DevOps engineer resume template for Word also has a professional certification listed. If you do hold any professional licenses, include them in this section prior to detailing your educational history. DevOps Engineer Education Section ExampleCertified Business Network Professional 2015IBM Business Training Academy Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology 2012Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO